Chapter 21

 

Chapter 21: Traces

 

When Wei Xiao returned to the General’s Estate, his servant Qingshi was carrying a basket of fresh fruits such as starfruit, mulberries, sour plums, which were all in season.

The fruits were to be delivered to Qionghua Courtyard. Catching sight of his master, Qingshi ran over beaming. “Young Master, you’re finally back! The young lord’s been waiting on you all morning. Madam wants to keep them for lunch.”

As the hour for the meal approached, maids carrying food boxes bustled through the covered walkways.

Wei Xiao’s steps were unhurried. Having spent days with his wife from the Lan family, his pace was no longer as brisk as it once was.

“They’ve already started eating?” he asked.

Qingshi, a tall and broad fellow with a simple manner, pointed at the basket. “Young Madam won’t eat without you. Momo Zhou told me to take these fruits so they could nibble on something first.”

At that, Wei Xiao’s stride quickened.

Qingshi’s parents also served in the General’s Estate, but unlike other household-born servants, he had been by Wei Xiao’s side since he could first talk, playing at his master’s heel. With Wei Xiao’s protection, no one ever dared bully him. Even after turning fifteen, he hadn’t grown much in sense.

As they walked, Qingshi earnestly recounted what had happened that day.

“The young lord’s steward even brought gifts for Young Master and Madam; a few boxes of rare medicines, and two dark-looking paintings. Funny thing is, when the young lord first came he was empty-handed, only after a while did his steward and Madam’s younger sister arrive.”

“Momo Zhou told me the young lord is particular about propriety. He’s been staying in the residence for two days without showing his face. Then suddenly today he turns up, saying he came to apologize to you. He is hard to read.”

Normally, Wei Xiao had little patience for gossip. But after being gone half a day, to find his quarters so lively was really…. If Pei Ye truly had any shame, he would have come to him quietly to apologize in private for his slip of the tongue. Wei Xiao had not yet gone to seek him out, yet Pei Ye had come openly to his quarters. What was he really after?

More than that, Wei Xiao was concerned about what his wife might have spoken of with Pei Ye in his absence. But Qingshi was not a little maid who could linger in the inner rooms; he hadn’t overheard anything.

Seeing Qingshi dripping with sweat, he asked, “You’ve been kept busy this half day?”

“No not half as tired as you must be, Young Master. I was only weeding the flower beds in our courtyard. I’ve got strength, but was afraid of damaging Madam’s flowers, so the more careful I was, the slower it went… Young Master, were you at Deputy-General Luo’s house?”

Wei Xiao answered, “Some of his men fought last night and nearly killed one another. The matter was about to be brought to the magistrate. Luo You couldn’t talk them down, so he sent guards to fetch me.”

Most men in the Beizhao army came from poor families, with many mouths to feed. To save food, parents often sent the strongest son into the army.

On the battlefield, they fought with their lives on the line. But during training or when back in Chang’an on leave, their mule-headed tempers often broke loose with quarreling at best, or brawling with blades at worst, making civil officials laugh at them all the more.

Qingshi clicked his tongue. “Deputy-General Luo is too soft. If only he learned a thing or two from you, Young Master, he wouldn’t be run over by those stubborn mules.”

They turned left off the walkway toward Qionghua Courtyard.

“My temper is that hard?” Wei Xiao asked.

“Outside, Young Master’s temper is very hard,” Qingshi replied honestly, never one to flatter. “Have you forgotten? When Fifth Young Master got into trouble, you beat him all the same.”

“Even I bask in your reputation. When I went to buy wine at Toad Hill tavern, those ruffians didn’t dare make a peep in front of me.”

Wei Xiao laughed, scolding him for his foolish pride, but then his thoughts turned to his wife.

Did she think of him as hard-tempered and sharp-faced?

Scholars looked down on generals. His reputation preceded him, most thought him nothing more than a brutish King of Hell.

----

The Master and servant stepped through the courtyard gate. Qingshi handed the fresh fruits to a little maid to wash.

Momo Zhou welcomed Wei Xiao inside. “Young Master, you must be tired. Come, have a cup of tea to quench your thirst.” She waved a hand for a maid to pass word along. “Go tell the kitchen to serve the meal.”

After holding on half a day, Lan Yunjin finally felt her heart settle once her husband returned.

She rose to meet him, calling softly, “Husband.”

Lan Yunying, seated with Pei Ye on armchairs to the side, stood with a smile to greet her brother-in-law.

Wei Xiao halted, taking in Pei Ye’s refined looks and clear gaze.

“You’re feeling better now?” Wei Xiao asked politely.

Pei Ye replied naturally, “I made a fool of myself yesterday and troubled Brother-in-law with worry. I am ashamed, and so I came to offer my apologies.”

Wei Xiao glanced at his wife, who had quietly moved to his side. Graceful, poised, with a faint smile at her lips—if Pei Ye had told her of the disgraceful thing he did yesterday, was she truly so unconcerned?

Wei Xiao thought: Pei Ye was no fool. His visit today was hardly just for an apology. He had another aim.

With that in mind, Wei Xiao smiled faintly. “Yunying told me you don’t drink often. If that counts as disgrace, then my men are far worse; when they’re drunk, they mistake strangers for their mothers, babble nonsense, and that truly is a shameful sight.”

At his words, Pei Ye’s expression hardly changed.

Lan Yunjin too kept her face smooth, though inwardly she guessed; so that must be why her elder sister had kept silent yesterday.

Yunying, however, was caught off guard by Wei Xiao’s veiled words. Her heart thumped wildly.

To sit at the same table today was already difficult with Pei Ye present; with Wei Xiao so unpredictable, her unease only deepened.

Silently, Yunying recited Amitabha, praying the Buddha and Bodhisattvas would shield her and her sister and let them pass this day safely, let things not grow more perilous.

The maids carried in the dishes to the wing room. The table was laid with four meat dishes, five vegetable dishes, and two soups.

Momo Zhou stood to the side, her round eyes darting. She looked back and forth between the twin sisters, blinking until she grew confused again.

No speaking at meals, no chatter at bed, such was the rule. Fortunately, with it, Lan Yunjin could eat her meal in peace.

And after a half day of talking with Pei Ye, hearing only his references to history, calligraphy, and painting and with Wei Xiao’s words just now; he now sat quietly, eating without further talk.

Seeing this, Yunying finally felt a little of her tension ease.

Guiyuan ladled out a bowl of fish soup for Yunying and whispered, “Madam, you’ve been a little frail these past days. Have some fish broth to nourish yourself.”

Yunying accepted the porcelain bowl and turned slightly toward Pei Ye, her voice gentle. “Husband, would you like a bowl as well?”

Since their marriage, mealtimes between her and Pei Ye had been quiet.

The coldness was his. According to her own temperament, she could not endure such silence; so she would take the initiative to ask if he wanted more soup or rice, or whether a dish was too salty or bland; even if she had not cooked it herself.

Pei Ye would always glance at her first before replying, never dismissively.

“I would,” he said, his words few but his voice warm.

Yunying froze for a moment, staring at him.

His eyes reflected her face, as though what he desired was not the fish broth, but something unspoken—something she dared not name.

Flustered, Yunying averted her gaze and signaled Guiyuan to serve him.

No matter her resentment toward this son-in-law, Guiyuan obeyed her Madam.

Wei Xiao, however, caught Pei Ye’s expression. His brows drew together ever so slightly.

----

That morning, the maids of Qionghua Courtyard had risen early to sweep the grounds.

Inside, Lan Yunjin sat before the dressing table while Yuchan arranged her hair. Yunying was also present, waiting to leave together for the palace banquet at the hour of Si (9 am).

Yuchan held an ivory comb carved with flowers. She was about to ask her Madam which hairstyle she preferred when she suddenly faltered. Glancing at Yunying’s coiffure, she forced a smile.
“Since you’re attending a banquet today, Madam, what if you and Fifth Young Lady tried something new?”

Yunying laughed lightly. “What kind of new?”

“Guiyuan could dress Madam’s hair, and this servant will dress Fifth Young Lady’s,” Yuchan said. “I’ve been practicing a new style that would suit her. But since she’ll soon return to Luoyang, I may not get another chance.”

Guiyuan clicked her tongue. “Bah! Don’t speak such unlucky words.”

“We must take today’s banquet seriously,” Guiyuan countered. “My hands were trembling just now, and I was hesitating whether to redo Madam’s hair. Since your hands are so clever, let’s switch:- I’ll dress Fourth Young Lady instead, if only she won’t think of me as clumsy.”

Lan Yunjin hesitated, but Yuchan had already spoken. She knew Guiyuan’s temperament well; if she refused, the girl would only feel wronged.

“Since when has Guiyuan learned modesty?” Yunjin teased with a smile. “When have I ever disliked your handiwork? Every time you’ve dressed my hair, I’ve praised you. Go on, dress my sister’s hair today.”

Guiyuan beamed. “With Madam’s words, I’ll dare to try.”

So Yuchan had her way, removing the hairpins from Lan Yunying’s hair.

Her long black locks tumbled down. In the mirror, Yuchan saw a maiden’s refined face touched with bright rouge.

Her own hands trembled.

Fifth Young Lady and Madam seemed like two souls sharing one body.

Even the cycle of their womanly days matched. Now, their hair, their bearing—utterly indistinguishable.

Is it a trick of the eye or Coincidence?

Impossible.

She had been dressing Madam’s hair for more than ten years. Though she occasionally mistook one sister for the other, serving Madam daily had taught her to notice the subtle differences between them.

Eyes and ears could be deceived. But hands could not.

And yet… how could it be?

How could Madam and Fifth Young Lady have done something so unthinkable as to exchange places that to exchanging their very marriages?

How could Fifth Young Lady have learned Madam’s manner so perfectly; such patience and such composure?

Yuchan’s heart was full of questions, but she longed to dismiss her own suspicions.

She was a servant raised in the Lan household. If her Madam truly had switched identities with her sister, then it was her duty to bury that secret deep, to help conceal it.

If even the slightest hint slipped out, whether the consequences proved good or ill, who could predict the end?

The bronze mirror blurred, obscuring Yuchan’s expression. Yunying, unable to see, simply asked what new style she had thought of.

Yuchan smiled and replied, “I’ve not given it a name yet. Once Madam sees it, you may name it for me.”

In a short while, both maids finished selecting hairpins and retouching powder.

When the time came, the sisters left the chamber together, each taking her husband’s arm as they boarded the carriages bound for the palace.

----

The palace gates stood wide open. Red-lacquered wheels and ornate carriages rolled forward in neat procession.

The Spring Banquet was held in the Linde Hall. Led by palace maids, the guests walked for 30 minutes before the grand building came into sight.

Among them were young men and women of Chang’an’s noble families, as well as high-ranking officials and their wives.

The Empress had arranged the banquet for one reason: to ease Emperor Sukang’s weariness.

Most of her invitations had been sent to the great clans, summoning their young sons and daughters to compose poetry and match couplets while enjoying imperial delicacies.

Upon entering the hall, they looked up to see a latticed ceiling where sunlight filtered through in pale shafts.

Lan Yunjin sat with Wei Xiao, while Yunying was placed at their right.

The couple drew many glances. One acquaintance of Wei Xiao’s came forward with a hearty laugh.
“Changyang, today I must drink a few more cups with you. Don’t you dare slip away.”

Wei Xiao smiled. “Since when have I ever hidden from your wine?”

The man laughed again and respectfully addressed Lan Yunjin as “sister-in-law.”

Conversation in the hall was subdued. The dragon throne on the high dais remained empty, awaiting the emperor’s arrival.

Instead, Noble Consort Lan entered first and took her seat. Upon seeing the sisters, she called them over warmly.

“So you must be Yunjin.” Noble Consort Lan studied the pair for a long moment. Then, pointing at Yunying with nails painted crimson, she laughed. “And you’re the lively one. Sweet-tongued since you were little, always making Grandmother laugh. Every New Year, when the other girls in the family received just one or two strings of lucky coins, you somehow walked away with a whole basketful.”

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