“Han Yan, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you,” the young lady in yellow held Han Yan’s hand tightly, her face full of joy.
Looking at the girl before her, Han Yan’s thoughts drifted far away.
Deng Chan was her closest friend. In her previous life, after the bandit incident, when she stayed confined in the mansion, only Deng Chan still came to play with her. Their friendship ran deep, but unfortunately, later Minister Deng made a mistake that angered the Emperor and was demoted to the seventh rank. Deng Chan married a bureaucrat from the Hanlin Academy but died of illness less than a year after marriage.
Deng Chan had always been healthy, and Han Yan could hardly believe the news when she first heard it. Later, she learned that the Hanlin bureaucrat had some disgraceful habits, and people whispered that Deng Chan had been tortured to death.
Minister Deng had only one daughter. After Deng Chan’s death, he died of grief shortly after. A year later, Madam Deng also passed away. The once-illustrious Minister’s mansion thus fell into decline.
Thinking of this, Han Yan’s heart tightened as she held Deng Chan’s hand: “I’ve missed you so much!”
Deng Chan was startled by her reaction and quickly said, “Why are your eyes red? I wanted to visit you after your mother passed, but I was at my uncle’s home. I heard that woman is your stepmother – has she been mistreating you?”
Han Yan had lost composure only because she saw someone who had vanished like smoke and jade in her previous life now standing perfectly fine before her. Seeing the clear concern written on Deng Chan’s delicate face, her heart warmed, and she smiled, “She’s just a concubine – how would she dare mistreat me? I’m fine, just too happy to see you.”
Deng Chan was momentarily stunned. During the Zhuang family’s mourning period, when she had last seen Han Yan, she had been crying and holding her hand, her eyes full of despair. Now, for some unknown reason, Han Yan was full of vitality. Their close relationship meant Deng Chan could spot any changes in Han Yan immediately, and now Han Yan seemed to have gained something, becoming more composed. Though she had appeared innocent and adorable before Empress Dowager earlier, Deng Chan somehow felt that Han Yan wasn’t as obedient as she appeared. Beneath her sweetness, something else lurked. Now hearing Han Yan speak of Madam Zhou, there was a kind of confident assurance. That radiance was both unfamiliar and dazzling, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Seeing her lost in thought, Han Yan smiled, “Why are you staring at me without speaking? Is there something on my face?”
Deng Chan came back to herself, thinking she must be overthinking. Even if Han Yan had changed, it was a good change. She preferred this vibrant Han Yan to the lifeless one. She sincerely said, “I was worried you wouldn’t be able to cope, but now you’ve emerged from the shadows. I’m truly happy for you.”
“Life must go on,” Han Yan shook her head. “My sorrow only pleases those who harm me and worries those who truly care about me. Why should I make my loved ones suffer and my enemies rejoice?”
Deng Chan started, “Those who harm you?” Before she could finish, a gentle voice interrupted: “Fourth Sister, why are you only talking to this young lady and ignoring your elder sister?”
Earlier, because of the Empress Dowager’s attitude and Zhuang Yu Shan’s behavior, the assembled ladies and young misses had noticed them. Though they were now engaged in their conversations, their gazes still occasionally drifted over. Zhuang Yu Shan’s voice wasn’t low, immediately attracting the attention of several nearby ladies.
Han Yan frowned – Zhuang Yu Shan was truly asking for trouble.
Acting as if she hadn’t noticed Han Yan’s expression, Zhuang Yu Shan came over and affectionately linked arms with her: “Little Sister Yan, you rarely move about in the mansion, spending all day embroidering and writing in your room. I’ve hardly seen you. Now that we’re out together, we should chat properly.”
Deng Chan had been observing Han Yan’s newly arrived sister, and hearing these words, she felt displeased. What kind of talk was this? Saying she rarely saw Han Yan in the mansion – wasn’t that implying Han Yan was putting on airs and making things difficult for her as a concubine’s daughter? In front of so many ladies, she was creating a reputation that Han Yan was difficult to get along with and mistreated her illegitimate sister!
Sure enough, the gazes of several nearby ladies toward Han Yan immediately changed.
Han Yan quietly took all this in, sighing inwardly. This was how the world worked – people were always eager to grasp onto gossip they heard rather than believe their own eyes. Though Zhuang Yu Shan was an illegitimate daughter, if Han Yan mistreated her, it would show a lack of noble breeding, suggesting a narrow mind or even malice. These ladies, living their trivial lives, were eager to generate more gossip from others’ domestic affairs to satisfy their appetite for scandal.
Deng Chan grew anxious and was about to speak up for Han Yan, but saw Han Yan gently pull her hand. As Deng Chan hesitated, Han Yan met Zhuang Yu Shan’s slightly triumphant gaze with a smile: “How can Sister Yu Shan say such things? Since Mother passed away, I’ve been in poor health, staying in my room only to avoid spreading illness to others in the mansion. These days I’ve been eagerly hoping Sister Yu-Shan would come to talk with me, but I suppose Sister Yu-Shan has been too busy settling in to attend to me.”
Zhuang Yu Shan froze, her pretty face immediately flushing red.
Han Yan’s words were very clear – she wasn’t avoiding people, but was bedridden, thoughtfully not wanting to spread illness to others. The ladies now looked at her illegitimate sister with contempt; for an elder sister not to visit her legitimate younger sister when ill showed a complete lack of propriety.
Deng Chan felt relieved, but Zhuang Yu Shan tried to defend herself: “I didn’t… your illness was already better.”
Han Yan lowered her head, concealing the emotions in her eyes, seeming troubled: “Sister Yu Shan, everyone in the mansion knows about my illness. With Mother just passed away, I’ve been heartbroken and haven’t properly recovered.”
The assembled ladies were all mothers themselves, and almost all knew that Han Yan had just lost her mother. Seeing her lowered eyelids and still-childish face, they felt touched with pity. They thought this child was filial, and losing her mother at such a young age was truly pitiful. When they looked at Zhuang Yu Shan again, they felt some disgust – she was just a concubine’s daughter yet tried to act above her station and create discord!
Madam Zhou had noticed the unfavorable situation developing around Zhuang Yu Shan and hurriedly called her over. Han Yan was glad to no longer see Zhuang Yu Shan’s face, feeling immediately lighter.
After Zhuang Yu Shan left, Deng Chan whispered in Han Yan’s ear: “I can see your sister isn’t someone to be trifled with – she’s trying to defame you.”
Han Yan shrugged: “She’s just a clown – who would stoop to her level?”
Deng Chan smiled: “A few days apart, and your tongue has grown quite sharp. I wonder who taught you that?”
Han Yan smiled without responding, but looking up, she saw another beautifully dressed palace lady enter, followed by several palace maids. The lady smiled gracefully at everyone present: “Ladies, the Empress is waiting in the Plum Garden. Please, Empress Dowager and ladies, come enjoy the plum blossoms.”