The next day, Xing Muzheng changed into a dark teal brocade robe embroidered with the swastika pattern for the banquet, and prepared in front of a bronze mirror. Li Qingquan reported to him about Qian Jiaoniang’s visit to Wuling Temple the previous day. After worshipping the main Buddha statues in each hall, Qian Jiaoniang and Zhao Yaoqian toured the temple grounds. Because they kept their distance, Li Qingquan didn’t hear what they discussed but noticed both shook their heads, seeming not to reach an agreement. Then Li Qingquan glanced at Xing Muzheng’s calm face and continued, “Yesterday I went to the Great Locust Tree; Master, guess who I saw?”
Xing Muzheng frowned. Before he could answer, Li Qingquan spoke on his own: “I saw His Highness the Crown Prince! He was dressed in common clothes and only had two guards with him. He stood under a tree as if waiting for someone. Madam originally didn’t recognize the Crown Prince, but later when they reached the Great Locust Tree, for some reason the Crown Prince was about to leave. There were quite a few people then, and the two just happened to bump into each other. The Crown Prince even knocked the handkerchief from Madam’s hand; he picked it up and returned it personally, and only then did Madam recognize him. Madam also spoke with the Crown Prince briefly. The Crown Prince said he has practiced Buddhism since childhood and prays at Wuling Temple every year during the Longevity Festival for His Majesty. Because he didn’t want to cause a fuss, he traveled in plain clothes.”
Xing Muzheng was silent for a moment and then said, “Who told you to go look at the Great Locust Tree?”
Li Qingquan was stunned, but Xing Muzheng had already strode out the door.
Xing Muzheng left his room and headed straight to the east wing. Just as he reached the window, he heard Qian Jiaoniang hesitating and voices urging her inside, seeming to argue over whether to wear a certain dress. He quickly entered the room. Without waiting for the girls to report, he went into the inner chamber and, rounding the screen, saw Qian Jiaoniang surrounded by a group of people who suddenly turned to look at him.
Xing Muzheng froze.
Qian Jiaoniang was now fully ready. She wore a drooping horse bun hairstyle, a large white pearl hairpin, a buttercup-colored overlapping front jacket, and a long skirt made of plain moon satin with ten panels. From top to bottom, various flowers were embroidered, half-hidden and half-visible at the hem, with clusters of flowers and brocade beneath the skirt. Small bells hung from the skirt’s edge. When Qian Jiaoniang moved, the little bells jingled clearly and pleasantly.
“What… what kind of clothes are you wearing?” Xing Muzheng asked expressionlessly.
“…I’ll change right now.” Qian Jiaoniang turned her head to avoid his gaze, lifted her skirt, and the little bells jingled softly like they were tickling Xing Muzheng’s heart.
Yanluo said, “The Marquis has come; hurry and persuade Madam. She looks really good in this outfit, but she insists on changing.”
Xing Muzheng said, “The time is near, no need to change. Just go out.” With that, he turned and left.
“Exactly, no need to change!” Qingya took a crane cloak and wrapped it around Qian Jiaoniang, pushing her toward the door.
Qian Jiaoniang was thus dragged out, protesting helplessly as she walked, “I made this dress for you!”
It turned out the new dress Qian Jiaoniang wore was made by her at Qingya’s request. Qingya took it yesterday but now it was worn by Qian Jiaoniang. Qingya said, “I told you to make it, but this is a gift for you.”
Yanluo found it very strange. Miss Qingya asked the Marquis’s wife to embroider a set of jacket and skirt—for her to give to Madam?
Qian Jiaoniang was confused, “You spent money to have me make clothes, but you’re giving them to me?”
Qingya supported her as they walked toward the doorway, looking down at her outfit and nodding approvingly, “Yes, exactly. This dress was meant to be a gift for you. Today, at the Crown Princess’s banquet, it will surely make you stand out.”
Qian Jiaoniang smiled wryly, “But I don’t want to stand out.”
Qingya said, “No, you must listen to me today; after this, you can do whatever you want. If you don’t agree, I won’t talk to you again.”
“My dear aunt, please have mercy on me.”
“Just this once, just this once! Be a good girl and obey me!” Qingya tugged her hard, afraid she’d change her mind.
Yanluo followed behind holding Qian Jiaoniang’s hand warmer, genuinely unable to tell who was mistress and who was servant.
***
In front of the Crown Prince’s mansion, red lanterns and decorations hung everywhere, with carriages and horses arriving in endless streams. All were the highest officials and nobles of the day. Male guests were led by butlers to the front hall to sit, while female guests went to the back garden. The Crown Princess arranged the ladies’ banquet in the Flower Viewing Hall of the back garden. Only autumn chrysanthemums bloomed now, but the Crown Princess disliked chrysanthemums as too plain and did not have any brought in. The butler had a bright idea, decorating the way with strange stones and rare plants, placing two cranes in front of the hall, which was quite elegant.
Inside the Flower Viewing Hall sat many ladies and misses. For the future Empress’s birthday banquet, they naturally arrived early. Princess Jianan had also arrived. Although younger than the Crown Prince, she was his aunt and well versed in etiquette, usually arriving last and sometimes needing multiple invitations. Once she was upset and didn’t come at all. But today was an odd day; Princess Jianan came early without needing invitation.
Princess Jianan sat with the Crown Princess in the main seats. Below them were two long rows of banquet tables. The Second Prince’s consort sat at the first seat on the left but hadn’t arrived yet. Other ladies ranked by status took their seats. The rightmost seat was still empty—reserved for the Dingxi Marchioness.
Noble ladies of Yongan City recently talked mostly about Dingxi Marchioness. Dingxi Marquis Xing Muzheng was an anomaly among the powerful. Born commoner and a warrior, noble-born daughters looked down on such a man. Before Xing Muzheng’s triumphant return, many mocked him secretly, expecting him to be huge and fierce, wondering which poor noble girl would be forced to marry him. But on the day the Emperor and officials welcomed him at the city gates, clad in golden armor with red banners, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, full of spirit and handsome, many noble ladies looked from the city’s taverns, secretly falling for him. Having been made a top-tier marquis so young was an honor many never reached in their lives. Unmarried girls complained outwardly but secretly wished to be chosen; married ones envied and wanted to marry off their daughters quickly.
But unexpectedly, he already had a first wife—a village girl. Countless noble ladies felt insulted, some smashed things at home, others secretly cried. Worse still, Xing Muzheng brought that village wife to Yongan this time. Jealous and angry, they all longed to see this presumptuous village marchioness to mock how lowly she was and how shameless.
But before she arrived, they ridiculed Lady Liu, wife of Yongjing Marquis. They all knew that Xing Muzheng took his wife to watch polo, and mocked Lady Liu for having to fawn over such a woman, as if she threw her own status into the cesspit. Lady Liu’s face went pale and red in turns, unable to lift her head. The noble ladies gossiped like at the polo grounds, exaggerating how the village wife shouted and hollered at the game, hoarse and spitting on others, utterly coarse and unladylike—she didn’t even seem like a woman but more like a… “pig butcher.”
No one knew exactly who was so sharp-tongued as to call her a “pig butcher,” but the whole hall burst into laughter, bent over and unable to straighten up. Princess Jianan remained impeccably composed; she raised her sleeve and took a sip of warm alcohol, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Dingxi Marchioness has arrived—” a footman from the Crown Prince’s residence shouted loudly, and the maidservants echoed in layers, “Dingxi Marchioness has arrived—”
“That pig butcher has come!” Princess Leluo was the kind who never minded making trouble; she covered her mouth with a fan and laughed softly, drawing another round of laughter. The noble ladies and their attendants all looked toward the archway in unison.
Before long, a young married woman wearing a pearl hairpin stepped into the archway, surrounded by a crowd of maidservants—it was none other than Qian Jiaoniang, Dingxi Marchioness. She wore a moon-white fox fur cloak, underneath which was faintly visible a buttercup-colored overlapping jacket, paired with a floor-length moon-white satin skirt. Anyone with eyes could tell the satin was priceless plain moon satin. Dingxi Marchioness strode toward them, the peony blossoms embroidered on her skirt appearing and disappearing with each step—flowers seemingly just in bloom. Lady Liu, wife of Yongjing Marquis, even thought she was seeing things and rubbed her eyes before realizing the flowers were embroidered on the skirt itself. Dingxi Marchioness seemed to bring springtime with her, radiant and exquisitely beautiful.
“What master’s embroidery could be so skilled!” the Crown Princess marveled silently.
“Step by step, flowers bloom…” someone muttered in defeat, and the ladies immediately lost the mocking spirit they had moments before.
Seeing Qian Jiaoniang enter the hall, no one dared believe this village girl in the peony fairy skirt could be so composed and graceful—she was not inferior in the slightest to those seated.
Trailing behind Qian Jiaoniang, Qingya lowered her head and smiled proudly. Qian Jiaoniang’s elegant demeanor now was partly thanks to her efforts.
Up close, the “step by step, flowers bloom” peony skirt was even more magnificent and noble. The Crown Princess, fond of peonies, could not take her eyes off the stunning gown. Only when Qian Jiaoniang bowed to her did she awaken from her daze and hurriedly invited her to sit.
Qian Jiaoniang saw she was seated in the first seat on the right and made no objection. She spread her skirt and knelt on the meditation cushion. Qingya and Yanluo arranged the skirt for her; the peonies on the hem looked fresh, as if one could reach out and pluck them. The noble ladies fell silent, staring at the skirt with envy.
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