Spring in the Hall of Paintings

The game ended with neither side winning or losing, and Qing’e let out a sigh of relief. He said, “This was the most enjoyable game of chess I’ve ever played, Miss Tong, thank you.”

Yun Wei smiled and replied, “There’s no need for the Prince to thank me.” It’s rare to have a game where both sides don’t win or lose, and the moves are perfectly executed. Yun Wei gained a lot of insight into the game through this match.

“Alright, you two don’t need to be so modest. Watching it made my heart race.”

Yun Lan genuinely admired them. She had always known that Yun Wei was exceptional at chess, but today she realized that Yun Wei was far ahead of her in skill. Even though she couldn’t comprehend all the intricacies of the game, just by watching Yun Wei’s calm and composed demeanor, Yun Lan understood that she could never match up to her.

Jing Yi, with a soft and delicate tone, asked, “I wonder if the Prince would be willing to play a game with me?”

Qing’e smiled without saying anything, while Yun Wei personally began to clean up the chess pieces. Qing’e’s gaze was fixed on her pale, delicate fingers, with soft pink nails that had a pearly shine, making him wish he could play with them in his hands.

“Prince, I’ve had the maid prepare the pot, venison, and aged flower wine. How about we have a meal while enjoying the snow scenery?”

Yun Wei paused her movements to look at Yun Lan, who had spoken. She furrowed her brow, then, seeing Jing Yi making advances toward Qing’e, she ignored her and said softly, “Fourth Sister, could you come over here for a moment?”

Yun Wei and Yun Lan walked to the side of the West Flower Hall. Yun Lan looked at the attentive Jing Yi with a smile at the corners of her mouth and asked, “Sixth Sister, is there something wrong?”

“Fourth Sister, you shouldn’t be hosting Prince Qing’e,” Yun Wei said with a firm tone, speaking quietly. “Though Qing’e’s mother, the secondary wife of Prince Gong, is a frequent guest at the Tong family, Qing’e himself is a man and has no direct familial ties to us. We slept in different rooms at five and ate separately at seven. Fourth Sister, our reputation is very important.”

“You little girl, when did you become so conservative? The rules for women…,” Yun Lan didn’t want to reprimand Yun Wei too harshly in front of the ancient norms, “It’s just a meal, Sixth Sister, you’re overthinking it.”

“Women’s rules and manners are something you’ve also memorized. How could you forget them? Even though Eight Banner women are not required to follow as many rules as Han women, the current emperor highly values Confucian principles—loyalty to the emperor, filial piety, and chastity. Haven’t those who uphold these virtues been rewarded by the emperor? The Tong family’s reputation is not easily maintained. As young women, we should be even more cautious.”

Although Yun Lan had memorized the rules for women, having been educated in the modern world, she didn’t take them seriously. Especially after she began her romance with Yinzhen, he had expressed that he liked her lively and unrestrained personality. Yun Lan always believed she could quietly adapt to ancient life, but still retain the advantages of being a time-traveling woman. If she were to become a rigid, rule-abiding young lady, what would be the point of her time travel?

Yinzhen liked her unique character as a time-traveler, not the typical aristocratic young lady, since with his status, he could have as many of those as he wanted. Watching Jing Yi’s flattering behavior, Yun Lan found it rather amusing. As for Yun Wei’s advice, it went in one ear and out the other.

“Sixth Sister, are you tired from the chess game? You don’t seem quite the same as the lively little girl you used to be.”

Yun Wei’s face stiffened. She quietly grabbed Yun Lan and said, “I’ll say it one more time, Fourth Sister, this is the Tong family, not a brothel, nor one of the filthy places in the capital.”

Yun Wei made her point clear and gave Yun Lan a warning. Was playing chess and then drinking wine and eating a meal really what a proper young lady should do? If it weren’t for the Tong family’s reputation, Yun Wei wouldn’t have played chess with Qing’e at all.

Yun Lan turned around and walked away. Although Qing’e was engaged with Jing Yi, his gaze remained on Yun Wei. Seeing her leave with a gloomy expression, he felt a bit disappointed, but at the same time, he had even more admiration for her. She was a self-respecting, dignified young lady. Qing’e lifted his wine cup, convinced that his judgment had been correct.

“Prince, this is plum wine.” Jing Yi, eagerly pouring wine and serving dishes, sweetly urged Qing’e to drink more. While Yun Lan was slightly displeased by Yun Wei’s departure, she still sat down with a smile, paying more attention to the spectacle than the situation. Her feelings mirrored Yun Wei’s concerns to some extent, but her interest in Qing’e was not particularly strong, which played into Jing Yi’s hands. In a drunken state, she softly recited a few melancholic poems about the autumn moon.

After listening, Yun Lan secretly sighed. Without the advantage of her time-traveling knowledge, she truly couldn’t compare to Jing Yi in poetry.

Fuming, Yun Wei was about to leave the West Flower Hall when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Lu Yi, who was following her, asked, “Miss, you…?”

“It’s no use. This isn’t something I can deal with on my own. The Tong family’s reputation is important. When one flourishes, all flourish; when one falls, all fall. Fourth Sister is thinking too simply.”

Yun Wei pursed her lips. Even though the Fourth Sister had the promise from the Fourth Prince that she would ask the emperor for a marriage arrangement when it was time for the selection of concubines, if Jing Yi ruined her reputation, how could things go smoothly? Yun Wei might not understand Fourth Prince as well as Yun Lan, but from what she could observe, she suspected that the Fourth Prince was a person who valued rules and propriety. Her mother had also taught her that in noble families, a lot of considerations were made, and love was the least important of them all. If that was the case in wealthy families, how much more so in the royal family?

“The maid doesn’t think Prince Qing’e is a talkative person.”

“Knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean you know their heart. Lu Yi, how many times have you seen him? Even if he’s not a talkative person, what if he inadvertently lets something slip outside? Just one careless word can make the girls of the Tong family be looked down upon.”

Yun Wei didn’t want to think too badly of Qing’e, but Lu Yi asked, “Miss, then what should we do? Should we notify the old lady?”

Faintly, the sounds of Jing Yi’s conversation and laughter could be heard from the West Flower Hall. Yun Wei stamped her foot and said, “It’s too late.”

She was tempted to go inside and overturn the table, but that would cause an uproar, so she had to think of another solution. After a brief moment of contemplation, Yun Wei waved at Jing Yi’s personal maid. “Come here.”

“Miss, is there something you need?”

“You’re called Baoqin, right?” Yun Wei softened her tone as much as possible. “You also want the best for Cousin Jing Yi, right?”

Baoqin lowered her head and replied softly, “Miss, I wouldn’t dare disturb the young lady.”

“I just need you to deliver a message. Go tell Cousin Jing Yi… tell her that my aunt has fainted, and she should quickly go to the old lady’s Anqiu Courtyard.”

Only Jing Yi’s personal maid could convey the message, and only then would Jing Yi believe it. Moreover, once she went to the old lady’s side, Yun Wei wouldn’t need to say anything more; someone would teach her what to do. Yun Wei just needed to apologize to her aunt, and even if she was punished, it wouldn’t be too severe.

“Miss, I… I dare not, I really dare not,” Baoqin knelt down, pleading, “Please don’t make it difficult for me. If the young lady is upset, she will scold me. How could I dare to lie on behalf of the madam?”

Seeing how pitiful Baoqin looked, Yun Wei had heard of Jing Yi’s methods of dealing with her maids. She helped Baoqin to her feet and whispered, “You’re doing this for Cousin Jing Yi’s reputation. My aunt won’t blame you; in fact, she might even reward you. Baoqin, you can always say it was I who forced you to do it. You couldn’t refuse.”

“Quickly go, if you delay, it will be too late.”

Baoqin had no choice but to enter the West Flower Hall. A moment later, Jing Yi hurriedly ran out, and Yun Wei had already returned to the side of the old lady, Madam Juoluo.