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Liu Suqing was once the most celebrated courtesan in Qinghe County. In her earlier days, aside from a few patrons, she also had a few close sisters.
Back then, they used to host poetry gatherings and invited local scholars to appreciate art together—their bonds needed no further explanation.
Even though they lived in less-than-respectable circumstances, these women often found joy amidst hardship and didn’t spend all their days in sorrow.
These women had all suffered through tough times together. Some, like Liu Suqing, had also left their past behind and become proper women. Naturally, their friendships ran deeper than those with others.
On this day, Liu Suqing was visiting her old friend Yin Feng, who had also turned her life around.
Yin Feng had married a merchant named Chai. As he often traveled for business and was away from home, she had a steady place in the household after giving birth to two healthy sons soon after marrying him. She often visited Liu Suqing.
When Liu Suqing’s husband passed away, Yin Feng was busy taking care of her sons, who had caught smallpox, and couldn’t attend the funeral.
Now that the boys had recovered, Liu Suqing brought her own child to visit Yin Feng.
As Liu Suqing entered the Chai household with a servant in tow, a woman named Madam Wu, from the Zheng family, peeked out of a nearby alley.
This Madam Wu had long been a loyal servant of Zheng Qiao. On the day of the fire at the Zheng household, she had heard the cries of the eldest daughter but didn’t see Liu Suqing take any action.
Not until the fire had grown did Liu Suqing rush out crying fire—by then, the master of the house couldn’t be saved.
Madam Wu had long harbored suspicions that Liu Suqing deliberately set the fire.
But without evidence, she couldn’t openly accuse her. So, even when the elder sisters of the Zheng family visited, she stayed silent.
In Madam Wu’s imagination, Liu Suqing had a secret lover—perhaps that escaped man Song Lin—and together they plotted to kill Zheng Qiao and flee.
Naturally, these were all her own assumptions. She had no idea that Liu Suqing’s real motive was to prevent Zheng Qiao from dragging the whole family into a treason case.
Meanwhile, inside the Chai home, Liu Suqing and Yin Feng chatted casually. Liu Suqing played with Yin Feng’s children for a while.
Sensing Liu Suqing had something to say, Yin Feng dismissed the servants, and Liu Suqing did the same with her own.
Only then did the two sisters begin to talk privately.
Outside, Madam Wu had grown impatient from waiting, fanning herself as she sat in the alley.
She was plotting how she would expose Liu Suqing if she caught any incriminating evidence.
Suddenly, a voice startled her from behind, “Are you waiting for me?”
Madam Wu turned in shock—behind her stood none other than Liu Suqing.
“Ma… Madam,” Madam Wu stammered in embarrassment.
Without a word, Liu Suqing raised her hand and slapped her—twice, clean across the face.
She kept her nails well-manicured in a simple nude tone—not for flash, just elegance. But in this moment, they added some sting.
Madam Wu screamed as red claw marks immediately appeared on her face.
Liu Suqing had never been the patient, gentle type. Back in her brothel days, even the madam had to put up with her temper.
Though few men were willing to buy out her freedom, many indulged her temper due to her beauty and talent.
After marrying into the Zheng family, she knew her life was now tied to her husband’s, so she tried to keep a gentle image and rarely lost her temper.
But she was never truly that gentle.
With this old servant confronting her today, there was no need to pretend anymore.
Not only was Madam Wu shocked, but Yu Nanny, who held Liu Suqing’s child nearby, was also surprised.
Yu Nanny had been purchased after Zheng Qiao rose in status. She now stood with Liu Suqing.
Madam Wu, however, failed to recognize the power shift and still considered herself a senior of the Zheng family, looking down on Liu Suqing.
There were still one or two others in the Zheng household who shared this attitude.
But now that Zheng Qiao was gone, Liu Suqing had to establish herself as the one truly in charge.
She couldn’t continue living under the shadow of the Zheng sisters.
After hitting Madam Wu, Liu Suqing sneered and said, “Perfect timing—I was just wondering who to make an example of. And here you are.”
Madam Wu had nowhere else to go and could only follow Liu Suqing back home after being slapped.
Currently, the male servants slept in the kitchen, while Liu Suqing, her child, and female attendants stayed in the wing rooms.
The fire-damaged part of the house had been structurally repaired, but the windows and furniture hadn’t been installed yet.
Now, the Zheng household consisted only of servants, Liu Suqing, and the eldest Zheng daughter.
The Zheng household wasn’t large—one servant managed the stables, two older women helped around, one man guarded the gate, and one errand-runner handled chores. That was all.
Once home, Liu Suqing shut the doors and began interrogating Madam Wu.
Her voice was loud enough for all the servants to hear.
Sitting in the main seat, she asked coldly, “Tell me, why were you following me?”
Madam Wu, seeing the situation turn against her, lied, “It wasn’t on purpose, Madam. I just happened to be out shopping.”
Liu Suqing slammed the table: “Still lying to me?!”
Madam Wu didn’t dare admit she followed Liu Suqing to catch her doing something improper, so she stubbornly refused to confess.
Liu Suqing had no patience left and ordered her to be thrown out of the house.
Madam Wu had no family and relied entirely on the Zheng household, receiving a monthly wage.
Had she behaved properly or if Zheng Qiao were still alive, she could’ve lived out her days comfortably.
Now that Liu Suqing was in charge and she had backed the wrong person, her fate was sealed.
As she was thrown out, Madam Wu still stubbornly hoped the Zheng sisters would take her in.
Unfortunately, both sisters had just spent large sums buying Zheng Qiao’s shares in the Heaven’s Principle Sect. The elder sister wouldn’t take in a useless 50-something servant.
The younger sister, living off the elder’s support, had no money and was already in debt waiting for her share of the sect’s profits. She wouldn’t take on another mouth to feed.
So Madam Wu ended up with nowhere to go, renting a room and doing manual labor just to survive.
After seeing her fate, the few remaining doubters among the Zheng household staff quickly changed their tune and pledged loyalty to Liu Suqing—but that’s another story.
Back to the day Liu Suqing returned home with Madam Wu—her friend Yin Feng sent a trusted servant from the Chai family to the Song family on Osmanthus Alley.
A servant at the Song residence received a letter, hearing it had to do with their third master, Song Lin. Thinking it was a clue, he passed it to Master Song.
Master Song read the letter after dinner.
After reading, he summoned his servants and asked, “Do you know who delivered this?”
The servant shook his head, “He was a man in his thirties or forties, unfamiliar. He said the letter concerned Third Master and asked that you open it personally, so I took it.”
Master Song waved him off.
Madam Wang, hearing there was news about Song Lin, came to ask her husband, “Qiyuan, is there really news about our third son? Where is he hiding now?”
Thinking about the letter’s content, Master Song felt alarmed. Fearing his wife might blab, he replied vaguely, “Oh, it’s nothing. Probably just someone playing a prank. No solid information.”
Madam Wang, who knew her husband too well, could tell he was lying.
But she didn’t press him. Her temperament had softened over the years. She simply took her children and left.
That night, with her husband sleeping elsewhere, she cuddled their children and whispered, “My dear, study hard, and one day, take Mama to the capital with you.”
Meanwhile, the next day, Master Song personally delivered the letter to Magistrate Lin of the Lin family.
Upon reading it, the magistrate’s expression turned grave.
It was only one page, but its content was explosive:
The sect’s base was in Qinghe County. As the highest official in the region, Magistrate Lin had long heard of them.
He knew they sold fake medicine and were expert money-makers, though no one had officially accused them—so he’d never taken legal action.
But now, with rumors of rebellion, the situation had changed.
After reading the letter, he asked, “Where did this come from? Can it be trusted?”
Master Song answered, “A man delivered it to my house. My servant didn’t recognize him.”
Magistrate Lin was silent for a while.
Master Song urged anxiously, “This is no small matter. My third son is involved. I came to report this in good faith—I want to avoid being implicated.”
The magistrate nodded. He understood.
“I understand completely. Rest assured—if this is true, and once it’s confirmed, your family will not be held responsible.”