Liu Chang returned home, skipping dinner and heading straight to his study. Without calling for a lamp, he lay on the couch by the window, staring absently at the flowers in the corridor. Several concubines came to inquire about the situation, using various pretexts. Suddenly, someone approached quickly. Unable to discern which courtyard they were from in the dim light, Liu Chang barked, “The master has ordered not to be disturbed.”
The person coughed softly, “Qiushi, it’s me.” It was Pan Rong, the Marquis of Chuzhou. He still wore the clothes from their parting the day before, emanating a strong, strange odor and looking dejected.
Upon seeing him, Qiushi’s eyes reddened involuntarily. “Young Master Pan, why are you only coming now? The master waited for you half the day. It’s all too late now.”
Pan Rong’s face was filled with shame as he whispered, “I’ve heard everything. Where is your master?”
Qiushi pointed inside, “Please, try to console him. He won’t eat or light a lamp.”
Deciding it was better to face the music sooner rather than later, Pan Rong gently knocked on the door. “Shu, it’s me.”
After a long pause, Liu Chang’s voice came from inside, “Come in.” His tone was flat, revealing no particular emotion.
Pan Rong entered cautiously. Seeing Liu Chang sitting by the window, gazing at him impassively, he involuntarily shrank back. He first bowed deeply to apologize, “Shu, I’m truly sorry. Yesterday, I meant to inquire about Li Xing’s purpose for buying that pearl. We went to Fugui Lou together, and somehow I drank too much. When I woke up, it was already late. I rushed to find you, heard you had left, knew you couldn’t wait, and hurried after you. I didn’t know you had already returned… It’s all my fault. Please forgive me this time. In the future, I’ll…”
Liu Chang waved his hand, “Don’t speak of it. It wasn’t intentional. Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. Now that we’ve reached this point, it’s beyond our control. Rather than feeling miserable here, we should think about what to do next. I’m not content with losing my freedom.”
Pan Rong stole a glance and saw Liu Chang’s face was calm, seemingly sincere. He let out a big sigh of relief and sat down next to him, smiling, “You’re right. When I arrived at Qinghua’s, she said she was going to play polo near Huangqu tomorrow and wanted to invite Jiang Dalang. She asked us to go too. I’ve already accepted on your behalf… What do you think?” Since it was too late to change anything, it wouldn’t be wise to sour relations with Princess Qinghua now. It was better to maintain their previous relationship. He had made up his mind that if Liu Chang refused, he would persuade him to relent no matter what.
Liu Chang calmly replied, “I’ll go.” Of course, he had to go. This matter was inextricably linked to Princess Qinghua. If she could scheme against him, why couldn’t he scheme back? Qinghua’s banquet was a step above those at the Ministry of Rites, with mostly imperial relatives and nobles attending. It would be a good opportunity to network.
Finally understanding, Pan Rong became cheerful, “That’s the spirit! The future is long; why go against their wishes at this point? You’ve spent so much money; you should get some benefits in return. Besides, Qinghua inviting Jiang Dalang clearly shows ill intentions. It’s good for us to go and try to moderate things, lest she acts recklessly and causes a big scene.”
Liu Chang nodded, “Tell me about Li Xing’s situation.”
Pan Rong studied him for a moment before saying, “Although he didn’t say it outright, I can confirm that the rumors are true. Five or six out of ten of his businesses are connected to the Prince of Ning’s household. He spent over a year searching for the dancing horses specifically for the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration. As for that pearl, it was for the Prince of Ning’s wife.”
Liu Chang frowned, “I suspect he might have met with Qinghua as well. Otherwise, how come we haven’t heard of Qinghua holding any grudges against him?” Given Princess Qinghua’s personality, how could she not seek revenge if Li Xing had usurped her name? Since she hadn’t mentioned anything, she must have made some other decision.
Pan Rong was silent for a moment, “The hunter got his eye pecked by the wild goose. Even I fell for his schemes. This young man is quite something!”
Liu Chang smiled coldly, “With such talent, I’m afraid His Highness the Prince of Ning won’t be willing to let him suffer. Perhaps he’ll just arrange for him to marry a common girl and be done with it?” If he couldn’t have her, neither would Li Xing. Mudan could marry anyone, but not Li Xing.
The next day, the weather remained clear. Mudan woke up earlier than usual. She changed into a light yellow Hu-style robe with a turned-down collar, tied with a black belt. She wore soft brocade boots with slightly upturned toes and styled her hair in a double-heart bun. Instead of using gold or jade ornaments, she secured it with a green silk ribbon adorned with pearls. She looked both neat and vibrantly beautiful. After taking a stroll around the courtyard to ensure her beloved plants were thriving, she went to have breakfast.
Madam Cen asked if she had packed everything needed and inquired about who she was taking along. Hearing that besides the two servants she had arranged, Mudan was only bringing Yuhe, Madam Cen said, “Your riding skills aren’t proficient enough for others to always accompany you. When they get caught up in the excitement, they might forget about you. Let Aunt Feng go with you.”
Aunt Feng was bold and strong, skilled in horse riding and swordsmanship, making her indeed very suitable to bring along. Mudan smiled at Aunt Feng, “Thank you for your trouble, Aunt.”
Aunt Feng didn’t stand on ceremony, “Young Miss Danzhu, just remember not to be reckless and listen to this old servant’s advice.”
He Zhizhong specially reminded Mudan to interact with others as she always had and not to lose her composure.
The eldest young master said, “I’ve instructed He Guang. The area suitable for horse riding is near Huangqu, and that plot of land is right there on the edge. It’s convenient for viewing. Let him take you to see it. If you’re satisfied, I’ll go to the government office another day to file a petition and secure it.”
Mudan agreed to everything without further comment. Just as they finished breakfast, someone came to report that Li Xing had arrived on Li Man’s orders to escort Mudan. The family members’ expressions varied, while only a few unknowing children cheered as usual.
Li Xing walked in, looking refreshed. He smiled and greeted everyone, then caught sight of Mudan. A flash of admiration crossed his eyes before he gave her a brilliant smile. Mudan returned his greeting gracefully, smiling back.
This scene appeared quite different to the He family members. The eldest young master immediately asked, “Xingzhi, where is Cousin waiting? Are you going too?”
Li Xing withdrew his gaze and smiled, “I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be going. I’m just here on orders to escort Miss Danzhu to Qixia Gate to meet up with them.”
The eldest young master said, “Your matters are urgent, so hurry along. I’ll escort Danzhu over myself.”
Li Xing was taken aback. Looking at the expressions of the He family members, he saw that although they were smiling and seemed as warm as ever, something seemed different compared to before. Being a clever and sensitive person, he immediately guessed that something he didn’t know about must have happened. Although he was reluctant to part with Mudan and wanted to accompany her for a bit longer, seeing the eldest young master’s insistence, he couldn’t push further. He simply smiled slightly and said, “Very well.”
Li Xing glanced at Mudan but saw that she had already turned her back to instruct someone to bring the horses, not looking at him. Feeling somewhat disappointed, he reminded the eldest young master, “When I left, my aunt had already gone out to meet her friends. I imagine they’ll arrive at Qixia Gate soon.”
The eldest young master said, “We’ll leave right away.”
Li Xing lingered, accompanying the eldest young master until Mudan came out. He looked at her deeply, “Your riding skills aren’t proficient. Be careful and don’t push yourself too hard.”
Mudan smiled faintly, “Thank you for your concern, Cousin. I’ll remember.”
Li Xing wanted to say more to Mudan, but seeing the eldest young master’s piercing gaze, he reluctantly rode away.
Mudan and the eldest young master arrived outside Qixia Gate to find Li Man and seven or eight elegantly dressed women on horseback. The group ranged from those in their forties to some in their teens. Each rode an excellent horse, and their saddlebags, while not overly ornate, appeared sturdy and practical. The women were laughing and joking, poking at each other with their riding crops, all seeming quite lively.
Seeing the He siblings, Li Man didn’t ask about Li Xing’s whereabouts. She first sent the eldest young master away, then pulled Mudan over and instructed, “These are all my good friends. Their families are in the military, having risen through genuine merit. They’re not overly particular about formalities. Just be yourself when interacting with them, and being open and straightforward is fine.”
In other words, these women came from families that had risen through military achievements, without high-born backgrounds. Thus, there was no risk of them looking down on or mistreating Mudan due to her merchant background. Mudan felt that although Li Man appeared careless, she was quite thoughtful. She smiled and responded, “I’ll follow your guidance, Aunt.”
Seeing her genuine happiness, Li Man said, “I thought you might not come today. It’s good to be carefree like this. I don’t have a daughter, so when I socialize with them, it’s always been inconvenient being alone. Now that I have you to accompany me, it’s much better.” She then introduced Mudan to the other women, not concealing Mudan’s merchant background. As expected, none of them seemed to care much, all greeting Mudan warmly.
Among them was a vivacious lady who was particularly close to Li Man. Her husband was the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and the other women unconsciously tended to curry favor with her to varying degrees, though she remained consistently low-key and composed. She brought along her daughter, Snow Lady, who was only fifteen and had a round, cheerful face. Snow Lady was particularly interested in the fragrance of Mudan’s clothes and quickly bonded with her.
The group chatted as they left the city gates, heading towards Huangqu. Once they reached an area with fewer people and horses, they loosened their reins and let their horses trot. After a while, Madam Dou pulled a hairpin from her head and suggested, “Let’s use this as a prize. Whoever reaches the end first gets it.” With a shout, everyone spurred their horses forward, competing to take the lead.
Watching the flying hooves ahead, Mudan was momentarily at a loss. Li Man hadn’t joined the race and turned back to smile at her, “Let them race. You relax and let your horse trot for a bit first. Once you’re comfortable, you can catch up. Don’t rush; I’m watching over you. I won’t leave you behind.”
Mudan followed her advice. With Li Man on her left and Aunt Feng on her right, and Snow Lady playfully riding back occasionally to tease her, Mudan looked at the azure sky and green grass. All her previous worries vanished, and she couldn’t help but smile.