Chapter Three

For a moment, the hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Mingtan, in a daze, thought she must have misheard. Although His Highness the Dingbei Prince enjoyed the emperor’s favor and wielded great authority, Gu Jiurou was after all the legitimate daughter of the Cheng’en Marquis; speaking like that was outrageously presumptuous and rude.

Yet after a long stretch of time, neither of the only two people qualified to rebut had said a word.

The Empress remained silent, which was somewhat understandable—after all, Consort Yu, Gu Jiurou’s legitimate elder sister, had often made things difficult for her in the harem.

Yet Emperor Chengkang, who had always favored Consort Yu, didn’t even offer a perfunctory word to smooth things over. He simply drank by himself, as if the matter at hand had nothing to do with him.

It wasn’t until the figure in the black brocade left that the hall fell completely quiet; the eunuchs merely bowed and escorted him, and no one dared to intervene—

Before the banquet, no one would have expected that this palace feast would end so abruptly.

They left the palace before the last earthly branch of the evening; the sky was between dusk and dark, and the imperial avenue was just beginning to light its ornate lamps.

Ming Tan stepped onto the sedan stool preparing to get into the carriage when she suddenly heard someone call from behind, “A-Tan!”

She turned her head, and when she recognized the caller, she couldn’t help but break into a smile.

Bai Minmin had intended to step forward the moment she called, but she collided with Ming Tan’s casual backward glance and smile; the clusters of shimmering lamps blazing behind her seemed to fall instantly silent and lose their color.

Her bright teeth and clear eyes were like the shimmering autumn waters; her faint brows and curved lips were like a gentle moon and stars. A beauty such as this—there is nothing more to say.

Bai Minmin stood staring for a moment, only brought back to her senses by a nudge from her close maid.

Bai Minmin was the legitimate daughter of the main branch of the Duke of Chang’s household, and Ming Tan’s legitimate cousin. Because they were close in age, they had been near to each other since childhood and were childhood playmates and confidantes.

Earlier at Changming Hall, the seats of the Duke of Chang’s household and the Marquis of Jing’an’s household were both on the left side, so the two had not had a chance to exchange a glance. Now that they were out of the palace, Bai Minmin had hurried over without waiting.

She stepped forward warmly and took Ming Tan’s hand, then smartly bowed to Mrs. Pei: “Minmin pays respects to aunt.”

She was the sort to speak bluntly and not beat around the bush; having offered her greetings, she got straight to the point: “Aunt, tonight is the Lantern Festival. I asked my brother to reserve a riverside private box at the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion so I could invite A-Tan to join me in admiring the lanterns. Would you lend A-Tan to me for a few hours?”

Bai Minmin’s proper aunt in terms of etiquette was Ming Tan’s late birth mother, Lady Bai. Given her status and disposition, for her to take the initiative to call Mrs. Pei “aunt” was without doubt the highest affirmation of Mrs. Pei’s reputation for being “virtuous and kind.”

Mrs. Pei felt indescribably pleased; there was nothing she could refuse. Smiling, she offered the customary polite reply, sent attendants to accompany them, and even carefully instructed Lü E at length to make sure she took good care of her young miss.

It had to be admitted: Mrs. Pei was a clever woman. Bai Minmin didn’t mention Shen Hua at all, and so Mrs. Pei, in turn, conveniently forgot to act like the mistress of the Marquis’s residence and omitted any considerate remarks—nothing like inviting Shen Hua to come along and join the festivities.

When Bai Minmin left with Ming Tan, Mrs. Pei felt no awkwardness; she behaved as if nothing had happened and, smiling brightly, chatted with Shen Hua about the various kinds of dumplings prepared in the house that day.

Shen Hua felt deliberately ignored by the three of them, unjustly humiliated; her smile in reply to Mrs. Pei was a little forced, and the hand hidden in her sleeve clenched white with tension.

This matter stayed on Shen Hua’s mind all night, but Bai Minmin turned away and forgot it instantly. On the way to Tingyu Pavilion, she praised Mrs. Pei for being so adept at socializing for a moment, then shifted to complaining about how her new sister-in-law’s management of the household had imposed so many tedious rules, and how hard her own life had become.

Mingtan was intent on asking Bai Minmin about the matter, but with the Lantern Festival in full swing the streets were crowded with carriages and people, so it was hardly convenient to speak. She had to keep her temper and wait until they reached the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion to inquire more carefully—

The Listening-to-Rain Pavilion was the most renowned teahouse in the capital; the tea and pastries were excellent, and the view of the river even better.

Every early spring and late autumn, when fine rain drizzled and a thin mist rose from the river, the vast, misty waters seen from the railing as one listened to the rain became a favored pastime, much adored by the literary gentlemen of the northern capital.

Additionally, each year during the Lantern Festival, official boats would set off fireworks on the Xian River, and along its banks there would be the magnificent sight of “a night of fish and dragon dances” in the lights.

The Listening-to-Rain Pavilion occupied a superb spot; it was the best place to witness the dazzling blaze of lights for the festival. No matter how high-ranking or influential someone was, they still needed to reserve a riverside seat for the Lantern Festival months in advance.

Bai Minmin’s reserved seat was on the third floor; the space wasn’t large, but it had been arranged with exquisite taste, and the view was decent. But if one were to name the best spot, it would be the heated alcove in the center right next to them.

As the footman led Bai Minmin and Ming Tan up the stairs, there were already four people seated around a table inside that central heated alcove, idly chatting and drinking.

The man sitting near the door was dressed in luxurious clothes, every stitch and accessory clearly top quality. Of course, the most ostentatious thing was the lamb-fat white jade pendant at his waist, engraved with the character “章”.

“Zhang” is the surname of the empress’s maternal clan. Anyone with even a little knowledge of the capital’s gentry would know that if someone owned that jade, it could only belong to the empress’s brother, Zhang Huaiyu.

At this moment Zhang Huaiyu lounged casually at the table, idly toying with a wine cup, and teasing the black-clad man at his side with a drawl: “Your Highness, the stir from the banquet at Changming Hall this time is no small thing. The young miss poured her whole heart out and misplaced it—I’ve heard she left the palace in floods of tears.”

The black-clad man didn’t even lift an eyelid. Instead, Lu Ting, who sat opposite him, asked in a calm voice, “Is she Gu Jinzhong’s daughter?”

Gu Jinzhong was the honorific title of the Cheng’en Marquis.

Zhang Huaiyu raised an eyebrow and nodded.

A flash of severity crossed Lu Ting’s eyes. “There’s still time for her to be all tearful and wailing.” He then lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Compared to Zhang Huaiyu’s ostentatious finery and Lu Ting’s overflowing ruthlessness, Shu Jingran, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe woven with cloud patterns, clearly possessed the gentle, refined aura of a charming gentleman of the turbulent world.

Shu Jingran toyed with the jade finger ring, then shook his head with a smile. “In truth, saving face for someone is a small matter. But after such an act, the rumors of the Northern Prince’s arrogance and disregard for others will spread—no doubt by tomorrow they’ll be on everyone’s lips in every street and lane. By then, anyone hoping to find a good marriage match in the capital, the young ladies of the city will likely be…”

Before the words had finished, a faint “creak” came from outside, followed by the vague voice of a servant: “Two young ladies, please come in.”

It seemed someone had arrived in the adjacent private room.

Shu Jingran fell silent, and the others tacitly stopped speaking as well.

“Atan, quick, sit down. I already had them prepare tea and snacks—everything you like. Oh right, where were we just now?”

Bai Minmin was talkative, never stopping, and went all out from her family’s troubles straight to the imperial banquet at Yong Garden.

“An imperial banquet, yes, that’s the one. Your family’s maid is really a mouthy one — how could Shen Hua possibly get close to the Prince of the North? Her brother Shen Yushou might be favored by the Prince, but there’s no sense in a benefactor bringing a subordinate’s sister home to be a princess. Besides, Gu Jiurou was publicly shamed on the spot. Speaking of which, Gu Jiurou is really bold — with His Majesty and the Empress in attendance, she not only openly declared her admiration but insisted on performing a piece in public. What was she thinking?”

“Gu Jiurou acts quite daringly, but that Prince of the North was exceedingly rude and arrogant.” With Bai Minmin beside her, Ming Tan was naturally relaxed; with Lü E standing watch outside, she propped her chin on her hand and criticized without much restraint, “A mere military man, boorish and presumptuous — I don’t think he’s a good sort.”

Zhang Huaiyu: “…”

Lu Ting: “…”

Shu Jingran: “…”

The so-called “vulgar warrior” also unconsciously paused.

Ming Tan was completely unaware, sipped her tea gracefully, and finally remembered the matter at hand: “By the way, have you found out what Uncle intends to do these past two days?”

Bai Minmin had been feeling she’d forgotten something important; only when Ming Tan asked her directly did she come to: “Oh, nothing. You saw the other day—my father’s mood, as if he wanted to take a kitchen knife and go hack people at the Ling Guogong residence. But that Mr. Zhou persuaded him, so these past few days he’s been able to hold his temper. I think he’s probably waiting for your father to return to the capital before discussing it further.”

Ming Tan frowned slightly.

The reason she knew about her fiancé’s sordid matters was because a few days ago, when she had gone to the Chang Guogong residence to pay respects to the ancestor, Bai Minmin had dragged her into the study to secretly look for romance novels.

They had actually found the novels, but before they could slip away, her uncle Bai Jingyuan and his retainer Mr. Zhou entered the study together. No sooner had they entered than Bai Jingyuan flew into a rage—smashing the fine inkstone on the table and cursing the Ling Guogong family through eighteen generations—giving them not the slightest chance to pretend they hadn’t been listening behind the wall.

“The main wife hadn’t even been escorted into the house before he was having an affair with his cousin and already had an illegitimate child — only the Liang family could pull off such a damnable fiasco! That little bastard rolls over and thinks he’s royalty now. If this marriage hadn’t been arranged so early, with the Liang family’s rotten luck they’d never reach Adan even after eight generations! Does he think the Marquis of Jing’an’s residence was destroyed or the Duke of Changguo’s? It’s outrageous!”

Mingtan and Bai Minmin were both stunned, frozen in place for a long while.

When they came to, Bai Jingyuan and Mr. Zhou had already swept out of the study like a gust of wind.

Once she fully registered what had happened, Bai Minmin was furious and wanted to go find her father, Bai Jingyuan, and make him immediately order the Duke’s residence to avenge Mingtan.

But as Mr. Zhou advised, this matter isn’t very honorable; making a big fuss would be more harmful than helpful to both sides. Besides, Ming Tan’s father is already on his way back to the capital to report for duty—if her family suddenly intervenes, it might appear they’re overstepping.

Earlier she didn’t mind because she’d forgotten about it for a time, but now that she remembered, Bai Minmin was still furious.

She ate three pastries in one sitting, then, like her father, fulminated against the Duke Lingguo’s household. She slapped the table and promised Ming Tan, “This whole thing is completely the Liang family’s fault. A man with such poor character cannot be a suitable match for you! Ah Tan, you needn’t worry—my father is here, and this engagement will surely be broken off!”

“I know very well that this man is unworthy as a match, it’s just that ending the engagement…”

Mingtan didn’t continue, but both Bai Minmin and the person next door understood clearly that the world was especially harsh on women; for whatever reason, breaking off an engagement would inevitably tarnish the woman’s reputation.

Mingtan paused, as if remembering something, then abruptly propped her chin up and leaned closer, tentatively asking, “Minmin, tell me—if the engagement is broken off… how should I behave so I appear both innocent and resolute?”

“…?”

“Innocent and resolute?”

Bai Minmin set down her snack and really did think it over carefully: “I recall when the Li family’s fifth miss was jilted, she shaved her head and married into the husband’s household to show her resolve. And the third miss of the Fang family in the east of the city—her betrothed redeemed a courtesan before their wedding; because the courtesan was pregnant he took her into the household as a concubine. When the third Miss Fang learned of it, she hung a white silk ribbon from the beam and hanged herself.”

“…?”

“There’s no need to be so dramatic.”