Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Tao Yi Ran Takes the Bait

The women, all except Li Yu Yan, laughed, one of them teasing: “Curious?” and another adding: “What you went through truly invites curiosity, mostly because it is so rarely seen.”

They said as much, yet [in their hearts they could guess part of the truth]. Li Yu Yan knew the Tao Family had been eyeing the Second Prince, and the Second Prince’s Consort was likely asking mostly about Tao Yi Ran.

Xin An lifted the tea at her side and took a light sip, saying: “I came prepared before I came here, so I’m not surprised. But the Second Prince’s Consort truly is striking. Not the kind of beauty that overwhelms, rather a presence that draws people in.”

Li Yu Yan said: “She was born into a military household and grew up on the frontier; it’s said she even led troops against the enemy. She is a woman no less than any man.”

Her intuition surpassed that of the other few in the pavilion: [Xin An had not spoken the whole truth]. The Second Prince’s Consort must also have said other things, perhaps even sounded out the Xin Family. [Among wealthy merchants, few have no patron; the lucrative posts in the Imperial Court are firmly held by a handful of factions. The Xin Family is an excellent target. As for the Tang Family behind them, it still does not merit the Second Prince’s notice.] In the space of a heartbeat she decided Xin An was more valuable than she had imagined, and her manner naturally softened a shade.

As they were talking, Lin Yao returned from a stroll and said: “Many young ladies are chatting in the Qian Bi Garden; they have started to play the qin, recite poems, and paint. Shall we go watch the bustle?”

Yan Wen Hui laughed and said: “What are we waiting for? It has been days since we saw a scene like this. Who knows, perhaps today some family’s daughter will produce a piece of unsurpassed grace.”

At the Water Blossom Banquet, many saw it as a kind of matchmaking feast. Quite a few marriageable young gentlemen and ladies hoped to show their talents today, attract attention, and gain leverage in negotiations. Though these few were already married and need not compete with the maidens, sitting and watching the fun from another angle was pleasant in its own way.

The Qian Bi Garden was lush with flowers and verdant trees; exotic blossoms grew so profusely they seemed commonplace. Tabbies and fat rabbits darted among them, adding amusement. Artificial hills, pavilions, arched bridges, and flowing water were arranged with exquisite taste; every step invited a pause to savor the view. [To Xin An, this was wealth stacked like mountains of gold, prosperity piled high; even the wind smelled of silver. Many newly rich merchants squandered money in brothels, dropping thousands for the pose of elegance, boasting over a bowl of rare tea. Yet compared with the splendor of Duke En Manor, such displays felt crass and paltry.]

Yan Wen Hui lightly stroked the delicate blossom by her hand and said: “How about it? This Qian Bi Garden is the most gorgeous garden in the capital. This pot of Thousand-Butterfly Orchid costs one hundred taels. I wanted to buy one last month to keep in my courtyard, but I thought it too expensive and gave up. Here there must be no fewer than fifty pots, all in different forms and hues. Duke En Manor is truly rich.”

Xin An said with a smile: “Orchids are precious and hard to keep alive; to cultivate them to this state must have taken great care. No wonder they’re never cheap. Clearly the Duke’s Manor is decked in blossoms, drawing envy.”

Yan Wen Hui said: “I heard there are eighteen courses of tea just for today. I’ve already tasted two. Why not go try another now, and by the way…” At that moment melodious qin notes floated over, and Xin An laughed, finishing for her: “By the way, listen to the music.”

Young ladies from great households learned their qin from true masters; such performances could not be heard outside. In the largest pavilion within the Qian Bi Garden, Qiu Wen Yuan waved at them and said: “I’ve held this pavilion by myself for quite a while. If you don’t come now, I won’t be able to hold it.”

Lin Yao laughed and said: “Everyone has gone to the rockery to listen and paint. Who would come to push you out?”

Qiu Wen Yuan urged them as the tea was set out: “Come sit, the tea is ready.” They sat, smiling. From here they could see clearly: on the viewing terrace of the rockery sat a young lady in green playing the qin, with a gentleman behind her playing the xiao. Though their faces were indistinct, one could still sense the pleasing pairing of talent and grace.

Below the rockery by the stream stood painting tables, where men and women alike held brushes and worked at their art. Xin An said: “Even just this scene before us outshines these flowers and plants. If someone could paint this moment, what a lively picture it would be.”

Someone teased: “Younger Sister Xin, why not try it yourself?”

Startled, Xin An shook her head again and again, saying: “Please don’t. This is my first Water Blossom Banquet; do not make me lose face.”

Lin Yao asked with a laugh: “You didn’t study a bit of painting when you were in Huai River?”

Xin An smiled with real embarrassment and said: “I studied everything. For a time my mother even hoped to train me into a talented lady, but she later found I simply was not made for it and gave up. I truly did study earnestly, but even when the strings broke I had not learned to play.” She was not lying. Some things depend on talent. She took to accounting at once, and her needlework fared well enough, but these pursuits of cultivated taste, meant to refine one’s temperament, never stuck. Even her painting was half-baked. Fortunately, her teacher said that although her technique was lacking, she had spirit and made things lively; otherwise she would not have produced that picture of Tang Mo drunk and bawling.

Qiu Wen Yuan smiled with narrowed eyes and said: “So I am not the only one. I said from the start, these things are so difficult; how could everyone master them?”

Yan Wen Hui teased: “So you have finally found a reason for your laziness.”

Qiu Wen Yuan answered seriously: “It is true. These are idle diversions for the boudoir. Have you seen anyone keep at them after marriage? Isn’t it enough to be able to do the accounts and read the ledgers?”

The music ended. There were claps and praise. The young lady who had played the qin rose; the painters also put down their brushes. Many people crowded forward, likely to see whose painting was the better. Qiu Wen Yuan muttered that marriage had its annoyances, such as being unable to squeeze forward and join such a lively crush.

Xin An swept her gaze around. Not far from the rockery stood a small group, led by Tao Yi Ran, with several others at her side, saying something. Han Wan’er nudged Xin An and warned: “Remember the few who follow Tao Yi Ran. They are her lackeys, not good people. If you meet them alone, go around them.”

Tilting her head, Xin An smiled and said: “Elder Sister-in-law rarely goes out at home. Sometimes I do not see her for days. Even if I wanted to offend her, I have no chance. They likely will not trouble me.”

The others in the pavilion were curious and asked: “Days without seeing her? Does she not have to pay morning and evening respect?”

Xin An shook her head and said: “Her health is frail. Grandmother and my mother-in-law told her to rest and recuperate and excused her from greetings.”

Their expressions varied. Being excused from morning and evening respect right after marriage had only two possibilities: either her status was as exalted as a princess, and the mother-in-law could not bear such formalities from a daughter-in-law; or the mother-in-law disdained her and did not wish to see her before her eyes. Tao Yi Ran was clearly the latter.

Lin Yao said with a trace of mockery in her eyes: “Her body is indeed delicate. I recall that at a banquet, in full view of everyone, she swooned. Many young gentlemen reached out to support her. Look at her today too: a willow in the wind, as if one gust would shatter her. It seems after marriage she has grown even more frail.”

Qiu Wen Yuan laughed and said: “No wonder the Tang Heir Apparent went into the bridal chamber and then could not come out. Perhaps she fainted right then.”

[In her previous life, Xin An had tasted the sharpness of these women’s tongues.] The difference now was that the blades were no longer aimed at her, which felt rather different.