Qiuye led Xianglan into the garden, pointing out the scenery along the way. Xianglan had little interest and responded absently, while Xiao Juan was full of enthusiasm, looking around and chattering animatedly with Qiuye. Soon they arrived at a house built by the lake, where a plaque above the door bore the inscription "Flowing Water and Lingering Clouds." Before they even approached, the sound of opera singers' melodic voices could be heard. Two maids stood guard at the entrance and, upon seeing Qiuye with guests, hurriedly lifted the curtain to invite them inside.
The room was packed with people, filled with the sight of pearls, emeralds, and silk robes, while the air was thick with the fragrance of various cosmetics.
Lin Dongwan was standing at the front, serving tea to the elders. When she noticed Xianglan's arrival, she hastily set down the teapot and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "We've been waiting for you! Come, Sister Xianglan, take a seat inside." Warmly linking arms with Xianglan, she guided her to a seat in the side hall, which was farther from the opera stage. Surrounding them were several young women dressed in bright colors, with meticulously painted eyebrows and adorned hair, interspersed with a few older ladies. Xianglan understood that these were likely influential concubines brought by various families for socializing or wives of minor officials.
The Lu family had prospered for generations, and though now in decline, they still retained some prestige. Today, for Lu Guiyi's birthday celebration, the main hall was so crowded with titled ladies that there was no room left for her. Having a corner in the side hall was already considered an honor. When she entered, she noticed even the corridors were filled with tables for those without the status to enter and enjoy the opera.
Beside her stood a small side table with an intricate cloisonné round box containing two types of preserved fruits, melon seeds, and cloud slice cakes, along with tea and cups. Maids bustled about attending to the guests.
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 in advance—I offer my apologies now. Sister Xianglan, enjoy the opera for a while, and later I'll personally accompany you for a stroll in the garden."
Qiuye stood by with a respectful smile, thinking to herself how impressive their mistress was—able to bend and adapt. Even though Xianglan was merely a concubine, the third mistress could humble herself to befriend her. If the third mistress wished to win someone over, she would undoubtedly charm them completely. Given Xianglan's status, she couldn't secure a good seat, but the third mistress's words were so warm and considerate that any displeasure Xianglan felt should have dissipated.
Xianglan forced a faint smile. The chaotic opera performance failed to capture her attention, and after Lin Dongwan took the teapot and left, she simply gazed out the window. Across the lake, rugged rockeries stood beside weeping willows, their branches swaying in the breeze. She thought, "This is truly for the best. Song Ke now has a bright and smooth future, a beloved wife, and a son. Zheng Jingxian, coming from a noble family, can assist him in his career. She is straightforward and generous, deeply devoted to Song Ke—exactly the kind of virtuous partner he needs. These are things I could never achieve. No matter how much I refuse to accept fate or strive to improve, I cannot change the fact that I was once a maid. Back then, I was naive. If Song Ke had truly married me, wouldn't I be mocked at occasions like this?"Ultimately, she owed Song Ke a lifetime of debt. He had helped her escape the fiery pit of the Lin family, freed her entire household from servitude—a kindness akin to rebirth—and offered her a warm shelter from life’s hardships and setbacks when she was battered by adversity. They had even once loved each other sincerely. This pure, luminous affection she treasured deep in her heart, guarding it carefully, and it had sustained her through many difficult days. Now that Song Ke was doing well, she felt genuine happiness for him from the bottom of her heart.
Yet she couldn’t understand why her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife, the pain so sharp she couldn’t speak.
So painful, so painful…
Xianglan clutched her handkerchief tightly, forcing herself to exhale slowly. She picked up the teacup, using her sleeve to shield her face as she pretended to drink. But as soon as she raised her arm, two lines of tears rolled down her cheeks and fell directly into the teacup. She quickly wiped them away discreetly with her handkerchief. She felt as if she were losing her senses—at a moment like this, her mind could only think, Thank goodness I didn’t wear any makeup today, or else my tears would have smeared it, and I’d be too embarrassed to face anyone.
When she looked up again, a new opera had begun on the stage. Xianglan stared blankly at the performance for a while, then her gaze drifted to the audience below. There, Zheng Jingxian sat on the central Arhat Bed, holding Old Madam Lu’s arm as she spoke, her expression both charming and endearing. The old lady chuckled heartily, and the noblewomen around them joined in the laughter, seemingly praising her. Zheng Jingxian lowered her head modestly and said a few words, eliciting another round of laughter from the others.
Zheng Jingxian seemed to sense Xianglan’s gaze. She straightened up and looked in Xianglan’s direction. Their eyes met, and Zheng Jingxian lifted her chin high, her expression haughty and slightly provocative as she stared coldly at Xianglan.
Xianglan wanted to laugh but found she couldn’t. Zheng Jingxian had no reason to act this way. Hadn’t she seen the gentle smile on Song Ke’s face when he mentioned his son? They were a young married couple, bound by deep ties, a harmonious and happy family that others could only envy. Did Zheng Jingxian truly fear that Xianglan would rekindle an old romance with Song Ke? What a joke.
With a heavy heart, Xianglan reflected that her connection with Song Ke likely belonged only to a past life. Being able to see him once more in this lifetime was already a mercy 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 grown 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—loud, clamorous, and chaotic, like a frenzy of demons, overwhelmingly boisterous.
Xianglan could no longer sit still. She excused herself to those nearby and slipped out of the room. Stepping onto the outer balcony, the gentle breeze cooled her, scattering some of the restlessness and sorrow in her heart. Xiao Juan, who had been snacking and listening to the opera with a group of maids in the side room, noticed Xianglan outside and hurried out to attend to her.
Seeing crumbs still clinging to the corner of Xiao Juan’s mouth, 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 for you to get out—enjoy yourself, eat, drink, and have fun.” With that, she took the half-eaten pastry from Xiao Juan’s hand.
Xiao Juan went back inside cheerfully, while Xianglan leaned against the railing, crumbling the pastry to feed the fish. Suddenly, she noticed a group of three or five young noblewomen and ladies 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, fan in hand, watching Xianglan with an expression of utter 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 swarm of colorful carp to feed.
Zhao Yuechan grew increasingly irritated by Xianglan's indifference. Though her separation from Lin Jinlou had been handled discreetly, it had caused quite a stir among Jinling's aristocracy. Her family had closed their doors to visitors, with her parents and brothers wearing constant frowns. Seeing she could no longer 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 numerous slights and neglect, often lying awake at night seething with resentment, her liver stagnating and breath shortening until she nearly fell seriously ill. Her family had planned to marry her off to a minor seventh-rank official as a second wife. Seventh rank? She wouldn't even glance at such a prospect! Marry her off? Wishful thinking! She refused to accept her fate, convinced she wouldn't be crushed forever without a chance to turn her life around.
Fortunately, heaven never seals all exits. Her grandfather frequently hosted various officials, and when her brother Zhao Gang came to the capital to seek advancement, Zhao Yuechan flattered him, offered silver and gifts, bribing him to keep an eye out. Eventually, he identified several respectable families. She secretly observed each 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 the demeanor of a refined scholar. Third, the Dai family had once been illustrious; as the saying goes, "a centipede dies but never falls down," implying they still had some foundation left. After calculating the advantages, Zhao Yuechan discussed it with Zhao Gang, who shook his head like a pellet drum and said, "This is no small challenge. The Dai family, being respectable, would most likely want a young maiden as a second wife. If we propose someone of your status and they politely decline, wouldn't it disgrace both Father and Grandfather?"
Zhao Yuechan knew this meant the silver hadn't been enough and cursed him inwardly. Back when she was with the Lin family, she had bought a quite attractive maid named Qiongzhi, originally intended to divert Lin Jinlou's favor, but he hadn't taken interest. When she left the Lin household, she brought the maid 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. But now, gritting her teeth, she dressed Qiongzhi up to serve tea to Zhao Gang, promising that if the matter succeeded, she would give Qiongzhi to him as a concubine. 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 proposal, Zhao Gang cursed her cunning—"not releasing the hawk without seeing the rabbit"—but since there were benefits to be gained, he secretly arranged for Zhao Yuechan to "accidentally" encounter Dai Qing in the family garden. She opened the embroidery tower window, posed at the bedside as if grooming herself, and "inadvertently" dropped a handkerchief that drifted down on the breeze to land at Dai Qing's feet.When Dai Qing saw her, he was astonished as if beholding a celestial being. Zhao Gang seized the opportunity to say, "Speaking of which, my sister is also a pitiable soul. Previously married into the Lin family in the capital, her husband was nothing short of a tyrant and a brute. A delicate jewel like her was utterly mistreated by him—beaten and cursed at the slightest provocation. After several years of marriage without children, he wanted to divorce her. But ask anyone, and they’ll tell you Lin Jinlou has no children at all. He has several maids and concubines in his household, yet not a single one has borne him offspring. How could he blame my sister? The situation became so disgraceful that she felt too ashamed to stay, even threatening to take her own life. Our parents, heartbroken for her, negotiated with the Lin family for a peaceful separation and sent her to the capital to stay with me, hoping to lift her spirits." He then lavished praise on Zhao Yuechan, extolling her unparalleled beauty, intelligence, cleverness, gentleness, and virtue, as if she were a goddess descended to earth.
Dai Qing was quite moved by this and inferred some underlying meaning from Zhao Gang’s words. He thought to himself that Zhao Yuechan was exceptionally lovely, a rare beauty, still young, and moreover, the granddaughter of Zhao Jin. As Zhao Jin’s former student, his own status would not disgrace her. If this marriage were to succeed, he would gain a beautiful wife and strengthen his ties with the Zhao family—a perfect outcome. Besides, he already had three sons and even grandchildren, so even if Zhao Yuechan were infertile, he need not worry about heirs. Smiling, he asked, "Since your sister is so exceptional, has she been betrothed to anyone else?"
Zhao Gang, hearing this, knew there was hope and hurriedly replied, "Not yet. We fear finding another coarse man who would waste her youth. If we must seek a match, it ought to be someone like you, a scholar—cultured and gentle, mature enough to cherish and care for her, so she won’t languish in loneliness."
Dai Qing laughed, "Are you teasing me, or is this serious talk?"
Zhao Gang said, "Of course, it’s serious. What are your thoughts, brother?"
Dai Qing chuckled again, "It does sound like a fine prospect, but I worry a woman of her caliber wouldn’t marry an older man like me as a second wife, and your grandfather might not approve."
Zhao Gang thought to himself, The only worry is that you, the easy mark, might refuse. Aloud, he assured, "That’s no issue. If you’re truly interested, just send someone to propose. Leave the rest to me."
Dai Qing agreed and left. True to his word, he later sent envoys to the Zhao family to seek marriage. 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 henceforth. Zhao Gang extolled the compatibility of Dai Qing and Zhao Yuechan, arguing that an age-gap marriage would ensure harmony till old age, spinning elaborate tales. Zhao Jin initially refused but could not withstand his granddaughter’s tearful, desperate pleas. Reflecting that she had suffered enough 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 nod, the wedding preparations proceeded with frantic speed. As this was a second marriage for Dai Qing, it was not grandly celebrated. Within three months, Zhao Yuechan entered the Dai household. Sweet-tongued and attentively ingratiating, she charmed Dai Qing into a daze, making him disregard everyone else and shower her with extreme favor.Thus Zhao Yuechan made sure to dress in stunning fashion at every social occasion, appearing magnificent and glorious, as if trying to reclaim all the humiliation she had previously endured. Today, when she saw Lin Jinlou again, she was determined to hold her head high and regain her dignity. Back then, he had forced her to live as a widow in all but name, 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 Lin Jinlou suffer! Yet, to her surprise, when Lin Jinlou saw her today, he did not even spare her a second glance, treating her as if she were invisible. This was even harder for her to bear than if he had glared at her coldly or cursed her relentlessly. And to make matters worse, she had actually seen Chen Xianglan! Hadn't that little wretch been sold to a brothel long ago? How could she appear here so openly, dressed in dazzlingly opulent attire? Lin Jinlou had even brought her out to socialize and had eagerly followed her to introduce her to the daughter of Duke Xian.
Earlier, she had subtly probed Lin Dongwan and learned that Lin Jinlou had dismissed all the concubines in his household, leaving only Chen Xianglan as his sole favorite. She was now lavished with food, drink, and fine clothing, surrounded by servants, living in greater splendor than Zhao Yuechan had enjoyed as the legitimate wife of the Lin family.
Zhao Yuechan felt a suffocating anger lodged in her chest, unable to be swallowed down, and even the feast spread across the table tasted as bitter as medicine.
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