Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In the Divine Capital, April brought a city divided: half embraced by spring breezes, half adorned with summer blooms.

The manager of the art and calligraphy gallery leaned over his desk, a slight frown creasing his brow as he gazed at the unfurled peony painting.

Jiang Heng sat beside the desk, gently stroking the tabby cat nestled in her lap. Her eyes, too, rested on the peony painting. She remained silent, patiently awaiting a response.

“Is this, by any chance, the painting the Seventh Miss Jiang gifted to Duke Wei six years ago?” the manager asked, looking up after a long, scrutinizing look.

Jiang Heng offered no reply, merely asking in a soft voice, “Can it be repaired?”

The manager’s gaze returned to the peony painting.

A layer of gauze, thin as a cicada’s wing, covered the painting, likely to protect it from the ravages of time. Now, the delicate gauze had a tear, and the painting beneath bore a nick the size of a fingernail—evidently clawed by a cat.

The manager examined it repeatedly, meticulously feeling the paper beneath the gauze, before finally shaking his head helplessly. “If it were premium-grade paper, it might be manageable. But this paper is flimsy and delicate, of the lowest quality. Once damaged, there’s nothing to be done.”

Jiang Heng was silent for a moment, then rose. “In that case, let’s return.” She instructed her maid to collect the peony painting.

The manager quickly interjected, “Our establishment boasts many talented artisans who could create a replica for you, Madam—one so convincing it would be indistinguishable from the original. However, this outer layer of gauze…” He paused, a troubled expression on his face, and explained, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to procure it, but this gauze is exceptionally rare and precious, far more valuable than the painting paper itself. A modest shop like ours simply cannot obtain such a superior item.”

Jiang Heng pondered for a moment, then gently shook her head. “That won’t be necessary.”

As she prepared to leave, the sky outside the window abruptly darkened as if dusk had fallen. A fierce wind whipped up, and soon after, a clattering sound filled the air—it had begun to hail.

“Oh no! It’s hailing again!” the young maid cried out, ready to bolt for the carriage. “Our newly purchased peonies will be ruined! We must hurry back and move them under the covered walkways!”

Jiang Heng gently extended an arm, blocking the maid’s path. “Let’s take shelter for now.”

Outside, hailstones were pelting down, already knocking some shop banners to the ground. Rushing out now could well cost them their lives.

“Madam, what about our newly purchased peonies? If they’re destroyed, what will we do?” The maid stamped her foot in anxiety.

Duke Wei’s estate purchased peonies every year, always rare and exquisite varieties carefully cultivated by flower growers. This year, due to the unpredictable weather, peonies were more difficult to cultivate, and their prices had more than doubled compared to the previous year. Many noble households had temporarily canceled their orders, but Duke Wei’s estate proceeded as usual.

“Madam, the Eldest Madam already harbors resentment over the high cost of these purchases. If the flowers are ruined, I fear she…” The maid, mindful of her position, trailed off.

Jiang Heng showed no sign of panic. She soothingly stroked the tabby cat in her arms, agitated by the sudden shift in weather, then returned to her seat by the desk. “I’ve already instructed Cousin Luo to keep an eye on them.”

“Cousin Luo? But she’s the Eldest Madam’s own sister. Can we truly rely on her?” the maid muttered under her breath, her worries unabated.

Jiang Heng did not respond. Calming the cat with her hands, she gazed out the window at the driving hail and listened to the rising murmur of people seeking shelter below.

They were passersby caught in the storm, gathered together and discussing the recent strange weather.

The people of the Divine Capital loved planting peonies; the flowers lined roadsides and doorways everywhere. In previous years, by mid-March, the city would already be a tapestry of brilliant colors. This year, however, it was not until April that spring arrived in full force, with temperatures soaring straight into summer. Flowers large and small, famous and obscure, bloomed in haste. Yet, barely a few days after their blossoming, hail had struck, shattering much of the beauty.

This was already the third hailstorm this month.

Whispers had begun circulating among the people, suggesting that these abnormal weather patterns were a sign of heavenly wrath.

“I heard that Duke Wei, to protect Empress Jiang, slaughtered over three thousand officials and subjects of Southern Chen—even infants in their swaddling clothes.”

“Such brutality! Even in defeat, it shouldn’t have come to this!”

Jiang Heng had also heard these rumors. The subject of these discussions was her husband, Duke Wei.

Gu Yu’s southern campaign had successfully captured the capital of Southern Chen and taken its rulers and officials prisoner. When news of the victory reached the Divine Capital, the court and the public rejoiced. But shortly afterward, another report arrived: the ruler of Southern Chen had died after surrendering, and the former officials of Southern Chen accused Empress Jiang of the deed. Outraged, they demanded her execution to appease the spirit of their late lord. To protect Empress Jiang, Gu Yu had unleashed a massacre, killing over three thousand people.

When this news reached the capital, it sent shockwaves through the court. The emperor specially dispatched an imperial envoy to Jiankang to oversee the matter. What had happened since then, Jiang Heng did not know.

The idle chatter under the eaves shifted from current events to incidents from six years ago, specifically the peony painting Empress Jiang had gifted to Duke Wei.

“If only Empress Jiang hadn’t married into the Southern Dynasties back then but had wed Duke Wei instead—it would have been a fine match.”

“Indeed. I heard that the peony painting Empress Jiang created at her coming-of-age ceremony was highly sought after by nobles willing to pay exorbitant prices. Who would have thought she’d eventually gift it to an obscure centurion?”

Jiang Heng had heard this story many times.

After that, the centurion from a humble background was promoted to Grand General within a year. The following year, he was ennobled as Duke Wei for his role in supporting the new ruler. Within five years, he pacified the southern territories, ending centuries of conflict and rivalry between warlords, and became one of the most illustrious figures of his time. That peony painting, celebrated for his achievements, had risen to fame and was now widely romanticized.

Had her cat not intruded into Gu Yu’s study and clawed the renowned peony painting, she might never have laid eyes on it.

Jiang Heng tapped the cat’s forehead lightly and sighed. “This time, you’ve truly caused trouble.”

As if understanding her words, the tabby cat let out a soft meow and nuzzled deeper into her embrace.

A faint smile finally broke through Jiang Heng’s cool demeanor. She affectionately tapped the cat’s head and reassured it softly, “Don’t worry, I won’t hand you over.”

She glanced outside. The rain had not yet stopped, but it had lightened, and the hail had ceased. Looking down the street, she saw that the vibrant blossoms that had greeted her on her way were now mostly green, with reds scarce—colorful petals littered the ground in disarray.

She wondered how the peonies back at the estate had fared.

“Let’s return,” Jiang Heng said, rising to her feet. Cradling the tabby cat, she stepped gracefully into the rain.

...

“Oh no, they’re all gone!” As soon as they entered the peony garden, Rui Zhu glanced around and, seeing no flowers in sight, hurried over for a closer look. She sighed in dismay as she surveyed the scene.

Jiang Heng sensed something amiss. Even after a hailstorm, there should have been some damaged flowers remaining. Moreover, it seemed many of the peony plants were missing.

Upon questioning the gardeners, she learned that the flowers had been picked.

“The Eldest Madam invited many ladies to admire the flowers this morning and told them they could pick any they liked to wear in their hair. Some were also potted and given away as gifts.”

“Not a single one left?” Rui Zhu was both furious and heartbroken.

The peony garden had always been under Jiang Heng’s care. Since the beginning of April, as the weather suddenly warmed, flower growers had continuously delivered peonies. The garden had never had many servants to tend to it. In previous years, Jiang Heng would hire experienced gardeners to help, but this year, due to the high cost of peonies, her sister-in-law had refused to approve the hiring. Jiang Heng had taken on much of the work herself.

Peonies were delicate, and the erratic weather made caring for them exceptionally tedious and draining. For over half a month, Jiang Heng had scarcely left the estate, guarding the garden until the peonies bloomed safely, unparalleled in their beauty, unmatched anywhere in the Divine Capital.

Yet, after being away for just half a day, nothing remained.

“Madam, this peony garden is under your care. The Eldest Madam has gone too far,” Rui Zhu muttered under her breath.

Jiang Heng’s expression remained indifferent, betraying no obvious emotion. She simply lowered her gaze slightly, gently brushing the fine raindrops from the tabby cat’s fur, and turned to leave. “Let’s return to our quarters.”

“Sister-in-law, you’re finally back.”

Xiao Luo Shi arrived at the peony garden with a cheerful smile, a fresh yellow peony adorning her hair. Her features were not particularly striking, but she excelled in elaborate adornment. The yellow peony, glistening with light rain, lent her an air of elegance and grace.

The two maids behind her also wore peonies in their hair. Though not as exquisite as the yellow peony, these flowers had been purchased from flower growers, not ordinary varieties grown at home.

Xiao Luo Shi adjusted the peony in her hair and, noticing Jiang Heng’s glance toward her maids, explained with a smile, “Sister-in-law, please don’t misunderstand. I wouldn’t dream of giving such valuable flowers to them. Lady Sun and Lady Qi tried them on but didn’t care for them, so they bestowed these upon the maids.”

She then ordered the maids to bring over several pots of red and purple peonies and said with an air of accomplishment, “Sister-in-law, it’s fortunate I had these moved in time. Otherwise, the hail would have ruined them. What a waste of money that would have been!”

Jiang Heng glanced at the returned peonies—none were rare or precious, likely the leftovers others had rejected. Even so, she inclined her head slightly and said, “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

“We’re family, no need for such formalities.” Little Luo Shi raised her eyebrows slightly and adjusted the peony hairpin in her hair. Noticing Rui Zhu still holding the scroll, she feigned concern and asked, “Has the peony painting been repaired?”

Seeing Jiang Heng shake her head, Little Luo Shi lifted her brows knowingly and said, “Sister-in-law, I told you long ago not to keep that cat, but you wouldn’t listen. What are you going to do now? You know very well that San Lang (Gu Yu) doesn’t like cats...”

She paused, as if struck by a sudden idea, and continued, “Why not hand the cat over to me? I’ll say Aci was playing with it and failed to keep it under control, letting it sneak into the study. San Lang has always doted on Aci—he surely won’t blame her...”

“Thank you for your kindness, sister-in-law, but there’s no need to trouble yourself. I’ll handle it myself.”

Gu Yu’s two nephews had always wanted to play with her cat, but Jiang Heng had never agreed. She knew Little Luo Shi still had ulterior motives and politely declined.

Little Luo Shi’s expression darkened noticeably, and she fell silent.

“I have other matters to attend to and won’t keep you company any longer.” Jiang Heng acted as if she hadn’t noticed Little Luo Shi’s change in mood and turned to leave.

“Sister-in-law,” Little Luo Shi’s voice grew colder, tinged with frustration and condescension, “why not pick a peony to wear as well? Perhaps when San Lang sees it later, it will remind him of someone. Out of respect for your sister, he might not pursue the matter.”

Jiang Heng paused mid-step, instinctively tightening her arms around the cat in her embrace.

Did that mean Gu Yu had returned?

Little Luo Shi feigned surprise. “Sister-in-law, didn’t you know San Lang was returning today? I thought he had sent a letter informing you.”

“But there’s no need for you to trouble yourself. I’ve already arranged the family banquet, and Aci has prepared the bath and other necessities for his welcome.”

Jiang Heng had no time to dwell on the hidden meanings in Little Luo Shi’s words. Clutching the tabby cat, she quickened her pace toward her own Ninghe Courtyard.

“Light incense, change the bedding, and wipe down the floors and tables.”

While giving orders, Jiang Heng personally placed the tabby cat in a cage and handed it to Rui Zhu, saying, “Take it back to its original room. Keep a close eye on it and don’t let it run around or cause trouble again.”

Gu Yu disliked cats, so the tabby had always been kept in a separate room. Since Gu Yu had been away on a southern campaign for half a year, Jiang Heng had brought the cat to her main quarters. Now that Gu Yu had returned to the capital, she had to erase all traces of the cat before he came back.

From late afternoon until nightfall, the Ninghe Courtyard bustled with activity before gradually settling down. In the spot where the cat tree had once stood, two freshly bloomed peonies were now placed. A gilded boshan incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, carrying the scent of agarwood, Gu Yu’s favorite.

Jiang Heng sat before the dressing table, applying lip color. She had already bathed and changed into a light yellow plain dress adorned with a thousand-petaled peony—the very attire her elder sister, Seventh Miss, had often worn years ago.

“Madam, why are you wearing pomegranate-red lip color? It’s a bit too vibrant,” Rui Zhu reminded her.

Jiang Heng paused. The pomegranate-red lip color had been a birthday gift from a close friend some time ago. She had grown fond of it and used it frequently lately, forgetting in the moment that the shade was too bold.

“Madam, here it is.” Rui Zhu smoothly handed her another box of lip color.

Jiang Heng pressed her lips together, wiped off the nearly applied color, and reapplied a new shade.

“Madam, this peony complements your complexion perfectly. You look just like Seventh Miss,” Rui Zhu praised.

Jiang Heng’s eyes remained expressionless, though the corners of her lips lifted slightly as if in a faint smile, too subtle to be certain.

“Is that so? Good.”

Just as she finished her makeup, a maid announced the master’s return. Jiang Heng rose to greet him and saw Gu Yu already at the door.

The man stood tall and straight, dressed in dark robes. Whether it was due to his recent return from battle, he carried an aura of cold, imposing authority. Standing there under the sparse moonlight, he seemed like lingering frost untouched by the spring breeze, evoking a sense of chill in those who beheld him.

His gaze lingered on Jiang Heng for a long time, as if examining and recalling something.

“Ling Lu.”

Jiang Heng heard him call out that name, just as he had many times before—low and deep, almost vanishing into the night the moment it was spoken, as if he had never uttered it at all.

Jiang Heng remained silent, showing no unusual emotion, pretending she hadn’t heard him call her by the wrong name again.