The Ji family’s joy could be felt from across the street.
Outside Bishui Garden, a pool of withered lotus stems intensified the winter chill. Fifth Lady Niu wasn’t one to mistreat herself. This year it was impossible to dig the underground heating channels. Even double the usual allocation of smokeless frosted charcoal from the household stores wasn’t enough to burn. Since the Zhao family’s betrothal gifts had been generous, she spent a large amount of her private funds to buy more. The braziers in her rooms burned day and night, creating a spring-like warmth.
Fifth Lady Niu only cared about Bishui Garden—even her dowry maids weren’t left to freeze. Of the several cartloads of charcoal she bought, not a single pound was sent to Yuejin Hall.
If Fifth Lady Niu had made a gesture of sending some of her privately purchased charcoal, Madam Zhao Shen’s mood might have improved. What daughter-in-law would enjoy luxuries while neglecting her parents-in-law? Madam Zhao Shen was furious.
“She’s a Buddha that must be worshipped!”
Madam Zhao Shen kept repeating this phrase to make herself endure. She couldn’t help but complain to her husband and son in private.
Having heard it so often, Zhao Xiuyuan’s disgust for Fifth Lady Niu grew deeper.
He was like an ant that had crawled into an empty iron pot. He’d hoped to find some meat inside. Finding no meat and the pot growing hot, he couldn’t climb out, leaving him unbearably frustrated.
“Didn’t you boast that the Governor wouldn’t dare take a deep breath in front of your father? Well, the Governor didn’t listen to your father and sentence Lady Ji to death.”
“The Yang family took consolation wine to the Ji family. A mighty third-rank general can’t outmaneuver a mere fifth or sixth-rank recording officer. Hah!”
Zhao Xiuyuan spoke one sarcastic remark after another.
Why had the Yang family suddenly become so cordial with the Ji family? He didn’t need to investigate—he immediately thought of Yang Jingyuan’s intention to betroth Ji Yingying. He was powerless to prevent it. Even when holding the Ji family’s debt notes, Ji Yaoting had asked the village head and Second Young Master Zhu to accompany him two days ago, bringing pure gold to redeem them.
His grandfather had kept his composure, saying only one word: “Give!”
They were paying their debt early, principal and interest. Gold was worth more than copper coins. In front of the village head and Second Young Master Zhu, what could the Zhao family say? They could only return the debt notes.
Grandfather had said there would be a time in the future.
They had planned to use General Niu’s authority to directly convict Lady Ji. Once detained in the yamen, the Ji siblings would surely exhaust their family fortune trying to save her.
Instead, the Governor had declared Lady Ji innocent. The debt had been repaid. Zhao Xiuyuan grew angry just looking at Fifth Lady Niu. Why had he married her? Why had he married this ugly woman with patches on her cheeks who plastered her face snow-white with thick powder even when seeing no one? Wasn’t it just because her family had power?
“Didn’t you hate Yang Jingyuan for rejecting the marriage arrangement and want to drag the Yang family into the mud? Now he’s going to marry Second Miss Ji, and you’ll just watch?”
After speaking for so long and seeing Fifth Lady Niu remain composed as if she hadn’t heard, still elegantly playing Go, Zhao Xiuyuan angrily stepped forward and overturned the game table.
The floor was covered with carpet, so the board landed with a muffled thud. The pieces scattered with a clatter. Fifth Lady Niu held a black piece between her fingers. She closed it in her palm.
Looking down at her maid Yuyuan crouching to pick up the pieces, she said softly: “Leave!”
Yuyuan stopped, curtsied, and was about to exit when Zhao Xiuyuan shouted: “Stop!” She jumped in fright, then watched as Zhao Xiuyuan strode over, grabbed her arm, and dragged her before Fifth Lady Niu.
He gripped her chin, forcing her face up: “Not bad looking, and such nice skin. Not a single blemish on her face.”
Yuyuan violently twisted her face away and knelt before Fifth Lady Niu: “My lady, I am unwilling!”
Fifth Lady Niu opened her hand, letting the Go piece fall and roll across the floor. She stood up and said coolly: “Once I have a child, I’ll let you take a concubine. Yuyuan, you may go.”
Zhao Xiuyuan was determined to oppose her: “I want her!”
Fifth Lady Niu didn’t answer, just looked calmly at Yuyuan.
Yuyuan’s body trembled as she gritted her teeth, pulled a pin from her hair, and viciously slashed her cheek. On her fair skin, it was as if someone had drawn a red line with cinnabar—blood welled up.
“You…” Zhao Xiuyuan hadn’t expected her maid to be so obedient yet fierce and stared in shock.
“Her life belongs to me. She’s only ruined half her face. If you still want her, she won’t mind ruining the other half, nor will she mind covering her entire body in scars,” Fifth Lady Niu said calmly.
“You’re insane!” Zhao Xiuyuan couldn’t help but curse.
“I’m not insane. I just want you to know. If I’m willing, I can let you possess many beauties. If I’m unwilling, you’ll spend your life looking at only my scarred face!”
Zhao Xiuyuan’s handsome features turned ashen.
Fifth Lady Niu waved her hand, and Yuyuan silently rose and withdrew.
“Do you know why the Governor declared Lady Ji innocent?” Fifth Lady Niu sat down leisurely. “No evidence. Word came from Huzhou Prefecture that they found the boat captain alive downstream. There were no river bandits. The storm drove the boat onto the rocks. Don’t forget Lady Ji was born to the Chang’an Baron’s household. Sisters killing each other would damage the Baron’s face. Even if Father forced the Governor to convict her. Without the Yang family, the Ji siblings wouldn’t seek help from the Zhao family. They would go to Chang’an. Your family’s schemes would eventually fail. Miss this trap, and there will be future opportunities. But now that the witness servant has suddenly taken her life. There’s still room to maneuver in the future.”
Zhao Xiuyuan’s eyebrows rose: “That servant girl was your father…”
Fifth Lady Niu didn’t answer directly, just smiled faintly: “Colonel Shi entered the Governor’s residence carrying such a heavy box and came out empty-handed. Even a fool would know the Yang family wanted to plead for Lady Ji’s innocence. Then he entered the women’s prison. In the future, if the case changes, could Colonel Shi avoid implication? Madam Yang Shi just relies on having an official for a brother, doesn’t she?”
Like a ladle of cold water poured into the pot. Zhao Xiuyuan’s frustration vanished: “So now that the Ji family and Yang family are growing closer, we can only watch Second Miss Ji marry into the Yang family?”
“Second Miss Ji is as fierce as Lady Ji. If she’s unwilling, would she help your family with dyeing and color matching even if she married into the Zhao family? Anyway, I want to drag the Yang family into the quagmire—if she marries in, she can be buried with them.” Fifth Lady Niu stood up and walked toward the door after speaking, “In some matters, my lord should take a longer view and think thrice before acting. Today’s incident won’t be repeated. Otherwise, I will ruin your face to match mine.”
She opened the door and walked out.
Her words made Zhao Xiuyuan shudder. He sat down dejectedly. What kind of woman had he married?
“Fifth Lady Niu. Once we’ve ruined the Yang family and the Zhao family is powerful, if you have a child, I’ll certainly strangle it!”
Fifth Lady Niu walked along the corridor to Yuyuan’s western wing room. She pushed open the door and entered. Yuyuan had cleaned her face and applied medicine. Half her face was wrapped in white cloth. It was clear she had been crying—her eyes were red.
“Yuyuan, does it hurt?” Fifth Lady Niu asked softly.
Yuyuan shook her head: “Your servant knows what’s important. The wound is thin and shallow, just looks frightening. My lady needn’t worry.”
Fifth Lady Niu sat on the couch, tears rolling down: “Zhao Xiuyuan, the humiliation you’ve given me, I will repay you one day!”
Yuyuan knelt before her and said tenderly: “My lady, you deserve any man in the world. Why did you marry into the Zhao family for the sake of Third Young Master Yang?”
“I hate him! Hate him!” Fifth Lady Niu pounded the couch, sobbing softly, “I liked him so much…”
Yuyuan hesitated, then reached out to hold her hand: “My lady, don’t be sad. However you want to deal with the Yang family, this servant will help you.”