Chapter 77
Empress Dowager Chen would be going to the Tanyue Residence later to arrange everything there. Cui Lanyin was worried that the furnishings, jewelry, bedding, and the six luminous pearls from the night before had not been hidden properly. If Empress Dowager Chen happened to spot them while moving things around, Cui Lanyin would be too ashamed to show her face there again.
Thus, Cui Lanzhi left Aiye and Yushan behind to guard the Tanyue Residence. Their most important task was to keep those things well hidden.
She left the palace with Sangzhi, Buyan, Chiyun, and Chiyue.
When Cui Lanyin arrived home, only Lady Jiang, Cui Lanzhi, and Hong Ji were there. Hong Ji had actually set aside his books and was sitting with Cui Lanzhi, keeping Lady Jiang company as they drank tea and chatted in the family sitting room.
Cui Sheng and Cui Su were still at their offices, and the three at home had no idea what had happened.
After welcoming Cui Lanyin in, they first asked her, “How many days can you stay this time?”
Seeing that Hong Ji was not as unhurried as usual and that anxiety was plainly visible in his eyes, Cui Lanyin smiled and said, “Uncle Qian told me on the way back that the provincial examination results will be posted tomorrow. You should send someone early to wait in line.”
In previous years, the provincial examination results were usually posted in the middle of the ninth month. This year, however, because of the period of national mourning, the list had still not appeared even by the end of the month. Even someone as composed as Hong Ji had begun to grow restless.
Now that Cui Lanyin had said the results would be posted tomorrow—and that the news had come from Qian He, the emperor’s Chief Palace Attendant—it could not possibly be false. Hong Ji visibly relaxed.
“That’s good. Whether I passed or not, at least there’ll be a result. Then I can settle my mind and make arrangements for what comes next.”
Knowing that Hong Ji was an open-minded man, Cui Lanyin said, “If brother-in-law passes tomorrow, then our family will have three happy occasions to celebrate at once.” She went on to tell them about Cui Sheng and Cui Su’s promotions.
It took father and son some time to absorb the news. Only after a while did the three of them truly believe that one of them had been made a Vice Director of the Ministry of Works, a fifth-rank official, while the other had been appointed Commander’s Assistant of the Left Feathered Forest Guard, a fourth-rank official.
With a capable sister-in-law by his side, and now a father-in-law and younger brother-in-law to add to the family’s strength, Hong Ji turned back and rested a hand on Cui Lanzhi’s belly. With a laugh, he sighed, “With my wife bringing me such good fortune, the people back home will never dare call you useless again. They’ll only be envious of me. With the family on your side doing so well, our child will surely be blessed too.”
Back when the Cui family’s first branch had fallen into hardship, the Hong family would never have considered this marriage if Elder Madam Tan had not insisted on it. Because of that, Cui Lanzhi had suffered countless grievances after marrying into the family. Had Hong Ji not stood firmly by her and protected her both inside and outside the household, she would have found it very difficult to endure.
Thinking of that, she asked worriedly, “They won’t come looking for us from Wuxi, will they?”
Hong Ji was not concerned. “When the time comes, we’ll just ask Yin to keep them in line. I guarantee they’ll all retreat.”
Cui Lanzhi shot him a sidelong glance. “You really think she’s Cui the Fierce now, don’t you?”
That evening, when Cui Sheng and Cui Su returned, the whole family gathered around to congratulate them. Even so, they continued to live as they normally did.
After taking off his official robes, Cui Sheng still went into the kitchen to prepare several good dishes.
Cui Su, too, remained the sort of person anyone in the household could order about. Nothing about him suggested that he was now a fourth-rank Commander’s Assistant.
Cui Lanyin asked Cui Su about Lady Dong’s father and learned that Dong Cheng had also been promoted two ranks. He had replaced the commander who had forced his way into the palace with Prince Kang and had been appointed Commander of the Left Tiger Guard.
The emperor truly did not mistreat those who had supported him. Recalling Cui Su’s undeniable accomplishments on the day of the coup, Cui Lanyin guessed that the emperor intended to replace the commanders within the imperial guards with people he could trust. Cui Su had trained in martial arts alongside the Qilin Guard, so the unease in her heart eased somewhat.
Cui Sheng was a practical man, and so many matters in the Ministry of Works now depended on him that even the Minister of Works had mentioned him to the emperor, asking that he be given greater responsibility. That must have been why the emperor had promoted him.
The whole family enjoyed a lively meal together and discussed going to the examination hall early the next morning to wait for the results to be posted.
Cui Su felt a little regretful. “If I were going, no matter how many people there were, none of them could push past me. I guarantee I’d be the first to see the list.”
“Commander’s Assistant, could you try to have a little more dignity?” Cui Jian pushed him aside. “From now on, leave this sort of thing to your younger brother. I’ll ask the school for a day off tomorrow and go with Geng Dayou. We’ll be able to get to the front just as easily.”
Cui Su reacted quickly. “You’re quite good at taking advantage of the situation. Because of Second Sister, nearly everyone in Yingcheng knows Geng Dayou. Take him with you, and you won’t even need to push. People will make way for you themselves.”
“You make him sound like a signboard,” Lady Jiang said, having had no idea.
Cui Lanzhi added, “The two of you had better stop making a spectacle of yourselves.”
“Mother, Elder Sister, you really don’t know how much influence Second Sister has in Yingcheng. Whenever something happens, all Geng Dayou has to do is go to the Five-City Military Command and say a word, and it’s taken care of.”
Only then did Cui Lanzhi realize that Hong Ji had not been joking. Anyone working under her younger sister’s command was treated with extra respect wherever he went.
The meal had barely finished when the entire second branch arrived together.
After congratulating Cui Sheng and Cui Su, the two branches gathered in the central room.
Cui Mian asked, “After hearing about your promotions, quite a few people have come to ask when the family will be holding a banquet. They all want to offer their congratulations. An occasion this doubly joyous can’t be limited to relatives—we ought to hold a grand celebration.”
Cui Fang added, “It’s much the same on my end. Everyone with whom I have any connection has come to ask. Either we invite them all, or it would be awkward to leave anyone out.”
Cui Lanyin had already mentioned the banquet earlier, and Cui Sheng and Lady Jiang now agreed.
The three brothers went over the guest list. Once their colleagues and the people Cui Su intended to invite were included, there were indeed quite a few guests. Even when they had still been in Yancheng, the Cui family had never hosted a banquet on such a scale.
Of course, that was only in comparison with the Cui family. They could set aside families farther afield; the housewarming banquet held by the Yao family had drawn several times as many guests.
The Cui family could not hope to invite the great and powerful clans. Their guests would all be from families of comparable standing.
Cui Lanyin said that they would know which guests were coming tomorrow when everyone went to work. There was no need to send out invitations separately—the men could simply take them to their offices and distribute them there.
She suggested that the ingredients for the banquet be supplied by Yunlai Restaurant. The restaurant could close for a day and send its cooks over to prepare the feast. Since there would be little else to arrange, she thought it best to hold the banquet as soon as possible, on the next day of rest.
The moment she spoke, Cui Mian swallowed the words he had been about to say and agreed.
Lady Chang had originally wanted to take advantage of the banquet to show off her own abilities. But seeing that Cui Lanyin had already arranged everything and had no shortage of people to command, she felt somewhat disappointed.
Cui Mian then said, “Everything else can be done according to Yin’s arrangements, but this place is too cramped. My residence has more room. Why don’t we hold the banquet there?”
Cui Sheng and Cui Su felt the same way. So long as the second branch and the first branch remained united, they did not mind yielding on small matters.
Cui Lanyin did not object either. At present, the first branch of the Cui family held the greater power, and Cui Mian ought to know how to weigh his choices.
Once she saw that the first branch had agreed to hold the banquet at the second branch’s residence, Lady Chang became enthusiastic again. She took Lady Jiang by the arm and said, “You’ll be making new clothes for yourself, won’t you, sister-in-law? Then draw a couple of fresh designs for me and Miss Ting as well. Give them to me early tomorrow so I can have the women below get to work right away. We should all be dressed in brand-new clothes that day.”
Lady Chang was becoming more and more petty. Lady Ding had always treated her with such respect, but now that Lady Chang could no longer order Lady Jiang around as she once had, she had taken to putting Lady Ding down instead.
Cui Lanyin said to Lady Jiang, “Don’t you still have the clothing designs you drew before? Just choose a few of those styles. I’ll have Buyan bring the fabrics over first thing tomorrow. This time, everyone will get a new outfit, and I’ll provide all the material.”
Previously, whenever she entered the palace, Empress Dowager Chen would always give her several bolts of fabric to have new clothes made. Even though Cui Lanyin had sent some home each time, quite a lot still remained at the former residence.
Now that the Emperor had sent over so much more fabric, she could change into several outfits a day and still never wear it all. The fabrics from the Emperor were too precious to give away casually, but some of those stored at the former residence could be used to curry favor with others.
There was no such thing as inferior fabric in Cui Lanyin’s hands. Even if she took it to a cloth shop to sell, it would fetch a considerable sum. The moment she opened her mouth, she had offered to have new clothes made for everyone in both branches of the family. The Second Miss, raised by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, truly carried herself like a noblewoman.
Knowing that Cui Lanyin had done this for her sake, Lady Ding was deeply touched. She turned to Cui Fang. After so many years as husband and wife, one glance was enough for them to understand each other.
By the time they finished discussing everything, it was already the hour of Xu. Curfew would begin at the first quarter of the hour of Xu, so Cui Lanyin hurried back to the former residence with Buyu and the others.
The Chief Steward was still waiting there. If Buyu had not been quick enough to stop him, he would have performed a formal kowtow before Cui Lanyin.
The Chief Steward nevertheless insisted on giving Cui Lanyin a deep bow. When he raised his head, his eyes were red once more. “Second Miss, I will always remember the kindness you showed me by recognizing my abilities.”
“Why do you say that, Chief Steward? I have done nothing to help you.”
“This afternoon, His Majesty summoned me. He told me to serve you well at the former residence, and said that good things would come my way in the future.” Even after returning for quite some time, the Chief Steward still trembled with excitement whenever he mentioned the Emperor’s words.
The Emperor had countless important affairs to attend to, yet he had taken the time to summon the Chief Steward personally and even promised him a future. Such treatment was something many high ministers had never received. Still, the Chief Steward did not dare grow conceited, much less imagine that he had won the Emperor’s favor.
He knew perfectly well that if the Second Miss had not brought him up, how would the Emperor ever have remembered him? Everything had come about because of her.
The Chief Steward had already made up his mind: so long as the Second Miss remained unmarried, he would continue serving her at the former residence.
After returning to Yian Hall, Cui Lanyin’s heart grew restless again. The Emperor had actually made it clear that he wanted the Chief Steward to remain and serve her, and had even promised him a future. She could no longer deny that the Emperor was doing all this for her sake.
The Emperor had met three people connected to her in a single day, all of them low-ranking figures whom he had no need to see personally. Thinking of her father’s and younger brother’s promotions, Cui Lanyin could no longer deceive herself by pretending that none of it had anything to do with her.
All this had been enough to unsettle her, but early the next morning, just after she had finished washing and dressing, Buyan hurried over from the palace with a message from the Emperor.
“Second Miss, His Majesty says that our family residence is too cramped. He wants you to entertain your guests at the former residence. If there is anything you lack and the Chief Steward cannot procure in time, Uncle Qian can have it allocated from the palace.”
He had even thought of such minor details. If she had not known he was the Emperor, she might have thought him an idle man with nothing else to do.
Cui Lanyin asked, “Did my maternal uncle say anything else?”
Buyan stole a glance at her. “His Majesty said to see whether you are happy first, and then decide.”
He acted as though he were terribly afraid of her. When he had coaxed her into one thing or another before, she had told him repeatedly that she could not endure it, yet he had never shown the slightest restraint.
Cui Lanyin pressed her lips together. “Just tell me.”
Buyan continued, “His Majesty wants you to return after entertaining your guests.”
“What if I refuse to return?”
Buyan could only relay the rest of the message. “His Majesty said that the palace walls are not especially high.”
Cui Lanyin drew several deep breaths before answering, “I understand.”
“Then…” Buyan did not dare ask her for a definite answer. He felt like filling in a dumpling, caught between the Emperor and the Second Miss and being squeezed from both sides.
If the Emperor truly climbed over the palace wall to come to the former residence and spend the night with her, it would mean that the Chief Steward would learn of their secret relationship as well. Cui Lanyin felt that she would no longer be able to remain in Yingcheng.
Since she did not possess the Emperor’s thick skin, she could only compromise. “Fine. I know. I’ll go back.”
At first, she had not intended to hold the banquet at the former residence. That morning, she had only just arrived at the family home when Cui Jian came racing back with Geng Dayou to announce the good news: Hong Ji had passed the provincial examination.
Now the family had three pieces of good news to celebrate. Lady Jiang was so delighted that she embraced Cui Lanzhi, laughing and crying at once. “Once Lianfang passes next year, you’ll be able to stay at home for good.”
Everyone was thoughtful. Around noon, Cui Mian, Cui Fang, Cui Sheng, and Cui Su each sent people over to request more blank invitations that had yet to be filled out.
It turned out that after hearing the Cui family’s main branch had three joyous occasions to celebrate, quite a few people wanted to come and share in the happiness. It was no longer merely their colleagues and superiors; many prominent and noble families had sent word that they wished to attend the banquet.
The second branch’s residence could not possibly accommodate so many guests, so Cui Lanyin told the messengers to inform Cui Mian and the other three that everyone should come to the former residence for the banquet.
When the Chief Steward heard that the banquet would be held at the former residence, his spirits soared. He was even more enthusiastic than if he himself had been promoted and made a fortune. He busied himself with preparations, and whenever the residence lacked something, he immediately sought out Qian He and arranged to have it procured. Cui Lanyin hardly needed to concern herself with anything and could simply watch from the side.
There was no need to bring ingredients over from the Yunlai Restaurant, either. Two cooks had only needed to come that day to offer some guidance; after that, the people at the former residence were perfectly capable of handling everything themselves.
Lady Chang had never seen anyone entertain guests in such a manner. The entire family did not need to contribute a thing or worry about a thing. They only had to dress in their finest clothes and show up.
And it was taking place at the Emperor’s former residence. What greater honor could there be?
When Cui Mian mentioned the prominent families who would be attending, Lady Chang thought of Cui Lanting, who had yet to become engaged, and her heart began to burn with anticipation. The faint trace of sourness she had felt disappeared at once.
Yet this was only the beginning. Soon, people from Princess Yongjia’s residence, Prince Jing’s residence, Prince Duan’s residence, Prince An’s residence, and Prince Ping’s residence all came to request invitations.
The imperial princes were forbidden from associating with court officials, but the Emperor’s brothers faced no such restriction. Generally, however, they only socialized with families of comparable standing. Even at the Yao family’s banquet, only Princess Tong’an had attended.
Now all of them had come to request invitations from the Cui family’s main branch. Those who had not originally intended to attend sensed that something unusual was afoot and came seeking invitations as well. As a result, the guest list grew longer and longer.
The scale of the banquet, along with the many distinguished guests, left both branches of the Cui family shaken. It was only after the Chief Steward reassured them, “They are all coming because of the Second Miss. With the Second Miss present, none of them will put on airs. Just take it easy,” that they managed to calm down.
Even so, they could not truly treat the matter casually. The main branch of the Cui family was especially troubled. Cui Lanyin was, after all, not a true princess or commandery princess. How could she possibly be placed on equal footing with genuine members of the imperial nobility?
