One lie leads to many more.
Ji Yingying unexpectedly returned to the Yang residence. Not wanting to explain matters concerning Sheng Fengze, she paid her respects to Madam Yang before retreating to Yanglin Residence.
Upon hearing of Ji Yingying’s arrival, First Madam Chen couldn’t help but feel disgusted. “Hadn’t she already started working on the loom? Why does she need to discuss brocade matters with the master again?”
First Madam Chen couldn’t bring herself to like any woman who captured her husband’s attention. Nevertheless, she had no choice but to greet Ji Yingying with a forced smile and accompany her to the study to find Yang Jingshan.
Once in the study, since the matter concerned brocade weaving, Yang Jingshan dismissed the servants.
First Madam Yang, reluctant to leave, took the initiative to serve tea herself. “Sister-in-law is so clever. The brocade weaving has already begun, yet you’ve thought of new ideas.”
Yang Jingshan glanced at her and said, “Put down the tea and leave.”
What could there possibly be to hear? He wanted to drive her away again! First Madam Yang responded unwillingly, “Yes.”
Ji Yingying had initially planned to quietly ask Yang Jingshan to help cover for her, but seeing Chen’s displeasure and noticing her gaze fall on her blue-colored brocade robe with its subtle embroidery, she had an idea. “It’s nothing much. I just wanted to tell Brother four characters: Jin Shang Tian Hua (Embroidering flowers on brocade).”
“Jin Shang Tian Hua… brilliant!” Yang Jingshan, obsessed with brocade weaving, repeated the phrase in a murmur, his eyes suddenly blazing with inspiration. He instantly realized that if they only wove colored brocades that resembled river-washed silk, it would be better to weave additional flowers onto the brocade. Flowers falling on the Jin River would better reflect the name “Huanhua Jin” (Flower-Washing Brocade).
Ji Yingying’s gaze met Yang Jingshan’s, and they both smiled.
Yang Jingshan was delighted to have thought of a way to make the Huanhua Brocade more beautiful. Ji Yingying, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief and rose to take her leave: “Since Brother understands, I’ll say no more.”
First Madam Yang had barely warmed her seat when Ji Yingying rose to leave. Coming in such a hurry just to tell her husband four characters? What kind of idea was that? Who didn’t understand Jin Shang Tian Hua? Adding exquisite embroidery to fine brocade to make it more beautiful – which wealthy lady in the city didn’t wear such embellished brocade robes?
“You were told not to ask or listen to anything related to the brocade competition, yet you questioned her directly in front of her!” Yang Jingshan suddenly turned to Chen with a dark face.
“I didn’t ask her anything, I was just being polite… How was I to know she would say that? It’s just ‘Jin Shang Tian Hua,’ who doesn’t know about that?” First Madam Yang came to her senses at her husband’s scolding, feeling deeply wronged.
Usually, how long did they spend talking in the study? Today, with her present, only one sentence was spoken, yet it earned her husband’s rebuke. First Madam Yang felt utterly frustrated.
At that moment, a pleasure boat was anchored in the lake at the Zhao family’s Bishui Garden. Lotus leaves stood like elegant canopies, and Madam Niu sat playing the zither, her lake-blue silk dress rippling like water in the breeze. She knew when she looked most beautiful, with her hair styled in a tall peony bun, adorned with six pairs of white jade hairpins. At the center hung a string of precious stones, with a teardrop-shaped blue gem resting at her brow. Dressed like an immortal maiden, she appeared detached from worldly matters. A white veil reaching her chest covered her face, preventing anyone from noticing her disfigurement while adding a mysterious charm, like the classic image of a beauty half-hidden behind her pipa.
Yuyuan knelt in the cabin carefully brewing tea, the tea flowers swirling and creating pattern after pattern in the white foam.
“Beautiful scenery, wonderful music, fragrant tea, and a lovely lady.” Sheng Fengze finished admiring the tea flowers, took a small sip, and tilted his head to glance at Madam Niu.
As their eyes met, Madam Niu’s long lashes trembled slightly, her gaze filled with emotion as she gently lowered her head.
How interesting. Sheng Fengze merely smiled.
After the last lingering note faded, she gracefully moved to kneel before him. Yuyuan brought forward a white porcelain bowl. The bowl contained mint leaves, and when Madam Niu dipped her fingers in, they became tinted with green, making them appear even more fair and delicate. She elegantly washed her hands, dried them with white silk, and picked up a freshly picked lotus pod from a jade plate nearby. “Let me peel some lotus seeds for Your Highness to taste.”
“Much obliged.”
Sheng Fengze was quite curious. Why would the legitimate daughter of Vice Commander Niu and Zhao Xiuyuan’s wife present herself as if trying to seduce him with her beauty? Didn’t she know about her disfigurement?
Whatever Madam Niu did, her grace was impeccable in every aspect. Finally, she opened a small jar of wine and invited Sheng Fengze to drink: “In my leisure time, I collected snow from pine forests, plum blossoms, and green bamboo to brew this ‘Three Friends of Winter’ wine. Please try it, Your Highness.”
The wine wasn’t murky like tavern wine, but clear as water with a crisp fragrance.
“Does Your Highness know what my life’s greatest regret is?”
Here it comes. Sheng Fengze smiled, “I’m all ears.”
However, Madam Niu didn’t speak directly, instead asking, “Does Your Highness think I’m beautiful?”
Sheng Fengze had agreed to meet Madam Niu and had investigated about seven or eight-tenths of her situation. Hearing this question, he understood that Madam Niu harbored resentment over Yang Jingyuan’s rejection of marriage. He smiled and said, “Anyone who says Second Madam Zhao isn’t beautiful surely doesn’t know how to appreciate beauty. However, I come from a southern barbaric tribe and don’t speak in circles. Since Second Madam sent word from afar to invite me here for a transaction, please speak directly about what you want.”
“I want the entire Yang and Zhao clans at my disposal.”
How terrifying could a woman’s hatred be? Sheng Fengze smiled, “Do you know how many people are in both clans? Including both main and branch families, there are two thousand people.”
Madam Niu’s expression remained unchanged: “So what?”
She wanted to use the lives of the entire Yang clan to make Yang Jingyuan regret his decision. She wanted to make everyone in the Zhao clan look up to her.
She leaned slightly forward: “Can what Zhao Xiuyuan promised Your Highness compare to what I can offer?”
Sheng Fengze countered, “Do you know what I want?”
Madam Niu smiled: “Yuyuan, that lotus flower over there is blooming nicely.”
Yuyuan leaped from the pleasure boat, stepping lightly across lotus leaves, and gracefully moved five zhang away to pluck a half-bloomed white lotus. She returned to the boat without any sign of exertion and presented the lotus to Madam Niu with both hands.
“Your Highness seemed quite friendly with my husband last time. I grew curious and had Yuyuan eavesdrop. Please don’t take offense.”
No wonder he hadn’t detected anyone listening during his private conversation with Zhao Xiuyuan, given such skills. Sheng Fengze’s thoughts turned, and he laughed heartily: “If I don’t cooperate with Second Madam Zhao, it seems I should expect to be bound and sent to the Military Commissioner’s mansion as a prisoner.”
“Your Highness jests. Didn’t you receive a letter bearing my father’s seal? I first gave you leverage, otherwise Your Highness wouldn’t have come to this appointment.” Madam Niu lightly inhaled the lotus fragrance as she spoke calmly.
If that letter were sent to the Tang court, the entire Niu family would face execution. Sheng Fengze once again marveled at Madam Niu’s ruthlessness. He raised his wine cup: “This year, everyone in Yizhou Prefecture is waiting to see if the Zhao family can protect the Brocade Prince. Therefore, this year’s brocade competition will certainly be grander and livelier than previous years.”
“That day will indeed be very lively.” Madam Niu raised her cup in acknowledgment and drained it in one gulp.