Chapter 396

**Chapter 401: New Year (Part 2)**

Xiu Yuan stood just beyond the curtain, the sound of Qiao Lianfang’s heart-wrenching sobs clearly audible.

Her eyes dimmed as Lord Xu’s reprimands echoed in her ears:

"...Men uphold the Three Bonds [ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife] and Five Constants [benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, fidelity]. As for women, we have the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. During your stay at Dajue Temple, you should have reflected on what you saw, heard, did, and experienced. I won’t dwell on past matters. Bringing you back for the New Year was the Madam’s idea. I only hope you’ll learn from her conduct and demeanor, reflect upon yourself constantly—knowing what is appropriate and what is not. Spare your silver-haired parents the worry and sleepless nights..."

Xiu Yuan sighed softly, hesitated a moment, then lifted the curtain and stepped inside.

Qiao Lianfang lay slumped over the *kang*—a heated brick bed—with a blue-and-white teacup beside her hand, its pastoral design depicting a shepherd boy playing a flute, steam still rising gently from within.

"Miss!" Xiu Yuan approached quietly.

Qiao Lianfang looked up; her delicate makeup had long since been washed away by tears.

She gazed at the maid who had always stood by her side, and her tears fell even faster.

"He's right. Our bodies and skin are inheritances from our parents. What I’ve done is disloyal and unfilial..."

Seeing her mistress so dejected and broken-spirited, Xiu Yuan quickly summoned a junior maid to bring water, then pulled out her handkerchief to wipe Qiao Lianfang’s tears, doing her best to comfort her despite her own distress: "The Marquis is just venting his anger. Don’t take his words too much to heart. Once he cools down, he’ll remember who you truly are!"

Qiao Lianfang shook her head slightly, her expression dazed.

"I remember when I was little, my uncle said our family had no heir and took back the property that had been given to my father. Though our daily needs were covered by the communal coffers, there was never enough for fine clothes or good food. Mother feared I’d be mocked by my cousins for dressing poorly, but we couldn’t afford a seamstress. So she would cover the windows with quilts at night and sew by lamplight. Whenever I woke during the night, she’d smile and coax me back to sleep. I still remember—under that light, her eyes were as gentle as spring breeze, warming my heart..." She smiled faintly at the memory.

"In summer, when other households had ice to cool their rooms, we didn’t. I was childish and complained about the heat, so Mother would fan me all night long..."

A junior maid brought in hot water. Xiu Yuan helped her wash her hands and face, but Qiao Lianfang remained limp, like a puppet being moved about.

"...Once, when my eldest cousin returned home, my aunt served imperial peach-shortbread to welcome her. I stole a piece and hid it in my sleeve, but my fourth cousin told my aunt in front of the stewardess from the eldest cousin’s household. My aunt was furious and ordered the matrons to drag me before her. I was terrified, but Mother pushed them aside and held me tight. She never argued with my aunt, but that time, she fought for me—until my aunt had those matrons beaten twenty strokes with bamboo rods."

Tears welled in Xiu Yuan’s eyes.

"Miss!" She helped Qiao Lianfang to the bed and tucked her in.

Qiao Lianfang lay down quietly.

"Xiu Yuan," she whispered, her voice as light as a breeze, "do you think this is what Buddhists call karma?" She turned her head, staring directly at Xiu Yuan. "I was fine until my aunt said, ‘Who knows which lucky girl will marry the Yongping Marquis as his second wife? Even young, she’ll at least earn a third-rank noble title.’ I thought—none of my cousins had such fortune. My heart stirred, and I walked this path to the end..." A glimmer of tears shone at the corners of her eyes. "...Now, looking back, it’s too late."

"Miss!" Xiu Yuan could no longer hold back, burying her face in the bedding as she wept. "It was the lady—she secretly encouraged you behind Madam’s back..."

"Encouraged?" Qiao Lianfang smiled faintly, but it was as insubstantial as a mirage. "I was the fool. How can I blame others? I forgot my mother’s sacrifices, forgot the duty of a daughter of a scholarly family, chasing only that dream of wealth. Who else is there to blame?"

"Back then, though I envied my cousins for their finer clothes, living hand-to-mouth with Mother brought me peace and comfort." She closed her eyes, lost in memory. "In summer, when the jasmine bloomed outside our door, Mother would sun Father’s books. I remember—the scent of camphorwood and jasmine mingled, earthy yet floral, calming the heart..."

Her ramblings faded as she finally drifted into sleep.

Xiu Yuan wiped her eyes and tiptoed out of the inner chamber, nearly colliding with Zhu Rui, who was eagerly carrying a tray of pastries.

"Oh!" Zhu Rui exclaimed. "Why are you standing here?" She peered toward the curtain, as if trying to see through it. "Am I late? It’s the kitchen maids’ fault—they took forever finding the osmanthus jelly, or these would’ve been ready sooner."

"No need," Xiu Yuan said wearily. "Distribute these among the junior maids." Then she turned to a nearby servant. "Bring my bedding. I’ll be keeping vigil tonight."

Zhu Rui’s expression shifted at the somber mood. She tugged Xiu Yuan’s sleeve. "What happened? Did His Lordship...?"

Xiu Yuan nodded slightly.

She had known today was Qiao Lianfang’s night to serve, so she had styled her hair into a seductive *fallen-horse bun* (a loose, cascading hairstyle) and dressed her in a rose-pink jacket to enhance her beauty. Yet Lord Xu had stayed only long enough to drink half a cup of tea before leaving, launching into that lengthy lecture. Remembering the past and Qiao Lianfang’s words just now, a sense of foreboding settled in her heart—as if her mistress and His Lordship were two people diverging like forked roads, growing further apart...

"Lord Xu has returned to the main house!" she whispered.

Her voice carried an unmistakable tone of helplessness and dejection.

"How could this happen?" Zhu Rui was stunned.

Lord Xu found the young lady too spoiled and willful, lacking the kind and easygoing nature of the mistress. He even suggested that the young lady learn more from her...

Such words were too painful for Xiu Yuan to repeat, so she could only respond with a bitter smile, "Go and rest."

"But... but what should we do?" Zhu Rui fretted anxiously, pacing in circles. "The mistress is younger than our lady and blossoms like a flower, growing more radiant by the day... And then there's Lady Yang, newly arrived in the estate. Not only is she delicate and charming, but she’s also incredibly charming and clever. She has not only pleased the mistress but also gets along well with Lady Wen and Lady Qin..." As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she pulled Xiu Yuan aside to whisper, "What if we send a message to Cheng State Duke's estate? Lord Xu might think twice out of respect for them..."

"Don’t make things worse," Xiu Yuan cut her off immediately. "Ever since the young lady had the miscarriage, even when Lady Qiao visited the Xu household, she never once inquired about her. Why would she risk offending the mistress for our lady’s sake?"

Zhu Rui fell silent.

"Perhaps this is for the best," Xiu Yuan murmured, staring at the polished stone tiles beneath her feet, gleaming like mirrors. "In humility, our lady cannot compare to Lady Qin; in reading people’s moods, she is no match for Lady Wen; in beauty, she can't match Lady Yang... At least keeping a low profile like this means she won’t be sent away to someplace like Great Enlightenment Temple again."

******

Lord Xu strode in, shaking snowflakes from his black sable cloak.

"It’s snowing outside—everything’s covered in white, like a fairy-tale scene. You really ought to go see it!"

Melting snowflakes dripped onto the stone floor as they met the warmth indoors.

"Oh!" Eleven Miss rose to take his cloak, her smile as gentle and poised as ever. "It was fine when you returned from Mother’s place. How did it start snowing so suddenly?"

Lord Xu noticed her loose hair and lightly smoothed it for her, catching a faint whiff of rose fragrance. "You washed your hair in such cold weather?"

Eleven Miss handed the cloak to a maid and instructed them to prepare water for Lord Xu’s washing up. "I felt much better after washing it."

The scent of roses filled the air around the bedding.

Lord Xu chuckled, his gaze bright as he gently tweaked her soft earlobe before turning toward the washroom.

Eleven Miss’s face turned bright red.

Amber, seeing this, quickly lowered her eyes and retreated.

"Sister Amber, you scared me half to death!" Wan Daxian’s youngest sister, Sishi, hurried over to greet her.

She had been tasked with serving in Eleven Miss’s chambers, assisting Amber.

Amber let out a sigh of relief, only now noticing the dampness on her forehead.

Even someone as beautiful as Fifth Concubine only enjoyed a few good years.

She only feared that the mistress would let this time slip away and end up with no one to care for her in old age...

At this thought, she couldn’t help but frown.

What exactly was the mistress thinking?

******

Lady Wen bolted upright.

"Really?" Her expression was full of excitement. "Lord Xu returned to the main house?"

Qiu Hong nodded, sensing that Lady Wen’s usual calm was entirely absent this time.

Could it be that her usual claims of "not being of the same path as Lord Xu" were just putting on a brave face?

Her eyes showed a flicker of confusion.

That gaze was as bright as a lantern, making Lady Wen uncomfortable.

She couldn’t help murmuring, “I didn’t mean anything by it… I didn’t do anything wrong, yet just because I wasn’t to his liking, I was treated like some kind of criminal. He’s held it against me all these years… Qiao Lianfang first failed to protect the heir, then offended the mistress, yet he forgave her just like that… Why the double standard? Why am I treated one way and others another?” As she spoke, she let out a long sigh, a smug smile spreading across her face. “At least now everyone’s the same, and my heart is at peace.”

Qiu Hong was stunned speechless.

But Lady Wen waved her hand dismissively. “Sleep, sleep!”

Soon, she fell asleep happily.

******

Yi Qin covered her face and burst into laughter, her muffled laughter rising and falling like an owl’s call, which startled Cui Er badly.

Confused, Cui Er called out, “Madam?”

It took a while before Yi Qin finally stopped laughing.

“It’s nothing, nothing. Go to bed!”

Seeing the genuine joy deep in her eyes, Cui Er knew she was truly happy. Still puzzled, she curtsied and left.

Yi Qin immediately sprang up and rushed into the warm room.

“Bodhisattva, you’ve truly granted my wish!” She knelt on the prayer cushion in her undergarments. “Oh Bodhisattva, you’ve truly granted my wish! Now that the marquis no longer pities Qiao Lianfang, in the future…”

Her whispered words faded into the curling incense smoke.