Chapter 22: Sibling Discord (1)
The next day, Ji Cheng and the others rose early to prepare for the dragon boat races at Jin Hong Lake. The Shen family's colorful tents had been erected days prior along the shore, where the young ladies would join Princess Anhe, Lady Huang, and Ji Lan for the festivities.
The elderly matriarch remained at home, unable to withstand the summer heat. The men of the household, including Duke Qi, had been summoned to attend the emperor, while Third Master Shen Ying opted to spend the day with friends rather than accompany the women.
By the time Ji Cheng's group arrived, the lakeshore teemed with spectators. To the north stood an imperial grandstand guarded by palace guards, reserved for the emperor and his court. Nobility occupied colorful tents along the eastern and western banks, while commoners were confined to the southern area behind wooden barriers.
Princess Anhe was immediately escorted to the imperial viewing platform by palace eunuchs. From their tent, Ji Cheng watched enthralled as vibrant dragon boats bobbed on the water - some prows adorned with inverted golden hooks, others fluttering with banners. Aquatic performers splashed between vessels while a daring child acrobat scaled a thirty-foot pole, his red bellyband flashing as he pretended to slip, eliciting gasps and laughter from the crowd.
Just as the spectacle reached its peak, Ji Lan summoned her niece: "Consorts Shu and Zhao wish to see our family's young ladies. Mind your manners and don't disgrace us."
Ji Cheng's heart sank. This explained the lavish new outfits Ji Lan had commissioned for her and Shen Cui. Though she'd suspected some scheme, she never imagined imperial summons would come for a merchant's daughter.
Choosing simplicity, Ji Cheng wore only gold filigree hairpins with jade accents and hollowed gourd earrings. Yet even this understated elegance enhanced her usual radiance. As they approached the imperial platform flanked by eunuchs, she reminded herself: Emperor Jianping currently favored Consort Huang, and palace beauties outnumbered spring blossoms.
The Shen contingent knelt in unison, their synchronized "Long live the Emperor!" echoing across the platform. Through lowered lashes, Ji Cheng glimpsed the square-jawed ruler - his imposing stature slightly diminished by silver-streaked temples and shadows beneath eyes.
Consorts Shu and Zhao embodied contrasting charms - the former willow-slender, the latter ripe as summer peaches. Though notorious for his appetites, the emperor barely glanced at the young visitors. These unopened buds held no allure compared to his cultivated flowers.
"Truly Beijing's essence resides in Shen women," Consort Wang Shu purred, her gaze liquid as she leaned toward the throne. "My crude sisters should learn from such grace."
Emperor Jianping chuckled. "Crude? When I see such cultivated ladies, I'll gift their wedding trousseaus myself!"
The consort's answering curtsy emphasized her swaying hips, this exchange simultaneously flaunting her influence and avenging past slights against the Wang family.
Nearby, an elderly grand consort from the previous reign studied Su Yun and Ji Cheng. "Such fresh beauties," she murmured, her compliment deliberate as chess moves. This survivor of three palace purges never spoke idly.
Consort Wang's sidelong glare acknowledged the gambit. This relic had orchestrated the girls' presentation, likely seeking advantages for her clan. Even heavily pregnant Consort Huang noticed the threat, suddenly clutching her belly to redirect imperial attention.
Ji Lan seethed silently. Her bribes to the grand consort through the Hu family had borne no fruit - the girls' timing disastrously coincided with two reigning favorites. Silver truly wasted.
Returning to their tent, Ji Lan studied her niece. Ji Cheng's beauty defied categorization - not the fragile charm of a willow, but the ephemeral allure of mist dissolving at dawn. Where Su Yun's striking features grew familiar with time, Ji Cheng's ever-shifting grace compelled repeated glances.
How could such magnetism fail to entice the emperor? Ji Lan fumed. Had the girl possessed Consort Wang's calculated allure or Consort Huang's ripe sensuality...
Unbeknownst to her, Emperor Jianping had indeed noticed. But between his current favorites' watchfulness and physicians' warnings about overexertion, survival outweighed desire. Recent heir-producing efforts had drained him more than state affairs.
As neighboring noblewomen visited after the races, their initial interest in Ji Cheng waned upon learning her merchant origins. Yet she remained unflappable - answering questions politely, chatting softly with cousins when ignored, her perpetual half-smile and mellifluous voice disarming even prejudiced matrons.
Shen Cui, unable to discern anything from Ji Cheng's expression, continued, "We came on our own to show sincerity. I never thought we'd encounter Eldest Brother, yet he偏偏 returns at this very moment. By the way, why is Hong'er so fond of you?"
Ji Cheng fabricated, "I've always had a natural way with children." This held some truth - during her tomboy years, she'd been more popular than her own second brother, practically commanding a following.
Shen Cui naturally disbelieved her but knew further probing would be futile. Huffing, she declared, "Let's go. It's time to visit Second Brother now."
Now it was Ji Cheng's turn to hope the Second Young Master would be absent. Ever since her rooftop encounter with Shen Che at De Yue Pavilion, thoughts of him left her unsettled - all her usual pretenses crumbled in his presence.
Yet these Shen cousins rarely appeared in the main residence. Today's brief meeting with Shen Yu had been extraordinary luck, and even he had only returned to change clothes before departing again. The chance of encountering their notoriously elusive Second Young Master seemed slimmer than catching a glimpse of a dragon's tail.
Following Shen Cui to Nine Li Courtyard within Qing Garden, Ji Cheng noted how Shen Che resided neither in the Duke's outer quarters nor the inner chambers befitting a married man. The unmarried second son had claimed this separate estate as his own.
Nine Li Courtyard formed a garden within a garden. Passing through the Moon Gate, they entered a labyrinth of nine winding paths and eighteen turns, streams meandering through bamboo groves and under wooden bridges, rose trellises framing each new vista. The air carried faint magnolia fragrance, transforming the space into an earthly paradise.
As the path broadened, bamboo houses emerged along a hillside stream, flanked by endless emerald stalks that whispered in the breeze. Lanterns now glowed within the dwellings, their warm light through the bamboo lattice resembling a golden serpent coiling up the slope, the adjacent stream a shimmering silver ribbon. "How exquisite," Ji Cheng breathed involuntarily.
Even Shen Cui stood momentarily transfixed, a flicker of envy for the main household's refined luxury crossing her features.
As they approached, a young page boy greeted them: "Fifth Miss..." His gaze faltered at the unfamiliar face beside her.
"This is my cousin Ji Cheng," Shen Cui supplied. "Is Second Brother receiving?"
The boy Qi Shu bowed. "The Second Young Master happens to be present. Are you delivering longevity threads for the festival? Miss Lu is already inside." As he spoke, Su Yun appeared from a side path with her maid, completing their trio.
Before they entered the hillside bamboo residence, Lu Yuan's unnaturally sweet voice carried through the air: "Che表哥, will you watch tomorrow's dragon boat races? Afterward there's polo too - the capital's so lively for Double Fifth! I'm fortunate to have come this year."
Ji Cheng and Shen Cui exchanged a shudder. Lu Yuan's usual hearty tones had transformed into honeyed cadences that prickled the skin. Su Yun muffled a laugh behind her sleeve.
Spotting their entrance, Lu Yuan flushed crimson and retreated a step. "What a coincidence! Have you also come to present protective charms to Che表哥?"
Only Shen Cui responded affirmatively. Ji Cheng kept her gaze lowered, conscious of Shen Che's presence, while Su Yun's pink cheeks betrayed stolen glances at their host.
Two cousins, Ji Cheng mused - one a peony in bloom, the other a spirited wisteria. Which beauty would the Second Young Master favor? Yet Shen Che's reputation as a charming libertine preceded him, making the girls' obvious infatuation rather pitiful.
Not that she could blame them. His arresting features blended cold elegance with subtle allure - the winter moon over solitary pines, stirring hearts despite his reserve. Even Ji Cheng found her composure wavering under his gaze. Such visage could season rice with mere presence - truly, beauty to feast upon.
Lu Yuan's efforts proved wasted as Shen Che responded with polite deflection: "I have prior engagements."
Su Yuan interjected, "They say His Majesty attends the Golden Rainbow Pond races this year! Surely you'll go?"
"Eldest Brother attends yearly," Shen Cui cut in. "He's likely tired of the spectacle."
A faint smile played on Shen Che's lips as he glanced at an attendant, who promptly announced: "Young Master, it's nearly the Hour of the Dog. Your appointment with Master Ma..."
Rising smoothly, Shen Che excused himself to change. The girls hastily placed their trinkets on the table, unspoken words lodged in their throats.
Returning through the gardens, Ji Cheng reconsidered her earlier concerns. Shen Che's restrained manner toward his cousins suggested propriety, easing her fears about his rumored dalliances.
At the path's fork, Lu Yuan suddenly declared, "My feet ache from walking. Fifth Cousin, please deliver this to Jing表哥 for me." Her blunt favoritism invited silent amusement.
Su Yuan maintained better composure, accompanying them to Shen Jing's quarters. Here the atmosphere differed markedly - the scholar had canceled his engagements specifically to receive visitors.
"Have you fully recovered, Cheng妹妹?" Shen Jing asked urgently when Ji Cheng entered.
"Completely restored," she answered with disarming ease, preferring candor over bashfulness.
Shen Jing forced himself to engage Su Yuan in literary discussion, promising to procure essay collections for her. Yet as the cousins departed, his gaze lingered on Ji Cheng's retreating figure, anxious she might misconstrue his attentiveness as interest.
Ji Cheng, for her part, spared the interaction no further thought.
(End of Chapter)
