A MONTH AND a half after our wedding, Yunhua threw a large feast at the Eastern Palace, inviting a majority of other young lords and ladies around our age. It was hardly surprising. Being the Crown Princess Consort, she needed to start putting herself out there. She'd always been excellent socialising with others, but now she needed to try even harder. Her connections would aid her husband.
And despite being named heir, the Crown Prince's position was hardly entirely stable. Some of the other princes showed promise, and there had always been slight competition hidden behind the scenes. At least, that was what Chiqian told me, and I believed him.
We were among the first to arrive, as natural. Before the feast began everyone was meant to gather around in the gardens, so that was where we found ourselves. The only people who'd arrived earlier than Chiqian and I were Yunjun, Yunxuan and Tianjin.
Yunjun looked exceptionally excited, dashing to where I stood. "He's coming tonight, Cousin." And that he could refer to nobody but Feng Cao. I sent Chiqian a glance and he shrugged.
Yunhua shooed Yunjun away, turning to me. "I thought we might become more familiar with this man's character and then decide our next course of action."
"Mind I ask where the Crown Prince is, Your Highness?" Chiqian asked, tilting his head. "I think it better if I go and find him and leave you woman for now."
"Oh, he is in his office. He shall come soon, but... Ruyong," she motioned for one of her maids to come over, "bring the Duan shizi to the Crown Prince's office, shall you?"
"Aye, Your Highness."
I turned back to Yunhua. "Where's the Side Consort?"
Yunhua rolled her eyes. "She refused to assist me in managing this feast. Poor health, apparently, I think she's just lazy. But it is good, I don't want to see her around anyway, and she will just try to make things worse for me."
"You cannot show that you do not get along in front of everyone else."
"Who do you think I am, Minxi? I shall manage that perfectly well, don't you worry." Yunhua tapped her hair to make sure everything was still in place. "The guests start arriving soon. The feast is already more or less done. I borrowed some imperial cooks for this, Minxi."
"You seem to find this feast very important."
"It's the first great event I'm hosting as Crown Princess Consort," she murmured. "All the others have been small. This is my announcement into the world. It must be excellent."
"Have some faith in yourself," I told her, offering a comforting smile. "I'm sure everything will work out just the way you want it to."
The guests started filling in half an hour later, and Yunhua was immediately dragged to the side by Princess Shaoheng, who doted and fawned over her for a long time before Yunhua finally managed to extract herself to visit the other guests. Both Chiqian and the Crown Prince came from the office, and Chiqian made his way to me.
"Which one is General Feng Cao?" I whispered in Chiqian's ear after greeting one of his cousins.
"I haven't seen him yet," he replied softly. "I'll point him out when he arrives. Oh my, that's Huo Murong over there."
My eyes shot to the direction he'd nudged his chin, locking on the young lord looking rather lost in the corner of the gardens. I turned away. "Seems a bit cruel, inviting him."
"Would seem suspicious if she did not."
Luo Xueyingâor perhaps I should call her Side Consort Luo now arrived, greeting everyone with perfect elegance. When she reached me and Chiqian, something flickered in her eyes. She looked at me, and then at Chiqian. "It's been a long while, Miss Fei. Though I suppose I should call you Duan shizi Consort now."
"Good afternoon, Side Consort Luo."
She gave a little nod and then walked away to the next pair of guests. Chiqian glanced at me in confusion. I shrugged. "We were arranged in the same room the night of our xuanxiu, and... in a way, I suppose she considers us friends now. Or at least acquaintances."
"She's not a bad person."
"No," I agreed, "and I'd argue that we're pretty horrible to her as well. It's nothing personal. Our families are political rivals, after all, and I didn't..." lowering my voice, I continued, "I don't think she particularly wanted to marry the Crown Prince either."
"Oh dear."
"Oh dear indeed."
It was a little while later that Chiqian finally pointed out General Feng Cao to me. Through the crowds and distance I made him out to be a rather tall, strong and tanned-skin man, not unlike a few months ago when Chiqian first returned. Though General Feng Cao looked even stronger, which made sense. Unlike Chiqian, he was a soldier through and through.
His features were not precisely handsome, a sense of roughness to him. As we neared, his eyes studied us before bowing. "Duan shizi. And I assume this must be your lovely wife."
I curtsied. "Aye, General Feng. Pleasure to meet you."
"How is life, General Feng?" Chiqian asked casually. "It has been a while since you've returned to Luoyang, has it not?" He looked a bit older than Chiqianâtwenty or twenty-one, perhaps, around the same age as the Crown Prince.
"Aye," he agreed. "I have missed many things about this city."
"I bet you have."
"My cousin speaks very highly of you," I spoke up, smiling softly. "I have been most curious to meet you."
"Your cousin?"
Chiqian answered for me. "My wife is the niece of Shangguan An."
"Ah, you speak of the second Miss Shangguan, then. A most impressive young girl, to do such things men tend to do instead."
That seemed to be, I realised, the go-to statement for describing Yunjun. Doing what usually men did. No sign of whether that made her a freak or a hero in the person's eye. It was like no one knew what else to say.
"Yes, I enjoy her presence very much. A most charming young girl, so energetic and full of life."
"How has the borderland been to you?" Chiqian asked, raising his head. "How long are you in Luoyang for?"
"Well, I'm technically here for a family visit," he mused, "not that I have much family left here. But I have many affairs to handle here in Luoyang, so it wholly depends on how long the borderlands remain peaceful. Or at least somewhat peaceful."
"Have you been to see the Emperor?"
"On the very first day back," he announced. "His Imperial Majesty was most kind to me."
"That is good to hear," Chiqian murmured.
We conversed for a little bit more. General Feng was polite, and I didn't sense any of the red flags that the others had warned me about. But that didn't mean the accusations had no truth to themâit was difficult to tell what a person truly was after first meeting. But I wasn't going to immediately believe everything said of the man either.
I still held my reservations.
Chiqian led me away, murmuring in my ear, "He's still the same as before."
"He's fairly polite."
"As I said, he's not a horrible person." Chiqian tilted his head. "He's the kind of man I find alright to be acquaintances with, perhaps share a drink and conversation every once in a while, but not the type to become the best of friends."
"I get what you mean," I agreed. "Ah, look there. Seems like my cousin has already located him." Where we stood moments prior, General Feng now stood with Yunjun opposite him. The younger girl was grinning wildly as they conversed.
We weren't the only ones watching. There was a couple by the side, who upon closer inspection, I realised was the Third Prince with Qin Yue, their eyes trained on the conversing Feng Cao and Yunjun as well.
Qin Yue seemed rather sickly, her complexion pale, occasionally holding up her handkerchief to her mouth to cough. "Is the Third Princess Consort well?" I asked Chiqian, raising a brow. "Should she even be out and about?"
Chiqian's eyes clouded over as he studied the couple. "From what I've heard, they're not particularly close."
"I've heard the opposite."
"Well, the Third Prince seems to act very differently to his consort in front of others and when alone."
"She was forced upon him by the Empress, was she not? She was in my group during the Bride Selection."
"Aye," Chiqian murmured. "The Empress wanted to prevent the Third Prince from marrying anyone of too much power and influence so he would not pose a threat to the Crown Prince. Imperial Consort Qi was most displeased."
"Has Miss Qin always been sickly?"
"She's always been shy, but I've not known her to have a sickly composition," Chiqian replied with a shrug. "Perhaps it is a passing sickness."
"Perhaps."
"Oh, there you are." Yunhua strolled over then, looking relieved to see them, practically pushing through the crowds of people, though with a sense of elegance to it that she never lost. "Minxi, dear, the youngest daughter of Earl Heng feels sick. Do you mind going over and watching for her while I try to fetch her sisters? All the servants are busy and I don't trust anyone else." Earl Heng? Earl Heng had three daughters and only three daughters, and was known for being extremely fond of them. None were married yet, and I'd met them beforeâsweet girls.
The Earl himself was a rather powerful one, having been an excellent military leader in his youth, though he was long retired. Still influential, however, and that made his beloved daughters people we had to treat respectfully and well.
"Of course, Yunhua. Where is she?"
Yunhua turned, nudging her chin at a pavilion where a small group of young women sat together. The one in the centre had her head lowered, a handkerchief held up to her hand. "There."
As Chiqian and I walked over together, I murmured to him, "Perhaps it is a bug going around. First the Third Princess Consort, and now young Miss Heng."
"Most curious," he agreed. "We ought to be careful not to catch it for ourselves."
We were in speaking distance with the young ladies now, and I cried out, "Miss Heng?"
One of the girls beside her stood up, rushing towards us before curtsying. "Oh, shizi Consort! Miss Heng here is terribly sick. She says she feels lightheaded and she coughs incessantly."
"I am afraid I am no doctor," I mused, "but perhaps it would do some good for her to remain cool. The Crown Princess Consort has gone to fetch her sisters, perhaps some rest at home would be good."
"Yes, most definitely."
"Perhaps fan her," Chiqian suggested. "Miss Heng, do you think you'll be able to travel back home?"
Under our gaze, the young girl slowly lifted her head, managing a weak smile. "Yes, I think so. I am so sorry for ruining things... but I felt alright this morning. It is most strange for me to suddenly feel so sick now."
"I am sure you will feel better soon," I comforted. "Won't one of you pour Miss Heng a nice cup of tea? Yes. Do drink some tea, Miss Heng." I turned to Chiqian. "Dear, why don't you go find some of the other men to speak to? I'll be alright staying here with Miss Heng."
He tipped his head in agreement and turned to leave. It wasn't very convenient for him to be here anyways, with all these young ladies. I turned back to the girls, and one cleared her seat for me to sit down besides Miss Heng. I gave her a nod of thanks.
I wasn't much older than these girls. They all looked fresh out of their coming-of-age ceremonies. All girls who had just turned into what was considered adults, and likely in a year or two they'd all be married.
A few months ago, I'd have been considered one of them.
Studying the girl and her pale features, I asked, "Have you eaten something bad this morning, perhaps?"
She shook her head. "No, nothing unusual... I've never been the healthiest among all my sisters, so it is not completely unnatural for me to be so sickly."
The sentence ended with a barrage of coughs. My brows furrowed. Oh dear, it was quite serious indeed. But there was not much I could do about it right now, not at least until Yunhua came back.
And right as I said that, I spotted my cousin making her way towards us, two other young ladies behind her who looked rather similar to Miss Heng besides me. Her sisters, I assumed.
One of the girls' brows furrowed as she approached. "Meimei, are you alright?"
"Just a bit sickly, sister, you know how I am."
"Oh, you have not always been sick. It is only recently you've become so frail," the girl huffed, turning to Yunhua and curtsying. "Your Highness, I'm afraid we'll have to encroach upon your hospitality a bit longer."
Yunhua nodded. At my enquiring stare, she explained, "the Heng girls have only brought one carriage with them today, and they live quite far away. Two trips would be rather inconvenient. We shall move young Miss Heng to one of the guest rooms until the end of the evening. She can rest there."
That seemed fair enough. With the help of some maids, we had the girl moved into one of the guest bedrooms. After settling the girl, Yunhua and I came back out. She let out a sigh. "So much to do. The feast is almost ready, Cousin. I hope you will help me in herding the people in."
"Herding? You make them sound like sheep."
"Well, to a certain degree, that is what they are," she said with a roll of her eyes. "And now I rush off again, dear Minxi. So much to do!"
I located Yunjun then, chatting with Princess Shaoheng. As I approached them, Shaoheng turned to me, pulling a face. "Minxi! Help me! Your cousin is insistent that General Feng does not have a mistress."
I gasped, glancing around. "Shaoheng! You should not say such things! Especially when unmarried."
She rolled her eyes. "Please. I am Princess Shaoheng. No one will care. And no one is eavesdropping anyways. Come on, Minxi, you are a married woman now, you must know something."
"I do not think this is appropriate," Yunjun declared. "We should not be discussing this at all."
"I'm afraid I agree with Yunjun," I told Shaoheng, tilting my head. "Not at all a topic we should be discussing."
"Bah," she huffed with a sigh. "You get married and suddenly you all change! Yunhua too. So boring."
"How fares your fiance?" Shaoheng had been granted marriage to the eldest son of the Earl Wu around a week prior, whose sister was the current Empress. A way to ensure the Wus' loyalty, I was sure, without granting them too much concrete power.
Shaoheng scowled. "Let's not talk about him."
"What, do you not like him?"
"He's rather irritating," she said. "You've met him."
"He has a very sarcastic, dry sense of humour. Perhaps you are unused to it?"
"Maybe," she muttered. "He's nice enough, I suppose, but still so very annoying to be around."
"I'm sure you'll get used to it in time."
Yunjun snorted. "Perhaps you ought to worry more about your fiance than my friendship with General Feng."
"A friendship? Is that all it is? Yunjun, you promise he is not courting you?"
"No!"
"I'll take your word for it for now, Yunjun," I warned her, "but I'm keeping an eye on you."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're barely older than me."
"It does not matter if I'm older or younger. I'm your cousin, and I shall look out for you.
"Blah, look out for yourself first before worrying about me!" She placed her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed. "I'll be fine. I know how to fight, I can kill anyone who tries to stand in my way, you know."
"There are laws against that," Shaoheng deadpanned. "I have no interest in fishing you out of prison if you get arrested for manslaughter, Yunjun. Not even your father or sister could save you."
To that, the young girl pouted. "I'll break out."
I slanted her a glance. "Sure you would, Yunjun. Let's try for not killing anyone first, shall we? That seems a far smarter choice."
She pursed her lips. "Fine."
"Everyone!" Yunhua's voice caused silence to descend upon the garden as we all turned to face her. Beside her stood the Crown Prince, and a few steps behind, Luo Xueying. "Dinner is ready to be served, do come in! The servants will lead you to your seats, we're not separating the men and the women!"
I flashed a smile at Yunjun and Shaoheng. "Let us go, then, and not keep our wonderful hosts awaiting."
shit's about to go down,,,,,,,,,