Chapter 103 (Bestowed Marriage)

On Phoenix Mountain, the autumn rain poured down, pattering heavily on the tea leaves in the He family's tea garden. He Haochuan and his father, He Hongzheng, were leading the workers in a rush to harvest the tea in the rain. Their straw raincoats and hats offered little protection from the chill, and their robes were already soaked through and clung to their bodies.

Last night, the father and son had a long talk. Seeing that his son was determined and remembering that Meng Yutong had saved his life, He Hong had no objection to the marriage.

This morning, He Haochuan was about to go to Zhaoyutang to express his feelings when Princess Jingfu's residence suddenly sent someone to say that they urgently needed a batch of top-quality new tea and that it had to be served that day without delay.

The He family dared not neglect such distinguished guests, so the father and son had no choice but to temporarily close the teahouse and hurriedly lead their staff up the mountain.

I had hoped to hurry up and pick the fruit so I could get down the mountain before dark, but the weather turned against me and it started to rain.

The torrential rain not only slowed their progress but also made the mountain path muddy and difficult to traverse. Even so, no one dared to stop.

He Haochuan was even more anxious. Although he was kind-hearted, he was not stupid. With Meng Yutong's looks and talent, he was not the only one who admired her.

If we miss this opportunity, our chance may be over.

He Hong noticed that his son was distracted, and while he was moving the tea basket, he gave him a push: "You brat, you're out of your mind! If you're really thinking about what's going on down the mountain, then hurry up and go down! Don't get in the way here, or you'll ruin the business and damage our teahouse's reputation."

"Dad, let me help you..." He Haochuan wiped the rain off his face, his voice hesitant.

Looking at his son's state, He Hong sighed heavily: "How can you win a girl's heart with such hesitation and timidity? We're here today to pick tea, so nothing will go wrong. I think you're clearly scared. You're afraid the girl won't choose you, so you're using this as an excuse to hide in this mountain!"

"Just keep hiding. As long as you don't regret it when you think back on this day!"

His voice rose a few decibels, piercing through the rain, “In life, worrying too much only makes you feel tired. Why not just go for it and follow your heart? At least you’ll have tried your best and won’t have any regrets in the future.”

He Haochuan was shaken after hearing his father's words. He looked up towards Lin'an City below the mountain, and the hesitation and struggle in his eyes were gradually replaced by a resolute determination.

He abruptly slammed the tea basket on his shoulder to the ground, raindrops dripping down his chin, but his voice was unusually clear and firm: "Father, I'm sorry, your son has to go down the mountain first."

Seeing the renewed light in his son's eyes, He Hong finally smiled with relief on his tired face. He waved his hand and softened his voice: "Go! We don't need you here!"

Meanwhile, at the farm outside the city.

The farmhouse where Liu Sijun and his companions were temporarily staying had been in disrepair for many years. It could usually withstand light winds and rain, but it showed its dilapidated state when faced with such a rare autumn downpour.

Not only are many roof tiles loose, allowing rainwater to pour in, but several beams, due to years of dampness, are unable to bear the weight and are making alarming creaking noises. Large patches of plaster mixed with mud and water are peeling off the walls, and there is an imminent risk of collapse.

The farmer's family was in a panic, fearing that the house would be destroyed.

Seeing this, Liu Sijun could not sit idly by. He immediately ordered Cui Da and Mei San to brave the rain and go into the city to buy timber, tar paper and other materials. The men rolled up their sleeves, climbed up and down, and worked hard to repair the damage.

Unfortunately, the rain was too heavy. Just when they plugged one leak, another one was washed away, or new leaks kept appearing, leaving the group exhausted.

By evening, the rain had subsided, and the several dilapidated houses had finally been reinforced and were no longer in danger of collapsing.

Liu Sijun didn't even have time to drink water. He wiped the sweat and rain off his face, called to Cui Da and Mei San, mounted his horse, and galloped off towards Lin'an City.

Watching the three figures disappear into the distance, the farm owner's face was filled with unease and guilt: "Honey, what we did...wasn't that too unfair? Brother Liu and his family are honest people. They've helped us a lot while we were staying here. They treated us sincerely, and we ended up conspiring to cheat them..."

The male head of the household nudged her with his elbow and lowered his voice: "That's true! But don't you think about who gave us this place to live? If it weren't for the Ji family secretly taking care of us, we would still be tenants for others, and where would we get this shelter from the wind and rain?"

"I truly feel sorry for what happened today, Brother Liu... When he returns, we'll prepare some fine wine and food, and I'll have a good drink with him!"

"Sigh, that's all we can do." The hostess sighed softly, gazing in the direction Liu Sijun had left.

*

Inside the imperial city, the lights shone brightly.

The banquet was held in an exquisite warm pavilion. Due to the chill brought by the autumn rain, heaters had been placed in the four corners to dispel the dampness and cold, making the pavilion warm and comfortable.

The interior of the hall was elegantly furnished, with incense wafting in the air and the clear, melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filling the air.

The Empress Dowager sat regally in the main seat, dressed in a deep purple palace gown, exuding elegance and nobility. Although her brows and eyes were etched with the marks of time, she did not show the weariness that one would expect at her age. Instead, she possessed a rare and unpretentious spirit.

Princess Jingfu and Princess Rong sat at the head of the lower seats on either side, while the other female relatives of officials, Dou Zhijie, Princess Jin'an, and others sat in order.

The banquet was ostensibly to comfort Princess Gyeongbok after her serious illness, so the atmosphere appeared to be harmonious and joyful.

When a rare guest like Meng Yutong was led into the palace by palace servants, it inevitably attracted attention.

Today, she did her hair and makeup as instructed, and wore a moon-white magnolia-patterned ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). Although it was not ostentatious, it made her temperament even more refined and her appearance even more radiant.

When the Empress Dowager saw her, she put on a seemingly friendly smile and waved from afar: "Good child, come here quickly, let me take a look at you."

Their attitude was warm, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Meng Yutong stepped forward as instructed and gracefully bowed. The Empress Dowager looked her over and told her not to be so polite. She then made a few polite conversations, expressing her gratitude for saving Jingfu's life and mentioning the previous misunderstandings.

Meng Yutong responded with a slight smile, without saying anything else.

She was ultimately assigned to a position below Princess Gyeongbok. Those present exchanged knowing glances as they witnessed the Dowager Queen treating a commoner female physician with such courtesy.

As the banquet began, delicacies were served in a continuous stream, and dancers in colorful costumes danced gracefully amidst enchanting music.

During the banquet, everyone toasted the Dowager Consort and Princess Gyeongbok, praising the Dowager Consort for her kindness and for treating the princess like her own daughter.

The Empress Dowager accepted the gifts with a slight smile. When her gaze occasionally swept over Meng Yutong, her smile deepened, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Princess Jingfu frowned slightly, merely raising her cup in response to the flattery. She looked up, her gaze occasionally meeting Jin'an's across from her, and an atmosphere of icy coldness seemed to freeze in the air.

Jin'an lowered her eyes and ate the food in front of her. At first glance, she still had that gentle, harmless, and weak image.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Ji Yun wearing a blue robe with damp clothes on his shoulders. He walked into the hall with a slightly quicker pace, looking less calm and composed than usual.

He first bowed to the Dowager Consort and Princess Rong, his gaze briefly meeting Meng Yutong's, his expression deep and unfathomable.

When Princess Jingfu saw him arrive, she beckoned him to come closer: "Huaizhi, what have you been busy with? Why are you only arriving now?"

Ji Yun walked to Princess Jingfu's side, sat down comfortably on the seat provided by the servants, straightened his sleeves, and said in a clear voice, "Aunt, the journey was delayed by rain. I apologize for the long wait for the Dowager Princess and Aunt. It was Huai Zhi's fault."

The Empress Dowager nodded in acknowledgment: "Let's not talk about these things. It's good that you're here."

She beckoned for the palace servants to begin their performance. The palace was filled with warm fragrance, and the atmosphere was one of peace and harmony, with singing and dancing filling the air.

After several rounds of drinks, the Empress Dowager's smile deepened. Her gaze slowly swept over everyone at the table, finally landing on Meng Yutong with a condescending scrutiny.

The Empress Dowager put down her jade chopsticks and spoke softly. The music in the hall gradually subsided, and everyone's eyes were drawn to her: "Today's banquet is firstly to calm Jingfu's nerves, and secondly... I see that all of you juniors are good, and I am happy to see that you are all good."

Her tone was kind and gentle, as if she were chatting casually, "Especially that girl Yutong, she's beautiful, has excellent medical skills, and a calm temperament. I like her very much. You're not young anymore, have you thought about your marriage?"

Meng Yutong's heart skipped a beat. She glanced out of the corner of her eye towards the outside of the palace. It had been so long, why hadn't anyone from the princess's residence come yet?

A sense of unease welled up within her. She rose, bowed her head respectfully, and replied, "Your Highness, I have devoted myself to the art of medicine..."

Her gaze shifted to Dou Zhijie, who was drinking alone at the lower seat. A slight smile played on her lips. "I watched Zhijie grow up. He comes from an excellent family and has impeccable character. He and you, Yutong, are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Today, I will bestow this marriage upon you two, making this a beautiful union."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent instantly.

Dou Zhijie was notorious for his womanizing ways. He had a beautiful wife and concubine in his household, and kept four or five other women in other houses. He spent his days mingling with a group of playboys in Lin'an. He was shrewd and calculating, hardly a 'good match' for anyone.

It seems that the Empress Dowager's previous warm treatment of this commoner female doctor was not genuine.

Dou Zhijie was taken aback at first, then a look of surprise and amusement appeared on his face. He couldn't refuse a beautiful woman.

He did not immediately express his gratitude, but instead subconsciously glanced at Ji Yun first.

Princess Jin'an also glanced in this direction, but her gaze was mostly fixed on Ji Yun.

His gaze was cold and detached, tinged with a hint of anticipation.

Meng Yutong's heart tightened, and she was about to politely refuse at this moment, but the Empress Dowager seemed to have expected it and did not give her a chance. Her gaze then turned to Ji Yun, and her tone was seemingly gentle but contained a hidden pressure: "And Huaizhi, you and Jin'an have known each other since childhood, and your relationship is extraordinary. You are now of marriageable age, so why don't I arrange for Jin'an to marry you today? Double happiness, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Princess Jingfu's face darkened. "Your Highness, marriage is a serious matter, not a child's play."

“Your Highness the Imperial Concubine,” Ji Yun’s cool voice broke the silence.

He slowly stood up, his posture as upright as a pine tree. His face showed little emotion, but his usually aloof and indifferent eyes were now sharp as he looked directly at the Empress Dowager. “I appreciate Your Majesty’s kindness. However, I cannot comply with the marriage decree.”

The Empress Dowager's smile faded slightly, and a sharp look flashed between her brows: "Oh? Why? Do you think Jin'an is not good enough for you?"