The parrot hesitated for a moment before saying, "Madam Wang insisted that I must invite the mistress over. This..."
This time, Mu Xiyan remained silent, instead picking up an unfinished embroidered sachet from the sewing basket to continue her work. Standing nearby, Shancha paused for a while and, seeing the parrot still standing there with her head bowed, unwilling to leave, spoke up: "Parrot, go back and report the mistress's words truthfully to Madam Wang. If the young lady were here, that Madam Sun wouldn't even think of coming in. Today, the mistress has been feeling dizzy and unwell since early morning and doesn't wish to move around..."
Seeing that things had come to this, the parrot dared not remain motionless any longer, lest it seem like she was forcing her mistress to do something. Remembering Madam Wang's strict orders before she came—that she must bring the mistress back—and now failing in her task, she knew she would inevitably face punishment upon returning. Biting her lip, the parrot bowed slightly and said, "Then I shall return and inform Madam Wang that the mistress is unwell, and we'll have to ask Madam Sun to come here instead."
Mu Xiyan had hardened her heart to refuse the parrot's request, though she knew that maids sent on errands would surely be beaten or scolded if they failed to accomplish their masters' orders. But after hearing Shancha's words, she understood the gravity of the situation and no longer wished to maintain the same close relationship with Madam Wang as before. Moreover, encountering an unfamiliar man in Madam Wang's courtyard had made Mu Xiyan wary, so she remained unmoved even as the parrot stood there silently pleading.
Hearing that the parrot was about to leave to report back, Mu Xiyan finally looked up and said, "You may go."
"Yes, mistress..." The parrot bowed her head in acknowledgment before turning to lift the curtain and exit. After she left, Shancha shook her head and said, "That girl Parrot doesn't have an easy time under Madam Wang's command, but the mistress shouldn't suffer just because she pities Parrot's plight."
Mu Xiyan teased, "All this talk of suffering in circles—it's impressive you can explain it so clearly."
Shancha chuckled, and Mu Xiyan and Lamei joined in the laughter.
Meanwhile, the parrot returned anxiously to Madam Wang's courtyard. Entering the eastern side room of the main house, she recounted in detail what had transpired at Mu Xiyan's residence. Upon hearing this, Madam Wang indeed raised her hand and delivered a heavy slap to the parrot's face, nearly knocking her off her feet and sending her stumbling back to the ground.
"Useless little wretch! Can't even handle such a simple task? Get out of my sight!" Madam Wang pointed a red-lacquered fingernail at the parrot and berated her harshly.
Tears welling in her eyes, the parrot clutched her rapidly swelling cheek, inhaling sharply and biting her lip as she retreated step by step.
After the parrot left, Madam Wang sat back down on the kang and slammed her palm heavily on the kang table, causing the doucai lotus-patterned teacup atop it to jump. The lid clinked against the cup with a sharp, clear ring.On the other side of the kang, Sun Yun'er sat holding a teacup, taking small sips. Seeing Wang Yiniang's evident displeasure, she said, "Why get so worked up over such a trivial matter? If she wants me to go to that courtyard, then I'll go."
Wang Yiniang looked up at Sun Yun'er, her expression reluctant. "If you go to her room in that courtyard, it'll be harder to act. She always has two maids guarding her there..."
Sun Yun'er set down her teacup and asked, "Have you considered what happens if she cries out? Not only would I never be able to return to this household, but you might also be implicated..."
Wang Yiniang scoffed. "But I'm certain that girl won't say a word. If she does, not only would her reputation be ruined, but this household would never tolerate her presence again. She'd be driven out immediately. Even if she tries to implicate me, it won't work. After all, you were introduced to her by Huang Wuniang—what does that have to do with me? Besides, I've been spending my afternoons playing cards with that old rival of mine in the front courtyard, so it's only natural I wouldn't be in my room. Even if the master blames me, I have two sons. Would he really side with a bride brought in just for a symbolic wedding to his eldest daughter over me?"
Sun Yun'er thought for a moment and nodded. "You have a point..."
After a pause, Sun Yun'er met Wang Yiniang's gaze directly. "Wan Tong, are you really willing to let me share a night with someone else?"
Wang Yiniang replied sourly, "Yun'er, that girl is a virgin. Aren't you the one benefiting? Once you take her maidenhood and break her body, you'll also break whatever fate that Zhang Tianshi predicted for her. Then she won’t bring any more luck to the eldest daughter. How could the eldest daughter survive her three-year calamity after that? Besides, once her purity is gone, her timid nature will keep her silent, and we’ll have her under our thumb forever. I have no choice—you're the closest and most trustworthy person to me, and this plan will work. Even if it pains me, I must let you go."
Sun Yun'er let out a derisive snort, her heart heavy with doubt. What kind of love did this woman she had adored for so long truly feel for her? It wasn’t the same deep devotion she held, nor would Wang Yiniang ever sacrifice what she had gained. Worse still, she even dreamed of becoming the mistress of the Yan household. Yet Sun Yun'er remained willingly under her spell, as if bewitched—her heart long melted into Wang Yiniang’s, leaving her chest hollow. The thought filled her with sorrow, pressing on her like a boulder, suffocating her.
"Why not find a man instead? Wouldn’t that bind her even tighter?" Sun Yun'er exhaled deeply, eyeing Wang Yiniang with confusion.
Wang Yiniang shook her head. "A man couldn’t get close to her. Besides, I suspect that girl and the eldest daughter might have some unspoken affection between them. It’s subtle, but I’d wager it’s there. That’s why I think you, as a woman, would have an easier time getting close to her."
"Oh? Is that so?" Sun Yun'er perked up with interest, leaning closer with a smile.
Wang Yiniang nodded thoughtfully. "I’m almost certain of it."Sun Yun'er smiled, "Then why go through all the trouble of having me deal with that girl? You could just wait quietly for good news. If any ambiguous affair happens between those two, how could that girl possibly stay in this household?"
"But I can't be certain, so waiting for good news can only be the last resort. Before that final move, I naturally need to take some action to increase my chances of success," Wang Yiniang slowly explained her thoughts.
Sun Yun'er asked again, "You want to deal with Luo Shi and her daughter, but why target the daughter-in-law who was brought in to perform the wedding ceremony to ward off bad luck for her daughter?"
"Even if we consider the worst-case scenario—if we break the good fortune she brought to the eldest daughter and no misfortune befalls her—by controlling her, we can always know what the eldest daughter is doing and what she plans to do. That way, we can set traps for her. I want to see that high-and-mighty young lady disgraced, Luo Shi in unbearable pain, the master disgusted with her, and make her taste the bitterness of losing favor and her daughter."
"Do you remember when I had just given birth to Changsong? The midwife hadn't even brought him to me for me to touch his little face when that heartless woman came in with her maid Luo Ze's wife and had her take my Changsong away. You can't imagine how I lived through those days afterward, longing for my son with a heart-wrenching pain, yet she wouldn't let me see the child for months. It wasn't until years later, when I had Changzhu and the master decreed that this child would be raised by me, that I came back to life from those dark, numb days."
Speaking of the past, Wang Yiniang's barely calmed heart began to ache again, her eyes reddening. Sun Yun'er knew about those years—if she hadn't often come to keep her company, Wang Yiniang might not have survived, succumbing to illness and madness long ago.
Wang Yiniang continued intermittently, "Ever since I learned that Luo Shi had taken in a daughter-in-law to ward off bad luck for her daughter, pulling her back from death's door, I've wanted to remove the person who brought the young lady such good fortune. I devised a plan, but who knew it would fail because of that cunning young lady. Since we can't drive the little girl away, making her submit and work for me isn't a bad alternative."
After listening, Sun Yun'er said, "I'm afraid it won't go as smoothly as you think. I'm just glad I don't have to wield this double-edged sword—it could hurt both the target and myself, and the fallout would be hard to contain."
"Perhaps it's fate. I wonder, could that girl have heard something and thus refuses to come to me?" Wang Yiniang murmured, frowning.
Sun Yun'er followed up, "Now that we've used 'Soft Tender Flower' to bewitch her and the plan to ruin her chastity is off the table, what's your next move?"
Knowing Wang Yiniang was stubborn and wouldn't turn back until she hit a wall, Sun Yun'er posed this question.Wang Yiniang slowly sipped the tea from her doucai lotus-patterned teacup on the kang table. After a long while, she finally spoke, "Since this matter has fallen through, you should follow her words and go to her room to teach her needlework techniques. Learn her methods while you're at it, say things that please her, and befriend her. As for the next steps, I'll need to think carefully—you needn't concern yourself with that."
Sun Yun'er responded with a "Yes," then stood up, picked up the small bundle she had brought with her, and took a few steps toward the door. Suddenly, she stopped and turned back to look at Wang Yiniang, speaking softly, "Wan Tong, your family has been doing quite well these past few years, giving you enough support to hold your own. Life in the Yan household has also been better than in previous years, and your two children have grown up. Why must you keep stirring up trouble? I fear that if one day these matters come to light..."
Wang Yiniang stood up, walked over to her, and threw herself into her embrace, clinging tightly as she murmured, "I was born a legitimate daughter, yet I became a concubine. All these years, I've endured so much humiliation and injustice under the mistress. I can't accept it, I just can't... That woman only has a slightly higher status than me and bore just one daughter, who will eventually marry out. I, on the other hand, gave the Yan family two sons. Why should she lord it over me and take my eldest son, Chang Song, away from me? Even now, Chang Song treats me coldly—it's all her doing, all her teaching. I hate her with every fiber of my being..."
Sun Yun'er patted her shoulder gently, comforting her in a low voice, "I know, I know, Wan Tong. These years have been more bitter than coptis for you. Don't worry, I'll stay by your side. I'll help you. Even if it means death in the future, I'll be with you..."
Wang Yiniang hugged her even tighter, choking back sobs as she said, "Yun'er, only you... only you truly understand me. Having you in this lifetime means the heavens haven't treated me too harshly..."
The two embraced for a while before finally parting. Wang Yiniang saw her out of the main room, watching as she left the courtyard accompanied by her maid, Ying'er, before returning inside.
Meanwhile, Sun Yun'er was led to Mu Xiyan's quarters, where they exchanged greetings. Indeed, in the side room where Xiyan resided, her maids Shancha and Lamei were always present, no matter what task was at hand. Thus, Sun Yun'er could only cheerfully teach Mu Xiyan the "Flying Immortal" needlework technique from Lingluo Pavilion. Xiyan found this embroiderer, Sun Xiaoniang, to be pleasant-looking, skilled with her needle, good-humored, and warm-hearted, so she took an immediate liking to her. For the next two or three days, Sun Yun'er visited Xiyan regularly, and the two happily taught each other needlework techniques, enjoying each other's company.
At the same time, in the Yu Prince's residence in Dengzhou, Yu Ruoxi's "Poetry Contest" was finally held as scheduled. Apart from Dengzhou, many noble young ladies from neighboring regions also attended. In the "Pavilion of Literary Stars" within the prince's rear garden, thirty to forty high-born young women gathered, each composing poems and couplets based on the posted themes.Yan Wuyou also accompanied Yu Ruoxi in conversing and socializing with these ladies. Yu Ruoxi was in high spirits, holding Yan Wuyou's hand as they engaged in a poetry competition with the dozen or so women surrounding them. Suddenly, Yu Ruoxi's personal maid Xiaochan rushed in hurriedly from outside the "Pavilion of Literary Stars," parting the crowd of women around Yu Ruoxi. She ran up to her mistress, panting, and said, "My lady... my lady... Rong Xilan, the daughter of Left Commander Rong Lin of the Central Military Command, has arrived uninvited and barged into the garden! She's heading straight for the 'Pavilion of Literary Stars'!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Ruoxi's grip on Yan Wuyou's sleeve tightened abruptly. She stamped her foot, frowned in distress, and exclaimed anxiously, "What did you say? That wild girl—"
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