Chapter 23 "Miss Meng's talent surpasses that of many musicians in the Imperial Music Bureau..."
That's not what I meant.
Pei Xu lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
"What do you mean?" Meng Lingyao looked up at him, her teacup placed on the table with a soft clatter. "Does Lord Pei also believe that women should be content with their lot, embroidering and making tea in the inner quarters?"
Pei Xu calmly asked, "Miss Meng's insights into 'Qing Shang Yin' just now, were they gained while you were embroidering and preparing tea in the inner quarters?"
Meng Lingyao was taken aback, not expecting him to ask such a question.
“Miss Meng can spot the errors in the ancient score at a glance and propose ingenious revisions. Such talent surpasses that of many musicians in the Imperial Music Bureau.” Pei Xu said calmly, “I am merely curious about the Zhou family’s situation and have no intention of belittling women.”
His face showed none of the flattery or coaxing that Meng Lingyao usually displayed; it was as if he was simply stating the facts.
Moreover, he is Pei Xu.
The eldest son of the Pei family, he was the most outstanding young man among all the clans in the capital. Before he even reached adulthood, he had already won the emperor's favor and was appointed to an important position in the Court of Judicial Review.
His words carried a particularly strong weight.
Meng Lingyao never denied her vanity, so she readily accepted the praise, but she still insisted, "Lord Pei, it's fine if you only say these words to me, but please don't spread them around, lest others say I'm frivolous."
Even so, the curve of her eyebrows softened, and the displeasure she had just felt had vanished.
Pei Xu calmly picked up his teacup, concealing a faint smile from the corner of his lips. "Of course."
He continued, "Because Miss Meng is so insightful, I would like to ask if Miss Zhou is also so insightful?"
“Zhou Xiwen is certainly no ordinary young lady.” Meng Lingyao thought for a moment. “She once said that she was no less capable than her brother and even said that she wanted to show their father who had a better business mind. However, she only said these things tactfully once or twice when we had private gatherings.”
The more Meng Lingyao recalled it, the more alarmed she became. At the Dragon Boat Festival banquet last year, Zhou Xiwen, after drinking, talked about Zhou Yizhi, saying that he went to Ci'an Temple every few days, and stayed there for a long time every winter. If he was really so obsessed with Buddhism, he might as well just shave his head and become a monk. Why should he occupy the position of Zhou family heir?
At the time, she took it as resentment stemming from jealousy of her brother. Now, she realizes that it was all part of a preordained message.
Pei Xu asked, "Does she have any plans?"
Meng Lingyao composed herself and said, "All I know is that she intends to take over the spice business that the Zhou family trades with the Western Regions." At the time, it was said that once she secured this business, all the young ladies present would be able to use the finest spices.
"But the spice business is extremely profitable and is still firmly controlled by Zhou Yizhi."
Pei Xu nodded slightly, understanding dawning on his mind. The private affairs of the inner quarters were indeed beyond the reach of the Dali Temple's intelligence. If Meng Lingyao hadn't informed him, he wouldn't have known the rift between the Zhou siblings had deepened so much.
"Some of the clues received by the Dali Temple came too easily." Pei Xu's slender fingers rested on the zither table, his knuckles slightly bent, as if he were thinking. "I have always had doubts, but now that I know the Zhou siblings are not of one mind, I have an explanation."
Meng Lingyao blinked. "Lord Pei, are you saying that someone deliberately leaked the information?"
"That's possible."
There is currently no concrete evidence, so Pei Xu is being cautious in his wording.
Just as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Zhou Leling pushed the door open and entered. "I heard that 'Qing Shang Yin' is finished?"
Meng Lingyao hurriedly went to help him, saying, "Master, please slow down. What if you fall? The sheet music won't move."
Zhou Leling laughed and said, "At my age, missing even a moment of listening would be a loss for me."
“Then you’ve come to the wrong place. Father has already taken the sheet music.” Meng Lingyao smiled as she took his arm. “Judging by his pace, he should have already said goodbye to the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and gone to find the Left Chancellor.”
Pei Xu watched from the side and found that she was unusually well-behaved and sensible in front of her elders, completely unlike the sharp and shrewish person she had been when talking to him earlier.
They are very respectful of the elderly.
Zhou Leling sighed in frustration, not even bothering to say goodbye, and hurriedly ran out again.
Pei Xu watched him leave and then stood up to take his leave as well.
"Please take care, Lord Pei."
Meng Lingyao saw him to the door, turned around lightly, and took down another roll of musical score.
We need to finish this quickly so that the Lantern Festival can arrive soon.
Well, she's gone to such lengths this time, I'm sure I'll get a good kick out of her father.
Meng Lingyao rested her cheek on her hand, already deciding which boxes of face powder she wanted.
In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month has arrived as scheduled.
That morning, the Meng residence was bustling with activity. Maids moved back and forth, busy dressing and grooming Meng Lingyao. Songlan carefully unfolded a pomegranate-red brocade dress, a new garment just finished by the embroiderers. They had paid extra for expedited service to ensure it was completed just before the Lantern Festival.
“Miss, you don’t dress so brightly. Actually, you look much better in brighter colors than in your usual plain ones,” Songlan said with a smile as she helped Meng Lingyao get dressed. “Last year, Miss Zhou hosted a banquet on a painted boat, and I saw how many famous young men from the capital came. They were all staring at you. If they get distracted by your appearance this year, what if they accidentally fall into the water?”
A beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn water. Upon hearing Songlan's words, the beauty in the mirror suddenly smiled, adding a touch of liveliness, as vibrant as the morning sun breaking through the clouds.
"Your mouth is getting sharper and sharper."
"I was just telling the truth."
Songlan chuckled and deftly gathered Meng Lingyao's long hair with her fingers, styling it into an exquisite flying fairy bun.
After finishing her makeup, Meng Lingyao stood up, thought for a moment, and took Pei Xu's bronze token from the drawer of her dressing table, tucking it into her sleeve. She could use this token to find people in the Dali Temple; it might even serve as a protective talisman in a critical moment.
However, one must be careful not to let others see it.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain.
Meng Lingyao shivered.
"Are you feeling cold, Miss?" Songlan asked with concern. "Would you like to wear another layer underneath?"
“No need.” Meng Lingyao shook her head. “It’s getting late, we should set off.”
As agreed, Meng Lingyao and Songlan went to her maternal grandfather's house first, and then went to the lantern festival with her cousins. Her maternal grandfather's house was located on the banks of the Yongfeng River, which was quite convenient. As soon as Meng Lingyao arrived at the door, she saw two young men dressed in close-fitting clothes and a pretty girl waiting in front of the door.
"Cousin!" Zhong Dingming, who was in the lead, raised his hand to greet her. "We've been waiting for you for so long. Jing Shu has been eagerly anticipating your arrival and couldn't wait to leave."
"Nonsense." Zhong Jingshu punched his arm hard, but the man was all muscle and not only did she not hurt him at all, but she also bruised her hand. She glared at him angrily and ran over to pull Meng Lingyao away. "Cousin, don't listen to his nonsense. He was in a hurry to leave and said that if he was late, he would not have time to see the Hu people's acrobatics."
Meng Lingyao nodded with a smile. Just from hearing Zhong Dingming use two idioms in a row, she knew it was definitely not the truth.
Zhong Dingyao stood to the side, dressed in a dark blue outfit with a short sword at his waist. He glanced at Meng Lingyao, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, before quickly looking away.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked toward the Yongfeng River.
On the Lantern Festival, as dusk settles, the banks of the Yongfeng River are bustling with activity. Colorful lanterns hang like an inverted Milky Way, reflecting on the shimmering water.
"Cousin, look at that lotus lantern! It's so exquisitely made!" Zhong Jingshu pointed to a pink lantern in the river, her eyes filled with joy.
Meng Lingyao followed her finger and saw that the lotus lantern was layered with openwork carvings between the petals. When the candlelight shone through, it looked like a real flower in bloom. It was indeed a masterpiece, and she immediately praised it.
“They’re all fake, what’s so interesting about them? If you like them, I’ll pick you a big bunch of real flowers when summer comes.” Zhong Dingming couldn’t wait, glancing into the distance every now and then. “Let’s go, or we won’t be able to get a good spot.”
Having said that, the others had already squeezed to the front.
"Wild boars can't eat fine chaff." Zhong Jingshu turned her head. "Dingyao, what do you think? Aren't these lanterns beautiful?"
Zhong Dingyao hesitated for a moment, paused for a second, and then said, "...Yes."
"Dingyao, what's wrong? Why are you so distracted?"
Meng Lingyao also noticed that something was wrong.
Zhong Dingyao, who was usually calm and composed, seemed somewhat uneasy today.
"Is something on your mind, Third Cousin?" Meng Lingyao asked casually. "You seem quite distracted."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Dingyao's face showed a hint of unease, but he quickly smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just practiced too late last night and am a little tired."
He paused, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "I heard that Miss Zhou is hosting a banquet on the river today. Did you receive an invitation, cousin?"
Meng Lingyao nodded, "Yes, Miss Zhou sent an invitation the day before yesterday."
"I suppose Zhou Yizhi, the eldest son of the Zhou family, will also be on the ship?"
"Perhaps." Meng Lingyao looked at him with some confusion. "What's wrong?"
Zhong Dingyao hesitated for a moment, then finally couldn't help but ask, "Zhou Yizhi is handsome and the son of a royal merchant. I'm sure many young ladies in the capital are interested in him. Cousin... what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingyao couldn't help but chuckle. "What do you mean, Third Cousin? What does what Young Master Zhou has to do with me?"
Hearing her firm denial, Zhong Dingyao visibly relaxed, his expression becoming more relaxed as well. "I was just mentioning it casually. Although the Zhou family are imperial merchants with abundant wealth, Zhou Yizhi is a womanizer and probably not a good match for me."
Meng Lingyao was puzzled but didn't take it to heart. She had grown up with her cousins since childhood and had a deep bond with them, but she had never considered marrying them. Even though they were now well-dressed and quite handsome, she could still picture them climbing trees to catch cicadas and getting covered in mud while fishing in the river when they were little.
"Cousin, look over there!" Zhong Jingshu suddenly tugged at her sleeve excitedly, "What a huge pleasure boat!"
Meng Lingyao looked up and saw a three-story pleasure boat moored on the bank of the Yongfeng River. It was decorated entirely with vermilion lacquer, with carved beams and painted rafters, and was brightly lit. Countless colorful lanterns hung on the boat, making it as beautiful as a starry river in the night.
“That’s the Zhou family’s pleasure boat,” Meng Lingyao said after examining it closely.
As soon as the words were spoken, a woman dressed in a purple brocade dress gracefully stepped down from the painted boat. It was Zhou Xiwen. She was bright and beautiful, with a touch of heroism in her eyes, and every move she made exuded a straightforwardness that was different from that of ordinary young ladies.
Upon seeing Meng Lingyao, she immediately smiled and said, "Lingyao, now that you're here, why don't you hurry up and get on the boat?"
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