In the tenth year of Zhaotong, as the Emperor’s birthday approached, the palace was already adorned with lanterns and decorations. The imperial city stood majestic, and despite the deep winter, artificial flowers were tied to the trees, creating a scene as vibrant as spring, with blossoms in full splendor. Outside the palace, artisans decorated the streets with colorful paintings and silks, presenting a dazzling and festive atmosphere, a picture of peace and prosperity.
This year marked the Emperor’s twenty-fourth birthday. As the saying goes, twelve years make one cycle, and twenty-four years represent two cycles, making it an occasion of extraordinary significance. Officials, imperial relatives, and palace consorts alike racked their brains, pondering how to present their tributes to the Emperor.
The same was true for the Marquis of Zhongjing’s household.
As a noble family, the Marquis of Zhongjing, Lin Weinan, had earned the Emperor’s favor after inheriting the title. He not only commanded the Three Thousand Battalion but also served as the Left Army Commander of the capital, overseeing the Imperial Guards, making him a prominent figure among the nobility.
In the main hall of the marquis’s residence stood a coral and jade bonsai taller than a person, its coral of exceptionally pure color. The Marquis of Zhongjing and his wife, Zhong Shi, were both pleased with it.
Zhong Shi, nearing forty, still retained a charming face and fair skin. Though slightly plump, she appeared far younger than women of her age. Smiling at her husband, Lin Weinan, she said, “The coral from the East Sea truly has a pure color. Presenting this will surely delight the Emperor.”
The Marquis stroked his beard and nodded. “Indeed, we nobles differ from the scholarly officials. If our gifts were too meager, it would be a disservice to the Emperor’s grace. Moreover, there is Chaoyan’s matter, awaiting the Emperor’s judgment…”
Hearing his father mention Chaoyan, the heir, Lin Chaoxu, who was seated below, frowned and said, “The Emperor has dispatched the Imperial Guards to investigate. Once the truth comes to light, justice will surely be served for my sister.”
It turned out that the Chaoyan mentioned by the Marquis was his daughter, the heir’s elder sister, who was married to the son of Princess Xing’an. Princess Xing’an was originally the eldest legitimate princess, and her younger brother had once been Emperor Tianlu, a figure of immense power and influence. However, Emperor Tianlu passed away less than a year after ascending the throne, and Princess Xing’an’s influence subsequently waned.
Later, another of Princess Xing’an’s brothers, the Prince of Zhou, succeeded to the throne. Unfortunately, he fell ill and died three months after his coronation. His son, Gao Shuo, inherited the throne at the tender age of fourteen and had now reigned for over ten years.
As for Lin Chaoyan’s husband, the only son of Princess Xing’an, he had been accused of colluding with Japanese pirates and was currently imprisoned in the Northern Prison of the Imperial Guards, awaiting investigation.
Upon hearing the father and son’s discussion, Zhong Shi worriedly said, “Marquis, Heir, but isn’t the person in charge of the Northern Prison the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Lu Chengyun? He is that man’s son and deeply trusted by the Emperor.” Although Zhong Shi had not borne any children of her own, she regarded her stepson and stepdaughter as her own and was now deeply concerned for her.
At the mention of Lu Chengyun, a trace of fear appeared on the Marquis’s face, which had been filled with confidence and composure just moments before.
This man was truly formidable. After achieving the top rank in the military examinations at the age of twenty, he had taken charge of the Imperial Guards within five years. Moreover, with Zhong Shi’s mention of “that man,” the Marquis’s face grew noticeably paler.
Seeing her husband’s expression, Zhong Shi realized she had spoken out of turn and dared not say another word.
Upon returning to his quarters, the heir of the Loyal and Pacifying Marquis spoke to his wife, also his cousin Luo Shi: “There’s no need for you to attend to Mother today. I have something to discuss. I’ve heard that my aunt, the Lady of Yan, has arrived in the capital for the Emperor’s birthday celebration. In the past, she endured much in silence, but I fear we may soon find ourselves in peril. Take your brother-in-law’s situation—I suspect it was her doing. After all, who doesn’t know that Lu Chengyun, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, is her son?”
Luo Shi scoffed, “Back then, as soon as she heard that Father-in-law had died on the battlefield, she immediately took up with a low-ranking soldier. Our marquis’s household and my own family went to great lengths to cover it up before marrying her off again. And now she dares to turn against us? It’s as if her conscience has been devoured by dogs. Has she forgotten that if we hadn’t preserved her reputation back then, she would never have been chosen as the wet nurse for the Crown Prince of Zhou? Now, as a wet nurse, she’s been granted a first-rank title, and her son holds the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard. She should be thanking us, not seeking revenge!”
Seeing his wife’s indignation, Lin Chaoxu quickly lowered his voice, “Such words are best kept within these walls. When you enter the palace, you must not speak like this. Remember, the Emperor holds our aunt in the highest regard.”
He then sighed, rubbing his temples, “If only we hadn’t allowed Aunt to marry into our family back then.”
But Luo Shi disagreed, “Hmph! She came knocking every single day. While Mother-in-law was still bedridden, she was already making eyes at Father-in-law. Finally, she got her wish and married into the family, but as soon as false news came that Father-in-law had died in battle, she immediately clamored to remarry. Looking back, with her plain and unremarkable appearance, she only managed to marry into the marquis’s household thanks to the late Mother-in-law. Now, consider our current Mother-in-law, Lady Zhong Shi. When Father-in-law was unconscious, she was brought in as a ‘bride of fortune’ to ward off ill luck. She raised you and your sister, and to save your elder sister, she leaped into icy waters, rendering herself unable to bear children. The difference between the two women is like night and day.”
It turned out that after giving birth to twins, the original wife of the Loyal and Pacifying Marquis, the elder Luo Shi, grew increasingly frail. Knowing her time was short, she arranged for her younger half-sister, the younger Luo Shi, to marry her husband as his second wife, under the pretext of caring for her children.
Within a year of this woman’s entry into the household, war broke out in the north. The Loyal and Pacifying Marquis went off to battle, and when false news of his death arrived, she immediately demanded to return home and remarry. Later, she was caught by her stepdaughter Lin Chaoyan in an affair with a military officer.
The younger Luo Shi nearly faced punishment by drowning in a pig cage, but her mother, Lady Luo, intervened and arranged for her to marry the soldier. Later, when that soldier accompanied the Prince of Zhou to his fief in Anzhou, the younger Luo Shi became the wife of an ordinary soldier.
In contrast, the marquis’s other subsequent wife, Zhong Shi, originally the daughter of a county magistrate, became famous alongside the younger Luo Shi due to a case of swapped identities at birth. Although Zhong Shi was the “false” daughter and returned to humble circumstances, she gained renown in the capital for her devotion to her stepchildren. As a “bride of fortune,” she eventually shared in her husband’s glory, while everyone mocked the younger Luo Shi for throwing away a treasure and clinging to a trifle.
Unexpectedly, this woman who had fallen into the mud rose to become a first-rank lady when the Crown Prince of Zhou ascended the throne as Emperor, and her son reached the pinnacle of officialdom.
Originally, the two families had little to do with each other. But ever since Lu Chengyun arrested Lin Chaoyan’s husband, the Loyal and Pacifying Marquis’s household began to suspect that this was the younger Luo Shi’s revenge for Lin Chaoyan exposing her affair all those years ago.
With such thoughts in mind, on the day of the emperor’s birthday, Lady Zhong Shi of the Loyal and Peaceful Marquis, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, the wife of the heir, entered the palace with trepidation.
There were rumors that the Empress Dowager was displeased with the young emperor’s closeness to his wet nurse, Lady of Yan. Coincidentally, Lady Luo Shi’s husband had passed away, so she returned to her hometown in Lin’an. Now that the Empress Dowager had passed away, she had come to the capital at just the right time. Her timing was impeccable, though no one knew what she looked like now.
Zhong Shi glanced at her own slightly plump yet still shapely figure and breathed a rare sigh of relief. Lady Luo Shi was undoubtedly a stout woman—this was one area where Zhong Shi had the upper hand.
When Zhong Shi and her daughter-in-law arrived at the Chengguang Hall, the atmosphere inside was already filled with laughter and joy. The empress sat at the head of the hall, while the seat directly below her was occupied by a stunningly beautiful woman. She had an oval face with phoenix eyes, radiant and fair skin as smooth as cream, and eyes that sparkled with a gentle grace.
Who could this be?
She wore an exquisite five-phoenix crown, a string of pearls around her neck, and the attire befitting a first-rank noble lady. Her appearance was captivating, and she looked to be in her twenties.
Zhong Shi was utterly bewildered.
Then, she heard the empress speak in an affectionate tone: “The bowl of longevity noodles you offered to the emperor this morning—he finished every last bite, saying it tasted just like before. Since you’ve come to the capital, why not stay a while longer? There’s no need to rush back.”
Consort Shu chimed in playfully: “Indeed, Lady of Yan, you should stay in the capital so you can visit the palace more often in the future.”
Zhong Shi and her daughter-in-law exchanged a glance, never imagining that this woman was none other than Lady of Yan, Luo Shi.
Wasn’t she supposed to be very plump? How had she become so radiantly beautiful? By normal reckoning, she should be in her forties. She was born on the same day, in the same month, and even in the same place as Zhong Shi—otherwise, their children wouldn’t have been switched at birth. Zhong Shi, who had never borne children herself, was considered a standout among noblewomen in terms of figure and appearance. Yet, seeing her now, she had transformed beyond recognition.
Even seated beside the empress, who was in her twenties, she seemed to outshine her.
Then, Lady of Yan waved her hand modestly: “I am already content to have come to the capital to celebrate His Majesty’s birthday. With Your Majesty and the other noble ladies taking care of the emperor, what worries could I possibly have? I am overjoyed.”
Everyone thought to themselves that she was indeed a dignified and composed person.
Seeing Lady of Yan treated with such respect, Zhong Shi and her daughter-in-law dared not say much. Soon, word came from outside that the emperor had summoned Lady of Yan. To their astonishment, even the empress rose to see her off, leaving the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law utterly bewildered.
The emperor was resting in the Jiuhua Hall and had summoned his wet nurse. Upon seeing Lady of Yan, he rose and offered a half-bow. Lady of Yan quickly stepped aside, not daring to accept the gesture, and said affectionately: “It is only by Your Majesty’s grace that I have been able to enter the palace to celebrate your birthday. How is Your Majesty’s health?”
When the emperor was young, he had contracted smallpox, and it was Lady of Yan who personally cared for him, never entrusting the task to others. Even at six or seven years old, the emperor was still quite frail. That he had grown into the man he was today was entirely due to Lady of Yan’s meticulous care.
Though the emperor now skillfully contended with powerful ministers and handled political affairs with ease, he remained utterly dependent on Lady of Yan.
“When I was young, I often relied on Lady of Yan’s care. It is a pity that Chengyun says you still intend to return to Lin’an,” the emperor remarked with a sigh.
Lady of Yan said, “Your Majesty, I am old now, and having Chengze by my side to care for me is already more than enough. I never imagined such a day would come—it is all thanks to Your Majesty’s boundless grace. In the future, you must also take good care of your health. Do not think that just because you are young, it does not matter…”
The emperor, who was usually ill-tempered, now listened patiently to Lady of Yan’s ramblings, feeling for once that he too was someone cherished.
“Madam, I intend to bestow upon Chengze the position of a Thousand Household Officer in the Imperial Guard, so that in the future, he may support and care for you.”
Lady of Yan knelt to express her gratitude.
…
The eldest son, Lu Chengyun, held the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard and had a residence in the capital. Seeing that his mother, Lady of Yan, had returned somewhat fatigued, the younger son, Chengze, could not help but say, “Mother, my elder brother told me that Lin Chaoyan’s husband likely will not survive this month. Conspiring with Japanese pirates is a grave crime, so you can rest assured.”
“What is there for me to rest assured about? Your youngest uncle died so young, drowning in a lake, and your grandmother never enjoyed any blessings from me—instead, she was burdened by me. Who would have thought that a girl under ten could be so venomous? And my dear sister, she had been scheming against me from the very beginning.” Speaking of the past, Lady of Yan was filled with resentment. Even now, with immense power and influence, she could not undo what had been done.
Lu Chengze anxiously replied, “How can this be blamed on you? After you were switched at birth, your life was difficult. When you finally returned to your own family and encountered relatives who treated you so kindly, who would have suspected anything? That you were able to rise from the depths and fight back is already remarkable.”
As soon as the mother and son finished speaking, news arrived that the emperor had sent rewards from the palace—not only silver, palace silks, and antiques but also the official position of Thousand Household Officer in the Imperial Guard for Lu Chengze.
Lu Chengze was overjoyed, knowing that all of this was due to his mother’s efforts.
Yet he still felt it was unfair to her: “If not for Lin Chaoyan’s schemes, you would have long been a Marchioness.”
Unexpectedly, Lady of Yan waved her hand dismissively. “Enough of that. I have carved out my own path and have been able to elevate both you and your brother. That is far better than being someone else’s old servant.”
Hearing this, Lu Chengze could not help but smile. It was said that in the past, the capital had spread rumors that his mother was blind and foolish—neither as virtuous and gentle as her elder sister, the original wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing, nor as steadfast and loving as Zhong Shi, who was also a stepmother.
But now, his mother had achieved everything on her own. Not only was she enfeoffed as a First-Rank Lady, but his elder brother, at twenty-five, had also risen to the highest ranks of officialdom, with the possibility of being granted a noble title in the future. Even he himself had been casually appointed as a Sixth-Rank Thousand Household Officer.
Even his late father had been appointed as a Fourth-Rank Assistant Commander of the Imperial Guard back then, all because of his mother’s close ties to the Prince of Zhou’s household. It was worth noting that his father was merely the son of a Company Commander, an ordinary soldier.
Many thought being a wet nurse was an easy role, but little did they know that without his mother, the current emperor might not have survived. It could be said that his mother had safeguarded the emperor’s life and had also nurtured his elder brother into the top military scholar—no ordinary person could have accomplished this.
Otherwise, among the eight wet nurses of the Prince of Zhou’s heir, why had his mother risen so prominently? Even the emperor relied on her so much that the late Empress Dowager had seen her as a formidable rival.
Seeing her son smile, Lady of Yan tapped his forehead. “You should go and rest now. In a few days, we will return to Lin’an.”
After her son left, Lady of Yan found herself unable to sleep. Her maid, Hongluo, stepped forward and urged, “Madam, the night is deep and the dew is heavy. Allow me to attend to you as you retire.”
“I am not tired yet.”
“Would you like some snacks? The master just had them sent over.”
At the mention of snacks, Lady of Yan could hardly suppress a wave of nausea. “No need. Back then, I was indulged with snacks until I became obese in my prime years. Now it’s too late for regrets.”
Hongluo immediately withdrew the offer. “Yes, my lady. I’ll take them away right now.” As a servant from the capital, she was unaware of Lady of Yan’s preferences.
Lady of Yan gazed out the window. The Lu family residence was built exactly like their Lin’an estate. Opening the window revealed a shimmering lake, beside which hung dozens of crystal lanterns, creating a dreamlike scene.
This was likely her eldest son’s attempt to cheer her up. She shared no affection with her husband, yet she had been blessed with two such filial sons.
What a pity. If only her younger brother and mother could see this sight.
When she first returned to the Luo family, her younger brother had gifted her a glass lantern. At the time, she didn’t realize it was his most treasured possession. Carelessly, she let a newly hired maid break it that very day.
As these thoughts surfaced, the lanterns swayed in the breeze. For a fleeting moment, she seemed to see her younger brother running toward her, lantern in hand…