Chapter Thirty-Three
After seeing the Yao women out through the inner gate, Cui Lanyin hesitated for a moment before taking Buyu with her to the study in the front courtyard.
Since Prince Wei had asked her to help receive the Yao family, yesterday’s incident ought to have been put behind them.
When they reached the study, Cui Lanyin called out herself instead of having Buyu do it. “Uncle, may I come in?”
Usually, Buyan would come to open the door almost at once, but this time Cui Lanyin stood there for several breaths without hearing a response.
After quite a while, Buyan quietly pushed the door open and waved her away. “The Prince says he isn’t seeing anyone.”
Not seeing anyone? Cui Lanyin could hardly believe it.
Since she had begun visiting Prince Wei’s residence, she had never once been turned away at the door.
Was he really holding a grudge for two days just because she had said he was getting old? Twenty-six was indeed a ripe old age. He neither married nor had children. If she did not say it, would no one else? Other people probably said far more than she did.
He was the dignified Prince Wei, yet he was so petty over such a minor matter. And she had even been thinking of giving him two parakeets to hang beneath the corridor eaves.
Cui Lanyin turned away in a huff, only to find the chief steward waiting behind her.
Ugh! She had been caught being refused at the door.
Doing her best to look as though nothing had happened, Cui Lanyin asked, “Did you come to report something to Uncle?”
“I was waiting for Second Miss.” The chief steward acted as though he had seen nothing. “I had guests earlier, so I didn’t get a chance to tell you. This morning, I sent a cartload of ingredients to your residence. They’re all things you’ll need for tomorrow’s banquet. The men who accompanied the cart told me they arrived just in time. Had they been any later, your household would have had to go out and purchase everything itself. That would have made the Prince’s kindness go to waste.”
“Was this Uncle’s order?”
The chief steward nodded with a smile. “If you find anything lacking when you go back tomorrow, just send someone here to fetch it.”
Without waiting for Cui Lanyin to ask anything else, he said he had matters to attend to and walked away down the front veranda.
Cui Lanyin knew perfectly well that he had left to spare her embarrassment.
She turned around and went back to the study door. This man was both petty and considerate. What exactly did he mean?
“Uncle, I truly didn’t mean anything by what I said. Please forgive me this once…”
“Go and make things clear.”
A calm, even voice came from inside. It was Prince Wei.
Buyan opened the door again and repeated, stiffly and word for word, “Second Miss, the Prince told me to explain everything in detail. This morning, when the Prince went to the Ministry of War, the chief steward came over and said that since your household was arranging a banquet in such a hurry, you would surely have trouble gathering all the necessary ingredients. Unlike the palace residence, your household does not have provisions delivered on a regular basis. So he suggested that the Prince’s residence purchase the ingredients and send them over. The Prince agreed.”
After saying all this, Buyan lowered his voice considerably. “Second Miss, I’m only repeating the Prince’s words. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“We know each other well. How could I not know that?”
After thinking for a moment, Cui Lanyin called toward the room again. “Though it was the chief steward who suggested it, he wouldn’t have dared to act without Uncle’s approval. I’ll still remember this kindness as yours…”
With a sharp clack, the door swung shut on its own.
Thinking of the chess piece Prince Wei had thrown at her the last time she had been made to stand facing the wall, Cui Lanyin realized that he had evidently thrown another one at the door to shut it.
It was plain that he did not want to see her and was telling her not to chatter noisily outside his study.
How long would it take to coax him into a better mood?
Cui Lanyin left with a deeply troubled expression.
Since her family was hosting guests, Cui Lanyin naturally had to return early to help with the preparations.
Before leaving that morning, she still called out toward the study, “Uncle, I’m going home. I’ll bring you something delicious when I come back.”
When the door opened, Buyan shook his head at her.
Cui Lanyin knew that it still hadn’t worked. What on earth did she have to do to placate him?
When she reached home, everyone in the household was busy. Apart from Cui Mian and Cui Chang, everyone from the second branch had come as well, and they were all helping with the preparations. The atmosphere was almost as tense as if they were preparing for battle.
Lady Jiang was wearing a grape-purple brocade jacket with wide sleeves, with a red-gold peony hairpin in her hair. Cui Lanting wore a crabapple-red Hangzhou-silk top and skirt, both the sleeves and hem decorated with broad borders. In her hair was a red-jewel butterfly-and-flower hair ornament.
Cui Lanyin had told Sangzhi to pass word to the household that everyone should dress properly, but this was far more elaborate than she had expected.
The women from the second branch were dressed just as splendidly. Lady Chang, Lady Ding, Lady Dong, and Cui Lanting had all taken particular care with their appearance, looking much as they had when they attended the banquet at the Yao residence.
Cui Lanyin looked down at herself. She wore a moon-white jacket patterned with pale-pink lotus flowers and a sky-blue crepe skirt. If not for the small red-gold filigree hair ornament set with red coral in her hair, she would have looked entirely out of place among them.
Cui Lanyin was puzzled. Was there something she did not know?
It was only that the Tan family had been added to the guest list. Had Tan Shao not been promised to someone else, the Tan family would have been nearly as close to the Cui family’s main branch as the second branch was. Calling this a banquet was really just an excuse for the two families to sit down and share a meal.
Lady Jiang came over and drew her aside. “It was already nearly evening yesterday when the Yao family sent word that they would all be coming today. That means we need to add another table for the men and another for the women. Our home is rather cramped, so we had to tidy everything up enough that it would at least be presentable.”
Cui Lanyin raised her brows. When she had received the Yao women the previous day, none of them had mentioned coming over. How had they changed their minds so soon after returning home?
Cui Lanyin was incapable of hiding her thoughts from her close relations, but when it came to people and affairs outside the family, she was no fool.
After a little thought, she understood. They were doing this because of Prince Wei’s attitude. The Yao family had probably noticed that she had stayed at Prince Wei’s residence for several days without leaving and that she was even helping him receive guests. They must have decided that she was in the Prince’s good graces, and so the Yao family was making this gesture for Prince Wei to see.
Cui Lanyin had also gradually pieced together the relationship between the Yao family and Prince Wei. When the Yao family had left years ago, they had not had the time to look after Consort Yao and Prince Wei. Consort Yao had passed away less than a year later, so it was impossible that Prince Wei had no resentment in his heart.
The fact that the three branches of the Yao family had arrived in Yingcheng, while Prince Wei had always treated them with cool indifference, spoke for itself.
Everyone said that the Yao family had great integrity, but Cui Lanyin felt that they were also quite adept at reading the situation and acting accordingly.
Take the present situation, for example. Even though Prince Wei had offended Prince Duan and the Li family, the Yao family continued to visit his residence as usual, displaying their willingness to advance and retreat together with him regardless of the circumstances.
Yet even someone like her, who understood little of the imperial court’s shifting currents, could see that the future was full of uncertainty. Prince Duan was not necessarily guaranteed to ascend the throne. A great family like the Yao clan, with a lineage stretching back more than a hundred years and countless family members who had passed the palace examinations, could only see farther and understand more than she did.
Because the Yao family was coming, Lady Chang repeatedly debated whether she should summon Cui Mian and Cui Chang as well.
In the end, Cui Fang said, “A family like the Yao clan will at most avoid trouble for a while when something happens. That’s something the Cui family cannot compare with.”
Only then did Lady Chang abandon the idea.
By the beginning of the ninth double-hour, the Tan family and the Yao family arrived together.
Cui Lanyin felt that she still had much to learn. Once a family like the Yao clan decided to show goodwill, they took care of every detail.
After the initial greetings, they showed not the slightest surprise at the cramped quarters of the Cui family’s main branch. Once they were seated, the Yao family’s three madams drew Lady Jiang into conversation. After realizing what sort of person she was, they began discussing dress styles and the tending of flowers and plants. Before long, Lady Jiang relaxed, and every now and then she even took the initiative to introduce a new topic.
Without needing to look, Cui Lanyin knew that the Yao family’s older men and young masters in the front hall must likewise be conversing cordially with Cui Sheng and his sons.
As they chatted pleasantly, Lady Xiang took Third Madam Yao’s hand and said with a smile to Lady Jiang, “We’ve been meaning to tell you, but you’ve all been so busy lately. The other day, the two families settled on the marriage between Zixun and Ying’er. We plan to hold the wedding after the autumn examinations. Everyone in the family can just wait to come and celebrate with us.”
Fortunately, Cui Lanyin had already helped Lady Jiang let go of the matter, and she was now able to offer her congratulations sincerely. “What wonderful news. Our whole family will be there.”
Lady Chang tugged at Lady Jiang’s sleeve and chimed in, “When we sit down to the banquet later, you must properly toast Eldest Sister-in-law Xiang, and thank her for bringing her in-laws to support you.”
Lady Xiang was pleased by this. “We’re all relatives. It’s only right.”
Fifth Madam Yao slightly furrowed her brows. “Exactly. The Yao family and Sheng’s younger sister-in-law are relatives as well. It was one thing when we weren’t in Yingcheng, but now that we’re all here, we mustn’t grow distant. We should visit one another often.”
It was obvious that the Yao family intended to treat the eldest branch of the Cui family as proper relatives.
Lady Xiang’s face flushed for a moment, but Lady Chang changed the subject and began speaking of something else, allowing her to recover.
Lady Jiang remained in the main hall entertaining the guests, while the young ladies chatted in the sitting room in the eastern side chamber. After hearing the news from Lady Xiang, the three Cui sisters all began smilingly addressing the Seventh Miss Yao as “cousin-in-law” and “sister-in-law.” Even the normally poised Seventh Miss Yao grew bashful.
Sixth Miss Yao came to her rescue. “The cherry blossoms at Tianfu Temple are in bloom. Shall we arrange a day to go see them?”
Just then, a commotion arose outside. Before long, Ji Shun’s wife came hurrying over, out of breath. “Second Miss, Eunuch Qian from Empress Dowager Chen’s palace has arrived.”
Everyone in Funing Palace knew that the eldest branch of the Cui family was hosting a banquet today, and would normally avoid disturbing them at such a time.
Cui Lanyin went out to announce her arrival and led Buyan outside to greet him.
Third Madam Yao said, “There’s no need for us to avoid the palace eunuchs. Let’s go take a look. If anything is needed, we can offer our assistance.”
Of course, they all knew there was nothing they could really assist with. Lady Jiang was simply not eloquent enough to refuse, so she could only follow them out of the courtyard.
Along the passageway between the bamboo groves, Buyan led several palace attendants from Funing Palace inside as they carried boxes of pastries. Qian He smiled at Cui Lanyin and said, “Only the finest relatives are worthy of a visit at a time like this. These pastries have just come out of the oven. When the guests leave later, be sure to have everyone take two boxes with them. Consider it a small token of our family’s goodwill.”
How long had it been since she had seen an elder step forward to look after her?
Ever since Lady Tan’s death, she had been handling everything in the household on her own. Cui Lanyin’s lashes glistened with tears. “Eunuch Qian, the Empress Dowager…”
“Oh, look at our Second Miss getting shy. When I return and tell the Empress Dowager, she’ll certainly find it quite amusing.”
“Eunuch Qian, you’re teasing me again.”
“How would I dare? Those fellows would never let me hear the end of it. Ah, I nearly forgot. I came to tell you that one of the parrots in our courtyard can already say, ‘Second Miss is getting rich.’ Another has begun learning to recite poetry as well. The Empress Dowager says you should come take a look when you have the time.”
“That fast? I’ll go over in a couple of days. I’ll have to work harder too, or mine will be outdone.”
By then, the palace attendants had finished carrying in the pastries. Qian He did not linger. He cupped his hands toward Cui Sheng and Lady Jiang. “I won’t disturb your family banquet any longer. I’ll take my leave first.”
When Cui Lanyin tried to see him out, he stopped her. “Could it be that now you’ve left Funing Palace, Second Miss no longer considers me one of your own?”
Cui Lanyin had no choice but to let Buyan accompany him out.
By then, the banquet had been laid out, with the men seated in the outer courtyard and the women in the inner courtyard.
When Tan Shixian saw the river delicacies that were rarely served at ordinary banquets, as well as the fine wine from the imperial stores, he asked about the ingredients and wine. Upon learning that they had all been sent by Prince Wei’s residence—and seeing how warmly Empress Dowager Chen treated Cui Lanyin—the weight pressing on his heart finally lifted.
He had genuinely been worried about his cousin Cui Sheng and his family. And because Lady Xiang had arranged another marriage for their eldest son with a young lady from the Yao family, he felt even more guilty. Thus, when Cui Sheng hosted the banquet, Tan Shixian insisted on bringing his entire family despite Lady Xiang’s objections.
Having spent many years navigating officialdom, he had already considered the matter carefully. At worst, Cui Sheng’s family would be unable to rise in rank for two generations. When the time came, Tan Shixian could lend them a hand and ensure they lived comfortably enough.
As for being implicated, no emperor in the current dynasty had ever suppressed a girl’s relatives merely because he had been unable to marry her. At most, promotions would become more difficult. And even without suppression, Tan Shixian had no real chance of rising higher, so to him, there was little difference.
Because Prince Wei had stood up for Cui Lanyin, Lady Xiang had feared that the Yao family would be implicated as well and had wanted to break off the engagement with them.
Tan Shixian had severely reprimanded her for changing her mind again and again, then personally stepped forward to finalize the marriage with the Yao family.
Afterward, he carefully explained that the Yao family had remained completely unscathed despite the Li family’s suppression. Marrying into such a family would bring Tan Shao nothing but advantages. Lady Xiang was eventually persuaded.
The day before, the Yao family had sent word that they would come to the eldest branch of the Cui family for the banquet today. Seeing that even the Yao family was willing to come, Lady Xiang’s concerns vanished, and the entire family arrived in high spirits.
Now, seeing that the Yao family showed no airs at all before Cui Sheng, Tan Shixian felt even more certain that he had made the right judgment.
What he did not know was that the three masters of the Yao family were actually rather displeased. When the Yao family had hosted a banquet, Prince Wei had attended, but had remained alone in the Wangyue Tower the entire time.
Today, Prince Wei had not come to the Cui family’s banquet. Yet he had personally provided all the ingredients and wine, and had even prompted Empress Dowager Chen to send pastries as return gifts. It was clear at a glance which family he considered closer.
From the way the palace eunuch had spoken, it was evident that Empress Dowager Chen treated Cui Lanyin as a beloved junior of Prince Wei’s immediate family.
