Until the calligraphy and painting gathering ended, nothing else unexpected occurred.
Once again, none of the four girls placed in the competition, nor did Lin Zilan, though this wouldn’t embarrass the four young ladies. So many people had come today, and none of them had arrived with expectations of certain victory.
When the time came, Dong Shi and Madam Lin agreed to attend tomorrow’s flower-pinning banquet punctually, then took their leave.
The journey home passed without incident.
Yilan Garden.
Ziteng recounted the day’s events in complete detail to Nanny Fu, Mi Luo, Lu Ye, and Hong Juan.
The four listeners felt as if they had been scalded in boiling water, all struck speechless with shock.
However, Ziteng didn’t mention that they could swim, didn’t speak of deliberately tormenting Princess Fu’an underwater, and didn’t mention Liang Zhe’s rescue.
Instead, she said that she and Miss were fortunate to have such luck that after falling into the water with the princess and the others, Princess Fu’an was rescued by someone, but no one rescued them. Yet they drifted to shore and were fortunately saved.
Nanny Fu was most incensed: “Miss, the Liu family is too shameless! If they look down on Miss, they should honorably break the engagement. Instead of breaking it off, they make Miss bear this anger, roasting Miss over a fire! Truly despicable and shameless! Princess Fu’an is so lewd and wanton, coveting another’s fiancé and trying to take a life! She’s worse than an illiterate peasant woman, yet talks about copying the ‘Admonitions for Women’ – truly shameless! The imperial family is heartless and unrighteous, shameless and hateful, hateful and shameless!”
Hong Juan’s eyes reddened with anger: “Miss, fortunately you and Ziteng were blessed with great fortune. If they had succeeded today, they would have defiled Miss’s reputation as well – truly despicable!”
Mi Luo narrowed her eyes: “Miss, with the Mu family backing her, plus Seventh Prince’s support, and that person’s favor, Princess Fu’an will likely have more tricks up her sleeve! But strangely, Concubine Kang must already know the whole story by now – why hasn’t she summoned Miss yet?”
Ziteng said: “How could it be so easy for Concubine Kang to summon Miss? Princess Fuping was also present today, plus Miss mentioned Old Madam Mu’s affairs… I’m afraid the inner palace will be in turmoil for a while! Without the Empress’s permission, Concubine Kang is just a concubine. She doesn’t dare openly discuss Miss injuring Princess Fu’an – how could she have the face to summon Miss?”
Lu Ye clenched her fists: “The Liu family cannot be spared, nor can Princess Fu’an!”
They spoke one after another, filled with righteous indignation, talking for quite a while before their emotions calmed somewhat. Finally, Qin Shuying only kept Ziteng and Mi Luo.
Mi Luo asked: “I’m afraid Princess Fu’an won’t let Miss off. What should we do next?”
Qin Shuying smiled coldly: “Spread word about Old Madam Mu’s involvement in the pepper trade. However… I now have Concubine Lian as support. If Concubine Lian learns of this news, I’m afraid…”
Speaking, she smiled and whispered a few sentences.
Mi Luo nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing: “This servant understands.”
“Nanny Mi, withdraw another two thousand taels of silver from the accounts.”
Supporting those people, gathering intelligence, and spreading news all required substantial funds.
“Yes, Miss!”
After Mi Luo withdrew, Qin Shuying entered the study with Ziteng following.
“Ziteng, are you afraid?”
Ziteng replied resolutely: “Not afraid, Miss! What of princesses? What of the imperial family? Despicable and shameless, lacking integrity! Even more detestable is Princess Yongjia!”
Qin Shuying casually picked up a book without responding. She had shown Ziteng all her intelligence. So Ziteng knew about Princess Yongjia’s affairs. Combined with today’s observations of Madam Rong and Madam Ji, and Ziteng being sharp-minded, it wasn’t difficult to confirm Princess Yongjia’s secret.
“She thinks she’s fooling everyone, not knowing that many have already sensed something amiss. However, such matters are ultimately sordid, and many noble ladies still don’t know. Madam Ji seems unwilling to submit, yet Princess Yongjia has never moved against her. Why is that?”
Qin Shuying pondered: “I truly don’t know.”
She indeed didn’t know why. Human hearts were hardest to fathom – clever as she was, she didn’t know everything.
The next day, Dong Shi again brought the three to the flower-pinning banquet.
The morning featured horseback riding. Qin Yue could ride, and though Qin Shuying could as well, she didn’t want to participate. Qin Lulu couldn’t ride, so naturally didn’t join. Lin Zilan surprisingly could ride too, while Lin Si couldn’t and spent considerable time mocking Lin Zilan from the sidelines.
Lin Zilan replied: “The agarwood box sister gave to grandmother yesterday – grandmother was indeed pleased. Sister is most filial.”
Lin Si flushed red with anger. Today she continued searching everywhere for Lu Ruyang, but Lu Ruyang didn’t appear.
Since Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu weren’t participating, they sat in the viewing stands, watching the proceedings with great interest.
Fifty young ladies had entered the field, dressed in riding attire, spirited and radiant, full of vigor and dazzling to behold.
Suddenly, a maid approached and said to Qin Shuying: “Seventh Miss Qin, Princess Yongjia requests your presence.”
Qin Shuying had long expected Princess Yongjia wouldn’t easily let her go and wasn’t surprised. After informing Dong Shi and Qin Lulu, she followed the maid.
Today, having moved from the flower hall to the racetrack, Princess Yongjia naturally sat in the center position. Princess Fuping sat on one side of her, while Madam Ma of the Mo family sat on the other. Next to Madam Ma were Madam Liang, Madam Rong, Madam Ji, and others.
Madam Ma was reading the program and participant list. Seeing Qin Shuying approach, she couldn’t help but take an extra look. Though Madam Ma hadn’t come yesterday, she had heard about the banquet’s events. Recalling the incident at her own mansion after New Year’s, she became even more curious about Qin Shuying.
After Qin Shuying paid her respects, she discovered someone else standing beside Princess Yongjia – the red-dressed young lady who had been following Princess Fu’an yesterday. She had now confirmed her name was Yun Jingshu.
She stood quietly with a serene expression, as if she knew nothing of yesterday’s events, glancing calmly at Qin Shuying.
But Qin Shuying had already looked away.
When Qin Shuying later recounted this, Nanny Fu had mentioned that Yun Jingshu’s father had also served in Jiangnan, as Deputy Salt Transportation Commissioner, making him Qin Yongzhou’s subordinate. The two families naturally had dealings then, and Qin Shuying and Yun Jingshu were acquainted – indeed, Yun Jingshu was one of Qin Shuying’s few close friends.
However, after Qin Shuying returned to the capital four years ago, the two had lost contact. So Nanny Fu couldn’t be certain of Yun Jingshu’s current attitude toward Qin Shuying.
After New Year’s, Lord Yun had just been promoted to Third Rank Salt Transportation Commissioner – essentially Qin Yongzhou’s former position. When Yun Jingshu reached marriageable age, she followed her mother back to the capital.
No wonder she had seemed somewhat familiar yesterday, though Qin Shuying couldn’t place which family she belonged to.
“Seventh Miss Qin, why aren’t you participating?”
Princess Yongjia watched the central field while toying with a jade ornament, asking Qin Shuying casually.
Qin Shuying replied to Princess Yongjia: “Your Highness, this subject’s daughter is not skilled in this area and fears embarrassing herself.”
“Not skilled? I heard your horsemanship was personally taught by your father and has always been excellent. How could you not be skilled?”
“When this subject’s daughter was young and willful, father provided simple instruction. However, it’s been four years since I’ve touched a horse. Being slow-witted, I’ve even forgotten how to lead one.”