The singing stopped, the dancing ceased. Only one lute player remained, plucking an autumn wind and chrysanthemum melody that warmed lazy moods.
Mo Zi had been chewing on a vegetable leaf until now and hadn’t touched her chopsticks since.
Shan Shi observed this but showed no reaction.
A lady remarked, “I wonder who that singer was? Truly like pearls and jade colliding—incomparably pleasant to the ear.”
Immediately someone echoed, “Indeed wonderful. Might we request to meet her?”
Shan Shi, however, deflected to Lady Wang, the second wife, Bai Shi. “That’s the second wife’s person. You must ask her.”
Bai Shi merely smiled. “She’s not really my person. She’s a songstress my son Ting purchased. I saw she truly sang well, so I borrowed her to enliven things for everyone.”
In high society, men purchasing top-tier songstresses and dancers was considered refined. Therefore, even though Wang Ting wasn’t yet married and would be marrying a princess, there was nothing requiring concealment about such matters.
“Fifth Young Master? No wonder he has such good taste,” someone said.
Wang Ting ranked fifth among legitimate male cousins of the same generation in the Wang family.
“Fifth Young Master’s talent is renowned throughout the capital. They say if a young man isn’t romantic, he wastes his youth. I’ve never heard of Fifth Young Master purchasing concubines before. Either he doesn’t buy, or when he does, it’s the very best. That voice—I’d say only Chenliang from Wangqiu Tower could compare.” Another noble lady spoke.
A teacup struck a saucer with an unpleasant sound. Mo Zi couldn’t chew her food and swallowed it with water.
Bai Shi seemed completely unconcerned, instructing a maidservant beside her, “Go bring her up. Say the ladies wish to reward her.”
After the maidservant left, Bai Shi smiled and said, “A mere singer cannot be called a concubine. I’ve heard of her reputation outside before. Though she sold her art but not her body, showing her face in public is nothing praiseworthy. How other families’ songstresses behave is not my concern, but in my household, she must conduct herself properly. Those frivolous matters from before are absolutely not permitted anymore.”
The noble lady who had mentioned Chenliang was surprised. “Fifth Young Master bought Chenliang? I only heard that after Chenliang’s contract with Wangqiu Tower expired, she left and married. I didn’t expect her to be here with the second wife.”
“Ting has already changed her name. She’s now called Zhenliang. The rumors of marriage were probably just wishful thinking by some lovesick libertines who couldn’t bear to part with her. Ting is about to bring a princess into the household. Even if he were to take concubines, he’d have to wait for the princess’s approval. Moreover, she’s just a songstress. She can’t even pass my threshold—at minimum, her family background must be clean.” Marrying a princess while still preparing to find concubines for her son—the Wang family was just that arrogant.
Mo Zi’s hands beneath the table clenched tightly into fists.
Chenliang had become a songstress kept by the Wang family?! That Chenliang who had always worked hard to carve out her own path? She had once said that when the day came she stopped singing, she would change her name back. Now her name had been changed back, yet why had she lost her freedom? What exactly had happened?
With lowered eyes, a skirt hem swayed into view. She looked up. Seeing Chenliang, she also caught Shan Shi’s indifferent glance toward herself. Her heart suddenly understood. This was deliberate! Deliberately inviting her, deliberately having Chenliang sing. Her relationship with Qiu Sanniang, Qiu Sanniang’s relationship with Wangqiu Tower, Wangqiu Tower’s relationship with Chenliang, even her friends in the Women’s Alliance—as long as the Wang family wanted to investigate, they would understand everything clearly. Looking again at Old Madam Xiao’s curious expression—hmph, so the ones who truly wanted to cut down her prestige weren’t the Xiao family on the surface, but the Wang family!
Remarkable! Truly remarkable! Killing without leaving a trace, wounding without shadow. You’re the First Lady, are you? So arrogant! Arrogant to the heavens, yet your intimate confidante is a slave in my household. If you want to share private words with her, you need my permission. If you want to stroll arm-in-arm with her, you also need my consent. You can refuse to bow your head, refuse to smile ingratiatingly—I don’t care.
These people were her mother’s natal family. This low-key yet arrogant household was her maternal grandfather’s family. Mo Zi’s eyes were frosty with cold.
“This humble woman Zhenliang greets all the ladies.” The voice remained beautiful.
“Ignorant slave, today Song territory’s Minister of Works’ wife is present. Why don’t you quickly kneel and pay respects?” Bai Shi snorted coldly.
The sound of that kneeling struck heavily against Mo Zi’s eardrums.
Shan Shi said, “Minister of Works’ wife, this servant only recently came to the Wang family and doesn’t yet understand the rules. I humbly beg your forgiveness.”
Mo Zi slowly raised her head. Where was there any trace of frosty coldness? She smiled brilliantly. “Grand Madam, what are you saying? Since entering your mansion, even an ordinary young servant appears especially noble—ordinary noble sons lack that bearing by several degrees. The Wang clan is worthy of being the empress’s natal family.”
Having said this, some noble ladies’ expressions inevitably soured. They all knew the Wang family’s status, but knowing didn’t mean accepting it. Among those present, there were also those whose daughters were imperial consorts or consorts, whose husbands held high office, and whose family influence was vast—maintaining cordial surfaces with the Wang family while competing underneath. Seeing Song territory’s First Lady elevate the Wang family so high made them unhappy.
Shan Shi and Mo Zi’s gazes met. Only after a long while did she say, “The Minister of Works’ wife overpraises.” Inviting her on the Empress’s orders, not only had she easily dealt with Old Madam Xiao, but she already knew of their targeted actions—she was not merely famous in name alone.
“Zhenliang, hearing your voice is like heavenly music—an innate talent incomparable to anyone. I came hastily and besides gifts for His Majesty, didn’t bring anything precious.” She reached out and pulled a round-headed hairpin from her hair. “Though this hairpin appears insignificant, it’s very useful. I give it to you.”
Everyone here was an expert at appraising gold and jade. One look revealed its extraordinary nature. A carved gold and ivory hairpin, the pin head a gemstone flower formed from fitted rubies. The style was simple, but no matter what, it couldn’t possibly be inexpensive.
Chenliang felt the voice was familiar in her heart but dared not raise her head. Only when Xiao Yi held a tray and called her did she rise to receive it. Seeing Xiao Yi clearly, then seeing Mo Zi clearly, her entire body trembled, eyes widening, her hands holding the tray dropping powerlessly.
Xiao Yi steadily caught it, saying solemnly, “Might as well help sister wear it.” As she spoke, she inserted the hairpin into Chenliang’s cloud-like coiffure.
She turned her head and asked Mo Zi, “Does it look good?”
Mo Zi smiled. “Some gifts sent out depreciate in value, some gifts sent out appreciate in price. Zhenliang is the latter. This hairpin originally wasn’t valuable, but wearing it on your head, it becomes priceless. Grand Madam, Second Madam, wouldn’t you say so?” If they wanted her to bow her head, let them first humble themselves with a few flattering words.
Bai Shi thought—to say it’s worthless would demean Song territory; to say it’s valuable would elevate a lowly servant. What a difficult position. So she looked at Shan Shi.
Shan Shi’s consistently composed and generous expression finally showed cracks. Her face darkening somewhat, she reluctantly replied, “The Minister of Works’ wife speaks correctly.” She suddenly realized that among women, only one person could offend Song Mo Zi. The Empress.
Mo Zi knew in her heart, however, that while she seemed to have gained the upper hand on the surface, Chenliang’s inexplicable enslavement was indeed quite a blow. It wasn’t that she was soft-hearted, but rather that Chenliang, like Sanniang and Wu You, were people she considered true sisters. Furthermore, the Wang family doing this wasn’t to see her compassionate heart. It was like two armies facing each other—the enemy about to slaughter your parents and siblings. Though they knew you might not surrender, what they wanted to see was your rage.
This provocation mocked her humble origins, wanting to make her lose composure. She was indeed angry, but not for Chenliang’s circumstances—rather because of the Wang family’s disgusting behavior. The Wang family women were even worse than the Xiao family. One could even say that compared to them, Old Madam Xiao could be considered an adorable old lady—at least she wasn’t so dark-minded. She did what she wanted, said what she wanted.
Masters sparring—the other noble ladies didn’t see through it, merely offering various rewards.
“Alright, kowtow once more to the Minister of Works’ wife, then withdraw.” Shan Shi didn’t expose the relationship between Chenliang and Mo Zi, because Wang family women never played villains in front of others. What she wanted was simply for Mo Zi to feel uncomfortable.
“Just now as the Wang family’s songstress she already kowtowed. This time as my good friend, please Grand Madam excuse it. Otherwise it makes things awkward for us two sisters.” Did they think she wouldn’t acknowledge her because of status? Mo Zi stood up and under everyone’s watchful eyes took Chenliang’s hand.
Bai Shi wasn’t as composed as Shan Shi and was greatly shocked.
Shan Shi, however, was vexed. When Song Mo Zi publicly admitted she was the Xiao family’s maidservant, she should have anticipated she would do this.
Mo Zi wore a smiling expression, speaking with natural ease to those dumbstruck ladies. “Chenliang and I share a deep connection. All you ladies know that Wangqiu Tower belongs to Third Mistress Xiao. Chenliang was originally a young lady from a good family. After her parents died early and her brother squandered the family fortune, she nearly suffered harm. By such coincidence I encountered her and took her in. She has talent—instructors took notice of her. After we pleaded earnestly, they agreed to help Wangqiu Tower open. Later, finding our temperaments compatible, we simply acknowledged each other as sisters. I left the capital long ago and only arrived two days past. I haven’t yet had time to reunite with my sisters. I didn’t expect to encounter her here. I don’t know how a perfectly free person became Fifth Young Master Wang’s songstress. I’m extremely astonished. These days, times aren’t good—fraudulent buying and selling can be seen everywhere. If I didn’t know, that would be one thing, but knowing, I certainly must intervene, especially for my own sister. Of course, the Wang family is a prestigious noble clan, Fifth Young Master is renowned throughout the capital—they surely wouldn’t do foolish things. Right now my heart aches, and I can’t eat anything. I just want to ask Chenliang to clarify everything.”
Bai Shi was instead provoked by these words, unable to restrain her sharp voice. “What’s there to ask? The indenture contract bears her own mark. My son keeps it. Does the Minister of Works’ wife mean to say our Wang family fraudulently purchased her?”
The situation reversed.
Mo Zi shook her head hastily. “I thought that with Third Mistress Xiao’s care, Chenliang might not achieve great wealth and nobility, but marrying into a prosperous family wouldn’t be difficult. Moreover, this time I came, if Chenliang still wasn’t betrothed, I also planned to bring her to Song territory. With my current status and position, would my own sister still suffer grievances? This matter is most likely a misunderstanding. Let me first clarify things. If you two ladies find it difficult, I’ll go directly to speak with His Majesty.”
Did they think she cared about face like they did? Did they think she couldn’t act like a shrew? They were all wrong. With low birth, naturally she could do low-born things.
Shan Shi sat upright, palms sweating. First, she had miscalculated Song Mo Zi’s open honesty. Second, she had miscalculated Song Mo Zi’s degree of forcefulness. Third, she had miscalculated Song Mo Zi’s clever mind. If this matter truly reached the Emperor, how would it end?
“Minister of Works’ wife, don’t be anxious. The circumstances are clearest to Zhenliang herself. Just ask her directly.” One thing must be insisted upon. The Wang family’s innocence.
“I want to find a quiet place.” Mo Zi’s tone was resolute. In this world, might made right. Being polite and courteous, no one paid attention.
“Ah Yuan, take the Minister of Works’ wife.” Shan Shi instructed.
“No need. I’ll go to where Chenliang lives.” Mo Zi pulled the person and left.
Xiao Yi swept her eyes across the circle and followed.
—