Chapter 14: Competing for Splendor

The woman's attire was vastly different from that of ordinary people. Her face was veiled in gold gauze, making her features indistinguishable; one could only see her graceful figure. She walked with a rhythm that was both swift and slow, swaying like a willow in the wind, and the rhythmic jingling came from the ornaments adorning her body.

"Oh my, it's a Hu person!" someone shouted in the hall.

As soon as the shout faded, four or five men and women produced strange musical instruments and began to play, while the leading woman danced elegantly, dancing her way in from the outside. Although the tables in the main hall were arranged quite narrowly, the woman's movements were fluid and effortless. The music accompanying her was also different from what everyone was accustomed to hearing. For a moment, the hall fell into a deathly silence; men, women, young, and old alike stared with wide eyes.

Finally, several military personnel signaled the servant women to clear a table. The woman then leaped onto the table to dance. As the piece concluded, she leaned back, balancing precariously on the tabletop. This drew many worried gasps from the crowd. Though she seemed about to fall, she did not; her veil slipped away, revealing a face with curly hair, deep-set eyes, and emerald irises that were truly extraordinary. At some unknown moment, she had tucked a ribbon into her mouth, which bore the four characters: *Long Live the Marquis*.

"The Heir Apparent requests the Imperial Command to bestow Hu dancers and musicians to celebrate the Marquis's birthday," the four military men said, kneeling in unison to bow.

As the words "Imperial Command" were uttered, the people present froze for a moment before rising one after another. The Marquis of Dingxi knelt toward the direction of the Imperial City, and the entire room followed suit, kneeling in a flurry to express their gratitude for the Imperial grace.

Upon rising, the Marquis of Dingxi was so moved he could hardly control himself, and the others were speechless. This gift from the Heir Apparent was too staggering. Hu dancers were one thing—many noble families had them—but music and dance personally bestowed by the Emperor was something not everyone could claim.

"Why didn't this child say something sooner? This... this... how could he have disturbed the Emperor like this?" The Marquis of Dingxi was somewhat incoherent with emotion.

"Reporting to the Marquis, the Heir Apparent achieved new meritorious service the day before yesterday, capturing a Prince of the Eastern Slaves. These Hu dancers are his spoils of war, escorted back to the capital to be presented to the Emperor. The Emperor was greatly pleased and wished to reward the Heir Apparent, asking what he desired. The Heir Apparent said there was nothing else he needed, for his life is not his own and he cannot return home to fulfill his filial duties. Ancient books speak of Lao Laizi wearing colorful clothes to entertain his elderly parents; since he cannot fulfill his filial duties in person, he requested the Emperor to bestow something as a way to increase his father's longevity. The Emperor was very pleased, saying the Heir Apparent possesses a sincere heart and fulfills both loyalty and filial piety. He said that rewards of gold and silver were too vulgar, so he let these Hu dancers serve as the 'colorful clothes' to entertain his father on the Heir Apparent's behalf," the large man reported loudly.

As soon as these words were spoken, the already sentimental Marquis of Dingxi's eyes welled with tears. He could say nothing except "Good, good, good."

"Is the Heir Apparent doing well out there?" Lady Xie, being a woman, did not care for such formalities. Wiping her tears with a handkerchief, she asked, "I know you always report the good news and hide the bad. Even if he were bruised or bumped, you wouldn't tell me..."

The man bowed his head.

"Rest assured, Madam, we would not dare hide anything from the Marquis and Madam. The Heir Apparent is doing well in every way, except that while pursuing the Eastern Slaves before the New Year, he was struck by an arrow..." he said.

Before he could finish, gasps erupted throughout the hall, and Lady Xie slumped back into her chair.

"Rest assured, Madam. It was thanks to the spiritual talisman jade plate you sent that the Heir Apparent kept it close to his person. The arrow happened to strike the jade plate. He is unhurt, but the jade plate shattered. The Heir Apparent felt very guilty and was afraid you would blame him, so he did not dare tell you..." the man said loudly.

Lady Xie covered her face and wept.

"At a time like this, he still feels guilty for such a thing? He cannot distinguish what is important. We prayed for that talisman specifically to ward off his disasters. That silly child, I truly don't know what he is thinking," she cried, clutching the Marquis's sleeve. "Husband, can Cheng'er really come back this time? Three years... think of how much hardship he has endured abroad..."

While they lived in luxury and peace at home, their eldest son was risking his life abroad. The Marquis felt a mixture of bitterness, heartache, and joy. His son had become successful, bringing honor to his father. Even without this glory, the House of Dingxi would have lived well, but to receive the Emperor's favor was a supreme blessing. Yet, he felt that his son's glory had been won much more painfully than that of other noble youths; he felt both indignant and heartbroken.

"Do not speak of this. A man should be loyal to his sovereign and kill the enemy. Moreover, we, the Marquis of Dingxi, rose from the battlefield. Cheng'er has done very well, very well," the Marquis said, patting his wife's hand to comfort her, before turning to the messenger to offer standard platitudes about working hard to maintain such success.

The messenger bowed in agreement.

"The Heir Apparent said he will return by the end of the year at the latest," he added.

Hearing this, Lady Xie smiled through her tears, and the entire room erupted in congratulations. The messenger bowed again to offer birthday wishes to the Marquis, and after the Marquis ordered him to be well-treated, the man departed.

For the remainder of the banquet, all conversation revolved around the Heir Apparent. Everyone joined in the merriment; music and dance bestowed by the Emperor for a birthday was unprecedented for other families. The House of Dingxi had truly gained immense prestige; as the saying goes, "When one man attains the Way, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." This prosperity would shade the entire clan, so everyone was sincerely happy. In their joy, many drank heavily, including the Marquis, who usually had a high tolerance.

"Uncle is truly happy; even a man who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk has succumbed. It seems it is not the wine that intoxicates, but oneself," a young man remarked with a swaying head. He glanced nonchalantly at Chang Yunqi sitting nearby, then leaned in with a wink and a low chuckle. "But then again, Third Brother, what you sent was a fake beauty, while Big Brother's gift is a real beauty..."

Chang Yunqi raised his hand and tapped the man with his chopsticks.

"Watch your tongue. If you dare gossip about my father behind his back again, I'll tell Big Brother and let him deal with you when he returns," he said with a smile.

It seemed this man had been beaten quite often, as he immediately made a distressed face to beg for mercy.

"Don't! If you brothers team up—one using schemes and the other using fists—I won't be able to handle it. Since I was a child, I've been beaten so much I'll have to learn the Iron Cloth and Golden Bell techniques just to survive..." he said.

Chang Yunqi gave him a punch, and the two laughed, moving past the topic.

As the night deepened, the banquet ended. Lady Xie assisted the drunken Marquis to bed, instructed the maids to serve him water, and then walked out. The maidservants helped her remove her finery and change into casual clothes.

"It is well then. The Heir Apparent has received such Imperial favor; his suffering was not in vain," several elderly servants said with relief.

Lady Xie also wore a look of relief.

"Come back quickly. As long as he is not home, my heart cannot rest. What kind of Heir Apparent wanders so far and wide? I don't know what that child is thinking..." she sighed, glancing outside with a hint of disdain. "Look at them all, jumping about and causing trouble, thinking they are so capable. If they were truly capable, they should go out like Cheng'er, instead of just knowing how to use flashy tricks."

The elderly servants lowered their heads and remained silent. Lady Xie was exhausted from days of labor; she waved her hand, and the servants bowed and withdrew, except for Mother Zhou, who lagged a step behind.

"What is it?" Lady Xie naturally knew she had something to say and asked.

"That..." Mother Zhou hesitated.

"Speak," Lady Xie said, glancing at her with some impatience.

*What is wrong with her? She wasn't like this before. This recent period has been strange. Has she grown old?*

"The Young Madam also sent a longevity dish to the Marquis..." Mother Zhou could not fail to notice Lady Xie's displeasure, but she pressed on regardless.

Lady Xie looked up at her.

Under that piercing gaze, Mother Zhou's legs felt weak, and she hurriedly recounted the matter in detail.

"I naturally did not place it on the table, nor did I say anything," she added at the end, fearing she might be implicated.

"At least you haven't lost your wits," Lady Xie said indifferently. "Take it and feed it to the dogs."

Mother Zhou dared not say another word; she hurriedly complied and stepped out. Once outside, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. A gust of night wind made her feel the absurdity of it all. *What is happening? Ever since I saw that Young Madam that day, my actions have been clumsy... as if I have been bewitched without even realizing it.*

As she thought this, a gust of night wind blew by, carrying with it the sound of laughter from somewhere, causing Mother Zhou to shudder, her hair standing on end.

She shoved the food box into a young maid's hands, instructed her to feed the dogs, and returned on her own.

The young maid carried the food box toward the nearest courtyard where the dogs were kept, hoping to finish the task quickly and go back to sleep. Not looking where she was going, she bumped into someone and was immediately slapped across the face, nearly falling over.

"Where did this little brat come from, with no eyes?" a male voice cursed. "Where are you scurrying to?"

There was a heavy scent of alcohol. A lantern shone toward her, followed by the raucous laughter of another male voice.

"The little girl is throwing herself into your arms, Third Brother, and you won't even catch her?"

The young maid recognized them as the Third and Fourth Young Masters and hurriedly bowed to beg for mercy.

"What are you carrying? Acting so sneakily? Where are you going in the middle of the night?" Chang Yunqi had not intended to speak, but seeing that the girl came from the direction of the Rong'an Courtyard, he couldn't help but ask irritably.

The young maid did not dare hide it. She didn't know the specifics, only that she had heard Mother Zhou and an elderly servant say the food box was made by the Young Madam of the Qiutong Courtyard, so she repeated it.

Hearing that the food was to be fed to dogs, Chang Yunqi had already turned to leave, but as he stepped forward, the girl's words made him stop abruptly.

"The Young Madam made this?" he asked.

"That little beggar?" the Fourth Young Master, Chang Yunhong, also let out a sound of surprise and blurted out.

The young maid couldn't explain clearly, only repeating the fragments she had heard while bowing.

"How could she know how to cook? She even took a long time just to learn how to eat..." Chang Yunhong chuckled lowly, losing interest and nudging Chang Yunqi to move along.

Chang Yunqi turned, but ultimately stopped his feet.

"Give it here. The dogs in my courtyard haven't eaten yet; I'll take it to feed them," he said.

The young maid dared not refuse. Since it was for dogs anyway, the Second Young Master's dogs were naturally more important. She immediately and respectfully handed over the food box.

"Come to my courtyard tomorrow to collect the box," Chang Yunqi tossed out the instruction and walked away with the box.

Walking to a more brightly lit area, Chang Yunhong could not resist his curiosity and opened it to look.

"One look and you can tell this isn't human food..." the Fourth Young Master shook his head, looking at the cold, unappetizing dish of unknown meat in the bowl.

Chang Yunqi looked at the bowl, his expression somewhat strange. After a moment of silence, as if possessed, he reached out, picked up a piece, and tossed it into his mouth.

"Third Brother, don't eat it, you'll get an upset stomach..." Chang Yunhong was startled and tried to stop him.

But it was too late; Chang Yunqi had already swallowed it. Then, tears suddenly streamed down his face, and he reached for his throat.

"Is it that bad?" Chang Yunhong asked, eyes wide.

"It's not... the Sichuan pepper is too... too much..." Chang Yunqi's voice was hoarse, his hand fluttering near his mouth as he spoke with a heavy tongue.