Hearing this familiar voice, Concubine Mei first froze, then slowly raised her head to look at Han Yan. Her gaze was somewhat vacant as she squinted, seemingly trying to confirm if this elegant lady before her was the same girl who had once been bullied in the Zhuang Manor. Suddenly, she threw back her head and laughed: “It’s you! It’s you!” Her voice was filled with bitter resentment: “Why are you here? To laugh at me?”
When she hadn’t known Han Yan’s identity moments ago, Concubine Mei had knelt on the ground begging pitifully, even willing to sell her body and trample her dignity. But once she recognized Han Yan, she began to resist violently, her eyes filled with mockery and unwillingness, as if reverting to her former overbearing self.
This was perhaps a common affliction among women in great households – when facing old acquaintances, especially those who had once been beneath them but now lived better lives, they always eagerly wanted to compare themselves. It was an incurable condition. Han Yan looked at her quietly: “Concubine Mei, after a year apart, you’ve aged.”
These words were truly hurtful, piercing Concubine Mei’s heart. Beauty was what women valued most, and Concubine Mei had once prided herself on her looks. Han Yan’s single comment had utterly destroyed her confidence.
She raised her face to look at Han Yan. The Fourth Miss who had once been bullied by her, who hadn’t dared to cry, who could be scolded and beaten at will by any servant in the Zhuang household, had now transformed into someone else entirely. Even though she wore only night clothes today, she carried an innate nobility. She wasn’t just living better than Concubine Mei – she was living far better. But why! Han Yan was supposed to be inferior to her! That once ordinary little face had matured into something graceful and lovely, her skin as delicate as a new water lotus. She was so much younger than Concubine Mei – that was what Concubine Mei envied most!
Concubine Mei suddenly burst into laughter: “But what does that matter? You’re young, but you’ve become a cast-off wife! Prince Xuan Qing doesn’t want you, he’s going to marry the Xi Rong Princess as his consort! Han Yan, you have nothing!”
Zhuo Qi beside her tensed, immediately drawing his sword in anger – this woman’s words were too vicious. Han Yan raised her hand to stop him, saying coolly: “Concubine Mei is so well-informed. Could it be that the prison guard told you this during your intimate moments?”
At these words, Concubine Mei fell silent immediately. Her heart filled with shame. Han Yan was right – she had essentially become a prostitute in this prison, available to any guard who wanted her. She had resisted at first but eventually got used to it. When the guards were in a good mood, they would give her some favors. But having Han Yan say it out loud gave Concubine Mei a feeling of helpless exposure as if she had been stripped naked in broad daylight. She could no longer speak the words that had been on her tongue.
Zhuo Qi secretly applauded Han Yan in his heart. Such a clean, decisive counterattack without any hesitation was typical of her. Even with her currently confused thoughts, she could still strike back calmly. This woman was terrifying – she could always instantly spot others’ weaknesses, step on their wounds, and not forget to rub salt in them. Terrifying, yet also lovable.
Han Yan was unaware of Zhuo Qi’s thoughts. Meanwhile, Concubine Mei gradually calmed down and sneered: “Han Yan, you haven’t come today just to see me in such a miserable state, have you? If that was your purpose, you’ve achieved it – when are you leaving?”
“Why is Concubine Mei in such a hurry?” Han Yan crouched down, meeting Concubine Mei’s eyes through the bars. Her gaze was calm, determined, with a hint of coercion: “I came today only to make a deal with Concubine Mei.”
“Why should I make a deal with you?” Concubine Mei sneered.
“It’s simple – you need freedom,” Han Yan said.
Freedom? Concubine Mei was startled, but quickly recovered, spitting at Han Yan: “Fourth Miss’s words are increasingly incomprehensible. What freedom? Are you joking?”
Though her tone was cold, with hints of self-mockery and disbelief, her eyes held a glimmer of light that Han Yan caught. Concubine Mei yearned for freedom – as long as there was desire, there was room for negotiation. Her gaze level with Concubine Mei’s, Han Yan spoke almost hypnotically: “Concubine Mei has lived in the imperial prison for over a year. Surely you haven’t grown accustomed to life here? I thought Concubine Mei might want to go out, to see the outside world.”
“What do you mean?” Concubine Mei stopped smiling and asked anxiously. As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted showing such eagerness before Han Yan, but Han Yan’s words were too tempting. They seemed to suggest she had a way to get her out of prison. Concubine Mei’s days in prison had been like an endless nightmare. In her previous decades of life, she had never imagined falling to such depths – going hungry, living the most degrading and filthy life, being used by countless strange men, having no freedom, no dignity. What was more terrifying was that these days would never end until her death.
“Doesn’t Concubine Mei want to see the sunlight outside? Staying in such a dark, damp place in prison all day, Concubine Mei doesn’t know how beautiful the flowers are, or how lovely the streets are. Oh yes,” Han Yan smiled slightly, “Concubine Mei must not have worn beautiful clothes for a long time. Such a great beauty as Concubine Mei, now really… tsk tsk…” She didn’t continue, appearing unhurried and calm, but her smile carried a hint of playfulness.
Concubine Mei glared at Han Yan hatefully: “Fourth Miss, don’t go too far.”
It was like placing a feast before a starving person, yet keeping it just out of reach, saying they needed to sell their dignity to get it. Han Yan’s words had awakened Concubine Mei’s deepest desires, but Han Yan was dangling it before her as if trampling all her pride underfoot. Concubine Mei’s initial arrogance and resistance had completely disappeared, replaced by deep frustration.
“How can you say I’m going too far?” Han Yan said. “Once this deal is done, everything I just mentioned, Concubine Mei can have it all. I’m not deceiving you – what I promise, I will deliver.”
“I’m in the imperial prison now, how can you rescue me?” Concubine Mei asked. She didn’t trust Han Yan. In fact, as a former adversary, she deeply feared her. She had been defeated by this seemingly quiet young girl – who could have imagined she would have such schemes? Everything that had happened to her was because of Han Yan. Han Yan’s coming to make a deal now meant that she had information worth using, though she didn’t know what it was. Trading it for freedom would be profitable for her. She just didn’t know if Han Yan would keep her word.
“It’s simple. Concubine Mei can look around – there’s no one here now. If I wanted to rescue you, it would be effortless. After rescuing you, as long as you never step foot in the capital again, you can live a stable life. Though not wealthy and noble, it would be much better than now. With Concubine Mei’s beauty, perhaps you could even find better support than the Master.”