Chapter 26: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 26: 

 

Seeing that they couldn’t enter the city, the Old Princess Consort and her entourage took refuge in a mansion outside the city, borrowed from a friend of the Marquis of South Town.

The Old Princess Consort had enjoyed herself on the trip but felt a tinge of regret for missing the tea party. She scolded her steward, “You are usually so reliable, but today you led us astray, causing us to circle around and miss the tea party entirely.”

The steward, smiling politely, couldn’t bring himself to tell the whole truth: that Prince Huaiyang had intentionally directed him this way. 

However, Lian Binglan, displaying understanding, came to the steward’s aid, “Old Princess Consort, perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. I heard that the city was in chaos. Some high officials who went through the streets when the tea party ended were quite startled.”

Several ladies from Zhenzhou nodded in agreement, saying they were fortunate to be spared from the disaster. The Old Princess Consort’s face finally softened into a smile.

Prince Huaiyang listened with a smile, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He had intentionally guided his mother’s entourage along the wrong route to keep them away from the turmoil in Qingzhou. If his family hadn’t come, it would have seemed suspicious for him. Claiming a navigational error was a plausible excuse, with the dock and station officials able to attest to the mistake, leaving no room for blame.

Prince Huaiyang had expected his assassins to successfully eliminate the thief and thwart any plans to undermine Zhenzhou's influence. However, he was surprised to find that the thief’s guards were exceptionally skilled and fiercely protective.

The assassins managed only to wound Young Master Ziyu’s back, not to kill him outright amidst the chaos. The report from the assassins described the guards’ fighting style as resembling the deadly techniques used by the former emperor’s shadow guards—desperate, self-sacrificial combat meant to protect their charge at all costs.

Intrigued by the identity of Young Master Ziyu, Prince Huaiyang instructed his subordinates to proceed cautiously and avoid rash actions.

Regrettably, the informer with close ties to Lu Wen had lost their memory, which could have revealed more about the situation through Miss Liu's account.

Reflecting on Miss Liu's recent public reprimand of Young Master Ziyu, Prince Huaiyang felt a faint sense of regret. 

Meanwhile, the Old Princess Consort, noticing her son’s distracted demeanor and glancing at Lian Binglan, smiled and said, “Xingzhou, you’re usually so busy that we barely see you. Now that you have some free time, why don’t you take your cousin Lian Binglan out to the garden? The flowers there were blooming beautifully when we arrived today.”

When his mother spoke, Prince Huaiyang naturally complied, leading his servants and entourage while inviting his cousin to admire the garden. 

Lian Binglan, captivated by the Prince’s charming and warm demeanor, walked alongside him, enjoying the moonlit view of the blooming night-blooming cereus.

Since the last time she sent crab roe buns, Lian Binglan had made several visits to the military camp, bringing food for her cousin. On a couple of occasions, she had noticed a set of food containers in his tent, but the dishes inside did not resemble those served in hotels.

She had her maid, Lian Xiang, try to gather information from Mo Ru, but the young man proved to be tight-lipped and clever. No matter how Lian Xiang tried to extract information, Mo Ru remained silent.

Lian Binglan, however, grew increasingly convinced that these food containers likely came from the outer residence on North Street in Lingquan Town.

Lian Binglan's frustration led her to curse Miss Liu for being someone who had served men in a notorious place and for using such tactics to attract the Prince’s attention while he was focused on his duties.

Lian Binglan’s mother, Lian Chu, was so enraged that she wanted to confront the Old Princess Consort about her nephew’s scandalous behavior.

Despite the turmoil, Lian Binglan remained silent, coldly reflecting on how this “little girl” from North Street was far from an easy opponent. She wondered if Miss Liu's enchanting ways could lead the Prince astray and bring her into the Prince’s palace, damaging his reputation in the process.

The answer was certainly no. Her cousin was meticulous and would not openly engage in behavior that could tarnish his reputation. 

Although Lian Binglan felt uncomfortable, she did not want to cause a scene with her cousin. After all, her thoughtful act of sending meals seemed to have softened the Prince's attitude towards her.

The response to her father's "family letter" had been received, and several of Lian's relatives were now placed in good positions.

Unlike others, she knew that dealing with a man like Prince Huaiyang through forceful means was ineffective. The more one tried to push him, the more likely it was to have the opposite effect. Instead, a gentle approach and gradual persuasion were more effective.

Lian Binglan realized that even though the Prince might favor a concubine, it was not her place to intervene before officially entering the Prince's residence. She also advised her mother to avoid making any foolish moves or trying to control the Prince.

Lian Chu, who usually listened to her daughter, restrained herself and refrained from exposing the Prince's affair with the concubine.

However, she did remind her daughter that, although they were already engaged and she need not be overly proactive, she should not be too reserved in front of the Prince. Excessive modesty could make the charms of other women appear more appealing.

Lian Binglan understood her mother’s advice but also knew that as a young lady from a prestigious family, she had to maintain propriety while trying to grow closer to her cousin.

Today, with the Old Princess Consort's kind arrangement, giving her the opportunity to walk under the moonlight with her cousin, she hesitated for a moment before finally speaking: “Cousin, I have written a poem recently, but I can't seem to get the rhymes right. Could you possibly spare some time to help me revise it?”

Cui Xingzhou glanced at his cousin as she pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve, raised an eyebrow, and reached out to take it.

Upon unfolding the paper, he realized it was a bold poem expressing deep feelings of longing. The words and rhymes were well-chosen, and the elegant, delicate handwriting made it even more pleasing to the eye.

Unfortunately, Cui Xingzhou had long passed the days of exchanging heartfelt poems under the moonlight with young ladies. His mind was now occupied with battles and calculations, and he found it more relaxing to engage in aimless conversation.

This was why he enjoyed the company of people like Zhao Quan, who were known for their idle chatter.

So, while looking at the heartfelt poem from his cousin, he felt a bit annoyed and wondered why she couldn’t simply enjoy the moonlit walk with him. The fleeting beauty of the evening seemed wasted on this task.

Therefore, Prince Huaiyang held onto the paper, delaying his response as he read it slowly again. Finally, he looked up with a smile, complimenting his cousin on her excellent literary talent, stating that none of the women he had encountered could compare to her.

Lian Binglan blushed at Cui Xingzhou's praise and smiled, saying, "I’m merely showing off in front of you. Everyone knows you were destined to be the top scholar when you entered the imperial examinations. If it weren’t for the late emperor canceling the exams, you would have been the top scholar that year. And…”

Cui Xingzhou smiled slightly and interrupted her compliment. “That was a youthful indiscretion of mine. I made a bet and, in a fit of youthful bravado, took the exams anonymously. The late emperor, in his wisdom, disapproved of a noble's son competing with commoners and canceled the exams after reprimanding me. When I returned home, my father gave me a good thrashing. Looking back now, I feel quite embarrassed and am grateful for the late emperor's leniency… Such youthful folly is better left in the past.”

Lian Binglan quickly apologized for her mistake. Cui Xingzhou waved it off, indicating that he didn’t mind his cousin’s slip of the tongue. The two, now engaged, continued their walk under the moonlight in silence.

Binglan had hoped that after presenting her poem, her cousin would reciprocate with a poem of his own, expressing mutual affection. However, after a brief and dry acknowledgment, he turned and walked on.

The romantic atmosphere under the moon seemed to fall short, and Lian Binglan felt a tinge of loneliness as she followed behind her cousin’s tall, upright figure, silently strolling along the path.

After their walk, they said their goodbyes and went to their separate rooms for the night.

The next morning, Lian Binglan woke up early, hoping to run into her cousin in the garden, knowing he had a habit of practicing in the early hours. However, by breakfast time, she still hadn’t seen him. Servants informed her that there had been unrest in Qingzhou. It was reported that the leader of the rebels had been almost assassinated, leading to suspicions about the emperor's sincerity in reconciling with the rebels. Consequently, troops were mobilized to welcome the rebel leader Lu Wen back to Yangshan.

As a result, Qingzhou was in chaos, and troops from Zhenzhou were sent to restore order. The prince had left for Zhenzhou before dawn.

Meanwhile, the Old Princess Consort and her entourage spent two days enjoying the scenic beauty by the Yingri Cai Lake, far from the turmoil, before returning to Zhenzhou.

The great progress in Qingzhou’s pacification was disrupted by the sudden appearance of the assassin, causing considerable trouble. Shi Yikuan was extremely angry, but fortunately, Lu Wen, who was seriously injured, had recovered consciousness and generously expressed his trust in Shi Yikuan’s integrity, reassuring that he would remain loyal to the court.

After several days of searching for the assassin with no success, Qingzhou finally lifted the curfew and allowed people to leave the city.

As Liu Mian Tang joined the throngs of people leaving Qingzhou, she felt a great sense of relief. Her first thought was to go to the mountains and offer incense to the Buddha for the assassin. 

Due to the curfew, all rental properties from outsiders had to be reported back to their owners, and all foreigners, regardless of their status, were required to stay in city inns for inspection.

As a result, the wealthy residents who had rented homes in Qingzhou were forced to move to various inns for inspection. Mian Tang saw the carriages arriving at the inns and imagined them as a herd of fat sheep.

Although she didn’t get to attend the poetry and tea gathering, many scholars and literati, coincidentally staying at the inns and restricted from going out, were left bored.

Seizing the opportunity, she had Mr. Chen’s paintings displayed in the inn’s lobby for guests to admire.

This attracted the attention of several notable connoisseurs who recognized the quality of the artworks. With the curfew preventing them from going out, these scholars and artists found a new way to engage. They set up a few tables in the inn’s lobby and started to paint and discuss art with fellow enthusiasts.

Even though Mian Tang wasn’t particularly fond of reading or deeply versed in literature, she was greatly impressed by the refined atmosphere created by the blending of calligraphy and painting. It made her feel much more sophisticated and motivated her to add a touch of elegance to the inn’s cultural gathering.

In the end, when Liu Mian Tang, dressed in a flowing white gown with her hair elegantly styled and red lips perfectly painted, descended the stairs carrying the two prized plates in a brocade box, everyone was captivated.

Imagine a stunning beauty, holding an item with such solemn grace; even a bowl of stinky tofu would seem delicious and memorable!

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