That night, the group stayed at a post station. Qingya was applying snow-melting balm on Jiaoniang’s neck. The mark left by Xing Muzheng’s biting had still not faded after a day. Looking at the red spot in the bronze mirror made Qian Jiaoniang gnash her teeth. Thanks to him, she had to wear high-collared clothes these two days just to cover it up. She felt that the bite she gave him wasn’t hard enough—it didn’t vent her anger.
Qingya’s finger slid across her neck. She was very familiar with marks like these, but felt too embarrassed to mention it.
Yanluo and Yuluo came again to pay their respects. They had come every day, polite and respectful. Qian Jiaoniang told them the good news—that the Marquis wouldn’t force them to become concubines. She thought they’d be happy to hear it, but to her surprise, both sisters looked utterly shocked, with no joy on their faces.
Yanluo, her face pale and delicate, said, “Madam, did my sister and I do something wrong to displease the Marquis? Is that why he doesn’t want us?”
“That’s not it,” Qian Jiaoniang waved her hand firmly. “It’s just that the Marquis is blind to not see the beauty in you two. But if you’ve nowhere to go, you can still stay with us. There are many good men in our group who haven’t married yet. They may not be rich or noble, but they have solid family backgrounds. If you like any of them, you could become proper wives—married by match and rite. That would be a good outcome.”
“That’s absolutely impossible,” Yuluo exclaimed loudly.
Qian Jiaoniang looked at the angry beauty in surprise. Yanluo quickly pulled her sister down and apologized to Qian Jiaoniang repeatedly, “Madam, please don’t take offense. My sister is just ignorant. Please don’t lower yourself to her level.”
Qingya sneered, “What? You’d rather be a noble’s concubine than a commoner’s wife? Just because you’re pretty, you think you deserve the Marquis’s favor? Or have you stayed in the brothel too long, spoiled by patrons, that you’ve forgotten your place? You think being a concubine in a noble house is easy? Sounds nice, sure, but at the end of the day you’re still a servant. How long does beauty last? In a few years, you’ll be nothing but a fading flower.”
Yanluo and Yuluo turned pale and flushed alternately. Yanluo knelt down, pulling her still-stubborn sister with her. Tearfully, she said, “We wouldn’t dare think such things. My sister and I have drifted all our lives—we just want a place to settle down peacefully. If the Marquis had taken us in, it would’ve been our blessing. If he doesn’t want us, then it’s because we lack the fortune. Madam is kind to even think of arranging a way forward for us—we’re truly grateful. It’s just that the Marquis is like a dragon among men. My sister and I admire him deeply. Upon hearing that he doesn’t want us, we were heartbroken and didn’t know what to do.”
Qian Jiaoniang helped them up. “You two came from that kind of place, and still have such ideas? Any man with a mind to take a concubine is not a good choice for settling down. I know you had no choice in becoming concubines, and yes, a Marquis’s household is good—but now you have a better option, and that’s your true fortune! Go back and think it over. If you insist on staying in the Marquis’s household, then you’ll be servants, nothing more.”
The two beauties left in disappointment. Qingya said, “Why go to such lengths, speaking so gently? I doubt they’ll listen to you.”
Qian Jiaoniang stood up and grabbed her embroidery basket. “They’re pitiful girls—like flowers. If I can help them, I will. If they really can’t be persuaded, then there’s nothing more I can do.” She took out her embroidery and rummaged through her needles and thread. “Oh, I have another piece of good news for you.”
“What good news?” Qingya asked curiously.
Qian Jiaoniang stopped what she was doing and looked up with a mischievous smile. Qingya was unnerved by the way she was smiling. “What is it? Tell me!”
“This good news…” Qian Jiaoniang drawled, “I must first offer you congratulations.”
“Congratulations? For what?” Qingya grew more and more confused.
Qian Jiaoniang giggled. Qingya, anxious, urged her to speak. Finally, Qian Jiaoniang said, “Today I was chatting with Wang Yong and Ah Da about those sisters. Who knew Wang Yong wasn’t interested in them? He said he already has someone he likes.”
“Who?” Qingya was also intrigued by gossip.
Qian Jiaoniang pursed her lips and smiled. “You.”
“Ah?” Qingya blushed furiously. “You—you’re making things up.” Though she had been married, she was still a young woman with a shy temperament. Hearing that a man liked her made her flustered.
“I’m not making it up. He told me himself, and Ah Da heard it too—he can vouch for it.” Qian Jiaoniang walked up to her and playfully squeezed her shoulders. “What do you think? I think Wang Yong is quite good. We know him well. Why not give it a chance and let me play matchmaker?”
“Stop teasing me,” Qingya said, head down, gently pushing her away. She turned and softly said, “I’ve been married before.”
“But didn’t you say there’s no going back? They already think you’re dead. Why cling to old feelings?” Qian Jiaoniang came up to her. “Wang Yong is steady and reliable. Following XIng Muzheng, you’ll never go hungry. It may not be the wealth and glory you once had, but a simple, peaceful life is the real thing. Listen to your older sister.”
Qingya didn’t refute Qian Jiaoniang’s words—especially not the part about wealth and glory. Qian Jiaoniang could tell her heart was in turmoil.
Qingya took a few steps, then sat on the edge of the bed. She lowered her head into silence, clearly lost in thought.
Shanzha and Hongjuan came in with hot water for washing up. Qian Jiaoniang washed her face and asked if Xing Pingchun had fallen asleep. Dongsheng smiled and replied, “He’s out cold. As soon as he touched the bed, he was gone. Suier and I are keeping watch over the young master.”
Qian Jiaoniang nodded, poured her used water into the foot basin, then turned and called Qingya to wash her face. Hongjuan poured a fresh basin of hot water for Qingya, then filled two foot basins as well. Qian Jiaoniang said, “Thank you. Go wash up and get some rest yourselves.”
“We’re not sleepy yet. We’ll wait outside. If you need anything once you’re done, just call us,” said Shanzha. She bowed and left with Hongjuan.
Qian Jiaoniang and Qingya sat silently in their chairs, soaking their feet.
Qingya was distracted as she washed, not even complaining about the heat like she usually would. Seeing her so downcast, Qian Jiaoniang sighed and said, “It’s not like I’m forcing you. If you don’t want to, even the king of heaven can’t make you marry. I’m just… worried about you.”
Qingya lifted her head. “Why worry about me?”
Qian Jiaoniang looked her in the eye. “You know I can barely protect myself. Once we reach Yongan, who knows what awaits? If something happens to me, and I’m accused of defying an imperial edict, I might not survive. If that happens—what will you do?”
Qingya replied, “You obeyed. You even agreed to the marriage. It’s the Marquis who defied the edict.”
Qian Jiaoniang gave a bitter laugh. “That’s what men say. I’ve been part of the Xing family for years, and I can swear I’ve never done a single thing to betray them—or Xing Muzheng. But one imperial decree is enough to call me unchaste. Who’s going to listen to my side? Now Xing Muzheng is dragging this out for some unknown reason. If His Majesty gets angry, Xing Muzheng is a Marquis and a general—he’s still valuable if there’s another war. But I’m just a nobody from a farming village. Who do you think they’ll blame in the end? They might even accuse me of bewitching him. Even if I had a hundred mouths, I couldn’t explain it away.”
Qingya stayed silent. What Qian Jiaoniang said wasn’t wrong.
“Now that Xing Muzheng values Chou’er, I’m not too worried about him anymore. But you—” Qian Jiaoniang leaned over and took Qingya’s hand. “We haven’t known each other long, but I really do feel we’re kindred spirits. I already think of you as a younger sister. What if something happens to me, and you’re left all alone? You came from a sheltered life. You’re clever, yes, but also delicate. If someone could look after you… wouldn’t that be better? Please—just think about it.”
Qingya gently squeezed Qian Jiaoniang’s roughened hand, then let out a long sigh. She said, “You carry so much pain, and yet you’re always worrying about others.”
Qian Jiaoniang chuckled. “What pain? What country girl ever became a Marquis’ wife? Now I wear silks and eat delicacies. Even if my days are short, I’ve lived well.”
Qingya smiled too. “You’re blessed—you’ll be fine.”
Then Qingya lowered her head in thought. After a moment, she looked up and said, “I’ll take your advice and think it over seriously.”
Qian Jiaoniang nodded, just about to say more when faint music drifted in from outside. Qingya listened for a while and said, “Someone is playing The Phoenix’s Lament.”
The Phoenix’s Lament was a song composed by Yu Xiangxue, a great scholar from the former dynasty. It was said that when Yu was a poor young man, he fell in love with the daughter of a prime minister at a temple. They fell in love at first sight, but her father looked down on Yu’s poverty and refused to let her marry him. Heartbroken, Yu composed this sorrowful and beautiful piece. Its raw emotion moved even the prime minister when he heard it performed, and he finally allowed the marriage.
Now, at the post station, it was the heartbroken Yuluo playing The Phoenix’s Lament.
After returning to their room, Yuluo had thrown herself on the bed, weeping uncontrollably. Yanluo tried to comfort her to no avail. Thinking about their drifting fate, she too quietly sat at the bedside, tears slipping down her face. After her long cry, Yuluo turned her blame toward her sister. “You’ve always told me to be cautious, to never outshine the lady of the house. And what did we get for it? When the Marquis took us from the Zhen residence, it was clear he was interested. How could he suddenly lose that interest? In looks, in figure, in talent, we far surpass that jealous woman! I don’t believe the Marquis truly ignores us and clings to his wife. Clearly that shrew has manipulated things to drive us out! And now she dares to say it was the Marquis’ own decision? What a joke!”
Yuluo had never suffered such humiliation. The madam at Minghu had once said the two of them were fit to be consorts—even empresses. How could they not be good enough for Dingxi Marquis? What man wouldn’t desire them? In her eyes, it was all the jealous woman’s doing.
“Stop talking!” Yanluo quickly interrupted her. “The whole place is filled with the Marquis’ people. If anyone hears you, we’ll be…”
“We’ve already been treated like worn-out shoes. What’s there to fear?” Yuluo grew more agitated, crying again. Then she suddenly sat up. “No, I’m going to ask the Marquis myself!”
