Chapter Thirty-Two: Granting Her Dignity

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When Su Mingxiu brought up the matter, he seemed somewhat embarrassed and merely replied tactfully, “Just as Mother wishes.”

Madam Su beamed with delight. “Excellent, excellent! The twentieth of this month is an auspicious day. I’ll make the arrangements and go to propose the match. We’ll settle this marriage at once!”

“The twentieth? You mean you’ll go to ask for her hand in barely half a month? Isn’t that too soon?”

“Better early than late. The sooner the marriage is settled, the sooner I can put my mind at ease.”

“I mean that the time is too short. I’m afraid we won’t be able to make the proper preparations.”

Su Mingxiu’s tone grew solemn. “Mother, I have only one request regarding this marriage: we must give the bride all the dignity she deserves. As for that talk of marrying to bring me good fortune—if you insist on believing it, I won’t stop you. But it must never be spoken of outside the family. Otherwise, once the bride enters our household, everyone here will fail to respect her, and outsiders may look down on her as well.”

Madam Su considered this, then nodded. “You can rest assured. As long as she is worthy in truth, the Su family will give her all the honor she deserves in appearance too.”

Su Mingxiu was satisfied.

Madam Su cast him a sidelong glance and teased, “You certainly know how to think of her. You aren’t even married yet, and already you know how to dote on her.”

Su Mingxiu’s face warmed under her teasing. Madam Su chuckled. “All right, go get yourself ready and come to the front hall for dinner.”

After leaving Su Mingxiu’s room, Madam Su sighed to the person beside her. “When Daoist Chongxu calculated that the person who could bring him good fortune was Jiang You’an, I thought it was too much of a coincidence and had some doubts. But now that I’ve seen how Mingxiu looks, his spirits are clearly much better. Perhaps that young lady truly can bring him good fortune.”

…

Ever since seeing Su Mingxiu by the Tianming River that day, Jiang You’an had felt at ease. All she had to do now was wait for the Su family to come and propose the match.

Recently, refugees had been gathering in the outskirts of the capital, and Lu Xuanheng had been ordered to maintain order there. He was often occupied with official business and seldom came to trouble her.

One day, Jiang You’an received a letter from Su Mingxiu inviting her to meet him.

She dressed carefully and went to the rendezvous in high spirits.

She entered a teahouse and was shown to a private room on the second floor.

Sunlight streamed gently through the window. Su Mingxiu sat beside the tea table, drinking with his head bowed. When he saw her enter, he rose with a smile.

Jiang You’an found herself hurrying toward him. “Have you been waiting long?”

Su Mingxiu smiled and said he had not. He naturally took the cloak she removed and poured her a cup of tea.

As she sipped, Jiang You’an asked, “Did you ask me here for something?”

“Nothing urgent. A few days ago, I acquired some excellent mineral pigments. Since I know you enjoy painting, I thought I would bring them to you.”

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Su Mingxiu placed a small box before Jiang You’an. When he opened it, she saw brilliantly colored pigments inside—silver beads, lead yellow, azurite, and more.

Such pigments were quite expensive. Jiang You’an had loved using them in the past, but later could no longer afford them. Su Mingxiu had truly gone to some trouble for her.

She smiled from the bottom of her heart. “Thank you. I love them. They must have cost quite a lot. I’ve made you spend too much.”

“As long as you like them. With your superb painting, you’ll certainly put them to good use.”

“Since we’re speaking of painting, I’ve never seen your skill before, Young Master Su. We happen to have pigments here, so why don’t you show me what you can do and paint me something today?”

Meeting the expectation in her eyes, Su Mingxiu readily agreed.

A sheet of xuan paper was spread across the writing table. Su Mingxiu took up his brush, while Jiang You’an ground the pigments beside him.

A tranquil, leisurely afternoon flowed beneath Su Mingxiu’s brush, which traced the contours of distant mountains and the emerald waves of a river.

After some time, a landscape painting was complete.

Su Mingxiu set down his brush and made an inviting gesture. “Master Jiang, I await your appraisal.”

Jiang You’an examined it with exaggerated solemnity. “The composition is ingenious, the details finely rendered, and the colors arranged in distinct layers. Young Master Su, you do have some talent.”

Su Mingxiu raised a brow and followed her lead. “To receive such praise from a master is truly this humble gentleman’s good fortune.”

“However…” Jiang You’an rubbed her chin. “I feel that something is still missing.”

Su Mingxiu handed her the brush.

With a faint smile, Jiang You’an dipped it in ink and added several strokes to the painting.

Su Mingxiu lowered his head to look. She had added another wild goose beside the one he had painted, making a pair flying together.

It was said that wild geese chose only one mate in their lifetime and remained utterly faithful. Should one die, the other would live out the rest of its days alone. Thus, the pair symbolized unwavering devotion and a willingness to accompany each other through life and death.

Su Mingxiu and Jiang You’an exchanged smiles. “Your mastery is deeper still, Miss Jiang. Those few simple strokes have added immeasurably to the painting.”

Jiang You’an curved her lips. “Young Master Su, there’s no need to be discouraged. I’ll teach you myself in the future.”

“That would be wonderful.” Su Mingxiu smiled and picked up a pastry beside him.

When Jiang You’an saw this, she frowned. “You’ve already eaten three pieces. Mung bean cakes are cooling by nature and shouldn’t be eaten in excess.”

Su Mingxiu pouted and set the pastry down. “All right. I’ll listen to you.”

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The way they spoke and behaved was no different from that of an ordinary married couple. They both realized it and could not help laughing.

Jiang You’an felt that time passed especially quickly whenever she was with Su Mingxiu. In the blink of an eye, the sun was already nearing the horizon.

Before they parted, Jiang You’an carefully rolled up the painting. Su Mingxiu said to her, “My mother says she’ll go to the Lu residence on the twentieth of this month to ask for your hand.”

This was even sooner than Jiang You’an had expected. She was overjoyed, and she could not hide the smile on her face.

“Mm. I understand.”

Su Mingxiu continued, “I’ve already spoken with my mother. When we marry, you will be my true and lawful wife—not some bride brought into the family merely to bring me good fortune. Our family will make sure you enter our household with all the honor and splendor you deserve.”

Jiang You’an was stunned. Su Mingxiu had truly thought of everything for her.

She gazed into his eyes, scorched by the tenderness within them until her own eyes stung.

Blinking, she smiled at him. “Then I’ll wait for you to come and marry me.”

They parted at the entrance of the teahouse. Jiang You’an watched Su Mingxiu’s carriage disappear into the distance, then lowered her head and gently stroked the painting in her arms.

Suddenly, a mocking voice came from behind her.

“Well, well. You’ve changed men again already. Little Sister You’an, you certainly have remarkable talents.”

Jiang You’an knew that hateful voice all too well. Her face turned cold as she turned around.

Lu Yunzhu walked toward her, glancing in the direction Su Mingxiu had gone and lifting her chin. “When did this happen? Oh, so Madam Su came to our residence last time because of your marriage to Su Mingxiu. I have to hand it to you—you bewitched Big Brother so thoroughly that you turned around and threw yourself straight into Su Mingxiu’s arms. You really are something. I can hardly help admiring you.”

The Su family would soon be coming to propose the match, so Jiang You’an had no reason to deny her relationship with Su Mingxiu in front of Lu Yunzhu. She replied coolly, “Then I thank you for the compliment, Sister Yunzhu.”

She had nothing more to say to this woman. She moved past her and started to leave.

But Lu Yunzhu caught her by the arm. “Don’t go. I’m curious—does Young Master Su know about what happened between you and Big Brother?”

Jiang You’an’s expression changed dramatically.