50. Fine wine and joyous celebration on the Mid-Autumn Festival

After returning to the Eastern Palace, Xu Guiyi’s heart remained uneasy for a long time. She couldn’t bring herself to ask Fu Lancheng about it, nor the Empress, and certainly not disturb the Marchioness of Yongjia, so she waited for the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

That night, the palace glittered with splendor, bells chimed and drums beat, lantern light flawless, fragrant mists curling through golden steps, jade halls, glass and emerald, coral and agate. It was an evening of perfect beauty, with music and dance, flowers and beauties, the palace of Azure Luan resplendent in all its glory.

After the emperor had made three rounds with his wine cup, Xu Guiyi finally saw Qu Anlan’s face clearly: hair as dark as indigo, skin like congealed cream, eyes deep as autumn waters, lips red as vermillion—a natural beauty, indeed.

And why was Xu Guiyi able to see her so clearly?

Perhaps the wine was especially fine that night—the emperor, in high spirits, took his cup and strolled to his trusted general, Marquis of Xincheng, Zhang Wei, praising his eldest son for his meritorious achievements on the southern frontier that spring and declaring he must be well rewarded.

The two chatted merrily, exchanging cup after cup, until the wine pot was emptied.

Xu Guiyi then heard Zhang Wei slowly kneel and cry out in a loud voice, “By the grace of Your Majesty, I have served you for many years and dare not claim the smallest merit. Yet…”

Everyone saw Zhang Wei’s eldest son, Zhang Jiao, kneel behind him. Zhang Wei continued, “Yet my eldest son has fought for Your Majesty and for Dayi, toiled day and night, lived frugally, and to this day remains unmarried. I have the temerity to kneel and beseech Your Majesty to grant him a marriage. Then I could die without regret.”

At these words, the assembled officials laughed all the more heartily. Who would not be pleased to witness a joyful affair, especially when no effort was required from them?

The emperor laughed as well. “All your family are loyal and courageous—your request is granted! But, tell us, which noble maiden has caught your eye? Speak, so we may all be enlightened.”

At this, Xu Guiyi too could not help glancing down to see which distinguished young ladies were present.

Behind her, Cheng Hewei and Lu Zhirou whispered to each other. “For the Marquis to make such a request before everyone, surely the girl he favors is among tonight’s guests.”

Lu Zhirou softly agreed, “The Marquis’s eldest son is deputy commander of the Crane Guard, so young and already so accomplished. His prospects seem boundless. Any girl chosen would be greatly blessed.”

So, which family’s daughter was to receive such good fortune?

Zhang Wei pleaded, word by word, his voice unhurried, “I beseech Your Majesty to grant the marriage of my eldest son to the eldest daughter of General Zhongwu.”

Who was it, then, who froze in place and stopped breathing?

It was Xu Guiyi, bathed in lamplight. She turned her gaze first to seek Qu Anlan, but there were too many people below. Then she glanced at Prince An’s face, then at Shen Yu—both wore nearly identical expressions.

Upon the high seat, Empress Song glanced subtly at her own sister, the Marchioness of Yongjia. The two exchanged a faint, knowing smile.

“I beseech Your Majesty to grant the marriage of my eldest son to the eldest daughter of General Zhongwu.” These plain words, scarcely more than a dozen, dropped like stones into a boiling cauldron, stirring a commotion throughout the hall.

Just as the emperor, beaming with wine-warmed joy, was about to speak, and just as General Zhongwu and Qu Anlan rose to kneel, Xu Guiyi heard a cold, mocking laugh by her ear: “I have heard that the Marquis’s eldest son was betrothed to a daughter of the Bai family of Jingnan in childhood. What is this—has the fiancée passed away these three years, or did she break off the engagement and marry another?”

Xu Guiyi turned to see Fu Lancheng already standing, his gaze cold and his presence imposing.

The emperor was stunned; so were Zhang Wei and Zhang Jiao, who knelt on the floor. They thought their scheme was seamless, but had stumbled at the emperor’s very feet.

The emperor’s smile vanished. “Zhang Wei, is there any truth to the Crown Prince’s words?” He had always despised deceit and betrayal most of all.

Zhang Wei, caught off guard, stammered, “I... I...”

As he faltered, someone answered for him.

The Crown Prince had just retaken his seat when Prince An rose, smiling brilliantly. “Perhaps the Crown Prince is unaware, but there is a term in this world: ‘demoting a wife to concubine.’ The Marquis of Xincheng, in order to welcome a new bride, has already reached an agreement with the Bai family of Jingnan—the marriage alliance between Zhang and Bai will remain, but the Bai daughter is to be received as a favored concubine.” The words “favored concubine” were pronounced with biting emphasis.

The weight of those words enraged all the women present, as well as many ministers with daughters and a sense of decency.

“Such faithless treachery is truly despicable!” the Marquis of Yongjia cursed bitterly.

The emperor, too, was furious. “Zhang Wei, is there truth in what Prince An says?”

Zhang Wei, still unwilling to yield, trembled as he replied, “Your Majesty, the Bai family agreed of their own will, I truly…”

The Empress sprang from her seat, striding swiftly to stand before Zhang Wei, anger in her voice: “I am here in person—come, Marquis of Xincheng, explain to me how the Bai family so willingly agreed to demote a wife to concubine!”

Zhang Wei prostrated himself, no longer daring to speak.

But the Empress would not let him go: “Speak! Just now, you made your request to His Majesty with such confidence. Why are you struck dumb before me?”

The emperor, restraining his anger, rubbed his thumb and looked at Zhang Jiao, kneeling behind. “Zhang Jiao, if your father cannot answer, then you shall.”

Zhang Jiao took a deep breath and bowed his head, feeling he had never known such shame.

Since childhood, he had been betrothed to a daughter of the Bai family of Jingnan, and had planned to marry her upon coming of age. But his father changed his mind, declaring that the betrothal was made in their obscurity; now that the Zhang family was elevated, he must seek a more illustrious match.

“Yes, Your Majesty, I was betrothed to the Bai daughter of Jingnan from youth and still wish to marry her as my wife. What my father requested today was but drunken nonsense. I beg Your Majesty and Your Highness, in view of his years of loyal service, to deal with him leniently.”

At this, Zhang Wei’s cousin Zhang Qi, just returned from his post in the north, also knelt to plead, “The Marquis of Xincheng spoke out of drunken folly. I beg Your Majesty for clemency.”

Seeing all this, Xu Guiyi could not help but sigh deeply. What should have been a joyful Mid-Autumn festival was ruined by the Marquis of Xincheng’s family. The innocent ones were General Zhongwu’s household, left anxious and uneasy, with Qu Anlan kneeling alongside her father for so long without any fault of her own.

A gust of wind swept through the hall, setting the glass windchimes ringing, their sound ethereal as heaven’s music. The emperor closed his eyes and murmured, “Zhang Wei, you have… disappointed me greatly.”

With that, Zhang Wei collapsed, kneeling limp upon the floor. Zhang Jiao hurried to support him, but, kneeling himself, could not manage it.

The remainder of the banquet dragged on interminably. When it finally ended, Fu Lancheng was held back by Prince An.

“They’re not usually close as cousins. Why are they still talking so long tonight?” Xu Guiyi grew anxious waiting at the palace gate—she wanted to hurry back and ask Nanny Wu about the Bai family of Jingnan.

Cheng Hewei laughed, “Of course they’d have much to discuss. Tonight, our prince and Prince An exposed the Zhang family’s duplicity together—truly satisfying!”

Lu Zhirou nodded, “Indeed, it was detestable. If this is how they treat a girl before marriage, imagine how she would suffer afterward.”

Cheng Hewei tilted her head, “But how did the Crown Prince know about Zhang Jiao’s childhood betrothal to the Bai daughter? My fourth uncle is close to the Marquis, and I never heard of such a thing.”

Lu Zhirou pursed her lips, “And how did Prince An know about the scheme to demote the wife? That’s the sort of secret one would conceal carefully.”

Xu Guiyi mused, “Why not ask them when they come out?”

Cheng Hewei shook her head quickly, “No, no, I’ll just ask my aunt instead.”

Lu Zhirou waved her hand, “No need—it’s likely Prince An knows many secrets, given his wide circle of friends and retainers.”

Xu Guiyi smiled, hands clasped, but remembered something from years ago, when she had gone to the palace to bid farewell to Fu Lancheng.

“You’re going to Jingnan for a month? Then I won’t see you for a whole month?”

“Yes. Grandfather said that this time, Cousin Wei’s eldest brother is to be betrothed to the Bai family’s sister in Jingnan. Our whole family must go.”

“Where is Jingnan? Is it far? I wish I could go with you.”

“I don’t know if it’s far—I’ve never been either. But Grandfather said it’s Grandmother’s hometown, and the Bai family’s old matriarch is Grandmother’s younger sister. We’re all family. He said we should visit often in the future.”

“When we grow up, let’s go together, all the way to Jingnan.”

“Agreed, but you mustn’t go back on your word.”

“I won’t.”

“Crown Princess, His Highness and Prince An have come out,” Cheng Hewei’s voice called, and Xu Guiyi’s gaze followed the palace lanterns.

Beneath the gates of Jiuhua Palace, Fu Lancheng and Fu Jingchu walked side by side, eyes level, treading in the moonlight, radiant as fire; a long line of palace attendants led the way, lanterns swaying in the fickle night breeze. The imperial city was awake—the long night far from over.

In white brocade and feathered coronet, Fu Jingchu, under the bright moon, looked even more elegant and pure, his bearing surpassing even Fu Lancheng’s.

“Greetings, Crown Princess, and ladies all.” Unnoticed, Prince An had come before them.

“Greetings to Your Highness,” the ladies returned the salute.

It was but a brief exchange, yet Xu Guiyi could not help but wonder why the young lady of the Qu family was so enamored of this charming prince.

What maiden, newly awakened to love, could refuse a handsome, gentle, and romantic young lord such as he?

In the carriage, Xu Guiyi and Fu Lancheng’s conversation was, as always, brief.

“Didn’t you say before that the Marquis of Yongjia’s house had already asked for the Qu daughter’s hand on behalf of the General? Why was it not mentioned at the banquet today?” Xu Guiyi asked.

Fu Lancheng’s mouth twitched. “My aunt personally went to sound out their intentions, but was refused by the Qu family.”

Had she not seen Qu Anlan and Fu Jingchu together that day, she might not have understood that refusal. Given Shen Yu’s family and character, he was a prize many young ladies could only dream of.

And he had always been especially fond of Qu Anlan, his childhood playmate.

“You don’t seem surprised, Crown Princess?” Sure enough, Fu Lancheng saw through her.

Xu Guiyi reflexively swallowed. If she told him what she had witnessed that day, he might regret spending such a pleasant time conversing under the moon with Prince An.

“Ah Yu and Miss Qu grew up together—if there were true feelings between them, they wouldn’t have waited all these years. No one knows a daughter better than her parents; General and Mrs. Qu must see that she regards Ah Yu as an elder brother, with no feelings between man and woman.”

At her words, Fu Lancheng’s face darkened further, as if lost in thought.

Xu Guiyi turned her face away, pretending the conversation had never happened.