Chapter 1: Return to the Mansion

Chapter 1: Returning Home

◎ Jingming Temple is said to be the most efficacious temple in Yingtian Prefecture. ◎

On the first day of the sixth lunar month in the twenty-second year of the Shengchang era, the sun rose over the eastern mountains, and the morning dew still lingered.

Jingming Temple is renowned as the most efficacious temple in Yingtian Prefecture. Today, as the bell tower chimed its first note, worshippers had already entered through the mountain gate. Amidst the ringing bells and wafting incense, wisps of blue smoke curled upward, like the distracting thoughts that entangle the human heart.

The young novice monk tasked with sweeping couldn’t help but glance repeatedly toward the main hall, having already swept the same brick three times.

The female devotee praying below the statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva possessed a face even fairer and more delicate than the Guanyin statue itself. Her eyes were gently closed, her long, thick lashes fluttering softly, so beautiful she seemed almost ethereal.

Li Ci knelt on a cushion in the main hall, holding incense sticks and murmuring prayers: "I pray to the Bodhisattva to help your humble follower, Li Ci, find a worthy husband soon. I vow... to have my future husband observe a vegetarian diet for three months and burn incense in prayer to the Bodhisattva daily."

After speaking, she bowed solemnly three times, then tucked a thick stack of donation money into the merit box, her piety undeniably profound.

Xiuchun, standing nearby, pressed her lips together to suppress a smile and whispered, "Miss, this is Manjushri Bodhisattva. The Guanyin Hall is still ahead."

"Ah, did I pray to the wrong one?"

Li Ci’s eyes snapped open, blinking gently. Her long, butterfly-wing-like lashes fluttered, and her dewy-bright eyes shone with an innocent clarity. "It should be fine, right? The Bodhisattva is compassionate and will bless me."

To demonstrate her sincerity, she proceeded to bow to each of the other statues in the main hall, offering the same prayer and generous donations to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Having secured a full year of vegetarianism for her as-yet-unknown future husband, Li Ci finally ceased her prayers, satisfied, and went to the side hall to draw a fortune slip.

She read the drawn fortune aloud: "A bright pearl possesses virtuous qualities; returning, she will meet a noble spouse, filling the hall with honor."

Though Xiuchun didn’t fully grasp the meaning, she understood the words "noble spouse" and immediately rejoiced for her mistress: "Miss, this is an auspicious fortune!"

Li Ci was also delighted. Having spent three years at her maternal grandparents’ home, where everyone treated her well, she still missed her mother and father. If she could find a worthy husband soon, she could return home earlier.

She quickly turned to the monk interpreting fortunes nearby: "May I ask, venerable master, where might this... noble spouse be?"

"Amitabha," the monk chanted with a smile. Even after encountering countless devotees in the temple, it was his first time meeting such a straightforward and unreserved young lady. He chuckled and said, "This is an auspicious sign. Matters of fate are ordained by heaven. There is no need for worry, benefactor."

Li Ci wasn’t worried—she was impatient. After all, her mother had instructed her to return home only after finding a worthy husband. Unable to hold back, she pressed further: "Then when will I be able to form this blessed union?"

The master studied Li Ci’s countenance and gave a fail-safe answer: "The star of matrimony is stirring for you, benefactor. Good fortune is near—very soon. If not this year, then surely the next!"

Had others been present, they might have thought the master was merely offering a perfunctory response. Unfortunately, neither the mistress nor her maid was particularly astute, and Li Ci readily accepted the master’s grand promise. After happily expressing her thanks, she hurried her servants to begin the journey home.

The carriage raced along the official road. The young girl quietly lifted a corner of the curtain to peek outside, her eyes sparkling as if filled with the warm sunlight beyond the window.

Xiuchun remembered how, two years ago when they first arrived in Yingtian, the young lady had been just as curious about everything along the way. Back then, however, the young lady had been frail and sickly, as if too delicate even for her clothes. Fortunately, the climate south of the Yangtze was mild, and after two years of skillful treatment by Doctor Xue, she had improved greatly.

Even back in Jin territory, Xiuchun had never seen a girl more beautiful than her young lady. Now, after two years, she had blossomed into even greater beauty—unmatched by anyone in either region.

Considering that the young lady would reach marriageable age next year, and recalling the master’s prophecy of "very soon," Xiuchun couldn’t help but whisper, "What kind of worthy husband does the young lady wish to find?"

Li Ci hadn’t given it much thought yet and simply repeated what her parents and grandparents had said: "He must be virtuous and talented, preferably from a humble background and willing to marry into our family."

"That’s what the master and mistress said, but what does the young lady herself think?"

Li Ci thought seriously for a moment. "He must be good-looking."

Xiuchun agreed. After all, the young lady was so beautiful—if they ended up with an unsightly son-in-law, not only would the young lady be displeased, but Xiuchun herself would find it hard to accept.

She smiled and asked, "What counts as good-looking? Among the families associated with the Earl of Guangcheng’s residence these past two years, have you seen anyone you liked?"

The Earl of Guangcheng’s residence was Li Ci’s maternal grandparents’ home. Her grandfather, Zhou Zeshan, was a renowned Confucian scholar of the time and a rare civil official of the Great Yong dynasty who had been ennobled for military achievements. He was granted the title Earl of Guangcheng for capturing rebels and quelling unrest. Now advanced in years, he had not yet been permitted to retire by Emperor Huiren and held a sinecure as the Minister of War in Nanjing, devoting himself to teaching at the Lianquan Academy he had founded.

Li Ci had been sent to her grandparents’ home at the age of thirteen, partly to seek medical treatment in Jiangnan and partly because her parents believed it would be easier to find a husband there. However, being young, she had spent the past two years focused on play and, aside from her cousins in the residence, knew no other talented gentlemen.

Raised indulgently by her parents and influenced by her grandfather’s being above worldly affairs, Li Ci spoke of her marriage without the slightest shame, as if discussing not a lifelong union but merely hiring a satisfactory steward for the household.

Li Ci shook her head earnestly. "Mother said I am to take a husband into our family. Most of those associated with the Earl of Guangcheng’s residence are from noble and influential families—unsuitable."

Xiuchun quickly shushed her. "Young lady, lower your voice. This must not be spoken of outside."

Though taking a husband into the family was often looked down upon, the Li Family was the wealthiest in Shanxi Province. If word got out, applicants would be as numerous as carp swimming across a river, though their character and integrity would be questionable.

Li Ci nodded. "I know. I can’t speak of seeking a husband outside. Once I find a suitable one, I’ll persuade him."

Xiuchun looked at her young lady with a hint of admiration. "How does the young lady plan to persuade him?"

Li Ci’s attention had already shifted to a vendor outside selling sugar-coated fruits through the carriage window. The glistening sugar on the fruits mirrored the longing in her eyes.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t eat them.

She regretfully let the curtain fall and replied offhandedly, "No rush. Grandfather has many students. At worst, I’ll pick one from among them. He’ll do as he’s told."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes, preparing to take a short nap. Her long, curled lashes fluttered slightly like the tail feathers of a bird in flight, carefree and untroubled.

-

Though they had only gone to worship at a temple in the suburbs, it was already past *weishi* (1-3 PM) by the time they returned to the Earl of Guangcheng’s residence.

The summer afternoon was at its hottest, but fortunately, a stream had been channeled through the residence, murmuring through all the courtyards. A pond had been dug in the central courtyard, now filled with lush lotus leaves and blossoms. A breeze brushed over the lotus pond and willow trees, carrying a hint of coolness.

The Chunxia Hall was also quiet at this time, attended only by a few customary matrons and maids. In the main hall sat an elderly lady wearing a deep ochre gown embroidered with pine and crane patterns in gold thread. Though over fifty with silver-streaked hair, she remained spirited and vigorous.

Li Ci greeted her grandmother with a bow and presented the vegetarian food and Buddhist scriptures she had brought back from Jingming Temple.

The elderly lady squinted, carefully examining the scriptures Li Ci had copied by hand. Though the brushwork could not be called exquisite, it was neat and well-regulated, showing effort. "It’s rare for Ah Ci to settle down and practice calligraphy. You’ve improved."

Praised, Li Ci smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons, and declared proudly, "I spent a long time writing it. I was very serious."

The elderly lady patted her head. "Well done. It seems Ah Ci has truly grown up and is diligent in her studies too."

Just as Li Ci was about to respond, she accidentally caught sight of the crabapple cakes on the table and immediately forgot what she was going to say, her eyes fixed on the plate, sparkling brightly.

She quickly moved closer, wrapping her arms around the elderly lady’s arm, her voice as soft and pleading as a glutinous rice ball. "Grandmother, I was in such a hurry to return to see you at noon that I didn’t eat properly."

"These crabapple cakes are too sweet. You can’t have them." Seeing through her scheme, the elderly lady promptly had all the snacks on the table removed and instructed the kitchen to prepare medicinal meals suitable for Li Ci.

The small kitchen acted with swift efficiency. In no time, the sweet and delicious snacks were replaced with bland, soft, and mushy dishes that were utterly unappetizing.

Nanny Su, who attended the elderly lady, lifted the lid of the *doucai* lotus-patterned soup tureen for her. "Young mistress, Doctor Xue said you should eat more foods that clear heat and calm the nerves. Try this pork rib soup with fragrant solomonseal."

Li Ci bit her jade chopsticks, staring wide-eyed at the white lotus in her bowl, and sighed unconsciously. "Since it’s all lotus seeds, why can’t I have honey-roasted lotus seeds?"

Though it was not the most elegant behavior, she made it appear charmingly naive. The elderly lady was amused, laughing heartily, and coaxed her in a childlike tone: "Ah Ci, be good. You’re still taking medicine. Didn’t Doctor Xue say you should avoid sweet foods?"

"...Doctor Xue tells everything."

Li Ci grumbled softly, eliciting another round of good-natured laughter in the hall.

Knowing she couldn’t escape, she sighed in resignation and picked up the porcelain bowl to start drinking the soup.

The white lotus had intentionally been left with its core and, after processing, was even more bitter than ordinary lotus seeds. Li Ci ate slowly, her small face scrunched up into a frown.

The old lady was both amused and concerned, saying, "It can't be that bad!" while turning to Nanny Su, "Go fetch a plate of that *Jade Cake*."

Li Ci's eyes immediately curved into crescents as she pursed her lips and asked excitedly, "Grandmother, what is *Jade Cake*? I’ve never tried it before."

The old lady replied with a smile, "It’s a pastry brought by a guest of the house for an old woman like me. It’s made very light, with just a bit of rock sugar added. You’ll see when you try it."

Li Ci had a long-standing illness, and her trip to Jiangnan was primarily to seek treatment from Doctor Xue. Fortunately, Doctor Xue’s prescription worked like magic; her health, once as frail as a bean sprout, was visibly improving. However, the prescription was particularly demanding—not only were the herbs hard to come by, but there were also many dietary restrictions. What Li Ci found most unbearable was the rule against eating sweets.

The Zhou family had cared for her for two years and already knew what she could and couldn’t eat. Sugars made from sugarcane juice or beet were strictly off-limits, but a small amount of rock sugar or millet syrup occasionally was permissible.

The *Jade Cake* was soon brought over. Living up to its name, it had the color of warm jade, was delicate and fragrant, and seemed to be made from some mysterious ingredients, pressed into layered slices.

Li Ci took a bite—the rich aroma of peanuts mixed with the crisp texture of some unknown nut made it fragrant, crispy, and not at all sticky, with a faint sweetness.

Li Ci polished off three pieces in one go and then clung to the old lady, pleading, "Grandmother, I want more."

The old lady shrugged helplessly. "There’s no more."

Unyielding, Li Ci clung to her arm, shaking it coquettishly.

"Really, there’s no more," the old lady tapped her little head. "This was brought by a guest of the house from Chen County. It was just a little extra—who knew there’d be such a little food-lover like you?"

The fresh, crisp aroma of the *Jade Cake* still lingered on her lips. The glutton, tempted by the treat, asked proactively, "Which guest?"

If they were around her age and easy to talk to, it wouldn’t hurt to ask if there was any more *Jade Cake*, right?

The old lady smiled. "He’s a distant relative from my family's side. The child is naturally bright, diligent, and eager to learn. He recently passed the entrance exam for Lianquan Academy and plans to stay here for his studies. Everyone has already met him today."

"A scion of the Xie family from Chen County," Li Ci’s courage instantly waned upon hearing he was from such a prestigious and rule-bound clan. She said dejectedly, "Isn’t the Xie clan’s school good enough? Why come all the way from Kaifeng to Yingtian to study?"

"He’s just a distant relative from a collateral branch. I heard there was some disagreement with the main family over ancestral property. Your grandfather, valuing talent, specifically asked me to invite him here. Meeting him today, he truly is a remarkable child. With such talent and appearance, he could easily rank as *Tanhua* (third-place finisher) in the palace examinations. It would be a waste of heaven’s gifts if he were sidelined or hindered locally."

Li Ci wasn’t interested in scholarly matters and merely obediently said, "Oh." Then she heard her grandmother add, "To be precise, he’s the nephew of my mother’s cousin. If you ever meet him, just casually call him ‘cousin.’"

The old lady, though advanced in years, hadn’t lost her memory. She could recall such complicated family relationships and even remembered an amusing anecdote.

"Speaking of which, Li Ci, you met him when you were little. Xie Zheng’s grandfather once served as a county deputy in Datong County and was neighbors with your family for several years. Your mother said you loved snatching his *tanghulu*. You couldn’t eat them yourself, but you wouldn’t let anyone else have them either."

The first time the two pale, plump children played together, little Li Ci snatched Xiao Xie’s candy, and he immediately burst into tears. Yet, he still liked playing with Li Ci—always having his candy snatched, always crying. The adults from both families couldn’t help but laugh whenever they recalled it.

"I was just immature back then," Li Ci defended herself, then couldn’t resist asking, "Is it... Brother Xie Zheng?"

Seeing her grandmother nod, Li Ci’s heart leapt with joy.

He must still have some candy.

【Author’s Note】

Bringing my sweet daughter Li Ci and Xiao Xie, who’s about to go vegetarian for a whole year, to everyone—the story begins!

Below are unimportant notes:

1. The setting is fictional, primarily adopting the Ming dynasty’s two-capital system, with many private settings serving the plot.

2. Private setting: girls come of age at sixteen.

3. "A bright pearl possesses virtuous qualities; returning, she will meet a noble spouse, filling the hall with honor." Adapted from Li Qingzhao’s "Song of Long Life." The original lines are: "Celebrating this moment at the lofty gate, a pearl held in the palm is revealed. With graceful demeanor and virtuous nature, she returns to meet an excellent match. To this day, the hall is filled with nobility and splendor."