Chapter 28: Master Chen with the Raven Eyes

The Crown Prince made an unexpected visit to the Jiang Manor, and Lord Jiang gathered the entire household to receive him with great ceremony. As they sipped tea and exchanged pleasantries, the Crown Prince smiled and said, “Would it not be delightful to have music and dance to accompany this gathering?”

A look of discomfort crossed Lord Jiang’s face; he was not in the habit of keeping singers or dancers in his household. Standing to the side, Ming Wan heard this and stepped forward with measured grace, bowing as she spoke: “Father, though your daughter is not particularly talented, I am willing to perform a dance for His Highness.”

Lord Jiang frowned at her. “I have always known Ming Rou’s dancing to be exquisite, but I did not realize you possessed such skills as well.”

Ming Wan simply smiled, concealing the hint of mockery in her eyes.

“Very well, let me enjoy the dance of the Jiang family’s distinguished young lady,” the Crown Prince declared, clapping his hands.

“If Ming Wan is to dance, Chu’er, you shall accompany her on the zither,” Lord Jiang instructed.

Ming Chu inwardly lamented her fate. With her questionable skill, wouldn’t she ruin her fourth sister’s performance? But she had no choice but to accept the task.

Ming Wan changed into her dance attire—a floor-length white dress, with her brows adorned with a touch of pink, like peach blossoms. She glided elegantly into the hall.

Her chosen dance was “Longing in Separation,” and Ming Chu played the corresponding melody on the zither.

The music, broad and distant as ancient pines, flowed from her fingertips.

Ming Wan spun and twirled, her delicate waist undulating like distant mountain ridges, rising and falling with the rhythm; her sleeves unfurled like descending clouds. With a smiling glance upward, she seemed less a mortal woman than a celestial being. Her movements unfolded in swift succession—flicking her sleeves, lifting her legs, spinning—leaving the audience dazzled.

The Crown Prince applauded continuously.

Ming Chu was equally entranced, sighing inwardly that her fourth sister resembled a fairy from the heavens. Her distraction led to mistakes on the zither, but only Jiang Zhenyuan seemed unimpressed.

Ming Wan offered the Crown Prince a grateful glance, but in that moment of distraction, she misstepped. Panic seized her, and she knelt at once to beg forgiveness.

The Crown Prince, still engrossed, nodded approvingly. “Your dance was excellent; I greatly enjoyed it.” Ming Wan thanked him profusely.

Afterward, the Crown Prince and Lord Jiang retired to a private chamber to discuss matters.

The Crown Prince said, “My father’s health has been declining of late, which causes me great concern.”

Lord Jiang pondered for a moment before replying, “Your Highness, you must be especially cautious in all your actions during this period and guard against the Second Prince’s schemes at every turn.”

“I am aware. I have been staying at my father’s side to assist with state affairs.”

“Good. I will do everything in my power to support Your Highness and ensure the Second Prince has no opportunity to act. However, his influence is considerable, and we must gradually cut off his wings.”

The Crown Prince asked, “What do you propose?”

“We must identify all of the Second Prince’s allies—both those in the open and those in hiding,” Lord Jiang replied, his gaze resolute.

“In hiding?”

“Yes. Most of the court officials have not revealed their loyalties. Who can say if they have already chosen sides in secret?”

“That means there are many suspects,” the Crown Prince said gravely. “Let us proceed as you suggest.”

“There is another matter. A few days ago, Lord Du of the Supreme Court requested an audience with the Emperor, and I was present. He reported the Song family murder in Jiangzhou, though he lacked conclusive evidence. Since the Emperor trusts the Second Prince most, he nearly demoted Du. I only managed to persuade him otherwise by reminding him of Du’s years of upright service.”

Lord Jiang mused for a while before saying, “Du has played a dangerous hand.”

The Crown Prince agreed, and with business concluded, the atmosphere relaxed. The Crown Prince teased, “The young ladies of your household are most impressive.”

“Indeed, Ming Wan’s dance was stunning, though my daughter Ming Chu’s zither playing left much to be desired.”

The Crown Prince waved his hand. “The fourth young lady’s dance was truly marvelous, but she panicked at a small mistake—just an ordinary girl after all. The fifth young lady, however, made three errors yet adjusted each time without losing composure. She displayed the steadiness of a heroine.”

“Oh?” Lord Jiang was mildly surprised.

Recently, Shangyu had been unwell and was resting at home.

With her father and eldest brother away at the border, Ming Chu was delighted and seized every opportunity to slip out of the manor.

Jiang Zhenyuan was nowhere to be found either, leaving the manor entirely to her. She called for Yuewu and Yunxi to accompany her, but Yunxi was still fast asleep, reluctant to part with her dreams. So Ming Chu set out with Yuewu, and on their way they encountered Chen Shanglu entering through the gates—thus forming a trio.

Chen Shanglu, eager to show off, produced an array of treasures: a luminous pearl from the southern seas, a bangle of agate, a ring of blood jade.

“Chu’er, I obtained these especially from my father to give to you.”

Ming Chu waved her arm. “Do you see any jewelry on me? I don’t care for such things.”

Chen Shanglu clutched his chest, feigning heartbreak. “These are not ordinary trinkets; they represent my devotion, sincerity, and deep affection for you.”

Ming Chu shrugged. “Still just jewelry in the end.”

“Hey, look ahead—there’s a crowd gathering. Let’s go see what’s happening.”

The street was jammed with people, leaving no room to pass. The three squeezed to the front, where two women—one plump, one thin, both in their thirties—were in the midst of a heated argument.

Their faces were flushed with anger, expressions twisted, each pointing and cursing at the other, though neither laid a hand on her rival.

Beside them, a young man with sharp features sat on the ground, darting his eyes back and forth between the two women.

“Look at your foolish face—how dare you try to seduce my man!” the thin woman sneered.

The plump woman spat. “You keep saying ‘your man’—have you no shame? He confessed to me long ago. Where did this shameless vixen come from?”

Unused to such vulgarity, Ming Chu stuck out her tongue and mused to herself, “Market women may be fierce, but they are certainly entertaining.”

Yuewu turned to an older man nearby and asked, “Do you know why these two are quarreling?”

The man looked her over. “You’re obviously not from this neighborhood, so you wouldn’t know. Both women are widows—the thin one sells tofu at the street corner and is called the Tofu Beauty, while the plump one runs an inn nearby. That young man appeared out of nowhere and courted them both at once, leading them on. Neither realized she was being duped, and both were convinced he would marry her. Today, they ran into each other and the truth came out.”

“I see.”

Chen Shanglu sighed. “Really, for such a scoundrel, is it worth it?”

“Well, everyone has their own tastes,” the old man replied.

“Let me go rescue these two lost lambs,” Chen Shanglu declared, dramatically shaking out his robe as he stepped forward.

“Hey, don’t meddle in other people’s business!” Ming Chu called after him.

“Ladies,” Chen Shanglu greeted them with a smile.

“Who are you?” the two women demanded in unison.

With a flourish of his fan, Chen Shanglu replied, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is who you might become after meeting me.”

The women exchanged a glance—certain he was mad.

Chen Shanglu took a few steps, gesturing to the man on the ground. “Such a filthy fool isn’t worth your quarrel. If you must pursue love, seek someone as talented and charming as me—though, to be clear, I have no interest in either of you. In any case, the point is to rebirth your souls and seek true happiness.”

He waved his fan and smiled at the crowd. “Am I right, everyone?”

The two women’s brows tightened; they glanced at each other. Chen Shanglu turned away, full of self-satisfaction.

Suddenly, he cried out in pain.

Without warning, he had been punched in the left eye, which immediately turned black and blue.

The thin woman spat, “Charming and talented? Ha! You think we’d be interested in you?”

Ming Chu stifled a laugh behind her hand.

“What a bother,” she sighed.