Liu Chang had abandoned his usual extravagant style, opting for a subdued autumn-colored round-collared robe without any embellishments. Only the pouch and jade pendant at his waist added a touch of elegance, making him barely presentable for the occasion.
Princess Qinghua, however, was different. As before, she wore no makeup, but her attire was exquisitely refined. She wore a magnificent yellow eight-panel silver-threaded gauze skirt with a purple gold-threaded damask robe. Her dark gold waistband was adorned with pearls and jade ornaments, and she wore pearl-encrusted shoes. Her hair was styled in a startled swan bun, with an intricately crafted hairpin from the inner palace that seemed to move on its own. She exuded an air of ostentatious beauty. To Mudan, it appeared like a bloom at its peak, on the verge of wilting – a melancholic sight.
The couple sat side by side, not speaking to each other as if an invisible wall separated them. After greeting Mudan and Jiang Changyang, Liu Chang focused intently on the Xingzhou porcelain teacup before him, as if it were more captivating than any flower. Princess Qinghua, on the other hand, cast sidelong glances at Mudan and Jiang Changyang, her gaze piercing. Noticing that Mudan wasn’t wearing makeup either, she shot her a look of contempt, as if to say, “Do you think you can compare to me?”
Liu Chang said coolly, “What’s wrong with your eyes? Are you unwell? Shall I have someone take you home?”
Going out for social occasions was a rightful privilege of the principal wife. How could she go home now? Where would she put her face in the future? Qinghua glared hatefully at Liu Chang, but his skin had long since hardened into armor, impenetrable even to swords, let alone her glares.
Fortunately, this awkward situation didn’t last long. Pan Rong quickly came out to welcome them, inviting Mudan and Princess Qinghua to join Lady Bai inside, while he took Jiang Changyang and Liu Chang to greet other guests.
The path was long and secluded. Mudan, mindful of Jiang Changyang’s instructions, maintained a distance of ten paces from Princess Qinghua. However, Qinghua stopped and said with a forced smile, “Dan’niang, why are you keeping such a distance? Are you afraid of me?”
Mudan smiled slightly, not hiding her feelings: “Indeed, I am.”
Qinghua’s face immediately fell, her eyebrows furrowing fiercely as if she wanted to lash out. Mudan just looked at her calmly, her eyes showing nothing but caution and alertness. Who wouldn’t fear a vicious madwoman?
Seeing Qinghua’s violent expression, A’jie gently tugged at her sleeve. Qinghua suddenly came to her senses, let out a long breath, and put on an ambiguous smile: “What are you afraid of?”
Mudan smiled without answering. Some things didn’t need to be spelled out.
Qinghua didn’t press further and silently turned to walk away.
The two entered Lady Bai’s room one after another, at a snail’s pace. Several relatives and friends were already seated in Lady Bai’s room, along with female relatives from the Bai family who had come to offer congratulations. Perhaps because her mother, sister-in-law, and sisters were all present, and everything had gone smoothly, Lady Bai was in excellent spirits. She smiled and said, “We were just wondering why you hadn’t arrived yet. I was about to send someone to hurry you along. Did you get lost?”
Princess Qinghua and Mudan both just smiled, without looking at each other.
The Marquis of Chu State’s wife was holding the newborn, her smile so wide she could barely close her mouth: “Everyone says little Nan Nan looks like me…” She proudly brought the baby to Mudan and Princess Qinghua. “Doesn’t she look older than just three days? So fair and clean, a little beauty.”
The child was indeed fair, sleeping peacefully, indescribably adorable, and delicate. Mudan reached out with infinite tenderness: “May I hold her?”
Suddenly, a pair of hands shot out from the side, firmly grasping the swaddling cloth. Qinghua, without looking at anyone else, fixed her gaze on the newborn with the same intensity Liu Chang had studied the Xingzhou porcelain. She commanded, “Give her to me.”
The Marquis of Chu State’s wife’s smile suddenly froze, and the old Lady Bai even frowned in displeasure at Princess Qinghua. What kind of person was this, who had no manners or courtesy?
Perhaps Qinghua noticed everyone’s reaction but chose to ignore it, or maybe she was too focused to notice. Either way, she held the swaddling cloth tightly, and seeing that the Marquis’s wife wouldn’t let go, she looked up at her and said, “My lady, let me hold her…” Her tone had softened somewhat.
It was said that if a childless woman could hold someone else’s baby, it might bring her good fortune, and she might soon become pregnant herself. Qinghua had been married for some time without any signs of pregnancy, and her previous deceased husband hadn’t left her with any children either. On such a joyous occasion, all guests should be welcomed… The Marquis’s wife hesitated for a moment, then finally let go, anxiously instructing, “Please support her here, and here, Princess. The child is delicate…”
Seeing Princess Qinghua obediently following the Marquis’s wife’s instructions and holding the child securely, everyone, whether they knew her or not, inexplicably felt relieved. Chunzhu quickly brought over a crescent-shaped stool for Princess Qinghua to sit on.
Qinghua sat down and stared at the child in her arms for a while. A hint of melancholy flashed in her eyes as she asked absent-mindedly, “Has she been named yet?”
Lady Bai, who had been closely watching her every move, quickly replied, “Not yet. For now, the child’s grandmother has given her a pet name, Nan Nan.”
“Oh. Why does she keep sleeping?” Qinghua frowned and poked the newborn’s face, rocking the child. “Wake up, wake up…”
“Princess, newborn babies are all like this,” the Marquis’s wife said, feeling Qinghua was being far too rough. Worried she might hurt the child somehow, she anxiously moved closer, wanting to take the baby back.
A group of inexperienced people, as if she could do anything to this child! It was the child’s good fortune that she was willing to hold her a bit longer. Qinghua smiled coldly and loosened her grip: “Hold her steady.”
No one cared whether she was unhappy or not; everyone’s attention was focused on the newborn and Lady Bai. Qinghua sat for a while, feeling utterly bored. A group of vulgar women sitting together, gossiping about trivial matters, and even someone like Mudan was more popular than her – it was too ridiculous, too tedious. Just as she was about to get up and leave, a maid entered with a beaming smile and announced, “My lady, Miss Wu Seventeen, and Young Master Cen have arrived together.”
Lady Bai’s face lit up with surprise and joy: “Quick, invite them in!”
From the doorway came a laughing voice: “Axin, you didn’t expect me to come see you, did you?”
Then, dressed in scarlet and radiating vitality, Wu Xilian entered with a broad smile: “I received your letter and knew it would be around these days. Ten Lang happened to be coming to the capital to visit friends, so we timed our arrival just right.” She was acquainted with most of the people in the room and immediately exchanged greetings, filling the room with laughter. Noticing that Mudan and Princess Qinghua were sitting not too far apart, her expression became peculiar, and she secretly glanced at the two of them several times. Qinghua, sensitive to this, glared at Wu Xilian, who shrugged it off indifferently and looked away.
As more and more guests arrived, Lady Bai began to show signs of fatigue. The Marquis’s wife invited everyone to move outside. Wu Xilian refused to leave, pleading, “I haven’t seen Axin for so long. Let me keep her company. I won’t talk; I’ll let her sleep.”
The Marquis’s wife had no choice but to allow it. Just as Mudan was about to follow the others out, Nianyu gently pinched her sleeve, indicating that she should stay as well. Princess Qinghua, unfamiliar with the others and impatient with small talk, saw the three of them forming a clique and snorted disdainfully before sweeping out to tour the garden.
Lady Bai adjusted to a more comfortable position and asked Wu Xilian with a smile, “Seventeen, you lazy girl. I write you ten letters and get only one in return, and even then it’s just a few words.”
Wu Xilian’s earlier excitement faded, and her smile became faint: “It’s strange. I have so much to say in my heart, but when I pick up the brush, I can’t find the words.”
Lady Bai frowned slightly: “Are you two doing alright?”
“It’s just like that, I suppose. Neither particularly good nor bad, just…” Wu Xilian lowered her head, playing with her waistband. “Better than I had imagined before. We can at least manage mutual respect. Life goes on.” She looked at Mudan with a self-deprecating smile, “No need for a divorce now.”
Lady Bai and Mudan exchanged glances, and Lady Bai asked softly, “What about his family? Are they good to you?”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Wu Xilian’s smile became radiant again. “His family treats me very well. My mother-in-law hasn’t said a single bad word about me. She’s a wonderful person. I call her ‘Mother’ with genuine sincerity.”
“That’s good,” Lady Bai smiled tiredly. “I’m exhausted. If you don’t mind the boredom, why don’t you go play chess by the window?”
“We’ll let you off the hook today. You sleep,” Wu Xilian said, pulling Mudan along as they headed out. “Dan’niang, it’s been a while. Would you like to take a walk with me?”
The two chatted about recent events, getting along pleasantly. Suddenly, they heard young women’s teasing laughter from behind a nearby rockery. They were about to turn away when a man’s voice said with a laugh, “My lady, you have such beauty and grace. I’d like to compose a poem for you. Would you grant me that opportunity?”
The man’s voice was exceptionally pleasant, rich, and deep, unforgettable once heard. But upon hearing this voice, Wu Xilian and her maid’s expressions suddenly changed. Wu Xilian turned stiffly, gritting her teeth and scowling as she moved toward the source of the voice. Her maid, horrified, immediately grabbed her tightly, shaking her head vigorously.
Mudan, having a vague idea of what was happening, also held onto Wu Xilian’s sleeve, intending to advise her against acting rashly and to be careful. It was just someone offering to compose a poem for a beauty, after all. If she made a scene, Wu Xilian would certainly come out worse, only adding to the gossip.
Wu Xilian sighed, then turned and grabbed Mudan’s hand, indicating that she wanted Mudan to come with her to investigate. Mudan felt it was inappropriate, but Wu Xilian held her tightly, looking at her pleadingly. The two then sent their maids away and carefully positioned themselves behind the rockery to listen.
They heard the woman laugh and say, “This princess will grant you that honor.” It was Princess Qinghua, her voice filled with unusual joy.