Jun Xi and Yue Xi secretly peeked through the curtain gap. They exchanged glances, thinking to themselves: “Who would have thought? Xiang Lan, who’s usually so quiet and always smiling, turns out to be such a formidable character.”
Fang Si wanted to storm off but was too angry to leave. She sneered, “Since we’re dropping all pretenses, I won’t hold back either. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting.”
Xiang Lan raised her eyebrow, “Oh? What am I plotting? Please, Sister, do tell.”
Fang Si let out a mocking laugh, “Aren’t you just trying to catch the Young Master’s favor? Why else would you be so eager to get close to him?”
Xiang Lan smiled slightly, “Sister, don’t assume others share your intentions just because that’s what you’re thinking.” She slowly moved her brush, sketching an auspicious cloud on the paper. After blowing on it, she said carelessly, “Sister Fang Si, you really needn’t hold a grudge against me. If the Young Master has feelings for you, even Chang’e descending from the heavens couldn’t stop him from taking you in. If he doesn’t, no amount of forcing would work.”
These words struck Fang Si’s weak spot. Whether from shame or anger, she stomped her foot, lifted the curtain, and left.
Xiang Lan let out a slow breath.
In her previous life, she had always been of noble status, spending her days with officials and aristocrats, noble ladies and young misses, learning grace, dignity, and magnanimity. After her family’s misfortune, she learned to be sharp-tongued and fierce. Upon entering the Lin family, she was like duckweed without roots, having no support, merely enduring each day. Now in the Song family, Song Ke was her pillar of support. She naturally treated the household staff with respect and didn’t provoke trouble, but when bullied severely, she had her ways of retaliating.
For a while, all was quiet.
In the evening, Song Ke first paid his respects to Aunt Song before returning for dinner. When he heard that Xiang Lan had specially prepared two dishes for him, his heart filled with joy. He pulled her along, saying, “Go change into something suitable for going out.”
Confused, Xiang Lan changed into a tan-colored short jacket. Song Ke then took her out through the back door. After walking through several alleys, they reached the street, where they found crowds of people and brilliant lanterns illuminating the thoroughfare.
Xiang Lan asked curiously, “Why is the street so lively tonight?”
Song Ke smiled, “Today is the Zhongyuan Festival. People come out at night to release lanterns by the river, so it’s naturally bustling. You’ve been resting in the manor these days without going out, so it’s good to come to see the night scene.” He looked at Xiang Lan, his handsome eyes twinkling with affection, her reflection captured in his dark pupils.
Xiang Lan blushed and lowered her head slightly, only to see Song Ke’s right hand taking hold of her left. She had wanted to browse the street, but Song Ke holding her hand like this seemed somewhat improper. Yet she was reluctant to let go of Song Ke’s hand to walk the street – his hand was warm and strong, unlike in her previous life when it had been weak and withered as he clung to his last breath. Inexplicably, Xiang Lan’s eyes grew slightly moist.
The two stood quietly side by side in the shadow of the alley, leaving behind a peaceful beauty while outside the alley was a bustling world of splendor and interweaving lights.
Just then, they heard a commotion from the alley behind them, followed by a door slamming open. Someone came out shouting, “I’ve finally figured it out – none of you have good intentions! You’re all scheming to get me killed! You want Ren to divorce me so he can marry someone else. Well, there’s no need for you to act – I’ll leave on my own. Just let Ren give me my divorce papers!”
Xiang Lan turned to look and was shocked. In the moonlight, she could see that the person shouting was Cao Li Huan! She quickly pulled Song Ke into the adjacent alley, peeking out to watch.
Cao Li Huan continued shouting with her hands on her hips, “You murderous, lowly creatures! The whole family, top to bottom, freeloading off my dowry while I slave away day and night. I work myself to the bone until I lose my child, and you blame me for bringing it on myself? You bully me to this extent – we might as well not live together anymore. I’ll just bash my head in right now and let King Yama in the underworld judge what’s right!” She moved to bash against the door.
At this moment, a man rushed out from the courtyard and grabbed Cao Li Huan, pleading urgently, “In front of everyone, I beg you, please stop making a scene!”
Cao Li Huan struggled, stretching her neck as she shouted, “I will make a scene! Let all the neighbors and passersby see what kind of people the Ren family are! You useless excuse for a man, letting your wife suffer like this. From today on, I won’t live with a spineless coward like you!” She struggled desperately to bash against the wall.
Just then, a sharp female voice came from the courtyard, “Brother, Brother, don’t hold her – let her die! Look what she’s done to Mother! She incites the servants not to wash Mother’s clothes or cook her meals, schemes for Mother’s private savings and secretly withholds my dowry. Let her spill her blood right here today – let’s see if she has the guts!”
Cao Li Huan’s eyes reddened with anger as she cursed, “You vixen! I won’t let you off even as a ghost!” She rushed back inside, followed by sounds of fighting and people trying to break up the fight.
As Xiang Lan watched intently, someone suddenly leaned close to her ear and said softly, “I forgot, Cao Li Huan moved here after marrying into the Ren family. We’ve run into an old acquaintance tonight.”
Xiang Lan exclaimed in surprise, “The Ren family married her?” As she turned her head, her lips brushed against Song Ke’s cheek. She froze, her face instantly burning hot.
Song Ke felt lightheaded. Seeing Xiang Lan’s embarrassment, he coughed lightly and pretended nothing had happened, saying, “Originally, the Ren family didn’t want to marry her. Cao Li Huan had damaged her reputation by having improper relations with a servant, and respectable families would certainly have broken off the engagement. However, Cao Li Huan was quite capable. When the Ren family sent people to break off the engagement, she quietly rented a house near the Ren family and lured their son there. Coming and going like that, she… she became pregnant.”
He glanced at Xiang Lan, who had forgotten her embarrassment and was staring at him with wide eyes as if urging him to continue. He smiled and said, “Cao Li Huan showed up at their door pregnant, and naturally, the Ren family couldn’t break off the engagement anymore. They had to swallow their pride and proceed with the wedding. Initially, the family wanted to treat her well, but soon after the wedding, she began complaining about the Ren family’s modest wealth. Today she wanted chicken, tomorrow fish; today silk, tomorrow jewels – constantly making demands. The Ren family isn’t wealthy, so they couldn’t keep up. The Ren son is a weakling who gets caught between both sides. Cao Li Huan is skilled at manipulation and has him completely besotted as if he’d never seen a woman before. He gives in to her every whim, which makes his mother so angry she falls ill in bed. Only his sister is tough enough to stand up to Cao Li Huan. Recently, I heard she had a fall and lost the baby, but surprisingly, the family is still in such turmoil.”
Xiang Lan gasped, “Heavens above! I knew she was thick-skinned and brazen, but I never imagined she had such capabilities.”
Song Ke said, “Now in this area, everyone knows of ‘Madam Cao’ and her fierce reputation – no one dares to provoke her. Later, Cao Li Huan tried to visit the Lin Manor several times but was turned away by the gatekeepers. Once, Xiu Hong happened to see her and investigated the details, then came back and told me about it as an amusing tale.”
Xiang Lan listened in amazement, repeatedly marveling at Cao Li Huan. Ordinary women whose reputations were tarnished would either end their lives or become nuns or at least move far away. Yet Young Lady Cao boldly persisted, taking risky moves, actually getting the Ren family to marry her, and creating such chaos that no one had peace.
Xiang Lan shook her head, “The Ren family must be having nightmares. I just saw that Young Master Ren is quite handsome – what a waste.”
Song Ke sneered, “He’s nothing but a coward, without vision or insight. I heard he washes clothes and cooks for Cao Li Huan at home, letting her make all the decisions. He has no backbone or sense of responsibility – a waste of being born a man.”
Xiang Lan played with the end of her braid, saying, “It’s also because his mother lacks authority. If it were me, I’d first give her two slaps to teach her manners. If she dared fight back, I’d file a complaint at the county office, laying out the whole story and asking the honorable magistrate to pass judgment. Even if divorce wasn’t possible, at least she’d get some beatings to remember the lesson.”
Song Ke clicked his tongue and laughed, “My goodness, I never knew you were like this. I thought you were a gentle lady.”
Xiang Lan gave him a sideways glance, saying with a half-smile, “I am naturally gentle, but I’m afraid if I become any gentler, your household’s jar of vinegar might spill over and pickle me to death.”
Song Ke heard the hidden meaning in her words and asked, “What do you mean?”
Xiang Lan smiled, “It’s nothing much, just that with Fang Si, you should make your intentions clear – whether you’ll take her or not. Otherwise, she keeps glaring at me like an angry hen, and I’m suffering unjust treatment.”
Song Ke was a perceptive person and understood these few sentences. He frowned and said, “She’s Mother Guo’s daughter, loyal and devoted, and she pleases my mother, so I always treat her with respect, but I have no other intentions…” He looked at Xiang Lan and said, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
His gaze was intense, making Xiang Lan’s ears burn. She looked away and said softly, “It’s good that you know what you’re doing.”
Song Ke laughed, took Xiang Lan’s hand again, and squeezed it gently, saying, “We came out today to relax. Let’s go release a lotus lantern, send away any bad luck, and pray for the deities’ blessing.”
He led Xiang Lan to the street where they bought two lanterns and borrowed a brush. He carefully wrote several characters on the lotus petals. Xiang Lan watched his face illuminated by candlelight, his fine eyebrows and handsome eyes glowing with flowing radiance, making it impossible to look away.
Xiang Lan stared at him, feeling her heart soften.
After finishing writing, Song Ke saw Xiang Lan still staring at him and laughed, “Why are you just looking at me? Hurry and write your wish on the lantern.” He walked to the riverside and carefully placed the lotus lantern in the water.
Unexpectedly, Xiang Lan also crouched down and gently placed the blank lantern in the water.
Song Ke asked puzzled, “Why didn’t you write anything?”
Xiang Lan crouched by the river, her delicate hands playing with the green water, pushing the lantern further away. She smiled and said, “It was originally meant to release bad luck, and I’m content just to let that go. There’s a saying, ‘What’s meant to be will come in time; what’s not meant to be shouldn’t be forced.’ Some things can’t be obtained just by making wishes.” She smiled at Song Ke.
That smile was exceptionally moving, her lovely face reflecting the flickering waves and candlelight, like a brilliant pearl or beautiful jade.