In the evening, Yin Zhuli went to pay her respects to Madam Yin as was her custom. Madam Yin’s face was grim. "Why does the Head of the Yin family bother paying respects to an old woman like me? Your wings have grown strong, after all; I can no longer control you."
Yin Zhuli knelt before her, her voice low and steady. "Zhuli would not dare. If Mother believes I have done wrong, I shall accept my punishment without complaint."
Madam Yin let out a cold snort. "Shen Tingyao is holding a victory banquet tomorrow. Do you truly intend to go?"
Yin Zhuli moved closer and began to massage Madam Yin’s legs. "Mother, the Yin family is a house of merchants. Since ancient times, merchants cannot defy officials. I must attend."
What Madam Yin truly cared about, however, was something else. "Qu Tianji will be there as well, won't he?"
Yin Zhuli nodded. "The banquet is held in his honor. He will certainly be present."
Madam Yin fell silent for a moment, taking a sip of ginseng soup before speaking. "Then tomorrow... you will finally see that villain. Zhuli, I have raised you as my own since you were a child, but you are not my flesh and blood. When your mother fled back to the Yin house six months pregnant, she knew her time was short. She endured her agony only to ensure your safety. And now..."
Yin Zhuli did not wait for her to continue, saying softly, "Rest assured, Mother. I remember it day and night; I would never dare forget."
Madam Yin thumped her cane, tears welling in her eyes as her emotions grew volatile. "Even if our Yin family are mere merchants and can never seek vengeance against him in this life, Yin Zhuli, I will never allow you to acknowledge him! You must remember that he is the one who killed your mother. All the pain and loneliness you have suffered over the years—it is all because of him!"
Yin Zhuli continued to meticulously massage her legs, her expression placid. "I shall keep it in mind. Besides, he has his own son and daughter; I doubt he would care for a daughter raised by the Yin family."
Madam Yin allowed Xiyue to soothe her breathing. After a long while, she gasped out, "Zhuli, he is a heartless, ungrateful beast! And that woman by his side is as venomous as a scorpion!" Her words dripped with bone-deep hatred. "I will keep my eyes open to see just how long his Qu clan can remain in glory!"
Yin Zhuli kept her head bowed. She had heard these words since childhood and knew them almost by heart. She merely offered a faint smile. "Mother, words alone cannot kill a man."
Madam Yin paused, looking down to meet her gaze. Yin Zhuli slowly stood up. "If Mother has no further instructions, I shall take my leave."
Madam Yin watched the tall, slender figure disappear behind the curtain, her gaze complicated. As the girl grew older, Madam Yin found her increasingly difficult to read.
Behind her, Xiyue supported her, her voice filled with indignation. "The Head has truly grown up; she has quite the presence now. She even dares to disregard you, Old Madam!"
Madam Yin coughed and said nothing more. "Help me to my room to rest."
***
The following day, Yin Zhuli attended the banquet by imperial decree. She frequently interacted with court officials and often sent gifts during festivals, so she was well-acquainted with many of them. As they were exchanging pleasantries at the palace gates, the carriage of the Ninth Prince, Shen Tingjiao, came to a halt.
The city of Chang'an was neither small nor particularly large. Most people knew the gist of the history between Head Yin and the young Prince. The crowd moved to make a path for Yin Zhuli, but to their surprise, she did not step forward. Not only did she not approach him, she didn't even offer a greeting, heading straight through the palace gates.
The young Prince stepped down from his carriage just in time to see her retreating back. He skipped the pleasantries with the officials and hurried to catch up with her.
The ministers rubbed their eyes in unison. "How strange. Isn't it usually Head Yin who chases after the Prince?"
Yin Zhuli knew he was catching up, but she did not slow her pace. Her expression was cold. "Your Highness, is there something you need?"
Shen Tingjiao adjusted his sleeves, hesitating for a long while before asking, "Yin... Zhuli, why did you leave alone that day?"
Yin Zhuli’s voice was distant. "If I did not leave alone, would I have dared to trouble the Prince of Fulu to escort me?"
The young Prince was choked by her words, but he continued to walk briskly beside her. "I was drunk that day and cannot remember what happened. I... I..."
As he stammered through his explanation, Yin Zhuli interrupted him. "Your Highness did nothing, so there is no need to dwell on it. This evening, I shall request His Majesty to annul the marriage. I will bear all the consequences alone. I will ensure you remain the Prince of Fulu in Chang'an and won't be sent to mine coal in Shandong."
Shen Tingjiao sensed that her mood was off, which only deepened his suspicion that he had done something foolish that night. Seeing her acting as if nothing had happened, and remembering how she had looked after him so many times—while he had only viewed her as a friend, completely forgetting she was a woman—his heart was filled with a complex tangle of emotions.
Seeing that he hadn't kept up, Yin Zhuli stopped and waited for him, coldly reiterating, "Your Highness truly did nothing that day. You need not be concerned."
Shen Tingjiao lowered his head in thought for a moment before finally making a decision. "Zhuli, I... on the eighth day of the fifth month, I will have Mr. He begin the preparations."
Yin Zhuli remained indifferent and started walking again. "There is no need for that, Your Highness."
Shen Tingjiao suddenly reached out and tugged at the corner of her sleeve, then transitioned to holding her hand as they walked side-by-side. The onlookers all knew the Prince of Fulu had a simple and stubborn nature. They had expected to see him heartbroken now that his beloved Miss Qu was about to marry someone else. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, before Miss Qu had even wed, he would be so affectionately holding Head Yin’s hand?
The young Prince ignored the stares of the crowd, keeping his eyes downcast as he walked, never letting go of Yin Zhuli’s hand.
Upon reaching the Great Hall, they took their seats on either side. Yin Zhuli and the Prince’s low tables were adjacent. While the Prince went to find his elder brother, Mr. He Jian finally found a moment to lean in toward Head Yin. He looked at her with genuine admiration. "Head Yin, how on earth did you trick our master into this?"
Yin Zhuli said solemnly, "Why would you say such a thing, Mister? I come from a family of merchants; nothing is more important to us than our word. Furthermore, I am a mere commoner; how would I dare deceive the Prince of Fulu? I dare to swear a solemn oath: if I have deceived the Prince by even a single word, may I be struck by lightning and meet a miserable end."
He Jian stroked his goatee, looking utterly perplexed.
As the ministers took their seats and chatted merrily, an attendant outside called out in a shrill voice, "General Qu has arrived!"
The attendant lifted the beaded curtain, and the hall fell into an instant silence.
Yin Zhuli looked up and saw a man walking gracefully through the crystal curtains. He was tall, dressed in black military attire embroidered with the Nine Luminaries in gold thread at the collar and cuffs. Since he was not on a battlefield, he wore no armor. A leather belt with an eagle-head gold buckle cinched his waist, accentuating his tall and upright stature.
The sands of the frontier and the passing years had not diminished his elegance in the slightest.
Whenever Yin Zhuli had heard Madam Yin mention this man, it was always with insults like "a beast in human skin." Seeing him for the first time, a faint smile touched her lips—if this truly was a beast, it was likely a beast of peerless quality and jade-like refinement.
The people in the hall were all socially adept; in an instant, they swarmed forward, surrounding him with warm greetings and high praise.
Qu Tianji nodded slightly, dealing with them briefly, when another figure emerged from behind him. Yin Zhuli looked over and saw Qu Lingyu scanning the hall as if searching for someone. She knew exactly who the young lady was looking for, yet she simply sipped her wine in silence, a faint smile on her face.
A moment later, Eunuch Huang announced shrilly, "His Majesty has arrived!"
The crystal curtains were lifted again, and Shen Tingyao walked in with a beaming face, followed by Shen Tingjiao. The officials all bowed in greeting.
Shen Tingyao took his seat on the dragon throne, and the officials followed suit. Shen Tingjiao sat at the table next to Yin Zhuli, his gaze naturally drifting toward Qu Lingyu across the room. At the head of the hall, Shen Tingyao began the customary commendation of the meritorious officials, repeating the usual rhetoric about Heaven blessing the Great Xing.
Qu Tianji raised his cup, joining the ministers in a toast to the sovereign. He noticed Qu Lingyu’s gaze and gave a light cough. He didn't say much, but the usually brash and willful Qu Lingyu obediently withdrew her gaze and sat quietly by his side.
On the other side, Mr. He nudged the young Prince, whispering in his ear while pretending to pour wine, "My Prince, give up on that thought. Besides, in front of all these people, where does that leave Head Yin?"
Shen Tingjiao lowered his head, focusing his mind and gaze as if he were a monk in meditation, refusing to look up again.
Before long, Eunuch Huang received Shen Tingyao’s signal and announced, "Let the banquet begin!"
Outside the Imperial Garden, firecrackers and fireworks erupted in unison. Musicians played court music, and dancers entered the hall. Amidst the song and dance, palace maids moved like butterflies, serving wine and delicacies. Shen Tingyao did not want his ministers to be stiff. "Today, sovereign and subjects shall drink to our hearts' content! Anyone who ruins the mood with excessive formality shall receive a hundred strokes to the buttocks!"
Many of the attendees were generals, naturally bold and hearty. They immediately cast aside their restraint and began to drink and sing loudly, despite the King's presence.
Shen Tingyao descended from his throne to speak with Qu Tianji. The ministers gathered in small groups, playing drinking games or enjoying the music and dance. The braziers in the hall warded off the cold, and the air was hazy with the scent of wine—a perfect picture of harmony between a ruler and his subjects.
After a while, the young Miss Qu could no longer sit still and left her seat. Qu Tianji had been keeping an eye on her and asked sternly, "Where are you going?"
The young lady tossed back a reply as she ran: "To the latrine!"
The General showed a hint of helplessness. "My daughter is unruly. I will have to trouble Your Majesty to look after her in the palace in the future."
Shen Tingyao’s smile was perfectly composed. "Rest easy, General. I understand Lingyu’s temperament."
Yin Zhuli was currently engaged in a drinking game with several ministers. Since the Emperor was nearby, finger-guessing games were considered uncouth, so they played *Shefu*—a game where one person hides an object in their hand and others guess what it is. Those who guess wrong must drink. Any minister who frequented the Guangling Pavilion knew of her skill, so they egged others on. Soon, they had the Vice Minister of Rites crawling under the table. General Qu and Shen Tingyao watched from the side for a while, their interest piqued.
Shen Tingyao smiled. "Head Yin’s skill at Shefu is always unexpected. General, why don't you try a guess?"
Qu Tianji’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, lingering on Yin Zhuli’s face for a moment before he spoke. "So this is Head Yin. I must thank you for providing the provisions during the campaign against the Greater Yuezhi in the northwest."
Yin Zhuli cupped her hands slightly. "General Qu is too kind. However, I fear these little tricks are beneath your notice."
Qu Tianji met her eyes and said warmly after a pause, "You overstate it, Head Yin. Since His Majesty has spoken, I am here to guess by imperial command. You cannot refuse."
Head Yin smiled faintly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear and leaving a single strand of hair between her fingers. "In that case, General, please turn around so that I may hide the object in my palm."
Qu Tianji indeed turned his back. Yin Zhuli turned slightly to block the view of the crowd, making the motions of concealing something. Seeing the General standing tall and straight without a single peek, she laughed. "General, please turn around."
Qu Tianji turned back. Her palm was slightly bulged as if something were inside, but nothing could be seen from the outside except for the half-strand of hair between her fingers. He studied her closely and noticed that one of the Eastern Pearl earrings on her left ear was missing. After a moment’s thought, he also noticed that a purple crystal that had been hanging from the bracelet on her left wrist was gone.
He smiled slightly. "I guess that what is in your hand, Head, must be a purple crystal."
The ministers held their breath, and even Shen Tingjiao stared intently at her hand on the low table. Head Yin slowly opened her left palm with her right hand. Indeed, a purple crystal lay within. The ministers erupted in cheers, praising the General as a man without equal under heaven.
There was no pride on the General’s face. He simply studied Yin Zhuli in silence for a long while before saying softly, "Head Yin, you are brilliant."
He said nothing more and returned to his seat.
Yin Zhuli claimed she was tired and handed the role of the host to the Minister of Works. Glancing around, she noticed her Ninth Prince was missing. Taking advantage of the distraction, she slipped out of the hall and headed toward Penglai Pond.
Unbeknownst to her, this scene was caught by the General. Qu Tianji raised his cup to toast Shen Tingyao, but his mind was elsewhere.
Head Yin made her way to Penglai Pond. After circling halfway around the water, she spotted two figures beneath a banyan tree with sprawling branches. Having endured the cold for so long, she was excited to see the fruits of her labor. She rubbed her hands together and silently climbed the tree, hiding among the dense leaves and gnarled branches.
The voices below were not loud. Regretting that she had climbed too high, she carefully moved downward to hear their private conversation more clearly. As she stepped down, her foot unexpectedly landed on something solid. She used the momentum to descend, and only after she had steadied herself on a branch did she reach out to balance herself, suddenly realizing that the solid object... it, it, it was actually a person's shoulder.
With her hand resting on an unknown person's shoulder, Yin Zhuli was petrified on the spot.
***
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