Chapter 124: Honey-Coated Arsenic

The top three winners of the four talent categories received valuable prizes from Lady Min. Zhuang Manyu took first place in three of the four competitions, drawing intense jealousy from the other young ladies present. However, their refined upbringing led them to conceal their envy and approach her with polite smiles to offer their congratulations.

An Yi and Qing Rou did not join them—not because An Yi was envious, but because Qing Rou pulled her away, urging, "Sister An, let’s return to Warm Fragrance Pavilion."

An Yi glanced at Zhuang Manyu, who was surrounded by the crowd, and followed Qing Rou, luckily avoiding Lady Min’s special attention and escaping the fate of becoming another object of jealousy.

After the competition concluded, the young ladies returned to Warm Fragrance Pavilion to enjoy a sumptuous banquet. At the table, they observed the rule of silence while eating, dining in quiet decorum.

As the guests departed, Zhuang Manyu and Liang Xiaoyue invited An Yi to join them. Unable to find a reason to refuse, the three rode in a sedan chair to the entrance, where they unexpectedly encountered Qing Xi returning home.

"Eldest Young Master." Zhuang Manyu’s eyes lit up with joy; it was an unexpected delight!

An Yi noticed that there was not a hint of warmth in Qing Xi’s gaze as he looked at Zhuang Manyu; his deep eyes remained indifferent.

Qing Xi politely greeted Zhuang Manyu and Liang Xiaoyue, then looked at An Yi with a slight curl of his lips. "Miss Luo, we meet again. Or rather, I should call you Miss An."

"Greetings, Eldest Young Master." An Yi, wishing to avoid conflict, curtsied and replied.

Qing Xi’s eyes flickered as he asked, "How did the flower-viewing gala turn out? Who carried off the top honors?"

"In the four categories, Manyu took first place in three," Liang Xiaoyue said with a proud smile.

"Miss Zhuang is truly impressive. Congratulations," Qing Xi said, cupping his hands in a salute.

Zhuang Manyu’s face flushed slightly, and she offered a few modest words.

Not wishing to converse further with Zhuang Manyu, Qing Xi said, "Young ladies, please excuse me."

With that, he walked away. Zhuang Manyu’s gaze followed him intently, the joy on her face shifting into melancholy.

Liang Xiaoyue looked at her with sympathy, but just as she was about to offer comfort, the Marquis's carriage arrived. Zhuang Manyu forced a smile and said, "Xiaoyue, I am fine. You should get in; it’s windy here."

"I will come to see you in a few days," Liang Xiaoyue promised.

Zhuang Manyu nodded. Liang Xiaoyue cast a worried glance back before departing. Soon, the Zhuang family’s carriage arrived, and Zhuang Manyu said, "Miss An, I shall take my leave first."

"Very well," An Yi replied with a smile.

As soon as the Zhuang carriage pulled away, the An family’s carriage arrived. An Yi boarded, and it began to follow the other carriage at a leisurely pace.

After moving a distance away from the Princess's mansion, the Zhuang carriage stopped. Zhuang Manyu stepped out and intercepted An Yi’s carriage. "Miss An, I have something I wish to discuss with you."

An Yi looked at Zhuang Manyu standing before the carriage and sighed inwardly. "Please, come up."

Zhuang Manyu boarded and, seeing Xiangqin and Taoren, her eyes flickered and she pressed her lips together.

"Xiangqin, Taoren, you two may step out first," An Yi said.

The maids complied, and An Yi closed the carriage door. Zhuang Manyu looked at An Yi, appearing hesitant and unable to speak her mind.

Although there was a charcoal brazier inside, it was not as warm as home. An Yi did not want to sit there staring at her, so she said, "Miss Zhuang, please speak quickly. The carriage cannot remain here forever; it will block the road."

Zhuang Manyu bit her lip and asked with a look of determination, "How do you know the Eldest Young Master?"

"I lived in the Princess’s mansion for a time while treating the County Princess. I met the Eldest Young Master once. At the time, I used my mother’s maiden name. He suspected me of having ulterior motives for hiding my true identity. Although it was later proven that I did nothing to harm the County Princess—and in fact, cured her nausea—he remains unforgiving, which is why he spoke as he did today. This is only the second time I have met him, and I have absolutely no improper thoughts toward him." An Yi cut to the chase, revealing everything Zhuang Manyu wanted to know.

Zhuang Manyu blushed. "The Eldest Young Master is upright, handsome, talented in both letters and arms, and comes from a noble family. You..."

An Yi chuckled, interrupting her. "Miss Zhuang, one man's meat is another man's poison!"

Zhuang Manyu stared at An Yi, as if trying to determine if she were lying. An Yi met her gaze openly, her eyes clear and bright.

After a long while, Zhuang Manyu lowered her eyelids, her long lashes trembling slightly. "Miss An, I apologize. I was rude."

"It is no matter," An Yi said with a calm smile.

Zhuang Manyu opened the carriage door and left. Xiangqin and Taoren returned to the carriage.

An Yi arrived home just before the end of the Shen hour. The day had seemed unremarkable, but social obligations were exhausting. After dining with Mrs. Luo, she returned to Pearl Pavilion, bathed, changed, and went to bed early.

The next day, An Yi retrieved a copybook by Yan Zhenqing and began to practice diligently. Since she had already made the claim, she now had to make it true.

That afternoon, Mrs. Chang paid another visit, bringing two middle-aged women, claiming they were sent to serve Mrs. Huang.

An Yi received her in the small parlor of the Shunyi Hall. She squinted at the two women standing beside Mrs. Chang—they had ordinary faces but sharp, piercing eyes. "Madam Huang, my home is not as grand as yours. Even a concubine in your household requires a dozen or so servants, but that is not the case here."

"Rest assured, Miss An, their monthly wages will be paid by the Huang family. They will not cost your family a single coin," Mrs. Chang said coldly.

An Yi took a sip of tea and replied, "Madam Huang, there are rules to be followed. There is a fixed number of servants for the concubines in my house. Increasing that number arbitrarily is against the rules. If you feel that Concubine Huang is suffering grievances here, you are welcome to take her back. At that point, how many servants you provide for her is a matter for the Huang family, and has nothing to do with mine."

A flash of anger crossed Mrs. Chang’s eyes. "If the number cannot be increased, surely we can at least replace the current ones!"

"The servants have committed no errors and are serving Concubine Huang diligently. What reason would I have to replace them?" An Yi asked.

"A master's orders must be obeyed by the servants."

"That may be how things are done in your household, but my family does not issue such unreasonable orders."

"You!" Mrs. Chang glared at her furiously. "Do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

"I do not drink, so please keep both the toast and the forfeit for yourself." An Yi set her teacup down, having no desire to waste more time with Mrs. Chang, as she needed to return to her calligraphy. "Someone, show the guests out."

"Miss An," one of the middle-aged women stepped forward. "I am here under the orders of the Imperial Noble Consort to serve Concubine Huang."

"Manager Er’s wife, since an imperial decree has arrived, what must we do to show proper respect?" An Yi asked.

"Miss, we must change into formal attire and set up an incense altar to receive the decree," the woman replied.

"Please wait a moment. I will return to my quarters to change before I receive the decree," An Yi said as she stood up.

The woman frowned. "Miss An, it is a verbal command from the Noble Consort."

"A verbal command? Not an imperial decree?" An Yi pretended to be troubled, frowning. "Without proof, how can I know if what you say is true?"

"No one would dare forge a verbal command from the Noble Consort."

"That is not necessarily true. What if someone were bold enough to do so?" An Yi sat back down. "Someone, show the guests out."

Fang Rong stepped forward, her finger joints cracking as she clenched her fists. Mrs. Chang, remembering Fang Rong’s previous display of force, glared at An Yi with hatred but left the An household unwillingly.

"Miss, what if she really does go to the Imperial Noble Consort to request a formal decree?" Xiangqin asked worriedly.

An Yi smiled. "There will be no decree."

No one told Concubine Huang about Mrs. Chang’s visit. She remained in the Embroidered Pavilion, waiting expectantly, dreaming of the day she would humiliate An Yi.

Two quiet days passed. The men of the An family, who had been coming and going early and late, returned at the beginning of the You hour. After the family finished dinner, they sat around the charcoal basin chatting.

An Qinghe asked, "Xi’er, did everything go smoothly at the Princess’s banquet the other day?"

"Very smoothly," An Yi replied.

"Did you meet anyone of note?"

An Yi said, "There were many people at the flower-viewing gala. Which one are you asking about, Father?"

An Qinghe frowned. "Lin Ximin, the eldest son of the Earl of Linchang."

"No. Only young ladies were invited to the gala. How could a man attend?" An Yi lied calmly.

An Qinghe said, "He didn't attend the gala; he went to the Princess’s mansion to steal flowers and was caught on the spot."

"How bold! To go to the Princess’s mansion to steal flowers!" Mrs. Luo exclaimed in shock.

"It wasn't boldness; it was madness. When the Earl of Linchang found out, he nearly fainted," An Qinghe sighed, shaking his head. "To have a son like that... it would have been better not to have one at all."

"Children make mistakes. If the Earl disciplines him and lets him know his wrong, he won't do it again," Mrs. Luo said with a mother's heart.

"Mother, he is not a child. He is sixteen or seventeen. His nature is arrogant and reckless; he does nothing all day but frequent brothels. His reputation is terrible," An Kang added, having a poor impression of Lin Ximin.

"The Prince Consort didn't send him to the Earl’s mansion but took him directly before the Emperor. The Emperor was furious and intended to punish him severely, but Lord Lin begged for mercy, saying that because the boy lost his mother at a young age and had no proper upbringing, he had become this way. The Emperor, moved by pity, allowed him to become a director in the Ministry of War’s Bureau of Vehicles." An Qinghe could not understand this decision; how could such a man with a tarnished record be allowed into the Ministry of War?

An Yi felt that something was strange. Stealing flowers was not a major crime; there was no need for the Prince Consort to take it to the Emperor. Even if he did, and Lord Lin begged for mercy, it made little sense for the Emperor to appoint a flower thief and a known rake to the Ministry of War out of pity.

"Sister, what are you thinking about?" An Kang asked, seeing her silence.

"I was just thinking that before the next flower-viewing gala, Brother, you should write a few poems for me to keep in reserve so I don't have to rack my brains," An Yi said with a smile.

"Sister, you cannot be deceptive," An Kang laughed. "Tomorrow, I will accompany you to the bookstore to buy some collections of poetry. If you read them thoroughly and learn to write your own, it doesn't matter if they aren't perfect; I will help you revise them."

"Very well," An Yi agreed, though clearly reluctant.