Heir Ji rolled hurriedly to his feet as the three girls made their way to his table at the front of the tea shop, the elaborate embroidery and jewels on his cloth-of-gold robes reflecting and refracting the light like a golden Buddha.
"Third House Heir Guan," he greeted, bowing as low as his rotund stature permitted. "Thank you for agreeing to speak with me."
"First House Heir Ji," the young Heiress replied cautiously, bowing in return as the three stepped off the street and into the shop's small front courtyard.
"Please do me the honour of sitting," he said, gesturing expansively at the empty seats.
Dàilán looked around with care. No one nearby appeared to be paying them any attention, and if she were to meet someone, doing so in public was the wiser choice. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chén'er give a slight nod. Chàng stepped forward and unrolled a small mat from her bag, spreading it neatly over the seat opposite Heir Ji. Dàilán smiled in thanks as she sat, Chàng moving behind her to arrange the folds of her robe.
Chénli ignored the offered seat, remaining slightly behind Dàilán on her left.
Heir Ji coloured faintly and sat back down at once, waving over a server to remove the unused chairs. Another server approached with a plain but well-cared-for tea set, which Chénli intercepted smoothly. The server bowed in thanks and withdrew.
A moment later, Chàng placed the tea set before her mistress and Heir Ji, pouring with quiet elegance. Steam rose faintly from the cups, carrying the clean bitterness of fresh leaves before she stepped back behind the Heiress.
Heir Ji's eyes narrowed briefly as he took in these actions, then relaxed as Dàilán lifted the earthenware cup to her lips and took a small sip. His fingers, however, lingered too long on his own cup, knuckles whitening before he loosened his grip, porcelain clicking softly against stone.
"Please excuse our caution, Heir Ji," she said evenly. "My Clan has suffered a number of unfortunate events of late. I am certain you understand, especially given our last few encounters."
Heir Ji flushed again, avoiding her eyes as he picked up his own tea and took a long sip.
Eventually, he set the cup back on the stone table with a soft click and straightened. "For the latter," he said quietly but firmly, "I can only offer my personal apologies. My Clan…" He sighed sharply, the sound momentarily swallowed by the distant murmur of the street beyond the courtyard.
"We are large and wealthy, but only merchants. When it was rumoured that your Clan was considering a husband for you, in return for backing… my Elders saw a way to achieve official status."
Dàilán inclined her head, understanding all too well. Gold and Essence Stones could buy silence, weapons, even favour—but never bloodlines.
Her brow creased. "I was given to understand that your Clan had an understanding with Second Elder," she said delicately.
Heir Ji frowned. "I… that is. I had assured your Second Cousin that I would—" He drew in a breath. "This is the matter I wished to discuss with you."
Chén'er interrupted calmly. "I believe I can clarify, Mistress. Heir Ji is interested in your Second Cousin, but his suit was rejected… it appears, without Second Cousin's knowledge?"
Dàilán's frown deepened. "Yet his Clan was told they were free to pursue my hand," she said coldly, "while my Clan was told there were no suitable suitors expressing interest in my cousins—because of that nonsense about orchids?" Distaste bled into her voice.
Heir Ji was now frowning darkly as well, eyes narrowing thoughtfully at her tone. "No suitors…? That is certainly not the case," he rumbled. "I personally know of another Heir who—" He clamped his lips shut, eyes widening, hastily lifting his tea and taking a large gulp.
Dàilán ground her teeth. "I see. I take it there were no such restrictions placed upon my hand?"
"None other than the expectation that the new in-laws would provide support to Clan Guan," Heir Ji said, shaking his head. "A few of us found it strange, but you are a beauty, and your talent at such a young age overrode the usual considerations. Most Heirs were ordered to pursue you regardless of the concerns. It appears that someone has been manipulating all the Clans of Hujian."
Chénli clicked her tongue softly. "What explanation was given to higher-ranking Clan Heirs for their suits for the other Guan daughters being rejected?"
"A polite refusal from the lady in question, and the return of any gifts," Heir Ji answered promptly.
Dàilán's eyes opened wide. "That is impossible. One of the most contentious issues within the Clan in recent months has been the lack of interest in the more senior daughters—while everyone pursued my hand."
Heir Ji coughed, his face reddening again. "We will need to inform our Elders. Very discreetly."
The young Heiress rose, her face pale. "It appears Clan Guan has unknowingly offended every higher-ranking Clan in Hujian that approached with proposals. First Heir Ji, you are honourable and brave to speak where others remained silent, but I must return to my Clan immediately if there is any hope of rectifying this disaster."
Heir Ji stood and bowed in return. "My face is somewhat thicker than most," he said ruefully. "I am willing to lose a little skin to ask questions in my own interest. I will also inform my Elders and discreetly notify our allies. But please, Third House Heir Guan—if you could possibly let your Second Cousin know—" He broke off, flushing awkwardly.
Despite the situation, Dàilán laughed softly. "You have my word."
After bowing to each other once more, the young Heiress turned and departed at once, the other two girls following behind her. They walked as briskly as possible without seeming in a hurry, and arrived back at the Clan compound without incident within a couple of kè.
Once inside the walls, Dàilán turned to Chàng. "Straight to the Matriarch. Inform her that it is urgent."
The maid's eyes widened; she nodded vigorously and darted off. The Heiress headed for her suite at a pace just shy of running.
"Not your Father?" Chénli asked, pacing her.
"Someone has been intercepting or modifying all communications to and from the Clan for who knows how long—except for the notice Grandmother sent out yesterday," Dàilán replied grimly. "We cannot afford to have whatever is doing this block the information again."
As they burst into her suite, Dàilán shrugged off her travelling robe and dropped her recent acquisitions onto the bed. Chénli gathered the robe at once, placing it on a hanging stand to be beaten clean by the servants.
"This is too large to be Second Uncle alone," Chénli said quietly.
"En." Dàilán accepted help into a fresh, more elaborate visiting dress. "I do not understand why no one has said anything to us. Even to demand what right we had to reject their suits. Face would stop some—but not all. It does not make sense. Someone has to be actively attacking us. Who have we offended?" She turned sharply for the door. "The recent cooling of relations with the other Clans in Hujian makes far too much sense."
They headed towards the Women's Pavilion at a pace close to a run.
"Why are we running?" Chénli asked, still pacing her. "And yes, it makes sense, but it still does not answer how or why."
Dàilán slowed, frowning. "Point taken. It will make little difference if we arrive a few fēn earlier, and Grandmother will be irritated to see ladies proceeding indecorously."
They reached the Phoenix Gate, which stood open. Dàilán exhaled. "The Matriarch will have more information. And I will have to reward Chàng—she clearly reached her in record time."
Chàng stood waiting at the end of the path, composed save for the rise and fall of her chest. "The Matriarch is in her study awaiting you, Young Mistress," she said clearly. "Please follow me."
In the Matriarch's study, the grand old lady regarded the three young girls in silence for a full fēn as they bowed.
"Third Heir," she said at last, "your maid spoke eloquently of urgent news that affects the Clan. This is the only reason I have permitted this precipitous meeting. Speak."
"In the market today, Heir Ji expended a considerable sum in Essence Stones to request a meeting," Dàilán replied. "During our discussion, we uncovered some disturbing information."
"He was one of your suitors, was he not?" the Elder asked evenly.
"He wished to know why Second Cousin had rejected his suit," Dàilán answered flatly.
Her expression did not change, but her fingers tightened briefly in her sleeve before she forced them still.
The Matriarch blinked once, slowly. "Continue."
"I explained that no such suit had ever been received. Heir Ji then stated that multiple suits—many from higher-ranking Clans—had also been rejected by Clan Guan. In those cases, by polite personal rejection letters attributed to my cousins, with gifts returned."
The sharp crack of stone splitting echoed through the room as the desk in front of the Matriarch fractured in two, fine grit whispering down onto the floor.
"Did he offer any explanation as to why none of the Clans questioned these rejections?" the Elder asked evenly, as though nothing had occurred.
"In his Clan's case, there was reference to their lack of noble blood, and thus unsuitability for Second Cousin," Dàilán replied, her own anger holding her steady even as she heard Chàng stifle a whimper.
"And the farce surrounding your hand?" the Matriarch demanded.
"Apparently fuelled by rumours that no such restriction applied," Dàilán said, letting her anger edge her words. "Their Clans believed there was a chance to gain noble status for whoever succeeded, in exchange for supporting us."
"I trust you clarified matters with Heir Ji?"
"Yes. He surmised that someone is targeting us—and possibly all the Clans in the city. He will communicate this to his Clan and their allies."
The Matriarch's expression eased slightly. "That was well handled. Was there anything else?"
"He requested that I convey his sincere admiration to Second Cousin," Dàilán admitted, allowing herself a faint smile. "I suspect this is what prompted him to approach me in the first place. I also believe…" She hesitated.
"Go on," the Matriarch said, tilting her head.
"I believe he suspected matters were not as they should be. Otherwise, he would have avoided us, as the others did. He took a risk—but I think it was a calculated one."
The Matriarch snorted softly. "Be that as it may, the other Clans would have lost face through these rejections. Their coldness towards us is thus, to some extent, understandable. If inquiries were suppressed as well, they may have judged us arrogant or hostile."
She rubbed her eyes. "I will contact the other Matriarchs via Essence Communication Stone to apologise and clarify matters."
Dàilán blinked. "The other Matriarchs?"
The Elder smiled faintly. "How else did you think my decree from yesterday spread so swiftly?"
Dàilán winced as Chénli pinched her sharply. "That reinforces our theory. Regular Clan communications have been tampered with. Someone is isolating us."
"And targeting you," the Matriarch added.
"We had thought it might be Second Uncle," Dàilán said carefully. "Trying to diminish Father's standing. But perhaps it was not his idea originally?"
The Matriarch's brows rose, then drew together. Pressure pressed down upon Dàilán—eased—then returned in full, precise and measuring, as if weighing her response. The air itself felt heavier in her lungs.
"Your concerns are valid," the Elder said quietly as the pressure lifted, "though improper to voice without proof. Rest assured, I will be speaking with your uncle at length."
Chénli paused, then lowered her gaze a fraction. "May I speak, Matriarch?"
The Matriarch nodded.
"If relations between us and the other Clans normalise, it will provoke a response," Chénli said. "How can we prepare for escalation if we do not know the source of the attack?"
The Matriarch's lip twitched. "An astute question. We shall see who moves next. You are dismissed."
The three bowed and withdrew, Chàng closing the door behind them.
"Well," Chén'er said once they were safely back in the Third Heir's suite, "that happened."
"It is out of our hands now," Dàilán replied as she sorted through the items on the bed. "Though I should speak with Second Cousin soon."
She lifted the bag of Essence plants purchased from the mysterious peddler, feeling their faint weight shift against her palm. "I want a bath before dinner, but I should plant these in the Essence garden first."
Chénli nodded. "Go. We will have everything ready when you return."
Dàilán nodded absently as she turned for the door, headed for the Clan's Essence garden, her mind already turning to where—and under what constraints—they should be planted.