Chapter 1

My name was Xu Ying, and I was one of the capital’s aging unmarried women. Nineteen, and still no husband.

Could it be that my beauty offended gods and men alike, leaving prospective suitors too awestruck to approach?

I slipped a little mirror out of my embroidered purse and admired my reflection.

The woman in the mirror was radiant and alluring, her skin fair and fine. A sumptuous blossom in human form.

I couldn’t help sighing. “Goodness, I really am beautiful.”

Yuan Zhi gave a quiet snort. “Some people haven’t a scrap of learning, yet never miss a poetry gathering. I suspect poetry is merely an excuse. It’s that entire bamboo grove they’re after.”

The men’s seating area was over by the bamboo grove, not far away. The young gentlemen of noble families were composing verses and amusing themselves there.

Wasn’t that a blatant dig at me for coming out to look for a man?

Every young lady’s eyes settled on me at once.

Why were they all staring? Was my purpose written on my face…?

I sheepishly tucked the mirror away and opened the silk bag my maid handed me.

I had come thoroughly prepared for this garden poetry gathering.

Rosewood brush box carved with plum blossoms? Check.

Fine xuan paper from Canglang Pavilion? Check.

Green jade paperweight shaped like bamboo? Check.

Chengni clay inkstone with fish playing among lotuses? Check.

“Oh dear. I forgot the new brush I bought yesterday.”

At my cry, Yuan Zhi finally lost patience. “See? I told you she was up to no good. She never came to write poetry. She came! To look! For men!”

“Zhizhi, how could you say that about me?” My eyes reddened at once. With a little whimper, I pressed my handkerchief to my face and ran out.

As you have probably gathered, Yuan Zhi did not like me.

The reason was simple. I had toyed with her cousin Liang Huaishen’s affections.

Just when Liang Huaishen and I had reached the point of discussing marriage, I had abruptly fallen for someone else and taken up with Wen Yilan.

Liang Huaishen’s desperate attempts to win me back had failed. I had broken his heart so thoroughly that the mere mention of women now made him blanch.

With that hanging over me, I could hardly give as good as I got whenever Yuan Zhi mocked me.

Oh, forget it. No point quarreling with a little girl. I would go to the bamboo grove and find my old sweetheart, Wen Yilan.

Before I reached its depths, a cold, stern voice stopped me. “The guests over there are all men. Where do you think you’re going?”

I turned and saw a handsome, refined face. On closer inspection, his eyes and brows bore a certain resemblance to Yuan Zhi’s.

Oh, what rotten luck. It was her younger twin brother, Yuan Lang.

He had already passed the highest imperial examination at his young age, placing ninth in the second class. Genuine learning and ability like his were rare among the sons of officials.

At first, I had rather liked him. Who wouldn’t lose her head over someone so handsome and accomplished?

But he had been unfriendly to me from the very beginning.

The first time we met, at Liang Huaishen’s house, he had glared at me and kept giving nasty little snorts.

On another occasion, Liang Huaishen took me riding. I nestled in his arms, giggling.

Yuan Lang rode past and shot me a contemptuous glance. He might as well have said, “Have you no shame?”

I had even accidentally overheard him complaining to Liang Huaishen that I lacked dignity and composure, that my conduct was wanton and frivolous. How could he possibly marry me and make me the wife of a noble heir?

I had never met a man so fond of gossiping behind people’s backs.

I couldn’t be bothered with him and continued toward the bamboo grove.

“Didn’t you hear me speaking to you?” Yuan Lang strode after me. “Don’t go any farther that way.”

“Young Master Yuan, what happened to calling me Sister Xu? You disliked me before, too, but at least you knew how to pretend.”

Yuan Lang folded his arms and stared at me without a word. His face said it plainly enough: You know perfectly well what you did.

I was utterly fed up. “Stop following me. Your former cousin-in-law’s affairs are none of your business.”