In the four hundred and thirty-second year of Tianqi, the summer of the one hundred and sixteenth year of Dongli.
After the drum of the third watch had sounded, a line of light suddenly split the canopy of heaven, lifting the veil from a night shrouded in rain and mist. Before long, the fog had retreated completely, and the sky cleared; one could tell at a glance that today would be a fine day beneath a boundless blue sky.
In a dilapidated little courtyard in the northwest corner of the Prime Minister’s Estate of Dongli, two voices drifted out through an old gauze-latticed window. From the content of their conversation, they were clearly mistress and maid.
“Miss, if Madam were still here, she would surely be overjoyed to see that you’ve finally made it through today.” Qiao’er deftly arranged Feng Hongluan’s hair, her voice carrying a few notes of happiness.
Feng Hongluan sat upright before a cracked bronze mirror, dressed in a bright red bridal gown. She was carefully applying powder herself to conceal the somewhat sallow color of her face. Hearing this, she nodded. “Mm. Mother’s spirit in heaven can be comforted now.”
Thinking of the late Madam and all the suffering her miss had endured over the years, Qiao’er’s eyes immediately brimmed with tears. “It’s all this servant’s fault for speaking too much. Today is such a joyous day; this servant shouldn’t have mentioned Madam and made Miss sad.”
“I’m not sad. Mother has been gone for so many years, I can barely remember what she looked like.” Feng Hongluan shook her head.
“How could Miss not remember? All those madams say you look like Madam,” Qiao’er said.
Feng Hongluan smiled faintly and looked at herself in the mirror. Bright eyes, white teeth, features like a painting—this face did indeed resemble her mother’s somewhat. With a sigh in her heart, her expression dimmed. “Qiao’er, do you know? I’ve wished I could ruin this face of mine.”
“Miss, you mustn’t!” Qiao’er shook her head in terror.
The gloom in Feng Hongluan’s expression vanished. She smiled and cast a sidelong glance at Qiao’er’s pale little face, saying gently, “Look how frightened you are. I was only saying it. Though this face brings trouble every day, it was given to me by Mother. How could I bear to destroy it?”
Qiao’er nodded, feeling somewhat resentful. All these years, precisely because Miss looked so much like Madam, she had almost constantly been bullied by the jealous madams and young misses of the Prime Minister’s Estate. But no matter how much they bullied her, it was useless. Miss’s title as the number one beauty of Dongli was acknowledged by all; no one could take it away.
“This servant knew this flying phoenix bun suited Miss best!” Qiao’er pinned a phoenix hairpin she had carefully preserved into Feng Hongluan’s hair and said sincerely, “Miss, you’re truly beautiful! Tonight, on your wedding night, His Highness Prince Li will certainly be bewitched by you.”
Hearing this, Feng Hongluan’s lovely face immediately flushed. Affection rippled through her glistening eyes as she shyly chided, “You glib little girl! When we arrive at Prince Li’s Estate, you mustn’t speak like that in front of others. People will say you’re frivolous, and it may annoy Prince Li.”
Qiao’er mischievously stuck out her tongue. “Yes, Miss!”
Feng Hongluan looked at her and smiled helplessly. The shy expression faded, replaced by a trace of bewilderment. “I hope so.”
“Miss must have confidence. You’re so beautiful and so good; His Highness Prince Li will surely cherish you like a treasure,” Qiao’er advised, keenly sensing the change in Feng Hongluan.
Feng Hongluan nodded with a faint smile. A wisp of vagueness flashed through her beautiful eyes, and in her mind appeared the graceful figure in white brocade robes beneath the peach blossom tree at the ancient temple on the green mountain four years ago. Jun Zili had been betrothed to her from the moment she was born, but it was not until four years ago that she had met him. Her hand within her sleeve could not help but clench lightly. She would surely seize hold of her happiness.
“Miss, I heard Prince Li is handsome and dignified, outstanding in bearing, and superior in both literary and martial talents. He is ranked alongside Yun Jin, the number one young master under heaven, and Yu Hen, the Crown Prince of Xiliang, as one of the Three Young Masters Under Heaven. So many noble young ladies dream of marrying him but cannot. Madam truly found Miss a fine husband back then. With the late emperor’s bestowed marriage, Miss is the happiest woman in all of Dongli,” Qiao’er said again.
A trace of joy rose in Feng Hongluan’s heart, and she nodded. “Mm. To be able to marry into Prince Li’s Estate is my good fortune.”
“Miss, did you know? The young misses in our estate all admire Prince Li.” Qiao’er sounded a little smug. “Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss long for a single glance from Prince Li every day, but it’s said that even now, they haven’t even seen his face!”
“Qiao’er, in the future, you must never speak of Fifth Miss or Sixth Miss. Be careful—the walls have ears,” Feng Hongluan reminded her as the joy in her heart retreated somewhat.
Qiao’er’s expression dimmed, and she nodded. “This servant will remember. But Miss is going to marry into Prince Li’s Estate today, so it won’t matter if I say it. From now on, Miss will be Princess Consort Li. Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss won’t dare bully Miss anymore.”
“That’s true!” Feng Hongluan smiled.
“When we go to Prince Li’s Estate, Miss must have Prince Li take back the qin and xiao Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss stole. Those are Madam’s relics.” Qiao’er said with distress, “If Miss hadn’t been trying to save me that day, you wouldn’t have had to give them the qin and xiao. It’s all Qiao’er’s fault.”
“Don’t blame yourself. In the future, we’ll find an opportunity to take them back.” Feng Hongluan looked warmly at Qiao’er. “Those things are merely external objects, fleeting splendors before the eyes. If they could save Qiao’er’s life, it was worth it.”
“Miss…” Qiao’er was so moved she choked up.
Feng Hongluan reached out and patted her hand. “Fortunately, you’ve been with me all these years. Otherwise, perhaps I would have followed Mother long ago. Don’t cry.”
Qiao’er nodded, forcing out a trace of happiness. “Today is Miss’s joyous day. This servant won’t cry.”
Feng Hongluan smiled and said no more.
Just then, countless footsteps sounded from outside the little courtyard. The jingling of ornaments and the clinking of pearls and jade could be heard clearly.
“Miss, they’re here!” Qiao’er’s little face paled, and she immediately looked nervously toward the door.
Feng Hongluan’s heart tightened. She looked out the window, seeming to catch the pungent scent of rouge and powder. She rose to her feet and shielded Qiao’er behind her. “Don’t be afraid. The aunties and sisters have come to offer blessings.”
“Today is the day Prince Li comes to wed you. This servant dares say they won’t bully Miss again!” Qiao’er was clearly very afraid, but she still stepped out from behind Feng Hongluan and protected her instead.
Seeing Qiao’er’s actions, warmth immediately filled Feng Hongluan’s heart.
The door was pushed open, and a crowd of women dressed in gaudy finery and bright clothes squeezed in. The small room was instantly packed full.
Feng Hongluan’s hand clenched tightly within her sleeve. Today, all the madams and young misses of the Prime Minister’s Estate had come. Judging by this formation, their intentions were anything but kind.
“Oh my! Look at our Third Miss, so impatient to marry Prince Li that she’s already dressed herself.” The first to enter, Second Madam of the Prime Minister’s Estate, could not help but let out a mocking laugh as she looked at Feng Hongluan, already fully dressed.
“Since when does a bride dress herself before getting into the bridal sedan? If word gets out, people will think there’s no one left in our Prime Minister’s Estate!”
“Exactly! If the Prime Minister finds out, he’ll think we bullied her because she has no mother!”
“Sure enough, she’s just like her mother—a born little fox-spirit.”
“…”
As soon as Second Madam opened her mouth, it was like a floodgate had been lifted. The twelve madams of the Prime Minister’s Estate took turns speaking, their words barbed and biting, each one more sarcastic and malicious than the last, until they gradually became unbearable to hear.
Qiao’er clenched her little fists and glared at those women. Not only did they curse Miss, they even dared to curse Madam. She was just about to step forward and argue when Feng Hongluan reached out and held her back.
“Miss…” Qiao’er’s eyes had gone red.
Feng Hongluan took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in her heart. Looking at those so-called aunties before her, she slowly spoke. “It is one thing for all of you to speak of my mother, but if you even drag the late emperor and the current emperor into it, are you not afraid that the walls have ears? If this reaches His Majesty’s ears, causing him to direct his wrath at the Prime Minister’s Estate and execute the entire household, what then?”
The voices stopped abruptly. The madams all retreated a step in panic.
“Even if it does not reach the emperor’s ears, if Father hears of it, I’m sure all of you aunties know the consequences.” Feng Hongluan spoke slowly again. All these years, she had endured. But today was her joyous day; the beloved man she had awaited for four years was about to come and take her as his bride. How could she still endure humiliation as she boarded the bridal sedan?
Immediately, every madam’s face turned pale. They fell silent and all looked toward Second Madam, the current mistress in charge of the Prime Minister’s Estate.
Second Madam was furious in her heart. Today, this little wretch was about to marry into Prince Li’s Estate and gain power. But what they had said just now had indeed gone too far; if word got out, it would be a capital crime. She had originally wanted to make trouble for Feng Hongluan, but it seemed the girl would be getting off cheaply today. Her eyes sharpened, and she turned back to look at the madams. “Aren’t you going to apologize to Hongluan?”
“Why should we apologize to her? The aunties didn’t say anything wrong. We were only talking. Mother, aren’t you making too much out of nothing? The late emperor has been dead for three years, and what we said was the truth anyway. Who knows whether some people are bastards or not…” Feng Jinling was Second Madam’s daughter. From the moment she came in, she had been staring jealously at the bright red bridal gown Feng Hongluan wore.
At the word “bastard,” Feng Hongluan’s hand clenched even tighter within her sleeve, and she felt the word grate against her ears.
“Shut your mouth!” Second Madam immediately shouted angrily. Anything else could be spoken of, but the late emperor’s taboos could not be touched. “Aren’t you going to apologize to your third sister?”
“Mother, you actually want me to apologize to her? Who knows whether she’s my third sister or not? I heard that back then, the late emperor was her mother’s intimate guest…”
“Shut your mouth!” Second Madam raised her hand and slapped Feng Jinling across the face. “Men! Lock her up for me. No food for three days!”
“Mother, why are you locking me up? I didn’t say anything wrong…” Feng Jinling covered her face and cried as she looked at Second Madam.
“Second Sister, it was a child’s careless mistake. Don’t lock her up. Just make her remember that there are some things one may know in one’s heart but must not say aloud.” Third Madam pleaded for mercy. Since Second Madam had struck her daughter, she must be distressed; if she did not curry favor now, when would she?
“That’s right, Second Sister. Just discipline her a little. Don’t lock her up. That place is pitch-dark and terribly frightening.”
“Indeed, don’t lock her up. You’ll scare the child…”
“…”
At once, all the madams began pleading one after another.
Second Madam herself was also reluctant to lock up her own daughter. She looked toward Feng Hongluan. “This matter still depends on Hongluan.”
Feng Hongluan hated them to the extreme in her heart. Today was her joyous day. If she let Feng Jinling off so easily, then next, they would certainly not allow her to marry into Prince Li’s Estate smoothly. Gritting her teeth, she said lightly, “Everything shall be as Second Mother decides.”
“Drag her away! Guard her strictly!” Second Madam grew angry and barked the order.
People immediately came forward and dragged Feng Jinling away.
Second Madam turned back to look at Feng Hongluan, a smile carrying three parts warmth on her face. “Hongluan, what do you think of Second Mother’s handling of the matter?”
“Second Mother handled it well. Hongluan is tired and wishes to rest for a while.” Feng Hongluan nodded.
“Very well. Rest for now. When the bridal sedan arrives, I’ll call you.” Second Madam had originally intended to bring people today and teach Feng Hongluan another lesson before she boarded the sedan, but now that her weakness had been caught, she naturally dared not stir up more trouble. Seeing Feng Hongluan nod, she gave a signal with her eyes and led all the madams out of the little courtyard.
The footsteps receded, yet the room still held the pungent smell of cosmetics.
“Miss, you were truly amazing. Today, you didn’t let them gain any advantage…” Qiao’er was speaking happily when she suddenly saw Feng Hongluan collapse toward the floor. She cried out in alarm and immediately stepped forward to support her. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Feng Hongluan closed her eyes and said somewhat weakly, “I’m fine!”
Tears streamed down Qiao’er’s face. “Miss, you must hold on. Once Prince Li’s bridal sedan comes, everything will be fine. They’ll never be able to bully Miss again.”
Feng Hongluan nodded, her body soft and powerless as she leaned into Qiao’er’s arms.
The room fell silent. Mistress and servant spoke no more, only waiting for Prince Li’s Estate to send the bridal sedan to fetch her.
Only, they had not expected that this wait would last an entire day. When the sun was about to set, what arrived was not the bridal sedan from Prince Li’s Estate, but a single writ of repudiation.
“This Prince has asked someone to compare our birth characters. It is said our fates are incompatible; I hereby repudiate this wife!”
Feng Hongluan looked at the writ of repudiation and smiled bleakly. Incompatible fates? Why had he not said their fates were incompatible when the late emperor arranged the betrothal? Why had he not said their fates were incompatible for the past sixteen years? It was very clear that the man she had thought of day and night did not want to marry her.
“Miss… why did this happen…” Qiao’er held Feng Hongluan and wept loudly.
She also wanted to know why. Was it only because she was rumored to be Dongli’s number one useless fool? But did he know that the learning and talent in her belly did not lose to the Three Young Masters Under Heaven? She feared he would never know.
Feng Hongluan sat there numbly. She would rather never have met that man at the ancient temple on the green mountain four years ago.
At midnight, the women of the Prime Minister’s Estate, who had made noise for an entire day, all entered dreamland amid mockery and laughter.
Feng Hongluan walked toward the lotus pond. Before long, a school of sleeping brocade carp was startled awake in the lotus pond.