Chapter 209: Family Division

Chapter 209: Family Division

In the following days, Hua Lan came to visit Ming Lan again, and the two sisters had silently reached a consensus on the matter. If all the other siblings were doing well, while only Mo Lan's family was struggling in misery, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing—it would cause trouble for them as well. Given these reasons, it was best if Mo Lan and her husband didn't separate and continued to live under the protection of the Yongchang Marquis' household.

Hua Lan had already made arrangements with Liu Shi, and would take care of the smaller matters, but Ming Lan would still need to make an appearance to show her support.

One day, Madam Liang invited Ming Lan to join a gathering with the women of the Liang family and their in-laws to discuss the issue of family division. Hua Lan thought this was an appropriate occasion for it, as the women of the inner household could speak freely without tearing their faces in public, while also signaling the Sheng family's stance on the matter. Thus, she invited Ming Lan to go with her.

On the way, the three women traveled together in one carriage. Ming Lan asked about the recent situation with the Liang family, saying, "I'm puzzled. The old Marquis of Liang has just passed his 77th birthday, so why is the Marquis' wife so openly asking for a family division?"

In ancient times, a family division wasn't considered an elegant affair, and unless the parents had spoken out or the elders had taken charge, it usually led to gossip.

Liu Shi sighed. She was the most trapped in this situation, as both her father-in-law and husband had repeatedly instructed her to handle matters, so she had no choice but to be busy and work hard. She continued, "Sixth sister is an honest person, she didn't think of those mean tactics. Since the old Marquis passed away, the couple in the main branch started causing trouble. Later, when the Liang family's eldest son went to Xuafu, things quieted down for a while. But after the imperial decree for the title of Marquis was issued, the Marquis' wife started stirring things up again, and she became even more extreme."

Hua Lan sneered, "This kind of petty scheme is not hard to guess. It seems like the old Marquis didn't establish an heir, so they got the idea to make some achievements first to fight for the title. Now that they've lost hope, they're thinking of splitting the family."

Liu Shi wearily said, "I also think this is the case. The Marquis' wife won't directly ask for a division, but she's always stirring up trouble—picking fights here and there. Today, she criticized First Young Madam Liang for withholding her share, and tomorrow she'll say her mother-in-law is biased, with everyone in the house bullying her. If things don't go her way, she'll burst into tears, or drag relatives in to complain and seek justice, threatening to die or leave. She keeps saying, 'I can't live like this anymore.' She even scolded Fourth sister, accusing her of being harsh on her cousin, that Chunche Concubine."

Hua Lan, feeling annoyed, said, "Why can't Mrs. Liang just close her eyes and let it go? What's the point of quarreling with such petty people?"

Ming Lan shook her head and replied, "Mrs. Liang is proud and arrogant. She won't tolerate this kind of insult."

"Then she should use some of her matronly methods and stop letting others bully her like a soft persimmon!" Hua Lan slammed her hand against the side of the carriage. The panel, wrapped in thick silk and cotton, made no sound.

Liu Shi said, "Elder sister doesn't know, but in recent years, Liang family's eldest son has been very successful in his career, and everyone looks up to him. After the new emperor ascended the throne, the old Marquis Liang was still reprimanded, but the eldest son has the ability. I don't know what connections he has, but he gained the favor of General Fan from Xuandu, and is still advancing smoothly. People are saying that the old Marquis was able to restore his position thanks to his son's influence. Since the world tends to follow the wind, now with this division of the family, many are siding with the Marquis' wife, which has nearly driven First Young Madam Liang to the brink of death!"

Hearing this, the sisters both sighed. Ming Lan felt a deep sorrow and said, "No matter how much we say, it all comes down to having capable heirs."

Hua Lan furrowed her brows, thinking about herself. She muttered softly, "Raising a tiger is asking for trouble." No wonder in the world, a legitimate mother always fears a son from a concubine, and some even try to nurture them into weakness. It seems there is some truth to this, and the current situation is a perfect example.

"Ming Lan glanced at her and gently said, 'A family like the Liang family is rare. Sister, don't take it to heart.'

It was unclear whether Hua Lan took it to heart, but she nodded.

When they arrived at the Liang residence, all sorts of important people had gathered in the side hall near the rock garden. The women were dressed elegantly, adorned with jewelry and precious items. Upon a quick count, there were about ten of them. Liang's wife pointed to them and introduced, and only then did Ming Lan realize that two of them were her direct relatives, two others were the mothers and sisters-in-law of Liang Er's wife, four were from the Liang clan, and the rest were from Liang Da's wife's family. The concubine of the third branch of the Liang family sat quietly by herself, while the fourth branch, Mo Lan's maternal relatives, had just arrived.

'You're not feeling well, so you don't need to come,' said Liang's wife apologetically.

Ming Lan, cradling her belly, smiled gently and said, 'It's nothing. I'm quite stable in these last few months. Since Aunt has matters to attend to, as younger relatives, we should come and check on things.'

After some pleasantries and greetings, everyone took their seats.

Liang Da's wife was about thirty years old, petite and slim, with above-average looks. She warily glanced at Ming Lan and the others, then opened her handkerchief and continued with the previous topic, lamenting how difficult life had been under Liang's wife.

'…But to want to eat a quail egg, what kind of precious thing is that? The maidservants just brush me off, and when I ask for something better, they either don't respond or secretly criticize me for making a fuss. If it were my sister-in-law giving the orders, they'd probably go out that very night to catch quails!' she continued, wiping away tears. 'A girl only four or five years old doesn't know anything. She still thinks her grandfather is around. How could her father compare to the second and fourth uncles…' "

This woman is very skilled at complaining, leaving no detail unnoticed. Even the smallest matters, like a delayed cup of tea or a cold bowl of soup, or a word or a glance, can be blown out of proportion and turned into issues of respect and dignity.

What's more, there are several women around her, each adding their own comments. Some sigh about how difficult it is to be the daughter-in-law of the eldest son, while others support her, saying how understanding and magnanimous Lady Liang is, and that she will surely understand the hardships and grievances of the eldest daughter-in-law.

Madam Liang's face turns pale with anger and she says, "Are you implying that I am unfair in my handling of matters?" The eldest daughter-in-law replies tearfully, "The five fingers are not all the same length, and how can the mother be at fault when it comes to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?" Madam Liang, not wanting to admit that she treats the illegitimate son better than the legitimate one, is left speechless.

As the eldest daughter-in-law continues to cry, her words are still clear and organized, despite her tears. She is not just throwing a tantrum, but speaking with careful reasoning. Ming Lan, listening on the side, finds this fascinating, and silently marvels at the skill of the woman.

For instance, if you were to straightforwardly accuse someone, saying, "Monkey Brother, why do you always favor Second Brother and make me do all the work?" the person could at least offer an explanation, such as, "That idiot is lazy and eats too much, unlike Sand Brother who is steady, reliable, and handsome." Even if the explanation doesn't win everyone over, at least it offers a justification.

But this eldest daughter-in-law doesn't follow the usual script. Instead, she uses a more subtle approach, claiming, "You all harbor resentment in your hearts, you look at me with contempt, and your actions show your disgust… Don't deny it, we're not blind, we can see it clearly."

——When faced with such an opponent, all you can do is blush with anger and retort with something like "I'll curse your mother"—what else is there to say in defense? No wonder even Mo Lan was defeated by her; Ming Lan suddenly understood that true masters are found among the common folk.

Lady Liang Er (the second wife) is gentle and dignified, never once arguing with the elders. The third wife, feeling sorry for herself, shrinks away in silence. Mo Lan, on the other hand, has tried several times to speak up but is intimidated by eldest daughter in law Liang's imposing presence and dares not raise her voice, so she can only sit angrily to one side.

The eldest daughter-in-law (Liang Da) has been crying for a full two cups of tea's worth of time before finally getting to the point. She says, "You have hurt the feelings of the family in the main house and tried to disrupt our peaceful life. This cannot go on any longer."

Madam Liang, already enraged, sneers and says, "If you want to split the family, go ahead! Do you think I will stop you?"

But to Madam Liang's surprise, the eldest daughter-in-law doesn't pick up on that challenge. Instead, she continues to cry, wiping her tears while rambling on about how "a large tree grows branches, and splitting the family isn't a bad thing. Blood is thicker than water, even if we all live separately, we will still maintain the same good relations." She circles around, suggesting how she plans to help support her two brothers.

Madam Liang, now shaking with anger, snaps, "If you want to leave, then go! Why do you have to drag the third and fourth sons into this? I've already said no, but you won't listen!"

At this, Lady Liang Er quickly rushes over to support her mother-in-law and says, "Mother, please calm down. Elder sister-in-law is just speaking her mind. Both uncles and the younger sisters-in-law have already said they don't want to split the family."

Liáng sān (third daughter-in-law) and Mo Lan hurriedly stood up and said in unison, "We are willing to serve and honor mother."

Liang Da immediately stopped crying, her Liu Mei (Liǔ méi, a term for "willow eyebrows") raised in anger, and said, "If we are going to separate, then it should be done completely. How can we leave two behind while one goes? Let's settle everything now, so there won't be any more fuss later."

Mo Lan mentally processed this and only then realized that not only was Liang Da seeking to separate from the family, but she also wanted the two younger brothers to separate as well?! She turned to look at Hua Lan, who was also looking at her, both sharing an expression of suspicion.

Liang Er's sister-in-law couldn't sit still anymore. With a polite tone, she said, "If Liang Da wants to separate, and the younger ones are unwilling, why force them? Everyone should manage their own affairs." She came from a prestigious family in Southern Zhejiang, with several generations serving as officials. Both her family and her husband's family were known for their humility and propriety, and she had never seen such brazen behavior.

Liang Da's expression changed several times, but she finally calmed down and forced a smile, saying, "You're mistaken, dear sister-in-law. If the brothers don't separate, and only we leave, won't that make it seem like we're unfilial?"

Finally, Minglan couldn't help herself and laughed lightly, saying, "Indeed, Liang Da, you've thought it through, but if they clearly don't want to, why force them to divide the family for your sake?"

Liang Da, the eldest wife, smiled coldly, "You can't draw two 'Liang' characters with one stroke. Can Mother and the uncles really bear to see their eldest son being pointed at by outsiders?"

Minglan joked, "Just now, weren't you saying that your mother and sisters-in-law weren't treating you well? You've been so openly harsh towards you, yet now you're talking about 'being pointed at'? This isn't arguing for the sake of it, it's a logical issue."

Liang Da immediately fell silent. The other women around her quietly snickered. Madam Liang, the mother of the family, loosened her furrowed brows and smiled faintly, like snow melting. Liang Er looked at Liu Shi with gratitude, and the third wife (Liang San) secretly glanced at Minglan. Mo Lan, however, appeared thoughtful, looking at everyone for a moment before staring blankly out of the window.

Minglan added, "And as for filial piety, everyone has eyes. It's been less than a hundred days since Father passed. No matter how big the grievances, they should be endured. Yet some people are making a scene about dividing the family. Hmph."

Liang Da ground her teeth, knowing that Minglan's words were valid. If not for the fear of bad reputation, she would have caused an even bigger ruckus.

Hua Lan saw the situation and laughed loudly: "This is settled then. Since Aunt Liang has spoken, those who want to live their own small lives can move out; those who don't want to separate can stay. Brothers may be close, but each should follow their own path, and everyone can part on good terms."

After a pause, she dropped the smile and coldly said, "No one is afraid of a disturbance, but it's about maintaining face and wishing for harmony within the family. I advise the eldest lady to stop while it's still manageable."

Liang Er felt confident, sat up straight, and politely said, "Sister-in-law, the third and fourth brothers don't want to separate anyway, so do as you wish."

Since her husband had inherited the title, she had often faced the pressure from her elder sister-in-law.

Liang Da kept a serious expression, silent. Then, a woman beside her stepped forward and laughed, saying, "We are all family. Words may have been said in haste, but in truth, the eldest lady doesn't have any ulterior motives. It's just that the children are growing up, and it's time for them to live on their own."

She laughed and smoothed things over, then asked, "…If the family is to be divided, how does the madam propose we divide things?"

Madam Liang (Liang Fu Ren) responded without hesitation, "The ancestral land and the permanent land can't be touched. The fifth daughter hasn't yet married, so we will set aside a dowry for her. The rest will be equally divided into four parts, one for each family."

Liang Da immediately jumped up and sharply said, "That won't do! The row of shops on Huai West Street, the two silver shops, and the two estates we bought four years ago—father already said these were meant for us as family property. How can these be counted as public property?"

"Since it was bought four years ago, why has it not been handed over to you by the master until now?" asked Madam Liang.

Lady Liang Da bit her lip tightly, her fingers twisting her handkerchief continuously.

Madam Liang turned to look at her, speaking slowly and clearly, "When everything is prosperous and flourishing, you can't see it. The master likes it. But once something happens, you, as the eldest son and his wife, are unwilling to shoulder any responsibility. Whether it's a flood at home or your parents and brothers in trouble, as long as you are doing fine, you don't care about anything else! Once the master understood this, he took back the property and ordered me to divide it equally."

Lady Liang Da's face turned pale, her expression tense. After a moment, she suddenly dropped her head into her lap and began crying, "There are four brothers in the family, but only the eldest brother works tirelessly outside, fighting for everything. What else can he do? The illegitimate sons have no good path, they can only struggle for a living in the fire and blood! He has brought glory to the family, made our father and brothers look good, and earned a large fortune. Yet he is only in his thirties, and his body is already full of wounds. In cold weather, his legs hurt; in hot weather, the old wounds on his back split open; when it rains, the old injuries flare up. His entire body has no place that is healthy!"

She cried bitterly, stamping her feet and pounding her chest, "The second brother has good fortune, spending his days reading books and admiring flowers, living leisurely and comfortably, with the family title to inherit. The third and fourth brothers are also living comfortably at home, with their eldest brother protecting them from outside, no one dares to look down on them…"

Madam Liang listened with rising anger, "You can say all you want, but you are just afraid your brothers will benefit from your light. Don't worry, even if we face great difficulty, we still have a few relatives we can rely on. We won't have to beg at your door!"

Hearing the word "relatives," Lady Liang Da's heart jolted. Although, aside from her own husband, the other three sons of the Liang family were all "decorative" figures, nice to look at but ineffective, they could not be ignored because from her mother-in-law to her two sisters-in-law, all were connected to powerful in-laws.

As her thoughts shifted, she looked up and immediately saw Ming Lan smiling at her. She quickly shrank back.

The noblewoman sitting behind Madam Liang sneered, "So, it seems the eldest son of the Liang family was born and raised by heaven, not needing my sister and brother-in-law to raise or teach him. He brought all his skills from the womb, like the warrior star descending from the heavens!"

Lady Liang Da fell silent, lowering her eyes filled with resentment.

At this point, Ming Lan found the situation uninteresting.

A capable eldest brother, unwilling to be held back by incompetent younger brothers, and wanting to bear his own responsibilities without depending on others—this was understandable. Liang Da and her husband, relying on the strength of the illegitimate sons and the weakness of the legitimate ones, had plotted this family separation, thinking that after the father's death and with the proud stepmother, along with some support from relatives and friends, their chances of success were high. Unfortunately, they had forgotten one thing: even a broken boat still has three nails.

No matter how incompetent the brothers were, and how proud the stepmother was, the connections of noble families through marriage could not be underestimated. Behind both Madam Liang and Lady Liang Er, there were powerful figures such as a governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, an assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and two prominent families with influential officials. This did not even count the influential Sheng, Gu, and Yuan families.

Even if the Liang family's eldest son was capable, he could not afford to offend all these powerful people at once.

Perhaps the fetus sensed Ming Lan's boredom and moved heavily twice. Ming Lan didn't mind, letting out a soft "ah" sound, frowning and holding her belly. Seeing this, Madam Liang quickly asked, "Is something wrong?"

Ming Lan gently rubbed her belly and smiled, "It's nothing, I must have been sitting too long."

Madam Liang, knowing it was not a good idea to ask Ming Lan to go back immediately, turned to Mo Lan and said, "The room in the back is relatively quiet. Go accompany your sister to rest. Once she feels better, we can talk about other things."

Mo Lan obediently agreed, lowering her head to help Ming Lan. The attendant, Xiao Tao, was quick-witted and stepped forward, subtly separating them, and with a simple smile, said, "Fourth Miss, please go ahead."

Mo Lan glanced at the two of them and, with graceful steps, slowly walked towards the back room. Ming Lan and Xiao Tao followed. Just before they exited the side hall, they overheard the voice of Liang Er Nai's mother. The elderly woman spoke slowly, her voice firm and assured—"If you're going to separate, just say so. There's no need to talk about how the stepmother is harsh; that only makes us look petty. The family wealth of the in-laws is more than enough. As younger generations, we should look further ahead. It's always better to leave room for future peace…"

Ming Lan secretly nodded. This speech, a mix of advice and subtle threats, was indeed powerful.

After passing around a large screen made of purple sandalwood with glass-painted peony and ruyi motifs, and turning two corners, they arrived at a spacious and elegant side room. The room had a bed against the wall, with a table, chairs, and stools by the window. In the center stood a large ruyi-shaped round table.

Xiao Tao helped Ming Lan sit on the soft couch, bent down to remove her shoes, and lifted her legs onto the couch. She softly said, "They're swollen again." Then she gently massaged her legs. Ming Lan let out a comfortable sound, feeling a relief from the discomfort of her swollen calves.

Mo Lan sat opposite Ming Lan, watching as the Liang manor's maidservants brought in hot tea and snacks, then dismissed the others. The open grate of the charcoal stove by the side gave off a faint draft, and the sounds of the argument in the front hall could be heard faintly through the air.

She glanced at Xiao Tao, who was reluctant to leave, then looked back at Ming Lan. Ming Lan was also looking at her. The room was so silent that the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

They were too familiar with each other. It was useless for Mo Lan to act weak and pitiful, just as it was futile for Ming Lan to pretend to be simple and honest. They had fought, quarreled, clashed head-on, and even schemed against each other. By now, even if they didn't know every detail of each other's mind, at least they knew the shape and color of each other's thoughts.

Mo Lan gave a light laugh and said, "Sixth Brother-in-law has gone out again. Does Sixth Sister feel lonely? Alas, I only hope he returns safely."

Ming Lan held the warm cup and ignored the remark, her expression leisurely as she said, "I heard that after the old Marquis passed away, Lady Liang personally took charge and sent away many of the girls from sister's courtyard."

Mo Lan's expression darkened, but she couldn't help but defend herself, "My husband has to observe the mourning period for three years. I can't let those girls be delayed."

"—I see," Ming Lan smiled.

Seeing her sister's expression, Mo Lan became even more frustrated. Her mother-in-law had made her dissatisfaction clear, both openly and subtly. Every time the topic of the Gu family came up, she would always praise the "Gu Houfu lady," saying she was a blessed woman who brought prosperity to her husband and bore him children.

"You all…" Mo Lan bit her lip, "Do you think I'm useless and pathetic?"

Ming Lan smiled and said, "When it comes to children, future prospects, and marital relations—Elder Sister, Fifth Sister, and I, as well as Fourth Sister herself, can compare."

Mo Lan's eyes filled with resentment. She stood up and walked a few steps closer to Ming Lan. Xiao Tao immediately jumped up and stood in front of the couch, shouting loudly, "Fourth Miss, if you come within three steps of our young lady, I will lose all courtesy!"

Xiao Tao had always been strong, and over the past few years, she had learned some martial arts from Gu Quan and others. Taking down a few women from the inner chambers was no trouble for her.

Mo Lan glared, "You dare?"

Xiao Tao glared right back and replied, "Fourth Miss, I remember when you tried to scratch our young lady's face with broken porcelain. Mama Fang said that if there's a next time, we can just deal with Fourth Miss's face directly, no need to hold back!"

Mo Lan stumbled in anger, knowing that Xiao Tao was straightforward and stubborn. Looking at her strong and well-built body, she could only retreat and sit back down in the chair, angrily slapping the armrest and muttering under her breath, "I've always had bad luck since I was young, and now I'm just a laughingstock."

Ming Lan slightly raised her body, chuckling, "Since you were young, whenever something bad happens, you always blame the heavens and the people around you. You blame your father for not loving you enough, your grandmother for being biased, or your sisters for being obstacles. This habit has not changed even now. This marriage was your own scheme, so there's no one else to blame. Yet you push everything onto bad luck. Why don't you think, maybe all of this is because of your own mistakes?"

Mo Lan was furious, her forehead veins bulging as she shouted, "What mistakes have I made?! Should I just sit and watch as you all climb higher and higher, while I just sit here waiting to die?"

Ming Lan remained still, calmly responding, "Since Aunt Lin taught you not to just 'sit and wait to die,' you were already wrong from the start."

"You…" Mo Lan was infuriated.

Ming Lan spoke indifferently, "What Aunt Lin taught you, I can already tell from your actions. It's nothing more than competing for favor, showing off, managing the concubines, tightly controlling your husband, dividing the affection, sowing discord, flattering…"

She let out a soft laugh. "Honestly, no wonder Liang's mother is dissatisfied with you. What is concubine Lin's status, and what is your status? A proper wife should not be learning the ways of a concubine, yet you're trying to use these petty tricks to secure your position."

Mo Lan's fingers tightly gripped the table, her voice hoarse, "Don't speak of my birth mother. She has already suffered enough!" Remembering her recent visit to the manor to see her birth mother, the once-beautiful and graceful concubine Lin had now become a coarse, ill-tempered old woman.

""Who else can teach me if not her? If I don't listen to her, believe in her, what else can I do?!" Mo Lan said, filled with frustration and a sense of helplessness. For a moment, she felt as if her life was hopeless, and for an instant, she even thought of scratching Ming Lan's face, but her body seemed paralyzed, unable to move. She could only glare at Ming Lan with bitterness.

"My elder brother-in-law once said that your husband isn't a good-for-nothing; he's just young, enjoys pleasure, has a soft heart, is easily provoked, but at his core, he's not a bad person. If you pay attention and encourage him, he can make something of himself," Ming Lan recalled Hua Lan's words, speaking softly.

"Even though your husband once favored Chun Yiniang, if you had reasoned with him, patiently advised him to strive for progress, and scolded Chun Yiniang for causing trouble, Liang's mother would have been thrilled and would have supported you. You could have used your influence in this direction, and your husband would have listened."

"But you didn't take the right path. Instead, you resorted to the wrong methods. To compete for favor with the concubines, you kept giving your husband new chambermaids, hoping to divide his affections, causing chaos in the household. Over the years, while your elder sister's husband worked hard and earned her a generous dowry, your own husband hasn't made any progress in his career since marrying you! I just want to ask you—if one day Liang's mother is no longer around, and you're separated from the family, do you think your husband can uphold the family on his own?"

Ming Lan took a deep breath and said seriously, "If I were a mother, watching my once-promising son, whom I raised, completely lose his ambition because his daughter-in-law has seduced him into idleness, wasting his days in flower-filled pleasures, would I like that daughter-in-law?"

When it came to encouraging her husband to strive and succeed, Liu Shi was the textbook example.

Clap, clap, clap—loud applause echoed.

Mo Lan sneered as she clapped, saying loudly, "Well said, indeed. After all, you became the first-rank lady. Your words are indeed persuasive, making me, this useless sister, wish I could just die and be reborn! Now that you've risen so high, don't just mock me—at least help your sister a little!"

Looking at her twisted and angry face, Ming Lan was silent for a while before suddenly saying, "Fifth sister went with brother-in-law on his official assignment, but you've never asked about it. Do you know where they went?"

Mo Lan scoffed, snorting disdainfully, "Who cares about some remote corner, some insignificant little official!"

"…It's Quanzhou," Ming Lan said softly. "It's where we lived when Father was in charge. Fifth brother-in-law is capable and secured the position on his own; Father only gave him a little push at the end."

After saying this, Ming Lan sighed and added, "I've rested enough. I'll go and bid farewell to the others. No need for you to see me off. This is goodbye." She then got up from the bed and put on her shoes.

As she walked out the door, Xiao Tao tightly supported her and muttered, "Miss, you're too kind. How does Fourth Miss deserve it! She probably thinks your kind words are just mocking her!"

Ming Lan gently rubbed Xiao Tao's bangs and smiled, saying, "Silly girl, sometimes we need to do what we should do, not just what we need to do." She considered it a good deed for Lady Liang, who had treated her fairly.

...

Mo Lan remained seated in the chair, seemingly drained, her mind blank.

Quanzhou, what a wonderful place it was.

The air was moist and warm, with shimmering ponds everywhere, reflecting the light blue and clear sky. Among the scent of fish, rice, and fields, the soft sound of children's songs echoed, along with the Western goods brought in by ships from across the sea…

It was her most beautiful time.

Back then, she was her father's most beloved daughter, and her birth mother, Lin Shi, was so dignified. Whether going out for a walk or hosting guests, every lady praised her for being beautiful, clever, and even more graceful than the legitimate daughters.

Quanzhou, Quanzhou, Wen Yanjing, her father's arrangements… originally, all of this was meant to be hers.

For a moment, her heart was filled with a sense of loss and longing.