Chapter 099

Chapter 99: The Couple’s Plan Begins to Bear Fruit

Tao Yi Ran turned her head. Although she did not grasp what Xin An meant exactly, the words struck her heart. Since the age of fifteen, if she attended a banquet, she was inevitably the most striking young lady there. If she could never again play before others, what would all her years of toil at the zither amount to?

Xin An said nothing more and, eyes forward, followed along. [Tao Yi Ran prided herself on her zither. In the previous life, after Tang Mo died, she would often play at midnight, claiming sorrow and restlessness, that she missed Tang Mo. At first I believed it; only later did I learn she used the sound to lure Tang Rong. Whenever her zither began, even if he were asleep he would wake, throw on a robe, and go.] The zither was pleasing, but [I have no wish to hear Tao Yi Ran play again.]

Behind Tao Yi Ran, a maid in green lifted her gaze for a quick glance at Xin An’s back, then lowered her eyes and followed demurely.

A moment later, a waterside pavilion appeared in view. Sky-aqua gauze hung on all sides; a light breeze set it swaying, lending Water Blossom Court a graceful animation. As they drew near, the air cooled. A brief sweep of the eye revealed rows of triangular tiger-head jars filled with ice; the chill came from there.

Many people were already seated in the pavilion. Families less eminent than the Tang family rose to exchange courtesies. The Grand Matron smiled and nodded to all, then proceeded directly to the seat of honor, where an old lady with snow-white hair sat in stately grace. The Grand Matron stepped forward and, with a shallow curtsy, said: “Duchess, how has your health been lately?”

“Very well. Old madam, please dispense with ceremony,” came the kindly reply.

This old lady was Duchess En, the Empress Dowager’s sister-in-law, one of the most distinguished matrons in the capital.

“I saw you from afar,” the Duchess said with a smile. “Your light steps show you are in fine health.”

Her gaze lifted to Xin An and Tao Yi Ran: “Are these the two new daughters-in-law of the marquis manor?”

At once, every eye present fell on the pair. Everyone knew Tao Yi Ran; Xin An was a new face, but who in the city did not know she had originally been betrothed to Tang Rong and had even completed the wedding rites, only to become the younger brother’s wife in the end? The key to this reversal piqued boundless curiosity.

The Grand Matron smiled and introduced them: “This is the young lady of the Tao family, now the wife of my eldest grandson; and this is the young lady of the Xin family of Huaijiang, the wife of my second grandson.” Then she said, gently commanding: “You two, pay your respects to the Duchess.”

They stepped forward together and bowed with flawless decorum. Duchess En praised them again and again, saying: “One gentle and pure, the other bright and striking. Two beauties entered the gate of Marquis Wei Yuan manor on the same day. Old madam, you are truly blessed.”

Many present nodded with smiles. Judged by looks alone, these two stood out even in the capital. A lady laughed and said: “Old madam, I heard that this young lady of the Xin family from Huaijiang was actually the one betrothed to your Heir Apparent?”

The speaker was Madam Zhang from the prefect’s household of the capital. Perhaps she and Tang Gang had past grudges; though she smiled, malice flickered in her eyes. The Grand Matron answered with an easy smile: “So it was, but sometimes fated matches are not ours to command. Through a twist of fate, this match was set right, and all were pleased. Truly, the word ‘fate’ is most mysterious.”

The lady of Marquis Yong Shuang manor laughed and echoed her: “My son Zhuang Shi serves in the Northern Garrison Army. He wrote that Second Young Master Tang is steady and responsible, and said as well that his marriage is harmonious. Whenever he speaks of his wife he smiles. It seems he truly cherishes her. Fate is indeed marvelous.”

The Marchioness of Marquis Qing manor also voiced agreement and took the chance to praise Tang Mo: “Second Young Master Tang was most considerate. Worried his wife, new to the capital, would have no one to speak with, he specially invited his friends and asked their ladies to look after her. So thoughtful and attentive; a rare good young man.” Her son Yan Shi Mao had already told her of Tang Mo’s invitation, and she had received a generous gift from Xin An; naturally she did not mind speaking well of them.

With these two leading, several other ladies followed suit and spoke in praise of Tang Mo. People are inclined to go with the flow; in this way, those like Madam Zhang who had hoped for the Tang family to make a spectacle of themselves could only abandon the idea. With a single thought the Grand Matron understood why several ladies had chosen to speak for Tang Mo; in her heart her esteem for Tang Mo and Xin An rose higher. [I wonder whether Tao Yi Ran can perceive the problem here and find a way to catch up.] Just then, a maid came to report that the Second Prince’s consort had arrived.

At the news, Tao Yi Ran visibly flinched, then discreetly stepped half a pace back. Presumably she feared the consort would mention how she had once sung and wept before the Second Prince.

Xin An smiled faintly and, with the rest, turned aside to welcome the guest.

From a distance, a lady in palace attire advanced amid a cluster of noblewomen, jade pendants chiming, magnificently adorned. Everyone saluted. The lady stopped three steps before the old madam of the Duke’s manor and inclined slightly, greeting with measured courtesy: “Duchess, are you well?”

By rights she ought to have called her “Grand-Aunt,” yet she addressed her like the others as “Duchess”; one could taste much from that form of address.

Xin An’s thoughts stirred. [She and Tang Mo had inquired about Duke En manor. It was said His Majesty the Emperor was born of Empress Dowager Zhou, so the Emperor’s sons too carry the blood of Duke En manor. Yet the Emperor keeps his distance from the Zhou family, and the princes prefer to draw close to their maternal kin. None is willing to marry a Zhou family daughter. In the imperial harem only one Zhou family woman had entered in recent years, but after a miscarriage her health failed and she could no longer conceive. Most critically, in recent years no one from Duke En manor holds high office.] Though she had not yet unraveled all the twists and turns, [judging by what is known of the future, the blaze of Duke En manor is being fed with oil; but in my memory, Duke En manor does not fall.]

The Duchess’s manner toward the Second Prince’s consort was courteous rather than close. After a few words of small talk, more arrivals entered the pavilion: the Commandery Prince consort from Prince Cheng manor, and the Heir Apparent’s consort from the Commandery Prince manor.

The Commandery Prince consort had preserved her looks well; time had left few marks on her face. At her side, Li Yu Yan was wholly changed from when Xin An had last seen her. Carefully dressed, she now carried a touch of grandeur and authority, difficult to approach at a glance.

After the formal courtesies, Li Yu Yan offered Xin An a friendly greeting, saying with a smile: “Younger Sister Xin looks especially radiant today.”

The Huaijiang silver-flower tea had won Xin An favor before Prince Cheng, and Li Yu Yan’s husband had also said that more contact with Xin An would be beneficial. Huaijiang was full of wealthy merchants, each with their own power base; the Xin family had long moved within the marquis house’s sphere. Though the marquis house had waned, Old Master Tang’s residual prestige remained. In the past they could only watch, but now that Xin An had put herself forward, there was no reason not to accept.

Xin An bowed with a light smile and said: “Seeing the Heir Apparent consort again today, I almost failed to recognize you at first glance. Your natural nobility is striking, impossible to look away from.”