Because of the incident with Ye Qinglan, Han Yueqi was entirely out of sorts. But however chaotic her emotions, her ability remained intact. She helped her mother manage the Peach Blossom Banquet to completion — from the banquet arrangements to the theatrical troupe, from the teas and fruits to the pastries, everything was thorough and complete. She also personally oversaw the send-off of guests in the evening, leaving Madam Han to play cards in the warm chamber with a few close acquaintances. She personally escorted the Ye sisters off, and Qinglan had not departed early precisely to avoid drawing attention to anything unusual — she was always like this, attending to the larger picture no matter the circumstances.

So Han Yueqi felt all the more remorse in her heart and wanted to apologize to Qinglan, but was constrained by the crowd of people and could not bring herself to speak. It happened that Lingbo, that person — whose instincts were even sharper than hers — had orchestrated something so ruthless, effectively costing a human life, which left Han Yueqi somewhat unsettled. Yet Lingbo was full of admiration about it. When they were boarding the carriage, Han Yueqi personally handed the warming brazier to Lingbo, who took it and in the same motion reached out and clasped Han Yueqi’s hand.

“Today’s performance was excellent — the best I’ve heard since the start of winter.” She just looked at Han Yueqi with bright, narrowed eyes and asked: “I wonder if Sister Han personally selected the material?”

Han Yueqi smiled helplessly, just about to speak, when she heard Qinglan’s cool voice from inside the carriage: “Lingbo, come back.”

Lingbo was sharp as a needle in seven holes — she immediately sensed that the atmosphere between the two was unlike usual.

“What’s happened?” She even quickly guessed the gist of it and asked Han Yueqi: “Did my sister lecture you again?”

Han Yueqi had no way to deal with these two sisters. And at that moment Yanyan clamored: “What performance? I want to watch too! Why didn’t you invite me? Sister Han is keeping all the good things to herself!”

Ordinarily this kind of outburst would have been met with laughter all around, but today there was not a sound of laughter — only Qinglan’s flat voice: “Though the material was fine, it was all fighting and killing. Selecting the repertoire is an adult’s affair; children should not become involved.”

“But we’re not children anymore!” Yanyan still wanted to argue, but was pinched by Lingbo and fell silent.

Han Yueqi let out a sigh.

“Tomorrow will be busy, but fortunately the Peach Blossom Banquet has one more day after that. I’m hosting at the villa — Qinglan and I used to play in that valley stream when we were children.” Her voice carried a note of melancholy: “Though we are no longer children, Qinglan will still come, won’t she?”

“We will definitely come.” Lingbo gave her a solemn promise.

Lingbo truly had a heart clever in every aperture — not only had she sensed that her own sister and Han Yueqi had quarreled, she had even guessed the gist of their disagreement.

The affair of the Chen family was most likely Han Yueqi’s handiwork. Although, given Sister Han’s methods, it was probably traceable as antlers on a gazelle suspended in mid-air — leaving no trace. But was there a wall in this world with no cracks? As long as something had been done, it would leave marks. And the consequences had been so devastating.

Qinglan had been raised on the books of the sages and was naturally inflexible, speaking of principles rather than practicalities. Sister Han naturally also had her temper: in the adult world, life-and-death struggles were simply the way of things. Lu Wanyang had struck first at Han Yueqi’s inner household, and she must be prepared to bear Han Yueqi striking back. Both were undermining each other’s foundation for survival — naturally the victor would reign. Lu Wanyang’s miserable end was the result of making the inferior move. Such was her just deserts.

But Qinglan had not been wrong either — this was an inner household tactic of married ladies, not legitimate business dealings. It was not something a young lady like herself should be inquiring into.

Lingbo had long been a young lady of the household and often felt constrained by it. Though she had wealth and family, she could not always act as freely as she wished. Had it been another young lady who had witnessed Lu Wanyang’s downfall today, the sight would likely have made her tremble in fear — this was a human life, and the life of a member of the nobility at that.

But Lingbo felt nothing but satisfaction. How many people had Lu Wanyang bullied and oppressed over the years — even Qinglan had suffered greatly at her hands. Qinglan did not take it to heart, but Lingbo could not help keeping score. She had no fear of Sister Han’s methods today — she yearned for them.

She was already impatient to possess the power of a married lady, to hold up the framework of her own household.

Lingbo returned home from the Peach Blossom Banquet with her mind still unsettled. In one careless moment, Yanyan had already gone off somewhere unbeknownst to her — but A’Cuo was following her, so there was no cause for worry. Qinglan was reading, but Lingbo did not much want to see Qinglan. She loved her own sister dearly, but their paths were truly different. She could not understand Qinglan’s defense of and faith in the proper way of things, and she dared not tell Qinglan of the dark thoughts and schemes within her own heart — so the best approach was to set aside their differences and neither bring them up.

But someone would not let her rest.

Just as she was deep in thought, Niangzi Yang suddenly came in to announce something, entering with a smile on her face: “Second young lady, a guest has brought a gift and is waiting in the main hall.”

This manner of saying it meant it was definitely a male guest. The Wutong Courtyard never had male guests come to call — she had at first thought it might be that little scoundrel Wei Yushan. Seeing Niangzi Yang’s smile, she came to her senses.

“It must be Dai Yuquan, right?” Lingbo couldn’t help smiling: “My fault — with all the commotion from the Chen family today, I forgot about him entirely. Did he really come? Is this because he didn’t get to see Qinglan, and has come to demand an explanation?”

“Young lady need not worry — the Peach Blossom Banquet still has two more days.” Niangzi Yang smiled: “Only a family like the Hans has the resources to hold it for three consecutive days. Word is that with what happened to the Chen family, they can no longer help with the imperial hunt, and His Majesty may have to rely on the Shen family to manage it now. Among the families in the capital with sufficient means, there are only a handful.”

“The wool comes from the sheep’s back — would helping the Emperor ever result in a loss?” Lingbo laughed as she forced herself to rise and change clothes, saying: “If it truly changes to the Shen family, that would also be a fine thing. Just see whether the Grand Princess comes again tomorrow — if she does, then it’s as certain as can be, most likely she’s assessing Sister Han’s ability to manage a banquet.”

Niangzi Yang, being a capable manager, naturally had a love of power, and immediately was delighted to hear this.

“If it truly were the Shen family, that would be such an honor.” Niangzi Yang still used her old form of address: “That Miss Han — to be hosting a banquet to receive royalty at twenty-four years old — among all the ladies of the capital with ranks and titles bestowed by decree, this is the first in a hundred years. It truly takes someone like her to have such talent.”

Sister Han was like her own sister, so hearing Niangzi Yang praise her, Lingbo naturally felt pleased as well. But at such moments, a certain thought always surfaced.

It should be known that Qinglan’s talent, in those days, had far surpassed both Sister Han and Lu Wanyang…

It was just that fate played its games, and things had come to be as they were today. For Lingbo herself to never become a married lady of a household was no great loss. But Qinglan was truly confined within the identity of a young lady — her full abilities with nowhere to be employed. This was why Lingbo, tired to the bone at dusk, would still change her clothes to receive Dai Yuquan.

Having met him once before, it was easier this time. But Ye Lingbo still called two older nannies to accompany her before she came out to meet Dai Yuquan. In truth she also thought it somewhat peculiar — the Peach Blossom Banquet still had two more days; what was the man surnamed Dai in such a hurry about?

But having met him, she could not very well call him “the man surnamed Dai” — so she addressed him as Cousin Dai of the Dai family, and they exchanged greetings. Lingbo saw that today he was wearing a brocade robe and looked quite distinguished, and he had brought a gift — a brocade box placed on the table.

“Cousin Dai is too courteous. It is we who should come to pay our respects to the old madam first, yet you have gone to the trouble of bringing a gift in person.”

“Not at all, cousin.” Dai Yuquan only smiled: “Other gifts you might not find useful, but this one I had to bring today.”

Lingbo was also piqued by his words. Opening a gift in person would be impolite, so she could only wait patiently as Dai Yuquan slowly unwrapped the brocade box. Dai Yuquan sat across from her and watched her eyes alight with curiosity, yet forcibly suppressed — which was truly amusing.

The brocade box was opened, and inside the goose-yellow satin lay two small birds, already dried. Lingbo’s first reaction was distaste, but once she worked out what they were, her eyes immediately brightened.

“Filial sparrows?” She immediately caught on.

Dai Yuquan held up his finger and made a hushing gesture at her. Lingbo also reacted, and quickly fell silent. But her excitement was unmistakable.

Just moments ago they had been speaking of this, and here Dai Yuquan had substantiated her conjecture. The filial sparrow was in fact the yellow-breasted bunting — after the founding Emperor established the dynasty and suffered from headaches, it was discovered that only the yellow-breasted bunting prepared with various medicinal herbs in a wine broth could treat the condition. So when the late Emperor was still at his private residence, he maintained a large flock in the hunting grounds, hunting them to present to the founding Emperor, thus earning the name “filial.” This practice had continued to the present day. At every imperial hunt, the yellow-breasted bunting was served as the very first dish. Though the medicinal formula had since changed — now using herbs for dispelling cold and replenishing the body — this particular dish remained fixed and unalterable.

The Ye family’s close relationship with the Shen family was known throughout the capital. Dai Yuquan was an imperial merchant in charge of purchasing supplies, so he naturally knew that the palace was preparing for the spring imperial hunt, and that the Shen family had been selected to receive the imperial party. He was passing this information to her as a favor.

“Niangzi Yang, quickly — take this gift to Sister Han’s home. Tell her to prepare in advance, the sooner the better.” Lingbo said excitedly. Only after sending it did she think of Dai Yuquan, and smiled: “Cousin Dai, this gift has helped me enormously. Once I’ve finished with things on this end, I’ll be sure to return an equally generous gift to my cousin.”

Dai Yuquan smiled openly: “Cousin is too polite — being able to help is all I could wish for.”

He was so perceptive and agreeable that Lingbo found herself liking him more and more the longer she looked at him. She instructed the kitchen to set aside a place for dinner, saying: “Our household has no male relatives to serve as host, so ordinarily it would not be appropriate to keep a guest. But cousin may rest assured — the companions I arrange this time will satisfy you.”

One good turn deserves another. Dai Yuquan had arrived in the capital last year, and though he was favored by Prince Pingjun, his connections in the capital were likely thin. Since the Zhenbe Army had the closest relationship with her own family, even if she could not invite Wei Yushan, having Yin Hongxuan and Luo Yong come as dinner companions was certainly possible.

Lingbo had made the arrangements and was preparing to go inside when she heard Dai Yuquan say: “I am not without abilities — I will be among those attending the imperial hunt. I hear it is the custom among the capital’s female dependents to hunt birds to mount on hairpins. I wonder what birds the young lady prefers?”

Lingbo had initially taken this for small talk, and was about to say “anything will do,” when she caught herself, and turned back to stare at him in surprise.

Dai Yuquan sat quietly in the hall, smiling and watching her. The expression in his eyes bore no resemblance whatsoever to that of someone seeking to be her brother-in-law.

He was asking what hairpin she wanted, not Qinglan.

Even with all of Lingbo’s calculations, she had not anticipated making a miscalculation like this today.

Her palms began to sweat, and she could not help frowning as she asked: “At the Lantern Festival, where exactly did cousin see the two of us sisters?”

Dai Yuquan still smiled with openness, taking it simply as a young lady’s question — though unusually blunt, still sincere. He answered honestly: “To tell the truth, at the Lantern Festival I was out walking with several colleagues, and one of them pointed you out to me. It was only then that I learned that the Second Young Lady Ye who had beaten me so thoroughly was in fact so young and still unmarried. I was immediately captivated. I hope cousin will forgive my boldness!”

Lingbo’s heart was now truly in turmoil.

The lost hawk was a small matter — where could one not find an admirer worthy of Qinglan’s outstanding character? Keeping a guest for dinner was also a small matter — Wei Yushan had inexplicably changed his ways lately and would come at a moment’s notice. She had originally intended to invite Luo Yong, but he heard of it and came first, and even ate the whole meal properly without saying anything troublesome.

As for Sister Han’s side of things — naturally the news was cause for joy. She sent a gift back that very night: a set of jade hair ornaments, warm and clear and elegant, very elegant and precious, clearly intended for Qinglan. She also sent word saying she was deeply grateful to Lingbo for the reminder, and that Qinglan must be brought along to the Peach Blossom Banquet the next day, as she also had a gift for Lingbo.

If only there had been a hawk at the dinner table…

But this hawk had its eye on none other than Ye Lingbo herself.

How had he come to favor her? Ye Lingbo could not work it out even after racking her brains. She had been plain in appearance from birth — not merely unremarkable among young ladies, but positively a cut below. She had long since severed any thoughts of romance, intending first to settle the affairs of her household, and then to marry someone honest and upright, to manage the family business, without needing to feel much warmth in the marriage — she would simply live her own life.

And yet there had been Pei Zhao, who had turned her world upside down. And now there was also Dai Yuquan — young, with boundless prospects, and he said he had taken a liking to her as well.

Could it be that she truly had peach blossom luck after all?

Niangzi Yang, not understanding the full situation, still smiled and encouraged her: “This is truly wonderful — the young lady’s full basket of abilities needs a man with broad-mindedness to match. He’s in the same trade, he’s young, he has wealth behind him, and he’s presentable. Truly promising. Young lady should not be put off by the title of imperial merchant — Mister Dai also holds a fifth-rank position. Is this not better than marrying some scholar who’s just passed the examinations?”

Good words they were, but Lingbo could not absorb a single one.

In the past, this outcome would have been beyond what she could have dared to hope for. He had power, wealth, ability, and youth. No senior relatives to interfere. Boundless prospects. Here in the capital alone, with no need for her to leave home — she could establish a household of her own, in a proper and legitimate manner, and bring Qinglan and Yanyan along. The Wutong Courtyard was fine, but after all, it was the Ye family’s household.

No wonder Niangzi Yang was over the moon.

But Lingbo had discovered something terrifying.

From the moment Dai Yuquan had declared his feelings, her mind had been full of nothing and no one but that scoundrel Pei Zhao.

Pei Zhao used the young ladies as hawks, deceiving her into being drawn to him involuntarily. Now she too had a Dai Yuquan. No — compared to Dai Yuquan, Pei Zhao was the hawk, a flowing peach blossom mentioned by Meng the fortune-teller: destined to have a beginning but no end.

Her fated match seemed to have truly arrived. Everything about him was right, everything suited her — nothing could appear more in accordance with her wishes, and he was even better than she had imagined, because he actually liked her.

A man’s feelings may not be reliable, but they could at least sustain a few years. Given her own abilities, before that affection had faded, she would long since have built a family estate like Han Yueqi’s, with the entire household firmly in the hands of Ye Lingbo.

But why did she not feel the slightest joy?

The worse the timing, the more likely Qinglan was to find her. That night before sleep, she was sitting on the bed in a turmoil of thoughts when Qinglan came over.

One look and she knew what Qinglan was about to say. She spoke first: “Sister, I know. Don’t worry — I won’t follow in Sister Han’s footsteps.”

Not following Sister Han’s footsteps was not the same as not walking her own path. Given Ye Lingbo’s temperament, she would probably not even bother directing her efforts at the Chen family — she would go straight for Lu Wanyang.

But Qinglan was not fooled by this response either.

Not only was she not fooled — she also sat down on the edge of the bed, took Lingbo’s hands, and looked at her seriously. Lingbo took one look and knew she could not escape a lecture on principles today.

“It is not that I am saying one cannot fight back — only that Yueqi fought back too hard. Someone like Lu Wanyang is too full of viciousness; sooner or later she will reap what she sows. But for Yueqi to act this way is to invite Lu Wanyang’s retaliation. It is true that Lu Wanyang struck first, but Yueqi hit back too hard, and now this has become a fight to the death. What I worry about is Yueqi’s safety.” Qinglan finished, and then laughed at herself: “You see — I am not actually all that upright and aboveboard, am I…”

Lingbo laughed.

Everyone had their own self-interest. People like Lu Wanyang and her circle united purely out of shared interests, with no care for morality or right and wrong. Only Qinglan would feel that she herself was not impartial enough simply because she had stood on the side of her friend.

“Don’t be foolish, Sister.” Lingbo also held her hands and comforted her: “Someone like Lu Wanyang, as long as she lives, causes harm to others. Enduring it as He Qingyi has is certainly one safe choice, but how could Sister Han’s temperament endure it? She wanted to fight for first place, and as her dearest friends, we must support her in fighting for first place. Anyone can be there to lecture her, but not you, Sister. Otherwise Sister Han will start to wonder: why can Lu Wanyang send concubines into my household, but when I send one to her, that’s wrong? And then you lecture me?”

Qinglan lowered her eyes and smiled ruefully: “It seems being my friend is a hardship — I am always stricter with those close to me than with outsiders.”

“Who says so.” Lingbo immediately embraced her and said earnestly: “There are many ways of treating people well in this world. The kind I practice — helping those I care for without regard for reason — is one kind of good. But you, Sister — the kind where, no matter the circumstances, you hold to the righteous path, and even when a friend may not want to hear it, you still speak out for her good — that too is being a wonderful friend. Just as that time at the Grand Princess’s estate — if it had not been for you, Sister, how could we have left safely?”

Seeing Qinglan’s low spirits, she quickly added: “I think Sister is the best person in the world. Flower Season Banquet or no Flower Season Banquet — our Sister is a true first-rank talent. Even the talented scholars of the Hanlin Academy would bow their heads in admiration before our Sister.”

Qinglan was made to smile by her.

“Glib tongue.”

“I’m telling the truth!” Lingbo had been corrupted by Pei Zhao and grinned as she teased her: “Come to the Peach Blossom Banquet with me the day after tomorrow, Sister. Otherwise Sister Yueqi will truly think you’ve grown distant from her on account of Lu Wanyang.”