Women in the Water

A thin mist hovered over the river outside Lin'an City. The night was silent until a scream pierced through the darkness.

"Ghost! A female ghost!"

Su Xingyao stood by the riverbank, watching as a man fled in panic under the moonlight. Looking down at herself, she saw her soaked clothes still tangled with river weeds, icy water dripping from her hair.

"Every debt has its debtor!" The man shouted as he ran, constantly looking back. "If you want revenge, go find Lord Zhao! He's the one who sold you to me!" Terror filled his voice. "Don't—don't come any closer!"

Ghost?

Su Xingyao froze. In her memories, she was Lady Zhao, the legitimate wife of Zhao Hengde. They first met at the Peach Blossom House years ago. He had ignored her background as a courtesan, promising to redeem her as his primary wife.

But today...

Her memories were like shattered mirrors. That cup of wine Zhao Hengde offered her, claiming it was to help her set up a shop. She had signed documents in her hazy state, only to wake up and find her signature on a slave contract.

"This prince is quite busy." Jiang Yichuan didn't even lift his eyelids, lounging lazily on his couch. "I have no time for your domestic affairs."

"So the great Chief Justice of the Court," she said coldly, "Prince Jing... is truly as they say—just another pleasure-seeking noble."

He finally looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Case dismissed. Please leave."

The gates closed in her face. As dawn broke, she stood outside the courthouse, still dripping—whether from river water or tears, she couldn't tell. Her delicate fingers slowly released the petition paper, letting it fall silently.

"Case dismissed."

The words echoed in her ears like a merciless sigh. The crowds rushed past, shoulder to shoulder, yet no one stopped for her. She stood there quietly, like a lonely boat drifting in a sea of humanity.

Sudden commotion from a street corner broke her reverie. She looked up absently to see a blood-red notice fluttering in the breeze:

"Peach Blossom House Courtesan Selection • Prince Jing's Literary Gathering"

Several elegantly dressed girls whispered nearby:

"Have you heard?"

"This year's top courtesan gets to attend Prince Jing's gathering!"

Their eyes sparkled with dreams. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Of course! Prince Jing's annual gathering..."

"It's the most prestigious event in all of Lin'an!"

"Think of all the powerful people you could meet..."

"It could change your entire life!"

Prince Jing.

Those three words were like a key, unlocking her tightly sealed heart.

The crimson sun stained Lin'an's skyline blood-red. In the dusk, the Peach Blossom House grew more alluring than ever.

Su Xingyao stood silently before its carved doors, gazing at the faded signboard. The once-gilded glory had peeled away, leaving only weathered wood beneath.

Red lanterns lit up one by one before the entrance, swaying like blooming lotus flowers in the twilight. Behind sedan chair curtains, silhouettes of silk-robed gentlemen swayed with drunken grace. On the steps, Madam Liu greeted guests with the same fawning smile as years before.

Everything seemed familiar. Just like back then.

But no.

The Su Xingyao of today was no longer that helpless courtesan to be pushed around. Her eyes grew determined, a cold smile playing at her lips. A storm was coming, and this time, she would be the one controlling the game.

Sandalwood incense permeated the air. The sound of pipa from upstairs pulsed like an intermittent heartbeat.

Su Xingyao walked through the bustling main hall, her gaze straight ahead. Upstairs, courtesans leaned against railings, tuning their instruments. Drunken young masters stumbled down the stairs arm in arm. In the corners, merchants poured wine for their companions, whose silver hairpins glinted in the lamplight.

Several familiar sisters saw her return, their mouths opening in surprise, but they dared not speak.

"How are these accounts wrong again?" Madam Liu's voice carried from the back hall.

"Madam."

The account book dropped to the floor with a sharp slap in the silence.

Madam Liu turned, her eyes flashing with joy, pain, and something more complex. Her outstretched hand trembled slightly in the air, wanting to touch the face of her most beloved "daughter" but holding back.

"Xingyao..."

She took Su Xingyao's hand, finding it no longer as soft as before.

"These years at the Zhao mansion..."

"I want to enter the courtesan selection."

Su Xingyao's voice was quiet but iron-hard.

"The courtesan selection?" Madam Liu's eyes widened. "But you're already a married woman..."

"You haven't changed, Madam." Su Xingyao continued as if she hadn't heard. "Still warning me against difficult paths."

Madam Liu paused, then understanding dawned.

"I see, I see. Just performing arts, nothing more?"

Seeing Su Xingyao's slight nod, she sighed.

"Come then. Your old room has new occupants now. I'll arrange an upper chamber for you."

She snatched the bundle from Su Xingyao's hands and led the way.

The luxurious chamber at the end of the second floor boasted gold-inlaid screens that gleamed with a soft luster. Plum branches reached through the window, casting dappled shadows on the gold-threaded carpet. A set of aged incense burners sat on the table, their patina speaking of years past. The room's opulent furnishings rivaled even those of the Zhao mansion.

Su Xingyao stood alone, running her hand over the embroidered bed curtains. They felt cold to her touch, much like her heart.

"If you need anything, just ask Steward Zhang," Madam Liu said softly, adding, "Make yourself at home."

The door closed gently behind her.

Su Xingyao walked to the dressing table and sat down. The bronze mirror reflected a pale face. Her hand rose to touch her earlobe, fingers finding the pearl earring that had mysteriously appeared after her near-drowning.

The earring felt heavy, unlike ordinary pearls. It was cold like metal yet gleamed like jade. She removed it for closer inspection:

The pure white earring had golden threads flowing through it like swimming dragons, resembling captured lightning. Its tip was carved with intricate lotus patterns, so lifelike they seemed ready to bloom. Only the blood-red gem at the flower's center, like a frozen drop of blood, added a touch of the otherworldly to its sacred beauty.

Suddenly, an icy chill ran through her body. As the world spun, strange visions flooded her mind:

Steel giants reaching into the clouds...

Glass walls reflecting the sky...

People holding paper-thin objects...

Silent, gliding vehicles...

Massive screens filled with impossible images...

Like glimpses into another world.

Su Xingyao stared, transfixed. Where did these incredible visions come from? Why did they emerge from this mysterious earring?

She gazed at the faint light within the gem, her questions multiplying.