Chapter 1: The Princess from Prince Shun’s Manor

In the twenty-third year of the Republic (1934), a great flood struck the south.

The northern city remained peaceful. Jin Mingzhu had been busy for over ten days, donating all usable medicinal herbs from the Zhengliang Pharmacy under the Lu family.

Despite the hot weather, she still dressed in the late Qing dynasty style for married women – a jacket and skirt. Her pleated long skirt had been modernized, accentuating her slender waist. As she walked, the layers of pleats would spread and gather, creating an elegant effect.

As the medicine delivery convoy prepared to depart, Jin Mingzhu was doing final accounting with the manager at the chamber of commerce when Lu Xing, the Lu family’s gatekeeper, arrived.

He poked his head in at the entrance and, seeing her by the window with account books in hand, rushed over without hesitation.

“Young Mistress, the Old Madam sent me to fetch you. Please come home quickly!”

Mingzhu had been busy at the chamber of commerce during the day and staying at her maternal home at night, avoiding the Lu residence.

Uninterested in returning, she dismissed Lu Xing’s words: “Since Old Madam sent you to find me, you’ve found me. Go back and tell her I’m busy with matters at the chamber.”

Lu Xing’s face fell: “Young Mistress, please don’t put me in a difficult position. I know you’re angry about that female teacher our Young Master brought back, but you should still return home. Show her who the real Young Mistress of the Lu family is!”

Mingzhu smiled at his serious expression, glancing at him she asked: “Who is the Lu family’s Young Mistress?”

Lu Xing spread his hands: “You are! I only recognize you as our Young Mistress. You’ve followed our Young Master through thick and thin for so many years, transforming the Lu family from a broke household into the wealthiest in the northern city. Everyone in the Lu family, even the Old Madam in her heart, stands firmly with you!”

Seven years had passed, and even the gatekeeper Lu Xing recognized only her as the Young Mistress, yet Lu Mingshu had brought another woman home.

Jin Mingzhu’s steps slowed.

As she pondered this, memories of years past surfaced.

Jin Mingzhu wasn’t originally surnamed Jin. She was a princess from Prince Shun’s Manor. Her mother had died of illness, and her father had remarried. After the manor was confiscated, the family lived on meager stipends. Her father passed away before she came of age.

She grew up among the remaining quarrelsome family members. She and Lu Mingshu were childhood sweethearts – he had always been handsome, fair-skinned, and showed promise as a scholar.

She couldn’t pinpoint when she fell for him. Perhaps it was because she knew from childhood he would be her future husband, or maybe it was during one of his gentle moments with her. Regardless, she did love him.

The marriage arrangement with the Lu family had been made while her father was still alive. It was said that when the prince’s manor was still prosperous, the two families were old friends. After her father’s death, the Lu family neither mentioned nor acknowledged the engagement, and Lu Mingshu had found someone else.

Coincidentally, his love interest was also a princess who had taken the surname Jin.

Unlike Mingzhu who had no one to rely on, Jin Shuyao was fortunate. With both a father and brothers alive, she grew up privileged, wearing fine clothes. She admired Western lifestyle and enjoyed wearing Western dresses and high heels, always drawing attention.

Lu Mingshu pursued her lavishly and frantically, and they had nearly reached the point of marriage discussions.

Then at that moment, the Lu family, already barely holding on, collapsed.

Creditors came knocking, and the Lu family patriarch fell ill from the shock. The Lu family became destitute, and naturally the marriage fell through. Jin Shuyao abandoned Lu Mingshu and went abroad to study, while Lu Mingshu, unable to cope, ran away from home.

Mingzhu had followed him, accompanying him through those heartbroken days, and together they built the Lu family up from nothing to become the wealthiest in the northern city.

She had almost forgotten about Jin Shuyao’s existence.

But reality proved that years of companionship and devotion meant nothing.

Jin Mingzhu had fully supported Lu Mingshu’s return to studying, but as a result, he had encountered Jin Shuyao and brought her back.

Jin Shuyao’s father and brothers had lost their fortune to opium addiction. Her studies abroad had been cut short, and after reuniting with Lu Mingshu, she returned with him to the northern city.

Mingzhu still remembered that day when she went specially to the station to receive Lu Mingshu, only to find herself receiving two people instead.

Jin Shuyao called her “sister” repeatedly, and Mingshu brought her before the Old Madam. The Old Madam was furious, but Jin Shuyao said she didn’t care about status, only wanting to stay by Lu Mingshu’s side.

Lu Mingshu said he couldn’t abandon her and needed to take care of her.

Troubled at heart, Jin Mingzhu left the Lu residence.

She was tired, really. All these years, she had charged forward recklessly, and now she was exhausted.

Mingzhu sent Lu Xing away, finished checking the accounts, let the convoy depart first, and sat drinking tea on the second-floor balcony of the chamber of commerce.

Sunlight spilled across her shoulders as she held her teacup, head lowered, surrounded by tea fragrance.

Though she had been in business for many years, her innate pride remained. The proper way to appreciate tea was to first observe its color, then its aroma. As she lowered her gaze, she caught a glimpse of a tall figure below.

A young man in military uniform stood before an old-style car. His towering figure stood out even in the crowd.

Xie Fengxi looked up, seemingly watching her too.

This young nemesis was the most famous man in the northern city despite his age. He was a few years younger than her, and during her childhood when the prince’s manor still stood, his grandfather often brought him to visit. Xie Fengxi had been extraordinarily beautiful since childhood, but his personality was undoubtedly that of a scoundrel… Later… he had moved into the Prince Shun’s Manor, but by then she was no longer a princess.

The Xie family was at its peak, and the former Prince Shun’s Manor had become the Marshal’s Mansion. This young marshal, Xie Fengxi, had somehow become her perpetual opponent. Jin Mingzhu’s eyelids flickered, and in that brief moment when she wasn’t looking, he vanished, leaving only the old car below.

Soon, Xie Fengxi came upstairs.

Jin Mingzhu’s office door was open. The young man walked in while removing his gloves, glancing at her casually. He approached, carelessly tossed his gloves on the table, and sat down opposite her.

“Donating nearly half your fortune – quite impressive, Madam Jin,” Xie Fengxi crossed his legs, his military boots brazenly facing her. “Though I wonder if Madam Jin donated the Lu family’s fortune or her own. Does Lu Mingshu know about this?”

The young man tilted his face up, looking straight at her, his exceptionally beautiful phoenix eyes showing both frivolity and doubt.

They had often been at odds before – the Xie family pharmacy and Lu family’s Zhengliang were competitors, and the Marshal’s mansion had often exploited her.

Mingzhu took a sip of tea, set down her cup: “No need for the Young Marshal’s concern.”

It clearly meant ‘this has nothing to do with you,’ but obviously, Xie Fengxi cared very much: “Is Madam Jin pulling out completely? Are you doing this to divorce Lu Mingshu, or to shock him into reconciliation?”

Jin Mingzhu’s usually calm face finally showed a crack: “How is this any of your business?”

The malicious Xie Fengxi, seeing her expression change, smiled: “Oh~ So you are angry, furious even, but suppressing it while planning something big. Indeed, how else could you be the renowned Madam Jin? The princess from Prince Shun’s Manor – so proud and willful as a child, who would have thought you’d become so restrained as an adult? If I didn’t know you so well, I might have thought you’d resigned yourself to Lu Mingshu bringing home another woman!”

Having her innermost thoughts exposed, Mingzhu stood up immediately: “Xie Fengxi! Are we that close? Are you that free? How much of my fortune I donate is my business. If I remember correctly, we’re not the kind of acquaintances who can sit and chat like this. Please leave, right now!”

Her voice and expression were filled with anger.

She’s angry, she’s angry indeed, Xie Fengxi thought as he watched her furious face, but his smile only grew more unrestrained: “That’s more like it! If you’re angry, show it. Who are you holding back for!”

The more Jin Mingzhu showed her temper, the broader his smile became.

Mingzhu glared: “Get lost!”

Even cursing now – she must be truly furious inside. Xie Fengxi lightly tapped two fingers against his forehead: “Wait, I actually have something to say. Once I’ve said it, I’ll naturally leave.”

Just as he finished speaking, another figure rushed in.

Lu Mingshu, wearing a blue gown, entered with anger and suspicion: “Mingzhu, what’s going on? I just learned you donated all the medicine from the warehouses in Daxing, West City, and East City, and someone’s talking about taking over our pharmacy. What’s this about?”

Mingzhu turned, studying Lu Mingshu carefully.

He remained as refined as ever, still the same Lu Mingshu as before.

Before, she thought, her name contained ‘ming’ and his name contained ‘ming’ – surely that was fate. Now thinking about it, it was just her own psychological suggestion. His name had ‘ming,’ but Jin Shuyao’s name shared the character ‘shu’ with his – what did any of it mean…

Mingzhu laughed bitterly. Before she could move, Xie Fengxi stood up first: “Madam Jin is busy, I just came to say that if Zhengliang Pharmacy is closing, the Xie family can take over. Madam Jin just needs to name her price, and if Madam Jin has nowhere to go, she can come along with the pharmacy.”

How could she cooperate with someone who had always opposed her?

Mingzhu: “Leave quickly, don’t let me see you out.”

“Think about it.”

Her tone was harsh, and seeing her mood was extremely poor, Xie Fengxi didn’t argue this time. He nodded to her, his smiling gaze sweeping past Lu Mingshu before brushing past him.

Perhaps his gaze was too meaningful, as Lu Mingshu’s heart tightened slightly. Somehow, seeing Xie Fengxi hovering around Mingzhu always made him uncomfortable, but when he turned back, the man had already hurried downstairs.

Looking back, Mingzhu had already sat down.

Lu Mingshu’s anger erupted, and his gaze toward Jin Mingzhu grew even colder: “Jin Mingzhu, I think you should explain. What’s happening with the pharmacy? Why was Xie Fengxi here?”

Outside blue skies stretched overhead dotted by white clouds—it had been too long since she’d felt so at ease. Mingzhu watched those white clouds, lounging lazily in the rattan chair, relaxing completely: “What’s to explain? Aren’t you and Jin Shuyao doing well together? Let’s just return everything to the beginning then.”

Charitable donations were one thing, but using her own fortune to donate had struck at the very foundation of the Lu family.

Lu Mingshu didn’t understand: “What beginning? Jin Mingzhu, raise your head and look at me. You’re no longer the princess from Prince Shun’s Manor – you’re my wife, Lu Mingshu’s wife. But when have you ever considered me? Did you discuss such a major decision about the pharmacy with me?”

Jin Mingzhu laughed lightly, anger gradually reaching her eyes: “Why should I discuss it with you? What are you to me? Since you want to return to the past with Jin Shuyao, I’ll help you – I’ll give you back a Lu family just like when you met her!”

She would take away the wealth created over these years. Since Jin Shuyao wanted it, she would give her a penniless Lu family.

Mingzhu stood up abruptly, now fearless.

The shock in Lu Mingshu’s eyes was immeasurable, but before he could say anything more, a deafening explosion shook the building. The sound came from the street. Mingzhu looked outside to see flames and chaos.

She didn’t have time to argue with Lu Mingshu and hurried downstairs.

Downstairs, the street had descended into chaos. Jin Mingzhu stood beneath the octagonal tower of the chamber of commerce, watching as Xie Fengxi’s old car came speeding back. Before she could process what was happening, there was a sudden huge explosion beside her.

Shaking, ringing in her ears, something struck her, and Mingzhu fell.

Before losing consciousness, she saw Lu Mingshu.

Though she couldn’t hear his voice, she could see his panicked face as he came to hold her, but she looked away resentfully toward the distance. All these years, what had she done? Always busy for Lu Mingshu, for the Lu family.

Was it worth it?

If given another chance, she wouldn’t choose him again.

*

Author’s Note: A sweet romance story set in the Republic era, featuring an older woman and younger man who marry first and fall in love later. Red packets are available for readers who join in!