Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

The young woman in red listened, then subtly lifted her chin, casting a sidelong glance at Ming Tang. "So, you know who I am?"

"I have a few suspicions," Ming Tang replied, nodding, unperturbed by the other’s demeanor.

She recalled the day the imperial examination results were posted. Chen Wenyao, having placed high on the list, stood out among the mostly married or older new *jinshi* like a single red bloom in a field of green. On that very day, he had been "invited" to someone's home.

However, her engagement was already set, and Ming Tang, upon hearing the news, had never worried about any complications. She hadn't even bothered to inquire which family had "captured" Chen Wenyao as a son-in-law. Only later did she learn, through various channels, that it was the Wu family, a military household, seeking a husband for their eldest daughter.

Now that she and Chen Wenyao were divorced, and the Chen family was actively seeking a new match for him, the presence of a Wu family girl suggested they might intend to revive that old proposal.

But marriage proposals were delicate matters. After the failed "capture" three years ago, it was unlikely the Wu family would invest two daughters in Chen Wenyao. Could this person before her be the very same eldest daughter of the Wu family involved in the original incident?

Given her unmarried attire, it seemed she had remained unwed all these years. Ming Tang found herself momentarily astonished.

Was Chen Wenyao truly that remarkable?

"Since you know who I am, you should admit that I truly won," the Wu family’s eldest daughter scoffed. "Winning is winning, losing is losing. I know I will get what I desire, while your future remains uncertain."

The Wu family, being a military household, had raised their eldest daughter to dream of marrying a refined scholar. That year, upon learning of a handsome young man of her age among the new *jinshi*, she had believed it was a match made in heaven.

Yet, despite her family’s efforts to bring him home, the marriage never materialized. Her "heaven-sent" match had, in the blink of an eye, welcomed another into his home, a union the capital lauded as a perfect match.

Afterward, her family had sought other matches for her, but with a *tanhua* scholar—whose talent and looks were universally acknowledged—having once been within her grasp, who would settle for those so-called "talented" men who had achieved neither success nor fame?

Now, at an age where marriage was pressing and her family worried about her prospects, her cherished *tanhua* scholar was single again. Was this not a sign that good things come to those who wait? On the verge of finally achieving her heart's desire, the Wu family’s eldest daughter couldn't resist taunting Ming Tang, who had once made her a laughingstock, hoping to exact a measure of revenge.

Seeing her so resolute, so clearly determined to marry into the Chen family, Ming Tang abandoned any thought of dissuading her. Her gaze became tinged with a detached indifference, as if the matter no longer concerned her.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a calm, clear voice suddenly interjected, "Oh, young lady, did you also bet on that golden dragon boat to win?"

Ming Tang turned to see an unfamiliar lady smiling at her. The woman's gaze was clearly fixed on Ming Tang, yet it felt entirely unoffensive.

Before Ming Tang could wonder who she was, the previously confrontational Wu family’s eldest daughter had already composed herself, curtsying respectfully. "My respects, Mrs. Pei."

Mrs. Pei nodded, her tone gentle. "I had some business with this young lady, but waiting a moment is no trouble. Hearing your discussion about which dragon boat to bet on, I couldn't help but interject. I hope I haven't disturbed you."

"You honor us, madam," the Wu family’s eldest daughter quickly replied, her eyes now holding a hint of surprise and uncertainty as she looked at Ming Tang.

When had Ming Tang caught the eye of the Duchess of Dingguo?

Unbeknownst to her, Ming Tang was equally puzzled. When had she ever met this Mrs. Pei? And why would she seek her out personally?

Though silver threads graced Mrs. Pei’s hair, one could still discern traces of youthful beauty on her weathered face, complemented by an innate elegance. Ming Tang was certain that if she had ever met such a woman before, she would never have forgotten her.

After speaking, Mrs. Pei noticed Ming Tang’s hesitation and seemed to understand. She stepped aside, revealing a child standing behind her, peeking from behind her skirts.

"Forgive my abruptness, miss. It’s my A-Ze who insisted on finding you."

Suddenly exposed and standing before Ming Tang, the child shyly smiled, then quickly grabbed Mrs. Pei’s skirt and hid behind her again.

So, the child’s guardian wanted to meet the stranger who had given him a toy today. Ming Tang instantly understood Mrs. Pei’s intention.

"How could I refuse your invitation, madam?"

Conversing with an elegant lady and an adorable child was far more appealing than dealing with a hostile "former rival." Ming Tang readily agreed.

Mrs. Pei nodded, signaling to a nearby maidservant to carry Pei Ze, and walked ahead toward an empty seating area not far away.

Ming Tang followed a few steps behind. She saw the Wu family’s eldest daughter staring intently at her, her gaze still filled with ill will. Despite her apparent deference to the newly arrived lady, she refused to temper her animosity. It seemed she truly found her former wife particularly displeasing.

Having someone harbor such animosity was indeed uncomfortable. After a moment’s thought, Ming Tang paused and smiled. "Miss Wu, there’s no need for such deep animosity toward me. After all, Chen Wenyao and I are divorced. Of all people, I am the least likely to have any further entanglement with him. What matters is not the past, but the future, don't you agree?"

Miss Wu froze, blinking slowly, her thoughts momentarily suspended: *It actually is like that…?*

Seeing her expression change, Ming Tang felt a mischievous urge and gently coaxed, "I know Miss Wu probably still has doubts. How about this: let's make a deal. For any woman marrying, dealing with her mother-in-law is often the biggest headache. If, after you marry, you find yourself unable to understand Madam Chen’s intentions, why not write to me? A hundred taels per piece of information. I’m sure it could save Miss Wu a lot of trouble."

"Really?" Miss Wu’s eyes immediately lit up. Ever since her marriage prospects seemed eighty percent certain, her mother had constantly worried that Madam Chen, as a widow, might be difficult to get along with. Some even speculated that Miss Ming’s divorce might have been partly due to Madam Chen.

The constant nagging had given Miss Wu a headache.

"Absolutely," Ming Tang assured her, surprised that Madam Chen could actually be put to such "wasteful" use. "Whatever Miss Wu wishes to know, just send a letter to my home. I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back."

Miss Wu feigned composure, nodding slightly, but the smile at the corners of her lips clearly betrayed her inner delight. It wasn't until she watched Ming Tang sit beside Mrs. Pei, exchange a few words, and then bend down to playfully tease the Pei family’s most cherished young master, that she snapped back to reality: *Wait, wasn't she here to mock Ming Tang?*

Yet, Ming Tang could even profit from Madam Chen’s preferences, seemingly unafraid of information leaking. It appeared she truly held no lingering attachment to the Chen family.

Meanwhile, Ming Tang, who had just tickled little Pei Ze’s soft double chin, making him giggle and hide behind Mrs. Pei’s skirts, couldn't help but smile.

"A-Ze seems quite fond of you," Mrs. Pei remarked, sitting composedly, watching Ming Tang play with her most treasured grandson without any intention of stopping her.

She could tell this young woman genuinely liked children and knew how to interact with them appropriately, without causing any fuss.

"Perhaps it’s because I make toys," Ming Tang said with a wink.

Mrs. Pei nodded in approval. "You truly have an ingenious mind." She had seen the *temari* ball—it was clearly modeled after the *cuju* ball, but its much smaller size made it perfect for hand-play. The name "hand-play ball" (*shoujuqiu*) was perfectly apt.

Moreover, its patterns could be endlessly varied, making it a good choice for a waist ornament or a child’s toy—a versatile item indeed.

As they spoke, a thunderous cheer suddenly erupted from below the Jade Platform. In the distance, a dragon boat surged from the finish line, its drummer standing tall at the bow, waving a vibrant red strip of silk—the finish line ribbon. The race results had been decided.

The platform buzzed with excitement. Mrs. Pei, seeing the color of the winning dragon boat, was momentarily stunned. "Did you truly choose at random, young lady?"

If she had chosen randomly and managed to pick the golden dragon boat that won first place, her luck was truly extraordinary.

Ming Tang’s gaze was earnest. "Of course not."

"That golden dragon boat is my investment," Ming Tang said, holding up five fingers. "I told them that if they won first place, in addition to the official reward, I would add another five hundred taels of silver."

For those five hundred taels, her team had trained tirelessly for who knew how long. Indeed, the power of money was immense.

Mrs. Pei chuckled, about to say something, when a sharp crack of a whip suddenly pierced the air from the Kun Tower opposite them.

Everyone’s expression tightened. After three resounding cracks, the boisterous banks of the Kunyu River gradually fell silent. A dense mass of people knelt, followed by a thunderous cry of "Long live the Emperor!"

This section of the Kunyu River was at its most crowded during this time of year. The synchronized shouts of thousands of people sent shivers down one's spine.

From the Kun Tower, clear "Rise!" commands echoed in succession. Ming Tang stood, facing the Kun Tower, her head bowed, and couldn't help but marvel at the people’s reverence for imperial power in this era.

Such a boisterous scene could quiet down with such astonishing speed.

She had just speculated that a high-ranking figure was in the Kun Tower. Now, it was clear—it was none other than the most important person in the world.

On the Kun Tower, a figure in modest stone-blue robes appeared by the railing. Across the river, Ming Tang could only glimpse the figure waving a hand, after which a deafening cheer erupted along the riverbanks.

Ming Tang felt she could perfectly understand this reaction. If she were out celebrating a festival and suddenly saw the country's supreme leader, she would probably be incredibly excited too.

However, with such a large crowd, she worried that any disturbance might lead to trouble…

As if her thoughts had conjured it, just as the idea flashed through Ming Tang’s mind, she heard a piercing scream from the opposite bank. Ming Tang instinctively looked up, following the sound, and saw a child tumble from the bank, plunging straight into the Kunyu River, struggling against the waves.

Due to the dragon boat races, the Kunyu River had been closed to navigation these days. Now, the only vessels on the river were the dragon boats returning from the finish line not far away, and the nearest one was still more than three *zhang* (about 10 meters) from the child.

Ming Tang’s heart clenched, but then she saw a young man in black leap from the bridge. With a light tap of his foot on a bamboo pole that had appeared in the river, he moved swiftly, bending down to lift the child.

Then, with incredible speed, he landed safely on the nearest golden dragon boat. The child, once put down, immediately burst into tears, clearly unharmed.

The drummer on the boat, however, was not so lucky. Dragon boats are notoriously narrow, and standing as he was, he suddenly lost his balance and fell into the river, left to swim awkwardly alongside the boat with a wry face.

This unexpected incident unfolded with rapid twists and turns, so fast that Ming Tang hadn't even fully processed it before she saw the outcome. Nothing remained in her mind except the vivid image of that figure in black.

—It was like a real-life action movie. She just wondered what kind of face this "hero" had, and if it could match his slender waist and long legs.