Chapter Forty-Five
Qian He cried bitterly. Cui Lanyin felt a pang of sympathy. Though she did not know exactly what had happened, the mere fact that Qian He was a relative of Empress Dowager Chen’s who had nevertheless become a eunuch told her that some unbearable tragedy must lie behind it.
Qian He must have kept it all bottled up for far too long. At a time like this, there was no need for many words; letting him give full vent to his feelings was better than offering empty comfort.
Cui Lanyin sat quietly beside him, handing him one handkerchief after another. After about half a stick of incense, Qian He finally recovered.
His eyes red, he looked at Cui Lanyin. “Second Miss, don’t laugh at me.”
“Uncle Qian, you can call me Yin.”
“All right… Yin. From now on, let’s get along well, you and I.” A man whose tongue was usually so nimble could now manage only the plainest words.
“Yin, aren’t you going to ask me?”
“I won’t ask, and I won’t try to persuade you either. I haven’t suffered what you suffered, Uncle Qian, so I have no right to tell you to let it go.”
“All right, all right. Yin, you’ve said exactly what was in my heart…”
After Qian He applied medicine to Cui Su’s wounds, Cui Su promptly fell asleep. Halfway through the journey, he woke up. “Second Sister, is there anything to eat in the carriage?”
Qian He opened a hidden compartment and took out a box of pastries. “Have some of these to tide you over.”
Cui Su thanked him and began eating, downing several pieces in a row. Clearly, he was ravenous.
Cui Lanyin poured him a cup of tea. He washed the pastries down with it and ate more than half the box before putting the lid back on.
He said bitterly, “I’ve never even eaten at the Treasure Pavilion. I thought I’d finally get to feast today, but I didn’t even see the shadow of a dish.”
Qian He patted him on the shoulder. “What of it? One of these days, I’ll take you there when I’m out. Order whatever you like.”
Cui Su glanced at Cui Lanyin, unsure whether he ought to agree.
“Go on, thank Uncle Qian,” Cui Lanyin prompted him.
Cui Su did not hesitate for an instant. Delighted, he said, “Then I’ll hold you to it, Uncle Qian.”
Qian He’s heart warmed even more at the boy’s straightforwardness. He untied the white jade pendant from his waist. “Here, take this and play with it.”
It was a flawless piece of top-grade Hotan white jade, carved into the image of a horse leading the way. The jade and workmanship were both exceptional, making it extremely valuable.
Cui Su was an honest child. Once he accepted Qian He as his uncle, he would not stand on ceremony. He took the pendant with both hands and immediately hung it from his waist. “This ‘Horse Leading the Way’ is wonderful. Thank you, Uncle Qian.”
Qian He grew fonder of him by the moment. He ruffled the boy’s hair. “I’ve also got a few short daggers and knives stored away. Once you’ve finished learning martial arts, I’ll give them to you.”
That touched precisely upon Cui Su’s greatest interest. He seized Qian He’s arm and began asking what the short knives and daggers looked like.
Cui Lanyin suddenly realized something was amiss. “Why haven’t I seen Eldest Cousin?”
“He was afraid it would affect his trip to Shanxi and jeopardize his future, so he hid himself,” Cui Su said with a mocking laugh. “When he heard Xin Jixing mouthing off, he not only did nothing, but even tried to hold me back when I went over to confront him. Everyone at the table couldn’t stand watching it. When I hit Xin Jixing, he came over and took the other side. I was afraid of hurting him and held back, so Sun Jixing got in several punches. When the Five Cities Military Office arrived, I surrendered and let them bind me. He didn’t come over to help smooth things over. He made some excuse about finding Eldest Uncle to pull strings, then disappeared without a trace.”
Cui Lanyin’s eyes turned cold. “I suppose it really does take time to see a person’s true nature.”
“Actually, there were signs long ago. He’s family with Second Cousin and the others, but whenever there’s any advantage to be had, he only thinks of himself. Back then, when he chose Brother Jian to practice archery and horsemanship with him, it was because he repeatedly brought it up to Grand-Uncle and Eldest Uncle. He also said they should choose someone far enough apart from him in age that they could look after each other in the future. That was why Grand-Uncle and Eldest Uncle passed over me and chose Brother Jian.” Cui Su had clearly been storing up these words for a long time. “He’s the eldest, and he’s also the heir. No one would quibble with him over a few minor matters. Brother Jian and I thought the same way, and so did Cousin Fu and Cousin Ran. In the end, all the benefits stayed within the family, and it made no difference who received them. As long as we stood united against outsiders, that was enough.
“Who could have thought that, when faced with outsiders, he wouldn’t even bother pretending? This is hardly a major matter. If something truly concerned the life or death of the family came up, wouldn’t he sell us all out?”
Now all that remained was to see how Cui Mian would deal with this once he learned of it.
Cui Lanyin said to Cui Su, “You’d better not go home yet. Come with me to Prince Wei’s residence and recuperate there.”
“For injuries this minor? If I needed to rest over this, how could I call myself a member of the Qilin Guard? Besides, I don’t need to escort Cui Chang anymore, so I’m going straight home.” Cui Su was a man of clear likes and dislikes; he was no longer willing to call Cui Chang Eldest Cousin.
Qian He admired the boy’s willingness to endure hardship and improve himself. “Young people grow through being knocked around. Let him go. The Qilin Guards have better medicines for cuts and wounds. Once he uses them at home, he’ll be as good as new in two days.”
Cui Lanyin no longer tried to stop him. Ming Shi had already found the horses for the two menservants, and from inside the carriage she watched the pair ride away.
Just as the carriage was about to turn into Yongjia Lane, Qian He called out and stopped it. He said to Cui Lanyin, “Tell them to go back. You’re coming with me to Funing Palace.”
Cui Lanyin thought Qian He was worried that Prince Wei would scold her. “Don’t worry, Uncle Qian. At most, my uncle will punish me by making me face the wall. I’ll go over in a little while.”
Qian He’s expression turned solemn. “It isn’t about that. I can’t explain right now. Just listen to me and stay at the Empress Dowager’s palace for a couple of days first.”
Qian He had weathered countless storms, and his insight and ability were far beyond those of ordinary people.
Cui Lanyin was willing to heed his advice. She nodded. “I’ll listen to you, Uncle Qian. Then I’ll go back and pack some clothes to change into.”
Qian He still refused. “Have Buyu go back and ask your maidservants to bring them. We’ll enter the palace first.”
Unease stirred in Cui Lanyin’s heart. “Uncle Qian, give me a hint. What is it?”
“Don’t be afraid. We’re only taking precautions.”
He instructed Geng Da to return to the Cui family’s main branch and report what had happened, while also keeping an eye on the second branch to see what they were up to. He sent Buyu back to fetch Cui Lanyin’s belongings, then boarded the carriage Qian He had brought and turned toward Funing Palace.
The moment Cui Lanyin stepped into the courtyard of Funing Palace, she was enveloped by one cheerful cry after another:
“Second Miss is here!”
Hearing the commotion, Qi An, Aunt Gao, and Aunt Xia came hurrying out one after another. “It’s been some time since we’ve seen you. Our Second Miss has blossomed even more. Yuexia—”
Aunt Gao and Aunt Xia wrapped Cui Lanyin in their arms, leaving her no chance to bow properly.
Qi An hung back and quietly asked Qian He, “Has something happened?”
“I’m going to change clothes. I’ll tell you later.”
If Qian He still had the leisure to change clothes, then whatever had happened was evidently still under control. Qi An waved him off. “Go on. I’ll keep watch here.”
Cui Lanyin had only just stepped onto the corridor when, at the eunuchs’ prompting, the parrots perched there began to recite.
First, the green one said, “When people are at leisure, osmanthus blossoms fall.”
Next, the red one said, “At night, the empty mountains grow still.”
But the next two came out as, “Now and then, birdsong is heard,” and “Here and there, springs resound”—the birds had somehow blended two separate poems into one.
Cui Lanyin clapped her hands and laughed. “The Empress Dowager has trained them so well. They’ve become prodigies—they can even alter poems now.”
Empress Dowager Chen smiled at her through the window. “They’ve been outdone by your birds, haven’t they?”
Cui Lanyin refused to concede. “My Grayfeather is worth several of them put together. We’ll have a competition when I come back.”
“Then let’s set a date.”
“How about the Dragon Boat Festival?”
“Agreed.”
The two of them settled on the date through the window. Only then did Cui Lanyin enter. Before her was a riot of flowers and greenery, and the sight of all the beautiful women standing in the room dazzled her. She had nearly forgotten that these people were still in Funing Palace.
Empress Dowager Chen beckoned her. “What are you standing there for? Don’t you recognize your own family anymore? Come here and let me have a look at you.”
Cui Lanyin made her way past the assembled beauties. She was wondering whether she ought to greet them formally with outsiders present when Empress Dowager Chen reached out and pulled her over.
“Come sit on the kang.”
As before, Cui Lanyin sat down at the edge. Empress Dowager Chen pointed toward the cushions farther in. “Go on, lean back against the cushions. Qian He was gone the whole morning, and I could tell the moment you two entered the courtyard—you were practically skipping. You must have gone off somewhere to cause trouble.”
“You could tell that just by looking?” Cui Lanyin asked. She still did not move inward. Sitting at the edge of the kang was already an unusual privilege; sitting farther in would be too improper.
Aunt Xia came over, bent down, and removed her shoes before pushing her farther inside. “This is family. No one will criticize you wherever you sit.”
Cui Lanyin had no choice but to move in and sit against the cushions. Aunt Xia brought her a bolster and placed it behind her back. Only after making sure she was comfortable did she go attend to the other matters.
The six beauties standing below the kang stared at her with undisguised surprise and curiosity.
Cui Lanyin found herself in a difficult position. These women were all candidates to become either Prince Wei’s principal wife or his secondary consorts, while she was Prince Wei’s niece. Even though Emperor Xuanning had said they were here to keep Empress Dowager Chen company, everyone knew perfectly well what was really going on. If she treated them as her equals, might people later say she had been discourteous?
Yet she was unwilling, deep down, to act as though she were a generation below them.
“I’ve wanted to meet Second Miss Cui for a long time, but never had the chance. I never expected to see you here with Her Majesty,” said one of the young ladies, her round face full of cheerful good humor.
Cui Lanyin thought the girl looked familiar. After a moment, she remembered that Cui Lanting had pointed her out at the banquet celebrating the Yao family’s move: she was Meng Huaizong’s younger sister, Miss Meng Ru.
She had not expected Meng Ru to be among the six young ladies. Cui Lanyin wondered whether this had been Emperor Xuanning’s own idea or whether the Meng family had pulled some strings. It seemed Meng Ru truly had her heart set on marrying Prince Wei.
But wasn’t the Meng family favored by the Li family? Meng Ru’s father and brother held military authority in Shanxi. How would the Li family view the Mengs if Meng Ru devoted herself to marrying Prince Wei?
Prince Wei clearly had plans of his own. If he married Meng Ru and drew the Meng family to his side, it would be a considerable advantage for him.
The more Cui Lanyin thought about it, the more muddled she felt, and she had little desire to respond to Meng Ru.
A young lady in a water-blue dress, with an air as refined as an orchid, seemed unable to stand Meng Ru. “Don’t drag all of us into being punished.”
Aunt Gao, who was standing nearby, immediately turned stern. “Miss Meng, how many times must you be told to behave? Her Majesty said no one was to speak, yet you can never remember. Is your head made of wood?”
Aside from the girl in blue, the other four lowered their heads and snickered.
“Aunt Gao, spare me just this once more,” Meng Ru pleaded. True to her military family background, she was remarkably tough. She retreated as though nothing had happened, still beaming.
Cui Lanyin found herself looking at her in a new light. She had thick skin too, but she had not reached Meng Ru’s level.
“It’s time to fetch the meal. I’ll go add a few dishes that Second Miss likes. Lunch will be a little late,” Qi An came in to report.
“Never mind if it’s late. She loves that vegetarian crispy-eel dish. Don’t forget it,” Empress Dowager Chen instructed.
Qi An smiled and acknowledged her. “As if I’d need Your Majesty to remind me. I have it all in mind.”
At noon, the meal began to be laid out. As the six young ladies followed Aunt Gao and Aunt Xia’s directions, arranging the dishes, chopsticks, bowls, and plates, Cui Lanyin could not help sighing inwardly. No matter how lofty a family background they came from, once they entered the imperial household, they still had to lower themselves and serve.
It was true that after marrying, a woman had to follow the rules and wait upon her mother-in-law, but it would never be to the extent of what she was seeing here. Cui Lanyin could not understand why these women, who could have married into families of comparable standing and lived comfortable lives, had chosen to suffer such humiliation in the imperial household.
The splendor and wealth seen from the outside were nothing compared with the comfort and freedom within. Still, everyone had to make her own choices.
What she did not know was that Meng Ru and the others felt as though tiny insects were gnawing at their hearts. Someone whose family background was clearly far beneath theirs was now sitting while they stood, letting them go hungry as they served her, while she was able to dine with Empress Dowager Chen. They truly could not accept it with equanimity.
Cui Lanyin had just helped Empress Dowager Chen sit down when a eunuch stationed at the door hurried over to report, “His Highness has arrived.”
Cui Lanyin quickly set down her bowl and chopsticks and sat up straight.
Empress Dowager Chen looked at her with a smile. “You managed to bring him here. What did you and Qian He get up to?”
“I was planning to tell you after we ate.”
Before Cui Lanyin could say anything more, Prince Wei entered.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” the young ladies called sweetly, bending their knees in salute.
The others had only just straightened when Meng Ru quickly moved a chair over. “Your Highness, please sit.”
Prince Wei did not sit in it. He hooked the chair toward himself with his foot and sat down.
Cui Lanyin saw this and hurried to fetch a bowl, plate, and silver chopsticks for him, arranging them before him. Prince Wei picked up the chopsticks. “Serve me rice.”
“Uncle, wait a moment. I’ll have a few more dishes brought out for you.”
Aunt Xia spoke up. “Qi An has already gone.”
“No need,” Prince Wei refused. He glanced toward Cui Lanyin, who immediately began filling a bowl for him. The rice rose in a neat mound above the rim.
Empress Dowager Chen shot Prince Wei a sideways look. “What child doesn’t get into mischief? Why are you frightening her?”
Prince Wei said nothing and simply lowered his head to eat.
Empress Dowager Chen snorted and coaxed Cui Lanyin, “Ignore him. Stay here as long as you like. If he won’t treat you kindly, don’t go back.”
Cui Lanyin watched Prince Wei’s expression and tried to please both sides. To Empress Dowager Chen, she said, “It’s because I feel guilty.” Then she turned to Prince Wei and added, “I know Uncle only came to dine with Her Majesty.”
She served each of them the dishes they liked best. Empress Dowager Chen and Prince Wei both gave her face by picking up the food and eating it at once.
Seeing Empress Dowager Chen and Prince Wei dine naturally while surrounded by the young ladies, as though the women standing around them were nothing more than wooden posts, Cui Lanyin gradually relaxed as well and ate her usual amount.
After the meal, the table was cleared away. Empress Dowager Chen waved her hand. “All of you, leave.”
The six young ladies curtsied and filed out one after another. Meng Ru was the last to leave, repeatedly looking back, but she received no response from anyone.
The moment the young ladies had left the room, Qian He arrived after changing his clothes and having his meal.
Empress Dowager Chen laughed. “So this is a case of sharing trouble together?”
Qian He smiled. “Yin is such an honest child. I was the one who stirred her up, so naturally I should be the one to explain.”
“It had nothing to do with Uncle Qian He. He only went along because he was afraid I would suffer,” Cui Lanyin said.
Empress Dowager Chen looked from one to the other, her heart filled with indescribable happiness for Qian He.
Of course, Qian He was not afraid of a matter this minor. He was worried that Cui Lanyin would be blamed by Prince Wei. Empress Dowager Chen reassured him, “Enough. First explain exactly what happened. We’ll deal with the rest afterward.”
Qian He took the lead, with Cui Lanyin filling in the details. Together, they recounted everything that had happened that morning, step by step.
Prince Wei’s first words after arriving were, “Prince Kang has just entered the palace.”
Empress Dowager Chen raised an eyebrow. “He couldn’t even wait?”
“Let her stay for two days.”
“While I’m here, she won’t lose so much as a strand of hair.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
Prince Wei rose and walked out without looking back.
Cui Lanyin could hardly believe it. Was that all? Had the matter truly been dismissed so easily, or was he waiting to settle accounts with her later, after she returned to Prince Wei’s residence?
She did not know that after she went to rest, Aunt Xia said regretfully to Empress Dowager Chen, “If only she were your maternal granddaughter.”
Empress Dowager Chen shook her head. “If she weren’t his cousin’s daughter, he wouldn’t even let Yin come near him. It’s precisely because of that relationship that he treats her so affectionately.”
Aunt Xia thought carefully about Prince Wei’s temperament. “I was mistaken.” Then she breathed a sigh of relief. “Fortunately, neither of them has any such intentions.”
Qiqi’s good days are just around the corner! [Evil grin]
