The noble girl is beautiful.

Time passed quietly, slipping away unnoticed, and soon it was autumn. During the autumn equinox, the Princess’s residence once again hosted a banquet, attended by the young ladies of the Shen family, except for the youngest, Shen Sihui.

Shen Yourong was dressed in a gown of light green silk with subtle floral patterns, paired with a cloak of pale blue adorned with clusters of flowers. She wore small plum blossom hairpins and a gold butterfly hair ornament with pearls, along with jade earrings, making her attire elegant but not overly extravagant.

Upon leaving, she encountered Shen Qingyan, who wore a splendid dress of crimson with golden threads, subtly shimmering under the sunlight. Shen Qinghan, as always, dressed simply and elegantly, her hair adorned with a single pearl hairpin that swayed gently as she walked, adding to her ethereal appearance.

The Princess’s garden was filled with lush greenery, with vibrant flowers like begonias and hibiscus blooming brightly. Rose vines climbed the walls, their thick green leaves dotted with bright roses.

The young ladies in the garden, more radiant than the flowers, gathered in groups, enjoying the scenery or feeding the fish. Some, with higher status, were even flying kites in the courtyard.

The three sisters from the Shen family were well-known in the circle of noble ladies, with Shen Yourong being a model of noblewoman conduct and Shen Qingyan known for her mutual affection with the Fourth Prince. Wherever they went, they attracted attention.

“This is why I dislike coming out,” Shen Yourong whispered to Shen Qinghan. “People stare and point as if we’re monkeys at a temple fair.”

Shen Qinghan laughed, “Eldest Sister has become mischievous, following Third Sister’s lead.”

In the pavilion, a young lady in a yellow dress waved at them. Shen Yourong and her sisters walked over. This was Miss Li, a relative from her second aunt’s family, making her a familiar and friendly face.

The Shen sisters greeted the young ladies in the pavilion and took their seats. The stone table was laden with various fruits and pastries, including crab-shaped and loach-shaped pastries. The maid served tea to the Shen sisters, who then began to chat and enjoy the snacks.

Arriving a bit late, the Shen sisters were surprised to see someone arriving even later. The lone girl entered the garden without any company.

Shen Yourong, nibbling on an apricot, asked, “Who is that?”

Miss Li glanced over, “Don’t you know her? She’s from the Anguo Duke’s family. She made quite a splash at the palace banquet during the Emperor’s birthday by performing a sword dance. However…” Miss Li paused, “Her brother recently caused a scandal, bringing shame upon their family.”

Shen Yourong recalled hearing about the incident, “Her brother aside, I remember her sword dance being unmatched that day.”

Suddenly, Shen Qingyan stood up, saying that sitting around was boring and she wanted to walk in the garden. Shen Qinghan tried to stop her, but Shen Yourong intervened.

Today’s banquet not only included female guests but also young men from the capital. Shen Qingyan planned to meet Ji Chengyao today, and she had been preparing for days. Knowing this, Shen Yourong stopped Shen Qinghan from persuading her.

Though Shen Qinghan did not understand, she did not press further and went off with a cousin to play.

Shen Yourong also wanted to leave but was held back by Miss Li, who said, “Stay and talk with me. Believe it or not, you’ll be mocked by someone in the garden.”

“Why would that be?” Shen Yourong asked. “My third sister’s engagement was settled nearly half a year ago. Isn’t it old news by now?”

Miss Li laughed, “Who told you to be a model of noblewoman conduct? Almost every girl in the capital has been compared to you. Now that you finally have a scandal, how could they not laugh at you?”

Shen Yourong smiled, “In that case, I shouldn’t have come today.”

Miss Li also smiled, then sighed, “If you hadn’t come, who knows when we’d meet again?”

“What do you mean?” Shen Yourong asked.

A girl nearby smiled and said, “Don’t you know? Miss Li is betrothed. Her husband’s family is currently stationed outside the capital, and after their marriage next year, she’ll leave the capital to join him.”

Shen Yourong looked at her, “I didn’t know.”

“What’s the big deal? We’re all bound to get married eventually,” Miss Li said. “It’s just that it will be harder for us to gather and play together.”

The conversation made Shen Yourong feel melancholic. Suddenly, a kite got stuck in a nearby osmanthus tree, and a group of brightly dressed girls rushed over, looking for it. Leading them was a young lady from the Censor Zheng’s family.

Seeing her, Miss Li said, “Isn’t that Zheng Er? She has never gotten along with you. If she sees you, she’s sure to mock you.”

As Zheng Er approached, Shen Yourong noticed she also wore a pearl butterfly hairpin.

Miss Li clapped her hands and laughed, “Well, now your rivalry will be even fiercer.”

“Enough!” Shen Yourong laughed and scolded, “If I can’t fight, I can flee. I’ll leave, alright?”

With that, she stood up and left from the other side.

Among the noblewomen in the capital, it was easy to make enemies. A day when you dressed better than me, or my jewelry was more exquisite than yours, could be reasons for discord. Behind these conflicts often lay the most crucial matter for young women—marriage.

A woman’s appearance, talent, and conduct were all considered assets for a marriage proposal. Their every move impacted their future, leading to comparisons in dress, food, looks, and abilities. It wasn’t that women were petty, but their burdens were many, and their scope for action was limited.

Walking along a stone path under the trees, Shen Yourong found a shaded spot. Although it was the autumn equinox, the heat was still intense, and standing in the sun for a while made one sweat. The osmanthus trees had thick canopies, with the ground beneath covered in fragrant osmanthus flowers.

She sat on a wooden stool under an osmanthus tree, intending to rest briefly before returning. She had some pine nut candy that Miss Li had given her in her pouch. As she took it out, a piece accidentally fell, and she bent to pick it up when she heard voices coming from the woods.

“Your Highness, I understand your difficult position, being under the Emperor’s suspicion and unable to marry for years. My situation is similar; my reputation has suffered due to my brother. If Your Highness doesn’t mind, I am willing to marry you. The union of the Duke Anguo’s household and your princely house would surely improve your situation.”

Shen Yourong paused, quietly sitting back on the stool, and popped a pine nut candy into her mouth.

Ji Zhuo’s voice, elegant and calm, responded, “Miss Lu, I don’t understand your words. There’s no need to continue.”

Miss Lu hastily said, “Won’t Your Highness reconsider? The Anguo Duke’s household is one of the most prestigious in the capital. Where else could you find such a match?”

Shen Yourong understood that Lu Yanzhi considered herself tarnished and thought her and Ji Zhuo’s situations aligned. Regardless of Ji Zhuo’s status, marrying him would make her a princess, which wasn’t a lowly position.

He paused briefly, then smiled, “In that case, I wouldn’t dare to aspire to such a match.”

Lu Yanzhi quickly protested, “That’s not what I meant…”

“Miss Lu,” he interrupted gently, his tone patient as if instructing a student, “You come from a noble family and have received the Emperor’s praise. A momentary setback is nothing. Your future is still bright. Besides, I’m much older than you, hardly a suitable match. Let’s consider today’s conversation as never having happened. You should leave now.”

His words, though gentle, were clear, encouraging her to forget this incident and look forward to a brighter future. He was every bit the noble and virtuous prince.

Shen Yourong thought to herself, *Why didn’t he mention being much older and not a good match when speaking to me?*

As Lu Yanzhi left, Shen Yourong also considered slipping away quietly. Suddenly, a voice called from behind, “Have you heard enough?”

With no choice, she turned back, bowed, and greeted, “Greetings, Prince Duan.”

Ji Zhuo stood before her, observing her closely, “Did you hear everything?”

“Yes,” Shen Yourong admitted, still holding the pine nut candy in her mouth. “Your Highness won’t push me into the water or off a cliff again, will you?”

He laughed, “You still hold a grudge.”

*Of course,* she thought, *what else should people hold onto if not grudges?*

He casually asked, “How is your marriage progressing?”

She knew that he had meddled in her marriage prospects, so she merely smiled and said, “Still looking.”

His expression grew serious, his eyes fixed on her, “You’re in too much of a hurry. Aren’t you afraid of meeting the wrong person?”

She looked at him, “There aren’t many good men in the world.”

He looked into her eyes, always clear and bright.

“You’re blaming me,” he stated.

She felt a lump in her throat. After a pause, she said, “No.”

“Lies,” he stepped closer, lightly brushing her cheek. She tried to move away, but he had already withdrawn his hand.

“Why don’t you want to marry me?” He asked.

She felt a surge of emotion. She looked at him, “Why should I marry you? I can read and write, manage a household, play the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and I’m skilled in embroidery. My father is a first-rank duke, my brother passed the imperial examination at a young age and has a promising future. I have a lot of money, so no matter who I marry, whether he’s good or bad, whether I like him or not, I can live well. So, why should I marry you?”

Ji Zhuo looked at her, seeing tears welling in her eyes, filled with hidden pain and helplessness. Her suffering stemmed from her lack of control over her fate, and Ji Zhuo, at this moment, could not save her.

He found himself speechless. He prided himself on his intelligence, able to maneuver through the imperial court without fault, with the entire court under his calculations. Yet here and now, he could not save Shen Yourong.

“Alright,” he reached out, covering her eyes, feeling the wetness on his palm, “Alright.”

He almost embraced her, but he knew clearly that they would only grow further apart.