Willow of Zhangtai, Willow of Zhangtai,
Are your tender branches still there today?
The two beautiful daughters of the Zhang family were trained in music and dance from childhood, all for the sake of climbing the social ladder and bringing glory to their family. So even as a lowly concubine, Zhang Liu eagerly entered the prince's household.
After years of hardship, she finally gave birth to a precious son and was on the verge of being promoted to a formal consort when Prince Ping suddenly passed away. Not only did Da Si show no sympathy for the prince's household, but he also ordered all the concubines to relocate to the desolate lands north of Beishan, ostensibly to guard the prince's spirit—but in reality, it was exile.
Zhang Liu refused to go. So when the time came to leave, she seized the opportunity to escape while taking her child to relieve themselves. By chance, she encountered Zhang Tai, who was out purchasing clothes.
"Fleeing from the royal household is a capital offense," Mingyi said, looking at her. "Going beyond Beishan at least offers a chance to live. Why make such a decision, madam?"
Zhang Liu nervously studied Mingyi for a long time until Zhang Tai signaled for her to relax. Only then did she sit down at the table and whisper, "That household was a den of wolves. Ever since Prince Ping began neglecting his wives and concubines, they went mad, often resorting to murder. In the capital, there were still laws to restrain them, but beyond Beishan, my child and I would likely die without anyone knowing."
Rather than lead her child to certain death, she decided to gamble on luck.
Zhang Tai shook her head repeatedly. "If the family finds out, they’ll surely drag you back to avoid implicating the clan."
"I know..." Zhang Liu choked back tears. "But my child is innocent. Please, help me just this once?"
Zhang Tai gave a bitter smile. "Look at me—how can I possibly help you?"
"I don’t need anything extravagant—just a roof over our heads and warm porridge to fill our bellies," Zhang Liu pleaded urgently. "I can help with cleaning, and I can embroider to earn some extra money."
Zhang Tai glanced at Mingyi, who shrugged indifferently. "I don’t have much silver to spare, but feeding two more mouths won’t be a problem. However, since you have a child with you, they’ll surely search the city for a while. Best not to go out these days."
Zhang Liu hadn’t expected her to agree so readily. The weight of her worries and fears suddenly lifted, and her knees gave way—she dropped straight to the floor in a kneel.
Mingyi was startled and quickly reached out to help her up. "No need for such formalities."
"No, it’s just... I’m weak from hunger."
"..."
Embarrassed, Zhang Liu sat back on the stool. "I’ve been mourning in the household these past few days and haven’t eaten much."
Her three-year-old child sat at the table, staring at Mingyi with wide eyes, blowing a tiny bubble of drool.
Mingyi’s heart softened. "I happen to have some dried fruit with me. You can snack on this for now, and later I’ll have someone bring over a proper meal."
"Thank you, miss." Zhang Liu was overwhelmed with gratitude, tears streaming down her face. "If only I’d never entered the prince’s household..."
Zhang Tai shook her head. "Eight years ago, Prince Ping was at the height of his glory—young, handsome, and deeply favored by Da Si. Every woman in the city dreamed of entering his household. Even if you hadn’t wanted to go, your family would have sent you anyway."
Mingyi raised an eyebrow slightly. "If Prince Ping was so illustrious eight years ago, why did he later fade into obscurity?"
"Why else? It was all because of that fox-spirit in the inner courtyard!" Zhang Liu suddenly grew agitated, her painted nails digging into the table until one snapped. "To this day, I still don’t understand what kind of bewitching potion she fed the prince to make him abandon his wives and children—to drive him to madness!"Mingyi was startled. She patted her own chest a couple of times but found little relief, so she simply reached over to pat the woman's chest instead. "Madam, speak slowly. What 'seductress' are you referring to?"
"She means the late Empress Meng Shi," Zhang Tai sighed. "Meng Shi and Prince Ping were childhood sweethearts. Later, she was summoned into the inner court and became Prince Ping's sister-in-law. The prince quarreled fiercely with Da Si over this, and Da Si eventually indulged him, allowing frequent interactions between the prince and the Empress. Though they addressed each other as uncle and sister-in-law, they often drank tea and admired flowers together in the inner court without any regard for propriety."
Zhang Liu nodded. "Exactly, it was her. Ever since she became Empress, the prince hasn't had a single peaceful night—restless, irritable, even mistreating the first princess consort he married afterward. Such a good woman she was, driven to hang herself in the main courtyard of the prince's residence, three months pregnant when she died."
Mingyi and Zhang Tai both gasped sharply.
"Did I scare you?" Zhang Liu softened her expression slightly, lowering her eyes. "No one outside knows about this. The princess consort came from humble origins, and her family didn't dare demand justice. So she was just buried quietly."
"Only those of us in the residence still feel an eerie chill whenever we pass the main courtyard."
Mingyi found it unbelievable. "He was devoted to Meng Shi, yet still got his princess consort pregnant?"
Zhang Liu curled her lips in self-mockery. "Even while bedding others day and night, he claimed his heart belonged only to Meng Shi. Men—they always want to secure their lineage. Look at me, receiving not an ounce of affection, yet I still bore a child."
Zhang Tai stiffened as if she'd swallowed a fly, instinctively touching her lower abdomen.
Mingyi patted her shoulder reassuringly. "It's all in the past now."
"Let's not dwell on that," Zhang Liu quickly added. "I just rambled to show you that place is no place for humans. If I'm ever caught and taken away, I likely won't survive. Min'er will have to rely on you both then."
Zhang Tai nodded, as if suddenly enlightened, and turned to Mingyi. "Tomorrow, I'm going to the apothecary."
"Are you sure?" Mingyi asked seriously. "Don't regret it later."
"I'm sure. Keeping it would mean companionship, but also endless harassment from Xu Lan. It wouldn't have a good life with me either." Zhang Tai clenched her fist. "Xu Lan doesn't deserve me continuing his bloodline."
If he was naturally infertile, then let him die without heirs.
Such thoughts were scandalous even in the Azure Cloud Realm. Zhang Tai felt uneasy after speaking, but neither of the two before her showed any judgment. Mingyi even looked somewhat approving.
"I'll make arrangements for you," Mingyi said.
Ji Bozhai wouldn't be returning to the residence anytime soon, so Mingyi had nothing to do but leave the house weeping every morning, shop around the streets, and return in tears.
Thus, the people on those two streets concluded that the little dancing girl from the Ji residence had fallen out of favor and was now desperately seeking remedies, fruitlessly visiting every major pharmacy for fertility potions to win back Lord Ji's affection.
Yet Lord Ji remained heartless, staying continuously at the Flower Full Tower without returning. So the little dancing girl began purchasing wooden chairs and beds, preparing her exit strategy.
She was beautiful—even her sorrow was a sight to behold—so gossip about her flourished.
"If I were Ji Bozhai, I'd enjoy having such a beauty. How could anyone bear to abandon her?""So you'll never be Ji Bozhai. That man never lacks stunning beauties around him. The Courtesan at Flower Full Tower must taste even more exquisite."
"True enough, but wouldn't Ming Guniang feel resentful?"
Situ Ling sat in the teahouse chamber by Erjiu Street. Hearing these words from outside, he lifted his gaze and looked down through the window.
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