บท 99: Fulfill thy Duties
Zhao Qing had always been confused of one thing, that is what was going on with her family back at home in the southern region. Since she came to live with the fourth prince she hasn't heard from them. But since the day the Fourth Prince told her about the young girl that had been promoted because she saved the Crown Prince she had begun to suspect that something must have happened to her family. Of course it was too far-fetched to suspect that the person surnamed Zhao would be her sister, besides she had no brother, and this person had one. But something told her she should be weary of her family's safety, and so she really couldn't sit still. Since her master left, many things had turned upside down. Even Zhang Zhengyang, her Zhangyang gege (Big brother, related or not) has long forgotten about her. All she could do was to protect herself, she didn't believe she couldn't get out of this dilemma.
Thankfully, the Fourth Prince had lifted her restriction, and she could now move around freely. She knew he would still be watching her, but she didn't care anymore. He already promised her that as long as she didn't plan to leave his side he wouldn't make things hard for her.
This time she wouldn't act on impulse. She had to calm down and think things through. About her relatives, even if she asked the Fourth Prince, he wouldn't be willing to answer her, always saying that he would ever be her only relative. She was already sick of his antics. But she could still find out a lot just by going to a teahouse or a restaurant. She would go to the busiest one, and probably get some gossip about who this Noble Princess actually was.
Well whatever was the top gossip that everyone knew, apart from the return of the Crown Prince, as well as the newly named Noble Princess was the banquet organized by one of the capital's big beauties, Lu Man, Fifth Miss of the Left Minister's household, also the favorite child of her family, she was the last born in her family, her father having married only one wife, the normal conflicts among children of concubine's child and the first wife's child was nonexistent in their home. All her older siblings cared for her like she were the gem in the family. Though she was an unparalleled beauty who had received one of the best of educations in the empire, she was also the fiercest woman in the capital, of her own generation. It's said she forced her husband to marry into her Lu Family. Because of the power of the Lu family, even if some people thought it was unacceptable to do so, no one dared to talk about it. But one had to praise her boldness. She didn't socialize much, but if she ever honored someone's invitation, then they would have to be careful lest they offend her and reap unbearable consequences.
Such a person who's name, though not often mentioned, made many tremble, who would have thought there would be a day she would organize a banquet herself, and invite so many ladies from all over the capital to appreciate flowers.
A lot of people tried to guess the reason why. And the one reason many people agreed on was: she wanted to seek revenge.
It was no secret that Lan Man and Chu Yin were sworn sisters, of course the tigress didn't have many friends, but Chu Yin was the only lady that was ever seen hanging around her.
But not long ago, this Chu Yin had moved to the north, and the reason was because of the Crown Prince.
Actually, many hearts had been broken because of the Crown Prince. But for a person like Lan Man's friend, of course her case would be different.
In the past she didn't seem to have found any reason to cause trouble. But now that this new Noble Princess was here, of course she'd make use of the opportunity.
Others thought this reason wasn't feasible, because after all, they were talking about the Crown Prince's benefactor, and a person the Emperor had promoted himself. Though, she was a nobody from the mountains, she wasn't someone they could afford to offend. They didn't think Lu Man would be bold enough to have such plans.
Madam Yang of the General's household also had this thought as she stared at the invitation given to her by people of the Left Minister's manor.
She had a small smile as she began to doubt herself. Should she be surprised if Lan Man did some questionable things at such a banquet?
In the past there were many young men and women that fell into her ploys. No matter how high, no matter how well protected they would in one way or another get tricked by her. In short as long as they offended her, they wouldn't get away with it. She was like a snake, she was also like a thorn in the flesh. Because she was so loved by her family, they would protect her no matter what happened, so no one could really do anything to her.
Sometimes she couldn't help but envy her. The Left Minister was such a good husband and a loving father. Her aunt would often tell her how he had caused chaos among the women in the capital when he was in his prime. His wife, Madam Lu, was beautiful, and was a tigress that gathered her cubs to herself, always protecting her children. In the capital, in terms of unity, the Lu Family under Left Minister was the most unified. (The Lu family was a big family, Old Man Lu was still alive, but he had pleaded with the former emperor so he could retire. The Left Minister had two other brothers living in the same manor.)
Unlike her family, they used their daughters as they pleased. That day, so they could have ties with the General's mansion, they forced her to marry General Yang, without taking into account her own feelings.
"Mistress, that Lu Man must be up to something, you have no idea what's being said about her in the capital."
Madam Yang smiled at her servant, "With you here, it's impossible for me not to know."
Hearing this, the young maid was a bit embarrassed, she was being called out for being gossipy. Her mistress didn't go out much since she was busy attending to the old madam every day, as well as other matters in the manor, so she was the one updating her mistress on everything that happened outside the gates. She remembered her Mistress used to like traveling, but she didn't have the opportunity to do so because her parents were strict with all their children.
"Mistress, I'm serious, see, they say that Lu Man is organizing this banquet for only one person. She wants to exact revenge for the sake of Second Miss Chu." The maid went on.
Madam Yang nodded absentmindedly, but this made her maid feel strange, "Mistress, aren't you worried about Miss Zhao?"
She had been with her mistress the day she went to see Zhao Xing and knew the her mistress was favorable towards the young lady. Her mistress didn't have many friends, but that day she had talked and laughed with Zhao Xing, her mistress was so good at judging people's characters, so she was sure Zhao Xing was a good person.
"Mistress you mustn't go." Well even if the girl was a good person, her mistress had to be mindful of her own safety. Though the Yang Family was a strong one, it couldn't bear to offend the Lu Family.
Madam Yang looked at her maid who had on a worried expression and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Who told you I wanted to go?"
The maid got confused, her mistress was originally not fund of these kinds of things but judging from her personality, she would surely go, for the sake of Zhao Xing, her new found, but helpless friend.
Madam Yang watched her maid wallow in her confusion for a while, she had a silly look on her face. In the end she couldn't hold it and laughed at her. "Silly you, I'll have to go even if I don't want to, it's the Lu Family that's inviting us for the first time, we have to at least give them some face. Otherwise, do you want us to be put into Lu Man's blacklist?"
Madam Yang's maid: "…" She hadn't thought of that.
Madam Yang shook her head, with a helpless smile.
"General Yang should have arrived by now." She said.
Her maid's ears perked up when she heard this, but her face deemed, "The master only comes home late at night every day, sometimes he doesn't even return…"
Madam Yang smiled. "Today would be different."
The day before she had overheard the argument between her husband and Old Madam Yang when she came to personally deliver medicine to her mother in-law. The old lady had complained about him returning home late. The old madam was really angry. General Yang cared about his mother the most, so he would come back earlier today. If all went right, it was already evening, so he should have arrived the manor already.
She would directly talk to him about the banquet.
Inwardly she laughed at herself. Though she didn't care about this man, she was still a woman, many had praised her beauty in the past, yet her husband had never touched her since they married, she didn't know whether she should feel humiliated or bitter. Now whatever she had to do, she had to report to him, who didn't care at all about her.
If he hadn't returned tonight, she doesn't know until when she would have to wait just to talk to him about it.
But that wasn't a problem. If he woke up at five to leave, she would wake up by three and wait at his living quarters just to see him. Let's see if he'd be able to run away from her grasp. He could continue being cold towards her, but he had to fulfill his duties as her husband whether he liked it or not.
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