“You really don’t need to take my scolding to heart, Lord Meng.
I said it last time—everything you said was right.
I’ve already paid for the tea, so there’s no need for Lord Meng to spend his money.” Zhao E walked to the door, then turned her head and smiled at him. “Also, Lord Meng got it wrong. Next time, please call me Jiang Zhao-shi.”
She didn’t like owing anyone anything, even if it was just a pot of tea.
Meng Ziqi watched her graceful figure sway away, and stood rooted to the spot for a long time, unable to come back to his senses.
Downstairs, the madam had already been waiting for quite a while.
Seeing Zhao E come down, she hurried to greet her. “Young Madam, everyone is in the back courtyard. I’ll take you to have a look.”
“Mm.” Zhao E gave a slight nod.
In the courtyard, two neat rows of women were indeed lined up—plump and slender, each with her own charms.
Their only similarity was that the fabric they wore was thin and scant, so their figures and bearing were clear at a glance.
“Young Madam, this row all arrived only yesterday.” The madam pointed them out eagerly. “No one has picked from them yet.”
Zhao E nodded and walked forward slowly, casually looking them over one by one.
“Young Madam, are you acquainted with Lord Meng?” The madam seized the moment and asked with a fawning smile.
“Only just met.” Zhao E raised her round fan and lifted a woman’s chin to examine her.
“If you can receive such treatment from Lord Meng after only just meeting, then you must have some influence with him.” The madam said with a smile.
This Meng Ziqi was truly too difficult to deal with. When he investigated taxes, he was strict to the letter and would not let a single cent slide, and he was completely impervious to persuasion—she couldn’t even give him silver.
Every so often he would come to investigate, and she was truly dying of frustration.
If Zhao E could put in a word for her, perhaps things would be much better.
Zhao E stopped and turned to glance at her. “You don’t know what kind of person I am?”
“I know. I was rude.” The madam quickly bowed in apology.
This little lady had always spent silver for amusement and never meddled in other people’s business.
She had thought that since they were familiar with each other, she could ask her to say a word, but unexpectedly she had still hit a wall.
“This one, this one…” Zhao E raised her round fan and pointed at four women in succession.
“Those the Young Madam has pointed out, come forward.” The madam called out. “The rest of you, move farther back.”
She then stepped forward with a smile and asked, “Young Madam, you want all of them?”
She was curious but did not dare ask.
Outsiders all said Zhao E was a profligate wastrel, but she actually knew the situation fairly well.
Every time Zhao E came, she only drank in the side room, called a few young male entertainers to chat with her, and watched them play instruments. It really was not as scandalous as the rumors outside made it seem.
Still, since she came to this place, even if Zhao E did nothing, outsiders would not believe it anyway.
Could these Shouma be bought back to please her husband? Wasn’t the rumor that her husband was useless?
“This one is not bad.” Zhao E hooked her finger under the chin of a round-faced woman. “Skin like congealed fat, delicate and shapely.”
“The Young Madam flatters me.” The woman bowed and said ingratiatingly, “With the Young Madam here, this humble one is merely a firefly—how could I compete with a face as radiant as the Young Madam’s sun?”
Zhao E covered her lips with her round fan and laughed softly. “This one can talk. Keep her.”
Although the flattery was a bit exaggerated, she was quick-witted and knew how to seize an opportunity, and her looks were passable. She would do.
She carefully examined the remaining three and picked out one with a serene face and long, slender legs.
“Just these two.” She tilted her chin toward Xiyu.
Xiyu understood and immediately stepped forward, saying, “Madam, the bill.”
The madam was overjoyed and led them out of the courtyard to the counter to settle the account.
She liked guests like Zhao E—generous with their spending and never haggling over prices.
But she wouldn’t overcharge either, of course; such guests were not to be offended.
“Let them take their clothes with them.” The madam produced the receipts and the deeds of sale, handing them to Xiyu. “Besides that, I’ll gift each of them a set of hair ornaments.”
“Thank you, madam.” Xiyu expressed her gratitude.
“Let’s go.” Zhao E walked slowly toward the exit.
Meng Ziqi stood by the railing upstairs, watching Zhao E leave with her maidservants, her expression complicated and hard to read.
“Miss.” Xiyu asked in a low voice, “These two—shall we bring them back to the Guogongfu?”
“Put them in my courtyard for now and let them be taken care of.” Zhao E instructed indifferently. “Make sure they’re attended to with care. I have use for them.”
She owned a residence of her own within the city.
On ordinary days, she would occasionally stop there—it served as a fallback for her.
“Yes.” Xiyu bowed her head in acknowledgment and turned to make the arrangements.
On the morning of the first day of the ninth month, the sky was overcast and gloomy.
When Zhao E set out, a light drizzle was already falling outside.
As she passed through the main gate, Jiang Huaifu happened to be returning from outside, holding an umbrella. He chased after the carriage, cursing at her: “Zhao E, where are you off to now? Dare to cuckold me, and I’ll—”
“Hurry.” Zhao E couldn’t be bothered to tangle with him, and gave a brief order to the front.
Ling Feng’s horsewhip cracked loudly in the air, and the carriage sped off.
Jiang Huaifu couldn’t catch up. He stood by the roadside hurling insults, drawing the stares of passersby.
His servants hurried forward to persuade him to return to the residence first.
“I won’t let that little wretch have an easy time!” Jiang Huaifu flung his umbrella to the ground.
He had originally planned to stay home for a few days, letting the rumors outside naturally die down. But no sooner had he stepped out than he saw people on the street pointing at him.
Unable to bear it, he turned back—only to run into Zhao E leaving. How could he not be furious?
Cursing under his breath, he strode through the gate, vowing to give Zhao E a proper reckoning.
Zhao Peizhu sat in a wide chair, gazing at the curtain of rain outside.
His frame was frail, his face pale, one leg twisted at an odd angle.
But unlike before, there was now a light in his eyes.
The carriage slowly rolled into the fenced courtyard.
Ling Feng held the umbrella while Xiyu and Xishi helped Zhao E down together.
“Sis.” Zhao Peizhu called out on his own initiative.
“That wasn’t easy.” Zhao E stepped over the threshold, looking at him with a faint smile. “It’s been years since you called me that so warmly.”
After the incident, Zhao Peizhu had fallen into despair, even attempting to end his life at one point.
To have come this far was indeed no small feat.
“I’ve thought it through.” Zhao Peizhu reached out and embraced her, burying his face against her waist, choking back sobs. “Sis… these three years… I’m sorry…”
For three years, he had hidden in this room, never once stepping outside. He was afraid, lost, and unable to face the world.
But he had never once considered what his sister, who bore everything, had endured out there.
He was truly a bastard!
A-Ning and Xishi both shed tears along with him, while the others wore expressions of both heaviness and relief.
Only Zhao E, as if nothing were amiss, patted Zhao Peizhu on the shoulder. “It’s nothing. Aren’t things getting better now?”
“Sister…” Zhao Peizhu struggled, trying to kneel before Zhao E.
The thought that his sister had married Jiang Huaifu for his sake, to avenge him, filled him with guilt beyond words.
“That’s enough.” Zhao E pressed him down. “Between us, is this necessary?”
Zhao Peizhu covered his face and broke down in sobs.
Seeing this, A-Ning hurried forward to console him.
Zhao E waved her off, stopping her. “Let him cry it out.”
Zhao Peizhu wept for quite a while before his sobs gradually subsided.
Zhao E had already prepared the offerings. “Fuxuan, let’s go burn the spirit money and paper treasures for Mother. You should also tell her what we plan to do next.”
Zhao Peizhu naturally had no objections.
That day, the siblings untied the knot in their hearts. That evening, as they chatted by the table, the two unknowingly drank more wine than they should have.
Zhao E staggered back to Zhaoyang Yuan on unsteady feet. When she drew open the bed curtains and saw Zhou Yu lying on the bed, she paused for a moment before recognizing him.
“Zhou Yu, long time no see.” She mumbled drowsily as she sat down on the edge of the bed.