“The Spring Day Banquet allows mingling between men and women. If your betrothed is present, you may send for him to accompany you for a stroll, as long as you avoid areas with many female guests,” Princess Kangning teased Ming Yuelin. “Ming Qingqing, Prince Ji is also here. Would you like to summon him?”
Ming Yuelin shook her head. “No need. When he accompanies me, I’m the only one speaking. I wouldn’t know what to discuss with him—why trouble myself?”
“I’ll go. I won’t accompany you further,” Zhenyi Junzhu said cheerfully, openly instructing a maid to find a pageboy from the men’s side to notify her fiancé.
She was slightly older than Princess Kangning and would be married in six months.
“Very well,” Princess Kangning then turned to Shi Jianli. “What about you? Are you engaged?”
“I was, but it was called off,” Shi Jianli replied truthfully.
“Why?”
“My aunt discovered he had poor character.”
“In that case, have your aunt find you someone with both good character and handsome looks. Otherwise, standing beside you, he’d be an eyesore.”
A faint smile touched Shi Jianli’s lips. “As Your Highness suggests.”
This princess was genuinely straightforward.
Princess Kangning tapped her arm with a fan, smiling. “I have matters to discuss with Ming Qingqing. You may go enjoy yourself. You’ve accompanied me long enough and must be tired. Go have some tea and refreshments.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.” Shi Jianli took her leave, moving away from the waterside pavilion into the depths of blooming flowers, her skirt swaying like blossoming petals.
Ming Yuelin asked, “Your Highness, what did you wish to discuss with me?”
“I’ve heard you excel at portrait painting. I’d like to commission one from me. If it turns out well, I’ll gift you a set of jewelry.”
“Certainly.” She couldn’t very well refuse.
Shi Jianli returned to the center of the garden and found an unoccupied table to sit at.
A maid came to pour tea for her.
After sitting for a while, a young woman in a Yang Guifei-colored cross-collared short shirt sat down opposite her, the Jinbu bells chiming crisply as she settled. “Are you the cousin staying at Anguo Gong Manor?”
“Yes.” Shi Jianli shifted her gaze from the flowers to a lotus-like beautiful face and nodded.
“I’m from the Left Censor-in-chief’s residence, Xie Xuezhi—’snow’ as in willow branches bending over river shadows, ‘branch’ as in plum blossoms fading in the snow. I’m the fourth daughter in my family.”
“Miss Xie the Fourth.”
“I’ve rarely seen you at previous banquets. Why don’t you come out more often?” Xie Xuezhi picked up a piece of pastry from the plate and asked.
Shi Jianli studied her expression. “I prefer tranquility and seldom go out.”
“Is that so? May I send you an invitation after returning home?” Xie Xuezhi asked with a cheerful smile, her tone full of anticipation.
This being their first interaction, Shi Jianli couldn’t discern her intentions. “If Miss Xie the Fourth wishes to visit the manor, you’ll need to ask Younger Sister Lin. I’m merely a guest there and cannot make such decisions.”
“Then I’ll ask Miss Ming the Second later.” She didn’t press the matter further and asked, “Earlier, I heard you tell Her Highness your name is Shi Jianli?”
“Yes.”
“Miss Shi, may I invite you to visit my residence? Upon seeing you today, I felt an immediate affinity.”
Shi Jianli lowered her gaze slightly and shook her head, politely declining. “I’m rather slow-witted. The Family School teacher assigns coursework that requires extensive study, and his standards are strict. I’m afraid I won’t have time to visit your honorable residence.”
Why such enthusiasm at first meeting? Was it her natural disposition or did she have ulterior motives?
Despite her warmth, there seemed little genuine sincerity behind her smile.
“What a pity. A beauty like you should possess both grace and intelligence.” Xie Xuezhi took a bite of pastry and smiled at her with a sidelong glance.
“Thank you for the compliment, Fourth Miss Xie.” Shi Jianli lowered her eyes to drink tea.
Xie Xuezhi’s gaze swept over her face. “I heard from the servants that there’s also a banquet at the waterside pavilion today, hosted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince inviting young masters from various families. Is it true that you were walking in that direction earlier with Her Highness and the princess?”
“If the servants say so, it must be true.”
“Didn’t you see it yourself?”
“I heard some voices, but I’m not certain.” Shi Jianli replied cautiously.
Unlike Princess Kangning’s casual inquiries about her name and hobbies during cheerful conversation, this Fourth Miss Xie seemed to have a purpose behind every word.
Xie Xuezhi nodded. “Why didn’t Second Young Lady Ming return with you?”
“Her Highness had matters to discuss with her, so she asked me to come back first.”
Xie Xuezhi poured herself some tea to accompany the pastry. After finishing the pastry, she asked again: “I heard that Second Young Master Ming and Third Young Master Ming went to cancel an engagement at a minor official’s residence in the southern city. Was that engagement cancelled for your sake?”
Shi Jianli looked up. “Yes. How did Fourth Miss Xie come to know about this?”
“My sisters happened to be passing by that day and saw a crowd. They sent their maid to see what the commotion was about, and when they returned home, they told me about it as fresh gossip.”
Xie Xuezhi sighed. “For someone like you, such a peerless beauty, that person actually proved inconstant in his affections. He truly lacks discernment.”
Shi Jianli slowly sipped her tea and faintly responded with “Mm,” offering no additional words.
This was the second time she had praised her appearance. Who knows what scheme she might be harboring.
Seeing her reluctance to speak further, Xie Xuezhi drank another sip of tea and said, “I’ve rested enough and won’t disturb Miss Shi further. Farewell.”
Shi Jianli nodded slightly. “Very well.”
As Xie Xuezhi’s footsteps faded away, the pleasant sound of clinking jade beads could be heard. Then Ming Yuesi sat down beside her. “Sister Li, was that the Fourth Miss Xie from the Left Censor-in-Chief’s household earlier?”
“Yes, it was.”
Ming Yuesi looked puzzled. “Fourth Miss Xie never interacted much with us before. Why would she suddenly come to talk with you?”
“She said she came to rest, had some pastry and tea, then left.” Shi Jianli’s gaze withdrew from Xie Xuezhi’s retreating back as she turned the corner. “She also mentioned wanting to send me an invitation.”
“She wants to send you an invitation upon first meeting? We’ve never seen her so enthusiastic before.”
“Mm. I told her I couldn’t decide myself and that she should ask Sister Lin. Then she asked if she could invite me to visit her residence, but I declined politely.”
Ming Yuesi frowned. “I’ve never heard of her inviting anyone to her home before.”
“What is she like as a person?”
“We’re not close, so I don’t know much about her character. Her reputation is neither particularly good nor bad. It’s just that her appearance is considered top among noble ladies. Last August, she broke off her engagement with the eldest grandson of the Minister of Rites’ family.” Ming Yuesi whispered.
“Are there any underlying circumstances?” Shi Jianli also lowered her voice.
“I don’t know about that. You should ask Mother when you return—she might know.”
Shi Jianli nodded.
“Why isn’t Second Sister here?”
“Her Highness asked her to stay for conversation.” Shi Jianli set down her teacup and didn’t touch anything else on the table. “When do such banquets usually conclude?”
“Probably by the end of the Hour of the Goat. Sister Li, are you hungry?”
Shi Jianli shook her head. “I just wish to return to the residence.”
“Have you seen the entire garden? Shall I accompany you for a walk? To pass the time.”
“Very well.”
After walking with Ming Yuesi for a while, occasionally stopping to admire the rare flowers in the garden, it was nearly a quarter past three in the afternoon when Shi Jianli spotted Ming Yuelin following Princess Kangning out.
Princess Kangning was chatting and laughing with her, appearing particularly delighted.
“We shall conclude here for today. My gratitude to all for accompanying me in admiring the flowers.”
“Your Highness is too kind. It is our utmost honor,” the noble ladies replied before being escorted out by their maids.