The ladies cared nothing for whether Cui Jingyu had fixed a definite date — they immediately carried the news before Her Highness the Grand Princess. Upon hearing it, the Grand Princess’s expression shifted slightly. She sent someone to call Cui Jingyu back in, and meanwhile turned to ask Wei Madam: “Marquis Cui was born in the Year of the Dragon, was he not?”

“Yes, Jingyu belongs to the dragon — he is exactly six years older than my Yushan. Yushan was born in the first month, and he in the tenth, so it isn’t quite a full six years…” Wei Madam answered respectfully and in detail.

If Ye Lingbo had been there, she would have rolled her eyes again — it was plain to see that Wei Madam was foolish. The Emperor was at that very moment wary of the Wei family consolidating power. Cui Jingyu had shattered the northern barbarians at Mingsha River, slain the left Prince of the northern barbarians, killed fifty thousand men, and nearly annihilated the northern barbarians’ heavy cavalry — a feat reaching to the heavens, and the Emperor’s enfeoffment of him as a marquis had been done with clear reluctance. Was that not out of fear that the Wei family and Cui Jingyu were colluding? As the imperial clan member appointed by the Emperor to preside over the Flower Festival banquets, the Grand Princess naturally shared the Emperor’s concerns. Yet here was Wei Madam, at every turn calling him by his given name “Jingyu” and making comparisons to Wei Yushan, speaking as though of her own nephew — all but begging the Emperor to notice that Cui Jingyu had lost both parents as a young man and had studied military strategy under Marshal Wei from the age of ten, regarding the marshal and his wife as father and mother.

But the Wei family’s achievements were so great that the Grand Princess naturally could not let it show on her face, only saying mildly: “He is indeed at an age where a match should be arranged — it cannot be delayed any longer.”

“Indeed, indeed — a dignified household like the Marquis Dingyuan’s manor cannot go without a mistress…” The ladies all agreed. Just like the tale of the Guizhou donkey — Wei Madam entering the capital had initially appeared an imposing creature, and the ladies had observed her carefully, cautious and respectful. But having gradually seen through to her true nature, knowing that this marquis’s lady appeared distinguished but in fact understood nothing of the capital’s schemes and intrigues, they inevitably grew bolder, and were already, right in front of her, beginning to make their moves on Cui Jingyu.

Had it been any other lady — regardless of whether she had plans to marry Wei Leshui to Cui Jingyu — she would not have tolerated this: sleeping beside the tiger, how could she allow others to snore at ease? At the very minimum she would have deflected their probing, just to demonstrate the authority of a marquis’s mistress.

But Wei Madam, whether she had noticed or not, simply smiled and went along with it. Until Cui Jingyu was summoned in, and the Grand Princess asked him a few questions, heard that he did indeed intend to hold an enfeoffment banquet, and said: “It is truly a joyous matter. Since the Marquis has this refined intent, it will be necessary to trouble the ladies.”

The ladies understood from the Grand Princess’s words that she likely would not be involved in the matter herself — which was perfectly natural. The Grand Princess had personally honored the Wei family’s enfeoffment banquet with her presence, already bestowing great glory upon the Wei faction. To go to Cui Jingyu’s as well would be excessive, since she had not attended Lord Jing’s enfeoffment banquet. The Northern Frontier Army had barely managed to establish a rough balance of power — if she elevated the Wei faction too much and upset that equilibrium, it would go against the principles of political balance.

But the ladies had no such concerns. The Grand Princess’s words were license for them to act freely and compete at Cui Jingyu’s household for this Flower Festival’s future “top prize.”

Cui Jingyu only said coolly: “It is merely a small banquet — I fear it will not do justice to the ladies.”

But the ladies were certainly not about to let his enfeoffment banquet be small in scale. They each began putting forward suggestions. Lu Wenyin’s mind moved fastest: “Your Highness, I have an idea — I don’t know if it would work.”

“Speak then,” said the female official Su — somewhat displeased that Lu Wenyin had bypassed her to address the Grand Princess directly.

Lu Wenyin immediately corrected herself, glanced at Cui Jingyu, and said: “Director Su, the custom in the capital has always been that the ladies’ twenty-four banquets and the gentlemen’s four banquets are inseparable. The Emperor entrusted Her Highness with presiding over the twenty-four Flower Festival banquets — and by right, the four gentlemen’s banquets should also be arranged by Her Highness. Marquis Cui’s household has no mistress, and his associates are mostly military men. In my view, why not also assign one of the four gentlemen’s banquets to the Marquis? This way he could also become acquainted with his colleagues in the capital, and it would be all the livelier.”

She had perceived that the Grand Princess held Cui Jingyu in regard, treating him differently from the coolness she showed the Wei family, and guessed that the Grand Princess would also be willing to elevate Cui Jingyu. Hosting one of the four gentlemen’s banquets was a rare honor — in the past it had always been reserved for the most powerful court officials. For one thing, there were only four such banquets for the men, yet many contenders; for another, all those who attended were the capital’s highest-ranking noble families and senior officials’ sons. To host one of the four was to have entered the ranks of the topmost noble families at court. Over the past ten years, the names on the Flower Festival lists had changed constantly, yet the four gentlemen’s banquets had been unwaveringly held by the Prince of Ying, the Prince of Pingjun, the Prince of Liang, and Lord Shen the Minister of Rites — which showed how rare and difficult a qualification it was.

If the Grand Princess agreed, it would neatly edge the lowest-ranked Shen family out of the arrangement. The Chen family would naturally be pleased, and Cui Jingyu would owe her a favor. If she did not agree, it would still be a goodwill gesture, and she need not fear Cui Jingyu failing to thank her for it.

The Grand Princess considered for a moment. The ladies beside her all held their breath in anticipation, knowing this was not a matter where they could venture an opinion.

“Xilan, what do you say?” the Grand Princess asked.

Xilan was the Princess Consort of Pingjun’s given name. Hearing this, she smiled and said: “Your Highness, how would I dare to say? I had actually been thinking that the Orchid Banquet matches my name perfectly — and I love orchids — and was wondering whether to offer to host the Orchid Banquet myself. Who knew that Marquis Cui would claim it first? And now the Marquis wants to host one of the four gentlemen’s banquets as well. Everything else is fine, but if the Marquis were to want the Horse Race Banquet, my husband would weep when he found out.”

Everyone naturally laughed at this, and the Grand Princess laughed as well, saying: “Then let the Orchid Banquet go to you, and the Horse Race Banquet can be discussed later.”

“Oh, forget it — let the Orchid Banquet go to the Marquis as well. So long as my husband keeps his Horse Race Banquet, I can go home and take credit for it.” The Princess Consort of Pingjun laughed.

All along, from the time the Grand Princess had taken charge of the Flower Festival banquets, the Princess Consort of Pingjun had cooperated wholeheartedly — more deferential even than the elderly Princess Dowager of Liang, who stood outside these matters. This was the first time she had ever gone against the Grand Princess’s wishes. Though none of the other ladies said anything outwardly, inwardly they all quietly began to ponder it.

“The Horse Race Banquet is grand — my household is modest and cannot accommodate it, so it would naturally be better left to the Prince to host. I will simply hold an ordinary banquet for my colleagues in the capital. Many thanks to Your Highness for your esteem.” Cui Jingyu said only mildly.

All along he had been excessively cold, and his willingness today to host a banquet was already an unexpected delight. Yet these words of his were so perfectly fitting — appearing yielding on the surface, while carrying within them an unyielding fortitude. It was evident that his political wisdom was by no means inferior to that of any official in the capital — he had simply kept it concealed, choosing not to employ it.

Even Lu Wenyin’s eyes lit up with surprise, let alone the other ladies.

The Grand Princess’s expression remained unchanged.

“Then I will trouble Marquis Cui to host first the Orchid Banquet. As for the Horse Race Banquet or the Winding Stream Banquet — those can wait until after the new year.”

Cui Jingyu only bowed and said: “Yes, this subordinate obeys.”

His bow was a sign that he was preparing to withdraw. Yet the Grand Princess said: “No hurry.”

As she spoke, she rose to her feet. The female officials naturally went to support her, and the Princess Consort of Pingjun and the elderly Princess Dowager of Liang also went to help. The Grand Princess placed her hand on the Princess Consort of Pingjun’s hand.

When she rose, all the ladies and young women in the hall naturally rose as well, knowing she had words to say. They all left their seats and stood with their hands lowered, listening respectfully, eyes cast down, looking at the embroidered satin carpet of intertwining dragons, fish, and phoenixes spread across the entire hall, not daring to look directly upon the illustrious countenance.

“The palace entrusted me to preside over the Flower Festival banquets, and the entrustment came hastily — I came hastily as well, and have not yet stated my purpose. I imagine you all have been rather confused in your hearts, not knowing why I came.” The Grand Princess spoke without haste. “It just so happens that today, the matter concerning Marquis Cui has reminded me — let us take this opportunity to speak plainly. Why the palace considers this year’s Flower Festival banquets so important — you all understand, I am sure. The soldiers of the Northern Frontier Army have returned to the capital, and among them are many unmarried meritorious men like the Marquis Cui. Now that state affairs are settled, it is time to establish families. If they can form good matches at the Flower Festival banquets here in the capital, it would be considered a fine story.”

As the Grand Princess said this, her gaze swept lightly over the several commanders’ wives seated behind Wei Madam — and sure enough she saw that they could barely contain themselves.

People blindly second-guessing the imperial will would probably assume that she was pleased to see Wei Madam’s ineffectiveness. Little did they know that, compared to someone with too many ideas of her own — like the Princess Consort of Pingjun — foolish people actually caused the person in authority more trouble. If a scheming person could obtain something from her through their scheming, that too was their own ability.

But when Wei Madam, who should have kept the Northern Frontier Army’s women in check, could not contain matters herself, the trouble had no choice but to be passed upward.

“Of course, for the unmarried there will be rewards, and for the already-married there will be even more rewards — the Northern Frontier Army fought bitterly for four years, and the women left behind also worked hard. The palace will issue noble titles in recognition, to commend devoted couples who endured hardship together. The ladies of the capital should also receive the Northern Frontier Army’s female relatives warmly, just as their own husbands treat the military officers well.” The Grand Princess said: “I will also trouble Marquis Cui to convey these words to the gentlemen outside.”

“Your Highness speaks with the utmost wisdom,” the Princess Consort of Pingjun was the first to respond, immediately bowing: “We ladies obey.”

The noble ladies of the capital all followed her in a graceful bow. Wei Madam only then caught up, and brought the female relatives with her to express their gratitude. The elderly Princess Dowager of Liang, who stood outside these affairs, stepped forward at just the right moment and smiled, summing it up: “Your Highness’s profound grace is truly comprehensive. Everyone has a reward, everyone has a place — the soldiers and their female relatives will now all be at ease. It has truly not been in vain, the Emperor’s trust in commissioning Your Highness to preside over the Flower Festival banquets.”

Amid the chorus of praise and flattery, the Grand Princess remained perfectly calm. Having long been accustomed to the role of “the exalted one,” she naturally knew that no matter what was said, those below would respond with cries of brilliance. Whether or not one was truly brilliant would only gradually emerge with time.

In the midst of the hall’s liveliness, the female official Su Jingrong raised her eyes toward the direction of Ye Qinglan.

To be near power — once the initial awe wore off — often gave rise to the illusion that one also possessed power. Just as she, having followed the Grand Princess for so many years and received the obeisance of others, could not help but sometimes feel as though it were she herself being revered. A word, a suggestion — adopted, applied, spoken aloud as though it were a golden pronouncement, while the most distinguished ladies in all the capital knelt and listened and sang praises…

In moments like these, even someone as composed and dignified as Ye Qinglan — surely the hands hidden within her sleeves would tremble ever so slightly from the surge of emotions.

But Su Jingrong had not anticipated what the Grand Princess would do next.