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Due to old Marquis Jiang falling ill last year, the Peony Banquet couldn’t be held. This year, the Princess was determined to host a remarkable event. However, Second Madam, Third Madam and Eldest Young Madam are the only busy one and help the Princess in preparation, Lu Man is busy in another thing due to her pregnancy and medical discussions with Physician Gu, so she avoided the preparations.
In the first few days, He Cheng also received an invitation from the Princess Changting’s residence. The Princess even instructed the messenger to tell He Cheng to focus on composing poetry and aim for a good ranking.
Originally, Princess Changting intended to use her connections to find out the theme and rhyme scheme for this year’s poetry competition to help He Cheng prepare. Since the banquet was hosted by Princess Changting herself, the main figures from the residence couldn’t participate in the poetry performances and could only join in the judging. However, He Cheng, being an outsider, could participate. The Second Madam mentioned that it wasn’t an examination hall, and there was no need to reveal the topics beforehand.
Madam Lin was meticulous and principled, firmly declining the offer. She said, “Since it’s a competition, it should be fair and just. I can’t control what others do, but I won’t disclose the topics. He Cheng is of noble character and wouldn’t stoop to cheating.”
Madam Lin’s straightforward mention of “cheating” infuriated the Princess. Although she didn’t press Madam Lin further to reveal the topics, she didn’t speak to her for the rest of the day.
Jiang Zhanyu shared this incident as a joke with Lu Man, who found it amusing. The Princess’s actions were endearing. However, Madam Lin was right, despite his young age, He Cheng was principled and wouldn’t achieve success through cheating.
Lu Man requested Jiang Zhanyu to guide He Cheng well and introduce him to a few friends with good character and a passion for learning.
The Peony Banquet was held outside Orchid Pavilion, where hundreds of pots of peonies were arranged the day before. The peonies displayed a riot of colors, with rare varieties among them. The artistic competition would take place within Lan Ting Prefecture, which had been meticulously prepared.
In the morning, Lu Man went to the flower hall with Jiang Jiu, while He Cheng and Jiang Zhankui went to the front courtyard to find Jiang Zhanyu.
During the morning, the ladies would gather in the flower hall to chat, while the younger guests could admire the peonies or go boating on the lake.
Due to Lu Man’s pregnancy, the Princess didn’t involve her in receiving guests but had her rest in the hall, where she engaged in conversations with noble ladies.
Lu Man observed as each guest was led to the Princess by Young Madam Han or Third Madam to pay their respects, with the most distinguished guests remaining in the hall while others were directed to side rooms or parlors based on their status. The younger guests often ventured outside to enjoy various activities.
After Ping and Yan arrived, Jiang Jiu went boating with them.
Song Mo was led to the flower hall by Prince He (Song Ming) and old Princess He, then directed to find Jiang Jiu.
Suddenly, Lu Man noticed a familiar girl entering the room. She was elegant and dignified, possessing a certain grace. Upon closer thought, Lu Man recalled meeting her at the Lu Residence it was Jiang Zhanwei’s former fiancee, Shu Mingwei.
Seeing Shu Mingwei, Princess Changting waved and said, “Good child, come here.”
Shu Mingwei respectfully curtsied first and then walked gracefully towards the Princess. As the Princess held her hand, there seemed to be a myriad of unspoken words between them.
Princess Changting patted her hand, sighed, and said, “Ah, good child, it’s our family that owes you.” With that, she took a jade bracelet off her wrist and placed it on Shu Mingwei’s.
Upon hearing this, Shu Mingwei’s eyes welled up with tears as she softly replied, “It’s just my fate, princess.”
Lady Shu also wiped away tears with her handkerchief.
Princess Changting sighed again, exchanged a few words with Lady Shu, praised Shu Mingwei, and then allowed them to go and enjoy themselves.
As Shu Mingwei was led by Princess Changting, Lu Man could feel many eyes fixed on her. Unaware of the attention, Shu Mingwei seemed not to recognize anyone.
Princess Chang’an’s granddaughter, Sun Yuchen, one of the four beauties of the capital, sat beside Princess Chang’an. Seeing Lu Man’s apparent unfamiliarity with Shu Mingwei, she whispered, “Jiang Third Sister-in-law, you don’t know her? She’s Shu Mingwei, the second daughter of the Shu family.”
She then stifled a laugh behind her handkerchief.
Lu Man replied, “Oh, I do know she’s from the Shu family, we’ve met before.” She spoke as if Shu Mingwei was just an ordinary girl with no connection to her.
The eldest in-law from Empress Wang’s family, Lady Wang, shook her head sympathetically, saying, “It’s a pity. I heard she’s seventeen this year and still not betrothed.”
An elderly lady clicked her tongue twice and remarked, “She was about to be engaged in two months, but the match was broken off. Which respectable family would want her now?”
Princess Changting seemed slightly uneasy and replied, “It’s not her fault that the engagement was called off. There’s no reason why a family wouldn’t want her. She’s a good girl. If young men reject her due to a broken engagement, it’s their loss.”
Princess Chang’an disagreed, saying, “Respectable families care about their reputation. Marrying a girl whose engagement was broken off tarnishes their image. Who would be willing?”
Madam Lu tried to mediate, “It’s just a matter of fate. When the time is right, nothing else matters.”
Princess Chang’an added, “Jiang Zhanwei not only comes from a good background and is handsome but also capable. I’ve heard the Emperor praise his talent for leading troops multiple times. Losing such a good match would be distressing for anyone. Oh, look at the distress on that little Shu girl.” She glanced at Lu Man and chuckled, “The Lu family is indeed fortunate, catching such a windfall.”
Unable to tolerate their comments any longer, Lu Man sarcastically remarked, “Yes, I do feel quite lucky. Not only does my husband have a bright future, but the in-laws are also benevolent. Oh, I must have landed in a nest of fortune.”
Her self-praise amused Princess Changting, but Princess Chang’an, Lady Wang, and other noblewomen found it grating, responding with cold hmphs and ignoring her.
Prince He and old Princess He commented, “Zhanwei’s wife is straightforward, much like Fourth Princess. No wonder Fourth Princess dotes on her, your temperaments are quite similar.”
It wasn’t until new guests arrived that the conversation among the older ladies shifted.
After the meal, some went to admire the flowers and talent displays, while others went to watch performances.
As Princess Changting was in charge of the judging panel, she had to go to Orchid Pavilion to oversee the talent competition. If a young couple hit it off at the Peony Banquet, their elders would seek Princess Changting’s help in negotiating their match.
Feeling weary, Lu Man decided to skip the festivities and returned to Donghui Courtyard to rest. Song Mo, feeling tired as well, accompanied her back.
Exhausted from the past few days, Lu Man fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up, it was already mid-afternoon. Getting dressed, she was greeted by Jiang Zhankui and the others returning.
He Cheng’s eyes sparkled with joy, holding a Songhua stone inkstone, his prize for coming in third place.