Chapter 3

"Deep affection left early, and good fate arrived late."

On the way, Chen Shi Mei felt uneasy in her heart. Being a commoner's daughter, she had never entered the palace or met the Empress Dowager. She worried about committing any faux pas that might be minor in embarrassment but significant in losing decorum. She hoped not to give herself away.

"Madam, are you feeling uneasy again?" Xiao Xiang Er asked in a soft voice. "Every time we go to the palace, you seem reluctant."

Chen Shi Mei paused, then asked, "Why do you think I'm reluctant? Do you know?"

"Of course, I know," Xiao Xiang Er nodded.

"Then tell me," urged Chen Shi Mei, growing more curious at her apparent hesitation.

"I will, but please don’t get angry, Madam," Xiao Xiang Er said, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "It's because the Empress Dowager always advises you to leave the Prince and remarry someone else."

Chen Shi Mei was stunned, thinking she had misheard, and quickly asked, "Xiao Xiang Er, what are you talking about?"

Xiao Xiang Er covered her mouth, "I shouldn’t say more, or you'll pinch my mouth again."

Chen Shi Mei tugged at her sleeve, "Does the Empress Dowager dislike the Prince?"

Xiao Xiang Er looked around cautiously, then whispered into Shi Mei's ear, "It's more than that. The Prince also dislikes the Empress Dowager. I heard from the old servants in the Prince's mansion that the Prince's birth mother, Concubine Qiong, was killed by the Empress Dowager."

Chen Shi Mei was shocked. With such a relationship, she couldn't understand why there seemed to be a close bond between Chen Shu Mei and the Empress Dowager.

Qin Xiang Lian seemed to have a motive in sending Chen Shu Mei to the palace, using the fragrance powder to curry favor with the Empress Dowager. But why? Was it to ease tensions?

The more she thought, the more inappropriate it seemed. Shi Mei grew anxious, wondering if the Empress Dowager didn't really favor Chen Shu Mei and was merely paying lip service.

This ruthless yet passionate Chen Shu Mei, was he just a pawn in a game of mutual manipulation between the Empress Dowager and Qin Xiang Lian? But then again, Chen Shu Mei seemed an unlikely choice—he wasn't favored in the Prince's mansion and had no close ties to the Empress Dowager... just a humble-born, weak girl.

Lost in these thoughts, the carriage entered the palace gates.

Chen Shi Mei boldly lifted the carriage curtain, peeking through the gap. The palace, with its square bricks and massive walls, was majestic and solemn but didn't exude wealth or glory.

The carriage rolled over the stone pavement, jostling and creaking—a sound like the wheels or the stones were bearing a burden, emitting a continuous, plaintive noise, as if whispering grievances.

Listening to that sound, Chen Shi Mei found a moment of calm.

After a while, she suddenly asked Xiao Xiang Er, "Xiao Xiang Er, if I were to leave the Prince, would you be happy?"

“Of course, I'm happy!” Xiaoxiang clapped her hands excitedly.

“Why so?” Chen Shimei looked at her earnestly, “People often say, it’s better to demolish ten temples than destroy one marriage.”

Xiaoxiang quickly shook her head, “Madam, not all marriages are blissful. Your love for the prince brings too much suffering. Xiaoxiang dislikes the prince.”

“You are my maid. Shouldn’t you like whoever I like?” Chen Shimei asked with a smile.

“Yes, that's how it should be. Whoever likes you, I will like them too,” Xiaoxiang responded, “That's why Xiaoxiang likes the Empress Dowager.”

“Oh?” Shimei was somewhat surprised, “Are you saying the Empress Dowager is good to me?”

“Yes,” Xiaoxiang nodded, “Even though the Empress Dowager always sends me away when you meet, I can tell she truly likes you.”

Chen Shimei remained silent after hearing this, then after a moment, she asked Xiaoxiang, “Before I was married, what did you call me?”

“I called you Meizi sister,” Xiaoxiang replied with a smile, “But you stopped me from calling you that, insisting on ‘Madam’ or ‘Princess Consort.’”

Nodding, Chen Shimei gently touched her head, “From now on, you can call me Meizi sister.”

“Really?” Xiaoxiang's face lit up with joy.

Shimei nodded in affirmation.

At that moment, the carriage stopped, and a slightly sharp voice came from outside, “Her Highness is welcomed.”

Adjusting her attire, Chen Shimei asked Xiaoxiang, “Do I look alright?”

“Very beautiful!” Xiaoxiang nodded.

Shimei then took her hand and they both stepped out of the carriage.

The one who came to greet them was the eunuch Liu, who had delivered the decree the other day.

Chen Shimei alighted from the carriage gracefully and greeted him, “Is Eunuch Liu well?”

“Oh, very well! Your Highness is too kind to me,” Eunuch Liu quickly assisted her, showing a close bond, “The Empress Dowager has been thinking of you for a long time. Please come inside.”

Shimei followed him inside, reaching the entrance of the Empress Dowager’s Wan Hua Garden, where Eunuch Liu stopped, and Xiaoxiang, accustomed to the protocol, waited respectfully by the door.

Chen Shimei stepped alone into the garden where flowers bloomed profusely. In the center, a carved stone table and chairs were placed, and a woman wearing a phoenix crown and a nine-phoenix robe sat by the table, gently stirring the incense in the burner with a sandalwood stick.

“Your daughter pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Before entering, Shimei had specifically pulled Eunuch Liu aside to ask how she should address the Empress Dowager, now that she had been appointed a princess. Eunuch Liu advised her to refer to herself as 'daughter' and to address the Empress Dowager as 'Mother'. This would surely delight her.

Despite feeling it was a bit odd, Shimei followed the advice.

Kneeling and sneaking a glance at the Empress Dowager, Shimei was startled to see tears in her eyes as she beckoned, “Rise, come, let your mother have a look at you.”

Shimei felt an odd sense of curiosity but kept her composure, slowly walking over and sitting beside the Empress Dowager, looking up at her.

The Empress Dowager gently caressed the back of her hand, examining her features, nodding in approval, “My child is even more beautiful than I was in my youth.”

Shimei wasn’t sure how to respond, merely observing the dignified lady before her.

The terms 'mother' and 'my child' seemed too intimate. Considering the noble status of the royal family and her own humble origins, such warmth must have a reason.

“I heard your perfume shop collapsed?” The Empress Dowager sighed softly, “I've been worried sick, fearing something bad might happen to you… Thankfully, heaven was merciful.”

Shimei nodded, then tentatively spoke, “Empress, after crawling out of the ruins, I felt like I've lived two lives.”

“Really?” The Empress Dowager looked surprised, holding Shimei’s chin to examine her closely, nodding, “Your complexion does look better. Are you sleeping well at night?”

Shimei shook her head, “I've come to terms with some things, so I sleep better now.”

“What have you come to terms with?” The Empress Dowager’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Everything you said before was right.” Shimei looked earnestly at the Empress Dowager, “Could you please repeat it? I want to remember it well.”

The Empress Dowager stared at her for a long while, then clasped her hands in prayer, “Heaven be praised, my foolish girl has finally seen the light!” Speaking solemnly, she said, “Divorce the Fourth Prince!”

Shimei scrutinized the Empress Dowager’s expression, which seemed earnest and not a mere test or joke.

“I’ve given up hope, but this divorce… I fear he won’t agree,” Shimei said.

“Afraid of what?!” The Empress Dowager scoffed, “You’re now a princess, equal in status to him. Qin Xianglian pursued you back then just because he discovered your identity and wanted to use you to threaten me and the emperor, to spare his brothers from elimination. Now that the empire is stable, and the emperor is just and benevolent, he can only resign himself to being a prince. His neglect of you reveals his true thoughts… after all, you are the daughter of his enemy, and it's natural to feel aversion seeing you every day.”

The Empress Dowager rambled on, while Shimei’s mind echoed with words like 'identity', 'enemy’s daughter'…

“I’ve already spoken to the emperor,” the Empress Dowager held Shimei's hand, “If you request a divorce, the emperor will surely grant it, and so will I. You can then move out and live either in the palace with me or find your own residence. By the way, where have you decided to rebuild your perfume shop?”

"...I had it built outside the Prince's mansion," Chen Shi Mei answered somewhat blankly, lifting her head. "Right where the old house is."

"Excellent! Excellent!" The Empress Dowager nodded in relief, her face brightening with joy. She immediately had Eunuch Liu prepare many of Chen Shu Mei's favorite dishes and dined with her. They sat together for a long while until it was late, and then the Empress Dowager personally saw Shi Mei off to her carriage to return to the Prince's mansion.

As the carriage traveled on the stone-paved road, Chen Shi Mei sat dazedly, lost in thought while listening to the intermittent creaking sound.

She had heard much from the Empress Dowager and now understood the deep affection shown. It turned out Chen Shu Mei was not just an adopted daughter but her biological child, likely having grown up outside the palace. Shi Mei didn’t want to delve into the potentially dishonorable circumstances of her birth; she just knew that since Shu Mei was raised secretly outside the palace, her biological father couldn’t be the deceased former emperor.

Shi Mei also realized that Qin Xiang Lian's marriage to Chen Shu Mei was merely to use her identity for his protection. No wonder he was so harsh with her, treating her as an enemy's daughter. Now that her value was diminished, his disdain was evident.

Why didn't the Empress Dowager prevent the marriage? If Chen Shu Mei had been infatuated with Qin Xiang Lian, revealing her identity would have made them siblings by law, thus forbidding such an incestuous union. But the Empress Dowager remained silent, likely due to the fierce struggle for the throne at the time. Ultimately, she sacrificed Shu Mei, feeling indebted and trying to compensate her in other ways.

"Stop the carriage," Chen Shi Mei suddenly commanded, pulling back the curtain.

By then, the carriage had left the palace. Shi Mei removed her expensive jewelry, handed them to Xiao Xiang Er for safekeeping, draped a shawl over her shoulders, and stepped out.

"Sister Mei, we haven't reached our destination yet," Xiaohong called out as she caught up.

"Why do you call me 'Sister Mei Zi'? Do you remember?" Chen Shi Mei asked as she walked forward.

"Because you like plum wine, and there's a 'Mei' in your name," Xiao Xiang Er replied, following her. "Are we walking back?"

"Yes, let's walk for a bit," Shi Mei said, looking towards the ferry. Boats were docked, laborers were carrying goods back and forth, the water rippled widely, and a few water birds fluttered leisurely.

Chen Shu Mei realized that Chen Shu Mei was a pitiful figure, caught between her mother, brothers, and husband, used as a pawn in their power games, and eventually discarded when no longer useful.

No wonder she was reluctant to enter the palace; perhaps she harbored some resentment towards the Empress Dowager. However, in Shimei's view, Qin Xianglian, whom she loved dearly, was far more despicable than the Empress Dowager.

Standing pensively at the ferry, Shi Mei, unlike Chen Shu Mei, felt more reflective than sorrowful.

"Sister Mei Zi," Xiao Xiang Er pointed to some laborers carrying fresh plums. "The plums are here. It's been a hot year, so they're early. Shall we buy some to make wine?"

Shi Mei came out of her reverie to see Xiao Xiang Er already negotiating with a boatman for a basket of plums.

Compared to the sour plum wine, Shi Mei preferred the sweeter mulberry wine. She smiled to herself, recalling how the Empress Dowager had presented Shu Mei's favorite foods, most of which she didn’t care for…

But the biggest difference between them, perhaps, lay in Qin Xiang Lian.

Shi Mei couldn't bring herself to love such a man. Regardless of Chen Shu Mei's origins, it wasn't her who had caused harm. To take revenge on the daughter of his enemy, even though she had been true to him, showed his ruthless nature. Such a man, she disliked, disdained, and despised…

Chen Shimei composed herself, determined to draft a petition for divorce as soon as she returned and submit it the next day.

The thought brought a smile to Shimei's face. Tomorrow's scene would undoubtedly be chaotic, and imagining Qin Xianglian's ugly expression brought her an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. She felt this not for herself, but for Ruliu, who had been discarded in the mire of heartbreak.

As her mood lifted, Xiaohong returned, calling out to the coachman, “Hey, come help with the plums!”

At her call, the coachman dismounted and walked over.

While waiting, they heard someone shout from behind, “Kid, get out of the way, this has nothing to do with you.”

Shimei and Xiaohong, hearing the rough and aggressive tone, turned to look.

They saw three ruffians surrounding a man on a newly docked boat.

The besieged man, dressed in white, held a bundle and a sword. Tall and slender, with long black hair tied with a white band, his hair and band fluttered in the wind, creating a striking image.

Shimei instinctively studied his face. In his early twenties, with handsome features, a high nose, and thin lips, his expression was cold and indifferent. Behind him in the cabin, several laborers with poles stared at the ruffians.

"Oh no," Xiaohong pulled Shimei, "they're fighting, let's get back to the carriage."

"Okay," Shimei replied, but didn't move.

The ruffians shouted to the laborers and the boat owner, “No selling plums here! Go to another ferry!”

A younger laborer protested, “That’s unreasonable! Changing ferries means days of extra sailing, and the plums will spoil. How can we sell them then?”

“Just pay if you want to land – twenty taels of silver,” the ruffians demanded, while yelling at the man in white, “Are you going to move or not? Don’t make trouble, pretty boy!”

The man in white glanced at them, still expressionless, and said, “Move aside, good dogs don’t block the way.”

"Oh dear," Xiaohong stuck out her tongue playfully at Shimei, as if to say - that guy is looking for trouble.

The lead ruffian, infuriated, called his companions, “This pretty boy is asking for it. Teach him a lesson!” He raised his club to strike.

Unfazed, the man in white swiftly kicked the approaching thug, sending him flying into Xiaohong's newly purchased basket of plums, tumbling several times before collapsing, gasping for air.

"Ah!" Xiaohong exclaimed. The man in white seemed to hear her and glanced at Shimei and Xiaohong. Startled, Xiaohong hid behind Shimei, whispering, "Sister Mei, that guy is so handsome, but so fierce!"

In the time it took her to speak, a man in white had already thrown the other ruffians into the water. They scrambled away, realizing they had crossed a formidable opponent.

The man in white didn’t pursue them but instead walked over to the scattered plums and crouched to help pick them up.

"Ah, hero, there's no need, I'll get a new basket for those two ladies," the boatman hurried over, bowing with clasped hands, and thanked the man in white.

The man in white didn’t respond, simply picking up all the plums and putting them back in the basket before standing and walking away.

"Oh my," Xiao Xiang'er looked at Chen Shi Mei, "Sister Mei, that man was so strange."

Chen Shi Mei watched the man in white walk away before nodding and patting her on the head, "Probably a martial artist, quite a presence."

"Indeed, so impressive!" Xiao Xiang'er nodded in agreement. "I think he's even more handsome than the prince!" While speaking, she reminded the boatman, "Shopkeeper, remember to bring us a new basket!"

The boatman quickly nodded and personally brought a new basket of plums, delivering it to Chen Shi Mei's carriage.

Seeing it was getting late, Chen Shi Mei took Xiao Xiang'er and boarded the horse-drawn carriage... heading back to the prince's mansion.