Chapter 118
Cui Su felt as though the eyes gathering around him would bore holes through his body. Keeping his gaze straight ahead, he walked into the hall. When he had made it halfway across, he passed two young ladies. One of them, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks, leaned toward the other and whispered, “Could Assistant Commander Cui be here to look for a match too? Then this place really is a nest of trouble. We’d better steer clear of him later.”
She was judging people so brazenly—did she really think no one else could hear her? How had he become a “nest of trouble”? Cui Su snorted, deciding that a gentleman should be magnanimous and not stoop to arguing with a petty woman.
Behind him, however, Gu Ying heard that snort. She asked Lady Shen uncertainly, “Do you think he heard us?”
“You were whispering right into my ear,” Lady Shen replied with a gentle smile. “No one could hear us from even a step away, much less from that far.”
He could hear them even from several steps farther away, all right. Did they think all the martial arts he had practiced were for nothing? Cui Su deliberately paused for a moment.
Sure enough, the almond-eyed, peach-cheeked girl began to panic. “Did you see that? He stopped. Do you think he’ll tell Her Majesty that I was speaking ill of him behind his back?”
Only then was Cui Su satisfied. He quickened his pace and went to the front.
Cui Lanyin asked in surprise, “What brings you here?”
“His Majesty said everyone over there is married with families, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to stay there,” Cui Su replied unwillingly. “Commander Meng used to keep me company, but he got engaged a while ago too.”
Among all the civil and military officials over there, he was now the only unmarried man left.
Cui Lanyin was delighted. “Since you’re here already, you should go to the back as well.”
Cui Su looked up at her and muttered unhappily, “I knew it. His Majesty wants you to watch me make a fool of myself so he can amuse you.”
“Of course not.” Cui Lanyin brushed it aside. “His Majesty is concerned about your marriage.”
“Do you believe that yourself?” Cui Su rolled his eyes at her. “His Majesty didn’t marry until he was twenty-six. How can he possibly urge me to marry? During the banquet, everyone was talking about their sons and daughters meeting potential spouses, but he showed no interest in the matter. Then Grayfeather went over, His Majesty sent him away, and instead dragged me out here.”
Princess Yongjia, who happened to be on his side, nodded solemnly. “Liyan is right. His Majesty is having you go first to amuse Her Majesty. That way, when you return tonight, he can…”
Cui Lanyin picked up a wine cup and held it to Princess Yongjia’s lips. “Weren’t you planning to drink until you dropped? Don’t stop now!”
Princess Yongjia took the cup and downed it in one gulp. Slightly tipsy, she had already forgotten what she had been about to say.
Unfortunately, the ambiguous look on His Majesty’s face that morning, when he had said, “I’ll make my feelings clear tonight,” flashed before Cui Lanyin’s eyes. She hurriedly shook her head and waved for Buyu.
“Why are you still standing there? Take Assistant Commander Cui to the back.”
Suppressing a laugh, Buyu stepped forward. “Imperial Uncle, shall we go?”
Cui Su stamped his foot, but in the end followed Buyu toward the rear.
Lady Jiang and Madam Gu nearly raised their hands in celebration. “Let’s hope all of them find someone today.”
Cui Lanyin had the musicians resume their singing and dancing. She lifted her cup of fruit cordial and invited all the noblewomen to drink with her. “There’s no need to leave early tonight. Anyone who can manage a few more cups, please don’t hold back. I have both strong and mild drinks prepared. If I weren’t pregnant, I would gladly join you for a few cups.”
With the Empress herself making it clear that she did not mind, and seeing those who had already had a few cups leisurely alternating between sips of wine and bites of food as they enjoyed the performance—just like the men at home did every day—the noblewomen could not resist their curiosity.
A troupe of performers came swaying past, and even those without wine were beginning to feel intoxicated. Before long, quite a few more asked the palace attendants for mild wine and joined in.
Seeing that the Empress truly did not object, everyone relaxed in their seats. It was not long before they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Even Grand Princess Yiqing could not help remarking, “I’ve attended banquets at the palace countless times, but this is by far the most comfortable and carefree.”
There were rules governing every movement in the palace. The younger women could tolerate them, but for those of advanced age, entering the palace was a genuine hardship. By the time the banquet ended, even walking out was difficult. Thus, whenever the palace held a banquet, they came only because they had to.
If all future banquets were arranged like this one, even the older ladies would be happy to attend.
In the rear garden of Fengyi Palace, the young ladies and sons of various households had mostly gathered around Chaoyun Pavilion. Those who had not entered the pavilion were scattered nearby.
Cui Su spotted Cui Fu, Cui Ran, and Jiang Xian standing there like three wooden stakes, staring intently at Cheng Gui, who was speaking with Cui Lanting inside the pavilion. Under their scrutiny, Cheng Gui no longer seemed to know what to do with his hands and feet, let alone how to speak.
Cui Su had heard a little about Cheng Gui’s situation, and the young man was not usually this bashful.
He swept his eyes across the garden and immediately understood its layout. After a few steps, he went over and pulled the three men away. Turning left and right, he led them to a spot hidden behind a rockery and flowering trees. Then he pointed east. “You can keep watch from here.”
Cui Fu was impressed. “This is your first time in the garden too, isn’t it?”
Cui Su snapped off a slender twig and held it between his teeth. “Do I need to come here first? When I was training, I had to familiarize myself with an entire mountain in the time it took to burn a quarter-hour. For a place this small, I’d have been punished by being made to face the wall if I needed more than a couple of glances.”
“As they say, all the glory a person enjoys in public is paid for by hard work in private.” Cui Ran came to stand beside him.
Jiang Xian added, “If anyone ever says to my face again that you owe your position to the Empress, I’ll beat him until he begs for mercy.”
Cui Ran draped an arm over Jiang Xian’s shoulder. “Count me in.”
“How could I be left out?” Cui Fu joined them. He was quite aware of his own limitations. “I may not be able to lift a shoulder, but I do have a fine, powerful voice to cheer you on.”
The three of them snickered. “We really couldn’t do without you.”
Cui Su had long since stopped caring about what people said. “Without His Majesty and Her Majesty, I wouldn’t have learned these skills either. So what they say isn’t wrong. I did rely on His Majesty and Her Majesty.”
Afraid of attracting attention, the three men kept their voices low. They found a flat boulder and sat down. From there, they had an excellent view. Through the gaps between the branches, they could see everything happening inside Chaoyun Pavilion.
Only then did Cui Fu and the others remember to ask, “What are you doing here?”
“It’s all because of His Majesty…” Cui Su gave them a brief account of what had happened, then tossed away the twig he had been holding between his teeth. “You three go look for a match. I’ll keep an eye on Third Sister and Cheng Gui.”
Cui Fu shook his head. “You shouldn’t disregard His Majesty’s good intentions. I’ll stay here. The three of you go.”
“His Majesty only said it in passing. I’d be a fool to take it seriously.” Cui Su did not care in the least. “The three of you are getting on in years. Don’t compare yourselves with me.”
Cui Fu and Cui Ran were both twenty, while Jiang Xian was already nineteen. Cui Su, on the other hand, was only eighteen.
Jiang Xian and Cui Su were cousins who had played together only when they were children. After reuniting, however, they had quickly become close.
Jiang Xian was more gifted at reading than Jiang Shi, but he was no frail scholar. He had always admired the chivalry of the martial world, and now that he had someone like Cui Su in the family, he sought every opportunity to ask Cui Su about the military and the martial world.
There was little the two could not talk about. At that moment, Jiang Xian did not conceal his anticipation of the matchmaking. “If we all rush out at once, we won’t have any idea what we’re doing. This requires strategy.”
Cui Su snapped his fingers. “Choose your target, then take her down in one move. You understand tactics. The three of you can watch from here, pick someone suitable, and then make your move.”
Cui Fu and Cui Ran were still somewhat too embarrassed to look directly, but Jiang Xian was perfectly at ease. He gazed into Chaoyun Pavilion and continued chatting. “I like a woman who is learned and carries herself with an air of refinement. What about you?”
With him taking the lead, Cui Fu and Cui Ran stopped being coy as well. Cui Ran spoke first. “I like women who are lively and talkative.”
Cui Fu, however, was more practical. “I want someone formidable—preferably someone who can keep my mother in line. Otherwise, I’ll never have a peaceful day.”
Thinking of Lady Chang, the other three realized that he was absolutely right and looked at him sympathetically.
“What about you, Liyan?” Jiang Xian asked.
Cui Su did not need to think. “Someone beautiful.”
What man did not love a beauty? Yet when choosing a wife, every man claimed to value virtue. No one would openly admit to caring about looks.
Cui Su, however, did not mind saying it aloud. The other three clasped their hands toward him in admiration.
“As expected of Assistant Commander Cui. We’re impressed.”
Estimating that they had talked long enough, Cui Su began driving them away. “If you’re any later, there won’t be anyone left for you.”
Cui Fu and the other two hurriedly took their leave and headed toward the Chaoyun Pavilion.
Cui Su raised his hand and snapped off another slender twig. This time, he did not put it between his teeth. Instead, he flicked it away, striking a boulder as tall as a man. With a clang, the twig made a sound like a pebble hitting stone. A faint cry of surprise immediately came from behind the boulder.
Cui Su called out, “Have you heard enough? Why don’t you leave?”
After a rustle of movement, a beautiful woman in purple stepped out from behind the boulder. She had almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks. Cui Su remembered her. She was the same woman who had called him a “trouble magnet” when they passed each other in the palace.
Afraid he would misunderstand and think she had been hiding there to meet him, Gu Ying quickly explained, “I only saw Young Master Jiang coming this way, so I—”
Hearing that she was interested in Jiang Xian, Cui Su thought that if they ended up together, she would become his cousin-in-law. His expression softened, and he pointed toward the Cloud Pavilion. “You didn’t hear wrong. He went into the pavilion.”
Gu Ying had assumed he would mock her for setting her sights on his cousin. Seeing that he did not give her a hard time, she told him the truth as well. “I did hear it. I thought it was inappropriate, so I didn’t come out.”
Hearing that someone had dismissed his cousin, Cui Su drew his brows together and put on a stern face. “What’s wrong with my cousin? How is he not good enough for you?”
Gu Ying was not intimidated. “I like men who are handsome and refined. Your cousin… You understand, don’t you?”
Cui Su did understand. He changed tack. “Then what about my Third Cousin Cui?”
Gu Ying asked, “You mean Cui Ran? Everything else about him is fine, but he’s just… just not handsome enough…”
Cui Su was displeased. He waved her off. “Then go on your way. I’ll be waiting to see where you find someone more handsome than my third cousin.”
“As if I wanted to stay here.” Gu Ying turned and walked away.
Cui Su called after her, “At least tell me your name. Then I can be there to witness it.”
No one wanted to lose an argument. Gu Ying turned back and announced her family proudly. “I’m the youngest daughter of Minister Gu.”
Cui Su waved again. “Hurry along and stay away from this ‘trouble magnet.’”
He had really heard her! Embarrassed, Gu Ying stopped caring. As she walked away, she muttered, “He’s more than just a ‘trouble magnet.’ Lord Cui, you’re a shallow man who cares only about beauty!”
“Likewise!”
“I’m a young woman, but you’re the Imperial Uncle. For the sake of the dignity of the imperial family, I advise you to show some restraint.”
Watching Gu Ying run off while still finding time to argue back, Cui Su suddenly felt fortunate that she had not taken a liking to one of the men in his family. Otherwise, wouldn’t his household be filled with her incessant chatter from morning till night?
Inside the Cloud Pavilion, without Cui Fu and the others staring at them from close by, Cheng Gui recovered his composure. He and Cui Lanting were both sincerely considering one another. After asking each other the important questions, they agreed to the match.
By the time the banquet ended, Madam Cheng and Lady Jiang had already made arrangements. They would choose an auspicious day and send a matchmaker over.
Cui Fu, Cui Ran, and Jiang Xian, however, had acted too late. They would simply treat this as a chance to gain experience and try again next time.
Several other matches had been made that day as well, and all the families involved were very satisfied. Taking advantage of the wine, they boldly approached Cui Lanyin and asked her to issue imperial marriage decrees when the time came.
When word spread that the gathering had ended, the officials who had been sitting idly with the emperor and drinking tea until their stomachs were full were granted a new lease on life. Even Grand Secretary Shen and the other elderly officials left the Hall of Extended Splendor with astonishingly nimble steps.
When the men waited at Xiamen Bridge for the women of their families, they saw their wives approaching with unsteady steps, reeking of alcohol yet still talking animatedly. Every one of the men looked as though he had seen a ghost.
What had happened in the Palace of Heavenly Grace? How had their normally dignified and virtuous wives ended up like this?
Here it comes [kiss kiss].
