Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It was May, when a hundred flowers bloomed in riotous splendor-the most beautiful season of the year in the capital.

Among the high officials, noble families, and flower-adorned ladies of the city, it was customary to load wine into carriages and go beyond the city walls, choosing scenic gardens where they could drink, compose songs, admire the flowers, and take in the view.

This was also the time of year when every household received the most invitations.

Though the Shen Family had fallen on hard times, its old reputation still lingered. And since the Shen Family still had one young master and two young ladies whose marriages had yet to be discussed, Madam Shen (eldest branch) had received no small number of invitations, most of them for flower-viewing banquets.

They were called flower-viewing banquets, but in truth, they served as convenient occasions for matchmaking. Young masters and young ladies who were rarely seen in ordinary times could be observed clearly and carefully under this pretext.

Ever since Madam Shen (eldest branch) had seen the daughter of Vice Minister Lin of the Court of State Ceremonial marry into a powerful family, she had been regretting not bringing the Shen Family girls to Jingnan Marquis Manor.

There were four girls in the Shen Family altogether. Of the two born to her, the eldest Shen daughter had married early, while Shen Si was still too young; neither could attend such banquets.

As for the second branch, Second Miss Shen had also already married out. That left only Shen Jin of the third branch, who could still show her face at a flower-viewing banquet.

To be fair, Shen Jin was not lacking in looks. It was just that her temperament was rather quiet and timid. In particular, after she had somehow eaten something poisonous last time, she had been so frightened that she had not dared leave the house for more than half a month.

How could she compare to the young lady of the Lin family? In order to marry well, that girl had jumped into a lotus pond in April weather, even willing to risk her life!

It was only because Madam Shen (eldest branch) was softhearted and pitied Shen Jin for having neither father nor mother that she was still willing to make plans for her. If Shen Jin still failed to appreciate her kindness, then all her effort would truly be wasted.

“Go inform Third Miss. Tell her that Grand Secretary Yang’s wife has sent an invitation, asking me to attend a flower-viewing banquet at their private flower garden. Have Third Miss dress herself properly and come with me.”

The little maid hurried to relay the message to Shen Jin. Shen Jin had long understood her eldest aunt’s purpose in bringing her to the flower-viewing banquet, but since Lu Chenzhou was already engaged, she no longer worried that someone would scheme to make her marry him. So she agreed, rose, and changed her clothes.

Grand Secretary Yang, who had sent the invitation, was a broad-minded man who paid little attention to trifles. He often liked to host open-air banquets in his own flower garden, inviting friends and relatives to admire the flowers and scenery. Because he loved nature, he never laid out seats at his flower-viewing banquets. Instead, fallen petals would be gathered in advance and spread across the ground, called the “Flower Mat.”

Shen Jin had only just come of age. In her previous life, after what had happened at the birthday banquet in Jingnan Marquis Manor, she had become engaged to Lu Chenzhou and then shut herself away at home, no longer going out.

Now, this was her first time attending Grand Secretary Yang’s flower-viewing banquet. Wherever her gaze fell, she found everything fresh and fascinating.

Since Madam Shen (eldest branch) had brought her here, she naturally intended to present her before others. If some madam happened to take a liking to Shen Jin, perhaps a good marriage might come of it.

Though Shen Jin disliked Madam Shen (eldest branch) behaving this way, she was living under another person’s roof and could not openly defy her too much. She could only allow herself to be led over to Madam Grand Secretary and be subjected to everyone’s appraising comments.

The Shen Family’s foundation was what it was. If she wanted to bypass a fifth-rank official’s household and marry into nobility, it would likely be difficult. But if they chose among capital officials, there might still be one or two suitable families.

Unfortunately, Lu Chenzhou’s marriage had struck the noble ladies of the capital far too hard. When the madams and young ladies gathered together, most of what they discussed was Liu Wanrou. Upon learning that she would also be attending today’s flower-viewing banquet together with Lu Chenyu of the Dingbei Marquis Estate, none of the madams or young ladies had any attention left for matchmaking on Shen Jin’s behalf. They were all waiting to see Liu Wanrou.

Shen Jin unexpectedly gained a moment of leisure. She simply slipped away from the crowd of brocade and blossoms and followed the stream that had been drawn through the Yang residence, strolling slowly along its bank.

Lu Chenzhou had been on the opposite side of the stream, speaking with the Hereditary Prince of Jingnan Hou and several others. He had just been listening as the Hereditary Prince of Jingnan Hou beat his chest and stamped his feet, cursing himself for having been schemed into marrying a poisonous woman, when a wisp of pale purple mist seemed to drift past from the opposite bank. Lu Chenzhou could not help lifting his eyes.

He happened to see a familiar figure dressed in a smoky-purple gauze gown, passing through flowers and willows like the wind before disappearing down the bank. If not Shen Jin, the wife he had divorced in his previous life, then who else could it be?

The banquet had yet to begin, and most people were gathered together chatting idly. Yet she alone was walking off by herself. Who knew whom she was plotting against this time?

The Hereditary Prince of Jingnan Hou also saw Shen Jin. Seeing her graceful bearing and lovely face, far more outstanding than Lady Lin’s, he sighed all the more. “There are so many good women in this world, yet the one I met just had to be Lady Lin.”

Hearing this, Lu Chenzhou’s nostrils flared, and he gave an involuntary snort.

If one looked only at appearances, Shen Jin could indeed be called gentle and dignified. But if one looked at what lay within, how was Shen Jin any different from that Lady Lin?

So he said to the Hereditary Prince of Jingnan Hou, “Lady Lin is hardly the only woman in this world who climbs toward power and wealth. Brother, there is no need to be angry. At worst, after the wedding, find some pretext to divorce her. You cannot fall into someone else’s trap and then still let everything go exactly as they wish.”

“Divorce her? If only it were that easy.” The Hereditary Prince of Jingnan Hou felt a headache coming on the moment he thought of Lady Lin. Since she had been capable of scheming her way into the marquis manor, who was to say she had not left herself a way out?

If he fell into her trap again one day and let her bear him a son or daughter, then even divorcing her would become impossible.

“At best, I can only take in two more beautiful concubines. I can’t compare to you, Marquis. Not only did you marry the woman you had your heart set on, I hear your lady wife is a great beauty as well.”

Hearing this, Lu Chenzhou’s lips curved ever so slightly. He was deeply aware that if he had not made plans in advance, the one sitting here cursing a poisonous woman right now would likely have been him.

Shen Jin still had no idea Lu Chenzhou had seen her. She wandered leisurely around the grounds and had originally planned to cross the bridge, circle around once more, and then return to Madam Shen (eldest branch). But when she saw the crowd gathering among the drooping willows, most of them men, she turned right around and went back the way she had come.

Unexpectedly, she ran into familiar faces halfway back: Lu Chenyu, the young lady of Dingbei Marquis Estate, and her cousin Liu Wanrou.

Who knew where Lu Chenyu had gotten upset this time. Her little face was dark as she tugged at a willow branch, muttering and grumbling to Liu Wanrou.

Liu Wanrou looked rather awkward. She twisted her handkerchief between both hands and stood to the side, merely listening to Lu Chenyu without replying.

Even watching from a distance, Shen Jin felt anxious on Liu Wanrou’s behalf.

Although Assistant Prefect Liu had been appointed by the emperor to serve in Yangzhou, the Liu Family’s status was ultimately no match for the hereditary Dingbei Marquis Estate. After Liu Wanrou came to the capital, despite having the old madam backing her, she had suffered no small amount of grievance in private in order to please the siblings, Lu Chenzhou and Lu Chenyu.

Lu Chenyu especially. Because the Old Marquis had passed away early, the Old Marchioness and Marquis Dingbei pitied her for losing her father at such a young age and doted on her with great indulgence. As a result, she had grown into an arrogant, domineering temperament. Even in front of Liu Wanrou, the cousin she liked best, if one word displeased her, she would scold as she pleased.

It was precisely because of this that, after Shen Jin married into Dingbei Marquis Estate, she and her sister-in-law had clashed often.

For the sake of the bigger picture, Shen Jin had yielded to Lu Chenyu wherever she could. Only when Lu Chenyu caused a truly disgraceful scene outside the estate would Shen Jin use her status as Marchioness and elder sister-in-law to rein her in.

Back and forth, this had only made Lu Chenyu and Liu Wanrou even closer. More than once, Lu Chenyu had said to Shen Jin’s face that she wanted Liu Wanrou to be her sister-in-law.

Now that Liu Wanrou really was about to become her sister-in-law, Lu Chenyu had stopped cherishing her.

Shen Jin shook her head with a rueful smile. Since she had no wish to have anything to do with Lu Chenzhou, she would naturally avoid the whole lot from Dingbei Marquis Estate as well. So she bent down and hid behind a rockery, waiting for the two future sisters-in-law to pass.

Lu Chenyu ranted for a while and vented her anger before finally taking Liu Wanrou by the hand as they walked. “Look at how useless you are. If other people say your status isn’t good enough, can’t you talk back and say she doesn’t have the ability to marry into our Dingbei Marquis Estate? All you know how to do is cry. Such petty, small-family manners. Come on. Let’s go find my brother and have him judge who’s right!”

Liu Wanrou’s wrist was caught in her grip. She tried to pull free, but could not, so she could only softly coax Lu Chenyu. “Dear sister, there’s no need to trouble Cousin over such a small matter. What they said is true to begin with. Our family truly cannot compare to yours. But my betrothal to Cousin cannot be changed, either. Just take it as their jealousy and let them talk.”

“If they’re jealous of you, why aren’t they jealous of that Miss Lin? If you ask me, Miss Lin is the shameless one, rushing to set a trap so she could marry into Jingnan Marquis Manor. Hey, tell me, what are daughters from these small households thinking? One after another, do they all think they’re heavenly immortals and want to marry above their station? Didn’t you hear what that Madam Shen said just now? The mere daughter of a lower fifth-rank assistant director dares dream of being matched with the Old Marquis of Pingxi, of becoming his second wife! Bah. She doesn’t know what’s good for her!”

Whatever Liu Wanrou said after that, Shen Jin did not hear clearly. The moment she heard Madam Shen, the Old Marquis of Pingxi, and second wife, she froze.

Her eldest aunt truly would not rest until she married Shen Jin into some lofty household. The Old Marquis of Pingxi was already past fifty, and his original wife had only passed away at the start of the year. Yet here her aunt was, already plotting to stuff a girl who had only just come of age into his household as his second wife.

Shen Jin clenched her sleeves tightly. She could not allow her eldest aunt to arrange her marriage any longer. Otherwise, her future would likely be even more unbearable than marrying into Dingbei Marquis Estate!