Chapter 033: Little Yandai’s Pregnancy
The news of Zhou Ziheng’s death had just emerged, initially only sent to a few closely related households and not yet widely spread throughout Chang’an. Yet, in unseen corners of the Houfu, subtle movements had already begun.
Within the Houfu, the people of Jianming Courtyard were remarkably subdued, occasionally whispering a few words before falling silent, not daring to say more. Zhou Chiye in the courtyard had become unusually obedient, doing whatever his mother arranged without clamoring for Bai Yuning. Previously, when the Marquis was critically ill, he dutifully attended to him; now that the Marquis had passed, he quietly stayed in the courtyard. Others said Zhou Chiye had turned over a new leaf. Meanwhile, the people from Shuhai Courtyard specifically went to the manor estate in the suburbs to inform Zhou Yuanting of the Marquis’s death.
In the eyes of Shuhai Courtyard’s people, Zhou Yuanting was not yet beyond hope. They underestimated Qin Chanyue’s ruthlessness and hatred, believing that Qin Chanyue had sent Zhou Yuanting to the manor estate merely as a temporary refuge. After all, other families also sent their children away, but none truly abandoned their own son. Sooner or later, Zhou Yuanting would return.
Thus, as soon as news arrived, this group hurriedly sent it to Shuhai Courtyard.
That night.
A fast horse galloped out of Chang’an just before the curfew, heading straight for the suburban manor estate.
—
Leaving Chang’an and entering the outer suburbs, the surroundings grew dim, illuminated only by the moon overhead. Dark trees swayed in the wind as the servant riding the horse lit a torch and rode hard through half the night, finally arriving at the manor estate under the Zhongyi Hou Mansion.
The Zhongyi Hou Mansion owned eighteen manor estates, conveniently named in the order of “Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding.” The manor estate where Zhou Yuanting was located was precisely “Jia Manor.”
Previously, Qin Chanyue had sent Zhou Yuanting’s disobedient nannies to Jia Manor, and now she had also sent Zhou Yuanting there—a kind of “reunion.”
At this moment, inside Jia Manor.
Jia Manor consisted of over forty households, all tenant farmers under the Houfu. These tenant families had cultivated for the Houfu for generations, and their children would try every means to enter the Houfu as maids or servants, hoping for a better life. Thus, these people competed to show their worth in front of the Houfu.
Therefore, anyone sent by the Houfu was carefully watched.
Recently, Jia Manor had received quite a few people.
First, seven or eight nannies were sent—these nannies had signed indentures with the Houfu, their lives belonging to their masters. The Houfu sent them here, ordering them to work in the manor estate like ordinary village women.
When they first arrived, these nannies could do nothing and often tried to escape. Finally, the village head of the manor estate caught them and had them beaten, after which they obediently began to work.
Later, Zhou Yuanting was sent.
Zhou Yuanting arrived injured, covered in blood. The village head knew he was a noble, though unaware of what offense he had committed. Since he was a noble and had maids and servants attending to him, the village head dared not treat him poorly, merely following the Houfu’s orders to keep him under watch and prevent his escape.
Besides Zhou Yuanting, the Houfu also sent Concubine Fang and Zhou Wenshan.
These three individuals were sent together, so their courtyards were arranged in close proximity—they were actually adjacent!
Zhou Yuanting was so enraged that he gritted his teeth, his chest filled with pent-up frustration late into the night, unable to sleep at all. His sole focus was on recovering from his illness so he could later go and eliminate that mother and son pair.
But in truth, there was no need for him to take action.
Next door, Zhou Wenshan and Concubine Fang were far worse off than he was. Zhou Yuanting, at least, still had someone looking after him. Although he had been confined to this wretched place, given his status as the legitimate eldest son, they wouldn’t let him die here. Zhou Wenshan, however, was different.
After being abandoned here, Zhou Wenshan received none of the Houfu’s fine provisions. Each day, he and Concubine Fang were given only two bowls of plain rice, and naturally, no medicine was provided to them either.
Without the nourishment of high-quality medicine, Zhou Wenshan passed away within just a few days. Left alone, Concubine Fang calmly hanged herself.
No one knows what this mother and son thought before their deaths. In any case, one died in the night, and the other died the following morning after her son’s passing. After causing a great uproar, they departed silently and unnoticed.
When Zhou Yuanting learned of their deaths, he lay on his bed, inexplicably breaking into a cold sweat.
They died just like that.
So easily, just like that!
Not even anyone from the Houfu came to offer condolences. The two bodies were simply wrapped in straw mats and discarded in a mass burial ground, likely to be dug up and devoured by wild dogs before long.
Two such vibrant individuals, who had once soared to the heights and plunged to the depths, ended up as rotting flesh in the mouths of wild dogs. How lamentable.
And he—he was living next to rotting flesh!
Zhou Yuanting lay on his bed and immediately ordered someone to write a letter to be sent to the city.
He wanted to return to the Houfu.
Within the Houfu, there was hardly anyone left for him to contact. His dear wife, Liu Yandai, had paid him no attention during this time, and he had no idea whether she had handled matters on his behalf.
Upon second thought, Liu Yandai was also rather foolish. Even if she did try to handle things, she might not be able to please his mother. Perhaps—perhaps Nanny Zhao would be better.
Although Nanny Zhao had always been strict with him, she genuinely cared for him. So, he wrote a letter, pleading with Nanny Zhao to intercede on his behalf with his mother.
He had made mistakes, but surely his mother wouldn’t keep him locked away in this place forever, would she? His mother wouldn’t abandon him like this. As long as he admitted his mistakes—yes, as long as he admitted his mistakes—
And it was at this moment that news arrived from the Shuhai Courtyard in the Houfu: Zhou Yuanting’s father, the Zhongyi Marquis, had passed away.
After a moment of stunned silence, Zhou Yuanting’s first reaction was: Excellent. With Father gone, I have a reason to return for his funeral.
He was his father’s son. When his father died, he had to go back to pay his respects!
So, he wrote another letter and had it delivered to his mother.
By the time this letter reached the Houfu, dawn had already broken.
—
As the sky gradually brightened, news of the Zhongyi Marquis’s death finally spread throughout Chang’an, reaching every corner of the city.
The sudden passing of such a prominent figure inevitably sparked discussions among the people of Chang’an City.
The Zhongyi Marquis had previously fallen seriously ill, but it was said he had recovered. No one expected that, within just a few short days, he would suddenly pass away again. So young—it was truly lamentable to hear.
However, there were also some rumors circulating that because the timing of the Zhongyi Marquis’s passing was too close to the recent banquet, some said he had been so enraged by the incidents involving Zhou Yuanting and Zhou Wenshan at the banquet that he was literally angered to death.
Later that day, the Houfu released a statement claiming that the third young master’s arrow had misfired due to a malfunction in the wheelchair’s mechanism, accidentally injuring the other young gentlemen, in an attempt to settle the matter. But many who were present had personally heard and seen the words shouted by the third young master of the Zhou family, and they all knew there was more to the story.
Yet, since leaving the Houfu that day, those young gentlemen had either gone traveling for studies or returned to their hometowns to fulfill filial duties, one by one disappearing from Chang’an. It was estimated they wouldn’t reappear for some time, only resurfacing once the past events had faded from memory.
Only the Houfu remained, unable to flee, forced to maintain a stiff front before everyone.
Fortunately, the Houfu was a large and prosperous household, and Qin Chanyue had handled the matter of Concubine Fang skillfully, so for the time being, things remained relatively stable.
Regardless of the troubles the Houfu had stirred up, the Zhongyi Marquis was, after all, a marquis. With his death, propriety had to be upheld, so many still sent condolence scrolls.
The first to arrive was a scroll from the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion, followed by one from the Eastern Palace, and then scrolls from various other households. The Houfu accepted them all and began preparing for the funeral.
Preparing for a funeral takes at least a day. Once everything was ready, the mansion gates were opened wide to host the funeral, with the coffin laid out to receive visitors.
Typically, funerals last seven days, during which the mourning ceremonies are held continuously within the mansion, allowing families to pay their respects and bid the deceased a final farewell.
Funerals do not send invitations—it is considered inauspicious, unlike joyous occasions that require formal invitations. Instead, news of the funeral is spread, and those who wish to attend may come, representing a bond of friendship.
Most people, unless they had reached the point of swearing never to see each other again in life or death, would come to pay their respects.
As it was a recent death, everything appeared rushed and chaotic. The courtyard was hung with white lanterns, over a hundred monks were invited to chant sutras day and night, the sound of wooden fish echoing until one’s ears grew numb. Incense smoke drifted skyward, filling the courtyard with a solemn, Buddhist atmosphere. Even two Taoist priests were invited, as the Marquise missed the Marquis so deeply that she insisted they perform rituals to summon his spirit. Whether it would work was uncertain, but they had already written over a hundred talismans in one go. After a full day of preparations, the mansion gates were to be officially opened the next day for the funeral.
The Houfu appeared to be making a grand display, draped in white cloth, presenting a scene of sorrow and gloom to all who saw it. Yet, elsewhere, another household was secretly rejoicing and celebrating.
This secretly rejoicing household was none other than the Zhou family, Zhou Ziheng’s paternal clan.
Old Master Zhou of the Zhou family had retired long ago. As an Imperial Guard, one could not serve beyond a certain age, so he left the imperial court and spent his days admiring flowers and walking his birds. After his passing, the Zhou family was passed into the hands of Zhou Ziji, who became the head of the household.
In earlier years, when Zhou Ziheng wanted to marry Qin Chanyue, and she refused to lower herself to become a daughter-in-law in the Zhou family—daily paying respects to Zhou’s mother and enduring her moods—and with Zhou’s father already deceased, the Late Empress Dowager specially granted favor by directly dividing the Zhou family’s household.
As soon as Zhou Ziheng married, he established his own Houfu. Apart from paying respects to Pomu on the wedding day, Qin Chanyue rarely visited afterward, only going over for meals during festivals and holidays. There was no observance of morning and evening rituals whatsoever. With Zhou Ziheng and his wife setting up their own household, Zhou Ziji naturally took on the entire burden of the Zhou Mansion.
Zhou Ziji, as the Minister of the Ministry of Works, certainly had the qualifications to manage the household.
Old Lady Zhou had initially been fair to both her sons, but over time, spending every day with Zhou Ziji and watching his son grow up, her heart naturally leaned toward him.
The Juewei would go to a child of the Zhou family regardless. Since Zhou Ziheng’s child couldn’t inherit it, why shouldn’t it go to Zhou Ziji’s child?
Back then, Zhou Ziheng had snatched the Juewei from Zhou Ziji. Now, with Zhou Ziheng dead, it was time to return what was taken.
The entire Zhou family united as one, determined to take the biggest piece of meat from the Zhongyi Hou Mansion—this was no different from preying on a childless widow. Whenever a husband died, his family would always come to the widow to seek favors and divide assets, though these noble families did it more discreetly.
Once the Zhou family made up their minds, they swiftly gathered and counted their people within the mansion, preparing to visit the Zhongyi Hou Mansion before the funeral arrangements began.
They went to the Houfu the night before the funeral, not to mourn Zhou Ziheng, but for a more urgent matter.
How exactly should the Juewei of the Zhongyi Hou Mansion be inherited? There had to be a proper explanation! What Zhou Ziheng had taken from Zhou Ziji back then should now be returned!
That night, just as the Zhongyi Hou Mansion was draped in white mourning banners, Zhou Ziji arrived with his wife and three sons, intending to confront Qin Chanyue.
As the old saying goes, strike while the iron is hot! The more devastated a person is, the less strength they have to fight. Taking advantage of Qin Chanyue’s grief over her husband’s death and her weakened resolve, they hurried over to challenge her and find a way to gain the upper hand!
——
The Zhou family arrived in haste. Under the cover of night, without even sending a visiting card, they came directly by carriage.
Given the recent bereavement, the people of the Houfu assumed the Zhou family had come to mourn or lend a hand, since the deceased Zhou Ziheng was also a member of the Zhou Mansion. Thus, the butler and nannies below were caught off guard and immediately brought the news to Shangyue Garden, intending to report it to Qin Chanyue.
It was around Hai hour at night. Thick clouds covered the sky, leaving no starlight. The sky over Shangyue Garden was dim, with white lanterns swaying outside. Qin Chanyue had been busy all day, and tomorrow she would have to prepare for the funeral and receive guests—a pile of troublesome matters awaited her. Annoyed by the lanterns outside, she closed the doors and windows tightly, staying inside to enjoy some fruit.
Just as she was eating happily, she heard someone outside say, “Nanny Zhao requests an audience.” Qin Chanyue invited her in, thinking Nanny Zhao had something to report, and forced herself to stay alert.
Moments later, Nanny Zhao entered from outside the side chamber. After a few words, she carefully handed a letter to Qin Chanyue.
Nanny Zhao had received this letter during the day, but with everyone busy with funeral arrangements, she only found the time to deliver it to Qin Chanyue in the evening.
Nanny Zhao, a former female soldier, had always been bold and formidable throughout her life, but this was the first time she felt so uneasy. She whispered to Qin Chanyue, “Madam, this is a letter from the manor estate.”
Manor estate—
She had sent three people to the manor estate, and it was said that two had already died, leaving only Zhou Yuanting.
Qin Chanyue frowned slightly and casually took the letter. Upon opening it, she saw that Zhou Yuanting had written a long apology. As she skimmed through it, Nanny Zhao hurriedly whispered beside her, “Madam, although the Shizi has many faults, he is still your own son. Moreover… Shiziye has already admitted his mistakes. That remote area doesn’t even have an ice basin. How can Shiziye recuperate in such a wretched place—”
“Nanny Zhao.”
A cold, hoarse voice from ahead interrupted Nanny Zhao’s incessant chatter. Nanny Zhao looked up and saw Qin Chanyue lying wearily on the low couch. Behind her was a tightly shut wooden window, and the light from the flower lantern tree in the room cast a shimmering, flowing glow over her. Resting her head on a soft golden pillow, she raised her hand, holding the thin piece of paper between her fingertips, and asked, “Do you remember what Zhou Yuanting said that day in the main hall?”
Madam’s voice was not as delicate and melodious as that of a young lady. Instead, it carried a hint of hoarseness, and when she spoke slowly, it was like the lingering notes of an ancient zither, instantly pulling Nanny Zhao back to that day in the main hall.
Nanny Zhao’s aged lips pressed together slightly as she asked, “Are you referring to… Shiziye’s scheme against the Third Young Master? Although it was Shiziye who did it, he only did so to secure his position as Shizi. Does Madam truly believe Shiziye was wrong? The position of Shizi rightfully belongs to him. It was the Marquis who—”
Qin Chanyue slowly closed her eyes.
“I am referring to that day when he asked me to bow my head to Concubine Fang in exchange for the antidote.”
Nanny Zhao’s mouth remained open, but the words lodged in her throat could no longer be uttered.
When the events of that day unfolded, many details were too rushed to scrutinize. But now, looking back carefully, one could see what kind of human nature lay beneath the rough concealment.
“Zhou Yuanting caused trouble and committed wrongdoing on his own, yet he made me, his mother, suffer a slap in public. Nanny Zhao, this is not how a child should behave.”
“Today, for a bottle of antidote, he allowed someone to slap me. Tomorrow, for a bit of profit, he could just as easily betray me. What use is such a son? Even if the Houfu were to face a life-or-death crisis, he would be unreliable.”
Qin Chanyue had long since lost any desire to discuss matters related to Zhou Yuanting. To her, this person was nothing but a maggot—something she refused to touch and found repulsive even to mention. She had schemed to drive him away and would never allow him to return. With a weary wave of her hand, she said, “You have followed me for so many years and have never made any mistakes. I do not wish to be harsh with you. If you cannot bear to part with Zhou Yuanting, you may go to the manor estate to accompany him.”
Nanny Zhao was startled.
How could she possibly endure living in such a manor estate! It was true that she pitied Zhou Yuanting, but she had not reached the point of suffering on his behalf. The thought of Qin Chanyue sending her away left her utterly shocked.
Qin Chanyue had always treated her well—or rather, Qin Chanyue had always treated all those loyal to her generously. As long as someone was genuinely good to her, she didn’t care whether they were clever or foolish. In her past life, even when Liu Yandai was as foolish as could be, Qin Chanyue had scolded her while teaching her, never once thinking of casting her out to avoid the annoyance. In this life, after returning, she had doted on her even more, treating her like the most precious treasure.
Nanny Zhao had served Qin Chanyue for so many years, yet this was the first time Qin Chanyue had spoken such harsh words to her. Nanny Zhao hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, saying, “This old servant knows her mistake. I will never dare to relay messages for the Shizi again. Please, Madam, do not blame me.”
Qin Chanyue had no real intention of punishing her. In her past life, Nanny Zhao had stayed with her until the very end. When she died, Nanny Zhao had grieved and raged for her, never surrendering to Zhou Ziheng and his sons. So, she let the matter pass lightly.
“You may go.”
Her slender fingertips loosened, and the thin piece of paper slipped from between her fingers, fluttering down to the ground.
Nanny Zhao scrambled over, hastily picking up the paper, wishing she could tear it to shreds and swallow it on the spot. She truly had a death wish, daring to meddle in her master’s affairs!
She hurriedly bowed her head and replied, “Yes,” then crawled on her knees out of the side chamber, not daring to rise until she reached the outer room before leaving.
She had made up her mind—she would have nothing to do with the Shiziye’s affairs from now on!
Not only did Nanny Zhao refuse to help Zhou Yuanting, but she even planned to warn everyone in the Houfu. From then on, no news from the manor estate would ever make its way into the Houfu again!
With lingering fear, Nanny Zhao left the side chamber of Shangyue Garden, her back soaked in sweat.
No sooner had she left than a little maid from the front courtyard, responsible for funeral matters, arrived at Qin Chanyue’s quarters to report that the Zhou family had come.
Qin Chanyue had just been about to lie down and rest for a while.
There were still some funeral procedures to attend to later, and a large number of guests were sure to arrive the next day. She could only rest briefly before getting up to busy herself again. But before she could even lie down, she heard the maid outside announce that the Zhou family had come.
The Zhou family!
Even before Zhou Ziheng died, the Zhou family had been scheming to claim the Houfu’s Juewei. Now that Zhou Ziheng was dead, the Zhou family had come to collect their dues.
What a joke! Once something was in her hands, there was no way she would ever give it up!
Qin Chanyue rose again, filled with fighting spirit.
Not only did she dress and groom herself, but she also ordered someone, “Go to the small kitchen and bring a plate of braised beef to Shizi Furen. After she has eaten, bring her here.”
The little maid acknowledged the order and left.
After the maid departed, Qin Chanyue changed into a new set of clothes.
After all, her husband had just died. No matter how happy she felt inside, she had to appear appropriately somber on the outside. Today, she wore a set of white silk, layered with an equally white outer garment. Unwilling to tie a white cloth in her hair, she had someone find a white peony to wear instead, barely passing as “somber.”
Once everything was properly arranged, she leisurely made her way to the main hall.
By the time she arrived, the Zhou family had already taken their seats in the main hall.
A few days earlier, the incident with Zhou Wenshan and his mother poisoning the arrows had occurred in the main hall, leaving bloodstains everywhere. Deeming it inauspicious, all the furnishings and decorations had been replaced with new ones, as if those events had been buried away. Today, new guests arrived, bringing with them a fresh wave of trouble.
The visitors today were the Zhou couple, accompanied by their three sons—all three legitimate heirs.
The Zhou couple, known as Lady Gu, were greeted by Qin Chanyue with a respectful address of “sister-in-law,” though Qin Chanyue was not particularly familiar with her.
Due to Qin Chanyue taking considerable time to freshen up and dress, Zhou Ziji and Lady Gu had been kept waiting for quite a while.
Zhou Ziji’s expression was indifferent, but Lady Gu, sizing up the main hall, twisted her handkerchief with a rather sour tone and muttered, “What a comfortable life they lead, keeping us waiting for so long.”
Both were daughters-in-law of the Zhou family. Qin Chanyue had married Zhou Ziheng and moved out to establish her own household, while she had married Zhou Ziji and was still serving Pomu in Zhou Mansion.
That elderly, widowed woman nitpicked over every little thing endlessly. Serving her day in and day out, Lady Gu felt utterly exhausted. And then, looking at Qin Chanyue—the courtyard she lived in, the Coiled Dragon Pattern Jade Cup on the table—the more she looked, the more it pained her.
Originally… the title of Zhongyi Marquis should have been her husband’s! Such fine things should have belonged to their family!
“Enough,” Zhou Ziji, seated beside Lady Gu, replied with a cool gaze. “With Second Brother’s passing, such a major event, who could possibly rest? Lady Qin must be exhausted. As the elder sister-in-law, you shouldn’t pick faults.”
Lady Gu snorted silently but said no more, only fixing her sharp, warning eyes on her three sons.
The backs of the three sons straightened accordingly. They all knew why they had come—to seize the Juewei from their aunt.
Zhou Ziji was older than Zhou Ziheng, and these three sons were also older than Zhou Yuanting and Zhou Chiye, all around the age of coming of age at twenty. However, in both literary and martial prowess, they were slightly inferior, even mediocre.
These three mediocre individuals were often compared to the Zhou family’s twin jades. Lady Gu had long harbored some resentment over this. Now, with Zhou Ziheng gone and three of the Zhou family’s sons rendered useless, she couldn’t help but feel a secret delight.
Sometimes… relatives might wish you ill more than outsiders. If you thrive, outsiders might merely glance and move on, but if relatives see it, they’d likely grind their teeth for half a month.
Just as this thought flashed through her mind, someone announced from outside, “Madam has arrived—”
Lady Gu and Zhou Ziji, seated, hurriedly rose to their feet. All five pairs of eyes in the family fixed intently on the doorway.
Qin Chanyue entered from outside.
Today, she was dressed more plainly than usual, with no makeup on her brows and eyes, and not a single ornament visible in her hair—only a white flower, clearly in mourning attire. As she entered, her face bore a faint weariness.
Upon entering, Qin Chanyue first covered her face with a round fan, as if stifling a small yawn, then bowed to her elder brother and sister-in-law before saying, “Elder Brother and Sister-in-law coming so late at night must be about my husband’s affairs, right? Perfect, I have a whole courtyard of tasks with no one to lend a hand.”
Seeing that Qin Chanyue intended to assign them tasks as soon as she arrived, Lady Gu and Zhou Ziji exchanged a forced, insincere smile. Zhou Ziji then said, “We’re all family. Whatever tasks you have, just say the word. Your sister-in-law will help you with everything.”
Since ancient times, when a brother’s family faces trouble, the brother’s household comes to assist. If the Qin family had any nephews or sons alive, they should have come to help upon hearing of Zhou Ziheng’s passing. But the Qin family had no one left, so only the Zhou family could step in.
Qin Chanyue smiled faintly and nodded. “Thank you, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law. As the old saying goes, in times like these, it’s family you can truly rely on.”
Seeing Qin Chanyue’s accommodating attitude, Zhou Ziji quickly seized the opportunity: “Sister-in-law—did Ziheng explain the previous matter to you in detail?”
Qin Chanyue raised her eyes with a gentle smile: “Elder Brother, are you referring to the matter of inheriting the title?”
Zhou Ziji naturally nodded. Though anxious inside, he carefully concealed it, not letting any trace show—he dared not underestimate Qin Chanyue. In the imperial court, she might not be exceptionally formidable, but within the confines of the inner household, she held firm control. He feared that a single misstep might land him in one of her traps.
Lady Gu, unable to restrain herself, hastily interjected: “Yes, precisely the matter of inheriting the title! Sister-in-law, we are all family. Since I am helping you, you should also help me. With both your sons unable to carry on, holding onto a noble title serves little purpose. It would be better to pass it to our own kin.”
As she spoke, Lady Gu ignored Zhou Ziji’s meaningful glances and pointed to the three children nearby: “Look at these three children—whichever catches your eye, just take them under your wing to uphold the household. In the future, they will support you in old age and perform the funeral rites, ensuring you suffer no loss.”
“Tomorrow, when we bid farewell to Second Brother, you can announce it in front of everyone. Let them know that your Zhongyi Hou Mansion has an heir, so no one will dare bully you in the future.”
Since ancient times in Dachen, inheriting a title had to be done within the family. Zhou Ziheng’s title could only be passed to his own sons, not to his nephews. If he had no eligible descendants, there were two ways to resolve the matter.
The first was to simply not pass on the title. The second was for the main family to reclaim it. For instance, since Qin Chanyue’s two sons did not meet the criteria for inheritance, the Zhou Mansion could petition the Ministry of Rites to return the title to the Zhou family for succession.
The first option would lead to mutual destruction, pleasing no one. The second was troublesome and would expose the Zhou and Zhongyi Hou families’ internal strife to outsiders, making it an embarrassing spectacle of two families fighting over a title. Therefore, it would be better for Qin Chanyue to adopt a nephew from the Zhou family and pass the title along.
This could be seen as a compromise for both sides.
The Zhou family had arrived in haste, not even bothering with formalities. They directly brought three boys for Qin Chanyue to choose from, intending to have one adopted into her household. This would give Qin Chanyue a ready-made son out of thin air, who would inherit the title as the son of Qin Chanyue and Zhou Ziheng.
To outsiders, this was clearly not an act of support—it was exploitation of a vulnerable household.
With Qin Chanyue’s two sons unable to carry on, the Zhou family hurriedly sent one over, not only coveting the title but also aiming to devour the remaining estate and lands left by Qin Chanyue, filling their own pockets.
Yet Lady Gu insisted this was a great deal—acquiring such a grown son out of nowhere!
Qin Chanyue did not argue, merely listening quietly.
Moments later, a maid announced from outside the main hall: “Shizi Furen has arrived—”
Lady Gu’s words abruptly halted.
Everyone’s gaze shifted toward the entrance of the main hall.
Apart from Qin Chanyue, the others wondered: Why summon Liu Yandai on such an occasion?
Their gazes inevitably carried a hint of scrutiny.
Unaware of all this, Liu Yandai, her cheeks still plump from the braised beef she had just eaten, remained oblivious.
She walked in from outside, holding her slightly overstuffed belly, and upon seeing so many people in the main hall, Liu Yandai hurriedly bowed in greeting.
She couldn’t remember who was who among the people here, but Qin Chanyue said, “No need for formalities. These are all your own family. This is your father-in-law’s elder brother—your Shufu, and your Shumu, as well as your three elder cousins.”
After Liu Yandai bowed to each of them, Qin Chanyue motioned for her to rise and pulled her to her side, smiling as she spoke to the few people nearby. “I understand what Sister-in-law means. Our two families should indeed support each other. If our Houfu truly reaches a point where it can’t go on, we’ll have to beg the Zhou Mansion for help.”
Lady Gu was overjoyed for a moment and said, “You’ve agreed?”
It was actually this smooth!
However, Zhou Ziji’s brows furrowed deeply.
He always felt something was off.
Beside him, Qin Chanyue smiled gently and said, “If that day truly comes, naturally we’ll have to ask Sister-in-law for help—but for now, it hasn’t arrived yet.”
Lady Gu exclaimed in surprise, “How has it not arrived? Your mansion has only three sons at most. One is dead, one is crippled, and the other has poor character, none of whom fit the order of succession for the Juewei. Could it be that Zhou Ziheng has some illegitimate children?”
In her anxiety, her words lacked consideration, step by step, forcing Qin Chanyue to hand over the title as quickly as possible.
A hint of mockery flashed across Qin Chanyue’s face as she said, “Illegitimate children? There are none—”
She patted Liu Yandai’s arm beside her and said, “But my daughter-in-law is expecting. She’s carrying a child in her belly. Though the pregnancy is still early and just beginning to show, this is the legitimate son of our family. Rest assured, Sister-in-law, our Zhongyi Hou Mansion has an heir. There’s no need for you to worry.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yandai’s little mind spun rapidly. Belatedly, she puffed out her belly—hmm… even though it’s all braised beef, it still looks like meat! It’s not that different!
Lady Gu was shocked, annoyed, and resentful all at once. She was shocked because she had forgotten about Liu Yandai, annoyed because she had run into a soft rebuff, and resentful because a juicy piece of meat was right in front of her, yet she couldn’t take a bite. It nearly drove her mad.
She almost blurted out even harsher words, such as, “Has a physician checked the pulse? Could it be a mistake?” or “Who knows if it’s a son? A daughter can’t inherit the title.” Fortunately, Zhou Ziji beside her pinched her wrist, forcing her to swallow those words.
“That truly is for the best,” Zhou Ziji, with better patience, chimed in to smooth things over. “With the Zhongyi Hou Mansion having an heir, we can rest assured.”
After a pause, Zhou Ziji turned to Lady Gu and said, “Since things have come to this, let’s help with the Funeral Affairs.”
Lady Gu felt utterly miserable! This was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice! Now she had to stay here and do funeral work for Qin Chanyue. What a wasted trip!
She grumbled inwardly but didn’t dare refuse outright, as she had already agreed earlier. She could only grit her teeth and accept.
Qin Chanyue didn’t hold back either. A faint weariness appeared on her face as she said, “Then I must trouble Elder Brother and Sister-in-law. This younger sister will go and rest now.”
As she spoke, Qin Chanyue gracefully led Liu Yandai away, leaving a heap of troublesome matters for Lady Gu and Zhou Ziji.
Free labor delivered to your doorstep—why not use it?
Meanwhile, Liu Yandai walked away from the main hall with Qin Chanyue.
At that time, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair wandered through moonlit flower shadows and winding corridors. Qin Chanyue explained in detail to Liu Yandai why they needed to act this way. Liu Yandai listened for a long time, only half understanding, before finally grasping the situation.
“Neither of the Houfu’s two young masters meets the rules to inherit the title. Yet the Houfu holds a noble title, which the Zhou Mansion wants—and they have both the justification and the means to seize it through legal channels. To protect the title—”
Liu Yandai’s gaze gradually drifted down to her own belly as she murmured, “This is the key.”
Just like in their village, an old widow couldn’t hold onto the silver her husband left behind. The husband’s clan relatives would immediately come to snatch it back. Even having a daughter wouldn’t be enough to protect it—only a son could secure it.
Once a person is gone, the tea turns cold. Before they even had time to mourn, they had to guard against being devoured by beasts.
A thought struck her with horror: “But, but I—”
But I’m not pregnant!
She still hadn’t consummated her marriage with Zhou Yuanting!
“Don’t panic.”
The Pomu walking ahead waved her hand dismissively and said, “Just keep eating. When your belly grows bigger later, I’ll bring back a child from the Qin Family Army.”
Why should the title be inherited only by those surnamed Zhou? After all, this title was originally obtained because of her—Qin Chanyue also had a share in it! This title should rightfully be inherited by someone from their Qin family.
Although her Qin family had no descendants left, the Qin Family Army was full of people. She regarded all the orphans of the Qin Family Army as her own children equally. What was wrong with bringing one back to be the Shizi? It was far better than handing it over to those parasites from the Zhou family who only wanted to feed on her flesh and blood.
Only then did Liu Yandai feel at ease, secretly resolving to eat—and eat plenty!
—
That night, both Qin Chanyue and Liu Yandai slept soundly. In contrast, Zhou Ziji and Lady Gu were busy until the early hours of the morning.
By dawn the next day, the Houfu opened its gates wide to receive mourners for the funeral.
Funeral customs were numerous and intricate. As women, Qin Chanyue and Liu Yandai had to kneel in the Spirit Hall dressed in white, weeping and continuously burning paper offerings. Outside the courtyard, male relatives were needed to receive guests.
The only male in the Houfu at the time was Zhou Chiye, so he donned mourning clothes and stood outside to greet and bid farewell to visitors.
Lady Gu, exhausted from her late-night efforts, grew dizzy and lightheaded by the hour of Chen and was helped by her maid to rest. Zhou Ziji, forcing himself to stay alert, stood alongside Zhou Chiye to receive guests.
Although Zhou Ziji secretly still coveted the Houfu’s title, he wasn’t in a hurry—he had plenty of patience. Who knew? Perhaps the child Liu Yandai gave birth to would be a girl. Women couldn’t inherit titles, so he could simply make another request then. He had all the time in the world.
Moreover, Zhou Ziji couldn’t shake a faint sense of unease.
Liu Yandai hadn’t been pregnant before, but as soon as they came to claim the title, she became pregnant. Could such a coincidence really exist in this world?
He didn’t believe it, so he wanted to observe more and find another opportunity… Zhou Ziji’s gaze unconsciously swept across the Spirit Hall as he thought, he needed to find another chance to test this.
Standing beside Zhou Ziji, Zhou Chiye wore a sorrowful expression but felt indifferent inside. Instead, he kept glancing frequently toward the entrance, occasionally lost in thought, as if pondering something unknown.
Inside the Spirit Hall, the kneeling mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair showed little reverence, occasionally leaning close to whisper quietly to each other.
Everyone was looking at Yanjin, but each had their own little calculations in their hearts—you scheming against me, I scheming against her, each abacus bead forming the entire Houfu.
Finally, dawn broke, and the mansion gates opened.
The funeral affairs had begun.
—
The first to send elegiac couplets were from the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion. Deputy General Qian represented Zhennan Wang, offering three sticks of incense before the coffin.
Zhennan Wang was Qin Chanyue’s adoptive brother. Since Deputy General Qian represented Zhennan Wang, he naturally took the lead, with all others following behind.
After offering incense, Deputy General Qian came over to exchange pleasantries with Madam.
Lady Qin was dressed simply today, with no makeup on her face. She appeared quite spirited, but in Deputy General Qian’s eyes, this was already a great grievance.
Their Young Lady had always been bold and unrestrained—when had she ever been so plain? And now she even had to burn paper offerings for such a dead man. Deputy General Qian felt a surge of anger in his heart and lowered his voice, speaking softly to Qin Chanyue, “Madam, don’t worry—His Highness is showing good signs. In a few days, he should wake up.”
“Really?” Qin Chanyue brightened a little and quickly said, “When Elder Brother wakes up, I’ll go see him.”
Deputy General Qian dared not commit to this, only giving a vague acknowledgment before standing guard under the eaves, acting as Qin Chanyue’s maternal family representative to support her.
After Qin Chanyue and Liu Yandai had kept vigil for a while, Liu Yandai could no longer kneel.
Her health was poor. Though she appeared plump, she was internally weak. She hadn’t eaten well as a child, and as an adult, she had lived in constant anxiety, her spirit worn down and her body lacking strength. Kneeling here, her knees grew numb, and her back felt weak.
Qin Chanyue had built a strong physique in her youth—she had even practiced martial arts seriously. Though older than Liu Yandai, she was far more resilient. Kneeling in the sweltering heat for half an hour without wavering, while Liu Yandai, after kneeling for a while, saw black spots before her eyes, felt nauseous, broke into a cold sweat on her back, and grew weak in her limbs.
“Go back and rest,” Qin Chanyue gave Liu Yandai a look, raising her voice so those around could hear. She said to Liu Yandai, “You’re with child and should rest more. It’s not improper—even if your father-in-law knew from beyond the grave, he would only be happy for you.”
Liu Yandai slowly acknowledged, rose gradually, then cradled her belly as she walked leisurely out of the Spirit Hall.
If she knelt any longer, her belly would shrink—she needed to eat something quickly to keep it full!
—
Today, the Houfu was handling funeral affairs. The visitors were all those with ties to the Houfu. They would present gifts at the mansion gate, enter to offer elegiac couplets, proceed to the main hall to offer incense, and leave after completing the entire process.
With so many people and outsiders around, especially when a few men walked over chatting idly, Liu Yandai felt flustered. She was particularly afraid of speaking with strangers.
With so many people, Liu Yandai’s rabbit-like instincts resurfaced. She avoided others all the way, deliberately seeking out secluded spots. Even if it meant taking detours or cutting through bamboo groves, she would avoid people.
It was just a little extra walking—compared to encountering outsiders and having to converse with them, a few extra steps were nothing.
To avoid the crowd that day, she deliberately took a long detour from the main hall, returning to Shuhai Courtyard via the direction of Shangyue Garden.
Because Qin Chanyue loved flowers, Shangyue Garden was filled with them everywhere. Along the base of the adjoining walls, tall and large dahlias were specially planted, creating a floral path paved with these blooms.
These dahlias were flower seeds transported from Nanyun City—a rare variety of Nanjiang flowers that could thrive in Chang’an.
Unlike the delicate little flowers of Dachen, dahlias grew exceptionally robust, almost reaching human height. Their stems were as thick as half a person’s forearm, and their blossoms were half the size of a human head, with petals in every color imaginable—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Once they bloomed, they competed in splendor and brilliance.
These flowers grew so rapidly that after a single autumn rain, several new branches would seemingly sprout out of nowhere. Walking among them, a person of shorter stature could be completely obscured by the floral shadows, evoking a feeling of strolling through a fairyland, submerged in a sea of blossoms.
Liu Yandai, stroking her belly, walked briskly among them, pondering whether to have Fire-Sliced Beef or Potato Stewed Beef Brisket upon returning. It would be even better to add some sweet Braised Pork, then enjoy a plate of sliced Chilled Honeydew Melon paired with a cup of Iced Fruit Drink!
Just thinking about it made the lingering soreness from kneeling earlier seem to dissipate. Amidst the floral grove, she nearly skipped with joy.
The place was extremely secluded, with flower clusters taller than a person, obstructing the view. As Liu Yandai walked among them, she felt completely unseen and utterly safe, allowing her to move forward freely, skipping and bouncing along.
Unbeknownst to her, just a few steps away beyond the flower branches, someone had been watching her all along.
——
Through the lush flower branches and the rich fragrance, the Crown Prince’s gaze remained fixed intently on Liu Yandai.
Amidst the verdant spring hues, a touch of crimson stood out; the floral path by the city’s edge stretched with branches yearning to sprawl. Flowers bloomed along the path, and the maiden slowly made her way home.
During this period, Liu Yandai had been following Qin Chanyue closely. While her courage hadn’t grown much, her taste in clothing had increasingly mirrored Qin Chanyue’s. Whatever looked good on Qin Chanyue, she piled onto herself, appearing strikingly flamboyant.
Today, however, dressed in mourning attire, she was uncharacteristically plain and simple.
Her hair was neatly coiled into a round bun, adorned with nothing but a white hemp cap. As she walked before the flower branches, she resembled a fluttering butterfly.
She still hadn’t realized anyone was present, and the Crown Prince remained silent, quietly observing her.
He felt he didn’t actually like Liu Yandai.
Watching her was merely… out of a slight interest.
This woman was entirely unworthy of him—of lowly birth, unrestrained in demeanor, and seemingly neither clever nor sharp. She offered no assistance to his path to the throne. It appeared she merely possessed an appearance that happened to appeal to him.
Moreover, she was an Er Jia Nv—no, a married woman, not yet remarried.
The Crown Prince’s mind recalled that Shizi, Zhou Yuanting.
As the Crown Prince, investigating matters of a Houfu wasn’t particularly difficult. Secrets others carefully concealed, he could unveil with just a flick of his finger, peering beneath the veiled curtain to see the story beneath.
Originally, it was after Zhou Yuanting framed Zhou Wenshan that he provoked retaliation from Zhou Wenshan and his mother, ultimately leading to disaster. Zhou Wenshan and his mother were dead, Zhou Yuanting was confined to a manor estate, and Qin Chanyue had become estranged from Zhou Yuanting.
At this point, Zhou Yuanting could not return—this woman, Qin Chanyue, the Crown Prince understood very well.
To understand Zhennan Wang, he had deliberately investigated Qin Chanyue in detail. Qin Chanyue was a person who saw things in black and white. Others might have gray areas where distinctions blurred, but Qin Chanyue did not. In her world, she stubbornly divided everyone into two types: those who were good to her and those who were not. To those who were good to her, regardless of their background or temperament, she showed tolerance. To those who were not good to her, no matter who they were, she rejected them.
Even Zhou Yuanting was no exception.
That was why the Crown Prince dared to conclude that Zhou Yuanting would not return.
With Zhou Yuanting unable to return, Liu Yandai was left alone, no different from a woman who had lost her husband.
However, judging by her practice of keeping eight male companions, she certainly wouldn’t remain chaste for her husband.
At the thought of those eight male companions, the Crown Prince’s expression shifted with an indescribable emotion—disgust, disdain, yet faintly mixed with a trace of jealousy he couldn’t quite name.
He thought, since Liu Yandai was so fond of men, why couldn’t he be one of them?
He was the Crown Prince, with power in his hands. Surely he was better than those eight male companions?
With just a little effort, he could win Liu Yandai over.
In this world, no one would refuse the Crown Prince.
If… if Liu Yandai knew her place in the future, he could grant her the title of Imperial Consort after ascending the throne.
As an Er Jia Nv, having been with other men and lacking virtue herself, she could never aspire to the position of Empress.
In just a few moments, countless thoughts raced through the Crown Prince’s mind.
Not far away, Liu Yandai fluttered over like a butterfly from among the flowers.
The Crown Prince shifted his embroidered boots and walked steadily toward her.
—
Late August, amidst a sea of flowers.
A winding path led into seclusion, surrounded by tangled branches of blossoms. She was shorter, hidden beneath the flower-laden branches, and when she looked up, she could only see the sky fragmented by the colorful blooms above.
The flowers of Nanjiang seemed to carry the same wild, untamed spirit of the land—tall and robust, lacking the delicate refinement of Chang’an’s flora but brimming with vitality. They bloomed from August through the end of September, their lush branches piled together like a forest of blossoms.
Walking through this “forest” brought back faint memories of her childhood in Nanyun City.
She had lived with her grandmother as a child, their family poor. Her grandmother mended and washed clothes for others, and food was scarce—just enough to keep from starving. It was then that she developed her craving for good food.
Children born in Nanjiang naturally took to the mountains, where there were plenty of wild goods—mushrooms, fruits. Sometimes, if they were lucky, they could climb trees to find bird eggs or wade into streams to catch small fish. Occasionally, when Liu Yandai was especially hungry, she would venture into the mountains to try her luck.
The mountains of Nanjiang were high, so high that one had to crane their neck back to see the sky, sliced into pieces by the treetops. Now, as she lifted her head, she saw a sky similarly fragmented by flower branches.
It was the same sky, yet she had wandered from Nanjiang to Chang’an, crossing countless streams and thresholds, transforming from a child gathering fruits in the woods to the Shizi Furen.
She hadn’t sought any of it; fate had simply brought her here.
Liu Yandai thought, Chang’an was a wonderful place—no insects crawling everywhere, no Nan Gu People roaming about, no cunning wild goods merchants. There were delicious fruits she had never tasted in her life, Braised Pork so rich it seemed to drip with oil, and hairpins of every color. She wanted to stay in Chang’an forever, eating the finest foods and wearing the finest clothes every day.
Little Yandai lifted the hem of her skirt and spun in a dance circle right where she stood.
Her dance was clumsy; she had never learned it before, and Qin Chanyue had never insisted she learn. So her spin wasn’t particularly graceful. But seeing these Nanjiang flowers filled her with joy, and she danced clumsily, twirling a couple of circles for the blossoms.
Long time no see, my homeland of Nanjiang.
The flowers swayed gently, as if greeting her in return.
Long time no see, young lady of Nanjiang.
The ground was paved with stones, and the plain silk shoes made a slightly grating sensation underfoot. Liu Yandai’s skirt brushed against the lush flowers and trees as she gradually walked deeper.
Ahead, she turned a corner. After two more turns, she would not be far from Shuhai Courtyard.
Liu Yandai spun around, twirling as she skipped past a corner.
As luck would have it, someone suddenly rounded the corner from the opposite direction, at an angle and speed so tricky that Liu Yandai saw it with her eyes but couldn’t react in time. Caught off guard, she collided with her shoulder!
She was already spinning, her balance unsteady, so she fell straight backward. In her haste, she instinctively grabbed at the front of the other person’s robe.
The other person did not dodge. Instead, he used his chest to support her body. His arms were thick and taut, easily bearing the weight of her fall. With a reverse pull, he even tugged her forward, causing her to crash into him once more.
Just like that, she crashed into a fiery embrace.
Hot as flowing flames, threatening to consume her.