Two days after the tea gathering, the lingering liveliness of spring in the manor had yet to fade.
When the young maidservants passed under the covered corridors, what they talked about was still the events from that day. They spoke of how Concubine Jiang’s shimmering brocade had glowed with flowing light, how it made her appear even more delicate and refined; they spoke of her generosity—how a few Madams had merely praised her casually, yet she had truly promised to send them fabric. And inevitably, they added how pleased the Duchess had been, how everyone at the table had praised her for being fortunate and socially adept.
These words were not deliberately carried into the Main Courtyard, but when the wind passed through the corridors, it would inevitably bring a fragment or two along.
While Qing Tao tidied Wen Yunyi’s dressing table, she could not help but mutter softly, “Outside, everyone is talking about Concubine Jiang. It’s as if she alone took all the spotlight at the tea gathering.”
Wen Yunyi sat before the mirror, letting Bai Lan arrange her hair. Hearing this, she only said lightly, “She did take the spotlight that day.”
Qing Tao was momentarily at a loss and looked up at her. Wen Yunyi’s expression was calm, without the slightest trace of jealousy, as if she were merely stating an ordinary fact.
That left Qing Tao unable to continue her complaint.
Bai Lan placed a jade hairpin into her hair and gently reminded her, “Today is the fifteenth. Madam will be having breakfast, and it’s about time.”
Wen Yunyi gave a quiet acknowledgment and stood, smoothing her sleeves.
There was a rule in the Duke’s Manor: on the first and fifteenth of each month, the entire household would gather in the Duchess’s courtyard for breakfast. Normally, concubines were not meant to sit at the table for such family meals, but the Duchess had always been lenient. As Jiang Yunzhi was the only concubine in the manor and had a pleasing, tactful personality, the Duchess had long allowed her to sit with them. Over time, it had become an unspoken rule.
It seemed like a small matter, but whether one sat at the table or not made all the difference.
Wen Yunyi understood this very clearly.
When she stepped out, supported by Bai Lan, the morning light had just fully broken. The air under the corridor still carried a trace of early chill, stirring the hems of garments lightly. By the time they reached the Duchess’s courtyard, breakfast had already been laid out—porridge, side dishes, delicate pastries, steamed dumplings—everything warm and neatly arranged on the gilded Eight-Immortals table.
The Duchess sat at the head. Her hair was neatly arranged, and her features still retained their charm. She had always been straightforward and warm-hearted; whom she liked, she favored openly. Seeing Wen Yunyi enter, she merely glanced at her and said evenly, “You’re here? Sit.”
Wen Yunyi stepped forward to greet her, then took her seat.
Xu Jinzhi was already there, seated below the Duchess, his features clear and composed. Xu Mingshu sat beside the Duchess, fiddling with her spoon. Hearing movement, she looked up at Wen Yunyi. Her expression was not warm, but it no longer carried the sharpness it once had.
And Jiang Yunzhi, as expected, was also seated at the table.
She was dressed plainly today, in a moon-white floral skirt, with only a small velvet flower in her hair. Compared to the tea gathering, she appeared much more restrained. The moment she saw Wen Yunyi enter, she instinctively straightened, and the smile on her lips faded slightly, as if she still felt an unspoken unease from not wearing the pale jade cloud-pattern silk that day.
As Wen Yunyi sat down, her gaze brushed past Jiang Yunzhi briefly, and she said nothing.
At first, the atmosphere at the table was fairly calm.
The Duchess asked about whether the post-gathering gifts had been delivered to the various families, then asked Xu Mingshu whether she had been diligent with her calligraphy. As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to recall something. She picked up a plate of soft steamed sweet cakes and pushed it toward Jiang Yunzhi. “Didn’t you say you liked these the other day? The kitchen made them fresh this morning. Try some.”
Jiang Yunzhi quickly said, “Thank you, Madam.”
As she accepted them, her smile naturally softened.
It was just a simple gesture.
But at this table, it carried meaning. Watching the Duchess’s movement, Wen Yunyi felt nothing but calm.
Sometimes favoritism worked like this—it did not require grand words. A single casual gesture was enough.
Xu Mingshu, sitting nearby, saw Jiang Yunzhi take the cakes and smiled as well. “Mother is biased. Why do you only remember that Yunzhi Madam likes these?”
The Duchess lightly tapped her forehead. “Stop pretending. If you wanted them, would the kitchen ever deny you?”
The room filled with laughter.
Wen Yunyi also curved her lips faintly, as though none of it concerned her.
Halfway through the meal, however, the Duchess suddenly set down her chopsticks. Her gaze swept across everyone at the table as her tone shifted. “Mingshu is still young, so there’s no rush. But as for Jinzhi… things can’t keep dragging on like this.”
The laughter instantly stilled.
Xu Jinzhi lifted his eyes, his brows tightening almost imperceptibly, as if he already knew what she was about to say.
Sure enough, her next words came directly. “That first pregnancy was lost—it’s a pity. But you can’t let that one incident mean nothing is ever mentioned again. The two of you aren’t young anymore. You should be paying attention to heirs.”
These words were directed at Xu Jinzhi and Wen Yunyi.
But when she said “the two of you,” Jiang Yunzhi, seated at the table, stiffened as well, her fingers tightening slightly.
Because she also knew that if the Duchess allowed her to sit at this table, she would not truly exclude her from the matter of heirs.
Sure enough, after saying this, the Duchess’s gaze shifted naturally to her. Her tone was not harsh, but it was entirely direct. “Yunzhi, don’t just focus on being likable. When it’s time to step up, you must. The matter of heirs in this household is no small thing.”
As soon as those words fell, Jiang Yunzhi’s face flushed red.
She had never been good at responding to such topics, and in front of everyone, she felt even more embarrassed, not knowing where to look. She could only murmur, “Yes.”
Xu Mingshu, who had been about to joke, sensed the change in atmosphere and obediently fell silent.
At this moment, Xu Jinzhi finally spoke.
“Mother.” His tone was calm, but it carried a clear intent to stop the conversation. “It’s too early to discuss such matters at breakfast.”
The Duchess looked at him, unconvinced. “I’m speaking of proper matters. If you had taken this to heart earlier, would I need to bring it up at this table?”
She had always been like this—warm when she was warm, direct when she was direct, never fond of beating around the bush.
Xu Jinzhi listened, his brows tightening further, but he did not argue again.
He had always disliked discussing such matters openly at the table. Not because of anyone in particular, but because talking about heirs in front of others placed an uncomfortable pressure on everyone. Yet the Duchess was both his elder and the mistress of the household. Even if he disagreed, he could not openly contradict her.
Jiang Yunzhi could barely hold her chopsticks steady now.
No matter how pleasant or cheerful she usually was, such words were difficult to bear. She kept her head lowered, even her ears flushed red, wishing only for the meal to end quickly.
At that moment, Wen Yunyi, instead, became completely calm.
She did not fall into awkward silence, nor did she look at others’ expressions, nor did she defend herself. She simply lifted her gaze and answered steadily, “Mother is right. Daughter-in-law was unwell some time ago. Now that I have recovered, I will naturally take this matter to heart.”
The reply was smooth and even, not intense, yet it steadied the tension at the table.
The Duchess, hearing this, softened slightly.
At least Wen Yunyi’s answer spared her further effort.
She nodded. “It’s good that you think this way.”
Jiang Yunzhi, listening from the side, felt an indescribable mix of emotions.
She had been embarrassed just moments ago, yet Wen Yunyi’s steady response made her seem even more like someone who could only lower her head in discomfort. She had always been likable and easy to sympathize with, but at this table, the one who could truly hold the situation together—for herself and for others—was still Wen Yunyi.
That realization left her both relieved and uneasy.
Meanwhile, Tong Wei stood behind Xu Jinzhi, serving dishes, her lashes lowered, her expression perfectly gentle and proper.
She had also heard the Duchess’s remarks about heirs.
Hearing Wen Yunyi being directly pressed under the expectation of producing heirs gave her a subtle sense of satisfaction; yet hearing Jiang Yunzhi being named as well stirred a sharper bitterness.
With her head lowered, she lightly adjusted the soup bowl at Xu Jinzhi’s side, but inwardly, her thoughts tightened.
One day, she would stand in a closer position.
The thought flickered through her mind before she quickly suppressed it, leaving no trace on her face.
The rest of the meal passed without further incident.
The Duchess, having said what she needed to say, did not repeat herself. Xu Mingshu, subdued by the earlier topic, ate more quietly; Jiang Yunzhi remained silent, even more cautious in picking her food. Only Wen Yunyi remained composed, as though the earlier exchange had stirred little within her.
After the meal, everyone rose.
Wen Yunyi walked out supported by Bai Lan. The morning breeze moved through the covered corridor, stirring her garments lightly. Qing Tao followed behind, asking softly, “Madam’s words just now… they sounded quite unpleasant.”
Wen Yunyi did not answer immediately. She walked all the way to the courtyard, beneath a flowering tree, before pausing.
New leaves had just sprouted on the branches, a tender green layer under the sunlight, full of vitality.
Looking at that fresh greenery, she suddenly smiled faintly. “Unpleasant or not, she wasn’t wrong.”
Qing Tao was startled.
Wen Yunyi withdrew her gaze, her tone still calm. “As long as I sit in the position of Principal Wife, the dignity of this household, its rules, its heirs, and the order of the inner quarters—sooner or later, all of it will fall on me.”
Bai Lan, standing nearby, felt a slight tremor in her heart.
The wind passed under the corridor, carrying fragments of shifting shadows that fell at her feet.
In that moment, Bai Lan suddenly felt that Wen Yunyi was truly no longer the same as before.