Chapter Fourteen: Breaking Off the Engagement

Approaching Jinling, the leading knight in the procession glanced up at the towering city walls. Dismounting with a swift motion, he knelt on one knee beside the carriage in the center of the group and respectfully inquired, “Your Highness, we have arrived at the capital. Shall we rest outside the city walls before entering?”

“Very well, let us rest for a while before proceeding into the city.”

From within the carriage, a pale hand reached out to draw back the curtain. A man, roughly in his thirties, stepped down. He wore a robe embroidered with a four-clawed coiled dragon, his face fair and clean-shaven, his eyes sharp and spirited. Stretching lazily, he gazed at the city walls of Jinling and sighed, “It has been years since I last came to the capital. I never imagined this city would have a new master now.”

A flicker of hatred involuntarily crossed his eyes as he spoke. Turning, he approached another carriage and called softly, “Yu’er, we have reached the capital. Come down and rest for a while; we will enter the city later.”

“Mm.”

A clear, melodious voice, as sweet as a yellow warbler’s song, responded from inside. A young woman, about eighteen, with delicate features and dressed in a pale blue scholar’s gown, lifted the curtain and stepped out. Though still youthful, her eyes—as clear and serene as autumn waters—revealed a calmness that seemed to have seen through the world’s illusions. She was clearly a woman with a story.

...

Chen Kan spent an entire afternoon touring the entire mansion. Along the way, he roughly calculated how much silver would be needed to restore the estate. The conclusion was simple: an enormous sum. Not that Chen Kan could not figure out the amount required to refurbish the house. The real problem lay in the chaotic currency system of the Ming Dynasty, which made such calculations nearly impossible.

Ever since Emperor Hongwu introduced the paper currency known as “Baochao,” it was as if Pandora’s box had been opened. The emperor, lacking knowledge of social economics, believed that a mere piece of paper could command endless resources. Laughing loudly, he proclaimed, “It’s just money; I have plenty of it!”

Inevitably, the over-issuance of Baochao followed, causing the classic phenomenon where bad money drives out good. People buried their gold, silver, and copper coins in pigsties and instead used the government’s rampant paper notes to buy goods. As more and more Baochao flooded the market, the entire Ming economy descended into chaos. The currency system collapsed, the government’s credit was utterly ruined, and Baochao became nothing but worthless scraps of paper.

Thus, the common folk of the Ming Dynasty increasingly relied on barter for their transactions.

...

Of course, this was not the most pressing matter.

The crucial truth was that Chen Kan was now penniless. He depended entirely on Fang Xiaoru even for meals, let alone money to repair the mansion.

“Sigh, what a worry!”

Leaving the old marquis’s mansion, Chen Kan walked along the Qinhuai River, muttering complaints as he went. His sullen expression resembled that of a poor soul who had just bought a new house but lacked funds to renovate it.

As the sun set, Chen Kan moved from the western part of the city to the southern district. But upon stepping onto Datong Street, he immediately sensed something was amiss. The entire street was cordoned off.

His first thought was, “Has Zhu Di had a change of heart and sent troops to raid Fang Xiaoru’s residence?”

But upon closer inspection, that seemed unlikely. It was only when Chen Kan saw the two large banners at the gate of Fang Xiaoru’s mansion that realization dawned.

“Prince Jin Zhu Jixi… why is he in the capital?”

Chen Kan was surprised. Wasn’t Prince Jin supposed to remain in his fief? When had he come to the capital? And if he had come, why wasn’t he paying respects to Zhu Di but instead visiting Fang Xiaoru?

Filled with doubt, Chen Kan pressed through the blockade and approached the Fang residence. Facing the two guards at the gate, he said, “Please move aside, you’re blocking my way.”

The two armored soldiers exchanged puzzled looks.

One of them pressed the flat of his sword against Chen Kan’s chest and said, “This is Prince Jin’s official business. Bystanders must keep away.”

Chen Kan frowned, displeased. “I’m going in.”

“Is this your home?” the other guard asked.

Chen Kan shook his head. “No, but I live here.”

“And your name?”

Chen Kan’s patience wore thin. With a blank expression, he answered, “Chen Kan.”

He resolved that if stating his name still did not gain him entry, he would simply turn and leave. It was wise to know when to concede; he could not win a fight against these men.

“Chen Kan? You’re Chen Kan?”

The two soldiers exchanged glances. One quickly turned and ran into the mansion.

Chen Kan was stunned. Was he really that famous?

The other guard withdrew his sword and said, “Wait here!”

After a short while, the soldier returned and told Chen Kan, “You may enter.”

Still confused, Chen Kan stepped through the grand gates of the Fang residence.

...

Inside, his eyes immediately fell upon the woman seated beside Fang Xiaoru, who occupied the main seat.

“What a beautiful woman,” Chen Kan thought silently.

He hurried over to Fang Xiaoru and whispered, “Teacher, what is happening?”

Fang Xiaoru’s face was expressionless as he said, “It concerns you.”

“Me?”

“Brother Chen, long time no see.”

The woman rose gracefully and offered Chen Kan a deep, respectful bow.

Chen Kan was puzzled and wanted to ask, “Lady, do we know each other?”

“Who are you?” the woman asked, surprised. “Brother Chen, do you not remember your little sister?”

“Am I supposed to recognize you?”

Chen Kan thought hard, feeling that the woman’s face was somewhat familiar, but he could not place her.

Upon hearing this, the woman’s expression instantly turned cold. She looked at Chen Kan with a faint smile and said, “Judging by your demeanor, it seems you never took our engagement seriously. I once felt remorse for defying my elders’ wishes, but now it appears I was only indulging in wishful thinking.”

“Oh—y-you… you are Fu Yu!”

Suddenly it clicked. No wonder she seemed familiar. She was the fiancée Chen Kan had not seen in eight years.

After Fu Youde was executed in the twenty-seventh year of Hongwu, eight-year-old Fu Yu had been taken in and raised by Zhu Jixi. At that time, Chen Kan was only ten years old. Eight long years had passed without seeing her; it was no wonder he barely recognized her now.

Fu Yu said, “That’s right. Brother Chen, do you remember me now?”

Chen Kan’s face showed regret. “I remember, I remember. It’s just that girls change so much growing up. I was momentarily unobservant. Please don’t blame me, Yu.”

As he spoke, Chen Kan suddenly felt uneasy. What did she mean by “defying my elders’ orders”? What was she planning to do?

He asked, “May I ask, Yu, why have you come?”

Before Fu Yu could answer, Zhu Jixi stood and declared loudly, “Naturally, she has come to break off the engagement.”

“Break off the engagement?”

Chen Kan narrowed his eyes and looked at Fu Yu. “Yu?”

Fu Yu nodded firmly. “Yes.”