Chapter 351

Chapter 352: The Invitation from Prince Jin’s Manor

In Chun Hua Courtyard, Xin An had no intention of involving herself in Concubine Cao’s affair; she had more important matters to attend to.

The issue concerning the Zhang Family’s young madam reminded her that she truly needed to understand the relationships among the great families of the capital. Auntie Cui Ping’s arrival had already taught her a great deal, but the days before the new year had been too busy for her to sort everything out with care. Now that she had a few free days, she took up pen and paper to map things clearly, so she would not make a fool of herself when she went out. For the time being, she could use the excuse that she had only just arrived in the capital; give it a little longer and that excuse would no longer hold.

Unfortunately, Cui Ping did not know everything, so Xin An personally invited the Zhang Family’s young madam to help her.

The young madam laughed and said: “You asked exactly the right person. There is little about the families in the capital that I don’t know. I’m idle and bored anyway, so I’ll tell you properly.”

Because Xin An had brought generous gifts, was polite in manner, and appropriately humble, the Zhang young madam was very satisfied, and she asked: “When do we start? Will you come to my place, or shall I go to the marquisate?”

Xin An followed the opportunity upward and said: “If it’s convenient, please come to the marquisate. I have three cousins who are completely in the dark as well. We can all listen together; it will trouble you, though.”

The young madam smiled and said: “My maiden surname is Xie. If you don’t mind, just call me Sister Xie.”

“Xie?” Xin An’s mind turned and she asked: “Is Sister Xie connected to Marquis Chang’s manor?”

“Not at all,” Sister Xie replied.

She explained that her natal family was not from the capital; her father had once followed Old General Zhang in the wars. Xin An understood and said: “So Sister Xie comes from a military family.”

“That’s right, I can even handle weapons. You couldn’t tell, could you?” said Sister Xie with pride, then she added with a wry note: “But there isn’t much good in it either. Since I was little, my father, my elder brother, and my younger brother were either fighting at the front or stationed outside. It was just me and my mother at home. After I married, before the days even warmed, my husband left the capital again. In this life I don’t seem to be fated for family reunions. Not like you, who can see your man every day.”

Xin An smiled and said: “Sister Xie is truly remarkable. You are the solid rear line for Young General Zhang. Only with you keeping things steady can he do well; half his merits belong to you.”

“That’s right, and just look at how much I’ve put in,” said Sister Xie. Those had been countless long nights indeed.

Having agreed on the matter, Sister Xie arrived at the marquisate early the next morning. Xin An led her on a tour of the estate and then set the study sessions in Ning Xiang Courtyard. Though Sister Xie had a loose tongue, she was straightforward by nature. Whatever Xin An asked, she answered, and she was crystal clear on those intricate familial ties, knowing even more than Cui Ping.

After three days, Xin An produced a chart. When the chart was laid out, even Sister Xie was startled, and she exclaimed: “My goodness. I know all this, but seeing it drawn out like this, the words ‘intertwined like roots’ leap right off the page.”

Centered on Prince Cheng, there were various marriage alliances and teacher–student ties, relatives of relatives, all twisting and turning to touch more than thirty households. And that was without expanding further. For example, behind Li Yu Yan stood the Duke Protector’s Manor, and that manor alone connected to more than a dozen families. If you kept drawing, it would never end.

“You’d best keep this at the surface,” Sister Xie advised. “Dig deeper and you’ll find old classmates and close friends; that would be truly overwhelming.”

Xin An smiled and said: “I only meant to grasp the general picture, so I won’t be blind when I go out. This is enough. I must thank you for telling me all this.”

“No need for thanks, but make sure this doesn’t get out,” said Sister Xie.

Even a chatterbox like Sister Xie thought it should not be spoken of, and Xin An smiled as she said: “Of course. I just want to be able to recognize people; I have no other intentions. But in others’ eyes, I’m afraid they’d think I was plotting something.”

“Exactly,” Sister Xie agreed.

She even felt a bit of fear; after all, they were from a military household, and it was taboo for military officers to engage in this sort of intelligence-gathering.

Seeing that Sister Xie was hesitating to speak, Xin An was tactful. Right in front of her, she burned the chart and said: “It’s better not to keep this. I’ll remember it. If I can’t, I’ll ask Sister Xie again.”

The flame’s tongue devoured the paper, and in no time it became ash. Sister Xie let out a long breath, thinking that Xin An truly understood the way of things and was worth befriending.

“All right,” Sister Xie said. “If there’s anything else you don’t understand later, ask me directly. If I know it, I’ll tell you.”

On the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month, Madam Wang received an invitation from Prince Jin’s manor, inviting her to bring the ladies of the household on the eighth day of the second lunar month to view the apricot blossoms. The messenger specifically said that the jasmine Xin An had sent before the new year was much loved by Prince Jin’s consort, and asked that Xin An be sure to come on the eighth.

“This invitation was sent especially for you. Mother is basking in your light this time,” said Madam Wang with delight as she placed the card by Xin An’s hand. Then she added: “Leaving external affairs to you was the right decision. There are still a few days before the eighth; start preparations early. Bring the three girls from Ning Xiang Courtyard as well.”

“This is the first flower-viewing banquet of the year, and it’s at Prince Jin’s manor; of course we must prepare properly,” Madam Wang concluded.

Xin An planned to go to the Xin Residence that afternoon to see what the gardeners had cultivated and to select a few handsome pots to send once more to Prince Jin’s manor. She also instructed someone to summon the shopkeeper from the cloth emporium to bring the season’s most fashionable fabrics for selection, and to prepare some jewelry as well. What had been purchased in the winter was not suitable for the spring; spring should be bright and full of vigor.

She busied herself at once. First she went to Ning Xiang Courtyard. When the three girls learned they were going to a prince’s manor for a flower-viewing banquet, their faces flushed with excitement. Madam Zhao was delighted as well. After that, Xin An went on to the Xin Residence.

Tang Rong, who had already begun packing, darkened in expression when he heard the news. After a long silence, he returned to his room and rummaged through his chests, then left the house.

At the Xin Residence, Auntie Wang was thrilled to see Xin An arrive. She was currently preparing for a wedding in the household and had just purchased items needed for the bridal chamber. She said with a smile: “By the almanac, the master is already on the road to the capital. He should arrive in about half a month.”

“I’ve readied the main courtyard and added some new furnishings; I’ll be sure to keep the master comfortable,” she continued. “The flowers planted in the yard last year have all budded. In another half month they’ll be lovely. Master Lin and his father are very devoted to the flowers and plants. They just took down the warming frames yesterday and bought a new batch of seedlings. I don’t even know what they are, but they’re treating them like treasure.”

Auntie Wang, beaming, told Xin An about the arrangements at the Xin Residence in recent days as she led her to see the flowers in the courtyard, pointing out which were newly planted, which had been planted last year, and which were about to bloom, her voice full of excitement.

Master Lin arrived as well and led Xin An to the conservatory. The warming frames had been removed, but some flowers were delicate and had to acclimate indoors before being moved outside.

“At this season, orchids and narcissus do best. Please look over here, my lady,” he said.

Pot after pot of orchids were just showing buds and had not yet fully opened. The narcissus, however, had bloomed from before the new year through the end of the year. Master Lin added that they had cultivated several pots of plum: “Old trunks sprouting new shoots, pruned and wired. They’ve turned out quite well.”