The day of the tea gathering arrived under a beautifully clear sky.
Spring sunlight slanted down from the eaves, casting a warm glow even on the newly replaced bamboo blinds along the corridor. The few pots of West Mansion crabapple that had been delivered from the flower room two days ago were in full bloom, their scattered blossoms pressing against the branches in vivid red. The Duchess had always loved lively occasions, and today she had invited several familiar madams and female relatives. The gathering was not large, but everything had been arranged with meticulous order.
On the Main Courtyard’s side, Wen Yunyi rose neither too early nor too late.
While Bai Lan arranged her hair, Qing Tao was still selecting earrings for her. She had originally thought that for an occasion like this, the heir’s wife should dress more strikingly to command the scene. Yet Wen Yunyi chose only a smoke-rose patterned beizi, paired as usual with a moon-white skirt. The colors were gentle, but on her, they did not appear light—instead, they enhanced the lively radiance of her fair and full features.
Qing Tao pinned a kingfisher-feather hairpin set with pearls into her hair, then stepped back to admire her work. “This is perfect for today, Madam. Any more would feel too heavy.”
Wen Yunyi adjusted her collar slightly but said nothing.
Her mind was calmer today than it had been in the past few days.
Because she knew very well that the one who should feel uneasy today was not herself.
Once dressed, Wen Yunyi stepped out, supported by Bai Lan. As she reached the corridor, fine willow catkins were already drifting in the breeze, catching lightly on the railings. She looked up at the sky, knowing that this tea gathering would not remain entirely peaceful.
Only, the unrest would not necessarily come from her side.
Meanwhile, in Listening Rain Pavilion, there was indeed a faint, unspoken tension lingering.
Jiang Yunzhi had already changed her clothes and was seated before the dressing table while Yin Zhu adjusted the last hairpin for her.
What she wore was not the pale jade cloud-pattern silk outfit, but instead a spring garment made of shimmering brocade. The color was a soft apricot with a hint of gold dust—at first glance not eye-catching, but when she moved, the fabric seemed to ripple with a delicate flowing light. It was gentle, yet undeniably luxurious. The brocade bore subtle woven vine patterns that only revealed their intricacy upon closer inspection.
The Jiang family were salt merchants; while they might not boast of pedigree, they were never lacking in wealth. Among the trunks she had brought from her maiden home, fabrics like this were not rare. She had simply kept a low profile in the residence before, dressing plainly, so it had never stood out. Today, when Yin Zhu worried that the pale jade outfit might be problematic, she had rummaged through the trunks in haste and uncovered this garment instead.
Jiang Yunzhi lowered her gaze to look at herself, still uneasy. “Is this a bit too conspicuous?”
Yin Zhu smoothed her sleeve. “It’s just right. There will be many people today—if you dress too plainly, it will look deliberate. Besides, this is something you brought from home. It doesn’t offend anyone, and no one can find fault with it.”
Jiang Yunzhi pressed her lips together, her eyes drifting unconsciously to the pale jade cloud-pattern outfit set aside nearby, still feeling uncertain.
She had no real proof that there was anything wrong with that outfit.
But she simply did not dare to wear it.
The matter of Old Madam Zhao still weighed on her mind. Jiang Yunzhi was not bold by nature, and the thought of something going wrong at a public occasion like this—losing face in front of guests—made her even more unwilling to take the risk.
Seeing her hesitation, Yin Zhu lowered her voice. “Don’t think about it anymore. If not today, there will always be another chance to wear it.”
Only then did Jiang Yunzhi nod softly and rise with her support.
Once she stood, the beauty of the shimmering brocade became fully apparent.
She was naturally slender and delicate, and the fabric did not overwhelm her—instead, it made her seem as if she were enveloped in spring light itself. The hem of her skirt rippled subtly with each step, like water. Though she still felt it somewhat flamboyant, Yin Zhu, seeing her, felt reassured. In terms of presence, this outfit was even more impressive than the pale jade one.
By the time she arrived at the Duchess’s courtyard, several madams were already there.
They were all wives from scholarly official families—refined in dress, though their elegance leaned toward restraint and dignity rather than opulence. When Jiang Yunzhi entered, several gazes instinctively turned toward her.
Not because of her status, but precisely because her attire stood out.
It was not gaudy, but it carried the unmistakable brilliance of wealth.
One madam, who had been chatting with the Duchess, paused upon noticing the faint shimmer along Jiang Yunzhi’s skirt and smiled. “Concubine Jiang’s outfit is quite lovely. What fabric is it? It looks rather uncommon.”
Already somewhat self-conscious, Jiang Yunzhi flushed slightly before answering softly, “It’s just an old piece from home. I thought it suited the spring, so I had it made into something to wear.”
Her casual tone only made others look more closely.
A younger mistress chimed in with a smile, “If this is just old fabric, your family must have been quite particular in their collections. The way it catches the light—it’s shimmering brocade, isn’t it? I’ve seen it before.”
The room quickly filled with conversation.
These women from scholarly families valued refinement, but in terms of actual wealth, they could not always match merchant households. Though Jiang Yunzhi’s family lacked high status, they spared no expense on fine fabrics and jewelry. Everyone knew this, though it was rarely spoken outright. Now, under the guise of complimenting her clothes, a hint of that admiration inevitably surfaced.
Jiang Yunzhi grew even more embarrassed under their praise, smiling shyly. “If you truly like it, I still have a few similar bolts. They’re nothing special—later I’ll have Yin Zhu sort them out and send some to each Madam for tailoring.”
Her words made the room even livelier.
If she had been boasting, it would have been unpleasant. But her tone was so natural, even shy, that it seemed she genuinely did not think much of it and simply wished to share.
One madam laughed. “What a generous child.”
Another added, “No wonder Madam likes you. Such a cheerful and pleasant disposition—who wouldn’t feel at ease?”
Seated at the head, the Duchess listened with a smile forming on her face.
She had always liked someone like Jiang Yunzhi—someone who appeared blessed, generous, unpretentious. Even if her background was lower, there was something about her that made people inclined to favor her. Seeing her shine today in shimmering brocade and give freely without hesitation only increased that favor.
Xu Mingshu, sitting nearby, could not help but look a few more times. “Yunzhi Madam looks truly beautiful today.”
Blushing again, Jiang Yunzhi smiled. “If Miss Mingshu likes it, I have another bolt in a lotus-pink shade. It would suit you even better.”
Xu Mingshu’s eyes brightened immediately.
As laughter and chatter continued, Wen Yunyi also arrived.
When she entered, the lively atmosphere did not immediately quiet. Yet as several gazes swept toward her, she clearly sensed the subtle comparisons.
They were not spoken aloud, but they were sharper than words.
One was the legitimate daughter of a chancellor’s residence and the heir’s wife of a ducal household—someone who should dominate the scene in every way. The other was a merchant-born concubine, yet dressed strikingly in shimmering brocade, charming in speech, and generous in spirit.
Wen Yunyi saw the unspoken weighing in their eyes clearly.
She did not feel angry—only faintly amused.
Was this not exactly how it had been in the original story?
Jiang Yunzhi never needed to do anything. She only had to stand there, and things would naturally turn in her favor.
She had avoided wearing the pale jade outfit out of fear, yet this change had resulted in something even more eye-catching, allowing her to win favor effortlessly at the tea gathering.
Wen Yunyi took her seat, her gaze resting briefly on the shimmering brocade before a calm thought passed through her mind:
Even if she had tampered with that pale jade outfit, Jiang Yunzhi might not have fallen for it.
There would always be some coincidence to steer her away from danger and place her somewhere even more advantageous.
Such was the fate of the original story’s heroine.
Though she thought this, her expression remained calm. She greeted the Duchess, took her seat, and did not glance at the shimmering brocade again.
Yet that very restraint invited more speculation.
Some thought she still possessed composure; others believed she had learned to endure after suffering setbacks. Those glances fell upon her and moved away, unspoken but telling.
Meanwhile, behind a screen, Tong Wei stood attending to the tea.
She had deliberately found an excuse to assist today, positioning herself where she could observe everything without drawing attention. From the morning, she had been waiting to see whether Jiang Yunzhi would wear the pale jade outfit. But the moment she saw the shimmering brocade instead, her heart sank.
She hadn’t worn it.
She truly hadn’t worn it.
Tong Wei tightened her fingers around the tray, her thoughts first hollow, then filled with rising frustration.
How could it turn out like this?
Not only had Jiang Yunzhi avoided embarrassment, but her shimmering brocade made her even more dazzling. The one who was supposed to stumble at the tea gathering had instead become the center of admiration, with the Duchess’s smile warmer than usual.
Why did fortune always favor her?
Listening to the praise, Tong Wei’s resentment deepened.
She had served for years, yet remained only a maidservant. Jiang Yunzhi, on the other hand, seemed blessed by heaven—despite her merchant background and modest entry into the household, she had risen step by step with ease. Even today, what should have been a downfall had turned into glory.
Lowering her eyes, Tong Wei felt bitterness surge within her.
At the banquet, laughter continued.
Tea steam curled gently, flower shadows swayed, and Jiang Yunzhi, surrounded by others, had become the most eye-catching presence of the gathering because of her shimmering brocade and generosity. Wen Yunyi sat not far away, a faint smile on her lips, her gaze calm.
Watching the spring scene unfold, she became even more certain of one thing:
This heroine of the original story truly was someone who could win without even trying.