9 Rewards

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Lin Jinzhu’s promise to carry Tong Youyu on her back was truly kept. With a wave, she dismissed Jin Kui and took matters into her own hands, hoisting Tong Youyu onto her back and heading toward the lake.

Upon arrival, she quickly found a clean, spacious stone platform with a good view and settled Tong Youyu down, smiling, “Let’s wait and watch the show.”

Tong Youyu grabbed her hand in return. “Don’t overdo it and provoke Prince Fang…”

“Why, are you afraid he’ll hit me?” Lin Jinzhu lifted her chin and snorted coldly. “I’m not scared of him!”

“Hatred only deepens when it’s mutual,” Tong Youyu observed, watching how the two grew increasingly hostile with every encounter.

It hadn’t been so difficult at first.

Having herself encountered a spiteful person, Tong Youyu worried that her classmate friend might also be targeted.

Though Yin Zijian never openly argued with her, maintaining a cold indifference in public, what he had agreed to in private remained uncertain—how he would fulfill that condition in the future was unclear.

Two beauties watched from the sidelines, which only fired up a few young rakes who urged Prince Fang to start the contest quickly.

They were eager to showcase their skills.

Their elders constantly scolded them for being neither scholarly nor martial; they couldn’t do either well but were proficient in drinking, eating, and playing.

Horse racing, cockfighting, cricket fighting—fishing was just a leftover pastime for them.

Yin Zijian had no interest in cockfighting or cricket fighting, and as for horse racing, who among them dared to compete against a young general with a military rank?

Since they were so eager to challenge him, and the opportunity had presented itself today, they would oblige.

“Fishing isn’t about strength; it’s a matter of luck,” Lin Jinzhu whispered to Tong Youyu. “Yan Jiuru is usually very lucky; fishing is his forte.”

“The grandson of Prince Li?” Tong Youyu recognized him. Her mother was Princess Jinliang, spirited and unruly, often playing with Prince Fang.

Lin Jinzhu nodded.

Having grown up in the capital, she was familiar with these people, seeing them often at festivals and gatherings.

They were childhood playmates, now overshadowed by Yin Zijian, the “outsider” who had arrived suddenly and taken the limelight, leaving them restless.

However, given their backgrounds, they were not fools and had no reason to truly offend the rising nobility of the court; their quarrels were mostly petty.

Fishing was a dull affair; sometimes one could wait an entire hour without a single bite.

Yin Zijian, calm and steady, sat still without moving, while Fang Feiai was restless, sipping tea and nibbling on sweets, unable to stay idle for half a moment.

He was beginning to regret who had come up with this competition!

After two incense sticks burned, Yan Jiuru’s rod twitched and he successfully reeled in a carp. He jumped up immediately and declared the contest over—they had won.

Fang Feiai hurriedly called for judgment, but just as he spoke, Yin Zijian’s rod also moved.

He calmly lifted an even larger, more splendid red carp.

Fang Feiai’s face fell.

Lin Jinzhu couldn’t help but laugh. “What now? Both caught carps, but the young general’s is bigger and more vibrant.”

Fang Feiai was quick to retort, “Yan Jiuru caught first; naturally, he wins.”

“Isn’t it about size?”

“No, it’s not!”

Fang Feiai insisted firmly.

Yin Zijian showed no sign of objection; his eyes lifted slightly as he said, “You win.”

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His tone was casual, as if he did not care much about winning or losing.

“That’s wrong; Yan Jiuru won,” Lin Jinzhu corrected, “The young general didn’t lose—Prince Fang lost.”

Fang Feiai was displeased. “You’re just a spectator; why talk so much? Can’t you be quiet like Miss Tong?”

Hearing this, Lin Jinzhu turned to Tong Youyu. “Fish Fish, tell me, did Fang Feiai lose?”

“Don’t call me by the prince’s name!” Fang Feiai snapped.

Fearing a quarrel, Tong Youyu grasped Lin Jinzhu’s arm. “He lost. It’s getting late; we should go back.”

Lin Jinzhu took the cue. “I know you’re eager to leave; I’ll see you home.”

The carriage was parked not far from the lakeside, just a few steps away.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Shen Shuzhang appeared.

“Seeing my carriage by the road, it must be my cousin here,” he said, indicating he wanted to ride along.

He had tried this trick several times before. Tong Youyu suspected the coachman had been bribed and immediately pushed Lin Jinzhu’s shoulder, saying, “Since you didn’t come by carriage, Elder Cousin, you can take mine.”

Lin Jinzhu, clever as ever, quickly took the cue: “I was planning to escort Fish Fish home anyway.”

This prevented Shen Shuzhang from riding with Tong Youyu.

He also couldn’t ask Lin Jinzhu to leave outright.

Yin Zijian watched coldly from the side, sneering before departing first.

Tong Youyu knew he was most likely mocking her uselessness.

Once safely back at the Shen residence, even Lin Jinzhu could see through Shen Shuzhang’s intentions and urged Tong Youyu to tell the matriarch. Dragging things out was not a solution.

Tong Youyu replied, “Grandmother already knows, but she’s resting. Elder Cousin’s match will likely fall to my aunt.”

But her aunt was picky and demanding; it would not be easy to find a suitable match.

Tong Youyu thought that after a few days, the trouble caused by Shen Shuzhang would settle.

Unexpectedly, upon returning to Fenghe Garden, Peng Shi arrived.

She brought letters from Youzhou, family correspondence from Tong Youyu’s father.

Normally, Peng Shi wouldn’t deliver them personally, but today she had something to say.

Tong Youyu invited her aunt to sit. Jin Kui was temporarily dismissed; only then did Peng Shi speak:

“Fish Fish, you’re a grown young lady now, graceful and beautiful. Who will you marry one day… Your aunt has asked your father’s opinion and can arrange a match for you.”

Tong Youyu was startled. “Arrange a match for me?”

Peng Shi nodded. “With your grandmother in the capital and your father returning one day, naturally, it will be a good family here in the capital. What do you think?”

“I…” Tong Youyu had never considered this before; it was too sudden.

Moreover, she had thought her marriage would be decided by her grandmother…

Her aunt wasn’t the type to seize control unless… she had noticed Elder Cousin’s intentions?

Shen Shuzhang and Tong Youyu lived under the same roof; he was careful and never overstepped boundaries or came to Fenghe Garden without reason.

His “accidental” meetings were mostly limited to sharing rides.

Otherwise, whether at the residence or the academy, his behavior was proper.

Since the coachman could inform him, he must have been bribed and kept the secret; Peng Shi found it difficult to detect.

“Don’t overthink it. With several daughters of marriageable age, your aunt naturally pays attention to these matters and is arranging matches for your cousin too,” Peng Shi explained. “You and Yu Mu are about the same age, and Lianyin is a year older; it’s about time for introductions.”

Tong Youyu bowed her head. “Thank you for your concern.”

“It’s no trouble. Matchmaking isn’t engagement; just get to know some promising young men without pressure. Besides, your matter still needs the matriarch’s approval, so nothing will be rushed.”

Peng Shi’s reasoning was sound. After some thought, Tong Youyu nodded in agreement. “Then I’ll trouble my aunt.”

She could not be ungrateful for such kindness, and it also sent a signal to Elder Cousin to give up early and avoid straining relations.

Peng Shi was pleased with Tong Youyu’s compliance and immediately set about making arrangements, telling her to await good news.

******

A few days later, the southern barbarian diplomatic mission arrived in the capital.

On the day of their arrival, the streets were crowded with spectators.

The people held little enthusiasm for the enemy nation, quietly observing and whispering, pointing fingers.

The Ministry of Rites had already received orders and arranged reception; despite recent hostilities, now the opposing side bowed in submission and it was necessary to maintain decorum.

The southern barbarians brought many gifts, including genuine gold and silver, jewels, horses, fierce beasts, fine wine, and beauties.

The emperor was fairly satisfied with their attitude and accepted all gifts, distributing them as rewards to meritorious officials.

Among them, the Yin family received the greatest share.

The consort Yin was first to choose jewels and jade, the renowned fine horses were bestowed upon General Yin, and the rare fierce tiger brought as tribute was given to Yin Zijian for keeping.

Finally, the peerless dancing maiden, brought over from afar, was also handed to Yin Zijian.

News of this spread and caused surprise. Upon inquiry, it became clear the empress had influenced this outcome.

The emperor had already rewarded the soldiers—those fond of wine received wine, those who preferred money received gold.

As for the dancing maiden, she would typically be reserved by the emperor.

But the empress intervened, noting that the crown prince already had a crown princess and two consorts, while the fourth prince’s quarters were lonely; though young and without a formal wife yet, he needed attendants.

The empress’s clever plan both placed someone by the fourth prince’s side and prevented many other enchantresses from causing trouble in the harem.

Consort Yin, however, could not watch her son’s interests be delayed; she argued that the crown prince was the elder brother and should receive the best first.

Their back-and-forth was endless. The empress, aware of the emperor’s favoritism, feared he might keep the dancing maiden or give her to the eastern palace, both outcomes she disliked.

So she changed tack, pairing the beauty with the fierce tiger and awarding both to Yin Zijian.

Yin Zijian was young but tall and imposing, dignified and natural in bearing. Among the military, some men who couldn’t hold their tongues told crude jokes but secretly envied him.

They said the young general was brave, and apparently his needs were great too—enough to nearly exhaust the young lady.

There were even bawdy remarks about his nighttime conquests, which some officers agreed with the empress’s wisdom on: a vigorous young man must have women around!

Moreover, this peerless dancing maiden was delicate and gentle, a tribute from the southern barbarians; by any measure, they wanted to secure this prize for the young general.

Thus, the emperor could not refuse and readily granted the beauty and tiger together.

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