Chapter 1 She Bumped into Him.

Chapter 1 She Bumped Into Him

With the onset of autumn winds, Madam Pang’s headaches became a frequent affliction. Having just received acupuncture from the physician, she now feigned sleep.

A charcoal brazier glowed nearby. A young maid, having seen the physician out, returned to replenish the coals. As she poked the embers with fire tongs, sparks inevitably crackled and flew.

During these quiet moments, Madam Pang occasionally lifted her eyelids to glance at the woman kneeling at the foot of the daybed, head bowed, massaging her legs.

The woman wore a simple yet elegant cloud-patterned dress in sky-blue. Her hair was adorned with only a few plain hairpins, and a translucent jade bracelet graced her wrist. It swayed gently with her movements, its clarity surpassed only by the delicate, porcelain-white skin of her wrist.

Kneeling before the daybed, her slender waist and graceful figure were evident even beneath the modest attire. Her profile was soft and serene…

Madam Pang’s gaze was unmistakably scrutinizing. The woman massaging her legs looked up and softly inquired, "Did I press too hard?"

Mindful of Madam Pang’s rest, she had been careful with her strength, her touch growing increasingly gentle.

Normally, Madam Pang would have fallen soundly asleep by now, and Zhu Yinluan would have ceased. But today, after half an hour, Madam Pang remained awake, even opening her eyes, which puzzled Zhu Yinluan.

Noticing the confusion and faint unease in the other’s eyes, Madam Pang withdrew her leg. Zhu Yinluan could only pull back her own aching wrist, remaining silent.

A maidservant stepped forward to cover Madam Pang’s legs with a soft quilt.

Zhu Yinluan rose and stood aside. Without her mother-in-law’s dismissal, she could not leave, even though she had yet to eat lunch.

Having been married into the Wei family for several years, she had come to understand Madam Pang’s temperament well. No longer did she make the frequent mistakes and incur scoldings as she had in the beginning, when her mother-in-law’s intentions were a mystery.

After about half a cup of tea’s worth of time, Madam Pang, having maintained her dignified posture, finally spoke. Her eyes remained closed, her tone slow and deliberate. "Has Zhuo Ge’er finished with his temporary assignment?"

At the mention of this, Zhu Yinluan fell silent.

When she first married into the family, the Wei household was in decline. Wei Ruzuo, implicated in his father’s affairs, had barely managed to enter officialdom as a low-ranking Archivist, thanks to her family’s influence.

This marriage had originally been arranged for her elder sister. But after Wei Ruzuo’s father mishandled a case and offended his superiors, he was demoted and sent away, rarely returning even once or twice a year. The Wei sons were also barred from the imperial examinations due to family punishment.

Her family, unwilling to let their beloved eldest daughter suffer, pushed the less-favored Zhu Yinluan into the marriage instead.

Though the Zhu and Wei families had marriage connections, Zhu Yinluan, quiet and reserved, had never exchanged a single word with Wei Ruzuo despite having seen him before.

In the early days of their marriage, awkwardness and restraint lingered between them. But to maintain their marital harmony, he occasionally spoke to her.

By the latter half of their first year, they had grown closer. Wei Ruzuo began sharing with her about matters big and small, and Zhu Yinluan, in turn, offered advice—some of which he adopted.

But by the second year, as he established himself in his career, rising from Archivist to a position in the Hanlin Academy, their conversations dwindled.

Sometimes, even under the same roof, they exchanged fewer than three sentences in ten days or half a month.

Especially in the past year, Wei Ruzuo rarely spoke of official matters. If she inquired too much, he would frown in displeasure, giving her a disdainful look. Zhu Yinluan, silenced, understood her place, and the distance between them grew.

Recently, the Ministry of Revenue had begun reorganizing census records and compiling population registers. Short-staffed, they had temporarily transferred Wei Ruzuo from the Hanlin Academy to assist.

She hadn’t known at first. Only after he stopped returning for meals and left early and returned late did she learn from his attendants that he had been seconded to the Ministry of Revenue.

Hearing the displeasure in Madam Pang’s tone, Zhu Yinluan pressed her lips together and truthfully shook her head—she didn’t know.

Madam Pang grew angry. "What do you even do all day?! Your husband is overworked, yet you don’t even know his whereabouts. Truly, you’re just lazing around, living off him!"

As she scolded, her disdainful gaze swept over Zhu Yinluan from head to toe, lingering pointedly on her abdomen.

Faced with intentional taunting, Zhu Yinluan remained silent.

When no response came, Madam Pang let out an angry breath. A maidservant hurried to soothe her. "The physician just said you mustn’t upset yourself, madam. If your headache returns, even acupuncture won’t help."

Calmed down, Madam Pang relented, though not without a dismissive wave of her hand, sending Zhu Yinluan away.

Outside Tingyu Pavilion, Yun Mama, the maidservant who had escorted her out, said quietly, "The madam hasn’t been well lately. Please don’t take her words to heart."

Zhu Yinluan had always been kind to the servants, and those who understood respected her in return, offering comfort in private.

She smiled faintly. "I’ll trouble you to look after Mother’s health."

"You flatter me, young madam. It’s only our duty."

After a few more pleasantries, Yun Mama returned inside. Zhu Yinluan went back to her courtyard for lunch. The meal had long been set out, but she had been called away before she could eat. Now, as the dishes were reheated and served, she had barely eaten two mouthfuls when there was commotion outside.

Turning, she glimpsed through the open window lattice a hurried maidservant—one of her elder sister’s dowry servants.

The woman, emboldened by the Zhu family’s status and Zhu Yinluan’s gentle nature, barged in without waiting for announcement. Without greeting or courtesy, she said abruptly, "Third Miss! The eldest young lady is in trouble—she demands your presence at once!"

Ming Ya, Zhu Yinluan’s lifelong maid, moved to protest that her mistress hadn’t finished eating.

But Zhu Yinluan raised a hand to stop her, signaling silence with her eyes.

The maidservant noticed the exchange but pretended otherwise, pressing on, "Hurry! If you don’t go, the eldest young lady will suffer!"

Zhu Yinluan could only nod in assent.

On the way, she guessed the reason—the same as always. Her brother-in-law, Luo Xuan, had been drinking with courtesans, sparking her sister’s tearful outburst.

But what could she even do upon arrival?

Luo Xuan held a higher position in the Ministry of Works than Wei Ruzuo. Her support would hardly make a difference. Yet her sister had taken to summoning her increasingly often this past year, though they had never been close before.

If she refused, the maidservant would report to their mother, and she’d be scolded for neglecting her sister.

Yet when she recalled how her sister had married into the noble house of Luo while she was pushed into the impoverished Wei family—how her sister had never lifted a hand to help her in return...

"Eat some pastries, miss. This back-and-forth will take a while, and you’ve barely eaten these days—you’ve grown so thin," Ming Ya suggested, offering snacks.

"We left in a rush, but Jiao Hui had these prepared in advance. She’s so thoughtful."

Jiao Hui had suffered. Originally not a Wei family servant, she had been bought by Zhu Yinluan in the capital at eleven or twelve, selling herself to bury her father. Others had shunned her for the unlucky birthmark on her face.

Pitying her, Zhu Yinluan paid for the funeral and gave her silver to start anew. But Jiao Hui had secretly followed her and, upon being discovered, knelt and bowed deeply, begging to serve her. Unable to dissuade her, Zhu Yinluan had kept her—for years now.

The money for Jiao Hui had come from Zhu Yinluan’s private savings. When she brought the girl home, Madam Pang had scolded her for reckless spending, saying the household already had enough servants.

The memories weighed heavily on her heart.

Unwrapping the package revealed longan cakes. Zhu Yinluan ate little—the physician had warned that if she wanted children, she must watch her diet, avoiding overly sweet treats like pastries.

"You have them," she said, pushing them toward Ming Ya.

Noticing her mistress’s low spirits, Ming Ya, too worried to eat, tucked them away.

The sharp-eyed maidservant glimpsed this through the carriage curtain and couldn’t resist remarking, "The eldest young lady is crying herself sick, unable to eat, yet Third Miss has an appetite, snacking in the carriage."

Ming Ya bristled, ready to defend Zhu Yinluan, but was stopped. The maidservant snorted.

"...This was brought from home. I’m not sure if you’ve tried this yet, but if you don't mind, you could try some." Yinluan lifted the carriage curtain and had Ming Ya pass it out.

The old woman sneered but snatched it up fast.

Ming Ya was furious and wanted to stand up for Yinluan, but knowing her mistress's temperament and concerns, she ultimately held her tongue, thinking to herself that it might as well have been tossed to a dog.

The Luo residence occupied a prime location in the capital, a good distance from the Wei estate. It was just past noon, the height of the capital’s bustle, and the carriage had been traveling for a long while without arriving.

Zhu Yinluan felt unwell. She was about to ask Ming Ya for a handkerchief when suddenly the carriage jolted, nearly toppling her over.

Ming Ya lifted the curtain to look outside, but before she could ask what had happened, the coachman stammered, "W-we’ve collided with a noble’s carriage!"

A noble?

Nobles were a dime a dozen in the capital, so at first, Zhu Yinluan wasn’t overly alarmed.

But Ming Ya whispered in panic, "Miss, it's the carriage of the Shen family—the Household of the Marquis of Zhaoping!"

The Shen family?!

That was truly one of the most powerful aristocratic families in the capital—not a family to cross. The only question was, who was inside?

Frowning, she steadied herself. Zhu Yinluan prepared to step out and personally apologize to make way.

But before she could lift the curtain, a retainer from the opposite carriage had already approached, holding an exquisite rosewood lacquered food box inlaid with animal motifs.

"The Young Master was in a rush when he left today and didn’t mean to inconvenience you. The broken axle is being repaired, but it may take some time. These imperial delicacies and pastries, a gift from the palace, are the Young Master’s apology. Please do accept them, and please don’t be upset."

The Heir to the Marquisate?

The one inside the Shen family’s carriage was actually Shen Jingzhan—the most notorious young lord in the capital right now?!

"Miss..." Ming Ya, seeing Zhu Yinluan frowning in thought while the retainer still waited, urged her softly.

This was a delicate situation. Who would dare refuse the Shen family’s gesture? She had no choice but to graciously accept and let Ming Ya take it.

"It’s no trouble at all. The Young Master is truly... too generous." Yinluan glanced at the lavish carriage across from them.

The retainer bowed and withdrew after delivering the gift.

Zhu Yinluan looked again at the clogged street and stalled carriages. Seeing that the repairs were indeed underway and the Shen family’s carriage remained unmoving, she lowered the curtain.

"Miss! These imperial delicacies are so exquisitely made!"

Ming Ya gasped in amazement as she opened the box, delighted. "They must be delicious! And how convenient—while they fix the carriage, you should eat some."

She was handed silver chopsticks, but Zhu Yinluan hadn’t fully regained her composure.

What an odd coincidence?