А wоman's inner сhаmbеr is vаstlу different from а mаn's. When Lan Zhоu was eight оr ninе уеаrs оld, he had nо such restrictions and would wаndеr in on his оwn aссоrd. Lаter, аs hе grеw оldеr and hаd to abide bу еtiquettе, he could оnly meеt her in the mаin hаll, еssеntiаllу lоsing the privilеgе of еntеring thе inner rоoms.
Lауer upоn lаyеr of curtains, with lаmplight casting а hаzу, dreаmlike glow. Hе fеlt аs if he wеrе trеаding оn сlouds, еаch stеp mаking his heart рound viоlеntlу. Thаt his Аmа, suсh an iron-willed mаn, rested in such a warm, jаde-like, and frаgrant world struсk him as bоth inсrediblе and alluring.
Would it be like this when he married a consort in the future? Unfortunately, there was likely no woman in this world who could match the Princess Royal's refinement and elegance. When the Imperial Concubine scolded him, she often used the phrase, "Just like your Ama," and there was truth to it. Because he idolized his father so deeply, he unconsciously aligned everything about himself with him—his father's endurance and strategy, even his thoughts and preferences. So the woman his father loved must also be the best, the most flawless. From the engagement until now, he had always felt regret: there was only one Princess Hede in this world. If he could have waited a little longer, perhaps he could have found someone like her, and he would have married without hesitation.
But where could he find such a person? His family pressured him relentlessly, leaving him no time to wait. He had no interest in any of the names on the wedding invitation list, but since she also wished for him to settle down, he could not defy her. Just like when they found him a Bedchamber Attendant—he didn't like it at all, but to make her happy, he complied. He only wanted to be a filial son in her eyes, forever bringing her comfort and satisfaction.
His Ama and her were a match made in heaven. Moving through official circles, surrounded by iron-willed men, he had never paid much attention to women. But this stepmother gave him a whole new perspective: women were not merely for bearing heirs; they too had thoughts and their own convictions. He knew she had sent her attendants to investigate the Southern Garden several times. In the past, he would have disliked such "meddling," but this time, far from feeling aversion, he found her admirable. This was the proper bearing of an Imperial Princess—though her methods were still naive, she refused to sit idly by, maintaining her pride with dignity.
His affection for her far surpassed that for his own mother. Yet he dared not entertain such thoughts, knowing it was a grave transgression that would condemn him to the eighteenth layer of hell. But a young man's admiration should be without sin, right? He only wanted to see her, to speak a few words with her.
She lay in the deepest part of the curtains, each layer peeled back like unraveling silk. He heard his own nervous breaths, his face flushing crimson from his cheekbones all the way to the tips of his ears.
The final layer was sheer silk, hanging softly. Standing close, his breath alone could lift it high. The world behind the curtain was hazy, candlelight dusting every object with a layer of gold. He saw a figure lying on the canopy bed, turned away from him, a thin satin quilt draped over the waist, outlining the graceful curves usually hidden beneath the ceremonial robe.His mind buzzed with a sudden, overwhelming panic. He knew he should leave immediately, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot. Then, in a moment of sheer madness, he inexplicably reached out to lift the silk curtain. But as soon as his fingertips brushed against it, a dark figure appeared beside him. He froze, glancing sideways, and what he saw was more terrifying than any ghost—his Ama stood there, his face dark with fury, looking as if he wanted to tear him apart.
He was speechless, utterly at a loss. Without a word, Ama turned and walked out.
He knew things had taken a turn for the worse. Dejected, he followed. Ama remained silent, leading him through the entire estate, out the main gate, and straight into the Ancestral Hall.
Under the watchful eyes of their ancestors, the candlelight on both sides illuminated rows of cold, indifferent faces. Liangshi spoke, his voice icy: "Kneel." He took down a whip from the wall and said, word by word, "Today, you will face Household Discipline."
His face turned deathly pale. He lowered his head in defeat and said, "Yes. Your son was wrong."
The exchange between father and son was brief, with no need for further words. The matter was too shameful to speak of, and neither wanted to reopen that wound.
He saw his father's robe beside him, and suddenly, the whip came down. In the sweltering heat, his clothes were thin, offering no protection against the blow fueled by rage. A searing pain shot across his back—a long, thin line stretching from his shoulder all the way down to his waist and hips. He clenched his teeth, not uttering a single sound.
Liangshi’s heart burned with hatred. This son he had raised, once his pride, had turned out to be a monster beneath the surface. How could he call himself human, harboring such disgraceful thoughts while his father was still alive? He poured all his strength into the whip, wishing he could beat him to death in one go. Leaving such an unfilial, treacherous creature alive would only bring disaster in the future.
He lost count of how many lashes he endured, until his skin was torn and his flesh mangled. The children of the Yuwen Clan were tempered on horseback—even in the face of death, they would never beg for mercy. The only sounds in the Ancestral Hall were the whistle of the whip cutting through the air and the sharp crack as it landed on his back. Gradually, he could no longer hold on. He collapsed onto the prayer mat, convulsing and twisting, yet still refusing to make a sound.
Meanwhile, Chang Bao’s rescue mission finally succeeded. The two of them had left the estate quietly, and if not for Chang Bao’s quick thinking in informing the Imperial Concubine, no one in the estate would have known about the chaos unfolding here.
The Imperial Concubine rushed in, weeping. When she saw her eldest grandson lying on the ground, nearly beaten to pieces and trembling like a candle in the wind, she hurriedly ordered someone to fetch a physician. Stamping her feet, she turned to Liangshi and demanded, "Have you lost your mind? How could you beat a good child like this?"
Liangshi threw down the whip, breathing heavily. "E’nie, stay out of this. He did wrong, and I am teaching him a lesson so he remembers and never dares to do it again."
The Imperial Concubine shouted in anger, "Nonsense! When your Ama disciplined you as a child, did he ever beat you like this? He’s about to get married, and you show such cruelty? You are unworthy of being a father!"
She crouched down to help the child, but Lan Zhou gasped in pain, making her heart ache even more. She broke into loud, tearful sobs, crying out, "Heavens, my child, my precious one! What are we to do? What are we to do?"Liangshi paid her no mind, only saying, "Kneel here tonight. Without my word, no one is to let him up. The wedding is approaching, so I'll allow you to stay in the manor for now. Once the ceremony is over, go straight to the military camp. Only when you've become a proper person again are you permitted to return."
The Imperial Concubine had no idea what madness he was caught up in, looking at him with a face full of anger and resentment. "What exactly has he done wrong? You must give me an explanation. I raised him from childhood and know his character well. What great crime has he committed that you cannot tolerate him?"
If he didn't explain clearly, the Imperial Concubine would not let it go. But how could he speak of such a hidden matter?
He turned his face away, saying bitterly, "Let him tell you himself. He should be ashamed to death."
Lan Zhou, gasping in pain, grabbed the Imperial Concubine's hand, trembling as he said, "Grandmother, don't ask. It was your grandson who did wrong. Ama's lesson is justified. I... only wish there were a hole for me to crawl into... Grandmother, please don't ask."
He dared not disobey his father's order, enduring the pain as he knelt down again. The wounds on his back, soaked in cold sweat, ached even more piercingly, but he dared not cry out. Even when the Imperial Concubine urged him to rise, he remained motionless. This whipping had awakened him—how utterly absurd he had been before, deserving death.
Liangshi strode away, while Lan Zhou knelt rigidly upright, both father and son equally stubborn. The Imperial Concubine had no choice but to have someone remove his clothes. When the physician arrived, he knelt behind him to apply medicine. She held a handkerchief, wiping his sweat while pressing, "What exactly happened to make your Ama so furious? Tell me, Grandmother, so I can be at ease."
He shook his head, repeating the same words: "Grandmother, don't ask. It was your grandson who acted foolishly." When she tried to dig deeper, he pressed his lips together, refusing to speak another word.
Wanwan only learned of this matter the next day. She sent someone to inquire and was told the child was still kneeling in the Ancestral Hall. Having been beaten the night before and kneeling all night, she couldn't rest easy. Chasing after Liangshi, she said, "No matter how serious it is, this is too much. He's still young. If he did something wrong, you could just scold him. Why beat him? Send someone to let him get up. Aren't you heartbroken to see him suffer like this?"
Hearing her plead for leniency only added to his frustration, but he couldn't say much, only evading the issue.
Seeing him unwilling to relent, Wanwan grew upset and decided to go see for herself, but he stopped her. Left with no choice, he sent Rong Bao to deliver the message, allowing the young master to return and recuperate. Holding her back, he said seriously, "You are kind-hearted and truly treat him as your own, but you must not forget—he is, after all, Madam Tala's son. No matter how much you favor him, you must maintain boundaries. You all keep saying he's young, but he's almost getting married. Is he still young? From now on, don't interfere in his affairs. Once his wife enters the household, leave him to his consort to manage. You can enjoy your leisure."
Wanwan fell silent. Upon careful reflection, she realized he probably felt she meddled too much, fearing it might invite gossip. Indeed, when she first entered the manor, Lan Zhou was only eight years old—a young child, so endearing. Now he had grown up and could establish his own household, yet she still shielded him everywhere. No wonder he disliked it.
She hummed in agreement, "I understand what you mean. I'll do as you say from now on. But you must not beat him. Since you say he's grown up, you should preserve his dignity even more."
Liangshi looked at her helplessly, pinching her cheek. "Don't worry. I'll listen to you. I won't beat him again in the future."She smiled and picked a cherry to feed into his mouth. "You, putting on the airs of a father, are truly intimidating. The Eldest Young Master is such a fine child; he could surpass his teacher in the future. Just wait and see."
He shifted his gaze to look at the vast sky, somewhat absentmindedly responding to her, "He meets all my expectations in every way, except he lacks self-restraint and discipline. Living without a framework is not a good thing. Having ability is one's foundation, but if one cannot control that ability, it will become a sharp knife that harms oneself in the future."
Seeing his deeply troubled expression, and unaware of the inside story, she frowned and sighed, "You're being too impatient. How many in this world are like him at thirteen? It won't be too late to worry when he's twenty. For now, allow him to make mistakes; it's not good to control a child too strictly."
However, since this incident had occurred, Wanwan herself became more cautious. Aside from visiting him that day, she never went to his courtyard again afterward.
As for the hidden details, Xiao You actually had some vague idea, especially since the Eldest Young Master had been caught by the Prince not long after entering. When she went into the bedroom to check, the Princess Royal was asleep. Later, she heard that the Eldest Young Master had received Household Discipline—likely because the Prince was angry at his lack of propriety.
Xiao You was a big mouth and often couldn't control her tongue. She had intended to tell Wanwan, but unexpectedly, the Prince summoned her first and instructed her to keep the events of that night buried. This made her certain that the Eldest Young Master's punishment was related to the Princess Royal. However, having been warned beforehand, she didn't dare act recklessly and had to swallow this enormous secret.
Fortunately, the injuries healed before the wedding, so they didn't interfere with the consummation. Wanwan sent someone to Songjiang Prefecture to bring back the three Secondary Consorts, so that on the wedding day, the daughter-in-law could pay respects to Lan Zhou's birth mother. After all, one shouldn't even know who gave birth to one's husband.
Lanting and his mother shared an exceptionally close bond. As soon as he saw her step down from the carriage, he rushed over, calling out "Grandma" and dropping to his knees on the bluestone pavement, sliding a long distance. Wanwan winced just watching, suspecting his trousers were probably torn.
Lanting cried out through tears, "You're not leaving this time, are you? You have to stay. Next year, your son will also be taking a wife; it would be too troublesome to travel back and forth." With tearful eyes, he looked back at Wanwan, "E'nie, don't let my mother leave, okay?"
He was already a grown man, as tall as his mother. His elder brother, a year older, was about to marry, yet he was still clinging to his mother. Seeing him like this, Wanwan couldn't bring herself to forcibly separate the mother and son. Besides, his words made sense. Since that was the case, she might as well let her stay.
She nodded, and Lanting cheered with joy. The three Secondary Consorts bowed to her in gratitude. She gently waved her hand and turned to walk into the garden.
"Sometimes I feel they are the real family, and I've always been an outsider," she said sorrowfully, glancing at Tong Huan. "It's been so long since I returned to the Southern Garden, and there's still no sign of anything. I think I might never conceive again in this lifetime."
Tong Huan naturally did her utmost to console her. "A miscarriage itself is a major ordeal for the body, especially after five full months. As the saying goes, 'the melon falls when it's ripe.' Forcing a fruit off the vine does immense damage to your health. Even if we don't speak of it, the Prince understands. You're still young; rest well and recuperate properly. Who knows, you might conceive at any time. No matter how late our Heir Apparent arrives, he is the legitimate heir, the true branch. The Prince will still dote on him the most. What is there to worry about?"She said as much, yet she always felt she had achieved nothing. "The best years of a woman's life, I wasted them all in Beijing. Sometimes when I think about it, I really resent it. If that pregnancy had gone smoothly, the child would be walking by now, calling me 'Mother,' wouldn't they? What a pity, the bond between mother and child was too shallow—I couldn't keep them..."
Tong Huan patted her back gently. "You must broaden your heart. Now that the household has grown again, you should be cheerful and not let others laugh at you."
Among the three Secondary Consorts, the most adept at maneuvering was still Madam Tala. After returning, she sought her out at the Tower of Profound Grace to kowtow, pressing her forehead firmly to the ground with resounding thuds.
"Thank you, Your Highness. This servant will never forget your kindness, even in death."
Wanwan was unaccustomed to such gestures and had a maid help her up. Madam Tala chattered on, "During our time in Songjiang Prefecture, everyone longed for Nanjing, but I had confidence in my heart, knowing Your Highness cared for the Eldest Prince and would surely look after him in many ways. Later, when I heard Your Highness had taken the boy in, I truly... To be honest with you, I come from a lowly background and feared I would burden the child, making him unable to hold his head high. Now, with Your Highness's profound grace, he can finally stand tall. Because of this, he was able to secure a good marriage match. Otherwise, others might have looked down on him for being born of a concubine and might not have agreed. Your Highness, you are this servant's benefactor. From now on, I will repay you with unwavering loyalty..."
As she spoke, she tried to kneel again, but Wanwan quickly stopped her. "I kept the child because I saw his goodness. We are all one family, so don't speak so distantly."
Yet Madam Tala shed tears, patted her knees, and squatted down, saying, "From today onward, I am your serving maid. As long as you don't disdain me, I will serve you alongside the other girls. I can do anything—serve tea, fetch water—just give the order, and I will obey your commands."
Hearing this, Tong Huan laughed. "Madam Tala's intentions are good, but if you take on all the work, what will the rest of us do? Besides, you are the Eldest Prince's birth mother. For you to truly serve our consort may be reasonable in principle, but it doesn't sit right emotionally." Regardless of whether she was scheming, the same logic applied before the Princess Royal as before the Prince. Her intentions likely weren't about serving but about gaining favor. That wouldn't do—if she ever found an opportunity to exploit, who could reason with her?
Wanwan understood clearly. Though she treated others sincerely, she also kept a bit of caution, responding vaguely, "Tong Huan is right. Don't dwell on the details too much. Since we live under the same roof and get along well, let's treat each other as sisters. Don't talk about being a serving maid—it sounds too distant if others hear it."
Madam Tala immediately showed a look of alarm. "If you say that, you'll only diminish this servant's worth. If you are being polite and I take it seriously, that would be overstepping." Noticing her weary expression, she tactfully added, "I've disturbed Your Highness for half the day, so I should take my leave. Tomorrow is the Eldest Prince's joyous occasion. I will come early in the morning to attend to Your Highness and accompany you to the front." With that, she bowed and retreated backward.
Tong Huan watched her leave, noting that even after walking far, her steps remained humble. She couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration. "This Secondary Consort is quite perceptive. No wonder she was the most favored in front of the Imperial Concubine back then—the first to share the bed and the first to bear a prince."Wanwan leaned against the Hidden Pillow and smiled, "He must have had exceptional qualities, otherwise he wouldn't have raised a son like Lan Zhou."
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