Chapter 16

From the moment she set foot in the Huang household, Amber did not scheme over her appearance. She worked diligently every day, and with her excellent sewing skills, she earned the recognition of Scholar Huang, who granted her some dignity by assigning her to serve the Second Miss.

She no longer wished to marry; she was content to serve the Huang family for life, hoping that when she grew old and frail, she would have a roof over her head and a meal to eat. Scholar Huang consented and had never arranged a match for her all these years.

The setting sun cast a layer of pale yellow on the pristine paper windows.

Huang Shiyu held Amber’s hand gently. His gaze trembled softly; although his expression seemed calm, inside his heart there was a storm roaring. After a long while, he forced back the tears shimmering in his eyes.

“I understand now, Sister Amber,” he whispered, his voice as light and delicate as a wisp of smoke.

Amber squeezed his slender hand slightly in response.

Inside the Huang family study, Scholar Huang stood by the desk with his hands tucked into his sleeves, staring intently at Jian Xun, who was busily writing. With a vermilion brush, Jian Xun had marked nearly a hundred pages, even adding annotations.

What would take others months or years to organize, Jian Yunzang casually handled. Scholar Huang’s expression was complicated, the corners of his eyes twitching slightly.

Jian Xun said lightly, “In a few days, I will send the organized case files to your residence. The teacher is deeply devoted to his studies. At next year’s provincial exam, we will surely each gain something.”

The words “provincial exam” instantly made Scholar Huang’s eyes blaze with a fiery light.

He clenched his fist tightly and murmured, “Each gain something.”

If he could truly pass the exam, he would be willing to die immediately.

No, no, he decided to live a little longer. He had even risked his daughter’s future; how could he die suddenly without tasting a day of glory?

The half-life of humiliation had made Scholar Huang want to straighten his spine and truly live.

Jian Xun said calmly, “For now, this is all. If there are no other instructions, I will take my leave.”

He put down his brush and brushed his sleeve.

Scholar Huang followed behind him, hesitating, “Very well, take care, worthy son-in-law.”

Jian Xun smiled wryly.

By protocol, Scholar Huang was not Jian Xun’s father-in-law, and the Jian and Huang families were not formally related by marriage. Yet from the beginning, Jian Xun had ambiguously accepted the title “worthy son-in-law,” and so Scholar Huang had continued to address him as such.

Scholar Huang was not an ignorant man; he clearly understood that Jian Xun secretly looked down on him, yet for some inexplicable reason, Jian Xun had to sincerely assist him.

Behind an elm tree, Liuer peeked cautiously but was soon spotted by Jian Xun’s servant, Fuxi, who winked at her and teased, “Little girl, what are you looking at?”

Liuer froze but remembered the Second Miss’s words: do not speak to strangers.

She glanced at Fuxi and quickly withdrew her head, running back with quick footsteps.

The scenery in the capital on April eighteenth was fresh and beautiful. Noble sons and scholars came and went, riding sedan chairs and horses—a scene of peaceful, prosperous life.

This year’s Flower God Banquet was held at the Diyue Yunju villa of the Imperial Forest, bordered by the Xiangxue Corridor to the north and Yunqing Pavilion to the east. The entire garden was surrounded by lakes and streams, resembling a bright island.

Eighteen noble ladies arrived with their retinues, gathering here with lively yet elegant atmosphere.

Each noblewoman was accompanied by her family’s finest young lady, each graceful and charming, perfectly complementing the early summer blossoms.

The Empress Dowager, surrounded by palace attendants, passed through the Xiangxue Corridor at a measured pace.

Below the corridor bloomed a cluster of late-blooming pea-green peonies, including a unique flower known as the Silver-thread Sky Purple, yet she only turned her head lazily to glance at them.

Until a tall, graceful figure strode along the opposite corridor, the Empress Dowager’s indifferent eyes suddenly lit up, and an unstoppable smile blossomed on her face.

When the Empress Dowager smiled, she was breathtakingly beautiful; a small dimple on her right cheek added a touch of charm to her dignified presence.

“Ah Huai,” she said tenderly.

The visitor was none other than Prince Su, Han Yihuai.

A slender, upright youth of seventeen or eighteen, with a face like polished jade. He wore a round-collar robe, but a glance revealed the fabric was extraordinary—thin as cicada wings, flowing like clouds, shimmering with moonlight patterns as he walked. This was Southern Guang’s tribute ramie silk.

Only officials and gentry wore ramie, and only the royal family wore this fine ramie, woven from silk and fine hemp, soft and sheer like heavenly garments.

Han Yihuai greeted with a smile, bowing deeply, “Your son pays respects to His Majesty the Empress Dowager, wishing her endless longevity.”

The Empress Dowager smiled gently, clasping his hand and inquiring carefully about his diet and daily habits, asking if there was anything uncomfortable.

Prince Su answered eloquently, his clever speech making her smile behind her sleeve, occasionally poking his forehead with a finger, “You little rascal.”

The masters were immersed in family joy, and the palace maids relaxed accordingly. Some bolder palace maids stole glances at the handsome prince, who still retained a hint of youthful mischief. Before coming, he had held a shuttlecock in his hand, but upon seeing his mother, he tossed it to a eunuch behind him.

The noble ladies gathered in the Spring Hall of Diyue Yunju to rest, chatting and sipping tea until a tall stewardess entered to announce the Empress Dowager’s summons. They rose in order to proceed to the main hall to pay respects.

Everyone knew clearly that this audience marked the beginning of the consort selection.

The young ladies were somewhat nervous; this was their first, perhaps last, time meeting the Empress Dowager.

Song Yuan walked in the middle of the group. As a beauty far surpassing others, she was somewhat isolated; few dared approach her. After all, they were all like blooming flowers—if they got too close, they would become mere leaves, and who would willingly accept that?

Each young lady took turns bowing to the Empress Dowager, but Prince Su was nowhere to be seen.

Behind the phoenix throne stood a screen of seven treasures made of moonlight silk, which appeared hazy from the front but was transparent from behind.

At that moment, Prince Su stood behind the screen. If he favored someone, a palace maid would present a Silver-thread Sky Purple flower from the tray; the others would receive a pea-green peony.

If more than one were favored, the primary consort received the Silver-thread Sky Purple, and secondary consorts the pea-green peony.

Han Yihuai scanned the group with disinterest until Song Yuan appeared, at which point he looked more attentively.

The stewardess relaxed slightly, thinking there was hope, and waited quietly for the prince to hand out the single Silver-thread Sky Purple.

Unexpectedly, by the time Song Yuan stepped down, Han Yihuai had not spoken.

The stewardess dared to raise her eyes and ask, “Your Highness…”

If you don’t choose soon, all the girls will have been seen.

Han Yihuai said, “The girl in the vermilion cherry gauze skirt just now is…?”

The stewardess replied quickly, “Song Yuan from the Song family, fifth in birth order.”

“She’s really beautiful,” Han Yihuai praised.

The stewardess smiled, awaiting the next sentence.

Suddenly, the prince turned and strode toward a side door. The stewardess was stunned and hurriedly said, “Your Highness, you… haven’t made your choice yet?”

Han Yihuai exclaimed, “Must I choose today?”

The stewardess swallowed nervously, “Well, not necessarily.”

As they spoke, the Empress Dowager entered with a stern face. The stewardess bowed quickly and stepped back. The Empress Dowager walked straight to the prince.

“Nonsense! Eighteen young ladies, and you didn’t like a single one?”

Han Yihuai’s expression changed instantly at the sight of his mother.

Though the Empress Dowager was no taller than Prince Su’s shoulders, he was young, with plump, smooth cheeks. When he played dumb on purpose, he appeared merely a child in her eyes.

When her son approached, even though she was somewhat angry, she quickly softened. She feigned severity and asked why he hadn’t chosen even one.

“I am your own son, a precious little prince of the Great Kang Dynasty. I simply cannot do things that would distress myself,” Han Yihuai said matter-of-factly. “I want a beauty who is both pretty and interesting, but after looking at everyone, only Song Yuan is barely acceptable. You can’t blame me.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at him. “If you find Song Yuan acceptable, why not give her a pea-green peony at least? Choosing a secondary consort is also good.”

Han Yihuai clicked his tongue, “No feeling of affinity.”

The other girls all blushed like rosy clouds or had eyes full of autumn waves, some even casting shy glances at the screen, full of hope and bashfulness. Only Song Yuan’s eyes held resistance, even a touch of sorrow.

She did not want to marry a prince she had never met; the prince was not very interested in her. Their bond was shallow and thin.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly, lifted her finger, and the stewardess stepped back several paces, then crossed the screen and handed out the pea-green peonies to the families.

The noble ladies bowed quickly to express thanks.

After receiving their tokens, the Empress Dowager did not step out but instead sent the stewardess to announce an imperial order inviting all to move to the Xiangxue Corridor to enjoy the flowers at leisure.

All knelt and took leave.

The Flower God Banquet ended with no one chosen.

Even the most beautiful Song Yuan did not receive a Silver-thread Sky Purple; Jian Xinlan was stunned.

The imperial family was hard to reach, but she had never imagined it was this unreachable.

The failed consort selection left the Empress Dowager most desolate.

Princess Fenghe comforted her grandmother, “Uncle Twelve is still so young. Most noble families and officials marry late nowadays; some even at twenty. Please rest assured.”

Fenghe was five years older than Uncle Twelve. She had worried much over his future.

The Empress Dowager rubbed her brow. “Your father was already the age of your elder brother at that time.”

“Father is the true dragon emperor, holding heaven and earth, responsible for the realm and its continuation. Naturally, he had to produce heirs early. But Uncle Twelve was born to live a life of ease and freedom. If suddenly you want to find a princess to restrain him, with his temperament, he won’t last a day.”

Her words had some truth. Married men often felt bound, but if he did not marry, when could she expect to hold a younger grandson in her arms? The Empress Dowager twirled a small boxwood bead bracelet in her hand.

She asked a eunuch what Prince Su was doing.

The eunuch bowed, “His Highness is at Xueyang Palace playing cuju with a group of young eunuchs.”

The Empress Dowager then asked the chief chambermaid beside him, “Does Prince Su know his duties now?”

The chambermaid blushed and replied, “Not yet.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression turned cold. “How have you been attending to him?”

She had seen that scoundrel last time, laughing and chatting with a chambermaid on his lap. How had he remained so clueless until now?

The chambermaid knelt quickly in apology, blushing, “His Highness has been with us very little, not more than ten days altogether…”

The Empress Dowager fell silent.

Since entering Wenhua Hall to study with the scholars, her foolish son had become a different person—busy day and night, rarely seen. Last year, he was sent to Zehe, and at seventeen, he still knew nothing of worldly affairs—a rarity among the notorious Han family.

She had once worried four were not enough for him, but now, one was useless as well.