“Goodbye, Young Master Qin.”
The maid bowed at the door.
Qin Shi’san-lang nodded with a smile, looking at the lady standing under the eaves to see him off.
All things considered, they were now treating him with genuine courtesy, unlike before when they were perfunctory and dismissive. That, at least, was something.
“I’ll be off, then.” He smiled slightly and waved toward Cheng Jiao-niang inside the doorway.
Cheng Jiao-niang lowered her head and returned the gesture.
Qin Shi’san-lang turned, mounted his horse, and after a few circles, the steed galloped away.
…
“Your Highness.”
A sharp voice called out from behind. Duke Jin’an, who had just started walking, stopped in his tracks. A flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes, but he turned around with a playful smile on his face.
It was Zhang Wancheng, a high-ranking eunuch known to all, surrounded by seven or eight other attendants.
“Your Highness, where are you off to?” Zhang Wancheng asked with a frown.
“Oh, just taking a casual stroll,” Duke Jin’an replied with a grin, turning back on his steps.
Zhang Wancheng gave a noncommittal grunt. Unlike the other attendants, as a trusted confidant of both the Emperor and Empress Dowager, he spoke to the duke with an air of superiority.
“Strolling is fine, Your Highness,” he said blandly, “but do avoid going outside. Children of the imperial family must always be cautious. You’re not a little boy anymore—you should know better.”
Being lectured like this by a eunuch, Duke Jin’an couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.
“Yes, yes, I understand,” he said.
“As long as Your Highness understands,” Zhang Wancheng nodded. “The Empress Dowager and His Majesty have been so good to you. And yet you keep trying to sneak out of the palace. At most, you’ll be leaving the palace next year. By then, you can go wherever you please, but getting back in won’t be so easy. So for now, you ought to spend more time with Her Majesty.”
Duke Jin’an responded cheerfully, “Yes, of course.”
As Zhang Wancheng and the others walked away, the smile faded from Duke Jin’an’s face.
“That bastard,” a eunuch muttered under his breath.
The duke gave a faint smile and turned his head. Amid the heavy autumn mist, the palace gates looked both near and far.
“Your Highness,” the eunuch said softly again, “last time, you came back so late just to see Lady Cheng. The Empress Dowager and His Majesty have likely grown suspicious… Perhaps it’s better not to see her this time. Sending a gift would still show your regard.”
Duke Jin’an nodded and smiled.
“Not seeing her is fine too,” he said. “If I truly want to, it doesn’t have to be now.”
With that, he glanced back one last time, then lifted his foot and strode back inside.
…
“Lady Zhu! Lady Zhu!”
A sudden commotion broke out inside Desheng Pavilion, drawing the attention of guests in the private rooms, who opened their doors to see what was happening.
The source of the excitement was, of course, Lady Zhu crossing the covered bridge. Unlike her glamorous evening attire, today she wore no makeup—simple and elegant—which suited the bright daylight perfectly, making her appear all the more graceful and refined, almost otherworldly.
“Lady Zhu! Lady Zhu! It’s me, Wang Shi’qi-lang! It’s me, Wang Shi’qi-lang!”
Wang Shi’qi-lang raised his hand and shouted loudly.
The girl on the bridge didn’t even glance his way. Like a startled fawn, she took a few light steps and quickly disappeared from sight.
“Shout all you want—shouting like that’s going to make her recognize you!”
The crowd began to quiet down, one man shouting irritably as he pulled his stepped-on coat hem free.
“Lady Zhu does recognize me,” Wang Shi’qi-lang called back, his tone a bit smug. “Just the other day, she even played the zither for me! She said I was a true gentleman…”
The surrounding crowd immediately burst into jeers.
“If it’s really true, then go ask to see Lady Zhu right now—let’s see if she recognizes you!”
Unable to resist the provocation, Wang Shi’qi-lang grabbed a floor attendant and told him to go announce his presence.
The attendant demanded a hefty sum but did go, and before long, he returned with a cheerful grin.
“What did Lady Zhu say?” Wang Shi’qi-lang asked eagerly.
“Lady Zhu said…” the attendant drawled, stretching out his words as he looked around at the eager faces, “she doesn’t recognize you.”
An uproar broke out.
“This brat’s full of it!”
“He’s daydreamed himself into delusion!”
“Get lost, you southern bumpkin!”
Wang Shi’qi-lang was utterly humiliated amid the mocking laughter.
“You—go find Chun Ling, the maid beside Lady Zhu. Chun Ling, she knows me,” he hurriedly said, grabbing the floor attendant.
As the commotion continued, two attendants pushed through the crowd and flanked Wang Shi’qi-lang on either side, holding him up.
“Young Master, we’re leaving tomorrow—what are you doing here?” they whispered urgently. “Weren’t you supposed to be saying your farewells?”
“I am saying farewell,” Wang Shi’qi-lang replied.
“Hurry up—the Zhou family has already arrived…” the attendants murmured, and without waiting for his response, they firmly escorted him out.
As Wang Shi’qi-lang was carried away, the crowd in the hall burst into louder laughter.
“Which family’s fool wandered in here?”
The laughter soon faded.
“Chun Ling, was that person looking for you?”
A few young errand boys turned back from the entrance hall and asked with a laugh.
Chun Ling shook her head.
“I don’t know him,” she said, looking puzzled. Then she turned her gaze back to the boys. “Brothers, go on with the story—those thugs went to cause trouble at Tai Ping Residence, and then what happened?”
Although the incident had happened back in April, in a city like the capital where new gossip sprang up every day, it was already considered old news. Still, because it involved a public killing, it remained a thrilling tale, so the boys were excited as they recounted it.
“Then—boom! Just like that, the people from Tai Ping Residence started shooting them down one by one…”
The errand boy described it vividly, and Chun Ling couldn’t help but gasp, covering her mouth in fright, her face full of alarm.
Scaring the young girl was always entertaining—the boys burst into loud laughter.
“They were dead-on with every shot! Arrows to the head—brains everywhere…”
Chun Ling instinctively stepped back, looking even more horrified.
“How awful,” she said.
“Yeah, yeah,” the boys nodded enthusiastically. “That’s just how fierce the Zhou family is…”
Chun Ling shook her head, her hand still covering her mouth.
It wasn’t the Zhou family that was terrifying…
It wasn’t the Zhou family…
It was that girl…
It was that girl…
It was as if thunder rolled past her ears, and two flashes of lightning streaked across her vision. In the blaze of fire, two human figures turned to ashes…
What was Wang Shi’qi–lang worth? Controlling that useless man was meaningless—he was nothing in that girl’s eyes!
“Chun Ling!”
Someone called out. Chun Ling snapped out of her thoughts and saw a young maid standing in front of her.
“Chun Ling, what are you doing? I called you several times and you didn’t respond,” the maid asked, puzzled.
“Chun Ling was just scared,” the errand boys chimed in with a laugh. “We were talking about a murder.”
“Oh goodness, what’s with you lately? Always listening to these strange, morbid stories,” the maid frowned.
Chun Ling looked a little embarrassed.
“All right, come on now. Miss is going out tonight,” the maid said casually, not paying it much mind.
Chun Ling quickly replied, “Yes, of course.”
“Someone actually managed to invite Lady Zhu? Which family is it?” the young errand boys asked curiously.
“The Qin family from the Princess’s residence,” the maid replied.
“Oh, the Qin family,” the boys said admiringly. “Only someone like Lady Zhu could receive an invitation from them. Must be an important banquet.”
The glory of their mistress was their own as well. Chun Ling and the young maid both walked off quickly, with a touch of pride in their steps.
As night fell, more and more carriages and horses gathered outside the Qin residence.
Chun Ling sat inside the carriage and could already see the bustling scene in front of the Qin family estate from afar.
Although the princess had passed away, the court had not reclaimed the residence. Instead, it was granted to the Qin family for continued use. There had been some impeachment attempts by censors, but since the late emperor had been particularly close to the princess, those objections were simply ignored.
Even though Chun Ling had accompanied Lady Zhu to several banquets before, the grand atmosphere at the gates of the Qin residence still filled her with awe. Her eyes sparkled with amazement.
“So many fine carriages,” she whispered to the maid beside her. “This banquet must be a really grand one.”
The main gate of the Qin residence was tightly shut, while the side gates were all open, with a line of servants busily moving in and out.
Their carriage didn’t have the status to enter through the side gate and had to go through a corner entrance instead.
As their carriage approached the side gate, two other carriages stopped in front of them, and a servant immediately stepped forward to halt theirs.
Chun Ling lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. She saw a lavishly dressed young lady stepping down, surrounded by four or five maids. Behind her, they carried down a little girl about six or seven years old, also dressed elegantly. As they descended, many more maids and young servants from the Qin household came forward to greet them.
This young lady was only about sixteen or seventeen years old but was living a life Chun Ling could never have in her lifetime…
And that little girl — surely one born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
“Hurry, hurry.”
Someone outside the carriage urged them on.
The carriage rocked forward, passing the gate and heading toward the corner entrance.
“Don’t look,” the maid beside her whispered. “Take good care of Miss’s things, don’t lose anything, or it’ll cause trouble later.”
Chun Ling withdrew her gaze and quickly responded, beginning to tidy the various boxes by her side.
When an official courtesan traveled to others’ homes, every single thing she used had to be brought along herself—officially for thoroughness, but less politely, because others might look down on her otherwise.
As they neared the corner gate, Chun Ling glanced back again and saw another carriage stop in front. The ladies who got out were still the center of attention, like stars surrounded by their admirers.
“Ladies of the Tong family, how come you’re here too?” Chen Shi’ba-niang turned and smiled.
“Shi’ba-niang, come here quickly and let me see—what are you wearing today?”
Several girls of similar age laughed with her, warmly grabbing her arm and looking her over with familiarity.
“Only you lot are allowed to come, and we’re not?”
Inside the inner courtyard, the atmosphere was even more lively.
The Qin family’s banquet was set up in the garden, with exquisite pavilions, towers, and waterside terraces. At night, palace lanterns dotted the scene, making it seem like a fairyland on earth.
Chun Ling, carrying various boxes, couldn’t help but look around in awe.
She had already been amazed by the bustling splendor of Desheng Pavilion and shocked by the luxury of the two other households she had visited, but at this very moment, she still couldn’t take her eyes off the scene.
Their arrival also stirred up a wave of excitement among those present.
“Look, look, that’s Lady Zhu…”
Countless eyes, reflected by the flickering lanterns, were fixed on Lady Zhu.
Under the night lamps, the lady walking before them had creamy skin, red lips, plum blossom makeup, her hair elegantly pinned up. Her eyes shifted subtly but did not look away as she took light, measured steps. Her long skirt trailed behind her like fluttering butterflies.
“Truly as stunning as a peony, as alluring as a cold plum—no wonder she’s the queen of courtesans.”
Nearby, some young noblemen kept admiring her.
Their words drew displeasure from the young ladies beside them.
“No matter how much of a queen she is, she’s still an official courtesan.”
“What’s there to praise?”
“Just using her looks to serve others.”
The young noblemen didn’t like hearing this either. These were their own sisters, so there was no holding back, and a few began to argue in dissatisfaction.
“Lady Zhu comes from a respectable background.”
“She is both talented and beautiful, naturally worthy of praise.”
Qin Shi’san-lang nearby heard this and shook his head with a smile.
“That’s why young people are just young—how can they argue with the ladies at this age?” He held a tea cup and turned his head to whisper to a young man beside him, “At times like this, you just smile and pretend you didn’t hear.”
The young man laughed heartily and glanced toward the group of boys surrounded by several young ladies.
“…Respectable? What respectable? Which one from the Music Bureau is respectable?”
“…Lady Zhu’s father was an official… he was only sent to the Music Bureau because he was framed…”
“Oh please, if her father’s been exonerated now, why is she still in the Music Bureau?”
“That’s precisely because of her noble character…”
“She’s just used to that life. She wouldn’t be able to handle a poor, honest life now.”
“A whore has no feelings, an actress no loyalty.”
“What do you mean, ‘Lady Zhu’? There’s only ‘misses’ in the Music Bureau!”
The voices of the young men and ladies arguing grew louder and louder, without any attempt to avoid each other—and no need to.
Words flew back and forth, and Chun Ling’s expression grew increasingly troubled.
This was the first time she had seen Lady Zhu in such a situation.
Previously, the gatherings were all men’s banquets, without women present. Everyone who met Lady Zhu then was admiring her. This open contempt and disdain were utterly frightening to her.
The flickering lamps and dazzling jewels before her made Chun Ling uneasy. She couldn’t help but look up at Lady Zhu ahead.
Lady Zhu’s posture was upright, her steps steady, eyes fixed straight ahead, seemingly deaf to the surrounding gossip.
But when someone called her name aloud, she could no longer pretend not to hear.
“Lady Zhu.”
Lady Zhu stopped walking and turned around.
“What orders do you have?” she said, bowing politely.
“Come here.”
A young lady beckoned.
Lady Zhu responded and took a step forward, standing before the young lady and bowing again.
Chun Ling followed, looking at the four or five young ladies before her. Their attire was nowhere near as fine as Lady Zhu’s, but for the first time, Chun Ling felt that the very elegance she had once envied in Lady Zhu’s appearance made her reluctant to look any longer.
It turned out that sometimes, being the dazzling one in a crowd could also feel humiliating.
“Lady Zhu, now that your father has been exonerated, why don’t you renounce your status? Is it because you feel ashamed?” the young lady asked.
Lady Zhu smiled faintly.
“Not exactly shame,” she said, lowering her head. “I simply accept my fate. Even if I were to renounce my status, it wouldn’t change that I once entered the Music Bureau. So why bother?”
Her words softened the expressions of the young men nearby, some even sighed quietly.
“Words sound so nice, but you still feel disgraced,” a young lady snorted. “If you’re afraid of disgrace, then why not live more quietly? Why be the queen of courtesans, stepping out in the spotlight?”
Chun Ling lowered her head sharply.
Lady Zhu still smiled faintly.
“Well, I haven’t really thought that far,” she said. “I just believe that whatever I do, I should do it to the best of my ability.”
These words caused the young women to chuckle even more. Just as they were about to speak, someone beat them to it.
“Well said.”
A clear youthful voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention.
Under the corridor around the corner stood a young man dressed in a green robe with a jade belt, smiling gently.
Chun Ling looked closely and couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
It was the young master from the Zhou family!
“Then, one can live a life without regrets or shame,” the young man said, his gaze fixed on Lady Zhu as he raised the teacup in his hand. “A toast to you, Miss.”
With that, he drank it down in one gulp.
Lady Zhu smiled faintly, lowered her head, bowed slightly, and then turned to walk away.
It was him speaking up for her…
And when he spoke, no one around dared to continue talking…
The Zhou family really was powerful…
Chun Ling fought to steady her racing heart and couldn’t help but glance back again.
Compared to him, what was Wang Shi’qi-lang?
He was clearly defending Lady Zhu—there must be some fondness in his heart…
Chun Ling bit her lip, breathing rapidly.
She had only taken a few steps when suddenly a commotion broke out behind her.
“Oh, she’s arrived…”
Who had arrived?
Chun Ling turned around and saw that the young master of the Zhou family had already moved aside. The young ladies who had just mocked her mistress, as well as the young noblemen, all surged toward that direction.
Many people had gathered there, surrounding a lady under the night lamps.
Among so many, everyone’s gaze landed first on that girl.
She wore a dark-colored dress, neither new nor old, with wide, flowing sleeves and a skirt that trailed on the ground. Her slender waist was cinched by a broad sash. She wore no jewelry at all, yet she became the most dazzling presence in the city.
Perhaps it was because of the focus of so many eyes, or maybe it was her deep, penetrating gaze and the creamy smoothness of her neck set off by the dark robe.
It was her…
Still her…
If she hadn’t driven her away back then, would those two maids now beside her be her own sisters?
A pang of pain brought Chun Ling back to herself, her lips tasting salty.
She realized she had bitten her own lip.
“That young lady is the guest of honor today.”
Lady Zhu’s voice sounded beside her ear.
Chun Ling turned to look and saw that Lady Zhu had also stopped walking, gazing in that direction.
The young lady surrounded by people under the lantern light was dazzling like colored glass.
“Truly a beauty,” Lady Zhu said with a faint smile.
She glanced once more before withdrawing her gaze.
“Let’s go. The guest of honor has arrived. We need to prepare quickly,” she said, then turned and continued walking gracefully.
Chun Ling looked once more in that direction, then lowered her head and hurriedly followed, disappearing with Lady Zhu into the shifting light and shadows.
