Chapter 149: The Noble Consort Acts as a Matchmaker

News of the grand rewards following the battle in Longyou spread throughout Chang’an by noon. Promotions and wealth were always intriguing topics, and in teahouses and on streets, people discussed them eagerly. Soon, the news reached Xingqing Palace as well.

In the Chenxiang Pavilion, the four Yang sisters were gathered discussing the lantern festival. It was the 13th day of the first lunar month, and the annual lantern festival would begin the next day—something they had long awaited.

Yang Huahua took a sip of her jasmine tea and raised her eyebrows. “Sister Four, you shouldn’t always stay in the palace to watch the lanterns. There are few lanterns there, and more importantly, it’s too quiet. Isn’t the purpose of the Lantern Festival to enjoy the festivities?”

“I’d really like to go, but can I with my status?” Yang Yuhuan sighed softly.

The eldest sister, Yang Yupai, the Lady of Qin State, who was not in good health, leaned against the soft couch and smiled. “If Sister Four goes to watch the lanterns, no one else in the city will do it—they’ll all come to see her. That would be truly stunning. Then the gossips would write in their books, ‘Lady Yang Four watches the lanterns at night, leaving the whole city empty.’”

Yang Yuzhu, the second sister, also laughed. “Actually, not to mention Sister Four, even we can’t stroll around and watch the lanterns like ordinary people. Ah! Having status is its own kind of trouble!”

Yang Huahua snorted disdainfully. “What kind of pathetic status? Just being a lady of a state? Powerless and insignificant—less even than a county magistrate. I don’t care! I’ll just put on ordinary clothes and squeeze into the crowd to watch the lanterns. Yuhuan, go talk to your third brother and ask him to take me to watch the lanterns tomorrow.”

Yang Yuzhu’s expression darkened immediately. “How can being a lady of a state not be a status? Do you think any woman on the street can become one? If you want to go around in plain clothes like before, or flirt with young men, go ahead. But don’t use Sister Four as an excuse, nor insult the title of lady of a state.”

Yang Huahua’s eyebrows furrowed, and she rolled up her sleeves. “Sister Two, what do you mean? When have I ever flirted with young men? Be clear!”

“Hmph! Do you even know what you’re doing? You’re a widow who doesn’t care about gossip, but we still have pride!”

“Nonsense!”

Furious, Yang Huahua grabbed a vase and threw it at Yang Yuzhu. It missed slightly and shattered against the edge of the couch with a bang. Yang Yuzhu jumped aside in fright, hitting her head on the wooden frame of the couch. Her neatly styled hairscattereded, and the jewels in it scattered everywhere.

A few trusted maids rushed over to separate them. Yang Yuhuan stamped her foot in frustration. “Second sister, third sister, we’re all sisters—look at what this has turned into.”
“Does she really consider me her sister?”
Yang Huahua glared fiercely at Yang Yuzhu before storming off in anger. Yang Yuzhu trembled with rage, her face pale, as she glared resentfully at Yang Huahua’s retreating figure before going back inside to tidy herself up.
Eldest sister Yang Yupai shook her head gently. “What a tragedy!”
“Eldest sister, what exactly happened between them?” Yang Yuhuan also noticed something was off between her sisters, as if resentment had already built up.
“It’s all because of that girl, Ningbi.”
Yang Yupai sighed before slowly explaining the conflict between Yang Huahua and Yang Yuzhu.
“Yuzhu wanted to arrange for Ningbi to marry into the royal family, but the fourth sister refused. Then Huahua said she could help, and Yuzhu was overjoyed, waiting for news from the third sister. Unexpectedly, while the third sister agreed to help, she demanded an additional five thousand guan as a fee. Yuzhu got angry and confronted her—guess what the third sister said?”
Yang Yuhuan frowned. How could sisters demand money from each other? “What did she say?”
“Huahua said that if it were anyone else, she would charge at least ten thousand guan. Since it’s sisters, she’s only charging half.”
“How could the third sister say such a thing!”
Yang Yuhuan was also upset, though she indeed didn’t want her niece to marry into the royal family. At that moment, Yang Yuzhu finished dressing quickly and said, “Fourth sister, I need to go to my eldest brother’s house. I’ll be leaving now.”
“By the way, I need to go too!” Yang Yupai tried to stand up.
Yang Yuhuan quickly said, “Eldest sister, second sister, wait a moment! I still have things to do!”
“Fourth sister, what else?”
“It’s about Ningbi—I’ve found her a good husband.”
Hearing that she was acting as a matchmaker for her daughter, Yang Yuzhu sat back down. Eldest sister Yang Yupai, who wasn’t fond of moving around, lay down again since her second sister wasn’t leaving.
“Fourth sister, tell us! Whose son is it?”
Yang Yuzhu only wanted her daughter to marry into the imperial family; she wouldn’t consider any man who wasn’t from the Li family.
“Second sister, stop thinking only about the imperial family. To be honest, most imperial princes are dissolute, and even prestigious families refuse to marry into the imperial clan! If our Yang family wants long-term success, we should look for young men with brighter futures. Eldest sister, don’t you agree?”
Yang Yupai shook her head and smiled. “I don’t know. My daughter is already married, so I don’t consider such things.”

Yang Yuzhu was utterly disappointed. Her fourth sister still refused to budge. Did her own daughter not have the fortune to marry into the imperial family?
She forced herself to ask, “Fourth sister, just tell me directly! Who do you want my Ningbi to marry?”
“Li Qing’an, what do you think?”
……
Yang Huahua stormed out of the palace, furious. She knew her second sister was using this as an excuse—just because she refused to act as a free matchmaker, her sister tried every chance to humiliate her by accusing her of seeking a man outside. Hmph! What did being sisters matter? Could money buy kinship?
She walked fast, heading straight for the exit. The palace maids and eunuchs nearby saw her angry expression and none dared stop her. She passed through a door and found herself in front of a row of tall, dense flowers. A path wound through the garden. Suddenly, she heard voices ahead, “General, please come this way. Don’t say anything rash when you meet the Imperial Concubine later.”
The voice was right in front of her. Suddenly, someone emerged from behind the flowers. Yang Huahua was shocked and couldn’t stop in time. She quickly covered her chest with both hands and collided head-on with the person.
The man was tall and very steady on his feet. Yang Huahua cried out, “Ouch!” as she fell to the ground. The man quickly helped her up, alarmed. “Miss, I’m sorry!”
Yang Huahua felt a strong man’s hand on her arm. She was furious—who dared be so bold as to touch her arm without permission?
When she saw who it was, all her anger vanished. They both exclaimed at the same time, “How is it you?”
It was Li Qing’an. The Imperial Concubine had summoned him, and he was entering the palace with two eunuchs when he accidentally collided with Yang Huahua. He thought he had knocked over a palace maid, but when he realized it was Yang Huahua, he immediately felt embarrassed. The slap she had given him still hurt faintly.
“It’s you, madam!”
Just as he was about to let go, Yang Huahua grabbed his arm instead, giving him a playful glare. “You brute! Hurry up and help me up!”
Li Qing’an suddenly remembered that the black bow she had given him had been destroyed. He felt guilty and quickly helped her up, apologizing, “I was careless, madam. Please forgive me!”
At that moment, Yang Huahua’s personal maid rushed over from behind and supported her. Yang Huahua sized up Li Qing’an—he seemed more mature than last time, exuding an irresistible masculine charm. A smile appeared on her face as she said softly, “Seventh Brother, where are you going?”
“The Imperial Concubine has summoned me.”

How could she summon foreign officials by the way? With a quick thought, Yang Huahua understood and said with a coy smile, “I see. The disciple wants to see the master.”
Li Qing’an bowed slightly and said, “If there’s nothing else, madam, I’ll be leaving now.”
With that, he clasped his fists and left in a hurry. For some reason, Yang Huahua suddenly felt a hint of wariness. She immediately said with a smile, “Qilang, wait a moment. I’m heading back too!”
…
“Qilang, I heard from people in the palace just now that you’ve been promoted?”
“Mm! I was promoted one rank due to my merits.”
“Then you’re like a freshly baked bun—how many daughters of wealthy families want to marry you? Do you have anyone in mind?” Yang Huahua glanced at Li Qing’an with flirtatious eyes.
“Actually, no one wants to marry me.”
Li Qing’an rubbed his bearded chin and laughed, “They want to marry men from talented and refined families or noble princes from the royal clan. Who would want someone like me, a border soldier who knows nothing about such things?”
Yang Huahua laughed heartily, “Oh! How about I introduce you to some charming princesses and county lords? I have quite a few! Free of charge.”
Hearing her describe the noble princesses and county lords as if they were onions and garlic at the market, to be bought by weight, Li Qing’an couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly. “I’d like that, but marriage is forbidden between those with the same surname. I appreciate your kindness, madam.”
“Nonsense about marriage being forbidden between those with the same surname! Even the emperor can marry his daughter-in-law—so why can’t I, Yang Huahua, marry a man with the surname Yang?”
The eunuchs nearby turned green with fear at her reckless words and almost knelt down to beg her to be careful with what she said.
Li Qing’an, however, was somewhat impressed by her boldness. By then, they had reached outside the Chenxiang Pavilion. From afar, they heard a sharp voice coming from inside, “Fourth sister, even if Ningbi isn’t good enough to marry into the royal clan, marrying the eldest son of a wealthy family would be fine! But you want to marry her to a soldier—aren’t you ruining our Yang family?”
Hearing this, Li Qing’an’s expression darkened. He guessed it was about him. Yang Huahua quickly realized that her fourth sister wanted to marry Ningbi to Li Qing’an. That couldn’t happen. She whispered to Li Qing’an, “That’s Lady Han Guo. Ningbi is her daughter. They look exactly alike.”
At that moment, an eunuch announced loudly, “Your Majesty, Li Qing’an has been brought here.”
“Call him in!”
“Your Majesty orders Li Qing’an to come forward for an audience.”