A group of noble ladies greeted Li Zhiyue.

“I used to think Miss Li was a spendthrift, but now I realize how utterly wrong I was.”

“First it was the Li’s Tea Pavilion, then the Li’s Grand Theater—you’ve earned who knows how much for your Xiangyang Marquis household.”

“Don’t you think this opera at the Grand Theater is totally different from the ones we used to see? It’s so captivating you can’t help but want to watch more!”

Li Zhiyue wore a polite smile. “As long as you ladies enjoy it.”

“There’s only one flaw,” one young lady said. “The lyrics sung by the actors are a bit too vulgar.”

“Indeed, too plain and unrefined. They ought to be polished up.”

“Isn’t our own capital blessed with a talented young lady?” Song’s Six Miss said with a smile. “Miss Lu’s poetry is so acclaimed even my father sings her praises. Why not ask her to refine the script a bit?”

Lu Jingxue had saved her mother, so Song’s Six Miss was happy to support this scholar from a humble background.

“Yes, Miss Lu is our capital’s newest literary star!”

“Just a few days ago she wrote a poem for the Princess Royal, who was so delighted she rewarded Miss Lu with a full set of fine jewelry.”

“Oh, not at all,” Lu Jingxue replied, feigning modesty. “The Princess Royal was simply being generous. I hardly deserve the title of a ‘literary genius.’”

Yet deep in her eyes, a trace of barely perceptible pride flickered.

It was only her humble background that held her back—otherwise, she was equal to any of these noble ladies.

After saving Old Madam Song, she had finally gained recognition and a chance to appear before the Princess Royal.

She seized the opportunity, presented a poem, and was praised for it.

Her reputation as a literary talent would gradually spread throughout the capital.

Li Zhiyue was known for her beauty.

But beauty fades.

Talent, on the other hand, only deepens with time.

One day, she, Lu Jingxue, would be hailed as “the most talented woman in the capital.”

Li Zhiyue spoke with a smile: “Theater isn’t just for the wealthy; it’s a pleasure for the common folk as well. What the Grand Theater pursues is not only highbrow art, but a balance between elegance and popularity.”

As the group chatted—

A servant from the Song family came rushing up. “Sixth Miss! Old Madam asks you to take Miss Lu back home immediately!”

Song’s Six Miss frowned. “What’s so urgent?”

The servant glanced at Lu Jingxue, then quickly looked away. “You’ll understand once you return, Sixth Miss.”

Song’s Six Miss took Lu Jingxue into the carriage and hurried back to the Song residence.

The gates of the Song estate were tightly shut, the servants all hanging their heads in anxiety—clearly something serious had happened.

Lu Jingxue felt a growing unease.

Song’s Six Miss’s nurse came hurrying up and whispered a few words.

“What did you say?”

Song’s Six Miss’s eyes widened instantly.

She turned to Lu Jingxue with a look of disbelief.

Before Lu Jingxue could react—

Smack!

A loud slap landed across her face.

“My Song family took in your mother and you out of kindness—and this is how you repay us?!”

Lu Jingxue clutched her cheek, eyes brimming with tears. “Sixth Miss, what has happened?”

Song’s Six Miss was so furious her chest heaved with emotion.

She didn’t want to waste words and stormed into the main courtyard.

Lu Jingxue quickly followed.

As she entered, she saw her mother, Madam Zhen, kneeling on the ground amid broken porcelain.

Seated in the main chair was the Old Madam of the Song family.

Standing beside her were the Song Imperial Tutor and various sons and daughters-in-law of the family…

Buzz—

Lu Jingxue’s mind went blank.

Madam Zhen wept pitifully. “Old Madam, I don’t know how this happened… I was mourning my late husband and drank too much. The maid helped me back to my room—I don’t know how I ended up in this courtyard… I’ve never considered remarrying, let alone entering the Song family. I can only prove my innocence with death!”

With that, she suddenly rose to hurl herself at a pillar.

Lu Jingxue rushed forward and clutched her around the waist. “No! Mother, if you die, what will happen to me and my brother?”

Mother and daughter clung to each other, sobbing.

The Imperial Tutor spoke: “The Song family has upheld a spotless name for a hundred years. If word spreads that we drove a widow to death, it will ruin our reputation.”

The Old Madam’s rage surged. “So you expect me to accept a widow as my husband’s concubine?!”

Madam Zhen sobbed even harder.

Lu Jingxue wept too.

Back when they were dependent on the Xiangyang Marquis household, it was she who had proposed her mother become a concubine there—but it had failed.

Now they were living with the Song family, and with Old Madam Song’s support, her reputation as a talented woman was growing steadily.

Truthfully, there was no longer any need for her mother to degrade herself like this.

But what was done was done.

Now, she only hoped her mother had slept with the eldest son of the Song family.

The eldest son was a third-rank court official.

Becoming his concubine wouldn’t be too bad.

“I will never accept a widow and her baggage into this house!” the Old Madam cried, each word filled with grief. “I will never drink that ‘primary wife tea’!”

What?

The Old Madam drink primary wife tea?

Lu Jingxue’s head snapped up.

That meant her mother hadn’t slept with one of the Old Madam’s sons…

She had slept with the Song Imperial Tutor himself!

No wonder the Old Madam was so enraged!

If it had been her son, no matter how furious she was, it would still be manageable.

But this… this was her own husband!

Clearly, she had saved the Old Madam’s life, but now, thanks to her mother’s actions, both of them had become thorns in the entire Song family’s side.

Lu Jingxue grew dizzy and nearly collapsed.

Madam Zhen cried bitterly. “Let me die! Let me die and end this!”

The Old Madam hurled another teacup to the ground.

She regretted it!

She regretted ever taking in a widow!

Now she finally understood why the Xiangyang Marquis family had severed ties despite being saved by them.

It wasn’t heartlessness on their part—it was Madam Zhen’s scheming heart!

If only she had known…

But in this world, there is no if only.

“Mother,” said the Eldest Song son, sighing. “I’m about to be promoted. By year’s end I should reach the second rank. If this scandal affects my advancement, it wouldn’t be worth it. In noble families, taking a concubine is nothing unusual—especially when that concubine once saved our family. The public will only praise our magnanimity.”

The second son added, “Just place her in the most remote courtyard. Keeping her around won’t cost us much.”

The Old Madam closed her eyes in despair.

For the sake of the family’s reputation and future, no one cared about her feelings anymore.

Slowly, she nodded.

Madam Zhen burst into tears of joy.

She knelt and bowed. “This concubine, Madam Zhen, pays respects to the primary wife.”

Lu Jingxue collapsed.

She had fainted—from rage.

Just when she had boarded a great ship, her mother’s actions had dragged her back to square one.

She was finished…

Her whole life was finished.