The next day, Meng Anzhi finished packing and left Anzhi Hall with Qing He, heading towards the theater.
At the theater entrance, maids from the Prime Minister's residence were already waiting. Upon seeing the two women arrive, they led them up the side staircase to a private room on the second floor.
As soon as the door opened, Cai Wenyan stood up with a smile, " Anzhi, you've finally arrived."
Meng Anzhi smiled and nodded, "Hello, Miss Cai."
She glanced around discreetly. The private room was simply and elegantly furnished, with a table placed by the window, overlooking the entire stage.
As soon as they sat down, Cai Wenyan handed them the play invitations, "Take a look, is there anything you like?"
Meng Anzhi and Cai Wenyan had no connection and were unsure of the purpose of Cai's invitation. She casually flipped through the playbill and saw that it was full of gentle and tender literary plays, so she randomly pointed to " The Tree Peony Pavilion ".
Seeing this, Cai Wenyan laughed and said, "Oh, what a coincidence! My sister and I have chosen the same scene."
Qing He stood outside the private room, listening intently. Today, she had specially changed into her best clothes and even put on a silver hairpin. Normally, she disliked such ornaments, finding them cumbersome and unwilling to wear them.
But today is different. Everyone says that the maid is the face of her mistress. Since she came out with her mistress, she must not let her mistress lose face.
Qing He glanced at the maid from the Prime Minister's residence beside her out of the corner of her eye. Her clothes weren't as new as Qinghe's, her headdress wasn't as shiny, and she wasn't even as tall... Qing He straightened her back with satisfaction.
Just as she was feeling smug, footsteps suddenly came from the stairwell.
Qing He subconsciously looked up and saw Zhao Zhiyuan walking up side by side with a man. The moment their eyes met, Zhao Zhiyuan already guessed who was in the private room.
The two did not enter the room, but instead booked a private room next to Meng Anzhi's.
Qing He withdrew her gaze, remaining ramrod straight and standing properly outside the door.
Inside the private room, Meng Anzhi and Cai Wenyan were discussing opera when they heard voices coming from next door. The two exchanged a glance.
Cai Wenyan leaned forward and whispered, "This theater is great in every way, except the soundproofing is a bit poor."
Meng Anzhi smiled but didn't say anything. The opera was playing on the stage downstairs. She wasn't good with words to begin with, and besides, she didn't have much to say to Cai Wenyan.
The two listened to the opera in silence.
Suddenly, voices came from next door, "Brother, you're fifteen now, have you been asked about marriage prospects?"
Zhao Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I am still young and not in a hurry to get married."
"Sigh... Men should do what's appropriate for their age. Now that you've entered the court as an official and are a second-place scholar... you're more than qualified to be with a daughter of an official."
Cai Wuyi lowered his voice as he spoke, "His Majesty's health is deteriorating... To be frank, you won't even be able to get married by then..."
"Lord Cai, please be careful with your words."
"Brother Zhiyuan... there are no outsiders here, no need to be so nervous. I'm just lamenting how difficult it is for women... think about it, weddings and funerals are all postponed... and then there's a talent show the following year."
Cai Wuyi sighed as he said this, "My family is currently looking for a husband for my younger sister..."
In the next private room, Meng Anzhi glanced at Cai Wenyan and saw that her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes were filled with shyness as she looked at her. For a moment, she wondered what the brother and sister were up to.
Just as she was wondering, Cai Wuyi's voice came again, "My little sister..."
"Lord Cai..." Zhao Zhiyuan quickly interrupted, continuing the previous topic, "I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today. Please don't continue, lest someone with ulterior motives overhear and impeach us."
Cai Wuyi's smile froze for a moment, then he burst into laughter, "That's right... we're here to watch a show, to watch a show, to watch a show."
next door.
Cai Wenyan's smile remained unchanged as she held Meng Anzhi's hand, her tone intimate yet subtly cold and hard.
"My brother really speaks without thinking. Anzhi, I invited you here today specifically to tell you something from the bottom of my heart."
Her eyes were filled with shyness, and her voice was very low, yet every word was clear, "I've heard that you and Zhao Zhiyuan grew up together, so you must know him better than anyone else. I... I admire him."
She paused, then casually remarked, "As you know, I am the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family. My status is what it is, and my future marriage is not up to me. But I happen to be fond of someone like Lord Zhao."
"Can I ask you what he likes? My mother says you should always take the initiative with someone you like. Since we're friends, you should at least help me out..."
Meng Anzhi stared at the teacup on the table, inwardly amused: They haven't even finished half a cup of tea, how can they be friends already?
She smiled slightly and said calmly, "Miss Cai, although I grew up with Lord Zhao, we are not close."
These words were clearly heard from next door, and Zhao Zhiyuan froze, almost standing up.
Cai Wenyan was not annoyed. She simply smiled gently, took out a silk handkerchief embroidered with green bamboo from her sleeve, and placed it lightly on the table.
" Anzhi, could you please pass this on to Lord Zhao? As a young lady, it's really inconvenient for me to deliver it personally. After thinking it over, you're the most suitable person. Don't worry, I won't let you help me for nothing. Your brother will surely rise rapidly in the Hanlin Academy."
A flash of coldness crossed Meng Anzhi's eyes as she looked at the exquisitely stitched silk handkerchief, finding this whole charade utterly pointless.
"Miss Cai, since this is your kind gesture, I should personally see it off to show my sincerity. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now." After saying this, she got up and left.
Cai Wenyan watched her retreating figure, the gentle smile on her face slowly fading. She picked up a handkerchief, lightly wiped her fingertips, casually tossed it on the table, and stood up to leave without looking back.
Regardless of whether Meng Anzhi and Zhao Zhiyuan were mutually attracted, this warning was intended to make Meng Anzhi sensible... and not block her path. As for Zhao Zhiyuan... Cai Wenyan thought to herself, he should know who to choose to benefit his career.
Cai Wuyi door faded into the distance and all sound ceased before he slowly spoke, his tone becoming more subdued.
" Lord Zhao, we are both officials in the same court, and we both know the current emperor's health condition. My younger sister is getting older, and if any of the women in the palace..." Cai Wuyi's voice trailed off.
According to the rules of the Sheng Dynasty, after the emperor's death, officials were forbidden from marrying for one hundred days. However, during this period, a new emperor ascended the throne, changed the dynasty, and quickly filled the harem...
Unmarried female relatives of officials were required to enter the palace for selection. The Cai Household did not want to send their daughter to that cannibalistic place, so they wanted to find her a marriage partner as soon as possible.
Chancellor Cai valued Zhao Zhiyuan not only because of his outstanding talent and handsome appearance, but more importantly because he was introverted and had no powerful backing, making him easier to control than other officials.
In this way, the daughter can marry into a stable family and be free from hardship and constraints of the palace.
Cai Wuyi finger. "If Lord Zhao is willing to form this auspicious union with the Cai Household and marry Wenyan, firstly, it will fulfill her wish to live a peaceful life, and secondly... in the future, in all matters in the capital, Cai Wu and the Prime Minister's Mansion will naturally treat Lord Zhao as family and take good care of him."
But if... this matter is delayed, once the imperial decree arrives, it will be too late to stop it even if we want to."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiyuan rose and bowed without hesitation.
"I appreciate the Prime Minister's kindness... but my heart already belongs to another. If I were to force Miss Cai into a relationship, we might become bitter enemies. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
After saying this, Cai Wuyi turned and left. Looking at the wide-open door, he silently clenched his fists...