When Wen Ding Yi arrived at Lang Run Garden, it wasn’t as Chen Jing had said—the Dowager Consort wasn’t waiting for her to serve. She had risen early and was sitting upright in the main hall, head lowered, examining her chiseled floral arm guard. Even when she heard footsteps, she didn’t so much as lift her eyelids.

The atmosphere was different; Ding Yi sensed it from the moment she entered the garden. She had thought there would be no more waves regarding the marriage, but the reality was always more unpredictable than expected.

She stepped forward and curtseyed, “I respectfully wish the Dowager Consort good fortune and health.”

The Dowager Consort gave no response, leaving her in that crouching position. The first few moments were bearable, but soon she could barely endure it as cramps twisted through her calves. This curtsy technique was practiced only by palace maids. Outside, the Qi people were merely polite—greeting each other on the street with a quick bow, rising instantly, over in a flash—nothing like this. Ding Yi was inwardly miserable. The Noble Dowager Consort was giving her a harsh lesson, not simply teaching etiquette. Greater hardships surely awaited!

Indeed, the Dowager finished an entire cup of tea before allowing her to rise. Ding Yi gritted her teeth as she straightened up, the lower half of her body no longer feeling like her own. Standing with difficulty, she lowered her head to await instructions. The Dowager spoke, “I summoned you today because there are matters requiring verification. A Prince’s wedding isn’t arranged casually—even commoners inquire about a new bride’s background! Tell me, do you know someone called Mu Lian Sheng?”

Ding Yi’s heart skipped a beat. So this was the trouble. She hadn’t been back in Beijing long and truly had no intention of further entanglement with him. It wasn’t that she forgot old ties upon climbing higher, but Mu Lian Sheng was a bottomless pit—no amount of silver was ever enough for him. If he discovered her position, she’d never escape his entanglements. He would visit constantly, demanding this and that, threatening to expose her if displeased. Such a life would be endless torment.

Now it had come to this—the matter was brought before the Dowager Consort. He must have given up hope from her side! She sighed, her mind struggling. By nature, she preferred honesty over deceit. She could simply admit it—she had nothing to be ashamed of. But the timing was terrible, right when marriage negotiations were underway. A blemished bride would likely be rejected by nine out of ten families. And this family was the most prestigious in the land—how could they be so easily deceived?

She steeled her resolve. Even if it meant lying outright, nothing was more important than being with the Twelfth Prince.

She shook her head. “In response to the Dowager Consort, this servant doesn’t know such a person.”

“You don’t know him? Wasn’t your alias Mu Xiao Shu?” The Dowager Consort straightened, scoffing, “He claims to be your foster father, saying he raised you for over ten years, working from dawn to dusk to fund your expenses in Beijing. Now you claim not to know him? It seems when self-interest appears, you’re capable of the most ungrateful acts.”

Ding Yi inwardly disdained him. Mu was twisting facts. She had lived with the Mu family for six years. Later, after moving to Beijing, he visited every few days demanding money. By any calculation, she had already repaid all expenses for those six years of food and clothing. Now he was turning on her, but she couldn’t defend herself easily. She could only stubbornly deny it. “Dowager Consort, don’t listen to nonsense. The Twelfth Prince and I have known each other for quite some time. Even if you don’t trust me, you should trust him. He—”

“What’s the point of bringing up the princes? I’m asking you. The Twelfth Prince is utterly bewitched by you. If I asked him, how could he distinguish truth from falsehood?” The Noble Dowager Consort’s mouth corners turned downward as she looked Ding Yi up and down. “Didn’t you claim to come from a scholarly family? Don’t you understand basic etiquette? You still stand so straight while addressing me?”

Ding Yi, startled by her rebuke, quickly knelt and kowtowed. “This servant was flustered. Please forgive me, Dowager Consort.”

The Dowager Consort glanced at her disdainfully. “You should be flustered. Denial makes no difference. Bring in Mu Lian Sheng—face to face, everything will become clear.”

Chen Jing obeyed the command and went to summon him. Mu Lian Sheng entered with a lowered head and bent waist, kneeling and repeatedly kowtowing. “This humble one, Mu Lian Sheng, pays respects to the Noble Dowager Consort.”

The Dowager Consort told him to identify her. “Turn around and look—is this your foster daughter? Look carefully. This is no joke. In two days, she’ll be the Consort of the Pure Prince. Defaming imperial relatives carries the punishment of flaying and dismemberment.”

Mu Lian Sheng gulped audibly. “This humble one wouldn’t dare. I’m just a poor farmer. If not for this injustice, I wouldn’t have come to you. All these years, even without achievements, I’ve endured hardships. This girl now doesn’t even acknowledge our relationship. Thinking about it at night, I truly feel aggrieved. Dowager Consort, you are the reincarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva. I beg you to uphold justice for me.”

The Dowager Consort had no patience for his chatter. She cared only about Wen Ding Yi’s background. She nodded for him to look, maintaining her composure while awaiting his final judgment.

Mu Lian Sheng tilted his head to look, and without needing a second glance declared, “It’s her. I would recognize her even if she were reduced to ashes.”

But Ding Yi had begun to ponder. Mu Lian Sheng was a brash, thoughtless man. Despite his hatred, he would at most complain at the Shun Tian Prefecture or curse in the courtyards. He could never imagine, nor have the means, to connect with the Noble Dowager Consort. Someone powerful was guiding him. If so, she could turn the tables on him. She said coldly, “You’re following someone’s instructions, aren’t you? The Twelfth Prince is currently investigating a case involving people whom I needn’t name—you know who. You were sent to deliberately disrupt the Twelfth Prince’s position. Am I right? Others promised you silver, so you came to the Noble Dowager Consort to defame me. Tell us how much your master offered and reveal who bribed you. The Twelfth Prince will reward you double.”

She then turned to the Dowager Consort, kowtowing, edging closer to her footrest. With a tearful, plaintive voice, she said, “Dowager Consort… E-Nie, the Twelfth Prince, and I truly love each other. Today, even if I suffer injustice, I wouldn’t frown if I died for him. E-Nie doesn’t reside in the Inner City and doesn’t know the government affairs the Twelfth Prince handles. Old cases have been reopened, inevitably causing upheaval. The Twelfth Prince is already overwhelmed by the case. E-Nie must not believe slander or be manipulated.”

This explanation seemed somewhat reasonable. The Dowager Consort stared at Mu Lian Sheng below and demanded harshly, “Is what she said true? If there’s even half a lie, once discovered, you’ll die in pieces!”

Mu Lian Sheng panicked too. Offending the other side meant certain death, so he could only stubbornly persist. Prostrating himself, he said, “Noble Dowager Consort, your wisdom is clear. She’s using the Twelfth Prince to cover herself. Ask her—isn’t she Wen Lu’s daughter? Isn’t the Twelfth Prince investigating Wen Lu’s case? She approached the Twelfth Prince to use him. She slipped up, and I caught her.”

Ding Yi trembled with anger. This scoundrel! When he was beaten and left paralyzed in a puddle over gambling debts, if she hadn’t rescued him, he would’ve been in the underworld by now. She truly regretted it—if she had let him die then, none of this would be happening. Even when she promised him money, he remained relentless. The Little Prince must have offered him both silver and held his life in his hands!

The Dowager Consort, enlightened by Mu Lian Sheng’s words, said, “Wen Ding Yi, Wen Lu… unmistakable. You seemed like such a nice girl, but who knew you had so many schemes? Earlier when you said you were an orphan, I truly pitied you, thinking this child has had it hard. The Empress vouched for you, and in a moment of compassion, I agreed. But this is how you’ve schemed against us. Let me tell you, though your family background wasn’t low, that’s in the past. Later you dressed as a man and became an executioner. Do you think our Twelfth Prince is someone you can disgrace like this?”

She was now defenseless. With the case still under investigation, admitting now meant certain death. She could only plead sorrowfully, “There are many with the surname Wen in the world. How can you be sure I’m Wen Lu’s daughter? I beg E-Nie to investigate carefully. Please don’t let it be the joy of enemies and the pain of loved ones.”

The Dowager Consort spat, “Who’s your E-Nie? Shameless! Still denying it at this point. Chen Jing, bring in the people! Mu Lian Sheng’s testimony may be biased. Let those who lived with you daily identify you. That way, there can be no mistake.”

Ding Yi turned anxiously to look. Master and Xia Zhi entered from outside, along with several neighbors from the courtyard. She vaguely felt the situation was lost. Even if her master and senior apprentice didn’t expose her, what about the others? She sank, resigned. It seemed fate denied her this happiness; no amount of striving could change it. Her only worry now was that after this, the Twelfth Prince’s position in the investigation would be questioned. Mu Lian Sheng had appeared at just the right time.

Her master entered but didn’t look at her. He flicked his sleeves and made a deep bow, “Shun Tian Prefecture jailer Wu Chang Geng pays respects to the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort.”

The Dowager Consort was direct, asking without preamble, “Executioner Wu, how many apprentices have you taken?”

Wu Chang Geng, with rolled-up sleeves, replied, “In response to the Dowager Consort, this humble one has taken only two apprentices in his lifetime, one called Xia Zhi and one called Mu Xiao Shu.”

The Dowager Consort nodded. “Then where is Mu Xiao Shu now? Look at the person before you—is this your junior apprentice?”

Ding Yi looked at her master with a deflated expression. Wu Chang Geng’s gaze barely brushed her before he clasped his hands and said, “In response to the Dowager Consort, my unfilial apprentice was a man, not a girl. He stayed with me for five or six years, closer to me than to his own family. I couldn’t bear for him to be an executioner all his life. He wanted to leave and serve at the Xian Prince’s mansion, and I didn’t keep him. Later, he followed the Seventh Prince to Ning Gu Ta. I don’t know what happened, but… he never returned.”

His face filled with grief, and the Dowager Consort observed silently. Chen Jing stepped forward at the right moment, addressing the neighbors from Tong Fu Alley: “What about you? Mu Xiao Shu lived in the same courtyard as you. I don’t believe you can’t recognize him.” He turned and called for a large tray to be brought in. Lifting the cloth cover revealed ingots of silver, each weighing twenty-five taels, at least ten of them. He smiled slyly, “In this world, there’s no mouth that silver can’t pry open. Look here—just speak up, tell us if Mu Xiao Shu is this person before us. Speak truthfully, and this silver is yours. Enough to buy houses and land, as you please.”

In the marketplace, a peck of rice costs only fourteen or fifteen wen. These two hundred and fifty taels of silver were an enormous sum for these common people, perhaps more than they could earn in a lifetime. Everyone looked at each other, mouths dry. Nodding would betray Wu Chang Geng; shaking their heads would betray themselves and their families. Just as they hesitated, the wife of San Qing Zi spoke up: “We can’t take this money that betrays our conscience. Though it might give us a couple of years of comfort, we can’t falsely accuse an innocent person, can we?” She squinted at Ding Yi, pointing, “How could this be Xiao Shu? Xiao Shu’s nose was flatter, his eyes smaller. Our Xiao Shu had a square face, but this is an oval one. They’re completely different people.”

“Hey!” Mu Lian Sheng became anxious. “San Qing Zi’s wife, you can’t deceive the Dowager Consort just because your son Shun Zi has taken someone as his godmother! Lying before the Dowager Consort is punishable by beheading!”

San Qing Zi’s wife spat in contempt. “You shameless old man! Back then, you would block people in the alley daily, forcing Xiao Shu to earn money to support you. He was just a child then, a new apprentice with no money to provide for you, and you would beat and scold him. Later, the child had no choice but to quit his job and push a wheelbarrow transporting grain. Others could carry three sacks per cart, but he could only manage one and still stumbled. How pitiful the child was! And you, you could always extend your hand! Now that Xiao Shu is gone, you’ve targeted an unrelated person, trying to harm them for ill-gotten gains. Heaven is watching you! Be careful a lightning bolt doesn’t strike you, preventing you from ever being reborn!”

What was meant to be a confrontation had devolved into chaos with the presence of so many common folk? They cursed vehemently, from eight generations of ancestors to gray grandsons. The Dowager was afflicted with a splitting headache from their clamor and summoned a group of eunuchs armed with clubs, threatening to strike anyone who continued shouting. Finally quieting them, she slapped the armrest of her chair and rebuked, “Neighborhood loyalty is strong, very good. Drag them out and beat them until they tell the truth!”

The eunuchs acknowledged and were about to act when someone entered from outside. Despite the winter cold, he was fanning himself, his eyes roaming mischievously, his face full of wicked smiles. With a shallow bow, he said, “Hong Tao pays respects to the Noble Dowager Consort.”

The Dowager Consort was somewhat surprised. “What brings the Seventh Prince here?”

The Seventh Prince grinned. “It’s the end of the year, isn’t it? I’ve acquired some excellent cloud brocade and came to present it to the three Dowager Consorts. Entering the garden, I heard there was a court session here—had to join the excitement!” He looked around. “Master Wu is here too? What’s happening? Oh, my Twelfth Brother’s wife is here as well?”

The Seventh Prince was a master at disrupting proceedings. With his arrival, the matter was essentially settled. The Dowager Consort’s face tightened as she said, “We’re questioning whether Ding Yi is Mu Xiao Shu. The Twelfth Prince cannot marry a woman of unknown origin as his side consort. He might lack shame, but I don’t!”

The Seventh Prince slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Mu Xiao Shu, what a coincidence! You’ve summoned his master, why not send for me? Mu Xiao Shu followed me to Ning Gu Ta and stayed by my side for nearly half a year. I know him well! Look at you, with silver and clubs—outsiders might think you’re trying to bribe or extract false confessions!”

The Dowager Consort looked at him, slightly short of breath. “Then, Seventh Prince, tell us, is she Mu Xiao Shu or not?”

The Seventh Prince turned to look at Xiao Shu, only today learning her true name. It was too heartbreaking—they had all deceived him, and treated him like a fool, despite his sincere openness.

He tilted his head back, his face subtly sorrowful. “No, my Xiao Shu… was lost. He followed me to the Sui Fen River, where we clashed with traffickers. It was perilous, and he was lost, gone. As for this sister-in-law, look at her appearance—does she look like someone who has rolled in mud and water? Others might not know my Twelfth Brother, but you’re his birth mother. Don’t you know him? He appears proper, but he’s craftier than a fox. Who could deceive him? Don’t worry about anything else now; just know this: my Twelfth Brother’s opponent this time is formidable. If you make him fight on two fronts, he will resent you. Those two are good together—let them be. Why make yourself the villain needlessly? The palace isn’t speaking out, Changchun Garden isn’t speaking out—you’d be better off at ease. Being the villain only earns rebukes, pleasing neither side. Look at me now, I’ve learned to be wiser. I’m good, I facilitate others’ happiness, and everyone likes me.”

The Dowager Consort blinked, not knowing what to say. Whenever she saw the Seventh Prince, she felt a sense of helplessness. This man had mastered the art of living—there was no point in arguing with him. She stood up, looking down at Ding Yi from her height. “Enough, I’m tired. You do as you please. Go back and tell the Twelfth Prince that if he wants a wedding, two bridal sedan chairs will enter the gate together. I’ve selected a suitable principal consort for him. Tomorrow I’ll enter the palace and then visit Changchun Garden. Your matter is settled as such.” She turned to Chen Jing and directed, “Look at the people you’ve brought, playing house like children. Enough, hurry, and drive them all away. Don’t let me see them and become irritated!”

Chen Jing, with their tail tucked between their legs, acknowledged and herded everyone out like ducks.

The Seventh Prince came to support Ding Yi, seeing her legs wobble, and let a young palace maid assist her outside. With tears in her eyes, she called to him, “Seventh Prince, you came to save me?”

He walked with hands behind his back, rhythmically tapping his folded fan against his spine. “Of course! I was accompanying my Mongolian wife to see the Empress at Shun Zhen Gate when I met Sha Tong. My Twelfth Brother was in a meeting at the Military Affairs Bureau and couldn’t come immediately. I was anxious and left my wife behind to come save the situation, sparing you suffering.”

She sighed, “I’ve had… so much misfortune. I’m indebted to you.”

Mentioning this made the Seventh Prince even more sorrowful. “You never treated me as one of your own…” He had a belly full of words to pour out, but noticing extra ears nearby, he waved his fan and dismissed everyone. He offered his arm for her to lean on as they walked, chattering as they went: “So your name is this… Ding Yi sounds nice but not as nice as Xiao Shu. I’ll keep calling you Xiao Shu. My Mongolian consort is called something with ‘Man’—I found it too awkward and renamed her Xiao Man. With the prefix ‘Xiao’, it reminds me of you.” He halted, looking at her with a downcast face. “Xiao Shu, my consort is too fierce. If three sentences displease her, she rolls up her sleeves and starts fighting. I’ve become utterly subservient. You were better, but why did you choose Hong Ce? He’s only slightly more accomplished than me, yet you chose him, finding yourself such a terrible mother-in-law to torment you. What’s the point? Look at this situation—two bridal sedan chairs entering together. What are your plans? Feeling upset? I’m available here for you to lean on!” Before Ding Yi could react, he extended his arm and pulled her into his embrace.