Qiuye led Xianglan into the garden, pointing out the scenery along the way. Xianglan had little interest and responded perfunctorily, while Xiao Juan was brimming with enthusiasm, looking around and chattering animatedly with Qiuye. Soon they arrived at a lakeside house with a plaque above the door inscribed with four large characters: "Flowing Water, Lingering Clouds." Before they even approached, they could hear the actors singing opera in drawn-out tones. Two maids stood guard at the entrance and, upon seeing Qiuye bringing guests, promptly lifted the curtain to invite them inside.
The room was packed with people, a dazzling sight of pearls, emeralds, and silk robes, with the fragrance of various cosmetics wafting through the air.
Lin Dongwan was standing at the front, serving tea to the elders. When she spotted Xianglan, she hastily set down the teapot and hurried over with a smile. "We've been waiting for you! Come, Sister Xianglan, take a seat inside." She warmly took Xianglan's arm and led her to a spot in the side hall, farther from the opera stage. Surrounding them were several young women adorned in bright colors, with painted eyebrows and styled hair, interspersed with a few older ones. Xianglan understood that these were likely influential concubines brought by various families for socializing or wives of minor officials.
The Lu family had flourished for generations, and though now in decline, they still retained some prestige. Today, for Lu Guiyi's birthday celebration, the main hall was nearly overflowing with formally titled women of imperial commendation—where would there be a place for her? Merely securing a corner in the side hall was considered an honor. Upon entering, she had noticed the corridors lined with tables for those without the status to enter and listen to the opera.
Beside her stood a small side table holding a delicate cloisonné round box filled with two types of preserved fruits, melon seeds, and cloud slice cakes, along with tea and tea bowls. Maids bustled about attending to everyone.
Xianglan sat down, and Lin Dongwan immediately poured a cup of tea herself, handing it to Xianglan with an apology. "I'm terribly busy today and fear I may not attend to you properly. Please forgive me—I offer my apologies in advance. Sister Xianglan, enjoy the opera for now, and later I'll personally accompany you for a stroll in the garden."
Qiuye stood by with a supportive smile, thinking to herself how impressive their mistress was—able to bend and adapt. Even though Xianglan was just a concubine, Third Mistress could humble herself to befriend her. If Third Mistress wanted to win someone over, she would surely have them wrapped around her finger. Xianglan's status didn't warrant a good seat, but Third Mistress's words were so warm and considerate that any displeasure Xianglan felt should have dissipated by now.
Xianglan forced a faint smile. The chaotic opera singing didn't register at all. Watching Lin Dongwan carry the teapot away, she turned to gaze out the window. Across the lake, rugged rockeries stood beside weeping willows, their branches swaying in the breeze. She thought, perhaps this was for the best. Now, Song Ke's future was bright and promising, and he had a beloved wife and son. Zheng Jingxian, coming from a noble family, could aid his career with her straightforward and generous nature, deeply devoted to him. Song Ke truly needed such a virtuous partner—all things beyond her reach. No matter how she resisted fate or struggled to advance, she couldn't change the fact of her origins as a maid. Back then, she had been naive; if Song Ke had really married her, in settings like this, she would likely have been mocked, wouldn't she?In the end, she owed Song Ke a lifetime of gratitude. He had helped her escape the fiery pit of the Lin Family, freed her entire family from servitude—a kindness akin to rebirth—and provided her with a warm shelter during her most troubled and setback-filled times. They had even once loved each other sincerely, and this pure, luminous affection was something she carefully treasured in her heart, sustaining her through many difficult days. Now that Song Ke was doing well, she felt genuine happiness for him from the depths of her soul.
Yet she couldn’t understand why her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife, the pain so intense it left her speechless.
So painful, so painful…
Xianglan’s hand clenched her handkerchief tightly. She hurriedly exhaled, picked up the tea bowl, and pretended to drink, using her sleeve to shield her face. As soon as she raised her arm, two lines of tears rolled down her cheeks and fell directly into the tea bowl. She quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief. She felt as if she had lost her senses, her mind absurdly thinking that it was fortunate she hadn’t worn any makeup today—otherwise, the tears mixed with powder would have made her unfit to be seen.
When she looked up again, the opera on stage had changed to a new one. Xianglan stared blankly at the performance for a moment before her gaze drifted to the audience below. There, Zheng Jingxian sat on the central Luohan bed, holding the Lu family’s elderly lady and speaking animatedly. Her expression was both charming and delightful, prompting the old woman to chuckle heartily. The noblewomen around them joined in the laughter, offering what seemed like words of praise. Zheng Jingxian then lowered her head modestly, saying a few words that provoked another round of laughter from the others.
Zheng Jingxian seemed to sense Xianglan’s gaze. She straightened up and looked toward her. Their eyes met, and Zheng Jingxian immediately lifted her chin high, her expression haughty and slightly provocative, staring coldly at her.
Xianglan wanted to laugh but found she couldn’t. Zheng Jingxian had no need for such behavior—hadn’t she seen the warm, gentle smile on Song Ke’s face when he mentioned his son? They were childhood sweethearts, a harmonious and happy family, the kind others could only envy. Did Zheng Jingxian truly fear that she would rekindle an old flame with Song Ke? What a joke.
Xianglan thought wistfully that her fate with Song Ke likely ended in their previous life. Being able to see him once more in this lifetime was already a blessing from heaven. If she had truly become Song Ke’s concubine, bowing daily to Zheng Jingxian and slowly turning into a bitter, resentful woman in the struggle for favor, she would probably have come to hate him. So, this was for the best—truly for the best. She only wished for him to be well.
On stage, the opera "Great Birthday Tribute" was being performed, noisy and clamorous, like a chaotic dance of demons, overwhelmingly lively.
Xianglan could no longer sit still. She excused herself to those around her and retreated from the room. Stepping out onto the terrace, the gentle breeze dispersed some of her inner restlessness and sorrow. Xiao Juan, who had been in the side room enjoying snacks and the opera with a group of maids, noticed Xianglan outside and hurried out to attend to her.
Seeing crumbs still clinging to Xiao Juan’s lips, Xianglan forced a smile and said, “Don’t worry about me. It was just too stuffy inside, so I came out for some air. Go on back. You’re usually cooped up at home, and it’s rare to have a day out—enjoy yourself, eat, drink, and have fun.” She then took the half-eaten snack from Xiao Juan’s hand.
Xiao Juan went back on her own, and Xianglan leaned against the railing, using the snack to feed the fish. Suddenly, she noticed three or five young noblewomen and misses standing not far away. Though they were chatting among themselves, they kept glancing in her direction, pointing and whispering. Looking more closely, she saw Zhao Yuechan standing among them, fanning herself as she stared at Xianglan with an expression full of disdain and contempt.Xianglan couldn't be bothered to respond, knowing full well that Zhao Yuechan hadn't spoken favorably of her and had deliberately tarnished her reputation among the officials' families. She simply turned her back and focused on crushing pastries into fine crumbs to toss into the lake, attracting a school of colorful carp to compete for the food.
Seeing Xianglan's indifferent demeanor, Zhao Yuechan grew increasingly furious. Although her separation from Lin Jinlou had been handled quietly, it caused quite a stir among Jinling's aristocracy. Her family had closed their doors to visitors, with her parents and brothers wearing constant frowns. As it became untenable for her to stay, they sent her to her grandfather's home in the capital to avoid the gossip.
Initially, everyone in the capital looked down on her, and she received few letters from home. She endured considerable neglect and humiliation, often lying awake at night seething with resentment until her liver qi stagnated, nearly developing into a serious illness. Her family had planned to marry her off to a minor seventh-rank official as a replacement wife. Seventh rank? She wouldn't even glance at such a prospect! Marry him? Wishful thinking! She refused to accept this fate, convinced she wouldn't be permanently crushed by others.
Fortunately, heaven never seals off all exits. Her grandfather frequently hosted various officials, and coincidentally, her brother Zhao Gang came to the capital seeking advancement. Zhao Yuechan sweet-talked him, spending silver on gifts to bribe him into scouting suitable matches. Eventually, they identified several respectable families. She secretly observed each candidate and finally settled on Dai Qing, who had lost his wife the previous year. First, Dai Qing held a prestigious fifth-rank position in the Hanlin Academy and was highly regarded by her grandfather Zhao Jin, suggesting promising prospects. Second, though forty-five, he maintained himself well, having been called a "handsome man" in his youth and now sporting an elegant beard with scholarly grace. Third, the Dai Family had once been illustrious; as the saying goes, "a centipede dies but never falls down," implying they retained some foundation. After calculating these advantages, Zhao Yuechan discussed it with Zhao Gang, who shook his head like a rattle-drum and said, "This is exceptionally difficult. The Dai Family, being respectable, would most likely seek a young maiden as a replacement wife. If we propose someone of your status and they politely decline, wouldn't it disgrace both Father and Grandfather?"
Zhao Yuechan knew her silver hadn't been enough and cursed inwardly. Back in the Lin Family, she had purchased a quite attractive maid named Qiongzhi, originally intended to share Lin Jinlou's favor, but he hadn't taken interest. When leaving the Lin household, she brought Qiongzhi along. Such a beauty would cost at least five hundred taels of silver nowadays, and she had planned to keep her as a valuable asset for other uses. However, gritting her teeth, she dressed Qiongzhi up to serve tea to Zhao Gang, promising to give her to him as a concubine if the matter succeeded. Zhao Gang had long fancied the stunning maid by Zhao Yuechan's side, and Qiongzhi was no simple character either—the two had been exchanging flirtatious glances for days. Hearing Zhao Yuechan's offer, Zhao Gang silently cursed her cunning—"not releasing the hawk without seeing the rabbit"—but at least there was gain to be had. He secretly arranged for Zhao Yuechan to "accidentally" encounter Dai Qing in the family garden, opening the embroidery tower window to pose at her dressing table by the window and "inadvertently" dropping a handkerchief that fluttered down to land at Dai Qing's feet.When Dai Qing saw her, he was immediately struck by her celestial beauty. Zhao Gang seized the opportunity to say, "Speaking of which, my sister has had a difficult life. She was previously married into the Lin Family in the capital, but her husband was nothing short of an Overlord and a brute. A delicate and refined woman like her was mistreated by him—beaten and scolded at the slightest provocation. After several years of marriage without children, he wanted to divorce her. But ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that Lin Jinlou has no children at all. He has several maids and concubines in his household, yet not one of them has borne him a child. How could he blame my sister for it? The situation became so unbearable that she felt too ashamed to stay and even threatened to take her own life. Our parents, heartbroken for her, negotiated with the Lin Family, arranged a separation, and sent her to the capital to stay with me, hoping a change of scenery would ease her mind." He went on to praise Zhao Yuechan’s exceptional beauty, intelligence, cleverness, gentleness, and virtue, extolling her as if she were a rare treasure unmatched in this world.
Dai Qing was quite moved by what he heard and sensed the underlying implication in Zhao Gang’s words. He thought to himself that Zhao Yuechan was exceptionally lovely, a beauty hard to come by, still young, and moreover, the granddaughter of Zhao Jin. As Zhao Jin’s protégé, his own status would not disgrace Zhao Yuechan. If this marriage were to succeed, it would be a perfect arrangement: he would gain a beautiful wife, and the ties between their families would be strengthened. Besides, he already had three sons and even grandchildren, so even if Zhao Yuechan were unable to bear children, he would have no worries about heirs. Smiling, he asked, "If your sister is as wonderful as you say, has she been betrothed to anyone else?"
Zhao Gang, hearing this, knew there was hope and quickly replied, "Not yet. We’re afraid of finding another rough and rude man who would waste her youth. If we must find someone, it ought to be a scholar like you, refined and gentle, mature enough to understand how to cherish and care for her, so she won’t end up lonely and neglected."
Dai Qing laughed and said, "Are you teasing me, or is this a serious proposal?"
Zhao Gang answered, "Of course, it’s serious. What do you think?"
Dai Qing smiled again and said, "It does sound like a good match, but I’m afraid a woman of her caliber might not be willing to marry someone my age as a second wife, and your grandfather might not be pleased either."
Zhao Gang thought to himself, "My only worry is that you might not be willing, you fool," but aloud he insisted, "That’s no problem at all. If you’re truly interested, just send someone to propose formally. Leave the rest to me."
Dai Qing agreed and left. True to his word, he later sent a matchmaker to the Zhao Family to propose. Meanwhile, Zhao Gang and Zhao Yuechan had already knelt before Zhao Jin to plead their case. Zhao Yuechan wept bitterly, claiming she had reformed, restrained her temper, and promised to behave properly in the future. Zhao Gang also elaborated on how well-suited Dai Qing and Zhao Yuechan were, arguing that an age difference would ensure a harmonious marriage till old age, embellishing his words extravagantly. Zhao Jin initially refused, but he couldn’t withstand his granddaughter’s tearful, desperate pleas. Reflecting that she had already suffered and likely changed, and since both parties were willing, he saw no reason to stand in their way and eventually consented.
Once Zhao Jin gave his approval, the wedding preparations proceeded with great urgency. Since this was a second marriage for the Dai Family, it was not celebrated lavishly. Within three months, Zhao Yuechan entered the Dai Family’s household. With her sweet words and attentive, ingratiating manner, she completely charmed Dai Qing, who became utterly infatuated, setting aside all others and showering her with extreme favor and affection.Therefore, whenever Zhao Yuechan attended social gatherings, she would dress to stunning effect, displaying great grandeur, as if trying to reclaim all the humiliation she had previously suffered. Today, seeing Lin Jinlou again, she was especially determined to hold her head high. Back then, he had forced her into a living widowhood, subjected her to endless humiliation, and driven her out like a stray dog, nearly pushing her to her death. She had sworn in her heart that if she ever got the chance, she would make sure Lin Jinlou suffered! But who would have thought that today, when Lin Jinlou saw her, he didn’t even spare her a second glance, treating her as if she were nothing. This was even harder for her to bear than if he had glared at her coldly or cursed her relentlessly. Moreover, she had actually seen Chen Xianglan! Hadn’t that little slut long been sold by her to a brothel? How could she appear here so openly, dressed in dazzling gold, with Lin Jinlou even bringing her out to socialize and eagerly chasing after her to introduce her to the daughter of Duke Xian?
Just moments ago, she had subtly questioned Lin Dongwan and learned that Lin Jinlou had now dismissed all the concubines in his household, keeping only Chen Xianglan as his sole favorite. She enjoyed lavish food and clothing, surrounded by servants, living more respectably than Zhao Yuechan had as the legitimate wife of the Lin Family.
Zhao Yuechan felt a suffocating anger stuck in her chest that she couldn’t swallow, and even the table full of delicacies turned bitter in her mouth.
Thanks to Kuangbiao Xiaoma 721 for the Peach Blossom Fan, bubu8915 for two Peace Talismans, and Kawaii Yuzu and Xiao Yaonana for the Peace Talismans. Also, thanks to everyone for the pink votes. Double pink votes at the end of the month—if you want to vote for us, please do so at the end of the month^_^
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