Spring in the Hall of Paintings - Chapter 34

“Sixth Sister, you’re still playing chess in the pavilion on such a cold day?”

A group of people walked into the pavilion. Jing Yi, whose gaze had been fixed on Qing’e, noticed he was looking at the chessboard. Feeling frustrated, she thought to herself that it was bad enough she couldn’t compete with Yun Lan, but now, with the Third Branch of the Tong family in a period of rising power, she had heard from her mother that her third uncle, Rongzhi, was about to be promoted. As for Yun Wei, whom Jing Yi had always found quiet, reserved, and lacking in any noticeable talents, she could never bring herself to accept her.

Jing Yi sneered, “You’re really dedicated, aren’t you? I wonder if you’re here to cut plums for your grandmother, or… or to play chess?”

In the clear gaze of Yun Wei, Jing Yi quickly corrected herself. The harsh words she had intended to say couldn’t come out in front of Yun Wei. Frustrated, Jing Yi kicked a snowball in the pavilion. Her height had always been a sore point for her. Although she was a year older than Yun Lan and Yun Wei, she couldn’t match them in height. To avoid feeling short, she often wore platform shoes in the house. Of all the sisters, hers were the most well-worn.

Today, she had deliberately worn flowerpot shoes with pearl-encrusted ceramic soles to impress Qing’e, but as the snowy ground was slippery, she lost her balance and fell hard onto the ground, landing awkwardly, much to her embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Qing’e seemed not to notice the beauty’s predicament. He simply walked over to the chessboard, pretending to observe the game. However, the slight upward curve of his lips revealed his amusement at seeing Jing Yi’s fall.

Yun Lan suppressed a laugh, quietly rubbing her stomach. She didn’t think much of Jing Yi’s attempts to curry favor with Qing’e. She wasn’t a saint and certainly didn’t care about Jing Yi, who had always secretly competed with her. Although she didn’t usually care, it did bring her some joy to see Jing Yi make a fool of herself.

Yun Wei, trying to diffuse the situation, said, “Jing Yi, we’re all sisters of the same household. Even if you’re worried about slipping, kicking away snow, you should still be careful. Please get up quickly; I’d feel bad if you caught a cold.”

“Yes, yes, Jing Yi, are you hurt?” Yun Lan reacted quickly, helping Jing Yi up. She personally brushed off the snow on her robe and whispered, “Jing Yi, the ground is slippery. You need to be careful. If you hurt yourself, Auntie will be heartbroken.”

Yun Wei didn’t step forward to show sisterly affection, nor did she take advantage of Jing Yi’s embarrassment. It seemed like Jing Yi was still interested in Qing’e. Yun Wei had no interest in interfering with Jing Yi, so she smiled and said, “It’s getting late, I need to take plums to grandmother. If grandmother thinks I’m being lazy, I’ll really be in trouble. I might not even be allowed to touch the precious porcelain vase anymore.”

“Fourth Sister, are you leaving just like that?” Jing Yi, unable to ignore the pain in her bottom, asked in surprise, “What about the chessboard, aren’t you going to pack it up?”

“The prince is an esteemed guest of the Tong family,” Yun Wei said, “Fourth Sister, Jing Yi, you are both rare talents. Discussing the snow and plums with the prince is a delightful topic. As for the chessboard, the maid will take care of it.”

Yun Wei never once glanced at Qing’e. With this excuse, she made it clear to everyone that she had no intentions towards Prince Qing’e, and she was too disdainful to use the trick of feigning indifference to lure him in.

“Wait a moment,” Qing’e said as he sat on a stone bench, stopping Yun Wei. “Miss Tong, how about a game of chess?”

“Prince, you are a lover of chess, and playing chess also requires the right timing. This is not the right moment.”

Yun Wei calmly declined. Qing’e picked up a chess piece and slammed it down onto the board, coldly saying, “Is this how the Tong family treats its guests? Has Miss Yun Wei never heard the saying ‘A guest is treated like family’? Furthermore, what Miss Maja Jing Yi did truly opened my eyes. The young ladies of the Tong family…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the underlying meaning was clear to everyone. Jing Yi’s face turned pale, her eyes blurred with tears, and she let out a soft gasp, seemingly wounded by Qing’e’s indifferent attitude. She murmured, “Prince… Qing’e… Prince…”

At this moment, Yun Lan stepped forward and proudly retorted, “A graceful lady is a match for a gentleman. You’ve heard that poem, right?”

Qing’e shifted his gaze from the chessboard to Tongjia Yun Lan, and instinctively nodded. “Guan guan zhu jiu, zai he zhi zhou, it’s a very famous poem.”

“I believe it works both ways,” Yun Lan continued. “Prince, with your noble birth, distinguished appearance, and elegant manner, you are naturally more likely to win the favor of a lady. It’s not just something unique to our Tong family.”

Qing’e paused, clearly taken aback. Yun Lan was right. Ever since his mother had been promoted to the position of side consort and made him the heir to the Prince of Gong, the news had spread, and since then, bold young ladies had started to surround him, with Jing Yi being no exception.

“Prince, if you wish to challenge Sixth Sister in chess, you’re using the wrong approach. Sixth Sister may appear gentle, but she is quite discerning.”

“Miss Tongjia Yun Lan,” Qing’e said, applauding with admiration in his eyes. “With such a reputation, you are not an ordinary young lady.” He had never liked arrogant women, but Yun Lan had completely overturned that view. He then turned to Yun Wei and cupped his hands, saying, “Miss Tong, I apologize for my rudeness earlier. You are skilled at chess; would you please enlighten me?”

“Sixth Sister, this matter concerns the Tong family. You should play a game with him.”

Yun Lan whispered in Yun Wei’s ear. Yun Wei understood. Entangling with the Prince would not bode well for their reputation, and no matter how much she defended herself, it would not sound good. The rumors from the Beijing hunting grounds had only just calmed down, and now, with Jing Yi’s affair coming to light, it would tarnish the Tong family’s long-standing reputation. The young ladies’ reputations would also be affected. The third sister would soon be entering the selection process for the palace, and since she was the illegitimate daughter of the first house, her future was already uncertain. If Jing Yi’s actions further delayed things, Yun Wei couldn’t bear it, especially since she was fond of the clear-minded third sister.

“If I somehow manage to win, will the prince forget about today’s matter?”

Yun Wei tugged at the fluffy pom-pom hanging from her large fur collar, her playful and confident demeanor causing Qing’e to unconsciously nod in approval. Yun Wei took a step forward, and Yun Lan grabbed her arm, smiling as she suggested, “This won’t do. Sixth Sister is in delicate health. A game of chess would take at least half an hour. Though the scenery in the pavilion is beautiful, we wouldn’t want to freeze a lady, would we?”

“Miss Yun Lan, what do you suggest instead?”

“Let’s go to the Western Flower Hall. We can open all six windows there and still enjoy the snow scene. I’ll have the servants prepare some food for us. The fresh venison that arrived from the manor a few days ago would be perfect for this snowy day. It’s truly a treat.”

Yun Lan’s suggestion was not only practical but also enticing. Qing’e’s admiration for her grew even more. Yun Lan had a certain charm and brightness that most young ladies lacked. As for Yun Wei, she seemed as if she could see through everything, yet still appeared to be shrouded in mystery.

The group made their way to the Western Flower Hall. Yun Lan was lively and engaging, lightening the mood and preventing Qing’e from feeling bored. Yun Wei, trailing behind, first had Amber and Tortoiseshell take the carefully arranged vase of plum blossoms to the old lady, which caused a brief delay. Seeing Tortoiseshell’s concerned look, Yun Wei smiled sweetly. “It’s fine. Even if I don’t win, I won’t lose.”

Yun Wei looked at Yun Lan, her eye catching the radiant qualities that made Yun Lan so captivating. Yun Lan, too, felt a sense of satisfaction. Eating venison on a snowy day was something Shi Xiangyun did in ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’, and as a Qing Dynasty lady herself, Yun Lan could enjoy it just as well.