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His strength was overwhelming, leaving Jiang Caiping no choice but to follow. She desperately called out to Yunyi, “Sister! Sister!”
Before Yunyi could respond, Li Xuanba coldly commanded, “Zhang Jiu, block her. No one follows us.”
Blocked by Zhang Jiu, Yunyi could only watch helplessly as they disappeared into the distance.
They arrived at Yuehua Pond, where Li Xuanba finally released her. The area was deserted except for a few servants collecting leftover lotus lanterns. The willow trees along the shore, dormant through winter, had begun sprouting their first green buds of spring.
Rubbing her sore arm, Jiang Caiping asked, “What do you want?”
Li Xuanba stared at her. “That’s my question. Everything seemed fine last night. Why did you say those things to Zhang Jiu this morning? What’s going on?”
Jiang Caiping avoided his gaze, turning her face away. “All I’m saying is… please don’t seek me out anymore.”
“Why?” Li Xuanba persisted. That morning, after handing the lantern to Zhang Jiu, he had gone to the training grounds outside the city to spar with soldiers. He returned only in the evening, only to hear Zhang Jiu relay Jiang Caiping’s message. Without stopping at Tingfeng Pavilion, he immediately sought her out.
“No reason. Just… don’t come looking for me anymore,” Jiang Caiping replied haltingly.
Interrupting her, Li Xuanba said, “If it’s baseless nonsense, then I see no reason to heed it.”
“You!” Jiang Caiping stamped her foot, both angry and flustered. “How can you be so unreasonable?”
Li Xuanba shrugged nonchalantly. “Exactly. Why should I listen to nonsense?”
Already heartbroken, Jiang Caiping’s tears flowed freely as she choked out, “Do what you want! From now on, I don’t want to see you. Even if you come, I won’t acknowledge you!”
Li Xuanba hadn’t expected her to cry. This was the first time he’d seen Jiang Caiping shed tears. Flustered, he tried to find a handkerchief but realized he never carried one—it was too effeminate for his taste. Settling for his sleeve, he awkwardly wiped her tears while saying, “Don’t cry. I’m not forcing you. I just don’t understand. Weren’t you happy last night?”
“Yes, I was happy. But…” Jiang Caiping pushed him away, her expression sorrowful. “How long can that happiness last?”
Confused, Li Xuanba asked, “What do you mean?”
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Caiping said, “You may give me joy for a day, a month, or even a year—but can you give me a lifetime?”
Without hesitation, Li Xuanba replied, “Why not? If you like, I’ll light lotus lanterns in Yuehua Pond every night, so you can see lotuses all year round.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Jiang Caiping struggled to clarify. After gathering her thoughts, she spoke haltingly, “You’re the Third Young Master of the Taishou’s mansion. I’m just a lowly dancer. You may light lanterns for a lifetime, but can I watch them forever? Will you marry me?”
“Marry you…” Li Xuanba hadn’t considered this deeply. Scratching his head, he pondered for a moment. “If I like you, why not?”
Tears streaming down her face, Jiang Caiping shook her head. “Even if you’re willing, what about the Taishou? Second Madam? Eldest Young Master? Would they agree?”
Li Xuanba lowered his head, silent. Though less perceptive than his elder brothers, he understood his position. The Li family was a prominent clan, and his father would never allow him to marry a commoner, especially with Second Madam likely fanning the flames of disapproval.
As servants lit copper-covered lamps along the pond, Li Xuanba said gravely, “Perhaps I can’t make you my main wife, but…”
Jiang Caiping cut him off sharply. “But you’d take me as a concubine, right?” When Li Xuanba nodded, she slowly backed away, increasing the distance between them. “Unfortunately, I don’t wish to be anyone’s concubine. So… let’s end this here.”
“Why?” Li Xuanba stepped forward urgently. “The difference between wife and concubine is merely a title. If I take you, I promise to treat you well. I guarantee it!”
Jiang Caiping replied bitterly, “You can promise for a year or two, but not for a lifetime.” Bowing to him, she whispered hoarsely, “Thank you for your affection, Third Young Master. But alas, Caiping lacks the fortune to deserve it.”
As she turned to leave, tears that had momentarily ceased began falling again, dripping from her chin onto her pink dress, staining it darker…
Behind her, Li Xuanba opened his mouth several times but said nothing. Silently, he watched her slender figure disappear into the distance…
From that day on, Li Xuanba never sought Jiang Caiping again. She resumed her routine of practicing dance and music daily, seemingly returning to her old self. But Yunyi knew that for Jiang Caiping, Li Xuanba would remain an indelible scar in her heart.
Recently, Li Shimin seemed preoccupied. Over the past month, they had met only a handful of times, and he appeared burdened with worries.
On the fifteenth day of the second month, the dancers were allowed to leave the mansion. Early in the morning, Yunyi and Jiang Caiping packed lightly and went to Steward Lin to collect their tokens. As they approached the gate, they unexpectedly saw Li Xuanba. Seeing him, Jiang Caiping’s face turned pale. Ignoring propriety, she hurried away without greeting him.
Li Xuanba didn’t chase her but followed at a leisurely pace. After they had walked about ten zhang from the mansion, he quickened his steps and pulled Jiang Caiping aside in a secluded spot. “You know how I feel. Why crush everything at the very beginning without giving us a chance?” After days of reflection, he still couldn’t let her go. Knowing she would return home today, he had waited at the gate early that morning.
Struggling to suppress her sorrow, Jiang Caiping lowered her head. “Caiping is just a common woman. I dare not aspire to someone of your stature.”
Li Xuanba’s face darkened. “So because I can’t marry you as my wife, you say such things?” Seeing her silence, he exclaimed in frustration, “Does the distinction between wife and concubine truly matter so much to you?”
Biting her lip hard, Jiang Caiping whispered, “Yes… thank you for your misplaced affection!” With that, she hurried away. Before Li Xuanba could stop her again, Yunyi, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward and said, “Third Young Master, for you, the difference between wife and concubine may be trivial. But for Caiping, becoming a concubine means being inferior for life. One day, if you cast her out, she’ll have nowhere to turn for justice.”
Li Xuanba quickly assured her, “If I take Caiping, I’ll cherish her deeply. How could I ever abandon her?”
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