Xin An’s few words made Tao Yiran’s vision darken—she nearly shut her eyes and fainted on the spot. Yet she could not muster a single retort. Xin An’s smile grew even more radiant.
In her previous life, hearing such words had left her unbearably stifled—her own husband taken away by her sister-in-law, yet she was accused of being petty and lacking tolerance. Most galling of all, even when she was clearly the one wronged, as long as Tao Yiran shed a few tears, Tang Rong would inevitably come to give her a cold face and lecture her for her narrow-mindedness.
Tang Mo had told her not to dwell on the past, to look forward instead. Truth be told, Tang Mo treated her well—she ought to be mindful of his feelings, to protect his reputation. Thus she had resolved to ignore Tang Rong. But some things could not be simply put aside just because one decided to let go. Some grievances deserved to be tasted by Tao Yiran herself.
Nanny Liu supported Tao Yiran, looking as if she wished to speak but dared not. Tao Yiran’s maid glared viciously at Xin An. Chunyang and Chunlü returned the look in kind, Chunyang even rolling up her sleeves—making it perfectly clear she would not hesitate to act if provoked.
Fortunately, Xin An had no intention of striking a single, fatal blow—better to draw it out slowly, like a steady stream. “I hear that Spring Blossom Courtyard has gained a new Concubine Yue. Congratulations, Eldest Sister-in-law—you now have another sister. What good fortune, to have someone share your burdens.”
“Mother has matters for me to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. Eldest Sister-in-law, please do as you wish.”
Once she was gone, Tao Yiran all but collapsed against Nanny Liu. The nursemaid quickly soothed her. “Young Madam, don’t take it to heart. The Heir’s devotion to you is plain for all the servants to see—without the slightest falsehood. The Second Young Madam is doing it on purpose, just to provoke you into doing something improper.”
The maids chimed in, eager to prove how true Tang Rong’s affections were, claiming that Xin An’s bravado was nothing but a paper tiger, hardly worth fearing. Only then did Tao Yiran’s mood improve somewhat. Even so, she spent half the day lying abed after returning.
Xin An, by contrast, went to handle two matters Wang Shi had entrusted to her, then returned to sort through her dowry. Everything suitable for gifting was set aside in a separate pile.
That evening, Tang Mo did not return for supper. Er Shan came back with a message that he had gone to the martial hall to seek instruction from a weapons master.
Tao Yiran had planned to cry her heart out before Tang Rong, but with the Ministry of Rites so busy of late, he had not returned either. Even Tang Gang was drinking outside. With no one to stand up for her, she could only swallow her grievances and go to bed.
The day of the Water and Blossoms Banquet arrived in the blink of an eye. That morning, Xin An rose earlier than usual. Busy with her toilette, she did not even pause to watch Tang Mo practice. By the time her preparations were complete, the sun was already up. Today, she was not only resplendently dressed—her cosmetics were also flawless. As she gazed at the dazzling reflection in the mirror, the corners of her lips lifted. “Let’s go.”
As usual, she would first pay respects to Old Madame Tang before they departed together.
Chunyang and Nanfeng had already prepared everything needed for the outing: not only two complete changes of clothing, but also carefully chosen rouge, powder, and jewelry—ensuring that whichever set she donned, Xin An would shine.
To avoid encountering her alone, Tao Yiran had arrived at the matriarch’s quarters ahead of her. She too was meticulously dressed: a tea-white and sky-aqua gown that lent a fresh, cool air. In her hair, a cluster of fine jade hairpins, one of which was a white jade lotus with delicate pale-lustre tassels—altogether a vision of purity and refinement. Her beauty was naturally of the highest order, and with this ensemble, she carried a hint of frailty that stirred others’ protective instincts.
“Eldest Sister-in-law’s attire today is truly exceptional—so fresh and lovely.”
The wife of the heir to the marquisate had abandoned the dignified, virtuous style, instead pursuing a look that said I am delicate and worthy of pity. How very interesting.
Tao Yiran turned her head. She saw that Xin An’s gown was primarily rouge-pink with crab-shell green accents—bright and fresh, yet tinged with festivity. Her hair ornaments were floral-and-butterfly designs inlaid with coloured pearls and gems: white jade petals, green jade leaves, each set with precious stones and pearls—radiantly elegant.
“Younger Sister’s outfit is certainly festive.”
For banquets, this was her domain. She did not believe Xin An would leave today without making a fool of herself.
Xin An answered with a smile. The two of them standing together—one serene and graceful, the other vivid and dazzling—were equally well-suited to the day’s Water and Blossoms Banquet. Old Madame Tang was thoroughly pleased. Wang Shi noticed the undercurrents but said nothing, merely praising them both.
In the sweltering summer heat, guests always departed early. By the time the sun was high overhead, it would be far too hot to view the lotuses, and most would retreat to the cool of the Qingyou Hall.
Their carriage had barely travelled two incense-sticks’ worth of time from the marquisate’s gates before the way grew difficult—countless carriages were streaming toward the Duke of En’s residence, the roads choked with traffic.
Lifting the curtain, Xin An saw the long procession ahead, the endless ranks of carriages and people inching forward, and let out a small click of her tongue. Even having seen it before, she could not help being struck anew by the Duke of En’s overwhelming power. In the capital, apart from the imperial family, there was likely no other household that could present such a splendid display.
Yet, prosperity at its height was always followed by decline. By her reckoning, the Empress Dowager was already elderly. Once the Second Prince ascended in a few years’ time, such grand scenes would never be seen again.
Dropping the curtain, she fell briefly into thought. If she were the mistress of the Duke of En’s household—able to enjoy such splendour year after year while alive, with sons and daughters all making their mark—she would go to her grave with no regrets, ready to reincarnate. A single lifetime like that would be worth ten of an ordinary person’s.
The road was congested, but the Duke of En’s people were well-versed in managing such occasions. In just one incense-stick’s time, the Marquisate’s carriage reached the gates of the Duke’s residence. The steward of the household stepped forward to inspect the invitation, after which a maid came to lead them inside.
The Shuihua Court—as its name suggested—was the Duke’s lotus garden. Spanning over two mu, it was a sight to behold: emerald leaves and dazzling blossoms, grass carp gliding beneath the shade of the pads, pairs of mandarin ducks frolicking on the water. Along the banks stood pavilions and waterside terraces, with rockeries artfully arranged. Here and there, ladies and young misses gathered in twos and threes—conversing, painting, their laughter and chatter mingling with the verdant scene, adding a touch of vitality to the tranquil air.
Just as expected, the moment they entered Shuihua Court, they were met with many assessing gazes. Some eyes held keen interest, others whispered behind raised fans, and some feigned disinterest altogether.
Old Madame Tang walked at the front, her expression serene and smiling. Wang Shi supported her at her side. Behind them, Tao Yiran and Xin An walked shoulder to shoulder. Faced with the weight of so many eyes, the matriarch’s expression did not waver, Wang Shi’s lips curved faintly, and Xin An carried herself with easy composure, unbothered by the scrutiny—experience had taught her well.
Tao Yiran forced a smile and lowered her voice to Xin An. “Younger Sister needn’t be too tense. Today’s guests are all of the capital’s high-ranking families—none to be offended lightly. I hope you will be cautious in both speech and conduct.”
“My thanks for Eldest Sister-in-law’s reminder.”
Xin An’s lips held a trace of a smile. “Today, I will follow Grandmother’s and Mother’s lead in all things. I heard that last year, Eldest Sister-in-law’s performance of Flowing Light at the Water and Blossoms Banquet earned endless praise. Without your music this year, the banquet is sure to lose much of its brilliance.”
Among the capital’s many noble daughters, if one spoke of skill in the qin, Tao Yiran was assuredly in the top three. Each time she performed, it brought her a tide of admiration. Now that she was married and could no longer play in public, she must surely feel some regret.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, such skill on the qin comes only through painstaking practice. To set it aside simply because of marriage is truly a pity. Still, hearing the other young ladies play will be a pleasure in itself.”