Chapter 5

Since Mother died, I had rarely had time to stroll through a lantern fair.

The brilliant lanterns had girls vying wildly for them.

Even the most proper young ladies could use a lantern fair as an excuse to let themselves go.

Hongyu had been watching Jiang Qihe like a hawk, but the thousands of lanterns soon stole her attention.

I sent her off to enjoy herself properly.

Seeing that I was not in high spirits, Jiang Qihe quietly kept me company as we stopped and wandered along.

By the time we rejoined Hongyu, I had several lanterns of my own.

Jiang Qihe had won them all.

Holding my lanterns, I stole a sideways look at him.

He was accomplished in both letters and arms. Born into an official family in the capital, he might have achieved every bit as much as Li Wujin.

Some people were so unlucky that even thinking of them brought trouble.

We had barely left the bustle of Zhuque Avenue behind when we met Li Wujin riding home.

He reeked of wine. He must have just left a banquet.

An attendant led his horse with great care, evidently afraid he might lose his seat and tumble off.

When the man saw me, he looked as though salvation had appeared.

“Fourth Miss…”

Hongyu hurried to block me from view, but Li Wujin opened his eyes before she could.

Lantern light shone in them. “Chan’er, have you come to take me home?”

Furious, Hongyu told the attendant, “Can’t you see my miss is with her betrothed? Take your general home!”

“Betrothed?” For an instant he looked confused. In the next, most of his drunkenness visibly cleared.

His expression darkened. His hawklike gaze moved between Jiang Qihe and me.

Then he sneered. “Xia Tingchan, are you that desperate for a man? A few days apart, and you can’t wait to take up with someone else.”

Jiang Qihe frowned, as though seeing the general he admired for the first time.

“General, forgive my frankness, but those words are improper. They damage Fourth Miss Xia’s reputation.”

A man I had only met today knew to defend me.

Irritation flared in me, and I retorted, “What are you saying, General? Deputy General Jiang and I are betrothed by imperial decree. He is hardly ‘someone else.’ You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”

Li Wujin flicked his whip. It struck the back of his attendant’s hand. Enduring the pain, the man handed him the reins.

Jiang Qihe’s frown deepened.

Before he could speak, Li Wujin said,

“I’ll take Fourth Miss home. Deputy General Jiang, you’re no longer needed.”

Jiang Qihe pulled me behind him. “General, she is my betrothed.”

Li Wujin tilted his head, his eyes full of contempt.

“That is an order.”