Qu River Pond lies southeast of Chang’an City. Its winding waters resemble a river, hence the name Qu River. (T/N: Qu / ? means winding.)
A thousand white lotuses bloom in the pond. Surrounding banks grow ten thousand willow branches. When summer peaks, aquatic plants flourish vibrantly amidst abundant shade.
On the night of the Double Seventh Festival when the annual grandest festivities occur, all of Chang’an flocks to Qu River Pond. Both banks teem with people while painted boats blanket the surface. Zither music drifts far across the rippling waters.
“It’s one thing for me to be late, but even the Eastern Palace Crown Prince?”
Languidly tapping out a beat, Jiang Kui peers through beaded curtains towards the hazy lake, unable to discern clearly the colorful smoky mist – lanterns spilling ten li from Qu River. Above, the slender crescent moon filters through the pearl screen striking her brow, haloing tranquility in cold radiance.
“Miss is truly so beautiful,” her handmaiden Xiao Qing admires, “you’ll definitely make the Crown Prince dizzy infatuated!”
“But I don’t wish to marry,” Jiang Kui pouts. “It always takes such effort to frighten off those pretentious suitors. If not for Father coercing me, wild horses couldn’t drag me here! The lovely moonlit hour is perfect for drinking instead.”
A sudden breeze stirs, crystals clinking musically against the canopy.
A small green boat slowly approaches from afar, silently stopping before Jiang Kui.
“In the transparent night of Double Seventh,” a gentle voice intones, “may this passing gentleman trouble the young lady for a cup of tea?”
“Hurry miss!” Xiao Qing urgently stuffs a pleated fan into Jiang Kui’s hand.
Jiang Kui hastily composes herself, screening face behind the fan to reveal only a pair of sparkling eyes assessing the other vessel. A snowy partition stands atop it, silhouetting the seated figure’s tall outline.
From below deck Xiao Qing prepares a cup of tea, parting the beaded curtains to hand it across waters into the waiting grasp of a white-robed attendant from that boat. He respectfully bears it behind the screen towards his master.
This was customary etiquette for noble meets.
Two families hoping to bond through marriage would arrange for their unmarried sons and daughters to “chance encounter” at an agreed time and location. To avoid awkward rejections and preserve prenuptial mystery, their appearances stay hidden. Young nobles would pretend to coincidentally meet while secluded amidst gardens or on the water, conversing through veiled elegant exchanges to convey mutual interest.
“Dare I ask…which gentleman, for what reason comes here?” Jiang Kui deliberately tremors her voice sickly and frail.
Through years of experience at these meets, no one wished to marry an invalid.
“You have my thanks for the fine tea.” The figure behind the partition lifts his cup for a tiny sip before replying, “This one hails from Chang’an, passing by serendipitously. Chancing upon the lady’s melodious words, I’ve come to meet a kindred spirit.”
Mere pleasantries, but with an appealing voice that somehow sincerely admires even through platitudes. Jiang Kui lifts the corners of her eyes a fraction, glimpsing broad swathes of his spacious sleeves as if seated amidst the clouds. Unsure of his sincerity, she decides on a ruthless gambit.
“Since it’s a noble gentleman…”
Speaking thus, she fiercely pinches herself as tears pool while hacking severely enough to seem terminally consumption-ridden. What man would wish to immediately widower after marriage?
Unexpectedly…the man behind the screen starts coughing along with her.
In fact even more severely. His teacup clatters about wildly amidst the incessant chinking loud enough to drown the tinkling crystal beads. Despite herself she peeks up again but his billowing sleeves hide everything.
What does this signify? She secretly rolls her eyes. Competing over who hacks longer?
Her coughs stop; so do his.
Truly a coughing match then?
An evenly matched opponent it is.
Mentally sighing, she finishes the rote conversational cue, “Not knowing the gentleman’s purpose, what do you seek?”
A moment later the screen figure stands, bowing deeply towards her.
“A gentle beauty, this gentleman is most fortunate.”
Unlike the platitudes, this sincere sentence flows warm as jade through the rippling waters.
Oh no no no, Jiang Kui mentally rams her head repeatedly. Why would he take a liking to her? Could it be this crown prince is also sickly and misery loves company?
The white-clothed attendant from the other boat carries over a tray of embroidered gift boxes. Xiao Qing accepts them onto Jiang Kui’s lap.
“A humble offering to repay the fine tea,” the silhouette states.
Jiang Kui scans the wooden platter’s boxes.
The first holds an exquisite bejeweled jade Buddha statuette molded from golden beeswax. Vivid colors decorate the carved base as the tiny amusing monk sits serenely.
The second contains an intertwined lotus soaked by lakewater.
The third presents a molded gilded mandarin duck, intricately threaded and painted. Called “floater toys”, plebeian children buy these to drift across ponds.
The remaining boxes brim with assorted fruits, melons, candied goods, preserves…
Continually unwrapping, she can’t resist upturning her lashes – she adores these chaotic trinkets.
Watching through the curtain, the maiden’s glittering eyes crease with laughter like countless stars simultaneously igniting the sky.
These aren’t rare treasures but ordinary festival fare peddled along the bustling streets.
Could the esteemed Eastern Palace Crown Prince have possibly scoured the marketplace for her?
Jiang Kui steadies herself, determined not to forfeit her entire matrimonial future over slight bribery.
“Xiao Qing, pass over that box from me.” She unveils her deadliest weapon.
Xiao Qing reemerges from below deck bearing a lacquered wooden case handed over into the opposite attendant’s grasp. Courteously she retreats behind her mistress again, slightly breaking into nervous sweat on the gentleman’s behalf after this destructive maneuver.
“This predicts fortunes after the Double Seventh night. Please open it yourself later, noble sir,” Jiang Kui elegantly inclines towards the screen. Sly beams flash through her eyes though voice remains poised. “A reciprocated token of gratitude.”
Ladies traditionally placed spiders within these fortune boxes. Webs appraised domestic abilities by density after the Festival ? bestowing them onto sweethearts displayed virtuous wifely qualifications.
But Jiang Kui’s box contains no spider…rather more ominous insects.
The next morning Jiang Kui wakes satisfied after a full rest. Lazily donning a honey-colored slip, she visits her father to pay respects. Mid-yawn a teardrop clinging onto long curled lashes scintillates like a tiny star within the sunlight.
“Xiaoman my dear, how fared yesterday’s meeting?” her father smiles on his seat.
“Not great,” she scratches her head, gathering loose hair behind while adorably perching on the nearest nanmu armchair closest to him. With deliberately frail cuteness she says, “That gentleman seems rather sickly. Your daughter doesn’t quite wish to marry an invalid.”
Somehow forgetting her own delicate constitution on display.
Father laughs aloud. “Yet my Xiaoman has been weak and ill herself since childhood. How can you now disdain others thus?” Utter indulgence fills his tone. “That was the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, an outstanding match. When your father leaves this world and all three brothers have their own homes, whatever would a lone maiden daughter do then? I must swiftly find you a fitting groom.”
“Your daughter only wishes to remain in General Estate forever,” sighs Jiang Kui cheek-propped.
“Foolish child still young and naïve about lifelong affairs,” Father chuckles. “Odd coincidences have occurred throughout these years I’ve arranged meetings between you and various gentlemen. Young Master Luo once fell into water. Young Master Zhao turned utterly insane overnight. Young Master Cheng fell off his horse fatally a month later. Young Master Li has publicly sworn to never take a Jiang clan woman henceforth…”
Jiang Kui bats innocent eyes – not all incidents were necessarily her handiwork, some perhaps mere flukes of chance.
Father strokes his beard contemplatively. “Could Heaven itself not allow my Xiaoman to wed, catering to your heart’s desire to stay home?”
A red sparrow trills brightly from the windowsill, joyful as glad tidings.
“Master,” a servant bows elongated outside, sunlight casting his shadow into the room. “A message has arrived.”
“Whence came this message?”
“From the Eastern Palace…with a betrothal contract.”
Shortly after, Father unravels the golden vellum observing the meticulous gilded lotus patterns with a satisfied smile. Jiang Kui peeks over at the elegant notepaper gleaming beautifully against the bold strokes within.
Faint sandalwood trails along the sheet, wafting towards her nose.
The letter holds simple contents:
The Son of Heaven’s second son Kang, dancing elephants year, remains without a wife despite sincere hopes.
Hearing the youngest daughter of General Jiang possesses peerless style and grace, long have I admired from afar and now respectfully seek the optimism of Qin and Jin’s marriage alliance. If refused,command as you please.
Kang humbly offers this.
Jiang Kui narrows her eyes as yesterday’s image of the respectful bow floats up – that graceful gentleman behind the partition. Beyond crystal ripples his bright voice had intimately floated into her ears.
“Master,” another servant bows outside. “The Eastern Palace emissaries have delivered the voluminous betrothal gifts.”
Jiang Kui follows her father out. Eighteen colorful coaches line the gates brimming over. Two white steeds lead while the remaining vehicles bear every sort of items: colored silks, fabrics, brocades, gold, silver, gems, coins, cosmetics, game, fruits, oils, sauces, ginger…nothing found lacking.
“Xiaoman,” Father strokes his beard towards her. “You said this morning’s meeting was…unsatisfactory?”
She scratches her head, mumbling, “Or perhaps…did he say something akin to a gentleman’s affinity..?”
Most occupying her mind right now is that red lacquered fortune box. Could the Crown Prince truly not have opened it yet? Or had Xiao Qing somehow placed an actual spider inside instead?
With a whosh, another carriage slowly rolls up the avenue before their gates.
An authoritative eunuch wearing purple robes steps off, haughtily unfurling an imperial edict. His movements make the coiling dragons stitched in silver thread appear vividly lifelike beneath the blazing daylight.
“Proclamation— Jiang Kui, youngest daughter of White Mausoleum’s Great Cavalry General Jiang Chengzhi shall enter the palace!”
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