Chapter 48
Chapter 48: Countdown ?: The Heart Demon’s Prank and the First Madam’s Scheme
Sandalwood incense curled through First Madam Wang’s bedchamber, thin and steady.
A gilt-and-kingfisher hair set slid across the table and came to rest before Lin Yu Jiao. Under the light, the deep blue feathers shimmered like water, exquisite enough to steal the eye.
Madam Wang wore a kindly smile, voice warm with false intimacy.
“Jiao Jiao, you’ve been inviting Miss Qiu from the Vice Minister of Rites’ household to visit lately. Your eldest aunt is pleased. Take this and wear it.”
Lin Yu Jiao’s eyes lit up.
This was the most fashionable style in the capital—something you couldn’t buy even with a fortune.
She understood perfectly: her eldest aunt had taken a fancy to Qiu Ru Ying, and this was the “broker’s fee” for match-making.
“Thank you, Eldest Aunt!” Lin Yu Jiao accepted it without hesitation, smile sweet as syrup.
“Ru Ying loves sutras. She often says she can’t find anyone who understands. If she can discuss Buddhist teachings with my elder cousin, she’ll surely come more often.”
That landed exactly where it was meant to.
First Madam nodded, skimming foam from her tea with practiced ease.
“Miss Qiu is gentle and well-mannered, and she’s the only daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites. Her background and talent are both top-class.”
Lin Yu Jiao immediately praised her friend to the skies.
“Of course! Ru Ying is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even a palace matron praised her manners, calling her a model among noble ladies.”
First Madam’s smile deepened. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she calculated, already plotting how to push her stubborn son into meeting this perfect Miss Qiu more often.
Later, in Lin Qing Xuan’s study, the air was cool with incense—clean and remote.
First Madam entered with a fresh cup of tea, her tone gentle and her authority unmistakable.
“Qing Xuan, you’re not young anymore. It’s time you met more young ladies from good families.”
She set the cup down and shifted as if it were casual.
“I think Miss Qiu from the Vice Minister of Rites’ household is excellent. I hear she also understands Buddhist teachings and shares your interests…”
Lin Qing Xuan’s fingers continued to roll his prayer beads, unbroken. He didn’t even lift his eyes.
“The Buddha’s gate remains open. Do not speak to me of worldly ties.”
One sentence, and the conversation died.
First Madam’s brows tightened. Patience thinned. Her voice cooled.
“And you think I know nothing about you and that maid, Xiao Man?”
The prayer beads stopped.
Lin Qing Xuan finally looked up. His eyes were deep, still, without ripple.
“Since Mother already knows,” he said evenly, “why mention others?”
The calmness in his tone hit like a fist.
First Madam’s chest tightened. She stood there for a long moment, then let out a long sigh—the kind used to swallow anger whole.
“Fine. Do as you like.”
Meanwhile, Xiao Man returned to her side room, humming, mood oddly light.
Out of habit, she glanced at the wooden plaque she’d hung up to motivate herself—the one she’d labeled the Chastity Defense War Countdown.
210 days.
Her smile froze.
No.
That was wrong.
She rubbed her eyes and leaned closer.
Yesterday she’d written it herself. It had been 190 days.
The “2” was darker than the “10,” the edges smudged where someone had altered it.
Xiao Man yanked the plaque down, nearly rolling her eyes into the back of her skull.
“Scribbling over my work—do you think I can’t count?”
She grabbed her charcoal pencil and rewrote it with force: 190 days.
The moment she finished, the numbers twisted.
They writhed like living things, slowly changing back into that infuriating 210.
Xiao Man stared.
For three full seconds, her mind went entirely blank.
A wicked heat surged up from her feet to the crown of her head. She slammed the plaque onto the table.
Bang.
The plaque bounced up by itself, flipping once in the air.
The numbers flickered and jumped wildly, then snapped into place with a soft clack.
?
Xiao Man stared at the sideways eight until her temples throbbed.
“Infinite?” she hissed. “This damned heart demon thinks I can grind it out with Lin Qing Xuan’s ice face until the end of time?”
Elsewhere, First Madam Wang’s mouth had said do as you like, but her expression darkened the moment she turned away.
Her knuckles tapped the rosewood tabletop in a slow, hard rhythm.
“Qiu Ru Ying is fine,” she said coolly, “but we can’t hang ourselves on a single tree.”
She looked at Matron Zhou. “Choosing a wife means options. Several.”
Matron Zhou bowed immediately, voice eager. “Madam is truly a loving mother. The Eldest Grandson Young Master is young and hot-blooded, dazzled by that maid for now. Once he sees a truly dignified and virtuous noble lady, he’ll naturally wake up.”
First Madam let out a cold laugh.
“If he isn’t clear-headed, do you think I am not?”
She tapped the table once, decisive.
“Find a tight-lipped matchmaker. Bring her through the back entrance. I don’t want the Auspicious Cloud Residence hearing a whisper.”
Matron Zhou lowered her head. “This servant will handle it.”
Before evening, a matchmaker glittering in gold and silver slipped into the Heir Apparent’s Manor like a thief, reeking of powder and perfume. She was led straight to Shao Hua Courtyard—First Madam’s own yard.
The matchmaker hugged a heavy stack of scrolls, grinning until her teeth showed.
“Rest assured, Madam. The misses I have are all top-notch. Every one of them is worthy of the Heir Apparent’s Manor!”
First Madam lifted her teacup, unhurried, and gave a small tilt of her chin.
“Speak.”
The matchmaker unfurled the first portrait, mouth moving faster than her hands.
“This one—the Minister of War’s second daughter, Miss Zhao Lü Liu! Seventeen, famous for her painting, gentle as spring water. They say she can’t even bear to step on an ant.”
She flicked to the next scroll.
“And this—the only daughter of the Han Lin Academy Chancellor, Miss Sun Qian Qian! Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, all excellent. Her hairpin-flower small regular script is especially praised. Even the Empress has complimented it.”
Then she spread the last portrait as if revealing treasure.
“And this one! Eldest Miss of the imperial merchant Qian family—Qian Shuang. Yes, she’s a merchant’s daughter, but her family’s wealth rivals a nation. That dowry—filling half the treasury wouldn’t be an exaggeration. And look at that face, Madam—bright and glorious, a true peony of wealth walking the mortal world!”
First Madam narrowed her eyes and examined the three portraits. At last, she tapped Qian Shuang’s painted cheek lightly.
“This one… is interesting.”
Matron Zhou leaned in, lowering her voice. “Imperial merchants may lack official prestige, but they make up for it in practicality.”
First Madam snorted.
“Practical? Does my son lack silver?”
Yet she didn’t order the portrait removed.
The matchmaker’s eyes gleamed. She smiled wider, quick to seize the opening.
“If Madam likes them, this old servant can arrange a meeting anytime. Quietly. Cleanly. No one will know.”
First Madam considered, then nodded.
“Let them ‘run into’ Qing Xuan—but don’t make it obvious.”
She added, measured and sharp:
“And bring Qiu Ru Ying from the Qiu family. Have Jiao Jiao invite her. I want her there too.”
Matron Zhou asked softly, “Madam, under what pretext should we invite them?”
First Madam’s mouth curved.
“Invite my sister-in-law. Use Little Third’s birthday as an excuse. Bring noble ladies to liven the manor.”
Matron Zhou went at once to invite Second Madam Liu over.
When First Madam Wang explained it, Second Madam Liu didn’t object. She covered her lips and smiled instead.
“Sister-in-law’s idea is excellent. Little Third Yu Ning’s birthday really is coming soon—using it to add some liveliness is perfectly reasonable. Only…” Her eyes shifted with cunning. “If we invite only those four misses, won’t it be too obvious?”
She leaned in, voice soft with calculation.
“Why not invite the marriageable cousin girls from both our families as well? The more people, the easier it is to muddy the water. Open the side gate so the courtyards connect, then ‘casually’ introduce those four misses to Qing Xuan. Not obvious—and Qing Xuan can look them all over. Sister-in-law, isn’t that better?”
First Madam’s eyes brightened. She clapped her hands once.
“You’re the careful one, Sister-in-law.”
Second Madam Liu smiled. “Then where should Yu Ning’s birthday banquet be held—your manor, or mine?”
First Madam decided at once.
“Here. I’ll host it for Ning Ning. When the time comes, you and I will sit together and watch the show. And you’ll help me judge—which one is truly the best.”
Second Madam Liu agreed with a smile.