“You?!” Ji Lan slapped her palm on the small table by the couch.
“Business is like warfare. It’s not my fault that Aunt’s people lack skill. Even if my Ji Clan hadn’t ruined you today, you’d eventually be swallowed by others. Isn’t it better that I benefit instead?” said Ji Cheng.
“You’re twisting words!” Ji Lan was so angry her mouth nearly twisted.
Ji Cheng learned a trick from yesterday’s Shen Che. Since they’d already fallen out, there was no point in holding back. It was better to strike the enemy so hard they couldn’t recover.
“Besides, don’t threaten me, Aunt. You know best how Fifth Miss won the Mid-Altar Performance, don’t you? What do you think would happen if I handed the evidence to the Wang family?” Ji Cheng asked with a smile.
To Ji Lan, Ji Cheng’s smile seemed as terrifying as a venomous snake’s tongue. “You… what evidence could you possibly have?”
Ji Cheng just smiled without speaking, “Aunt, you should know that no wall is without cracks.” Although Shen Che had long confiscated the evidence, Ji Lan certainly wouldn’t know that. Ji Cheng was merely bluffing.
Ji Lan never imagined Ji Cheng’s scheming ran so deep. She said dejectedly, “I’ve truly invited a wolf into my home.”
Ji Cheng also smiled bitterly, “Originally, I wasn’t a wolf, and you weren’t a rabbit. We’re family. When a family fights family, others reap the benefits.” Ji Cheng had learned her lesson this time.
Ji Lan glared at Ji Cheng hatefully, wishing she could poke holes in her. “What will it take for you to hand over the evidence?”
Ji Cheng lowered her eyes, “I won’t give that to anyone, as long as Aunt doesn’t force my hand. Let’s just interact like normal aunts and nieces. I don’t expect Aunt to help me with anything.” Indeed, if Ji Lan hadn’t been so intent on sending Ji Cheng into the palace, Ji Cheng wouldn’t have moved against her at all.
Ji Lan’s brow furrowed even more. Did Ji Cheng mean she absolutely wouldn’t hand over the evidence?
Ji Cheng raised her head and looked directly at Ji Lan, “Aunt, don’t plot anything. If we fight to the death, outsiders will be the ones laughing and benefiting. As for the evidence?”
Ji Cheng paused. Seeing Ji Lan’s flickering gaze, she knew she must be plotting something unsavory. Ji Cheng didn’t want to keep fighting with her, especially with Shen Che that scoundrel backing her. So Ji Cheng could only placate Ji Lan, saying, “Of course, if Aunt can help me find a good marriage, I’ll return the evidence to you myself.”
Hearing this, Ji Lan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Ji Cheng was willing to return it, that was fine. Otherwise, she might have had to let her brother bury his child.
On the day of the Chrysanthemum Banquet, Ji Lan naturally didn’t make things difficult for Ji Cheng. On the contrary, she had been quite polite to Ji Cheng these past few days. On the carriage ride, she even explained some of the situations of the capital’s prominent families to Ji Cheng, lest she be completely lost.
Today’s guests at the Southern Prince’s Manor Chrysanthemum Banquet were different from those who usually associated with the Shen family. If it weren’t for Princess An He’s presence, the Shen family probably wouldn’t have much interaction with the Southern Prince’s Manor.
Although the Emperor provided for these royal clan members without compensation, he was wary of the Wang descendants of the same Chu lineage. However, the Southern Prince’s Manor was in a better position. The current Southern Prince was the Emperor’s cousin, and he fared better than even the Emperor’s full brothers.
A few years ago, when the Jianping Emperor had no sons, court officials repeatedly urged him to establish an heir. After all, his health wasn’t good, and if he suddenly passed away, who would shoulder the burden of the Great Qin?
With no sons, the Jianping Emperor could only choose suitable nephews from among his half-brothers’ sons to adopt. So initially, the Jianping Emperor raised several nephews, but they weren’t his flesh and blood, and there was always some distance. After Consort Wang Shu gave birth to the eldest prince, the Jianping Emperor immediately sent those nephews out of the palace.
But because he had raised those nephews for a few years, the Jianping Emperor always had misgivings, fearing those nephews had grown ambitious. So in recent years, those princes had been treading very carefully.
On the contrary, because the Southern Prince’s blood relation was more distant, he didn’t arouse the Jianping Emperor’s suspicion as much. Fearing others would say he was wary and harsh towards the royal clan, the Jianping Emperor particularly favored this cousin, the Southern Prince, to silence the masses.
Even so, court officials didn’t dare associate with the Southern Prince’s Manor. Those who usually interacted with the Southern Prince’s Manor were only from noble and titled families, mostly descendants of kings and dukes.
For instance, today Ji Cheng would meet almost all the currently established princesses of the Great Qin.
When the Old Madam and Princess An He arrived, the Southern Prince Consort personally came out to welcome them. When she saw Shen Yuan and Shen Qian, she praised them profusely.
Especially, Shen Qian—the Southern Prince Consort held her hand, asking her all sorts of questions. In the end, she even took off the red coral bracelet from her wrist and gave it to her.
Shen Qian glanced at the Old Madam before accepting the bracelet with a blushing face.
Seeing Shen Qian’s beauty and sweet demeanor, the Southern Prince Consort thought her son truly had good taste, and she had worried for nothing all these years.
It turned out the Southern Prince Consort had long been concerned that Chu Zhen was slow to mature. Even with heavenly beauties placed before his eyes, he wouldn’t bat an eyelid, finding them only annoying. The Southern Prince Consort had sighed countless times over this matter. Chu Zhen was nearly seventeen and still didn’t understand matters between men and women.
But in recent days, the Prince Consort had noticed changes in Chu Zhen. Although he still appeared cold towards the manor’s maids on the surface, the Prince Consort had sharp eyes. She discovered that Chu Zhen would occasionally stare intently at a maid’s back.
Little did she know that Chu Zhen was simply lovesick. Occasionally seeing a maid, he might think her wisp of hair by the ear resembled Ji Cheng’s, or another maid’s walking posture had a hint of Ji Cheng’s grace. Or he might find a certain maid’s hips too full and unsightly, inevitably comparing them to Ji Cheng’s.
Thus, one day when the maid serving Chu Zhen proudly presented his undergarments to the Prince Consort, she smiled so widely she couldn’t close her mouth. Thank heavens, her son had finally become a man.
Soon after, the Prince Consort discovered many clues. For instance, when she occasionally mentioned finding a wife for Chu Zhen, he no longer responded with a cold face and impatient words. Instead, the tips of his ears would turn red.
On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, when Chu Zhen said he wanted to go mountain climbing and enjoy the autumn scenery, the Prince Consort took note. Seeing him go to Mount Suyu, she sent people to inquire which families had gone there that day, and the Shen family was among them.
Her people reported back that Chu Zhen seemed to be searching for someone all day, and in the end, he mingled with several Shen family brothers.
The Prince Consort guessed that Chu Zhen might have taken a liking to one of the Shen family girls. Today, upon seeing the Shen family girls, she paid close attention. Shen Yuan was already engaged, so the Prince Consort immediately ruled her out. Shen Qian was just the right age for Chu Zhen, so the Prince Consort wishfully hoped that her son had set his sights on this Fourth Miss Shen.
After praising Shen Qian, the Prince Consort also took Shen Cui and Lu Yuan’s hands and complimented them, naturally giving them gifts as well, though not as lavish as Shen Qian’s. However, Shen Cui had become famous due to her Mid-Altar Performance, so the Prince Consort thought her son might have noticed her during the polo finals. Thus, she also asked Shen Cui many questions. As for Lu Yuan, her family background wasn’t much inferior to the Shen family’s, and she was the niece of the Second Madam, Madam Huang. Lu Yuan had a very spirited appearance, and considering her son’s demeanor, the Prince Consort thought Chu Zhen might like Lu Yuan’s liveliness.
Regardless, the Prince Consort liked all three of these young ladies very much.
As for Ji Cheng and Su Yun, the Prince Consort didn’t neglect them, but she spoke less to them. Although these two young ladies were exceptionally beautiful, the Prince Consort felt they probably weren’t her son’s type.
Especially Ji Cheng, who was graceful and delicate, with the ethereal quality of light clouds veiling the moon, and the fleeting nature of blowing snow in the wind. Her eyes sparkled like spring sunlight, adding to her fragile charm. The Prince Consort thought Chu Zhen could probably break her with just a finger. Chu Zhen used to have a cousin like this, and he avoided her intensely. When the Prince Consort cornered him and forced him to explain, he said he was afraid his breath alone would blow his cousin away, so he had no choice but to avoid her.
Later, Chu Zhen indeed avoided delicate young ladies as much as possible.
So the Prince Consort didn’t even consider Ji Cheng. As for Su Yun, she was stunningly beautiful, but the Prince Consort could tell at a glance that she had a weak constitution.
The Prince Consort truly had sharp eyes. Su Yun did indeed have a weak constitution and took medicine regularly, though it wasn’t very severe.
After receiving gifts from the Prince Consort, Ji Lan, for the first time, took Ji Cheng to exchange pleasantries with the various princess consorts, princesses, and duke consorts, to at least make her familiar to them.
Ji Cheng unexpectedly received quite a few nice things. The princess consorts and princesses seemed easier to talk to and more amiable than other noble ladies. Seeing Ji Cheng’s beauty, they asked her many questions.
Ji Cheng was quite surprised but later understood the reason. The princes’ manors were already suspected by the Emperor, so when choosing daughters-in-law, they didn’t dare select from high-status families, only seeking girls from clean family backgrounds. As for the princesses, their lives weren’t necessarily easy either. Princess An He was favored because she was the Jianping Emperor’s full sister, but other princesses might not have such honor. At home, they might even be controlled by the managing matrons, living lives less comfortable than those noble ladies. Naturally, they were more amiable towards others.
The Southern Prince’s Manor’s Chrysanthemum Banquet had some unique features. Usually, banquets started at noon and guests were sent off at dusk. But this Chrysanthemum Banquet was different, called “Viewing Chrysanthemums Under Lanterns” and “Appreciating Chrysanthemums Under the Moon,” so the main feast would only begin in the evening.
Ji Cheng and the others came to the Southern Prince’s Manor after taking an afternoon nap. After exchanging greetings, the young ladies all went to the manor’s garden to view chrysanthemums, though the main event would naturally be after the evening banquet.
At this moment, in front of the largest Jiashantang in the manor’s garden, there was a song and dance performance. They had invited the famous singing and dancing courtesans from the capital’s renowned Leyun Tower, with the famous female musician Ya Le presiding over the performance.
Not only were Shen Qian and Shen Cui unable to sit still, but even Shen Yuan craned her neck to watch. This Ya Le was a famous courtesan in the capital, on par with Rui Yu. If not for the Southern Prince’s Manor’s great prestige, it would have been difficult to invite her under normal circumstances.
Su Yun loved dance and knew all about the famous masters of the day. She held this Ya Le in high regard, as Ya Le had amazed everyone with her artistry at the Mid-Altar Performance years ago.
When Ji Cheng and her group arrived at Jiashantang, it was already full.
The Southern Prince’s Manor’s Jiashantang was very famous and had a unique design. The main hall had seven rooms and was built to very high standards, having once been the place where the previous Heguang Emperor lived before ascending the throne.
Jiashantang was situated on high ground, with climbing corridors on both sides connecting to it, forming a shape like the back of a round-backed armchair. There was a stage in front of the hall for song and dance performances, and even the climbing corridors were now full of people.
Chu Zhen was currently entertaining guests in Jiashantang, but he seemed somewhat distracted. While others were engrossed in watching the elaborate song and dance performance by Leyun Tower, his eyes kept darting towards the path where guests were coming and going.
When the group of Shen family young ladies arrived, Chu Zhen’s eyes immediately fell on Ji Cheng.