Chapter Fifty: Warblers and Swallows

Lingran was trying to guess which wife the cat-woman was, when she heard Shi Yufeng’s gruff voice bark, “Yan Sici, do you have to follow me everywhere? If you’re smart, you’ll find somewhere else to hang about. Don’t make trouble here!”

So it was the fourth wife, the daughter of the former Minister. Yanyan had once said her father was framed by the Shi family, and if not for her, he would have lost his head; he was merely sent to an outside post instead. Thus, she and Shi Yufeng were like fire and water, quarreling whenever they met, constantly sabotaging each other in both open and covert ways, providing endless tales for everyone’s idle gossip.

Yan Sici smiled with languid charm. “Shi Madam, with your bear-like looks, it’s best not to pretend to be refined here! If the Prince sees you, won’t he lose his appetite?”

“What did you say? Say it again if you dare!” Shi Yufeng’s anger flared, and she rolled up her sleeves as if about to charge forward, but her own maid plead and held her back.

“Honestly! Is there no law in this household? Lady Fang is here too! Once the Prince hears of this, let’s see whose side he takes. You call yourself the chief wife—if you’re stripped of your title and punished by family law, you’ll lose all face!” Yan Sici was not afraid, and her words only provoked Shi Yufeng further, openly declaring that Shi Yufeng couldn’t compare to her in the Prince’s eyes.

Lingran had always dreaded such arguments. Whenever she saw a flock of women battling in a palace drama, or hurling insults in a grand mansion, she’d quickly change the channel. But now the quarrel unfolded right before her eyes, with no way to block it out, and she had to endure this petty open feud—though she knew the hidden ones were beyond her sight.

Shi Yufeng angrily pointed at Yan Sici and cursed, “You fox! Think you’re so favored? Everyone knows how long it’s been since the Prince entered your chambers. I dare admit it, can you?”

Their verbal sparring continued, and Lingran expected Shi Yufeng to eventually throw a punch and cause an uproar. But, after all the noise, the fight never escalated.

She saw another group approaching from the far side of the bridge, and the two women lowered their voices.

Lingran thought it might be Chu Yu arriving, but when she looked up, it was only Sun Min.

Apparently hearing the argument from across the water, Sun Min spoke as soon as she set foot on the stone bridge, “You’re becoming more and more unruly. Who doesn’t know this is outside Danhuai Hall? You’ll only be happy if the Prince hears you?”

Shi Yufeng marched toward Sun Min, protesting loudly, “She followed me all the way here! I won’t stoop to her level!”

Yan Sici merely snorted and walked off on her own.

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Standing on the bridge, Fang Pin watched as her maid floated lanterns. Suddenly, she said, “It’s merely a steward’s duty—why always act as if you’re the Princess?”

The target was clearly Sun Min.

Lingran thought, One argument barely ends, and another is about to erupt!

But Sun Min only cast her a glance and didn’t respond, showing unexpected poise and restraint, which surprised Lingran.

The Liang sisters came forward, greeting everyone. On the lakeshore was a notably beautiful woman who had kept to herself, accompanied by a single maid. She stood in the shadows behind a stone, unnoticed by most. Now, she stepped out to greet Fang Pin, Sun Min, Shi Yufeng, Yan Sici, and the Liang sisters, though the others responded indifferently, as if her status was lower. Lingran saw her shy demeanor, like a frightened rabbit, and remembered Yanyan mentioning one such wife.

If her guess was right, this must be Lady Ma Yingying, the fifth wife. Apparently, she had been a village girl, illiterate, and after Chancellor Chen Xun was exiled to Tieling for a major case, her clan hoped to emulate Yanfu’s daughter, seeking Chu Liuxiang’s favor. They found this beautiful girl and sent her to the Prime Minister’s residence. At the time, the Prime Minister was infatuated with the Scarlet Prince and showed no interest in her, so she was sent to Wanxiang Gardens. It was said she was timid and kept to her quarters in Yuanxiang Pavilion, rarely venturing out. No one knew what quality Chu Yu saw in her to make her a concubine.

To Lingran’s eyes, this woman’s beauty was as delicate as a cabbage, but she truly lacked any presence. Despite wearing silk and satin, she still looked like a cowherd.

Lingran felt a deep disdain. Chu Yu’s little wives— the more she saw, the less respect she felt for him, such a calamity of a man with a face that could ruin nations!

The Liang sisters instructed Yanyan and Lingran to set their lotus lanterns afloat.

Lingran took Yanyan’s hand, and together they found a step down to the water. As she gently placed the lantern into the river, she suddenly remembered its meaning. It was said that the road in the underworld was so dark that lost souls seeking rebirth could find their way only by following a lantern. She half-believed this tale, but on the lanterns she saw words praying for the Lady Dowager’s salvation and forgiveness—at least, these women seemed to be doing it for the Prince’s sake, not out of real faith.

She was lost in thought for a moment, then realized everyone had gathered.

Yanyan whispered, “They’re all here, every wife.”

Lingran looked up, and indeed saw a crowd of women in various dress, including Mohan and Wu Yunxian.

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Ordinarily, old acquaintances would be especially close, but after her experience with Xu Shanqian, Lingran no longer believed so. These noble girls had no real ties, bought and sent to the same place, they became rivals by default. She herself never aspired to stand out, but no one believed that, and when they could strike, they did so mercilessly. That day, she refused to testify against Mohan, but it didn’t mean she believed Mohan was innocent.

Shen Zhu’s foot was scalded, and Wu Yunxian, who usually never spoke, shoved Mohan forward—how could anyone trust that? Besides, they seemed to know Chu Liuxiang’s reaction in advance, confidently snatching first place and earning the twelfth wife’s seat in the Prince’s mansion without risk. It was all very suspicious.

Lingran’s doubts about Mohan made her reluctant to approach, but Liang Qingcheng was already calling them, “Why dawdle? Come on up! Don’t block the sisters and the maids from floating their lanterns. The Prince will be out soon.”

No wonder they all gathered here— it was for that wretched Prince! Lingran followed Yanyan reluctantly, glancing at the dozens of lovely women around her, feeling utterly stifled.

She had always been a tomboy, a sports monitor since childhood; being thrown into a crowd of women was torture. The thick scent of powder wafting through the air was already unbearable.

The Prince’s mansion was nothing like her two-month training as a noble lady. Back then, apart from a bit of clothing and a wooden hairpin, she never touched any rouge or cosmetics—she’d never been so smothered. She seriously wondered if Chu Yu’s nose was defective; how else could he stand so many heavily perfumed women?

Lost in these thoughts, she realized Mohan was looking at her, turned to Wu Yunxian and said something, then beckoned Lingran over.

Lingran glanced at Liang Qingcheng’s face first; seeing her nod, Lingran went.

Mohan’s radiant face was still a little swollen on one side, and if it was from the blow dealt by Princess Gu’an, it didn’t seem too serious, and looked as if it would soon heal.