28. The Heir Apparent

The Grand Princess’s banquet was, as expected, magnificent.

In truth, Ye Lingbo had come not so much to attend the banquet as to witness the humiliation of the Wei family. Only two days had passed since the recent scandal, and the rumors were still at their peak. With Lady Wei completely overwhelmed, she had become even more reliant on Lu Wenyin. Seeing this, Ye Lingbo could only inwardly curse her as a "fool."

She kept a quiet eye on the state of Cui Jingyu and her own sister. Han Yueqi’s attempts to arrange a match had fallen through; in fact, even if they hadn't, Ye Lingbo felt the idea was dubious. Those two had met a few times, but they were so hopelessly at odds that even forcing them together would be futile.

Moreover, Cui Jingyu was currently the man of the hour. Since the Marquis of Wei’s estate had lost face in public, his status had only risen. With the Grand Princess personally showing him favor and the Marquis of Cui seated at the head of the men’s banquet hosted by the Prince of Ping, Ye Lingbo could find no opening to intervene. She was forced to rely on Pei Zhao. However, the young General Pei was as elusive as a wild crane, vanishing for half the day, which was infuriating. In her search for him, she had missed a fine spectacle—one that occurred before the Grand Princess herself.

At the Grand Princess’s estate, the banquet was strictly divided by gender. The male guests outside had chosen the plays and sent word in for the Grand Princess’s approval. Knowing that Wei Yushan was still young—only eighteen—they had teasingly sent him in to present the request. As he entered, the young ladies hid behind the curtains, while the matrons began to laugh.

The Grand Princess’s trusted matron, surnamed Song, was her former wet nurse. Having been granted an official rank, she was treated with the deference of a matriarch. She took the playbill and initiated the teasing: "Young Marquis, at your age, why choose only plays of war and slaughter? You should select something like *A Meeting of Beauty* or *The Peacock Screen*—it would better suit the season of the Flower Festival."

Once she had started, the other ladies joined in. Some teased that the young marquis was shy, others praised his manners and appearance, and some even turned to Lady Wei, asking, "What kind of girl does the young marquis prefer? Tell us, so we might act as matchmakers."

Though Wei Yushan was known for his strange temper, he remained polite while in the presence of his superiors. He merely reddened at the ears, pressed his lips together, and remained silent.

Yang Qiaozhen, seizing her chance, chimed in, "Ladies, do not be so hasty. I know exactly what he likes. There is a perfect match right here..."

She did not name Lu Wanyang directly, but those who were close to the Wei and Lu families immediately chimed in with agreement. The other ladies, understanding that the Lu family considered Wei Yushan their prize, fell silent. The rest continued to joke, pestering Lady Wei for a "definite answer." Even Matron Song grew interested, asking, "Which young lady is it?"

"Guess, Matron," Yang Qiaozhen said, refusing to be explicit.

Lady Wei, lacking the backbone to refuse, was nearly forced into a concession. Wei Yushan, listening from the side, was already growing irritated when he heard a soft giggle from behind the curtain where the young ladies were hidden. He did not know if it was A-Cuo, but he instinctively felt that it was.

"Earlier, you asked why I chose plays of war," he said, ignoring the matron and speaking with rigid formality. "As the great General Huo once said, 'Until the Xiongnu are defeated, what home is there to speak of?' The northern invaders remain, and I have no desire to speak of marriage."

"Silly child," Matron Song laughed. "The wars are over; why still think of such things? Even if you are young, you can settle the engagement now and marry in two or three years. Don't you agree, Lady Wei?"

Lady Wei could only nod, but Wei Yushan was a stubborn mule. "Within five years, I will not consider marriage."

At these words, the face of Lu Wanyang, hidden behind the curtain, turned deathly pale.

Lu Wanyang was twenty, two years his senior. In the context of the Flower Festival, this was usually of no consequence; it was common for the bride to be older. But if they had to wait five years, it was an entirely different matter.

Lu Wenyin’s expression darkened as well, but she maintained her composure. "Qiaozhen is just fond of joking, being so witty even before Her Highness..." she said, effectively silencing Yang Qiaozhen and steering the conversation elsewhere. Wei Yushan, as stubborn as a donkey, cared little for how the scene ended; he took the playbill and walked out.

Having witnessed the spectacle, Han Yueqi could not stop laughing as she recounted it to Ye Lingbo. "I don't know what got into Wei Yushan. It’s laughable—Lu Wenyin worked so hard to flatter Lady Wei, only to forget that it is Wei Yushan whom Lu Wanyang is to marry."

Ye Lingbo was also puzzled. "Could he have set his heart on someone else? Why be so adamant about five years? Perhaps it is a very young girl—could it be He Qingyi? She is only seventeen."

"Who knows? I'll leave you to solve that puzzle. I must be going; there are matters at home," Han Yueqi said.

"Sister Han is always slipping away," Ye Lingbo grumbled, then realized, "Oh, I see. Today is the twenty-fifth, isn't it? Your husband is returning. No wonder."

Han Yueqi laughed and pinched her. "Listen to that! Is that how a young lady should speak? Teasing a married woman—if I tell Qinglan, she’ll give you a proper scolding."

Though she joked, she was already boarding her carriage. The Shen family were the leaders of the civil officials, and they were blessed with both talent and looks. The Lord and his son were both successive third-place scholars, which explained why Shen Biwei was so beautiful. In her own year, Han Yueqi had been the champion of the Flower Festival. Shen Yunze had passed the imperial examinations at seventeen, served in the Hanlin Academy, and was a true scholar of talent and beauty. They were a pair of childhood sweethearts, destined for a long and happy life.

Because of this, after seeing Han Yueqi off, Ye Lingbo became even more determined to play matchmaker for her own sister. Unfortunately, that fellow Pei Zhao was nowhere to be found, which was infuriating. Instead, she caught Shen Biwei. Shen Biwei had always been free-spirited, and the Grand Princess held her in high regard. Even in such a bustling gathering, she managed to find a quiet corner in a small courtyard, teaching Er-Ya how to play *cuju*.

Ye Lingbo had been looking for Shen Biwei, and finding Er-Ya was a pleasant surprise. Er-Ya was very fond of Lingbo; her eyes lit up the moment she saw her, and she ran over and threw her arms around her, calling out, "Sister Lingbo!"

Lingbo smiled, patted her head, and asked how she had been, and if she was getting used to the Grand Princess’s estate. Clothes truly made the person; in the estate, Er-Ya was dressed in fine silk, her yellow hair bound in a neat bun adorned with pearls and velvet flowers. She looked radiant, completely transformed. She had also learned her manners, answering, "Her Highness is very kind to me, and Aunt Su has been taking good care of me."

"Don't you miss home?" Lingbo teased.

"No, I don't. Mother said Her Highness arranged a new home for them and bestowed many gifts upon them. She told me to study hard and learn my manners so I can repay Her Highness and the aunts in the future," Er-Ya replied sweetly.

"That’s right. Go on now." Lingbo let her return to her game with Shen Biwei and stood in the corridor watching them. The Grand Princess’s estate was elegant in every detail; even the plum blossoms were pruned with a courtly grace, looking beautiful against the falling snow. If Er-Ya could study and eventually enjoy tea and snow beneath these plum trees, it would be a refined life indeed.

But the world was filled with turmoil; how could one ever truly find peace? Just as Lingbo stood under the tree, Lady-in-Waiting Su, who had been watching the girls play, approached. She was not particularly welcoming, her expression cold. Lingbo took the initiative to bow. "Greetings, Lady Su."

"You are too kind, Second Miss Ye," Lady Su said coldly. "Thank you for looking after Er-Ya."

"It was nothing," Lingbo replied, anticipating the purpose of her visit.

Sure enough, Lady Su spoke. "You are kind-hearted, Miss, and your affection for Er-Ya is a good thing. But now that she has entered the Princess’s estate, Her Highness has given her a new name and entrusted her to our care. I fear you will not be able to see her as often." Lady Su said these meaningful words with a casual air.

Lingbo understood perfectly. "You are right, Lady Su," she replied with a smile. "I understand. I will not disturb Er-Ya again."

"Thank you, Miss." Lady Su maintained her aloof, courtly tone. "Jixiang, bring a sachet for the Second Miss Ye. Her Highness prayed over it before the Buddha. It will help calm the mind and cultivate one’s character."

"My thanks for the gift."

After the conversation, Lingbo’s expression was so visibly cold that when Shen Biwei finished her game and joined her, she couldn't help but ask, "What did Lady Su say to you?"

"Just the usual court talk," Lingbo said dismissively. Seeing Shen Biwei walking backward in front of her, she sighed, "Look at you. It’s a banquet, yet you’re covered in sweat. Did you come to socialize or to perform manual labor?"

"It’s not the Flower Festival; close enough is good enough. Even my mother doesn't bother me," Shen Biwei said defiantly. They passed through a courtyard; no lamps were lit, but through the moon gate, they could see the elegant silhouettes of bamboo. "Self-Reflection" was inscribed on the gate in bold calligraphy—it was clearly a study, likely where a prince resided.

As Lingbo paused for a moment, Shen Biwei sighed, "You’re at it again!"

"At what?" Lingbo asked, amused. "I didn't say anything. Why are you so suspicious?"

"Stop pretending. Do you think I don't know your plans?" Shen Biwei grabbed her and threatened, "Sooner or later, I’ll catch you red-handed, and we’ll see what you do then."

In truth, there was no need to wait. By the evening, after the play ended and tea and refreshments were served, the ladies sipped their tea and discussed the joys and sorrows depicted on stage. Some lamented the workings of karma, some gossiped about destined marriages, and others sighed at the fickleness of fate. The candlelight was warm, the floor heaters provided a cozy comfort, and the music played softly. Even the Grand Princess, usually so distant, revealed a more approachable side as she chatted with her matron.

Seeing such closeness, the Princess of Ping also shed her reserve, smiling at the Grand Princess. "Your Highness, I heard someone say earlier that this year’s Flower Festival is dominated by military officers, while the young princes and nobles are nowhere to be found."

As she started the topic, the others caught on. Lady Shen agreed with a smile, "Indeed, this is a matter for Your Highness to judge."

The Grand Princess laughed. "And why should I judge it?"

"While there are many young generals in the military, our capital’s noble youths are not without merit," the Princess of Ping joked. "Although Young Master Shen is already married, does Your Highness’s estate not have another?"

"Indeed," the Dowager Princess of Liang added with a smile. "I was just about to ask: why do we not see the Heir to the Duke? I heard he is studying at the academy?"

Though the question was posed gently, Lingbo felt the entire hall fall silent, as if every lady and maiden were waiting for the answer.