The plum rain season in Jiangnan always arrived unannounced, leaving dark brown water trails winding across the bluestone slabs of Lin'an City like scars carved by the passing years. Shen Zhaoning knelt in the ancestral hall of the Shen Mansion, gazing at her mother's spirit tablet on the offering table as the candlelight flickered across her pale face. From outside the hall came the stern reprimand of her father, Prime Minister Shen: "Tomorrow at the hour of Chen, you will go and see the Crown Prince!"
The carved red-wood door creaked open, and a chilly gust of rain spilled into the room. Shen Zhaoning clutched the handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus flowers, which Gu Qingyue had slipped into her hand three days ago. Memories suddenly came flooding back. Half a month ago, during the Lantern Festival, the lanterns along Zhuque Avenue blazed as bright as day, and Gu Qingyue had smiled as he tied a rabbit lantern around her wrist: "Zhaoning, once I pass the imperial examinations, I will come to ask for your hand in marriage."
Back then, she had lowered her head, blushing, while the pearl hairpins at her temples gently swayed: "What if my father does not agree?"
Chapter 213