Chapter 10 – The King of Pengshan Carries a Beauty into the Hot Springs…

Li Ling hurriedly stood and bowed.

Song Mi nodded slightly in greeting and solemnly stated that he had just been promoted to the Central Secretariat, now in charge of the Ministries of Works and Households. He had recently been reviewing Ministry documents and found a few unclear points. He hoped to consult Li Ling on them that evening.

Li Ling, who had worked in the Ministry of Works for many years and only held a fifth-rank position, had never had the chance to even speak with someone like him—let alone be sought out for advice. The word “consult” stunned him into humble excitement.

Throughout the conversation, Song Mi remained composed and focused, as if this truly was a visit for official matters.

Only when he left did he seem to express some guilt for bringing up work during a holiday visit. He leaned slightly toward Juchen, and placed a gift beside her—a basket of tribute cherries, large, vividly red, and dewy fresh.

“This is for you all,” his familiar warm and mellow voice said by her ear. Juchen instinctively looked up and met his eyes. He smiled gently with a hint of casual ease, his cultured demeanor evident.
“Don’t be formal. Eat more.”

Juchen’s cheeks flushed crimson, helplessly recalling the trivial past involving her and cherries.

Seeing her hesitate, Li Wanyu, afraid of seeming rude, quickly stepped forward to accept it.

But Juchen, noticing her intention, reached out to intercept.

With swift reflexes, Song Mi calmly avoided both of their hands and—plop—placed the basket right in front of Juchen.

Li Ling, seeing his daughters so unruly in front of a prince, immediately stepped in to apologize. Song Mi maintained his polite smile and shook his head, saying it was no bother.

Then, he casually gazed at the girl frozen stiff by the basket of cherries, and said lightly:
“These aren’t so rare. If your daughter likes them, I can always send more. No need to fight over them.”

The phrase “fight over them” was especially deliberate and clear.

Juchen lowered her head, feeling a chill creep down her spine.

No wonder they were adversaries in their past life.

That man—he was born to counter her.

Li Wanyu, hearing Song Mi’s slightly teasing tone aimed at Juchen, thought he was standing up for her. Her face turned red with joy, and she watched his retreating figure until it disappeared, feeling a strange emptiness.

Song Mi did not return for any of the remaining matches.

The golden trophies piled beside the incense table held no interest for him. It seemed he came solely to deliver that basket of cherries.

—

At sunset, the banquet gradually dispersed.

Li Wanyu walked behind her family, still distracted by the memory of his tall, striking figure.

She stared at the basket in Juchen’s hand, badly wanting to ask for it. But Song Mi’s words—“no need to fight over them”—kept echoing in her mind. While it sounded like a jab at Juchen, it had also thoroughly blocked her from making any move.

If people heard they had fought over it afterward, her reputation in his eyes would be ruined.

Li Wanyu, proud and image-conscious, could only watch helplessly as Juchen held onto the cherries.

Madam Wu, knowing her daughter best, glanced back and saw Li Wanyu’s downcast expression. Her heart ached a little. She steeled herself and stepped forward to walk beside Li Ling, taking Wu You’s hand.

Wu You, seeing his mother catch up, beamed and said,
“Mother, Father just promised to buy me a rattan ball like the one Prince Pengshan used! I want to be as amazing as him!”

Madam Wu stroked his cheek with delight. That was exactly what she wanted to hear.

Taking the opportunity, she looked to Li Ling.
“My lord, will you be working with Prince Pengshan later?”

Li Ling gave a slight nod, unable to hide the pride on his face.

Li Wanyu, following behind, perked up at the mention of Prince Pengshan and crept closer to listen.

Juchen trailed at the end, silently overhearing Madam Wu praise her husband and the prince, and finally, rather cautiously, mentioning how Wanyu was now sixteen—an age suitable for marriage prospects.

“That Prince Pengshan is truly a phoenix among men—in both looks and bearing, utterly flawless. If my future son-in-law had even a tenth of his qualities, I’d consider my life fulfilled.”

This half-sincere hint was obvious even to outsiders—let alone Li Ling.

A man as proud and self-respecting as Li Ling, who considered himself morally upright, hated currying favor with nobles and being mocked for lacking the dignity of a scholar.

When it came to the Crown Prince of Guangping choosing a wife, Li Ling had allowed Wanyu to try only because the dowager princess looked at character, not status, and because the heir had no actual power despite his wealth.

But Song Mi was different.

At first, Li Ling had firmly rejected the idea of matchmaking with him.

But Madam Wu had a trump card: her beloved Wu You.

The boy clung to his father, pleading with him to help his second sister, just to make an introduction.

Seeing Wu You so affectionate and obedient, Li Ling smiled more than usual. Wooed all the way back, he had a moment of impulse and actually agreed.

“Fine. I’ll give it a try.”

A breeze swept through the corridor and carried those four stiff words forward—directly to Juchen’s ears.

They pierced her chest with a sudden, sharp ache.

She clutched the basket tightly and forced back the sour sting rising to her nose.

If Song Mi really liked Li Wanyu… what could she do?

But what also struck her—perhaps even more painfully—was realizing that the father she had always thought aloof could indeed take action for his children.

She couldn’t help recalling her own three years in exile in her past life. Her father had felt only shame, never concern. Not once had he tried to leverage any connections to make those years easier for her.

When Madam Wen tentatively asked, he’d coldly replied,
“What, you expect me to beg for her?”

—

Juchen quietly took a different path back to the main residence.

Ming Luan was steeping tea inside. Hearing familiar footsteps approach, she quickly came out to greet her. Seeing the basket of cherries, she frowned.
“Don’t you dislike these? I remember getting up before dawn to queue for them once at the market, only for you to give them all to me.”

Juchen’s dazed thoughts returned, and she smiled faintly, pushing the basket into Ming Luan’s arms.
“Then they’re still for you.”

Ming Luan yelped.
“There’s so many! I can’t eat all this. They spoil quickly too—such a waste of money!”

“It’s a gift,” Juchen replied casually.

“A gift? From someone else?” Ming Luan’s face lit up, examining the fruit against the sunset glow.
“This quality… it’s tribute-grade!”

Watching her delight, Juchen felt the heavy weight in her chest ease a little.

Ming Luan giggled for a while, then narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Did he give them to you?”

Juchen paused, caught off guard.

She was notoriously picky about food. If someone gave her something she didn’t like, she’d always find a way to refuse it. She never brought it home.

The only person she’d ever seen her unable to say no to—was him.

Which was why Ming Luan’s smile faded.
“He still doesn’t know you don’t like these?”

Juchen pinched her cheek without answering.
“Wash them and take half to Mother’s room.”

Ming Luan pouted, clearly hesitating to say something.

Her expression alarmed Juchen, who questioned her seriously until she confessed: Madam Wen was packing to move out of the main house.

By the time Juchen returned, her mother had even packed up her vanity chest.

Under questioning, Madam Wen blushed and awkwardly explained: her father had visited that afternoon, saying that Madam Wu and Wu You had always been weak after a difficult birth, and he wanted them to use the royal medicinal baths in the main house to improve their health. Only this house had access to those baths.

In order to make her give up the main courtyard, Li Ling made a rare gesture and invited Madam Wen to stay at his place. She agreed.

Her explanation to Juchen was, “What can I do? She’s a meritorious member of the Li family.”

Only Ming Luan objected: “But Madam, have you thought about this? Once you give your room to Concubine Wu, and she moves in with the Second Young Miss and Third Young Master, where will the Eldest Miss even stand in this courtyard?”

Madam Wen choked on her words. “I’m only giving up my room. Chen’er is still staying where she always has. We’re all one Li family…”

Ming Luan, ever blunt, cut in: “You’re forcing the young miss to move out—when the courtyard clearly belongs to her.”

Madam Wen’s face darkened with embarrassment and anger. She snapped, “Ming Luan, you’re getting more and more out of line!”

Seeing the fury in Madam Wen’s eyes, Juchen quickly stepped forward, pulling Ming Luan behind her. Calmly, she looked at her mother.

Madam Wen paused and lowered her head slightly, avoiding her daughter’s gaze.

Juchen looked at the phoenix hairpin on her mother’s head and asked with a faint smile, “Mother, it’s been a while since you wore that kingfisher and coral phoenix hairpin, hasn’t it?”

Earlier, when Madam Wen was helping the maids pack her vanity for her move to Li Ling’s place, she had taken the time to dress up properly.

That phoenix hairpin had once been a token of love from Li Ling. When Concubine Wu entered the household, Madam Wen had furiously sealed it away in a box, vowing never to wear it again.

Madam Wen touched the tassel on the end of the pin, looking flustered. She didn’t answer directly but looked at Juchen sorrowfully.
“Chen’er, you understand your mother’s hardships, don’t you?”

After living through a past life, Juchen had long learned that not answering was often the clearest answer.

She neither argued nor complained, only turned and left with Ming Luan.

—

Crossing the waterside pavilion, Ming Luan couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“But you also get cold hands and feet in winter—you need those medicinal hot baths too! Doesn’t Madam remember that?”

A shadow passed through Juchen’s eyes. She smiled faintly, “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

—

The sun had already set behind the mountains.

Juchen and Ming Luan, having finished arranging their new quarters, were famished and headed straight for the public dining hall.

Turning past the second gate, they happened to pass by the courtyard where Madam Lu lived—and spotted Lu Yun sitting by the window.

From a distance, Lu Yun saw Juchen’s graceful figure and grabbed a handful of cherries from the table to call out:
“Juchen, where are you going? Want some cherries?”

Juchen, not in the best mood, politely declined, saying she didn’t like cherries.

Unexpectedly, Song Mi and Lu Feng were inside playing a board game, and as soon as she spoke, they both appeared at the window, looking toward her.

Song Mi frowned slightly. “You don’t like cherries? Then why did you fight over them…?”

“To steal a man?” Lu Feng finished the sentence seamlessly.

Juchen froze like she was struck by lightning. She quickly took the cherries from Lu Yun and said with a bright smile,
“No, no, I was just shy. I love cherries! They’re my absolute favorite!”

But later, on the way to the dining hall, though Juchen laughed and chatted with Lu Yun at the front, Song Mi followed behind and noticed that she never once touched the cherries in her hand.

So… was her foul mood all because they misunderstood what she liked?

Song Mi slowly realized that she hadn’t seemed happy ever since she appeared at the window earlier.

—

Inside the dining hall, Lu Yun saw familiar faces and happily pulled Juchen over to a corner where the other women were seated.

Song Mi and Lu Feng, not suited to join a group of young women, sat at the adjacent table instead.

Song Mi sat down, back-to-back with Juchen.

A palace attendant brought fresh tea, pouring it respectfully into two cups before retreating.

Song Mi picked up his cup just as Xue Wan cheerfully asked Juchen,
“First time soaking in the hot spring—how did it feel?”

Their classmates from Jifang Academy all joined in the conversation, mentioning how the Empress Dowager had gifted each of them a special blend of herbal sachets to put in the baths, each one fragrant and lovely.

“Mine had osmanthus.”

“Mine had plum blossoms.”

“Mine was chrysanthemum.”

“Juchen, what did you have?”

Juchen paused and answered honestly, “I changed rooms. I haven’t soaked yet.”

They all looked at her, surprised.
“Why not?”

Juchen’s lips curled into a wry smile as she replied playfully,
“Because I’m well-mannered, generous, kindhearted, and selfless.”

The girls exchanged confused glances. Upon asking further, they learned Juchen had given up her room to her younger siblings.

Juchen grinned and added,
“Just make sure you all help spread the word.”

After all, if she didn’t gain anything else from this, at least she should earn a good reputation.

Lu Feng had just finished ordering food and turned to find Song Mi still holding his tea without drinking. He waved a hand in front of his face.
“You’re zoning out?”

That was rare. He wondered if Song Mi had been overworked recently.

Song Mi glanced back instinctively, took a sip, and gave a vague “Mm.”
His thoughts drifted to a dream he had last night—
In that dream, she had saved him.
He owed her a favor.

—

Night fell. Lanterns lit up.

The dining hall was full of laughter—young women chatting endlessly about dreams and the future.

By the time Song Mi and Lu Feng finished eating, only the first dish had arrived at Juchen’s table.

As the palace maid brought a lacquered tray to serve, Juchen shifted to give her space. She turned slightly and realized—Song Mi was gone.

She recalled he had an evening meeting with her father.

Thinking of her father’s promise to Concubine Wu, her gaze darkened, and she remained dazed for the rest of the meal.

After dinner, she walked back to her courtyard in the evening breeze—just in time to see Li Ling returning from his meeting with Song Mi.

Concubine Wu and Li Wanyu were waiting anxiously at the door. Seeing him from afar, they rushed forward eagerly.

Juchen couldn’t help but stop at the doorway to listen.

“He agreed,” Li Ling said—but then sighed.

Li Wanyu’s eyes widened with joy, not understanding why her father was sighing.

Inside the hall, Li Ling saw Juchen standing at the door and smiled faintly, motioning for her to come in.

She hesitated but entered. Li Ling told her,
“The King of Pengshan heard your mathematics are excellent. He’s reviewing the Ministry of Households’ ledgers tonight. There aren’t many officials from that department here, so if you’re free, go assist him.”

It seemed Song Mi had agreed to meet one of Li Ling’s daughters—but didn’t quite understand that Li Ling was trying to play matchmaker. He was focused solely on work. When he asked for Juchen, it was likely because he knew she was a newly appointed official and a subordinate of his mother.

Since the two had never officially met, and Song Mi had a reputation in the capital for being upright and proper, it really seemed like this invitation was purely for official business.

Li Wanyu, on the other hand, was livid.

Late into the night, she stared at the pitch-black sky outside the window and still couldn’t understand—what was so fascinating about government documents?

—

Elsewhere, in Huaqing Palace,
the King of Pengshan had already carried a beauty into the hot spring.