Mudan, seeing the situation deteriorating, realized they had encountered an arrogant and difficult person. Hoping the matter might be resolved if Xueniang’s father was mentioned, she whispered to Xueniang, “What exactly happened? Didn’t you tell them who your father is?”
Xueniang composed herself and replied in a hushed tone, “They suddenly appeared from a side road. The trees blocked my view, so I didn’t see them until we were quite close. Their carriage looked ordinary, pulled by a single horse, with nothing to indicate importance. I thought I didn’t need to yield, so I just moved to the roadside and continued riding. Unexpectedly, they stopped me, seized my horse, and started berating me. I talked back a bit…”
She glanced fearfully at the nearby matron. “They came down from the carriage and threatened to slap me. Terrified, I quickly mentioned my father’s name. That stopped the slapping, but they kept scolding me. I’ve never been berated like this in my life…” Xueniang’s eyes welled up with tears again.
Realizing it wasn’t Xueniang’s fault, but rather the carriage’s occupant either picking a fight or venting their frustrations, Mudan sighed. She gently wiped Xueniang’s tears with a handkerchief and consoled her, “It’s alright. Since they know your identity and didn’t hit you, they probably know your father. It likely won’t escalate further. At most, we’ll let them vent and apologize.”
Shortly after, the gray-clad matron returned, her face clearly expressing her frustration. She grumbled, “You two can go over now, but watch your words.”
Mudan smiled and asked, “Could you please advise us how to address the noble person? I fear we might misspeak.” She guessed it couldn’t be Prince Ning himself or the late Princess Ning, so perhaps it was the fifth-rank Ru Ren.
The matron confirmed impatiently, “It’s Ru Ren Meng from Prince Ning’s household.”
Upon hearing it was merely a fifth-rank Ru Ren, Xueniang’s face showed clear displeasure. Her mother, Madam Dou, was a third-rank commandery princess. She thought, “What right does she have to act so haughty? Just because she’s from Prince Ning’s household?” Xueniang was reluctant to go.
Mudan gently took her hand and advised quietly, “They outnumber us, and regardless, she does have an official rank. Let’s not provoke them further. How else can we get your horse back and leave?”
Xueniang, teary-eyed, glanced at her prized horse surrounded by admiring men. She finally swallowed her pride and followed Mudan dejectedly.
As they approached the carriage, a strong scent of ambergris wafted towards them, feeling out of place in the fresh country morning. Mudan, already unimpressed with the carriage’s occupant, found the smell suffocating.
Just as they were about to curtsy, a beautiful maid with hanging braids, dressed in a pine-green round-collared narrow-sleeved robe, barked, “Kneel!”
Mudan frowned, wondering why they should kneel before this stranger. She hadn’t even knelt before Princess Kang Cheng or the haughty Princess Qinghua. Initially thinking Ru Ren Meng lacked grace for troubling a young girl, Mudan now considered her actions foolish. Even if seeking respect for Prince Ning, humiliating a third-rank general’s daughter over such a trivial matter was excessive.
Xueniang’s face flushed red, ready to explode. The stout man looked surprised, while the gray-clad matron maintained a neutral expression with a slight smirk. Mudan, understanding the situation, ignored the maid’s command and smiled, bowing as usual. “My young sister is inexperienced and couldn’t recognize your entourage or status. Please forgive her mistake, as befits your magnanimity.”
Mudan’s words subtly hinted at the other party’s responsibility – if they wanted deference, they should have made their status clear. Before the carriage’s occupant could respond, the beautiful maid erupted in anger, “How dare you! You startled the nobleperson’s carriage and still argue? Don’t you know this is Prince Ning’s carriage?”
Mudan pretended not to hear, maintaining her smile and gaze fixed in the distance.
Seeing Mudan’s composure, Xueniang’s courage grew. She said, “I’ve already explained it wasn’t intentional. This was a blind corner with trees blocking the view. I didn’t see you, and your carriage had no identifying markers, so I just moved to the roadside without dismounting. I didn’t bump or startle anyone. I’ve apologized if my horse’s dust soiled your clothes and offered compensation. What more do you want? Even the Emperor and Empress are reasonable.”
The maid, furious but unable to counter, sputtered, “How dare you mention His Majesty and Her Majesty so casually?”
Xueniang raised her chin defiantly, “All people are the Emperor’s subjects. I’m saying the Emperor and Empress are reasonable – how is that wrong? Are you suggesting they’re not?”
As Xueniang’s voice rose, onlookers turned to watch. The maid, flustered, stammered, “Why are you twisting my words? I never said such things!”
Mudan silently praised Xueniang’s clever response, thinking surely Ru Ren Meng must speak up now. As if on cue, Ru Ren Meng laughed softly and said in a sweet voice, “Linian, don’t be rude. What straightforward and reasonable young ladies. It seems I was in the wrong. May I know your names?”
Despite the gentle tone, Mudan remained unimpressed. She smiled faintly, “Please don’t mind my sister’s bluntness. She speaks without considering the consequences.”
Xueniang stiffly repeated her father’s name, then pulled Mudan behind her, raising her chin, “She’s just my companion and hasn’t offended you. Direct your anger at me if you must. Do what you will.”
The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a young woman with a face like a silver plate, smiling broadly. Her hair was in a high bun adorned with a white chrysanthemum. Her makeup was light, and she wore no gold or silver ornaments. Dressed in a white gauze robe over a moon-white long dress, she appeared quite modest. Noting the almost mourning-like attire and recalling the recently deceased Princess Ning, Mudan was almost certain this woman was one of Prince Ning’s concubines. She also surmised that the woman must have been upset elsewhere and was now taking it out on Xueniang.
Ru Ren Meng’s gaze lingered on Mudan’s face, a flicker of an indecipherable emotion in her eyes, before settling on the angry Xueniang. She smiled faintly, “Oh my, it seems my maid doesn’t understand proper etiquette and has offended you both.” She then turned to scold the beautiful maid perfunctorily, followed by reprimanding the two matrons who had berated Xueniang: “You two are senior members of the household, yet you didn’t inform me of this incident first. What if people think I’m abusing His Highness’s influence? How improper!”
Everyone was just putting on an act. Although Mudan didn’t understand Ru Ren Meng’s sudden change in attitude, she knew to seize the opportunity to de-escalate. She tugged at Xueniang, who stiffly said, “You’re overthinking it. Since it was a misunderstanding, let’s just clear it up. It’s my fault for being young and reckless, riding without caution. Fortunately, I didn’t collide with the noble person,” she emphasized ‘noble person’ sarcastically, “or my life wouldn’t be enough to compensate.”
Ru Ren Meng seemed to ignore the sarcasm, smiling, “Oh my, you’re making me feel even more ashamed. Where are you two young ladies headed?”
Seeing Ru Ren Meng’s sudden change in attitude and constant smiling, Xueniang felt she couldn’t continue her anger. She replied grudgingly, “I’m going to Sister He’s estate with her.”
Ru Ren Meng gazed at Mudan again and smiled, “This young lady is truly beautiful. Is your estate nearby? Where exactly?”
Mudan, uncomfortable under the strange gaze, forced herself to respond vaguely, “It’s still quite far from here.”
Ru Ren Meng’s eyes sparkled as she giggled, “Is that so? What a coincidence that we’ve met like this.”
Mudan laughed dryly, thinking to herself, “Coincidence? What nonsense. Who’s your ‘sister’? Your sister is probably at home. Just say what you want to say or let us go. Why keep us here?”
By now, Madam Feng and the others had caught up. Seeing Mudan and Xueniang dismounted and talking to people near an unfamiliar carriage, surrounded by stern-faced armed men, they were startled. However, noticing that the girls seemed unharmed, they relaxed and dismounted to watch from nearby.
The stout man glanced at the rising sun and then anxiously at the road they’d come from. He exchanged a look with the gray-clad matron and made a gesture. The matron’s face took on a determined expression as she bowed to Ru Ren Meng and said, “Ru Ren, we’ve delayed here too long. His Highness might arrive soon.”
Her tone was neither respectful nor disrespectful, but Mudan sensed that she didn’t hold much regard for Ru Ren Meng, merely keeping up appearances. Sure enough, a flash of annoyance and reluctance crossed Ru Ren Meng’s eyes. She raised and lowered her eyebrows, then turned to smile at Mudan, “It’s fortunate we met today, though there was a misunderstanding. Please allow me to host a banquet another day to apologize properly.” She glanced at the maid called Linian, who quickly presented two strings of sandalwood beads.
Ru Ren Meng smiled, “For our first meeting, I don’t have anything grand, but these beads have been blessed by a high monk. They’re finely crafted imperial items. Please accept them as a gift for our meeting. I hope you won’t find them too humble.”
Xueniang was bewildered by the sudden change from threats and demands to smiles and gifts. She glanced at Mudan, seeking an explanation, while politely declining, “That’s not necessary. If you’d just return my horse and let us go, that would be best.”
“Of course, of course,” Ru Ren Meng showed no intention of taking back the gifts. She laughed softly, “What’s wrong? Do you find my gifts too modest to accept?”
She then signaled the two matrons to forcefully place the beads on Mudan and Xueniang’s wrists. The gray-clad matron hesitated, carefully examining Mudan. As she held Mudan’s hand, her previously cold face suddenly bloomed into a warm, spring-like smile. “The Ru Ren means well. Young lady, please don’t refuse. It would be impolite to keep declining.” Along with the sandalwood beads, she slipped Mudan’s silver bracelets back onto her wrist.
Mudan felt everything had taken a strange turn since Ru Ren Meng opened the curtain. Instinctively wanting to leave, she thanked Ru Ren Meng and pulled Xueniang, saying, “The Ru Ren must be in a hurry. We shouldn’t delay you further. Let’s go.”
Ru Ren Meng glanced down the road they’d come from and smiled, “I’m not in a rush. It’s rare to meet such kindred spirits. Let’s chat a bit more. Miss He, where do you live? I guess you’re not over twenty?”
Xueniang quickly replied, “Sister He isn’t even eighteen yet.” Mudan sharply tugged at Xueniang, who, not understanding her mistake, fell silent.
A flash of delight crossed Ru Ren Meng’s eyes as she looked Mudan up and down, lingering on her slender, flat waist. She smiled, “It seems you’re much loved by your parents. Not yet betrothed?”
If Mudan had disliked Ru Ren Meng before, she now despised her. She forced a smile and said, “I’ve been betrothed for a while.”
Ru Ren Meng frowned, clearly disappointed. Even the gray-clad matron seemed let down.
Mudan seized the opportunity to say goodbye. This time, Ru Ren Meng didn’t try to keep them, instead lowering the curtain and ordering the carriage to move. Mudan sighed in relief and quietly instructed Xueniang, “In the future, don’t easily reveal our names, ages, or where we live to strangers.”
Xueniang nodded, not fully understanding, and whispered to Mudan, “Sister He, you’re so good to me. I almost got you into trouble. I was scared at first, but I felt safe when you arrived. I’ll reimburse you for the silver bracelets when I get home.”
Mudan showed her wrist, “Look, they’ve been returned. There are many people you shouldn’t offend in the capital. Be more careful in the future.” She thought to herself that in the capital, there was always someone more powerful unless you were the emperor himself. It was better to be smooth and cautious, for everyone’s sake.
Xueniang asked in surprise, “Why did they return your bracelets? What was her deal? She was so fierce and unreasonable at first, then suddenly friendly, giving gifts and trying to please us. What did she want?”
The thought made Mudan uneasy. She replied glumly, “Maybe she didn’t know who your father was at first. When she found out, she might have regretted her actions?”
Xueniang disagreed, “That can’t be it. There must be something strange going on. If she cared about my father’s status, she wouldn’t have troubled me for so long in the beginning.”
Mudan said, “We can’t guess their intentions. Let’s not dwell on it. It’s getting late, we should hurry on.”
As they were about to mount their horses, the sound of hooves approached. About twenty riders emerged from a side road, kicking up a cloud of dust. They stopped upon seeing Ru Ren Meng’s carriage. Ru Ren Meng poked her head out, looking delighted.
A young man in a light gray round-collared robe with a jade hairpin led the group. He approached slowly, frowning, and said coldly, “Weren’t you supposed to have left already? Why are you still here?”
Ru Ren Meng smiled and spoke to him quietly, pointing at Mudan and Xueniang. Several people looked in their direction. Mudan instinctively lowered her eyes and turned her body away. Only Xueniang stared curiously at the newcomers. The man glanced indifferently at Mudan and Xueniang, seeing only a naive young girl and a shy woman turning away. He turned back, gesturing for the stout man to come over and gave him some instructions.
The stout man approached Mudan and Xueniang, bowing slightly. He said formally, “My lord apologizes on behalf of the Ru Ren. She was inconsiderate. He asks that you not hold it against her, for his sake.” He then addressed Xueniang, “Young lady, when you return home, please remember to tell General Huang that Prince Ning sends his regards.”
Mudan had to turn back to face the stout man, returning his bow. Xueniang, feeling validated, beamed with all her previous grievances forgotten. She smiled sweetly, “It’s no trouble. I’ll certainly convey the message to my father.”
Meanwhile, Ru Ren Meng clutched her handkerchief and giggled to Prince Ning, “Your Highness, that Miss He looks so familiar. Have we perhaps met her before?”
Prince Ning frowned impatiently and turned to look at Mudan again.