It turned out that whether the “good treasure” Sister Song wanted to show her was proper was hard to say, but it was certainly a feast for the eyes.
She sat beside Song Daohuan, enjoying the singing and dancing on the stage. Her heart was full of emotion; the Capital City really was the best. She would never have had the chance to see something like this anywhere else.
Song Daohuan swirled the wine in her cup, poured a honey drink for Yun Qiya, and whispered in her ear, “Since you don’t like alcohol, drink this.”
“Thank you, Sister Song.” Yun Qiya lifted her cup, lightly clinking it against Song Daohuan’s before taking a few sips. Suddenly, a commotion broke out by the door.
The young ladies who had been sitting and enjoying the dance all stood up and looked toward the entrance.
“Greetings to Your Highness.”
“Wishing Your Highness peace.”
The woman who entered wore a palace dress with golden cloud patterns and a phoenix hairpin. She looked to be thirty at most, but what stood out more than her beauty was her aura—dignified yet not fierce.
This was the owner of the villa, the sister of the current Emperor, Princess Rongshan.
Princess Rongshan’s consort had passed away from illness several years ago. She had not remarried, choosing instead to live in her country estates on the outskirts of the Capital City to practice cultivation. This villa, known as the Carefree Hundred Joys Villa, was one of the properties under her name.
Yun Qiya glanced at the male dancers on stage, each with their own unique charm, and then at the eager and gentle female attendants surrounding Princess Rongshan. This kind of “cultivation” seemed quite nice.
“I have hosted this banquet today simply to invite you young ladies to enjoy yourselves. There is no need for excessive ceremony.” Seeing the room full of bright and lovely girls, Princess Rongshan’s smile grew warmer. “Sit, let us speak.”
Some attempted to curry favor with Princess Rongshan, rushing to say flattering things. The Princess responded with a few smiles but did not seem particularly impressed.
Yun Qiya sat at a moderate distance from Princess Rongshan, but with her naturally keen eyesight, she could tell at a glance that the Princess was long accustomed to such flattery.
A noble of her status was rarely moved by words alone and was difficult to please. In fact, she might subconsciously look down upon subordinates who actively tried to flatter her.
Realizing this, Yun Qiya withdrew her gaze, content to honestly enjoy the dancing and music.
Before long, several palace maids carried the true treasures into the room: a pair of blood coral ornaments nearly five feet tall.
Blood coral came from the deep sea and was extremely difficult to harvest. This pair was a rare treasure. Even those present, born into wealthy and powerful families, could not help but gasp in admiration.
“The Empress’s fiftieth birthday is approaching. What do you all think of these as a celebratory gift?” Princess Rongshan’s eyebrows arched slightly, clearly satisfied with the crowd’s reaction.
The coral was as red as blood, exceptionally magnificent.
Yun Qiya suddenly understood. The “treasure” Sister Song had mentioned was this pair of blood corals, not the performers from earlier.
The talented young ladies present immediately began to compose poetry and lyrics for the blood coral, praising its beauty, the Empress’s benevolence and virtue, and Princess Rongshan’s sincerity.
Song Daohuan also composed a poem and received a reward from the Princess. Yun Qiya, who like her father had never been fond of studying and was certainly not skilled at poetry, could only clap enthusiastically.
“Daohuan, who is the young lady beside you?” Princess Rongshan noticed the girl next to Song Daohuan. The girl was truly beautiful, especially those lively eyes that shone with brilliance; no matter who she looked at, there was a trace of sweetness in her gaze.
Now past forty, the Princess was most fond of spirited and beautiful young girls.
“Greetings, Your Highness. This subject is the granddaughter of the Marquis of Chengping,” Yun Qiya said, offering a shy smile. She seemed to want to look at Princess Rongshan but appeared a bit too embarrassed to do so directly.
“The Marquis of Chengping…” Princess Rongshan smiled. “No wonder Daohuan treats you so kindly. You are a junior from Minister Yun’s family.”
Song Daohuan chimed in, “Sister Yun has just returned to the Capital City. My aunt was worried she would be bored at home, so she asked me to bring her out for a walk.”
“Elders are naturally compassionate and wish to plan for their juniors.” Princess Rongshan expressed her understanding and asked Yun Qiya gently, “Are you settling in well in the Capital?”
“Thank you for your concern, Princess. Everything in the Capital is wonderful, and I am very lucky,” Yun Qiya replied, a faint blush creeping onto her face from her shyness. “If I weren’t lucky, how could I have seen such beautiful blood coral or your esteemed face so soon after returning?”
Princess Rongshan had heard such flattery thousands of times and had long grown tired of it. But this little girl was so beautiful that even the tiresome words sounded pleasant and endearing coming from her.
She beckoned Yun Qiya over and plucked a hairpin from her own hair, tucking it into Yun Qiya’s tresses. “You are beautiful; this hairpin suits you well.”
“Thank you for the reward, Your Highness.” Yun Qiya did not act restrained. Although she didn’t know Princess Rongshan well, she had the instincts of a small animal. Sensing the Princess’s slight favor, she instinctively showed the same smile she used to charm her own elders.
No one liked it when their attempt at closeness was met with awkwardness or distant, rigid formality.
Yun Qiya’s reaction greatly pleased the Princess, and soon a hibiscus jade pendant was added to her waist as another gift.
Furthermore, Princess Rongshan specifically instructed Song Daohuan to bring Yun Qiya to her villa often in the future.
The others present were red with envy. They had composed poems and lyrics, yet a girl who had just returned to the Capital had managed to win the Princess’s favor so easily.
Even Song Daohuan was a bit envious of Yun Qiya’s good luck. She only received special consideration from Princess Rongshan because of her reputation for spiritual cultivation. Yun Qiya, meeting her for the first time, had been personally invited to visit often. Who wouldn’t be envious?
Princess Rongshan hosted a banquet at noon. After it ended, she told the girls to play wherever they liked and not to feel restrained.
The villa was vast, surrounded by mountains, water, and trees. It was no wonder Princess Rongshan preferred living here over the Princess’s Residence.
Yun Qiya had been playing with Song Daohuan, but when the Princess summoned Song Daohuan to explain principles, she tactfully made an excuse to slip away.
She wasn’t familiar with the villa and didn’t want to go hiking with the others. After years outside the Capital, she had climbed enough mountains; these small hills held no attraction for her.
Crossing a covered bridge, she came upon a lotus pond. The weather was cold, and the pond held only withered stalks and remaining leaves, looking cold and desolate.
By the pond sat a fisherman wearing a veil hat and a black cloak. She glanced at the bucket beside him; it was filled with nothing but water.
Fearing the man might vent his frustration at not catching anything on her, Yun Qiya lightened her steps, intending to tiptoe around to the other side.
As everyone knows, a man who can’t catch a fish will only blame the cold water, the stuffy weather, the bland bait, or the noisy passersby—anything but his own poor technique.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
A coughing sound came from behind her, followed by the splash of a fish swimming away.
Yun Qiya turned her head warily at the sound. That had nothing to do with her.
However, the coughing sounded a bit familiar.
The cold wind blew up the fisherman’s veil hat, revealing a pale and sickly face. It was the kind person who had found her scented sachet last time.
Yun Qiya stopped and walked back a few steps. “Sir, there are too many water plants and withered leaves where you are sitting. Not only will the fish be unwilling to take the bait, but it’s also easy to snag and break your fishing line. Why don’t you try another spot?”
She remembered he was ill, so she kept a safe distance.
The man took off his veil hat and slowly turned his head to look at her.
He seemed like a piece of withered wood, lifeless from head to toe. Even his gaze was like a broken millstone—slow and numb.
Seeing him look over, Yun Qiya bent her knees slightly in a courtesy and pointed to a spot on the left. “That place is better for fishing.”
The man didn’t speak. Just as Yun Qiya thought he wouldn’t respond, he slowly stood up, gathered his fishing rod, and walked toward the spot she had indicated.
Thinking of him as a man of noble integrity who did not pocket found money, Yun Qiya picked up his veil hat and empty bucket and carried them over for him.
He didn’t speak, and she remained silent as well. She sat on a large rock some distance away to wait for Sister Song, maintaining a gap of twenty paces.
The crisp laughter of young ladies drifted over on the wind from afar. Just from the sound, Yun Qiya knew they were having a great time.
In the pond nearby, a chubby fish swam back and forth, its tail splashing small waves. It looked very much like it was provoking her.
Yun Qiya threw a small pebble into the water. The large fish spat a mouthful of water at her.
*You little foolish fish, how dare you provoke this young lady?!*
Yun Qiya rolled up her beautiful embroidered wide sleeves, took off her scarf and placed it on the rock, then bent over to pick up a stone and hurled it into the pond. A large splash erupted, soaking her skirt hem and shoes.
A few moments later, the fish that had provoked her floated to the surface, belly-up and stunned.
“Even the village rooster wouldn’t dare mess with me, let alone a tiny fish like you.” Yun Qiya was satisfied. As she picked up the unconscious fish, she felt as though someone was staring at her.
She turned her head and met the eyes of the man holding the fishing rod.
The cold wind whipped at Yun Qiya’s skirt. The fish in her hand woke up and began to struggle wildly.
“The other day, I was fortunate that you found my purse, sir. I imagine you don’t lack for gold or silver, so consider this fish my gift of thanks.” Yun Qiya tossed the frantically struggling fish into the man’s empty bucket.
The man looked at the bucket, then at his fishing rod—where a fish had finally been about to bite before being scared away by the girl’s commotion. In the end, he said nothing.
Whatever. He was a dying person; why bother over such things?
“The rod!” Yun Qiya saw the float move and excitedly whispered a reminder. “Sir, a fish is biting! Pull the rod, quick!”
*Good grief, the fish is biting and you’re being so slow! If you don’t catch it, won’t it look like I picked a bad spot?*
The man lifted the rod, and indeed, a cold-water crucian carp about half the size of a palm was hanging from the hook.
“You caught it!” Yun Qiya was a bit smug. The spot she chose was indeed excellent; a fish had been caught in no time.
Still, she kept his status as a noble in mind and offered a casual compliment: “Your fishing skill is extraordinary, sir! A fish caught so quickly. This fish is quite plump; it would be perfect for soup or steamed and served cold with dressing.”
The fish dangled from the line near the bucket. Yun Qiya immediately spoke up, “Let me. Don’t let it dirty your hands, sir.”
Her hands had already touched a fish earlier and she hadn’t had a chance to wash them yet.
After removing the fish and washing her hands, Yun Qiya felt she had repaid the favor of him returning her purse. She said with a smile, “Fishing should be peaceful. I won’t disturb you further, sir. Farewell.”
“Are you Yun Boyan’s niece?”
The man, who had been silent for so long, looked at the fish splashing in the bucket and spoke for the first time.