Chapter 85 "Hero Saves the Beauty" This is a harbinger of an impending storm...
Since Meng Lingyao arrived in Jinling, she has been under the protection of the Xie family. Apart from some setbacks in finding a shop, everything has gone smoothly. As a result, Mr. Zhang has been living alone in the courtyard, drinking tea every day and occasionally going out to listen to operas, as if he really was just a storyteller on a boat to relieve boredom.
The aroma of tea wafted through the courtyard.
Meng Lingyao dismissed everyone around her and laid out her doubts, "Mr. Zhang, in the capital... has anything unusual been happening lately?"
Mr. Zhang put down his teacup, pondered for a moment, then suddenly pointed to the sky above, his voice extremely low, "Miss Meng, are you aware that the clouds in the sky have been changing unusually drastically lately? The fish in the pond in the courtyard have also been lying low for much longer than usual. This is an omen of an impending storm—"
As the emperor aged, the position of crown prince remained undecided. The second and third princes engaged in open and covert struggles, creating a turbulent undercurrent in the court. The capital was in a period of great turmoil.
"A storm is brewing?" Meng Lingyao seemed to ponder. "Is it... a change in the court?"
Mr. Zhang nodded, his eyes showing approval. “The will of Heaven is unpredictable, and the situation is unclear. Your father is in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, where he is in charge of rites, music, and sacrifices. However, if the court becomes turbulent, he will inevitably be affected. As for the Pei family, Your Excellency is favored by the Emperor and also heads the Court of Judicial Review, directly dealing with criminal cases. He is a figure at the forefront of the political storm.”
"Your parents and sir have all earnestly advised you not to rush back, Miss, which is truly out of good intentions. At this time, the capital is like a fully drawn bowstring, and pulling it once could have far-reaching consequences. Miss, staying temporarily in Jiangnan, away from the whirlpool, is the best way to avoid disaster for yourself and for those who care about you."
Meng Lingyao remained silent for a long time. Her heart was filled with a mixture of longing for home and worry, like vines entwining her. She looked out the window at the falling sycamore leaves and unconsciously pinched the small sachet containing willow leaves at her waist.
After a moment, she raised her eyes, her gaze clear and sharp. "Sir, you have made your point. But... did Lord Pei really only send you along?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang's solemn expression seemed to lighten slightly. He stroked his beard, revealing a peaceful smile, but remained silent.
Regardless of the undercurrents swirling in the capital city thousands of miles away, Nanjing was still immersed in a scene of peace and prosperity.
Wang Li was quite wealthy, and the expensive perfume only brought him a moment of peace. Within two days, he would come again, always with a new excuse—"My sister liked the 'Autumn Begonia' perfume last time, so I'll order a few more boxes," "My aunt has a new set of fine satin and would like to match it with some new perfume powder," "I'd like to change the scent of calming incense in the study," and so on. He frequently visited Juxianglou.
Whenever he used the guise of a female relative of the family, Meng Lingyao would pretend not to know, calmly deal with him, and provide impeccable service, paying meticulous attention to every detail, from the packaging of the goods to the matching of items.
But whenever Wang Li slightly crossed the line, she would subtly steer the conversation back to spices, recipes, and user experiences, never revealing any personal feelings.
Wang Li's sense of frustration and thirst for knowledge grew stronger, like the golden osmanthus nourished by autumn rain. Any gift he sent, from expensive Duan inkstones and precious porcelain vases to inconspicuous but elegant stone ornaments, was returned without question. The reasons given were always just: he did not accept gifts without merit, he did not accept private gifts, and he dared not keep valuable items for himself.
She is like a perfectly sealed jade box, radiating an alluring, warm luster, yet impossible to truly open.
His thoughts, when he occasionally met with Cui Qingyin, revealed a hint of restlessness.
"Li Lang, didn't you say that Meng Lingyao was already interested?" Cui Qingyin stirred a bowl of rock sugar pear soup and asked, "Why do you look like this now... it seems like it hasn't worked yet?"
She had recently heard that Juxianglou was gaining fame, and that Meng Lingyao's beauty had spread throughout Jinling, which deepened the thorn in her heart.
Wang Li, unwilling to lose face in front of her beloved, tried to defend herself, saying, "She is really cunning and fickle."
A shadow of gloom flashed across Cui Qingyin's eyes. "If she didn't have some tricks up her sleeve, how could she have turned my family upside down in the capital?"
"Li Lang, don't fall for her tricks." She raised her eyes, her gaze brimming with affection as she looked at Wang Li, her eyes seemingly both reproachful and not. "Princess Su Xin specifically mentioned in her letter that Meng Lingyao is always adept at these kinds of 'playing hard to get' and 'playing hard to get' tricks. Her current attitude is just because she hasn't tested your strength yet, or perhaps she's just pretending to be aloof, unable to let go of her status as the future wife of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. You must be sure to hold your ground and not be fooled by her feigned aloofness."
As she spoke, her slender fingers gently rested on the back of Wang Li's hand, her voice so soft it could melt water, "For my sake, for the sake of the Cui family's reputation, Li Lang, why don't you... give her another try? My aunt is hosting a crab feast in a few days, and the invitation has already been sent to her... Isn't this the perfect opportunity?"
Wang Li loved that Cui Qingyin was always cold and aloof in front of others, but only showed this girlish side to him. The strange restlessness in his heart was instantly suppressed, and he nodded, "Yes, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry, Jiu'er."
As autumn deepened in Jinling and the city was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, Meng Lingyao received an invitation from Lord Yuan, the garrison commander of Jinling, to a banquet.
Lord Yuan's wife was fond of refined tastes, and the chrysanthemum appreciation and crab feast she hosted was one of the most elegant gatherings in the city.
On this clear autumn day, the air was crisp and refreshing. The Yuan family's suburban villa was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus and the golden chrysanthemums, and guests gathered in droves. Meng Lingyao was invited to the banquet. She herself was the living advertisement of Juxianglou, and her clothing and makeup were meticulous. Before checking her makeup in the mirror, she thought for a moment and added a flower decoration to the center of her eyebrows.
At the banquet at the Yuan residence, Meng Lingyao saw Xie Chengyu, whom she had not seen for several days. The two leaned side by side against the carved railing of the waterside pavilion, gazing at the colorful chrysanthemums in the courtyard.
“It’s true that the weather can be different every ten miles,” Meng Lingyao sighed. “At this time of year, the west wind is already blowing in the capital, and the charcoal brazier in Father’s study is probably already burning. But in Jinling, autumn is arriving slowly, and the maple leaves are not yet fully red.”
"Let's cherish the days we can still wear autumn clothes," Xie Chengyu said with experience. "In just a few days, people in Jinling will be wearing fur coats."
"?"
Meng Lingyao raised an eyebrow slightly, "Fortunately, I finally saw the busy Miss Xie before I had to put on my fur coat. I thought that once Miss Xie entered Jinling City, she would disappear like a fish swimming into the sea and I would never find her again."
"It's not that I'm doing this because Manager Meng has plenty of people to keep her company," Xie Chengyu chuckled, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Wang Li, who was exchanging pleasantries with someone in the distance. "With your protectors always by your side, why would you need me to join in the fun? So I wisely decided not to disturb your peace and quiet."
Meng Lingyao chuckled, picked up a jade phoenix hairpin from beside her, and inserted it into Xie Chengyu's hair. "Who knows if it's to protect the flower or... pluck it?"
The jade phoenix hairpin was pure white, with petals as lustrous as gemstones. Adorned in Xie Chengyu's dark hair, it perfectly balanced the intense colors of her outfit, revealing a touch of pristine purity.
Xie Jingqiu looked on with envy and gazed longingly at Meng Lingyao, "Sister, I want one too."
"good."
Meng Lingyao readily agreed and chose a smaller snow-sea flower to adorn Xie Jingqiu's hair, adding a touch of liveliness.
Several young ladies gathered together, each with their own unique charm, more vibrant and captivating than a garden full of flowers.
Before long, servants brought out steaming hot crab platters. The plump hairy crabs had bright red shells and golden roe. Maids, wielding exquisite silver crab-picking tools, expertly removed the roe and meat for their distinguished guests. Even the plates holding the crab meat were made of agate. The atmosphere at the table warmed up, with toasts and laughter filling the air, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.
Madam Yuan was in high spirits. She took a bite of the rich crab roe and nodded to the butler. Several specially made lotus-shaped silver incense burners were quickly placed around the table. Wisps of smoke rose, carrying a delicate and sweet fragrance of osmanthus, mixed with the mellow and slightly bitter aroma of chrysanthemum. This fragrance perfectly balanced the richness of the crab roe, blending seamlessly with the autumn scenery in the courtyard and the laughter at the table. The aroma immediately drew exclamations of praise.
"It smells wonderful!" a lady exclaimed immediately. "This aroma is unique and perfectly timed!"
Madam Yuan smiled and looked in the direction where Meng Lingyao was sitting. "Speaking of which, it was Miss Meng who recommended this 'Golden Osmanthus and Drunken Chrysanthemum'. It is indeed extraordinary."
All eyes immediately turned to him, filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and inquiry.
Meng Lingyao rose and bowed slightly. "Madam is too kind. It is merely Lingyao's duty. It is a pleasure to add to the elegance of Madam and everyone else with this incense."
During the banquet, Cui Qingyin, dressed in a crimson dress with gold trim, had a frosty expression. She glanced at her cousin, Miss Yuan, beside her and said softly, "Today is clearly my aunt's banquet. How can she, an outsider from the capital, be allowed to steal the spotlight? She's really... overstepping her bounds."
Miss Yuan indeed pursed her lips and raised her voice, "Miss Meng truly lives up to her reputation. I have long heard that you are a master of incense appreciation in the capital, and even the nobles in the palace regard you as a treasure. Now that you have arrived in Jinling, you are even more outstanding! With your skillful hands and discerning eyes, Miss Meng, I wonder if you could also take a look for us?"
She paused deliberately, smiling as she looked around at everyone at the table. "Do you like the sachets you're wearing and the hair oils and powders you're using? It would be nice if we country folk could see the discerning eye of the people in the capital."
The room fell silent immediately after those words were spoken.
The ladies who were admiring the aroma and savoring the crab roe suddenly paused, subconsciously touching their sachets or hairpins, their expressions subtle.
Miss Yuan's words were so sharp!
To make Meng Lingyao publicly critique the favorite possessions of all the women present? To say whose is good and whose is bad? No matter what she says, she will offend a large number of people. At best, she will be embarrassed in public; at worst, she will offend all the noble ladies in the city. It is clearly intended to make Meng Lingyao the public enemy of the noble ladies of Jinling just as she is establishing herself at Juxianglou.
Wang Li tightened his grip on the cup slightly, glancing at the woman whose gaze was focused on him, ready to speak up and defuse the situation should she show any signs of distress—this was originally a "hero saves the beauty" scenario arranged for him by Cui Qingyin.
But having dealt with Meng Lingyao for several days, he knew perfectly well that this Miss Meng was by no means an empty-headed or tongue-tied person.
He had a premonition that their plan might not go smoothly.
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Author's Note: On a workday Sunday, a chapter to perk you up! [cheering emoji]
And it's that time of year again when everyone can enjoy delicious hairy crabs (slurp—)
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