"Lady Lin? You mean the top courtesan of Changle Ward?"
Madam Zhang's husband, Pei Xin, managed the Pei family's business in the outer provinces, traveling far and wide and broadening his horizons, which was why she too had heard of Lady Lin's fame.
The servant woman said, "That's right."
"So that's how it is." Madam Zhang sighed softly, turning to Shen Qingyin and Pei Yue with emotion.
"I heard my husband mention this Lady Lin before. He said she was originally the daughter of an official, well-versed in poetry and books from a young age, skilled in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting alike. Unfortunately, her family met with sudden misfortune, and so she fell into the world of courtesans."
"Come to think of it, she was originally in Jiangnan. Who knows why she came to the capital a month ago—the moment she entered Changle Ward, she became the top courtesan."
At these words, Shen Qingyin's brows knit slightly.
Pei Yue looked puzzled. "Jiangnan is prosperous. She built her career there for years—how could she bear to abandon everything and come to the capital?"
Madam Zhang's smile faded a little. "Most likely it was the shifting tides of fate, beyond her control. There was nothing to bear or not bear."
For instance, who could have imagined that five years ago the Prince of Yan would lead troops from his fief into the capital, seize the throne from the late Emperor Jing, and become the Emperor Yan of today?
And then there was—
Madam Zhang instinctively glanced sideways at the silent Shen Qingyin beside her.
And then there was—had it not been for Emperor Yan three years ago, remembering General Shen's merit in defending the northern frontier, and not punishing the Shen family, then the eldest sister-in-law of today might well be trapped in some Music Bureau performing for others.
A breeze swept past the crinkled silk gauze, and the hazy shadows swayed gently. Shen Qingyin, unaware of Madam Zhang's gaze, stared blankly at the Konghou Harp.
After lingering briefly outside the pavilion, the group headed back toward the banquet. But they had gone only a few steps when they saw Madam Wei hurrying toward them, carrying a fussing, crying child in her arms.
Pei Yue spoke first. "Why is Jun-ge'er crying so hard?"
Jun-ge'er?
Madam Zhang looked closely—the brocade swaddling clothes on the child were unmistakably from her Youhuang Courtyard. The child in Madam Wei's arms was not Jun-ge'er at all…
It was her Zheng-ge'er!
Madam Zhang's heart tightened. She hurried forward and took her wailing young son from Madam Wei's arms, hastily patting his back to soothe him, frowning at Madam Wei. "Second Sister-in-law, why did you bring my Zheng-ge'er over here?"
Madam Wei's eyes curved with a smile, showing not a hint of guilt, and she explained offhandedly, "I was just thinking—eldest sister-in-law brought Tang-jie'er along, and the poor little thing had no one to play with and was terribly bored. So I simply went to Youhuang Courtyard myself and brought Zheng-ge'er over."
Madam Zhang's expression darkened. "Then where is your Jun-ge'er? Didn't you just say you were going to check whether he'd woken up?"
Madam Wei spread her hands. "You should be considerate—my Jun-ge'er was born under the Pig sign, and he's naturally fond of sleep. When he wakes later, the three little ones can play together just fine."
Hearing this, Madam Zhang closed her eyes helplessly.
An ordinary child could not sleep this long, but Madam Wei had always spoiled Jun-ge'er, letting him sleep all day—after all, it was the wet nurse who suffered at night.
Seeing Madam Zhang's displeasure, Madam Wei continued with a beaming smile, "Third Sister-in-law, you're not going to get angry over such a trifling matter, are you?"
Madam Wei was vengeful and petty by nature—if she slighted others, she treated it as nothing; but if anyone displeased her, she was certain to retaliate fiercely.
Thinking of this, Madam Zhang could only shake her head helplessly. "Of course not."
Before long, the sound of string and wind instruments rose softly, and dishes were brought to the table one after another. The clan relatives took their seats and offered their congratulations, while Luye, recording the gift list table by table, was run off her feet.
Shen Qingyin handed Tang-jie'er over to the wet nurse and was led to her seat by a servant. Madam Zhang beside her also handed her son, whom she had finally managed to soothe, over to a maidservant.
She raised her hand to knead her aching shoulders, her gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of dishes on the table, and said mockingly, "Second Sister-in-law is certainly willing to spend. Yesterday's main banquet was already lavish to the extreme, yet today's family feast doesn't repeat a single dish."
Shen Qingyin followed her gaze and saw that the dishes on the plates were indeed exquisite, but just like yesterday, all uniformly bland. She felt no appetite at all.
Pei Yue said, "Second Brother and Third Brother run equally large businesses. It's not that Second Sister-in-law is willing to spend—it's that you, Third Sister-in-law, are too frugal."
Madam Zhang smiled and said nothing, only continued kneading her shoulder.
Her father was the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, responsible for supervising the Six Ministries, with countless eyes watching him. As his daughter, she could not hold her father back, so she could only keep a low profile.
Seeing Madam Zhang's hand kneading ceaselessly, Pei Yue reached out and pinched precisely at the hollow of her shoulder. Madam Zhang immediately shuddered all over, and then a wave of thorough relief spread through her, the soreness dissipating by more than half in an instant.
She exclaimed in delight, "Yue-niang, this technique of yours is truly miraculous! With just one press, the soreness in my shoulder has eased so much!"
Pei Yue withdrew her hand and said, "I learned this method from my father back in the military camp. The soldiers trained year-round, so sore shoulders and aching legs were common. The army physicians used this tendon-release massage technique to relieve them, and it never failed."
Hearing this, Shen Qingyin instinctively raised her eyes and happened to meet Pei Yue's gaze.
"I heard that Eldest Sister-in-law also spent quite some time in the northern military camp in her youth. Do you know this technique as well?"
Shen Qingyin first nodded slightly, then gently shook her head, a dazed bewilderment creeping into her eyes.
"It seems somewhat familiar, but when I try to recall it carefully, I can't remember the essentials at all."
Ever since her father and brothers died one after another and she married into the Pei household, her memory had grown worse by the day.
Many vivid scenes from the past seemed covered by a thick fog, growing blurrier with time. She had spent these three years in a muddled haze.
If she remembered, she would not have let the ache in her waist torment her all this time.
Before long, the last dish was served. Shen Qingyin looked around and saw that the only ones sharing her table were Madam Zhang and Pei Yue, and her expression relaxed considerably.
After the dishes were served, the servants began pouring tea. Shen Qingyin sat upright in her seat, staring straight at the scalding tea as it slowly poured into the cup.
Unexpectedly, the servant suddenly stumbled, his wrist jerking sharply, and the entire cup of hot tea splashed out, soaking Shen Qingyin's skirt and leaving a large dark stain.
The scorching heat seeped through the fabric and burned her skin instantly, and Shen Qingyin shot to her feet by pure reflex.
The servant's legs went weak with fright, and he fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and begging forgiveness.
Madam Zhang immediately frowned and sternly rebuked the servant, while Pei Yue swiftly pulled a brocade handkerchief from her sleeve and bent down to wipe Shen Qingyin clean.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, are you burned?"
Shen Qingyin waved her hand and said flatly to the two of them, "There's no need to panic. I'm fine. Yuebai Courtyard isn't far from here—I'll just go change my clothes and come back."
She turned to instruct the wet nurse and Nanny Qing to take good care of Tang-jie'er, then headed toward Yuebai Courtyard with Zhuling.
Yet as she passed the double-eaved pavilion shrouded in gauze, she happened upon a delicate little sedan chair being carried up to the pavilion by four bearers.
A draft sweeping through suddenly lifted a corner of the sedan curtain, and Shen Qingyin instinctively raised her eyes.
With just one glance, she felt as though struck by lightning, the blood in her whole body seeming to freeze in an instant, leaving her rooted to the spot, unable to move.
The woman seated in the sedan had her face veiled, revealing only a pair of clear, elegant almond eyes.
That woman happened to catch Shen Qingyin's gaze as well. Her almond eyes stirred slightly, and as her glance flowed, a faint, almost imperceptible smile rippled across them.
Zhuling, following behind Shen Qingyin, saw her suddenly freeze in place and could not help but call out softly and cautiously.
"Madam?"
Shen Qingyin finally came back to herself. Concealing the storm surging in her eyes, she quickened her pace toward Yuebai Courtyard.
Once she had changed her clothes, Shen Qingyin took Zhuling back along the same route to Bishan Courtyard.
When they came before the double-eaved pavilion again, light gauze drifted in the breeze, shadows swaying, and within the pavilion sat that graceful figure in stillness.
Before Shen Qingyin could speak, a quick-witted little maid hurried out of the pavilion and blocked her path directly, dropping into a curtsy.
"Greetings, Madam."
She drew from deep within her sleeve an exquisitely crafted violet pouch and presented it with both hands to Shen Qingyin.
"Just now, when you passed by here, my mistress saw that you had accidentally dropped this pouch and picked it up on your behalf. She sent this humble servant to return it to you."
"Is that so? I didn't even know when I'd dropped it."
Shen Qingyin took the pouch and weighed it in her fingers, but the weight was wrong—more than half the silver inside was clearly missing.
The little maid added, unhurried: "My mistress saw that you had dropped your pouch and picked it up for you. Taking a little from it as a reward—surely that's not too much to ask?"
Zhuling immediately stepped forward and said sharply: "Taking what does not belong to you is theft! What talk is there of rewards?"
"Zhuling." Shen Qingyin raised a hand to stop her maid, who was poised to argue, and spoke to the little maid with lowered head before her.
"You're quite right."
With those words, she turned the pouch upside down, gathered the remaining bits of silver in her palm, and pressed them all into the little maid's hands.
"Your mistress returned lost property so honorably—this should all serve as her thanks."
The little maid, holding the silver that had suddenly multiplied, stood frozen for a moment.
"Madam… I must first go back and ask my mistress whether she can accept this money."
Shen Qingyin gave a slight nod, indicating she should go.
The little maid hurried back into the pavilion with the silver, and returned a moment later, holding the money once more, untouched, and handed it back to Zhuling. She curtsied to Shen Qingyin again and reported:
"My mistress says that she already took her reward just now, and the rest of this loose change is beneath her notice—there is no need to give it to her."
Shen Qingyin had not expected such a reply, and her eyes darkened slightly.
Then she heard the maid continue: "Furthermore, my mistress asked me to convey a message to you: most of the powerful and noble men of today are her regular patrons—even Young Master Wei Chang, the Second Madam's own brother, and your husband, Young Master Pei, often come to show her favor. Madam need not pity her."
How could this be?
She gazed at the figure behind the gauze, and suddenly she seemed a stranger.
Zhuling murmured a reminder: "Madam, if we delay too long, I fear it will be a breach of etiquette."
The words roused her from her daze.
Shen Qingyin gave a slight nod, cast one last deep look at the figure in the pavilion, and turned to leave.
As soon as she walked into the banquet, Shen Qingyin saw that Madam Wei had come to their table as well.
Only after Shen Qingyin took her seat did Madam Zhang pick up her chopsticks, remarking casually, "Sister-in-law, you only went back to change your clothes—what took you so long?"
Shen Qingyin shook her head, clearly unwilling to speak of it, and Madam Zhang asked no further.
The atmosphere at the table gradually warmed. Madam Wei lifted the hot tea before her, took a small sip, and said leisurely, "Eldest Brother's servant, Nan Feng, came by earlier. He said Eldest Brother won't be able to attend until later, and Third Brother is still out collecting debts and hasn't returned. Today it's only the four of us sisters-in-law at this table—nowhere near as lively as yesterday's hall full of guests."
She turned to Pei Yue beside her. "Yue Niang, next time you visit, why not simply bring your husband along? We're all family here—there's no need to be so formal every time. More people makes for a livelier gathering."
Pei Yue picked up a slice of tender bamboo shoot with her chopsticks and placed it in her bowl. "You don't know, Second Sister-in-law. My husband used to be merely courteous, but now he truly cannot spare himself. He's busy arranging a match for our Erlang, calling on households all over—he really can't find the time to accompany me home."
"Your Zhou Erlang needs help finding a match?" Madam Zhang laughed behind her hand, her tone full of admiration and envy. "Who in the capital doesn't know the Zhou family's strict house rules? Their ancestors decreed that no descendant may take concubines or marry a secondary wife. Aside from the former Prince Dingbei's family, who else could manage such a thing—"
The smiles around the table froze instantly, and even the flowing music seemed to halt.
After all, Ling Heng, the once-celebrated heir of Prince Dingbei, had defected to the enemy at the Battle of Pingyang Pass, transforming from Great Qi's "Jade-Faced Asura" into the young General Ling of Beishuo.
Emperor Yan despised betrayal above all else and had long since issued an edict to capture him alive, wishing he could eat his flesh and drink his blood. His very name had become something that could not so much as be mentioned.
Madam Zhang belatedly realized her slip and felt a pang of regret, but she could find no fitting words to smooth things over. She could only force herself to continue awkwardly.
"…Logically speaking, there should be no shortage of young ladies calling at your door to propose a match."
Pei Yue pretended to sip her tea, only speaking up once the laughter had lost its stiffness. "Marriage is a matter of fate. Though many have come calling, none has caught Erlang's eye. If any of you three sisters-in-law know of a young lady of good character, feel free to keep an eye out and help make a match for him."
"Oh, speaking of which…" The moment Pei Yue finished speaking, Madam Zhang turned her head at once, her gaze settling directly on Shen Qingyin.
"If I remember correctly, your family's youngest sister is at just the right age for marriage, isn't she, Sister-in-law?"
Shen Qingyin's fingers tightened abruptly around her chopsticks.
After a long moment, she slowly raised her eyes and answered honestly, "That's right."
Since her elder brother died in battle and her father passed away from grief and rage, only she, her mother, her younger sister Shen Qingqing, and her youngest brother Shen Cong remained at home.
Qing Niang had indeed reached the age of marriage, and her mother lamented it every time they met—her words always tinged with worry over the matter.
"What a coincidence."
Pei Yue's eyes brightened at once. Looking at Shen Qingyin, she said, "Sister-in-law, you are breathtakingly beautiful and of impeccable character—your younger sister must surely be a fine girl, lovely in both looks and conduct! I'll tell my husband as soon as I return and have him mention it to Erlang, so the two of them can meet!"
The Zhou family was of noble and distinguished standing, with a strict and upright family tradition. The young men of the Zhou family were widely praised in the capital's aristocratic circles as models of good husbands, and Shen Qingyin was willing to see Qingniang marry into such a family.
In any case, whether or not there were dates on the tree, it couldn't hurt to give the branch a whack—it was worth asking.
With this thought, she raised her hand, lifted her teacup, and offered a toast to Pei Yue. "In that case, I'll trouble you with this, Yue Niang."
Madam Zhang watched with delight and teased with a smile, "If this truly works out in the end, I'll count as half a matchmaker. When that time comes, both your families had better prepare thick red envelopes for me—I won't stand for a single one less!"
Pei Yue laughed heartily. "Rest assured, Third Sister-in-law. If this happy match comes to pass, your generous gift is guaranteed!"
Off to the side, Madam Wei watched the three of them chattering warmly and curled her lips dismissively. "Yue Niang, don't speak too confidently. Your husband's family has very high standards—even daughters of ordinary noble houses may not catch their eye. I'm afraid this match won't be so easily made…"
"If I recall, when you married into the Zhou family, it was the family head himself who stepped in and spent a great deal of effort arranging your marriage."
Pei Yue didn't catch the deeper meaning behind these words, but Madam Zhang sensed trouble brewing.
Sure enough, as she finished speaking, Madam Wei immediately turned her head to look at Shen Qingyin once more.
"Sister-in-law, I once caught a distant glimpse of your younger sister while offering incense at the Great Compassion Temple. You were with her at the time. Standing together, I could see that while she couldn't compare to your bewitching, peerless beauty, she was still quite delicately lovely."
"If you have something to say, just say it plainly." Shen Qingyin held her teacup and turned her gaze toward her.
Madam Wei smiled. "Well, it's like this—you know my younger brother Wei Chang, that handsome young man who came to pay New Year's respects at your estate. You've met him!"
Shen Qingyin couldn't recall any such person, and her eyes went blank.
Yet Madam Wei continued, entirely oblivious. "He's opened a restaurant in the East Market this year—his prospects are bright indeed. And it just so happens he's reached marriageable age. Countless young ladies have actively sought his hand, but neither my elder sister nor I thought any of them worthy. Only your sister barely meets my standards."
"If you're also willing, Sister-in-law, I'll write a letter home to ask whether my Chang Lang would be willing to take your sister as a concubine. What do you say?"
Those last few words fell softly, yet they landed like a heavy stone dropped into still water.
Take Qingniang as a concubine.
What do I say?
For the first time ever, the dullness in Shen Qingyin's eyes faded completely away.
The next instant—
Crack!
With a slight tightening of her palm, the crisp sound of a shattering teacup exploded across the gathering.
All the surrounding chatter and laughter cut off abruptly.