Her hand fell hopelessly onto the bedsheet, clutching it so tightly that her fingers turned pale from the strain. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as another wave of pain suddenly tore through her abdomen, causing her entire body to curl up and tremble uncontrollably. "What did the doctor say about me?"
"The doctor said... he said it's likely you won't be able to have children again, miss," Yun'er replied with a choked sob.
Hearing those words, a wretched cry seemed to tear from the depths of her soul. The despair felt like a massive boulder crashing down upon her head—in that instant, her world shattered into dust, and she plunged into hellish darkness, completely unconscious.
Though autumn had just begun, she was already wearing the Shattered Cloud Shawl meant for late autumn. The shawl was long, its delicate tassels reaching all the way to her ankles. She felt constantly cold now, her body extremely frail. Wrapping the shawl tightly around her emaciated frame, she curled up on the sofa like a cocoon protecting itself.
She counted the ginkgo leaves falling outside the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the golden little leaves drift down from the trees—one, two... Sometimes she would count all day long. After all, she had all the time in the world.
Jiang Manlin never visited her again, but she could still hear Jiang Manlin's voice on the radio, listening to her sing "The Peony Pavilion" with such tender grace. Jiang Manlin had risen to fame so quickly, becoming the premier opera star of Golden Mausoleum. Who in all of Golden Mausoleum didn't know the reputation of Kunqu opera singer Jiang Manlin now?
Yun'er came to persuade her. "Miss, you've been cooped up at home for over two months. Why not go out for a walk and get some fresh air?"
She didn't want to move, but couldn't resist Yun'er's urging. "Even just sitting in the car and watching the scenery would be good."
Eventually, she did go out. It was evening when the car arrived at Golden Mausoleum's largest theater, "Spring Hall." Yun'er quickly stopped the driver and said cheerfully, "Miss, why don't we go in and watch an opera?"
The driver commented, "Look how crowded it is. If we go in now, there probably won't be any seats."
Yun'er replied, "We won't know until we try. Let me go check first."
Surprisingly, Yun'er managed to find a box on the second floor. She helped her mistress settle in, then personally shelled some almonds and offered them on a handkerchief. She busied herself pouring warm tea, but her mistress had only taken one sip when the sound of gongs and drums erupted from the stage. Looking toward the stage, she saw "Du Liniang" swaying gracefully as she made her entrance. With just the opening notes, the performance earned thunderous applause from the entire audience.
She remembered when she and Jiang Manlin were learning opera together—their teacher always scolded Jiang Manlin for having too much worldly flair in her singing, while Kunqu opera valued elegance as its soul, most taboo being worldly flair. Otherwise, why would it be called Water-polished Melody?
Yet, their teacher probably never imagined Jiang Manlin would reach such heights.
Halfway through the performance, she noticed unusual commotion in the noisy audience below. Instinctively glancing over, her heart suddenly leaped—she saw several aides-de-camp escorting him upstairs to the opposite box. The theater owner had already rushed forward with a beaming smile, personally attending to him and even lighting his cigarette.
He waved impatiently, and the theater owner tactfully withdrew.Jiang Manlin was still on stage, singing softly and melodiously, "Though the peony is fair, how can it be the first to claim the spring? Gazing idly, the lively swallows' chatter is as crisp as scissors; listening to the warbling orioles, their songs flow smooth and round..." As she reached the final line, she flicked her Water Sleeves and cast a lingering, meaningful glance toward the private box on the second floor—a gaze full of unspoken affection, like a gentle spring breeze caressing the face.
He smiled faintly and began to applaud.
As she descended the stairs, her vision blurred, and she nearly stumbled. She had to clutch Yun'er's hand tightly to steady herself. The ground beneath her feet felt like soft, undulating sponge, and a wave of nausea washed over her, something surging up in her chest. By the time she reached the lower floor, she overheard two spectators discussing. One remarked, "It seems Manager Jiang is stepping down now. There’s nothing much left to watch—let’s head back."
The other replied, "But we’ve only reached 'The Hillside Sheep.' Aren’t there several more acts to come? Why is Manager Jiang leaving so soon?"
The first man chuckled softly, "You’re so oblivious. Look upstairs—the Yu family’s eldest young master has arrived. Manager Jiang is undoubtedly eager to rush off to the Small Mansion to perform 'The Mountain Peach Blossoms.' She has no time left for your 'Hillside Sheep.'"
It was Yu Mingxuan who had single-handedly elevated Jiang Manlin. To win a smile from her, he would spare no expense, capable of anything. Whenever Jiang Manlin performed, no matter which theater, Yu Mingxuan would invariably be seated in a reserved box. He even went so far as to produce records for her, ensuring Jiang Manlin basked in the limelight both on and off stage.
As a result, Lan Qingqing, living in her small abode, had long been cast aside by him, fading like passing clouds.
She never expected Jiang Manlin to come see her.
It was early winter, and Lan Qingqing, having caught a chill, had been unable to eat since morning. Yun'er was at a loss. As evening fell, Jiang Manlin arrived, draped in an emerald brocade cotton cloak. She removed it upon entering, brushing off the snowflakes with her handkerchief, and said with a beaming smile, "Qingqing, I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had the chance to visit. Please don’t hold it against me. In truth, I’ve been thinking of you all along."
Yun'er, unable to contain her anger, retorted, "If you truly cared for my lady, you wouldn’t have done those 'fine deeds.'" Jiang Manlin paused, then laughed lightly, "Oh, this girl holds quite a grudge."
Lan Qingqing said softly, "Yun'er, go prepare some tea."
Though Yun'er’s face still showed indignation, she obeyed and left the parlor. Jiang Manlin swayed gracefully over to sit beside Lan Qingqing. After a long silence, she murmured, "Qingqing, I know you’ve been wronged."
Lan Qingqing remained silent, waiting to see how Jiang Manlin would play out this act.
Jiang Manlin sighed, "I never thought he would take a liking to me..." She trailed off, studying Lan Qingqing’s expression, then added quietly, "We women are fated to suffer. Everything is beyond our control, yet we’re foolish enough to rush into flames like moths, deceiving ourselves, knowing full well that few men are truly sincere."
At this, Jiang Manlin smiled slightly again, "But he is genuinely devoted to me. Not long ago, his father secretly arranged to have me sent away from Golden Mausoleum. I couldn’t resist, but fortunately, he rushed over midway and rescued me. I later learned that he had a fierce argument with his father over me—they quarreled until the sky turned dark."She couldn't help laughing even more as she reached this point. "He was just like a child, stubbornly refusing to leave my place. It wasn't until his father's adjutant came looking for him that he finally went away. Do you know what that adjutant called me when he saw me?" She paused briefly, the corners of her lips curling upward. "He called me Second Madame."
Sitting there, she turned her head slightly, and two streams of hot tears rolled down her cheeks.
Jiang Manlin exclaimed "Oh dear!" and quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe away the tears, repeatedly saying, "Qingqing, I know you're suffering inside. In a few days, I'll plead with him on your behalf, to let you go."
She felt as though ten thousand ants were gnawing at her heart, the tears completely unstoppable. Just then, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps from outside—footsteps that were all too familiar. Her heart instantly tightened, and when she looked up, sure enough, she saw him walking in from outside, followed by his personal adjutant. His face was filled with anger, and as his gaze swept across the living room, it first settled on Jiang Manlin.
He said coldly, "Who allowed you to come here?"
Jiang Manlin, however, remained unflustered. She stood up and smiled. "What? Am I not allowed to visit my own sister? You ignore her completely—I don't have the heart to be as cruel as you are."
His expression froze coldly as he stared sharply at Jiang Manlin. Suddenly, he strode forward, grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her outside. Jiang Manlin hadn't expected him to act this way; she didn't even have time to grab her cloak before being pulled out. She kept protesting, "Hey, what's with your temper? At least let me say goodbye to Sister Lan." But her voice gradually faded away along with the sound of his footsteps.
After the earlier commotion, the living room now felt even quieter than before.
From the moment he arrived until he left, he hadn't glanced at her even once.
Yun'er stood frozen by the arched pillar at the side of the living room. After a long while, she timidly looked up at Lan Qingqing and whispered, "Miss."
Lan Qingqing turned her head and looked at the plum blossoms haphazardly arranged in the Cloisonné Vase. She reached out and slowly straightened them, adjusting their heights. The arrangement indeed looked much better than before. Suddenly, she said softly, "What food is there in the kitchen?"
Yun'er was taken aback for a moment before replying, "There's freshly cooked millet porridge. I was afraid you hadn't eaten for several meals and your stomach might not handle it well, so I specifically asked Zhang Ma to add lotus seeds and red dates. It's very nourishing."
Lan Qingqing smiled faintly. "Millet porridge is good. Back when I was learning opera with my master, we only got to eat it on performance days. But we weren't as particular as you are now."
She stood up from the sofa and said to Yun'er, "I'm hungry. I want to eat."
It had just started snowing. Jiang Manlin slipped and stumbled as Yu Mingxuan dragged her into the car. With a "bang," the car door closed almost against her face. Before she could catch her breath, he had already gotten in from the other side, his expression icy and terrifying. The adjutant had also gotten in and sat in the front, telling the driver, "Drive."
As the car started moving, Jiang Manlin composed herself slightly, turned to look at him, and let out a cold laugh. "What's wrong? Did I strike a nerve? Are you unhappy?"No sooner had she spoken than he raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face. The force of the blow sent her crashing into the opposite seat, a ringing in her ears and the taste of blood filling her mouth as one side of her face burned with pain. He yanked her back roughly, his eyes blazing with menacing fury. "If you dare go looking for her again, I'll take your life!"
She said, "Now I finally understand—you've been harming me all along, deliberately setting me up!"
He sneered coldly, "You should have realized that long ago!"
Blood stained her lips crimson as she let out a bleak, chilling laugh. "You planned this from the very beginning. The kinder you were to me, the more you intended me to suffer a miserable death!"
He replied indifferently, "You owe me a life. It's only right that you die in her place."
Jiang Manlin, throwing caution to the wind, spat out venomously, "Who exactly owes that life? Go ask your father! He didn't even hesitate to harm his own grandson. If I die, I'll become a vengeful ghost in hell and curse the Yu family to end without heirs!"
She had expected her words to provoke even greater rage from him, but to her utter astonishment, upon hearing this, he released his grip and shoved her aside. Like a cat that had exhausted all its strength, she curled up there, panting heavily, unable to move another inch.
He turned to gaze out the window, where the vast night sky melted into his eyes, turning them the color of iron gray.
She called his adjutant, saying only that she wished to see him.
The adjutant sounded somewhat embarrassed and apologetic. "Miss Lan, the General has volunteered to lead troops to the Luping battlefield. He's been extremely busy lately..."
She insisted, "Tell him to come. I have just one thing to say to him. It won't take long."
He arrived late at night amid heavy snowfall. With the New Year approaching, the distant and nearby sounds of fireworks and firecrackers filled the air. As he entered the bedroom, he saw her standing by the window, watching the fireworks, her expression as calm as unrippled water.
He turned and sat on the sofa, speaking lightly, "What did you want to see me about?" He casually took out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and reached for a matchstick from the Foreign Fire box, preparing to light it.
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