The following morning.
Sun Shi, dressed in fresh attire and radiating a dignified, gracious air, smiled as she reminded everyone, “Today Duke Yingguo’s household will have no idea how many guests will arrive. A’Yan, A’Shu — both of you are to stay close to your eldest sister-in-law Yumei and not wander off.”
Ling Jingyan, looking fresh and bright in a pink dress, blinked mischievously and answered with exaggerated gravity, “Mother, you can rest completely at ease. A’Shu and I will be perfectly well-behaved and stay with eldest sister-in-law.”
Sun Shi laughed and gave Ling Jingyan a look. “A’Shu is always composed and careful — there’s no need to worry about her. It was you I was talking about.”
Ling Jingyan stamped her foot and pouted, “Mother! I’m your own daughter — do you have so little faith in me?”
Sun Shi gave an unhesitating nod.
Everyone was amused into laughter.
A young woman’s coming-of-age ceremony was generally attended by the female members of the family. Ling Daye and Ling Wuye had no intention of calling on the household, and Ling Xiao’s eye condition made it inconvenient to go out — he had no choice but to remain at the residence.
“A’Shu, today is Miss Jiang’s coming-of-age ceremony. Do you think the Crown Prince’s Consort will attend?” Ling Xiao asked quietly.
Ling Jingshu smiled. “She should.”
Su Ying’s coming-of-age ceremony had invited the Crown Prince’s Consort to serve as the honored guest of the rite. Jiang Rongyue was the legitimate daughter of Duke Yingguo’s household and the Crown Prince’s own niece — for her coming-of-age ceremony, the Crown Prince’s Consort would certainly make an appearance.
And perhaps the Crown Grandson would also go to Duke Yingguo’s household today.
Ling Xiao thought it over and offered a deliberate word of caution: “The Crown Prince’s Consort holds some reservations about you. When you see her, it’s best to keep your distance.”
Ling Jingshu heard this and felt a warmth in her chest. She smiled softly. “I’ll be careful.”
---
Duke Yingguo’s household was the most distinguished of Great Zhou’s nobility, and Jiang Rongyue was the household’s only legitimate daughter — her coming-of-age ceremony was accordingly lavish and lively. Female guests arrived in wave after wave.
Sun Shi’s party arrived on the earlier side and was led by the head stewardess into the inner hall.
Sun Shi exchanged a few warm pleasantries with the Duchess of Yingguo.
The Duchess’s gaze swept across the group, passing over Jiang Shi and Ling Jingyan, before settling on Ling Jingshu’s face. She smiled and asked, “This young lady — she must be Miss Ling the Ninth that Yueer speaks of so often. What a lovely appearance, just as described.”
Ling Jingshu quickly stepped forward to pay her respects. “Jingshu greets the Duchess of Yingguo.”
This Duchess was already well past forty. Her looks were not exceptional, with fine lines at the corners of her eyes and across her forehead. But her smile was full and her manner genuinely warm and amiable.
When Jiang Rongyue smiled, she bore a marked resemblance to the Duchess.
“Yueer is still in her chamber,” the Duchess said pleasantly. “The rest of you go in and keep her company.”
Jiang Shi smiled and assented, then turned to call out to Ling Jingyan and Ling Jingshu. “Both of you, come along with me.”
Jiang Shi and Jiang Rongyue were cousins on the same family line. She had frequented Duke Yingguo’s household since girlhood and was entirely familiar with every inch of the place. As they walked, she pointed the way. “My younger cousin Yueer’s chamber is just up ahead.”
In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at Jiang Rongyue’s room.
Several young women of similar age were already seated inside, all familiar faces. Pleasantries and lively greetings were exchanged all around.
Ling Jingshu glanced at Jiang Rongyue and offered a sincere compliment. “Miss Jiang, you look truly beautiful today.”
Jiang Rongyue was pretty in a sweet, artless way, with a faint trace of girlish charm in her features. Today she was dressed in a vivid red gown, a light dusting of powder on her face, making her more radiant than usual.
Jiang Rongyue grinned, her eyes curving happily, and replied in her usual bright, spirited manner, “My mother lectured me just this morning. She said today is my coming-of-age ceremony and many friends and family are coming to observe the rite — so I must be dignified and composed, and speak and laugh as little as possible. But honestly, I was just born this way. How could I possibly hold back?”
With that, the young women all burst into laughter.
One of them said with open admiration, “I heard that the honored guest presiding over Miss Jiang’s rite today is the Crown Prince’s Consort!”
“The Crown Prince’s Consort’s rank is supremely distinguished — of all the young ladies who have had the honor of inviting her as their honored guest, it has only been Miss Su the Second and now Miss Jiang.”
“Yes, Miss Jiang is truly fortunate…”
The young women chimed in one after another, their eyes brimming with undisguised envy.
Ling Jingshu felt a quiet flicker of surprise.
She had not expected the Crown Prince’s Consort to be the presiding honored guest today.
Su Ying was the Crown Prince’s Consort’s own niece on her family’s side — the affection between them was deep. It was entirely natural for the Crown Prince’s Consort to serve as Su Ying’s honored guest in her capacity as aunt. But coming to preside for Jiang Rongyue — that carried a rather different and unusual significance…
This thought passed through her mind, and Ling Jingshu quietly studied Jiang Rongyue for a few moments.
Jiang Rongyue’s rosy cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone with light. That light illuminated the girl’s pretty, bright face — and beneath it lay a trace of a mysterious, barely concealed joy.
At that very moment, the sound of footsteps came from the doorway. A familiar, delicate face appeared in view.
It was Su Ying who had arrived.
Jiang Rongyue immediately smiled and rose, taking Su Ying’s hand with affectionate familiarity. “Su Jiejie, what took you so long to come?”
In contrast to Jiang Rongyue’s warmth, Su Ying’s smile appeared somewhat strained. “I apologize — I haven’t been feeling well these past two days. I woke late this morning and arrived late.”
As she spoke, she quietly withdrew her hand.
Ling Jingshu did not miss this small detail, and something stirred in her heart.
---
Today Jiang Rongyue was the center around which everything revolved, and after exchanging a few brief words with Su Ying, she turned to greet the next wave of arriving guests.
Su Ying’s gaze swept the room and met Ling Jingshu’s look of quiet concern. She hesitated briefly, then walked over to Ling Jingshu’s side. “Ling Meimei, it has been a while since we’ve met. Have you been well?”
Within a single month, Ling Jingshu had entered the palace twice, and both Empress Xu and Wei Jieyu had shown her particular favor. This had long since become common knowledge in the capital, and Su Ying had naturally heard of it.
Ling Jingshu had no desire to dwell on the subject, and replied with a casual smile. “Well enough, thank you. But Su Jiejie’s color does not look very good. Is something the matter? Have you seen a physician?”
Su Ying gave a concealing smile. “It’s nothing much — perhaps the turn in the weather has dulled my appetite, and my energy has not been what it usually is. A few days’ rest and I should be fine.”
Was it really that simple?
Ling Jingshu’s gaze shifted faintly, and she probed gently. “I hear today’s presiding honored guest is the Crown Prince’s Consort.”
Su Ying’s body gave an almost imperceptible tremor, and her smile grew more strained by the moment. “Yes. Duke Yingguo’s household had already arranged a presiding honored guest. But the Crown Prince’s Consort expressed her desire to come and take that role herself, so the arrangement was changed at the last moment. Not only will the Crown Prince’s Consort be in attendance — I’ve also heard that His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Grandson will both be coming.”
Su Ying was, after all, still a girl of sixteen or seventeen, and had not yet learned to conceal her feelings deeply. By the end of what she said, the sadness in her expression was barely veiled.
Her visible reaction confirmed what Ling Jingshu had already suspected in her heart.
For Jiang Rongyue’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Crown Prince’s Consort attending was one thing — but for the Crown Prince and Crown Grandson to come as well. The meaning hidden in that was plain at a glance.
No wonder Jiang Rongyue was so radiant with joy today. No wonder Su Ying was so sunken in quiet sorrow.
The contest between the two had concluded — and Jiang Rongyue had won.
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