Chapter 66: The Flower-Viewing Gathering (2)

The families gathered were all familiar with one another, bound by ties of marriage and kinship. They mingled freely, each person occupied with their own affairs. For instance, Qi Yun brought his wife and daughter to pay respects to his in-laws beneath the Han family’s cherry tree. Meanwhile, Fu Zhuo accompanied his sister Fu Rong to greet the elders of the Qi household, expressing gratitude for their recent care of her.

As for Qi Ning and Qi Le, the two younger brothers had little to do at the moment. Qi Le sat nibbling on a pastry, while Qi Ning scanned the crowd discreetly, hoping to catch a glimpse of his beloved Wenwen.

Ever since Shen Xiqing had been expelled from the main house by the matriarch, Qi Ning had resolved to stop thinking about her. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the girl seemed to have cast a spell over him. Night after night, he dreamed of her, her soft voice calling him “Third Brother” lingering in his ears, refusing to fade.

Just days ago, he’d heard that Second Brother had taken her in, and she was now residing at Fenghe Garden. Though he resented how she clung to Qi Ying like everyone else, he couldn’t help but long to see her again at today’s gathering. Even though he didn’t know what he would do if he saw her, his heart still yearned for it.

After searching for a long while, he failed to spot even a trace of Wenwen. Instead, he noticed his second brother approaching from the other side of the crowd, accompanied by three members of the royal family: Third Prince Xiao Zihuan, Fourth Prince Xiao Ziheng, and Sixth Princess Xiao Ziyu.

This group of four naturally commanded attention wherever they went. Those who saw them rose to their feet, and those who heard of their arrival bowed in respect. Beneath the blooming cherry blossoms, the mountain buzzed with excitement as people paid their respects.

The princes and princess were undeniably handsome and beautiful, yet standing beside Qi Ying, they seemed to pale in comparison. Fortunately, Qi Ying deliberately held back, positioning himself a step behind the royals, ensuring he didn’t overshadow them entirely. Still, the hearts of many young maidens fluttered uncontrollably as he passed. Even the most reserved and well-bred ladies couldn’t help but subtly adjust their hair or smooth their skirts.

Third Prince Xiao Zihuan, the leader of the group, bore a teardrop-shaped mole beneath his right eye, which gave him a somewhat feminine appearance in his youth. However, having assumed significant responsibilities in court and become a leading contender for the throne, he now exuded an air of authority and elegance. Standing among the crowd, he laughed heartily and said, “The Qingji Flower-Viewing Gathering is one of Jiangzuo’s grandest events. Today, we gather here as equals, united by poetry and friendship. Please, let us dispense with formalities.”

The attendees thanked the prince for his graciousness, though many quietly observed the dynamics between him and the Fourth Prince. Given the current political climate, the two princes were expected to be at odds. Surprisingly, however, Fourth Prince Xiao Ziheng appeared completely unconcerned. His flirtatious eyes roamed the spring scenery, showing no intention of competing with his older brother. It seemed he willingly ceded the spotlight, leaving observers to speculate: had the power struggle already been decided?

These thoughts remained unspoken, as they had no bearing on the actions of the princes. Led by Qi Ying, the group proceeded toward the tallest and most magnificent cherry tree at the rear of the garden. Along the way, the royals demonstrated their astuteness by first paying respects to the heads of the Qi and Han families, exchanging greetings with General Han Shouye, and inquiring about the health of Fu Zhuo’s mother. Only then did they take their seats.

Such was the nature of Jiangzuo’s aristocratic society: even the children of the imperial family had to tread carefully in the presence of the great houses, showing proper deference.

Though the families were seated beneath different cherry trees, the distance between them was not great, making conversation easy and elegant. Beneath the blossoms, Third Prince Xiao Zihuan turned to Qi Ying with a smile and said, “The spring scenery of Jiankang is exquisite, but this garden at Qingji Mountain is truly unparalleled. With such splendid flowers surrounding us, the upcoming qu shui liu shang will surely be even more delightful. Will you join us today, Jingchen?”

The qu shui liu shang was a tradition pioneered by Jiangzuo’s literati, a refined activity involving poetry and wine. Participants sat along both sides of a stream, placing cups of wine at its source. As the cups floated downstream, whoever they stopped in front of would drink and compose an impromptu poem, creating an atmosphere of natural grace.

Qi Ying smiled faintly but before he could respond, Fourth Prince Xiao Ziheng interjected lazily, “Why bother asking him, Brother? Once Qi Er enters the game, who else dares to compete?”

Though spoken in jest, the comment revealed much about the relationships between the speakers. Observers immediately noted the familiarity between the Fourth Prince and the noble families, far surpassing that of the Third Prince.

Xiao Zihuan caught the implication and felt a flicker of displeasure, though he hid it well. He continued smiling and said, “Even so, we cannot let him off the hook. Today’s peaceful gathering owes much to Jingchen’s efforts in repelling the Wei forces. He must play the leading role.”

To the uninitiated, the Third Prince’s words might have seemed innocuous, but those with keen insight detected the underlying provocation. Everyone knew of Qi Ying’s actions at Shicheng, including his execution of General Han Shouye’s disciple Jiang Yong for overstepping his authority. Despite his significant contributions, Qi Ying had received no reward from the Emperor, leaving him empty-handed.

It wasn’t just that—he had also incurred the wrath of Han Shouye. Word of the general’s violent outburst at Fenghe Garden had already spread throughout Jiankang. Now, by deliberately mentioning Qi Ying’s achievements in front of Han Shouye, the Third Prince was essentially slapping the general in the face. Given Han Shouye’s fiery temper, overturning the entire gathering wouldn’t have been surprising.

The Third Prince was testing the waters, probing the state of relations between the Qi and Han families after this incident.

All eyes turned to observe the reactions. To everyone’s surprise, Left Minister Qi Zhang and Lord Han Shousong remained impassive, while Han Shouye merely snorted but made no further moves. This left many disappointed, speculating whether the two families had already resolved the matter privately. How had Qi Jingchen managed to placate the fearsome general?

Seeing that Han Shouye hadn’t reacted as expected, Xiao Zihuan frowned inwardly. At that moment, Qi Ying responded calmly, “Your Highness flatters me. The retreat of the Wei forces was due to the Emperor’s divine might, not my own doing. Moreover, I am past the age of participating in such contests. It would be better to let the young scholars showcase their talents today.”

His response was measured and appropriate, embodying the ideals of Jiangzuo’s noble families.

Meanwhile, Han Feichi chimed in mockingly, “Second Brother is absolutely right. I’ve already seen countless eager faces, all dreaming of composing verses that would move heaven and earth and earn fame across Jiangzuo in a single day. If Second Brother were to participate, wouldn’t that ruin the fun for everyone else?”

His tone was dismissive, his demeanor carefree, much to the chagrin of his father, Han Shousong, who wished he could throw his unruly son into the river. Sensing his father’s anger, Han Feiyu stepped up as the elder brother and scolded Han Feichi, “Stop talking nonsense! You haven’t even passed the exams yourself. Get down there and join the poetry contest!”

Han Feichi pretended not to hear, leaning back against the tree with an air of indifference, as if daring anyone to challenge him. His father and brother could only sigh in frustration.

This exchange shifted the focus away from the Third Prince, allowing the noble families to engage in lighthearted banter. The princes, however, found themselves somewhat neglected.

The flower-viewing gathering was not a formal banquet; participants were free to move about as they pleased. Many rose from their seats to stroll through the garden, exchanging pleasantries with others. After sitting for a while, several elder sons of the noble families grew restless and decided to wander off together.

Han Feichi remarked, “The flowers are beautiful, no doubt, but it’s unfortunate that our elders are here too. How can we truly enjoy ourselves?”

His older brother was momentarily speechless, but Qi Yun chuckled and asked, “Why isn’t the Fourth Prince joining us?”

The noble sons were close friends with the Fourth Prince, often gathering privately. It was unusual for him not to seek them out today.

Fu Zhuo glanced at Qi Yun and replied with a smile, “You’ve forgotten. With the Third Prince present, how could the Fourth Prince join us?”

Qi Yun and Fu Zhuo were peers in their studies and shared a close bond. Qi Yun immediately admitted his oversight, saying, “Of course, of course. That makes perfect sense.”

Mention of the Third Prince inevitably brought to mind his earlier attempt to provoke tension between the Qi and Han families. Han Feiyu, aware of his uncle Han Shouye’s rampage at Fenghe Garden, couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt and awkwardness as he looked at Qi Ying. After some thought, he began, “Jingchen…”

Before he could finish, Qi Ying raised a hand to interrupt. With gentle features and a calm demeanor, he said, “Lord Han and I simply had differing opinions, but everything has been resolved. There’s no need to bring it up again.”

With these words, Han Feiyu realized that pressing the matter further would seem petty. Grateful for Qi Ying’s magnanimity, he offered a warm smile, which Qi Ying returned.

Fu Zhuo pondered for a moment and added, “Regardless of the Third Prince’s actions today, the Emperor’s failure to reward Jingchen is unjust. It risks…”

He trailed off, but everyone understood his meaning.

It risked exposing ulterior motives. It risked alienating the noble families.

No one among the aristocracy was foolish. They all saw through the imperial family’s attempts to suppress the noble houses. The imperial family accused the nobles of greed, while the nobles accused the imperial family of ingratitude. Decades ago, during the perilous southern migration, without the support of the noble families, the Xiao dynasty would have perished north of the Yangtze. How could they forget this after only thirty years? Were they planning to discard their allies now that the rabbits had been hunted and the dogs slaughtered? After destroying the Shen family, were they now trying to incite internal strife within the Qi and Han families?

What a delusion!

Jiangzuo was no longer solely the imperial family’s domain—it was governed jointly by the noble families. If the Emperor and the Third Prince dared to move against the aristocracy, it would result in mutual destruction. The noble families would never yield an inch.

And if Xiao Zihuan truly intended to proceed, the noble families would ensure he never ascended the throne.

For a moment, the young lords fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

While this group remained quiet, a commotion erupted elsewhere: Fu Rong, the eldest daughter of the Fu family, had been struck by Sixth Princess Xiao Ziyu.

Before this drama unfolded, Qi Le had been circling nearby cherry trees.

His endless pacing annoyed Qi Ning, who finally pulled him down to sit beside him. Frowning, he asked, “What are you doing, running around like a headless fly? What are you looking for?”

Qi Le, sweating profusely and slightly out of breath, answered, “I’m looking for Second Brother.”

Qi Ning frowned. “Why are you looking for him?”

Qi Le wiped the sweat from his forehead and huffed, “I want to ask him why he didn’t send an invitation to the Zhao family for this flower-viewing gathering!”

This matter had roots in events from a few days prior.

Though Qingji Mountain was vast, attendance at the flower-viewing gathering required an invitation from the Qi family. Qi Ying, naturally, had no time to oversee such details, so the task fell to Lady Yao.

Lady Yao extended invitations widely but deliberately omitted the Zhao family, much to the dismay of Madam Zhao Qi and her daughter Zhao Yao. The mother-daughter pair, desperate for an explanation, visited Lady Yao at the Qi estate to inquire about the oversight.

At the time, Lady Yao sat in the reception hall, while Madam Zhao and Zhao Yao took their seats below. Unable to directly confront her sister-in-law about the missing invitation, Madam Zhao nudged her daughter to speak up.

Since being publicly humiliated by the matriarch and expelled from Master Wang’s tutelage, Zhao Yao had been inconsolable, crying for days on end. Now, excluded from the prestigious gathering, she felt utterly wronged. Upon seeing her usually affectionate aunt, tears streamed down her face as she flung herself into Lady Yao’s arms, sobbing, “Aunt, don’t you love me anymore? Why won’t you let me attend the flower-viewing gathering?”

This event held significant importance for the Zhao family. Zhao Run, recently reassigned to Jiankang, had grown distant from many of his old acquaintances, while newer influential families remained unfamiliar. Attending the gathering offered a chance to forge connections with Jiankang’s rising elite, solidifying the Zhao family’s place in society. But now, Zhao Yao’s earlier misdeeds at the Qi household had jeopardized this opportunity. How could she not feel aggrieved?

Lady Yao gazed at Zhao Yao weeping on her lap, gently stroking her hair. “My dear girl, don’t cry. How could I stop loving you? You’ll always be my precious Yao’er.”

Hearing these words, both Zhao Yao and her mother felt a glimmer of hope, believing they might still secure an invitation from Lady Yao. Before their relief could fully surface, however, Lady Yao sighed and said, “But this year’s gathering… it’s best if we leave it as is.”

Zhao Yao’s face fell instantly. Clutching Lady Yao’s sleeve, she pleaded, “Why, Aunt? I want to go—I must go!”

She wanted to visit Fenghe Garden and see Second Brother. She wanted to dress up and shine as one of Jiankang’s celebrated noblewomen, admired by all. She couldn’t bear the thought of being shut out.

Her mother, Madam Zhao, grew anxious as well, forcing a strained smile as she addressed Lady Yao. “Sister-in-law, is this punishment because of Yao’er’s earlier mistakes? She has already learned her lesson. Both her father and I have disciplined her at home, and Grandmother and Master Wang have also punished her. Don’t you think that’s enough?”

Lady Yao glanced at her coolly, her eyes betraying no emotion. “I’ve always doted on Yao’er, but this time, her actions were unforgivable. First, she dragged Wenwen into cheating, implicating her unfairly. Then, she resorted to violence, completely abandoning the dignity expected of a noblewoman. I’ve watched Yao’er grow up—she was such a gentle and lovely child when she was younger. How has she become so sharp-tongued and petty? Whose fault is that, if not the adults who raised her?”

Lady Yao was known for her gentle and accommodating nature, rarely speaking so harshly. Her pointed critique, especially the phrase “sharp-tongued and petty,” left Zhao Yao too stunned to cry further, while Madam Zhao’s face flushed red, then paled.

Unable to challenge her sister-in-law directly, Madam Zhao awkwardly responded, “It’s true—we haven’t done right by her. We’ll ensure stricter discipline moving forward…”

Before she could finish, Lady Yao cut her off softly, still stroking Zhao Yao’s head. “Yao’er is still young, and there are many lessons she must learn early on to avoid greater missteps in the future. Life doesn’t offer endless second chances; a single moment or decision can shape one’s destiny. Missing this gathering may be a blessing in disguise—it gives her time to reflect in solitude. In my view, it’s for the best.”

These words chilled the Zhao family to the bone. Still unwilling to give up, Zhao Yao tried once more to plead with her aunt but hesitated upon meeting Lady Yao’s steady gaze.

Her aunt spoke gently yet firmly. “Besides, the matter of the invitations wasn’t entirely in my hands. I merely arranged them on behalf of Jingchen. It was his decision to have Yao’er stay home and reflect. If you wish to change his mind, perhaps you should try speaking to him.”

This deft response left the Zhao family reeling. When Zhao Yao heard that Qi Ying himself had barred her from attending, she felt both heartbroken and deeply wronged, her emotions shattered like a sieve. Returning home, she locked herself away and wept for several more days.

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Author’s Note: Ah, how could Qi Er possibly let Wenwen’s grievances go unavenged? Next chapter: the princess and Fu Rong throw down!