Chapter 23: The Grand Scarlet Bridal Sedan

In April, Hangzhou bursts into bloom, with green trees casting deep shade everywhere. After the soft rains of Jiangnan, the city glows with exceptional brightness. Leading his horse through the city gate, Lu Xin immediately drew countless gazes.

Most of them belonged to young ladies and maidservants from various households. At this moment, Lu Xin, sword at his side, dressed in a flowing blue robe, was in the prime of his youth—spirited and full of vitality. It was only natural that the young women, upon seeing him, would feel the stirrings of spring in their hearts. Yet Lu Xin paid no attention to anyone; in terms of temperament and beauty, not even a tenth of all Hangzhou could compare to Tian Yu’er.

Now, as he prepared to leave, Lu Xin wanted to buy a gift for Tian Yu’er, a token to remember their time together. In these two years, they had spent much time with each other, their bond stronger than that of siblings. However, Lu Xin had never bought anything for a girl before, and in the Tang Dynasty, whose customs and habits differed entirely from modern society, he found himself dizzy and overwhelmed as he wandered the streets.

In truth, by the third year of the Zhenguan era, the Tang Dynasty already showed signs of prosperity. Early that year, the Emperor had ordered the Ministry of Household to revise the census, and the population had grown from less than two million households at the dawn of the Tang to over 2.4 million. Industry revived, governance relaxed, and every prefecture and county emphasized agriculture and commerce. Take Hangzhou as an example: since Emperor Yang of Sui had the southern canal dug, locals could travel by water up the Huainan Road to Yangzhou, connecting northward to the Grand Canal.

The banks along the canal were bustling centers of trade. The entire canal nearly bridged north and south, with Hangzhou at its southernmost end—both its beginning and its terminus. Silk, porcelain, and seafood from Jiangnan could be shipped nationwide through Hangzhou, while goods from the north and the central plains could be distributed throughout Jiangnan via the city.

In terms of commercial prosperity alone, Hangzhou surpassed Yuezhou. Much of Xu Sanjin’s business was also rooted here. As Lu Xin wandered the crowded market, surrounded by dazzling goods and the shouts of vendors, he felt truly bewildered.

“Girls must love to adorn themselves. Yu’er’s face has never been touched by powder or rouge. Should I buy her some? Hmm… No, my teacher once said makeup isn’t good for the skin if used too often. Better not—natural beauty is best. Ah, what should I do?”

Sword in hand, horse in tow, Lu Xin drifted from stall to stall, his face full of indecision. He wanted to choose something Yu’er could use for years, something worthy of being a keepsake. Yet though the market was full, nothing quite satisfied him.

“Young master, I’ve seen you hesitate here for a while. Is something troubling you?”

As Lu Xin paused before a stall selling hairpins, a young girl approached him from behind. About fifteen or sixteen, she was delicate and dressed as a maid. Having just come from the Xu estate, Lu Xin recognized her background at a glance. A maid strolling the streets so freely must be accompanied by her mistress from the household. Noting that her age was similar to Yu’er’s, Lu Xin smiled.

“Let me ask you, miss: if I were to give you a keepsake, what would you wish for?”

“A keepsake?”

The girl seemed surprised by his sudden question, biting her lip and pondering for a long while. Lu Xin did not rush her, only smiled gently, which brought a blush to her cheeks and made her quickly lower her head.

“If it were a gift from you, young master… I would wish for a comb.”

“A comb? Of course! Yu’er combs her hair every morning—seeing the comb, she’d think of me every day. Brilliant idea. Thank you, little sister—I adore you!”

Delighted, Lu Xin tugged at his horse’s reins and went off in search of a comb stall. The maid was still stunned, standing in place, murmuring to herself.

“Little sister? Adore me?”

She clearly did not understand Lu Xin’s modern phrase, feeling both confused and bashful. After a few moments, a plump woman, dressed in fine silk and looking seductive, strode over. She spotted the maid and began swatting her with a fan, appearing quite angry.

“You shameless little minx! I’ll beat you, I’ll beat you! I sent you to find someone, and you’ve gone and gotten yourself all flustered. Where is he? Where did he go?”

“Miss, I was wrong, please stop, I beg you…”

Let us leav