The noble girl is beautiful.

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, Shen Ying hosted a banquet at Zhen Shan Pavilion for Ji Zhuo and Ji Chengyao. The pavilion was nestled against a hillside and faced a lake. The hillside was planted with osmanthus trees, their fragrance filling the air, and koi swam leisurely in the lake, adding to the tranquil scene.
Shen Ying and the Ji brothers sat at the head table, with the Second Master and Shen Shuo accompanying them. At a table below, Shen Qingfeng sat with several other young men, while Shen Yourong sat with her sisters. In front of them, across the water, a stage had been set up for a play, featuring the kind of lively performances that men enjoyed.
The girls were all dressed to the nines. Shen Yourong wore a long skirt of lake-blue satin embroidered with patterns, a jacket of silver-red brocade, and a button at her collar made of silk-wrapped agate. Her hair was adorned with a delicate dragonfly hairpin, and her radiant beauty shone brightly.
The table was laden with fruits and snacks. She ate some pieces of sliced autumn pear while watching an actress in a blue dress on stage.
Shen Qinghan commented, “That actor moves so gracefully. Look at how her steps glide without disturbing the tassels on her dress.”
Shen Qingyan nudged her with a laugh, “Look, Eldest Sister is staring again.”
Shen Yourong snapped out of her daze, “What else am I supposed to watch? I’ve never liked these chaotic and noisy plays.”
The girls laughed together.
Suddenly, a steward ran along the lake shore to report that a young man from the late Lady of Jin Ling’s maternal family had arrived.
Shen Ying instructed Shen Shuo to go greet him and bring him to Zhen Shan Pavilion.
The young man, dressed in fine clothes and wearing a jade crown, followed Shen Shuo to the pavilion. As he drew closer, his face, as beautiful as a woman’s, with red lips and white teeth, revealed the demeanor of an elegant young noble.
Shen Qingyan whispered, “Is that your cousin? What’s his name?”
“Zhou Lanzhang,” Shen Yourong replied. “The eldest son of my maternal grandfather’s family.”
“A fine young man indeed,” Shen Qingyan remarked.
Soon, Zhou Lanzhang arrived in the hall and respectfully greeted Shen Ying. He was there to deliver gifts for the Double Ninth Festival, though he had been delayed by an unexpected incident on the road.
Shen Ying waved his hand, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then ordered the young men and women of the Shen family to come and pay their respects.
Shen Shuo led him to meet Shen Qingfeng and the others before bringing him to Shen Yourong’s table.
Shen Yourong stood up and greeted, “Hello, Cousin.”
Zhou Lanzhang had heard of his famous cousin in the capital and found her poised and beautiful in person. For some reason, his face turned red as he hastily returned her greeting, “Hello, Cousin.”
The two exchanged courteous bows, with Zhou Lanzhang showing the grace of a nobleman and Shen Yourong the dignity of a young lady.
Shen Qingyan whispered to Shen Qinghan, “A handsome man and a beautiful woman indeed.”
Shen Qinghan nudged her and stood up to greet him.
He was a handsome man with an extraordinary demeanor, like a refreshing breeze or a bright moon. Meeting him was like being caressed by a spring breeze, making one feel entirely comfortable. Unlike the cunning Ji Zhuo, Zhou Lanzhang was a truly kind gentleman.
Shen Ying also appreciated such a talented young man and immediately arranged a separate table for him, inviting him to join the feast.
After the banquet, Shen Ying personally assigned him a courtyard for his stay.
Zhou Lanzhang had come to the capital to take the imperial examinations. He had passed the provincial exams three years ago but had been delayed by his mother’s death and the subsequent mourning period, which had kept him from taking the imperial exams.
Shen Yourong was very friendly to him, partly because he was her maternal cousin, carrying the affection of her maternal uncle for her, and partly because he was genuinely a good person.
He wasn’t arrogant like Ji Chengyao, cold like Shen Shuo, or deceitful like Ji Zhuo. He was thoughtful and knowledgeable, sharing interesting stories with her and her sisters. Everyone in the Shen family, from the young ladies to the maids, liked him.
One day, while the sisters were fishing by the lake, Shen Qingyan remarked, “Jiang Nan is truly a wonderful place, producing such a refined person! Eldest Sister, you seem to be getting along better and better with him.”
Shen Yourong thought for a moment and said, “He’s interesting, but he blushes too easily, two words and his face turns red.”
Shen Qingyan laughed, “Why do you think that is? Eldest Sister, can’t you see?”
Shen Yourong glanced at her and said, “Nonsense.”
Shen Qinghan also laughed, “It seems Eldest Sister isn’t completely unaware.”
Shen Yourong just smiled without saying anything. Shen Qingyan, folding her handkerchief, said, “I wonder what Jin Ling is like. If Eldest Sister goes there, will she adapt?”
Shen Yourong replied, “You’re making less and less sense. It sounds like you can’t wait to marry me off so you can get married yourself.”
Shen Qingyan blushed, “Talking about you and bringing it back to me.”
Everyone laughed.
Lady Yang called Shen Qinghan back, and Shen Qingyan, still blushing, also left. Shen Yourong stayed by the lake, waiting for a fish to bite.
The lake was calm, with a few wilted lotus leaves in the distance still emitting a faint fragrance. After a while, feeling bored, she told Du Juan, “Go to the kitchen and ask for some osmanthus cake with extra honeyed osmanthus filling.”
Du Juan left, and she idly watched the lake. Soon, she saw Zhou Lanzhang walking along the shore in a blue robe. Seeing her, he smiled and asked, “What are you doing, Cousin Yourong?”
“Fishing.” She brushed off a nearby rock with her handkerchief and invited him to sit.
“Fishing? I enjoy fishing too.”
She smiled, “That’s good. I’ve been saying I don’t know how to fish. I’ve only caught two small goldfish all afternoon.”
“This takes patience,” he said. “Sometimes, you can spend an entire afternoon without catching a single fish.”
“Then I must be lucky to have caught two,” She said, opening her basket to show him. “I’ll cook them for you.”
He laughed, “These are ornamental fish, not good to eat.”
She looked disappointed, “I spent all afternoon catching them, and I can’t even eat them.”
He suggested, “Why not keep them in a tank? But you’ll need to change the water often. Or you can release them back into the lake. It’s interesting too. I often did that at home.”
“Why?” She asked.
He looked a bit embarrassed, “It’s said to cultivate one’s mind, but really, it’s mostly daydreaming. I just took breaks from my studies, and it didn’t seem right to let the fish die.”
She understood, “Then I’ll release them too.”
She carefully took the fish from the basket and gently released them into the lake. He also took a fish, but it splashed water all over him when it hit the lake.
Shen Yourong covered her face, laughing, and handed him a handkerchief to dry his clothes.
He blushed again while drying his clothes.
After chatting for a while, he left. Shen Yourong, still waiting for Du Juan, packed up her things and walked back along the lake. She noticed a small hut by some rocks, with an old tree beside it, facing the lake, equipped with benches and chairs, giving it a rustic charm.
She walked in, sat on a reclining chair, and adjusted her clothes. She noticed a basket by the water’s edge, opened it, and found it full of fish that looked listless and near death.
She looked around, unsure whose fish they were, but since she hadn’t had enough fun, she rolled up her sleeves and released the fish one by one back into the lake.
The fish disappeared instantly but soon jumped out of the water in the distance, splashing droplets everywhere.
Just then, a voice came from behind, “Miss Shen, are those your fish that you’re releasing?”
She turned to see Ji Zhuo standing under the hut, looking at her coldly.
Her hands still wet, she said awkwardly, “Are these your fish, Master?”
He sat down on the reclining chair and said, “Don’t stand by the water. Come over here.”
She came ashore, wiping her hands with a handkerchief, “I saw these fish unattended and nearly dead, so I released them.”
This was her home. She didn’t think releasing a basket of unknown fish would be an issue, even if they had been caught by the Duke of Qi himself. But with Ji Zhuo, she thought, only he would make an issue of it.
He looked her over from head to toe and suddenly asked, “You seem very close to that Zhou family boy. Are you thinking of marrying him?”
Shen Yourong’s face fell. Trying to smile, she said, “Whenever I meet you, Master, we always end up discussing unpleasant things.”
He laughed, genuinely amused, “I’ve lived for over twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve realized I’m such a detestable person.”
She didn’t respond, focusing on drying her fingers.
He tapped the armrest of the chair, “Do you want to marry Zhou Lanzhang?”
“It’s one option,” She said bluntly. “I have to get married eventually.”
He paused, for the first time seeing her as a woman of marriageable age. She was indeed no longer a child, her features vibrant, her figure graceful. Standing by the lake with Zhou Lanzhang, they were a picturesque pair, a talented young man and a beautiful young woman.
“I don’t think,” he said calmly, “he’s a suitable match.”
Shen Yourong thought to herself, what does it matter to you? She smiled, “Then who do you think I should marry, Master?”
She was truly forthright, discussing her future as if it were not a matter of great importance.
He remained silent for a long time, long enough for her to consider leaving.
“You released my fish. How do you plan to compensate me?” He abruptly changed the subject, catching her off guard.
She asked, “What should I do then, catch them for you again?”
He glanced at her, “There were twenty-three fish in my basket. I spent half a month catching them. After your lessons, come here and fish for me. When you catch twenty-three, we’ll be even.”