Chapter 10: Brilliant Starlight
In her childhood, Cui Miao had also longed for her father's embrace. Seeing her classmates held in their fathers' arms or lifted onto their shoulders, she was always filled with envy. But her father had never been so intimate with her. He always looked at her with displeasure, a mix of regret and disappointment. The young Cui Miao didn't understand, so she went to ask her mother. Her mother, while checking the account books, gave a cold laugh. "He wanted a son."
"But A'miao can also become a general or a minister in the future and provide for Father in his old age. Does it have to be a son?" Little Cui Miao felt wronged.
Her mother sighed, put down her brush, and knelt to pull her daughter into her arms. "Is Mother not good to A'miao?"
"You are."
"Then is having Mother enough for A'miao, alright?"
"Yes, I'll listen to Mother."
Not long after, Cui Yicheng welcomed a new concubine into the household. Cui Miao was annoyed. At seven, she understood enough to know that the presence of several concubines in the family would cause her mother to lose face. So, she stormed off to make trouble for the new concubine.
Her mother was meeting with that Concubine Sun in the flower hall. The woman, dressed in rags, knelt before Jiang Shu, explaining that her family had met with disaster and her parents had sold her for food. It was better that Lord Cui had bought her as a concubine than for her to end up in a brothel. She knew her station was low and begged the matriarch to let her stay and give her a chance at life, saying she would be willing to serve as a slave or maid.
Cui Miao had never seen anyone so miserable. She froze at the door, not daring to enter.
Jiang Shu rose from her seat, knelt down, and gently lifted Concubine Sun's face. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind the woman's ear, revealing a delicate and pretty face. After a moment's observation, she said, "A'sun, this is not your fault. You don't need to be so hard on yourself."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Sun burst into tears. The teardrops fell onto the floor tiles and into Jiang Shu's palm.
"If you have nowhere else to go, then stay. However, my husband has a fondness for novelty. I advise you not to place too many hopes on him," Jiang Shu said.
"Thank you, Madam. I understand."
And so, Concubine Sun settled into the estate. She was given fine clothes and full meals, and Cui Yicheng was quite fond of her for a time. But she always remembered Jiang Shu's comforting words, and full of gratitude, she often acted as an attendant by Jiang Shu's side, trying to make her happy.
Cui Miao once asked her mother why she was so good to all the concubines her father brought home.
Jiang Shu said with some regret, "If they had been born into ordinary families, they would surely have been cherished by their parents as they grew up. Perhaps they could have even studied and pursued a future for themselves. But fate is cruel, and they can only be caged birds in this estate. Is that their fault?"
"Then is it Father's fault?"
"Your father is a fool, but his heart isn't entirely bad. If they hadn't met your father, their circumstances might be even more wretched than they are now. But your father is no great philanthropist either. He welcomes them into the family because he wants something from them."
Soon, A'sun became pregnant. Cui Yicheng was delighted and rewarded her with many things. But A'sun remained humble, attending to Jiang Shu every day. Cui Miao had grown used to her presence. One day, she suddenly asked, "A'sun, do you want to have a son?"
A'sun answered without hesitation, "No, I want to have a little girl, just like the Eldest Lady."
A'ye, the mother of the second daughter, A'peng, chimed in from the side, "Exactly, exactly. It would be best if they were all girls, to let the master's efforts come to nothing."
Jiang Shu smiled at them indulgently.
Ten months passed, and A'sun went into labor. Cui Yicheng was very nervous, pacing back and forth outside the delivery room. Jiang Shu held Cui Miao and spoke to her in a low voice.
"Are you scared?" Jiang Shu asked her.
"A little," she replied, snuggling into her mother's embrace.
"Don't be afraid. Though it is accompanied by pain, it is also a new beginning. This is the way of nature, of endless life and natural propagation. Respect it, but do not fear it."
The wait lasted from sunrise to sunset.
"She's born, she's born! It's a little girl!"
Cui Miao watched as her father's expression went from beaming with joy to cold disappointment. He flicked his sleeves and strode away, not even sparing a glance for his newborn youngest daughter.
The first to take the swaddled infant was her mother. A servant relayed a message from inside, saying the concubine requested that Madam name the little lady.
Jiang Shu looked at the baby's flushed red cheeks, thought for a moment, and said, "Then let's call her A'yun."
Cui Miao still cared about her father. At school, classmates she didn't get along with would mock her, saying that as the legitimate eldest daughter, she still couldn't win her father's favor and that the family fortune would sooner or later fall into other hands. One day, she accompanied her mother to a banquet and ran into a rival classmate in someone else's garden. A few disagreeable words led to an argument, and when the classmate taunted her again, she flushed red and got into a fight, her clothes becoming disheveled from rolling on the ground.
A little girl in magnificent clothes watched the entire affair with great interest. Only when they had mostly finished fighting did she have her attendant separate them. Seeing that the newcomer was of high status, the classmate found an excuse and fled. Only a stubborn Cui Miao was left, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
The little girl was slightly taller than her. She walked closer and said with a smile, "You're so angry only because they hit upon a secret in your heart, aren't you?"
Cui Miao's limbs stiffened, her heart chilled.
"But why should you care about that foolish father of yours?" The little girl picked a blade of grass from her hair bun.
"Because he's my father?" Cui Miao was a little dazed by her words.
"He's just a father. You were nurtured and born from your mother's womb. How important is a father, really? You are the legitimate eldest daughter; both ritual and law are on your side. As long as you can stand on your own, who can take what is yours?"
The little girl's words were a sudden enlightenment for her.
"Thank you for your guidance, elder sister. What is your name? Where do you live? Can we be friends?"
"A'zhi. My name is A'zhi." The little girl blinked, then left with her attendant. A family member came to call for Cui Miao, so she didn't chase after her. She never saw her again after that.
A long time later, Cui Miao learned that she was the Emperor's second daughter, the Crown Prince's younger sister, the future Eldest Princess Xinyang.
They met again at a small banquet after Wei Zhi's capping ceremony at age twenty, which was also the first banquet held after the Eldest Princess established her own residence. To celebrate for Her Highness, the young people partied almost to the point of madness. Wei Zhi's number one partner-in-crime, the Viscountess of Liyang, gave her an idea, saying that a coming-of-age banquet naturally required experiencing different kinds of joy, and told her to pick a gentleman or lady she found pleasing to the eye at the banquet for a night of spring breeze.
The Great Zhou dynasty had an open-minded culture, and it was common for unmarried men and women to interact. Same-sex relationships were countless among the upper class, but because they produced no heirs, the elders felt they were ultimately not respectable.1
The Viscountess of Liyang was two years older than Wei Zhi and had married her beloved a couple of years prior. Now, she was winking and hinting at her. Wei Zhi was moved by the Viscountess's words and truly began to pay attention to the guests at the banquet.
Cui Miao was in the prime of her youth—a master of pot-arrow, drinking games, painting, and poetry duels. She was also good-looking, and Wei Zhi took a liking to her at first sight.
When an attendant relayed the message that the Eldest Princess requested her presence, Cui Miao's heart stirred. She straightened her clothes and followed the attendant.
The attendant led her deep into the residence, past one building after another, finally entering the master's bedchamber.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Eldest Princess." She bowed to Wei Zhi. The attendant withdrew, closing the door silently.
Wei Zhi sat high in the main seat, one hand propping up her chin as she leaned against the table, the other holding a wine cup. She looked at Cui Miao. "Little beauty, which family are you from?"
"I am Cui Miao, eldest daughter of Cui Yicheng, Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial."
"Oh, the Cui family." Wei Zhi paused, trying to recall which one it was. "Come closer."
Cui Miao obediently sat down across the table from her.
"Come here." Wei Zhi patted the spot beside her.
Cui Miao stood up again and went to sit next to her. Now they were extremely close. Cui Miao could almost smell the floral and fruity incense on her body—a sweet, intoxicating scent that made her heart sway.
Wei Zhi filled her own cup and held it to Cui Miao's lips. Cui Miao looked at Wei Zhi's smiling face and drank the entire cup from her hand. The wine trickled from the corner of her lips down to her chin, dripping onto her collar. Cui Miao stared at Wei Zhi, feeling she was already drunk. Otherwise, why would she have this clawing, desperate desire to offend the Eldest Princess?
She heard Her Highness's soft laugh. She slowly leaned in and, with Her Highness's tacit permission, kissed the corner of her lips.
A young person's kiss is innocent yet filled with a burning passion that scorches them both. The wine's influence rose, clouding their thoughts. They closed their eyes, allowing themselves to drown in this moment of pleasure.
A long time later, their lips parted. Their clothes were in disarray, and so were their hearts.
Cui Miao swept Wei Zhi up into her arms and strode toward the inner chamber. Wei Zhi leaned languidly against her chest, her arms wrapped around her neck. Her fingers idly played with Cui Miao's earlobe, and she let out a soft laugh as she watched it turn red.
Cui Miao placed her on the bed, then gently covered her. Their eyes met. Who was it that first lit the fire, and then ignited the person beside them?
When the tide of passion subsided, Wei Zhi lay in Cui Miao's arms, her finger lightly tapping her collarbone, her voice filled with endless affection. "The little child who cried with red-rimmed eyes after a fight has grown up."
"Your Highness still remembers."
"I remembered when you said you were from the Cui family."
"Then, is Your Highness satisfied?"
"Naturally~"
However, the Eldest Princess who claimed to be satisfied never summoned her again after that day. Instead, rumors of her having other guests began to spread. Cui Miao went from confusion to grievance to shame and anger, and finally to eager anticipation, a process that took a full year. At first, she sighed and lamented like a lovesick youth, which earned her a good scolding from her mother. Jiang Shu suspected her mind was wandering as she reached marriageable age and tentatively asked if she wanted to start looking at potential matches, but she was met with a firm refusal. Jiang Shu wasn't in a hurry, but she was annoyed by her daughter's state and, after a lecture, forced her to read more books to clear her head. Gradually, Cui Miao calmed down.
There's still a long road ahead, no need to rush, she thought. Just as Wei Zhi had said all those years ago, she first had to establish herself before she could pursue anything else. Cui Miao didn't believe there was any other young noble in the capital who could surpass her.
It wasn't that Wei Zhi was heartless. It was just that her partying after establishing her residence had been too outrageous, leading to an impeachment by a Censor, and Wei Qi had summoned her for a lecture.
Wei Zhi said aggrievedly, "I have no interest in a political career, so what am I supposed to do if not have fun? Besides, it's just hosting some banquets, strolling in gardens, and going on hunts. Can that really be considered extravagant?"
Wei Qi rubbed her temples and said helplessly, "At least pay attention to the frequency and propriety. You are an Eldest Princess, after all. If the trendsetters in the capital all start imitating you, the trend of extravagance and pleasure-seeking will become unstoppable. What the Censor said is not without reason."
"Fine."
"By the way, I heard you were selecting handsome men and women at your banquet to be your guests?" Wei Qi raised an eyebrow.
Hearing this, Wei Zhi said, flushed with shame and anger, "Who's been spreading such gossip! There's no such thing! I just like to have fun with good-looking people…"
"Really? None at all?"
"Just… just once…"
"Forget it. If it's consensual, I can't be bothered. Just one thing, you remember this for me—no getting pregnant before your grand wedding."
"Elder Sister! What are you talking about!" Wei Zhi covered her face, feeling she had lost all face before her older sister.
After that, Wei Zhi spent more time in the capital's suburbs, hunting or riding, or playing polo and watching Cuju. She was often surrounded by young nobles, but they were only there to have fun with her. She still had a youthful, playful nature and wasn't one to indulge in romance, so for a time, she put Cui Miao to the back of her mind.
Cui Miao, on the other hand, was tied down by her studies and rarely went outside the city. And so, they missed each other, until the night banquet at the villa in October.
Fang Jian had come to broaden her horizons, while Cui Miao had come entirely for Wei Zhi.
At the appointed hour, Wei Zhi announced the start of the banquet. In an instant, wine cups clinked and all the guests were merry. Wei Zhi rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she watched everyone have fun—the pot-arrow players hitting their marks, the game players winning, people rising and sitting with a clamor. Someone's gaze cut through the boisterous crowd, stubbornly fixed on her. She looked back. A handsome young person smiled and raised a cup to her. She smiled back and raised her own cup in a distant toast.
Cui Miao finished the wine in her cup, the alcohol blurring her vision. She gave herself a boost of courage, left her seat, and walked toward Wei Zhi. Wei Zhi was already waiting for her outside the door. They didn't speak, walking side-by-side along a covered walkway hung with colorful lanterns. The villa was cleverly designed with gardens within gardens. After just a short walk, Cui Miao had lost her bearings. All she could see was the person before her.
Wei Zhi entered an inner garden and instructed the attendants not to let anyone in. Inside was another world entirely. A small hill was encircled by turquoise water, a winding bridge twisted and turned, and clusters of trees provided cover, creating a scene of natural charm. Cui Miao followed her up the stone steps to a pavilion at the summit, from which the entire villa could be seen. Above was a river of stars, and below were a thousand blooming lanterns—a breathtaking sight.
"Is it beautiful?" Wei Zhi asked.
But Cui Miao only stared at the specks of starlight reflected in her eyes, unable to look away.
"Beautiful."
Wei Zhi laughed. "Am I more beautiful than the scenery?"
"The person and the scenery are both beautiful, but in my eyes, there is only Your Highness." The young woman was more mature than she had been years ago. Her features had lost their youthful innocence and were beginning to show a resolute and steady demeanor. But when she stood before Wei Zhi again, the flame that ignited in her eyes, the passion that surged, the way she laid her inner self bare before Wei Zhi—that frank heart filled with infinite love—was just as it had always been.
Wei Zhi was once again captivated by her sincerity. She took the initiative to wrap her arms around Cui Miao's waist. Under the brilliant starlight, they kissed with abandon.
They had only shared one fleeting moment of pleasure before, but after so long, embracing each other again, their soft chests pressed tightly together, it felt like a perfect fit. As their lips and tongues met, they could hear each other's hearts pounding like drums.
When she came to her senses, Wei Zhi's sash was loose, and Cui Miao's hand had already slipped around her waist. She swatted her hand away in mock annoyance, casually retied her sash, and grabbed Cui Miao's shoulders to turn her around before leaping nimbly onto her back.
"Carry me back~"
Cui Miao obediently complied, holding her legs securely as she walked back.
Wei Zhi rested on her shoulder, gently swinging her calves and playing with her earlobe, watching as a pink blush started from her ear and spread to her cheeks and neck.
"Why did Your Highness never summon me again?" Cui Miao tried to hold it in but couldn't. Her voice was tinged with grievance and resentment.
Wei Zhi's hand froze. It wouldn't do to say she had forgotten. After a moment's thought, she said, "…Her Majesty told me to be more restrained. Haven't you noticed I haven't thrown any large banquets for a long time?"
"Oh…"
Following Wei Zhi's directions, Cui Miao kicked open the bedroom door and walked in. Wei Zhi slid off her back, bolted the door, and hurried toward the inner chamber. Cui Miao caught up in a few strides and swept her up from behind, startling a scream out of her. Then, Cui Miao laughingly tossed her onto the bed and climbed on top.
"Then is Your Highness willing to compensate her little puppy who has waited so bitterly?"
"Mmm…"
Author's Notes
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Setting: "Not respectable" means that the mainstream view is that marriage is primarily for inheritance. Things that don't produce children are fine for fun, but marriage must be for the purpose of having children. Parents: Have your fun in private, but don't bring it out into the open. The same logic applies to unmarried men and women seeking pleasure. If a child results, they get married; if not, it's no big deal. Of course, proper people aren't supposed to mess around like that.
The Censor's memorial to Wei Qi was also out of concern that she wouldn't produce an heir. After all, it's a feudal dynasty, and their family truly has a throne to inherit.
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Cui Yicheng—a fake harem. Jiang Shu—the real sea king.
Jiang Shu: Spoil the concubines, discipline the children.
- Side CP, the Eldest Princess and her younger little wolf-dog. Young people in love are so happy.
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