The opera on stage had just begun with drums and gongs when a prince’s servant came to report, “The Prince says they’re about to finish as well.”

The women were eating and drinking in the back, the men drinking and eating in the front.

The Princess Consort nodded. Seeing the servant didn’t leave, she asked, “Is there something else?”

“Daoist Mu heard it’s Concubine Yu’s birthday and wants to offer congratulations and auspicious words. He’s currently waiting outside.” Indeed, the servant hadn’t finished speaking.

Prince Jing’s mansion opera garden wasn’t built with towers but used large stones to raise it half a level, with U-shaped corridor buildings. Today, because it was a family banquet with not many people, only the right wing side hall was opened.

Eldest Young Madam said she’d been having headaches recently and couldn’t bear the wind, so she took her maids along with the Xiao family young ladies, plus Chen Shi and Zhang Shi, to sit in the pavilion room below eating tea, talking, and listening to opera. Thus Qiu Sanniang sat in the position beside Concubine Wei. Wei Sixth Miss sat next to Qiu Sanniang. The Old Princess Consort and Princess Consort were on Wei Qiongyu’s right.

Without Mo Zi needing to speak, Bai He switched positions with Xiao Yi and told her, “Daoist Mu is a Taoist from Sanqing Temple, skilled at treating rheumatism, and often comes to examine the Old Princess Consort and prepare medicine pills.”

Mo Zi made a soft sound of acknowledgment, not particularly concerned. Having followed along today, she’d immediately come into contact with the women at the core of Jingfang Garden. The information was already too much—one Taoist shouldn’t come occupy her limited mental resources.

Great Zhou revered Buddhism and Taoism wasn’t flourishing, but Taoists and Buddhists could still coexist peacefully, not like the Middle East launching religious wars and such.

“Please come quickly.” So even the Buddha-worshipping Wei Qiongyu was very respectful of this Daoist Mu.

“Speaking of which, didn’t he volunteer some days ago to find a good match for your niece Sixth Miss? In a while let’s ask him if there’s been any progress. If he’s forgotten, have the young maids beat him with boards.” Because of over ten years of acquaintance, the Princess Consort could speak in such a joking tone.

The Princess Consort’s voice wasn’t high, but Mo Zi was sitting nearby and heard very clearly. She glanced at Wei Sixth Miss at the adjacent table, seeing that half-lotus face deathly pale, biting the corner of her lip to death, the teacup in her hands trembling.

Mo Zi thought to herself that this Wei Sixth Miss clearly still had feelings for Xiao Erlang, but her marriage was evidently decided by Wei Qiongyu, so it would probably be difficult to fulfill her wishes. She didn’t know if Wei Sixth Miss knew that the Xiao family’s most treasured Second Master might marry a princess or commandery princess in the future. If she knew, she shouldn’t still consider Xiao Erlang a good match. Who had the ability to compete with an imperial daughter for a husband? Perhaps even the mother-in-law would have to bow and kneel, daily paying respects to her daughter-in-law. She hoped Wei Sixth Miss would be smart, think it through, and understand the principle that taking a step back opens vast horizons.

Before long, a young maid led Daoist Mu in.

Mo Zi looked—Daoist Mu had a gray beard and long face, wearing a whole suit of ash-gray Taoist robes, holding a ceremonial whisk in his hand. Behind him followed two eleven or twelve-year-old acolytes with ordinary, forgettable faces, one holding a wooden box, one carrying a small chest.

Daoist Mu raised one palm vertically before him, chanting “Infinite Life Buddha,” “Wishing Concubine Yu blessings, longevity, health, and peace, everything as desired.”

“Daoist, no need for nice words—first let us see your grand gift.” The Princess Consort said with a smile. “If you came empty-handed, don’t say pretty words, hurry and take your two disciples and leave.”

The Old Princess Consort also laughed. “Zhimin, you’re too kind-hearted, dismissing him so easily. If it were me, that wouldn’t do. If he has no gift to give, from now on don’t let him come to the mansion, and we won’t buy any more of his medicine pills either. Let him go be a wandering quack doctor.”

Daoist Mu knew the two were joking, but he was very perceptive. Stroking his gray long beard with a chuckle, he laughed and said, “The two Princess Consorts underestimate this humble Taoist too much. Even if my Sanqing Temple is so poor we have no food to eat, on such a day, I cannot come empty-handed, can I?”

Turning around, he took the wooden box from the acolyte’s hands and raised it high to his forehead. “This is what this humble Taoist respectfully offers. Please, Concubine Yu, take a look.”

A young maid naturally went to receive it and delivered it to Wei Qiongyu’s table.

Wei Qiongyu opened it to see two red paper slips with birth characters written on them. “This one is my Sixth Miss’s eight characters, but the other one is—?”

“Oh, let me see.” The Princess Consort asked Wei Qiongyu to pass it over. After one look, she immediately smiled with narrowed eyes. “I just said that if Daoist Mu forgot this matter, I’d have the young maids beat you with boards. It turns out you still remembered to handle it. Very good, very good. I presume these are some young master’s birth characters?”

Mo Zi watched—Wei Qiongyu wasn’t ignorant, but was deliberately pretending not to understand, letting the Princess Consort speak instead.

“Princess Consort is quite right. These two sets of birth characters are a heaven-made match, a hundred-year good marriage. Whether searching above heaven or below earth, one couldn’t find such a suitable pair. Coincidentally, as if fated, the male party’s mother recently came to my temple to divine her son’s marriage prospects and just happened to draw the lot I interpreted.” Daoist Mu spoke with flying spittle, praising it as unparalleled in heaven and earth.

Wei Qiongyu just smiled without speaking—anyway, someone would always ask for her.

Sure enough, the Princess Consort spoke. “A family that ran to your temple to draw lots? Hurry and tell us exactly how good it is.”

“That lady—once I say it, you several might actually know her. It’s precisely the wife of Minister of Rites Yang, Madam Bian. The Yang family has only one son, eighteen years old. Though he has no official titles, he studies extremely well and will certainly achieve top honors in this year’s imperial examination. I’ve also inquired—Young Master Yang has excellent character and conduct. Even better, he hasn’t even taken a single concubine maid. If Miss Wei marries in, she’ll be the legitimate wife.”

Even in this era, even Taoists knew that multiple women in the inner quarters would have fierce, evil consequences? Mo Zi laughed inwardly. This Daoist Mu didn’t even think about whose birthday it was today, talking about legitimate wife. However, looking again at Wei Qiongyu’s deepening smile, she must be truly happy for her niece.

“Minister Yang’s only son!” The Princess Consort indeed knew this family. “Daoist, you’ve truly spoken correctly. If this marriage succeeds, it would be wonderfully good.”

She turned to hold Wei Qiongyu’s hand and said, “Qiongyu, you may not have met him, but I’ve seen that child once. He’s handsome, very refined and courteous, especially filial. Not like our three boys—either rigid as boards or causing trouble. Looking at it this way, he and Sixth Miss really are well-matched.”

Wei Qiongyu smiled quite happily. Minister of Rites was a fourth-rank position, and moreover, the Prince had praised Minister Yang’s character. As for Young Master Yang, who’d have thought he was actually the family’s only son? If Wei Sixth Miss could truly become the legitimate wife, it would count as marrying up. For the Wei family’s transition from commerce to scholarship, it was an even greater step forward.

Thinking this way, how could she not be satisfied? Yet it wasn’t good to show joy too openly. She cautiously asked Daoist Mu, “I wonder if the Yang family has any intention of forming this marriage alliance?”

“Younger sister is confused.” The Princess Consort still held Wei Qiongyu’s hand. “Of course we must first ask our intention before the Daoist can inquire with the Yang family’s side. Otherwise, if we revealed our Wei Sixth Miss’s background and the young lady wasn’t interested, turning a good thing into a bad thing, that would also affect our generation’s friendship.”

“Isn’t that the reasoning?” Daoist Mu answered with a smile. “Though I didn’t reveal Miss Wei Sixth’s details, I roughly mentioned father and brothers are in commerce, uncle just appointed as a sixth-rank district magistrate, aunt is the concubine of an extremely noble family. Madam Yang was very delighted upon hearing this and had me hurry to request the young lady’s permission so she could know more details. In this humble Taoist’s view, as long as Miss Wei is willing, it will definitely succeed.”

“Qiongyu, today must be borrowing your birthday—heaven has sent you a great gift, an omen of great joy and fortune. We must share in this joyous atmosphere. Sixth Miss will marry out from the prince’s mansion—what do you say?” Wei Qiongyu knew how to conduct herself, but didn’t the Princess Consort as well?

Mo Zi listened to them going back and forth, and in just two or three sentences they were about to settle Wei Sixth Miss’s marriage. However, from the sound of it, this Young Master Yang was better than Xiao Erlang. Just not having concubine maids already made him superior to many men. If she were in Wei Sixth Miss’s shoes, with marriage not decided by herself anyway, she might feel it was quite good. The Yang family also seemed to have a simple household, without so many obvious and hidden traps like Prince Jing’s mansion. Most importantly, she’d be going there as the legitimate wife, without needing to clear out miscellaneous people, making herself into an exterminating abbess.

Mo Zi thought it over from all angles and was already starting to feel fortunate for Wei Sixth Miss having such a good marriage match when the situation suddenly took a sharp downturn.

Wei Sixth Miss suddenly stood up, her complexion pale as paper, her expression seeming somewhat dazed. Not until the maid behind her worriedly tugged at her sleeve did she seem to wake from a dream, shaking her off. Simultaneously, she walked quickly before Wei Qiongyu and dropped sharply to her knees, her eyes instantly turning red.

This kneeling startled both the Princess Consort and Wei Qiongyu who’d been speaking warmly, and also shocked the Old Princess Consort and Qiu Sanniang.

Mo Zi knew Wei Sixth Miss harbored feelings for Xiao Erlang in her heart. Seeing her like this, she thought to herself that this woman couldn’t see reason. If she didn’t like this match, that would be one thing, but heaven forbid she say something foolish like refusing to marry anyone but a certain person.

“My child, what are you doing?” Wei Qiongyu was indeed a kind elder. She had some understanding in her heart, but her first reaction was heartache for this niece. “If you have something to say, stand up and speak.”

The Princess Consort had always treated Wei Sixth Miss as a cherished guest and naturally also quickly told her to rise. “Sixth Miss, if you don’t like it, we’ll find someone even better. Why act so aggrieved? With tears swirling in your eyes, looking so pitiful, our hearts feel uncomfortable along with you.”

The Old Princess Consort also offered kind words of comfort and had maids go help Wei Sixth Miss up.

The female masters each had their demeanor, while the expressions of those below were more direct. Most showed puzzled expressions—why wouldn’t she accept such a good marriage?

Wei Sixth Miss seemed determined to speak her mind clearly. No matter how the maids urged and pulled, she refused to rise. Her knees shifted, and now she faced directly toward the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort immediately knew the matter wasn’t simple. With so many eyes watching here, she promptly summoned a supervising matron and instructed, “Have all the opera singers leave, and also ask Eldest Young Madam and the concubines to disperse with the young ladies. If asked, say that Daoist Mu mentioned Miss Wei Sixth’s marriage and she suddenly missed home, causing her loss of composure. Remember, tell the maids, wives, and matrons not to gossip. If any unpleasant talk spreads and we find out who it was, immediately expel them from the mansion.”

The matron received the order and left.

Mo Zi saw the matron finish speaking to Xiao Eldest Young Madam and the young ladies. Xiao Eldest Young Madam wanted to come over but seemed to be persuaded away by the matron. In the end, she could only reluctantly follow the Xiao family young ladies and concubines away.

Having given up this seat at the start, wanting to sit back—how could it be so easy? Mo Zi watched with cold eyes.

The Princess Consort apologized to Daoist Mu, saying Wei Sixth Miss had just arrived, was unfamiliar with people and place, and the marriage matter should be brought up again after some time.

Daoist Mu knew there was something amiss but could only say it was fine, and by the way, took his leave.

When everyone’s attention was concentrated on those two people, Mo Zi lowered her head and whispered something to Qiu Sanniang.