Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 13

Chapter 13 
Marriage Card 
 
Rumor had it that the marriage tree in Lingyun Temple was a century old, but it was probably more than that. The trunk was thick and as wide as a strong man’s outstretched arm. It was so tall that you couldn’t see the top, like a tree standing between heaven and earth. The branches and leaves were lush, like a giant umbrella covered with wooden name cards. At a glance, one could see the endless yearning. 
  
The phoenix tree was in a courtyard in the temple, and a young monk was assigned to take care of the marriage tree inside a room. Outside the room was a wooden table under the eaves with wooden cards, pens, and ink on the table, which were provided for pilgrims. 
  
When Li Heming walked into the courtyard in the rain, He San took a card from a wooden box with his back facing him, bent over the table, picked up a pen, and secretly wrote the name of an unknown girl on it. 
  
He was a burly man and didn’t know many words, so it was tough for him to write a name. The young monk had seen many pilgrims who came to seek marriage; some were shy and timid, and some were confused. Seeing He San holding the pen without being unable to write, he only smiled and looked at him without disturbing him. 
  
Hesitation and suffering were all part of marriage. If a man came to seek marriage, it would be a joke, so He San deliberately left his brothers to go alone secretly, but he didn’t expect to be caught by Li Heming. He San frowned and carefully wrote a crooked ‘Bai’ character on the wooden card, but he couldn’t remember how to write the word ‘Zhen,’ so he looked at the wooden card in bewilderment. Out of option, he thought of drawing a girl on the card; the gods in the sky who were in charge of marriage would know which charming girl it was. 
  
When he was struggling, Li Heming had already walked over. The tall figure blocked the dim light coming through the heavy clouds. He San subconsciously covered the wooden card and turned his head impatiently. When he saw Li Heming’s cold face, he immediately put away the wooden card and stood straight solemnly: “Leader.” 
  
The other brothers had taken the rebels down the mountain, and only He San followed Li Heming’s order to stay in the temple and wait for arrangements. When they met here, He San didn’t think about the possibility that Li Heming was also here to seek marriage. He was only worried that he caught him for neglecting his duties. Probably, he would get scolded, or the salary that couldn’t fill his pocket would be deducted by one-tenth or two. However, Li Heming didn’t look at him and said ‘hmm’ lightly. Then, he picked a card from the neatly stacked wooden cards in the wooden box on the table. 
  
When he saw this, He San was stunned for a moment, but he was used to working under Li Heming, and his limbs reacted faster than his brain when something happened. He instinctively moved and handed the pen to Li Heming. 
  
Li Heming took it and placed the wooden card on the table. He bent slightly and wrote “Lin Yu” on the card. Unlike He San, he was not secretive. He looked calm and didn’t seem to be writing a girl’s name but rather praying for the blessing of his deceased mother. 
  
The wooden card and ink were special. When the ink touched the wood, it instantly soaked. It didn’t need air-dried and would not fade in the sun or rain. 
  
After writing, Li Heming returned the pen to He San. He walked under the tree in the rain and threw the wooden card. Its red rope firmly hung on a branch. He looked like he had thrown it casually, but the card was hung high. 
  
He San hadn’t finished writing the name yet, but Li Heming had already done praying. He didn’t even say a few words to the tree and left after hanging the card without staying for a moment. He prayed for a marriage very casually, which shocked He San. 
  
The little monk also found it strange. When others prayed for marriage, they wouldn’t leave the yard for a quarter of an hour, feeling sorry for the wooden cards on the tree if they didn’t act politely. 
  
Seeing Li Heming was about to leave the yard, He San returned to his senses and called out, “Leader!” 
  
Li Heming turned around and looked at him, “What’s the matter?” 
  
He San raised his hand, scratched his hair, and embarrassedly said, “That– do you know how to write Miss Bai’s name?” 
  
Li Heming knew the names of almost all court officials, and he knew at least 10 families with the surname Bai, if not 20. He asked, “Which Miss Bai?” 
  
He San said, “Bai Zhen! The one from the Jiaofangsi (*). You met her once.” 

T/N: The Ministry of Music and Dance, or a brothel academy, but for the court only.
  
Li Heming thought momentarily and asked, “Zhen in the ‘the peach tree is slender, and its leaves green and exuberant’?” 
  
“Yes!” He San smiled foolishly, “It’s that Zhen character.” 
  
“A ‘cao’ with a ‘qin’ underneath.” Li Heming said. He glanced at He San, saying, “Do you know how to write ‘qin’?” 
  
He San grinned, “Yes! Thank you, Lord!” 
  
When Zelan came to invite Li Heming per Mother Lin’s request, she heard the conversation between the two. She didn’t hear the beginning or see Li Heming throw her lady’s marriage card onto the tree. She started with the misleading words, ‘The one from the Jiaofangsi (*). You met her once.’ She suddenly had only one thought in her mind: Lord Li looked serious and cold; how could he be a man who liked to go to a brothel? Fortunately, Young Miss has broken off the engagement. Otherwise, she would have suffered so much grievance if she married him. 
  
Zelan was about the same age as Lin Yu but was not as good at hiding things as Lin Yu. Her expression fell into Li Heming’s eyes, and she almost showed her true feelings on her face. 
  
When Zelan saw Li Heming looking at her, she had goosebumps. She bowed and said respectfully: “Lord Li, my Madam asked you to come over. She wanted to thank you in person for saving Young Miss.” 
  
Li Heming knew that she had misunderstood, but he did not explain. He said calmly: “Lead the way.” 
  
“Yes.”