Chapter 116: An Unexpected Friendship

At the entrance of each private room in Quanfu Tower hung a small wooden plaque engraved with the room’s name. Miss Tang led An Yi to stand outside a room called "Fortune’s Blessing." An Yi vaguely heard the voices of women conversing inside and furrowed her brows slightly.

Miss Tang pushed open the slightly ajar door without hesitation and immediately heard a complaint from within: “Tang Qinian, you’re late again!”

“Tang Qinian, are you waiting until we’re all too hungry to eat before you show up, just so you can save money?” someone questioned displeasedly.

“Qier, what excuse will you give this time?” a gentle voice inquired.

“Please be patient, please be patient. Let me introduce you.” Tang Qinian smiled and stepped aside. “This is Miss An, daughter of the General of the Garrison Army.”

Inside were three young ladies and six maids. The first to catch An Yi’s eye was the girl dressed in a bright red satin embroidered gown, her hair styled in double ring buns. She had a full figure, smooth skin, almond-shaped eyes, rosy cheeks—radiant as a blooming peony.

This girl was the most beautiful An Yi had ever seen, so much so that the two fair and delicate young ladies seated beside her seemed dimmed in comparison.

The three young ladies stood almost simultaneously and looked at An Yi with no trace of disdain, their faces adorned with courteous smiles. This softened the irritation in An Yi’s heart somewhat.

“Miss An, this is the Sixth Miss Liang Xiaoyue of the Dingyuan Marquis family,” Tang Qinian said, pointing to the girl in blue.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss An. Greetings,” Liang Xiaoyue bowed courteously.

“Greetings, Miss Liang,” An Yi replied, recognizing Liang Xiaoyue as the first to speak.

“Miss An, this is the Third Miss Zhuang Manru of the Ministry of Personnel’s family,” Tang Qinian introduced, pointing to the girl in red.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss An,” Zhuang Manru bowed, her voice soft and melodious.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Zhuang,” An Yi returned the greeting. Suddenly, she recalled hearing Zhuang Manru’s name from Fang Rong; Zhuang Manru’s beauty indeed lived up to her reputation as one of the capital’s Ten Beauties.

“This is Zi Wei from the Wenhua Pavilion Grand Secretary’s family,” Tang Qinian indicated the round-faced, small-eyed girl in blue.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss An,” Zi Wei’s voice chimed like a bell.

An Yi lowered her eyes in greeting. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Zi.”

After the introductions and greetings, they sat down. Zi Wei said, “Everyone’s here. Go call the servants to bring the dishes quickly.”

“Don’t tell me you skipped breakfast just to save money for this meal?” Tang Qinian raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t just skip breakfast; I haven’t eaten since the night before yesterday,” Zi Wei pulled a funny face. “Today, I’m going to eat up all the money you brought.”

Tang Qinian pretended to spit on her. “You’ll burst.”

“Better to burst than starve,” Zi Wei teased, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Tang Qinian sipped her tea and asked with mock mystery, “Guess who I ran into at the Satin and Silk Pavilion?”

“There are so many people in the capital; how could we possibly guess? Just tell us,” Liang Xiaoyue said with a pout.

“Is it Zhou Lianying?” Zhuang Manru inquired.

“Guess again; what did she do at the Satin and Silk Pavilion?” Tang Qinian’s second question confirmed Zhuang Manru’s correct guess.

Zi Wei glanced at An Yi. “Did she look down on people again? You couldn’t stand it and came out to set things right, then met Miss An, right?”

A flicker of surprise passed through An Yi’s eyes.

“That’s right. She snatched the gown Miss An had picked and arrogantly boasted she would buy Miss An’s maid,” Tang Qinian scoffed.

“Old habits die hard,” Zi Wei cursed. “Miss An, don’t get mad at her; she’s not worth it. When I first came to the capital two years ago, she publicly humiliated me on the street, saying my father, a mere seventh-rank official, wasn’t impressive and didn’t deserve to live inside the city walls. Now, two years later, my father is a fifth-rank Grand Secretary, while her father was demoted from third to fifth rank.”

“Alright, alright, stop. You’re telling Miss An not to be angry at Zhou Lianying, but how come you ended up boasting about your father’s rank?” Liang Xiaoyue laughed.

“Miss An, I wasn’t—” Zi Wei hastily tried to explain to An Yi but stopped mid-sentence, glaring at Liang Xiaoyue. “Xiaoyue, you tricked me again!”

“I didn’t trick you. You could have avoided it, but you always jump in willingly. Who else’s fault is it?” Liang Xiaoyue covered her mouth, grinning mischievously.

“Xiaoyue, you’re getting bold. Watch out for my itching skills!” Zi Wei exclaimed, standing and lunging at Liang Xiaoyue.

Liang Xiaoyue, who was most ticklish, hurriedly dodged into Zhuang Manru’s embrace. Zhuang Manru shielded Liang Xiaoyue with one hand and held back Zi Wei’s with the other. “Enough, enough. Stop fooling around; we’re in public.”

Zi Wei pointed a finger in the air. “I’ll let you off today.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Miss Zi,” Liang Xiaoyue said with a playful smile as she sat down.

“Miss An, they’re used to teasing each other. Don’t mind them,” Tang Qinian said with a smile.

An Yi lightly shook her head, a faint warmth flickering in her usually cool eyes. The playful antics of Zi Wei and Liang Xiaoyue reminded her of her university roommates—the only joyful period in her gray life after her grandfather and mother passed away. She smiled softly, “You’re all very nice.”

At that moment, a servant knocked on the door and brought in the dishes.

“Miss An, these dishes were pre-ordered. I wonder if you like them? Feel free to order anything else you prefer,” Tang Qinian asked with a smile.

“I’m not picky. These look delicious,” An Yi replied.

Zi Wei looked at the table filled with food, her crescent eyes narrowing into a slit with a smile. “I’m not picky either; I eat everything.”

At home, An Yi did not like being waited on by maids during meals, but when out, she did not act eccentric. She sat gracefully and let Xiangqin help serve her food onto her plate.

Xiangqin was unfamiliar at first, having never served her before, but soon became proficient.

The five ladies elegantly finished the sumptuous lunch, then sat by the window sipping tea. The servants cleared the table and brought another for the ten maids to dine.

“Shh, Weiwei, don’t speak. Listen, someone is singing,” Liang Xiaoyue whispered.

Zi Wei covered her mouth, and the five leaned in to listen carefully.

“...Yellow flowers dream, a night’s fragrance, past the Double Ninth Festival. The sun sets in the west, waters flow eastward, accomplishing nothing, hair graying with autumn. The heartbroken are thinner than yellow flowers, fearful of the ninth day of the ninth month, forced to climb high, thoughts are deep and lonely, gazing toward the homeland three thousand miles away, leaning on the autumn wind atop the twelfth floor. Without reason, idle sorrow arises. Often recalling tearful farewell feasts, breaking all the green willow branches. Wanting to write my heart’s story with a patterned brush, but there’s no paper like the heavens. Longing unspeakable, writing down love’s words in vain, chanting flower and moon verses, to whom shall I entrust my tender grace?”

When the song ended, Zi Wei puckered her lips. “The Double Ninth Festival was long ago; singing a Double Ninth song is not fitting at all.”

“You may be a Grand Secretary’s daughter, but you have no taste. This song was written by Lord Linchang’s eldest son on the Double Ninth Festival. I wonder who is singing it?” Liang Xiaoyue said as she pushed open the window. A cold breeze blew in, causing a shiver. “Look, there are four people sitting on the rooftop opposite. Hmm, that’s Lord Linchang’s eldest son. Who’s the man in white? And who are those two women?”

An Yi focused her gaze. On the rooftop opposite sat four figures—two men and two women. The man in white was familiar: Bai Wuming, who had already left the capital, living under two identities alone. In his hand was a white porcelain long-necked wine flask. The woman in blue next to him cradled a pipa; she must have been the one singing.

The other man’s looks rivaled Bai Wuming’s, a sly, mischievous smile at his lips, dressed in an apricot brocade robe, exuding charm. He held the woman in pink in his arms.

That two men openly sat on the rooftop drinking and showing affection in broad daylight indicated these were not respectable ladies but courtesans from the Qin Tower and Chu House.

Liang Xiaoyue stepped back and lowered her head, her expression somber.

An Yi’s thoughts stirred—Liang Xiaoyue must fancy Lord Linchang’s eldest son.

“Lin Ximin, you bastard!” Zi Wei suddenly shouted.

The outburst caught the attention of the four on the rooftop. They all looked over, and Bai Wuming caught sight of An Yi standing by the window. He smiled and winked with his left eye.

“Ziwei, close the window. It’s cold,” Zhuang Manru moved away from the window.

Zi Wei shut the window and looked back at Liang Xiaoyue seated in the chair. “Xiaoyue, don’t be sad.”

“What are you talking about? Why should I be sad? He’s not mine. Who he chooses to be with has nothing to do with me,” Liang Xiaoyue said stubbornly.

“Right, right, it has nothing to do with you. I was wrong. Don’t be angry,” Zi Wei stepped forward and clutched her arm.

“Xiaoyue, Lin Ximin’s reputation for womanizing is well known. He is definitely not…” Zhuang Manru began but changed her words. “He’s definitely no good—a despicable scoundrel.”

“Manru, don’t say that about him,” Liang Xiaoyue looked up at Zhuang Manru. “He’s talented and kind. If only I had your looks.”

Zhuang Manru turned her head away, her voice low and serious. “Beauty or ugliness depends on the beholder. If he doesn’t like you, even the world’s fairest face would be nothing but common plaster in his eyes.”

An Yi’s gaze flickered; the remark seemed pointed. Who did Zhuang Manru like? Even such a beautiful girl is unwanted—what a waste, a blind fool!

Seeing the two girls both saddened, Tang Qinian sighed quietly. “It’s getting late. They’ve finished eating. Let’s go and meet again next time. Miss An, I’ll send you an invitation next time. You must come.”

“I’ll be sure to come when I receive your invitation,” An Yi said, giving her name to show her willingness to befriend them.

Tang Qinian, clever as ever, asked, “Which ‘Yi’ is that?”

“The ‘Yi’ from ‘meaning’,” An Yi smiled.

The five donned their veils and left the private room. Today, Tang Qinian was the hostess and would pay the bill.

Outside Quanfu Tower, Tang Qinian and her companions' carriage arrived. An Yi’s carriage was parked a little farther away. She said, “You all go on ahead.”

“Well then, we’ll leave first,” the four politely said, boarding their carriage and departing separately.

As their carriage pulled away, An Yi saw Bai Wuming standing across the street, his face radiant with a broad smile.

[This novel is first published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not reprint.]