The noble girl is beautiful.

The sun was still bright outside, but the lamps inside the hall had already been lit. The Emperor, now advanced in age, found his eyesight worsening. Even with the room fully illuminated, he often felt his vision blur.
Setting down the memorial, he rubbed his eyes. The chief eunuch, Wang You, noticing this, immediately stepped forward to gently massage the his shoulders.

With his eyes closed, the Emperor asked, “Recently, Shen Shuo has been quite close to Duke Anguo. Do you know the reason?”

Wang You replied, “It’s likely concerning the marriage of his eldest daughter. I’ve heard that his heir is of marriageable age.”

“Oh?” The Emperor asked, “Isn’t his eldest daughter already engaged?”

“Previously, there was talk of an engagement to their cousin, Zhou Tanhua, but since they are first cousins, it didn’t go through,” Wang You said. “A pity, really.”

“Pity?” The Emperor chuckled, “What’s happening with the Zhou family?”

“The Zhou family has already arranged a marriage for Zhou Tanhua. He’s engaged to the daughter of an official from the Hanlin Academy,” Wang You informed.

“If they truly thought it a pity, they wouldn’t have arranged another marriage so quickly. The Zhou family has some sense. Despite having a successful member in Zhou Lanzhang, they haven’t aimed too high,” the Emperor remarked.

The Emperor saw noble families as a thorn in his side. The Zhou family producing someone like Zhou Lanzhang, who might seek a high-status marriage, was concerning. Marrying an official’s daughter from the Hanlin Academy, with a modest but respected background, was a wise move that avoided any hint of aristocratic dominance.

The Emperor opened his eyes, which were becoming cloudy with age, yet still reflected deep, inscrutable thoughts.

“How is Duke Anguo’s heir?” the Emperor suddenly asked.

Wang You quickly processed the question and replied, “Duke Anguo’s heir recently passed the provincial examination. He’s good-looking and talented, but rather indulgent. Just a few days ago, he got into a fight at Drunken Joy Pavilion over a courtesan and was beaten up. Now he’s recuperating at home. Because of this, the Shen family hasn’t mentioned any engagement.”

The Emperor frowned, “A good-for-nothing.” After a moment, he asked, “Where is Prince Duan?”

Wang You struggled to follow the Emperor’s seemingly random questions and quickly responded, “A few days ago, the Princess Royal hosted a flower-viewing banquet and urged Prince Duan to marry. Unable to endure the pressure, he sought refuge at Donglin Temple. A monk from a foreign land recently arrived there, telling stories of his travels, which Prince Duan found intriguing.”

Wang You’s words did not ease the Emperor’s concerns. The more composed Prince Duan appeared, the more uneasy he felt. The Emperor’s anxiety stemmed from his own aging while Prince Duan was in his prime.

Feeling agitated, he asked about the fourth prince, “How is the Fourth Prince lately?”

Wang You replied, “A few days ago, he went out of the palace and met the daughter of Censor Zheng at the Yushun Tower.”

Hearing this, the Emperor’s anxiety began to dissipate. The Fourth Prince only had Shen Shuo’s third sister as a concubine, suggesting that this young lady from Censor Zheng’s family was likely the his chosen consort. The imperial family had little place for sentimentality; the Fourth Prince’s interest in Shen Qingyan, merely a concubine, was a strategic move. The primary consort position was still open, allowing for political maneuvering to prevent any single family from gaining too much influence.

“He’s only capable of such things, always focusing on women,” commented Yao Jian, the son of Minister Yao, while listening to opera with Shen Shuo.

In contrast to Yao Jian’s carefree attitude, Shen Shuo’s expression was somber.

They were in a discreet, unremarkable room within the opera house, watching a new play titled “The Goddess of Mount Wu” by He Xiaofang.

Yao Jian hummed along with the tune, noticing Shen Shuo’s displeasure. “Shen, the imperial edict has been issued. No matter how reluctant you are, there’s no turning back. I suggest you accept it gracefully; at least it’s not your own sister.”

Shen Shuo sipped his tea, “My own sister is an even bigger headache.”

Yao Jian looked at him, “Why do you say that?”

Shen Shuo explained, “I’ve received word from the palace that the Emperor has inquired about my sister’s marriage prospects. I’m concerned he might bestow a marriage upon her.”

Yao Jian pondered, “And if he does, who would it be?”

“An heir of Duke Anguo, Lu Fangzhi,” Shen Shuo replied. “My father hinted at a possible engagement recently, but nothing was finalized.”

“Him?” Yao Jian commented, “Shen, think carefully. Lu Fangzhi recently got into a brawl over a courtesan and ended up getting beaten. He’s just a pretty face, a useless one at that. Moreover, he’s weak-willed and overly reliant on his mother, lacking any presence outside the home.”

Shen Shuo sighed, “But my sister can’t remain unmarried forever.”

Yao Jian, fanning himself thoughtfully, said, “In my opinion, it’s best to wait a few more years. Who knows, there might be a better opportunity.”

Shen Shuo was taken aback, staring directly at him, “What do you mean?”

Yao Jian quickly clarified, “Don’t misunderstand, Shen! I was just speculating. I’ve been handling some matters for the Prince lately and happened to guess something.”

Shen Shuo didn’t take the tea he offered, “What matters?”

Yao Jian reluctantly set down the cup, “Regarding Lu Fangzhi, of course.”

Shen Shuo quickly pieced things together, suspecting that Ji Zhuo had directed Yao Jian to orchestrate the incident, thus causing a scandal for Lu Fangzhi. Yao Jian, known for his keen insight, had likely picked up on Ji Zhuo’s intentions.

Shen Shuo pursed his lips, his expression serious.

Yao Jian advised, “The difficulty in your sister’s marriage prospects lies in the Prince’s opposition. Besides, Shen, it’s a great match for your family. If your sister marries the Prince, you’ll be his brother-in-law, and I might need to rely on you in the future.”

Shen Shuo frowned, “Don’t joke about my sister.”

“Fine, fine,” Yao Jian conceded.

The two had studied together before, and by a twist of fate, they had come to serve the same master, leading them to share some candid conversations.

“To be honest, the Emperor is watching. As long as the Prince’s affairs are unresolved, so will your sister’s marriage be. You suggest waiting, but how long should she wait? Why should she have to wait?” Shen Shuo asked.

“That’s true,” Yao Jian acknowledged. “But in my view, the Prince doesn’t seem willing to let go. Think about it; if your sister marries now, what then? If the Prince’s affairs don’t work out, so be it. But if they do, and he ascends to the throne, how would he feel seeing your sister married to someone else?”

Yao Jian whispered, “Aren’t you afraid of a situation where the ruler takes his minister’s wife?”

Shen Shuo was stunned, as if suddenly enlightened, his thoughts racing.

Yao Jian continued, “The best course of action is to delay. Your family can make engagements but shouldn’t rush into a marriage. Look on the bright side, if the Prince loses interest in your sister after some time, she can marry freely. At her young age, even waiting a few years won’t be a problem. If the Prince remains interested, and things go well for him, your sister could at least become a consort, if not an empress!”

Shen Shuo quickly considered the situation. The prospect of her becoming a consort seemed distant, but resolving the immediate dilemma was crucial.

“If that’s the case, we should look for someone currently in mourning,” he proposed. “This way, we can make an engagement without rushing into marriage, which would resolve our current predicament.”

Yao Jian laughed, “Shen, you always think ahead!”

As they whispered, a commotion arose from downstairs. They saw guests tossing silver ingots towards He Xiaofang on stage, making him shine even brighter amidst the glittering silver.

“Who are these people, spending so lavishly?” Yao Jian walked to the window, marveling, “Throwing money around like this is my dream life.”

The guests were in a nearby private room. Yao Jian could hear someone saying, “I never thought I’d have so much money to tip like this!”
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued not by the extravagant gesture but by the voice—a girl’s voice, despite the male attire.

Shen Shuo also glanced over and immediately frowned. He called for a servant, “Bring them over.”

The guests lavishly tipping He Xiaofang turned out to be none other than Shen Yourong and her two sisters, disguised in male attire. Shen Yourong was taken aback to see Shen Shuo, and all three sisters looked guilty. Yao Jian hid behind a screen, listening to the conversation.

“I told you to enjoy the countryside, not to come here! You’ve forgotten all manners!” Shen Shuo scolded, particularly reprimanding Shen Qingyan, “And you, throwing silver around like this, where did you learn such wastefulness?”

Shen Qingyan muttered, “Elder Sister said this is her establishment, so the money we spent will just go back to the business. I just wanted to experience it; I’d never dare be so extravagant usually.”

Yao Jian chuckled softly behind the screen, finding their childlike innocence endearing.

With him present, Shen Shuo couldn’t scold them further. He ordered them sent back, giving some final words, “It’s fine to go out, but not without proper escort. Those maids are hardly sufficient protection. What are the guards on the estate for?”

Shen Yourong dared not argue, but Shen Qingyan murmured, “Who sneaks out to have fun with a big entourage?”

After sending them off, Yao Jian emerged from behind the screen, smiling, “Your sisters are quite amusing. Who was the one speaking just now?”

“That’s my third sister, the one marrying the Fourth Prince,” Shen Shuo replied. “She’s always been lively. She even wrote the new play by He Xiaofang that you saw downstairs.”

Yao Jian was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he said, “What a waste.”