Am I Late?

Su Luoqian did not respond to Su Manrong. Instead, she gently toyed with the white jade lotus bracelet on her wrist.

The bracelet was of the finest quality, and against her wrist, it made her skin look even more delicate and fair.

Today she wore a long dress embroidered with golden-thread ruyi patterns, its borders intricate and luxurious, making her beautiful face appear even more captivating.

As she lowered her eyes to drink her tea, her raven-feather lashes fluttered, and every movement was full of charm.

Su Luoqian moved at an unhurried pace. She was in no hurry, but there were plenty of others who were.

Kong Cuilian touched the red mark on one side of her face. "Sister Qian, now that you've married into the prince's residence, I suppose you've grown quite distant from us."

With that look, she appeared pitiable enough to deceive.

Su Luoqian glanced at her indifferently. "When were you and I ever close?"

When Duan Bowen, Earl of Wenchang, and Yin Qiyao, heir to the Marquis of Rongning, had made things difficult for the Su family, her aunt and cousin had had a hand in it too.

They had coveted the Su family's holdings and tried to ruin her marriage prospects in secret. She would settle those debts one by one.

Su Luoqian spoke bluntly and firmly. Even before she married, she had rarely given them a pleasant look, much less now that she was married to Prince Cheng'an. If she had really wanted to pull rank, she would have already driven Su Manrong and Kong Cuilian out of the Su residence.

She slowly set down her teacup and looked up with a soft laugh. "Aunt, you know I married Prince Cheng'an. Now we must take care to observe the proper distinctions of rank and etiquette, don't you agree?"

What she meant, in so many words, was a warning to Su Manrong not to think of using her to climb to a higher branch.

Su Manrong understood, but she was unwilling to give up, so she could only force a smile. "Your sister Lian'er is young and doesn't know better. Don't hold it against her."

"You know she's my only daughter." She glanced sideways at Kong Cuilian, looking every bit the loving mother. "It's been nearly two years since Lian'er came of age. Her father and I have put a great deal of thought into her marriage, but a good husband is hard to find. Now that you're the Prince of Cheng'an's Consort, we were hoping you, as her elder sister, could lend her a hand."

Su Luoqian sneered inwardly. It must have been hard for her to hold back so long before revealing the purpose of her visit.

She seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking. "I heard Father and Mother say that a scholar from the Li family sent a matchmaker to propose before?"

"I hear he's refined and courteous, well-read and versed in propriety. He can sell paintings and write calligraphy, so he has a way to earn money. He'd make a good husband for Sister Lian'er."

At those words, Kong Cuilian clenched the hand hidden in her sleeve even tighter.

That Li scholar was a penniless pauper. How much could he make selling paintings and writing calligraphy? Was she supposed to marry him and live on thin porridge and plain dishes, wearing coarse cloth and rough clothes every day?

How could she possibly endure such poverty and hardship?

Su Manrong could scarcely keep smiling. "Qianqian, what you don't know is that the Li scholar is no suitable match. We wouldn't dare dream of climbing to a higher branch, but Lian'er has been cherished and cared for since she was little. How could we watch her marry into suffering?"

Su Luoqian looked at her in amusement, though the smile did not reach her eyes.

"Since you've put it that way, Aunt, let me think it over." She seemed to lower her eyes in thought for a moment before speaking again. "There are only a few of us here, so I'll be frank. Since Sister Lian'er looks down on the Li scholar, surely the Earl of Wenchang and the heir to the Marquis of Rongning would be to her liking?"

The moment she finished, both Kong Cuilian and Su Manrong's expressions soured.

Who in Yujing City did not know that Duan Bowen, Earl of Wenchang, was over fifty? His principal wife had died of illness the year before last, and he now intended to take another.

Yin Qiyao, heir to the Marquis of Rongning, was only twenty, but he had more concubines and bedmaids in his household than could be counted on one hand, and his principal wife was not easy to get along with.

More importantly, after the Su family had displayed its wealth, Kong Cuilian had bribed someone to "accidentally" present Su Luoqian's portrait to those two in secret. That was why Duan Bowen and Yin Qiyao had subsequently made things difficult for the Su family.

Come to think of it, when the Su family had been attacked from both front and rear, this mother and daughter had done their share of fanning the flames behind the scenes.

Now that those two names had come from Su Luoqian's mouth, Kong Cuilian could not help feeling a thief's guilty conscience, afraid that what she had done before had been discovered.

Seeing that neither of them answered, Su Luoqian rested her bright gaze on their faces and smiled. "The Earl of Wenchang's and the Marquis of Rongning's are hereditary noble houses of extraordinary wealth and standing. Surely Sister Lian'er doesn't look down on matches like those too?"

"You..."

Kong Cuilian was already on the verge of losing control of her expression. She was about to speak when Su Manrong stopped her.

She drew a deep breath and managed to maintain her smile. "A matter as important as marriage requires careful consideration. We'll discuss it another day, another day."

Su Luoqian gave a soft laugh and said no more.

As noon approached, Su Liangzhuo was about to order the meal served when Uncle Wang hurried over to report, "Master, Madam, His Highness has arrived."

The moment he spoke, Kong Cuilian's eyes lit up, and the delight on her face was unmistakable.

Sitting diagonally across from her, Su Luoqian rose at her leisure and examined her from head to toe, as though looking at some interesting object.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Even she, his wife, did not look as happy as Kong Cuilian. Should she put on a show of it too?

At the thought, Su Luoqian curved her lips into a perfectly measured smile and stepped daintily outside.

Su Liangzhuo and Cui Anlan followed. They had just left the main hall when they met Lu Jingsi in the corridor as he came in.

The man appeared to have returned to the prince's residence to change. He now wore black-and-gold brocade embroidered with clouds, setting off his tall figure and graceful, distinguished bearing.

He had swordlike brows, starry eyes, and a handsome face.

Even Su Luoqian had to admit that Lu Jingsi's good looks were particularly pleasing to the eye.

Marrying him at least gave her eyes something pleasant to rest on.

Lu Jingsi raised a hand and inclined his head slightly in greeting to Su Liangzhuo and Cui Anlan. "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law."

With that, he took a sandalwood box from Fulin behind him and presented it with both hands, courteous and measured. "Qianqian left in a hurry and forgot to bring the birthday gift."

Su Liangzhuo and Cui Anlan bent to bow, but Lu Jingsi promptly helped them upright. "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, there's no need for ceremony."

Su Liangzhuo rose with a smile. "Your Highness, thank you for the trouble. This way, please."

"It was only proper."

Su Luoqian watched at her leisure as he played the modest gentleman. When the group turned toward the main hall, the man came over and slipped an arm around her waist.

His large hand rested lightly against her side, his palm warm.

Lowering his eyes, he asked slowly, "Am I late?"

Su Luoqian shook her head and smiled at him. "No, you came at just the right time."

You arrived just as we were about to eat.

The two spoke quietly as they walked. To anyone watching, the prince and princess were like a zither and lute in harmony, their hearts in accord.

In truth, only the two of them understood the meaning in Su Luoqian's eyes as she smiled.

They returned to the main hall together.

Kong Cuilian, who had been behind them all this time, saw her chance and hurried forward. She curtsied and said, "Greetings, Brother-in-law. I am Kong Cuilian, Sister Qian's cousin."

She was still so impatient, even with half her face red from being struck. Su Luoqian found it all the more amusing.

Just listen to how she addressed him. She might as well have written all her thoughts on her face.

Nearby, Su Liangzhuo had already ordered the meal served. Su Luoqian said nothing, her bright gaze resting on Lu Jingsi as she waited to see how he would react.

Sure enough, the man's gaze was cold, and he said expressionlessly, "Father-in-law, is this not a family banquet today?"

"Of course it is," Su Liangzhuo answered.

"Since it is a family banquet, then my wife and I need only gather with you and Mother-in-law."