Lovable Beauty

Naturally, Jiang Huaizhou had heard of the legends, but he never gave much thought to his cousin’s question. 

“I’ve never tried it. How would I know if they’re connected?” Jiang Huaizhou answered as he continued to let down the bucket, so his two cousins would get to drink the water he had personally fetched for them. 

Xie Lanyin wasn’t satisfied with this answer. Just as she was going to ask a nearby Taoist priest, another idea tugged at her heart. She discreetly removed her red agate earring and then, with a quick glance around, she tossed it down when no one was looking. 

She did it covertly enough that the faint plop of it hitting the water was concealed by the sound of water splashing from the edge of the bucket, but both Xie Lanqiao and Jiang Huaizhou noticed. Jiang Huaizhou was nonchalant, but Xie Lanqiao furiously pinched her little sister’s arm. “You wastrel…are you so rich that you’d toss money away, is that it?” 

She clenched her teeth and hissed in a whisper, not wanting others to know it was her sister’s earring; it would become troublesome if someone were to find it and the news got out. 

Her pinch was not light at all; Xie Lanyin yelped in pain and—fearing once wasn’t enough for her sister—she scurried away up the stairs. 

Xie Lanqiao chased after her. 

If it was some other earring, she wouldn’t have been so cross, but that was the one her little sister begged her to buy for her last December.  Because there was someone else vying for it as well, she ended up paying several dozen more taels—just for her little sister to casually toss it away as if it was blown in by the wind.  If she didn’t discipline her today, wouldn’t the brat break the family with her wastefulness in the future? 

As long the two sisters were together, there was never a moment of peace—Jiang Huaizhou was unfazed; he quietly ordered his page boy, Changan, to head down to the Jade Spring Courtyard at the foot of the mountain for a look around. 

Meanwhile, Xia Lanyin was gasping for breath after making it to the second floor. She rejoiced with a grin when she noticed there was a table of customers already sitting there and with quick strides took a seat at a table near them.  She looked cockily at her sister who had caught up to her, confident she wouldn’t lay her hands on her while other people were present. 

Xie Lanqiao saw through her little sister’s cunning thoughts with a glance—but she was right—she refused to act so unabashedly in public.  Taking in a deep breath, she carried herself with poise as she walked over and sat across from her sister, throwing her a sharp glare. 

Xie Lanyin snickered silently—she was safe for now. She then threw a casual glance at the neighboring table. 

Lu Jun was sitting upright and expressionless. His chiseled face appeared stern and respectful. Across from him sat Ge Jin who was peeping at the new customers. Because Xie Lanyin was wearing a veil, he couldn’t tell that she too was looking over at them, so he continued to sneak glances at them. He snuck a few extra glances at Xie Lanqiao before withdrawing his gaze. He reached for his tea and took the chance to signal to his master. 

The two were both women. 

Xiao Yuan shot him an indifferent glance. 

Ge Jin sulkily withdrew his hand, feeling annoyed with himself—really, how could he have forgotten? Though his master had his back to the table, he must have taken the chance to observe them when the sisters rushed in; he doesn’t need him meddling. 

Xie Lanyin had also seen enough and withdrew her gaze. There were three people: the most luxuriously dressed one had his back to her, but the other two were quite handsome; the aloof one’s carried himself in a way that reminded her of her father—most likely, he knew some martial arts; the other looked shift-eyed and dishonest: he had been staring at her sister for some time—could it be he had seen through her sister’s disguise?
 

Well, her sister only wore male clothes for convenience’s sake—it didn’t matter if someone saw through it. 

“Third Cousin, I want to drink osmanthus tea. Do they have it here?” Xie Lanyin asked when Jiang Huaizhou came up. 

When her sweet and melodic voice sounded in the room, Ge Jin once again looked toward his master. Before, when the Young Lady was chattering downstairs, his master froze for a moment as he was drinking his tea. His master was clearly entranced by her voice—hence, he wanted to help him find the owner. 

Xiao Yuan’s expression didn’t show anything peculiar; he took his time to savor the tea, put down the teacup, and gazed out the window at the mountain scenery. 

“There is—I reminded them yesterday.” Jiang Huaizhou strode over, offering a nod to Ge Jin a nod who was the closest—a change from his usual sloppy and laidback self in front of his cousins—he appeared gentlemanly and modest—his mask when he was doing business. 

Ge Jin returned his nod with a friendly smile. 

After the courtesy exchange of greetings, Jian Huaizhou turned his attention to his two cousins. 

On the side, Ge Jin watched as his master drank one cup after another of tea—there was no intention of leaving. He didn’t know if it was because he really didn’t plan on leaving or if he just couldn’t bear to leave the voice that was even more delightful than that of his black-nape oriole. Whatever the case was, he cleverly asked a Daoist priest for another kettle of tea. 

The three men didn’t leave—but Xie Lanyin had rested enough and suggested they continue their stroll. 

Jiang Huaizhou and Xie Lanqiao both stood up.
 

Xie Lanyin walked on her sister’s right; as they were about to descend the stairs, a gust of mountain breeze suddenly blew in from the window, lifting her veil and exposing her fair and delicate chin, her full rosy lips, as well as the gentle sway of the red agate earring on her right ear. 

The wind was strong—the veil caught in the breeze. Xie Lanyin reached out to fix it and complained as she followed her sister down the stairs. 

After they left, Xiao Yuan calmly withdrew his gaze. Then a while later, he also rose to leave. 

Lu Jun, as a man of few words, silently stood to follow his master. Ge Jin recalled those extra cups of tea his master had drank and suggested as they descended the stairs, “Young Master, since this is our first time coming to Mount Hua, why don’t we stay two more days?” Their master had no interest in wine or beautiful women—he only loved beautiful sounds. If they stayed a few more days, perhaps they would chance upon that young lady again. 

Xiao Yuan acted as if he hadn’t heard him and concentrated on walking. 

Ge Jin understood immediately—he had deduced too much once again. 

Early in the morning the next day, as the master and his two servants were on their way down the mountain, they passed by the Jade Spring Courtyard. 

Ge Jin was enchanted by everything he saw as he walked. With sharp eyes, he spotted a red glimmering rock on the bank of the Jade Spring, sparkling as it bobbled in the tumbling stream. Ge Jin was fascinated and ran over to pick it up—up close, he found it was only an earring and was dismayed. He walked back and shoved it at Lu Jun. “Here take it, you can sweet-talk your future wife with it. 

The earring was of high quality—some wealthy young lady probably lost it. 

Lu Jun looked at the item in Ge Jin’s hand but didn’t take it. 

Since he doesn’t want it and it was useless to Ge Jin, he considered throwing it back into the spring—just as he raised his hand, it was suddenly snatched away. 

“Young Master?” Ge Jin gaped at his master in surprise. 

Xiao Yuan fiddled with the vibrant agate between his two fingers and tucked it into his sleeve and continued walking without a single explanation. 

Lu Jun followed promptly. 

Ge Jin was still frozen in place, eyes brimming with disbelief—his master was a prince… a titled prince! Why would he take a fancy to something picked off the ground? 

At the faint light of dawn, not long after the master and his two servants left, Changan was panting for breath as he ran over; he circled around the spring in search of something to no avail—and he returned, empty-handed. 

The Jiang family was wealthy; Madam Jiang was also rich. Even with all the Xie family’s wealth scraped together, it didn’t even come close to a fraction of her dowry.  So, when she learned that her daughter—with blithe disregard—threw away an earring, she didn’t consider it a big deal. She simply warned her daughter not to fool around like this in the future: jewelry was a personal item for young ladies—it could cause problems if someone was to find it. 

“Mother, I know. If there was a stranger around, I wouldn’t have thrown it.” Xie Lanyin docilely cuddled against her mother—like a baby bird tired from flying. She whispered, “I was just curious whether the Jade Well and the Jade Spring were really connected. It was Third Cousin’s fault for not telling me.” 

Jiang Huaizhou was in the middle of drinking tea and spluttered when he heard her accusation, “Really, you’d blame that on me? Alrighty then, when we get to Xi’an, you can find someone else to take you out to play—I can’t afford to cater to you anymore—all kinds of accusations are pinned on my head.” 

Water splattered onto his clothes and he wiped at it in a huff. Xie Lanyin cocked her head and grinned, “But Eldest Cousin is busy getting married and Second Cousin is quiet and doesn’t like going out. If not you, then who should I find? Besides, Third Cousin is knowledgeable, experienced, humorous, and witty. I like going out with Third Cousin the most.” 

Jiang Huaizhou huffed. “Looks like you’re not irredeemable.” 

Xie Lanyin was going to praise him some more when her mother knocked on her head. “A day or two is enough to go out and play; you’re not allowed to go out every day.” 

Shanxi’s customs were fairly open; Madam Jiang was carefree and wild as a child, and her parents and older brothers allowed her to do anything she wanted. Though her daughters grew up in the much more conservative Hangzhou—prim and proper as befitting of a lady—Madam Jiang wasn’t very strict in raising her daughters. She scolded them as needed, but most of the time, she looked the other way. 

To appease her mother, Xie Lanyin demurely promised she wouldn’t run about, but the crafty glint in her eyes contradicted her words. 

After leaving Mount Hua, the group returned to the town of Huayin. 

Madam Jiang rarely returned to her family home, so she brought many specialty, local products from Jiangnan with her—so much that it filled up eight carriages, escorted by Lu Chi and twenty guards. Lu Chi was the godson of Lu Yao, the bookkeeper to Madam Jiang’s dowry; he was the same age as Jiang Huaizhou; his face was as smooth as jade, and his eyes were striking—he was someone who looked like he was smiling even when he was not, exuding a pleasant air. 

“Madam has returned.” Receiving news of the masters’ return, Lu Chi went out to greet them. His gray robes couldn’t conceal his graceful bearings. 

Madam Jiang treated him like a nephew as she exasperatedly explained, “We planned on descending the mountain tomorrow but our Fifth Young Lady found it too tiresome, so we came back early. Make preparations for our departure—we’ll set out after lunch.” 

Lu Chi smiled and nodded. He turned and looked toward Xie Lanyin. 

He had duties to one of the shops from the Jiang family’s dowry, but he was also Xie Lanyin’s escort. Every time Xie Lanyin went out, Madam Jiang would have Lu Chi accompany her.  Even the eldest daughter who practiced martial arts had a guard protecting her. The second daughter was even more like a member of the Jiang family—easygoing she may be at home, but outside, she was too sensible and cunning to be bamboozled. Only the youngest daughter—too delicate and playful—worried Madam Jiang. 

Xie Lanyin was familiar with Lu Chi. Seeing the smile in his eyes, she glared at him through the veil. 

Lu Chi acted as if he didn’t see it, his smile growing even more as he went inside to make arrangements. 

That afternoon after lunch, everyone took a moment to rest before they continued their travels. 

After three days of traveling, they arrived at a small town six miles from Xi’an at dusk. The Jiang family owned a courtyard in town, so Madam Jiang took them there to rest for the night— tomorrow morning, they would enter the city. 

Since Madam Jiang had previously sent a messenger saying they wouldn’t arrive till the day after tomorrow, she didn’t bother telling them about their change of plans—she wanted to surprise her family; hence, out of the two other Young Masters of the Jiang family, only the Second Young Master, Jiang Xingzhou, was present. He planned to come beforehand to arrange a welcome for them—he didn’t anticipate his aunt and cousins’ early arrival. 

“Why didn’t Aunt tell us earlier? Eldest Brother is held-up—he planned on coming tomorrow evening. If we knew you would be here today, Eldest Brother would have come with me.” Zhang Xingzhou strode out quickly but composedly. He wore a jade green robe and possessed a pair of handsome eyes and brows; perhaps because of his love for antiques and porcelains, he comported himself like high-quality celadon that has been mellowed by time and age, emitting an air of serenity and elegance. 

“We’re family. You don’t have to be so polite. Just pick us up at the city gates. There’s no need for you to come all the way here,” Madam Jiang couldn’t contain her joy when she saw her second nephew. She pulled him to her side and examined him from top to bottom, sighing softly, “You’re almost as tall as your eldest brother am I right? What about you? Does Xingzhou have a girl you fancy? You’re already twenty—don’t be like your big brother, waiting so long to take a wife.”
 

His aunt pressured marriage out of concern for him. Jiang Xingzhou replied unaffectedly, “There isn’t one for now—when Xingzhou meets the right young lady, Aunt will be the first one to know. Xingzhou will be requesting Aunt to check her out.” 

Xie Lanyin snickered. She fluttered her bright, peach-blossom eyes at him. “Since when did Second Cousin learn to sweet-talk?” 

After the three brothers of the Jiang family took over their respective businesses, at least one of them would visit their aunt in Hangzhou every year—Xie Lanyin was familiar with them—no estrangement despite more than a year’s separation. 

Jiang Xingzhou patted his little cousin’s head and praised, “Lanyin has grown taller and prettier.” After praising her, he turned and praised Xie Lanqiao. Xie Lanyin anticipated he would ask about their elder sister, so she explained, “Eldest Sister is helping out Father—she can’t get away—we can only wait till when Second Cousin marries.” 

Jiang Xingzhou shook his head and chuckled at the girl’s glib tongue. 

Jiang Huaizhou saw one of the neighbors come out to see what was going on, and urged, “Second brother, we should invite Aunt inside.” 

Jiang Xingzhou nodded. As he walked inside, he disclosed something big. “The emperor has conferred the title of Prince Qin to the eldest prince. Tomorrow, His Highness Prince Qin will arrive in Xi’an. An hour before and after the procession enters and leaves, no civilian is allowed to enter or leave through the city gates. Aunt, why don’t we wait till after lunch to leave—it won’t be pleasant to wait outside the gates.” 

Author’s Ramblings (as translated) 

Xie Lanyin who couldn’t find her earrings: The legends are all lies! 

Prince Qin who found the earrings: Keep it to sweet-talk his wife. 

Lu Jun and Ge Jin: …⊙﹏⊙b Sweat drop