Chapter 48

An hour ago, at the Xie mansion.
In contrast to the lively and vibrant Suitong Palace, the Linfeng Yuan was quiet, as if no one had been there. Even the little stray cat that usually roamed the yard was locked in a cage.

Mallow stood guard at the door, keeping a lookout, preventing anyone from approaching, especially wary of Xie Hengzhi returning suddenly like he had earlier.

Inside the room, only Yiling and Mama Cao were present. The bright light from the lamps illuminated the space, and the charcoal in the brazier burned fiercely, but the atmosphere between the two women felt unusually heavy.

“This is the situation,” Mama Cao sighed deeply. “Later, madam, you married into the capital.”

Earlier, Yiling had admitted to Mama Cao that she hadn’t actually remembered anything. The words she’d spoken were just a means to deceive her.

At this point, if the master and servant continued hiding secrets from each other, Yiling would really be in great danger with no way out.

When Mama Cao heard this, she no longer dared to hide anything from Yiling and told her everything she knew in full detail.

When speaking of the most infuriating parts, Mama Cao spat and cursed, wishing she could tear Hu Yanqi apart.

But recalling how Mrs. Shang had been weeping daily during that time, her heart filled with sorrow. She pitied her young mistress, who had suffered for no reason.

After telling everything, Mama Cao was so emotionally overwhelmed that her clothes were drenched in sweat, more exhausting than a whole night of hard labor.

Turning to look at Yiling, who had listened to everything from start to finish, she saw her head lowered in silence, her expression even tinged with a hint of compassion.

“Well?” Mama Cao couldn’t help but ask. “Madam, have you come up with a solution?”

Yiling still didn’t speak, only lifting her head to look at Mama Cao, as if on the verge of saying something but holding back.

She knew that Mama Cao’s recounting had certainly included embellishments, with biased language full of contempt for Hu Yanqi.

Even so, Yiling could still tell that madam Shang and Hu Yanqi had indeed been in love with each other.

In fact, when she heard about Shang’s father forcefully separating the couple, Yiling felt a tightness in her chest, almost as if she could feel Mrs. Shang’s despair.

She couldn’t help but imagine: if madam Shang had not tragically drowned, could she now be living a rightful life with the man she loved?

But… She was not madam Shang.

She didn’t know how to make Hu Yanqi believe that the woman he loved was no longer alive.

She also didn’t know what stance she should take to ask the stubborn Hu Yanqi to let go.

She had thought that once the truth came out, she would find a solution. But now, Yiling only felt more confused and even a little guilty.

“What happened after that?” Yiling stood up and walked a few steps before turning back to ask, “After that, there was no news of him until this time he came to the capital.”

Yiling had asked the question out of sheer lack of understanding, but to her surprise, when Mama Cao heard her words, she paused for a moment, then suddenly kneeled straight down.

“What are you doing? Stop kneeling and speak!” Yiling said.

Mama Cao refused to get up, her expression more resolute than ever.

“Madam, there’s something I’ve never dared to tell you. Now, I can’t hide it from you anymore!”

Yiling: “What is it?”

“Do you know how Hu Yanqi managed to rise up after returning to Hu Ba and overthrow his elder brother?”

Yiling replied, “It seems he gained the support of the Hu Bayue clan.”

“Why would the Yue clan support him?” Mama Cao sneered and answered her own question. “Because he married the daughter of the Yue clan leader!”

The tightly shut room, which had made Yiling feel drowsy and somewhat foggy, suddenly became clearer as Mama Cao’s words hit her ears. Yiling thought for a moment that she had misheard.

“What?” Yiling repeated. “You’re saying he’s already married?”

“I would never lie!” Mama Cao swore, pointing to the sky. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask around!”

Yiling, hearing this, opened her mouth several times but couldn’t say a word.

All her feelings of pity and sadness disappeared in an instant, and in the end, she could only laugh bitterly.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!”

She had been so moved just now!

“I didn’t dare to upset you!” Mama Cao replied.

She had been hiding this news for so long, but now she had no choice but to reveal it. Her tone grew increasingly agitated.

“You were so badly hurt by him back then, crying every day, growing thinner until you were nothing but skin and bones! And what did he do? He left you with just a promise to wait for him.

What did you wait for? Did you wait for the news of him marrying the daughter of the Yu’an clan leader? Did you wait for him to return and marry you as a concubine? Bah!”

Who could disagree with that?

If not for her status, Yiling might have felt like spitting along with Mama Cao.

Although she didn’t know much about the Yue clan mentioned by Mama Cao, since they had supported Hu Yanqi in vying for the throne, it was clear that their influence was not to be underestimated in the Hu Ba territory.

In such a situation, if madam Shang had married Hu Yanqi, wouldn’t she have to endure living in constant humiliation, suppressing her feelings every day?

Only Hu Yanqi could enjoy the blessings of having it all to himself!

Thinking of this, Yiling couldn’t help but feel relieved that Mama Cao had kept this news hidden back then.

Even as an outsider, Yiling was enraged upon hearing it. If the devoted Shang family were to learn of this, she would surely be heartbroken and devastated!

Mama Cao, who had finally unburdened herself of a long-held secret, felt a weight lifted off her chest but knew she should still seek forgiveness.

She bowed deeply, knocking her head against the floor, and said, “So, Madam, please don’t blame this old servant for keeping it from you. At that time, the master was far away in Qingyang, and you had accidentally fallen into the water and lost consciousness. Even the doctor said there was no hope. I could only pray to the Bodhisattva every day for your recovery.

How could I dare bring up such a matter to upset you further?”

“I don’t blame you, you can—”

Yiling initially reached out to help Mama Cao up, but just as her hand extended, a phrase from earlier echoed in her mind.

Qingyang? Falling into the water?

Her hand froze mid-air, and she suddenly asked, “When did you learn that he had taken a wife?”

Mama Cao remembered this detail clearly and answered without hesitation, “The news came from the master, the day before you fell into the water.”

That day, she had received a family letter from Jiangzhou. She initially intended to deliver it directly to Yiling, but something came up, and she set it aside. Later that evening, when she remembered it, she suddenly realized something was off—

Hadn’t they received a family letter just half a month ago? Why another one so soon?

Unable to read herself, Mama Cao secretly called Mallow to read the letter to her.

The moment Mallow glanced at it, she almost couldn’t hold onto the thin paper.

That person…had gotten married!

Compared to Mallow’s panic, Mama Cao remained composed and decisively burned the letter.

The Shang family had intended to inform the young mistress of the news to make her give up.

But Mama Cao, who was by her side daily, knew the mistress wouldn’t be able to withstand such a blow!

To this day, Mama Cao still feels fortunate for her decision back then. Otherwise…

Wait.

Mama Cao suddenly raised her head to look at Yiling, realizing her expression carried a similar implication.

“Madam, could it be that you fell into the water back then…”

The room’s atmosphere grew heavy. Yiling walked to the window, her back to Mama Cao, her heart pounding, her palms sweating.

She knew what Mama Cao was suspecting.

But Yiling had no way to confirm or deny it because she was merely speculating—the day before, news of her beloved’s marriage reached the Beijing, and the next day, Mrs. Shang fell into the water?

This was unlikely to be a coincidence.

“Madam…Madam, do you really not remember?” Mama Cao finally stood up and hurriedly grabbed Yiling’s sleeve, her tone anxious. “Do you really not recall anything?”

“I truly don’t remember.”

Yiling took a deep breath, composed herself, and asked, “But you, do you recall anything unusual about me that day?”

This question stumped Mama Cao.

She couldn’t think of anything specific and rubbed her hands anxiously. “Unusual? Unusual?

During that time, you barely spoke and spent entire days in the Wind and Rain Pavilion. I don’t recall anything unusual that day specifically. Let me think, let me think…”

The Wind and Rain Pavilion?

Yiling concentrated for a moment, then abruptly interrupted Mama Cao’s frantic muttering.

“If the master returns, you and Mallow should handle him. I’m going out for a while.”

Before Mama Cao could respond, Yiling had already turned and left.

“Madam! Where are you going?!”

Mrs. Shang used to spend her time alone in the Wind and Rain Pavilion, likely because it was the most desolate place in the Xie residence.

Xie Hengzhi had never invested in renovating the estate, so the octagonal two-story pavilion’s exterior paint had peeled, leaving it dilapidated.

Carrying a lamp, Yiling entered. The dim light only allowed her to discern the general layout of the first floor.

It was empty—nothing at all.

She climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Perhaps because Mrs. Shang used to frequent this place, the attic was relatively clean.

Still, being decades old and rarely inhabited, the air was thick with the scent of decay.

Yiling tread lightly, knowing no one was there yet afraid of disturbing something.

The second floor was narrower than the first. At the top of the stairs was a carved folding screen. Opposite it, beneath the window, sat a table and chairs. Behind them was a closed cupboard with no other furnishings—utterly spartan.

But the window caught her attention.

One glance out of it, and Yiling understood why Mrs. Shang had spent her days here—

Though the Wind and Rain Pavilion was in disrepair, its height afforded a sweeping view beyond the Xie residence.

On clear days, one might even see the northern mountain ranges.

Yiling took a moment to collect herself, remembering her purpose for being here.

By the faint lamplight, she began to search.

Not that there was much to search through in such a bare space.

Her eyes quickly landed on the desk, where she found a dried inkstone and a brush.

Seeing these, her heartbeat quickened.

There was ink and brush Mrs. Shang must have left some written records.

The only place to hide anything on the second floor was the cupboard. Yiling knelt and opened the drawers, only to find them covered in a thick layer of dust.

Blinking, she checked the other drawers—also empty.

How could there be nothing?

Unwilling to give up, Yiling nearly dismantled the cupboard but found only some old jewelry boxes, likely left by the estate’s previous owner.

Left with no options, Yiling stood with the lamp in hand.

There was nothing to be found in the cabinet, so she turned her attention to the wall on the second floor, her gaze landing on a piece of calligraphy and painting set in a mirror-like frame.

Could something belonging to the Shang family be hidden inside?

Yiling picked up the lantern and walked over step by step.

Focused entirely on the painting, she failed to notice what was beneath her feet.

Each step on the old wooden floorboards produced a creaking sound, except for one spot where the noise was different, as if the plank was slightly loose.

Yiling’s heart stirred. She looked down.

The lantern’s light was already dim, and the floorboards, darkened from years of use, made it even harder to see clearly.

Yiling crouched down slowly, stared intently for a long moment, then reached out to touch the loose plank.

Tracing her fingertips along the gap, she then removed the hairpin from her head and pried it up with force. Sure enough, the plank lifted.

Underneath, there was a black box.

Yiling’s breath quickened. She immediately retrieved the box and carried it to the table by the window.

She placed the lantern on the table, its light illuminating the space. Moving gently, she opened the box. Inside was a jade pendant broken in two, beneath which lay a folded letter.

Under the dim light, Yiling carefully examined the two halves of the jade pendant.

The jade was of excellent quality—translucent and lustrous—but the cracks were uneven, and the edges were chipped.

It seemed someone had smashed it with great force.

Jade pendants traditionally carried their owner’s sentiments, and being broken like this confirmed Yiling’s suspicion—it was a sign.

When she picked up the letter beneath, Yiling’s hands trembled slightly.

At that moment, a gust of wind swept through, lifting the thin sheet of paper into the air.

Snapping back to her senses, Yiling quickly reached out and caught it.

Hastily smoothing the letter out before her, she hadn’t prepared herself for what she saw.

Written in delicate script were four lines of poetry that immediately struck her:

“Set aside the past affections; cherish the one before you.If we cannot meet in this life, we shall meet no more, not even in the Yellow Springs.”

Yiling stared at the verses for a long time.

At first, she felt the impact of the words, but gradually, it turned into a deep tremor.

She read and reread the lines until the characters blurred before her eyes. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed into a dusty chair.

So, the lady Shang had known about Hu Yanqi’s marriage.

Even in such a situation, she had benevolently hoped that he would pour all his tenderness into his new bride and not fail the person before him.

As for herself, she had resolved never to meet him again—not even in the afterlife.

The paper was pristine, save for the word “person,” where the ink had smudged, leaving it unclear.

Yiling understood—it was from the tears Shang had shed when writing these lines.

Perhaps it was because Yiling now occupied Shang’s body.

Even though she had never truly crossed paths with this woman, when she read those four lines of poetry, a heavy weight pressed against Yiling’s chest, leaving her gasping for air.

She lifted her head and looked around the empty attic, from which the northern horizon could be seen.

In that moment, she finally understood.

Shang had not accidentally drowned. She had thrown herself into the lake.

These lines of poetry were her parting words.