FYM - 119

The following day, a banquet was held in the palace to celebrate the success of the newly promoted scholars from the imperial examination. The three individuals who had just been ranked at Qian Ding Palace were naturally the center of attention and were ushered into the Imperial Garden by palace attendants as soon as they entered Tai Cheng.

The banquet wasn’t particularly formal, partly because the Empress Dowager had long decreed a policy of frugality, and partly because it was, in essence, an occasion for social networking. Civil and military officials were permitted to bring their families, many of whom harbored intentions of securing a desirable son-in-law. The banquet was held in the Imperial Garden; by midday, most guests had arrived. They enjoyed activities such as flower-viewing, leisurely walks, and poetic games along winding streams, but the formal feast would not begin until sunset, when the Empress Dowager and the young emperor were expected to arrive.

Li Fu, the recently appointed assistant officer of the Ministry of Revenue, arrived late that day. A closer look revealed dark circles under his eyes and a slightly pale complexion—clear signs of a hangover. Nevertheless, his spirits remained high. Upon entering the banquet, he noticed the gazes of noble maidens subtly directed toward him, which only added to his delight. Dressed in deep green robes befitting a sixth-rank official, he walked with dignity toward an octagonal pavilion near a rockery.

Xu Zongyao was seated there alone.

As a fifth-rank official, Xu was already entitled to wear crimson robes, and achieving such status so early after being conferred his rank was exceedingly rare. His light crimson attire made others’ greens seem utterly insignificant. Li Fu felt a pang of envy but took comfort in noticing that Xu Zongyao was sitting alone without engaging in social pleasantries. He realized that Xu’s bold speech in court the previous day had offended many, and no high-ranking official would dare risk marrying their daughter to such a reckless youth.

“Bing Shu, why are you sitting here alone? You’ve made this fool of a brother search everywhere for you!”

Li Fu called out loudly and hastened his steps, drawing even more attention. Xu Zongyao’s response, however, was subdued. He stood briefly to exchange greetings with Li Fu before silently resuming his seat, displaying none of the sharp brilliance he had shown in court the previous day.

“My apologies, my apologies—I’ve arrived far too late today…”

Li Fu felt a surge of satisfaction, pretending to apologize while inwardly reveling in his own importance.

“Last night, Minister Lu invited me to his residence. I couldn’t refuse his hospitality and ended up drinking several cups too many. I fell into a deep sleep and nearly missed the hour to enter the palace…”

This boast was unmistakable: among the three newly ranked officials, Jia Xin, who ranked second, was already married to a Song family daughter, and Xu Zongyao, though holding the title of top scholar, was now embroiled in controversy. This left only Li Fu as the prime candidate for an advantageous marriage. Barely out of Qian Ding Palace, he had been eagerly invited by several prominent ministers—the fact that Minister Lu, a third-rank official, was “too low” for him only added to his pride.

Xu Zongyao, however, seemed oblivious to Li Fu’s self-aggrandizement. After a brief acknowledgment, he fell silent again. Li Fu found this uninteresting but assumed Xu must have been secretly envious. Half-satisfied and half-annoyed, he turned to mingle with other officials who had brought their wives and daughters.

On one side, men mingled freely, exchanging laughter and conversation. On the other side, noble maidens from various households chattered animatedly.

Princess Wei Lan of Yong’an arrived slightly later with her father and was immediately surrounded by women eager to curry favor. After some casual tea-drinking and idle chatter, the conversation inevitably returned to the newly ranked officials.

“I must say, it’s such a pity about Xu Zongyao…” one maiden lamented. “I’ve heard he is exceptionally talented, well-read, and truly learned. And his appearance—he’s quite handsome. But why…”

He indeed bore a striking presence: tall and slightly slender, with distant, elegant brows. Though not extraordinarily handsome, his features were refined and pleasing—a rare sight among civil and military officials.

The surrounding women covered their mouths and giggled teasingly. “Why what? Isn’t he just a bit too outspoken? If you really like him, ask your father to arrange a match. Who cares about sacrificing a little career advancement?”

The maiden hastily waved her hands, clearly unwilling to endure lifelong hardship for fleeting love. She then turned her gaze to Li Fu on the other side. “That assistant officer isn’t bad either, but his standards are too high. By now, I doubt he’d consider us.”

“That’s true,” another maiden chimed in. “Apart from ranking highly, he also has the backing of the five regents. I imagine he’s thinking of our Princess here.”

This remark was clever, subtly flattering both Wei Lan and her father. Coincidentally, Li Fu glanced at the noble and beautiful Princess of Yong’an at that moment, his expression revealing admiration. The sharp-eyed maidens immediately felt envy mixed with jealousy, yet their lips continued to spout words of praise and matchmaking.

Wei Lan herself was quietly pleased by the flattery, though her thoughts weren’t on these so-called young scholars or junior officials. She sighed inwardly at how shallow her friends’ ambitions were—how could a few fifth- or sixth-rank officials excite them so?

—She was destined to marry into the Fang family of Yingchuan.

To become the wife of the Marquis of Yingchuan…the spouse of the foremost power holder among the five regents.

Thinking of the man’s lingering gaze on her the previous night amidst the aroma of wine, Wei Lan felt a faint heat rise to her cheeks. She scanned the surroundings carefully but failed to spot him. Then she reminded herself that someone of his stature wouldn’t bother mingling with these younger officials. Arriving earlier than the Empress Dowager and the young emperor would already be remarkable enough.

“Li Fu?”

She raised an eyebrow, a faint sneer and arrogance flickering in her eyes.

“He certainly dares to dream.”

Her dismissive tone conveyed rejection loud and clear. The maidens exchanged glances, unsure whether Wei Lan’s high standards stemmed from already having someone in mind. As they pondered quietly, they noticed her gaze shifting further away. Beneath a cluster of flowering trees sat the families of several senior ministers from the Jinling faction. Among them, the most sought-after was Song Shuqing, wife of Jia Xin, who, like Wei Lan, was surrounded by admirers. In a corner sat an unfamiliar woman, head bowed and silent for most of the day. Judging by her hairstyle, she appeared to be a married lady.

“Who is that?”

Wei Lan asked casually.

One of the maidens craned her neck to look, then covered her mouth and giggled. “Doesn’t the princess recognize her? That’s the infamous concubine-wife from the Yangzhou governor’s household, Song Shuqian, who shares her husband with her elder sister.”

The mockery was thick, stemming not only from political opposition but also from disdain for a woman who had slept with her sister’s husband. Wei Lan nodded inwardly, realizing why she didn’t recognize the woman. This notorious figure had stayed hidden in Jiangnan for nearly a decade, avoiding the eastern capital. From the current situation, even her own Song family likely rejected her now. Truly, pitiable people often invite contempt.

She clicked her tongue softly and turned away, losing interest entirely.

As dusk fell around the hour of You, the summer heat began to dissipate, and the sky remained bright enough to forgo lighting lamps. A commotion arose from the far end of the Imperial Garden. Palace attendants knelt, and officials hurried forward in deference. The grand procession was unmistakably for someone of immense importance. Sure enough, at the forefront of the crowd stood a figure clad in deep purple—it was Fang Xianting himself.

His retinue, dressed in shades of purple and crimson, exuded the dignity and prestige of the nation’s foremost noble family. Everyone present bowed respectfully, and even those eager to ingratiate themselves hesitated, weighing their standing carefully.

Such a scene stirred the hearts of many, especially the noble maidens who rose with their fathers and brothers to greet the Marquis. Though they knew marriage to him was impossible, they couldn’t help but indulge in private fantasies. Some lamented that he had chosen to remain unmarried—otherwise, rejecting countless beauties for one woman would surely break hearts.

Wei Lan was equally captivated, wishing she could step forward and take his hand in front of everyone. The envy of others was the fruit she most desired to pluck. To stand by such a man naturally invited scrutiny—but she couldn’t act too hastily. Though he had tacitly acknowledged their engagement the previous night, the matter was not yet finalized. It would only be settled when her father publicly requested the Empress Dowager’s blessing during the banquet. Until then, she needed to maintain composure and avoid appearing too eager.

After mentally persuading herself thus, she still couldn’t suppress her desire to shine in front of everyone. At fifteen, despite her intelligence, she was still a pampered princess who knew little of restraint. At that moment, she wanted to proclaim to all that he was hers and to feel his gaze fall upon her once more, as it had the previous night. Finally, her heart racing, she rose from her seat and gracefully approached the Marquis, drawing astonished stares from the other maidens.

At that moment, Fang Xianting had not yet taken his seat, busy declining persistent toasts from colleagues. Surrounding him were clusters of people—every single official present sought to seize the opportunity to build connections with the Marquis. Xu Zongyao and Li Fu stood at the outer edges, the latter clutching his cup anxiously, craning his neck to see if the Marquis noticed him.

“Are all the newly ranked scholars present?”

The Marquis suddenly spoke, his gaze subtly scanning the outskirts of the crowd. The officials quickly cleared a path, and some discreetly prompted Xu Zongyao and Li Fu to step forward and pay their respects. Jia Xin, a third-rank official, already stood beside the Marquis. The two younger men followed, stepping forward. Li Fu, overwhelmed with excitement, promptly raised his prepared cup to offer a toast. Even Xu Zongyao, typically aloof and solitary, bowed respectfully before the head of the Fang family.

Fang Xianting extended his hand, and his clansmen immediately handed him a cup. Unusually, he did not dismiss the juniors’ gestures but instead accepted their respects graciously. Afterward, he addressed them calmly: “Congratulations on your achievements. However, the path of governance is fraught with challenges, especially with the new policies. Should you encounter difficulties, feel free to seek me out.”

His words were perfectly balanced, interpretable either as polite courtesies or as a generous offer of mentorship from a superior. Xu Zongyao noticed the Marquis’s gaze linger on him for a fleeting moment, causing his heart to flutter slightly.

Li Fu, quicker to respond, thanked the Marquis profusely and prepared to drink with him. Just then, a soft laugh came from behind. Turning, they saw Wei Lan, Princess of Yong’an, approaching gracefully. Like a willow swaying in the breeze, she curtsied gently before the Marquis and, most unusually, publicly grasped his sleeve. Her cheeks flushed as she said, “My Lord, you drank last night. It would not do to overindulge today.”

These words…

The officials exchanged bewildered glances, and the maidens behind were equally stunned, unable to comprehend the unfolding drama. Fang Xianting’s expression darkened slightly as he watched Wei Lan hold his sleeve. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, the eunuch Wang Mu announced in a deep voice from nearby: “The Empress Dowager and His Majesty have arrived!”