Chapter 13

Page 1/3

Lingyue Shen and Yuanjia Shen followed Yao Niang into the courtyard in a daze. Yao Niang pulled them further inside, instructing the young maid, “Go lock the door tightly. If anyone comes, just say I’ve gone out.”

Once inside, Lingyue was stunned to see how much the room’s decor had changed. Yesterday it had been bare, but today the cabinet was filled with rare antiques, jade, and porcelain—truly splendid and luxurious.

Yuanjia suddenly stopped, pointing at an exquisitely crafted double-sided embroidered screen on a small table, her body trembling slightly. “This… this is my dowry?!”

During last year’s inventory of the storeroom, the dowry had vanished without a trace. She had suspected the servants in the Earl’s household of secretly selling it and had been furious for some time. At that moment, Han Zhihuan comforted her, saying her dowry was so abundant it wouldn’t matter if a few pieces disappeared, and that family harmony was more important.

But it turned out it wasn’t lost—it had been stolen by him to please another woman!

Yao Niang was taken aback, then her face showed regret. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize these belonged to you.” She took down the screen. “Here, I’ll return it to you.”

Biting her lip, Yuanjia was both angry and hurt. She turned her head coldly and said, “I don’t want it.”

Yao Niang lowered her eyes and gave a self-mocking laugh. “Right, something touched by a lowly woman like me isn’t something you’d want.” Carefully, she placed the screen back on the stand, her slender fingers lightly brushing the embroidery with affection and pure admiration.

“These are all fine things,” she said.

Turning to Yuanjia with a serious look, she said, “Before you married, your mother must have prepared a great deal of dowry for you, right? Unlike me, if I want something, I have to fight and snatch for it myself.”

Before Yuanjia could speak, Yao Niang suddenly smiled brightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll find an excuse to send Han Zhihuan away so he can go home and live with you.”

Then, gesturing at the ornaments and jewelry inside the room, she added, “As long as you don’t mind, take whatever you like as my compensation.”

Yuanjia frowned, feeling an inexplicable sense of humiliation. Was she here today to beg this woman to return her husband?

Lingyue couldn’t stand it anymore. She stepped forward, her face stern, threatening, “Stop pretending to be the good one here. Do you want me to gather all your lovers together and see whose headwear is greener?”

Yao Niang shrugged indifferently. “It doesn’t matter. They all know anyway.”

Lingyue thought: … Is she crazy or are these men?

Suddenly, Yuanjia spoke, as if finally making up her mind. “If my husband truly loves you, I can let you into the Earl’s mansion—”

Both Lingyue and Yao Niang interrupted in unison. “No!”

Lingyue glared at her. “What do you mean by that?”

Then she glared at Yuanjia, bewildered at what her eldest sister was thinking.

Yuanjia smiled bitterly. “It’s better than sneaking around like this.”

Mother was right—sometimes opening the gate is better than blocking the path.

Yao Niang’s expression grew complex, tinged with admiration. “Honestly, if I were to become a concubine, I’d hope to meet a mistress as generous and understanding as you.”

Page 2/3

She had spent over ten years in the brothels, witnessing countless deceitful hearts. From the moment Yuanjia appeared, she knew this noblewoman from an official’s family was not the fierce type who barged in at the slightest provocation.

Otherwise, none of them would be standing here speaking calmly.

“Han Zhihuan isn’t worthy of you,” Yao Niang said firmly.

Then she curved her lips into a dazzling smile. “What’s so great about being a concubine? Men are despicable creatures. Wives are not as good as concubines, concubines not as good as mistresses. The thrill is all in the secrecy.”

Lingyue was about to nod but stopped halfway, stamping her foot. “Hey, breaking up someone else’s family is wrong!”

“Little sister, this isn’t the ancient dynasty. Men who visit the pleasure houses are everywhere. Can you arrest them all?”

Yao Niang found her furious expression amusing and adorable, and couldn’t resist teasing her. “If others can do it, why can’t I?”

She twirled her skirt around. “Though I gave up one tree, I gained an entire forest.”

Without these men coming one after another, where would her gold, silver, and mansion come from?

* * *

The two sisters stormed in angrily and then went home in a daze.

Zhao Lan smiled after hearing the story. “Quite an interesting character.”

Lingyue complained, “Eldest sister even wanted to bring her into the household.”

Zhao Lan waved her hand nonchalantly. “It doesn’t matter. She isn’t interested in your brother-in-law.”

Yuanjia held her teacup, smiling bitterly. “Yeah, even she doesn’t want him… makes me feel like I’m holding onto trash and calling it treasure.”

Not wanting Yuanjia to feel bad, Lingyue quickly comforted her, “You’re different. You’re going to be the Marchioness. What you treasure is the title, not your brother-in-law.”

Yao Niang didn’t want to be a concubine because it meant being looked down upon and constantly bullied by the mistress.

If given the chance to become the Marchioness of the Earl’s household, wouldn’t she be tempted?

“Enough. Since she promised to break things off with Han Zhihuan, don’t dwell on it.”

Zhao Lan pulled out two servitude contracts and pushed them towards the eldest daughter.

“These two are prepared for you. After you bring them to the Earl’s household, put the alluring one in your mother-in-law’s courtyard, and keep the obedient one by your side.”

First, have the alluring one try to get close to Han Zhihuan, hopefully awakening his desire to take a concubine. Then your daughter can naturally elevate the obedient maid to a concubine as well.

So, overt and covert, both maids are on your side, keeping each other in check, and no one dares to overshadow Yuanjia.

Yuanjia nodded thoughtfully. “I see. So this is what she meant by ‘a mistress is better than a concubine’?”

Lingyue couldn’t help but comment, “You’re using military tactics just to deal with one brother-in-law? Killing a chicken with a sledgehammer.”

But thinking of their mother’s talents and skills managing the household, which could only be applied to this small inner courtyard, Lingyue felt even more sorry for her.

Zhao Lan smiled faintly, clearly accustomed to it.

Recently, she hadn’t mentioned having Lingyue take maids when she married off, because when the time came, her daughter would remember today’s conversation.

That night, Shen Hang had no engagements and returned home early. Hearing that the eldest daughter had gone back to her maternal home, he excitedly came to the main hall to dine together.

In the first few years after marrying Zhao Lan, they had been a loving and harmonious couple. Yuanjia was their first daughter and had been doted on by Shen Hang as a child.

“I see you’ve lost weight, Jia’er. Eat more. Didn’t you used to love this steamed perch?” Shen Hang offered her a piece of fish belly.

Yuanjia thanked her father.

Page 3/3

Shen Hang then looked over at the youngest daughter and chuckled, “Lingyue has put on quite a bit of weight. She’s about to marry soon, so eat a bit less, or she won’t fit into her wedding dress.”

Lingyue grumbled indignantly, “I’m not fat! This is healthy!”

The family of four laughed and chatted happily around the dining table.

Suddenly, a pitiful wail came from outside the door.

“Mother, I’ve truly realized my mistake. Please have mercy and release me and Auntie!”

Everyone looked up to see Songyi Shen rushing to the door, gripping Nurse Liu’s arm tightly, shaking her back and forth.

“Don’t stop me! I want to see Father! Father, don’t you love Yi’er anymore?”

Nurse Liu was speechless. “Second Miss, you’re the one holding on to me! There’s a big open space in front of the door—was I stopping you?”

She had never seen such a self-directed drama. She was the one suffering injustice!

Shen Hang frowned, setting down his chopsticks. “Yi’er, come in. Crying and wailing outside is unbecoming.”

Songyi immediately flew inside like a fledgling swan, clutching Shen Hang’s sleeve without letting go, tears filling her eyes. “Father, you haven’t come to see me and Auntie for so long. Are you still angry with us?”

Shen Hang coughed guiltily. “It’s not like that. Didn’t Madam have you two quietly copy scriptures?”

Of course, mainly because recently he had been cozying up to the maid in the study and had naturally forgotten about the housebound Auntie Liu in the back.

Trying to change the subject, Shen Hang asked Zhao Lan, “Have you lifted their confinement?”

Zhao Lan replied coolly, “Long ago. I didn’t stop the master from seeing them.”

“Ah, maybe I’ve just been busy with official business and forgot.”

Shen Hang helped Songyi to her feet and eyed her up and down, nodding. “Not fat, not thin.”

Zhao Lan caught Songyi hesitating and spoke, “Master said he wants to find a husband for Second Miss. Now that the newly minted Imperial Scholars have entered the Hanlin Academy, is there anyone of suitable age?”

“Yes, yes, Madam reminded me,” Shen Hang said with a bit of pride. “Yi’er, your father has picked a promising young talent—tenth place in the second rank!”

Songyi’s eyes brightened as she stammered, “May I ask which family’s son in the capital he is…”

“Uh, he’s from southern Zhejiang, an ordinary background. His family has only an elderly mother who worked hard to raise him for the imperial exams… but that only highlights the wisdom of the old lady!”

Songyi’s face darkened.

Shen Hang, however, was smug, immersed in his own judgment. “I’ve visited the Hanlin Academy several times on official business. Qi Xiuyuan is refined and elegant in appearance, his writings are full of integrity and strength. Such steadfast talent is sure to have a brilliant future!”

He turned, expecting his daughter’s praise, but saw Songyi’s red-rimmed eyes and asked suspiciously, “What’s wrong? You’re not satisfied?”

“I…” Songyi bit her lip stubbornly and pointed at Yuanjia and Lingyue. “My eldest sister and youngest sister both married into marquis families, so why am I left with only an orphan and a widow? Father, you’re too biased!”

Even Shen Hang, who doted on this daughter, couldn’t help but frown.

“What’s so good about a marquis family? Your eldest brother-in-law has nothing but a title. Your future brother-in-law is a playboy who gambles and fights. How can they compare to Qi Xiuyuan’s prospects?”

Lingyue couldn’t help but tap the table. “Father, even if you favor second sister, you don’t have to put us down like that, do you?”

Only Zhao Lan sipped her soup slowly, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.