Lighting a Lantern at Your Brow - Chapter 1

Chapter One

In the eighth year of the Zhaoyuan era, spring arrived unusually early in Jinling. The apricot tree at the entrance of Hu’er Alley had just begun to bud, yet the swallows were already nesting under the eaves. After a peach blossom rain in early February, the Huai River rose an inch overnight. By sheer coincidence, it was the night of the Flower Festival, and countless river lanterns floated across the shimmering water. From a distance, they looked like someone had scattered a handful of gold dust into the Qinhuai River.

Yun Xi leaned against the window sill, listlessly watching the flickering lights on the river and the elegant pleasure boats drifting by, all while half-listening to the idle chatter of the two constables behind her.

“Hey, did you see clearly? That gilded boat at the eaves—that’s where the Third Young Master is.”

“Last month, the Third Young Master nearly had his legs broken after squandering a fortune on Miss Qianqian. His injuries haven’t even healed yet, and he’s out causing trouble again? Who’s caught his eye this time?”

“Who knows? That’s why Lord Zhang has us keeping watch through the night—to make sure this ancestor doesn’t stir up more trouble.”

The so-called Third Young Master was Cheng Chang, courtesy name Ming Ying, the youngest son of Prince Cong.

Jinling was home to hundreds of aristocratic heirs—some were scholars brimming with poetry and literature, while others were refined gentlemen of noble character. Unfortunately, this Third Young Master was neither. In terms of talent, he was utterly useless. In terms of character, to put it bluntly—he was nothing short of a scoundrel. His father, Prince Cong, was already a notorious treacherous lord, despised for his misdeeds. Whenever he mentioned this youngest son of his, he would fly into a rage and curse, “That unfilial son!”

Cheng Ming Ying was, first and foremost, greedy for wealth. Secondly, he was an incorrigible womanizer. In short, he lived for debauchery. His greatest ambition in life was to indulge in pleasure and revelry. If not for Prince Cong forcing him to kneel before the imperial ancestral shrine and swear a solemn oath to remain chaste, he would have likely followed in the footsteps of his older brother, who succumbed to a venereal disease.

That being said, he did have one redeeming quality—his face.

A face that was almost too beautiful—excessively handsome, with a radiance as cool as the moon and as bright as the stars.

And so, whenever someone in Jinling spoke of the Third Young Master, they would always sigh at the end, “What a waste of such a face.”

Laughter and teasing voices drifted across the shimmering reflections of the river lanterns. Amidst the lively commotion, a sudden burst of excited shouting could be heard—it seemed the young master was blindfolded and chasing after the courtesans in some foolish game.

The scene was decadent, absurd to the extreme, even just to listen to.

The two constables heaved a sigh after a moment of listening and resumed their discussion.

“Not long ago, the second young master of the Pei family achieved a great victory against the northern invaders at the frontier. He was granted the title of Grand General, and even His Majesty personally decreed that he would preside over his wedding. What an honor! But before the news even had time to be properly celebrated in Jinling, it was completely overshadowed by the scandal of the Third Young Master sneaking onto Miss Qianqian’s rooftop at night. Good news never spreads, but gossip travels a thousand miles. People flock to tales of scandalous affairs, yet turn a deaf ear to matters of true righteousness.”

“You don’t understand. No matter how impressive Pei Er is, he was betrothed from birth. His legitimate wife has already been chosen, and no matter how remarkable he is, he will still be someone else’s husband. Besides, his engagement is a sensitive topic—mentioning it would only break the hearts of countless women in Jinling. And more than that, the woman he is about to marry—”

“Shh——”

Before he could finish, Yun Xi, who had been leaning on the windowsill, suddenly shifted slightly. The two constables immediately fell silent. They had assumed she had dozed off, which was why they had been so unrestrained in their conversation. Now, exchanging a glance of mutual understanding, they wordlessly agreed to drop the subject—after all, Pei Er’s legitimate wife was right here. Best not to speak of it.

So, the rest of their words melted into yet another sigh, filled with unmistakable pity.

Yun Xi heard everything but pretended she hadn’t. After all, no matter where she went in Jinling, everyone who saw her would inevitably say the same thing—pitiful.

She was the sole daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong.

Back in its prime, the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family was made up of military heroes. From Yun Xi’s great-grandfather down to her father and brothers, all had earned distinguished battle achievements, their house renowned for its unwavering loyalty and valor. But once her father’s generation perished one after another in war, the marquisate began to decline. Three years ago, her elder brother, Yun Luo, had followed the Great General of Zhaoyuan on a northern expedition. Yet, in an unexpected betrayal, the general defected in the middle of battle, leading to a disastrous defeat on the Tagger Grasslands. If not for the Pei family’s second young master, Pei Lan, arriving with reinforcements, the surrounding cities would have fallen. Even so, Yun Luo perished in that battle. With his death, the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family lost their last warrior.

Only one daughter remained—Yun Xi.

After Yun Luo’s death, Yun Xi traveled alone to the northern frontier to retrieve her brother’s body.

She led her horse through the vast, dust-laden military camp, standing amidst the swirling yellow sand as the young commander of the reinforcements—the renowned Second Young Master of the Pei family—walked toward her. He stared at her face for a long moment before finally smiling, “Yun Xi?” Then, he reached into his sleeve and handed her a handkerchief. “Wipe your face.”

Yun Xi glanced at the nearby stream and only then realized that, after traveling day and night without rest, she hadn’t even noticed the smudge of dirt on her cheek.

They had been betrothed from birth, destined to grow old together as husband and wife. Yet, upon their first meeting as adults, he was as polished as a pearl, while she stood before him in utter disarray.

“I’ve already had your brother’s body washed and prepared for burial. You shouldn’t open the coffin—it will only bring you more sorrow,” Pei Lan said gently. “Tomorrow at dawn, I will have my men escort you back to the capital.”

Yun Xi saluted him with a soldier’s bow. “Thank you, Young General, but I do not intend to return to the capital just yet. My father and brother taught me military strategy in my youth, and I have fought on the battlefield before. The Marquis of Zhongyong’s lineage is one of warriors. Now that my father and brother are gone, only women and children remain at home. I wish to uphold my family’s legacy and remain in the army. Even if I must start as a lowly soldier, I hope the Young Commander will permit me to stay.”

The Great Sui was an open-minded dynasty, and there were precedents of women serving as officials and generals. Yet, it was still an unconventional path, one that strayed from the norm.

Pei Lan was momentarily stunned by her words. Then, he chuckled. “Let me think about it.”

That night, Yun Xi went to return the cleaned handkerchief. Standing outside Pei Lan’s tent, she overheard whispers from within.

“General, are you really planning to keep her in the army? She is, after all, a woman.”

“Of course not. She and I are engaged—it would be highly inappropriate to have her stay in the military.”

“Indeed. Since the General is betrothed to Miss Yun Xi, her presence in the army would invite gossip. I suspect she’s using the pretense of upholding her family’s legacy as an excuse when, in reality, she simply wishes to cling to you. This northern war will last at least two or three more years. If she remains here, once you return to the capital, it will be difficult to break off the engagement. The Marquis of Zhongyong’s family is already in decline—you must find a way to handle this matter, General.”

“What nonsense,” Pei Lan chided, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand. Yet, he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against the table and sighed. “Still… you’re right. I do need to find a way…”

Yun Xi stood outside the tent for a long time. The next day, she requested to return to the capital. She never brought up the idea of staying in the army again.

Her heart ached, but she knew this was only the beginning.

People always sought to climb higher, to align themselves with the powerful. Today, it was Pei Lan. Tomorrow, there would be a Zhang Lan, a Li Lan…

The Marquis of Zhongyong had been granted noble rank and a hereditary stipend for its military service. But the court would not provide for idle nobility. After General Zhao Yuan’s betrayal in the Tagger Grasslands, whispers in the imperial court also began to question Yun Luo, who had fought under him. If things continued like this, even when collecting her family’s stipend, she would have to endure disdainful glances.

Her father always said that no matter what, one must never lose their pride and conscience.

The year she returned to the capital, Yun Xi sought employment at the Jingzhao Prefecture and became a constable. The position was low-ranking, but at least it was a living.

Once, she had been the noble daughter of a marquis, perfectly matched with Pei Lan, an ideal pair. But things had changed. The Second Young Master of the Pei family was rising higher and higher, and the Pei household had become one of the most powerful noble families in Jinling. Meanwhile, the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family had fallen into ruin. Their only daughter now spent her days working in public, a woman who no longer belonged in the elegant halls of aristocracy. In the eyes of others, she was no longer the flower that could catch his gaze.

Perhaps this was for the best. Pei Lan was a man of literary and military talent, handsome and charismatic, with a boundless future ahead. Countless women in Jinling longed to marry him. Once, Yun Xi had been envied for her engagement to him. But now, even though the engagement had not been formally annulled, everyone knew—the two of them were worlds apart. They were utterly mismatched.

A young woman, alone without her family’s support, now had to depend on an outdated engagement and Pei Manor’s goodwill for her future marriage prospects.

To outsiders, such a situation could be summed up in one word—pitiful.

But this pity was not born out of sympathy. It came from the contrast of status, the cruelty of fate. It was a form of condescension, a casual remark made while watching from the sidelines, a shallow attempt at distraction.

It was spoken with three parts disdain, three parts scorn. And the moment it was said, the speaker would instinctively feel superior.

That night, the two constables on duty with Yun Xi fell asleep.

Yun Xi sat on the windowsill, holding her sword, shifting into a more comfortable position.

Whenever the Third Young Master went out drinking, he always caused some sort of trouble. She had been entrusted by Lord Zhang of the Jingzhao Prefecture to keep an eye on him.

By now, the Flower Festival had ended, and most of the late-night revelers had dispersed. Across the river, the pleasure boats still echoed with laughter and song, the air thick with the scent of wine.

It wasn’t until the sky turned pale that Cheng Chang, utterly drunk, was finally helped off the pleasure boat by his attendants. A small skiff floated toward the riverbank, the boatman pushing aside the lanterns on the water as he reached out to receive Cheng Chang. The courtesans giggled as they covered their lips and teased, “Careful, careful—don’t let our dear Young Master get hurt.”

Yun Xi watched for a while. Seeing that the boatman had steadied Cheng Chang safely, she turned back, knocking on the wooden table. “Wake up. Time for the next shift.”

Yet, in the brief moment she had turned away, chaos erupted outside. A sudden, urgent cry split the night.

“Help! The Young Master has fallen into the water!”