Tie Ci smiled and stepped aside.
The steward hurriedly said, “Right Deputy Commissioner, this way please.”
The person was obviously the Right Deputy Commissioner of Qianzhou’s Provincial Administration Commission. Hearing this, he nodded and smiled to his companion, “Chief Clerk, please.”
Tie Ci’s gaze turned toward them.
The person called Chief Clerk was short and fat, smiling like a wealthy merchant, paired excellently with the tall and thin Right Deputy Commissioner who looked like a bamboo pole.
The Right Deputy Commissioner of Qianzhou’s Provincial Administration Commission and the Chief Clerk of Yannan Prince’s mansion walked arm in arm.
How very interesting.
Such high officials from two regions personally congratulating a sixth-rank prefect on his birthday was even more interesting.
Next, Tie Ci heard a series of names covering all the important military and political officials of Qianzhou and even Huzhou and Yannan. A string of illustrious names was loudly announced by the steward. Everyone clicked their tongues in admiration, and the accompanying Third Master Tan and Fourth Master Tan who was receiving guests at the entrance both had flushed faces.
The birthday celebrant emerged from upstairs to greet them. Tie Ci turned to look.
Prefect Tan had gained some weight. His rhinoceros leather belt trembled against his thick waist, but his stature was quite tall. His face still had a somewhat jade-like gentle appearance. Indeed, Quiet Consort’s features resembled her father more.
Tie Ci felt no filial affection in her heart.
She didn’t have much of such emotions even toward her mother, since that mother was a mother, but she was raising her mother like a daughter.
Much less toward maternal relatives she’d never had contact with.
She was the Crown Prince. When grandfather and uncles met her, they would first observe state protocol before family protocol. Previously, because it was the Tan family’s first time entering the capital, and the censors from the Censorate controlled by the Xiao family were watching like tigers every day, she couldn’t let anyone catch her in a breach of filial piety, so she had tolerated the Tan family’s presumptions.
Now, far away in Pingyun, in her eyes, these were just officials under her command.
The guests entered the building. Third Master Tan was about to begin the banquet when suddenly a steward hurried over and whispered to Third Master Tan.
Tie Ci was close enough to clearly see Third Master Tan’s surprise, followed by joy appearing on his brow.
He sent someone rushing inside to report. There was immediately a commotion inside. After a moment, Old Master Tan came down the stairs and, together with Third Master Tan and Fourth Master Tan, all went out to greet the new arrivals.
Tie Ci straightened up.
What distinguished guest had arrived?
The Qianzhou Provincial Administrator wouldn’t come. First, it was beneath his status, and second, her own edict had already been sent to the Provincial Administration Commission. The account auditing in Huangzhou, the assassination and fire attack on the river in Xizhou, the major personnel changes in Xizhou’s officialdom, and the subsequent major cleanup of the Fuguang River waters would keep him busy for a year and a half, plus he’d have to write memorial requesting punishment to the court.
The highest-ranking official under the Provincial Administrator, the Right Deputy Commissioner, had already arrived, and even Yannan had sent their Chief Clerk. Who else had status far exceeding theirs, making the birthday celebrant’s family go out to greet them?
A moment later, Tie Ci saw a procession of boys and girls.
All were about thirteen or fourteen years old, with features like carved jade, boys on the left and girls on the right, arranged in two rows, holding golden vases, golden wash basins, golden bowls, golden boxes, spittoons and other items. The boys and girls all wore white silk gauze clothes, their sleeves fluttering as they walked, ethereal as immortals.
After the twelve boys and girls came a rattan sedan chair, but it was carried by four robust and tall mountain women wearing only short sleeves and half-skirts, exposing gleaming and strong arms and calves, forming a stark contrast with the delicate boys and girls in front.
Even more eye-catching was the rattan sedan chair, which sparkled in the sunlight. Looking closely, not only was the rattan no ordinary material – it was purple-red in color, glossy and smooth, made of the locally precious diamond rattan – but golden light flashed between the rattan strips. Upon closer inspection, it was woven with gold threads. Pearl curtains hung from the top of the sedan chair, each pearl the size of a lotus seed, lustrous and white, tinkling melodiously as they moved. The rattan chair was woven in a natural form, and several flowers bloomed among the rattan strips at the top, especially brilliant and colorful. Looking closely, they weren’t real flowers but were made of rubies and sapphires, green and white jade, emerald and amber, creating gemstone flowers that looked real.
The Tan family father and sons walked beside the rattan sedan chair. The birthday celebrant’s gorgeous robe of treasure blue with clustered flowers and gold thread embroidery lost its luster under such dazzling jewels and treasures.
Tie Ci’s eyes widened.
What kind of human extravagance was this!
Even her family’s Murong Yi had never been this ostentatious!
She was the Crown Princess and had never shown off like this!
Looking at everyone’s expressions, they all showed astonished looks, but she couldn’t determine if this astonishment was due to the ostentatious style or the person’s identity.
The sedan chair was carried all the way to the front of Danhuai Hall. Third Master Tan personally stood before the sedan to invite the occupant out, while the boys and girls stepped forward to part the pearl curtains.
Tie Ci saw a head of black hair topped with a small crown of jade, with pearls on the crown as large as pigeon eggs, bright enough to blind people.
That person raised their head.
It was a face that could be called beautiful – heart-shaped, delicate and well-behaved, with very large eyes, very long eyelashes, and pupils that reminded one of black pebbles in clear blue streams.
The steward announced, “Left Deputy Commissioner You of Yannan Provincial Administration Commission has arrived!”
Now not only did people from Danhuai Hall come out to greet them, but small officials and wealthy merchants from all sides also stepped forward, standing by the roadside and bowing.
So this was what You Weinan was like.
As the crowd approached, Tie Ci quietly stepped back, planning to blend into the crowd.
She smiled to the person beside her, “I didn’t expect Commissioner You to be so young.”
The other person also seemed to be a minor official, looking enviously at that group of people and saying, “Young Master You rarely goes out. I didn’t expect he would personally come to congratulate Prefect Tan on his birthday.”
Tie Ci said, “I didn’t expect Young Master You to look so approachable.”
That person said, “I haven’t seen him either, but I’ve seen the heir apparent of Yannan Prince’s mansion before. Doesn’t this person resemble the heir apparent somewhat?”
Tie Ci looked and saw that their features weren’t very similar, but at first glance they were quite alike – the same type of baby face that made them look young. Indeed, they were worthy of being cousins.
The two were chatting in low voices when unexpectedly You Weinan, who was walking ahead and conversing cheerfully with Prefect Tan, stopped and looked over.
Everyone’s gaze immediately focused on Tie Ci.
Tie Ci looked bewildered and bowed respectfully.
You Weinan glanced at her and smiled to Prefect Tan, “Qianzhou is blessed with spiritual beauty and outstanding people. Just walking around the Tan mansion, one can see such exceptional individuals.”
Prefect Tan’s gaze swept over Tie Ci’s ordinary clothing and waist token, chuckled twice, and said, “Commissioner You hasn’t met my grandsons yet. Ahui, Acheng, come meet Commissioner You!”
Two young men quickly stepped forward.
You Weinan looked Tie Ci up and down several more times. Although this action was somewhat disrespectful, his gaze was curious and slightly smiling, not unlikable.
Tie Ci put on an expression of being flattered beyond measure, stammering and not daring to speak, her hands and feet in disarray.
You Weinan smiled and turned his gaze away, exchanged pleasantries with the Tan family, and went upstairs.
This group went in amid clustering crowds. Only then did the people outside burst into excited discussion. The person beside Tie Ci also said to her, “Let’s go take our seats first. They have distinguished guests, so they’ll need to exchange pleasantries for a while. You and I might as well go eat some pastries. Siyi Garden’s flower cakes and fresh flower pastries are very famous.”
Tie Ci smiled and agreed. The two found a corner in the side flower hall to sit down, in a position facing the windows of the upper seats.
That person ate pastries while saying to her, “Eat up, and take some more after eating. Right now, besides us, no one else has the mind to eat pastries. They’re all busy with socializing.” While saying this, he hurriedly stuffed pastries into his sleeves.
“Since you’re here, why aren’t you socializing? So many military and political important officials from Qianzhou and Yannan have come – it’s a rare good opportunity.”
“Every circle has its own invisible threshold, blocking everyone who wants to enter. If your qualifications haven’t reached the conditions for entering that circle, it’s useless even if you force your way in. Today’s congratulatory guests flow like water, and the important officials are overwhelmed. Even if you squeeze forward to say a few words, they won’t remember you. It’s better to do something memorable to leave an impression and seek opportunities later.”
“What do you mean by doing something memorable?”
That person stuffed a piece of cake in his mouth and pointed toward the lakeside corridor, laughing with bulging cheeks, “For example, if I jumped into the water with a splash right now and swam back and forth, everyone would certainly remember it.”
Tie Ci laughed. That person stuffed another pastry, his cheeks bulging like a squirrel’s, and said, “For example, if I shouted that the Crown Princess has arrived in Pingyun in disguise, everyone would remember me in their shock.”
Tie Ci: “…”
Never mind others – she already felt shocked.
Only then did she turn to look at this fellow properly. He had an unremarkable appearance – a dark face and large head, short stature, with two thin long whiskers comically surrounding a wide mouth, looking like a catfish spirit.
She asked, “May I ask your honorable name? From your speech, you also seem to be someone from Xizhou’s officialdom?”
The catfish spirit cupped his hands, saying, “I am Pang Duan, courtesy name Buxie. I humbly serve as Assistant Prefect of Pingyun Prefecture.”
Tie Ci was stunned. This person was the legitimate deputy to the prefect and should by rights be drinking birthday wine in Danhuai Hall.
She vaguely felt the name was familiar. After further inquiry, she learned that this Pang Duan was a jinshi of the bingxu year, ranked sixth in the second class. With his jinshi background, he had also passed the Hanlin examination and could have entered the Hanlin Academy. As the saying goes, “Only jinshi can enter Hanlin, only Hanlin can enter the cabinet.” The Hanlin Academy’s status was revered beyond comparison with ordinary departments, yet this person hadn’t entered.
When asked about it, Pang Duan pointed to his face and laughed, “Born with strange features and little beauty, fearing to startle the king when appearing at court.”
Tie Ci laughed.
Seeing his gaze clear and bright, though he mocked his own ugliness, he obviously didn’t feel inferior or resentful about losing good prospects due to his appearance. His attitude was frank and composed – he was a gentleman with a broad mind.
As for why he, as Pingyun’s Assistant Prefect, didn’t enter Danhuai Hall, Pang Duan said it was stuffy inside, not as pleasant as outside. Tie Ci figured nine times out of ten he disapproved of her grandfather’s behavior.
Watching the Tan family members come and go without even greeting Assistant Prefect Pang, their relationship was obviously not good.
Today there were many guests, and the Tan family was short-handed, running around frantically. One steward saw Pang Duan and his eyes lit up. He stepped forward and said, “Master Pang has come. Today the Prefect’s birthday banquet has many guests, and we really can’t manage them all. Here in the side flower hall, we’ll trouble Master Pang to help receive them.”
Tie Ci smiled and observed. The Tan mansion had quite an attitude – even a steward dared to order around a court official of almost the same rank as their master.
Pang Duan smiled and agreed. Suddenly there was a sound of opening windows above. Someone stuck their head out and laughed, “Old Pang, thank you for your hard work. You like our house’s cakes – we’ll bring you more to take home later.”
These words rang out loudly, drawing sideways glances from people all around. Pang Duan still smiled and cupped his hands in thanks. On the second floor, Third Master Tan twitched his lips, looked at him contemptuously, and smiled as he withdrew his head.
The window wasn’t closed, and they could vaguely hear him say to someone, “…that Pang catfish who opposes everything behind the scenes!”
A burst of mocking laughter.
Pang Duan under the flower pavilion in the side hall seemed not to hear, continuing to eat his flower cakes and drink the fruit wine on the table, very tolerant, finishing seven or eight pastries and three or four pots of wine in the blink of an eye.
Tie Ci studied him and praised, “Brother Pang has excellent skill in maintaining composure.”
Pang Duan smiled without answering and introduced those flower cakes to Tie Ci, urging her again, “Eat more. Whether you’ll be able to taste this again in the future is hard to say.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Pang Duan smiled without answering again, looking around Siyi Garden and saying, “Beautiful scenery should also be appreciated more. There probably won’t be many opportunities to enter this garden in the future. Ah, such a scenically peaceful and beautiful place, given to that family of vulgarians… If only a school could be built here, Pingyun’s current school is so dilapidated that no students want to come…”
“How come you won’t be able to appreciate this garden anymore? The garden won’t fly away, and you’re Prefect Tan’s capable assistant. Siyi Garden should be a place you visit regularly, right?”
Pang Duan just smiled without speaking.
Tie Ci poured wine for him, and in a flick of her finger, a bit of powder entered the wine pot.
It was one of the little gadgets from the treasure pouch her master gave her. Master said it was an essential treasure for coaxing, deceiving, taking advantage, and body-snatching. If she wanted to sleep with some little wolf dog but the other party was a chaste and virtuous man, using this would guarantee turning the virtuous man into a clingy lover.
Unfortunately, Tie Ci had settled Murong Yi early on. With a snap of her fingers, Murong Yi would eagerly lie flat, so there was no need to waste these things.
Tie Ci wanted to hear this person talk, so she sprinkled a little to try.
Sure enough, after one sip of wine, Pang Duan’s originally clear eyes became confused. He suddenly burped and leaned close to Tie Ci, laughing slyly, “You see him with flowers adorning brocade, fierce fire cooking oil, but don’t know that flowers wither after blooming, and fierce fires turn to ash when burned out.”
“How so? The Tan mansion is the Crown Princess’s maternal family.”
“Right, succeed by the Crown Princess, fail by the Crown Princess.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone in Qianzhou thinks that with the Crown Princess in power, the Tan mansion will surely have all chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. The Tan mansion thinks so too, but I don’t think so. I’ve studied the Chronicles of Compassionate Heart and recently heard various rumors about the Crown Princess’s actions along her journey. I can see that this Crown Prince is not someone with a soft heart and tender feelings. When encountering matters, she only considers pros and cons, weighing without discussing gratitude or grudges. With the Tan family’s conduct being what it is, if they don’t parade in front of her, there might still be three parts of sentiment left. But if they appear before her eyes, nine times out of ten they won’t get anything good.”
“Look at the current trends. The Tan family went to the capital, then quickly left the capital. The Crown Princess’s southern tour takes the Tan family matriarch with her, but the matriarch couldn’t even return for the old master’s birthday banquet. Isn’t this clear enough? Going to the capital then leaving again – they were driven out. Taking the entire Tan family on the southern tour – she doesn’t trust them. If they really gained face before the Crown Princess, even if she didn’t come to the birthday banquet herself, she would definitely send the matriarch and others back by fast horse. Since we don’t even see their shadows now, I guess something probably happened, hehe.”
Tie Ci was numbed by that soulful “hehe” laugh, thinking that among the fools in Qianzhou’s officialdom, unexpectedly there was one clear-headed person.
She held up her wine cup and said slowly, “When encountering matters, only consider pros and cons, weighing without discussing gratitude or grudges.”
She hadn’t expected that a minor official in a border region, separated from her by mountains and seas, could fathom her so thoroughly based on just a few theatrical story books.
Pang Duan was obviously about to enter the body-snatching state, becoming increasingly talkative, putting his arm around her shoulder and saying, “Brother, I tell you, the Tan mansion nine times out of ten will have problems. They don’t have the fortune to live long in Siyi Garden. As long as the Crown Princess still wants to win over Yannan and control popular sentiment, she absolutely won’t allow the Tan mansion to occupy such a fine garden under her banner, hehe…”
“Isn’t the Crown Princess in power now? What’s wrong with her maternal family taking a garden?”
“Ah, you’re short-sighted, that’s why you can’t become the Crown Princess. The more one holds power, the more one must show favor and gain reputation, not losing in any aspect, hehe!”
Tie Ci looked at him with a grinning smile and clinked cups with him.
The window above was open, and someone leaned against the window frame, holding a cup of wine and watching the people below talking and laughing cheerfully.
In the hall, Third Master Tan was triumphantly bringing up a purple sandalwood carved tray covered with bright yellow silk cloth to the table. He smiled as he unveiled the bright yellow silk and said to the surrounding officials and wealthy merchants who gathered with admiring expressions, “This is the birthday gift that my niece… oh no, Her Highness the Crown Princess sent someone to deliver by fast horse. Please take a look.”
When the silk was lifted, a chess set appeared. It was a white sandalwood chessboard with ivory and gold chess pieces, pure white and precious, sparkling with golden light under the lamplight, exceptionally gorgeous. The surrounding observers made sounds of amazement.
Old Master Tan and his sons showed no signs of guilt, standing aside with slight pride listening to everyone’s praise. Although this chess set wasn’t a birthday gift from the Crown Princess, it was genuinely an imperial palace item. When Quiet Consort gave birth to a daughter and Tie Ci was designated Crown Princess, the palace customarily gave rewards to the maternal family. This set of white sandalwood ivory backgammon was among the treasures. Old Master Tan bringing it out today secretly congratulated himself that it had never been shown to others before, so he could finally produce something befitting imperial status without losing face.
The chessboard had a bright yellow nameplate hanging from its edge, clearly an imperial tribute item. Everyone gathered around to admire it, continuously flattering Old Master Tan for having a daughter who became a consort and a grandson who became Crown Prince, saying the Tan family’s meteoric rise was just around the corner. Old Master Tan’s laughter never ceased.
You Weinan leaned against the window frame, his gaze sweeping over that white sandalwood chessboard. He seemed to think of something, and the corners of his lips curved up. He shifted his body, but the fan pouch hanging from his waist suddenly fell down.
Right below was Tie Ci. Hearing a faint sound of wind, she reached up and caught the fan pouch precisely in her hand, then looked up.
She saw You Weinan smiling at her, his eyes bright.
Suddenly someone walked over from upstairs – it was the Right Deputy Commissioner of Qianzhou’s Provincial Administration Commission from earlier. He looked down and saw Tie Ci holding You Weinan’s fan pouch in her hand. Seeing there were no servants around, he pointed and said, “You there, yes, you, bring Commissioner You’s fan pouch up here.”
Tie Ci looked at him, slowly pointing to her own nose, “Me?”