Chapter 1 First Encounter, I'll reward you with more tears.
The first light of dawn breaks through the clouds.
On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the most bustling festival in the capital city, the Qixi Festival, arrives. On Zhuque Street, crowds surge and vendors' shouts rise and fall.
In the crowd, a young girl dressed in a moon-white ruqun walked with ease, a silver hairpin swaying gently in her dark hair, making her look like a pure lotus swaying in the turbid world.
"Isn't that Miss Shen from the family of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?" someone whispered.
"Shh, keep your voice down, she's already engaged to Gu Dianbu!"
Shen Fangru seemed not to hear, only lowering her eyes to stroke the brocade box in her sleeve, inside which lay the purple jade Buddhist beads she had just obtained from her father.
The beads shimmered with a faint purple glow in the morning light, reminding her of the man's lowered eyes when he was reading.
"Gu Zhou will be delighted to see this." She smiled slightly.
Two years ago, she was taking shelter from the rain at an ancient temple on the outskirts of the city when she met a poor scholar who couldn't even afford paper and ink.
The man wore a faded blue robe, yet he wielded the brush as if it were a sword, each word sharp and incisive. She left him some silver, and secretly sent him fine writing materials.
The following spring, when the results of the imperial examinations were announced, Gu Zhou failed to pass.
Shen Fangru stood under the locust tree outside the examination hall, watching him slowly walk out of the vermilion gate. He was still wearing that faded blue robe, his back ramrod straight, only his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil.
“It’s alright,” she said, handing him a cup of hot tea, her fingertips accidentally brushing against the back of his cold hand. “Take the exam again next year.”
"There will be no next year." Gu Zhou smiled bitterly. "My mother is seriously ill, and I need to take care of her."
A few days later, in the study of the Shen family mansion.
“Father!” Shen Fangru knelt on the bluestone ground. “Didn’t you always say that Gu Zhou has the talent to govern the world? Now the court is recommending candidates for the civil service examination, why not…”
Father Shen slammed his teacup down: "Absurd! Although he is known for his filial piety, he has no official rank or title. How can he be worthy of you!"
“I have heard that the Ministry of Rites is searching for exemplary filial piety and integrity.” She raised her head, her eyes shining with a stubborn light. “Gu Zhou is extremely filial to his mother and is also well-versed in the classics. He is a perfect candidate.”
Unable to resist his beloved daughter's persistent pleas, the father pondered for a long time before finally sighing, "Fine, let him enter officialdom as a filial and incorruptible official, and first appoint him to the position of clerk."
On the day of their engagement, Gu Zhou gently took her hand under the pear tree in the backyard of the Shen residence.
"Why?" His voice trembled slightly. "I have nothing left now..."
Shen Fangru tied a jade pendant around his waist, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "Because you deserve it." She lightly tapped his heart with her fingertip, "Your filial piety and talent will eventually find a wise ruler."
A spring breeze swept by, scattering a tree full of pear blossoms. Gu Zhou suddenly pulled her into his arms, his voice choked with emotion: "Once I've established myself in the capital, I'll marry you in grand style, with all the proper formalities and gifts."
She leaned on his shoulder, looking at the fallen flowers all over the ground, and thought that it would be worth waiting no matter how long it took.
Despite being engaged for half a year, Gu Zhou always treated her with politeness and distance.
He would gently hold her hand in public, and serve her food and tea at banquets, but he would never linger in her room for even a moment longer. She had specially chosen these Buddhist prayer beads today, simply to elicit a truthful answer from him.
Suddenly, a commotion was heard ahead.
"Look! That's...that esteemed person?" someone exclaimed in a low voice.
"Shh! Are you out of your mind? Dare to talk about him?"
Shen Fangru frowned and looked over, only to see the bamboo curtain of the teahouse half-rolled up, through which a figure in black could be vaguely seen.
The man's slender fingers were holding a celadon teacup, his well-defined knuckles gleaming like white jade in the sunlight, and a simple, dark jade thumb ring hung from his wrist.
"I heard that he went on an incognito inspection tour and has already dealt with several corrupt officials..."
"More than that! Just a few days ago, the young master of the Li family in the east of the city merely glanced at him, and he was..."
"Shh! He's a womanizer. They say he loves visiting brothels, even the top courtesan at Zuixianlou..."
The discussion abruptly ceased.
Suddenly, the sound of a pipa rose, and Su Wanqing, the top courtesan of Zuixianlou, came carrying Ruan Xian. Her pomegranate skirt swept across the bluestone slabs as she gracefully bowed before the teahouse: "My lord, I have composed a new piece called 'Zhegui Ling'. Please appreciate it."
Today, Su Wanqing specially styled her hair in a flying fairy bun and applied peach blossom makeup, trying to emulate the famous Li Shishi who was once renowned in the capital.
Who doesn't know that the lord loves the romance between talented scholars and famous courtesans? If one could win his favor, one might become as famous as Li Shishi and go down in history.
A soft laugh came from inside the curtain.
The sound was like the gentle tapping of a jade chime, clear and melodious with a touch of languor.
Shen Fang stopped instinctively, only to see the bamboo curtain being lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles.
The man turned out to be a young man in his early twenties.
His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, his starry eyes held a hidden power, his nose was straight as a hanging gall bladder, and his lips were thin as a blade.
His dark brocade robe accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, giving him an air of great nobility, yet he also carried a hint of nonchalant nonchalance, as if nothing in this world could catch his eye.
"This sir..." the old man selling candy suddenly lowered his voice, showing off to those who didn't know, "Do you know who he is?"
Shen Fangru couldn't help but listen.
"The important figures coming to the capital are either the prime minister or members of the royal family," a vendor nearby chimed in.
The old man squinted his cloudy eyes and lowered his voice, saying, "This distinguished guest... I have been running a stall in the capital for forty years and have seen many high-ranking officials and nobles. But only... only..." He swallowed the words back and added meaningfully, "You all should be careful what you say."
Shen Fangru gazed at the profile of the man in black in the teahouse, and couldn't help but take a few more glances.
She was indeed born with striking good looks, sharp features, and a captivating charm in every gesture. With such beauty and bearing, it's no wonder that Su Wanqing took the initiative to step forward and perform.
"This kind of person..." she thought to herself, "does indeed seem like a noble young master from some royal family."
Although there are often rumors about the emperor traveling incognito, this person in front of her... Shen Fangru gently shook her head.
Although she had never seen the emperor's face, she had heard her father say that the current emperor was violent and would often beat palace servants to death. The man before her, however, clearly appeared to be a carefree and dissolute playboy.
Just then, the man suddenly turned his head and stared straight at her.
Shen Fangru's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked away, only to hear the old man behind her still rambling on: "I personally witnessed the grandeur of the late emperor when he traveled incognito, the spectacle..."
"Old man, watch your words," Shen Fangru couldn't help but whisper, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the Buddhist beads on her wrist. "Speaking ill of the imperial family is a serious crime." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man in black robes with a slight smile on his lips, his slender fingers leisurely turning a teacup, showing no sign of anger at being offended.
If he were truly that tyrant, would he allow the people to talk like this?
Just as I was pondering this, I suddenly heard the sound of a pipa coming from inside the teahouse.
Su Wanqing, embracing Ruan Xian, bowed gracefully, her eyes sparkling with charm: "My lord, it's quite a coincidence, this 'Zhe Guiling' is exactly what I dreamt about last night. In my dream, I saw a young man in black standing under the moon, who bore a striking resemblance to you." She gently plucked the strings, her fingertips producing a series of clear notes. "It must be a destiny ordained by heaven, allowing me to offer this piece to you, my lord."
The man in black paused, his fingertips pausing.
"The Song of Folding Laurel Branches?" His voice was languid, yet it brought a sudden silence to the surroundings. "Does Miss Su know what this song is about?"
Su Wanqing's face lit up with joy, and her slender fingers plucked the strings of the zither: "Your Excellency, it is about the joy of passing the imperial examination and achieving the highest honors."
“Wrong.” The man suddenly leaned down, his dark sleeves sweeping across the table, bringing with them a cool sandalwood scent. This startled Su Wanqing, causing her fingertips to tremble violently and nearly knock over the teacup.
He chuckled softly, his voice low yet clear, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate. Only Shen Fangru, Su Wanqing, and a few others nearby could barely hear him: "It tells the story of... a failed scholar who, in his delusions, tried to pluck the moon from the sky, but in the end... was smashed to pieces."
Shen Fangru's heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable chill instantly ran down her spine.
A failed scholar? The moon in the sky? These images combined are clearly alluding to her relationship with Gu Zhou!
Gu Zhou was a failed scholar, and his family background was worlds apart from the Shen family's. He had even been privately mocked by some mean-spirited people as "wishful thinking"...
But the thought only flashed through her mind before she quickly dismissed it.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
Although there were rumors about her and Gu Zhou, how could outsiders know the details so clearly? Moreover, she was certain that she had never seen this imposing man in black anywhere before. How could he know about her private affairs for no reason, and why would he make sarcastic remarks at this moment?
She must be preoccupied with Gu Zhou's matter lately, which is why she's so suspicious and taking things personally.
Shen Fangru took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and pretended that she had heard an unrelated satirical story.
However, Su Wanqing beside her was far from calm.
She was taken aback at first, but after carefully considering the metaphor of "a failed scholar plucking the moon from the sky," and combined with the man's undisguised mocking gaze, her face instantly turned ashen, devoid of any color.
"However, Miss Su's beauty..." The man slowly lifted her chin with his folding fan, a hint of mockery flashing in his peach blossom eyes, "reminds me of a historical anecdote."
The onlookers held their breath. Who didn't know this lord was a womanizer? It seemed Su Wanqing was about to rise to prominence!
He suddenly leaned down and said, "It's like Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi."
The audience erupted in uproar!
Su Wanqing froze, her nails, painted with henna, digging deeply into her palms.
She finally understood that her outfit, which imitated that of a famous courtesan from the previous dynasty, was nothing more than a clown in the eyes of this official!
Poor Su Wanqing's pretty face turned bright red, and tears welled up in her eyes.
The man had already leaned back lazily in his chair and casually tossed a piece of silver at her feet: "Here's a reward for you. Cry louder."
The onlookers were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.
Overwhelmed with shame and indignation, Su Wanqing finally shed tears. Shen Fangru frowned, took out an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve, and handed it to her through the crowd.
“I heard your pipa piece ‘Spring River Flower Moon Night’ at Zuixianlou last month.” Her voice was soft but clear, “It deserves the praise of ‘large and small pearls falling on a jade plate’.”
Zhou Ling raised an eyebrow, watching the scene with great interest.
Shen Fangru remained composed and said softly, "The Qixi Festival is just around the corner. If Miss Su is constantly in tears, she might miss her performance."
This was a clever remark, saving Su Wanqing's face while subtly implying that she had more important things to do.
As the laughter subsided, even Zhou Ling's eyes flashed with surprise.
Just as Shen Fangru was about to turn and leave, she suddenly felt a chill on her wrist.
Looking down, the string of purple jade prayer beads had inexplicably broken, and dozens of jade beads scattered all over the ground with a "clatter".
She hurriedly squatted down to pick them up, only to see the most translucent bead roll towards the teahouse.
"Please wait, young lady."
A clear, melodious voice came from the teahouse.
Shen Fangru looked up and saw the man in black bend down to pick up the purple jade bead that had rolled to his feet.
Sunlight streamed through the bamboo blinds, casting dappled shadows between his slender fingers, and the purple jade bead gleamed eerily in his palm.
“This bead…” he twirled it between his fingers, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, “is quite a rare item.”
Shen Fangru's heart skipped a beat.
These purple jade beads are tributes from the Western Regions, and ordinary people would find them extremely difficult to identify.
She curtsied calmly: "Thank you, sir. This is just an ordinary ornament, not worth much..."
"Western Regions amethyst, produced atop the Kunlun Mountains." The man approached slowly. "It takes three years to obtain one bushel; it was a tribute item during the reign of the late emperor." He suddenly held the beads up to the sunlight. "Even more wonderful is..."
The purple jade bead suddenly revealed fine lines in the light, revealing itself to be a miniature seated Buddha.
A gasp of amazement rose from all around.
Shen Fangru secretly clenched the corner of her sleeve; even her father didn't know about these hidden Buddha image patterns.
"Does the young lady know the origin of these Buddhist beads?" the man asked with a half-smile.
Shen Fangru's gaze shifted slightly, and she suddenly caught sight of the dragon-patterned jade pendant that was faintly visible at his waist.
In a flash, she remembered what her father had described as the characteristics of an imperial gift. And then she connected that to the old man's casual remark earlier…
“In response to your question, sir,” she bowed gracefully, deliberately raising her voice slightly, “this bead was a gift from an old friend of my father’s. That gentleman once accompanied an envoy to the Western Regions and cherished it greatly…”
She paused deliberately, and sure enough, she saw a strange glint in the man's eyes.
The arrival of envoys from the Western Regions at the court occurred three years prior, during the reign of the new emperor.
"Interesting." The man suddenly chuckled, flicked his finger, and the purple jade bead flew through the air. "Catch."
Shen Fangru hurriedly reached out to catch it, only to see the bead trace a shimmering purple arc in the air, about to fall to the ground. She instinctively lunged forward, her embroidered shoe stepping on her skirt, and she tumbled forward.
At the critical moment, a long, strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist.
The scent of agarwood instantly enveloped her, and the purple jade bead landed precisely on the chest area of her clothes that she had been forced to press against.
"What is this, young lady...?" A low, teasing voice whispered in her ear, "...offering herself into my arms?"
Shen Fangru hurriedly steadied herself, only to find that the other person's hand was still loosely supporting her waist.
The purple jade bead was stuck at the fold of her clothes, trembling slightly with her rapid breathing. She reached out to take it, but her fingertips accidentally brushed against the back of the other person's hand, which had not yet been withdrawn.
The two of them paused at the same time.
"I'm sorry for my rudeness." She quickly took half a step back, only to see the man slowly and deliberately pick up the purple jade bead, gently rubbing the spot where she had just touched it with his fingertips.
“It’s alright.” He handed the beads back, his gaze lingering on her reddened earlobes. “I find it rather…interesting.”
Just as Shen Fangru was about to take the bead, she suddenly felt a gentle breeze. The man's fingertips lightly brushed against her palm, startling her so much that she almost dropped the bead again. In this ambiguous standoff, hurried footsteps came from afar.
"Fangru!"
Gu Zhou rushed over, his moon-white robes standing out conspicuously in the crowd. A thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead, indicating he had been searching for her for a long time. When his gaze fell upon the figure in black, he abruptly stopped, and the color drained from his face instantly.
"Your humble servant..." Gu Zhou's Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously began to perform a grand salute, but just as his knees were about to bend, he was stopped by a folding fan that suddenly unfolded.
“Lord Gu, there’s no need for such formalities.” The man flicked his wrist, and the four characters “Clear Breeze and Bright Moon” on the fan were reflected between the three of them. “I just happened to meet Miss Shen and we chatted for a few minutes.”
Fangru was shocked to discover that the man was actually the current emperor, but she pretended to be confused and turned to Gu Zhou: "This sir is very knowledgeable, he even recognizes this Western Region amethyst."
Gu Zhou glanced at her with a complicated expression and said in a low voice, "Lord Zhou is learned and talented, naturally..."
“I am curious,” Zhou Ling suddenly interrupted, “why would Miss Shen, with such a clever mind, choose to give Buddhist prayer beads on the Qixi Festival?” He glanced meaningfully at the brocade box in her hand, “Could it be… that you are not on good terms with your sweetheart?”
That's a tricky question.
Shen Fangru remained calm and opened the brocade box: "Your Excellency is wise. These prayer beads are for my mother-in-law. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is not only the Qixi Festival, but also my mother-in-law's fiftieth birthday." She deliberately revealed another string of white jade prayer beads in the box, "This pair of purple and white beads perfectly matches the auspicious omen of 'purple aura coming from the east, and lifelong love,' and is the gift I want to give to Gu Lang."
Zhou Ling laughed loudly upon hearing this: "What a wonderful 'purple aura coming from the east'!" He suddenly leaned closer and whispered in Shen Fangru's ear, "I am very much looking forward to seeing what surprises Miss Shen will give me at the Xuanji Banquet in three days."
In the Xia Kingdom, the Qiqiao Banquet held on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year was the most important event for noble ladies.
This banquet was also known as the "Xuanji Banquet," which means "the jade balance of the celestial bodies, in order to align the seven celestial bodies," and was hosted in turn by the major aristocratic families in the capital.
The most eye-catching part of the banquet was undoubtedly the dance battle among the noble ladies.
Those meticulously choreographed dance steps not only showcased the talents of the young ladies from various families, but also concealed secrets. The winner would not only be featured in aristocratic tabloids like "Yu Tai Xin Yong," but there were also rumors that she would leave her name in classics like "Xuan Ji Lu," which recorded the stories of noble ladies from prominent families.
This year's Xuanji Banquet is particularly eye-catching.
Whispers circulated that this banquet, ostensibly hosted by the prefect, was actually a pretext for selecting a concubine for the tyrant. After all, the new emperor had been on the throne for three years, yet his harem had produced no offspring, and the court officials had long been restless.
Zhou Ling's words were barely audible, yet they sent a chill down Shen Fangru's spine.
When they came to their senses, the figure in black had already disappeared around the street corner, leaving only a few withered leaves swirling in the wind on the ground.
"Fangru, are you alright?" Gu Zhou gently pried open her tightly clenched fists and said softly, "On this Qixi Festival, shall I take you to release river lanterns?"
His fingertips were warm and dry, but Shen Fangru stared blankly at the Buddhist prayer beads in her palm.
Gu Zhou's gaze involuntarily fell on her reddened ear tips, and the scene from just now reappeared in his mind: Zhou Ling leaned down and whispered in her ear, his slender fingers brushing lightly across her hair.
“Fangru…” Gu Zhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his voice a few decibels lower than usual. He recalled the meaningful look in His Majesty’s eyes when he gazed at Fangru, and the moment when their fingertips touched when Fangru received the purple jade bead. A wave of unprecedented bitterness welled up in his heart.
“Three days from now, the Prefect’s Office will host the Xuanji Banquet.” Gu Zhou suddenly lowered his voice, his knuckles tightening unconsciously. “His Majesty… will also be attending.”
Shen Fangru looked up and noticed a hint of darkness flashing in Gu Zhou's gentle, jade-like eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed softly, "Fangru...would it be alright if you didn't go to this banquet?"
"Why?" Shen Fangru blinked deliberately. "I've been preparing for a long time, just waiting to win the dance battle."
Gu Zhou frowned, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking her wrist: "Just now, the way His Majesty looked at you..." He swallowed the words back, turning them into a bitter smile.
Shen Fangru's heart skipped a beat, but she pretended to be innocent and smiled, "Is Gu Lang jealous?" She leaned close to Gu Zhou's ear and breathed softly, "But you are the only one in my heart."
Gu Zhou's breath hitched, and he suddenly pulled her into his arms. His lips brushed against her earlobe, his voice low and husky: "Promise me, don't go."
Feeling his rapid heartbeat, Shen Fangru finally replied softly, "Okay."
A note from the author:
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