Chapter 14: Younger Sister Back For Three Mornings

A carriage made of fragrant, high grade wood had already stopped early at the gate of Prince Ping’s residence. In the sunlight its filaments of gold gleamed, with scarlet wheels, a red canopy, red curtains, finely carved details set off with ivory, attendants at the carriage holding up hanging tassels… The dazzling, bright golden color was for the royal family alone.

Prince Ping was noble, unlike ordinary people, so he traveled with his own retinue. The Princess Consort of Ping wore a brocaded, gold-embroidered sumptuous gown and stepped onto the scarlet-wheeled carriage with elegant poise, accompanied by her husband. Her back was straight and her chin held high.

“It’s Prince Ping’s carriage… The Princess Consort is visiting her natal home today!”

“Didn’t they say this marriage was a bit unusual? How can they still be so ostentatious?”

“You just don’t understand. Regardless of whether the woman in the bridal chamber was right or wrong, as long as the man likes it, nothing else matters. One must keep up appearances at all costs!”

“That carriage is so beautiful…”

“So noble…”

“The new Princess Consort is so blessed…”

The gossip of the onlookers in the street could not be suppressed. Tang Wanlan had thoroughly basked in the limelight and gained great face. She could be said to be walking proudly.

What did it matter to suffer a little grievance from Consort Xin? Which family’s new bride doesn’t feel small before her mother-in-law? For ordinary people, let alone be scolded by a palace concubine, just being glanced at was a huge blessing! This was her honor, something she had begged for by all means… How could she fall into self-pity and lose her confidence and fighting spirit?

When they arrived at her family’s gate and saw the whole household come out to welcome them, Tang Wanning was naturally among them, and Tang Wanlan’s smile grew even broader.

She reached out and linked the Second Prince’s arm. Tang Wanlan’s voice was sweet, “Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

The Second Prince also saw Tang Wanning in the crowd and felt a slight sting in his chest. “Let’s go.”

He did not refuse Tang Wanlan’s intimate gesture, but because his stride was too long, Tang Wanlan briefly couldn’t keep up and their linked hands naturally came apart.

Everything happened too quickly. The couple’s distance wasn’t great and others wouldn’t notice this tiny change, but Tang Wanlan was enraged inwardly. She swept an icy glance past Tang Wanning. This woman cannot continue to live here! She must be married off immediately!

Tang Wanning knew nothing of the undercurrent between the couple. She slightly bowed her head, hid in the crowd, and yawned. She knew that this visit from Tang Wanlan wouldn’t happen so early, yet the residence had prepared early and woke her before dawn. She really hadn’t slept enough and hadn’t even had breakfast!

Madam Zhou had been mistress of the household for many years, so whenever she wished, she could be urbane and attend to every detail. It didn’t take long for her to notice the awkwardness between her daughter and the Second Prince, as well as how the Second Prince’s gaze drifted toward Tang Wanning from time to time…

“Everyone has worked hard, so why don’t you all go rest for a bit and we’ll eat together later. My husband, didn’t you have a painting you wanted the Prince to see? Lan’er, you don’t need to follow, stay here and let the two of us mother and daughter have a few private words.”

The formalities were arranged, respect had been shown where required, and face had been given all around, so she split everyone up with just a few words. The main point was to send Tang Wanning away immediately so the Second Prince wouldn’t see her anymore.

Tang Wanning’s eyes brightened. She crisply answered yes, stepped out of the room quickly, intent on finding Xiaoman. She wouldn’t miss a delicious breakfast!

A pang of bitterness hit the Second Prince. She left so fast, not even turning back… Was she afraid to look at him? His eyes turned over with regret, but in the end he said nothing and followed the enthusiastic Earl Xuanning away.

Tang Wanlan bit her lip in hatred.

Madam Zhou waved the servants away, pulled her daughter to sit by her side. “Does the Second Prince treat you well?”

When a newlywed is asked this question by an elder, it usually refers to a particular aspect of married life, and Tang Wanlan blushed. “Mother…”

Her garments were wrapped very tightly with a high collar, but when she was pulled and sat down, the side of her collar slipped a little and the marks on her neck could be seen. Madam Zhou, as someone who had been through it, would of course understand.

“If he treats you well, that’s enough,” Madam Zhou said, tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear with a look full of affection. “It’s not been easy for you to get this far, you’ve suffered many grievances. Fortunately you have this fortune. What’s yours is yours and no one can take it. But being married is different from being an unmarried girl. You should win the man’s heart when necessary, but you mustn’t be too prideful. Some things are worth arguing over and playing little tricks in private between husband and wife is a kind of charm, but some matters you shouldn’t be willful about. No matter how upset you are inside, you can’t lose your temper with the man and make a scene. You understand?”

Tang Wanlan bit her lip and gave no answer.

Madam Zhou’s tone became stern, “Men are lecherous and fickle. He is the Second Prince and may very well rise further in the future. Even if you are capable and formidable and can make sure none of the flowers the prince attracts manages to take root in his backyard, would you be able to control an emperor’s harem? Men choose virtuous wives. No man likes a principal wife who constantly nags, is jealous, and makes a fuss every day!”

Tang Wanlan knew her mother meant well. She might not have been so angry if it were someone else, but the Second Prince’s heart belonged to Tang Wanning! She and her sister looked most alike, so what right did Tang Wanning have? She was already the Princess Consort, so why couldn’t she do as she pleased? Why did she still have to yield to Tang Wanning?

Madam Zhou narrowed her eyes. “Anyone who has read even a little knows that throughout history many crown princes were deposed and few actually ascended, yet everyone overlooks the fact that the empress who survives to the end isn’t necessarily the one who started at the very top. Have you really seen clearly where your goal is?”

Tang Wanlan’s heart jolted. “I… will listen to you, Mother.”

“That’s right. Some things don’t require haste. Not moving right now doesn’t mean others will be able to get what’s good…” Madam Zhou ruffled her head. “What about the Consort? Does she treat you well?”

At the mention of that, Tang Wanlan felt like crying. “The Consort… the palace rules are strict.”

Madam Zhou noticed her daughter’s emotions and sighed deeply. “Even in ordinary families a new bride still has to keep her tail between her legs for three years, all the more so when you are entering the imperial family. The position is different so the demands will naturally be higher. It’s fine, our Lan’er is clever, just learn well. No one becomes a formidable mistress of the household immediately. Everyone goes through this…”

Tang Wanlan leaned against Madam Zhou and whispered, “Mother, were you the same?”

Madam Zhou patted her daughter’s back. “Yes. I don’t know how many detours I took or how many mistakes I made. Many times I was schemed against without realizing it… Suffering loss can be a blessing. The imperial rules are strict, but don’t they also reduce the number of meetings? The Second Prince has already set up his own residence outside, so you only need to enter the palace according to the rules, you don’t have to stay for long, and you don’t have to observe strict morning and evening greetings in court. Isn’t that already a life that’s more comfortable than most?”

Tang Wanlan thought it over and agreed. In the days to come, the comfortable parts would be more and the uncomfortable few!

“Mother…” Tang Wanlan glanced around and said softly, “My sister really can’t stay any longer. She must be married off soon.”

Madam Zhou was also troubled by this. “I started thinking about candidates since the other day when we returned from the estate, but it’s hard to find someone suitable.”

Tang Wanlan’s eyes flickered. “I heard from the Prince’s steward that on the night my sister was sent to the manor, something happened and she was lodged elsewhere by imperial soldiers. For an unmarried girl, does that affect her reputation? Would it cause trouble when it comes to discussing her marriage?”

Madam Zhou immediately understood the hint in her daughter’s words and a smile tugged at her lips. “My child has grown up! I forgot to ask about this! Of course such a thing has an effect. If it becomes a scandal, she won’t be able to find a good husband.”

Tang Wanlan rested her head on Madam Zhou’s shoulder. “The Wang family is holding a birthday banquet in five days… Mother, take my sister with you.”

A flicker of cunning passed through Madam Zhou’s eyes. She had almost instantly formed a plan and lightly patted her daughter’s back. “I shall do just that. Lan’er, you just watch the fun when the time comes.”

…

Breakfast was too delicious. Tang Wanning, without realizing it, ate until she was too full and had to walk back and forth outside her courtyard to walk off the meal.

Xiaoman thought her mistress was a bit lacking in spirit and whispered, “This maid’s cooking is actually quite ordinary… The dishes made by the master chef at Fengwei Restaurant are the ones that can truly be called delicious.”

Tang Wanning perked up instantly. “Delicious? Better than what you make?”

As a modern person and once a wealthy heiress, Tang Wanning considered herself someone who had seen a lot of the world, but Xiaoman’s cooking was truly extraordinary. She had eaten dishes of renowned kitchens before. If Fengwei Restaurant’s food was even better than Xiaoman’s, what would that be like?

Xiaoman trembled with fear. “Those places have master chefs, their recipes aren’t shared, and they use the best ingredients. Ordinary people can’t easily reserve a table, not even people like us. Even if we tried, who knows when we’d get a booking…”

Tang Wanning was disappointed. “So much talk, and we still can’t eat there.”

Xiaoman said, “I heard the Wang family is holding a birthday banquet in a few days and invited a master chef. I’m not sure if we’ve received an invitation.”

Tang Wanning lazily waved her hand. “Even if there is one, your mistress isn’t entitled to go.”

Xiaoman felt she’d upset her mistress and added, “There’s a shop outside Qingshi Alley run by a retired master chef from Fengwei Restaurant. Do you need me to run out later to buy some for you?”

Tang Wanning immediately brightened. “No need to wait till later. Once our visitors are done here and leave, you go out and buy some!”

After walking for a while Tang Wanning hadn’t gone far. Rounding a corner she met Tang Wanlan and was very surprised. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you going to look for the Second Prince?”

Tang Wanlan choked. She was here precisely because the Second Prince had disappeared! She suspected he had come looking for Tang Wanning!

She feigned composure, adjusted her hair, and with a full smile and gentle charm said, “Sister hasn’t been married before, so she doesn’t know that husbands and wives aren’t always together. His Highness likes to cling to me, and during the past two days at the residence, wherever I went he wanted to follow and though he isn’t annoying, it does wear you down a little.” She pretended to fold a handkerchief and subtly tugged her sleeve to reveal a kiss mark on her neck. “Out here one must restrain oneself.”

Tang Wanning understood and gave a casual “oh”. “It seems you handled this opportunity well this time. Good for you.”

Tang Wanlan nearly threw a fit. This IS supposed to be my chance! What do you mean “you handled it well”! Who gave you the right to be so superior!

Tang Wanlan both hated her for being naive and unable to see what she was trying to say, and also felt puzzled that Tang Wanning’s expression seemed genuine. Why was she not at all envious, jealous, or resentful?

She didn’t know that Tang Wanning truly felt no regret. The woman even felt great consolation that those two scoundrels had paired off. She sincerely wished them happiness, that they would push all their energy toward each other, and hoped they would not hold back.

Tang Wanlan said, “Even if it was a fluke that the Second Prince chose me, in the end we’ll be different people from now on. It’s one thing at home, but out in the world, Sister should know some decorum.”

In other words, Tang Wanlan was saying, from now on I’m the Princess Consort of Ping and you are merely an orphaned woman. Wouldn’t it be proper for you to show some manners and pay respects?

Tang Wanning smiled. “Then when we’re outside, Sister will certainly remember to bow.”

Tang Wanlan grew anxious. Couldn’t she tell that was sarcasm? Once outside, the Princess Consort had to watch her reputation, so she wouldn’t dare to make things difficult for someone from her family. It was only at home that she could do this to her!

“You—”

Before she could finish, the Second Prince walked over. “So you two are here.”

Tang Wanlan hurriedly composed herself into a smile. “Your Highness…”

Unfortunately, whether her expression was fierce or smiling, the Second Prince didn’t notice. His eyes were only on Tang Wanning, and in a gentle, earnest voice he asked, “These past few days… have you been well?”