Chapter 121: The Flower Viewing Gala (Part I)

An Yi looked back and saw Zhuang Manyu stepping out of her carriage, supported by her maid. She was dressed in a honey-colored, fur-trimmed cotton jacket, a scallion-yellow damask skirt, and a rose-red quilted cloak with embroidered silk lining. Her hair was styled in a crescent bun, adorned with a kingfisher-feather butterfly hairpin, a flat pearl pin, and gingko-shaped gold earrings. A gilded Eight Treasures Ruyi lock hung at her chest, giving her an elegant and stunning appearance.

"Miss Zhuang," An Yi said with a nod and a smile.

Zheng Yun stood by, motionless, maintaining a composed expression.

A senior maid stepped forward to welcome Zhuang Manyu, taking the invitation from her attendant. "Please come in, Miss Zhuang."

"I pay my respects to Official Zheng," Zhuang Manyu said, bowing to her first.

"Greetings, Miss Zhuang," Zheng Yun replied coolly.

After exchanging a few polite words, Zhuang Manyu turned to An Yi. "Miss An, shall we go together?"

Before An Yi could answer, Zheng Yun intervened. "Escort Miss An to the Jingyi Courtyard, and Miss Zhuang to the Qinfang Garden."

Zhuang Manyu’s gaze dimmed slightly, though her smile remained. "Miss An, I will see you later then."

"Very well, see you later," An Yi replied, boarding the sedan chair.

However, the sedan did not take An Yi to the Jingyi Courtyard, but to the Lan Garden. The person waiting for her was not Qing Rou, but Princess Lanyi. Not surprised, An Yi knelt to pay her respects. "Your Highness, I offer my greetings."

"Rise. No need for such formality. Sit and speak," Princess Lanyi said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness." An Yi sat on a round stool.

"Do you know why I borrowed Rou'er’s name to host this Flower Viewing Gala?" the Princess asked, getting straight to the point.

"I believe there are at least three reasons: to inform everyone that the Princess's health has improved, to demonstrate the close ties between the Princess's estate and the An family, and to give me an opportunity to socialize with the noble ladies of the capital," An Yi answered, having already pondered the question.

Princess Lanyi smiled approvingly. "It is impressive that someone as young as you could identify these three points."

The implication was clear—her motives went beyond those three. An Yi smiled and asked, "I would appreciate your guidance, Your Highness."

"Have you heard of the Ten Beauties of the Capital?" the Princess asked.

"I have. Just as I arrived, I met Miss Zhuang Manyu, the head of the Ten Beauties," An Yi replied.

A flash of coldness crossed the Princess’s eyes. "The daughters of the Wu and Feng families are both to be betrothed next year, leaving two vacancies. You must become one of the Ten Beauties; today is your best opportunity to make a name for yourself."

An Yi frowned. "Does Your Highness want me to compete with them in talent?"

"Are you worried you cannot surpass them?"

"It is not a matter of worry, but certainty. I have spent these years focusing on medicine; I only know the basics of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting," An Yi replied candidly. If the Princess expected her to gain fame through academic achievements, the chance of the authorities selecting her for the Ten Beauties was zero.

Princess Lanyi, not having anticipated this, was stunned for a moment. "Then be a judge. If you can impress them with your critical appraisal, you can earn a reputation for having a unique and discerning eye."

Not daring to dampen the Princess’s spirits further, An Yi said sheepishly, "Thank you, Your Highness, for this opportunity."

"Someone," the Princess called out.

Shao Yao entered with a maid. "Your Highness, I am here. Please instruct me."

"Shao Yao, escort Miss An to the Qinfang Garden."

An Yi followed Shao Yao to the garden, leaving the Princess to figure out how to convince the other judges to accept her as the sixth member.

In early winter, though most flowers had withered, the wealth of the Princess's estate had coaxed them into full bloom. The Qinfang Garden was a vibrant, fragrant display of spring.

The noble ladies were either chatting in the Warm Fragrance Dock or strolling through the garden. Shao Yao led An Yi directly into the dock, where large bronze heaters kept the room as warm as spring. The ladies had removed their cloaks and were gathered around round tables, sipping tea.

Qing Rou sat on a Arhat couch, accompanied by several others, including Liang Xiaoyue and Zhuang Manyu.

"Princess," An Yi called out as she approached.

"Luo... no, Sister An!" Qing Rou was delighted to see her. Hearing the title "Sister An" confirmed her identity to those who had been unaware.

News of Zheng Yun personally escorting An Yi out of the estate had already spread, but the noble families were watching and waiting. Seeing her arrive with the Princess's head maid and being addressed so affectionately by the Princess confirmed that An Yi had indeed won the Princess's favor.

"Princess, you made me take a wasted trip! I went to the Jingyi Courtyard to find you, only to discover you were here," An Yi said with mock reproach.

Qing Rou laughed apologetically. "I am sorry, Sister An. I waited for a long time, and when you didn't arrive, I became anxious and assumed you had come here first."

Whether Qing Rou’s words were intentional or not, the suspicion in Zhuang Manyu’s eyes vanished. Qing Rou took An Yi’s hand and introduced the ladies around the couch. Among them were Qin Baoyun, the young princess of Prince Rui’s estate, and Zhao Min, the daughter of Princess Renfu. Others included Fang Lanzhi, the fifth daughter of Marquis Weiyuan; Min Bingjie, the fourth daughter of Duke Min; and Qi Jiayin, the tenth daughter of Duke Qi.

An Yi, who disliked social functions, forced herself to maintain a graceful smile as she navigated the introductions. She noticed a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl staring at her with hostility. Before she could ask Qing Rou about her, a crisp bell rang—the signal for the gala to begin.

The ladies put on their cloaks and headed to the Qinfang Pavilion in the center of the garden. Upon entering, An Yi saw the layout—four chairs set for judges and tables laden with stationery and musical instruments—and immediately wished to leave.

After the ladies gathered, four people descended from the second floor. Leading them was Zheng Yun, followed by a middle-aged woman in a black, padded Daoist robe, her hair styled in a bun held by white jade pins.

"It’s the Recluse Youqi!" someone whispered.

Madam Min, the Recluse Youqi, was a woman of high literary standing and a master of calligraphy and painting. She was an idol to the talented ladies of the capital. Behind her were two other renowned scholars.

Zheng Yun invited them to sit. "Thank you all for coming. Today’s judges are Madam Min, Madam Jin, Madam Li, and..."

"Wait," Madam Min interrupted.

Zheng Yun frowned, knowing Madam Min’s principled nature. She glanced at An Yi, hoping she could pass the test.

Madam Min stood and scanned the crowd. "Which one is Miss An Yi? Please come forward."

An Yi stepped forward and curtsied. "I pay my respects to you, Madam."

"No need for such formality," Madam Min said, eyeing her critically. An Yi remained calm under her gaze.

"Which poem do you prefer?" Madam Min asked.

An Yi pondered for a moment. "To be honest, I do not have a particular favorite, but I am fond of the most evocative lines within them."

"For example?"

"For instance, Tao Yuanming’s: 'Plucking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, I gaze lazily at the southern mountain.'"

"And what else?"

An Yi recited lines about chrysanthemums she had once learned to help with her embroidery. Madam Min’s expression softened. She herself favored chrysanthemums. "Whose calligraphy do you practice?"

"I am currently practicing the Yan style," An Yi replied, recalling the scrolls she had seen in her previous home.

"And why the Yan style, and not the Liu style?" Madam Min asked—her maiden name was Liu, and the ladies in the capital often practiced the Liu style to curry favor with her.

An Yi frowned, struggling to recall her grandfather’s old critiques. "I was young, and I lacked the strength to master the Liu style," she said cautiously.