Jiaо Меng undеrstоod and quicklу vаnished into thе pitch-blасk night.
Insidе thе rооm, Han Yаn leisurely peelеd аn orаnge, рluсkеd а segmеnt, аnd рорpеd it into her mouth. Тhе slightly bittеr taste madе her squint her еyes.
Маmа Сhеn, whо hаd held baсk fоr a lоng timе, finаlly sрokе uр: "Miss, by tеlling Сonсubine Mei, dо you intend fоr hеr tо entеr the palасе?" She соuldn't hеlр but frоwn аgain. "Тhаt Cоncubinе Mei is nо eаsу сharасtеr еither. Isn't this like driving awаy a wolf only tо invite a tiger? Нow cаn this be аllоwed?"
Нan Yan yawned. "Concubine Mei wants to win me over. For now, she won’t do anything to me. It’s Madam Zhou who’s too scheming—she can’t be allowed to enter the palace this time. Just watch, Mama. Concubine Mei won’t let Madam Zhou enter the palace; she’ll definitely set obstacles and cause trouble for her. If Concubine Zhou can’t go, Father won’t allow Concubine Mei, a low-born Hu dancer, to lower his status by entering the palace. At most, he’ll have Concubine Wan accompany him."
Mama Chen still wanted to say more, but Han Yan had already started eating the orange on her own, mumbling indistinctly: "We just need to sit back and watch the show."
However, the next day, something happened that Han Yan hadn’t anticipated, completely disrupting the entire situation.
Early in the morning, Han Yan went to pay her respects to Zhuang Shiyang. Her illness had fully recovered by now, and failing to pay respects would give others grounds for criticism. Moreover, she still needed to maintain the superficial appearance of a loving father and filial daughter with Zhuang Shiyang.
When Han Yan arrived at the main hall’s dining room, she saw only Zhuang Hanming sitting to one side. Zhuang Shiyang was flanked by Zhuangshan, who leaned against him, and beside Zhuangshan was Madam Zhou, dressed elegantly. Zhuang Qin, Concubine Wan, and Concubine Mei were seated on the other side of the table. Han Yan sneered inwardly. The seating arrangement is so clearly divided, indirectly indicating everyone’s status in the household, isn’t it?
But she said nothing, merely offering a proper greeting to Zhuang Shiyang: "Greetings to Father."
Madam Zhou immediately chuckled lightly. "Fourth Miss, please take your seat. The master dotes on you so much—he’s been waiting for quite a while."
Her words carried a double meaning: accusing Han Yan of laziness for rising so late and making her elders wait, while also implying she was putting on airs as the Fourth Miss without apologizing.
Han Yan looked at Madam Zhou with confusion. "Father arrived so early? How strange. Yan’er rose according to the proper time. Ji Lan, you silly girl, if the timing was wrong, why didn’t you wake me? You deserve punishment!"
Ji Lan caught on immediately and replied, "Miss, the timing was not mistaken."
Han Yan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled cheerfully. "That scared Yan’er. So it was Father who rose early. Yan’er feels ashamed for not keeping up."
Her words were innocent and lively, entirely childlike in nature, but to the others present, they carried a different meaning. Early that morning, Concubine Zhou had urged the master to have all the household members come to pay their respects, half an hour earlier than usual. Yet, Han Yan had been deliberately excluded, likely so that when everyone else arrived, she would be labeled lazy and unfilial. Unexpectedly, Han Yan had deftly shifted the blame with just a few lighthearted words.
She wasn’t wrong—she had come to pay her respects at the proper time. Concubine Mei and the others glared fiercely at Madam Zhou, feeling her display of authority as the principal wife was utterly detestable.
Zhuang Hanming had been worried when he didn’t see Han Yan earlier, and his anger grew when Madam Zhou spoke up. Only after Han Yan resolved the conflict did he finally feel at ease.
Madam Zhou’s expression shifted, and noticing Zhuang Shiyang’s growing impatience, she forced a smile and said, "Indeed. Now that everyone has paid their respects, let’s have our meal."Once seated at the dining table, everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
Today, a plate of pastries on the table caught everyone’s attention. The pastries were shaped like little rabbits, their snow-white dough faintly tinged with a hint of green. Two jewel-like red eyes, made from preserved plums, were embedded in them, making them quite charming. Seeing everyone’s interest, Concubine Mei said, "This is a new dish the chef made. The filling is osmanthus-flavored. I saw it in the kitchen yesterday and tried it—it’s really quite tasty."
Most of the people at the table were northerners who didn’t care much for sweets, except for Madam Zhou and her daughter, who were from the south. As a result, the plate of rabbit pastries was placed right in front of Zhuangshan.
Han Yan glanced at Concubine Mei and noticed a hint of smugness on her face. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease, though she quickly dismissed it, thinking that nothing untoward could happen under everyone’s watchful eyes. She must be overthinking it.
Zhuangshan, however, was utterly delighted. "These rabbits are so adorable!" she exclaimed, tilting her head as she picked one up and placed it in Zhuang Shiyang’s bowl. "Father, have one."
Zhuang Shiyang was naturally pleased, his face lighting up with a smile. "Daddy doesn’t care much for sweets. Yu'er, you have a bite."
Han Yan lowered her head in disgust. Among the four children in the room, Zhuang Shiyang likely only acknowledged Zhuangshan as his daughter. Lost in thought, she suddenly found a snow-white rabbit pastry placed in her bowl. Looking up, she saw Madam Zhou smiling at her with unusual gentleness. "Young ladies all like pretty pastries. Fourth Miss, why don’t you try one too?"
Han Yan had little appetite to begin with, having only managed a few sips of chicken porridge. Seeing the sudden addition of this oversized pastry in her bowl, and thinking about the fact that it might have been touched by Madam Zhou’s saliva, she felt even more disgusted. She could hardly resist the urge to fling the contents of her bowl right into Madam Zhou’s face.
Han Yan glanced at Zhuang Qin and noticed she was quietly eating her meal, with no one offering her any dishes. Han Yan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Zhuang Hanming caught her eye and winked at her, which finally brought a faint smile to Han Yan’s lips.
Before the smile could fully form, a sharp scream pierced the air, followed by a loud clatter as Zhuangshan tumbled from her chair. "It hurts! My stomach hurts so much!"
Han Yan was stunned. Zhuang Shiyang had already scooped Zhuangshan into his arms. "What’s wrong, Yu'er? Why are you suddenly in pain?"
Madam Zhou rushed to Zhuangshan’s side, tears instantly streaming down her face. "Master, send for a doctor quickly!" She then turned to Zhuangshan, weeping bitterly. "My poor Yu'er, you were fine just a moment ago. How could you suddenly have a stomachache? Could it be something you ate?"
Zhuang Shiyang froze at her words, his gaze darkening as it swept across the dining table before finally settling on the plate of white rabbit pastries.
Han Yan hadn’t expected such a turn of events either. Instinctively, she looked toward Concubine Mei, only to find her mouth agape, wearing an expression of shock. However, she quickly composed herself, though the tightly clenched handkerchief in her hands betrayed her nervousness.
Her reaction clearly showed she was at a loss. If this had truly been Concubine Mei’s doing, why would she look so bewildered? Suspicion gnawed at Han Yan’s mind, and she abruptly turned to look at Madam Zhou and her daughter. She saw Zhuangshan’s pale little face, her eyes tightly shut, her left hand subtly tugging at the hem of Madam Zhou’s clothes. Madam Zhou’s face remained streaked with tears, but Han Yan saw it clearly—the corner of her mouth was curled into a faint smirk.Han Yan was greatly shaken, yet she also knew that Concubine Mei had fallen into Madam Zhou's trap. She had originally thought this concubine was clever, but compared to Madam Zhou, she was still one step behind. Clearly, Madam Zhou had already known Concubine Mei's plan and turned it to her advantage. Now Concubine Mei was likely in trouble.
"Bring the pastry chef here!" Zhuang Shiyang was already furious. With one hand comforting Zhuangshan in his arms, he suspiciously eyed everyone in the room.
Seeing the disappointment on Zhuang Hanming's face, Han Yan felt a pang in her heart. Having suffered so much in her past life, she no longer held any hope for this father. But Hanming was, after all, an eleven-year-old child. To him, his father was like the sky—someone he revered and respected, yet he ended up in a position where he was not favored. Confusion, sorrow, and disappointment naturally all came crashing down on him. She didn't know if he could bear it.
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