Chapter 53 From Chapter 53 onwards, there will be no more courtesan Yao Niang here…
Yan Yi's worst fears came true.
Although Yan Yi hadn't spent much time with Yao Niang, he could clearly sense a deep-seated tendency toward self-loathing and self-destruction within her.
Being trafficked was not her fault, nor was falling into prostitution. But the oppression of women in this world is always too heavy and too deep, forcing her to blame herself for everything. Over the years, it has become a festering sore beneath her skin.
Yao Niang was unwilling to acknowledge Lan Ya'er, partly because she couldn't bear to remind her sister of her unbearable past, and partly because she despised her own dishonorable origins, believing they would taint her beautiful, pure sister who was devoted to serving Buddha.
It can be said that Lan Ya'er is the last thread connecting Yao Niang to the world. Once she loses her attachment, the pain of world-weariness will overwhelm her like a rising tide.
The key to curing Yao Niang's illness lies not in her physical condition but in her mind; we must give her hope to live on.
Yan Yi took the wooden box, but simply placed it aside and instead took Yao Niang's other hand.
Her slender, pale, and cold knuckles were bare and bony; the nail polish that had fallen off was now mottled and had a dull, yellowish tinge, like the gloomy life that could no longer be concealed beneath her fine clothes.
She looked at Yao Niang earnestly, "You must get better, otherwise Lan Ya'er will truly become a pitiful person with no one to rely on. She is so beautiful, once she loses the protection of the Prince An's mansion, you must know better than us what will happen to her."
Yao Niang was stunned, then shook her head and murmured, "Lan Ya'er serves the Dowager Consort, and Prince An is His Majesty's own brother, a well-known philanthropist. How could something happen to her?"
"What if everything Prince An showed us was a facade?"
Yan Yi gave Shen Lingyue a wink, and the latter realized what was happening and recounted everything that had occurred after Yao Niang left Lian Guang Temple that day.
"Could a truly virtuous person have persuaded the abbot to commit suicide out of fear of punishment with just a few words from Prince An?"
In order to cooperate with Yan Yi and awaken Yao Niang's will to live, Shen Lingyue deliberately exaggerated the situation to make it more serious.
"He was the late emperor's youngest son. There were rumors that the eldest son should be deposed and the youngest son should be established. They are both sons and grandsons of the emperor. Is he really willing to be a carefree prince for the rest of his life? Why doesn't he enjoy himself and instead does charity work in a big way? Isn't that implying that the current emperor on the throne is incompetent and unable to ensure that the people are well-fed and clothed?"
Yao Niang fell ill after returning from Lianhua Temple that day, unaware of all the other things that had happened outside.
Her brows furrowed, and she forced herself to sit up straight, tightening her grip on Yan Yi's hand. "The Dowager Consort was deceived by the abbot of Lianhua Temple, and she even pleaded for him? Prince An... really managed to get the abbot to commit suicide with just a few words?"
Shen Lingyue clapped her hands. "That's right. Who knows if he and the abbot were in cahoots, afraid that the abbot would confess under the torture of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so they forced him to die?"
Since the abbot is dead and there's no way to verify anything, she can just make things up as she pleases.
Shen Lingyue stated with certainty, "Throughout history, those who have been too deeply involved with religious beliefs have never had a good ending. What about the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Five Pecks of Rice Cult, the White Lotus Sect... in the end, which one of them didn't end up in rebellion?"
Yan Yi added fuel to the fire, "Lan Ya'er is now being privately referred to by many people as an incarnation of Guanyin. What if Prince An were to use the name of Guanyin's incarnation to do something one day..."
The two of them, working in unison, successfully terrified Yao Niang, who broke out in a cold sweat.
"According to what you're saying, wouldn't the Prince An's mansion become a den of dragons and tigers?"
Yao Niang was so anxious that tears streamed down her face. "But how can I get Lan Ya'er out of the palace? If Prince An intends to use her, he will not release her easily, especially given my status..."
She gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, beginning to regret why she hadn't married a rich and powerful man sooner, so that he could stand up for her and demand her return from the Prince of An's mansion.
But if he were truly such a powerful figure, why would he take a fancy to a courtesan like her...?
Although she has now befriended the two young mistresses of the Pei family, Yao Niang is even more unwilling to drag them into this vortex.
They have already helped her so much.
"Yao Niang, don't forget that you can still rely on yourself."
Seeing the changing expressions on Yao Niang's face—feeling annoyed, regretful, and conflicted—Yan Yi could guess some of Yao Niang's thoughts. He spoke up at the right moment: "If there were an opportunity now that would allow you to break free from the past and stand proudly in front of others, would you be willing to seize it?"
Yao Niang suddenly raised her head, "I'm willing, of course I'm willing!"
Her eyes were filled with hope: "I'm willing to do anything as long as I can rescue Lan Ya'er!"
"Then you need to recover your health as soon as possible."
Yan Yi's gentle voice seemed to carry a spell, painting a bright and hopeful picture for her: "Once you recover, we will take you to see a true noble person. As long as you can catch her eye, it will be no difficult to get a maid from the Prince An's mansion."
Yao Niang nodded repeatedly, as if grasping at a lifeline, "I can do it, I, I'll take my medicine on time and I won't think nonsense anymore..."
She had been ill for the past few days, but she always secretly poured away the medicine that the maid brought in, letting her body slowly deteriorate, and even felt a kind of pleasure at the impending release.
It was as if as long as she died, the last stain on Lan Ya'er's body would disappear, and she could become the pure and innocent Miao Shan.
Yao Niang's medicine was kept warm on the small stove. When the maidservant who was serving her brought it in, Yao Niang blew on it a few times and then drank it all down without complaining about the heat or the bitterness. She was so happy that she almost cried and almost kowtowed to Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi again.
Yan Yi quickly pulled her up and said gently, "Don't worry, your girl will take her medicine properly from now on."
The young maid nodded with red eyes. She had been bought by Yao Niang on the roadside after Yao Niang came to the capital. Without Yao Niang, she probably wouldn't know where she would be now. The two depended on each other for survival. Yao Niang treated her like a younger sister, and she knew how much Yao Niang had suffered these past few years.
After the two left Peach Blossom Lane, Shen Lingyue sighed, "Will this trick work?"
Yan Yi nodded firmly, "Don't underestimate her willpower."
Lan Ya'er was her only weakness, the softest connection in her heart; Yao Niang was blinded by concern.
“That’s right. Yao Niang is a genius who can become the most beautiful courtesan and make incense. She’s just stuck in a rut for a while. She’ll definitely get back on her feet.”
Shen Lingyue leaned close to Yan Yi's ear: "You want to introduce Yao Niang to..."
Yan Yi smiled but remained silent.
She and Little Moon always seemed to be on the same wavelength.
...
Bitao Lane.
Yao Niang drank the medicine and slept again. When she woke up, she felt that she had regained some strength. She struggled to get out of bed and asked the maid to bring her paper and pen.
The maidservant looked resistant: "The doctor said you need to rest more and shouldn't overexert yourself. Why can't you wait until you're better to write?"
"Silly girl, listen to me, I'm just writing a few letters to old friends, it'll be over soon." Yao Niang smiled at her, "The sooner you finish writing them, the sooner you can send them out."
I spread out the letter paper and dipped my pen in ink.
"Dear Sister Shiru: It is as if we are meeting in person. We have been separated for a long time and I have been thinking of you. I have been in the capital for five years and have finally found Lan Ya'er. However, I have an urgent request to make. I hope that you will remember our past friendship and come to help me as soon as possible..."
She wrote five letters in a row, and wrote the address on each envelope, asking the maid to take them and mail them the next morning.
“Huazhou, Qingzhou, Yunzhou…” The little maid read out the different addresses on the envelopes with curiosity. “Miss, do you have so many friends in other places?”
Yao Niang gazed into the distance and said softly, "Yes, it's been several years since we last contacted each other. I miss them terribly. Please invite them to come to the capital for a get-together when they have time."
Through these envelopes, she seemed to see a series of beautiful faces, each with its own unique charm.
The once-famous Seven Beauties of Qinhuai River quietly departed and scattered to the ends of the earth after that raging fire that seemed to have dried up half the river.
For Lan Ya'er's sake, and for the sake of her fourth sister who was tormented and killed by the wicked madam, they conspired together, drugged her, set fire to the place, and carried out a final, grand revenge.
That was the only bright spot worth remembering in the darkest part of her life.
Yao Niang's gaze hardened once more.
Madam Zhou is right; she can rescue Lan Ya'er on her own.
If the enemy is an unapproachable prince or princess, then she has to prepare in advance.
For Lan Ya'er, what does it matter if she goes to hell again?
*
After August, the days gradually cooled down, and it finally became less unbearable.
On the Double Ninth Festival, a banquet was held in the palace, and the Changning Marquis's residence was among the invitees.
Meng Wanyin brought her two daughters-in-law to the palace for a banquet. When they left, they were met with a disdainful look and a few sarcastic remarks from Pei Yuzhen.
"Don't take your aunt's words to heart. I've gotten used to it over the years."
Once inside the carriage, Meng Wanyin comforted the two of them and sighed, "That's why they say a woman's marriage is like a second reincarnation."
Before Pei Yuzhen got married, she was the aunt of the Marquis of Changning's mansion. Naturally, she attended all kinds of banquets in the palace during festivals.
But once she got married, her status would follow her husband. Even though she still lived in the Marquis's mansion, she was no longer considered a member of the Pei family, and she wouldn't be included in these celebrations and banquets.
Shen Lingyue blinked. "Your Excellency is deeply favored by the Emperor. Can't you ask for a place for your aunt to enter the palace?"
Surely the palace isn't short of food?
Meng Wanyin coughed twice. "When she first returned with her daughter, the Marquis also pleaded for her to have the privilege of accompanying me to the palace banquet."
However, within two years, Pei Yuzhen's ambitions grew wild. She was always picking on her sister-in-law, who came from a humble background, and even tried to interfere with the management of the Marquis's mansion.
Pei Xian got angry and stopped helping her with the application.
As Shen Lingyue became more familiar with Meng Wanyin, she spoke more and more recklessly, and suddenly blurted out: "Little sister, you've been a widow for ten years, haven't you ever thought about remarrying?"
She remembered that the current dynasty seemed to encourage widows to remarry.
The main problem is that my aunt is too idle all day long. When people are idle, they are prone to causing trouble. It would be better for her to marry out and cause trouble for others.
Meng Wanyin was startled and waved her hands repeatedly, "Oh dear, what nonsense are you talking about? A woman cannot serve two husbands..."
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes. "After Princess Qinghe passed away, the Marquis married you, but I didn't see him staying by her side."
Meng Wanyin paused for a moment, her voice softening slightly, "Men and women are different."
“Men and women are both human beings, what’s the difference?” Shen Lingyue took her arm and winked at Yan Yi, “Sister-in-law, don’t you agree?”
Yan Yi pursed her lips, suppressing a smile as she nodded, "My aunt is still young. She can definitely find another husband who is caring and considerate. With our Marquis's mansion looking after her, her new husband will certainly not dare to neglect her."
Meng Wanyin covered her forehead, wishing she could plug her ears and not listen to her two daughters-in-law's crazy talk.
"Oh dear, if this gets back to your aunt's ears, she'll think the Marquis's mansion can't tolerate her."
Shen Lingyue teased her, "If I don't tell, and my sister-in-law doesn't tell, will Mother go and tell on us?"
Meng Wanyin immediately shook her head, "I definitely won't tell."
Shen Lingyue laughed so hard she covered her stomach; her mother-in-law was just too funny.
Pei Jingyi and Pei Jinghuai were riding horses outside when they heard bursts of laughter coming from inside the carriage, and they couldn't help but look at each other in surprise.
"What are you talking about, so happy?" Pei Jinghuai couldn't contain himself and rode up to knock on the car window to ask.
Shen Lingyue pulled back the carriage curtain, feigning a fierce look, "Don't pry into our girls' private conversations."
Pei Jinghuai: ...Girls? Including his mother?
Upon entering the palace, Pei Jingyi and Pei Jinghuai went to the front hall, while Shen Lingyue and the others went to the inner palace, where Consort Gao was in charge of entertaining the ladies of various noble families.
After sitting down, Shen Lingyue looked around and whispered to Yan Yi, "Neither the Prince Heng's family nor the Prince An's family came."
Prince Heng was confined to his residence by Emperor Qingxi because of the private mining incident, while Prince An voluntarily pleaded guilty and stayed home to reflect on his mistakes.
After Abbot Ci'en of Lianhua Temple committed suicide that day, Prince An immediately went to the palace to plead guilty.
Not long after, the Dowager Consort also entered the palace, saying that Prince An was concerned for her safety and had spoken recklessly in a moment of confusion, indirectly causing the abbot's death. She said that if Emperor Qingxi wanted to punish someone, he should punish her.
Emperor Qingxi could not do anything to the Empress Dowager, and seeing that Prince An was sincere in admitting his mistake and was full of remorse, crying until his eyes were swollen, he only symbolically punished him with half a year's salary.
But Prince An seemed to still feel guilty. During this period, he became increasingly reclusive, not seeing any outsiders or attending banquets at various homes. He devoted all his energy and attention to the Jishan Hall, busy providing medical care, medicine, food, and clothing to the poor.
But the more he acted this way, the deeper Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi's suspicions about him grew.
Lu Xilou searched the area around Lianhua Temple thoroughly, and all the monks in the temple were taken back and interrogated severely, but no other strange things were found.
It seemed that everything was done by Abbot Ci'en in a moment of madness. After his suicide, the monks of Lianhua Temple left one after another to find new temples to stay in, and Lianhua Temple fell into silence and decline.
...
When I saw Yao Niang again a few days later, she was like a resilient wild grass that had survived the wind and fire, and her eyes even showed a more determined look.
She nodded to the two women: "I'm much better now. Please take me to see that important person."
She was prepared to give anything.
But Yan Yi told her to bring her few of her best spices, and not to change into anything fancy, just something simple and elegant.
When Yao Niang got off the carriage carrying the wooden box, she looked up at the plaque "Princess Tong'an's Residence" hanging high above the gate, and was still a little dazed.
She turned around and asked incredulously, "The noble lady you're talking about, is she Princess Tong'an?"
She thought...
Yao Niang felt a little ashamed of her little thoughts, bit her lip and lowered her head.
Shen Lingyue smiled and patted her hand encouragingly, "Believe in yourself."
Princess Tong'an met them in her study in the front courtyard.
Her gaze lingered on Yao Niang for the first time, her phoenix eyes were majestic, and her noble demeanor made Yao Niang even more afraid to raise her head.
Princess Tong'an waved to Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi without any hesitation, her tone familiar and natural: "Is she the incense expert you recently found for Yunshao Girls' School?"
Yan Yi nodded, "Exactly." She then gently nudged Yao Niang and whispered, "Introduce your spices to His Highness."
Yao Niang snapped out of her daze and quickly handed the wooden box to the maidservant beside Princess Tong'an, then stammered as she introduced it.
At first she was a little nervous, but seeing Princess Tong'an listening attentively and showing her no disrespect, Yao Niang became bolder and spoke more and more fluently.
"Excellent! He is indeed a rare genius!"
Princess Tong'an praised her generously and extended her hand to Yao Niang, inviting her, "Would you be willing to stay at Yun Shao Girls' School and teach the art of incense making? All food and lodging will be provided, with a monthly salary of ten taels of silver, four new sets of clothes per season, and subsidies during festivals. If you can discover a talent as good as yourself, I will reward you handsomely."
Tears welled up in Yao Niang's eyes, and she immediately knelt down. "This humble woman is willing! But, this humble woman is of lowly birth and dares not conceal this from Your Highness..."
She recounted her origins in a trembling voice, anxiously awaiting Princess Tong'an's verdict.
"Now that you have redeemed yourself and reformed, let's not dwell on your past."
Princess Tong'an had already learned more from Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, but she still admired Yao Niang's honesty.
She waved her hand dismissively, "At Yunshao Girls' School, no one will pry into your past."
From now on, there will be no more courtesan Yao Niang here, only Dr. Xu, who is skilled in making incense.
Princess Tong'an sent Yao Niang to Yun Shao Girls' School, and the female official Tao Li Hui arranged everything for her.
"Yan Yi, A Yue, can you rest assured now?"
She smiled and looked at the two of them.
Yan Yi and Shen Lingyue stood up and thanked the princess, "Thank you, Your Highness, for using talent without being bound by convention, giving Yao Niang a new life."
Only Princess Tong'an had the ability to erase Yao Niang's past, allowing her to stand proudly before others based on her own talent.
“I met Yao Niang’s younger sister a few days ago under the pretense of visiting the Dowager Consort, and she is indeed quite beautiful.”
Princess Tong'an recalled how the two had rashly inquired about the concubines' situation. Given Lan Ya'er's beauty, it was no wonder they suspected the Emperor.
"Don't worry, once Yao Niang makes a name for herself at Yun Shao Girls' School, I'll find a way to get that girl from the Prince An's mansion."
Princess Tong'an's attitude was casual, clearly indicating that she didn't think the matter was too difficult.
After leaving the princess's residence, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi were still discussing, "Will the Dowager Consort let Lan Ya'er go so easily?"
Yan Yi shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either: "But it's much more likely that Princess Tong'an will ask for the person herself than if we do it, or if Yao Niang does it herself."
Since they sought help from Princess Tong'an, they naturally couldn't openly say that they suspected the Prince An's mansion was plotting a rebellion in Lan Ya'er's name.
Prince An is Princess Tong'an's uncle. They shouldn't slander a prince without solid evidence.
Shen Lingyue muttered, "The Goddess Xuan Nu hasn't been appearing in your dreams lately. She could even show you the Prince Heng's rebellion, so why not the Prince An?"
She and Yan Yi had recently gone out to check it out. The Jishantang Hall opened by Prince An was truly helping the poor. Doctors took turns seeing patients and provided medicine at extremely low prices or even for free. They also distributed porridge and clothing, and everything was in full weight and weight, without any cheating such as cutting corners or adding sand to the rice.
This left Shen Lingyue completely confused. Just who exactly is Prince An?
"If he pretends to be a good person his whole life, wouldn't he really become a great philanthropist?"
She and Yan Yi talk about Prince An every day, almost to the point of obsession, but why don't they see him appear in their dreams?
"Even the precognitive dream didn't tell us that Lan Ya'er was in the Prince An's mansion; we found her ourselves."
Yan Yi advised her not to be discouraged, "This magic touch works sometimes and sometimes, so we can't rely on it blindly. We should trust our own judgment."
Shen Lingyue refused to believe it. "Let's go, let's go to Jishantang in the south of the city again today. I don't believe we can't find out what An Wang has to do with it."
The two traveled to the south of the city by carriage, where they unexpectedly encountered Shen Yuanjia.
"Big sister, what are you doing here?"
Shen Lingyue stepped forward to greet her, and then saw an unfamiliar woman next to Shen Yuanjia. She was wearing a veil, and the black veil hanging from the brim of her hat almost covered most of her body, as if she were shrouded in a dark gray cloak.
She asked Shen Yuanjia with her eyes.
"Little sister, let me introduce you. This is Madam Sang, the daughter of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and also the aunt of your future sister-in-law."
It turned out she was the daughter of the Sang family. Shen Lingyue dared not be negligent and quickly stepped forward to greet her.
Madam Sang lifted the veil, revealing a pale and thin face. She was in her thirties, with a quiet demeanor, only the deep lines between her brows hinting at a touch of melancholy.
She greeted Shen Lingyue politely, and then said to Shen Yuanjia, "I will bring Nian Ge'er to your residence as a guest another day." Then she took her leave.
As soon as the person left, Shen Lingyue immediately asked curiously, "Which family did this Madam Sang marry into? Why is she dressed like this at such a young age?"
Shen Yuanjia sighed deeply, "She married into my mother-in-law's family, the You family of Dongxiang Marquis You, the heir of You Zhengliang. It's a cruel twist of fate. Less than half a month after she entered the family, the young master You went hunting outside the city, fell off a cliff while riding his horse, and his body was never found..."
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi both exclaimed "Ah!"
She became a widow right after entering the family? That's too tragic.
"Isn't that right? But Madam Sang is indeed a daughter raised by the Sang family. Not only did she not remarry, but she also insisted on remaining chaste for her deceased husband. She adopted an orphan from the clan as her heir and raised him with great care. Fifteen years have passed like this."
Shen Yuanjia and Madam Sang were related by blood, and mentioning her only evoked feelings of regret and sorrow.
"Fifteen years! She's kept her vows for a full fifteen years. I heard that the Marquis of Dongxiang's residence is even planning to petition His Majesty to erect a memorial arch for Lady Sang's chastity..."
The more Shen Lingyue listened, the deeper her brows furrowed.
"You Zhenliang, You Zhenliang?" she muttered, repeating the somewhat familiar name, pacing anxiously in circles. "I've seen him before, I must have seen him somewhere..."
Shen Lingyue looked across the street and saw a tall maple tree with fiery red leaves. As the autumn wind blew, the maple leaves swirled and fell down.
As if struck by a sudden inspiration, she blurted out, "Mrs. Sang, her name is Sang Zhiqi, isn't it?"
Shen Yuanjia exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that your mother told you?"
Shen Lingyue turned around and excitedly grabbed Yan Yi's hand.
She'd seen this story before!
-----------------------
Author's Note: Prince An will behave himself for a while.
Moon Child: I will haunt you like a ghost... forever and ever...
Our little sister is off to wreak havoc on a new family! [cheering emojis]
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