The dwelling where Chen Niang lived alone was located in the northern corner of the Wang estate. Half the structure was built over a lotus pond, so one could board a small boat directly from the back of the house. Across the pond, separated by the water, stood Wang Ting’s residence—white walls and black tiles, with layered eaves that appeared quite plain. But in the Wang household, the more unassuming the exterior, the more luxurious the interior.
“This Wang Wu has strange habits, building his house over a lotus pond,” Xiao Yi said with a curl of her lip.
Chen Niang opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
With a touch of her hand and a sweep of her eye, Mo Zi could tell this dwelling was newly constructed. The surrounding framework was yellow pear wood, the beams were rosewood and sandalwood, and all the furniture inside was made of red wood. Paintings hung on the walls, signed “Wuyu”—Wang Ting’s style name. Poetry was inscribed on the paintings, composed by Lin Zhen’er.
She narrowed her eyes. “Is this what they call a golden house hiding a beauty?”
Chen Niang bit her lip, her brows knitted with worried clouds. “At least he’s a gentleman.”
“So it’s mutual affection, better than I imagined.” You paint while I compose poetry—quite romantic.
Xiao Yi’s willow-leaf eyes turned upward sharply. “You’re going to become someone’s concubine?” Influenced by Qiu Sanniang and Mo Zi, she already considered the idea of becoming someone’s concubine utterly inconceivable.
“Don’t tell me you were willing to be sold here from the start,” Mo Zi said with some severity in her tone. “The Wangqiu Pavilion hasn’t withheld anything from you. You have a considerable sum saved, and you partnered with Bai He and Wu You to open a shop. Even without working as Ge Qiu, you wouldn’t lack food or clothing.”
Chen Niang shook her head repeatedly. “Of course not. Why would I give up a good, carefree life to become someone’s servant? It was my eldest brother.”
Xiao Yi flared up. “How is it him again? I’ll end him with one sword strike.”
“He couldn’t change his gambling habits and owed ten thousand taels of silver. Without my consent, he sold me to a brothel, and it was a lifetime death contract. At first, I refused. My brother’s actions chilled my heart, so I simply filed a complaint against him at the capital prefecture magistrate. But the authorities said that since my parents died early, my eldest brother was like a father to me. According to Great Zhou law, he could sell me to pay his debts, and they dismissed my case. They also said I showed no respect for my elders by filing a complaint against my own brother, and they demoted me to an official courtesan. Everything happened so fast. Sanniang and Wu You were both away from the capital. Fortunately, Young Master Ting heard about this matter and intervened. He donated a large sum of silver and finally managed to have the judgment changed so I became a servant of the Wang household instead.” Chen Niang let out a long sigh. “This is my fate. I owed my brother from a previous life and must repay him in this one. Now I only feel fortunate to have encountered a good master.”
“Foolish girl.” Mo Zi furrowed her brows tightly. “You’ve been completely set up, yet you’re grateful and relieved.”
“Set up?” Chen Niang hadn’t thought in that direction at all, only assuming her brother was worthless.
“If it wasn’t a setup, would your brother have lost so much silver? If it wasn’t a setup, would the authorities have demoted you to an official courtesan? If it wasn’t a setup, would it be such a coincidence that both Sanniang and Wu You were away? If it wasn’t a setup, would Wang Ting have arrived so opportunely to save you from one sea of suffering only to deliver you to another? Let me guess—not only is the contract you signed still a lifetime death contract, but you absolutely cannot be redeemed, whether by yourself or by others. Am I right? Also, this happened after His Majesty issued the decree about peace negotiations.” Every detail bore the traces of careful calculation. Chen Niang was fragrant bait to hook her. With better luck, it might even hook Yuan Cheng.
“Mo Zi, you’ve guessed everything correctly, but—” Chen Niang had always been someone with her own opinions. From the moment she refused to marry Huo Ba, she showed she wasn’t weak; it was just that the evil forces were too strong, beyond the scope of what she could resist. “Young Master Ting wouldn’t be the one who set this trap. He’s actually quite simple—he likes traveling for study and teaching, without half an interest in taking the imperial examinations or becoming an official.”
“I won’t pass judgment on someone I’ve never met.” Even if it wasn’t Wang Ting, it must be someone from the Wang family. “Regardless of what kind of person he is, do you know he’s marrying a princess at year’s end?”
Chen Niang understood Mo Zi’s meaning. Xiao Yi had asked directly just now. “Between him and me, everything is pure—we’re kindred spirits. I understand the proper boundaries and don’t dare hope for more, but I only wish that before the princess marries in, I can continue like this, gazing at each other across the pond.”
Emotions truly cannot be controlled by anyone. Mo Zi looked at this woman already trapped by love and remained wordlessly silent. She could try her best to help her fight for freedom, but she was powerless regarding the direction of her love.
“If he likes you, he’ll return your contract of servitude,” Xiao Yi said, being the one to speak boldly and directly.
“Even if he returns it to me, I’ll only change from being a servant of the Wang household to an official servant, because the judgment states I’m forever of servile status.” A verdict that left one with no hope for the future.
“Unless the Emperor grants special pardon.” Mo Zi had read through all of Great Zhou’s laws. If Chen Niang was the bait and she and Yuan Cheng were the fish, what did the Wang family intend to do after hooking them? If it was only to suppress and mock them, wouldn’t that be too childish?
Zan Jin suddenly appeared. “Brother Mo, a small door opened not far away, and two people who entered look very furtive.”
Mo Zi looked toward Chen Niang.
Chen Niang found it strange. “Young Master Ting likes to go out, so he specifically had a side door opened for convenient access. These past two days he’s been home, so logically no one should be using that door.”
Mo Zi walked to the window and peered through the gap. Ahead was a rockery garden. She saw a middle-aged man and a young fellow hurrying past, walking in a manner that indeed seemed guilty, looking around every two or three steps. There was no communication between the two.
“That’s Steward Lu,” Chen Niang whispered.
“Which one?” Mo Zi asked.
“The older one. He manages miscellaneous affairs for the Grand Master. I haven’t seen the other one, but I’ve only been here a short while. Most likely he’s a servant from one of the households, but definitely not one of Young Master Ting’s people. I don’t know how they got through this door—it’s usually locked.” Chen Niang’s words contained quite a bit of information.
Mo Zi observed that Steward Lu had a dark patch on the back of his hand.
“He’s not a servant from the estate,” Zan Jin negated. “His legs turn outward, his clothes are covered in dust—he’s ridden horses long distance, and there’s a bulge at his waist, clearly concealing a curved blade. Brother Mo, this person—”
“Comes from Daqiu,” Mo Zi finished. “It’s autumn now, yet he’s only wearing a single layer and his rolled sleeves still show sweat, which indicates he’s a northerner accustomed to cold. Daqiu men don’t wear topknots, but they like to braid their hair from the roots since childhood. Though he wears a topknot, the roots are loose and curled. Anyone who looks carefully and is familiar with Daqiu customs can spot the difference. Moreover, now that he’s entered this estate, perhaps because he feels more relaxed, the bold and unrestrained characteristics of Daqiu people are quite obvious.”
“A Daqiu person?” Chen Niang understood current affairs. “Daqiu and Great Zhou have a strained relationship—you could even call it hostile. Why would the Grand Master’s steward bring a Daqiu person in? Could it be—” Some words were difficult to speak aloud because they would lead to terrible conclusions.
Just then, Mo Zi recalled what Wang Yang had said to her before he died. He had been lax in his supervision, the Wang family would face disaster, and if she could save Shi Niang—her eyes suddenly widened. Could it be? Could the other person colluding with Daqiu be Wang He? But the Wang family’s position in Great Zhou was already unmatched. Looking at all this understated luxury, they wouldn’t lack money either. Daqiu discriminated against Han people, so even if the Wang family pledged loyalty, they wouldn’t be valued in the future. Why would they do this?
“Brother Mo, I’ll follow and take a look,” Zan Jin suggested.
“No, the Wang household must have hidden experts lurking about. You’ll be discovered.” Mo Zi considered thoroughly.
“Chen Niang, you said you wanted to stay until before the princess marries in?” she asked Chen Niang.
Chen Niang was quick-witted. “You want me to gather information?”
Mo Zi shook her head. “No need to be deliberate about it. Just pay attention to whether that person leaves through this door and when he leaves. Keep an extra eye out for me, but absolutely don’t put yourself in danger. I’ll have Zan Jin come collect the information, and you can tell him.”
Chen Niang quickly agreed.
“There’s another thing I want to ask clearly.” Mo Zi had noticed Chen Niang’s dejection when hearing about the princess marrying in. “If the princess allows you to serve one husband together with her, will you stay or not?”
Chen Niang suddenly raised her eyes, her lips parting then closing. After a long while, she couldn’t utter any words.
“Then let me ask you another question. If the Wang family is colluding with Daqiu and the Emperor confiscates their property and prosecutes them, even if Wang Ting knows nothing about it, he can’t escape the fate of exile and demotion to commoner status. At that time, there will be no princess, no one will stay by his side—will you follow him, or walk your own path?” She couldn’t participate in Chen Niang’s romance, but she had to understand her true thoughts to know what to do.
Chen Niang still didn’t speak, but her expression showed distress, clearly her thoughts in turmoil.
“Think it over carefully. When you have an answer, tell me.” Having observed the different romantic paths of the women around her, Mo Zi discovered that as long as one persisted in being oneself, that was enough. Mo Chou’s decisiveness, Qiao Niang’s madness, Xiang Shijiu’s acceptance of fate, Wei Liu’s perseverance—outsiders couldn’t understand or judge right from wrong, but for those involved, it was simply about enduring different outcomes after loving, with no regrets. Just like Chen Niang—she should have been deeply influenced by the Women’s Strength Alliance and strongly opposed to polygamy, yet having met Wang Ting, she still couldn’t help but give her heart.
Chen Niang nodded.
Mo Zi didn’t return to the chrysanthemum-viewing banquet. Since she had been domineering, she would be domineering to the end. Taking Xiao Yi and Zan Jin with her, she left with head held high.
Returning to the Yuan estate, she saw that Yuan Cheng was actually home during the day and teased him. “After you quit drinking, people find you boring at social gatherings, so they drove you out early. Whose home did you visit that pleased me so?”
“Prince Li’s residence.” Yuan Cheng changed his robe himself. “Prince Li was very dissatisfied that I didn’t bring his daughter back and stated bluntly that I must take responsibility for her virtue. I said one thing, and he flew into a rage and threw me out.”
“What did you say?” Both ears perked up.
“I said, ‘Your daughter is a married woman—what virtue is there to speak of? You want me to take responsibility, but what about the young master of the Anyuan Marquis household? As the saying goes, a good woman doesn’t marry twice.'” Yuan Cheng repeated it.
“That’s one thing? That’s three things.” Mo Zi raised an eyebrow. “Never mind Prince Li—even Wu Youyan would take a blade to you if she heard this. Though she married, there was no consummation—she’s still a virtuous maiden.”
“If I didn’t say it that way, should I have followed Prince Li’s words and taken responsibility? I’m afraid at that point you’d be the one taking a blade to me.” Yuan Cheng bantered with his beloved wife. “What about you? Weren’t you viewing flowers? I thought you’d at least stay until evening, perhaps even for dinner.”
“Never mind dinner—I didn’t even eat lunch. The Wang family truly has great ability, knowing how to cut you to the heart then rub salt in the wound, making you hurt without being able to complain.” Though she had been domineering once, in her words she had left considerable room and hadn’t directly cursed the three gates.
Now it was Yuan Cheng’s turn to listen attentively.
Mo Zi didn’t dare leave out half a detail. She repeated almost word for word, telling him everything.