“You stinking pest! How dare he! How could he even bring himself to do that?

The way he had become so skilled and practiced at it — if he weren’t so busy with official duties, she might have suspected he had another woman.

But this sort of private matter was naturally impossible to explain to her schoolmates, so she could only laugh awkwardly and say she had switched beds and thrown out her back while sleeping.

Guan Jinhe saw that she was not seriously hurt, and felt somewhat relieved. She smiled and asked if she wanted some butter candy.

She had tasted it two days ago when she accompanied her mother to the Sixth Prince Consort’s residence.

It was made by an authentic southern master — the pastries and candies had a truly unique flavor!

Guan Jinhe had always had a sweet tooth. Finding it delicious, she shamelessly asked the Sixth Princess Consort for some, and brought it today to share with her good friend: “The Sixth Prince’s residence not only invited a dedicated pastry chef for the tea banquet this time, but the Forgetful Dust Lay Buddhist also showed a bit of her skill. The vegetarian dishes she made were truly delicious — the Fourth Princess Consort praised them again and again.”

The Forgetful Dust Lay Buddhist was the Tao family’s Fourth Aunt. This lay Buddhist had some difficulty letting go of the mortal world, and was always appearing at gatherings of the powerful and noble.

But speaking of this, Guan Jinhe frowned: “However, if only the Sixth Princess Consort’s younger sister hadn’t been at the tea banquet. That Xie Youran…”

At this point, Guan Jinhe hesitated, as if making up her mind. She glanced left and right, saw no one, and then whispered: “She spoke ill of you to the Fourth Princess Consort.”

Chu Linlang smiled indifferently. If the Second Xie wasn’t talking badly about her, that would truly be strange!

But rather than complaining to her own elder sister the Sixth Princess Consort, she had run off to stir things up with the Fourth Princess Consort — that was somewhat odd, and made Chu Linlang quite curious.

It turned out that Miss Guan had asked for too many pastries, afraid her mother would scold her, and had hidden with her little maidservant behind the artificial rockery beneath the garden pavilion, wanting to tuck the several packages of butter biscuits into the small clothing box her maidservant was carrying.

By unfortunate coincidence, she overheard what was being said in the pavilion overhead — the Second Xie was talking to the Fourth Princess Consort.

Guan Jinhe missed nothing, and recounted it all to Chu Linlang: “She said that when you encountered danger at Verdant Isle, it was you who first quarreled with Yixiu, which made her angrily refuse to disembark. She also said… also said that Yixiu suffered quite a bit of bullying at the women’s academy, and that even Tao Yashu used her position to bully and intimidate others, not taking the Yun Family’s daughter seriously at all, and letting you bully Yixiu together!”

Hearing this, Chu Linlang gave a slight start and raised her eyes: “You heard correctly? That Xie Youran isn’t even from our women’s academy. And as for what happened at Verdant Isle — how would she know about it?”

Guan Jinhe said: “The Fourth Princess Consort asked the same thing. But Xie Youran said that when she attended the literary gathering last time, she had met Yixiu Junzhu, and the Junzhu took to her immediately — they chatted for a long time! The Junzhu told her directly that she and you didn’t get along. As for the danger at Verdant Isle, she said she overheard it by accident when her mother was chatting idly with a madam who had returned from Verdant Isle…”

Chu Linlang narrowed her eyes: “A madam? Which madam said such things?”

At this, Guan Jinhe said somewhat guiltily: “I only heard that much — someone called for me. I didn’t dare linger. Eavesdropping was already improper; if I had jumped out in front of the Fourth Princess Consort to rebuke the Xie woman, that would have been even more impolite. But after returning, I felt that by not correcting Xie’s errors at the time, I had failed my classmate. So I’m telling you now, and another day I’ll accompany you to explain things to the Fourth Princess Consort.”

Chu Linlang smiled and reassured Guan Jinhe that this was none of her business. She was already grateful for the warning — how could she blame her?

But when Guan Jinhe went to distribute pastries to the other classmates, Chu Linlang quickly sorted through the situation, and it became fairly clear.

Noble Consort Jing’s sudden attack was surely related to her daughter-in-law, the Fourth Princess Consort, passing along word to her.

And the Fourth Princess Consort had been instigated by the Second Xie. But why had the Second Xie suddenly gone to the Fourth Princess Consort and said all those things irrelevant to herself? Was it an accidental coincidence, or had she been instigated by someone?

Based on her understanding of the Second Xie’s foolishly empty head, it was probably the latter.

If some madam who had traveled with them to Verdant Isle had deliberately said such misleading things to Su Shi, then was this madam genuinely mistaken in her understanding, or had she done it on purpose?

Chu Linlang felt she should go and meet the current Zhou Madam to see whether she could, from her mouth, ferret out the ringleader who had stirred up all this trouble.

To meet the Second Xie was simple — she only needed to take Dongxue and walk a little along the entrance to Jicui Lane in the morning, and she spotted Xie Youran leading her maidservant out of the alley.

Ever since Hu Shi’s miscarriage and subsequent departure, her mother-in-law Zhao Shi’s resentment had shot through the roof. Not knowing whose advice she had listened to, Zhao Shi had set up a “Fox Immortal” shrine in the house and had Xie Youran tend to incense offerings constantly, praying to the Fox Immortal for protection, to dispel the vengeful spirit of a wrongfully dead infant boy in the house.

Xie Youran found this thoroughly irritating, so as soon as she had finished breakfast, she wanted to go out and not come back until dark.

This day was the same. When she emerged from the alley entrance, preparing to go to the teahouse she usually frequented to drink tea and listen to music to pass the time, she looked up and saw Chu Linlang walking toward her.

Xie Youran couldn’t help but deliberately thrust out her pregnant belly and gave a false smile: “Oh my, Chu Niangzi is here again? Whom have you come to see?”

Chu Linlang gave a slight smile and said nothing.

Xie Youran let out a cold snort: “You don’t have to say — I know. Isn’t it to see your women’s academy’s Instructor Liao?”

Chu Linlang narrowed her eyes in mild surprise, not expecting her to bring up the instructor.

But Xie Youran, thinking her blank expression meant she felt guilty, became even more smug: “You come every few days. Did you think that just because you wrap yourself in a cloak each time, I can’t recognize you? It’s not as if you’re some respectable young lady from a proper family — who are you putting on this show of caution for?”

Hearing this, Chu Linlang suddenly understood — she had been taken for the mysterious refined young lady who came to meet Instructor Liao. Xie Youran thought she and Instructor Liao were involved.

What nonsense was this!

Chu Linlang smiled: “Zhou Madam is right. The instructor is injured. Even if I pay him a visit, there’s no need for such secretiveness.”

Xie Youran was in good spirits and showed concern for her husband’s predecessor: “He and you are of comparable age. He is getting on a bit, but even the oldest bachelor needs to carry on the family line. Does he know about your problem? Eight years married into the Zhou family and not a single egg laid!”

Chu Linlang had not come to see her just to hear her boast about her egg-laying abilities. She went straight to the point: “You told the Fourth Princess Consort that I deliberately ostracized Yixiu Junzhu. Where did you get that from?”

Xie Youran was startled, not knowing how Chu Linlang had found out about what she had said to the Fourth Princess Consort in private.

Chu Linlang clearly hadn’t attended the tea banquet that day!

But so what if she knew? Was she allowed to do things but people weren’t allowed to speak of them?

It was probably the Yun Family going to find her to settle accounts, and so she had come here to make a scene with her. The Yun Family was not to be trifled with. This Chu Linlang had no one to depend on — even if she kept company with an instructor, he couldn’t protect her. She must be in a panic right now.

Thinking this, she steadied herself and raised an eyebrow triumphantly: “Your rough and ferocious manner — who doesn’t know it? What need is there for me to say it?”

Chu Linlang gave a cold laugh: “You’re not even from the women’s academy, yet you go about spreading such groundless slander. Do you take me for easy prey? Do you believe I’ll drag you before the Fourth Princess Consort to go over your words again and see how many of them are true?”

With these words, Chu Linlang stepped forward two paces, frightening Xie Youran into retreating repeatedly.

She had no choice — this wretched woman had once held scissors to her throat, terrifying her thoroughly.

Moreover, Xie Youran had heard that when Chu Linlang encountered danger at Verdant Isle, she had apparently used a cleaver to chop off the fingers of a pirate who was seizing the boat.

So while Xie Youran dared to speak out and provoke Chu Linlang, she was also genuinely afraid that Chu Linlang would snap and lay hands on her.

Even so, the Second Xie’s mouth was still unrepentant, continuing to mock: “Chu Linlang, can’t you look in a mirror and see what you are? You say you want to see a princess consort — are you worthy?”

Dongxue, who was following behind Chu Linlang, could not let this pass, and immediately laughed coldly: “Our First Miss has just received a commendation from the palace — His Majesty personally bestowed the title ‘Xinmei Ren’ upon her. In a couple of days she is also to hold the lamps for His Majesty’s Dharma assembly! Who do you think you are, to address my First Miss by name?”

What? Hearing this, Xie Youran’s expression changed completely. She suspected the mistress and servant were boasting. But a little maidservant speaking of a title personally bestowed by His Majesty would not dare make it up.

And Chu Linlang also wore an expression of complete composure, not refuting her maidservant’s words. Could it actually be true?

Xie Youran still didn’t dare believe it: “What virtue and ability do you have? How could you have received His Majesty’s commendation?”

Dongxue, who could always infuriate people to death without paying the price, laughed coldly at this: “Xie Youran, can’t you look in a mirror too, and consider what status you have — how dare you question His Majesty’s bestowals?”

Xie Youran certainly didn’t dare, though envy was already making even her tooth roots ache.

But Chu Linlang had not come here to show off to her. Taking advantage of Xie Youran’s arrogance being suppressed, she asked: “You slandered me like this — should I drag you to the authorities?”

After hearing that Chu Linlang had entered the palace and not only avoided being made difficult by Noble Consort Jing, but had also received the Emperor’s commendation, Xie Youran felt a pang of guilt. Hearing that Chu Linlang wanted to pursue the matter, she could only brazenly push off the blame: “Those words weren’t said by me — I heard them when the Forgetful Dust Lay Buddhist was chatting with someone else.”

Chu Linlang felt a tightening in her heart, but kept her face impassive: “Don’t go invoking people at random. The Forgetful Dust Lay Buddhist is a cultivator — how could she commit such an offense of loose lips?”

Hearing that she didn’t believe her, Xie Youran became agitated too, and said: “It was the Forgetful Dust Lay Buddhist who said it. She was chatting with my mother, bringing up how Yixiu had refused to disembark — because you had mocked Yixiu when the boat departed from the river mouth, saying she had been spurned by the Empress Dowager and couldn’t enter the palace, and how could she compare to Tao Family’s eldest daughter who had won the Empress Dowager’s favor — so Yixiu had been brooding and unable to fit in, which was why, when Verdant Isle met with danger, she alone had refused to disembark!”

At the time, though the Forgetful Dust Lay Buddhist was chatting idly with her mother, she had also glanced at Xie Youran who was attending at the side, and expressed some sympathy — that Magistrate Zhou’s former wife had such a character, it was no wonder the Second Miss Xie had suffered in her reputation after marrying Magistrate Zhou and could not hold her head up.

It was a pity about the Yun Family — they had no idea that Yixiu’s refusal to disembark at the time had such hidden circumstances that were unknown to others.

After all, even if one reported it to the authorities, Chu Niangzi conspiring with classmates to ostracize someone was not a serious crime.

What was truly hateful was her niece Tao Yashu — not knowing any better, she had actually befriended someone like Chu Niangzi. Over time, her character would only be led astray, which was truly worrying.

Furthermore, it was heard that Chu Niangzi had received Tao Xiaojie’s and Hua Shi’s introduction, and in a couple of days would enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager. With Tao Yashu’s backing, Chu Linlang would likely show her face grandly before the Empress Dowager.

These words filled Xie Youran with burning envy, and she germinated the thought of going to the Fourth Princess Consort to stir up trouble.

Thus all the tangled disputes that followed.

Hearing this, Chu Linlang understood it all completely!

Before, she had harbored some vague suspicions, but without proof, she hadn’t dared confirm that Tao Huiru could harden her heart and frame her own niece.

If what Xie Youran said was all true, then the words Tao Huiru had spoken — half-true, half-false — were truly venomous and heartbreaking, killing people invisibly without dirtying her own hands.

After all, she had merely been chatting idly in private with her close friend Su Shi — free to say whatever she wished.

And the one who had gone to the Fourth Princess Consort to make accusations was that fool Xie Youran!

By this light, Xie Youran clearly still didn’t know she had been used so completely.

Now that the cause and effect were clear, Chu Linlang had no further desire to talk to this woman. She simply stared at her, then deliberately let her eyes flash with a fierce light, and said quietly: “You know I’ve chopped down quite a few pirates at Verdant Isle — my blade work has gotten rather practiced. If you dare to go around gossiping about me again, watch out lest I drag you into a dark alley…”

Xie Youran was frightened into retreating another step, trembling: “What are you going to do?”

Chu Linlang bared her teeth in a smile, shifted her gaze to her round, bulging belly, and made a chopping-melon gesture with one hand.

Xie Youran was so frightened this time she let out a wail and, without delay, led her maidservant running back into the Xie family’s alley.

Having finished frightening this overindulged fool Xie Youran, Chu Linlang had no more desire to speak, and led Dongxue away.

On the way back, she pondered why Tao Huiru would do this.

If she simply disliked her and had implicated her in passing, that would be one thing. But why had she also deliberately woven Tao Yashu into the story?

Could it be that Tao Huiru didn’t want the Tao Family to produce another empress? Or… did she simply not want Tao Yashu to receive imperial favor?

Chu Linlang had been raised in a household full of scheming and commerce, and possessed an innate gift for reading people’s hearts.

She thought about it for just a moment and understood the crux — even if you magnanimously forgave someone who had wronged you, the one who did wrong carries guilt in their heart and does not necessarily believe in your forgiveness.

This Tao Huiru was likely such a person — she was afraid that Tao Yashu, once she rose to power, would take revenge on her.

Since that was the case, she could not fail to inform Tao Yashu so she could guard against this aunt.

But when she went to the Duke’s residence, presented her name card, and waited a long time, only a matron from Wu Shi’s side came, her face stern, and said: “Our Madam sends word to Chu Niangzi — Tao Xiaojie is unwell and cannot receive guests. Moreover, in a few days she is to enter the palace, and she has many etiquette lessons to learn. If Niangzi has no matter of great importance, please do not come to disturb the Xiaojie anymore.”

The dismissive, unwelcoming meaning of these words was undisguised. Chu Linlang understood that this must be Wu Shi’s meaning.

Evidently, when Tao Yashu had spoken up to defend her in the palace and was subsequently used as a handle by Noble Consort Jing, it had displeased Wu Shi, who felt her daughter had acted recklessly and without the bearing of a great family.

This caused the Madam to grow wary of the friendship between her daughter and this divorced woman of humble birth, and she had acted decisively to sever this ill-matched friendship.

Since the girl’s mother had spoken, Chu Linlang naturally could not persist in lingering at the gate of the Duke’s residence.

But how to pass word to Tao Yashu became a problem.

Her young friend Guan Jinhe could go to see Tao Yashu — but warning Tao Yashu to be on guard against her own aunt was something that could not pass through another person’s ears. Even putting it in writing would be very unwise.

Chu Linlang was at a loss, so much so that she let out a long sigh while eating.

Situ Sheng, who was cutting spare ribs for her, couldn’t help but turn and ask: “What’s wrong?”

The pair of wild lovebirds had now reached an understanding, meeting every evening at the shop for a late supper.

Chu Linlang had even specially had a stove built at the back of the shop. As long as the ingredients were prepared, she could make warm, hearty dishes.

So Situ Sheng was now cutting spare ribs for Chu Linlang, waiting to braise them with a sweet-and-sour flavor.

If she could help it, Chu Linlang did not want to bring up Tao Huiru in front of Situ Sheng, to avoid stirring up the dark memories of his childhood again.

But now, with no one else to consult, she could only tell Situ about it.

Hearing what Tao Huiru had done with all her scheming, Situ Sheng’s expression grew grave, and he slowly set down the chopper.

Chu Linlang saw the ribs were cut enough, and ladled hot water for Situ Sheng to wash his hands, then said: “Her intention is probably to prevent Tao Yashu from entering the palace. If Yashu doesn’t take precautions, I’m afraid that lay Buddhist will come up with more underhanded tricks that are impossible to guard against.”

Having spoken, she looked up to see that Situ Sheng’s brow was still furrowed, and asked softly: “Are you thinking of unpleasant things again?”

Situ Sheng reached out and drew her into his embrace, inhaling her fragrant scent, and gradually calmed his heart before saying: “I never blamed Tao Huiru for what my mother suffered. After all, a man isn’t a dog — unable to control his desire to stray, you can’t blame the meat for being too tempting. But if she doesn’t know when to stop and insists on provoking you, then don’t blame me…”

As he said this, his eyes carried a trace of hidden killing intent.

Chu Linlang heard the ill will in his words and couldn’t help but be startled.

Not because she was worried about that vicious woman Tao Huiru. She knew that although Situ Sheng had experienced hardship and had been tested through battlefield slaughter, he had not become ruthless and unscrupulous because of those extreme experiences.

Situ Sheng understood clearly what could and could not be done. Though his thoughts were deeply concealed, he was strictly self-disciplined, and could indeed be called an upright gentleman.

If not for this, there were a thousand and one ways to do away with that Prince Tai, yet Situ Sheng had not taken a crooked path — he had collected the evidence of his crimes and dealt with him according to the law of the land.

Though he mocked himself for having Yang Yi’s faithless and treacherous blood flowing through his veins, Situ Sheng had been personally raised by Great General Yang Xun!

How could a man with such inner pride of a military family’s offspring stain his hands with a woman’s blood because of her?

So Chu Linlang promptly reached out and covered his mouth, saying quietly: “It’s just a woman’s petty scheming. The sins she commits will one day rebound upon her. I told you this not to have you go deal with her. Otherwise, all your hard work in dispelling her suspicions would be wasted, wouldn’t it?”

Situ Sheng saw the worry in her eyes, and knew his tone just now had likely frightened her.

He couldn’t help but hold her tighter. Yes, he was no longer standing alone in the world — his every action now carried a concern for someone.

But he hoped that Tao Huiru would know to stop while she was ahead. If she dared entangle with Linlang again, he would absolutely not let her go!

Chu Linlang rested peacefully in Situ Sheng’s arms. At this moment, in the small courtyard of the shop, summer insects chirped, and the fragrance of food rose from the stove.

They need not concern themselves for now with the storms outside — they simply rested contentedly in each other’s embrace, savoring a worldly yet luxurious tranquility…

As for Tao Yashu, she had entered the palace after all. This group of noble young women entered as female officials to serve the Empress Dowager.

So for Situ Sheng to pass word to her was actually simple — through Eunuch An, he had the message, veiled in meaning, delivered.

Tao Yashu, sharp and clever as ice and snow, understood at once when she heard the message Eunuch An conveyed on his behalf.

She never could have imagined that her own aunt had been setting such enormous stumbling blocks against her from behind. For a moment she couldn’t help but wonder if she had somehow offended her aunt.

Thinking it over and over, she recalled that it seemed to have been right after the Aunt had visited her father’s study that her attitude toward her had grown cold again.

It was said that she had gone to seek an official position for her cousin Tao Zan. Her father had initially agreed.

But in the end, her grandfather had summoned her father and earnestly told him that, after all, the blood flowing through Tao Zan’s veins was still the Yang family’s blood. If he went to the Ministry of Personnel under the Tao family’s name, it would not be prudent. It would be better to think of him for some less important post in the future.

So her father had changed his mind and tactfully deflected the request. After that, the Aunt had seemed to take it up with her at some point, but she hadn’t understood what her aunt meant at the time.

Thinking back on it now, her aunt had misunderstood that she had spoken ill of her to her father and ruined her cousin’s chance at the Ministry of Personnel post, and so had resorted to using someone else’s blade to inflict heavy revenge on her…

Having thought this through, Tao Yashu couldn’t help but feel another cold chill go through her very bones. She recalled what Chu Linlang had once told her — that this aunt of hers was no simple schemer.

Having understood, Tao Yashu couldn’t help but give another desolate, cold laugh. If one were to say that the Tao Family had a daughter fit to enter the palace, in her view, it should be this Fourth Aunt with her deep capacity for revenge.

Such a talent, not deployed to contend with the demons and monsters of the entire palace — what a waste and shame.

Yet she, who harbored absolutely no desire to fight with anyone, had been pushed step by step by her family into this dark palace that never saw the light of day…

Thinking of this, Tao Yashu couldn’t help but recall what “that person” had once said to her: “A person with your rigid and proper temperament would only suffer in the palace. You’d do better to tell your parents and simply not go… That place is too dirty — it’s not suited for you!”

Such a slovenly person, whose home was like a dog’s kennel — how dare he say the palace was dirty?

She had merely inadvertently learned from Linlang’s mouth that the instructor’s back injury was not healing well and seemed to have become infected.

Guilt rising in her heart, wanting to bring some nourishing medicine and clothing to her benefactor, she thus, for the first time in her life, strayed from the path of propriety, and led her personal maidservant to secretly visit the honored teacher.

She had planned to see the instructor, leave the items, and depart immediately.

But upon seeing the instructor’s even more casually disheveled hair at home, her old habit flared up and she simply couldn’t control it. She picked up a comb and, without a word, recombed his hair bun and beard. Then, ignoring his scolding, she firmly had him change out of that garment full of holes.

Who could have known that, right at this inopportune moment, her classmate Chu Linlang actually arrived too.

She could only hide in the inner room next door. After Chu Linlang left, Instructor Liao solemnly gave her a bow, addressed her as “Honored Ancestress,” and said he would definitely eat and dress properly — but could she please not show up out of the blue like this? If others saw them, neither of them would be able to explain themselves.

Thinking of this, Tao Yashu recalled the way the usually hard-mouthed instructor had pleaded with her, and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Such absurd and improper conduct — had it been half a year ago, she wouldn’t even have thought of it.

But ever since she nearly drowned, a string inside her heart seemed to have snapped resoundingly, and her whole person had changed inside.

When her mother’s strict instruction made it suffocating, occasionally mustering the courage to do something a proper young lady of a great family ought not to do — it turned out to be so delightfully liberating…

When she wrapped herself in that impenetrable cloak and sat in a cheaply rented carriage, arriving at the narrow, squalid alley that resembled a dog’s kennel, she felt a kind of exhilarating transgression.

When she saw that careless, casual man who always said things that offended her — they would banter back and forth, unable to help sparring with each other.

She even felt that living like this was what it meant to be an uninhibited, unconstrained person…

But now she had entered the palace, and that absurd, improper woman who strayed from the path had vanished from the world forever.

At this moment, a clear breeze blew and the moon shone bright. In the alleys of houses throughout the capital, there should be wisps of cooking smoke and families gathered happily together.

One only wondered — what was that person doing right now?

In the years to come, would he remember that there was once a female student who disdained his filth and disorder, and who had appeared in his courtyard, vexing his heart?