Chapter 17 The last vestige of lingering affection among old acquaintances...
The prince's entourage traveled day and night and arrived in Yangzhou on schedule.
Thirty miles outside Yangzhou city, a large number of people were already waiting.
In addition to the officials of the fifth rank or above and wealthy salt merchants brought by the Yangzhou prefect and Yan Hongchang, there were also two prominent figures who had long resided in Yangzhou.
Upon seeing the procession from afar, the Prefect of Yangzhou and Yan Hongchang rushed forward and personally laid out a scarlet felt carpet on the grassy slope.
"Your subject, Lin Yu, Prefect of Yangzhou, pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Your subject, Yan Hongchang, Commander of the Salt Transport Office, pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The remaining officials and salt merchants knelt down one after another.
Wei Xichen lifted the curtain and stepped out, standing with his hands behind his back on the carriage corridor. The white jade pendant at his waist swayed in the wind, brushing against the brocade patterns on his clothes.
"Please rise, everyone."
Unlike Prefect Lin Yu's caution, Yan Hongchang quickly moved on his knees across the scarlet carpet to the Crown Prince's carriage. He looked up and wept uncontrollably, saying, "I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's grace. Today, my wish has finally come true, and I have the honor of seeing Your Highness's true face! I am extremely honored!"
Looking at Yan Hongchang, who was crying so earnestly, Wei Xichen smiled faintly, stepped down from the carriage, and personally helped him up.
"I have come here specifically to reward the salt merchants, and I would like to ask the commander to introduce them to me one by one."
"Your Highness is too kind; it is my duty."
Their pleasantries mingled in the wind, their voices soft and gentle, and no one dared to eavesdrop, yet everyone wanted to.
We want to explore His Highness the Crown Prince's attitude towards the father of his concubine, who is not really his father-in-law.
Not far away, the Dowager Empress Xu whispered to the pretty young girl beside her, "This Yan Hongchang, who usually acts like a tyrant, is as soft as a turtle right now."
"Don't belittle the turtle. Turtles don't have his fawning manner."
As they were talking, the beautiful young woman suddenly met the gaze of the crown prince who was looking at her. She stepped forward with her light eyes and gave a loud yet hoarse greeting, which caused the wall of people to open up for her.
"Cui Shihan, daughter of Grand Tutor Cui Shengzhi, pays her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
The pretty young girl was not tall, but her voice was deep and resonant; even the spring breeze seemed to beat a drum for her, adding to her aura.
Wei Xichen lowered his eyes, suddenly feeling somewhat dazed.
In the Great An Dynasty, there was only one baby girl who was conferred a title at birth. She was the younger sister of the late Empress Yide and the last remaining pearl of the prestigious Cui family in this generation.
Empress Yide was the emperor's first wife, while his mother, Empress Dong, was made empress after Empress Yide's death.
Because of this connection, the royal family has always treated the Cui family with courtesy, and the Cui family once overshadowed the Dong family, the most prestigious family.
Wei Xichen walked towards Cui Shihan and said with a gentle smile, "It has been ten years since we parted in the capital. I no longer recognize the county princess."
Cui Shihan stood up, exuding the stubbornness of a calf, "Ten years have passed since we last met, and I almost don't recognize Your Highness anymore."
These words were somewhat disrespectful, and the crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
Wei Xichen smiled and didn't take it to heart. He faced the Dowager Consort Xu and bowed respectfully.
"On the occasion of the Dowager Empress's seventieth birthday, I would like to visit your residence to ask for a cup of wine to share in her good fortune."
The old man said politely, "We await Your Highness's arrival."
Consort Xu was the late Emperor's Consort Shu. Shortly after Emperor Shunren ascended the throne, she requested to return to her hometown of Yangzhou.
Wei Xichen casually glanced around and asked with a faint smile, "Why haven't I seen Judge Wei Yun?"
Yan Hongchang hurriedly stepped forward, “Today, all those who have had the honor of meeting Your Highness are officials of the fifth rank or above. Judge Wei is of a lower rank... If Your Highness wishes to summon him, I will immediately send someone to do so!”
"No need, let's go to the inn."
The Crown Prince didn't need to explain anything to them, and naturally no one dared to ask any more questions, so they immediately followed closely behind the Crown Prince's carriage.
Yan Hongchang paused, then suddenly felt his face burning. The Crown Prince's order to stay at the post station instead of the Yan residence was somewhat disrespectful to the Yan family.
But Liangdi was ultimately a concubine, and could not compare to the Crown Princess.
**
It was no secret that the Crown Prince was going to Yangzhou to reward the salt merchants; the people had been talking about it for days, and now they were crowding both sides of the road, scrambling to get a piece of the pie.
An elderly woman who was watching the commotion accidentally fell down. As she was trying to get up, a slender hand appeared in front of her.
The setting sun cast its warm glow upon the man's gentle face.
Wei Xichen helped the bewildered old woman to her feet and gently reminded her to watch her step.
At the same time, a dark green sedan chair appeared in the crowd. Yan Zhuyi, dressed in a moon-white long dress, stepped out of the sedan chair, lifted her skirt and ran to the Crown Prince. She gave a graceful bow and said, "This concubine greets Your Highness."
It's as if they timed it perfectly, appearing in people's field of vision at just the right moment.
Wei Xichen smiled and nodded. Just as he was about to lead her into the post station, he suddenly heard a familiar female voice. He glanced at a shop across the street and saw a young girl walking by arm in arm with a woman, chatting and laughing.
The voice sounds like an old friend, but it is not an old friend.
Wei Xichen's relaxed brows furrowed slightly, and a familiar pain shot through his chest, caused by an old ailment.
The moment Yan Zhuyi heard the voice, her smiling lips froze. She thought Jiang Yinyue had deliberately appeared here to play a game of feigned reluctance.
**
In a jade shop across the street, Jiang Yinyue inspected the jade ruyi she had ordered, confirmed it was intact, and smiled as she asked the shopkeeper to pack it into a box.
On the way back, as they passed through a narrow alley, they heard the clatter of hooves. Jiang Yinyue and Miaodie stepped aside to avoid them and saw a person and a horse galloping past them.
The rider, dressed in a smart and practical outfit, was petite and had a waist tag with the character "Cui" engraved on it. It accidentally fell off when he passed by the master and servant.
"Whoa!"
The girl riding a horse was already quite eye-catching, but the gold-plated waist tag that landed on the ground caught Jiang Yinyue's attention even more.
"Could you help me pick this up?"
Miao Die, unable to bend down due to her carrying a wooden box containing a jade ruyi, had Jiang Yinyue pick it up and hand it to the girl on horseback.
The girl raised her chin, her plump cheeks glowing rosy in the sunlight. "Thank you."
"Princess Huaijin, please don't stand on ceremony."
The girl narrowed her eyes mysteriously, gripped the riding crop tightly, and leaned forward. "You know me?"
A gentle spring breeze stirs the wisteria climbing the wall, and people standing at its base are enveloped in its fragrance, their clothes and even their hair are imbued with its sweet scent.
Jiang Yinyue didn't expose the girl's deliberate attempt to create a chance encounter, but tilted her head and smiled without saying a word.
Princess Cui Shihan of Huaijin County pursed her lips, dismounted, and cupped her hands in a gesture of respect while holding the whip in reverse. "It's been ten years since we last met. It's been a long time, Madam Jiang."
Ten years have passed in a flash, and the last time the two met was by the incense burner in front of the palace gate.
Emperor Shunren preserved a grove of pomegranate trees that Empress Yide had planted in the incense burner of the palace gate. One day, Cui Shihan was squatting alone in front of the incense burner, crying, when Jiang Yinyue, who had come to the palace with her father, happened to see her.
Cui Shihan was born after Cui Taifu and his wife discussed it in remembrance of their eldest daughter. Some people jokingly referred to her as a substitute for Empress Yide, and she was currently being whispered about by a group of young officials' wives.
At a young age, Jiang Yinyue walked up to the officials' wives who were attending the banquet in the palace, hands on her hips, and fiercely corrected them for gossiping about people behind their backs.
The younger Cui Shihan raised her tearful eyes, now adorned with a colorful flower wreath on her head.
Jiang Yinyue comforted her like a little adult, "Don't cry, I'll give you the flower wreath that my brother the Crown Prince gave me."
To everyone's surprise, Cui Shihan not only didn't appreciate it, but also tore off the flower wreath and threw it on the ground, crying out in a clear voice, "I don't want anything from the Dong family!"
The Crown Prince is the grandson of Chief Minister Dong, so he is naturally considered a member of the Dong family.
Jiang Yinyue, who was unaware of the intrigues of the harem at the time, pouted, picked up the flower wreath, and angrily put it on her head, thinking, "Ungrateful wretch."
"You're ungrateful! There are no good people in the Dong family!"
Time has passed, and Jiang Yinyue, who once took Cui Shihan's words as innocent childish remarks, can now understand her grievances. Her elder sister committed suicide, and Cui Shihan, as the younger sister, was still slandered as a tool to replace her sister in order to secure favor with the Cui family. To escape the gossip, she was sent to Yangzhou by her father at the young age of six, far from home. The day the two girls clashed was the day before Cui Shihan left the capital; she secretly ran out of the Grand Tutor's residence to bid farewell to her elder sister in front of the pomegranate tree.
The Dong and Cui families seemed to keep to themselves, but due to the death of Empress Yide, their relationship was irreconcilable.
Life is unpredictable, and things change. When they met again, Jiang Yinyue had married someone else and parted on bad terms with the Crown Prince. Cui Shihan was no longer the crybaby people talked about; she had grown into a beautiful and spirited young woman.
The two, who were not exactly old acquaintances, did not hit it off immediately, but they shared a mutual sympathy because they had both suffered injustices because of the Dong family.
Having lived in Yangzhou for ten years, Cui Shihan leaned back on her horse and took a deep breath of the fragrance of flowers in the wind. "Have you ever tasted authentic Huaiyang cuisine?"
Not yet.
"I know a place that's always full, so you need to call ahead. I'll invite you to try it another day."
Jiang Yinyue was not one to mince words. Since they had met, whether by chance or not, they should sit down and chat about the past. "Okay."
That evening, Jiang Yinyue received a message from Cui Shihan, asking her to meet at a later date.
Jiang Yinyue stood in front of the back gate with a lantern. Her snow-white clothes were illuminated by the warm yellow light, cascading down the ground like a gilded snow lotus blooming in the dark night.
The woman was strikingly beautiful. When she wasn't smiling, she had a cool and aloof air, with delicate eyebrows and graceful figure. But when she smiled, the liveliness in her eyes added to her approachability.
When the back alley was deserted, the dim light of the lanterns faded away. Unlike the grand mansions where the lights would be on all night, the Wei family's gate, located in a small alley in the city, had only a single gauze lantern flickering back and forth, its light dim.
A man dressed in jet black, blending into the night, stepped out from under the old tree at the alley entrance. He took off his hood and quietly surveyed his surroundings. This was the family Jiang Yinyue had married into. There was no deep courtyard; from a high vantage point, one could see the whole place at a glance.
He didn't know why he was here. Perhaps it was just to see Jiang Yinyue's husband's family, a last remaining connection among old acquaintances.
The old eunuch standing not far away sighed silently, seemingly seeing things more clearly than those involved, despite being an outsider.
**
On a day off, the Empress Dowager held a birthday banquet, and the Xu family mansion in Yangzhou was filled with high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants.
The Xu Mansion was built by local master craftsmen, with carved beams and painted rafters, and is magnificent and splendid.
The tent was packed with guests; on one side, male guests raised their glasses and exchanged pleasantries, while on the other side, female guests strolled around in groups.
In the season when the grass and trees are lush and verdant, the air is filled with a pleasant fragrance. Noble ladies are all present, their faces powdered and rouged, dazzling and radiant, more charming than the beautiful flowers, their figures reflected in the peach blossom pond, graceful and alluring.
The stage in the garden had been set up several days ago, and the opera troupe was warming up the audience, waiting for the show to begin.
Some noble ladies whispered among themselves, sharing the gossip they had heard.
"It is said that the Crown Prince will personally attend the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration."
The female guests, who had not yet heard the news, were all surprised and eager to see what kind of elegant and refined young master their fathers had described.
"The Xu family has invited Mr. Gong, a storyteller."
"I heard he was an elderly, retired court historian who became a storyteller, and his seats were always in high demand."
"Lin Xiuer will probably be absent today to avoid Yan Liangdi's limelight."
In the past, Yan Zhuyi, as a minor official's wife, inevitably had interactions with many noble ladies present, some of whom felt a chill run down their spines.
"And another thing, the second-place scholar, Wei Qin, will be coming with his wife, who is the daughter of a second-rank official."
How many noble ladies concealed their inner disappointment with laughter and conversation, and how many young men in simple clothes had entered the spring dreams of their boudoirs?
"In my opinion, Lin Xiu'er's absence has little to do with Consort Liangdi, but rather with Wei Qin."
When Prefect Lin tried to coerce and bribe Wei Qin for his daughter's sake but failed, the onlookers thought that Wei Qin didn't want to live off the wealth of a high-ranking family. Little did they know that he looked down on the family's status as a fourth-rank prefect and wanted to climb to a higher position.
Officials of the second rank were the ones who held real power in the court, and Minister Jiang Song was an outstanding example.
"I wonder what kind of temperament daughters raised in such high-class families possess."
"I have heard some rumors. It is said that this daughter of the Minister was originally the Empress's favorite candidate for the Empress's daughter-in-law, but because of her domineering and arrogant nature, the Emperor rejected the marriage and she was used as a stepping stone for Consort Yan."
"Is that so?"
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, their voices drowned out by the lively and festive atmosphere at the Xu residence.
When Jiang Yinyue and Wei Qin arrived, they first presented the valuable jade ruyi to the gift table. Then the couple separated for the time being, and Jiang Yinyue went with a maid to the female guests.
Wei Qin withdrew his gaze from his wife and followed the servant into the covered walkway. On one side, a creeping vine meandered and climbed, blocking out the bright spring sun.
Rays of light slanted across the corridor, creating a crisscrossing pattern.
Wei Qin walked on the beam of light, his face flickering between light and shadow on the side closest to the outside of the corridor.
A petite figure became a striking sight amidst the flickering light and shadow.
A small figure, dressed in men's clothing, wearing a jacquard robe and a leather belt, walks towards you with measured steps, holding a folding fan.
The servant leading the way immediately bowed and scraped, "Oh, Princess Huaijin has arrived early today."
"Is he earlier than the Crown Prince?"
The servant was terrified. He looked around, frowned, and put his index finger to his lips. "Shh, shh."
Although it was no secret that His Highness the Crown Prince was attending the birthday banquet, no one in the household dared to reveal the whereabouts of this distinguished guest. If His Highness had not wanted to show himself, the guests probably wouldn't have even been able to catch a glimpse of him.
Little did anyone know that this Princess Huaijin would reveal the secret in a single sentence.
Cui Shihan ignored the sweating servant and looked at Wei Qin behind him. Without any sign of pleasure, she said in a casual tone, "Isn't this the second young master of the Wei family? It's been a long time. Should I address you as the second-place scholar or Lord Fortune Judge?"
How could a poor man and a woman from a wealthy family possibly have much in common? Yet, Wei Qin happened to be quite famous in Yangzhou.
The handsome young man from the Wei family, as radiant as moonlight, has entered the hearts of countless young women.
Seeing that Wei Qin merely nodded, Cui Shihan felt no embarrassment. She lightly waved her folding fan and walked past the two of them, strolling leisurely. She did not go to the garden where the female guests gathered, but went straight to the small building next to the garden, where she was stopped by the unfamiliar-looking gatekeeper.
With a languid tone, she said slowly, "Please announce that Lady Cui requests an audience."
Before the two gatekeepers could react, the door was pulled open from the inside, and an elderly eunuch with gray hair said with a smile, "Please, Princess."
Cui Shihan raised an eyebrow, followed the old eunuch up to the elegant hall on the third floor, bowed, and sat down directly opposite a figure in white.
The elders of the Xu family who were standing by felt that something was wrong, but none of them dared to speak up and reprimand them.
"Would it be honorable for Your Highness to have a drink by the river another day?"
The girl's deliberately lowered voice was hoarse, much like that of Grand Tutor Cui, who was far away in the capital.
Wei Xichen smiled faintly, not angered by Cui Shihan's rashness.
"It is my honor to drink with the county magistrate."
The elders of the Xu family were even more surprised, but the Dowager Consort Xu, who was still fiddling with her prayer beads, was not surprised at all.
The Dong and Cui families were old friends, and Empress Yide and Empress Dong were close confidantes. Empress Yide secretly accompanied Empress Dong on her first meeting with her fiancé.
Later, Empress Yide married into the Eastern Palace and often summoned Empress Dong to the palace to relieve her boredom. Over time, Empress Dong became a frequent visitor to the palace and developed feelings for the Crown Prince who was about to ascend the throne.
By the time Empress Yide found out, the Dong family had already called off the engagement on behalf of their daughter.
The year after the new emperor ascended the throne, Empress Dong entered the palace as a Noble Consort. She became pregnant in the same year as Empress Yide, only one month apart.
The competition for favor became the main event for the former best friends.
The Dong and Cui families became enemies from that point on.
Three days before Consort Xu returned to Yangzhou, Empress Yide went into premature labor. Rumors circulated that it was Empress Dong's doing, that she wanted the emperor's eldest son to be born on an unlucky day, and that the emperor valued fate highly.
But rumors are just rumors, and as an outsider, Dowager Consort Xu was unwilling to get involved in the disputes between the Dong and Cui families.
Has Mr. Gong arrived?
An old servant standing nearby replied, "They've arrived and have been seated after the opera troupe."
"Mr. Gong is elderly and should not wait long. Let's ask him to warm up the atmosphere."
"promise."
Amidst rounds of applause, the storyteller made a grand entrance.
The small building is tall, and the elegant hall on the third floor is the best place to listen to storytelling.
Wei Xichen listened attentively, holding a teacup. When he heard something interesting, he would smile slightly along with the others until his gaze caught a bright "color".
A long, crimson dress hugged her slender figure, her waist as thin as a willow, her neck as white as jade. She sat alone under the stage, her hands supporting her chin.
Seemingly isolated, yet also accustomed to being alone, disliking pretense and insincerity.
Looking at Jiang Yinyue, whose hair was styled in a high bun, Wei Xichen felt the teacup in his hand become heavy.
At this moment, Fu Zhong stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, the Empress has arrived."
Wei Xichen remained expressionless, showing no intention of getting up, or perhaps not wanting to appear and cause unnecessary commotion.
Cui Shihan glanced at it, her expression carrying a deeper meaning.
A note from the author:
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There will be a second update later. [heart emoji]
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