Chapter Thirty-Nine
“You’re not old enough to see through things yet. Go.”
Whenever Cui Lanyin thought of the expression on Prince Wei’s face as he said those words in the carriage, she wanted to call out several times for them to turn back.
Tianfu Temple stood beyond the Jubao Gate. It was an ancient temple left over from the previous dynasty, and its incense had continued burning for centuries.
By the time Cui Lanyin arrived at Tianfu Temple, everyone else was already waiting in front of the mountain gate.
She hurried over and curtsied to them all. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Sixth Miss Yao said solicitously, “We’re all family. There’s no need to be so formal. Sister Zhi already explained that you’ve been working late these past few days to finish the accounts so you could come out today. You must have been so tired that you overslept, didn’t you?”
Knowing that her sister had made an excuse for her, Cui Lanyin had no intention of explaining and simply went along with it.
The three siblings from the Tan family had come as well. Tan Shao was accompanying Seventh Miss Yao. He wore an indigo-blue robe, while she wore a cherry-pink blouse and skirt. They truly made a handsome man and beautiful woman, a perfect pair.
Fortunately, she had not listened to Aiye and worn cherry pink too. Otherwise, even if there were nothing between them, people might have imagined that there was.
Today, she wore a plain pale-lilac silk jacket over a moon-white skirt embroidered with delicate lines. A plum-blossom hairpin adorned her hair. She preferred simple, understated colors, of course, but she had also thought that a scholarly family like the Yaos would appreciate elegance and restraint.
From the corner of her eye, she caught the admiration in Fifth Young Master Yao’s gaze and saw Sixth Young Master Yao’s face quickly flush red. Cui Lanyin knew she had judged correctly.
But she felt no pleasure at all, let alone shyness. In fact, she was even a little annoyed.
As the distant bells and drums of the temple rang out, the vacant look in Prince Wei’s eyes flashed before her. How could she bring him back from that emptiness?
The group entered through the mountain gate, where a reception monk came out to greet them.
“Will the honored guests offer incense first, or would you prefer to rest in the guest quarters for a while?”
The temple had guest rooms specifically for pilgrims to stay in. When the Cui family had made their reservation, the temple had explained that all the private courtyards had already been booked by others, and they could only arrange several rooms in a shared building.
Ever since the Cui family had come to Yingcheng, this had been the situation whenever they visited the various temples, and they were already accustomed to it.
They were not staying overnight, after all. The men could sit anywhere, and a few rooms where the women could change and rest would be enough. They had not thought to mention it to the Yao family.
Tan Lian said to the reception monk, “Let’s go to the guest quarters first.”
She turned her head and pointed at Eighth Miss Yao with a smile. “We were chatting in the carriage just now, and some oil from the pastries got on her sleeve.”
Everyone followed the reception monk to a row of shared rooms. The Yao family’s young ladies all looked surprised.
Sixth Miss Yao was about to say something, but Seventh Miss Yao quietly tugged at her. Sixth Miss Yao glanced back at her and said nothing more.
Unfortunately, Eighth Miss Yao was straightforward by nature. “How are we supposed to rest in a place like this? Why isn’t there a private courtyard?”
The reception monk smiled apologetically. “You made your arrangements rather late. These are the only rooms left.”
Eighth Miss Yao went over and tugged on Sixth Young Master Yao’s sleeve. “Brother, there are too many people here. We can’t stay. Go ask the abbot for a courtyard. In Jiangnan, no one would dare refuse the Yao family a favor.”
Sixth Young Master Yao first cast an apologetic look toward the Cui family, then quickly glanced at Cui Lanyin’s face. His own face reddened as he coaxed his sister, “Didn’t you hear him say there are no courtyards left? Your Cousin Lanyin isn’t the sort of person who would be inconsiderate.”
Fifth Young Master Yao was the eldest among the Yao siblings and was always the one who took charge when they went out. He put on a stern expression. “Eighth Sister, don’t be willful.”
The reception monk looked back and forth among the Yao family’s young masters and young ladies. “Are you the young masters and young ladies of the Suzhou Yao family?”
Fifth Young Master Yao nodded. “That’s right.”
The reception monk smiled. “If you’re members of the Yao family, then this is easy to resolve. There’s a courtyard up ahead that Vice Minister Huang’s family reserved. They won’t be arriving until tomorrow, so you may use it for now.”
Fifth Young Master Yao laughed heartily. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? Then let’s go.”
“Vice Minister Huang’s wife is my maternal aunt, so there will be no trouble.” He made a point of explaining this to Cui Lanyin. “The elders in our family visit temples all over the place several times a year. Our stewards are used to making these arrangements. Next time, Cousin Lanyin, there’s no need to be so formal. Just send word to our family, and someone will take care of everything.”
Cui Lanyin suddenly felt thoroughly irritated.
They had only come out to admire the cherry blossoms and draw lots. At most, they would be here for half a day. Even if there were no rooms, they could rest in a pavilion somewhere, and they had carriages if they needed to change clothes. Was it really necessary to flaunt their status over something like this?
She had once regarded the Yao family as impossibly lofty, believing that even the gates of their residence must exude an air of scholarship. As for the men and women of the Yao family, surely every one of them possessed both learning and refinement, and ordinary families would inevitably feel inferior in their presence.
After attending the Yao family’s housewarming banquet, she had learned that their heritage ran even deeper than people imagined.
That was why, when Prince Wei mentioned that the Yao family was interested in her, she had been inclined to accept the match.
It was not that she looked down on people from lower-status families. Even the daughters of prominent households would find it difficult to reject a marriage alliance with the Yao family.
She had decisively rejected Tan Shao, and afterward she had not wavered or dragged things out. Yet when Prince Wei had proposed Sixth Young Master Yao, she had regretted turning him down.
But now, all her admiration and longing shattered in an instant. The Yao family was nothing special after all.
The Yao family’s young masters and young ladies were all exceptionally good-looking. Fifth Young Master Yao and Sixth Young Master Yao were no exception. One had handsome brows and bright eyes, standing tall and straight like a pine or bamboo; the other had red lips, white teeth, and delicate features like a jade orchid. It was clear where the family’s fine lineage came from.
In terms of looks, Tan Shao was no less handsome than the Yao family’s young masters. Yet when he stood beside them, he seemed to lack something, and his presence was far less striking.
Prince Wei must have taken after his mother. On closer inspection, quite a few similarities could be found between his features and those of the Yao family’s young masters. Consort Yao came from the Fourth Branch of the Yao family, so the resemblance between Prince Wei and Sixth Young Master Yao was even more apparent around the brows and eyes.
Cui Lanyin’s brows drew together slightly. She could not shake the feeling that Fifth Young Master Yao was trying too hard to display the bearing of a refined gentleman, while Sixth Young Master Yao was overly soft and spineless. He was nothing like Prince Wei, whose every movement was effortless and natural—even when drowsy, he retained that innate air of nobility.
Their looks differed as well. Fifth Young Master Yao was not as fair, and his features were somewhat harder. Sixth Young Master Yao was too pale, and his features too delicate and beautiful. Neither of them possessed Prince Wei’s perfect balance.
How could the difference be so great?
Cui Lanyin responded perfunctorily and turned to go over to Cui Lanzhi.
Seventh Miss Yao came forward with a smile. “My fifth brother is a very dull person. None of us likes playing with him, but my mother, my aunt, and my other aunts all say that a man like him is the most dependable. You only realize how reassuring and practical it is to have someone like that after you start living with him. I wonder which fortunate woman will have the wisdom to become my sister-in-law.”
Cui Lanyin found this rather unconvincing. Fifth Young Master Yao was only twenty. What kind of dependability could he possibly possess? One had to reach an age like Prince Wei’s before one could truly speak of shouldering responsibility.
The group followed the reception monk to the courtyard he had mentioned. It was not large, but it had been arranged with great neatness and elegance—far better than the shared rooms they had seen earlier.
Eighth Miss Yao was satisfied. “This is more like it.”
Sixth Miss Yao shook her head. That foolish girl was doing nothing but holding her sixth brother back. She was nothing like Seventh Sister, who was always looking for opportunities to help their fifth brother and did not mind at all that Tan Shao had once been involved with Second Miss Cui.
When it came to the interests of the family, the greater good should come first. Eighth Sister had simply been spoiled.
With a sister-in-law like that, Second Miss Cui would never choose Sixth Brother.
Because of Tan Shao, the Fourth Branch had originally stood the better chance. Fifth Brother had even yielded to his younger brother and refrained from pushing himself forward. In the end, Eighth Sister had ruined everything—and instead, she had helped Fifth Brother.
That was fine too. The Fourth Branch was most closely related to Prince Wei by blood, so whether or not Second Miss Cui married Prince Wei, he would still look after the Fourth Branch more than the others.
On the other hand, if Fifth Brother married Second Miss Cui, it would benefit the other branches more.
Sixth Miss Yao still could not understand what exactly had caught Prince Wei’s eye about Second Miss Cui. He had so many nieces and nephews in the Yao family who were related to him by blood, yet he ignored them all and doted on Second Miss Cui instead.
Although it was said that a wife should be married from a family of lower status, the Yao family had never married beneath themselves to such an extent. If it were not to untie the knot in Prince Wei’s heart, how could a young lady from a fallen earl’s household possibly marry into the Yao family?
The building consisted of one reception hall and two rooms. The hall was reserved for the young masters, while the two rooms were for the young ladies.
Seventh Miss Yao came over to the Cui sisters. “I’ve been saying from the start that I wanted to have a proper talk with Cousin Lanyin, but I missed the chance twice in a row. This time, I don’t care what anyone says—I’m following Cousin Lanyin wherever she goes.”
Sixth Miss Yao pointed at her. “Why, you little Seventh Yao! The moment you meet a better sister, you forget all about us…”
Unexpectedly, her own elder brother, Seventh Young Master Yao, came over. “Mind your manners. Who are you calling Seventh Yao?”
Even Cui Lanzhi, who had been maintaining the bearing of an eldest sister, could not hold back her laughter. Seeing that everyone’s attention was elsewhere, Cui Lanting leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Sister Zhi, which one do you think Cousin Lanyin should choose? If it were me, I really wouldn’t know how to decide.”
Cui Lanzhi also found herself worrying over her younger sister.
Fifth Young Master Yao and Seventh Miss Yao were siblings born of the same parents. Tan Shao had once harbored such feelings toward her, so if her younger sister married Fifth Young Master Yao, she would inevitably have to come into close contact with Tan Shao. Things would be awkward no matter what. If she happened to be careless in some way, it could easily lead to trouble and gossip.
As for Sixth Young Master Yao, he looked like a genuinely good-natured man. But everyone said that Fourth Elder Lady was exceptionally strict about rules, and with a sister-in-law like Eighth Miss Yao, her younger sister might have little peace after marrying into that household.
Over there, Seventh Miss Yao was calling everyone into the room. Cui Lanzhi gathered her thoughts and was about to follow when—
“Second Miss!”
Chiyun had arrived with Buyu, searching for her.
At the thought of Prince Wei, Cui Lanyin’s heart tightened. “Has something happened at the residence?”
“How could Second Miss stay in someone else’s courtyard? If Buyu hadn’t come to find me, the two of us would have been punished when we returned.” Chiyun hurried forward. “Heavenly Fortune Temple has a special courtyard reserved for honored guests. Chiyue has already asked the abbot to open it, so Second Miss should go there instead.”
Cui Lanyin glanced at Buyu. “It’s another one of your schemes, isn’t it? We’ll only be sitting there for half a day—at most the time it takes to finish one or two cups of tea. There’s no need to go to such trouble.”
Buyu hunched his neck slightly. “The Chief Aide repeatedly instructed me before we came that I absolutely must not let anything inconvenience Second Miss.”
“So the temple really does have a courtyard reserved for honored guests! Cousin Lanyin, take us there and let us have a look,” Eighth Miss Yao said, having already forgotten her earlier pickiness and willfulness.
Although the reception monk did not know how Second Miss of Prince Wei’s household had come to be a young lady of the Cui family, he still dared not neglect her. He respectfully led them to a courtyard hidden deep within the cherry grove.
Tan Lian covered her mouth and exclaimed, “I come here every year to admire the cherry blossoms, yet I never noticed that there was a courtyard like this!”
The entire courtyard was enclosed by a grove of cherry trees in full bloom. Fallen petals drifted across the surface of the shallow pond, their soft pinks and whites gently veiling the springtime beauty gathered in the water. A grass-thatched pavilion stood beside the pond, perfectly suited for sipping tea and admiring the blossoms. There was hardly any need to go anywhere else.
Cui Jian dropped into a seat in the pavilion and said to Cui Fu and Cui Ran, “Second Brother, Third Brother, go draw your lots. I’m planning to sit here until it’s time to leave.”
Cui Fu and Cui Ran sat down as well. “Forget it. It would be fine if we drew a good lot, but if we failed to get one, how would we face the consequences?”
Sixth Young Master Yao gathered his courage and came over. “Cousin Lanyin, have you ever seen the forest of steles behind Heavenly Fortune Temple? If not, perhaps you’d like to—”
Cui Lanyin declined politely. “I have to accompany my elder sister to the Guanyin Hall first. Perhaps another time.”
Seventh Miss Yao gave her elder brother a meaningful look. Fifth Young Master Yao stepped forward. “There are too many people outside. I’ll accompany you instead.”
Cui Jian sprang to his feet. “Cousin Jing, don’t try to steal this from me. If I don’t go along, I’ll have no peaceful days at home afterward.”
The Yao siblings could only laugh along as they watched the three siblings head toward the Guanyin Hall.
Looking forward to seeing what Qiqi does! [shy]
