Through the cracks in the rockery, a pool of emerald water came into view, adorned with weeping willows and vibrant chrysanthemums. A young man stood tall, wearing a navy blue round-collared brocade robe with floral patterns. The contours of his slightly turned face exuded a pleasant aura. Mudan instantly recognized him as a handsome gentleman with just a glance.
Opposite this dashing figure, under a willow tree amidst chrysanthemums, stood the natural beauty of Princess Qinghua. Her eyes and brows brimmed with the essence of spring, her posture exuding charm. As she tilted her face slightly upward to gaze at the man, she artfully displayed the most alluring parts of her face, neck, and chest. The morning sunlight, filtering through the treetops, cast a soft glow upon her, as if adorning her skin with a pearlescent sheen, enhancing her allure.
Strangely, her maids were nowhere to be seen. Neither did the handsome man have any attendants.
“These shameless dogs,” Wu Xilian thought, her face darkening. “Do they intend to recreate the scandalous scene from the Flower Banquet?” She was not Mudan, who would allow such a despicable woman to take advantage. Wu Xilian gritted her teeth, her eyes darting around until she spotted a fist-sized rock. She quickly picked it up, gripping it tightly, ready to rush out and strike the pair at any moment.
The handsome man bowed to Princess Qinghua with a hint of panic. “Your Highness, I’ve been presumptuous.”
Princess Qinghua giggled coquettishly, brushing her temple with allure. “Ignorance is no crime. What’s your name?”
The man sighed softly. “I’m but a nameless commoner, not worth mentioning.”
Princess Qinghua tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled. “Very well, we won’t speak of it. Weren’t you going to recite poetry for me? Let’s hear it, so I can gauge your literary talent. Who knows, I might recommend you for a high position someday.”
“You jest, Your Highness,” the man replied slowly. “While I appreciate your generosity, I must confess that I indulge in wine and pleasure, and my poetic skills are quite lacking. I only remember a few lines from others. May I borrow them today? Please don’t judge me too harshly.”
“I can tell you’re the type who only knows how to eat, drink, and be merry,” Princess Qinghua remarked, her tone carrying traces of her former imperious attitude, mixed with a hint of playful teasing. Her eyes roamed shamelessly over the man’s face and physique, displaying immense interest. For a moment, Mudan had the strange impression that the roles were reversed, as if the man seeking to recite poetry was like the favored Hu Xuaner, and Princess Qinghua’s next words would be, “Serve this princess well, and you’ll be richly rewarded.”
The handsome man, however, paid no heed to Qinghua’s attitude. He stood straight, cleared his throat, and began to recite in the manner of a poetry competition, with careful rhythm and intonation:
“Twin herons should pity the pool brimming with water,
Wind-tossed yet unmoved, their crests’ threads hang low.
Standing amidst green grass, humans spot them first,
Swimming past white lotuses, fish remain unaware.
One foot curled in the cold rain,
Several calls in early autumn.
With you, the woods and ponds increase in value,
How fitting you are for a poet’s fancy.”
He paused, then smiled. “Your Highness, how was my recitation? You are indeed like a white heron.”
Such audacity! How dare he mock her limp? Princess Qinghua’s smile instantly froze, replaced by a heavy air of hostility. She glared furiously at the man before her, who continued to smile serenely. She took two steps forward, raising her hand to slap him across the face.
Seeing this, Wu Xilian’s face cleared. She discarded the stone and quickly emerged from behind the rockery, clapping her hands and laughing. “One foot curled in the cold rain, several calls in early autumn. My dear husband, your poem is out of season. It’s already late autumn now.” Her eyes swept scornfully over Princess Qinghua’s lame foot.
Cen Shi Lang smiled faintly at Wu Xilian, spreading his hands in a gesture of nonchalant charm. “Seventeen, you know me. I’m just a glutton for food and wine… Remembering this poem is already my limit.”
Princess Qinghua trembled with rage, pointing at the couple and laughing coldly. “Well, well. Cen Shi Lang of Taiyuan Prefecture, how delightful. I’ll remember this.”
“It’s my honor to be remembered by Your Highness,” Cen Shi Lang replied with graceful poise. Observing Princess Qinghua’s twisted expression, he added with a smile, “Your Highness, do mind your step. If you were to fall, it would weigh heavily on my conscience.”
Princess Qinghua was thoroughly enraged. But times had changed; she was no longer the person who could casually trample others from horseback, and the couple before her were not people she could abuse at will. Knowing when to pick her battles, she let out a cold laugh and turned to leave.
Wu Xilian gazed at Cen Shi Lang with adoration. “How did you get involved with her? Don’t you know who she is?”
Cen Shi Lang smiled. “I was sitting here when she approached me, speaking frivolously. She first had her maid lure my page away to search for some hairpin, then praised my looks. What did she take me for?”
Mudan decided not to greet the couple and turned to leave. However, she noticed a maid in green suddenly emerge from behind a cluster of irises not far away. The maid kept her head down as she hurried along the path to catch up with Princess Qinghua. Mudan recognized her clearly as Ajie, Princess Qinghua’s maid. Ajie’s purpose for lurking there was obvious—to report back. But when they had arrived, Ajie hadn’t warned them, allowing them to witness the scene. What did this mean?
As Ajie quickly reached Princess Qinghua’s side, two or three other maids rushed towards the princess from different directions. Without hesitation, Princess Qinghua slapped Ajie twice across the face for her negligence. Ajie knelt without a sound. Ignoring her, Princess Qinghua stormed off in a rage. Ajie stood up on her own and followed silently behind her mistress as the group gradually disappeared from view.
Mudan shook her head slightly. It seemed that even though Princess Qinghua had married Liu Chang as she desired, she remained restless. Today, she had finally met her match—her attempt at seduction had backfired, resulting in humiliation, yet she still tried to threaten others. This couple truly deserved each other.
When the guests had all arrived and the baby’s third-day celebration officially began, Mudan once again saw Wu Xilian, who appeared to be in excellent spirits, as well as Princess Qinghua, who had regained her composure. Wu Xilian pointedly ignored Princess Qinghua, chatting and laughing naturally, while Princess Qinghua, no pushover herself, engaged in lively conversation with familiar faces, though her smile seemed exaggerated.
As the banquet ended and everyone gathered at the main entrance waiting for their carriages, Princess Qinghua’s canopied vehicle approached with Liu Chang at her side. Suddenly, Wu Xilian called out, “Your Highness, please wait a moment.”
Princess Qinghua arrogantly raised her head, fixing Wu Xilian with a cold stare.
Wu Xilian approached, blinking as she said in a low voice, “Your Highness, my husband asked me to tell you that he couldn’t find the hairpin you requested. He’s a careless man and doesn’t always consider others’ feelings. If he has offended you in any way, please forgive him.” She then turned to Liu Chang, “Liu Zishu, I must ask for your help in persuading the princess. It would be best if she forgot about my husband altogether. He’s a dull and sarcastic man, no match for your sensitivity, refinement, and capability.” She still remembered Liu Chang’s past mockery of her, describing Cen Shi Lang so unfavorably. Now, in comparison, there weren’t many people as awful as Liu Chang himself.
Princess Qinghua glanced at Liu Chang from the corner of her eye and let out a faint snort. “It’s just a worthless hairpin. No need to dwell on it.”
Liu Chang’s face remained impassive as he bowed slightly to Wu Xilian. “I’m truly sorry for the trouble we’ve caused you.” He smiled wryly, “Seventeen, please forget my past arrogance and rudeness.”
“Oh…” Wu Xilian had intended to expose Princess Qinghua’s true nature, hoping Liu Chang would discipline his unfaithful wife. She had imagined Liu Chang might fly into a rage or pretend not to hear and walk away, but she never expected this reaction. It was truly baffling. They had no deep-seated grudge, and since Liu Chang had publicly apologized, what was there left to forgive? Looking at Princess Qinghua’s unrepentant expression, as if she were in the right and untouchable, Wu Xilian felt a hint of sympathy for Liu Chang. Though he deserved his fate, Princess Qinghua’s brazen behavior seemed a bit excessive.
If even Wu Xilian thought this way, others felt it even more strongly. Watching Liu Chang’s dejected figure as he mounted his horse and rode away without so much as a glance at Princess Qinghua, many onlookers sighed. This, they thought, was the consequence of not valuing oneself and becoming entangled with royalty. His son was gone, his concubines scattered, and now he wore a green hat. Worse still, his high-born wife refused to bear children, threatening to end his lineage. Most devastating of all, he couldn’t even rebel or divorce her. Liu Chang had become the tragic archetype in the capital of a man who married a noble princess.
Princess Qinghua watched Liu Chang’s solitary departure, her feelings indescribable. After such an incident, he showed no jealousy, anger, or even the slightest reaction—just indifference and constant apologies to others. Years ago, when she had married someone else, he had wanted to kill her too. But now? He wouldn’t even try to cover for her. What could be more hurtful than this? He wouldn’t touch her, wouldn’t let her bear children, and never informed her of his activities outside the home.
When she played her trump card, threatening to move back to the princess’s mansion, he had merely said, “As you wish.” Not a word more. It turned out that his ruthlessness, which she had once enjoyed seeing directed at others, was not at all amusing when turned on her.
Yet this cold-hearted man had somehow garnered sympathy from her family members, who constantly advised her to restrain herself, stop causing trouble, and focus on bearing a son to continue the Liu family line. She wanted to, but could she? How could he treat her this way? If he showed no benevolence, why should she show righteousness? It was just a matter of bearing a son, wasn’t it? As if she couldn’t do that?
She would see how he’d handle it when the time came. Princess Qinghua smiled faintly. There were plenty of handsome men besides Cen Shi Lang. Originally, she had thought that anyone who could enter the Chu State Marquis’s mansion would at least have some status, not bringing too much shame to the Liu family. But since Liu Zishu treated her this way, she saw no need to expend such effort. She would always be Liu Chang’s wife, and only her son would inherit the Liu family legacy.