—Parallel universe: Meeting early, destined for a beautiful union

Jade Capital City, by the Lake of Startled Magpie.

This place is spacious, with tall buildings lining the lakeside; it's the most entertaining spot in Yujing City. Whether you enjoy storytelling and tea, or music, dance, and beautiful women, as long as you have power and money, whatever you like or want, you can have it all.

On this day, Wei Qinglou, the third young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, was also here, a model of extravagance and a paragon of the pampered elite in Yujing City.

He didn't sit in a high hall to watch music and dance, nor did he go to a teahouse to listen to storytelling. Instead, he hung out with his cronies, showing no regard for the image or self-awareness of a noble young master, squatting by the roadside watching people fight cocks.

He had a keen eye; whichever side he predicted would win would make a fortune. And it wasn't just cockfighting; it was horse racing, cricket fighting—basically everything. Before long, a large group of people gathered around him, all like him—ignorant and uneducated sons of high-ranking officials.

After three rounds, Wei Qinglou, just like before, almost won everything his opponent had.

But every time he left Jingque Lake, he would squander most of that silver.

Jingque Lake was famous, and with so many sons of officials gathering there, word of it naturally attracted all sorts of people. There were local ruffians looking to make a quick buck, poor girls dreaming of marrying into wealth, prostitutes, and even children and the elderly hoping to earn some money to make ends meet.

Every time Wei Qinglou won money, he would have Shujian exchange it for rice and flour at a nearby rice and noodle shop, and then distribute it to the poor families and beggars on the street.

On the other hand, that's just how this place is. Inside, it's a dazzling display of glamour and extravagance; outside, it's a melting pot of all sorts of people.

Upright men and women, as well as male relatives and friends, would not frequent this place.

Wei Qinglou, who was about to leave Jingque Lake that day, glanced casually but stopped in surprise.

Amidst the bustling crowd, stood a young woman.

She stood in the afterglow of the setting sun, with snow-covered green mountains behind her. Plum blossoms were planted by the lake, their red, white, blue, and black hues blooming in an interplay. Thus, even in the desolate Jade Capital, a touch of enchanting charm flowed forth, like a beautiful dream on a moonlit night in mid-spring.

She, dressed in a pine-green long skirt and draped in a dark black cloak, stood dignifiedly under the plum blossom tree by the Jingque Lake.

It looks completely out of place here.

It was precisely because of this incongruity that Wei Qinglou looked at her for a while longer and thus recognized her identity.

The wife of that newly risen noble in the court was named Zhu Jiayu.

Wei Qinglou chuckled softly. She was indeed quite out of place. He had met her a few times. Although she came from a merchant family in Suiping, she didn't have any petty airs. On the contrary, she was quite dignified and poised. Occasionally, when someone asked her something at a banquet, she would speak frankly. If she knew the answer, she would say so; if she didn't know, she would admit that she was ignorant. She was a very open and easygoing person.

She looked like she was waiting for someone.

Wei Qinglou hesitated for a moment, then went over and asked her why she was there.

Zhu Jiayu hesitated. She didn't recognize the refined young man in front of her, and seeing that he seemed to have come from that garden, she instinctively became more wary of him.

"Madam Rong may not recognize me. I come from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and am the third son."

Zhu Jiayu thought for a moment and remembered such a person. Although he was indeed a playboy, he was a good one. He never bullied the common people or forcibly took women. Only then did she answer his question: "It was Miss Wang who asked me to wait for her here."

Wei Qinglou nodded, his expression serious. "I see." He turned around and looked at her. "Then you've probably been tricked. It'll be dark soon. Jingque Lake isn't exactly a good place during the day, and it gets even more chaotic at night. Madam, you'd better go back early."

He paused, then steeled himself and told her, "The ladies and young women in Yujing City value their reputation and would never meet people in a place like this."

Zhu Jiayu lowered her eyes and said softly, "I...I know too. I specifically asked her, and she said I was mistaken in believing the rumors."

Wei Qinglou frowned slightly.

He could roughly guess that those ladies and wives looked down on her to some extent. But he never expected them to go this far.

"How about this, you go back now and leave the servant here. If you do see Miss Wang, bring more people to meet her. If the servant waits all night and doesn't see Miss Wang, then next time, in public, you can ask her about this. The noble ladies of Yujing City are most wary of this. They dare not reveal their dirty deeds to others."

"When you get back, remember to tell General Rong about this. He is now highly regarded by the Emperor and has made great contributions. He is much more powerful than those old men. With him stepping in to put you in your place, no one will dare to make fun of you like this again."

Zhu Jiayu thanked him gratefully, then bid him farewell and got into the carriage.

However, after Wei Qinglou returned, he waited for a long time, but no rumors circulated in the city.

He was quite disappointed; it seemed that Madam Rong hadn't actually listened to him at all.

The next time I heard news of her was at the Yun family's full moon celebration.

He overheard the noble ladies gathered together, first discussing Madam Yun's extravagant twelve jade hibiscus carvings, then talking about Zhu Jiayu, who was so ignorant of her place, daring to try and compare herself to Miss Yun. But what kind of remarkable jade carving could her mother, who died young, possibly produce for her? It was Lord Rong who was wise enough to shut her up with a single sentence, telling her not to spoil such a good day.

Wei Qinglou sighed.

So that's what she was living.

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