The Empress Dowager of the West lovingly looked at You Yuji and asked in a gentle voice, “Are you accustomed to staying at the Jinnan Prince’s Mansion? Has your mother-in-law been treating you well, or has she been difficult like an evil mother-in-law?”
The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept over You Yuji and the Princess Consort, her tone filled with a hint of amusement as she spoke. She observed the two of them arriving together, chatting amicably as they entered, which did not give the impression of a strained relationship.
You Yuji stood up and knelt before the Empress Dowager.
“What is this for?” The Empress Dowager frowned. “Have you suffered some grievance?”
Suspicion flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes as she glanced at the Princess Consort of Jinnan. Known for her kind heart and broad-mindedness, she had no interest in mediating petty domestic disputes, even if they came seeking her judgment.
“The Princess Consort has been exceedingly kind to me. However, Yuji and the Young Lord An do not get along; it is not a good match. We have already signed a separation agreement earlier this year, deciding to part ways amicably. I was concerned that this marriage was granted by Your Majesty, and I did not wish to go against your intentions, so I kept this matter hidden until now to report it to Your Majesty.”
The Empress Dowager was greatly astonished.
Separation?
In her long life, she had seen only a handful of couples who had gone through a separation. She frowned, studying You Yuji kneeling before her in silence for a long time.
For a moment, the hall fell into silence.
The Princess Consort of Jinnan spoke with a smile, “Matriarch, this child is very good. I am fond of her, but she and An are not destined to be together. Since they cannot get along, it is better to part ways and let each seek their own happiness.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “You agree as well?”
The Empress Dowager was very puzzled. This marriage was unusual, with political implications. Even if the You family did not care, how could the Jinnan Prince, being a key figure, take this matter lightly?
The Princess Consort nodded, smiling, “Marriage is not something that can be forced. Letting things take their course is better for both children.”
The Empress Dowager scrutinized You Yuji and said, “I have heard of some foolish things An has done. However, have you considered the consequences of separation?”
“I have thought it through.” You Yuji bowed deeply, showing unwavering determination.
Another long silence followed. The Empress Dowager sighed and said, “Stand up.”
You Yuji hesitated for a moment before standing up.
“This is ultimately a private matter between your two families. I do not wish to interfere too much. However, An is currently not in the capital. It seems inappropriate for you to leave at this time. How about this: wait until An returns, and the two of you can submit the separation agreement to the ancestral hall, recording the date of signing.”
The Empress Dowager was more reasonable than You Yuji had anticipated. Her attitude suggested that she would not hold the You family responsible. But waiting for Chen Anzhi to return?
You Yuji frowned slightly, still wanting to leave the mansion immediately. She had reasons to depart quickly.
Just as she was about to speak, the Princess Consort of Jinnan gently patted her hand and said with a smile, “That is fine. I am very fond of Yuji; it would be nice for her to stay in the mansion a bit longer.”
The Princess Consort gave You Yuji a meaningful look.
You Yuji pressed her lips together, swallowing the words of insistence.
“Alright, I am not feeling well. After seeing you all for a while, I am starting to feel drowsy again.” The Western Empress Dowager rose with the help of a nanny.
You Yuji and the princess also immediately stood up and respectfully saw the Western Empress Dowager off.
On the way back to the prince’s mansion, You Yuji lowered her head, feeling hesitant. It was clear she was not satisfied with the result that she had to stay in the Prince of Jinnan’s mansion for some more time.
The princess noticed this. She patted You Yuji’s hand and said, “Anzhi will return to the capital at the latest by Mid-Autumn.”
You Yuji looked up at the princess in surprise. The reason she was unhappy with today’s outcome was precisely because Chen Anzhi had joined the army and his return date was uncertain. But hearing the princess say this, she couldn’t help but feel relieved. It seemed the Prince of Jinnan and his wife did not really intend to abandon Chen Anzhi in the army.
With a definite date, You Yuji’s mood improved significantly.
There were some things the princess shouldn’t have told You Yuji. But she still held You Yuji’s hand, lowered her voice, and said, “The Emperor’s health is deteriorating. Within six months, the crown prince must be decided. The Western Empress Dowager wants us to wait for Anzhi to return, to discuss this matter after the crown prince’s position is settled.”
With that, the princess did not explain further.
You Yuji understood completely. The Western Empress Dowager did not involve herself much in court affairs, but she had managed to hold her position for decades without a son, indicating she wasn’t foolish. Now that the crown prince’s position was undecided, she was giving the Prince of Jinnan a little protection, avoiding any minor disturbances that could affect his succession. Whether or not the Prince of Jinnan would ultimately ascend the white jade steps, he would remember the kindness of the Western Empress Dowager.
You Yuji let out a long breath and began calculating the days.
Before returning to the Prince of Jinnan’s mansion, You Yuji got off the carriage early. She took a small sedan, accompanied by Zhuo Wen and Zhuo Wu, and headed west, eventually entering an alley.
The small sedan passed through the crowd and stopped in front of a bun shop.
“Buying buns? Our buns have thin skin and lots of meat, very affordable! What filling would you like?”
You Yuji smiled when she heard Cuiyu’s voice. She lifted the curtain and looked out, saying with a smile, “One tray of each filling.”
Cuiyu was stunned for a moment, and her forced smile immediately became genuine. She said with a laugh, “Oh my, look at me, I’ve been so busy that I didn’t even recognize the people around my sister!”
She pointed at Zhuo Wen, joking that she had been mistaken.
You Yuji got out of the sedan and looked around the bun shop Cuiyu had opened. Calling it a bun shop was an overstatement; the place was really too small, barely enough room to turn around.
“Sister, come with me!” Cuiyu wiped her hands on her apron and reached out to grab You Yuji’s hand, pulling her inside.
After a short, narrow passage, there was a small kitchen at the back.
Cuiyu kicked Lin Yingying, who was squatting by the stove with her back to them. “Get up, get up, look who’s here!”
Lin Yingying turned around, rubbing her kicked butt, and when she saw You Yuji, she immediately smiled and sweetly called out, “Sister.”
Seeing Lin Yingying, You Yuji was both surprised and not surprised.
She bent down, using a handkerchief to wipe a bit of dust off Lin Yingying’s face, and said with a gentle smile, “Look at how dirty this little face is.”
Cuiyu widened her eyes in surprise and asked, “Sister, why aren’t you surprised to see Yingying? I thought you’d be so scared you’d shout like you’d seen a ghost!”
She patted her chest in an exaggerated manner and said, “I was all ready to open my arms and hug you to reassure you there were no ghosts!”
You Yuji was amused by Cuiyu’s words and shook her head helplessly, “I think if you can’t make a fortune selling buns, you should try storytelling; you might earn more that way.”
Cuiyu’s eyes twinkled as she seriously considered You Yuji’s joke. But she quickly snapped back to reality, tugging on You Yuji’s sleeve and asked, “Sister, when did you find out that Yingying was still alive? I’ve been so curious and troubled about how to explain it to you!”
“When you came to take back all the belongings you had left with me.”
“That early?” Cuiyu was extremely surprised.
Lin Yingying smiled with her eyes and said, “I’ve worried you during this time, sister. It wasn’t intentional to hide it from you, but back then, I thought…”
Lin Yingying pursed her lips.
You Yuji smiled and didn’t press further, gently saying, “It’s good that you’re well. Nothing else matters. Here, this is for you. I was supposed to destroy it, but I kept it. I don’t know if you’ll need it in the future, but I’ll return it to you now.”
You Yuji took out Lin Yingying’s indenture from her sleeve and handed it to her.
Lin Yingying looked at the thin piece of paper, momentarily dazed. It was just this thin piece of paper that defined her identity, making many things in this world seem like a luxury to her.
“Let’s talk outside. It’s cramped and greasy in here,” Cuiyu said.
Outside, there were only two small square wooden tables. Most people who bought buns took them to go, and rarely did anyone sit down to eat. Therefore, it was the first time these two tables were being used.
Cuiyu personally picked a bun of the same flavor from the steamer and placed it on the table. Then she fetched a pot of wine she drank herself from the back kitchen.
Buns with wine didn’t seem like a very good pairing.
But the three of them sat together, eating steaming hot buns and occasionally sipping the not-so-delicious cheap wine, yet they were very happy.
Cuiyu proudly said, “Sister, these buns are delicious, right? Aren’t my skills great?”
Lin Yingying, feeling displeased, sweetly protested, “Sister is stealing the credit. Clearly, we divided the work inside and out. Most of the buns were wrapped and steamed by me!”
“But I made the dough, didn’t I?” Cuiyu retorted with a laugh.
“It’s still a seventy-thirty split,” Lin Yingying said with a smile, taking a bite of a bun, and a drop of soup splashed on her face.
Cuiyu burst into laughter.
You Yuji smiled, wiping her face with a handkerchief.
Lin Yingying made a face at Cuiyu, “Sister is still good to me, you always make fun of me!”
Cuiyu, carefree, said, “I just make fun of you, I’ve been doing it for over ten years, hahaha…”
The three of them chatted and laughed for a while when suddenly there was a commotion.
“What’s going on?” You Yuji turned her head and asked Zhuo Wen to find out.
Zhuo Wen didn’t move, smiling as she replied, “The results are out today, and the top scholar is parading through the streets! Everyone is going to watch the excitement.”
You Yuji nodded.
Several passersby stopped to buy buns, and Cuiyu hurried to serve them. These passersby wanted buns that were no longer available outside, so Cuiyu rushed inside to get them.
The passersby started discussing the newly appointed top scholar.
“I didn’t expect this year’s top scholar to be Marquis Anqing. It’s rare for someone of such noble birth to be able to settle down and study. Tsk, in the capital, which one of these young masters isn’t a dandy? This Marquis Anqing is truly like a lotus emerging unstained from the mud.”
Another person said with a grin, “What’s so surprising about that? Old Marquis Anqing has been gone for many years, and the Anqing Marquisate hasn’t had an easy time in the capital, often being looked down upon by the clan.”
“Now that the young marquis has received the emperor’s personal selection, the once deserted Jiang family will likely become lively overnight.”
“Still, it’s because the young marquis is capable, earning respect on his own.”
Cuiyu came out from inside, handing the buns to these customers. As they discussed the top scholar, they walked away.
“Yingying?” You Yuji looked at Lin Yingying.
“Ah?” Lin Yingying snapped back to reality, “What did you just say, sister?”
She smiled awkwardly and explained, “I was lost in thought just now and didn’t hear clearly…”
“I said the wine in your cup spilled,” You Yuji said gently.
“Oh, oh!” Lin Yingying hurriedly put down her cup and frantically wiped the wine stains off the table.
You Yuji glanced at her for a moment, then shifted her gaze to the people who had just walked away.
Before long, the procession of the top scholar parading through the streets passed by the front street.
The bun shop Cuiyu had chosen was situated on higher ground, so they didn’t need to squeeze forward to see the excitement and could still see the top scholar from a distance.
Jiang Yunche, adorned in a golden flower black gauze hat and a red robe, sat on a tall horse, exuding extraordinary dignity. The crowd watching the excitement surrounded him, loud and bustling.
Lin Yingying smiled and withdrew her gaze.
Great, he achieved his wish.
Before returning to Jinnan Mansion, You Yuji went to several shops to buy things. By the time she returned to the mansion, it was already getting dark.
As soon as she entered the room, she heard Si Que’s voice calling, “Sister.”
“Why haven’t you lit the lamps?” You Yuji smiled, carrying the boxes she had bought into the side room. The contents of these boxes were prepared for Si Que, but she couldn’t give them to him yet.
“Without you here, lighting the lamps doesn’t bring light.”
You Yuji paused, then smiled, allowing Si Que to hug her from behind.
Si Que, following her arm, felt the box she was holding, “What’s this?”
“A gift for you, but I’ll give it to you the day after tomorrow.”
Your coming-of-age ceremony gift.