Chongsheng Temple, located in the southwest corner of Chongde Ward, was originally the residence of a prince from the previous dynasty. It was converted into a temple and adorned with pavilions, towers, artificial mountains, and clear ponds, making it one of the most famous large temples in the capital.
Madam Du had chosen this place for a reason. Not only was it spacious with a serene environment, but it was also renowned for its lanterns. The monks were skilled in vegetarian cuisine, making it a favorite spot for the capital’s elite and nobility.
Chongsheng Temple had a large garden where the monks’ meticulously crafted lanterns were displayed. From the top of the tall sutra repository in the center of the garden, one could see the entire illuminated area below. Madam Du hid in a narrow, dark room on the top floor of the sutra repository, wrapped tightly in a fur cloak, silently standing by the small window looking down. The night’s darkness concealed her completely.
She saw a group of men dressed as scholars enter from the garden’s northwest gate, pretending to be sophisticated as they recited poetry under the colorful lanterns while secretly glancing at nearby women out for lantern viewing. She also saw her sister-in-law and niece with a group of noble ladies, adorned in colorful attire, moving through various parts of the garden. They observed the lanterns while conversing in low voices, occasionally bursting into laughter, appearing to be having a great time.
Madam Du felt a bit melancholic. It had been a long time since she had participated in such activities. She envied her sister-in-law and wished she could join them, carefree and joyful on this night. But she couldn’t, at least not tonight.
She knew that someone would be out viewing lanterns in disguise tonight. He would surely go to Anfu Gate first to admire the unprecedented lantern tree he had spent a fortune to build. Then, he would come here. She turned her gaze to the quiet, pitch-black two-story pavilion nearby – the Epiphyllum Pavilion. He would certainly come here because she knew this place held one of his deepest memories.
In her childhood, she had come here with her late mother, accompanying him before he became emperor. She remembered he did nothing but sit quietly for half an hour. Before leaving, he hung a lotus lantern at the entrance.
Years later, during the festival, she accompanied her mother on an outing and encountered him again, now the emperor, along with Jiang Chong. Jiang Chong, recently returned from the frontier, was unlike the noble youths she knew. His skin was dark, his body devoid of excess fat, tall and strong, with sharp eyes. Standing before her, he was like a steady, reliable mountain. From the moment she saw Jiang Chong, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
She deliberately approached Jiang Chong to greet him, asking where he came from. Jiang Chong’s response was polite but not overly flattering like others. The more he behaved this way, the more determined she became.
He saw this and dismissed Jiang Chong, smiling as he asked her, “Does Aping find this Jiang Chong irritating at first sight? With a stubborn and disagreeable temperament?”
She nodded in agreement, “Indeed.”
He smiled, “Steel can be tempered to become as soft as silk around one’s finger. Don’t judge him by his appearance. He’s very loving and obedient to his wife, and extremely filial to his mother.”
So Jiang Chong already had a wife. Her heart shattered. He gave her a meaningful look and said, “People with our noble bloodline should be braver. If you want something, go and take it.”
She was surprised, then delighted. Regardless of whether she truly wanted Jiang Chong, his supportive attitude indicated one thing – he doted on her. An uncle’s favor was important, especially when that uncle was the most powerful man in the world.
Unlike her joy, her mother seemed anxious and displeased. But with just a glance from him, her mother simply sighed without further words. She noticed her mother’s difficulty and felt she should be a good girl, showing her gentle, obedient, and dignified side before her imperial uncle. So she smiled and curtsied to thank him, saying she had no intention of causing him trouble. Her mother breathed a sigh of relief, while her imperial uncle just smiled meaningfully without saying anything else.
From then on, she was often summoned to the palace by the Empress and invited to various banquets and events. She frequently encountered Jiang Chong, seeing him as steady as a mountain and as agile as an eagle. Compared to him, the noble youths who fawned over her, with their rouge-stained lips and silk attire, seemed like unfledged chicks.
Beneath palace walls, by willow trees, at hunting grounds, and on polo fields, she unconsciously pursued his silhouette until one day, he appeared in her dreams. He embraced her lovingly but called out another name – Ayou. Even in the dream, she wept with sorrow.
The first thing she did upon waking was to carefully groom herself before the mirror. She had seen Madam Wang Ayou before – a woman spoiled beyond measure who had only borne one son in several years of marriage. She felt she was no less than Wang Ayou. She was younger, of nobler birth, and more beautiful. Why wasn’t she in Jiang Chong’s heart and eyes? In her distress, she accidentally broke the purple jade hairpin her father had spent 200,000 coins to have made for her coming-of-age ceremony. Holding the hairpin broken in two, she wept bitterly.
Her maid panicked and reported to her mother. After questioning her for a long time, she only replied, “I hate Wang Ayou.” Her mother remained silent upon hearing this.
Not long after, conflict arose between the Jiang brothers, with Jiang Chong caught in the middle. Seeing him grow haggard, she couldn’t help but think that if it were her, she would never let Jiang Chong be so troubled. How could Wang Ayou, such an inconsiderate woman who didn’t know her place, be worthy of Jiang Chong? So she went to ask her imperial uncle how she could get what she wanted. He only replied, “I’ll give you a chance to temper steel into silk.”
An opportunity – her uncle would give her that. But how could she turn steel into silk? She pondered this for days until her mother took a crystal hairpin from her hair and broke it in two before her eyes. “This is Wang Ayou,” her mother said. Then she took a silk thread, folded it repeatedly, and gently wrapped it around her fingertip: “This is you.”
A cold wind blew, causing Madam Du to shiver and wrap her cloak tighter. Yes, she had tempered steel into silk, becoming his wife as she wished, finally defeating and driving out that woman. But he could never forget her, no matter how well Madam Du performed, how much she did, or how many grievances she endured. He still wanted to leave the best for that woman’s son.
Yes, she had to admit she hadn’t raised the child well, but it wasn’t entirely her fault. Zhonger had been taken away by that old woman since infancy. Any attempt to intervene was met with displeasure. He was often away for half a year or a year at a time, showing little concern upon his return, only testing and beating the child if dissatisfied. When things went wrong, he only blamed her for their poor upbringing or her mother for spoiling the child. Why didn’t he blame that old woman and himself? Weren’t they responsible too? She had been enduring so much, only to find it was all for naught, laboring in vain for others. Even Buddha would be resentful, wouldn’t he?
And then there was her imperial uncle. If he had let her marry Jiang Chong, why did he still promote Jiang Dalang? Look at how arrogantly that boy stormed into her house wearing an official uniform and carrying a golden sword! If her mother were still alive, things wouldn’t be like this. Tears welled up in Madam Du’s eyes as she clasped her hands and murmured, “Buddha, Buddha, this believer offers you so much money every year. You wouldn’t let this believer’s wishes come to nothing, would you?”
A soft footstep sounded behind her. She immediately closed her mouth and shouted, “Who’s there?!”
It was Baixiang standing at the door, her voice trembling, “It’s your servant. Madam, the young master and He Mudan have arrived.”
Madam Du quickly leaned out the window to look. Sure enough, she saw two familiar figures standing under a pine tree in the southeast corner, whispering in the lantern light. Both were dressed in men’s clothes, facing away from the crowd, appearing cautious as if afraid of being seen. They must have guilty consciences; otherwise, why would they be so furtive? Madam Du smiled lightly and handed a small pouch to Baixiang, instructing, “Go tell He Mudan to lead the young master to the second floor of the Epiphyllum Pavilion. Say it’s quiet there and no one will disturb them.”
Just lead them to the Epiphyllum Pavilion? Baixiang was confused, expecting further instructions, so she stood still. Seeing her not moving, Madam Du snapped, “Why aren’t you going?”
Baixiang cautiously asked, “What then?”
A flash of ruthlessness appeared in Madam Du’s eyes. “Tell her this is her only chance, and it’s all in her hands. I’ll bring Princess Kangcheng there later to support her. Even if the young master hates someone afterward, it will be me, not her.” There would never be a Princess Kangcheng; in this move, she was the only winner.
Baixiang acknowledged and walked to the door, then heard Madam Du’s voice from the darkness: “Make sure others see you.”
Madam Du leaned against the window, watching Mudan leave alone for a while, then return and walk slowly with Jiang Changyang, one after the other, towards the Epiphyllum Pavilion shrouded in the misty night. Thinking of the scene about to unfold, she blinked excitedly. Wang Ayou, I’ll show you who’s arrogant! I’ll show you what happens when you come to clean up your son’s mess! Want to marry a noble lady? Let’s see which noble family’s daughter still wants to follow your son back to Anxi Protectorate!
Shortly after, Baixiang came upstairs to report: “They’ve gone in. They entered through the back door you mentioned. I heard them go upstairs.”
Madam Du blinked, “What did she say? How did she look?”
Baixiang replied, “She was very hesitant, a bit scared. I told her if she didn’t cherish this opportunity, there would never be another chance. I also said that there might be others coveting her position in the future, and her situation would only worsen. She seemed to doubt you somewhat, repeatedly asking if something might go wrong, and why you were willing to help her. She also asked about Princess Kangcheng, wondering why she would support her.”
The fact that she thought to ask these questions showed she wasn’t foolish. But it also revealed her single-minded desire to marry Jiang Changyang! If she hadn’t questioned anything, Madam Du might have been somewhat uneasy. Madam Du raised an eyebrow, “So how did you answer her?”