"Why would he want to see me?" Pei You glanced at the incredulous expressions of the others, guessing that a Minister of the Ministry of Rites must be a very high-ranking official.
"He is eager for talent and has kindly requested a meeting," Chen Yunyan said, his eyes crinkling into a smile.
"That’s impossible! What could she possibly have that would interest Lord Jiang..." Chen Yunzhou instinctively blurted out an objection, but then he met his second brother’s gaze. He felt a sudden chill and clamped his mouth shut.
"These are Lord Jiang’s own words. The invitation should be arriving at the Marquis's Mansion shortly," Chen Yunyan said, propping his head up with an air of profound lethargy. "I’ve just returned to the Capital and feel quite unwell; I shouldn't be troubling Mother further."
Hearing this, Chang Wan wouldn't dare find fault. "How could Mother hold such things against you? Go back and rest."
With the protagonist gone, Chang Wan had no intention of keeping the others. She waved them away, only taking Chen Yunxin’s hand to lead her into the inner chamber.
Having secured the hairpin and a meal, Pei You felt light on her feet as she made her way back to her courtyard.
Nanny Xu watched Pei You’s receding figure, the profound heartache in her eyes nearly tangible. Her young mistress was beautiful and well-behaved—why was the Marchioness so blind and heartless as to constantly bully her?
As it turned out, that lunch was not to be eaten. Soon after Chen Yunyan woke from his nap, he was urgently summoned away by someone from the Crown Prince's residence.
"I hear the Marchioness is complaining that the Second Young Master treats the house like a coach station," Nanny Xu remarked, placing a stack of invitations by Pei You’s side. "These are the ones delivered to the gatehouse."
Pei You’s round, apricot-like eyes widened. She pulled one out to read; it was exactly the one from Lord Jiang that Chen Yunyan had mentioned. The letter contained earnest, sincere words inviting Pei You to visit the Jiaofang Si in the palace, suggesting she join their ranks directly.
Pei You held the letter in silence for a moment, prompting Nanny Xu to ask, "If you do not wish to go, you need not."
Pei You shook her head and held the letter—filled with high praise—up to Nanny Xu, her face full of disbelief. "Nanny, do you think he’s being sarcastic?"
Nanny Xu had not attended the Cold Food Banquet the day before and was unaware of what had transpired. However, when she saw phrases like "light as a startled goose, graceful as a drifting dragon" and "reminiscent of the late Princess Taiping," she nodded at Pei You. "In this old servant’s opinion, these are indeed words of sincere praise."
But seeing Pei You furrow her delicate brows in disbelief, Nanny Xu hesitated for a rare moment. "Does the young mistress feel that her dancing was not good?"
At this, Pei You nodded immediately. "My aunt always said my dancing was as wooden as a chicken, and that only my spirit showed any merit." She pursed her lips, her voice growing quieter. "And even that spirit was just me imitating my aunt..."
The smile on Nanny Xu’s face stiffened. Her Highness the Princess had doted on this little mistress, but she had been so strict regarding dance training that she had left the girl with such little confidence.
"Young mistress, be more confident. Lord Jiang has headed the Ministry of Rites for many years and has seen more than enough refined palace music. If you truly lacked skill, he would never have lowered himself to send a formal invitation." Nanny Xu spoke with earnest conviction, hoping to help Pei You regain some self-assurance.
She figured Lord Jiang must have recognized the shadow of the Princess in the girl’s Jinghong Dance, which explained why he was so eager to send the invitation and even intercept the Second Young Master to act as a messenger.
"Then... shall I go and see?" Pei You hesitantly directed her gaze toward the line in the invitation that read: "Preferential monthly stipend."
She still had Jiang Sinian to support, so she shouldn't miss out on an opportunity to earn money.
Nanny Xu bowed and said, "Then this servant shall go and draft a reply."
Pei You reached out and tugged at Nanny Xu’s sleeve, looking pitiful. "Nanny, please arrange for a later date. I haven't practiced dancing in several days; I need to find my rhythm again."
Nanny Xu smiled. "As you wish."
After finishing her lunch in her courtyard, a sated Pei You brought out a lounge chair to soak in the sun.
When Chen Yunxin walked in, she saw Pei You dozing. Her expression twisted for a brief moment, but remembering her purpose, she suppressed her anger and approached.
Hearing footsteps, Pei You opened her sleepy eyes and gave a soft yawn. "Sister?"
Chen Yunxin wore a dignified smile as she sat on a nearby stone stool.
"I heard that the invitation from Lord Jiang of the Ministry of Rites has arrived at the mansion," Chen Yunxin said. She instinctively reached for a teacup, only to find the stone table empty, and awkwardly withdrew her hand. "Give it to me."
Disturbed from her nap, Pei You tried to suppress her irritation. "It is true, but Nanny has taken it to draft a reply. I cannot give it to you right now."
"A reply!?" Chen Yunxin exclaimed, then realized her volume and lowered it. "You accepted?"
Pei You lifted her eyes, asking cautiously, "Was I not supposed to?"
"Lord Jiang is an outsider, after all," Chen Yunxin said with a straight face. "It is inappropriate for you to meet with him. I have a reputation as a talented woman skilled in song and dance; if I meet with Lord Jiang, others will only assume we are discussing official business, which would not be improper."
Pei You was silent for a moment. Recalling the dance Chen Yunxin had performed at the banquet, she found it truly mediocre. But looking at Chen Yunxin’s proud expression and remembering the praise from the Marquis's Mansion, Pei You reflected on whether everyone in the Capital preferred such plain, ordinary dancing.
Seeing Pei You silent, Chen Yunxin assumed she had been intimidated. Her expression became more relaxed. "Take back your reply and give the invitation to me now."
Pei You tried to think of a tactful way to phrase her question, but failing, she simply asked, "Is your dancing very good?"
Chen Yunxin’s sharp gaze fixed on Pei You. "That goes without saying."
"Then has Lord Jiang never sent you an invitation before?"
Pei You tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes devoid of any sarcasm, yet the question felt like a dagger to Chen Yunxin’s heart.
"Lord Jiang simply hasn't had the chance yet..." Chen Yunxin replied, biting her lower lip. She refused to acknowledge that someone from a village could be more talented than her, someone raised in the Capital. It was merely the novelty of the dances from the countryside, combined with the coincidental resemblance to the late Princess Taiping, that had caught the Minister’s eye.
"Then we shall just wait until he has the chance," Pei You said, squinting and yawning again like a lazy cat. "Grandfather says one must not break one's word, so I must go."
The "grandfather" she referred to was, of course, Pei Qing, who was still in the village.
Chen Yunxin’s expression chilled, and she curled her lips in a mocking smile. "Little sister, I was only discussing this with you to give you a chance. If you do not know what is good for you, don’t blame your sister for not showing you mercy later."
Pei You shrank back, startled by her sinister look, her sleepiness completely forgotten. She continued to peek out even after Chen Yunxin had swept away.
When Nanny Xu arrived, she found Pei You looking shaken. "Young mistress, what happened?"
"Sister was just here," Pei You said, trying to compose her thoughts. "She wanted Lord Jiang’s invitation, but I didn't give it to her."
A cold flash passed through Nanny Xu’s calm eyes, though she maintained a kind smile. "You did the right thing, young mistress. Your possessions should never be given away to others for no reason."