Wang Daxia shared the same thoughts as Prince Jing—Prince Jing lusted after all forty-eight maidens, while Wang Daxia thought only of Wei Caiwei alone.
He desperately wanted to see her, but he also knew how serious the consequences would be if he rashly ran to the inner palace. The current Wang Daxia was no longer the unscrupulous Wang Yanei of the past.
Lu Ying taught him martial arts without reservation and approved his expense reimbursements so readily. Commander Lu had covered for him in the matter of ransoming the White Lotus sect saintess Jin Ying—where could he find such a good superior?
He couldn’t implicate Commander Lu for his own selfish desires. The current Wang Daxia had learned to restrain himself.
But Qionghua Island belonged to the Western Garden’s territory. With Lu Ying attending the emperor there, Wang Daxia would patrol nearby. When the maidens came to participate in the island banquet, Wei Caiwei would surely accompany them, and then he could see her.
Wang Daxia anxiously requested permission from Lu Ying to patrol Qionghua Island the day after tomorrow. Lu Ying said, “If you can perform a complete set of staff techniques from Master Yu’s ‘Sword Manual,’ I’ll agree.”
Wang Daxia found his motivation and, changing from his usual absent-minded state, mastered it in half a day.
After finishing practice, Lu Ying took up a staff to spar with him, move for move. Wang Daxia raised his staff and fought with full force. The two battled among the various altars.
Emperor Jiajing, ascending the tower for a high view, saw this scene and pointed at Wang Daxia, saying, “Who is he? Fighting Lu Ying without falling behind.”
Huang Jin, the Ceremonial Directorate’s seal-bearing chief eunuch attending the emperor, said, “That’s Wang Daxia, Commander Lu’s favored subordinate who’s highly valued. During the great defeat of the White Lotus sect, he achieved great merit and was promoted three ranks to Centurion.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jiajing thought Lu Bing had chosen a son-in-law candidate for Lu Ying and immediately became interested, “How old is he, what’s his background? Is he married?”
Huang Jin also served as Eastern Depot commander and was well-informed, knowing Wang Daxia’s background. He said, “Fourteen years old, unmarried. His family received a hereditary Chiliarch title from the Yongle reign—a meritorious family with a clean background. However, his reputation isn’t great. Nicknamed one of the ‘Four Scourges of the Northern City’ and called Wang Yanei. He caught Commander Lu’s eye by assisting in solving the murder case of Chiliarch Chen and his son. Even the usually strict Fourth Miss exceptionally appreciates him, taking him everywhere. He’s a big shot in the Brocade Guard.”
Lu Ying was eighteen this year and still unmarried. When Emperor Jiajing sometimes mentioned arranging a marriage to Lu Bing, Lu Bing would politely decline, saying she wanted to choose her own husband.
Lu Ying was proud and talented, looking down on any young talents. He’d never heard of anyone catching her eye. Now it seemed this Wang Daxia might be interesting?
Emperor Jiajing picked up a Western telescope to examine Wang Daxia carefully, “Good-looking, four years younger than Cherry Blossom. But as long as Cherry Blossom approves, age isn’t a problem. Her marriage is my milk brother’s great worry—it seems this worry will heal itself.”
In the telescope, Lu Ying used a staff sweep to trip Wang Daxia. Wang Daxia clutched his waist, refusing to get up, saying something. Lu Ying said something back, extended her staff, Wang Daxia grabbed it and stood up, then the two walked back side by side.
Emperor Jiajing put down the telescope and smiled, “Youth is wonderful—so full of life and vigor.”
In the duty room, Wang Daxia said, “…Commander Lu can rest assured. Your subordinate won’t run around carelessly at Qionghua Island or interfere with Noble Consort Lu Jing’s maiden selection. Your subordinate only seeks to see Doctor Wei once.”
Even the dense Lu Ying sensed something amiss, “Why are you so concerned about Doctor Wei?”
Wei Caiwei had instructed that the marriage contract matter not be publicized. Wang Daxia spoke vaguely, “We’re life-and-death neighbors who look after each other. Doctor Wei is also very concerned about me. That time at Jishui Pond’s Hongxiu Zhao, she nearly drowned looking for me.”
Lu Ying said, “I’ve never seen neighbors this friendly.”
Wang Daxia shrugged, “Now Commander Lu has seen it, hasn’t she?”
Lu Ying was simple but not stupid, saying, “If you have designs on Doctor Wei, I won’t spare you. I promised Ding Wu I’d look after Doctor Wei properly.”
Before leaving, Ding Wu had sworn to her, “I won’t return until the White Lotus is destroyed,” and entrusted Wei Caiwei’s safety to her. Though Wang Daxia was more caring and considerate toward Wei Caiwei, Ding Wu felt Wang Daxia wasn’t reliable and preferred to entrust her to Lu Ying.
Wang Daxia thought: You might not believe this, but Wei Caiwei was the one who first had designs on me! Step by step, she made me fall into her web of love. The first night she moved to Sweet Water Lane, she took in runaway me for the night.
Wang Daxia said, “Commander Lu knows your subordinate—I’m absolutely not the type to love and abandon.” I’ll definitely marry her properly!
Lu Ying said nothing more, only made a throat-slitting gesture at Wang Daxia as a warning.
On the fifth day of September, with chrysanthemums covering the ground, the maidens changed into python robes with Double Ninth chrysanthemum medallions. Even Wei Caiwei received one. Shang Qinglan, wearing a python robe with chrysanthemum medallions on the chest, lovingly stroked the golden python embroidery, “It’s all embroidered with gold thread. When I go home, I’ll remove this chrysanthemum medallion and alter the python robe to be bigger, saving it for father to wear on his birthday—how majestic! The neighbors will be jealous to tears.”
By now, Shang Qinglan firmly believed she couldn’t pass the final test and would leave after getting enough benefits.
Wearing python robes and black silk caps with silk flowers or fresh chrysanthemums inserted, they looked dignified yet lively.
Everyone first rode in green-curtained small sedan chairs, then stopped by Taiye Pool to board a large boat and land at Qionghua Island. Taiye Pool’s misty waters were vast, the Western Garden’s scenery was like a painting, resembling a fairyland. This awed the maidens from humble backgrounds. Those who had originally tried to avoid selection were dazzled by the wealth and glory before them, developing lofty ambitions and secretly telling themselves they must stay.
Of course, except for Shang Qinglan, who planned to “shine brilliantly” at today’s chrysanthemum banquet, ensuring Noble Consort Lu Jing would eliminate her. After all, she’d already gained enough.
Moreover, she didn’t need to deliberately play dumb—maintaining her true nature would ensure successful elimination.
She was already impatient to show off her accumulated treasures to her father piece by piece!
Just thinking about it was exciting.
Wei Caiwei knew both she and Li Jiubao would be selected, so she wasn’t worried at all. She looked around, searching for Wang Daxia’s figure.
She missed him too.
Wei Caiwei, carrying her medicine bag, followed behind the maidens. After disembarking, they walked from the dock and waited outside the chrysanthemum garden for Noble Consort Lu Jing.
The supervising eunuch from Chuxiu Palace said, “Today Noble Consort Lu Jing will grace the chrysanthemum garden to admire flowers with all you maidens. Wait here—don’t leave without permission.”
The maidens waited nearly half an hour. Shang Qinglan drank two cups of tea and ate half a plate of pastries before Noble Consort Lu Jing arrived fashionably late.
A young fire-tender swished his whisk and ran over quickly, “Get up and prepare to receive Her Grace—Noble Consort Lu Jing has disembarked.”
The supervising eunuch immediately had the maidens stand in two rows on either side of the path to welcome her.
The attending young eunuchs all prostrated themselves on both sides of the road, not daring to lift their heads once.
First, guide eunuchs walked ahead, followed by pairs of eunuchs carrying ceremonial implements. Between the implements were pairs of musicians playing peaceful tunes. Then came pairs of female officials flanking a phoenix sedan carried by eight bearers.
The ceremonial entourage alone numbered over a hundred people.
The phoenix sedan had a gold-copper pearl top with golden copper phoenixes at each corner. The sedan body was decorated with pheasant patterns and draped in red gold-threaded silk sedan clothes, all trimmed with gold silk edges.
Seeing the sedan, Shang Qinglan whispered to Li Jiubao, “I thought piling gold, pearls, and gems on clothes was extravagant, but now I know our clothes aren’t as magnificent as the sedan’s covering.”
Shang Qinglan wished she could scrape off the gold and pick out the pearls from the phoenix sedan to take away!
Noble Consort Lu Jing descended from the phoenix sedan. The maidens, following rehearsed etiquette, bowed in unison, “We respectfully welcome Noble Consort Lu Jing!”
Noble Consort Lu Jing glanced at the maidens, all wearing identical chrysanthemum medallion python robes and silk caps, distinguished only by different flowers in their hair.
Among them, one round-faced, large-eyed maiden with fair skin had a green chrysanthemum that fell to the ground when she bowed her head.
Not only was this maiden unembarra**ssed, she even gave Noble Consort Lu Jing an apologetic, innocent smile.
This was Shang Qinglan, who desperately wanted to be eliminated. The green chrysanthemum was one she’d inserted herself but hadn’t secured properly. When they traveled to Qionghua Island by boat, she curiously leaned against the railing to admire the scenery. The strong lake wind loosened the green chrysanthemum, so it fell when she bowed—it wasn’t intentional.
Noble Consort Lu Jing said, “Rise.” She whispered to a nearby eunuch, “Note her name down. She must be selected this time and prepared for Prince Yu’s mansion.”
Since she needed to make up numbers to display her virtue, such a foolish person could be stuffed into Prince Yu’s household. Even if she conceived, she’d likely birth some kind of fool.
Shang Qinglan was oblivious, thinking she was about to be eliminated and delighted. She picked up the green chrysanthemum—this really is my lucky star!
Li Jiubao thought she’d done it deliberately and whispered, “Looks like you’ll get your wish.”
Shang Qinglan chuckled, “I’ll miss you after leaving the palace.” Today went so smoothly—successful elimination.
Noble Consort Lu Jing first entered the chrysanthemum garden. A female official beside her called loudly, “Proceed!”
The maidens split into two groups, following Noble Consort Lu Jing in single file. The chrysanthemum banquet was about to begin.
Wei Caiwei, carrying her medicine bag, deliberately stayed at the back. When everyone had entered the chrysanthemum garden, a familiar figure emerged from behind artificial rocks—Wang Daxia.
Wei Caiwei: Not seeing him for over half a month, he seemed much taller with a more mature bearing.
Wang Daxia: Doctor Wei looks so imposing and beautiful in python robes!
They smiled at each other. Wang Daxia reached out, “It’s heavy, isn’t it? Let me carry it.”
Having already written their marriage contract, Wei Caiwei didn’t need to be formal with him. She handed him the medicine bag, and they walked side by side into the chrysanthemum garden.
Meanwhile, Emperor Jiajing was meditating in Qingyi Studio. Seeing Lu Ying alone today, he asked, “Where’s that Wang Daxia?”
Lu Ying hadn’t expected the emperor to ask about such an insignificant figure and quickly replied, “Today I assigned him to patrol Qionghua Island in the Western Garden.”
In Emperor Jiajing’s eyes, Lu Ying indeed treated Wang Daxia differently—they seemed promising. Lu Ying was like his niece, and he hoped to marry her off soon to resolve his milk brother Lu Bing’s great worry. Thus he developed keen interest in Wang Daxia.
“I haven’t visited Qionghua Island in ages. There’s a chrysanthemum garden there with only chrysanthemums, no other flowers. With autumn here, it should be most beautiful. Accompany me to admire the chrysanthemums.” And test what abilities that boy has to move the proud, cold Cherry Blossom.
Author’s Note: Lanzhou: Finally about to wildly spill melodrama, flies rubbing hands together
Note 1: This court etiquette comes from the Ming Dynasty story collection “Pearl Destiny”