Chapter 128: The Socialite

On the twenty-third day of the eighth month in the forty-sixth year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, the three little ones of the Ninth Prince’s household were to have their traditional “Zhuazhou” ceremony. Early that morning, numerous carriages lined the gates of the Yongping Prefecture official’s residence. Whether high or low officials from Yongping Prefecture or the local social elites, all had arrived with their wives and children to offer congratulations.

When Yan Yan first heard that so many people had brought their wives, she was somewhat surprised. Later, upon seeing the Tenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince, she understood fully. Here were three princes, each accompanied by their own personal guards—descendants of the Eight Banners nobility. Whichever one you aligned with would assuredly make for a prestigious match. Moreover, the next year was an election year; if they found a suitable match, the selection process would naturally involve the families’ wives petitioning for the alliance. Everything would fall neatly into place.

Once she grasped this, Yan Yan relaxed considerably. Otherwise, she might have thought that her three little treasures truly wielded such immense influence. Of course, Yan Yan did not bother personally entertaining the guests; all the social duties were entrusted to Madam He and He Xuan’er. Yan Yan merely smiled occasionally, playing the part lightly.

Even so, many people sat close to Yan Yan, flattering her now and then. She followed the Ninth Prince’s advice: for those whose words she liked, she nodded and smiled; for those she didn’t, she would simply adopt a stern expression. No matter who was offended, the Ninth Prince would cover for her.

Fortunately, Yongping Prefecture was not large, and these ladies clearly had little worldly experience, so no major indiscretions occurred—at least, until Anna appeared.

Today, Anna wore a teal gown. The voluminous skirt was embroidered with subtle patterns in matching thread, accentuating her slender waist. Puffy sleeves and lace edging along the neckline completed an ensemble of refined elegance.

Teal was an auspicious color in the Qing dynasty; Anna had surely researched this deliberately. Yet she had failed to grasp the Qing’s conservative values, as she exposed her slender forearms and pale neckline. While Yan Yan, a modern woman, found Anna’s attire stunning, the other ladies in the room did not share her sentiment. Whispered murmurs soon filled the air.

Anna noticed the pointing fingers and whispered judgments, but fortunately Yan Yan’s expression remained unchanged. She embraced Yan Yan warmly and asked, “What are these people saying about me?”

Yan Yan smiled softly, gesturing toward the exposed skin at Anna’s neckline. “This is forbidden in the Qing court,” she explained.

Anna’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why? This is a symbol of purity. Many years ago, Queen Maria once revealed herself entirely at a masquerade ball.”

Yan Yan invited Anna to take the seat of honor and said with a smile, “You must understand, this is the Qing dynasty. When in Rome, one must abide by local customs. Besides, even your Queen Maria faced criticism at the time, did she not?”

Anna looked at Yan Yan astonished. “Madam, you truly are a remarkable woman.”

Yan Yan smiled humbly, saying no more. Meanwhile, the socialites of Yongping Prefecture thought Anna’s display utterly scandalous. They all glanced at each other, silently urging Yan Yan to reprimand this foreign woman.

He Xuan’er, emboldened by her previous acquaintance with Yan Yan, stepped forward gracefully and whispered, “Madam, our great Qing is a land rich in ceremony and etiquette. At such an important occasion for the young masters, I fear this foreign lady’s attire is inappropriate. I beg you, madam...”

Before she could finish, Yan Yan’s smile faded and she cast a displeased glance at her. “Do you even realize this is my children’s ceremony?” she asked sharply.

He Xuan’er, caught off guard by Yan Yan’s rare sternness, hastily knelt down. “My humble daughter has overstepped.”

“Rise,” Yan Yan said calmly, then looked around at all the ladies present. Her voice lowered but carried undeniable authority. “We are the hosts today. As hosts, we must show tolerance.”

At her words, all the ladies nodded in acquiescence.

Only then did Yan Yan gesture politely to Anna, preparing to escort her to observe the children’s Zhuazhou ceremony and to discuss business matters. Yet no sooner had they stepped outside the courtyard than Anna collided with a hurried figure at the gate.

Yan Yan’s quick reflexes saved Anna from falling flat on her face by pulling her back just in time.

“Who dares block my way?” The one who collided with Anna was none other than the Tenth Prince, currently in a foul temper, shouting loudly. Though the ladies following Yan Yan did not know him personally, they recognized the striking yellow robe he wore and immediately knelt in respect.

Anna, unused to such customs, did not kneel. Seeing the Tenth Prince’s lack of gentlemanly manners, she glared at him. “Madam, who is this? Why is he so uncouth?”

Yan Yan looked at the Tenth Prince with some surprise, then glanced toward the Ninth and Fourteenth Princes nearby. Smiling, she said, “This is His Highness the Tenth Prince.”

Anna’s eyes widened further. “Madam, you’re not deceiving me, are you? The Qing princes truly behave as wild brutes?”

Yan Yan could not help but chuckle.

The Tenth Prince was displeased and stepped forward, eyeing Anna up and down before addressing Yan Yan. “Sister-in-law, who is this androgynous woman with a face painted like a ghost? What is she saying?”

Yan Yan glanced at the Ninth Prince and sighed. “She is a shareholder of the East India Company, named Anna. She is British.”

The Tenth Prince blinked in disbelief. “Those fools stranded on the beach?”

Yan Yan was speechless. The Kangxi sons were all arrogant; no matter how foolish those people were, they had crossed the ocean from the far side of the world, while these princes probably had never even left the sea. Still, Yan Yan nodded. “Yes.”

Anna, clearly offended by the Tenth Prince’s words, stepped closer and snapped, “What did you say? You are a man, yet you do not know the manners to let a lady pass first. What a disgrace to the Qing, unworthy of being called a man.”

The Tenth Prince looked at Anna, utterly baffled, then turned to Yan Yan. Yan Yan quickly shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

What a joke. If this were translated, it would be as if Mars collided with Earth.

Unexpectedly, the usually slow-witted Tenth Prince suddenly showed a spark of intelligence and called loudly for an interpreter. Yan Yan couldn’t help but facepalm and shot a pleading glance toward the Ninth Prince.

Only then did the Ninth Prince stroll over leisurely, his voice firm: “Brother Ten, guests have arrived. Mind your manners.”

The Ninth Prince’s words immediately drew Anna’s attention. Her eyes lit up with delight as she turned to Yan Yan and whispered excitedly, “So handsome…”