Chapter 6
It's absolutely shameful for a woman to undo her marriage.
How could Yunzhu not be furious?
Pan's tactics are downright manipulative. The Cao family, under her leadership, doesnât need to talk about âregret over the marriage.â As long as they sever ties with her family, with Yunzhuâs pride and her parentsâ pride, sheâll gladly abandon the thought of marrying into the Cao family.
Cao Shao was just a son. He couldnât force Pan to visit the Li family, nor could he stop her from publicly declaring at the banquet that he only saw Yunzhu as a sister. He knew damn well that his motherâs actions had completely distanced Yunzhuâs family, and that she would never marry him again, so he didnât waste time trying to win his motherâs approval. Instead, he went straight to Ningguo Gong's Mansion to own up to his mistakes.
Yunzhu didnât want to push Cao Shao away, but she rejected his confession. As if being unable to marry him was a pity, as if her life would be some kind of second-rate fallback!
When her temper flared, Yunzhu couldnât resist throwing Panâs name in Cao Shaoâs face.
It wasnât just to spite Cao Shaoâit was to remind him that the mess between them was all his motherâs doing.
If Cao Shaoâs miserable now, he has his damn mother to thank for it!
For now, this was Yunzhuâs small revenge on Pan. Why the hell should Pan stir up trouble for her family while sitting pretty?
From then on, Cao Shao could blame Pan, but it was Pan who would pay the price, and Yunzhu would just enjoy watching it unfold.
If Cao Shao chooses to stay loyal to his mother, Yunzhu will be even more relieved she never married a spineless, good-for-nothing man.
Yunzhuâs few words were like twisting the knife in Cao Shaoâs already deep wound.
Are you willing to gamble your own marriage?
Why bother gambling?
Cao Shao can tell Yunzhu that if he loses, itâs a draw at bestâhe'll never find a woman who compares to her.
When it comes to his mother, Cao Shao truly has no shame in sticking around.
He took one last look at Yunzhu, his gaze slowly scanning her from head to toe, as if to brand her image into his heart.
Yunzhu kept her cool and only glanced at the empty seat beside him.
Not knowing how much time passed, she heard Cao Shao speak, âIâm leaving. Youâre truly one of a kind.â
Just a few words, each one drenched in desperation.
As Cao Shao turned away, Yunzhuâs gaze lingered on him.
Among the elite young men of the capital, he was the most strikingâperfectly proportioned, with broad shoulders and a waist like fine jade.
Yunzhuâs eyes stayed glued to his figure as he walked away.
In that moment, the cold indifference on her face was replaced by sorrow.
After all those years of childhood friendship, how could she not have developed feelings for Cao Shao?
The elders, who valued a womanâs virtue above all else, couldnât stand the sight of her controlling Cao Shao. What they failed to see was that Yunzhu was perfectly happy with him and already envisioned him as her husband, which explained her casual demeanor toward him. If he were some insignificant fool, she wouldnât even spare him a glance. He didnât measure up.
Should Cao Shao meet an untimely death and ruin the marriage, Yunzhu might shed a few tearsâbut it wouldnât be for him.
Yet it was Pan Shi, bitter over his fatherâs loss of power, who took pleasure in undermining the marriage!
Yunzhuâs anger quickly overshadowed her sorrow. At that moment, all she cared about was securing a man of superior status, better looks, and more talent than Cao Shao. Only then could she break free from this suffocating situation.
The real question was: was she just venting her frustration, or was there actually such a man in the capital?
*
Hereâs the direct, assertive, and aggressive rephrasing with a bolder tone:
Given Li Yongâs recent downfall and the loss of his official title, hosting banquets for relatives and friends at the Duke of Ningguoâs mansion this year will be a tough task.
As the New Year approaches, let the old one be forgotten and the new one take overâno room for the past to linger.
Lessons have been learned, but the journey doesn't stop here. It's time to move forwardâno looking back.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, people will celebrate the Lantern Festival, while the palace will hold a banquet for the ministers.
For Emperor Yuan Qing, this year is a lucky one. The Jiuzhou, lost by previous generations, is now back under his rule!
The palace banquet was a show of the emperorâs joy, with the construction of the Aoshan Mountain towering outside the Meridian Gate, higher than the city walls. From a distance, it looked like a mighty beast descending from the heavens.
Even though Li Yong lost his official position, as a respected Duke, he still has the right to bring his family to the palace and enjoy the lanterns tonight.
After a long absence, Duke Ningguo, wearing a crimson unicorn-embroidered official uniform, arrived at the palace gate. With his elegant and striking presence, Duke Li Yong stepped out of the carriage, hands behind his back, walking like a deity descending from the heavens. He caught everyone's eye.
Some may have wanted to mock him, but his commanding presence stopped anyone from daring to approach.
With no one bold enough to provoke him, Li Yong smiled and led his wife and children directly into the palace.
Once inside, the family split into two groups. Li Yong and his son went to see Emperor Yuan Qing, while Meng Shi took their daughter to Kunning Palace.
Before the scheduled time, all the married women and family members gathered outside Kunning Palace. When everyone arrived, they entered to pay respects to Empress Cao.
The Duke of Ningguoâs mansion is an old noble family, tracing its roots back to the founding of the Xia Dynasty. When attending palace banquets, their ranking outshines even the Cao family of Duke Dingguoâs mansion, who boast an Empress.
Meng Shi stood before Pan Shi, her daughter by her side.
Pan Shi nodded at Meng Shi and greeted her, âMadam, itâs good to see you. How have you been?â
Meng Shi smiled and replied, âWith the Imperial court regaining Jiuzhou and the country at peace, my heart is full of joy. This year has brought me more happiness than ever.â
Though said for the occasion, with her handsome husband at her side, Meng Shi is living a life of sheer satisfaction, full of sweetness.
A little younger than Pan Shi, Meng Shiâs radiant face showcased a stark contrast, signaling a life of greater comfort.
Pan Shi smiled and looked at Yunzhu, dressed in a red cloak embroidered with golden plum blossoms.
In truth, the Meng familyâs beauty is just average. But eighty percent of Yunzhuâs jaw-dropping beauty, known throughout the capital, is inherited from her father, Li Yong. And the Duke's familyâs wealth and power only added to Yunzhuâs allure, surpassing even the princes and princesses of the palace.
To put it bluntly, wherever Yunzhu went, heads turned, and both men and women couldnât help but stare.
With the New Year, Yunzhu turned eighteenâtall, stunning, and now even more commanding than before.
She gave Pan Shi a half-smile in response.
Pan Shi remarked warmly, âItâs been so long since Iâve seen you, Yunzhu. You used to love visiting us as a child. Now, youâve become even more spirited with age.â
Yunzhu replied smoothly, âWhen I was young, you always invited us to visit. But recently, we havenât received any. If you donât invite us, how can we come and bother you?â
Her voice was calm and charming, her words casual as if it were just a simple remark, with no bitterness or resentment.
The other women exchanged glances, a little taken aback.
Hereâs a translation of the text with a more direct, assertive, and aggressive tone:
Duke Ningguo's mansion is a shadow of its former self, and Pan's waning influence is painfully obvious to everyone.
The Cao family, however, is at the peak of their power, so no one can blame Pan Shi for trying to fix the imbalance.
Pan Shi shut up, remembering how Yunzhu could tear people apart with her biting words and sharp tongue.
Yunzhu stared straight ahead at Kunning Palace, not even blinking.
The princesses were ranked higher than Cao Shao. But Emperor Yuan Qing only had three sons, two of whom were younger than her brothers, and the only older prince was crippled.
After paying her respects to Empress Cao and attending the banquet, she was free to enjoy the lanterns. Sun Yurong saw her chance and approached Yunzhu.
As Yunzhu halted, she raised a hand, a warning. If Sun Yurong dared to mock her tonight because Cao Shao regretted their marriage, Yunzhu would slap her down without a second thought.
Sun Yurong instinctively took two steps back.
Yunzhu kept her grip on the white marble railing, eyes fixed on the glowing Aoshan Mountain beyond the Meridian Gate.
Under the soft light of the lamps and moon, her skin looked as flawless as white jade, making Sun Yurong glance at her a few more times.
"Seeing you like this, it looks like you don't care much about the marriage," Sun Yurong said, leaning on the railing next to Yunzhu, her head tilted as she spoke.
She didnât dare provoke Yunzhu over this; she was terrified Yunzhu might snap from shame or rage.
Yunzhu threw a quick look at her.
Sun Yurong wondered if she was still upset. Trying to console her, though awkwardlyâespecially considering their past rivalryâshe said, "I just want to say... Cao Shao is great, but he's not the only nobleman in the capital. If you can't marry him, there's plenty of other fish. With your looks, any number of noblemen would jump at the chance. Even my brother hasn't given up. Since hearing about the trouble with Cao Shao, he's been moping around for weeks. Heâd look a lot better if he lost some weight."
Yunzhu: "..."
Sun Yurong caught the hint of sadness on Yunzhu's face and rushed to explain, "Iâm not saying you should marry my brother. What I mean is, if you want someone, there are a lot of noble sons to choose from. Donât bother with Cao Shao!"
Yunzhu shot back, "Which of your eyes saw me upset?"
Sun Yurong looked her over and scoffed, "Youâre good at pretending. Who knows if you went home and cried your eyes out?"
Yunzhu snapped, "You're overthinking."
Sun Yurong sneered, muttering, "Nice advice just turned to garbage."
As she began to walk off, Yunzhu called out, "Wait."
Hope flickered in Sun Yurongâs chest, and she turned around.
Yunzhu scowled and said, "Tell your brother to stop chasing me. I canât stand him."
Sun Yurong fell silent.
*
After the Lantern Festival, Yunzhu and her mother dove headfirst into the social scene. The capital was swarming with influential families, both seasoned and new, some as prestigious as the Duke of Ningguoâs mansion.
Despite what others knew, Yunzhu still caught wind of some whispers about Cao Shao. Word was, he hadn't stepped outside since the New Year, burying himself in his studies for the upcoming Spring Examination.
Yunzhu, fully aware of Cao Shaoâs skill in martial arts, knew that Pan Shi, having only one son, was terrified of losing him on the battlefield, much like she had with her late husband. She wished for Cao Shao to sit for the imperial examination, seeing the high status civil servants held in the dynasty. Capable men with military knowledge could rise to lead armies, and with Cao Shao's talents, he could take on any role the court demanded.
Driven by their history, Yunzhu couldnât wait to see Cao Shaoâs name on that golden list. But Cao Shao, seething at his mother's wishes, even toyed with the wild idea of failing the exam on purpose. Still, he knew Yunzhu would find out the truth.
He couldnât marry Yunzhu, but he damn well didnât want to be looked down on by her. He wanted her to marry someone worthy of her, but he also hoped she wouldnât completely forget him.
Even though he couldnât be with her, Cao Shao still wanted to be her man, as much as she was his. So that spring, he gave everything he had.
When the results came, Cao Shao claimed the eighth rank, and at the early March palace examination, Emperor Yuan Qing picked him as the top contender.
The young Imperial Uncle, with his sharp looks, became the talk of the town, with the ladies in the capital fawning over him. Pan Shi, relieved that her sonâs obsession with Yunzhu wasnât unhealthy, finally relaxed.
One morning, Pan Shi gingerly approached her son, "Youâve crushed the exam, and now all these prestigious families are keen on marrying their daughters to us. Whatâs your take?"
She listed off some families she thought would be a good match.
Cao Shao responded coldly, "My eldest brother is returning soon. Once he marries, thereâs no rush for me. And if I marry before him, what will people say about you, Mother?"
Pan Shi was stunned. She realized her son was still mourning Yunzhu. But his excuse for avoiding marriage left her speechless.
Cao Xun, now in his thirties, had put off marriage until he could fulfill his promise to reclaim Jiuzhou. With his return to Beijing imminent, Pan Shi didnât want to appear as a cruel stepmother, so she focused on arranging Cao Xunâs marriage before her own sonâs.
*
When the victorious army returned, Emperor Yuan Qing made it clear he would greet them personally at the city gate, flanked by hundreds of officials. This was his way of rewarding their success.
The Imperial Guards cleared the main road in the capital at the crack of dawn. Spectators had no choice but to squeeze in behind them or fight for a seat in the shops lining the road.
Yunzhu was not about to miss out on the spectacle.
Zuixianju, a top-tier restaurant in the capital, is owned by Lin, but the land is firmly in the hands of the Li family. The business booms, with thousands of taels paid annually to the Li family in rent.
As the army's return date drew near, the women of powerful families rushed to book private rooms with prime views of the street's famous buildings. The Lin Dong family, owners of Zuixianju, knew better than to ignore the rules, so they came straight to Ningguo Duke's Mansion for orders and carried them out without hesitation.
Meng shi wanted in on the action, so the best private room was saved for Duke Ningguo's mansion.
Duke Ningguo's carriage stopped in a back alley near Zuixianju early in the morning, keeping him out of the madness and allowing him to stroll through the courtyard straight to the private room.
Amid the noisy crowd outside the window, Yunzhu sat composed, sipping tea with her mother.
There were whispers in the corridor. Lian Qiao, the maid, stood at the door, waiting for orders: "Madam, Miss Sun from the Duke of Qi's Mansion is downstairs. She wants to come up and say hello."
Meng shi smiled and glanced at her daughter.
Yunzhu knew better than to buy Sun Yurongâs fake pleasantries. She was simply here to gawk at the hero's triumph.
"Let her come up," Yunzhu commanded.
The second floor of Zuixianju was filled with high-status guests. No one from the first floor dared to enter without their approval.
Meng shi asked, "Since when did you two become chummy?"
Yunzhu replied, "We havenât, but Iâm not petty enough to hold a grudge."
Moments later, Sun Yurong entered, eager to greet Meng shi sweetly before plopping herself down next to Yunzhu, too familiar for comfort.
Yunzhu smirked, "Did none of your precious sisters manage to book a room?"
The Duke of Qiâs Mansion had hit hard times, their funds too limited to secure the private rooms grabbed by the powerful. The women following Sun Yurong were from lesser families, unable to compete.
Sun Yurong shot her a glare. "Iâve already lowered myself, donât push it!"
Yunzhu only smiled and didnât push it further.
Meng shi, ever the peacemaker, said cheerfully, "Youâve known each other since childhood. You should be good friends. No more fighting."
Yunzhuâs response was a sharp, "Fine. I donât deal with her level of nonsense."
Sun Yurong shut up.
The two exchanged barbed words, the hours slipping by unnoticed.
The street fell still as Emperor Yuan Qing received the victorious army and began his return to the palace.
Windows in the shops and restaurants creaked open, faces eagerly peering out. Some women leaned halfway out of windows, their excitement too obvious to hide, while others stayed half-hidden behind round fans.
A light spring breeze scattered dust and tiny catkins that floated like snow.
Yunzhu held a round fan as well, but after observing the awkwardly posed women in the opposite room, she lost all interest in using it.
She gestured sharply for Lian Qiao to step aside.
Sun Yurong sneered, "Youâre usually so fussy. You always ride in the front of the carriage to avoid the dust."
Yunzhu snapped back, "Mind your business."
Sun Yurong didnât dare say another word.
She couldn't figure out how Cao Shao put up with Li Yunzhu's attitude.
*
The Emperorâs ceremonial guard stormed ahead with unwavering authority, and the royal chariot, draped in gauze curtains, barely allowed a glimpse of the Emperorâs regal figure within the palace.
Yunzhu, having been held close by Emperor Yuan Qing in her youth, had seen him nearly every yearâsave for the two years of mourning. She never fixated on him; after all, he was simply another presence, another figure in her world.
The generals who had made their mark on the battlefield followed shortly after the royal chariot passed by.
At the forefront, the two generals who had earned the highest acclaim for their service stood out.
One rode a black stallion, and the other, a massive bay horse.
Yunzhu's gaze immediately fixed on the one atop the bay horseâa forty-year-old general. He was none other than Xie Zhen, the Marquis of Changxing, a disciple of her late grandfather. When her grandfather had fallen ill and passed away, Xie Zhen had returned to the capital to pay his respects.
A familiar, trusted faceâthere was no reason to look further. Yunzhu shifted her attention to the general on the black horse.
As soon as she did, she was struck by the sight before her.
The man was taller than Xie Zhen by half a head, sitting confidently on the black steed. But unlike her grandfather, a general whose mere presence could silence a room, this man did not exude the same commanding force. He wore armor that shimmered in the spring sunlight, and beneath his helmet was a handsome, almost poetic face.
If she had to compare him to anyone, he resembled her father, Li Yongâboth were Confucian generals.
Yet, where Li Yong, the Duke of the capital, was an ornament, undefeated save for a few minor battles, this man was a blade honed by years of conflict, sharp and unfaltering.
He seemed to smile, warm and approachable, yet beneath that surface was the quiet authority of someone who had commanded power for long enough to make others think twice before crossing him.
His features suggested youth, but there was a weight about himâan aura of experience that made him seem older, wiser, and more formidable than his years would suggest.
"Ah, thatâs Cao Shaoâs brother, the Great Imperial Uncle, Cao Xun, isnât it?" Sun Yurongâs voice broke through Yunzhuâs thoughts, and she finally took a closer look at the man, noticing the distinct resemblance to Cao Shao.
Just then, the man on the black horse turned his head toward Zuixianju.
His eyes swept the crowd quickly, but Yunzhu felt an undeniable sensation that he had locked onto her.
After all, she was the only one among the ladies not holding a round fan.