Chapter 13: Meeting at the Pavilion (1)
After leaving the Ji family residence, Ji Cheng went to Madam Yu's place and respectfully submitted the artwork she had completed over the past ten days.
Madam Yu carefully examined the paintings and said, "I can see daily improvements, which shows your dedication and natural talent. In painting, meticulous observation and contemplation are paramount. Your flower-bird works and landscapes are both remarkably lifelike, but your landscapes particularly stand out with their bold, unrestrained spirit."
Ji Cheng's cheeks warmed with unexpected pleasure at such high praise.
"However, technical flaws remain," Madam Yu continued. "While you possess profound vision, your brushwork cannot yet fully translate your intentions. There's always a gap between conception and execution. A pity."
Ji Cheng nodded vigorously, having long felt this disconnect between mind and hand.
"Your quick progress after only a few lessons shows remarkable aptitude. Yet judging by these works, I foresee your progress stagnating within half a year."
Ji Cheng looked up in confusion.
Madam Yu smiled. "Shall we wager on it?"
After lengthy silence, Ji Cheng suddenly laughed. "I won't gamble with my teacher. With decades of distinguished experience, your judgment surpasses my fledgling confidence. If you say it's so, A-Cheng accepts without doubt."
Madam Yu sighed admiringly at this rare combination of self-assurance and humility.
"Please guide me, Teacher." Ji Cheng performed a deep bow.
"Rise, child. You've been my true disciple for some time." Madam Yu helped her up. "Your talent led you to experiment with techniques too soon. But unrefined skills require more tricks to conceal flaws. This temporary fix will become an insurmountable barrier. Focus now on foundational practice - abandon clever techniques."
Ji Cheng flushed crimson, astonished her teacher had detected these artistic shortcuts.
Madam Yu kept Ji Cheng for dinner, offering hours of guidance that deepened the girl's respect. When Ji Cheng later returned to school, Shen Yan and Shen Quan already knew about the Wang sisters' snub - even Su Yun had received an invitation, leaving Ji Cheng conspicuously excluded.
Though attributing this to poor upbringing, Ji Cheng still burned with humiliation. She maintained composure until noon, when Shen Quan invited the group to select jewelry from Princess Anhe's latest collection.
"Cousin Cheng should choose too," Shen Quan insisted. "Mother prepared extra pieces, as if anticipating our full company."
Ji Cheng politely declined until Shen Quan added, "Even if you can't attend Wang's peony banquet now, other occasions will arise."
Shen Yan suddenly declared, "I won't be attending either."
Gasps rippled through the group. "Third Sister?" Shen Quan blinked. "You've always led our preparations! Since spring we've had new palace-designed dresses made-"
"Fourth Wang's shallow snobbery isn't worth enduring." Shen Yan grasped Ji Cheng's hands. "Since joining our household, you're family. We'll host our own peony banquet - superior to hers!"
Tears welled in Ji Cheng's eyes. "Please don't strain relations for my sake. Your support alone is-"
"I'm not going either!" Shen Cui interjected, recalling her mother's advice. "They always ignore me anyway."
After agonized hesitation, Shen Quan bit her lip. "Nor I."
"Count me out," Su Yun added brightly.
Shen Yan beamed. "Excellent. Let's plan an annual floral banquet to surpass Wang's!"
"Their 'Green Dragon Resting in Ink Pond' peony is unmatched," Shen Quan cautioned.
Shen Cui waved dismissively. "We'll find rarer blooms!"
As others debated, Ji Cheng suggested, "Why mimic their peony theme? Let's host a grander百花宴 later with diverse floral wonders."
"Brilliant!" Shen Yan approved. "With Second Brother's help, we'll acquire specimens."
Shen Quan puffed her cheeks. "I'll pester him until he agrees!"
"Don't antagonize him," Shen Yan chided. "Approach gently."
"You know how he is - all sunshine or thunderstorms." Shen Quan shrugged. "I'll catch him smiling."
After assigning tasks, the group dispersed. That afternoon, kneading dough in the kitchen, Ji Cheng smiled discreetly at Shen Yan. Everything proceeded exactly as hoped.
“Fourth Sister and the others have indeed gone too far this time, Chengmei. Please don’t take it to heart.” Shen Yuan comforted Ji Cheng.
At that moment, Ji Cheng stood somewhat despondently by the peony bushes. If Shen Yuan hadn’t taken the initiative, there would have been no need for her to approach.
“Elder Sister need not worry about me. I know my place.” Ji Cheng lowered her head slightly. She truly understood her position—in truth, she had no desire to associate with the Wang sisters either. But time waited for no one, and she urgently needed to secure her future.
Shen Yuan took Ji Cheng’s hand and led her to sit in a nearby pavilion. “Don’t fret. I’ll speak to Fourth Sister when I see her. There’s no need to feel disheartened—she’ll surely invite you next time.”
Ji Cheng shook her head with a faint smile. “Do I seem like someone who would sulk over missing a peony banquet? When I first came to the capital, I already understood my standing clearly. I’m only ashamed that you, Third Sister, must comfort me now. If anything, I’ve embarrassed you by being such a burdensome relative…”
Tears glistened on Ji Cheng’s lashes, her delicate face resembling a dew-drenched hibiscus—both pitiable and striking, stirring Shen Yuan’s sympathy and igniting a simmering anger within her.
Fourth Sister Wang had truly crossed the line. “Even when striking a dog, one must consider its master.” By openly slighting Ji Cheng, was she not also insulting the Shen family? It seemed she believed the Shens would simply smile and endure the humiliation with false magnanimity.
Ji Cheng sniffed softly and forced a smile. “Third Sister, don’t look at me like that. I’ll have other chances to attend such gatherings. At the very least, I can still join our own Shen family’s events, can’t I?” She clasped Shen Yuan’s hand. “Please don’t let this create distance between you and the Wang sisters. With Consort Shu now so favored in the palace, we mustn’t offend the Wang family over me. Others might even accuse you of pettiness.”
Magnanimity. The word had haunted Shen Yuan throughout her mere sixteen years of life, as if she were born to endure insults with grace—to let others trample over her while maintaining a saintly smile.
“If I show ‘magnanimity’ now,” Shen Yuan burst out, “others will cease respecting the Shen family altogether! What worth is our status if we can’t even protect our own kin?” Even Ji Lan had grasped this simple truth—how could Shen Yuan, groomed since childhood for such matters, fail to see it?
Her earlier oversight stemmed from never truly acknowledging Ji Cheng’s presence. This sudden realization came partly from the girl’s prompting, and partly from her growing resentment toward Fourth Sister Wang.
From birth until meeting Wang Siniang, Shen Yuan had been the moon surrounded by stars—the most celebrated noble daughter of the capital, outshining Wang Siniang in every regard. But after Consort Shu bore the Emperor’s first son, the Wang family soared. Wang Siniang’s demeanor shifted overnight, her new title as “Capital’s First Beauty” inflating her arrogance until she strutted as if the world owed her admiration.
Shen Yuan had tolerated this, but Ji Cheng’s words struck a nerve. Why should our esteemed Shen family grovel before the Wangs? Her second brother had beaten three Wang bullies last year, and their family hadn’t dared protest!
Patting Ji Cheng’s hand, Shen Yuan declared, “Don’t be frightened, Chengmei. While this appears done for your sake, it isn’t entirely. Wang Siniang oversteps—if we yield now, she’ll only push further. Leave this to me. I won’t let our own be bullied.”
This morning’s conversation paved the way for Shen Yuan’s later refusal to attend the peony banquet, and her decisive speech to the sisters.
Though grateful, Ji Cheng remained clear-eyed: her importance lay not in herself, but in providing Shen Yuan a pretext to humble Wang Siniang. A mutual benefit. Yet she still felt genuine gratitude—only Shen Yuan’s inherent kindness made this manipulation possible. How Ji Cheng loathed playing the pitiful weakling! She yearned for simplicity, despised her own scheming, but what choice had fate given her? She was born with an extra measure of cunning.
“You’re remarkable—distracted yet shaping hibiscus cakes perfectly.” Shen Yuan’s laughter startled Ji Cheng from her thoughts. She blinked to find a flawless pastry in her hands.
Hibiscus cakes weren’t particularly tasty, but their crafting required skill: kneading rose-syrup-tinted dough, cradling it in one palm while deft fingers shaped lifelike blooms. Ji Cheng’s creation surpassed even her focused efforts—translucent as oiled paper, petals artlessly plump.
Even the critical Chef Liu cracked a smile. Shen Yuan’s own lopsided attempt paled in comparison, but she remained unbothered. Cooking was mere diversion; Ji Cheng’s talent warranted no envy.
“What preoccupied you so?” Shen Yuan asked after washing her hands.
Ji Cheng lowered her gaze. “Planning how to help Third Sister perfect the Hundred Flowers Banquet. I’d feel remiss otherwise.” Her sincerity rang true—this mutual gain demanded her utmost effort.
“Silly child, this isn’t your fault.” Shen Yuan doubted Ji Cheng’s usefulness, yet later discussions saw Suyun offering clever suggestions while Shen Cui’s ideas proved dismissible. Ji Cheng stayed quiet.
Two days before the Wangs’ peony banquet on April 10th, Shen Yuan declined attendance citing illness—a excuse mirrored by Shen Quan, Shen Cui, and Suyun.
Behind closed doors, debates raged. “Let’s say Cousin Cheng is ill, and we’re keeping her company,” Shen Cui proposed. “Wang Siniang will understand we protect our own.”
Su Yun and Shen Quan nodded. Ji Cheng nearly cursed Shen Cui aloud—the girl meant no harm, merely thoughtlessness. I must win her loyalty, Ji Cheng resolved, or she’ll forever hinder me.
“Nonsense!” Shen Yuan flicked Shen Cui’s forehead. “That would make Wang Siniang despise Chengmei! We’ll each claim personal illness—the Wangs aren’t fools.”
Ji Cheng exhaled in relief. Wang Siniang’s ire was inevitable, but better this subtle snub than open confrontation. Let the Wangs recognize the true source of discord.
On April 10th, the Wangs’ banquet proceeded merrily enough, but the Shens’ absence bred whispers. Wang loyalists criticized, while secret detractors hid smirks.
Wang Siniang maintained a brittle smile, never expecting such public humiliation. What worth has a peony banquet unrecognized by the Shen sisters?
Five days later, Shen Yuan sent new invitations: “Regretting my recent absence, I humbly invite you to a compensatory Hundred Flowers Banquet.”
Wang Siniang slammed the missive on her table. “Shen Yuan goes too far!”
“How dare she?!” Wang Yuening paled with rage. “Sister, let’s visit Consort Shu! One word to the Emperor, and those Shens will come crawling to apologize!”
(End of Chapter)
