Chapter 106
Chapter 106: Hidden Meaning in the Words
On the day of the hunt, a heavy rain fell.
After the rain, the real heat came. The fierce sun burned overhead, leaving the flowers, grass, and trees in the courtyard drooping. The cries of summer cicadas and crickets rose and fell, noisy without end.
Only morning and evening were still a bit cool.
Every morning, Luo Ning got up early and first went to visit Grandmother.
The old lady did not sleep much. She always rose early to chant scriptures and pray to the Buddha.
Grandmother said: “We need to give Grand Princess Jia Hong an answer. We can’t drag this out any longer. If we agree, we will owe the Princess a favor.”
She was still talking about her younger brother Luo You’s studies.
Grand Princess Jia Hong’s son Pei Ying was willing to recommend Luo You to Spring Mountain Academy. Luo Ning and Grandmother found it strange and had been talking about it now and then these last few days.
Luo Ning had not given a single thought to what had happened at the Imperial Hunting Grounds.
As long as it was not Prince Yong who had shot the auspicious beast, the matter had nothing to do with her.
She focused on household matters.
Luo Ning said: “Grandmother, I’ve been thinking about it these last few days too. We don’t have that kind of close relationship with Grand Princess Jia Hong, so we can’t take advantage of her like this.”
Grandmother asked: “Have you decided?”
Luo Ning asked her back: “What do you think?”
Grandmother thought for a moment and said: “You decide.”
She was willing to listen to Luo Ning.
Luo Ning said: “I’ve decided to turn down the goodwill of the Princess and the Heir Apparent. Even if we refuse, we should still send some gifts, so others won’t think we don’t know what’s good for us.”
She added: “I’ll go visit the Princess in person and explain it face to face.”
Grandmother pointed at the Guanyin statue and said: “Give that.”
Luo Ning gave a small laugh: “That won’t do, it’s yours…”
Grandmother said: “The Bai family gave it to me years ago. These past years, the Bai family has used the Marquis Manor’s name to run sea trade and made piles of money. We won’t feel guilty using their gift. A’You is also the Bai family’s nephew. This matter is about him, so we won’t end up offending the Princess because of it. Take this to her.”
“Grandmother, you…” Luo Ning began.
Grandmother said: “When I look at it, my heart can’t calm down.”
Luo Ning understood.
This white jade Guanyin statue was very famous. Even if a person did not believe in Buddha, keeping it in the storeroom would still count as owning a treasure.
“I’ll take care of it,” Luo Ning said.
Pei Ying had come for Luo You’s sake, for his studies. By sending the Guanyin statue, Luo Ning was using the Bai family’s gift to form a good karmic tie for Luo You’s path of learning.
She only hoped Grand Princess Jia Hong would not hold it against her.
“Grandmother, I’ll get you another Buddha statue,” Luo Ning said.
Old Madam shook her head: “Sincerity is what matters. All these years I’ve been chanting to the Buddha and let Madam Bai manage the household, yet the Buddha did not protect Madam Luo.”
Luo Ning’s chest ached.
She still felt she should not tell Grandmother the truth and make her worry.
At her age, Grandmother should be enjoying peace.
Luo Ning’s coarse servant woman came over. After burning incense, she carefully lifted the Guanyin statue down with a length of red silk and wrapped it up tight.
In the morning, Luo Ning sent someone to deliver a visiting card. She planned to call on the Princess when the heat eased a little in the afternoon.
The Princess sent back word, agreeing to receive her that day.
When Luo Ning returned to Wenqi Courtyard, she first practiced her whip technique, then did some extra archery practice before she finally ate breakfast.
In the afternoon, she did her hair, changed clothes, and went to the residence of Grand Princess Jia Hong.
In the Ming Hall of the Princess Manor’s main courtyard, four large bronze pillars had ice packed inside them. The air was as cool as early spring, pleasant and comfortable.
The heat in Luo Ning’s body faded by more than half.
Luo Ning said: “A’You says a man should stand upright and act openly. Even in his studies, he must walk the proper path. He plans to sit for the exam for Lu Mountain Academy. If he has the chance in the future and a scholar-teacher thinks well of him, he will then go to Spring Mountain Academy.
“The kindness of the Princess and the Heir Apparent truly moved him, but a gentleman should rely on himself in this world. Grandmother and I talked it over. We decided to let him try first.”
She did not shut the door on the matter completely.
She did want her brother to go to Spring Mountain Academy. Even if he did not learn much, it would still be good for him to make friends there.
But Luo Ning did not want to owe the Princess such a big favor.
Since one should not trouble two masters with the same matter, and she had already rendered service in front of Prince Yong, she could take the chance to bring it up to him instead.
After hearing this, the Princess’s face darkened slightly. She said: “A’Ning, you are being too polite. We are helping you with all sincerity.”
“I understand,” Luo Ning said. “Every word I said comes from the bottom of my heart.”
The Princess’s expression cooled. She said: “To my ears, it sounds more like you don’t want to accept my favor.”
“That is absolutely not what I mean,” Luo Ning said.
She was a bit surprised. She had not expected Grand Princess Jia Hong to be so forceful.
She was very fond of the Princess, not only because in her past life the Princess had not looked down on her, but also because, in this life, the Princess had helped her several times.
But that did not mean she would give in on everything.
When something did her no good and did not harm the Princess’s interests, Luo Ning naturally had to decline politely, even if it angered the Princess.
She did not back down or change her words, and she did not speak in fear. She said: “Princess, my grandmother’s white jade Guanyin statue is a treasured piece. To thank you, we would like to give it to you.”
Grand Princess Jia Hong’s face grew even darker. She said: “I cannot accept a reward when I have done nothing.”
“My brother will soon be taking the exam on his own. If there is even a little chance, I hope the Princess can speak to the scholar-teachers at Lu Mountain Academy on his behalf,” Luo Ning said.
The Princess’s anger eased a bit.
“A’Ning, I have always admired you,” the Princess said. “There are some paths in this world you people cannot walk, but I can. You can truly trust me.”
Luo Ning gave her a surprised look.
These words carried a lot of meaning.
Luo Ning quickly thought it over and felt that she and the Princess did not have any real conflict. She was still unmarried. In the Princess’s eyes, she was probably no more than an ant.
“Thank you, Princess,” Luo Ning said.
After that, the Princess said a few more things full of hidden meaning. Luo Ning did not really understand, so she brushed them off with vague answers.
The Princess accepted the Guanyin statue, and Luo Ning took her leave.
Even so, she could still sense the Princess’s displeasure.
[Luo Ning thought that she had only been thinking about how kind the Princess was and had forgotten that the Princess was a powerful Grand Princess. With one careless move, she might offend her.]
She would have to be even more careful in the future.
By the time she returned to the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s residence, it was already mid-afternoon.
In high summer, the sun set later. When Luo Ning got back to Wenqi Courtyard at the hour of You, the sky still held bright sunlight, and a thin layer of sweat covered her back.
When she reached Wenqi Courtyard, there was actually a guest there.
Luo Ning was a little surprised to see Cui Zheng Lan.
Cui Zheng Lan was still dressed in tight-fitting martial clothes. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail. She wore no jewelry and no makeup. Her features were fine and pretty, and even this plain look suited her.
As Luo Ning stepped into the Ming Hall, Cui Zheng Lan stood up and said: “Princess Consort.”
After she finished the address, she unwillingly added a folded-sleeve salute. Because she was wearing pants instead of a long skirt, the salute looked very awkward.
Luo Ning smiled and asked: “Miss Cui, is there something you need?”
Cui Zheng Lan picked up the gift box on the table and held it out with both hands: “It is a set of ruby head ornaments. Last time, thank you, Princess Consort.”
Luo Ning accepted it and said: “From now on, we will be one family.”
As she spoke, she dismissed the maids and servants so she could talk to Cui Zheng Lan alone.
Luo Ning said: “The Prince told me to trust you. Miss Cui, you and I are the same kind of people. We both serve the Prince.”
Cui Zheng Lan lifted her eyes.
She did not want to make a fuss, but she still could not help showing her surprise. She asked: “Is that really true?”
“If not, why would the Prince marry me?” Luo Ning said. “You also know what kind of noble household the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s residence is. Miss Cui, you know the Prince better than I do. When have you ever seen him lower himself?”
Cui Zheng Lan was stunned by these words. The look of surprise on her face did not fade for a long while.
What Luo Ning said made sense. From childhood, Prince Yong had been proud and arrogant, looking down on everyone. No matter how beautiful Miss Luo was, without a strong family behind her, how could she become Princess Consort Yong?
When the marriage decree first came, Cui Zheng Lan’s parents had said that His Majesty must have caught hold of something on the Prince and forced him with power.
Now it seemed that was not the case.
Cui Zheng Lan felt much more at ease. If the Princess Consort’s position was fake, it might be much easier to get along with her in the future.
“Princess Consort, from now on I will follow your orders,” Cui Zheng Lan said, standing up and cupping her fists in a respectful salute.
Luo Ning could not help laughing: “You mustn’t do that. If you salute like that, the Prince will have a headache. You will be entering the Prince’s residence before long. First, you need to change your clothes and manners.
“A secondary consort should look like a secondary consort, so no one can find fault. This is my first order. If you are willing to listen, I’ll be waiting to see the results.”
Cui Zheng Lan feared dealing with the sheltered young ladies of the inner residence the most, but she was not afraid of dealing with a superior officer.
Hearing these words actually made her feel steadier.
“I will change,” she promised.