Xue Zhen had spent a cold night in the mountains and returned only to fall into a fever that lasted for days. Her mother, Madam Cao, summoned the best physicians and hired skilled midwives to tend to her bedside day and night.
The rumors about Xue Zhen that had circulated in the city had long been suppressed by Madam Cao. Now, the townsfolk no longer gossiped about Xue Zhen's abduction but instead focused on the scandalous affairs of the magistrate, who favored his concubine over his wife.
When Xue Zhen finally awoke, her first question was about Sui Wu: "Mother, have you dealt with Sui Wu? If she's dead, there will be no evidence of the abduction."
Xue Zhen was immensely relieved that when she was found, her hair was disheveled, and no one had seen her face clearly. She could pin everything on Sui Wu. However, Sui Wu had always been rebellious and might not comply willingly. Keeping her alive was too risky.
Madam Cao wiped Xue Zhen's face with a handkerchief and nodded, "I have plans for Sui Wu. Focus on recovering first. Once you're well, I'll send you to your maternal grandparents' home."
Xue Zhen was taken aback. She looked up at her mother and said firmly, "I won't go."
Madam Cao threw the handkerchief to the ground and snapped, "You will go, whether you like it or not. I've already discussed it with your grandmother. In six months, you will marry your cousin. After the wedding, you can accompany him to the capital for his imperial exams. Your grandmother has always wanted you to marry into the Cao family, and your uncle adores you. This is an excellent match, one that others can only dream of!"
"But cousin already has a fiancée! Miss Chen is living with Uncle now, and he's even prepared the betrothal gifts for her. I have someone I love. Why should I steal someone else's marriage?"
"Why? You still don't understand why?" Madam Cao's chest heaved with anger. "Do you really think that by blaming Sui Wu, everything will be fine? Go out and ask how many people in this city believe your story!"
Xue Zhen's face turned pale. "I don't care what others think. As long as Huo Jue believes me, that's enough. I'll explain it to him myself. If that doesn't work, I'll ask Father to speak to him. He'll surely believe Father."
Madam Cao retorted, "Do you not know your father's character? Do you think he would still want to marry you off to Huo Jue?"
Xue Zhen bit her lip, her eyes reddening.
Madam Cao, seeing her daughter's distress, softened her tone and took Xue Zhen's hand. "Zhen'er, listen to me. You can't stay in Tong'an any longer. Your cousin is talented and has always admired you. How is he any worse than Huo Jue? As for Miss Chen, don't worry about her. She's just an orphan from a fallen family. We can easily accuse her of adultery and drive her out. Zhen'er, you've always been clear-headed. Don't be foolish now. Your cousin is the best match for you."
---
The weather grew hotter with each passing day, and by May, the residents of Tong'an had all switched to lighter clothing.
Xue Zhen sat in a carriage, her expression cold and detached.
Sui Yun, trembling, poured her a cup of floral tea and said cautiously, "Miss, please have some tea to soothe your throat."
Xue Zhen's eyes finally moved, and she stared coldly at Sui Yun.
Sui Yun shivered and lowered her head like a quail. The next moment, Xue Zhen ordered, "Open the curtain. It's stuffy."
"Yes, Miss."
Sui Yun lifted one side of the curtain, and the early summer breeze drifted in. She was about to say something when a sharp pain shot through her wrist.
She turned in alarm to see Xue Zhen staring fixedly out the window at a jewelry shop.
Xue Zhen's nails dug deeply into Sui Yun's thin skin, but Sui Yun dared not cry out in pain. She followed Xue Zhen's gaze and saw a handsome young man standing on the steps of the jewelry shop, looking at a young woman in a light green dress embroidered with flowers.
Perhaps it was the warm sunlight or something else, but the young man's usually cold eyes seemed to soften, like the first thaw of winter snow.
The young woman beside him was Jiang Li, who was smiling as she spoke, a delicate pearl hairpin adorning her hair.
---
Jiang Li touched the hairpin on her head, pleased with the jeweler's craftsmanship.
"When Sister Bi Hong brought the hairpin over, two pearls had fallen off. I never thought the old master could find identical pearls to repair it."
Huo Jue smiled slightly at Jiang Li's delight but suddenly his smile froze. He turned his head toward the street.
A carriage slowly passed by, and through the half-open window, Xue Zhen's face was visible.
Huo Jue met Xue Zhen's gaze with indifference before turning back to shield Jiang Li.
He had already learned from Xue Mao about Xue Zhen's engagement to the Cao family. Xue Zhen had tried to harm Jiang Li, and Huo Jue had spared her life only out of respect for Xue Mao's kindness.
If it weren't for Xue Mao's favor, Huo Jue wouldn't have let Xue Zhen return alive.
Now that she was leaving Tong'an, it was for the best. If she dared to trouble Jiang Li again, Huo Jue wasn't sure he could control his urge to kill.
Jiang Li, oblivious to Xue Zhen's presence in the passing carriage, was preoccupied with her newly repaired hairpin.
"A Li, do you still want to eat steamed cheese?" Huo Jue asked.
Jiang Li's eyes lit up. "Yes! I heard from Ying Ying that the ice shop has introduced several new cheese desserts. The osmanthus-flavored steamed cheese is especially delicious."
The Xue family's carriage had long since disappeared. Huo Jue looked down at Jiang Li's sparkling eyes, a flicker of affection in his gaze. "Let's go. I'll take you to try it."
The owner of the ice shop remembered Huo Jue well. When she saw him bring a young woman in, her face lit up with a wide smile.
"Master Huo is here!" she greeted warmly. "And such a beautiful young lady! Please come in. I'll prepare the best seat for you."
The ice shop was small, and the best seat was by the window.
After ordering dessert for Jiang Li, Huo Jue left the shop. Through the open window, Jiang Li saw his slender figure appear at several nearby food stalls.
When he returned, he carried a food box filled with delicacies: braised goose feet, pea cakes, cream-filled pastries, and sugar-steamed cheese—all the snacks Jiang Li had craved while she was ill.
During her illness, Jiang Li had grown tired of drinking medicine and had tried to avoid it once she felt better.
Huo Jue, knowing this, didn't scold her. Instead, he gently coaxed, "A Li, if you take your medicine, I'll buy you whatever you want to eat once you're well."
Jiang Li had listed many treats, and Huo Jue had remembered every one.
He truly cared about everything she said.
Jiang Li smiled, picking up a pea cake with her chopsticks and placing it in Huo Jue's bowl. "You should have some too."
Huo Jue didn't usually enjoy sweet foods, but if Jiang Li offered, he would eat it.
The young man sat tall and straight, his long, pale fingers holding the rough red chopsticks with an elegance that made even the simplest utensils seem refined.
Jiang Li rested her chin on her hand, watching him eat.
She had noticed long ago that even the most ordinary things seemed extraordinary in Huo Jue's hands.
He carried himself with a grace that stood out on Zhu Fu Street, like a pearl among fish eyes, impossible to overlook.
Feeling Jiang Li's gaze, Huo Jue chewed slowly. After swallowing, he set down his chopsticks and met Jiang Li's bright eyes. His voice was soft but carried a hint of something deeper. "A Li, you'll be coming of age next month. Have you thought about a courtesy name?"
"A courtesy name?" Jiang Li was puzzled. "I haven't thought about it. Ying Ying and A Yan didn't seem to have courtesy names when they came of age."
Jiang Li was right. It was rare for common girls to receive courtesy names upon coming of age, and even their coming-of-age ceremonies were often simple.
The elaborate ceremonies with hairpins and courtesy names were usually reserved for noble young ladies.
Huo Jue looked at her. "Would you let me choose a courtesy name for you?"
---
After leaving the ice shop, the two returned to Zhu Fu Street.
Jiang Li had left home wearing a wooden hairpin but returned with a pearl-adorned hairpin instead.
Yang Hui Niang gave Jiang Li a meaningful look. "When you wore this hairpin to the banquet last time, I thought Ying Ying had lent it to you. Now it seems Huo Jue gave it to you."
Jiang Li quickly took off the hairpin and showed it to her mother, beaming. "Mother, isn't it beautiful? Huo Jue gave it to me as a token of his affection. I almost lost it when I fell into the water last time."
Yang Hui Niang tapped Jiang Li's forehead. "Aren't you ashamed? You're not even of age yet, talking about tokens of affection. If others heard, they'd say you lack propriety."
"I wouldn't tell anyone else, just you, Mother." Jiang Li hugged Yang Huiniang's arm and started to act coquettishly..
Yang Hui Niang knew her daughter was trying to placate her and sighed. "You're so stubborn, determined to run headlong into trouble. Even if Huo Jue does propose, and even if you marry him, do you know what kind of life you'll have?"
"Of course! A harmonious and respectful life, just like you and Father."
Jiang Li's father, Jiang Sui, had passed away when she and her brother Jiang Ling were seven.
In her limited memories, her parents had always been deeply in love. Her mother's fiery temper had softened into tenderness around her father.
Yang Hui Niang gave her a reproachful look. "Your father and Huo Jue are nothing alike. Huo Jue will become an official. Have you heard about the recent scandal with Magistrate Qian favoring his concubine over his wife? His wife was his childhood sweetheart, but after he became a magistrate, he took in a fallen noblewoman as a concubine and doted on her like she was his treasure, letting her bully his wife. A Li, ask yourself: would you be willing to share your husband with another woman?"
Jiang Li's heart turned cold.
She loved Huo Jue and wanted to be with him, to marry him.
For him, she was willing to learn things she didn't enjoy, just to be worthy of him.
But that didn't mean she would be willing to share him with another.
What woman would ever want to share her husband?
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