Since meeting Luo Shenyuan at the temple that day, Yining had been deep in thought.
The early autumn sunlight filtered through the screen, illuminating the subtle, elegant pattern on the pillow. Yining set down her threading awl and looked up to ask Pearl, “Is Songzhi in the house?”
Pearl bent down with a smile, “She went to the outer courtyard early this morning to collect the monthly allowance. Shall I call for her when she returns?”
Yining nodded, and Pearl acknowledged before withdrawing. A quarter of an hour later, the ink bamboo curtain was lifted, and Songzhi entered to pay her respects. Yining was sorting embroidery threads by color when she looked up to see Songzhi in her usual indigo jacket and skirt, looking gentle and cautious as always.
Songzhi had been with her for many years. Even Xuezhi, who was two years older than her, already had a child. Yining had originally planned to release Songzhi from service when she married, find her a good husband, and give her a generous dowry. Then she could focus on being a wife and mother instead of serving others.
At that time, she didn’t know Songzhi was someone her Third Brother had placed by her side.
Seeing Yining silent for a long time, Songzhi softly asked, “Miss… would you like me to help you organize these silk threads?”
Yining shook her head and slowly sipped her tea, her expression calm. Seeing her like this, Songzhi became uneasy. The young miss was usually relaxed and friendly with them. Only when questioning the household managers did she adopt this nonchalant yet imposing manner?
“I remember when I came from the Luo family to the Duke’s mansion, my situation was very difficult. Xuezhi had been matched with someone, so I brought you along,” Yining looked up at her and said calmly. “It’s been so many years. I believe I’ve treated you well. As my chief maid, you’ve had fashionable Hangzhou silk and velvet clothes each season, gold and silver ornaments, and your monthly allowance has never been short. In most households, only the young miss would receive such treatment. Now that you’re about to leave the household, is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
Songzhi’s eyes widened in shock. Then she said softly, “This servant understands. That year when there was a famine in the village, my family couldn’t feed all the girls. I was the oldest, so my mother sold me. I was lucky to be promoted by the eldest miss to serve by your side. I’ve always been grateful for your kindness, with no way to repay it…”
Yining suddenly slapped her hand on the table, her expression cooling slightly.
Songzhi immediately knelt. Remembering how the young miss had dealt with those managers, she didn’t dare even breathe.
Yining looked down at Songzhi. Trusting that Luo Shenyuan wouldn’t harm her was one thing, but whether her maid was loyal to her was another matter. Today Luo Shenyuan had moved her, but who might move her tomorrow? She had long intended to question Songzhi.
“You have no way to repay me, so you use this to repay?” She opened her dressing-case and took out a letter, throwing it in front of Songzhi.
It was a letter she had intercepted.
Songzhi picked it up and was shocked, her face instantly turned pale. She opened her mouth, “This servant…”
“Explain this clearly. Let me see how you repay me,” Yining adjusted her sleeves and said, “Otherwise, I dare not keep you. I’ll call for a matron immediately to match you with someone and send you out.”
Songzhi’s eyes reddened, and she couldn’t continue. She kowtowed, “Miss! This servant has served you sincerely for so many years! Since you know now, this servant… this servant might as well confess everything.”
Yining continued drinking tea calmly, “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
Songzhi’s shoulders trembled slightly. After a while, she composed herself: “How could I not understand the principle of loyalty as your servant? All these years, I’ve been tormented day and night, not knowing who to tell… I originally didn’t want to agree.”
Her frail body curled up as she knelt, looking particularly vulnerable. “The Third Young Master, since you were very young, had me monitor you. It was when you were ten years old.”
“I agreed to the Third Young Master’s request because if not for him, my elder brother would have been exiled to the border for causing trouble while drunk…” Songzhi continued, “All these years, the Third Young Master hasn’t done anything bad. Instead, he’s been able to protect you better because of this. Although I felt… the Third Young Master’s actions towards his sister were a bit strange, I didn’t dare to ask more.”
Yining closed her eyes. She had long suspected it started early but never dared to ask Songzhi. She didn’t expect it to be when she was ten!
Ten years old! How young was she then?
No reason could explain why he would do this. Unless he simply wanted control, even over her.
“…Did he correspond with you? What did he ask about?” Yining questioned.
Songzhi’s lips curved in a bitter smile: “Miss, the Third Young Master never wrote to this servant, nor did he ever ask about anything. He’s an extremely cautious person.”
He wouldn’t leave any written evidence. If not for his mistake that day, she might never have known about Songzhi’s involvement.
“Of course, why would he write to you,” Yining smiled slightly. “So you’ve been passing information for four years?”
Songzhi remained silent for a moment, then sighed, “Actually, Miss needn’t overthink it… The Third Young Master truly cares for you deeply. Having me watch over you was partly out of concern for you. When you were bullied by evil servants in the Luo family, it was the Third Young Master who brought guards to rescue you in time. When you didn’t get along with Miss Mingzhu in the Duke’s mansion, the Third Young Master came to visit after topping the imperial exams… There are things you don’t know about. How do you think I could find rare books for you so quickly? It was the Third Young Master who heard about it and found them for you.”
“Your menstrual pain and cold uterus that couldn’t be cured, the Third Young Master heard about it and especially got the medicine from Mama Zheng. He truly cares for you…”
Yining was surprised; she had never known about these things.
And Luo Shenyuan would certainly never mention them.
After listening to Songzhi, Yining leaned back against the pillow, lost in thought.
Indeed, he always appeared at crucial moments for her. Even now, when her marriage prospects were difficult and no one dared to marry her, he told her he was willing to help, using his marriage to assist her.
It was just that occasionally when she encountered his cold and ruthless side, thinking of the future political intrigues, she still couldn’t feel at ease.
“Go distribute the monthly allowances,” Yining said calmly. “Ask Pearl to come in.”
She was letting her off! Songzhi felt relieved and excitedly kowtowed to Yining again. “This servant understands… This servant will no longer do it. I’ll go now!”
Yining fiddled with the silk threads, suddenly losing interest in needlework.
Luo Shenyuan had finished discussing the completion of the river embankment with Xu Wei and was leaving the Six Ministries.
The floods in Jiangsu and Zhejiang had passed, and now it was time to reduce corvée labor and encourage farming.
As Xu Wei walked and talked with him, Luo Shenyuan listened carefully. Just then, a sedan chair stopped and out came a trembling old man with a white beard in official robes – the current Director of the Hanlin Academy, Master Zhang. He had never gotten along with Xu Wei, resenting that he had risen to his position through the previous Grand Secretary’s support. Whenever he saw Xu Wei, he never had a pleasant expression. Xu Wei, however, was never angered by this. Seeing that Master Zhang had difficulty getting out of the sedan, he smiled and helped support him. “Master Zhang, the marble road is slippery. Please be careful!”
After Master Zhang left, Luo Shenyuan said slowly, “Teacher, since Master Zhang is not friendly with you and is uncooperative, why bother…”
Xu Wei patted his shoulder again. Luo Shenyuan was tall, making it difficult for Xu Wei to reach. “Your nature is too reserved – haven’t you heard that a smiling face disarms hostility?”
Luo Shenyuan thought to himself that Master Zhang had probably struck at Xu Wei many times already. He didn’t even say thank you just now.
“Tomorrow you’ll become the Vice Minister of Works. I heard from the eunuch Xiao that the imperial edict is already prepared,” Xu Wei’s expression turned serious. “It’s a third-rank position, just one step away from the Cabinet. It’s not comparable to the Vice Minister of Justice. There will be even more people who won’t submit to you, and you’ve made an enemy of Wang Yuan this time. You must be prepared.”
“Student understands,” Luo Shenyuan just smiled and said.
He had prepared for this day for a long time. With great power in his hands, he would soon be one of the most influential figures in the court. He would climb step by step.
He looked at the golden-glazed tile roofs with their upturned eaves that seemed ready to take flight.
When he returned to the Court of Judicature and Revision, someone was waiting for him at the hall entrance.
Luo Shenyuan strode to his desk and looked at something, his expression darkening. “Fool, Lu Jiaxue is in Datong, yet you dare intercept letters from the Commander’s mansion!”
Lu Jiaxue would certainly notice something was amiss and might even know who he was.
Luo Shenyuan rubbed his brow and asked, “What else?”
“News from the Duke of Ying’s mansion. It seems the Duke intends to have Cheng Lang marry the Seventh Miss. The Duke appears to have made up his mind, but it hasn’t been announced yet,” Lin Yong’s voice lowered towards the end.
Luo Shenyuan’s expression immediately darkened.
Cheng Lang was notoriously promiscuous, having done so many outrageous things in pleasure houses. To let him marry Yining! The Duke of Ying was truly muddled.
“I estimate the Duke of Ying is at his wit’s end. Otherwise, when he first took the Seventh Miss back, he would have betrothed her to Cheng Lang… There’s no one more suitable unless it’s those scholars and examination candidates,” Lin Yong added.
Luo Shenyuan was silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup to drink. After a while, he said, “I heard Xie Yun is also investigating Cheng Lang?”
“She is, but it’s more like making inquiries. But those people… even if you gave them ten days, they couldn’t find out anything.”
“If she can’t find anything, then deliver the information to her doorstep,” Luo Shenyuan said casually. “Save her from coming up empty-handed.”
Lin Yong immediately understood Luo Shenyuan’s meaning and promptly agreed.
“Also, warn those twelve people in Datong. As long as Lu Jiaxue doesn’t leave, there must be no movement within Datong,” Luo Shenyuan added.
Confronting Wang Yuan was one thing, but going up against Lu Jiaxue was truly unwise. Lu Jiaxue’s foundations ran so deep that even he was somewhat wary, treading carefully when playing mind games with him. It wasn’t something those people could handle.
“Tomorrow evening, prepare a carriage. We’re going to the Duke of Ying’s mansion,” Luo Shenyuan said finally. He glanced at the official seal on the table.
If it was just about good looks and an official position, wasn’t he far better than Cheng Lang?
If he married Yining, he would certainly not skimp on giving her the proper status.
Lin Yong heard this and immediately went to make arrangements.
By midnight, a carriage left Nong’er Lane and headed towards Xin Qiao Hutong where Xie resided.
Xie Yun sat in the back room of the side door, drinking tea while waiting. She had just sent Cuiyu to investigate Cheng Lang and found it wasn’t difficult. Someone quickly came back with information, saying Cheng Lang had a favorite courtesan whom he had kept for a long time, unlike the many others he had changed.
Naturally, Xie Yun wanted to meet her.
She watched the carriage enter the gate. A delicate woman alighted, wearing a white fitted jacket with tiny flowers and a dark green Xiang skirt that seemed rain-stained. Her figure was quite nice. But when she removed her cloak, Xie Yun was somewhat disappointed. She was indeed delicate, but only of average looks. With her hair done up in a married woman’s style, if Xie Yun hadn’t known she was a courtesan, she would have thought her a respectable woman from somewhere.
She had heard that Cheng Lang had a rich romantic history, from famous courtesans of Qinhuai to the granddaughter of Senior Secretary Gao, none escaping his grasp.
Yet such an ordinary, unremarkable person could make Cheng Lang constantly think of her and keep her around.
Xie Yun’s contempt for Cheng Lang grew.
When Lianfu saw Xie Yun, she could tell from her demeanor that she was no ordinary person. She knelt to pay her respects, and Xie Yun gestured for her to sit on a round stool: “Don’t be afraid, Miss Lianfu. I’ve called you here because I want to help you.”
Lianfu was startled. This young lady was wealthy and noble, so why would she want to help her? She spoke softly, “This lowly one was born into humble status, while you are of noble birth. Why would you involve yourself with someone like me?”
Xie Yun smiled, slowly stroking her handkerchief as she spoke, “Miss Lianfu, don’t you love Master Cheng? I heard that Master Cheng has been rather cold towards you lately, so I want to help you return to his side. If you listen to me, it won’t be difficult.”
No matter what method she used, she wouldn’t marry Cheng Lang. As for how murky the waters became, that would depend on this woman.
When her grandfather saw Cheng Lang’s scandalous behavior, he would surely change his mind.
Lianfu looked at Xie Yun in confusion, not understanding what she wanted to do. Why would she care about her relationship with Master Cheng?
Xie Yun continued, “I understand why Miss Lianfu doesn’t trust me.” She pushed the snacks her maid had brought towards Lianfu. “But you should think about it. Once Master Cheng marries someone else, he won’t pay attention to you anymore. Think about how he’s neglecting you now.”
Lianfu’s hands clutched her sleeves, saying nothing.
“But if you find Cheng Lang and tell him you’re carrying his child, asking him to take you as a concubine, then you could be with him day and night,” Xie Yun smiled, clapping her hands. “Men value children the most. If he knows you’re pregnant, he’ll surely cherish you…”
Lianfu looked at this beautiful stranger and said softly, “Every time he… he always watches me drink the medicine. There’s no way I could be pregnant. He won’t believe it!”
“Silly girl!” Xie Yun sneered, then said, “Whether it’s true or not, it’s just to make him come back to you. By then, if you have his child, he’ll have to acknowledge it even if he doesn’t want to!”
Lianfu looked at Xie Yun with some surprise but ultimately closed her mouth and listened as Xie Yun continued. She desperately wanted to return to Cheng Lang’s side.
Xie Yun was clever; she knew how to persuade Lianfu gradually to listen to her.
“You need to tell him face to face, cling to him well, otherwise if he doesn’t acknowledge it, you’ll be in trouble too. I heard he often visits the Duke of Ying’s mansion lately, you could try there… As for the Cheng family, with him on guard, you definitely won’t be able to get near the door.”
Lianfu was uneasy: “I’m just afraid it might affect his career…”
“With the Cheng family as his backing, what are you afraid of?” Xie Yun’s tone was gentle. “Once you’re with him, serve him well, and he’ll understand your worth in the future.”
Lianfu’s expression changed slightly.
Not long after, the carriage exited the alley. This time, it headed towards the eastern part of the city.