Chapter 98: The Banquet of the Noble Consort

The next day was the day the Noble Consort was hosting a banquet, and with Lady Han absent, only Shen Qingyun could attend on her own.
After breakfast she ate a few pastries to settle her stomach, then had her garments arranged. Yicui brought out a red brocaded jacket set with matching flower-strewn skirt.
After a moment’s thought, Shen Qingyun said, “Bring that plainer set instead.”

Yicui nodded and returned with a blue outfit, replacing the vermilion hairpin with one of white jade.
“Miss, won’t this be too plain? After all, you are going to see the Noble Consort. It should be more vivid, shouldn’t it?”
“That banquet likely has hidden meanings,” Shen Qingyun replied, her expression calm. “I do not wish to draw too much attention. This will do, and it will not be disrespectful.”
Yicui changed her clothes, arranged her hair in a flowing cloud bun, and added a light touch of powder.
When it was all in place, even Yicui couldn’t help but sigh. Mistress, she thought, she has become ever more beautiful. The attire was simple yet radiant; the blue skirt only made her skin seem fairer, tender as if it could yield a drop of water beneath the fingers. Her eyes were clear and luminous, cold and noble. Without anything elaborate, she was full of brilliant grace.
Such a beauty, Yicui felt, should not be made too conspicuous.

When they stepped out, Shen Zhifeng was waiting at the doorway. Seeing Shen Qingyun, he wore a look of restrained displeasure and cautioned her: “The Duke’s residence is already in the eye of the storm. Be careful and keep your composure today. Don’t do anything that might bring shame.”
“Yes, Father.” Outwardly, in public, Shen Qingyun maintained perfect composure, bowed, and stepped into the carriage to go to the imperial palace.

Shen Sisi’s figure flashed past the corridor with a flicker of envy as she watched Shen Qingyun leave for the banquet.
What unsettled her more was that after their engagement, Jiang Lin had grown strangely distant toward her, so she had no room in her mind for other worries.

Naturally, everyone in the capital knew of the parting between Han Rou and Shen Zhifeng, and some were waiting to see Shen Qingyun become the subject of mockery.
But when they arrived, everyone quietly drew breath in surprise. Could this poised, radiant woman in elegant stillness truly be Shen Qingyun?

At the Empress Dowager’s birthday feast, they had all been dazzled by her appearance, but now there was something else in her—an elegance flowing from within. In her every movement there was bearing and nobility; one would scarcely question if she were not a princess from the inner court.

She was greeted by Lin Xueying, who had once gone to great lengths to avoid contact after her brother’s affair. Now she stepped forward with unexpected warmth and said, “Qingyun, you have come.”

The Noble Consort had not yet arrived, so Shen Qingyun sat with Lin Xueying at a side table, where several of Lin’s acquaintances from other circles were already seated; several had met her at gatherings in the Shangshu residence, and all exchanged nods and greetings.

“Qingyun, I truly envy you,” Lin said. “The summer is nearly over, yet you seem even fairer.”
“I was out in the sun for a little while and already looked darker,” she laughed lightly. “Tell me your secret, would you?”

Several of the girls leaned in with interest.
Ye Yu, the Minister of Rites’ legitimate daughter, whose skin was naturally a shade darker, was especially eager. “Yes, Miss Shen, how did you do it?”

It was known that Shen Qingyun, before coming to the capital, had not had such luminous skin.

Shen Qingyun touched her cheek, a little shy, yet her eyes glowed with the exact confidence she had hoped for. “Xueying, to be frank,” she said, “when I first arrived in the capital my skin was rather rough. Aside from daily care, I once went to the Xuan Medical Hall. The divine physician prescribed a complexion tonic, and I have been taking it for quite some time. My skin has improved greatly.”

As she visited the Xuan Medical Hall so often, no one would be surprised anyone knew. This gave her the perfect explanation.
When she spoke of the famed doctor, the others were already halfway convinced; seeing her complexion, every woman who valued beauty felt a spark of envy.
“Miss Shen,” Ye Yu exclaimed, “I’ve heard that doctor is strange in temperament. To have been treated by him is sheer luck. I can’t imagine how extraordinary this elixir is! Could I take it as well?”
Others added at once, “Yes, can we use it too? And where can we buy such a beauty elixir?”

Shen Qingyun smiled, a little embarrassed. “The formula is never public. It was simply that this pill was recently developed and I happened to test it. I heard Xuan Medical Hall plans to open another shop on West Street, selling beauty and complexion remedies. If you are interested, you can go and browse when it opens.”

Hearing this, the ladies grew excited, eager to buy and asking where exactly the shop would be.
For a while, everyone discussed it in lively chatter—some making plans to visit together, others sharing their own methods of skin care. It was joyful and loud.

The Princess of Zhenyang and the Princess of Jing’an were on friendly terms. The Princess of Jing’an had once told her she was a fox-spirit kind of beauty. Seeing most of the ladies now drawn to Shen Qingyun, she asked what was happening and then came straight forward to ask for the complexion elixir.

The next moment, Shen Qingyun’s face remained composed. “I have already finished my supply,” she said quietly.

“Then I think you are hoarding it for yourself,” the Princess of Zhenyang snapped. “You’re simply unwilling to share.”

“The Princess is overthinking this,” Shen Qingyun replied. “In truth, I have none left. And once that shop opens, those who want any can buy it there.”

“Those are just excuses. How do we know the shop will even have it?”

Seeing how unyielding she was, Lin Xueying and Ye Yu both tried to soothe her.
But Princess Zhenyang was used to indulgence; ordinarily everyone yielded to her, and now she grew even angrier. She even declared she would bring the matter before the Empress.

Lin Xueying felt uneasy too and kept silent. The Empress had always favored Jing’an and Zhenyang, so she was almost certainly on their side.

Shen Qingyun remained calm and asked, “This is the Noble Consort’s residence, and we are all guests at her invitation. If there is any dispute, we may let the Noble Consort decide with fairness. Why would the Princess insist on dragging this to the Empress? Do you think the Noble Consort cannot discern right from wrong?”

At this, Zhenyang stood speechless.
Lin Xueying and the others at her side breathed out in relief, then began teasing and laughing, shifting the matter aside.

Yet the idea of the complexion tonic had taken root in the hearts of all these ladies.

What happened at this side table soon reached the Noble Consort’s ears. She smiled as she entered the hall. From afar, she could hear the murmur of voices; only after an eunuch announced her did the women fall silent and rise to pay their respects.
After motioning all the ladies to sit, the Noble Consort finally spoke: “I happened to receive three fine bouquets of chrysanthemums today, so I invited everyone here to admire the flowers and share a little conversation. Do not be so formal.”