Chapter 264
Chapter 264
Ji Hanyi followed Madam Su to meet the other guests. Madam Su moved easily among the married women, and no sooner had they stepped outside than several people approached to speak with her. She introduced every one of them to Ji Hanyi.
The weather was clear and mild, the spring day peaceful amid birdsong and fragrant blossoms. They sat beneath a covered pavilion in the rear courtyard with tea and pastries before them. Beside the pavilion stood a rockery and a pond filled with fish, while clusters of crabapple blossoms rose behind it, their branches reaching above the eaves to form another beautiful scene.
Madam Su’s acquaintances treated Ji Hanyi with courteous warmth. In less than half an hour, she had met several people.
She had actually known some of them before, though never well. A few had been acquaintances from her maiden days, but after trouble befell her father, they lost contact. Later, after marrying Xie Yuheng, she seldom attended banquets, so the number of people she knew remained small.
Most of the women seated near her were related in some fashion to the imperial family, childhood friends of Madam Su, or those who had heard of Ji Hanyi’s new identity and deliberately come over to speak with her.
After they had talked for a while, a woman approached from nearby. She wore a luxurious moon-white robe. Though her adornments were restrained, her manner was gentle, and a faint smile rested on her face. A pearl hairpin graced her hair. Every movement seemed steeped in moonlight, and an air of cool serenity surrounded her.
A young lady walked beside her, chattering without pause. It was none other than Qin Fuyu.
Qin Fuyu spotted Ji Hanyi and Madam Su as well. She hurried over, first calling Madam Su “Sister-in-law,” then linked arms with Ji Hanyi and greeted her sweetly. “Aunt Ji.”
Ji Hanyi looked at Qin Fuyu in her pink dress, her pretty face bright and numerous ornaments sparkling in her hair. The girl pressed close with affectionate familiarity, delight written across her face.
The woman who had accompanied Qin Fuyu stopped before them and watched the scene with a smile.
Madam Su rose and walked straight to her. “Second Young Lady Cui, has Fuyu been pestering you?”
Cui Chaoyun smiled. “Of course not. I enjoy having Fuyu talk beside me.”
Madam Su sighed. “She never stops talking.”
Cui Chaoyun winked, then leaned close enough for only Madam Su to hear. “I adore Fuyu’s temperament.”
“My eldest brother is competing in a sword demonstration in the front courtyard. Fuyu begged me to take her to watch. I happen to know a place with a view of the front courtyard.”
Madam Su shook her head helplessly. “My sister-in-law is as willful as ever. I hope Second Young Lady Cui will bear with her.”
Cui Chaoyun smiled. “Her nature is refreshing. She likes what she likes, and I would be glad to help bring about a happy match.”
Madam Su smiled. “No wonder Fuyu is always clinging to you.”
“Who would not like your temperament?”
Her gaze shifted, and she introduced Ji Hanyi to Cui Chaoyun.
Cui Chaoyun looked toward Ji Hanyi. She had already understood Ji Hanyi’s identity from Madam Su’s introduction: this was the wife of Marquis Shen whom everyone was speculating about. No wonder Qin Fuyu had addressed her that way.
She curtsied and offered a courteous greeting. “Second Madam Shen.”
Ji Hanyi hurriedly rose and returned the courtesy. “I am grateful for the hospitality your residence has shown me today.”
Cui Chaoyun studied Ji Hanyi for a moment. Her almond eyes were sharply black and white, her brows delicate, her lips like cherry petals. She looked soft and fragile. So this was the sort of woman Marquis Shen loved.
Cui Chaoyun had seen Ji Hanyi before. In their maiden days, Ji Hanyi and her mother had attended many banquets. Lord Ji had been a prominent figure then, and many people sought Ji Hanyi’s friendship.
But Cui Chaoyun’s health had been poor, and she rarely attended such gatherings. The two had never interacted.
She smiled. “We are going to Pear Blossom Tower. Would Second Madam Shen care to come and have a look?”
Madam Su intended to keep an eye on her sister-in-law, afraid Qin Fuyu might do something improper. She turned to Ji Hanyi. “Let us join the excitement. It is still early.”
Ji Hanyi found invitations difficult to refuse and was easygoing by nature, so she agreed.
Along the way, they encountered two other young ladies of the Cui family, who joined them.
Pear Blossom Tower stood beside the wall separating the front and rear courtyards. The building was not large but rose three stories, surrounded by pear trees in a somewhat secluded corner of the estate.
The view from the third floor was indeed broad. From the window, they could see men gathered in the front courtyard for a sword competition.
They were some distance away, but one man in blue stood out. Tall and lean, he wielded his sword with effortless fluidity. Even from the tower, they could faintly hear the cheers rising from the front courtyard.
Ji Hanyi glanced at Qin Fuyu. Ordinarily unable to remain still, the girl now watched the courtyard below in extraordinary silence. Ji Hanyi smiled. It was not difficult to guess whom she was watching-the man in blue.
One of the Cui young ladies cheered beside them. “Eldest Brother’s swordplay is the finest. No one can compare with him.”
That single remark told Ji Hanyi the man in blue was Cui Jinjun, the Heir to the Marquisate at the Marquis of Pingnan’s Residence.
The Marquis of Pingnan’s Residence was a family of military officers. With the realm presently at peace, the Marquis of Pingnan served as regional commander at Changyi. Cui Jinjun had often accompanied his father on campaigns there. He had returned to the capital two years earlier and now served as Commander of the Left Yulin Guard. Young as he was, he had already distinguished himself.
Cui Jinjun was likely close to Shen Si in age, yet he remained unmarried. He was considered one of the most sought-after prospective husbands in the capital.
Ji Hanyi had never seen Cui Jinjun clearly. From this distance, she could not make out his features, but Qin Fuyu’s transfixed expression suggested he was exceptionally handsome.
Other young men followed him onto the field. Ji Hanyi watched for a while and found little of interest, but Qin Fuyu remained fixed at the window.
Madam Su stood beside Ji Hanyi and whispered helplessly, “Fuyu truly is old enough to be betrothed, but Heir Cui’s intentions are impossible to read. We can hardly be the ones to propose.”
Ji Hanyi understood. In marriage, it was customary for the man’s family to express its wish first. The woman’s family rarely took the initiative. Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence was both eminent and related to the imperial family; it could not possibly raise the matter first.
Another cheer rose. Ji Hanyi glanced down and saw that the contest had moved to archery. Cui Jinjun loosed two arrows from one bow, both striking the center of the target. Qin Fuyu cried out softly in delight.
Madam Su hurriedly warned her to lower her voice. An unmarried young lady could not behave this way, no matter how much she admired a man.
Qin Fuyu wilted, but her eyes remained fixed below.
Ji Hanyi had little interest in watching. Cui Chaoyun read her expression at a glance and suggested that she rest on the second floor, where tea and fruit had been prepared. Her two younger sisters had already gone down.
The third floor was intended for viewing and held few seats. Ji Hanyi glanced at Madam Su standing beside Qin Fuyu, quietly informed her that she would wait below, then descended to the second floor.
A folding screen divided the tea room. With Rongchun behind her, Ji Hanyi had just approached the screen when she heard hushed voices beyond it.
The speakers had deliberately lowered their voices, and she could hear only after drawing near. The first words that reached her were, “It is truly unfair to Second Sister. Marquis Shen once intended to marry her, and they nearly became betrothed. If Second Sister had not needed to mourn Father for so long, how could another woman have stolen the chance to marry Marquis Shen first?”