Chapter 49 - An Old Acquaintance
Across a ten-mile expanse of the placid lake, a grand ship lay anchored by the shore.
Bai Tang and Hao Zhong were at Rao Liang's side, each supporting the young lady, with eight guards dressed in fitted sleeves following closely behind.
The precious daughter of the Secretary of the Ministry of Rites couldn't help but pout, whispering to Cui Dai beside her, "Look at that! Your elder sister sure knows how to make an entrance."
Cui Dai held a cat in her arms, occasionally stroking the Persian's head, and responded nonchalantly, "Lady Pei may have her entourage, but can she truly compare to us?"
The prestige of the Pei household was unparalleled, Pei Xuan's future promising, and although Cui Ti was known to be blind, who could deny her good fortune? Among the gathering here, none held higher esteem than Lady Pei.
"She seems so smug," the young woman muttered.
Many a Miss in Xi Jing fancied Pei Xuan, and this daughter of the Secretary was among them. Hence, even before Cui Ti approached, her concealed animosity was apparent.
Cui Dai quietly comforted her, managing to win her approval. "We might be sisters, but I always thought you're far better than your elder sister."
Knowing the art of flattery better than most, Cui Dai could have indulged the conversation in private. But with so many noblewomen present, even if she was envious of Cui Ti, she had to maintain the facade of sisterly affection.
Seeing her silent, the Secretary's daughter smirked, barely swallowing the word "coward" that threatened to spill.
Gui Ming Lake, one of the eight scenic spots of Xi Jing.
During summer, countless visitors flocked to the lake. Those lucky might catch a glimpse of a prince from the palace, exchanging glances across the water, potentially paving a path into the royal family.
The current second imperial consort was one such tale of luck. Jealous of her fate, Dou Qingyue sent out dozens of invitations, and many came out of respect.
The restless heiress, unable to stay put, insisted on dragging Cui Dai outside for fresh air. However, her intentions were clear - she aimed to overshadow Cui Ti.
It was widely known that Lady Pei was born blind.
Zhao Furong let go of Cui Dai's hand and rushed forward, "Ah! Has Lady Pei decided to grace us with her presence? I thought we common folks would have to wait an eternity to catch a glimpse of her. Mind your step, Lady Pei. Should you fall, wouldn't Pei Xuan fight us to the death?"
The remark was laden with sarcasm. Before Cui Ti could respond, Zhao Furong continued, "Look at these worthless servants of yours, can't even help someone walk properly. What use are they?"
She signaled her maid to intervene.
Upon seeing this, Bai Tang puffed out his chest, instantly on the defensive, "What do you think you're doing? Stay away from our Lady!"
Hao Zhong recognized the Secretary's daughter and chuckled, "Miss Zhao, we appreciate your concern. Our Lady has taken it to heart."
She gently waved her hand, brushing off the hostile advances from the other side.
Zhao Furong sized her up and laughed dismissively, "Whence comes this dog, daring to bark at me?"
"..."
Cui Dai, notorious for her mischief, often bullied her elder sister in private, but she lacked Zhao Furong's audacious public confrontations.
One thing's for sure -- Zhao Furong truly had the guts.
Normally, one would think twice before offending someone's servant, but she blatantly disrespected Cui Ti without hesitation.
The atmosphere grew tense. Hao Zhong's expression turned cold, lips pressed tightly, with the guards' hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
The spiteful Zhao Furong resembled a cocky rooster, shooting a provocative look at Cui Ti.
Cui Ti had dealt with such theatrics countless times in her previous life. Perhaps she had grown weary and no longer wanted to navigate such situations with subtlety.
She calmly stated, "She was raised by my mother-in-law and holds a status beyond a mere maid. Miss Zhao, you should apologize to my Hao Zhong. Only then will my mother-in-law overlook your indiscretion."
A lot can change in a short time, and Cui Ti was the epitome of this change.
Cui Dai had never seen her composed sister assert dominance like this.
Was this still her blind sister?
Zhao Furong was visibly shaken, her facial color changing rapidly.
While she might disdain Cui Ti, it was another thing to be publicly perceived as disrespecting Lady Pei.
Everyone in Xi Jing knew that Prime Minister Pei held his wife in high esteem. Furthermore, Lady Pei's family was not to be trifled with.
General Dou, who regarded Lady Pei as a motherly figure, wouldn't take kindly to someone insulting her. If he came to know of this, he might just pay a visit to Zhao's family with sword in hand.
Zhao Furong realized that Cui Ti had smartly turned the tables, leaving her in a tight spot.
Apologizing to a servant while being the legitimate daughter of the Secretary? Where would she place her face?
She anxiously glanced behind, wondering why today's host, Dou Qingyue, hadn't come to her rescue.
"Miss Zhao," Cui Ti gently prodded.
Feeling the immense pressure from both the Pei and Dou families, Zhao Furong reluctantly bowed, offering a begrudging apology.
Instead of putting Cui Ti in her place, Zhao Furong had been thoroughly outplayed.
As her strained voice faded, Dou Qingyue, leading a group of young girls eager for some drama, descended from the ship's deck, "What's happening? Since Lady Pei is here, why is she still outside?"
"Nothing much, just a playful exchange with Miss Zhao."
A playful exchange?!
Zhao Furong abruptly looked up: "You've trampled all over my dignity and now you say it was 'just a joke'?"
But given the current situation, she couldn't rashly ask if Hao Zhong was truly raised by Lady Pei.
To ask would make her seem foolish.
To not ask would mean swallowing her indignation.
Upon their first encounter, she experienced Cui Ti's prowess firsthand and thought to herself: What kind of person is this? She looks frail, more delicate than the sickly Miss Dou, with a porcelain-white face. But her heart is dark!
She cast a doubtful look at Cui Dai, as if to say, "If her heart is so dark, do you think you can really bully her?"
Cui Dai feigned ignorance, her inner shock only surpassed by Dou Qingyue, who felt like she was living her life all over again.
How did this person change so much after marrying into the Pei family?
With just a few words, Cui Ti managed to make Zhao Furong lower her head. Such deftness, where was the meek and gentle Dou Qingyue she knew?
In her past life, she had often laughed at her cousin's misfortunes. But this time...
She glanced suspiciously at Cui Ti, who was inviting guests in with laughter and pleasantries.
The guards of the Pei family stood outside with their swords ready.
Inside the grand ship, the air was filled with the sound of music and dancing. Cui Ti, sitting quietly, was enveloped in the lively atmosphere.
"Servants, serve the wine!"
At Dou Qingyue's command, the attendants started pouring wine for the guests.
Noble ladies of Xi Jing often drank during social gatherings. They favored mild and smooth peach blossom wine, pear blossom wine, and sweet and sour fruit brews.
As her cup was filled, Cui Ti suddenly thought of Pei Xuan, who loved wine. Raised as a man, Pei Xuan was a refined yet passionate drinker. Song Zizhen and Zheng Wuji combined couldn't outdrink her.
Once, during a banquet at her home, Pei Xuan had a poetic drinking contest with the two. Her alcohol tolerance and literary talent left her friends so amazed that they didn't dare invite her for a drink for an entire month.
This left her feeling quite dejected.
So, Pei Xuan would often drink alone at home.
It was during these times that Cui Ti developed her tolerance for alcohol.
But having relived her life, without such experiences and without Pei Xuan by her side, Cui Ti had lost her taste for wine. Everyone has moments of indiscretion when drunk, and she would only show her drunken self to Pei Xuan.
She held the tiny cup, hesitant to drink, until Dou Qingyue teasingly said, "Cousin-in-law, a toast to you."
The frail Miss Dou drank first, setting the example. Cui Ti, not wanting to be rude, took a light sip, hiding behind her wide sleeves.
"Since we're all gathered here, enjoying fine wine and food, how about a game? Those who lose will take three drinks as punishment. What do you say to elevate our spirits?"
"Alright!"
Everyone responded. Dou Qingyue gracefully asked, "What do you think, Miss Cui?"
This life's development is clearly different from the previous one. She wanted to see whether Miss Cui was good or malicious, so she immediately agreed, "Sure."
Cui Dai sneered in secret, thinking how could someone who barely knew a few characters dare to be so boastful? Today, she would watch closely to see how Cui Ti would make a fool of herself!
Bai Tang nervously tugged at the sleeve of the young lady. Cui Ti smiled and said, "Don't worry."
How could she not worry?
In the past, when they lived in the broken-tiled house in the southern courtyard, it was already good enough to just be alive, let alone having the opportunity to showcase literary skills.
Moreover, how long had the young lady been learning literature from M'lord?
She was concerned that Cui Ti would be caught off guard by these people's tricks.
It would be better to stay at home than to go out and be ridiculed, to avoid being subjected to unnecessary criticism.
This Miss Cui, who everyone in the Pei family praised, Bai Tang didn't think she was that good. If she really was, why didn't she compare with the young lady in the game of 'Blind men feeling the elephant'?
Such tricks just to annoy others.
Musicians were quickly called upon.
The game was in line with the elegance pursued by the nobles of Xi Jing---listening to music and composing poetry that matched the theme, followed by a blindfolded public appraisal through voting. Whoever got the least votes had to accept a penalty.
Those without profound musical knowledge, even if they could compose poetry, their poetry's ambiance would greatly deviate from the theme played by the musicians.
It's a game for the literati.
Cui Dai thought that Cui Ti was just putting on a brave face.
It wasn't surprising she felt this way; most of the people present had similar thoughts.
Bullying a blind person who wasn't well-versed in literature seemed too much, but many of those who attended held unspeakable feelings toward Pei Xuan.
As desirable as M'lord Pei was, Lady Pei was equally irksome.
Moreover, Cui Ti had personally agreed to this.
It was an opportunity to bully someone handed over on a platter, and they weren't going to waste it.
Dou Qingyue smiled slightly, "Let's begin."
...
Once the melody concluded, Cui Ti held her pen, lost in thought. A close look revealed a hint of pink at the corners of her eyes, as if she truly understood the amorous and poignant song.
She 'looked' in the direction of the musician, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
The bitterness of lovers not being able to grow old together, the intoxicating passion at the time of separation, each note touched Cui Ti's heart, making her want to know the story of this musician.
Dou Qingyue, as the hostess, had already started writing, her pen swiftly gliding over the paper. Even the clueless Zhao Furong lowered her head in embarrassment, wracking her brain to compose poetry.
Now, only the Cui sisters were left without moving their pens.
Bai Tang was so worried that she felt her hair might turn white, thinking: Is this because they can't write? Is the young lady about to cry?
If they couldn't outdo Cui Dai, wouldn't they be gloated over by Cui Dai every time they met in the future?
Hao Zhong and Rao Liang, standing nearby, also broke into a cold sweat on their behalf.
A two-story tall ship could be seen slowly approaching the center of the lake.
Cui Dai started writing before Cui Ti, and as the time of one incense stick was about to pass, they both stopped writing almost simultaneously.
Their poems were handed over to the attendants to conceal their names, and Cui Ti seemed lost in thought again.
"Eh? Why did the music stop?"
On the lake surface, a young man in brocade clothes approached upon hearing this. The large ship he was on was some distance from the two-story ship.
"Would the young prince like to take a look?"
"Can I?"
"Why not?"
Prince Jing Can, feeling intrigued, opened his folding fan and said, "Alright, let's go have a look."
All the renowned noble ladies of Xi Jing had gathered. Everyone initially thought that Cui Ti would undoubtedly be the one embarrassed when the poems were reviewed, but it turned out to be Cui Dai.
As for the poem written by Cui Ti, it received unanimous praise from everyone present. Before this, many believed the poem was likely the work of Dou Qingyue.
And who is Dou Qingyue?
The talented lady of Xi Jing.
And who is Cui Ti?
A blind girl, illiterate.
Cui Dai's face turned a deep shade of purple, resembling a pig's liver: "This is absolutely ridiculous! I don't believe you wrote this!"
"Whether you believe it or not, the consensus speaks for itself."
Compared to Cui Dai's indignant outburst, Cui Ti's calm response was undoubtedly more admirable.
The music was performed live, eliminating any possibility of cheating from the beginning. And as for the astonishing poem, under the watchful eyes of everyone, it could only have been written by Cui Ti.
Cui Dai couldn't argue any further and had to punish herself with three drinks.
Three drinks led to another three.
After listening to a few melodies and composing several poems, Cui Ti's genuine talent and knowledge impressed everyone present.
Bai Tang was utterly dumbfounded. What... What was happening?
When did her lady undergo such a transformation?
Cui Ti, tilting her head to listen to the praises whispered into her ear, saw Dou Qingyue, seated in the main chair, suddenly have a realization in her heart---
It's you.
You've returned as well.