Moonlit Reunion [子夜归]

Chapter 2

According to custom, a girl should have marriage plans by the age of fifteen or sixteen, or at the latest by eighteen or nineteen. But Wu Zhen, now twenty-six and unmarried, was truly a rare case in Chang'an. Ever since she turned sixteen, her father, Duke Yu, and her sister, Empress Wu, had exhausted themselves worrying about her marriage prospects. Over the years, there had indeed been several proposals, but all had come to nothing in the end.

It might seem unbelievable—given her family background and appearance, there were certainly those willing to overlook her reputation and marry her. But somehow, things kept falling through. The main reason was that Wu Zhen was simply too troublesome.

Her first engagement was with Fan, the son of the Minister of Revenue, a suitable match. Fan himself was decent-looking, and if Wu Zhen had been content to prepare for marriage like an ordinary girl, everything would have been fine. But she was far too wild. Shortly after the families exchanged betrothal gifts, she boldly invited Fan for a hunting trip outside the city. It's unclear what exactly happened on the hunt, but reportedly, Fan was so terrified he wet himself. He fell gravely ill upon returning and, once recovered, couldn't even speak properly in her presence. Naturally, the engagement was quietly canceled.

Later, a marriage was arranged with the son of the Minister of War, Huang. This time, he was a robust and imposing young man, and both Duke Yu and Empress Wu were pleased. But one day, Wu Zhen challenged him to a riding and archery competition—and won handily. Huang, awed by her skill, admired her as a warrior, felt inferior, and even wanted her as his mentor. When she refused, he proposed they swear brotherhood instead. Needless to say, the engagement was dropped, and she gained a sworn brother instead. Huang has since married, and his children are already several years old.

Another time, a proposal was arranged with the son of the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, but that one turned out even worse. Wu Zhen and her would-be fiancé, Lu, ended up in a brawl before they even exchanged betrothal gifts. The situation was complex; Lu and Wu Zhen shared a love for frequenting entertainment quarters, and Lu was particularly infatuated with a courtesan named Huzhu. Huzhu, however, had little interest in Lu and often went out with Wu Zhen, sparking rumors of a "mirror-polishing" relationship between her and Wu Zhen. Lu, filled with jealousy and bitterness, couldn't accept the engagement and stormed over to pick a fight with Wu Zhen, only to be beaten down until he was left groaning on the floor. To this day, there's still bad blood between them.

Another engagement with a certain Chen barely got past the second round of betrothal ceremonies before the young man suddenly fell ill and passed away.

A fifth engagement, a sixth...

And so on, until now. As Wu Zhen aged, her reputation worsened, and marriage prospects dwindled, leaving her free to live a carefree, untethered life. She spent her days either taking courtesans on outings or leading groups of noble youths into various escapades, causing trouble wherever she went. Even Duke Yu had lost hope in arranging her marriage; he now spent his days in a temple, chanting sutras, tending flowers, and sipping tea, hoping for peace away from her.

When Duke Yu received a letter from his eldest daughter, he was so shocked he nearly dropped his wooden prayer beads. Unlike Wu Zhen, his eldest daughter was always reliable, and if she praised someone highly, they must indeed be outstanding. It seemed Wu Zhen might finally be on the verge of marriage.

Wu Zhen asked her father about the match, seeing him lost in thought, his eyes suddenly misty. She couldn't help but tap his arm and press him again, curiosity piqued. "Father, who is this young man you and my sister are so eager to pair me with?"

Duke Yu snapped out of his reverie and replied, "It's the nephew of Noble Consort Mei."

Wu Zhen thought for a moment, then laughed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Noble Consort Mei's nephew? Mei Si? That boy is only seventeen! He's followed me around like a shadow since he was young—I know him well. Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare marry me!"