Old Mrs. Sheng returned to the residence, and the Sheng and Hai families began the six rites of marriage. The Hai family were prominent gentry from Dongyang, so Sheng Hong was determined to follow the complete set of ancient rituals. When Minglan went to pay her respects, she saw a large, plump goose tied up securely on the table in Madam Wang's main hall. Curious, she poked it with her finger. The poor goose, its beak bound, could only roll its eyes characteristically at Minglan.
"It's alive?" Minglan exclaimed softly. "Don't they usually use lacquered carvings nowadays?"
Rulan also pursed her lips: "They're a generations-old scholarly family—so particular about formalities. They caught it several days ago and have been tending to it like an ancestor."
Sheng Hong specifically invited his good friend, Liu Daren from the Court of Judicial Review, to go to the Hai family for the proposal. Since Magistrate Hai was about to leave the capital for his new post and time was limited, Liu Daren returned that same day with the birth date and horoscope of the Hai family's young lady. Sheng Hong then made a show of having the official matchmaker verify and divine the already-known horoscope before placing it before the ancestral tablet for two days. Of course, the outcome was inevitably auspicious.
Only after these procedures could the betrothal gifts be formally exchanged. The wedding was set for the eighteenth day of the twelfth month—an extremely auspicious date.
The year-end was filled with joyous occasions. This year, Princess Pingning's father, the Marquis of Xiangyang, was celebrating his seventieth birthday and hosting a grand banquet. As the Sheng family were distant relatives of the Qi family, and Changbai had been classmates with Qi Heng for many years, they were invited together.
Early that morning, Cuiwei roused Minglan and dressed her meticulously. She wore a light silver-red silk jacket with gold-threaded embroidery and a cinammon-pink pleated skirt. Her thick hair was styled into a gentle crescent bun, secured with a kingfisher-feather and gem-inlaid gold hairpin, and adorned with a delicate gold hairpin featuring a pearl-holding sparrow, its wings spread and trembling slightly, lending a lively charm.
This entire outfit was newly made in Youyang. When she arrived at Madam Wang's quarters, she saw the other two Lans also dressed in new attire. Molan wore a light blue silk jacket with jade orchid patterns and a dark silver-embroidered lotus-blue skirt, her slender waist lending an elegant grace. Rulan wore a red jacket with butterfly and flower motifs, exuding an air of opulence.
Madam Wang sat in the hall and gave the three girls some instructions about "following rules, listening more, and speaking less." Minglan knew this was directed at Molan and stole a glance at her, but Molan showed no sign of discomfort.
The carriage, hung with thick cotton curtains, jostled for over an hour before arriving at the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence. The main gate was wide open, adorned with a pair of gold-sprinkled red couplets and densely strung firecrackers. As Madam Wang's party were female guests, they entered through the side gate, disembarked from their carriage, and switched to soft sedan chairs provided by the marquis's household. After another stretch, they reached the second gate, where the female guests finally stepped out of the sedan chairs.
Maids and matrons were already waiting at the entrance to receive guests. Only then did Madam Wang and the others have a chance to observe carefully. The estate felt suddenly expansive and serene, with distant views of small bridges, flowing water, hills, and groves. A middle-aged matron guided Madam Wang's party inside, leading them through a gate and along covered corridors. Madam Wang and the girls subtly surveyed their surroundings, noting the carved beams and painted rafters, the sheer grandeur and wealth—even the doors, windows, and pillars were adorned with gold and colorful paintings.
Madam Wang was inwardly astonished, thinking, "No wonder Princess Pingning has such high standards." She glanced at the three girls: Molan, though envious, remained relatively composed, though her smile was somewhat stiff; Rulan was more transparent, her eyes openly displaying admiration and delight. When Madam Wang looked at Minglan—she was taken aback.Minglan appeared completely at ease, her expression natural and her demeanor fluid, as if she were genuinely unfazed by the wealth before her. Madam Wang couldn't help but view her with newfound respect.
It wasn't that Minglan had particularly high standards. Working in the court system, she dealt daily with either criminal offenses or tragic family disputes. The staff often felt depressed and under immense pressure, so Minglan never missed the annual trips organized by her workplace.
She had visited the Forbidden City, strolled through princely mansions, wandered Shen Garden, and climbed the Temple of Heaven—she had seen her share of the world. It was only when she saw the underground palace in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on a 3D screen that she let out a few "wows." There was no helping it: with the eastward spread of Western influence and capitalism's global reach, modern people's architectural tastes had simply become more Westernized.
The stewardess assigned to guide them was articulate, pointing out and briefly explaining the various sights along the way. Madam Wang remarked casually, "There are many wealthy residences in the world, but what's rare is your estate's elegant layout—truly fine mountains and waters, a most auspicious setting."
Rulan leaned close to Minglan's ear and whispered, "Sixth Sister, this place is far superior to our eldest sister's husband's home." Minglan nodded. Having never visited the Zhongqin Earl's residence, she had no basis for comparison and simply walked on demurely.
In ancient upper-class society, although the scholarly elite and the nobility intermarried, the boundaries between them were clear. Most scions of noble families relied on hereditary privileges or imperial favor to secure positions in the military or the Garrison, or else they held nominal titles in certain departments. Scholars, however, followed the civil service examination path: starting as Tongsheng, then Xiucai, then Jinshi. Those with outstanding results entered the Hanlin Academy, while average performers accumulated seniority in the Six Ministries or were posted to provincial roles, gradually rising in rank to become high officials or retiring to their hometowns as local gentry.
Of course, many scions of scholarly families weren't particularly driven to become officials. Passing the exams was mainly to secure tax exemptions for their families or to gain an extra layer of protection. The truly pivotal figures were the low-ranking Hanlin academicians, especially the Shujishi among them.
Since the previous dynasty, a convention had formed in the court: only Jinshi could enter the Hanlin Academy, and only Hanlin members could join the Grand Secretariat. Thus, Shujishi were known as "reserve ministers." In other words, Changbai had the potential to rise swiftly and eventually wield power in the Grand Secretariat.
When Minglan went to bed the previous night, she had wondered why a popular noble like the Marquis of Xiangyang would bother inviting their family to his birthday celebration. After careful consideration, she realized it was merely out of regard for Changbai and the Hai family. If Changbai were to achieve prominence in the future, making an early emotional investment was wise—especially since the investment required was minimal.
As she pondered this, they arrived at the main hall. Since Madam Wang's party had come early, the other guests had not yet arrived. Princess Pingning simply invited Madam Wang to bring the girls to pay respects to the birthday honoree. Just as they reached the entrance, they heard bursts of conversation and laughter from inside.
Minglan entered with her head bowed and felt her feet sink into something soft—the room was carpeted with a thick, crimson camel-hair rug embroidered with "Auspicious Longevity" patterns. The room was spacious, as if several chambers had been merged, divided only by a few curio shelves displaying a dazzling array of exquisite porcelain and antiques.
The room was filled with a clamor of voices, with men and women either seated or standing, chatting animatedly. Yet Princess Pingning's charming laughter was the most piercing, ringing clearly in Minglan's ears.
"Sister Wang, you've arrived," Princess Pingning said as she approached Madam Wang with a warm, affectionate smile.Madam Wang was a woman who, to put it kindly, was down-to-earth, or to put it bluntly, short-sighted. Since abandoning the idea of marrying into Qi Heng's family, she felt she had nothing to ask of Princess Pingning, so her interactions were natural and devoid of flattery, which actually allowed her to form a genuine connection with the princess.
After exchanging pleasantries with Princess Pingning, Madam Wang immediately bowed respectfully to an elderly gentleman seated at the head of the room, her face beaming with a smile as she offered birthday wishes: "Congratulations to the Old Marquis! May your happiness be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains!"
"Good, good, good. Rise, rise." The Old Marquis Gu, with his head full of white hair and a lean, dignified appearance, wore a russet-red robe embroidered with longevity patterns. Tall and robust, he looked to be only in his sixties.
He smiled at Madam Wang and said, "During the Late Emperor's reign, I served alongside your father under the Governor of Gansu and Shaanxi. Back then, he was always buried in account books, calculating provisions, while I led the soldiers to pester him for supplies. We'd often end up bickering. The other day, I met your eldest son—he’s the spitting image of your father. Ah... time waits for no one. In the blink of an eye, I’m the only old relic left."
Mentioning her late father brought a slight dampness to Madam Wang's eyes. Princess Pingning shook the Old Marquis's arm and laughed, "Oh, Sister Wang is here to offer birthday greetings. Why bring up such things?" The Old Marquis seemed deeply fond of his daughter and quickly relented, "Alright, I won’t say more. Hurry and offer her a seat. And those young girls behind you—are they your daughters?"
Madam Wang promptly urged the three Lan sisters to step forward and kowtow. The girls hurriedly knelt and bowed three times respectfully, reciting in unison as rehearsed: "May the Old Marquis be as evergreen as the pine and cypress, blessed with abundant happiness and longevity!"
After accepting their respects, Princess Pingning had a maid present a tray with three embroidered pouches as gifts from the Old Marquis. Minglan took her pouch and finally had a chance to glance up. She saw a crowd of young men standing behind the Old Marquis—the youngest around seven or eight, the eldest barely in his twenties, all with similar features, likely members of the Gu family.
Princess Pingning pointed at them and explained with a smile, "These are my cousins and nephews. Since the main guests haven’t arrived yet, they came early to pay their respects and offer birthday wishes to Father. We’re all family here, so there’s no need for the strict formalities of avoiding each other." In ancient noble families, those unmarried were considered minors, and female relatives did not need to strictly avoid male kin.
On the other side of the Old Marquis stood many wives and young ladies, all adorned with pearls and jade, their makeup elegant and dignified. Princess Pingning continued the introductions, "These are my sisters-in-law and nieces. Let’s all get acquainted."
The women stepped forward, and another round of greetings and laughter ensued. The three sisters, however, were overwhelmed—they hastily bowed to numerous ladies, then addressed a roomful of uncles, brothers, and younger cousins. Minglan grew dizzy from all the kowtowing; when she stood up, the world seemed to spin. To her surprise, the sturdy Rulan lost her balance and leaned her full weight on Minglan, nearly sending her tumbling face-first. Fortunately, Minglan’s good fortune held—she gritted her teeth, managed a smile, and barely kept her footing.Minglan found her hands filled with numerous brocade pouches again. She habitually weighed them in her palm—their contents varied dramatically in heaviness. Then she stole a glance at her two sisters: Rulan clearly hadn't recovered from her dizziness yet, while Molan kept her head lowered, murmuring solemnly under her breath. Minglan leaned slightly closer to listen, then curled the corner of her mouth. Oh, so she was silently memorizing the backgrounds and names of these noblewomen. But the most pitiful was Madam Wang—she'd certainly suffered financial losses today.
Given the impropriety of men and women mingling freely, after exchanging a few words, Princess Pingning took the lead in guiding all the female guests to another courtyard. In a spacious main hall, numerous brocade stools and high-backed chairs had been arranged. The women took their seats, and maids served tea and pastries before everyone relaxed into conversation, chatting while waiting for more guests to arrive gradually.
Minglan obediently sat in a corner, holding a teacup while carefully examining the famille rose enamel decoration, silently marveling at its exquisite quality. Beside her, Molan was chatting with a girl from the Gu family—they seemed to have been acquainted for some time.
"Why haven't the people from Marquis of Qi Manor arrived? Or rather, why aren't they here early?" Rulan faced Minglan but kept glancing toward the Gu family girl.
Minglan didn't know whom she was asking, and the Gu girl clearly didn't catch the implication. Minglan sighed and said casually, "Probably like us—in winter, they'd rather sleep in a bit longer?"
The Gu girl overheard this and burst out laughing. She looked charming and adorable, radiating innocence. Smiling at Molan, she said, "Your younger sister is quite amusing." Molan forced a stiff smile, then asked nonchalantly, "Speaking of which, Lianjie, why didn't we see the Old Marquis's grandson earlier?"
Lianjie was Princess Pingning's niece. However, most of the Gu family girls in the room were children under ten, so only these few of similar age had gathered to talk.
"My cousin arrived last night and already paid his respects this morning. Who knows where he's helping out now?" Lianjie deliberately adopted a mature tone, making all three girls laugh.
This shared laughter brought the four of them together to chat. Lianjie was quite talkative, chattering endlessly about Beijing's popular opera troupes, the latest hairpin and accessory trends, and poetry gatherings among capital gentlewomen... Molan chimed in skillfully, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Though Rulan and Molan had met Lianjie simultaneously, Molan clearly possessed better social skills. Minglan didn't contribute much, merely listening with a gentle smile.
As they conversed, Lianjie glanced repeatedly at Minglan, seeming hesitant yet wanting to ask something. Finally, she couldn't resist blurting out, "I heard from your sister that you were closest with Lord Yu's eldest granddaughter when you were in Dengzhou?"
Minglan shot a glance at Molan, who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Turning back, Minglan measured her words carefully: "I wouldn't say closest, but we did share some pleasant conversations."
Lianjie, unable to contain herself, immediately asked, "Then why did she refuse to marry my second uncle?"
Minglan was utterly bewildered and countered, "Who is your second uncle?" Seeing Minglan's confused expression, Lianjie grew impatient and whispered urgently, "The second son of the Ningyuan Marquis Household! The one standing beside the Old Marquis earlier!"Minglan understood instantly, reeling back as if struck by a blow. She inwardly cursed herself for being an idiot—the repeated kowtowing had muddled her mind, making her forget this crucial matter.
The founding generations of the Marquis of Xiangyang and the Marquis of Ningyuan were brothers. However, the second Marquis of Xiangyang died without an heir. For reasons unknown, instead of adopting a nephew from his own brother's line, he selected a distant relative from the Gu clan in his hometown as his heir. From that point on, the Marquis of Xiangyang and the Marquis of Ningyuan severed ties, and even their descendants' generational naming conventions diverged.
But now, the Old Marquis of Xiangyang had lost his only son early, leaving only Princess Pingning as his daughter. Having struggled until his fifties or sixties, he finally accepted that he would never father a son and had to adopt a nephew as his heir. That explained why the Old Marquis was surrounded by such a large group of young Gu clansmen earlier—they were likely all vying for the title. Lianjie's father was one of the Old Marquis's nephews.
Had Yanran's former fiancé been among those standing there earlier? Damn it, she hadn't paid attention!
Minglan strained to recall the scene. It seemed... perhaps... among the group of uncles she had bowed to, there were two with shifty, rat-like features. But was it the one with the bulging forehead or the one with the beady eyes? Minglan wanted to grab her own head in frustration—she simply couldn't remember.
"Our families never interacted. This time, my grand-uncle specifically invited them, hoping the Marquis of Ningyuan would help select an heir. It was my first time seeing members of that family. Their eldest master is unwell and didn't come; it was the second and third masters who attended."
Lianjie lifted her chin, pouting as she spoke, then pressed Minglan further, "Tell me, why did the Eldest Miss of the Yu family refuse to marry into that family? Did she hear some unfavorable rumors?" Though Lianjie's words sounded concerned for her own family, her expression betrayed her—she was clearly just excited to hear the gossip.
Minglan had the Yu family's prepared excuse ready and adopted a nonchalant tone, saying lightly, "No, it's just that Lord Yu once had a verbal marriage agreement with the Duan family of Dali. Later, the two families were separated by great distance, and everyone forgot about it. Unexpectedly, the Duan family wrote at the beginning of the year to bring up the marriage. Lord Yu is a man of his word, so he agreed to the match without hesitation."
Lianjie couldn't hide her disappointment: "Is that all?"
"Yes, what else could it be?" Minglan tried to sound as sincere as possible. "Actually, Lord Yu was quite pleased with the marriage to the Marquis of Ningyuan's family. Isn't that why he's now betrothed his second daughter to them? Is the engagement settled? When is it?"
Failing to get any juicy details, Lianjie was disappointed. She flicked her sleeve and said offhandedly, "It's settled, at the end of the first month."
Then she changed the subject to chat with Molan and Rulan. Only then did Minglan breathe a sigh of relief. Imitating Madam Wang, she clasped her hands together beneath her sleeves and silently recited: Amitabha, thankfully the Yu family's cleanup was thorough, leaving no traces of gossip. Otherwise, she might have been implicated too. By the witness of the Supreme Old Lord, she vowed never to act impulsively again.
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