Chapter 63

Chapter Sixty-Three: The Sachet After half a month of planning and preparation, the peach-blossom banquet was nearly ready. The Empress had set the date for the twenty-first day of the third month, when the peach-blossom banquet would officially be held. For the royal peach-blossom banquet, Madam Liu and the other court ladies had flocked to the silk shops over the past few days to select large quantities of fabric. They had also invited countless famous tailors into their residences to take the measurements of the young ladies and make them new clothes. They were doing everything they could to ensure that their daughters would not be outshone by the other girls at the peach-blossom banquet. As for the eligible young masters of the various households, they had been working especially hard on poetry, lyrics, songs, and prose. At the peach-blossom banquet, the women would compete in horse riding and calligraphy, while the men would compete in literary talent. For a time, the young ladies of the capital were either practicing calligraphy or horse riding, while the young masters all focused on improving their literary talent. The capital was bustling with excitement. Ling Jiayue, however, had no interest in any of this. She had never considered entrusting her life to someone at the peach-blossom banquet. Ha. Entrusting her life to someone. Ling Jiayue sneered inwardly. What man could truly be relied upon for an entire lifetime? The only person she could rely on was herself. However, Chu Chaoci was also attending the peach-blossom banquet this time, and her current power was still insufficient for revenge. It seemed she would have to borrow Mu Yuheng’s assistance and see how much of this “romantic attention” the Seventh Prince could help her fend off. With that thought, Ling Jiayue called out, “Danyun, go pass a message to the Seventh Prince. Tell him that I don’t want anyone to see my face at the peach-blossom banquet.” After receiving her instructions, Danyun went to the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Ling Jiayue watched her leave, the corners of her lips curling into a smile. Judging by the time, it was about time to pay her respects at Madam Liu’s residence. Ling Jiayue rose, put on an outer robe, and headed toward Madam Liu’s residence with Lingzhu and Lingxue. On the way, Ling Jiayue ran into Madam Chen, who was taking her daughter, Ling Yuwan, for a stroll in the garden. Ling Jiayue went over and greeted them. When Ling Yuwan and Madam Chen saw Ling Jiayue, they bowed and said, “Greetings, Miss Ling.” “Greetings, Elder Sister.” “Madam Chen, Younger Sister, please rise,” Ling Jiayue said. “The peach-blossom banquet is almost here. I wonder how Younger Sister’s preparations are going. Will you find a man to your liking at the banquet?” Ling Yuwan said nothing, but her face flushed first. Madam Chen replied, “Miss Ling, you jest. Yuwan is still young. I would like to keep her by my side for another two years. Besides, there’s no reason for Yuwan to marry before Miss Ling.” Ling Yuwan was truly as gentle and charming as her name suggested. In a soft voice, she said, “Elder Sister, please don’t tease me. Yuwan is still young and isn’t in a hurry to marry.” As she spoke, Ling Yuwan stuffed the sachet in her hand into Ling Jiayue’s hands and said, “Younger Sister prayed for this at the temple. I hope Elder Sister will find a fine man.” Ling Jiayue held the sachet and sniffed it, confirming that it was harmless before accepting it. She found it amusing inwardly. She had long since stopped believing in fated marriages, but Ling Yuwan had pressed it upon her with such solemnity that she accepted it anyway. Ling Yuwan even emphasized, “Elder Sister, you must wear it at the peach-blossom banquet. Otherwise, Younger Sister will be very sad.” “Very well. I definitely will.” After accepting the sachet, Ling Jiayue went to Madam Liu’s residence. The moment Madam Liu saw Ling Jiayue, she began to nag her. “Just look at you. I told you to have new clothes made, but you didn’t take it seriously. I told you to practice horse riding, but you didn’t take that seriously either. I truly don’t know what you would take seriously.” “Mother, listen to yourself. Are you really planning to marry me off at the peach-blossom banquet? Didn’t we agree that I wouldn’t marry far away? Have you changed your mind?” Ling Jiayue said coquettishly to Madam Liu. “Even if you aren’t getting married, you can’t let the other girls outshine you at the peach-blossom banquet. If my daughter were outshone by someone else’s daughter, I wouldn’t even be able to eat,” Madam Liu insisted. Seeing Madam Liu’s rare seriousness, Ling Jiayue found it rather amusing. In her previous life, she had gone to battle and killed enemies. How could ordinary girls possibly surpass her in horse riding? Moreover, she had once been an Empress. Although her calligraphy could not be considered that of a master, her strokes were vigorous and powerful, broad and bold—she surpassed even many men. Seeing that Madam Liu was about to start nagging again, Ling Jiayue quickly changed the subject. She showed Madam Liu the embroidered purse Ling Yuwan had given her and said, “Mother, look. Younger Sister Yuwan gave this to me. She said she prayed for it at the temple to bless me with a good marriage. Have a sniff. Doesn’t it smell nice?” When Madam Liu saw Ling Jiayue take out the sachet, rare tenderness appeared in her eyes. “I didn’t expect her to have such thoughts for you. That is indeed rare.” “Exactly. The Ling Residence is so wonderful. How could I bear to marry?” Ling Jiayue leaned against Madam Liu and spoke coquettishly. “I know, I know. Mother won’t urge you anymore. Do whatever you like,” Madam Liu said, unable to resist her daughter’s coaxing. “Mother is the best.” The mother and daughter chatted for quite some time. When it was time for the evening meal, Ling Jiayue ate with Madam Liu before returning to her own residence. Before Ling Jiayue left, Madam Liu instructed the steward matron to bring over another outer robe and drape it over her. She reminded her that the night wind was strong and warned her to be careful not to catch cold. Ling Jiayue put on the outer robe, then left and returned to her residence. Ling Jiayue walked slowly along the road, but her mind was occupied with everything that had happened in recent days. There was Cheese Lord, whom she had encountered after leaving Cold Mountain Temple. He had repeatedly claimed that someone from the Ling Residence had leaked information to the Third Prince. Ling Jiayue could not understand it no matter how much she thought about it. Ling Ziqi and Ling Zixue had already been driven out of the residence, so which other person from the Ling Residence could still be plotting against her? At that moment, Danyun had just returned from the Seventh Prince’s Residence. She was also carrying a set of clothes. Danyun bowed to Ling Jiayue and said, “Master, the Seventh Prince said, ‘I’ll handle everything. Don’t worry.’” “Mm, I understand.” With that, Ling Jiayue returned to her residence with Danyun, Lingzhu, and Lingxue. “Go prepare the water for my bath. I want to bathe,” Ling Jiayue ordered. Lingzhu and Lingxue went to make the preparations. Danyun presented the clothes she had brought back to Ling Jiayue and said, “Master, the Seventh Prince said that you are to wear this outfit at the peach-blossom banquet. It will ensure that you remain safe.” “Why?” “This servant doesn’t know. This servant was only relaying the Seventh Prince’s words. Please punish this servant, Master.” “Forget it.”