Changes

A few days after Yan Qiu Yue and Yan Qiu Heng went to Tiankong Tower, Duchess Ning received a note from her husband who was still serving in court. Morning court had adjourned, but he was expected to accompany the emperor to the royal study for longer. The duchess frowned as she read the note, then summoned her daughter.

After Yan Qiu Yue arrived and paid her respects, the duchess had her sit down and lightly tossed the note onto a table. "It seems that Marquis Zhang criticized your father in court."

Yan Qiu Yue's brows furrowed. She eyed the note, but it was folded over so she could only make out a few words. "What has Father done? Why would this marquis do such a thing?" After saying these words, she recalled that Marquis Zhang was Lin Qiao Lian's father. Could it be...

"He said that your father isn't doing a good job of managing his household. 'Even though his daughter is soon to be married, he allows her to go to such a place as Tiankong Tower and be surrounded by men. Is this not disrespecting Prince Rui?' Something to that effect."

"..." Yan Qiu Yue released a deep sigh. The rumors had said that Lin Qiao Lian held a torch for Wei Hong Sheng. However, could it be that she was more interested in the position as consort to Prince Rui-shizi? If it was Wei Hong Sheng she was after, surely she'd be elated that Yan Qiu Yue was no longer engaged to him. Why bother stirring up such trouble? Yan Qiu Yue had no illusions about the true source of this trouble. Was Marquis Zhang really someone who would attack her father? What would it matter to him where Yan Qiu Yue went or what she did?

However, if it was to please his doted-upon younger daughter... Apparently he'd be all too happy to take Duke Ning down a peg.

"I sat with Heng'er and Third Elder Brother. We merely sat at a table and talked about literature. What has that got to do with disrespecting Prince Rui?"

The duchess leveled a solemn gaze at her daughter. "Did you not sit by one other person?"

Yan Qiu Yue bit her lip, looking down at her lap as she wrung her hands. Could even that be considered disrespect towards the prince's household? Wei Hong Sheng was Prince Rui's very own son!

"Yue'er." Her mother's voice sounded somewhat distant. It alarmed her, so Yan Qiu Yue looked up. However, despite her tone, the look on Duchess Ning's face was calm. She continued, "In only a few days, it will soon be a new year. After that, it will be a mere two months before it is time for your wedding." Duchess Ning sighed a little. "Mother thinks that... After attending the New Year's Banquet at the palace, you should minimize the time you spend outside of the estate."

"Mother!" Yan Qiu Yue rose out of her seat in alarm. Her parents had never really restricted her actions before. And at a time when she was feeling particularly restless...her mother wished to clip her wings?

"Mother knows how you feel. I understand that you do not feel at ease regarding this marriage. However, there are many forces at work behind the scenes--forces that neither you nor I fully understand. Your father wishes for you to stay inside your courtyard and embroider your wedding dress. I... I agree with him. Things are changing. Lives are at stake. It would be best to avoid angering His Majesty at this time."

"His Majesty?"

"The emperor agreed with Marquis Zhang."

Stunned, Yan Qiu Yue sank back into her chair. If even the Holy One thought that she was a woman of no virtue who enjoyed being surrounded by men, this could mean nothing good. "This... This really is it, isn't it, Mother? I will truly be marrying into Prince Rui's household. I will be... I will be marrying Wei Tian Ao."

Duchess Ning slowly nodded. "You will always be the daughter of the Yan family. We will always support you. However... For now, you need to stay safe. You need to be good, stay at home, and do your embroidery." she smiled sadly. "There is actually much to be done before your wedding. Stay home and take care of things so that the princess consort does not disdain you too much. That, too, will allow you to live more at ease in the future."

"This daughter... This daughter understands and will obey Mother."

The duchess laid her hand on her daughter's, gently patting it. "Mother knows that Yue'er is a good child. Too good for this sort of fate..."

Just outside the door, Yan Qiu Heng was standing still as a statue. Only his tightly clenched fists revealed how he truly felt. After the mother and daughter's conversation shifted to lighter topics, he quietly strode away down the hall.

"Young master..." his servant nervously inquired at his side.

"Ready my horse. I'm heading to Prince Rui's estate."

"Y-young master! Is that wise?"

Yan Qiu Heng smiled wryly. "When have I cared about doing only wise things?"

Hearing this, the servant could only nod and bow several times in a nervous manner before scuttling away to the stables.

A short while later, Yan Qiu Heng arrived at Prince Rui's estate and handed over his card to request an audience with Wei Tian Ao. The latter had not left the estate in quite some time, otherwise he wouldn't have had to do such a thing. For him to call upon the prince's estate was a little untoward and besides, everyone else at the estate would know of their meeting.

Sure enough, Princess Rui looked over the Yan family card with disdainful eyes. "What could that child have come here for?" She knew well that Yan Qiu Heng was Yan Qiu Yue's twin brother. Since she didn't love the crow, naturally she also despised the whole house.

"Princess... This servant thinks that it might be worth allowing him to meet the shizi." Princess Rui's most trusted servant, an older woman named Chen Guang, commented.

Princess Rui's eyebrow rose. "Oh? Why is that?"

"The shizi has been depressed these days. However, he broke out of that state temporarily when choosing gifts for his future bride." She was, of course, referring to the betrothal gifts. "This servant thinks that perhaps he may do so again if allowed to talk to his future bride's brother."

Princess Rui pondered this for a while. Though she missed the son she'd known longer, she was very sympathetic towards Wei Tian Ao. She wanted to be a good mother to him and better understand him. "I wonder...why choosing the gifts lightened his mood."

"Perhaps he has feelings for the Yan family's young miss?"

Princess Rui frowned. "How could he? Have they even been introduced?" Then she recalled that they'd attended several of the same banquets and whatnot. So while they had never been introduced, it was possible for her son to have witnessed the girl from afar. She had to admit that at the very least, Yan Qiu Yue could be called beautiful. Thinking to here, she let out a dissatisfied huff. "Never mind. Fine. Send someone to inform Tian Ao and then lead that Yan young master over to the side hall of his courtyard."

Cheng Guang bowed. "All shall be done according to Princess's will." She went off to arrange everything, hoping that meeting with Yan Qiu Yue's brother might trigger something positive in Wei Tian Ao.