Chapter 69: Moving to the Capital
Proofread By: Mim
It snowed last night, and this morning, everything was covered in white, a silver world dressed in snow.
At the Chao Yun Courtyard, Linglong breathed out a puff of white mist, rubbing her hands together as she lifted the curtain.
“Where is the young lady? Hasn’t she woken up yet?”
“The young lady is awake; she’s currently grooming herself in the western room.”
Linglong let out an “oh” and, after warming herself up a bit, quietly made her way toward the western room.
Chu Jinyao was sitting in front of the dressing mirror, with Jiegeng behind her holding a small round mirror, helping Chu Jinyao adjust the silver hairpin in her bun. Chu Jinyao saw Linglong in the dressing mirror and asked, “Has the message come back?”
“Yes,” Linglong replied. “Before spring, the marquis will report to the capital, so the Old Madam has taken the opportunity over the last few days to finalize the engagement between the Second Young Master and the lady from the Duan family.”
Marquis Changxing was set to report to the Five Armies Camp in March, but there was no way for the family to move to the capital before the year-end. So, right after the new year, before the scent of firecrackers had faded, the Changxing Marquis Estate was already busy preparing for the upcoming move.
Jiegeng, feeling quite excited, added, “I heard from one of the maids near the Old Madam yesterday that we’ll be moving to the capital by the end of February. It seems the young lady’s coming-of-age ceremony will take place in the capital!”
The maids in the room were all in a state of eager excitement. Chu Jinyao only smiled lightly when she heard this. The two Momos sent from the palace entered and, hearing Jiegeng’s words, asked, “So, the young lady’s birthday is in the spring?”
“Yes, on the sixteenth of March,” Chu Jinyao said. “At that time, the land was just thawed, and the Tatars, having endured a winter of snow disasters and nothing to eat in the spring, headed south to raid. I was born during this time.”
Born amidst the chaos of war and switched at birth.
The two Momos had been sent six months ago, but it was only now that they learned of Chu Jinyao’s birth date. They both looked a bit embarrassed. One Momo, as if offering an explanation, said, “Once we reach the capital, things will be better. The young lady is the future crown princess, so your coming-of-age ceremony will surely be grand and splendid.”
After being frightened by Qin Yi earlier, the two Momos had behaved much more cautiously since then. Being seasoned servants from the palace, they naturally understood what truly mattered in the palace.
Why was the Empress Qi able to hold such unshakable authority in the palace? It wasn’t because of her particularly brilliant strategies or her prestigious background; it all came down to the emperor.
Perhaps because of the unique circumstances of how Empress Qi had come to be the emperor’s wife—his former sister-in-law—he had been extremely indulgent toward her over the years. No matter whether it was matters within the imperial harem or even those of the court, as long as Empress Qi requested something, the emperor usually couldn’t refuse.
It was because Empress Qi had the emperor’s favor—being able to sway the emperor—that everyone in both the court and the palace feared and respected her. Their fear of Empress Qi ultimately stemmed from the emperor.
If the crown prince could be sent to the border just for disrespecting Empress Qi, then what about everyone else?
The higher the status, the more evident the disparity in power. In common families, a wife might be able to use her strong personality to compete with her husband or mother-in-law and secure her position. But in the royal family, such a thing was impossible. The power would always reside with a select few.
To put it bluntly, there were only a few true masters in the palace: the emperor, the crown prince, a few other princes, and now, the empress. This was the reality of the palace. The concubines and consorts served these royals, and the maids and eunuchs served the consorts and concubines.
The two Momos saw that this future crown princess seemed to be favored by the crown prince, and being well-versed in reading the winds of change, they soon reached a conclusion. While they couldn’t outright defy the empress’s orders, they also couldn’t afford to offend this new crown princess too much.
What if, after entering the palace, Chu Jinyao continued to enjoy the crown prince’s favor? Then things would really be different.
Previously, the two Momos had dared to be harsh with Chu Jinyao, relying on the empress’s backing and because the future crown princess wasn’t from a particularly noble family—just from an outlying marquis estate whose title was at its last generation. In their eyes, it wasn’t even worth considering as nobility.
But if the crown princess was favored, that would be a different story. After their close call of almost being sent back to the capital, the two Momos had become much more cautious and began treating Chu Jinyao with greater respect. The lessons on palace etiquette gradually relaxed in intensity, as they weighed their safety above their pride.
Chu Jinyao naturally noticed this change, but she pretended not to, continuing to treat the two Momos cordially. After all, they were the empress’s people, sent to teach her palace etiquette. No matter what the empress’s true intentions were, on the surface, these two Momos were her benefactors. She had to show them the utmost respect, making sure everyone saw how filial and respectful she was toward them, and thus, toward the empress.
On the contrary, if she had truly allowed Qin Yi to send these two back to the capital, no matter what the real reason was, no one would care. People would only see a newly betrothed daughter-in-law daring to reject the empress’s goodwill by dismissing the Momos sent to teach her palace etiquette—using the crown prince’s hand, no less.
Before she could even be formally installed as the crown princess, a reputation of being a seductive, disrespectful wife who dishonored her in-laws would be immediately thrust upon her. A woman’s reputation was like a double-edged sword. Back when she was just a girl, Chu Jinyao had almost been forced into a bad marriage due to rumors. How much more critical was her reputation now, as the future crown princess?
There was only one crown prince, but there could be many crown princesses. Chu Jinyao was grateful that the crown prince had stood up for her, but she had only one life to protect.
While the maids were enthusiastically discussing the coming-of-age ceremony, Chu Jinyao was reminded that after the ceremony, the six rites of marriage would follow soon after.
She could now truly feel that she was about to get married.
As the end of the first lunar month approached, the Changxing Marquis Estate was filled with the sights of neatly packed boxes and trunks. Each household had already packed their valuables, repeatedly instructing the younger members and maids, both anxious and excited for the upcoming move.
Supported by her maids, Chu Jinyao climbed into her carriage. Linglong carefully lowered the curtain, and the coachman called out, snapping the reins as the horses began to move forward. Sitting in the gently swaying carriage, Chu Jinyao absentmindedly listened to the maids’ chatter to pass the time. They were repeating the same few topics: how the Third Young Lady had gotten engaged in August of the previous year and would be married from the capital this spring, and how the Second Young Lady had already left the Changxing Marquis Estate at the end of the year.
Chu Jinyao also vaguely heard that Chu Jinmiao, after returning to the Su family, had been pressured by her family to get engaged as well, and that her dowry was naturally a big issue.Madam Zhao had been worried that Chu Jinmiao might suffer, so she had specifically arranged for a maid to accompany her, to help with heavy chores. But now, it seemed that things had backfired.
After all, Chu Jinmiao still had a younger brother who couldn’t find a wife.
However, these things no longer had anything to do with Chu Jinyao. Chu Jinyao hadn’t done anything; she had even generously given the fake daughter who had taken her place many gifts, ensuring she would be financially secure for the rest of her life. If her own family wasn’t doing well, what did that have to do with Chu Jinyao?
Before leaving Taiyuan, some busybodies came to tell Chu Jinyao that it seemed the marriage prospects of the county princess from the Prince Huailing’s Residence weren’t going well either. After all, although the matter between Chu Jinyao and the county princess wasn’t public knowledge, those who should know, already did.
A woman’s reputation is indeed fragile. Back then, the Prince Huailing’s Residence used this to pressure Chu Jinyao, and now it was their turn to taste the bitter fruit they had sown. They had been so eager for the county princess to become the Crown Princess—if successful, she would have been the subject of admiration. But if she failed, she would become the subject of ridicule, especially since she had offended the real Crown Princess. Moreover, with the county princess’s arrogant and self-centered temperament, Chu Jinyao thought she might have a hard time finding a husband.
The journey for the convoy from the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion was slow and intermittent. After three or four days, they finally reached the capital at dusk. The people of the Marquis’s Mansion were exhausted from the long trip and only wanted to enter the Mansion and get a good night’s sleep.
The residence of the Marquis’s Mansion in the capital was far inferior to the one in Taiyuan. However, land in the capital was extremely valuable, and without a reward from the palace, the Changxing Marquisate wouldn’t have been able to afford a residence in such a prime location.
When they arrived at the Mansion, a small incident occurred. The old servant at the gate informed them that the house to the east of the Marquis’s residence had been vacant for a long time. It was said to be someone’s ancestral home, and many had come to inquire about purchasing it, but it was never for sale. Yet a few days ago, someone suddenly bought it.
The old servant then handed over the property deed of the neighboring residence. The Changxing Marquis was momentarily stunned and suddenly remembered that when the Crown Prince visited last time, he had casually asked where their residence in the capital was located. The marquis pondered for a moment, then took the property deed and said, “I understand. You don’t need to worry about this matter. I’ll take care of it. By the way, who delivered the deed?”
The old servant shook his head, saying, “It was someone in yellow clothing. He didn’t say anything, just handed over the deed and told me to keep it safe, then left.”
“Did he leave any message?”
“No, nothing.”
“Marquis,” Madam Zhao approached and said to the Changxing Marquis, “Let’s put this matter aside for now. It’s getting late. Let’s first get Mother and the young ladies settled in to rest.”
The Changxing Marquis glanced back and saw Chu Jinyao just stepping down from the carriage, while her maids and servants were busy unloading luggage. The marquis watched for a while and asked Madam Zhao, “Has Jinyao’s courtyard been arranged?”
“Mother had it cleaned and prepared long ago, waiting for them to arrive and move in.”
“Leave it for now; don’t let her move in yet. Let her rest in Mother’s courtyard for a few days.”
“Miss,” Jiegeng came running back, panting, and said to Chu Jinyao, “The Old Madam said your courtyard isn’t ready yet and to move your things to the Old Madam’s courtyard first.”
Not ready yet? Chu Jinyao had a feeling something was off, but it wasn’t a big issue. She nodded and said, “Alright, then I’ll trouble Grandmother for a few days.”
As for the Changxing Marquis, later that day, he visited the neighboring house. He found that the courtyard had been well-renovated, with fresh paint on the pillars. It was ready for occupancy, only needing some personal belongings moved in. The marquis wasn’t quite sure how he felt. As a father, he had mixed emotions, but as a courtier, he knew he had to be grateful for the Crown Prince’s favor. Guessing the master’s intentions really required careful thought.
Chu Jinyao stayed in the old madam’s side house for three days and gradually recovered her energy. However, she had so many boxes and luggage that they piled up in the old madam’s courtyard, making it somewhat inconvenient. Then, one day, she received surprising news: “You’re saying that our family bought the neighboring house, and now I’m to move there?”
“The marquis has already knocked down the wall between the two houses, making it convenient to come and go. It’s been specially prepared for you.”
What was going on? Why would the marquis suddenly expand the residence? Confused, Chu Jinyao moved to the eastern house. But the servants were right. Although the eastern residence had originally been independent and wasn’t particularly large, it had everything—front hall, garden, all the essentials. Now, with the wall opened to the Marquis’s Mansion, Chu Jinyao could return anytime to pay her respects, but once the middle door was closed, it felt like she had her own independent household. It was incredibly comfortable.
The Old Madam had originally planned to move to the capital by the end of February, but to her surprise, they arrived much earlier and were settled by mid-February. However, as soon as the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion settled in, without even catching their breath, the capital’s probing of the newly ennobled family began.
The only daughter of Princess Rong’an, who was also the Second Young Lady of the Prince Wei’s Mansion, invited Chu Jinyao to visit the Prince Wei’s Residence. And on the day of the gathering, Baoyu County Princess from the Prince Rui’s Mansion and the two young ladies from the Zhenbei Marquis’s Mansion would be present.
When Chu Jinyao saw these names, her heart trembled. These four individuals were representatives of the most elite circle of noblewomen in the capital, each one of royal or noble descent, frequently seen by the Emperor and Empress. Their attitude represented the attitude of all the noblewomen in the capital.
Chu Jinyao accepted the capital’s test of her. On the day of the gathering, she wore a red brocade dress with a cloud motif and a silver-white satin coat, heading to the banquet alone.
It was the first time she didn’t have to consider her status; she was dressed head-to-toe in luxurious fabrics worth their weight in gold. The brocade shimmered like clouds, and after Chu Jinyao carefully altered the details, her outfit became elegant and eye-catching. Even though she could have brought someone along, none of the other girls from the Marquis’s Mansion wanted to attend. It was better to let Chu Jinyao go on her own.
Last year, the Crown Prince had suddenly written to the Emperor, requesting a marriage decree for himself and a young woman. Though the relationship between Qin Yi and the Empress was complex, the position of Crown Princess had always been highly coveted by many influential families in the capital. However, out of nowhere, an unknown young woman had swooped in and claimed the title. How could the capital’s aristocracy be content with this? Even the Cabinet had its reservations. But because the Crown Prince was adamant, and the Empress fanned the flames, after some time, even the Emperor had no objections.
When the three most powerful figures in the empire agreed, what did it matter if others objected? Everyone watched as the imperial edict was issued from the palace and announced by the Ministry of Rites, confirming that the position of Crown Princess was settled.
Since June last year, the capital had been abuzz with curiosity about this unknown Crown Princess. And when the year-end assessments concluded and the Changxing Marquis was transferred to the capital’s Five Army Camp, the noblewomen could no longer contain themselves. Led by Princess Rong’an’s daughter, they sent an invitation to Chu Jinyao. They wanted to see what kind of woman could make the Crown Prince request marriage.
The Baoyu County Princess and the two young ladies from the Zhenbei Marquis’s Mansion arrived early. They sat in the warm pavilion of the Prince Wei’s residence, surrounded by servants, speaking softly and elegantly. Then, they heard the announcement: “The Fifth Young Lady of the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion has arrived.”
The ladies stopped talking and looked toward the entrance. After a brief silence, all four noblewomen sighed inwardly.
Ah, men. Crown Prince Qin Yi had always stood apart in the capital, disdaining the idle sons of noble families who indulged in pleasures. They had thought the Crown Prince was different. But as it turned out, men were all the same.
Baoyu County Princess chuckled, “This future Crown Princess is quite good-looking. My brother, the Crown Prince, is certainly fortunate.”
After entering the room, Chu Jinyao followed the etiquette and bowed to the Baoyu County Princess. Although all present were from prestigious families, only the County Princess held a title, so Chu Jinyao only bowed to her. As for the others, like the Princess’s daughter and the Empress’s niece, while their statuses were noble, they held no official rank. Chu Jinyao merely nodded in greeting. She had the title of Crown Princess, and although she hadn’t married yet, she couldn’t lower her status by bowing to them.
The County Princess smiled at Chu Jinyao and said, “So you are the sister from the Chu family. Please, rise. We are all like sisters; no need to be so formal.”
Although she said this, she still waited for Chu Jinyao to complete her bow before speaking.
Zhao Lanhui also smiled and said, “I was mesmerized and you beat me to it.” She glanced at the maids and said, “Why are you standing there? Quickly, bring a seat for Miss Chu.”
Chu Jinyao maintained a soft and slightly shy smile, greeting each of the ladies.
The hostess, Zhao Lanhui, was the only daughter of Princess Rong’an. Her looks must have taken after her father—elegant but lacking the sharpness common in the current royal family. Princess Rong’an, the Emperor’s sister, was the most favored princess in the capital. After her coming-of-age, she was married to the Prince Wei’s second son. As a rule, prince consorts couldn’t participate in government affairs, so after marrying the princess, the Prince Wei’s son was assigned a leisurely post with no prospects. Due to these strict rules set by the founding emperor, most princesses had unsatisfactory marriages. Princess Rong’an was no exception, and despite being married for many years, she only had one daughter, Zhao Lanhui.
Although the princess and her husband didn’t have a good relationship, their daughter, Zhao Lanhui, wasn’t a pitiful figure. With her mother’s status, she wielded influence both in the Prince Wei’s residence and in the palace.
Seated next to Zhao Lanhui was the Baoyu County Princess, the daughter of Prince Rui. The founding emperor’s edict stated that once a prince came of age, if he didn’t become the Crown Prince, he would be made a prince and sent to his fiefdom, known as establishing a state. If a prince wasn’t summoned back to the capital, it was considered rebellion.
However, Prince Rui was an exception. Although he resided in his fiefdom, he had been close to the Emperor since childhood and had always sought to strengthen ties with him. His legitimate daughter was sent to the capital to be raised by the Empress, and it turned out to be a wise move. The Baoyu County Princess became especially favored by the Emperor, and her treatment in the palace even surpassed that of some princesses. The Emperor even broke precedent, bestowing her a title before her marriage.
As for the remaining two ladies, their situation was simpler. The older one was named Qi Xuan, and the younger, Qi Rong. Both were daughters of the Zhenbei Marquis, with Qi Rong being the legitimate daughter and thus more esteemed.
The Zhenbei Marquis’s family had produced two Empresses. Elder Empress Qi gave birth to Crown Prince Qin Yi, and Younger Empress Qi had been the most favored in the palace for over ten years, with one legitimate prince and one legitimate princess, solidifying her status. Because of this, the Zhenbei Marquis’s family had risen even higher in power.
Perhaps the only regret of the Zhenbei Marquis’s family was their strained relationship with Crown Prince Qin Yi.
Chu Jinyao thought about the backgrounds of everyone present and felt an increasing weight on her shoulders. It was hard to gauge Zhao Lanhui’s stance, but she was sure that the Baoyu County Princess, Qi Xuan, and Qi Rong would not be on her side.
In fact, Chu Jinyao’s assumptions were largely correct. Qi Rong, in particular, studied her with a scrutinizing gaze. The Zhenbei Marquis’s family had already enjoyed the benefits of having an empress in the palace, and they had hoped to marry another daughter into the royal family. If Empress Qi hadn’t objected, Qi Rong might have become the Crown Princess.
However, regardless of what the others thought, they all maintained a friendly demeanor. The Baoyu County Princess held Chu Jinyao’s hand, repeatedly asking how her journey had been, whether she was adjusting to life in the capital, and even inquired about the customs of Shanxi.
Chu Jinyao believed in the principle of “the less you say, the fewer mistakes you make.” She responded with a shy smile and only answered when directly asked. Chu Jinyao knew she couldn’t compete with these pampered daughters of noble families, so she was especially cautious, making sure not to make any mistakes. After all, she now represented not just herself but also the Crown Prince’s reputation.
After some time, the Baoyu County Princess grew bored and changed the subject. “Little sister-in-law, I hear your coming-of-age ceremony is soon?”
Chu Jinyao was startled and quickly replied, “County Princess, please, I cannot accept such a title.”
The Baoyu County Princess waved her hand dismissively and said, “What’s the harm in it? The imperial decree has already been issued, and the palace is just waiting for you to come of age. Once the ceremony is over, the Ministry of Rites can begin the marriage formalities. By the way, little sister-in-law, have you thought about who will preside over your ceremony?”
This question hit a sensitive spot. The primary guest of honor at a coming-of-age ceremony was usually a respected lady, while the sponsor was typically a close friend or sister of the girl in question. Originally, Chu Jinyao would have chosen one of her sisters from the Chu family, but now, given her status as the future Crown Princess, she was unsure who to choose.
Chu Jinyao smiled and replied, “I’ve only just arrived, and I’m not familiar with the capital yet. I haven’t decided.”
Qi Rong and the Baoyu County Princess exchanged glances, smiling slightly but saying nothing. Zhao Lanhui, however, said, “No need to rush. With your current status, who wouldn’t be honored to attend? If you have anyone in mind, let me know, and I’ll speak to them on your behalf.”
Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but admire Zhao Lanhui’s way of speaking. Her words were warm and considerate, offering help while subtly implying that she wouldn’t be acting as the sponsor herself.
“Thank you, Second Young Lady,” Chu Jinyao replied with a smile, her expression calm, showing no sign of worry. Qi Rong had hoped to see some sign of anxiety on Chu Jinyao’s face, but after scrutinizing her for a while, she gave up in frustration.
Fine, let this country girl worry about it herself when the time comes.
Throughout the afternoon, Chu Jinyao smiled more and spoke less, quietly listening as the other four young women gossiped about the capital and shared anecdotes from the palace. Chu Jinyao didn’t understand most of it—she didn’t even recognize many of the names they mentioned—but she kept her smile on and played along.
When dusk began to fall and the Changxing Marquis’s carriage pulled away from the Prince Wei’s residence, Linglong, Chu Jinyao’s maid, excitedly grabbed her hand and said, “Miss, you were so calm today! You were like one of those noble ladies in plays—so quiet and graceful.”
“I was quiet because I didn’t understand a word they were saying,” Chu Jinyao replied as she climbed into the carriage, finally allowing herself to relax. She felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier. If returning to the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion had felt like a frog leaving the bottom of a well, today had felt like glimpsing the vast sky above.
No wonder the noblewomen of the capital looked down on those from outside. They truly had every reason to be proud. With illustrious family backgrounds and the finest education from a young age, the gap between them and others only widened as they grew older.
Linglong looked at Chu Jinyao with concern, but Chu Jinyao shook her head and patted her hand. “Enough, let’s go back to the Mansion. We’ll discuss this more when we’re home.”
When the Old Madam heard about Chu Jinyao’s experience, she too frowned in concern. Originally, she had planned to ask the daughter of Shanxi’s Provincial Commissioner, Duan Yinghua, to act as Chu Jinyao’s sponsor. However, the sponsor was usually an unmarried young woman, so Duan Yinghua might not be the best choice.
But if they really couldn’t find anyone else, they would have to ask Duan Yinghua. After all, she was the most suitable person the old madam knew of in terms of status, age, and reputation.
Worried, Chu Jinyao returned to her own courtyard and immediately asked Jiegeng to find her some books. During the conversation with the Baoyu County Princess and Zhao Lanhui, she had heard many references she didn’t understand. It wasn’t until later that she realized they were all from historical texts.
The Old Madam believed in raising her granddaughters to be sheltered and safe until they married. Chu Jinyao hadn’t known that the noblewomen of the capital didn’t subscribe to the belief that “a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent.” Women like the Baoyu County Princess and Zhao Lanhui had grown up studying the Four Books and Five Classics. Zhao Lanhui had even been educated alongside her male cousins.
This was terrifying. Chu Jinyao immediately asked her brother, the second young master, to recommend some books. Even if her efforts were last-minute, she hoped that cramming would still help.
For days, Chu Jinyao diligently pored over difficult texts, to the point where she felt like she didn’t even recognize the characters anymore. At the same time, the Old Madam continued to inquire about the situation in the capital. After much effort, she finally decided to send a letter asking Duan Yinghua to come.
The Duan family had also celebrated a promotion, as Commissioner Duan had been transferred back to the capital after the year-end assessments.
But fate had other plans. Before the old madam could send the letter, someone arrived from the palace.
The Empress had summoned Chu Jinyao to the palace for a “chat.”
A “chat”…
Author’s Note: [Mini-boss Empress Xiao Qi is about to make her entrance.]
Translator’s Note :- I have completed the translation of this novel. I will post regular updates from now on as I have Finally completed all my pending assignments.
If you want to read all the chapters in one go, you can purchase them on my Ko-fi page through this link https://ko-fi.com/s/11ac4c3b20 only if you feel its worth it.(as some of my readers were asking if I had an advance chapter thing). Those who want to read it all at once can buy them.
Woop woop! Thank you and happy new year translator😆😆