What else could it be?
She had always been someone of few words and indifferent emotions. These past days, it was Qin Shi’san who had been preoccupied with his own thoughts and failed to notice her changes — not that she had changed her nature.
It turned out that the one who had changed was Qin Shi’san, not Cheng Jiao-niang.
“So, were you deliberately trying to help me see my own heart clearly?” he asked.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“You yourself don’t think you’re crippled, don’t think you’re any different from others, and believe you’re not ill — then how could I treat you?” she said.
Young Master Qin smiled and once again bowed to Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Thank you for your concern,” he said.
The lady before him returned the courtesy but said nothing.
Qin Shi’san nodded again, turned around, and slowly walked out. The door closed firmly behind him, without a moment’s hesitation.
Qin Shi’san stopped in his tracks and turned back.
“See? Just a few words and he was sent out — not at all like you said, that she keeps your son around all day to order about,” Madam Chen whispered, lifting the carriage curtain.
“Oh dear, look — he’s about to cry,” Madam Qin whispered too, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
Madam Chen reached out and nudged her.
“Who’s crying? What kind of mother are you? Seeing your son and still so cheerful despite him not being happy.” She chided, then looked outside and couldn’t help but sigh. “If anyone’s upset, it’s my Shi’liu. He even threw his fishing rod into the lake.”
Madam Qin nudged her back.
“Come on, let’s go say hello to Shi’san,” she said with a smile.
Madam Chen quickly reached out to hold her back.
“Will you stop? You just want to see your son when he’s embarrassed,” she scolded, while instructing the coachman, “Let’s go, go.”
“Don’t worry. I know my son — he’s not the kind to be overwhelmed by things like this,” Madam Qin said with a laugh.
“Not the kind to be overwhelmed?” Madam Chen looked at her with a tight-lipped smile. “And yet a few words almost made him explode with anger?”
“That’s because he took her medicine,” Madam Qin laughed, then burst out into another giggle, covering her mouth with her fan. “Though I suppose if this lady wanted to drive someone mad, it wouldn’t be that hard either.”
The carriage moved on, the curtain swaying gently in the wind. Behind them, Qin Shi’san had already boarded his carriage.
“My son understands everything in his heart. He’s not the sort to be troubled by trivial affections,” she said. “That’s why he’s not afraid of anyone seeing him in a sorry state.”
Besides, now her son had no more shortcomings at all — a life even more beautiful and vibrant was waiting for him to enjoy.
If he could still be carefree when he was incomplete, why would he trouble himself now?
In early July, the lingering summer nights remained oppressively hot. As night fell, Desheng Pavilion lit up like a paradise on earth — bustling with noise and overflowing with dazzling lights.
The bridge corridors were lined with brightly dressed courtesans of all shapes and sizes, while underneath the bridge, crowds of laughing, chattering men gathered.
Suddenly, amidst the lively clamor, a fresh wave of excitement surged.
“Lady Zhu is here!”
At the sound of the shout, Wang Shi’qi, who had been sitting on the floor in the main hall, immediately sprang to his feet and dashed ahead of the crowd.
Cheng Si-lang was left behind, chasing after him but soon overwhelmed by the throng, stumbling left and right, unable to stay on his feet.
Up on the bridge corridor, a young girl walked slowly, flanked by two maids. Her gaze stayed straight ahead, not straying left or right, yet the crowd below erupted in excited murmurs.
The beauty passed over the corridor and soon disappeared into the building, leaving the men below standing there for quite some time, reluctant to leave.
Wang Shi’qi-lang hadn’t come back yet — he was still looking down, searching for his shoes.
Cheng Si-lang, clearly annoyed, threw him a pair of shoes that had been stepped on and practically ruined.
“What exactly are you trying to do?” he snapped. “How did Uncle and Aunt even allow you to come here like this?”
Wang Shi’qi sat down and started putting on his shoes.
“They told you to leave and you didn’t — what’s that got to do with me?” he said.
“My father and mother don’t care what I do. Why are you here? Better watch out or I’ll tell Uncle and Aunt on you!”
Playing the victim now, was he?!
Cheng Si-lang sat down beside him.
“I don’t care. If you don’t care, then who does?” he stammered. “You—you were supposed to come to pick up my sister! Look at what you’re doing now!”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Wang Shi’qi said, pouring himself a drink from the wine pot.
“I’ll leave once I get a glimpse of Lady Zhu.”
Cheng Si-lang was furious and at a loss.
“If you’re like this, how can you possibly treat my sister well in the future?” he said.
“Of course I will,” Wang Shi’qi glared, waving him off impatiently. “Stop nagging. Hurry up and lend me some money.”
“You’ve already spent all your money?” Cheng Si-lang cried out in shock.
His voice drew glances from the people nearby.
“Young man,” said a drunken man with a hazy smile, raising his wine flask, “this is a money pit — money here isn’t money at all… What’s strange about spending it all? Not spending it all would be strange.”
Beside him was an obviously well-groomed male companion, who was smiling as he fed the man a piece of fruit, and even threw a flirtatious glance at Cheng Si-lang.
Cheng Si-lang shivered with disgust and quickly shuffled closer to Wang Shi’qi.
“Are you crazy? What did you spend it all on?” he asked in a low voice.
“It’s nothing, really. I just picked up a few rare things to give Lady Zhu — blame it on everything in the capital being too expensive,” Wang Shi’qi said, urging him, “Come on, give me some money. The money from home won’t arrive for a little while.”
“I don’t have money for you to throw around,” Cheng Si-lang said.
“Well, that’s true,” Wang Shi’qi said, stroking his chin. “Lady Zhu lives in the capital — what rare treasures hasn’t she seen? She comes from an official family and is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting…”
At that, a thought suddenly struck him, and he slapped Cheng Si-lang on the arm.
“Aren’t you good at poetry? Quick, write one for me,” he said. “If Lady Zhu likes it, I might finally get to see her face.”
“Poetry is meant for expressing love — how can it be used like this?” Cheng Si-lang replied awkwardly.
Let alone writing poetry in a place like this — just setting foot in a brothel for boys of their background could get their legs broken.
Of course, this time didn’t count — he was only here to keep an eye on Wang Shi’qi.
“Nonsense. Isn’t my admiration for Lady Zhu also a kind of love?” Wang Shi’qi said.
“Come on, hurry up!”
Cheng Si-lang hesitated for a moment.
“If you see her just once, will you leave?” he asked.
“If I don’t leave, am I supposed to stay overnight? She’s not a prostitute,” Wang Shi’qi replied.
Of course, the rule that official courtesans didn’t stay overnight was more of a formality — if they really wanted to, no one would stop them. The real question was whether you were worthy enough for them to make an exception.
That much, Wang Shi’qi at least understood.
Cheng Si-lang let out an “oh.”
“Then… you have to treat my sister well in the future,” he said again.
Wang Shi’qi couldn’t help but laugh.
“Didn’t expect that from you — you’re actually quite protective of that silly sister of yours,” he said with a chuckle.
“She’s just pitiful. I don’t expect much from her, only that she can live a safe and peaceful life,” Cheng Si-lang said.
Wang Shi’qi reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
“No problem. I promise you,” he said. “That is—if you can help me get a glimpse of Lady Zhu.”
As dawn broke, the once-boisterous Desheng Pavilion finally sank into silence.
In one of the finest chambers, Lady Zhu was removing her makeup.
She never wore much to begin with — after taking off a single red hairpin and lightly wiping away some rouge, the girl in the mirror appeared fresh and elegant, as pure as a lotus emerging from water.
The door slid open, and a young maid entered carrying boxes and scrolls of various sizes.
“More gifts for the young lady?” Chun Ling quickly stepped forward to help, speaking as she did.
“Yes. These people are so annoying,” the young maid pouted, rubbing her sore shoulder.
Lady Zhu’s room was not large — just a couch, a desk, and a dressing table already made it feel crowded.
The two girls stacked the boxes by the window, which was already lined with gifts. From gold and silver jewelry to paintings, antiques, musical instruments, and chess sets from famous scholars — everything was piled together in a casual mess, reflecting the owner’s indifference.
The two young maids chatted and laughed as they unpacked the boxes.
“…Chun Ling, look at this jade pendant someone sent — it’s really beautiful.”
“…Well, of course. Sister Zhu deserves only the finest jade pendants.”
“Chun Ling, you really have a sweet tongue — always saying things that please the young lady.”
“Does the young lady’s favor even need to be won over? She deserves everyone’s affection.”
Hearing the girls’ cheerful banter, Lady Zhu couldn’t help but smile as well.
“ChunLling, have you packed everything needed for tomorrow’s tea gathering?” she asked.
Chun Ling turned her head and nodded respectfully.
“All packed,” she replied.
Although she hadn’t been with them for long, she was already able to accompany Lady Zhu to various banquets and gatherings. While she hadn’t received formal training at the music and dance bureau, she was clever, eager to learn, and quick-witted. She had never made a mistake and took meticulous care of Lady Zhu. Though she had been the last to join Lady Zhu’s attendants, she had now become the most trusted one.
Lady Zhu continued wiping off her plum blossom makeup in front of the mirror.
“Chun Ling, look at this — they sent a piece of paper,” the young maid whispered with a smile.
Chun Ling turned her head to look.
“Probably another poetry written by some pretentious scholar,” she said.
She couldn’t read and had no interest in it.
The young maid, having been trained at the music and dance bureau, could read characters. She opened the paper and smiled as she read aloud.
“It’s actually pretty well written,” she said. “Hey? Chun Ling, this person is from your hometown.”
Chun Ling, who was carefully examining a beast head with lion-ear and dragon patterns, looked over again at these words.
Hometown?
“…Jiang-zhou Cheng…” the young maid read aloud.
With a loud clatter, the beast head that Chun Ling was holding fell to the ground. The young maid was startled, and Lady Zhu also turned to look.
The brightness in Chun Ling’s eyes faded, replaced by tears.
“Is it really from Jiang-zhou? Is it really Jiang-zhou?” she asked. “I can’t read — don’t lie to me.”
Homesickness is truly hard to forget.
Lady Zhu pursed her lips and smiled.
“Yes, why would I lie to you? Look.” The young maid brought the paper closer and pointed to it. “This is… Jiang-zhou’s Cheng Wenyu…”
Chun Ling widened her eyes and stared intently at the maid’s finger. She reached out her hand to follow the point, slowly landing on those characters.
Jiang–zhou Cheng
Jiang–zhou Cheng
Jiang–zhou Cheng!
Cheng!
“Lady Cheng!”
Qin Shi’san said.
“Leaving so early?”
Young Master Qin looked somewhat surprised.
The maid glanced at him, also wearing a surprised expression.
“Young Master Qin, you’re going out this early too?” she asked.
Qin Shi’san smiled.
“There’s always some unusual behavior on days of great joy,” he said. “Please forgive me.”
The maid smiled but said nothing.
Cheng Jiao-niang stepped out and glanced at Young Master Qin.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Oh, it’s like this,” Qin Shi’san smiled and took a step forward. “Should I recklessly celebrate and run around on my legs now, or carefully take care of and rest them for a while? I’m still anxious and uneasy—I want to hear your words to be at ease.”
“Just keep a calm mind,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Qin Shi’san smiled and nodded in response.
“I understand,” he said, watching the maid help the lady into the carriage. “Where are you going?”
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at him but said nothing.
“Sir, is there anything else?” the maid asked.
“No, no,” Qin Shi’san laughed, stepped back, and bowed. “Sorry to trouble you.”
The carriage swayed as it moved away, and the street gate closed behind it.
Qin Shi’san stood at the gate for a moment, then turned and was slowly helped into his own carriage by a footman.
