In May, just after late spring, the weather becomes unbearably hot in haste.
The scorching sun beats down on the land of Yanjing. Street vendors have all hidden under the shade of trees. In such sweltering weather, the young masters and misses of wealthy families are too impatient to go out and suffer in the heat. Only the poor laborers, carrying cold rice wine soaked in well water, trek tirelessly among the gambling dens and teahouses, hoping that the parched and weary would spend five copper coins on a bowl, so they can buy an extra bag of rice, make a couple more pots of porridge, and get through another few days of work.
Around the corner to the east of the city, there stands a brand-new residence, with a plaque hanging high up, inscribed with the golden, glistening words "Champion of the Imperial Exams"—a mansion and imperial plaque bestowed by Emperor Hongxiao to the new top scholar, representing the utmost honor. Any scholar who receives such a plaque should call his family to weep with gratitude for the comfort of his ancestors.
A brand-new mansion, an imperial plaque, servants bustling about in the courtyard—outside, the summer heat is fierce, but inside the house is chilly. Perhaps the rooms are filled with ice to stave off the heat. However, the closer one walks to the wall side of the yard, the colder it becomes.
At the very last room by the wall, three people are sitting outside. Two young maids in thin pink dresses, along with a plump middle-aged matron, have a pile of watermelon seeds on the stool in front of them and a pot of sour plum drink; they're eating and gossiping, seeming even more at ease than their masters.
The maid on the far left glances back at a window and says, "It's hot, and the medicinal smell in this room just won't dissipate. It's unbearable. I really don't know when this will end."
"You little hoof, speaking ill of the master behind her back," the older matron warns. "Be careful or the master will skin you alive."
The maid in pink is unconcerned. "How so? The old master hasn't visited the mistress's quarters for three months now." Then, lowering her voice, she says, "The scandal was blown out of proportion. Our master is indeed kind and righteous. If it were someone else..." She smirks disdainfully, "If it were me, I would just end it. At least then you would preserve your reputation. To cling to life in this way is nothing but a burden to others."
The matron begins to speak, but the other maid chimes in, "Actually, the mistress is quite pitiable, born with such beauty, learned and talented, gentle by nature—who knew she would encounter such a disaster..."
Though their voices are hushed, the stillness of a summer afternoon carries their words clearly into the room, word by word, to the ears of the person inside.
Lying back on the couch, Xue Fangfei's tear-streaked eyes are half dry. Her face, thinned from recent illness, hasn't lost color from gauntness; instead, it appears even more hauntingly delicate and enchanting.
Her beauty has always been renowned; otherwise, she could not have warranted the title of Yanjing's number one beauty. On her wedding day, bored young nobles even had beggars bump into her bridal sedan so the veil would fall, revealing her blossoming, exquisite face, causing the people on both sides of the street to stare in awe. Before she married and left for the capital, her father, the county magistrate of Tongxiang in Xiangyang, Xue Huaiyuan, had worriedly said, "Ah Li, you are too beautiful. Shen Yurong might not be able to protect you."
Shen Yurong was her husband.
Before Shen Yurong became the top scholar, he was just a poor scholar. The Shen family lived in Yanjing, and his maternal grandmother, Old Madam Cao, resided in Xiangyang. Four years ago, upon the death of Old Madam Cao, Shen Yurong and his mother returned to Xiangyang for the funeral, which is where he met Xue Fangfei.
Tongxiang was merely a small county in Xiangyang City, and Xue Huaiyuan was a minor official. Xue Fangfei's mother died in childbirth while giving birth to her younger brother, Xue Zhao. After Mrs. Xue's death, Xue Huaiyuan did not remarry. The household was simple, with only Xue Fangfei, her brother, and their father depending on each other for survival.
Xue Fangfei had reached the age to be married, and with her exceptional beauty, eligible bachelors from near and far, as well as wealthy households, came to propose. Some even higher in rank than Xue Huaiyuan wanted to take Xue Fangfei as a concubine. Naturally, Xue Huaiyuan refused; having lost her mother at a young age, he was especially affectionate towards his daughter. Add to that Xue Fangfei's clever and sensible nature, Xue Huaiyuan had never stinted on anything she needed since childhood. If it was within his capacity, he wanted to give her the best. Therefore, although the Xue family was just a minor official's household, Xue Fangfei was raised more preciously than daughters of greater families.
For such a cherished daughter, nurtured with great care, Xue Huaiyuan fretted over her marriage. The princely nobles could indeed offer her a life of luxury and fine garments, but freedom there was constrained. Xue Huaiyuan took a liking to Shen Yurong.
Though Shen Yurong was of humble origin, he was exceptionally talented and destined to achieve great things sooner or later. However, this meant Xue Fangfei would have to leave with him, far away to Yanjing. Another concern was Xue Fangfei's astonishing beauty; in Tongxiang, Xue Huaiyuan could protect her, but in Yanjing, where princely nobles were legion, if any bore ill intent, Shen Yurong might not be able to keep her safe.