Bluestone paths, white sand streams, emerald bamboo groves. Sunlight was fragmented, filling the gaps between bamboo leaves and reflecting onto the two maidservants leading the way ahead. Cloud-like gauze danced lightly, skirt hems flowing like water, their graceful figures revealing an extremely well-bred temperament.
Not ostentatiously luxurious, yet truly luxurious. This small mountain within Wang He’s mansion was artificially constructed. Whether the paths, the streams, or the groves—all showed ingenious craftsmanship, appearing natural yet extraordinarily exquisite, the work of Great Zhou’s finest landscape masters.
Hearing women’s laughter, Mo Zi realized the bamboo forest had receded. At the center stood a large octagonal pavilion, and radiating from it were eight fan-shaped sections. Within each fan were flowering plants arranged by color—brilliant purples and reds creating breathtakingly beautiful displays. The pavilion held low tables, as did the area outside it. Though seemingly disordered, it added the poetic charm of lying drunk among a hundred flowers.
The maidservants turned back and respectfully curtsied to Mo Zi. “Lady Yuan, the Hui Pavilion admits only women. Might we ask that the guard behind you remain here? Our young servants will provide fine wine and delicacies without neglect.”
“Zan Jin, stay here.” Mo Zi followed local custom. Though Zan Jin couldn’t accompany her, Xiao Yi could.
“Yes. If Brother Mo speaks loudly enough, I can hear.” At this distance, it posed no problem for Zan Jin.
The maidservant looked up in surprise, realizing her impropriety, then quickly lowered her head again.
Mo Zi simply smiled without speaking.
The maidservants knew her status was noble—the First Lady of Song territory. They had assumed that not allowing her to bring guards into the pavilion would certainly cause difficulty, but unexpectedly she was so easygoing. Feeling somewhat favorably disposed, when they spoke again, smiles appeared on their faces.
“Madam, please follow us. These flowering plants are arranged in a feng shui formation—one could easily lose their way if not careful.”
“A feng shui formation?” How novel that sounded.
“The eldest son of the second branch of our master’s family will marry Princess Mingxiu as his wife at year’s end. An eminent monk said this feng shui formation can bless the couple with harmony and early birth of noble sons.” The maidservant replied.
Mo Zi recalled that year’s Mid-Autumn imperial banquet when the Emperor randomly matched couples. “Have Princesses Anming and Changming already married?” Mingxiu ranked third, so her two older sisters should marry first.
“Princess Anming married the legitimate eldest son of Minister Li. Princess Changming has not yet married. However, His Majesty has already decreed that Young Master Ting will marry at year’s end.”
From this, it seemed Changming’s marriage would certainly be settled before Mingxiu’s wedding. Mo Zi thought to herself—the Emperor couldn’t be planning to play matchmaker again, taking advantage of this gathering of “elites” to resolve that willful princess’s lifelong matter? In any case, her husband absolutely could not become a prince consort!
“This must be a joyous occasion. The Wang family must be very pleased.” The flower formation was indeed somewhat winding. Though the octagonal pavilion was clearly right ahead, they’d been walking for quite a while without reaching it.
The maidservants said nothing, smiling faintly.
This showed restraint.
“Reporting to the Grand Madam, Lady Yuan has arrived.” The maidservant announced.
The pavilion suddenly fell silent.
A gracefully dignified middle-aged woman rose from the main seat and came out, curtsying slightly to Mo Zi. “I am Shan Shi, wife of Wang He. I greet the Minister of Works’ wife.”
With Shan Shi’s courtesy, the others rose one after another to pay respects. “We greet the Minister of Works’ wife.”
Though Song territory had not yet declared itself a nation and had no emperor, as the wife of Minister of Works Yuan Cheng, Mo Zi’s status was equivalent to an empress of a nation. Therefore, Shan Shi and the others had to curtsy to her, even though by age, most were her elders.
Mo Zi was deeply influenced by Yuan Cheng. During the peace talks, everything prioritized Song territory. She calmly accepted everyone’s respect, saying, “Ladies and young misses need not be overly courteous.”
“Minister of Works’ wife, please take the seat of honor.” Shan Shi yielded the main seat.
“Grand Madam is the host. What logic is there for a guest to seize the host’s seat?” Mo Zi took Shan Shi’s hand. “We might as well sit together.”
Shan Shi made no false refusal. “I thank the Minister of Works’ wife for her favor.”
Everyone resumed their seats.
Mo Zi then saw familiar faces. Though she had enjoyed a “glorious” period in Great Zhou, attending many grand and small banquets, she only had passing acquaintance with most noble ladies and daughters. Those she could count as familiar were the matrons of the Xiao family. At this moment, Old Madam Xiao and Princess Consort Jing sat at her left hand.
Princess Consort Jing was one who showed neither joy nor anger on her face, but Old Madam Xiao was different. Having lived so many years, aside from the Emperor, she truly feared nothing. Just now she hadn’t paid respects to Mo Zi—she had merely stood up out of consideration for Shan Shi’s face. Looking at the woman seated above her displaying noble bearing, her expression was thoroughly displeased. A maidservant from Prince Jing’s mansion who became a female official and nearly married her grandson—she hadn’t even opposed it yet when the girl actually eloped with another man, making Prince Jing’s mansion a laughingstock. In ordinary cases, such behavior would be judged as adultery and punished according to law. Yet with Mo Zi, she had become the First Lady of a nation, visiting in glory while they all had to serve her carefully. How outrageous! She didn’t know Shan Shi had invited Mo Zi, or she absolutely wouldn’t have come. Since she was here, don’t expect her to show a pleasant face.
Not only Old Madam Xiao—most of the noble ladies present inwardly looked down on Mo Zi to varying degrees. Being a maidservant, managing a shipyard, even becoming a female official—for those born with golden spoons in their mouths, none of this could change her humble origins. Even if she’d been lucky enough to become a noble lady, she was still vulgar like a nouveau riche. They appeared humble on the surface while secretly anticipating the old madam’s outburst.
Mo Zi wasn’t foolish. Her gaze sweeping past, she knew these women didn’t truly respect her. The arrogance of Great Zhou nobility was as famous as Great Qiu’s exclusion of Han people. She still remembered asking Yang Ling whether he knew the foremost handsome man Wang Ting. Yang Ling immediately showed a cold face saying they weren’t familiar—sufficient to show that even among official families’ children, social interaction was divided into high and low, deep and shallow. However, amid this hostility and disdain, she didn’t feel like sitting on pins and needles, but rather wore a smile. Actually, much pressure was self-inflicted. If you didn’t take it to heart, it didn’t matter.
“Old Madam Xiao, it’s been many days since we met. Your complexion is as excellent as ever.” Mo Zi not only didn’t care but proactively greeted her.
Old Madam Xiao was stunned, not expecting her to initiate conversation, momentarily uncertain how to react.
Mo Zi smiled. “I accompanied Sanniang to Prince Jing’s mansion. Looking back now, it truly was a carefree and happy period. Above were the kind and amiable Old Madam and Princess Consort. Below were the well-behaved and sensible young maids. What was there for me, a dowry maidservant, to worry about?”
Everyone showed astonishment. Normally people most feared having their shortcomings exposed, yet she herself revealed her formerly lowly status, and seemed quite pleased about it. However, this way, the expected spectacle seemed impossible. They’d thought she would be embarrassed about the past, but being so cheerful, who could make her bow her head?
Old Madam Xiao finally understood something—she had underestimated this girl before. Back then at Prince Jing’s mansion, her lowered eyes and obedient manner, that gray and insignificant figure—it was all pretense. Thinking about it now, when using dealing with her to make Sanniang reveal her dowry, in the end they couldn’t do anything to either of them, and she even gained her freedom for nothing. Everything afterward—becoming an official, being granted craftsman status, receiving an imperial marriage decree—all stemmed from that. She herself had unwittingly given her such an opportunity. Suddenly she felt like wringing her hands in regret.
Following Yuan Cheng, such a husband, Mo Zi had also become skilled at adding fuel to fire. “If not for the beating Old Madam gave Mo Zi, causing Sanniang to drive me out, I wouldn’t have my present circumstances. They say beating is affection and scolding is love. Back then I was young and ignorant—fortunately Old Madam gave me guidance.”
Though everyone knew she came from being the third mistress’s dowry maidservant at Prince Jing’s mansion, this was the first time hearing such details. Not expecting Old Madam Xiao had even disciplined her, they were all shocked, feeling this grudge had grown quite large.
Prince Jing’s mansion currently had tremendous prestige. His Majesty’s enduring favor for Xiao Mingrou continued, and now she was with child again. The Xiao family army resisted Great Qiu, repeatedly achieving military merit. There were also rumors that the Xiao family’s Second Young Master, abandoned by the woman before them, would marry the Wang family’s most intelligent and beautiful Tenth Lady. If that came to pass, Prince Jing’s mansion would be Great Zhou’s most powerful noble family.
Therefore, some envied, some were jealous. Seeing the Song territory’s First Lady at odds with Old Madam Xiao, schadenfreude was inevitable.
Old Madam Xiao stared coldly at Mo Zi, anger rising from her heart. This ignorant girl—Song territory’s emperor wasn’t necessarily even her husband yet, and she dared humiliate her here? Just as she was about to speak, Mo Zi preempted her.
“Sanniang was kind to me, so I stayed by her side in gratitude. Prince Jing’s mansion was like my natal family to me, which is why I married my husband. The world’s affinities are arranged by heaven. All gratitude and grievances have their sources, their causes and effects. Perhaps in my previous life I was Old Madam’s granddaughter, naughty and troublesome, giving you headaches. In this life, I must repay that before fortune can turn from bad to good. Mo Zi holds this gratitude in her heart.” These words shocked everyone present again, including Old Madam Xiao who was about to erupt.
“Grand Madam, might this servant pour a cup of wine each for Old Madam and me?” Mo Zi asked Shan Shi.
Shan Shi naturally wouldn’t refuse.
Mo Zi raised her wine cup. “I toast Old Madam this cup, wishing you longevity and health, eternal blessings for your descendants. Let all the past be drunk with this wine, never to brood over again from this day.” With wide sleeves blocking, she tilted her head back.
Facing this sudden reversal, Old Madam Xiao became hesitant and uncertain. After a moment of shock, she drank the wine. An old fox is an old fox—she knew best when to be sensible. Regardless of anything, Mo Zi’s husband was nearly equal in standing to His Majesty. Mo Zi’s status rivaled an empress’s. However low her origins, she couldn’t be disparaged to her face. Even Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang had been a ruffian, but after becoming emperor, the past became legendary experience—people said he concealed his brilliance, hid his edge, waiting for the right moment.
When the two drank their wine, the most relieved was Princess Consort Jing. This woman who navigated both sides smoothly, possessing the halos of dutiful daughter-in-law and virtuous wife and mother—just her ability to suppress the favored secondary consort from bearing children spoke volumes.
She always said the most appropriate words at the most appropriate times. “The Minister of Works’ wife and Sanniang are like true sisters. It would be wonderful if they visited frequently.”
Mo Zi nodded lightly. “Indeed.” If she couldn’t control Mo Zi, could she at least control her own daughter-in-law? Unfortunately, Sanniang was no pushover.
Shan Shi, having observed enough, introduced the others to Mo Zi one by one, then called the young ladies sitting outside the hall to come in and pay respects. Among them was Wang Tenth Lady.
Lady Wang, the second wife sitting at Mo Zi’s right and below, said, “Tenth Lady, since you and the Minister of Works’ wife are acquainted and close in age, why not sit here beside me and converse with the Minister of Works’ wife?”
Wang Tenth Lady looked at Mo Zi. Mo Zi naturally agreed.
“Serve wine and dishes. Begin the music and dance.” Shan Shi instructed the maidservants.
Then came singing voices, as if from heaven itself.
Mo Zi froze.
—