After Sui Changle left, Wen Shiyi sat on the soft couch, staring blankly out the window.
After a long moment, she whispered, “Someone—come in!”
Xiangyun, waiting outside, quickly entered and asked softly, “Madam, what are your orders?”
Wen Shiyi rose, walked to the writing desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a few characters on a slip of paper. She blew it dry, folded it, and handed it to Xiangyun with instructions:
“Deliver this to Wen Yi. Make sure he investigates thoroughly and reports back immediately!”
“Yes, Madam!”
Xiangyun accepted the folded note and hurried out.
Wen Shiyi exhaled deeply and slowly returned to the couch.
“Sui Jingxing… I hope what Le’er said is just a dream. Otherwise, you truly deserve death!”
She murmured softly, lowering her long lashes to hide the sharpness in her eyes.
The next morning, in Ningxiang Pavilion, Meiyin and the four maids busily prepared for the day, cheerful and quiet.
Sui Changle had not slept well the previous night, only finally dozing off near the early hours.
Just as she opened her eyes, Meiyin lifted the azure gauze curtain with a smile:
“You’re awake, Young Lady. It’s still early—would you like to sleep a bit longer?”
Changle blinked, a bit dazed, before she fully awoke:
“Meiyin, what time is it?”
“Third quarter of Mao hour, Young Lady.”
“Mm, no more sleep! I need to go pay respects to Mother shortly.”
“Very well!”
Meiyin skillfully tied up the curtain and called out to the outer room:
“Young Lady is awake!”
At once, Lan Jian and her three maids entered, and all four efficiently assisted Changle with dressing and washing.
Lan Jian opened the wardrobe, eyeing the colorful array of clothes inside. She turned and asked:
“Which outfit shall Young Lady wear today?”
Zhumo stepped forward teasingly:
“Today is Young Lady’s birthday. Naturally, she should wear the new scarlet Liuyunxia wide-sleeved dress made just the other day!”
“Indeed, I was forgetful,” Lan Jian laughed.
Lan Jian closed the wardrobe and fetched the new garments from the adjacent room.
Once Changle was dressed, Meiyin led the four maids to bow gracefully before her:
“We humbly wish Young Lady a joyous birthday and happiness year after year!”
“Here’s your reward!”
Changle, in high spirits and fully accepting her rebirth, replied:
“Meiyin, each of you take five taels of silver; the courtyard maids and elderly attendants each receive a string of coins.”
“Thank you, Young Lady!”
The four bowed, beaming, and rose happily.
Meiyin took the money and sent Zhumo and Juyan to distribute it in the courtyard.
Soon, all in Ningxiang Court were joyous, bowing toward the main house.
After a simple breakfast, Changle, accompanied by Meiyin and Lan Jian, left the courtyard.
Zhumo and Juyan stayed behind to watch the house.
The three arrived at the Jinxiu Garden. Changle, poised and elegant, paid respects.
Wen Shiyi, seeing her daughter in a red dress, radiant and beautiful, was overjoyed.
“Oh, our little birthday star looks wonderful today.”
All invitations for Changle’s birthday banquet had been sent, as in her previous life. This time, she had invited her two maternal cousins and several close friends from noble families.
“Le’er, it’s almost time! Let’s go greet our guests.”
Though Sui Jingxing, as a county-level general’s son-in-law, was not on par with the capital’s top noble families, he was the husband of the only daughter of General Wen, and that counted for much.
As Mother and daughter arrived at the Liufang Garden for the banquet, they saw maids and attendants guiding noble ladies from various households slowly approaching.
Wen Shiyi smiled warmly and greeted them enthusiastically.
Daughters of noble families had been trained in household management and social etiquette from a young age, so they were graceful and practiced in every movement.
Changle quickly went to meet her two maternal cousins:
“Cousin Xin, Cousin Ning!”
Wen Xin’er and Wen Ning’er supported her on either side.
“Le’er, it’s been a while since you visited us.”
“Indeed! Grandmother always mentions you, calling you an ungrateful little girl.”
General Wen Tingyue, famed for his accomplishments, had two sons and one daughter.
The eldest, Wen Yan-jun, married Lady Cheng; they had two children: Wen Yuchen and Wen Xin’er, bright and elegant.
The second son, Wen Yan-ming, married Lady Shen; they had a son, Wen Yufan, clever and lively, and a daughter, Wen Ning’er, gentle and intelligent.
Wen Shiyi, as General Wen’s youngest daughter, was beloved and beautiful, talented in both appearance and intellect.
The Wen household upheld strict etiquette and loyalty. Sons of the house were faithful, marrying only once, and took no concubines.
This family code made them one of the most admired households in the capital, desired by countless young ladies.
When Sui Jingxing had proposed to Wen Shiyi, he had knelt outside the Wen residence, swearing a lifetime of loyalty to her alone.
General Wen had always cherished his youngest daughter, caring little for social status, only wishing for her to marry a devoted husband.
Changle glanced at her cousins, delicate and lovely, and felt a warmth in her eyes.
In her previous life, the Wen household had been destroyed, the entire family executed, and the women forced into government brothels.
Though her two cousins had been married off, their husbands, fearing trouble, had sent them away with divorce letters.
Raised in a noble household, the cousins had been taught dignity and propriety, and they could not bear such humiliation—both had died by running their heads into the gates of their husbands’ homes.
“Le’er, what’s wrong? Today is your special day, yet you seem glum.”
Wen Xin’er, always observant, immediately noticed Changle’s unusual demeanor.
“I know! You must be upset we didn’t bring birthday gifts!”
Wen Ning’er playfully covered her mouth and laughed.
Changle returned to herself, affectionately linking arms with them:
“Of course! Cousin Xin, Cousin Ning, how could you come empty-handed on my birthday?”
“Tomorrow, I’ll complain to Grandmother about your stinginess!”
Wen Ning’er rolled her eyes at her and said to Xin’er:
“Look at her! She’s received so many gifts from us before, yet today she dares call us stingy?”
“I am stingy today! All the gifts I received before, I return to you.”
She teased them as she extended Ning’er’s hand, smooth as jade, toward her.
Changle playfully shook Xin’er’s arm:
“Cousin Xin, say something! She has no shame, wanting to take back gifts already given.”