The New Year passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival arrived.
As was customary, the evening would feature a lantern fair with activities like solving riddles on lanterns, boating on the lake, and dragon and lion dances. Early in the morning, Wen Jing had already brought out the Spring and Autumn Annals to recite aloud in the courtyard.
After freshening up, Chu Ruoyan heard him still reading and couldn’t help but glance at Yan Zheng. "Aren’t you going to say something?"
Such diligence was clearly in hopes that his third uncle would take pity and lift his house arrest so he could go out and play.
Yan Zheng washed his hands and replied indifferently, "He only works this hard once or twice a year. Let him be." Just as he finished speaking, the servants brought breakfast. Chu Ruoyan had barely taken two bites when Meng Yang entered.
"Young Master, Commander Yue from the Five City Military and Police Division has arrived to discuss city defense matters. Additionally, Minister Dou is waiting at the Secretariat—he says the list for this year’s amnesty is ready and asks for your review. And then there’s the matter with the Shuntian Prefecture..."
Yan Zheng raised a hand to stop him and looked at Chu Ruoyan. She set down her chopsticks and said, "Go on. As the Chief Grand Secretary, isn’t it your duty to assist in everything?"
A trace of guilt flashed in his eyes. "I haven’t been able to properly accompany you today, on the Lantern Festival no less. I’ll try to return by evening..."
"No, no! Official duties come first!" she insisted, playing the role of the understanding wife. With a resigned sigh, he stood to leave. Just as he reached the door, she added, "Oh, about Bai Xiao Pavilion..."
Yan Zheng’s gaze sharpened. "Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye out for the woman with the butterfly-shaped birthmark on her neck."
It wasn’t just for Yun Lang’s sake—this woman was far too important. If she fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be disastrous.
Reassured, Chu Ruoyan urged him to leave.
Yulu, her maid, asked curiously, "Miss, why do I get the feeling that the busier the young master is, the happier you seem?"
Chu Ruoyan’s lips twitched. "Do I?"
"Your smile is practically unstoppable—how can you deny it?"
A glance in the mirror confirmed it. She covered her face, laughing. "You wouldn’t understand how diligent your young master is..." The busier he was during the day, the less energy he had to exhaust her at night. With the court in recess these past few days, she hadn’t gotten a decent night’s sleep!
Just then, the recitation outside stopped. A small head peeked in—Yan Wenjing. "Auntie, where’s Third Uncle?"
Chu Ruoyan tilted her chin toward the door. The little black sesame dumpling (a nickname for the boy) looked devastated. "So all that reading was for nothing?"
Before she could reply, a stern voice cut in. "Studying is never for nothing! Clearly, you haven’t grasped the essence yet—go copy it another thirty or fifty times!"
"What?! No, Sixth Uncle, please!!"
Yan Wenjing was dragged away by the ear by Yan Zhao. Madam Li, who had come with him, covered a laugh. "A few days ago, Wen Jing was setting off firecrackers everywhere, making Sixth Brother chase after him in a fury. Now he’s finally found a chance to retaliate."
Chu Ruoyan shook her head in amusement. "Second Sister-in-law, did you need something?"
"Yes. On the sixth and eighteenth of next month, aren’t your cousin and younger brother getting married? I haven’t decided what gifts our household should send, so I wanted your opinion."
Chu Ruoyan froze. With all the holiday bustle, she’d nearly forgotten.
"Thank you for reminding me, but I don’t have any brilliant ideas either. Why don’t we visit Eight Treasures Pavilion first?"
The largest jewelry shop in the capital had reopened on the eighth.
Madam Li clapped her hands. "Perfect! If we find something suitable, we might even pick something for ourselves!"
The two women quickly set off for Eight Treasures Pavilion.
The shop was already packed, but the doorman had sharp eyes. Noting their noble attire, he ushered them to the second floor reserved for distinguished guests. Coincidentally, they ran into Xue Ling, who was there to select dowry jewelry, accompanied by her close friend Xie Yaozhi.
The two were inseparable—soon to be sisters-in-law, their bond was sweeter than honey.
Xie Yaozhi spotted them first. "County Princess Changle! Madam Li! What brings you here?"
Xue Ling turned in delight. "Cousin Ruoyan, are you here to shop for jewelry too?"
Chu Ruoyan studied her. Radiant with bridal joy, her cousin’s happiness shone from her eyes.
She smiled. "Yes, I came to pick out a wedding gift for you. What luck to meet you here!"
At the mention of a gift, Xue Ling blushed. Before she could respond, a commotion erupted at the stairs.
The women turned to see the shopkeeper flailing his arms, trying to block someone.
But it was futile—a young woman ducked under his arm and slipped through like an eel.
Xie Yaozhi moved to intercept, but she was too slow.
The woman rushed forward and knelt before Xue Ling, wailing, "Miss Xue! Please, show mercy and grant Liu Hui a way to survive!"
The shop was full of female patrons, and necks craned at the spectacle.
Xue Ling paled. "Xiao Chan, escort Miss Liu out."
The name jogged Chu Ruoyan’s memory—she’d seen this woman before, at her own investiture banquet.
This was the cousin Old Madam Xie had brought from the countryside, intending to make her Xie Zhizhou’s concubine.
"No! I won’t leave! My parents are gone—my cousin is my last hope! Miss Xue, please let me serve him in your household! I ask for nothing but a roof over my head—I swear I won’t get in your way!"
She kowtowed violently, soon bruising her forehead.
Whispers spread, laced with words like "jealous" and "unforgiving."
Xue Ling twisted her handkerchief, trapped between retreat and advance.
Chu Ruoyan spoke coolly. "Miss, aren’t you pleading to the wrong person?"
Liu Hui blinked in confusion.
"If you want Xie Zhizhou to take you in, why beg my cousin? And even if you insist on this, isn’t Miss Xie right here?"
Xie Yaozhi seized the cue. "Exactly! Cousin Liu, if I recall correctly, my brother already refused you. He even told Grandmother outright he wouldn’t take you as a concubine. Have you forgotten?"
Gasps filled the room. Sympathy turned to scorn—who would chase after a man who’d already rejected her?
Liu Hui gritted her teeth, yanking out a hairpin to stab her own throat. But Nanny Zhou, wise to such theatrics, caught her wrist and slapped her hard. "Miss Liu, if you’re so eager to die, must you do it here? Spare us the ill omen during the festivities!"
Humiliated, Liu Hui sputtered, "You—you all—!"
The shopkeeper finally intervened, ordering his staff to drag her away while profusely apologizing.
Once the scene settled, Xie Yaozhi fumed. "Brother sent her back to the countryside days ago—how did she follow us here?" Noticing Xue Ling’s pallor, she added hastily, "Sister Xue, don’t dwell on it. I’ll make sure she’s gone before your wedding!"
Xue Ling nodded weakly.
Chu Ruoyan murmured, "I doubt it’ll be that easy."
