"Don't fuss over all these formalities. They're making my head spin. By the way, I heard from Hong Yi that the Langhuan Library in Marquis Wuwen's residence has an enormous collection of books. Even back home, I'd heard that Marquis Wuwen was one of the few great heroes in the world, and I've long admired him. I'd like to see his library today. Would you let me read there, Lady Zhao?" Lady Zhao's eyes had gone calm again, her manner still composed and dignified. No one could tell what she was thinking. Seeing Hong Yi chatting and laughing with Princess Zhennan, Madam Fang, Madam Rong, and all the guards, stewards, matrons, servants, and maids in the residence were stunned. "It is the greatest honor of my life to have Your Highness grace us with a visit," Lady Zhao replied hurriedly. Then she ordered, "Shuang'er, Tong'er, take twenty maids each and tidy the library. After I've had tea with the princess, I'll accompany her there." Princess Zhennan had brought a carriage, and her retinue included guards with swords, guards with crossbows, and mounted escorts—in every respect, the proper protocol had been observed. Yet she herself walked outside, side by side with a young man in a blue robe, chatting and laughing, looking utterly delighted. At her words, everyone in the hall froze. "Hong Yi is my friend, you know. Lady Zhao, why are you scolding him? He invited me here today. Just now, I asked him to ride in my carriage with me, but he refused, saying someone of his status couldn't ride in a carriage, then went on about all sorts of other inconveniences. I wanted to talk with him, so I got out and walked. If you must scold someone, scold me, not Hong Yi. He's a dear friend of mine." Besides, Princess Zhennan was deeply favored by the empress dowager, the emperor, and the empress. Every few days, they summoned her to the palace for a chat and showered her with gifts. Given Marquis Wuwen's standing at court, an ordinary princess without influence would hardly have needed such a grand reception. But Princess Zhennan was no ordinary princess: the Dagan Empire depended on the Divine Wind Kingdom to guard its southern seas. Her status was extraordinary. The main gate of the Marquis Mansion stood wide open, with two rows of maids lined up on either side. In the courtyard beyond, an incense table had been set up, sandalwood smoke curling into the air. The mansion's three madams sat beside it while the matrons and older maids kept darting out the gate to peer into the distance. "It's nothing. The princess will be walking up to the gate any moment. Let's go welcome her." Lady Zhao's tone was mild, as if she were forcing something down and refusing to let it show. "Your Highness is welcome to visit whenever you wish. This humble woman is overwhelmed that you would trouble yourself to come." Lady Zhao hurried to her feet, then turned to Hong Yi. "Take good care of the princess. Do not neglect her." Just then, footsteps sounded outside the gate again. Luo Yun had returned. As Princess Zhennan Luo Yun arrived at the entrance, the three madams of the Marquis Mansion greeted her first. Lady Zhao then turned to reprimand Hong Yi, a chilling glint of severity in her eyes. Lady Zhao had prepared to punish Hong Yi according to the family rules, but she had never expected him to invite Princess Zhennan as a guest. Now she had no chance to act and could only obediently light incense, change her clothes, and welcome the princess. The young man was Hong Yi. "I just remembered something I wanted to tell Lady Zhao," Luo Yun said suddenly. "A few days ago, I was talking with the empress dowager and Consort Yuan in the palace. Consort Yuan said she missed home. When she saw the other consorts returning to their families for the holidays, she felt lonely and wanted to claim some relatives here. The empress dowager knew that Consort Yuan had come from the Yuantu Kingdom and had no family in Yujing, so she agreed. She told Consort Yuan to choose a family to claim as kin. Consort Yuan said that Marquis Wuwen's name was renowned throughout Yuantu, and she wanted to claim his family. The empress dowager agreed, and an edict might be issued in a couple of days. Consort Yuan heard about Hong Yi's poetic talent while chatting with Princess Yongchun, and she'd like to meet him, too." Even the Rong Prince Mansion would have spent three days preparing if Princess Zhennan had wanted to read in its library. They were especially afraid someone might accuse them of neglecting proper protocol and tarnish Dagan's reputation as a land of etiquette. Madam Rong silently weighed the matter. "There's no need. Hong Yi can show me around. Reading calls for quiet, and I don't need a crowd of attendants. Hong Yi and I still want to talk." Luo Yun said. "I'll report this to the marquis. Once the princess has left, I'll still carry out the family punishment," Lady Zhao said, raising a hand to stop Madam Rong from speaking. By custom, a princess went out in a grand eight-man sedan chair, trimmed with gold thread and golden phoenixes. She was also supposed to be surrounded by twenty mounted guards, twenty guards with swords, and twenty with crossbows, to display the imperial family's status and grandeur and ensure her safety. But as soon as the women caught sight of the procession from afar, they understood—and their faces showed such shock that they completely lost the poised dignity expected of "madams." "Elder sister, what's going on?" Madam Rong had already received a whispered report from a servant: Hong Yi had used Hong Xuejiao's Small Heavenly Dipper Grappling Hand. Hong Xuejiao was the daughter of the second branch. "How could this humble woman dare say Your Highness was wrong?" Lady Zhao hurriedly curtsied in apology. Madam Fang, Madam Rong, the matrons, and the maids all followed suit, bowing in a ripple like rice seedlings bending in the wind. Otherwise, rumors would spread. Lady Zhao, the senior madam of the first branch, could still sit upright and composed, but Madam Fang of the second branch and Madam Rong of the third were already sweating faintly. In a great household, not the smallest detail of protocol could be allowed to go wrong. Suddenly, a guard appeared at the gate and passed a message to one of the matrons. She hurried inside and whispered to Lady Zhao. Madam Fang and Madam Rong both asked, "Elder sister, what happened?" "Elder sister... this is simply outrageous!" Madam Rong cried after Hong Yi and the princess had left. Luo Yun spoke of the library with undisguised excitement, making her sound all the more innocent and guileless. "I won't dare go against Your Highness's wishes." Lady Zhao curtsied again. "Yes." Hong Yi replied with impeccable respect, leaving not the slightest fault in his manners. Then he led Luo Yun away. The party escorted Luo Yun to the main hall of the Marquis Mansion as if she were the moon surrounded by stars, and served her tea. "What could Princess Zhennan want with our mansion, arriving without warning? She should have notified us first so we could prepare. If we're caught unprepared and fail in our manners, it won't be a small matter once word gets out." "Why is the princess walking? Why isn't she riding in a sedan chair? It's against protocol." "Hmph. I knew your Hong Xuejiao had secretly taught Hong Yi martial arts, but I'm not so foolish as to blurt it out in front of Lady Zhao. That would only make me look like I was trying to sow discord. The marquis has sharp eyes; he'll see the truth with one look. When he deals with it, heh, I won't be the one taking the blame." Mother, today I borrowed the princess's authority to slap Lady Zhao in the face. I hope your spirit can find some comfort. I know this will bring trouble, but I have another way to deal with it. "I've finished my tea. Lady Zhao, thank you for your hospitality today. Hong Yi, come with me to see the books," Luo Yun said, rising eagerly. By then, Madam Rong had stopped pressing Lady Zhao to carry out the family punishment against Hong Yi. Some matters mattered more than others. But the sharp-tongued woman kept throwing hostile glances at Madam Fang of the second branch, leaving her bewildered. As Luo Yun's host, Hong Yi had, for the first time, been given a seat in the Marquis Mansion's main hall. He saw the astonished stares of the matrons, maids, and servants, as well as Madam Fang's confusion and Madam Rong's fury. He only sneered inwardly, saying nothing. This was an outright blow to Lady Zhao's authority in the mansion! "Your Highness, why have you come back? Aren't you going to see the books?" Lady Zhao rose again. Even though Lady Zhao remained composed, with all the dignified bearing of the senior madam, her face still changed ever so slightly. That was why the three "madams" of the Marquis Mansion hadn't dared slacken when they heard the news that Princess Zhennan was coming. They immediately set everyone to work, tidied and arranged the residence, and hurried to change into the court-issued attire of madams. At last, everything was in order. They sat in the courtyard waiting anxiously, too busy even to drink their tea. Princess Zhennan Luo Yun had spoken. She winked at Lady Zhao. Still, this manner of visiting a noble household without a sedan chair or all the usual ceremony was somewhat discourteous. That was why Madam Fang and Lady Zhao were a little displeased. So Madam Zhao's face had changed. The princess was personally invested with her title by the emperor, and was effectively a prince in rank. Her title placed her far above a marquis. Yet the Marquis Mansion's three "madams" had lost their composure. "I knew Lady Zhao would find some excuse to punish me even after the princess left," Hong Yi thought, "but I wasn't foolish enough to say anything in front of her."
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