Shao Shang covered the back of her hand, glaring angrily at Ling Buyi. However, no one in the palace hall noticed their interaction at the moment, as everyone's attention was drawn to the palace consort in casual attire who entered slowly.
"I'll settle this with you later!" Shao Shang was eager to watch the unfolding drama, so she could only mutter a fierce whisper for now.
Ling Buyi turned his head away, refusing to look at her again.
Consort Yue approached and bowed slowly to the Emperor and Empress. All the royal children rose to greet her as well, though the Crown Prince merely gave a slight bow. When Consort Yue lifted her head, Shao Shang saw her face—a round, lively, and charming countenance with faint dimples on her cheeks. Though nearing forty, she looked no older than thirty.
Shao Shang murmured, "This Consort Yue is quite beautiful too, no less than the Empress." This didn't bode well.
Ling Buyi poured himself a drink, pretending not to hear.
"...What brings you here today?" Old Princess Ruyang seemed somewhat uneasy, her tone no longer as haughty as before. "You never attend family banquets."
Consort Yue, supported by a palace maid, slowly rose and walked toward the head seat. As she moved, she said, "It's because I missed you, Aunt. I missed you so much I couldn't sleep. The moment I heard you'd arrived, I rushed over without even changing my clothes."
Every word sounded affectionate, yet her tone was flatter than the floor. Consort Yue's face showed no trace of warmth—instead, her expression was cold. Shao Shang sensed something intriguing.
At the same time, she noticed that everyone around seemed to have collectively fallen into a state of muteness and facial paralysis. They all lowered their heads, silent and composed, their expressions and body language clearly conveying a desire to stay unnoticed.
Even more fascinating were the expressions of the Emperor and Empress. The former looked conflicted, as if both pleased and wary of trouble, while the latter smiled helplessly and subtly retreated—a psychological gesture indicating a wish to stay out of the matter.
Consort Yue ascended the steps and stood before Princess Ruyang, looking down at her. "Aunt, shouldn't you make way?" It was a near-perfect reenactment of how the old princess had earlier forced Consort Xu to retreat.
The Fifth Prince's eyes lit up.
Old Princess Ruyang fumed, "I am still your elder!" Though Consort Yue, as the second most noblewoman in the kingdom, held a higher rank and fief than her, the old princess couldn't bear the humiliation.
"If we're speaking of elders, you're even more of an elder to His Majesty. Should we ask His Majesty to step aside so you can sit above him?" Consort Yue's lips moved swiftly, her words quick and dismissive.
Princess Ruyang's face turned purple with rage. Princess Yuchang, sensing the tension, wisely helped her seething grandmother to another dining table that the palace maids had just prepared.
Consort Yue sat down with natural ease and scanned the room. "Hmm? Where's the Third Princess? Why isn't she here?"
The Emperor stroked his beard, pondering how to respond, but Consort Yue answered her own question. "Ah, I see. She must have misbehaved again. It seems the last punishment wasn't enough. His Majesty was too lenient, only reducing her fief by thirty percent. I said back then that all her fief and servants should be confiscated—let's see if she dares to act so arrogantly without money or power! ...Shall we add to her punishment this time?"
The Emperor awkwardly closed his mouth.
The Second Princess, unable to bear it, forced a smile and interjected, "Mother, Third Sister has already realized her mistake. She's been reflecting on her actions these days. Besides, if you truly leave her penniless, she'll have no choice but to come begging to me."Consort Yue didn't even lift her eyelids. "You'd better focus more on poetry and dancing. If you can't speak properly, then speak less. If you keep nagging, see if I don't pray to the Goddess Nüwa to bless you with a daughter just like your third sister."
The Second Princess choked on her words and bowed her head deeply.
Seeing the Second Prince Consort across from her shrinking like a quail, the Crown Princess raised her head with a smile. "Mother's lesson is most appropriate. However, since His Majesty has already punished Third Sister, it wouldn't be suitable to punish her again."
"I haven't had much interaction with the Crown Princess before, but let me offer you some advice..." Consort Yue's lips barely moved as she spoke. "First manage your own affairs properly. You can instruct me on how to behave after you become Empress in the future."
The Crown Princess's face turned purple with humiliation. The Second Prince Consort secretly watched her embarrassment, laughing inwardly. The Crown Princess looked aggrieved, tears welling up in her eyes, but Consort Yue continued, "Don't worry, though. I'll certainly do my best to depart early so as not to trouble the Crown Princess. So you can stop crying now."
The Crown Prince panicked and immediately prostrated himself. "Mother's words shame this unworthy son." He then turned and snapped, "Stop crying! Be quiet!"
The Crown Princess indeed dared not cry anymore.
Old Princess Ruyang put on her elder's airs and said sternly, "You're too harsh. Look how you've frightened the Crown Prince and his consort. A princess is still a princess—she should maintain her dignity. Don't restrain the children until they become dull..."
"A princess is not only a princess but also His Majesty's daughter," Consort Yue replied slowly. "As parents, we give them life, raise them, ensure they lack nothing, and let them grow up with glory and dignity. We don't expect them to be filial or considerate, only hope they won't act recklessly or arrogantly, disgracing their parents. Aunt, is this hope of mine for my children too high?"
Thus, Old Princess Ruyang had no choice but to shut her mouth.
Shao Shang was utterly astonished, shrinking behind Ling Buyi and peeking with wide eyes.
The Emperor seemed quite accustomed to this, showing no intention of speaking from start to finish. The Empress pretended not to hear anything.
"Alright, the elders have matters to discuss. Let the younger ones return to rest first."
Consort Yue pointed at the few little princes under ten sitting at the back. The Empress hastily nodded from afar, and the attending Mother Fu and palace maids quickly led the five little boys away.
Consort Yue didn't find her unilateral decision inappropriate at all. Her gaze swept over everyone until it landed on Shao Shang. "Is this the Eleventh Master's new bride? Why does she seem so timid, as if she hasn't eaten her fill?"
Hearing several snickers around her, Shao Shang was mortified and stammered, "I-I-I..." She looked to Ling Buyi for help, but her fiancé turned his face away, refusing to move.
The Fifth Princess was overjoyed, feeling she had finally found a stage to perform. She quickly said, "Mother has such sharp eyes! This Cheng Niangzi—"
"Little Fifth, why are you still like this!" Consort Yue frowned at the Fifth Princess's face. "These pimples have been on your face for two years now, and not only haven't they faded, they've grown even more vigorous. Do you want to marry with this face? A round fan won't cover it."
The Fifth Princess instantly turned to stone, her face still smeared with purplish ointment.
"My consort speaks wisely," the Emperor finally spoke up. "Earlier this year, I heard the Empress advising you to eat lightly, abstain from wine and meat, and stop fooling around all day, disrupting your sleep schedule. Did you listen at all?"The Fifth Princess, overwhelmed with shame and fury, trembled violently as tears welled up in her eyes. Finally unable to contain herself, she let out a sob and fled the chamber.
The room fell into an uneasy silence, thick with tension.
Consort Yue acted as if nothing had happened, murmuring to herself, "She ran off without even asking to be excused. How ill-mannered. Ah well, let her have her freedom before marriage. I'm too soft-hearted and indulgent with children."
Everyone: ... (That's a lie!)
The Fourth Princess had been quietly snickering until she caught her mother's sidelong glance. With a start, she immediately declared loudly, "This daughter will go check on Fifth Sister and properly console her, urging her to reform her dietary habits." After receiving the Emperor's dismissive wave, she bolted from the chamber at breakneck speed.
Shao Shang was speechless with astonishment. Being born to a mother like Consort Yue meant starting life on HARD mode.
"How can you be so cruel! Look how you've frightened the children," the fearless Old Princess Ruyang confronted Consort Yue directly once more, earning admiring looks from the younger generation.
Completely unrepentant, Consort Yue retorted, "Why only blame me, Aunt? His Majesty also reprimanded the Fifth Princess earlier." Seeing the old princess momentarily speechless, she continued, "No wonder—you've never liked me since childhood, always saying I was willful..."
The Grand Princess's husband, sensing the awkwardness, attempted to mediate: "The severity of the scolding shows the depth of care. Aunt only speaks harshly because she cherishes Consort Yue so dearly. We're all family here, all family..."
This time it was the Grand Princess's turn to sigh. Though less tactful than her husband, she understood Consort Yue far better. Since childhood, she'd learned through countless humiliations and sarcastic remarks that speaking less in Consort Yue's presence was wisest.
True to form, Consort Yue smiled sweetly: "Aunt doesn't cherish me at all. What Aunt cherishes is His Majesty."
Still oblivious to danger, the Grand Princess's husband chuckled: "Is that so? This subject has long heard of His Majesty's wisdom and steadiness since youth—no wonder elders dote on him."
Consort Yue gazed upward thoughtfully before shaking her head: "Not entirely. Actually, Aunt didn't care much for His Majesty in his youth either. Only after he proved competent in agricultural affairs did Aunt begin cherishing him. As His Majesty grew more capable, gradually building wealth and reputation, Aunt's affection increased accordingly. Then when His Majesty ascended the throne, Aunt's devotion became boundless. What do you think, Grand Princess's husband?"
Grand Princess's husband: ...
Shao Shang pitied him: Ah, another statue frozen in terror.
Princess Ruyang slammed the table in rage: "Yue Hen! What are you implying! Are you trying to sow discord between His Majesty and me?"
Ignoring her, Consort Yue smiled kindly at those below: "Royal sons-in-law, it's not that we exclude you, but some stories about elders are better left unheard."
The Grand Princess's husband nearly wept with gratitude as he hastily rose to excuse himself.
Though the Second Princess's husband was less eloquent, his movements were swift. Both couples requested leave simultaneously, but the second son-in-law had already grabbed his wife's hand and vanished with lightning speed—his steps light as if gliding over waves—leaving the Grand Princess's couple panting in pursuit.
Watching their retreat, Shao Shang nearly burst from suppressed laughter."...I dare not accept Aunt's reproach," Consort Yue said casually, taking a sip of wine. "Back when the Grand Princess was heavy with child and extremely weak, Aunt couldn't bear to lend money for meat and nourishment. In the freezing snow, His Majesty had to go hunting in the mountains, hoping to get some fur and meat for his elder sister. When Elder Brother Huo Chong found him and brought him back, His Majesty was already frozen blue all over."
This old story being suddenly brought up made Princess Ruyang both ashamed and flustered. She stole several glances at the Emperor, but seeing his expressionless face, she could only stammer, "It wasn't that I was unwilling to spend the money. At that time, your uncle and the others hadn't returned for months, and I had to keep some savings! How was I to know His Majesty would go into the mountains? When I found out, I immediately sent someone to inform the Huo family!"
Though she tried her best to explain, the four princes below were already glaring at her with indignation. The Emperor faced inward, his head slightly lowered in silence.
"That's right," Consort Yue suddenly grew melancholic. "My family was in the neighboring county. By the time we found out, Elder Brother Huo Chong had already provided money and people to nurse the Grand Princess through her pregnancy and His Majesty through his cold injury. Ah, good people don't live long..."
The palace hall fell silent again. After a while, Consort Yue turned to Ling Buyi and said, "Your uncle only has you left to carry on his bloodline. Marry and have children to offer incense for your uncle's family, so they won't be left without worship and become wandering ghosts."
Ling Buyi cupped his hands in acknowledgment. Shao Shang noticed his fingers trembling slightly.
"Exactly!" Princess Ruyang interjected urgently. "I also hope Eleventh Master will marry and have children soon. But look at Lady Cheng—young, small, and from an insignificant family. How can she be a match for Eleventh Master? He should find a noblewoman of proper age who can bear children immediately upon marriage!" As she spoke, she pulled her granddaughter beside her. "My Nuying here..."
"Consort Xu, you don't look well," Consort Yue suddenly remarked.
Consort Xu and her son, who had been listening intently, were taken aback. Mother and son exchanged glances and quickly understood. The mother clutched her forehead with a groan, while the son promptly offered to help his mother back to rest, and they both departed.
Seeing the crowd thinning, Shao Shang grew increasingly uneasy.
Consort Yue smiled kindly at Princess Yuchang, who shuddered in response.
Consort Yue said, "Nuying, my niece, you're an honest child with no faults of your own. It's a pity you have a grandmother who bullies others because their elder brother died young. Let me put it this way: even if Eleventh Master were to randomly pick a suitable unmarried maiden from the streets, she would still be better than you! It's best you give up these delusions early. While you're still young, find a good son-in-law to marry."
Princess Yuchang let out a sob and began to cry softly into her sleeve.
"How dare you!" Princess Ruyang shrieked, her voice tearing. "You... you disrespect your elders, you..."
Consort Yue leisurely drank another cup of wine, completely unfazed.
"Your Highness," Ling Buyi suddenly spoke up, "allow me to say something to Princess Yuchang."
He then stood and said, "Princess, even without Old Princess Ruyang, I would never marry you. Back then, I would rather have died in battle at the frontier than return to marry you..."
"Zisheng!" The Emperor abruptly turned around, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. "Marry whomever you wish, and no one can force you to marry anyone you don't want! If anyone dares to threaten you, I'll make sure they find life worse than death!"Princess Yuchang's face turned deathly pale. Overwhelmed by shame, she covered her face and fled in tears.
Princess Ruyang, intimidated by the Emperor's imposing manner, involuntarily toned down her demeanor and said awkwardly, "This old woman was merely speaking out of turn. Zisheng's marriage is naturally for Your Majesty to decide—how could others presume to comment? I only wished for Chunyu Shi to receive the proper respect she deserves..."
Consort Yue turned to those seated below: "Regarding the Huo family's hidden affairs, apart from Eleventh Master and his wife, do the rest of you wish to hear more?"
The princes started in alarm and hastily excused themselves. Just as they were about to rise, Consort Yue sighed, "Crown Prince, Crown Princess, why are you leaving? Shouldn't you be fully informed about Zisheng's matters?"
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess had no choice but to sit back down awkwardly. This time, the Second Prince and his wife didn't envy them at all and quickly followed the Third and Fourth Princes out.
Shao Shang thought: ...Four more escaped.
"...Why must you defend Huo Junhua? She, she..." Princess Ruyang hesitated, glancing at Ling Buyi's expression, not daring to continue.
"Aunt," Consort Yue sighed helplessly, "Do you really think I need you to sow discord between Huo Junhua and me? We've known each other for decades and been enemies for just as long. She's thrown hot soup at me; I've scattered nails in her path. That woman is full of lies, utterly shameless—if not for Elder Brother Huo Chong's sake, many would have beaten her black and blue. Come to think of it, she once tricked me into going out and nearly got me kidnapped by bandits."
Listening to Consort Yue's accusations, Shao Shang stole a glance at Ling Buyi, but his expression remained utterly unchanged—calm and inscrutable as ever.
"Exactly, exactly!" Princess Ruyang nodded excitedly. "In that case—"
"In what case?" Consort Yue said disdainfully. "Even if Huo Junhua is despicable, Chunyu Shi is still a vile woman! Aunt, you'd better tread carefully—don't ruin yourself just to protect her."
"How can you speak of a noblewoman like that?" Princess Ruyang protested.
"Such moving devotion," Consort Yue remarked drily, idly toying with her fingers. "Fine, persist in your folly if you must. But keep your opinions out of the palace—you don't have that privilege. Otherwise, I might have to 'fondly remember' you again, Aunt."
She fixed Princess Ruyang with a piercing gaze, enunciating each word: "...Next time, I won't dismiss the princes and princesses."
The old princess seethed but didn't dare retort, thinking privately that she'd simply avoid Consort Yue next time.
Shao Shang had been observing the Empress the entire time. She sat silently in the shadows, quiet and translucent, as if entirely detached from everything.
She knew the Empress had been in high spirits earlier that evening—with her husband and children by her side, everything had seemed perfect. She'd even instructed the palace maids to dress her carefully: a light crimson ruqun embroidered with gold thread, accentuating her graceful figure, her thick hair loosely coiled in an elegant style.
Alas, Old Princess Ruyang had ruined it all.
Whenever those long-past events were discussed, the Empress became an outsider, unable to interject at all.
...
At the end of this spectacular family banquet, the dazed Crown Princess saw Princess Ruyang out, while Ling Buyi spoke quietly with the Crown Prince outside the hall. Shao Shang was finally permitted to leave. As she departed, she kept glancing back, curious about where the Emperor would sleep that night.Passing through the lush and dense imperial gardens, the summer night's foliage exuded a rich and refreshing fragrance. Shao Shang walked briskly toward the palace gates and spotted the familiar black iron carriage parked in its usual spot. However, due to the sweltering heat, its solid walls had been removed and replaced with breathable, cool gauze curtains. The Liang Qiu brothers stood quietly nearby with their guards.
The young Liang Qiu Fei, seeing Shao Shang alone, asked where the Young Master was.
Shao Shang had initially intended to say he would arrive shortly, but after some thought, she felt Ling Buyi didn’t seem quite himself tonight and it might be best to avoid meeting for now. So she replied, “Lord Ling is speaking with the Crown Prince, and it’s unclear how long they’ll take. He seems tired tonight, so I’ll take the carriage back to the Cheng residence myself. Leave a horse for him so he can return to his own estate and rest early.”
Liang Qiuqi neither agreed nor disagreed but simply exerted his strength to lift a small stone stool from beside the palace gate for Shao Shang to use as a step into the carriage. Shao Shang sighed deeply. “I mean, couldn’t you just keep a footstool in the carriage? There are times when Lord Ling isn’t around, and you refuse to lift me up. What if there’s no stone stool next time? Am I supposed to climb in myself?”
Liang Qiuqi replied stiffly, “In that case, this humble servant would offer his back for the young Female Lord to step on.”
Shao Shang was speechless. “…I’d rather climb in myself.”
As she stepped onto the stool, she turned back and added, “Also, I’m not your ‘young Female Lord’ yet.” She had a lifetime ahead of her to be a married woman—did her maidenhood have to be so fleeting?
Sitting inside the carriage, listening to the soft creak of the wheels, she leaned comfortably against the frame, her eyes lightly closed as she slowly pieced together everything she had seen and heard that night—the Huo family, the Ling family, the Emperor’s family, the dead, the living, those who might help, those who might bring trouble… She could finally go home. She needed rest.
Just as she was drifting into a light doze, the sound of galloping hooves startled her awake. Before she could react, the gauze curtain and carriage door were abruptly flung open. In an instant, it was as if a wave of seawater had surged into the compartment—cool, misty ocean air mingled with the summer breeze, enveloping her endlessly.
Ling Buyi sat rigidly across from her, his expression cold.
His silver crown had been removed, and his formerly stiff robes were replaced with a plain, silver-edged sleeveless robe. The broad linen fabric draped over his tall, lean frame, the collar loosely open to reveal his fair, smooth chest. Following the line of his slender neck, Shao Shang faintly glimpsed a delicate blue vein.
Shao Shang had never been in love and didn’t know how to smoothly handle men, but her instincts told her this wasn’t the time for jokes. She could only sit there in nervous silence.
“…What do you take me for?” Ling Buyi’s voice seemed to come from the other end of the sky.
Shao Shang didn’t know how to answer. Did it matter what she thought of him? She had no say in the matter—Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed on her shoulder as Ling Buyi’s large hand gripped her neck and pulled her toward him.
Ling Buyi slowly leaned closer, his face inches from hers, exuding an unfamiliar and dangerous aura. “When I was fifteen, I saw the sea of clouds over Kunlun—floating between the sky and the mountaintops, pure and transcendent, piercing the heart, just like the way you looked at me in Hua County. I also loved how you spoke to me—it always brought me joy. You were the one who provoked me first. What happens next is no longer up to you.”Shao Shang opened her eyes wide, at a loss.
"I am not your brother, to be ordered around at your whim. Nor am I your servant, to be summoned and dismissed as you please. I am your future Son-in-law. You should respect me, love me, and trust me. Your eyes should be fixed on me."
Ling Buyi's voice was gentle and low, yet Shao Shang felt a hint of fear. They stood so close that she caught the crisp scent of cold water on him, mingled with a faint trace of wine.
"I hope you remember this and think carefully about how you should treat me from now on," Ling Buyi said calmly.
Shao Shang nodded hastily.
Ling Buyi gazed at the girl's delicate chest rising and falling with her rapid breaths, the faintly visible slender veins on her neck pulsing so weakly. He wanted to gently kiss that tiny vein, yet also longed to bite down hard enough to draw blood.
After watching for a while, he did nothing. Slowly calming his breathing, he lowered his head and removed the jade pendant from his waist to tap against the carriage frame.
The carriage came to a halt.
Shao Shang was hauled out by Ling Buyi's powerful hands. He made her walk back on her own, then drove away without hesitation.
Standing dumbfounded at the entrance of her family's alley, Shao Shang remained motionless for a full five minutes before beginning to move. As she walked, she reflected inwardly—so, had she really gone too far this time?
After walking along the Cheng family alley for a few minutes, the old steward Cheng Shun was already waiting with the gate wide open. Upon seeing his Young Lady approach, he immediately stepped forward with a smile, chattering away: "Young Lady, why are you back so late tonight? It's almost curfew... Oh dear, why do you smell of alcohol? Did Lord Ling make you drink? Oh wait, perhaps there was a banquet at the palace. Hmm? Where is Lord Ling? Why didn't he come tonight? Did he just drop you off at the alley entrance?"
Unable to bear the nagging, Shao Shang glared at the old steward and snapped, "Enough with the questions! Let me ask you—why didn't you remind me how inappropriate it was for Lord Ling to pick me up and drop me off every single day these past days? What if he exhausts himself?!"
Cheng Shun was momentarily stunned, then chuckled: "...It was the master's orders. No one is to interfere in matters between Young Lady and Lord Ling. As long as you two don't come to blows, you're to handle things yourselves."
"Father said that?!" Shao Shang's eyes widened as she planted her hands on her hips. "Father is far too casual! Being the head of the household is far too easy for him!"
Old Cheng Shun laughed. "Don't blame the master. Back in the day, whenever the master and the Female lord had a disagreement, as long as no one interfered, they'd always make up by the next day. But once someone stepped in..." He trailed off with a knowing smile.
Even without hearing the rest, Shao Shang knew that Cheng Mu must have often fanned the flames between them back then.
Letting out a long sigh, she slumped her shoulders and dragged her feet as she slowly stepped through the gate. Just as she was about to enter, she suddenly whirled around, picked up a small pebble from the ground, and hurled it with all her might in the direction of the alley where Ling Buyi had departed.
—She was still settling accounts with him, and he had the nerve to get angry first! What's so great about being a lunatic anyway?
Author's Note:
An elder in my family has passed away—a peaceful departure at a ripe old age. There will be many rituals and arrangements to follow, so updates will be paused for now. The next update will be on Monday the 25th. My sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
Some readers mentioned palace intrigue and the Qing dynasty in the comments. I'd like to clarify that palace intrigue was virtually nonexistent in the Han dynasties. Even when it did occur, all participants were straightforward in their tactics.
Among all the imperial consorts across both Han dynasties, the only one who truly engaged in sophisticated palace intrigue was Lady Deng Sui—the originator of the fake white lotus archetype. The incident where Empress Wang Zhi's mother allegedly framed Consort Li Ji remains uncertain in its truthfulness, but if verified, these two could compete for the top spot.
All other imperial consorts operated on the principle of "the emperor's favorite is always right." Take the Feiyan sisters, for example—even when their actions became blatantly obvious and folk songs like "Feiyan comes to peck at the imperial grandsons" circulated widely, as long as they retained the emperor's favor, they remained untouchable.For example, Empress Dou of Emperor Zhang had a shockingly simplistic method of dealing with the Song and Liang sisters—she just kept slandering them over and over, relying on the Emperor's favor to whisper in his ear until he believed whatever she said. Considering the Liang family was the maternal clan of Emperor He, Empress Dou at least put in a bit more effort by forging an anonymous letter to eliminate the Liang family's leader—quite the show of sincerity.
This crude and straightforward approach to harem intrigue persisted until the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Empress He of Emperor Ling (whose brother was He Jin, the Grand General and former employer of Lord Cao), out of jealousy over Wang Meiren giving birth, immediately resorted to poisoning—how refreshingly direct.
Then the Emperor found out almost immediately and was ready to punish the Empress—I mean, how blatant can you get? The Emperor didn’t even go through the usual process of suspicion, speculation, or hesitation.
Now, if it were Huan Huan today, jealous and plotting against a palace consort, the methods would be endlessly varied.
For the technical approach, she could discreetly consult a court physician well-versed in pharmacology to prepare a slow-acting poison, silently draining the life out of Wang Meiren.
For the narrative approach, she could first swear sisterhood with Wang Meiren, showering her with affection until they seemed inseparable—like they were about to start a romantic affair. Then, she’d prepare one, two, three, or even four scapegoats in advance, ensuring every move was justified, reasoned, and motivated. When the time came to strike, it would be seamless—like a ripe fruit falling naturally from the tree—so flawlessly executed that Wang Meiren, coughing up blood in her final moments, would still pour her heart out: "Dear sister, I entrust my poor child to you..." Game over.
Clearly, over a thousand years, women’s cunning has evolved magnificently, from reptilian to fully upright, climbing ever higher. In stark contrast, men’s standards have steadily declined—from the Han Dynasty’s dominance over neighboring states to the late Qing’s humiliating territorial concessions, obsessing over whether women’s bound feet resembled straight or triangular rice dumplings. Truly a cause for celebration.
—All in jest, don’t take it seriously.
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