Chapter Forty-Nine: Lanterns on the Stone Bridge

Liang Hengbo’s name suited her well. Her eyes, dark and large as if adorned with makeup, held a striking allure. Though she came from a life touched by the world’s dust, there was not a hint of vulgarity about her. She was draped in a flowing white robe that spread across the floor like a cloud, and at her chest, a red undergarment peeked through, lending her an oddly pure and enchanting air.

How could one describe her? After a long moment of contemplation, Lingran thought of a Japanese AV actress; the comparison was, indeed, apt.

Liang Qingcheng, her younger sister, possessed even sweeter features. Her face still bore the roundness of youth, and when she smiled, a dimple appeared on one cheek. She wore a robe identical to her sister’s, her hair styled in the manner of Japanese women, and her lips were stained only at the center, her makeup reminiscent of a geisha. To modern eyes, it was rather unattractive, but who knew what people of this time thought?

Liang Hengbo did not respond to her sister’s words but instead turned to Lingran and said, “I didn’t have time to question you carefully at the Third Madam’s place. Since we have no pressing matters tonight, I’ve called you here to talk.”

Her tone was fairly gentle, so Lingran replied with a smile, “If Sixth Madam has any questions, please ask.”

“I heard from Zigao that the Prince only brought you here from the Prime Minister’s residence because of the Red Gauze Gentleman. Is that true?”

“Well…” Lingran carefully considered her response. She knew only that the Prince harbored resentment towards the Red Gauze Gentleman, but had no idea what these women thought. Women were often petty and suspicious; best not to involve herself in any entanglements. So she replied, “To be honest, Sixth and Seventh Madams, that was merely a misunderstanding. I’ve only met the Red Gauze Gentleman three times. The first time, I saw him from afar and did not exchange a word. The second time, only Young Master Wu Wei spoke with him. The third time, I almost lost my life at the hands of the Prime Minister, and it was by chance that the Red Gauze Gentleman happened by and, out of kindness, saved me.”

Liang Qingcheng covered her mouth and asked, “You never served him? Or the Prime Minister?”

“No, never. On the Prime Minister’s birthday, I was deemed too plain and sent away.”

“Sister, don’t you remember Little Lu said she worked at the Lanze Study? How could she have served the Prime Minister?” Liang Hengbo reminded her.

Liang Qingcheng stuck out her tongue and then asked how Lingran had gotten her name.

Lingran answered honestly and explained everything.

“So you’re from the House of Thousand Golds,” Liang Qingcheng exclaimed. “No wonder! Our newest Twelfth Madam also comes from there, as do the few who were recently sent to the palace. They are all quite pretty. Are you people from the West Bureau under Eunuch Liu?”

“I wouldn’t dare claim that,” Lingran replied. “Eunuch Liu sent us over as birthday gifts, so now we belong to the House of Chu.”

“You speak cleverly. You met the Prince while working at Lanze Study, didn’t you?” Liang Hengbo asked.

Lingran recalled seeing Chu Yu several times and wanted to deny it, but she had learned her lesson. In front of his concubines, it was best to appear as uninvolved as possible. So she lied smoothly, “I was assigned there by the housekeeper. Today is the first time I’ve ever seen the Prince.”

Liang Hengbo seemed satisfied and nodded. “Tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. I have copied many Buddhist scriptures and plan to burn them as offerings for the departed. Since you worked at Lanze Study, you can go to the chapel with us later.”

Lingran accepted the order, and the two sisters rose to change their clothes.

Left alone, Lingran sat upright, and soon enough, the sisters and their maids emerged. The Liang sisters had styled their hair in priestess buns and donned silver-gray Taoist robes, appearing as handsome as young men—if only their faces were not so heavily rouged. Behind them, two maids followed: one carrying a large basket filled with incense and candles, the other holding two exquisite lotus lanterns.

Lingran quickly stood up. Another maid approached, wordlessly handing her a tray with such abruptness that Lingran nearly dropped it.

Once everyone had put on their shoes, four more maids lit lanterns at the front. Lingran was relieved to spot Yanyan among them; for some reason, her instincts about people were always accurate. Some she instantly shied away from, others she trusted without hesitation, and she had yet to be wrong.

As they walked, the crowd thickened, and before long, they saw a stone bridge ahead, ablaze with lights.

“Look, sister,” said Liang Qingcheng with a snort. “Everyone else is so eager. We’ll come back tomorrow to float more lanterns for the wandering souls.”

“The Prince may not notice. It’s better to make an impression in the chapel. Tomorrow we can also bring back more lucky charms from outside,” Liang Hengbo replied.

The sisters discussed how best to win Chu Yu’s favor, but just then, another group approached, escorting a woman.

At the head of the group, two large red lanterns were held aloft, and the woman in the center wore a bright red robe, adorned in richness and splendor. Her looks were respectable but not exceptional. Seeing the Liang sisters from afar, she called out coquettishly, “Oh! Where did these two lady Taoists come from?”

The Liang sisters greeted her with bright smiles. Liang Qingcheng said, “Concubine Fang, you truly are different from the rest of us. Even on a night like this, you dare to wear bright red by the riverside. Be careful—water spirits might come for you!”

Liang Hengbo tugged at her sister’s sleeve, as if to warn her not to speak rashly.

Only then did Lingran realize this was Lady Fang, the Eighth Consort, the only secondary consort in the Prince’s household with a formal imperial title.

Fang’s face darkened at once. “Tomorrow is the true festival. What do you mean by that remark?”

Lingran braced herself for another quarrel, but Liang Qingcheng simply bowed and said, “It was childish of me to speak out of turn, Concubine Fang. Please don’t take offense.”

Fang looked at her with disdain, then ignored them, instructing her maids to set the lanterns afloat.

The Liang sisters withdrew beneath a large willow tree, out of Fang’s earshot. Only then did Liang Hengbo say, “Why bother with her?”

But Liang Qingcheng just laughed and pointed, “The real excitement is about to begin. All the main players have arrived.”

Lingran was puzzled. There were so many places with water in the Prince’s estate—why did all these women gather here to float their lanterns? Following Liang Qingcheng’s finger, she spotted two more groups approaching.

One group, led by four maids, was headed by a robust woman she recognized as Mistress Shi Yufeng. The other, accompanied by four maids and an elderly woman, was led by a beauty clad in sapphire-blue brocade and a skirt edged with peacock blue. Her delicate features needed no embellishment, and as she walked, her hips swayed with a feline grace and foxlike allure.

The Liang sisters, eager for the unfolding drama, seemed to have forgotten all about their lanterns.