FHJ - 7

Chapter 7: The Tea Gathering (1)

The tea gathering hosted by Lady Zhong, the wife of the Deputy Chief Censor, was a grand affair today.

Even in her maiden days, Lady Zhong had been fond of making friends. It was said that before her marriage, she assisted her mother in managing household affairs and had become adept at organizing such events. More than half of the gatherings beloved by the ladies of Shangjing were orchestrated by her.

Today’s tea gathering was no exception.

At first glance, this particular event was quite ordinary. It was held in the backyard of the Deputy Chief Censor’s residence, where tables, incense burners, and flower arrangements adorned the space around artificial hills and small ponds. The ladies would gather to sip tea, chat, and exchange gossip about other households, passing the time in their luxurious yet monotonous lives.

However, this day happened to fall on a rest day, and several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Works, who were close friends with the Chief Censor, found themselves free. They decided to enjoy some leisurely wine, play chess, and discuss poetry and painting. Somehow, this news reached Prince Jing, the Emperor’s younger brother. Known for his love of leisurely pursuits—wine, chess, poetry, and art—the prince eagerly gathered a group of like-minded aristocrats and arranged to join the gathering at the Chief Censor’s residence.

Prince Jing admired refined elegance. Not only did he enjoy drinking, playing chess, and discussing poetry and painting, but he also relished debating Confucian classics and metaphysical philosophy—a trend that originated from Jiangzuo. He had heard tales of the renowned scholars of Jiangzuo reclining in lofty repose, engaging in debates that lasted for days without pause. Their carefree and sophisticated demeanor filled him with admiration. Though Jiangzuo was far away and he feared he might never have the chance to witness their brilliance in person, he consoled himself with the thought that Qi Ying, the illustrious figure from the first family of Jiangzuo, was currently residing in Shangjing. Despite having served in office for over a decade, Qi Ying was celebrated for his youthful achievements and literary charm, having been personally selected as the second-place laureate by the Emperor of Liang. To meet such a remarkable figure from Jiangzuo would surely console him for his inability to visit the region in person.

With this meticulous reasoning, the prince personally penned an invitation and sent it to the temporary residence of the envoy, imploring him to grace the gathering with his presence. The sincerity and earnestness of his words moved all who heard of it, spreading the news far and wide. Even if Qi Jingchen had wished to decline, he would have found it impossible.

Once word spread that Qi Ying of Liang would attend, this originally modest gathering transformed into a highly anticipated event of scholarly discourse and philosophical debate. Not only did a majority of the distinguished scholars and nobles of Shangjing attend, but even several venerable scholars from the Imperial Academy joined, eager to witness firsthand the intellectual prowess of the people from Jiangzuo.

Though the Chief Censor’s residence was spacious, it struggled to accommodate such a large number of guests. The backyard was already reserved for the ladies’ tea gathering, leaving only the front yard available for the male guests. As a result, invitations had to be carefully screened, making the coveted tickets to the Chief Censor’s gathering a rare commodity in Shangjing.

The men were enthusiastic about the event, and the women were no less eager. Many noblewomen and ladies of Wei had deeply regretted missing Qi Ying’s absence at the polo match due to illness. Now, fate had presented them with another opportunity. Although they wouldn’t directly see the esteemed gentleman, being separated by just a courtyard wall was better than nothing, wasn’t it?

Thus, on this clear and pleasant day, all the prominent figures of Shangjing gathered at the Chief Censor’s residence. The men occupied the front yard, while the women gathered in the back, each group undisturbed by the other.

However, Lady Pingjing was somewhat displeased.

She tugged at Lady Zhong’s sleeve and gestured toward Shen Xiling, who was reclining on a soft chair nearby. With a hint of reproach, she complained, “Why did you invite her?”

Lady Zhong chuckled upon recognizing the person in question. “She’s the Lady of Yan Guogong. How could I not invite her?”

Lady Pingjing remained irritated. “In the past, she never attended. Today, my daughter Yuan is here. If she sees her, won’t it upset her again?”

“In the past, I always extended invitations to her, but she always declined. This time, she simply accepted,” Lady Zhong explained. “Besides, everyone knows how deeply devoted your daughter Yuan’s husband is to her. Whether she sees her or not makes little difference.”

Lady Pingjing was about to protest further, but Lady Zhong was summoned by the estate manager to address some matters. Before leaving, she turned back to her childhood friend and advised, “All the nobility of the capital are here today. Don’t cause any trouble. You know how much Yan Guogong treasures his wife. In front of the people from Liang, it’s best to keep things calm.”

With that, she hurried off with the manager to attend to other arrangements.

As the hostess today, Lady Zhong couldn’t indulge in idle chatter with Lady Pingjing as usual. Left bored, Lady Pingjing could only converse with her niece Xue Yuan and her mother, Madam Chen.

However, both Xue Yuan and Madam Chen seemed distracted.

Xue Yuan, naturally, was disheartened by the presence of the Lady of Yan Guogong. She wondered whether her beloved General Wenruo was in the front yard and whether she might catch a glimpse of him today, leaving her restless. As for Madam Chen, she was preoccupied with worry. She had brought along both her son and daughter. On one hand, she feared her daughter might quarrel with the merchant woman from the Gu family in the backyard. On the other hand, she worried about her son’s conduct in the front yard, silently lamenting the burdens of motherhood.

Miss Xue, now twenty-three years old, had once played with friends who were now all mothers. Yet she remained fixated on Yan Guogong, rejecting countless excellent marriage prospects, becoming a laughingstock in Shangjing. Nowadays, whenever parents in the capital admonished their daughters against being overly ambitious in seeking high-status marriages, they would say, “Don’t follow the example of Miss Xue and bring shame upon yourself.” This phrase had proven remarkably effective in curbing even the most stubborn noble daughters.

Though Miss Xue had unfortunately become the subject of ridicule in the capital, she was undeniably beautiful. In her youth, she had been one of the most admired beauties in Shangjing, and her pairing with Yan Guogong would have been considered a perfect match of talent and beauty. However, she was overshadowed by the later arrival of the merchant woman, whose stunning beauty outshone all others.

Today was no different. Miss Xue wore the latest fashionable dress in the capital—a pale purple silk gown that complemented her complexion beautifully, making her appear exceptionally charming and lovely. She should have been the center of attention. Yet inexplicably, the Lady of Yan Guogong, who rarely attended such gatherings of noblewomen, was seated prominently among the guests. Though her long, light-purple gown was not the height of current fashion, it was impossible to look away from her. Her beauty inspired both admiration and resentment. The sharp-eyed ladies noticed the golden hairpin adorning her temple—a prize won for her by Yan Guogong at the recent polo match. This only fueled their silent complaints: How detestable this merchant woman is! Today, she wears such an understated dress yet flaunts that ostentatious gold hairpin, deliberately drawing attention to herself!

Shen Xiling reclined on a soft cushion, sipping her tea. She felt the subtle glances of the women around her repeatedly drawn to her temple and found it odd. She shot a questioning look at Wanzhu, who had styled her hair that morning.

Wanzhu, catching her mistress’s glance, stuck out her tongue playfully.

Her mistress was naturally beautiful and rarely paid much attention to her appearance, leaving her styling entirely to Wanzhu. Since Shen Xiling seldom ventured out and often faced snide remarks from other noblewomen when she did, Wanzhu had anticipated today’s gathering. Knowing that Miss Xue and several other young noblewomen harbored designs on General Gu would be present, she deliberately adorned Shen Xiling with the newly acquired hairpin. It was a subtle warning to those who might take advantage of the general’s absence to slight his wife.

Though Shen Xiling didn’t understand the issue with her hairpin, Wanzhu’s expression told her everything she needed to know. She cared little for the petty jabs of these noblewomen and even less for Wanzhu’s antics. After glancing at the maid, she returned her attention to her tea, seemingly indifferent.

This display of nonchalance only deepened the resentment of the other women. They felt certain that this merchant woman’s calm demeanor stemmed from her confidence in General Gu’s unwavering favor. Could someone like Gu Juhán truly remain devoted to her forever? they thought bitterly. Once her beauty fades and his affection wanes, let’s see how smug she’ll be then.

Despite their inner thoughts, outwardly, the noblewomen maintained an air of respect and flattery. One after another, they praised Shen Xiling’s elegance and grace, each compliment more elaborate than the last. Their poetic eloquence rivaled—even surpassed—that of the scholarly men gathered in the front yard.

Lady Pingjing and her niece observed this scene with cold detachment, refusing to join in the fawning over Shen Xiling. Finding the situation tedious, they were relieved when a servant announced the arrival of Lady Zhuang, the wife of Chancellor Zou Qian.

Lady Zhuang was not born into a prestigious family nor was she considered a great beauty. She had married Zou Qian in his youth, before the rise of the Zou clan through the favor of the Empress. Despite Zou Qian’s numerous concubines, Lady Zhuang remained firmly entrenched as the primary wife.

Her position was secure thanks to her two accomplished sons. The elder, Zou Chun, was known for his intelligence and served as a trusted aide to the Emperor. As a child, he had been the Crown Prince’s study companion and maintained a close friendship with Gao Jing, making him a valuable asset to his father’s political ambitions. The younger son, Zou Xian, though only nineteen, was already a distinguished disciple of Lu Xuejiu, a renowned scholar at the Imperial Academy. Lu once declared that Zou Xian possessed a photographic memory and predicted he would become one of the greatest scholars of their time.

With such accomplished sons, Lady Zhuang had no reason to fear the many beauties vying for her husband’s attention. Even today, she appeared dignified, composed, and radiant.

The moment Lady Zhuang arrived, the dynamics of the gathering shifted subtly.