Xiao San sat in his library, deep in thought. He was no fool who couldn’t see anything clearly—he simply didn’t care about most things.
Qiu Sanniang’s sudden illness had caught him off guard initially, leaving no time for deeper reflection. But looking back now, something seemed suspicious. Qiu Sanniang wasn’t the type of delicate woman who collapsed at the slightest provocation. He knew she’d been working tirelessly for Grandmother’s birthday celebration, yet remained energetic and rosy-cheeked, looking even better than when idle. However, of all times, she fell gravely ill the day before the results were due—wasn’t that too convenient? And then Mo Zi’s comment about how some things couldn’t be seen with the eyes—what was she implying?
The more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. He stood up, wanting to visit Sanniang, only to realize he didn’t even know where her residence was in the capital. He couldn’t ask Grandmother or Mother either, as they certainly wouldn’t let him go.
Feeling restless and troubled, he began pacing in circles. For the first time, he didn’t want his courtyard to become a battlefield for women’s schemes. Qiu Sanniang was different from his previous two wives—he knew that. Perhaps Sanniang regarded him as a friend but not as a husband—he knew that too. Jin Si had lost her composure this time, unable to hide her jealousy even in front of him, so perhaps Jin Si had struck first. If so, he couldn’t stand idly by.
He used to think that given Jin Si’s humble origins, if she lost that strength from her maiden years and became timid and submissive, he would actually be disappointed. But perhaps he’d indulged her too much—her self-defense had turned into attacks, her confidence into ambition. She demanded more and more, even beyond what he could give, yet remained completely oblivious to her own transformation.
That day, when Grandmother said she wanted to give Jin Si’s two children to Sanniang to raise, Sanniang had so generously sent them back as a “family of four” to discuss it. Yet when they returned to their quarters, Jin Si actually cried to him about how wronged and difficult things were for her, how her concubine status burdened her, and if he would just speak to the elders, just give her the position of secondary wife, she wouldn’t have to be bullied by Sanniang anymore.
She was now using schemes on him. Wasn’t that laughable? Everything she had was given by him, taught by him, and now she turned it back on him, as if he were truly blind.
Jin Si, oh Jin Si, why couldn’t you be content, why couldn’t you be simple? Even if he truly fell in love with another woman someday, he wouldn’t abandon her. She was, after all, his beloved companion from youth, the mother of his two children—by both emotion and reason, he would treat her well. As long as she—please—didn’t make his heart grow cold.
The door opened. He squinted and saw his second brother approaching through the light.
Setting aside his troubles for now, he forced a smile. “Second Brother, you’re a rare guest in my Yonggu Study. What brings you here? Looking to borrow a book?”
“On such a lively day, Big Brother told Grandfather and Father he wanted to hunt in the mountain forests, but after searching everywhere couldn’t find you, Third Master Xiao. He sent someone to request your presence at Grandmother’s quarters, only to be told you left right after morning greetings. Even if you work this diligently, the Emperor won’t see it.” Xiao Er joked with his brother, though his gaze held a slight weight, as if he had something on his mind.
“Being an editor for life suits me fine.” Xiao San was unconventional by nature, never seeking high office or great wealth.
Xiao Er knew him well. His tone shifted: “You may think it’s fine, but your wife needs to think so too. What wife doesn’t hope her husband will be successful?”
“Sanniang isn’t like that. Her dowry is so substantial that if we ever split off from the family to live independently, I’d probably need her to support me. Then again, if she wanted me to be successful, I might be more motivated.” But she had absolutely no expectations of him. No expectations meant no feelings. And yet here he was, genuinely distressed over her illness.
“I heard from Lübi that your wife has gone into seclusion?” Xiao Er had thought about this all night and decided he needed to verify it with his own eyes once more.
Zhong An had said people could look alike. Though Zhong An had never seen Mo Zi, perhaps he wasn’t wrong. If he was going to interrogate someone, he should be absolutely certain. After all, he’d experienced that Mo fellow’s formidable abilities firsthand. However, if Mo Zi’s cleverness and Mo’s competence were in the same person, he couldn’t imagine them being two different people. No wonder every time Mo Zi said “wait a moment,” he felt something was off.
“Exactly. It’s just an acute cold, but that wretched doctor said she might infect others and made Sanniang go recuperate elsewhere. I offered to close Yonggu Study, but Grandmother and Mother wouldn’t agree. Sanniang worked tirelessly for Grandmother’s birthday celebration and usually helps Mother considerably—yet now that she’s ill, they send her away. There’s no human compassion in it. It infuriates me. Now I don’t even know how her condition is. What mood am I in for birthday celebrations?” Xiao San had no interest in hunting. “Second Brother, you go with Big Brother and the others. Don’t worry about me.”
“So now you know how to cherish your wife?” Xiao Er had no interest in hunting either. “Third Brother, it seems you married the right person this time.”
“Second Brother, you’re still teasing me? Look after yourself. When some princess or county princess enters your Weifeng Residence, I’ll want to see how they stir up trouble. I only have two women, but you’ll have two pairs.” Xiao San was determined to enjoy the show later.
“Who says I’m marrying a princess or county princess? I’m not like you, read yourself stupid, picking women based on spiritual connection and emotional compatibility. Women should be like Lübi and Hongluo—know their place, be considerate, not complain or fuss. Even if it is a princess or county princess, she’d better be obedient and docile, properly managing the household and raising children. Otherwise, I won’t serve her. We men have ambitions beyond the home. All that sentimental romance is nauseating—wouldn’t people laugh at us?” Xiao Er was a typical northern man—heroically valiant, never to be weakened by romantic attachment.
“How’s your newly taken cousin? Is she gentle, considerate, and understanding?” When men gather, they either discuss politics or women.
“Her? Let her stew. I’ll cure her slowly.” At the mention of Wei Liu, Xiao Er gave a cold laugh.
“She sought death for you. Don’t be too harsh. She is Aunt Yu’s own niece, a proper young lady who currently has no status at all—she’s already miserable enough.” Remembering how Aunt Yu had wept before him a few days ago, Xiao San spoke up for Wei Liu. “You’re not picky anyway, one more doesn’t matter.”
Xiao Er was annoyed by his words. “What do you mean I’m not picky? You brat, if you keep talking about your second brother like this, don’t expect me to tell you where your wife is staying.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao San quickly bowed in apology. “Second Brother, I was wrong. You’re not unpicky—you simply have no one to pick from. As the saying goes, women are like clothes, brothers are like limbs. We two brothers can’t hurt our relationship over women’s issues. Tell me quickly—where exactly is Sanniang’s residence?”
“Xiao Min and his men are guarding it. He just came to offer birthday greetings and was about to leave when I intercepted him halfway. He’s waiting at the main gate now. Well? Want to go see your delicate wife?” Xiao Er needed to bring Xiao San along to make the visit seem proper—then meeting that person would appear coincidental.
“Go? Why wouldn’t I go? Second Brother, come with me, or Mother will be suspicious.” Though clever, Xiao San didn’t realize Xiao Er was using him—instead, he wanted to use Xiao Er as cover.
These two brothers were “scheming” against each other, though one openly and one covertly—Xiao Er was more cunning.
If these two had successfully left, they would have caught several people red-handed: First, Qiu Sanniang wasn’t home. Second, Qiu Sanniang’s senior maids weren’t home either. Third, Mo Zi, a maid doing rough work, also wasn’t home.
However, heaven showed mercy to Qiu Sanniang and her companions.
Just as the brothers were heading out, several steward servants came running hurriedly and kowtowed before them.
“Second Master, Third Master, someone has come from the palace saying the Emperor has issued an edict. The Old Master and Old Madam ask that both young masters come immediately.”
On such a day, an imperial edict surely meant joyous news. Xiao Er and Xiao San naturally didn’t dare delay and hurried to the main hall.
Firecrackers suddenly thundered, crackling loudly for quite a while.
Mo Zi propped her elbow on the table, ears ringing, thinking to herself that Prince Jing’s mansion was truly wealthy—for a birthday banquet, they’d spend several hundred taels of silver on firecrackers alone.
Where was she? Mo Zi was nowhere else but visiting her “good friend” Yuan Cheng’s home.
Now, the seventh day of the seventh month—the Qiqiao Festival, the Daughters’ Festival—also had the meaning of Niulang meeting Zhinu, like a Valentine’s Day, but don’t misunderstand. The man Mo Zi had secretly dubbed the social networking star of the Great Zhou political scene, Lord Yuan Cheng, was hosting a purely polite meal gathering. Though the timing was somewhat coincidental, it was beautifully termed “honoring the seasonal festival.” Moreover, she wasn’t the only guest—Xu Jiu was there too. As for the person beside her drinking and eating heartily, that was Zan Jin.
Zan Jin said he could help her save one meal at a time, coming with the determination that one meal should last three days.
Watching his eating manner, Xu Jiu’s jaw dropped. After fixing it, he asked Mo Zi with great concern whether supporting this big fellow cost a lot of money.
Unable to confirm whether the playing-dead strategy would work permanently, Mo Zi had informed Cen Er that from now on, Zan Jin was officially under her employ. Hadn’t she gotten a hundred taels from that beauty mark person last time? Plus, Qiu Sanniang had given her two thousand taels in capital. She was also starting to head toward a comfortable life now.
Ming Nian rushed in. Looking at the atmosphere at the table—so quiet and peaceful—three distinctively beautiful men, not speaking, each drinking their own wine. Only Zan Jin slurped noisily, disrupting the overall aesthetic.
“My lord, Prince Jing’s mansion just received an imperial edict. Old Madam Xiao has been elevated to First Rank Lady of Supreme Virtue, Prince Jing’s secondary consort Wei Qiongyu elevated to First Consort, and Miss Xiao Mingrou of the Xiao family is to enter the palace selection in September.”
Xu Jiu clicked his tongue. “This Xiao family with their non-royal prince status is more favored than martial nobles with royal titles. For one old lady’s birthday, the Emperor elevates this one, enfeoffs that one. If the Xiao daughter is selected into the palace and becomes an Imperial Noble Consort, this family’s glory will reach its peak.”
Before Mo Zi’s eyes floated the image of Xiao Mingrou’s breathtakingly beautiful little lotus face. Born so lovely and into a family like Prince Jing’s mansion, it seemed inevitable she would accompany the monarch—but—
“A seventeen-year-old delicate, beautiful young lady accompanying a fifty or sixty-year-old man—this is called glory?” She took a small sip of wine, sweet with peach flavor. Though Yuan Cheng’s place was shabby, he had plenty of good things.
Xu Jiu sprayed out a mouthful of wine and said loudly, “Brother Mo, you dare say such things? I’m impressed.”
Yuan Cheng formed his hand into a hollow fist, slightly covering his curved lips. “Brother Mo, the Great Zhou Emperor is only in his early forties, in his prime. If Miss Xiao Liu receives favor, it really wouldn’t be a hardship.”
Mo Zi gave a light scoff, thoroughly dismissive.
At this moment, Mei Shan hurriedly entered the hall.
The news the three had been waiting for had finally arrived.