Just as during the Jin Dynasty, when many daughters from distinguished families with talent and beauty would strategically scheme to ascend to the most noble position among all women in the realm—the position of Empress—naturally there were also ambitious men who wished to ascend to the position of Imperial Consort.
However, during the Jin Dynasty, the entire Jin nation’s ideology of male superiority over females was still extremely severe. No matter how much men inwardly yearned for the position of Imperial Consort, deep in their bones, they still worried that using schemes to ascend to the Imperial Consort position would invite people to gossip behind their backs. So they acted even more subtly than women, not dressing themselves too ostentatiously, yet they had all put considerable thought into their appearance.
Originally, people thought that after the Yan nation envoys who came to the capital committed the act of assassinating Great Zhou’s court ministers, Bai Qingyan would certainly not invite the Yan nation envoys to this flower banquet. Unexpectedly, the palace still invited the Yan nation diplomatic mission and followed state protocol by inviting the Yan nation envoys into the palace first.
It was already May, and the sun was still quite fierce during the day. The young ladies from various families, dressed up like delicate flowers, had to dismount from their carriages outside the palace gates and follow proper etiquette by walking into the palace alongside their family elders. Some who had pursued an overly gorgeous dress had already worked up a light sweat from being bundled up, and after following the eunuchs for such a long walk, fine perspiration had appeared on their foreheads, causing their makeup to smudge somewhat.
In contrast, girls like Dong Tingzhen and Lu Baohua, who had dressed extremely plainly with simple clothing, though they had also perspired, instead gained a few touches of natural blush on their unpowdered faces, making them quite attractive.
Li Shi and Wang Shi had designated the Pinxiang Hall for this flower appreciation banquet. This Pinxiang Hall was originally built by the Jin Dynasty emperor for Consort Tong during her time of great favor…
Pinxiang Hall was built amidst a profusion of flowers that surrounded it, their fragrance intoxicating. The hall had no walls on any side, only dozens of thick and heavy gold-painted white jade lotus-shaped column bases, with sandalwood pillars carved with phoenixes supporting the hall’s imposing and majestic layered roof. Not only were there glazed golden tiles, but even both ends of the rafters and beams featured golden phoenix and beast carvings.
Copper bells hung beneath the hall’s eaves along with hollow paulownia balls containing medicinal herbs to repel mosquitoes and insects. When the wind passed through, one could hear the delicate copper bells chiming in scattered harmony, quite pleasant to the ear.
From between the hall’s round pillars hung layer upon layer of light gauze curtains, gathered to the sides of the pillars with golden hooks. The colors graduated from deep to light, like gradually blooming flower petals.
The hall’s floor was laid with fragrant wood. There were no railings to obstruct the view, only bronze crane lamps over half a person’s height placed every five steps along the edges. The flowers were right before one’s eyes—standing in the hall, one could smell the rich, fragrant scent of flowers and plants. Every aspect was refined and elegant.
On clear days, this Pinxiang Hall, standing amid this rarely seen collection of exquisite flowers, set against the azure sky and white clouds, illuminated by the sun’s golden light, was truly dazzling and brilliant, more eye-catching than the flowers surrounding it.
Today the daughters were all dressed quite beautifully. Many young girls in the bloom of youth had golden peach blossom forehead ornaments pasted between their brows, wearing various colors of lovely skirts and shirts, extremely attractive.
Before the flower banquet began, Empress Dowager Dong Shi let the various families’ female relatives freely appreciate the flowers. Everywhere there were sounds of chatting and laughter, quite lively.
Using Pinxiang Hall as the dividing line, on the left side… court officials stood together with familiar colleagues, drinking tea and chatting, or introducing their sons to colleagues, some even asking colleagues to instruct their sons in literary studies. From time to time, scholarly recitations could be heard, all discussing the sayings of sages.
On the right side, the various families’ dowager ladies and madams brought their female relatives. The young ladies gathered with familiar handkerchief friends, their laughter light and clear, joyful and boisterous.
In the pavilion, Old Dowager Dong sat at Dong Shi’s lower seat, looking at these flower-like young ladies, feeling that each was excellent, just not knowing which young lady would have affinity with their family’s Changyuan.
Previously, Old Dowager Dong had taken a liking to Imperial Physician Huang’s young daughter, Huang Arong. Huang Arong’s grandmother knew this, so today she had specially dressed the young lady prettily. The young lady wore frost-colored silk robes with a water-green skirt hem, quite refreshing indeed.
Huang Arong was standing with the Zhen family’s Third Miss. The two young ladies seemed not to have seen each other for a long time, coming together to hold each other’s hands and bow to each other. Then the Zhen family’s Third Miss was seen using her round fan to cover her lips as she whispered something in Huang Arong’s ear. Huang Arong looked incredulous, her eyes widening, a pair of eyes both dark and bright, very adorable.
Old Dowager Dong’s heart was even more delighted. It was said that the eyes reveal a person’s true nature. The Huang family’s Arong, with such a cheerful, lively, and guileless temperament, would certainly be able to get along harmoniously with Changyuan.
The Zhen family’s Third Miss gestured to Huang Arong with her hands: “I specially had someone make a spear this tall. Any longer would be too heavy and inconvenient for us to use. Anyway, my father promised in his letter that once I practice to a presentable level, he’ll allow me to join the army. Then we can go enlist in the Bai family army together!”
“I did learn a few moves from the Bai family’s Xiao Si. Tomorrow, when I get the spear, I’ll teach you… Consider it my thank-you gift to you! Not letting you give me anything makes me feel quite bad about it!” Huang Arong said.
“Excellent!” The Zhen family’s Third Miss thought of when she had seen Bai Qingyan returning in great victory, in silver armor with cold light gleaming, holding a silver spear—what a heroic and dashing figure. She had envied it in her heart for a long time.
Thinking that tomorrow she could get her custom-made red-tasseled spear, she clutched her round fan and imagined herself gripping the spear, and couldn’t help but randomly perform two moves: “When will I also be able to become a great general like our Majesty?”
The Zhen family’s Third Miss thought their location was secluded and no one would notice, but unexpectedly, Old Dowager Dong saw everything.
“We can do it!” Huang Arong was quite confident. “The Bai family’s Xiao Si said that as long as one is willing to work hard, anyone can succeed! Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne and allows us women to enter court as officials, allowed to build careers and achievements! We’re not like Lu Fenglang, Dong Tingzhen, and Tan Yaocen, who are good at studying. If we want to avoid being looked down upon, we can only join the army!”
“Your family has practiced medicine for generations. Why must you endure this hardship…” The Zhen family’s Third Miss knew about Huang Arong’s medical skills. At this age, she was already following her grandmother to take pulses for inner courtyard madams—truly impressive.
“Xiao Si and I are close friends! After she joined the army, she’s always away from the capital, and we go long periods without seeing each other. If I also join the army, I can be with her every day! We promised each other… good sisters won’t be separated!” Huang Arong imitated Bai Jinzhi’s usual manner of standing with hands clasped behind her back, puffing out her chest: “Besides, I need to show Xiao Si that I’m not as weak as she thinks, always needing her protection! I’m going to Nan Jiang to give her a big surprise.”
Huang Arong didn’t mention that she knew today her grandmother had specially dressed her up like a blooming flower—most likely having discussed her marriage arrangements with some family.