Jing manor was far quieter than either Zhongshan avenue or Zhuxian avenue, and this was even more so in the night. Due to the Crown Prince’s recent accomplishment in subduing the Southern Wu rebels, the Emperor had declared a week of celebration would occur immediately after the mourning of the Prime Minister, which was soon over.

The common folks of Lin’an thus spend most of their nights preparing for the upcoming festival, weaving new clothes and taking out the preserved meated and vegetables stored within their basements. Even the more crowded boulevard and avenues were indicative that the people of Lin’an has long awaited to put away the white clothes hanging before their door.

As Jing Wen was packing up the last of the parcels, he suddenly noticed a eunuch standing before the main gate.

After he greeted the eunuch, the eunuch deeply bowed, saying, “Marquis, His Majesty has just chosen three candidates for your betrothment, and has presented this servant with their portrait and a description of their character.”

Jing Wen frowned, not expecting that the Emperor had found him marriage candidates so soon. “I have just undergone an operation. These matters can be discussed later. Why be in such a hurry that you would inform me so after evening?”

The eunuch smiled, saying, “His Majesty said that he wished to honour the Prime Minister and Princess’s decreased spirit by bestowing upon Marquis a family as soon as possible.”

Jing Wen placed down the parcels, and after making sure the tall stack would not fall, he said to the eunuch, “What His Majesty says make sense, but I am still sixteen. There is no need to be in such a hurry.”

The eunuch took out an envelope from his robes and presented it to Jing Wen. “Marquis, there is indeed no rush to these things. His Majesty merely wishes for you to interact with these ladies, and see if they are suitable for marriage. If Marquis finds them undesirable, his Majesty can always find more candidates. No matter what, His Majesty looking out for you.”

Jing Wen contemplated for some time, and found what the eunuch, and by extension, the Emperor had said, was rather reasonable. Accepting the envelope, he placed it within his sleeves, before sending off the eunuch.

After returning to his chambers, Jing Wen dismissed Mingzhu and summoned Gao Shu, as he felt judging the merits of other women with a woman with rather distasteful. Opening the envelope that bore the dragon seal, he passed its contents to Gao Shu.

Gao Shu, who had grown accustomed to reading documents for Jing Wen back in the days of the Imperial Guard Division, carefully examined the first portrait and the description that accompanied it. Suddenly, Gao Shu sucked in a breath of cold air as he said, “Captain, this is a good candidate.”

Jing Wen ‘looked’ at Gao Shu, not expecting that he would give such a drastic reaction and would come to a conclusion so quickly.

Gao Shu looked at Jing Wen and said, “Young Master, even I has heard of lady Liu Fenfang’s (劉芬芳) reputation. Not only is her appearance good, but she also possesses the opposite of her older brother, Liu Shan’s lustful nature, being virtuous and obedient, she is a good lady. Supposedly, many of the servants that Liu Shan had tainted, most were later compensated by Liu Fenfang and not by Liu Shan. If I may speak frankly, I rather admire lady Liu.”

Jing Wen coughed awkwardly, interrupting Gao Shu’s barrage of praises. Handing Gao Shu the second candidate’s information, he silently waited as Gao Shu read through its contents.

After Gao Shu placed down the second portrait, he said, “Captain, the second candidate is lady Xiahou Jie (夏侯節). Although I have not heard of her name, from her description, she is the sole daughter of General Xiahou, the General to Pacify the South and a member of the Thirteenth Prince’s maternal family. It’s clear that His Majesty was influenced by Consort Li when choosing this candidate, though, by her appearance alone, she is suited to be wed to you.”

Jing Wen mentally shook his head, thinking to himself that it would be impossible for him to form a relationship by marriage with the Thirteenth Prince when he is actively supported by that frightening woman. Despite this, he would probably still visit lady Xiahou out of courtesy.

Passing the final candidate’s information to Gao Shu, Jing Wen fiddled with the jade thumb ring as Gao Shu said, “Captain, the last candidate is lady Lei Li (雷李), who is described with little words. From the portrait, she appears to be of elegant disposition, but appears overly weak and sickly. It is somewhat strange, as lady Lei comes from an ordinary merchant family…”

Jing Wen said nothing and simply packed the portraits back into the envelope. Placing it onto the nightstand, Jing Wen stood up, and, patting his robes, he said, “It’s time for dinner.”

---

Marriage was a matter that would change the course of one’s life, not to mention one that was bestowed upon by the Emperor. If Jing Wen can suddenly interrupt such a serious matter, then he was either a person who viewed very little of marriage or one that viewed marriage more seriously than most people, because he believed never viewed those candidates who he has never met as viable partners in the first place.

In this world, where most powerful men would take concubines, most would marry a wife from an influential family and take in concubines to satisfy their needs. Someone who was truly devoted to a single woman, such as Jing Ping, was a true abnormality.

In the end, most cases where a man was married to a single woman was due to the wife being not merely influential, but more powerful than the man. While Jing Wen was certainly not married to one, he lived under the influence of a powerful woman, and his thinking has long been shaped by Princess Kang.

After finishing his dinner, Jing Wen had a kettle of tea boiled, before heading to the pavilion to cultivate. Pouring the tea, he noticed Zhou Aimin walking beside the bank of the artificial lake. Recalling the matters regarding the betrothment and the even earlier surgery, he opened his mouth and spoke.

“Fellow Zhou, the tea is pretty good.”

Zhou Aimin spotted Jing Wen, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised slightly. Pouring a cup for himself, he said somewhat embarrassed, “Fellow Jing, since you have the luxury to enjoy tea, it appears I have not embarrassed you with my skills.”

“I had not expected fellow Zhou to be so talented at surgical operations.”

Zhou Aimin’s smile brightened, bringing out his dimples. “It was thanks to the skills of Shen Yanlin.”

Jing Wen poured out the tea in his cup, which has already gone cold, into the artificial lake. He said, “Without fellow Zhou’s help in the surgery, I would have missed his Majesty’s edict.

Zhou Aimin had let for his chambers before the eunuch appeared, so he was rather surprised. He asked curiously, “What what the edict about?”

Jing Wen sipped on the tea before answering, “His Majesty has bestowed upon me a few marriage candidates.”

Zhou Aimin immediately became quiet. For a very long time, he did not speak anything.

After the pregnant pause, he said, “The temperature of the tea seems to be a bit off.”

Jing Wen thought nothing of Zhou Aimin’s long pause, since tea drinking was a leisurely act and people would frequently delve into silence during the process. As for the temperature of the tea, he felt that it was indeed somewhat off. Placing down the teacup, Jing Wen said, “Since it’s unsuitable, we can just pour it out. After boiling another pot, we can continue to simply chat.”

Zhou Aimin’s slight smile has turned somewhat strange as he said, “No need, although the temperature is off, the taste is still good.”

Saying that, Zhou Aimin quickly finished the cup in his hand before pouring another. Holding the cup in his hand, he felt it was unusually heavy. Afterwards, he lowered his gaze to look at the tip of his shoes. Although he knew that Jing Wen could not see his face, he still lowered his head to hide his currently flustered expression.

At this point, Jing Wen realised Zhou Aimin was acting rather strangely. ‘Staring’ at the little Taoist, he said, “Fellow Zhou, is there something wrong?”

Zhou Aimin was silent for a moment, before shaking his head rapidly. Yet he could not shake off the uncomfortable feeling he was experiencing. He fumbled with the teacup as he said, “Maybe I was too focused during the operation, leaving me light-minded and feeling a little malaise.”

Yet before Jing Wen could response, Zhou Aimin’s gaze suddenly brightened as he said nimbly, “Fellow Jing, I would precaution you against becoming affiliated with any woman and their family. Despite our current idyllic lifestyle, we are still plotting against the Seventh Prince and even His Majesty. People like us do not have the luxury to engage in romance. Additionally, what would happen if the scheme went south? Then they and their family would be implicated as well.”

Jing Wen realised Zhou Aimin misunderstood what he had said. Smiling, he said, “Fellow Zhou, do not be so anxious. I do not plan on pledging vows with them so quickly. I will just visit them out of courtesy, and do nothing else.”

Zhou Aimin breathed out a sigh of relief. Looking at Jing Wen, he said seriously, “Fellow Jing, the heart of a woman is a complicated matter. During my time as a Taoist, I have seen my master give advice to many men and women with marriage issues… if it is fine with you, I wish to accompany you as you meet the candidates.”

Jing Wen thought what Zhou Aimin said with reasonable.. Aside from Jing Ping, he has little experience with the opposite gender. Moreover, many of the young ladies of prominent noble families are zealous followers of Daoism, which he knew pitifully little of compared to Zhou Aimin.

Zhou Aimin lifted the tea kettle to pour himself another cup, only to realise it had become empty. Laughing awkwardly, he said, “I feel a bit hungry, so I will go to bed. Don’t forget to bring me when you are seeing the candidates.”

He was hungry, so he wanted to go to bed. For the usually bright little Taoist, there was no logic in that statement.