Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Tao Yi Ran Is Mocked

From the distance, those descending the rockery approached Tao Yi Ran and spoke, and then the young lady who had played the qin stood facing her for a moment before also walking over. After a few exchanges, a maid in green stepped forward to speak. Even from afar the mood looked poor. In the end, Tao Yi Ran turned toward the rockery and slowly began to mount the steps.

Xin An curved her lips in a smile and inclined her head to instruct Nan Feng: “Go see what is happening.”

Nan Feng went. Yan Wen Hui also noticed Tao Yi Ran and said: “Is she going to play the qin?”

[Was she really going to steal the spotlight too?] Lin Yao said: “If it is pure skill at the qin, she does excel. At many past banquets we have heard her play. But in this setting, she should not play.” After all, Tao Yi Ran was already married. Alas, just as she finished, Tao Yi Ran had already climbed the rockery and sat before the qin. That was clearly her intent. The music had not yet begun, but many gazes were already drawn to her.

Nan Feng returned and reported: “Young Madam, the one who played earlier was the second young lady of Count Chang Ning Manor. After she finished, the crowd praised her. Miss Fang, from the household of the Ministry of Revenue’s Assistant Minister, asked the Eldest Young Madam to offer a few comments. The Eldest Young Madam said the second young lady’s playing was too focused on technique and a shade unripe. The second young lady then invited the Eldest Young Madam to play a piece as guidance.”

Qiu Wen Yuan looked scornful and said: “They dared her, and she truly went?”

Nan Feng dipped a polite curtsey and said: “The young madams and misses behind the Eldest Young Madam urged her for a few lines. Only then did the Eldest Young Madam agree.”

Qiu Wen Yuan snorted and said: “Once married, one ought to behave with restraint instead of vying with maidens who are not yet betrothed. It is beneath her station and small-minded.”

All eyes slid toward Xin An. Xin An smiled and said: “Since marrying, Elder Sister-in-law rarely leaves her courtyard. I imagine she is simply too stifled.”

Qiu Wen Yuan asked: “She likes to play so much. Has she no diversions in the manor?”

Xin An praised Tao Yi Ran’s skill even as she answered: “There was one time, in the afternoon. The afternoon was sweltering and the cicadas shrilled in one’s ears. Elder Sister-in-law’s qin could ease that prickly heat from the heart and even help one drift into sleep.” Qiu Wen Yuan laughed and said: “So it is the same as with me. When I hear the qin, I want to sleep.” Unfortunately, it had been only that once.

The music rose again. Even one not versed in the qin, like Xin An, had to admit it was far more pleasing than the earlier piece by the second young lady of the count’s household. More people drifted into the Qian Bi Garden. Xin An lowered her gaze and tasted her tea. [There are people for whom one need not plot at all; with the slightest nudge, they cannot bear their loneliness and will ruin themselves.] [The second young lady played to display talent and prepare for viewing by potential suitors. By stepping out to slap down the other’s skill, Tao Yi Ran had thereby offended Count Chang Ning Manor. Countess Chang Ning was notoriously difficult and fiercely protective. Now that her beloved daughter had been humbled at the Water Blossom Banquet, she would not let it pass.]

Before the piece was half over, many more had gathered in the garden, and the pavilion where Xin An and the others sat grew lively. Anyone they knew came in to join the fun. These ladies knew how to talk: one sentence after another, they praised Tao Yi Ran’s superb skill and how she had not neglected her art after marriage. Some said: “Who else can still play so well after marrying?” Others said: “Who else but her would still come out and perform in public after marrying? Do cherish the chance; who knows if there will be a next time.” And others added: “With such skill, it would be a pity if there were no next time. Even if we wanted it, our Heir Apparent’s wife likely would not bear to allow it.”

Xin An only smiled lightly and said nothing. Tao Yi Ran’s act was undoubtedly improper, yet to garner such public “praise” was rare; she must have strutted often enough in daily life.

Moments later, the Second Prince’s Consort arrived. Those seated rose to greet her. Because this was the best-located pavilion in the Qian Bi Garden, Xin An and the others all stood to offer their seats. In the very moment of enjoying her glory, Tao Yi Ran lifted her eyes and saw the commotion here. Her heart tightened, and at once her playing faltered. After that she kept making mistakes. The Second Prince’s Consort showed displeasure and said: “Does the Marquis Wei Yuan Heir Apparent’s wife bear a grudge against this consort? You were playing just fine, and the moment I arrived you erred?”

Many in the pavilion pounced to add insult to injury. Seeing the Second Prince’s Consort’s expression ease and her lips curve, they redoubled their words, even dragging in Tang Rong, saying he, though upright and accomplished in civil and martial arts, could not escape the lure of soft fragrance and warm jade.

Tao Yi Ran had seen grand occasions before. After her initial panic, she slowly gathered herself and forced her way to the end. Yet her mood was gone, and the music lacked the early brilliance; at best it was now “mere technique.”

Closing her eyes, Tao Yi Ran drew a deep breath. [She regretted it, if only a little. She had known it was improper to play in public like this after marriage, yet she could not resist when others needled her. Once impulsive, regret was useless.]

She stepped down from the rockery with measured pace, and, as expected, a wave of mockery followed. The second young lady of the count’s manor, whose face she had slapped, laughed coldly and said: “Young Madam Tang, do not be upset. A horse stumbling is ordinary enough. After all, you must spend every day pondering how to hold fast to the husband you schemed so hard to win. Neglecting your qin would be normal.”

The young misses nearby laughed. Miss Fang, from the Assistant Minister of Revenue’s household, said: “Elder Sister Ning, do stop teasing Young Madam Tang. Who doesn’t know that the Marquis Wei Yuan Heir Apparent bowed to Heaven and Earth with a girl from the Xin Family? With a windfall of such a husband landing in her lap, of course she must keep a close watch.”

More laughter followed. Tao Yi Ran’s ears burned red, her eyes brimmed. She wanted to flare up but could do nothing. That pitiable look would have moved anyone. Unfortunately, all present were women, and none were inclined to pity soft fragrance and tender jade.

Seeing her mocked, Xin An made a show of rising to speak on her behalf. The Second Prince turned his head and asked: “Second Young Madam, are you going to rescue her?”

A touch embarrassed, Xin An said: “She is my elder sister-in-law now, after all. Seeing her like this, I pity her.”

The Second Prince’s Consort curled her lip in a cold smile and said: “If you dare to do it, you must be prepared to be talked about. Knowing full well your own backsi…” She caught herself and changed it to: “Knowing full well you easily invite censure, yet you still run out to seek the limelight without regard for the occasion. Why should she need your pity?” She added: “Rest assured, there are plenty to pity her.”

[Oddly enough, Xin An understood what she meant by that last line.] Li Yu Yan also counseled: “Sit and talk and enjoy the view. Let them say a few words and that will be it. If you step forward, the matter will only stretch on, and small things may become big. Why bother?”

The Second Prince’s Consort gave Li Yu Yan a look and said no more. Thus Xin An settled in with an easy conscience. The sun rose high and the heat pressed down, and the crowd was too lazy to move, so they sat in the pavilion and chatted. Servants from the Duke’s Manor brought in triangular ice basins and set them by the rail. Waves of cool air drifted over, adding a measure of comfort.

After a short while, Lin Yao tugged Xin An’s sleeve and gestured toward the garden gate, saying: “The person you were waiting for has arrived.”