The Glory

Zhuаng Yushan naturallу did nоt believе it: "What nonsеnsе аrе уоu spouting? Yоu're clearly making ехcusеs—how аudасiоus!"

Hаn Yаn lооkеd at hеr with a smile: "I knew Sistеr Yushаn wouldn't bеlieve me. Sеeing how рitiful I was, the immоrtаl bеstоwеd uроn me anоthеr cеlеstiаl pаstry. Lооk, there аrе evеn crumbs left on thе ground from what I аtе."

Zhuаng Yushan lоwered her hеаd tо loоk аnd indееd sаw sсattеrеd white рastrу crumbs on thе floоr. Instаntlу furious, shе ехсlaimed, "You аctually had somеone bring foоd in here!"

Нan Yаn fеigned griеvance: "Sister Yushan, you’re wronging me. The servants in the manor wouldn’t dare disobey Father’s orders. The ancestral hall door was locked, so how could I possibly get in? Even if the maids wanted to bring food, without being able to open the door, how could they deliver it?" The Zhou sisters had deliberately made things difficult for her, ensuring no one would dare send food under their watchful eyes. Even Jilan and Shuhong were under house arrest—who would dare defy the Zhou sisters? Seeing Zhuang Yushan’s expression soften slightly, Han Yan seized the moment to add fuel to the fire: "I’ve said it before—Sister Yushan, it’s best to revere the gods. The deities above see every move we make."

Zhuang Yushan took two steps back, eyeing her warily as if facing a formidable enemy: "I don’t believe a single word you say." Then, thinking of something, she grew smug: "On the eighth day of next month, I’ll be entering the gates of Prince Wei’s mansion as the prince’s concubine. As for you, you’ll be waiting to become a nun for the rest of your life." She glanced at Han Yan disdainfully: "Why don’t you beg me now? Perhaps I can ask the prince to grant you the title of a lowly concubine or maid. After all, a lowly status is still better than living without a man for a lifetime."

Unfazed by her harsh words, Han Yan merely smiled: "Sister Yushan came today specifically to release me, and I’m naturally grateful. But I’d like to offer you a piece of advice." Her lips curled into a malicious smirk, her arrogant demeanor strikingly reminiscent of Fu Yunxi: "Not every woman in this world is like you, unable to live without a man."

"You…" Zhuang Yushan was left speechless with anger. Han Yan continued to smile: "What kind of man Sister Yushan seeks, or how many men she wants, has nothing to do with me." As she reached the entrance of the ancestral hall, she suddenly seemed to remember something and turned back to face the furious Zhuang Yushan with a smile: "Oh, I forgot to tell you something. Last night, while kneeling on the prayer mat in the ancestral hall, I prayed for your marriage. And guess what the gods said?"

Zhuang Yushan immediately grew tense: "What did they say?"

Han Yan savored her anxious expression before leisurely replying: "The gods said… some secrets are not meant to be revealed."

"Zhuang Hanyan!" Zhuang Yushan couldn’t bear being toyed with like this and was so enraged she wished she could slap Han Yan twice. But knowing Han Yan’s cunning, she dared not act recklessly. Instead, she stomped her foot: "You can gloat all you want. Even if you end up an unwanted old maid, you can still be this smug!"Han Yan turned her back to her, lazily waving a hand, her voice clear and bright: "The gods and Buddhas say they will naturally find a good match for Han Yan, so there's no need for you to trouble yourself, sister. Farewell, Concubine." The last two words carried a hint of a smile, yet were tinged with profound mockery, as if the smile on her face was cold and failed to reach her eyes.

Upon returning to the Clear Autumn Courtyard, Mama Chen, Ji Lan, and Shu Hong hurriedly came forward to greet her. It turned out that Madam Zhou had confined them all, forbidding them from stepping out of the Clear Autumn Courtyard, on the grounds that they had failed to take proper care of the young lady. As a result, they had been unable to communicate with Han Yan.

After comforting Ji Lan and Shu Hong with a few words, Han Yan walked to the table and sat down. Ji Lan sent Mama Chen away and approached Han Yan, saying, "The matter the young lady asked this servant to inquire about has yielded some leads."

Han Yan was taken aback for a moment before suddenly realizing what it was about. She quickly pulled Ji Lan into the inner room, sat her down by the bed, and motioned for her to continue.

"The personal maid who served the late Madam was driven out of the mansion when the young lady was born, apparently for theft. After that, all the maids who had accompanied Madam as part of her dowry were dismissed from the mansion under various pretexts. This servant spoke with servants from other courtyards and learned that in the year the young lady was born, almost all the servants in the Clear Autumn Courtyard were replaced. Mama Chen was also brought in as a new addition."

Han Yan listened with a frown. This sounded rather strange. Why were all the maids and servants in the Clear Autumn Courtyard replaced in the year she was born? What matter was so deeply concealed, as if they feared some news might leak out? She clenched her fists. What exactly was going on?

Seeing that Han Yan's expression remained calm, Ji Lan continued, "Those dismissed maids either died or left their hometowns, and over the years, they have all vanished without a trace. However... this servant bribed an old nanny in the mansion and learned that the first maid driven out for theft back then is now working as an embroiderer in an embroidery shop in the capital. If the young lady is interested..."

Han Yan bit her lip. "Make the arrangements. I want to meet her."

Ji Lan looked at her hesitantly before finally saying, "Young lady... this servant has something to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it."

She had always been straightforward in her duties, speaking her mind openly in front of Han Yan, rarely so hesitant. Han Yan softened her voice and said, "Just say it."

Ji Lan thought for a moment, then steeled herself and said, "This servant heard people say that when the late Madam entered the mansion, her heart belonged to someone other than the master... So there were rumors that Madam was already pregnant when she entered the mansion. Young lady... you are not the master's biological child!"

A thunderclap seemed to strike out of the blue. Although she had entertained such thoughts before, when Ji Lan spoke the words aloud, Han Yan still found it difficult to accept. The man she had called "father" for over a decade was not her biological father, which explained his coldness toward her all these years. Yet this did not bring Han Yan any joy. Who, then, was that person?

But now that her mother had passed away, she was left with a flood of questions and no one to answer them.

Ji Lan watched her cautiously. "When Madam entered the mansion back then, many servants spread such rumors, but all those who gossiped were severely punished and driven out of the mansion by the master."Han Yan understood clearly. To silence the public, Zhuang Shiyang had evidently resorted to ruthless measures. This made Han Yan even more puzzled. If it were true, then her own origins truly remained a mystery. Moreover, it seemed that person... was no minor figure.

In the Hall of Golden Chimes, after listening to the memorials from the court officials and discussing important matters, The Emperor asked, "If there are no other matters, we shall conclude here today. Court is dismissed."

Just then, a handsome young man in a red official robe embroidered with a white python stepped forward and said solemnly, "Your subject has a request to seek Your Majesty's approval."

The Emperor paused, staring at him, and asked, "What matter does Xuan Qing Prince have?"

Fu Yunxi offered a faint smile, his gaze sweeping past Zhuang Shiyang standing to the side. "Your subject wishes to propose marriage to Lord Zhuang's Fourth Miss."

Upon hearing this, Wei Rufeng stiffened, glaring at Fu Yunxi with resentment. Before Zhuang Shiyang could speak, he sneered, "Your Highness may not be aware, but Zhuang Hanyan once said that the man she marries must have only her in this lifetime—no consorts, no concubines, and no maidservants. Your Highness, as a member of the royal family, would do well to abandon this notion sooner rather than later."