By the time Qian Liniang and her party reached the polo field, the place was already jam-packed with people. Yuzhou was not a large city, and common folk had little entertainment. Polo, especially, was a sport for the wealthy; many people lived their whole lives without even knowing how it was played. Now their lord had not only built a polo ground, but even allowed them to watch matches together—how could they miss such a joyous occasion? So from early morning the idle townsfolk dressed neatly, some walking, some riding in ox-carts, bringing their whole families to join the bustle, queuing up outside.
The gentry and officials of Yuzhou were all present as well. After all, this polo field had been built personally by their lord. They had spent no small effort to gift horses and such in tribute—how could they not come to curry favor?
As for the Sun family, who normally had no chance even to step inside such circles, today they all held their heads high, faces glowing red with pride. Ancestors must have blessed them! To think their son had taken such a good concubine, whose long-lost younger sister turned out to be the lord’s wife—and she had even acknowledged them as kin! What’s more, she had persuaded the marchioness to let the Sun family directly meet the marquis himself!
A good daughter-in-law—truly the best under heaven!
Now the Sun family’s elders no longer saw Qian Liniang as a worthless concubine, but as a shining bodhisattva. One after another, uncles and fathers lectured Sun Bai, telling him to treat her well. The Sun family’s rise was just around the corner.
Sun Bai jumped down from his horse and personally helped Qian Liniang from the carriage. Then, turning his head, he saw his colleague Dou Liangxian standing on his mule-cart, craning his neck to look ahead. Striding over with a swagger, he gave him a kick. “Old Dou, what are you gawking at?”
Dou Liangxian frowned slightly at the rudeness—it was unlike the normally deferential Sun Bai—but still answered truthfully: “I’m looking to see if the Dingxi Marquis has arrived yet.”
“Has the lord arrived then?”
“Not yet! Look there—that’s the prefect, and the assistant magistrate, and a whole group of officials. They’re all waiting there!”
In front of the northern gate, yamen runners stood on both sides of the red carpet, blades in hand. Local civil and military officials craned their necks in anticipation. Many common folk boldly squeezed in behind the yamen runners, eager for a glimpse of the grandeur of the Dingxi Marquis’s household. On any other day, Sun Bai would already have pushed his way forward. Today, however, he tilted his nose skyward and snorted, “Hah, look at those people groveling like dogs!”
Dou Liangxian jumped down from his mule cart in shock. “Hey! Boy, mind your tongue! Have you eaten bear’s heart and leopard’s gall today? Daring to spout such treasonous words!”
“What do I have to fear? I’m the Dingxi Marquis’s brother-in-law! Right, my lady?” Sun Bai turned his head toward Qian Liniang, who covered her lips and tittered.
Dou Liangxian’s eyes bulged wider than copper bells. “Brother Sun, have you drunk yourself silly at noon? Spouting nonsense in public like this? Quickly, go home!”
“Who’s drunk? Soon enough you’ll all see what I’m capable of!” Sun Bai boasted loudly, while Qian Liniang laughed until her eyes curved into slits.
“Son-in-law, son-in-law!” A thick-browed, bearded elder, dressed in a Prefect’s robe, clutched his official hat as he squeezed sweatily through the crowd to Sun Bai’s side, wiping his brow with a kerchief. “Good son-in-law, is it true what you said—that Lord Xing will receive the Sun family today?”
“Of course it’s true.” Qian Liniang seized the chance to answer first. The man was none other than Lord Xiong, the Sun family’s main wife’s father and Yu Prefecture’s Prefect. Because of him, Madam Sun often strutted around with her nose in the air, beating and scolding concubines whenever she pleased. Now at last Qian Liniang could hold her head high. “That was spoken from my own sister’s lips. Would the Marquis’s wife ever utter a falsehood?”
Prefect Xiong finally turned to her, his expression shifting again and again, until he at last smiled. “So this must be Second Madam. Good, good. You have an excellent younger sister!”
Never had Qian Liniang imagined herself speaking so firmly before her co-wife’s natal family—and to a high official at that. She lifted her lips in a proud smile. “Naturally.”
Sun Bai added, “Father-in-law, I know your meaning. Be at ease. When Lord Xing summons us, I will be sure to bring you along!”
Prefect Xiong’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.
Just then Madam Xiong, the Sun family’s main wife, descended and tearfully called for her father. When she drew him aside, she poured out her grievances, accusing Sun Bai of favoring a concubine and humiliating her. Prefect Xiong sighed and said, “Daughter, you mustn’t call that Madam Qian a concubine anymore. With her younger sister’s noble standing, if word spreads that the Sun family mistreats her elder sister, not only your husband, but the entire Sun clan—and even our Xiong family—may face disaster! You must put away your little temper and treat Madam Qian as your dear sister.”
Madam Xiong nearly fainted with despair. To lower herself and call a peasant-born concubine “sister”? She would sooner dash her head against a wall!
Qian Liniang fixed her gaze on Madam Xiong. Though she could not hear what was said, Madam Xiong’s shocked tears were enough to let her guess the gist. Her heart only swelled with greater delight.
“They’re here, they’re here—the Dingxi Marquis’s carriages!”
At the cry, every neck craned forward. A lavish six-horse carriage, richly painted and carved, led seven or eight others down the road, guards in gleaming armor riding tall steeds on either side. In short order, the procession reached the assembled officials.
Xie Zhang frowned, puzzled that he saw only the horse Lightning but not its master. Then the coachman leapt down, set a small stool by the carriage, and spoke within: “My lord, my lady, we have arrived. Please descend.”
The crowd hushed. Soon the carriage door opened, and a tall man in dark robes stepped down—none other than Dingxi Marquis, Xing Muzheng. At his first appearance he seemed like a blaze of dark flame, or a sword sheathed yet brimming with hidden edge, stirring awe in every heart. His long stride carried him to the ground, where he reached back a hand to support a slender jade-white one. A woman descended gracefully after him, veiled in fine gauze, her hair in a falling-horse bun pinned with a single pearl hairpin, dressed in a scarlet hibiscus-embroidered gown. It was the Dingxi Marchioness, Qian Jiaoniang. Her delicate presence softened the very air beside her stalwart husband.
Xie Zhang and all the officials dropped to their knees. The commoners, too, fell prostrate. “We pay respects to the Dingxi Marquis, to the Marchioness!”
A thunderous chorus rose, echoing to the heavens.
From a distance, Qian Liniang’s heart pounded wildly at the sight. Yet alongside her exhilaration welled a sudden, inexplicable shame. Born of the same mother, raised from the same lowly roots—her younger sister now received the homage of thousands, exalted above all, while she, the elder, could only cling to her for survival.
Then the Marquis, who had turned slightly aside, came into her view. Seeing his face clearly, Qian Liniang froze. So this strikingly handsome, commanding man was Xing Muzheng, her sister’s husband? Why was he not some bloated, dull-witted brute?
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