Chapter 96: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 96: 

 

Liu Mian Tang had previously seen the wife of Prince Sui and felt a pang of sympathy for her damaged reputation.

However, the conflict between the two princes was far from the petty disputes of common folk that could be easily resolved. Prince Sui was intent on destroying the House of Huaiyang. Given that Prince Sui had already attacked and burned down the Huaiyang residence and had nearly abducted her and the Old Princess Consort, Cui Xingzhou’s decision to release the Prince of Sui's wife and son was an act of remarkable generosity.

In such a high-stakes conflict, no one is left unscathed. Both Prince Sui’s wife and Liu Mian Tang, who was to become the future princess, had to be prepared for the political turmoil they were entangled in. Today it was Prince Sui’s wife facing disgrace; tomorrow, Liu Mian Tang could be in a similar position.

After reflecting on the misfortune of Prince Sui’s wife, Liu Mian Tang turned her attention to the situation of Lian Binglan. The Old Princess Consort, having visited her sister, fell ill upon returning.

Madam Lian Chu, seeing her daughter in such a distressed state, was heartbroken and wept bitterly, blaming the Huaiyang Prince for their misfortune. She expressed that while she herself could endure the humiliation, the damage to her daughter's reputation was unbearable.

Madam Lian Chu, known for her sharp tongue, manipulated the Old Princess Consort’s compassion. She subtly implied that the Old Princess Consort should ensure Lian Binglan’s welfare, arguing that the Huaiyang residence could afford to support them. Otherwise, Madam Lian Chu threatened to make a dramatic statement by having her and her daughter commit suicide in front of the Huaiyang residence on the day of the Prince’s wedding.

In the following days, not only did the Lian family pressure the Old Princess Consort, but even the elders from the Cui family intervened, urging the Old Princess Consort to make a decision. They suggested that the Huaiyang Prince take Lian Binglan as a secondary consort to avoid the public perception of abandoning her. They argued that Lian Binglan's public outcry had led people to believe that the Cui family had wronged and abandoned her without taking responsibility.

With the scandal spreading, the reputation of the Cui family was severely damaged.

In recent days, after Liu Mian Tang’s repeated advice, the Old Princess Consort had become more clear-headed about the situation. While Lian Binglan’s plight was indeed pitiable, the fault could not be entirely blamed on others.

Liu Mian Tang had repeatedly advised them to find a secluded village to live in, but they had insisted on taking risks, almost exposing Liu Mian Tang and herself. This showed that while their misfortune was tragic, there was some blame to be laid on their own actions.

Moreover, Lian Binglan's public disgrace after being thrown out of the carriage had tarnished her reputation. To have such a person as a concubine in the Huaiyang residence seemed unacceptable.

Feeling frustrated, the Old Princess Consort had reduced her visits to Madam Lian Chu and sought out Liu Mian Tang to vent her grievances.

Liu Mian Tang felt it was inappropriate to offer direct advice, so she quietly served tea and listened to the Old Princess Consort’s complaints. After a long time of hearing the Old Princess Consort speak without any response from Liu Mian Tang, the Old Princess Consort, frustrated, pushed away her teacup and said, "Why don’t you speak up? What should I do?"

Seeing she couldn’t avoid the issue any longer, Liu Mian Tang asked, "Have you spoken with the Prince? What does he have to say about this?"

Recalling her son’s stubborn reply, the Old Princess Consort was even more exasperated. "What can he say that’s sensible? He said he’d send someone to inquire, and if Lian’s family makes demands, he’ll prepare two coffins at the door and wait for them to die, so he can just pack them up nice and warm!"

Liu Mian Tang couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at this.

In recent days, Cui Xingzhou had been busy with official duties due to receiving emissaries from the court, and Liu Mian Tang had gone to Lingquan Town to manage the four brothers, so she hadn’t seen the Prince.

Truthfully, Liu Mian Tang was worried. She feared that Cui Xingzhou might still have lingering feelings for Lian Binglan or, under the Old Princess Consort’s pressure, might indeed take Lian Binglan as a concubine.

Though the expanded Huaiyang residence was large, it could not accommodate another woman of importance besides her. Liu Mian Tang was that possessive; she didn’t want to share her beloved with anyone.

On the other hand, she hoped for the chaos to continue, as it would provide a legitimate excuse for her to leave without regret. It would also help avoid the day when her true identity as Lu Wen was exposed.

The conflicting emotions within Liu Mian Tang made her indifferent to the commotion caused by the Lian family's attempt to enter the Cui household. She chose to observe the situation and wait to see how Cui Xingzhou would handle it.

However, after hearing Cui Xingzhou's remarks, it seemed that the relationship between the cousins was indeed coming to an end.

The Old Princess Consort, seeing Liu Mian Tang still smiling, became even more upset. "My son is already thoughtless enough, and now you, as my daughter-in-law, are finding it amusing! If you want to make me a laughingstock, just tell Xingzhou to prepare an extra coffin for me. I’ll just close my eyes and be done with it, out of sight, out of mind!"

Liu Mian Tang, slicing a freshly baked sweet pastry with a bamboo knife and handing a piece to the Old Princess Consort, said slowly, "Aunt Lian's concern is that her daughter might not find a suitable marriage. If that’s the case, we can find someone who doesn’t mind her. We can prepare an additional dowry for her."

The Old Princess Consort’s eyes brightened at this suggestion. "You’re right! How did I not think of that earlier?"

Liu Mian Tang smiled slightly. "The Old Princess Consort's heart is too soft. You were caught up in the question of whether the Prince would take her as a concubine, and didn’t consider other options."

The Old Princess Consort sighed, "But now that Lian Binglan's situation is so widely known, who would want to marry her? And those who would, are not the kind of people my high-minded sister would approve of."

At that moment, a servant came to inform them that Madam Qin had arrived to pay her respects to the Old Princess Consort.

The Old Princess Consort frowned. "Ask her if she has something important to discuss. If not, she should simply kneel and pay her respects."

The servant went out to inquire and soon returned with news. "Madam Qin has come with Fifth Master, and they wish to discuss Fifth Master's marriage."

Such matters were indeed serious, so the Old Princess Consort could not refuse. She allowed Madam Qin and her son to enter.

Liu Mian Tang had not seen Fifth Master Cui often since her arrival in Zhenzhou. Due to his disability, he had lived a secluded life. There were even rumors that Fifth Master had been killed by his brothers and that the surviving Fifth Master was merely a decoy.

Now, observing the man in the wooden wheelchair, Liu Mian Tang saw that his skin was pale and sickly, a result of long periods without sunlight. His facial features bore some resemblance to Cui Xingzhou, with his thick brows and prominent nose, traits inherited from the old prince. However, his feet, visible beneath his long robe, were extremely thin and weak, likely from prolonged inactivity.

As his nominal mother, the Old Princess Consort was naturally concerned about his health and asked him about his well-being.

Fifth Master Cui answered politely and respectfully.

After some pleasantries, the Old Princess Consort directly inquired, "I heard that you wish to discuss Fifth Master’s marriage. Which family’s daughter does he have his eye on?"

Madam Qin glanced at her son and quickly knelt, saying, "I have failed as a mother and allowed my son to develop unrealistic desires. He... he wants to ask about a daughter from the Lian family."

Such an impractical request would have seemed completely absurd in the past. Even though the Lian family’s daughter had been jilted by Prince Huaiyang, her age was not a concern; she would not have trouble finding a suitor.

However, given the current circumstances with the Lian family, Lian Binglan had developed a hysteria and was in a state of mental disarray, with no clear recovery in sight. Her reputation had been tarnished, and no respectable family would want such a daughter-in-law.

Now that the Lian family was clinging to the Prince Huaiyang's household, hoping to restore their daughter's reputation by securing her entry into the royal family, it seemed a convenient solution for both parties.

Since the legitimate Prince Huaiyang had rejected Lian Binglan, if the illegitimate Fifth Master Cui was willing to take on the responsibility, it would indeed be a perfect resolution.

The Empress Dowager was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected and seemingly ideal solution, looking eagerly at Liu Mian Tang.

But Liu Mian Tang instead turned her gaze to the disabled Fifth Master Cui.

Despite his status as a secondary son, his position within the Huaiyang Prince's household made it feasible for him to marry a woman from a humble family. 

Could it be that he was unaware of Lian Binglan's current situation?

Fifth Master Cui seemed to sense Liu Mian Tang’s confusion and spoke softly, “Miss Lian is both beautiful and talented, with a humble demeanor that inspires admiration. However, due to my disability and her prior engagement with the Ninth Prince, I had resigned myself to living a solitary life. Yet, seeing her current plight and fragile health, I have no other virtues, but I am willing to treat her with sincerity. I hope the Old Princess Consort will grant this request.”

The statement was indeed thought-provoking. It suggested that Fifth Master Cui had harbored feelings for the Ninth Prince's fiancée for a long time but had been too self-conscious to reveal them.

Now, with the lady in distress, he had mustered the courage to pressure his mother into proposing.

The Old Princess Consort found this arrangement quite satisfactory. A match between a cripple and a madwoman seemed fitting. The Lian family had been demanding that the Huaiyang Prince’s household provide for their daughter, so by agreeing to this match, it would effectively cut off their leverage and silence their complaints.

In this way, Madam Qin and Fifth Master Cui became a timely solution for the Prince's household, causing the Old Princess Consort to view the ordinarily mild-mannered Madam Qin in a more favorable light.

With this in mind, the Old Princess Consort kindly encouraged Fifth Master Cui, praising his devoted heart as touching and promising that once the Ninth Prince returned, she would arrange for the Lian family's situation to be resolved.

The Ninth Prince, however, was too occupied with state matters to concern himself with the trivialities of the Lian family. Liu Mian Tang, not yet officially married, felt it was inappropriate for her to interfere. Ultimately, Prince Huaiyang sent a family elder to negotiate the marriage proposal with the Lian family.

Before the family elder even began negotiating, Liu Mian Tang had already instructed the gatekeepers to keep a close watch on the gates. The newly installed main entrance of the prince's residence could not be allowed to be damaged again.

Sure enough, in the afternoon, the Lian family arrived in force, led by Lian Hanshan and his son, both of whom looked displeased. They insisted on speaking directly with Prince Huaiyang.

Fortunately, the Prince was present at the residence that day and courteously invited his uncle and cousin into the study.

An hour later, the Lian family left the prince's residence looking disheartened.

At dinner that evening, Prince Huaiyang, the Old Princess Consort, and Liu Mian Tang all dined together. The Old Princess Consort, eager to know the outcome, asked about the result. The Prince, while serving Liu Mian Tang, casually said, “It’s rare for Fifth Brother to speak up, so as his younger brother, I naturally wanted to fulfill his wish. However, if the Lian family is unwilling to accept, I can't force them to comply. I’ve already explained the pros and cons to them; it’s up to them to decide.”

Liu Mian Tang understood that the “pros and cons” referred to the situation where, if the Lian family agreed, Lian Binglan would enter the family as a concubine to the elder brother, thus still being considered part of the household in a way.

If the Lian family felt that the Cui family had looked down upon them, the remaining family ties would be severed. The Lian family would no longer be able to rely on the Cui family for support and would cut off all relations, never to associate again.

Given this, Prince Huaiyang actually hoped that the Lian family would choose the latter option.

After dinner, the Prince took Liu Mian Tang to the newly renovated pond in the rear garden to admire the lotus flowers under the moonlight. Lanterns hung high, and the lake was surrounded by purple flower beds with fireflies flickering.

The Prince had recently acquired two hollow glass spheres the size of a fingernail. He bent down, using a gauze net to catch fireflies and place them inside the spheres. He then hung them on gold hooks and made them into earrings for Liu Mian Tang.

The pair of earrings, with their flickering glow against her white earlobes, was quite charming. Liu Mian Tang took a look at them in the copper mirror handed to her by the maid, and laughed, saying, “Such a trick for children, and you’re making me wear it!”

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