The news of An Ning-gongzhu and shao-jiangjun Shi Zhengyan's return to the capital caused a not-so-subtle stir in the capital, though the results were the opposite. Due to the well-known reputation of An Ning in the past, the children of the aristocratic families all over the city took refuge in their homes to avoid misfortune.
However, there have been many poetry banquets held by noble women in the imperial capital lately, and the first invitation must be for shao-jiangjun Shi Zhengyan. It was heard that this general with outstanding war service had never taken a step back on the battlefield, but upon seeing the snowflake-like invitation, he hung up his immunity card, closed his doors and refused to come out.
"Yuan Qin, this is just a rumour. An Ning's war exploits are outstanding and her nature is bold, how can she not be welcomed by the sons of the aristocratic families?"
Although Ren Anle refused the reward from Emperor Jianing, the old emperor is not a stingy master. Not to mention the reward of a thousand taels of gold, but he also gave Ren Anle the privilege to enter and leave the restricted palace grounds at any time.
In the early morning, after attending the court meeting, Ren Anle saw that everything in the imperial city was in full bloom and the scenery was excellent, so she led Yuan Qin to stroll around the garden in the restricted palace grounds. By chance, she had heard the palace maids gossiping, so she was astonished enough to ask this question.
Yuan Qin's expression was odd, shifting around behind Ren Anle for a while before saying,
"Xiaojie, An Ning-gongzhu has a unique preference…"
"What preference?" Ren Anle stopped in her tracks, raising her eyebrows.
"Four years ago, when An Ning-gongzhu came down from Mount Tai, Bixia once held a banquet for her to choose a son-in-law."
"What, didn't she pick one that suited her eyes?"
"It's not that." Yuan Qin paused and said, "As the head of the banquet, An Ning-gongzhu was very happy and picked five sons-in-law in a row, saying that she wanted them to be placed in the princess's mansion to raise until she returned from her military training in the northwest camps, to then get married a few years later. Bixia was furious and left his seat with a flick of his sleeves, and the matter of the princess choosing a Fuma was shelved."
[ fuma- a prince consort]
The young masters of the capital's aristocratic families are gentle and elegant; since Emperor Jianing had chosen them for his eldest daughter, they were bound to be the best. If the high-ranking officials of the five great aristocratic families sent their children to the princess's mansion together to serve upon one wife, it would truly be the greatest joke in the world.
For some reason, Ren Anle felt that this was exactly something that the woman she met in Tianjian Pavilion that night could say.
"It's no wonder that the children of the aristocratic families hide in their mansions. Turns out that there are reasons for this. This An Ning-gongzhu actually quite suits my tastes."
Ren Anle propped her chin in her hand, smacked her lips, and suddenly heard the sound of footsteps on the path ahead. She raised her eyebrows and looked towards it.
A fifteen or sixteen year old young girl in a light yellow palace dress was standing beside the rockery, with a dignified face and presentable bearing. She gazed at Ren Anle with an expression of indifference and subtle resentment and indignation. Seeing Ren Anle gazing back, there was a moment of slight hesitation, then she stepped forward and gave a small bow.
"Du Tingfang greets Ren-daren."
[ da ren– a title of respect used towards superiors ]