After leaving the waterside pavilion, Yun Cheng gazed at the resplendent glass lanterns hanging beneath the eaves, and as if struck by a sudden whim, asked, "What time is it?"
Jiu Jian replied, "Roughly the end of the Xu hour."
Yun Cheng halted, then turned and made his way toward Shulan Studio. The moment he stepped into the corridor, he could detect the faint, bitter scent of medicine mingled with incense in the air.
A lamp was lit within the room, and a woman's silhouette was cast against the window paper, revealing a delicate, slender outline.
The matron keeping watch outside caught sight of him, her eyes brightening as she smiled, the corners creasing into layered fine lines. "The young master has come."
"Fu Mu, has the lady retired for the night?" Yun Cheng inclined his head in greeting.
The matron shook her head. "The lady is still reciting sutras before the Buddha. Would the young master like to go in and see her? This old servant will announce your arrival at once."
Just as she finished speaking, a suppressed cough came from the inner chamber—as if deliberately muffled within the chest.
Hearing this, the matron cast a worried glance inside, then turned back to meet Yun Cheng's calm, unruffled phoenix eyes. Her heart gave a violent lurch.
"No need. Since the lady is unwell, I shall not disturb her further."
He produced an exquisite wooden case from his sleeve, and with an almost imperceptible withdrawal of his gaze from the half-open window lattice, said, "In this season between spring and summer, the air is thick with drifting pollen and willow catkins. I would ask Fu Mu to remember to keep the windows tightly shut at night, and to remind the lady to take her medicine on time and take good care of herself."
"Yes." The matron accepted the wooden case containing the medicine pills, surmising that Yun Cheng must have made another special trip to Baoji Temple today to request medicine from Master Daoguang for treating Madam Yun's cough.
Watching his silent, receding figure, she could not help but heave a faint sigh.
Anyone who witnessed this scene would hardly believe that this mother and son, bound by blood, could be so estranged from one another.
Truly, fate plays strange tricks.
Shao Zhen was quite surprised when she received the invitation to the Shen family's Peony Banquet.
The Shen clan of Chenwang was a distinguished aristocratic house second only to the Yun family—why would they think to invite someone as insignificant as her?
Over the past year, unless absolutely necessary, she had deliberately avoided invitations from the great houses, not wishing to have much interaction with those lofty young lords and ladies.
Even clad in fine silks and observing all the proper rites, Shao Zhen still felt like a sparrow that had wandered into a flock of swans. She could not compose poetry or paint, could not blend incense or pluck a zither—sitting through such banquets was like sitting on a bed of needles.
What was more, those people had worn perfect masks since childhood. Engaging in hollow pleasantries with them would exhaust her, for she could never tell good from ill intent.
Tao Wenkan had also respected her wishes, and when an invitation truly could not be declined, he would usually take time to accompany her to the banquet.
Having witnessed the spectacle once was enough. After all, constrained by their status, they would not stoop to undignified behavior. In time, the other great houses gradually stopped sending her invitations, and she was happy to remain idle at home.
Now that Tao Wenkan was away, there was no one to help her decide whether to go or not.
If she declined, it might seem like a slight to the hosts; but if she went, her heart was reluctant.
Shao Zhen hesitated for a long while, still unable to make up her mind, and personally went to the Tao residence to seek Madam Xu's counsel.
The latter naturally took the opportunity to "instruct" her once again, saying she could not even handle such a trivial matter.
"As Wenkan's wife, of course you must represent him. How could you spurn the Shen family's goodwill and let others look down on your husband because of it? I will be going as well, so as to prevent you from causing any trouble."
With someone capable to rely on after all, Shao Zhen's mind was considerably put at ease.
On the appointed day, she had Xiaowen help her dress and adorn herself.
Xiaowen had nimble fingers. She styled Shao Zhen's hair into a Floating Cloud Bun, pinned in a silver hairpin carved with patterns of flowers and birds, and hung the pearl earrings Tao Wenkan had given her from her ears, paired with a stone-blue Flower Cage Skirt.
Those pearl earrings were the first gift Tao Wenkan had ever given her, so she treasured them dearly.
The whole ensemble was neither too ostentatious nor too plain—Shao Zhen was fairly satisfied with it.
She entered the Shen residence alongside Madam Xu.
The banquet was set beside a rockery, with several pots of priceless peonies—Yao Huang, Wei Zi, Zhao Fen, and other famed varieties—arranged on either side, their warm fragrance intoxicating. Elegant music was already playing, and the musicians, dressed in identical wide-sleeved robes, lounged in graceful poses, some seated sideways, some reclining.
The hosts arrived late—a dignified matron was helped out by a young lady.
Shao Zhen surmised that the matron must be Chen Shi, wife of the Shen family head, and the other her beloved daughter, Shen Li.
She had heard Tao Wenkan mention that in this generation, the Shen family had few male heirs, and the main branch had only one legitimate eldest daughter.
Shen Li possessed both virtue and talent, in no way inferior to any man, and was blessed with natural beauty—a veritable paragon among noble ladies.
At her coming-of-age ceremony, the old Shen patriarch had personally given her the courtesy name Ling Jiang, showing the great hopes he placed upon her.
Seeing her today, Shao Zhen realized that Tao Wenkan's words had not been exaggerated.
Shen Li had delicate brows and a fair, elegant face, her beauty like an autumn moon. As she walked, her jade pendants barely stirred—she was a noble lady born to command the attention of all. Even amid the fragrant, glittering assembly of many fine ladies, she remained the dazzling center of focus.
Just now, she overheard someone say that this peony banquet was also orchestrated by her, and the seamless flow of the feast was all thanks to the thought she had put in behind the scenes.
Her invitation here must also have been arranged by her.
Madam Chen was the first to raise her cup, saying, "Thank you all for gracing my humble abode today, bringing honor to this modest household."
Everyone responded with polite pleasantries and raised their cups in mutual respect.
From this moment on, the feast officially began.
Shao Zhen sat before the table, head lowered, doing her utmost to diminish her presence, wishing she could become like the embroidered flowers frozen on the screen, unnoticed by anyone.
She overheard the two ladies beside her whispering: "Have you heard? The Shen family and the Yun family are on the verge of a happy union."
"What do you mean by that?" the other young lady asked, covering her face in confusion.
"The eldest son of the Yun family, Yun Cheng, and the eldest daughter of the Shen family intend to marry. The elders of both families have already exchanged name cards and calculated their birth charts."
"The Yun and Shen families are prestigious houses with generations of friendship, and the two of them grew up together as childhood sweethearts. This is indeed a well-matched and joyful occasion," the lady said, her tone brimming with envy. "I hope I can marry a good husband in the future too."
At that, the two unmarried young ladies began teasing each other, their laughter sweet and their blushing cheeks even more dazzling than the peonies displayed behind them.
Shao Zhen stopped straining her ears to listen.
Everyone appreciates beauty, and she too felt that if Yun Cheng and Shen Li were truly together, they would make a perfectly matched pair in every way.
Unlike her grand wedding with Tao Wenkan, which was neither well-regarded nor blessed.
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly sensed a gaze fixed upon her, carrying a chilling coldness that was impossible to ignore.
She cautiously lifted her eyes and saw that seated across from her was none other than the daughter of the Wang family.
The woman wore a peach-colored foreign crepe skirt, and on her chest hung a solid gold Coiled Dragon Yingluo Ring as wide as a finger. Her long brows arched, she looked like a proud and resplendent peacock.
The moment she saw Wang Qing, Shao Zhen's heart sank as if weighed down by a massive boulder.
Oh no, how could she have forgotten about this nemesis of hers!
Judging by that provocative look from across the room, she clearly still had no intention of letting her go.
The grudge between them was a long story, but at its root, it was because of Tao Wenkan.
Wang Qing came from the Wang clan of Junxun and was treated as the pearl of her family. She adored Tao Wenkan, and even though he clearly only regarded her as a younger sister, she still would not tolerate any other woman harboring improper feelings for him. Thus, she used her power and influence to bully many women who had contact with Tao Wenkan.
With such feelings in her heart, the woman who ultimately became Tao Wenkan's wife naturally became a thorn in her side, an eyesore in her sight.
Shao Zhen remembered all too clearly that the first time she met Wang Qing, the latter had shoved her aside in front of Tao Wenkan and everyone else, then taken his arm and cooed sweetly, calling him "brother," casting Shao Zhen as a third party who had intruded upon their relationship.
In that moment, the overt and covert mockery pressed down on her like falling snowflakes, and she wished she could curl herself up and crawl into some hidden crevice.
That kind of humiliation, exposed before a crowd, was something she could never forget.
If Tao Wenkan had not happened to be there, she would not have known how to handle the situation.
Out of consideration for the Wang family behind her, and not wanting to make things too awkward, Tao Wenkan had merely adopted the air of an elder brother and lightly scolded her, and the matter was hastily brushed aside.
She did not blame Tao Wenkan, but for several days afterward, she had nightmares in which Wang Qing ordered people to push her into a pond and then laughed triumphantly from the side. The feeling of drowning and suffocating left her breathless for a long time.
Shao Zhen quickly averted her eyes and nervously twisted her handkerchief.
Today, Tao Wenkan was not present. If Wang Qing were to make trouble for her, who could she turn to for help?
She grew increasingly regretful, wishing she had consulted the almanac before leaving the house that day. Because her mind was preoccupied, she did not touch a single piece of the exquisite pastries that rivaled carved artwork, nor the elegantly arranged fruits.
But misfortune could not be avoided. Just as she was lost in thought, a maidservant who had come to pour tea suddenly jerked her hand.
Half a pot of tea spilled all over her sleeve, and even a few tea leaves landed on the front of her garment, making her look quite disheveled.
"You—" Before Xiaowen could even speak, the maidservant who had made the mistake prostrated herself and apologized repeatedly.
"Forgive me, this servant was wrong."
"Madam, forgive me! This servant is clumsy. Please be lenient, madam."
Out of respect for the host, and since the other party had already sincerely admitted her fault, Shao Zhen could not be unyielding.
Besides, people were already sneaking glances in her direction. If the maidservant remained kneeling for too long, it would go against her intention to keep a low profile.
Shao Zhen softly told her to rise, then looked at her dampened dress with difficulty and asked if there were any spare clothes to change into. A household like Chen Wang Shen's would surely have made thorough preparations, providing a place to rest and change of clothes for guests who had become inebriated or indisposed.
The maidservant, with glistening tears at the corners of her eyes, said, "Yes, there are. Yes, there are. Please be so kind as to follow this servant, and let me make amends for my mistake."
With that, she lowered her head and, in a place where Shao Zhen could not see, quietly curled her lips into a triumphant smile.
At this point, Shao Zhen had no other recourse.
Before rising from her seat, she glanced in the direction of Madam Xu, intending to inform her. But seeing her leaning aside, chatting animatedly with several other ladies, entirely oblivious to her presence, she abandoned the thought.
Never mind—no point in spoiling her mood and inviting a scolding.
Xiaowen found the maidservant strange and kept her guard up, following closely behind Shao Zhen. If anything untoward happened, at least the two of them could look out for each other.
As the two disappeared around the corner with the maidservant, Wang Qing, who had been watching Shao Zhen's movements all along, curved her lips and rose gracefully, resting her hand on her attendant's arm.
The Shen estate was vast—pavilions at every third step, towers at every fifth.
Shao Zhen was led by the maidservant through countless turns, and as they ventured deeper into increasingly secluded areas, the clamor of the banquet growing ever more distant, even she—slow as she was—sensed something amiss.
"Are we not there yet?" She halted, half-doubtful, and asked.
The maidservant ahead turned around, her face no longer bearing the slightest trace of the guilt and panic from earlier.
"You deliberately lured me here—what exactly do you intend?" The sun blazed overhead, yet the other's countenance was sinister and cold. Shao Zhen instinctively stepped back under that gaze, forcing her voice to remain steady.
The maidservant did not answer her. Instead, she called out directly toward the space behind Shao Zhen: "Madam."
Who was she calling?
Following her line of sight, Shao Zhen and Xiaowen turned around in unison.
"Shao Zhen, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
Emerging unhurriedly from behind the rockery was precisely the delicate, radiant face Shao Zhen least wished to see.
Her heart chilled to the core in an instant.
In a side hall of the rear residence, Yun Cheng spoke: "Grandfather asked me to convey his regards to you."
Shen Changyi smiled genially at the young man seated below, finding him pleasing to the eye no matter how he looked at him.
He had long envied Old Man Yun for having both a capable son and grandson in succession. Now, if Yun Cheng could become his grandson-in-law, he would count as half a grandson of his own.
"Wujiu, since you've taken the trouble to visit the Shen estate, why not accompany this old man to the Peony Banquet as well?"
Yun Cheng lowered his gaze, well aware that the other's intentions lay elsewhere—clearly, he meant to arrange a meeting between him and Shen Li.
Yet even knowing Yun Wenhu's scheme, he had still come.
Not because he was willing to be manipulated, but because he needed to make his position clear to Shen Changyi in person.
"I'm afraid I must decline," he demurred. "I have to enter the palace shortly—His Majesty has summoned me. I beg your pardon, Old Master Shen."
This was far from what Shen Changyi had envisioned, and even further from what Yun Wenhu had claimed.
The old man's eyes sharpened instantly, sweeping over Yun Cheng's refined features. The young man's lashes did not so much as flicker, as though oblivious to the shift in the atmosphere.
After several rounds of silent, invisible sparring, Shen Changyi's anger subsided somewhat.
First, the man before him was the future head of the Yun family—to sever the two families' decades-long bond over this matter would be a loss not worth taking.
Second, matters of marriage concerned both man and woman; in the end, one could not force it.
Shen Li was a fine girl raised with the full effort of his clan, and he had no wish to see her married off only to suffer grievances in silence and ruin her life.
It was a pity, though, that Shen Li's heartfelt feelings would flow away like water.
Well, then. With Shen Li's reputation for virtue abroad, what fine gentleman could she not match? If Yun Cheng failed to appreciate his good fortune today, let him regret it in the days to come.
Though Shen Changyi felt his dignity had been slighted, he quickly reasoned that the root of the matter lay with Yun Wenhu.
That old fox—not only had he schemed against him, but he had also played underhanded tricks on his own precious grandson.
At that thought, his remaining anger vanished, and he took the opportunity to back down gracefully: "Since His Majesty has summoned you, I shall not press you to stay."
Yun Cheng cupped his hands in thanks.
After walking a few paces, Jiu Jian quietly reported to him the news that Shao Zhen and Wang Qing had both disappeared at the same time.
Whether it was Jiu Jian's imagination or not, he felt his master's entire bearing suddenly turn cold as frost.