Chapter 31 – They Despise Her, They Laugh at Her

Tang Chaoyang returned to Lanting Courtyard. She stood in the courtyard and lifted her head to look at the sky.

Having been reborn, she didn’t want to change too many things.

She was afraid that altering too much would bring about unsettling consequences.

She thought of her maternal grandfather’s weathered face, filled with worry for the soldiers on the frontier.

Tang Chaoyang felt she had been too narrow-minded, a small woman who only paid attention to the ground beneath her own feet.

She went back inside and first finished embroidering her son’s cloth pouch completely before she headed to the study.

Liu’er had ground the ink, and Tang Chaoyang instructed her to leave the room for now.

Tang Chaoyang spread out the paper, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink. She ought to be grateful for Heaven’s mercy in giving her another chance; she shouldn’t remain so timid and hesitant.

She wanted the common people to have enough to eat.

After thinking for a moment, she began to write:

“The people take food as their Heaven. The shortage of provisions is not only the plight of the people but also of the soldiers. From ancient times until now, the usual practice has been to increase taxation, forcibly requisition supplies, and sell official ranks…”

Tang Chaoyang was writing vigorously, already halfway through, when Su Miao and Su Ling came to find her, leaving her no choice but to pause.

“Cousin, a few days ago, Her Highness the Princess Royal sent invitations widely, inviting all the noble ladies and young gentlemen in the capital to the West Lake. Mother asked us to come and invite you to go with us,” Su Miao said gently after giving her greeting.

Su Ling had been dragged along by her elder sister; otherwise, she would never have come to invite Tang Chaoyang herself!

Since Tang Chaoyang returned from Cold City, she hadn’t appeared in society.

And during this time, Madam Li could obviously feel that the old madam held strong opinions against her.

Therefore, Madam Li instructed her two daughters to bring Tang Chaoyang along this time, hoping it would soften the old madam’s view a little.

Tang Chaoyang couldn’t very well refuse Madam Li’s goodwill and agreed to go to West Lake with her two cousins.

She would just stay at West Lake for about an hour or so, then leave.

Since she had to go to West Lake, she needed to change her clothes; dressing too plainly would only invite ridicule.

She changed into the bright red attire she used to like and wore the jewelry her grandmother had given her.

This time, Tang Chaoyang did not share the carriage with Su Miao and Su Ling. She had her own carriage so it would be easier for her to slip away later to Zhuque Alley to perform acupuncture for Gu Yuan.

Sitting inside the carriage, Tang Chaoyang lowered her gaze, pondering about this Princess Royal.

The Princess Royal was the new emperor’s elder sister and could be considered the only surviving imperial princess. One could easily imagine how terrifying palace struggles had been.

The new emperor was also rather tolerant toward this elder sister.

She didn’t know why the Princess Royal had decided to issue such broad invitations to the noble young men and women to gather at West Lake.

In her previous life, Tang Chaoyang had been muddled during this period, living under the shadow of her son’s death.

So, in her last life, she had paid little attention to external affairs during these days.

At that moment, inside a pavilion by West Lake—

Several noble young ladies were speaking softly to the woman in their midst.

Their tones carried a trace of flattery.

The woman standing among them was Dong Xinrui.

Dong Xinrui’s status now could be said to be the most distinguished of all noble ladies except for the Princess Royal herself.

Today, she wore a white fox-fur cloak, her face adorned with a faint smile. Every movement was elegant and composed.

From time to time, she replied politely to the noble ladies’ words.

The Princess Royal entered the pavilion.

Everyone quickly rose to give their respects.

Dong Xinrui affectionately took the Princess Royal’s arm. “Your Highness, has everyone arrived?”

The Princess Royal smiled. “We can begin. I’ll leave it to you from here.”

This wide invitation issued in the Princess Royal’s name was something Dong Xinrui had arranged with her in advance.

Tang Chaoyang’s carriage arrived at West Lake.

Tang Chaoyang unhurriedly followed her two cousins toward the gathering place.

It was the dead of winter, and all the flowers by West Lake had already withered.

But the brightly dressed noblemen and ladies added much color to the scene.

Whenever noble young men and women gathered, there would naturally be contests of music, chess, poetry, and painting.

At first glance, Tang Chaoyang saw Dong Xinrui in the pavilion, surrounded like the moon by stars.

Some people recognized Tang Chaoyang and began whispering among themselves.

“Why did she come?” a noble lady asked in a lowered voice, her tone full of obvious disdain.

“I didn’t expect she’d still have the face to appear in public. The Empress Dowager scolded her for lacking any virtue as a wife. Doesn’t she feel ashamed to show herself?” another lady mocked.

“If it were me, I’d have shaved my head and gone to keep vigil by a Buddhist lamp long ago.”

This last voice was not hushed at all.

Tang Chaoyang and her cousins heard every word.

Su Ling felt utterly humiliated. She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration—they never should have asked Tang Chaoyang to come along.

Su Miao’s skin was thin as well. She pressed her red lips together, her gaze carrying a faint warning as she looked at those noble ladies.

No matter what, Tang Chaoyang was now living in the Su family, and the General’s Estate was not a place anyone could openly insult someone to their face.

Those noble ladies, warned by Su Miao’s look, fell silent, though they didn’t think much of it.

In the pavilion, Dong Xinrui also saw Tang Chaoyang slowly approaching. She smiled faintly, hiding the scorn in her eyes without any change in expression.

Among the young men, some looked at Tang Chaoyang with disdain, while others felt pity for her because of her striking beauty.

Having lived through her previous life, Tang Chaoyang had gained a wealth of experience. She no longer minded the way people looked at her.

They despised her, laughed at her—so what?

She could ignore it, remain indifferent.

Standing there, she soon realized no one was around her anymore. Su Ling had at some point pulled Su Miao away.

She stood proudly, her lips curved in a slight smile, her expression composed, not at all saddened or embarrassed by the crowd’s rejection.

Ling Gurong and Fei Yan were in a nearby loft.

They had keen senses and needed only one glance to see that the woman standing alone was being ostracized by everyone else.

Ling Gurong picked up a teacup, smiling faintly. Dressed and adorned like this, Tang Chaoyang was dazzlingly beautiful—so different from the destitute village woman he had seen on the mountain last time.

Even more remarkable was that she hadn’t become flustered or enraged despite her awkward situation.

“Ah Yan, your former wife doesn’t seem quite as worthless as you claimed.”

Fei Yan’s cool gaze swept over Tang Chaoyang, and he said flatly, “She shouldn’t have come to this kind of occasion—she’s brought disgrace on herself.”

It was the first time Ling Gurong had heard Fei Yan speak with such venom.

He raised his brows slightly, glancing over Fei Yan’s cold, stern expression.

At that moment, Dong Xinrui stepped out of the pavilion and calmly walked onto a stage that had been set up.

Today, for Dong Xinrui, Tang Chaoyang was irrelevant. She had something far more important to accomplish.

Today would be the day that she, Dong Xinrui, elevated her reputation for virtue and refinement to new heights!