Tao Yiran was certain that today would see Xin An thoroughly humiliated. No matter how silver-tongued she might be, it could not change the fact that she was the daughter of a salt merchant. A low-born merchant’s daughter crashing such an illustrious event as the Water and Blossoms Banquet—there would be plenty eager to watch her make a fool of herself. Who would have guessed she actually knew the Heir’s Wife of Prince Cheng’s household?
The gulf between the Cheng Prince’s Residence and the Marquisate was vast. The Marquisate owed its standing to the old marquis’s battlefield achievements; the Cheng Prince’s household, however, belonged to the imperial clan—utterly beyond comparison.
After exchanging a few pleasant words with Li Yuyan, the two women laughed together. A breeze stirred the lotus leaves, drawing all eyes toward the pool of blossoms. Then someone, clearly unsettled to see Xin An currying favour with Li Yuyan, stepped forward with a smile. “I hear Huai Jiang is most prosperous. Second Young Madam, might you tell us whether its lotus blossoms are as splendid as those of the capital?”
Xin An lifted her gaze, finding the speaker unfamiliar. Ordinarily, Tao Yiran ought to have made the introduction, but she, wishing to avoid the Second Prince’s Consort, remained obstinately silent. It was Li Yuyan who stepped in. “This is the second young lady of the Prefect of Jingji, Madam Zhang. You may call her Second Miss Zhang.”
Xin An thanked her, thinking to herself that this must be the daughter of the woman who had just tried—and failed—to embarrass the Tang family, now looking to reclaim her mother’s pride. With a smile, she addressed Second Miss Zhang:
“In Huai Jiang, lotuses are grown mainly for their roots. The ponds are broad, the leaves spreading like jade to the horizon—more leaves than flowers. The blossoms vary in form, but most are white or pink. Beneath the white flowers, the lotus roots are crisp, refreshing, and sweet; beneath the pink, they are fragrant, tender, and glutinous.”
“As for the capital’s lotuses, I cannot say I know them well. But this pond before us surely matches the summer splendour beloved of poets—just this one Caiyunfei lotus bloom alone is as radiant as rosy clouds, like a fairy herself, impossible to look away from.”
“Both have their beauty, but their uses differ—it is hard to say one surpasses the other.”
Second Miss Zhang had not expected that an out-of-town merchant’s daughter could so neatly close her trap. Her expression turned somewhat unsightly, but her mother was quick to smooth things over with a few words, and she withdrew, vexed.
Xin An’s lips still held their faint smile, but inwardly she sighed. Yes, she was from Huai Jiang, and yes, she was the daughter of merchants—but that did not mean she was some bumpkin who had never seen the world. On the contrary, wealth brought exposure; that she lacked the right to use certain things did not mean she had never laid eyes on them. Why did these people think she was so easy to bully? Little girls!
Li Yuyan smiled at her before moving off to speak with the Second Prince’s Consort—after all, they were family, both belonging to the imperial clan.
As the later arrivals proved ever more eminent, Xin An did not stray. She simply stood quietly behind Wang Shi, learning faces. If her name was not called, she would not speak—a picture of docility. And after Second Miss Zhang’s failed attempt to snare her, fewer looked down on her so lightly; at the very least, they underestimated her far less.
When most of the guests had arrived, Yan Wenhui invited her to stroll through the gardens. “The Duke of En’s grounds are the finest in the capital. Whether you can name a flower or not, you’ll find it here—it’s called the Hundred Flowers Garden.”
Xin An widened her eyes in feigned surprise. “In that case, I must see it. If I return, it may not be until next year’s Water and Blossoms Banquet.”
Yan Wenhui led her along, chatting as they admired the scenery, occasionally introducing her to new acquaintances. Xin An was quietly grateful, and made every effort to converse with spirit—she had to leave others thinking that Yan Wenhui’s judgement was sound, that she was not someone without merit.
Before long, Lin Yao, Han Wan’er, and others had joined them. With her among them, no one else stepped forward to try to ridicule Xin An, and her day at the banquet was proving far smoother than expected.
She had thought she would simply wait for the feast, eat, watch a little opera, and return home uneventfully. But then, a palace maid in formal attire came hurrying over, bowing. “Second Young Madam, my mistress, the Second Prince’s Consort, requests your presence.”
Xin An was taken aback. In her previous life, when she had attended the Water and Blossoms Banquet, no such thing had happened—instead, she had been nothing but a subject of ridicule. She had certainly never met the Second Prince’s Consort.
Yan Wenhui asked what the matter was, but the maid only replied, “Second Young Madam will know once she arrives.”
“If the Second Prince’s Consort invites me, of course I must go.”
Xin An said she would find them later, and Lin Yao told her to meet them at the pavilion by the rockery when she was done.
Following the palace maid’s lead, Xin An walked on, drawing several curious glances. After winding through turn after turn, they reached another waterside pavilion. Nanfeng and Chunyang could scarcely take it all in, afraid they would forget the way back.
“Second Young Madam, please wait a moment.”
The palace maid went ahead to announce her, and after a short while returned to invite her in.
Inside the waterside pavilion was not only the Second Prince’s Consort but also another lady, whose features bore a five-part resemblance to hers. Xin An stepped forward to offer her courtesies. “Xin of the Marquisate of Wei Yuan greets the Second Prince’s Consort, greets Madam Xu.”
Madam Xu, the Second Prince’s Consort’s birth mother, had a brisk, forthright air. “Second Young Madam, no need for such formality—please, sit.”
No sooner had Xin An seated herself than the Second Prince’s Consort spoke. “You were the one betrothed to be the Marquisate’s Heir’s Wife—how is it that you became the Second Young Madam instead?”
The question was blunt. Xin An understood at once, and replied with a faint smile, “It was a match destined by Heaven.”
“Don’t try to fob me off with that—tell me the truth.”
The Second Prince’s Consort’s manner was that of someone not easily pleased, her brows drawn and her gaze cool. Xin An paused, then allowed a wry smile to touch her lips. “It was simply the result of circumstances beyond my control. But calling it a match destined by Heaven would not be wrong either.”
“I heard it said that Tang Rong walked into the wrong bridal chamber, and once inside, never came out.”
Xin An inclined her head. “It’s all in the past. Fortunately, Second Young Master is a rare good man—there is no loss in it.”
The Second Prince’s Consort lifted her gaze, her eyes making it plain she thought Xin An a coward. Madam Xu interjected with a smile. “The old saying goes, ‘A man fears entering the wrong trade, a woman fears marrying the wrong man.’ Second Young Master Tang is handsome and open in temperament—if the two of you can make a fine match of it, that would be a happy thing.”
“It certainly will be.”
The warmth of the mother and daughter—without ever having met her before—made Xin An wary. Such enthusiasm surely had its purpose. But since they did not speak it aloud, she played the fool. Her father had told her, When currying favour, never rush forward. Make them open the door first—then act as if you are hesitant, make them work for it.
Madam Xu glanced at the Second Prince’s Consort, then drew a smile onto her face. “The reason we invited Second Young Madam here today is that there is something I wish to ask. If it is convenient, I hope you will tell me.”
“Please, Madam Xu, ask.”
“I have heard that the Xin family deals not only in salt, but also in sugar?”
Xin An was a little taken aback. Everyone knew the Xin family traded in salt, owning several salt yards. But few knew they also dealt in sugar. It was highly likely that even Tang Gang was unaware—this was a new venture her father had acquired just two years ago, after being away from home for half a year.
Madam Xu continued, “Do not misunderstand, Second Young Madam. The Xu family is a house of loyal service. Years ago, we accompanied the late Marquis Tang to Huai Jiang. It is a fine place, so we left some of our people there—and thus came to know that the Xin family holds sugar in its hands.”