Chapter 60: Second Cousin's Hesitations Amid Stirred Emotions

The shock was not limited to the matriarchs; everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief. Yet Princess Qinghuan remained composed, calmly sipping her tea as if no outside objections or opinions were necessary—only acceptance and acknowledgment.

It was cousin-in-law Mrs. Xiang who broke the tension first, addressing Princess Qinghuan with a respectful nod.

“Congratulations on your happy occasion, Princess.”

“You flatter me, Madam Eldest Young Lady. Prince Consort Cheng and I thank you both in advance,” the princess replied.

At this point, even those still harboring doubts or confusion dared not show any surprise. Instead, envy shone in their eyes.

Princess Qinghuan was well accustomed to such attention, having been cherished since childhood. But beside her, Cheng Dengping appeared uneasy; his ears flushed red, and he seemed restless.

He was, after all, only a modest scholar. How had he become a jinshi—the successful candidate in the imperial examination—in the same year as his elder cousin?

With Princess Qinghuan’s presence, fabricating an identity was naturally effortless. Yet Jiang Shiyuan could not fathom why the princess would do such a thing. She sensed that this match was not Cheng Dengping’s desire, but with so many onlookers, she dared not question further and quietly resolved to wait for another opportunity to speak.

Meanwhile, Pei Zisu glanced at Princess Qinghuan, catching the confident and resolute look she exchanged with him. He suddenly understood that Cheng Dengping’s backer must be a formidable figure.

But what sort of figure could compel a princess of Qinghuan’s stature to use her marriage as bait? Intrigued, Pei Zisu’s curiosity deepened.

Thanks to Princess Qinghuan’s arrival, the feast in the Marquis residence grew livelier than before. The ladies, who seldom had the chance to see the princess, seized this moment to ingratiate themselves, even if they failed to win her favor. With her presence coupled with the eloquence of the two senior ladies, the atmosphere was unusually vibrant.

Jiang Shiyuan did not press forward to mingle; Pei Zisu stood beside her, knowing she was not one to seek attention and simply accompanied her.

They stood near the doorway, and before long, Pei Ziyao, who had been feigning modesty, returned. Jiang Shiyuan noticed her radiant demeanor, seeming much more at ease. Knowing it was Pei Ziyao’s first time meeting Princess Qinghuan and worried she might cause trouble, Jiang Shiyuan had kindly given her a word of caution.

“Cousin, Princess Qinghuan has arrived.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then I must go see her.”

“The princess has always been the brightest star in any crowd. I know you are the same, but sometimes it is best to keep a low profile to avoid unnecessary gossip.”

Pei Ziyao was no fool; she recognized that Jiang Shiyuan spoke out of concern for her. Her impression of her future sister-in-law rose another notch, and with a sweet smile, she stepped forward to respond.

“I understand. After all, this is the capital, and she is a princess.”

Pei Ziyao’s temperament was best described as free and straightforward, though perhaps a little too blunt at times. Since this was their first encounter, it was better to be gentle, which is why Jiang Shiyuan had chosen her words carefully.

Pei Zisu leaned toward Jiang Shiyuan and whispered, “Don’t be fooled by her straightforwardness. She’s cunning—if you hadn’t warned her today, she’d still know exactly what to do.”

There was a teasing tone in his voice. He knew that Ah Nian, his cousin, meant well for his sister, but despite growing up in a military family, his sister had not lacked in manners and etiquette. Thus, he was confident she would behave properly before the princess.

“Is that so? Then was I just overdoing it?”

“No, you weren’t. You’ll be her sister-in-law someday. Saying a few more words is for her own good.”

His words were full of affection. Jiang Shiyuan shrugged helplessly. Turning back, they saw Pei Ziyao inside, already having the princess laughing heartily with just a few words. Clearly, she was a daughter carefully nurtured by the Pei family—equally adept at riding into battle to secure the realm and gracefully navigating the inner chambers of the household.

“My cousin is right—cousin, you truly are remarkable!”

They were not alone in such admiration. The ladies with children or nephews at home looked at Pei Ziyao as if bees had spotted a honey jar, their eyes shining brightly.

This was a Pei family daughter.

Her status, appearance, and talents were flawless. To win her favor would surely elevate any family’s standing. So, one bold lady ventured to ask Madam Pei.

“Has Miss Pei been betrothed yet?”

Madam Pei understood the implication but did not wish her daughter’s marriage to become entangled with the powerful families of the capital. She therefore answered ambiguously.

“We have considered a few families and are still evaluating them.”

Hearing this, the lady discerned that the Pei family had no intention of forming alliances with them and ceased pressing further, turning instead to converse with others. Madam Hou, seated beside her, was puzzled and leaned in to quietly ask.

“When did sister-in-law start looking for matches for Ziyao? How come I didn’t know?”

“Knowing her temper, if she found out I was discussing this with the ladies here, how do you think she’d react?”

The rhetorical question made Madam Hou laugh softly. Indeed, if Pei Ziyao knew her marriage had become the subject of idle gossip, it would surely cause an uproar.

Pressing a handkerchief to her powdered lips, she thought how truly entertaining this birthday celebration had been. Her thoughts remained inside the room, unaware that outside in the waterside pavilion, her second son—usually preoccupied with his cat and dog—seemed somewhat different today.

Besides Jiang Shiyuan, the visitors from the Jiang family included the matriarch, Lady Jiang, along with the third and fourth young ladies of the family.

Jiang Huaishan, accompanied by his nephew Jiang Shilin and brother-in-law Marquis Wen Yuan, chatted with others. Lady Jiang had also been busy preparing herself—not with ostentatious jewels, but enough to present the dignified appearance of a wealthy matron.

Behind her stood Jiang Shishu and Jiang Shiyue, like two buds about to bloom. One resembled a gardenia, embodying elegant simplicity and a tranquil spirit; the other resembled a hydrangea, lively and exuberant.

Having seen many noble ladies who were either aloof or flamboyant, several young gentlemen grew curious about these two unfamiliar Jiang sisters. One bold fellow addressed second cousin Wang Kuan.

“Are these your cousins as well?”

“Sort of, though we rarely see each other.”

“If you ask me, you’re quite lucky. Your legitimate cousin is a heavenly beauty, and these two are rare beauties as well. Why not introduce us?”

The speaker was Qiu Bojun, son of the Deputy Minister of the Guard. Warm and straightforward, but also somewhat careless, his question was purely out of curiosity, harboring no ill intent. However, Wang Kuan had other thoughts. Casting a warning glance at Qiu Bojun, he said,

“Don’t entertain any improper ideas. They’re all daughters born to concubines and can’t afford to be teased like that. If anyone saw and started rumors about them trying to climb the social ladder, your family wouldn’t allow you to pick from the Jiang concubine daughters anyway. Better keep your distance.”

“Oh? Did you eat firecrackers today? I only said a few words, and you’re already retorting? Maybe it’s you who has the naughty thoughts and are just picking a fight with me?”

Qiu Bojun’s words made Wang Kuan blush. It was rare to see him avoid eye contact, much to the amusement of the other young men from the Guard’s office, who gathered around with teasing remarks.