As Mingtan and Bai Minmin comforted her, Zhou Jingwan’s heart eased considerably. She wiped away her tears and joined them to listen to the sutra, careful not to let others notice anything amiss.
Despite the interruption, the Buddha Bathing Ceremony at the Grand Xiangguo Temple concluded successfully. Attendees observed rituals, sought enlightenment, and offered prayers. The temple distributed blessed beans and sweet medicinal tea, delighting the children. As dusk fell and the evening drums sounded, the temple closed its gates, and the crowd slowly dispersed.
Only as she prepared to leave did Mingtan remember Fengzhao and Yongle, whom she had punished to kneel in the Buddha hall. Occupied with comforting Jingwan, she had only made them kneel briefly, inadvertently going easy on them.
Back at the mansion, Mingtan instructed servants to prepare gifts. She sent Suxin to deliver them to Prince Yi’s mansion and the Grand Princess’s residence, with explicit instructions to first convey apologies for administering punishment on their behalf, then recount the events at the Grand Xiangguo Temple in detail to Princess Yi and Grand Princess Wenhui.
Suxin, known for her reliability, executed the task flawlessly. Upon her return, she not only brought back additional gifts but also relayed apologies from Princess Yi and Grand Princess Wenhui for their wards’ misbehavior, along with promises of better discipline in the future.
Mingtan cared little about future discipline. If Princess Yi and Grand Princess Wenhui truly cared, they wouldn’t have allowed the two to develop such poor character. Sending Suxin was merely a formality, affording Mingtan a few days of peace.
“His Highness hasn’t returned?” Mingtan asked casually after her evening toilette, noticing the quiet outside.
Lüe reminded her, “My Lady, you’ve forgotten. His Highness left for Hezhou early this morning. Though nearby, it might not be possible to return in a day. Perhaps you should retire?”
“I can’t sleep,” Mingtan replied, lounging on the chaise and picking up a book. “You may go. I’ll read for a while.”
Lüe obeyed, replacing the candle with a brighter one and adding a pinch of subtle incense to the burner before quietly exiting.
When Jiang Xu returned late that night, the Qian’an Hall remained brightly lit. Mingtan had dozed off on the chaise, her book open to a page with annotations on last year’s evil-dispelling incense, marked with a deep crease.
Half-asleep, Mingtan felt herself lifted into cool arms. She mumbled “husband” unconsciously, snuggling closer, her breath even and fragrant.
That night in the capital, Prince Yi’s mansion on South Tongbei Street was as brightly lit as the Northern Defender’s residence.
Princess Yi threw a furious tantrum, hurling hot tea and smashing dishes, distraught over Fengzhao’s reckless behavior.
“Please calm down, Your Highness,” a maid soothed. “This isn’t entirely the Young Lady’s fault. Yongle County Princess insulted her. We’d have a case even before the Emperor.”
Princess Yi massaged her temples, eyes closed. “You think our Prince Yi’s mansion has enough face for the Emperor to adjudicate?”
Though the Emperor and Empress Dowager were at odds, he wouldn’t antagonize her over Prince Yi’s household. If the Empress Dowager decided to punish her beloved granddaughter—
Princess Yi’s headache worsened.
Fengzhao, that troublemaker, would be the death of Prince Yi’s household! Offending the Empress and Northern Defender Princess wasn’t enough; now she’d offended the Empress Dowager on her first outing. They should have kept her home and sent her straight to Shu for marriage!
“Prepare gifts to send to the Grand Princess’s mansion first thing tomorrow,” Princess Yi ordered coolly. “Say the Young Lady behaved inappropriately and struck someone. Apologize to Yongle County Princess on her behalf. Also, increase the guards. Don’t let the Young Lady leave.”
“Yes, but what about Jiangyang Marquis?” the maid hesitated.
Princess Yi had almost forgotten; Jiangyang Marquis was waiting to meet Fengzhao. That meeting couldn’t be avoided.
After a moment’s thought, she decided, “Keep watch for now. We’ll let her out on the day of the meeting.”
…
“Mother said that?” Fengzhao asked, her face ashen with disbelief and resentment.
The maid responded timidly, “Young Lady, the Princess is only thinking of your welfare.”
Fengzhao collapsed into a chair, gripping the table’s edge until her knuckles turned white, oblivious to the pain.
Her welfare? Who would believe that?
It was all because Jiangyang Marquis had vast wealth and the Emperor’s favor, useful for paving her brother’s path.
That despicable Mingtan! If not for her, how could Fengzhao have fallen so low?
Suddenly, Fengzhao stood up, yanked open a jewelry box, and thrust a handful at the maid. “Do something for me,” she whispered urgently. “When it’s done, the whole box is yours.”
The maid trembled, even more uneasy after hearing Fengzhao’s request.
Yet, unable to resist the lure of jewels and reasoning that merely procuring some medicine without the Young Lady leaving wasn’t a major transgression, she reluctantly agreed.
…
The next morning, Mingtan awoke in bed, surprised to find herself there and Suxin and Lüe absent.
A young maid informed her that His Highness had returned the previous night but left again before dawn. “His Highness mentioned that this year’s imperial yellow peonies are blooming beautifully and complement the Princess Consort’s delicate complexion. He’s had some brought back for your enjoyment.”
“Did he say that?” Mingtan asked, delighted yet doubtful. Her husband rarely uttered such sweet words to her, let alone to others.
The maid grinned, “If you don’t believe me, Princess Consort, you can ask Sister Suxin and Sister Lüe when they return. Everyone heard it.”
Lüe had gone to the storehouse for incense early that morning, while Suxin supervised breakfast preparation. They returned to Qian’an Hall nearly half an hour later.
When Suxin and Lüe returned, Mingtan eagerly repeated what the young maid had said and asked, “Did His Highness say that?”
Seeing Mingtan’s hopeful expression, the two exchanged glances and nodded.
Mingtan’s lips curved into an irrepressible smile. She hurriedly asked Lüe to help her dress, saying she wanted to view the yellow peonies in the garden.
Lüe agreed, though feeling slightly uneasy. The truth was that the prince’s guard had said, “The Empress sent word that this year’s imperial yellow peonies are blooming beautifully and complement the Princess Consort’s delicate complexion. If you like them, you may have some brought to the mansion for the Princess Consort’s enjoyment. His Highness has already sent people to fetch them.”
But since His Highness had nodded in agreement, Lüe reasoned he must share the sentiment. Seeing her mistress so happy, she decided it was best not to spoil her mood.
Pushing her concerns aside, Lüe swiftly arranged Mingtan’s hair in a simple yet elegant style, adorning it with a peony and butterfly hairpin to match the occasion.
The yellow peonies, cream of the crop among the king of flowers, stood out even amidst the diverse blooms in the garden. Their full, uniform petals glowed a delicate yellow, captivating all who beheld them.
As Mingtan admired the flowers, Suxin approached with the news: “My Lady, an invitation from the Pingguo Duke’s mansion.”
Mingtan accepted it without surprise. With the Buddha Bathing Ceremony over, the next few months lacked major festivals, but the capital’s elite households competed to host poetry gatherings and flower parties to keep things lively.
Last year’s late spring poetry gathering at the Pingguo Duke’s mansion had been the talk of the town. Though it ended abruptly halfway through, it was remembered for its gathering of talents, grand scale, and the Emperor’s marriage decree—which left a deep impression on all.
Seemingly to make up for last year’s incomplete event, the Duke’s third daughter, Zhang Hanmiao, was organizing a late spring gathering this year. This time it was called an “elegant gathering” rather than a poetry meeting, indicating an even grander scale.
Despite her youth, Zhang Hanmiao proved capable. Having extended a verbal invitation at the Grand Xiangguo Temple just yesterday, the formal invitation arrived promptly today.
Mingtan opened it, slightly surprised to find that not only was she invited, but the Northern Defender Prince and Princess were also requested to attend together.
She then recalled Zhang Hanmiao mentioning that this gathering would include archery and polo fields, making the couple’s invitation more understandable.
However, Mingtan doubted her husband would want to attend such an event.
That evening, after bathing and changing into her nightclothes, Mingtan sat by the courtyard in Qian’an Hall, enjoying the gentle spring breeze as Lüe stood behind her, wringing out her hair.
Jiang Xu strode in at that moment.
Seeing him, Mingtan’s lips curved into a smile as she rose to greet him at the flower-laden gate. “Husband!”
Mingtan had merely quickened her step, but Jiang Xu, misinterpreting her intention, instinctively released the hand he had behind his back and slightly opened his arms, ready to receive her.
Though it wasn’t her original intent, Mingtan wasn’t foolish. Noticing his gesture, she happily embraced him.
Lüe lowered her head to hide her smile, curtsied, and signaled the other maids to quietly withdraw.
Mingtan wrapped her arms around Jiang Xu’s strong waist, then stood on her tiptoes to encircle his neck, cooing, “I’ve been waiting for you for so long, last night too.”
Jiang Xu calmly responded with a “Mm,” pausing before managing to conjure up a caring phrase: “Are you cold?”
“I’m not cold when you hold me,” Mingtan replied, tilting her head to gaze at him with bright eyes.
“…”
Without further words, Jiang Xu suddenly lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.
Since their passionate encounter, Jiang Xu had noticed that his young wife seemed to have developed a fear of intimacy, often whimpering and trying to evade his advances when she wanted something from him.
But today she was unusually forward. He had planned to retire early, but she snuggled up to him, asking coyly, “Do you think my complexion is as delicate as the yellow peonies, husband?”
Jiang Xu hesitated for a moment, seeming to understand something.
He paused briefly before responding with a noncommittal “Mm.”
Resting her chin on his shoulder, Mingtan gazed at him closely and asked, “The Pingguo Duke’s mansion is hosting a late spring gathering. Will you accompany me, husband?” She had initially thought he wouldn’t go, but given the current atmosphere, she decided to try: “I heard my cousin’s husband will be accompanying her.”
“When is it?” he asked.
Mingtan recalled, “In ten days.”
“I have to go to Qingzhou in a few days and will be there for some time.”
“I see…”
Mingtan wasn’t particularly disappointed, just slightly regretful. Her husband was so handsome and dignified; it was a shame not to show him off!
As she pondered this, Mingtan lifted her head from Jiang Xu’s shoulder. Suddenly, the brocade quilt was half-lifted, and she found herself pulled into his embrace, their lips meeting.
In the flickering candlelight, Mingtan heard a low, ambiguous voice near her ear: “We’ll see how you behave.”