At the end of April, the Emperor urgently reassigned Gu Tingye as Military Governor of Lianghuai, responsible for all regional military affairs, with orders to depart immediately.

The travel pack had long since been prepared. Minglan’s mood was low. She stuffed a generous supply of Xuejin elixirs and ginseng-antler pills into the pouch Gu Tingye would carry on him. Gu Tingye watched out of the corner of his eye — one was for cooling internal heat, the other for stimulating it — they were contradictory remedies. He found it both amusing and touching, and reached over to take Minglan’s hand, saying warmly: “If you feel bored here, go back to your parents’ home and stay a while — don’t worry about what others might say.”

He had made a special trip to the Sheng Mansion before this, and who knew what he had said to those two middle-aged women — but Wang Shi immediately had Liu Kun’s wife come with a message, the general meaning of which was that Caihuan that little wretch could be dealt with however Minglan wished, and that Minglan was welcome at any time to return home to rest during her pregnancy. The Grandmother, on the other hand, wrote only a single line in her own hand — brief and to the point: “Take every care; do not force yourself.”

Minglan reached back and gripped his hand, but only managed to close her fingers around one large, rough-skinned finger. She tried her best to reassure him: “Don’t worry about me. With Second Master Tu and those men guarding me, even staging a robbery of a money house or two would be no problem for them, let alone managing the people inside this household.” She thought of the dangers that had befallen the censor on his southward journey, and a wave of worry rose in her heart. She said quietly: “It’s you who needs to be careful. Are your guards fully prepared? You must not try to be a hero — I’ve already instructed Xie Ang not to leave your side within ten paces.”

Gu Tingye knew her thoughts and smiled: “Your husband is taking the better part of a full Xiaoji cavalry unit.” To say nothing of the substantial forces available in Lianghuai itself.

“When you’re out and about, take care of your health. Don’t drink unboiled water, don’t eat undercooked game, don’t let yourself get chilled by leaving your collar open in the wind. When the weather turns cold, you must wear that deer-velvet inner jacket — I pricked several fingers making it for you, and you are not to treat it as a decorative ornament…” Minglan held up her ten little pale fingers. In truth, she was deeply unsettled, and could only go on piling up instructions. She was currently savoring the role of a wife, and had absolutely no interest in taking up an early career as a widow.

Gu Tingye said nothing, only quietly holding Minglan, his gaze growing heavy.

The following morning at dawn, Gu Tingye was fully dressed and armored — rigid leather armor, military boots, and a crimson great-cape. Just before going out the door, he pressed his hand to Minglan’s belly and said in mock-playful tones: “Little one — your father is about to go out. You must listen to your mother.” Minglan’s heart was full of grief, but she couldn’t help laughing despite herself. Before she could open her mouth to tease him back, the little rascal inside her belly actually cooperated most admirably, shifting twice — whether a wiggle of the bottom or a stamp of the tiny foot, it was hard to say. The man was overjoyed. He pressed a forceful kiss to Minglan’s lips, then bent down and kissed her belly, laughing heartily: “Wait for me to come back!”

Minglan clung to the doorway of Jiahi Residence, holding back her tears and waving her handkerchief: “Take good care of yourself and come back soon.”

Ten thousand li of river water, fifteen lines in a letter home; every line says nothing different — only beg you to return soon…

She brooded gloomily for several days — food tasted of nothing, water tasted of nothing, lying in bed staring at the elaborately carved and painted ceiling, counting on her fingers to figure out where he’d reached by now. Had he crossed the river crossing? Were the horses and men all well? The weather was growing hotter — she hoped he wouldn’t catch a time-sickness. Would the “mountain bandits” come for another visit? And so on. After some days, the brooding mood passed, and Minglan began to let her thoughts wander wildly — would this wretched man be misbehaving outside? After a few more days, Minglan relaxed back into her idle ways and resumed the habit of sleeping until she woke naturally — in this era with no email, no telephone or mobile phone, and not even a telegraph, Minglan experienced, in full, the complete emotional journey of a wife whose husband has gone far away.

By the time the wife of General Duan came to apologize tearfully at her door, Minglan was already quite composed, greeting her with a calm, reassuring smile.

“Sister, I am truly sorry.” General Duan’s wife was pale-faced, her eyelids swollen red. “Her eldest brother is now in the Miao borderlands with no way to send or receive word, and now her second brother has run into this trouble — there’s no one in the family to consult about anything. And now Gu Du-du has been dragged into this as well.”

Minglan suppressed her private complaints — at this moment she too was without word from anyone, after all. The business Gu Tingye had gone to handle was murky and deep-running; his methods needed to be half-open, half-covert, half-real and half-false. Across the vast Lianghuai territory, with nearly ten garrison camps, and nearly half the civil offices large and small — he could strike wherever he chose, and even his route had to remain inscrutable, catching his opponents off guard.

Facing this situation, Minglan’s misery could well be imagined — but at present, all she could do was put on a smiling face, speaking as sweetly as if she’d rubbed honey on her lips: “What is Sister saying? Second General Duan was not out there taking pleasure trips — he was carrying out the Emperor’s orders and only fell victim to a villain’s scheme. The Marquis went under imperial command, and it’s not only for the sake of brotherhood — the affairs of the court matter too.”

General Duan’s wife dabbed at the corners of her eyes, her heart full of gratitude: “Please don’t console me, sister. I may be nothing but a woman, but I understand the Du-du’s good intentions. If this task had been handed to someone else, it might perhaps still have been completed successfully — but my younger brother’s future and reputation might not have had anyone to look out for them. Only an old brother-in-arms like this would care about the bond of loyalty and pull him out of the pit.”

Minglan privately noted that General Duan’s wife, coming from a distinguished family, saw things with remarkable clarity. She smiled even more warmly at this. Just as she was seeing off General Duan’s wife amid winds of sorrow and mourning, Danju lifted the crimson shark-silk curtain and came in with a dark expression: “Madam, Kang Yima has arrived — she is with the Madam and is asking for you to go over for a chat.” Minglan was taken aback.

Given the Madam’s various unavowable intentions, she had in truth found it very difficult to find sympathetic confidantes outside. She wanted to complain about Gu Tingye, but her motives would be too transparent. She wanted to speak ill of Minglan, but infuriatingly, Minglan performed so well in public — gentle, docile, and modest. Whenever someone teased her, she would blush and demur, as obedient and sweet as a girl just stepping out of her maiden’s chamber, quickly earning the unanimous approval of all the middle-aged noble ladies. Those who called her crafty and calculating numbered no more than a handful — and they were all people with close ties to the Madam or her own kin.

And so, after becoming acquainted with Kang Yima, the two of them grew ever more simpatico, their friendship rapidly warming — truly kindred spirits from the first meeting. Setting aside the fact that the subject of their whispered condemnations was herself — a minor discomfort — Minglan privately thought that these two women’s assessment of her, compared to those of the uninformed public outside, was relatively accurate.

“Madam, your body is heavy with child — I’ll go excuse you right now,” Danju said, lowering her voice. During her time at the Sheng Mansion, she had witnessed more than once how Kang Yima would use her position to heap abuse on Minglan. Minglan shook her head: “This is Yima’s first time calling on me — I have to go.” She thought for a moment, then said to Danju: “The usual signal.”

Danju finally broke into a smile: “Understood — the moment the Madam turns the bowl’s lid face-down on the table, I’ll spring into action.”

Minglan smiled in satisfaction.

After half a year’s separation, seeing Kang Yima again — she was dressed in a newly bright sapphire blue silk gown with silver-threaded floral patterns, her hair coiled in a round bun secured with a pair of gold-wire jade hairpins, wearing a strand of vermilion fragrant-wood beads at her wrist. She had clearly dressed up with care, yet still appeared considerably older. At the sight of Minglan, she immediately produced a smile that only reached her nostrils and not her mouth, then turned to the Madam and said: “Everyone says my niece is a blessed girl — to have such a kind-hearted mother-in-law as you. And indeed, look at her complexion — so lush you could squeeze water from it.”

The Madam’s heart swelled with delight, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes lifting skyward. Minglan smiled, and deliberately affected a look of difficulty walking, waddling toward the two of them with her big belly and giving a curtsy, then simply sat herself down without ceremony. Before the Madam could even open her mouth, Kang Yima came at her: she pulled her face long and reproached: “Your elders haven’t spoken yet — and you’re already sitting?”

Minglan adjusted her posture on the armchair with a look of feigned surprise: “Is Yima telling me not to sit?” She gave her belly a stroke for emphasis.

Kang Yima was momentarily stuck, then said loudly: “Even so, you should wait until your elder has spoken before you sit.” She gave Minglan a look full of contempt. “What kind of manners is this?! Is this how your grandmother raised you?! You’ve only just left your maiden’s home — and already you’ve forgotten what your mother taught you daily?”

By this point, Minglan no longer felt any need to endure this woman’s nonsense. Her expression turned cool as well: “Yima, please be careful with your words. I am a junior and it’s fine for you to correct me — but my grandmother is your senior, being your own in-law’s mother. For you to speak of her this way in front of juniors and relatives — what kind of manners is that?”

Kang Yima was taken aback by a sharp surge of anger. This was the first time Minglan had ever retorted so pointedly — in her memory, that meek, submissive concubine-born girl had dared to speak to her this way? She immediately let out a cold laugh: “Flying up to a high branch certainly changes one’s tone — one dare talks back to one’s elders.”

Minglan raised her eyebrows and said with great composure: “Regardless of high branches or low branches — as long as I have breath in my body, I will not allow anyone to slander my grandmother in this way. If Yima is displeased, let us go before her right now and speak things out clearly.” She wanted to see which side Wang Shi would take.

Kang Yima’s knuckles went white as she clutched her handkerchief, her face purpling with fury. Minglan, perfectly composed, idly stirred the tea leaves in her cup. Seeing the situation turning bad, the Madam quickly stepped in to mediate: “All right, all right — both of you, say less. Minglan — your aunt’s words are sharper than her heart. Surely you know that by now — why take offense?”

Minglan glanced at her and said languidly: “In fact, I don’t.”

“You—” Kang Yima nearly leapt to her feet. The Madam hurried to press her down, and then said to Minglan: “All right, a few less words — your aunt is your elder.” Minglan sat with perfect poise, her smile not reaching her eyes: “Elders still differ in closeness and in distance. I was raised at my grandmother’s side from childhood — if I allowed others to speak ill of her and said nothing, I truly would be failing her.”

Even the Madam was taken aback this time. For the past year, regardless of what schemes Minglan had been running behind the scenes, on the surface she had always been a picture of warmth and gentle words. For her to be so sharp-tongued today was truly out of the ordinary.

This meeting was destined to end in acrimony. Minglan was too weary to say another word, and with a cool smile turned the tea bowl’s lid face-down onto the little hawkwood side table. Danju instantly read the meaning, signaled with her eyes to a small maidservant beside her, and the girl slipped out quietly. Outside, Xiaotao reported in perfectly timed fashion: “Nanny Chang has arrived and requests the Madam’s presence.”

Minglan looked surprised, glancing at Danju — that wasn’t the signal they had arranged, was it? Danju looked even more startled than she was. Before she could react, the Madam was already cheerfully explaining to Kang Yima: “This Nanny Chang was the wet nurse of my late Bai Shi sister.”

Kang Yima gave a cold snort at that. “Just a wet nurse — such grand airs. I must say, Sister, you’ve been far too indulgent. What sort of way is this, having a servant barge in like this, expecting the Madam to drop everything and attend to her?” The Madam wore a smile of strained helplessness and said nothing — which was effective in itself.

Minglan’s expression remained steady. She said mildly: “Yima doesn’t know this. Nanny Chang comes from a respectable family — her father was originally a licentiate who fell on hard times, which led the family to take a position as a wet nurse in the Bai household. She never entered into bond-servitude. One could hardly call her a servant. The Marquis has said that since the Bai Family now has so few people left in contact, this Nanny is to be treated as a family elder of the household. I would not dare do otherwise.”

At this moment she was genuinely grateful for Gu Tingye’s foresight — he had long since elevated Nanny Chang’s status, which made everything easier to navigate.

“The Marquis often says that during his most difficult times outside, it was this Nanny Chang who gave him great assistance and care — and looking back, she is not kin and yet surpasses kin. Compared to those who appear close but are heartless within — always taking advantage and then turning their backs — this Nanny Chang is far more worthy of respect. The Marquis has instructed me on no account to slight her.” As Minglan spoke, the words came more and more naturally, and she kept close watch on the expressions of the two women.

She saw the Madam still wearing a forced smile, while Kang Yima’s face went through alternating flashes of green and red.

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Minglan rose elegantly, cradling her belly, steadying herself on Danju’s arm, and left with a cheerful step. Once outside, Minglan asked around and found that Xiaotao hadn’t altered the signal on her own — Nanny Chang had genuinely arrived. Minglan immediately smiled. These past few days Nanny Chang had been coming often to keep Minglan company, sharing folk gossip and tales from the streets and villages to help the days pass less dully.

“This time next year, the little young master will certainly be crawling everywhere,” Nanny Chang said with a warm smile, gazing at Minglan’s belly.

“How does Nanny know it’s a boy?” Minglan rubbed her lower back. Ever since Gu Tingye’s departure, her belly had been growing remarkably quickly. What had previously been hidden beneath loose clothes was now the classic profile of a very-pregnant woman.

“The Madam has the look of one who bears sons — see how the belly comes to a point, and the hips are so nicely rounded. Nine chances out of ten, it’s a boy.”

Minglan laughed, half-dubious: “Nanny can read these things?”

Nanny Chang took up the needlework from her basket and said with a proud air: “This old woman has been reading people for decades — a sharp eye by now.” She tilted her head slightly, as if surfacing from some old memory, her tone half boastful and half wistful: “Back when the family was in hard straits — one meal one day, nothing the next — the first several children didn’t survive. I even worked as a midwife myself for a time. It was only after I entered the Bai household and nursed the eldest young lady that the old master’s generosity meant the family had enough to live on. To think — Nian’er’s father and the eldest young lady were born only a month apart. Ah — and in the blink of an eye, both of them…” The memory caused her to grow quietly sorrowful.

Minglan reached over and took Nanny Chang’s hand, saying gently: “You’ve been through so much, Nanny — all those years of storm and hardship, and you’ve come through it all. Heaven sees goodness — from here on, the bitterness will give way to sweetness, and Nanny will have endless blessings to enjoy.”

Nanny Chang was by nature open and easygoing, and at these words she brightened at once. Minglan added: “Nanny is getting on in years — yet you come to visit me so often. It’s truly a kindness.”

Nanny Chang waved dismissively: “Not at all. Never mind that Ye-ge’er gave me instructions before he left — even without that, I would come often. And besides, now that Yan has married, and Nian’er is busy with his studies, the house is very quiet — and I get a free meal here.”

“How is young Nian’er’s studies going?”

“Good, good, all good.” Nanny Chang beamed. “The teacher is excellent and learned, the classmates are good — and especially the young master Changdong from the Madam’s family — he’s a fine young man. For someone from such a distinguished background, he hasn’t a trace of arrogance. He even came and ate at my house once.”

Minglan smiled: “My two older brothers have both started their own households and families. Fourth Brother at home has been lonely on his own — having a friend of similar age like young Nian’er, studying and making progress together, is the best thing for both of them.” The two women laughed together.

Nanny Chang, having scrambled and fought her way through decades of life, had seen much of the world’s warmth and cold — she had known what it was to be flattered, and she had known the sting of contemptuous eyes. She was the most frank and clear-sighted of people, and talking with her was thoroughly refreshing. Since things had been peaceful of late, Nanny Chang had been consistently amiable, so much so that Minglan had nearly forgotten the woman’s illustrious track record. Soon enough, the opportunity to witness it came.

As Kang Yima began to make more frequent visits to the Madam, Nanny Chang gradually caught wind of the situation. Xia He had even whispered to her in private that “that Kang woman was truly bothersome, constantly summoning the Madam to keep her company, and when the Madam tried to put her off a few times, the Madam from the other side started saying unpleasant things.” Nanny Chang took this to heart and kept a watchful eye. One day, the moment Kang Yima walked through the door, Nanny Chang arrived at a run, quick as a gust of wind and flash of fire.

Minglan had just sent away Xiang Mama, who had lingered in Jiahi Residence for nearly half a quarter-hour, her every word laced with implicit threats. Minglan paid her absolutely no heed — as far as she was concerned, her reputation for virtue was worth nothing compared to her own bodily health.

When Nanny Chang heard what was happening, she didn’t waste a single word — she went straight to Xuanzhi Garden.

When Kang Yima saw Nanny Chang, she immediately started in with cold and cutting remarks. Nanny Chang was not in the least flustered, and said courteously but firmly: “This old woman takes the liberty of an elder, and begs your pardon on the Madam’s behalf. The truth is, the Madam is heavy with child and it’s not convenient for her to move about constantly. I’m sure two ladies of your standing would not be so lacking in consideration.”

Kang Yima laughed coldly and began: “As if she’s the only woman in the world who’s ever had a child — using her belly as an excuse, playing the grand lady, showing no respect to her elders…”

She hadn’t finished her sentence before Nanny Chang swept every dish from the nearby tea table onto the ground, arched her brows, and with her face pointed at Kang Yima’s well-fed jowls, let loose a voice like a bronze bell that shook the very rafters.

“Ha! Elders! Which elders?! I call you Yima out of respect for you being the Madam’s own family — and you actually take that as your due?! Open your eyes and look clearly — this household is surnamed Gu! The in-laws are surnamed Sheng! You of the Kang Family are a side connection through the Sheng Family — several degrees removed from the Gu Family! Come here and put on airs as an elder?!”

The Madam was utterly dumbfounded, and though she wanted to intervene, Nanny Chang’s words came pouring down like a torrential downpour, impossible to insert a word into.

Nanny Chang had erupted without warning, and the surrounding maids and matrons were all left gaping. Then she strode to the hall doorway, arms akimbo, and roared: “The greatest filial offense is dying without issue. Who in this household inside and out doesn’t know the Madam is with child? Even the in-laws themselves don’t come to disturb the Madam’s rest during her pregnancy. And now along comes some nobody of a Yima, throwing her weight around and acting like the master every day she comes! Pfft — if anything happens to the Marquis’s flesh and blood, would your two-layer bones be enough to repay it?!”

Kang Yima had never been subjected to such vile abuse since the day she was born, and was shaking with rage — she nearly slid off her chair. The Madam finally came to her senses, crying out loudly: “What is all this gibberish?! Are all of you dead?! Won’t someone drag this woman out?!”

Nanny Chang, having gotten all that off her chest, didn’t wait to be dragged — she walked out of the door herself. Standing in the outer courtyard, she unleashed the bellowing voice she had once used to hawk at the pork stall, and hollered: “…The nerve of some people! Not even this keen when showing up for funerals — not a shred of a great lady’s dignity, showing up here every day and every night as if she’s some close relative! Doesn’t know any better? Maybe she’s here to freeload!”

She walked away with a swagger, and the servants lining the way, having received no orders from the Madam beforehand and also cowed by the Marquis’s reputation, dared not truly push or shove Nanny Chang — so they let her walk one step at a time while continuing to deliver her verdict at the top of her lungs, each blow more squarely on target than the last.

“…Go and ask all under heaven — what kind of decent household would make a woman nearly eight months pregnant trot back and forth all day long! Some people even have the audacity to act high and mighty. And others play the fool while looking the other way. Is that it?! Are some people thinking — if the Marquis has no heir, who stands to gain?!”

Exiting Xuanzhi Garden, there were onlookers, commentary, pointing, quiet ridicule, and low laughter all around. Seeing such a crowd gathered, Nanny Chang grew more performative still — she jumped up and down, pointed back in the direction of Xuanzhi Garden, and with her mouth spraying freely, hollered: “…I’m telling all those black-hearted creatures — our Ye-ge’er survived all his ordeals and came out the other side! Those who survive great disasters are destined for great fortune!”

She was a sensible woman — seeing that Minglan had the inner and outer courts of Chengyuan under perfect control, she had not interfered in the slightest. With Gu Tingye now gone from home, she understood his concerns, and simply played the old fool, the bold elder, and raised a ruckus when Minglan was not in a position to do so herself.

The sound carried far. In her room, Zhu Shi was quietly coaxing her small daughter to sleep; the maids and matrons in the room all held their breath, daring not to speak. In her room, Shao Shi was pacing back and forth in agitated restlessness. Xian Jie’er walked in and gestured to the maids to close the door.

“Mother, let’s play a game of chess.” The girl drew her mother to sit down, and said quietly: “Whatever’s happening outside has nothing to do with us.”

Kang Yima, nearly limp with rage, had to be supported on her way out. She had never been so publicly humiliated in all her life. What a spectacle — Nanny Chang was old but vigorous, with the lung power of a woman in her prime. From Xuanzhi Garden all the way to Chengyuan, she had roared a running commentary, drawing a crowd of onlookers all the way — practically stopping even the bricklayers and plasterers in the middle of their repair work.

Even Minglan, who had heard it all in advance, was quite staggered by that level of combat power.

Swallowing her astonishment and her excess saliva, that evening, after a satisfying meal, she strolled at leisure to go and apologize to the Madam, repeating again and again that “Nanny Chang has a bad temper and was rude — please be understanding, and once the Marquis returns, he’ll surely go and reprimand her” (implying, of course, that reprimanding her right now was inconvenient) — and with completely sincere expression, conveying that “Nanny Chang is getting old and confused — who in this whole household doesn’t know that you are the most generous and kind-hearted of people? Please don’t let those ugly words touch your heart.”

In less than half a day, the Marquis’s household inside and out was buzzing with gossip. Many things, once spoken aloud, left no face to save. The Madam was so furious she felt she was ascending to heaven — she had only wanted to fish for a couple of small fish for amusement, and instead had attracted a great white shark. She’d been scolded, and scolded for nothing — she had never in her life been this miserable!

To make matters worse, just two days later, Tingcan came weeping her way back to her maternal home, throwing herself into the Madam’s arms and sobbing and cursing about her husband’s failings.

“…At first he still pretended to be decent — the few he had in his household, I looked the other way, and I endured it. But now it’s getting worse and worse. He even made a move on my own maidservant. I caught them in the act, and he said he was only ‘teaching her to write and paint’!” Tingcan wept and stamped her feet — gone was all her former pride and aloofness. “I said a couple of words about it, and he came to soothe me with talk about how ‘men of true refinement are free by nature.’ Pfft — what kind of a man of refinement is he? He’s read half a jar of vinegar worth of books and can’t compose poetry half as refined as mine! Unable to play the talented man in front of me, so he goes off to teach little maids crooked verses and lewd songs. Hmph! Talent like that — even if he rises to court office, he’ll be the kind who envies the worthy and hates the able!”

The Madam felt a pain in her chest, as if her heart would burst, and she scolded loudly: “Little lady — at a time like this, please stop making trouble! I told you long ago that after you married, you should set aside all your literary pursuits. If your husband showed an interest, you could join in a little and add to the pleasures of the married chambers — but no, you had to go and show off! What man doesn’t need his dignity? And you went and whittled it away! You, you, you… what am I to do with you? You think you’re still an unmarried girl, where everything goes your way? A man getting involved with a few maids — is that something worth making such a fuss about?”

“My husband and I quarreled — that was a private household matter. But then the mother-in-law, with nothing better to do, sent in two maids, and now, now…” Tingcan cried harder, and tugged at the Madam’s sleeve in a frenzy, refusing to let go. “I won’t accept this, I won’t — Mother, think of something for me! Mother, go and speak for me, speak for me!”

Every advantage has its price — marrying into the Prince Consort’s residence meant no longer having to depend on Gu Tingye’s goodwill, but it also meant the Madam could no longer step in to back her daughter up. The Madam couldn’t help letting out a long sigh. “Your mother-in-law is a princess — imperial family. She gets to criticize others; no one gets to criticize her!”

Looking at her daughter crying so pitifully, she felt her head spinning, and out came what was on her mind: “I told you long ago — men have to be handled with care. Look at your second sister-in-law — she handles your second brother so well, that wild-horse temperament has bent like a willowy branch. If only you could get a proper hold on your husband, keep your marriage harmonious, even the princess wouldn’t have any grounds to interfere.”

She advised and cajoled, going over countless suggestions for a long while. Watching her daughter leave with slumped shoulders, looking pathetically fragile, the Madam fell silently back onto the rattan couch and sat there speechless for a long time. After a good long while, Xiang Mama came in carrying a hot tea bowl, and said softly, coaxing her: “Please put your heart at ease. Young couples — which of them doesn’t quarrel? Argument in the evening, making up by morning — they’ll sort it out between themselves.”

The room was dim and shadowy. The Madam stared at the flame of a single lamp, and her expression turned abruptly iron-hard and cold as frost: “You saw it yourself — if things go on this way, both my son and daughter are going to spend their lives looking to others for mercy. By now, it’s no longer possible not to act.”

Xiang Mama let out a quiet sigh: “Have you thought it all the way through? If it succeeds, all will be well — but if it fails, your reputation, your dignity — all of it will be gone.”

The Madam smiled, bitter and cold: “What reputation? What dignity? It’s all hollow. And besides — how good can my reputation be at this point anyway? If I do nothing, I know what my future holds without even guessing: living under someone else’s eaves, begging for a meal, living at the mercy of Sheng Minglan’s expression day by day. I can’t swallow that. I have not spent all these years of my life to end up like this.”