Cui Hualuan was on the same boat as Song Chuyi. On this long summer night, she pushed open her window and leaned against it to peer outside. Across the broad expanse of water, occasional flickers of firefly light drifted past, darting into the lush grove of trees nearby. The fireflies appeared and disappeared intermittently, emanating a ghostly green glow, as if all the stars in the sky had fallen onto the water’s surface. Though this beautiful scenery should have been refreshing and delightful to the spirit, her brows remained furrowed without the slightest relaxation.
The Taibai True Immortal had read Song Chuyi’s fortune, and with just one glance declared that she was born under a star that portended bloody disasters. Given the Taibai True Immortal’s reputation, there was absolutely no need for him to make things difficult for a young lady, which showed that this matter was absolutely genuine. Yet even so, His Highness the Grand Prince showed not the slightest distance toward her. Before boarding the boat, he had even sent someone to deliver her several books to help pass the time.
She truly couldn’t understand what was so special about Song Chuyi that warranted the Grand Prince treating her with such exceptional regard. Her grandmother’s parting instructions still echoed in her ears, admonishing her to avoid jealousy at all costs and to understand priorities and choices.
She had always known how to weigh priorities and understood that Grandmother and Madam Qin both spoke reason. For sisters to turn against each other over a man would be a laughingstock anywhere. Yet her heart remained restless and resentful. When it came to closeness and precedence, she clearly held the advantage in both respects, but in the end she would instead fall to an inferior position. This truly made no sense.
Danzhu approached with light, careful steps to close the window for her, softly advising: “The night is late, Miss. You should sleep.”
Cui Hualuan couldn’t sleep. She simply got up, draped on an outer garment, and went to find Cui Huayi to talk, but when she reached Cui Huayi’s cabin, she came up empty—Cui Huayi had gone to Song Chuyi’s quarters.
Cui Huayi had gone to read the letter Song Yan had sent back. She had grown up together with her elder sister since childhood, sharing deep affection. With her sister having married far away so suddenly, her heart always remained suspended with worry, fearing that her sister might suffer grievances. Seeing the letter say that all was well and that the Wang family son-in-law hadn’t gone home to gossip about the incident at the Cui family banquet, Cui Huayi couldn’t help but clasp her hands together and recite a Buddhist prayer. Turning back to see Song Chuyi’s lips curved in a smile, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat embarrassed again: “The night before Sister’s wedding, she kept worrying endlessly about Kong Chenjun poisoning the wine, terribly afraid there would be grounds for complaint on the Jinling side. Now knowing that the Wang family is quite magnanimous, I feel relieved on her behalf.”
Song Chuyi set down the letter in her hand. Song Yan had stayed at the Wang family for several days and said he would depart in a few days for Zhenjiang to seek out that Master Qingfeng to consult on scholarly matters. With Cuiting and Wangyue accompanying him, she wasn’t particularly worried.
Song Yan indeed needed to go out and experience the world on his own. As Zhou Weizhao had said, when he was Song Yan’s age, he had already spent a full five or six years alone at Longhu Mountain.
She truly had no intention of mocking Cui Huayi. Seeing her so embarrassed, she couldn’t help but shake her head: “The Wang and Cui families have maintained friendship for many years. Even without considering the Cui family’s face, they must consider the face of the maternal uncle’s wife who married into the Cui family. You can rest assured—Sister Huaying will certainly not suffer any grievances there.”
The Wang family wasn’t as wonderful as one might imagine. This was Song Yan’s first impression. This “not wonderful” didn’t mean the Wang family members were bad people, but rather that Cui Huaying’s husband Wang Ziying was somewhat improper—a man who had been married barely more than half a month should be staying home enjoying sweet bliss with his delicate bride, yet Song Yan had already encountered him more than once at wine houses and teahouses.
Song Yan went to wine houses and teahouses to seek an audience with Master Qingfeng. This Master Qingfeng was rather special. Unlike ordinary great scholars who preferred to stay home maintaining their integrity while pursuing learning, when he had leisure time he loved to roam about, going everywhere without exception. Song Yan was no longer the ignoramus he once was. He didn’t consider Master Qingfeng’s character questionable just because he was unconventional. Instead, he became even more determined to find Master Qingfeng, following behind him every day, waiting for whenever he might agree to meet him—he had already gone to Zhenjiang first to deliver a visiting card and also sent along a personal letter from Cui Shaoting, but none of this proved useful. Master Qingfeng showed not the slightest reaction. Having spent considerable time with Song Jue and Song Chuyi, Song Yan was not an inflexibly stubborn person. After writing letters to report to Song Jue and Song Chuyi, he wholeheartedly intended to rely on his own sincerity to move this rather special master.
But before he could move Master Qingfeng, he first discovered something wrong with the Wang family’s young master. This Wang Ziying, a young master from a prestigious family enjoying great reputation in Jinling, not only loved frequenting teahouses and theaters, but also loved crowding into lively, bustling places. Jinling’s young masters were mostly wealthy. Pleasure boats and floating pavilions were filled with them hosting banquets and feasts, playing shuanglu and card games, accompanied by beautiful women, fine wine, and luminous cups—a scene of decadent entertainment.
Song Yan initially didn’t wish to meddle in others’ affairs. Cuiting and Wangyue both advised him: “This matter originally has nothing to do with Fourth Young Master. Although there’s kinship affection, one doesn’t see people reaching in to interfere with another couple’s affairs. If you truly must intervene, why not send word to the Cui family’s young miss and see what they have to say. Moreover, Jinling is known for luxury. Among wealthy families’ sons, those who play excessively are everywhere—this is also a matter beyond our control.”
Song Yan was no longer a child. He understood the principle that family scandals shouldn’t be made public, and knew that between husband and wife, kinship could be both closest and most distant. Thinking it indeed wouldn’t be proper to manage his brother-in-law’s affairs by bypassing Cui Huaying, he nodded and personally made a trip to the Wang residence—he had originally gone to Zhenjiang, so despite the Wang family’s repeated attempts to make him stay, he still hadn’t agreed to lodge at their home.
But he couldn’t see Cui Huaying. He only saw Cui Huaying’s maid, Qinglu.
This was quite mysterious indeed. As her younger brother-in-law, coming to see his own sister, no matter what, he should have been able to see her. Yet the Wang family insisted that Cui Huaying was ill and refused to have her come out to meet him. Wangyue was clever. After half-coaxing and half-persuading them about the consequences for quite some time, the Wang family with extreme reluctance finally allowed the maid from Cui Huaying’s side to come out. Qinglu’s eyes were red, almost explicitly stating that the Wang family wouldn’t allow anyone out to meet.
Song Yan hadn’t expected such a perfectly suitable, well-matched marriage to turn into its current state. Angered, he couldn’t even stomach the Wang family’s offer of a meal. Upon leaving the gate, he couldn’t help but exclaim: “How preposterous!”
Cui Huaying had married over not even half a month ago!
Young Master Wang being dissolute and muddled was one thing, but how could he even keep his wife confined? This time, even Cuiting and Wangyue detected something amiss. After deliberating together, they suggested Song Yan first write a letter to Song Chuyi to ask Song Chuyi and Yu Shi’s opinion—unfortunately, Second Old Master Cui and First Young Master Cui who had escorted the bride had already returned. Though Song Yan nominally counted as a brother-in-law, ultimately he bore the surname Song, not Cui. Setting aside whether he could manage it or not, even speaking of it lacked confidence, and the Wang family might not even acknowledge him.
If they didn’t manage this matter, it wouldn’t be justified—even on the Cui family’s side, no matter how close the relationship in the future, there would be fault. But if they did manage it, the Wang family had this kind of attitude…