Chapter 765: Apricot Blossom Rain, Willow Wind—To Avenge Fifth Brother

At the precise hour of Yin (just before 4 a.m.)

The hour was still early,

The courtyard was pitch dark.

“Click.”

The sound of the door bolt being removed echoed.

After the door opened,

Xu Zaijing and Qingcao, carrying a lantern, stepped out one after the other.

After taking a few steps at the doorway, Xu Zaijing stopped.

“Young Master?”

Qingcao looked at Xu Zaijing in confusion.

“Hss! Huh!” Xu Zaijing exhaled deeply and said, “What a timely rain this is.”

“Huh?”

Qingcao, holding the lantern, leaned slightly outward against the corridor wall.

In the golden candlelight, Qingcao saw that half the green bricks beside the pillar were damp.

“Young Master, it rained in the second half of the night! I didn’t hear a single drop!” Qingcao exclaimed.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Qingcao hurried after Xu Zaijing and smiled, “Young Master, this scene is exactly like the poem: ‘It steals in with the wind at night, moistening all things without a sound.’”

Xu Zaijing glanced at Qingcao and smiled, “Looks like you didn’t waste your time in Master Zhuang’s lessons these past few years.”

“Thank you, Young Master,” Qingcao smiled and curtsied.

The master and maid descended the covered walkway, feeling the raindrops on their faces. Qingcao wiped her cheek and exclaimed, “Young Master, it’s still raining! I’ll go get an umbrella.”

“This light rain? Why bother with an umbrella? Let’s go.”

“Oh.”

Qingcao bowed her head in reply, and when she looked up again, she felt her cloak shift behind her.

Moments later, the hood of the cloak settled over Qingcao’s head.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“Mm.”

Xu Zaijing replied as he pulled up his own cloak’s hood.

More than half an hour later,

Xu Zaijing, having finished his training, was slightly sweaty.

The morning’s fine spring rain had soaked his clothes thoroughly.

After changing into dry clothes, Xu Zaijing went to his mother’s courtyard.

His sister Ningmei was usually asleep; Xu Zaijing rarely saw her, and today was no different.

In the morning,

On the way to the Sheng household,

The spring rain continued its gentle patter, and puddles had formed in some of the road’s potholes.

Along the street, early vendors had already set up their stalls; candlelight beneath their awnings reflected in the puddles.

Other lights came from the eaves of patrol posts or the lanterns of the night watchmen.

Watching the morning scenery, Xu Zaijing lightly urged his horse forward.

The morning air was fresh, but occasionally carried the scent of charcoal smoke and cooking fires.

Of course,

With spring warming and flowers blooming,

Flower vendors carrying baskets of blooms could be seen along the road.

At this hour, the vendors did not sing out loudly—no doubt because it was too early, and loud calls would disturb people’s dreams; they’d risk getting scolded without selling a single bloom.

In the carriage behind, Qingcao occasionally lifted the curtain to glance outside.

By the roadside candlelight, Qingcao’s eyes lit up as she called out to a flower vendor.

“Sir, are these flowers in your basket sweet woodvine?”

The vendor, seeing the tall, luxurious carriage beside him, nodded eagerly. “You have a keen eye, Madam—it’s sweet woodvine indeed.”

After asking the price, Qingcao paid without haggling and bought a handful.

Rain in the morning, clear skies by day.

After Chen hour (7 a.m.), the sun slowly rose behind the clouds.

Yingying Alley,

Outside the Sheng household’s outer courtyard,

The ground was damp from rain, and traces of the downpour remained visible.

In the stable, a chewing sound came from the manger,

where Ma Er was eating his fodder.

Qingyun had already wiped the rain from Xiao Li Ju’s coat and hung the used towel over the stable’s wooden rail to dry; it fluttered gently now and then in the spring breeze.

In the schoolyard,

Outside the building,

Master Zhuang held a book in hand, smiling as he watched Chang Zhen walking behind him. “Seventh Young Master, do you know what the word ‘ai ai’ means in this line of poetry?”

Seeing Chang Zhen deep in thought, Master Zhuang did not rush him. He merely lifted his head, smiled, stroked his beard, and admired the clouds overhead.

After walking a few steps,

The figures of Master Zhuang and Chang Zhen were obscured by the green bamboo in the courtyard, vanishing from the view of those inside the schoolroom.

Inside the schoolroom,

The instant they disappeared, Ru Lan’s rigid posture instantly slumped.

The previously quiet classroom filled with hushed whispers.

Ru Lan turned her head and glanced at the servants and maids seated on the wooden platform behind her.

At that moment, Chang Feng’s servant sat on the platform, leaning against his servant Han Niu, mouth open, head tilted back—clearly about to fall asleep.

Ru Lan wrinkled her nose in distaste, then whispered to Ming Lan, “Sixth sister, Auntie sent some lamb the other day. Later, I’ll have…”

“Fifth sister, I’m studying, and so are my brothers. Can you please stop talking?” Mo Lan said, still writing, without turning her head.

“I—!” Ru Lan straightened up, about to retort, then fell silent.

Then, turning back, she whispered, “I’ll have Xi Que prepare the lamb first. Come to my courtyard—we’ll roast it together.”

Before she finished speaking,

Seeing Ming Lan glance behind her, Ru Lan turned back again, met Mo Lan’s glare, then glanced at Chang Bai—and said nothing.

She took several deep breaths, frustrated, and looked down at her desk.

On Ru Lan’s desk,

A paperweight held a sheet of high-quality Xuan paper, completely blank.

She knew that if she tore this paper, whether Father Sheng Hong found out, or Master Zhuang or the other brothers saw, they’d all glare at her in fury.

After thinking it over, Ru Lan did nothing.

She glanced back at Ming Lan, who was practicing calligraphy, then at the paper in front of her—covered with characters on both sides. Ru Lan reached out and pulled one sheet free.

She tore it once—and Chang Bai immediately turned around, his face stern, causing Ru Lan to freeze.

When he saw it was a sheet already covered in ink, Chang Bai turned back and resumed writing.

Seeing this,

Ru Lan continued, tore off a piece, crumpled it into a ball, took aim, and threw it.

“Oh!”

Mo Lan, mid-writing, startled, looked around in alarm.

Seeing the paper ball beside her, she understood what had happened and turned back, furious.

Ru Lan held her brush, watching Mo Lan turn around. “Fourth sister, why are you screaming? You’re not studying—I am!”

“You!” Mo Lan frowned and glared at Ru Lan.

Ru Lan glared back, her expression daring her to do something about it, smugly triumphant.

Seeing Gu Tingye’s gaze turn toward them, Mo Lan took a deep breath: “A noble person doesn’t hold grudges against petty ones! Hmph!”

She turned back around.

“What noble or petty,” Ru Lan muttered under her breath.

Still muttering, she crumpled another paper ball.

Xu Zaijing, seated behind Gu Tingye, caught sight of the “Dual Lan War” from the corner of his eye. Without looking up, he smiled and shook his head.

“Plop.”

Another paper ball flew over—Mo Lan visibly took a deep breath.

Ru Lan turned to Ming Lan. “It’s too much trouble to roll them myself, Sixth sister—hurry up, roll me a few more.”

“Mm.”

Ming Lan nodded, lips pressed together.

When Ruolan prepared for her third attack, Zhuang Xuejiu and Changtang’s figures appeared behind the bamboo.

Ruolan immediately sat up straight, eyes forward.

As Zhuang Xuejiu’s figure vanished again, Ruolan was about to resume her attack when she saw Changbai turn his head and glance at her.

Ruolan pursed her lips, her gaze darting, then put down the paper ball and obediently picked up her brush to write.

“Hmph!”

Moelan turned back from ahead, glancing at Ruolan, and let out a smug huff.

Ruolan glanced outside and saw Zhuang Xuejiu and Changtang approaching; she could only give up.

Entering the room,

Zhuang Xuejiu gestured for Changtang to sit, then lightly tapped his palm with the book in his hand.

“Tap tap!”

After scanning the students who had lifted their heads and the two paper balls on the floor, Zhuang Xuejiu said: “Master Wuliu upheld his true nature; his few poems, ‘Returning to Garden and Fields,’ are plain yet elegant, lean yet rich. I shall recite one for you—ponder deeply its reclusive transcendence.”

“Yes, Xuejiu.”

Xu Zaijing and the others nodded in agreement.

“From youth I never suited the world’s ways.”

As Zhuang Xuejiu recited, the students all began writing their reflections.

The three Lan girls held their brushes too; Minglan and Moelan wrote a few characters each, but Ruolan, while Zhuang Xuejiu turned his back, tossed her paper ball out again.

Xu Zaijing, seeing this, sighed and shook his head.

It was hard to say whether this girl was bold or timid.

Suddenly,

Xu Zaijing froze,

turned his head toward the three Lan girls, pondered for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

The reason was simple—this scene was one of his memories.

The little girl with yellow hair, Minglan, years ago, had now grown into a young lady.

Xu Zaijing’s gaze swept over her; Minglan, untouched by her mother’s death, raised in the old lady’s care, had less caution in her eyes and more brightness and liveliness.

Minglan, who had been covering her mouth with a light laugh, sensed a gaze beside her, turned slightly—and saw Qi Heng glancing at her.

Minglan quickly averted her eyes before meeting his, turning them forward again.

Qi Heng, seeing this, straightened his posture and resumed writing.

“Hmm?”

Sensing something odd, Minglan blinked and turned toward the direction of her third brother, Changfeng.

Beyond Changfeng’s figure, Minglan realized it was Xu Zaijing—who was also watching her.

Her heart fluttered; she forced herself to meet Xu Zaijing’s eyes despite her embarrassment.

After one glance, she noticed Xu Zaijing was staring at her—but his eyes didn’t blink, as if lost in thought.

Seeing this, Minglan scanned his face a few more times.

Before she could look away, Xu Zaijing blinked, his gaze sharpening, and returned her look.

Minglan’s eyes instantly grew flustered and darted away; she glanced at Changfeng, then quickly lowered her head to write.

Xu Zaijing, as if remembering something, smiled and shook his head again, then resumed writing.

In the afternoon,

the Sheng family’s study hall,

Zhuang Xuejiu, seated before the screen, said in a low voice: “That’s enough for today. Dismissed.”

After everyone responded, the servants on the wooden platform stepped forward to collect the items.

The three Lan girls had little to carry, so the servants finished quickly.

Thus, the three Lan girls left the study hall before Xu Zaijing and the others departed.

As Minglan reached the door, she turned back to glance at the study hall.

Unfortunately,

Qingcao stood beside Xu Zaijing, collecting items, blocking Minglan’s view.

Minglan turned away from the door, slightly disappointed.

Passing through the moon gate into the inner courtyard,

after walking a few steps along the corridor,

Minglan heard voices ahead.

“Fifth sister, wait and see! Today I’ll tell Father you weren’t paying attention in class—and threw paper balls at me!”

“Fourth sister, my mother is the mistress of the household; I’m the legitimate daughter. Throwing paper balls at you, a concubine-born girl, is my fault?”

“You! Father said the household only recognizes seniority, not legitimacy. Saying that is defying Father’s will!”

“Look at your loose hair—you look like a seductress. Hmph!” Ruolan sniffed, then glanced toward the study hall: “Where’s Sixth Girl? Fine, I won’t wait for her.”

Saying this, Ruolan swept her sleeve and strode off triumphantly toward Weirui Garden.

Seeing her rival gone, Moelan sneered at Ruolan’s back, lifted her chin, and said: “Let’s go back to Lin Qige.”

On the way,

Yunzai, carrying the book box, glanced at Moelan’s face and said: “Miss?”

Moelan kept walking: “What is it?”

“Miss, today I heard Qingcao, who serves Fifth Young Master Xu, and Xiao Tao talking. They said—”

“Qingcao? What did that girl say?”

“Miss, she said she heard Fifth Young Master Xu recite two lines of poetry.”

“Poetry? What poetry?”

“I remember: ‘Petals dampen robes with apricot rain, willow winds blow cool against the face.’”

“Crack.” Moelan stopped.

Frowning at Yunzai, she said: “Say it again.”

Yunzai repeated it as instructed.

After listening, Moelan took a deep breath, gazed at the spring scenery of the Sheng household, and nodded with quiet certainty: “These two lines are truly beautiful. I wonder if Fifth Young Master Xu wrote them himself—or if they’re from some poetry collection.”

Yunzai beside her nodded in agreement.

With that, Moelan continued walking.

Back at Lin Qige.

“Mother? Mother!”

Moelan called out cheerfully.

Soon,

Lin Qinshuang, holding a handkerchief and smiling, appeared at the door with Zhou Wansheng.

As she drew near, Moelan looked at Lin Qinshuang and said: “Mother, you look cheerful today?”

Lin Qinshuang smiled, taking Moelan’s hand as they entered the room: “Mo’er, your father just came to me with an invitation.”

“An invitation? Whose?” Moelan asked eagerly.

Lin Qinshuang smiled: “From Master Shen.”

Moelan paused: “Master Shen? His household sends invitations—but why to you? It should be to Elder—”

Lin Qinshuang’s smile froze; she looked at Moelan with clear reproach.

Realizing her slip, Moelan bit her lip and fell silent.

“Little Lady, Fourth Miss speaks plainly,” Zhou Wansheng interjected gently.

Moelan offered a sweet smile.

Lin Qinshuang took a breath and continued: “Master Shen’s son married General Zheng Jun’s daughter. The Shen family also has a daughter, raised since childhood in the south—”

Moelan’s eyes lit up: “Mother, was it this daughter who sent the invitation?”

Lin Qinshuang nodded: “Your eldest sister is the Lady of the Hou family; your Shulan sister married the minor physician Yu, who has deep ties to the Shen household. That’s why we received this invitation.”

“Your father said only daughters of official families or noble-born heiresses would be invited—and there would be poetry gatherings.”

Hearing this, Moelan smiled: “Mother, rest assured—I’ll make the Sheng family proud. By the way, Mother, shall I go alone, or—”

Lin Qinshuang glared at Moelan: “What do you think?”

Moelan thought a moment, then said with clear disdain: “I’ll have to bring Ruolan and Minglan—hope they don’t embarrass the Sheng family by looking foolish.”

“Good Mo’er, perform well that day and outshine the girls from the other courtyards! When you return, tell your father—let Lin Qige shine too.”

“Rest easy, Mother.”

Several days later,

spring sunlight bright, warm breeze brushing the air.

In the study hall, the three Lan girls’ seats were empty again, leaving Qi Heng with a hollow feeling.

The atmosphere at Master Shen’s mansion, however, was the opposite of Qi Heng’s mood—vibrant and lively.

Master Shen, having served for years, was a titan of the southern Zhou bureaucracy.

Today, the Shen daughter hosted a poetry gathering; many high-born ladies from the capital had come.

At the Shen family’s second gate,

Gu Tingyi stepped down from his carriage onto the mounting stool.

After squinting slightly against the bright sunlight, Gu Tingyi adjusted to the light outside the carriage.

Then,

Gu Tingyi followed the Shen family’s maid toward the courtyard.

The Shen family’s residence was an imperial grant, its size befitting Shen Da Gong’s official rank.

After walking a while along the covered corridor and passing through a moon gate, Gu Tingyi entered a garden.

Looking around, Gu Tingyi’s eyes brightened with surprise and delight as she led the maid to one side.

“Fifth Lady, how did you come here?”

This Fifth Lady was the granddaughter of Minister Li of the Ministry of Personnel; having been selected as Zhao Fang’s Fourth Lady, she had long been unseen.

After asking, Gu Tingyi bowed respectfully to the lady-in-waiting beside Li’s Fifth Lady.

The lady-in-waiting bowed slightly in return.

Li’s Fifth Lady, her eyes half-lidded, smiled: “I’ve spent long months learning etiquette from the palace elders; today I’ve come out to relax and enjoy myself.”

“Oh!” Gu Tingyi nodded with a smile.

“Sister Tingyi, I hear your good fortune is near—I offer my congratulations in advance,” Li’s Fifth Lady said.

“Thank you, thank you,” Gu Tingyi replied with a hint of shyness.

As the two spoke,

another noble lady appeared at the moon gate.

Li’s Fifth Lady squinted and said: “Sister Tingyi, can you tell me who that is? She looks like Sister Chaoyun.”

“Fifth Lady, you’re not mistaken—that’s the Hai girl.”

As she spoke,

the subject of their conversation hurried over.

“Fifth Lady, you—you came here too?”

Hai Chaoyun asked in the same words as Gu Tingyi.

Li’s Fifth Lady smiled and gave another explanation.

Li’s Fifth Lady had mild myopia and loved to squint while smiling at people, yet she was erudite and never arrogant; she got along well with the noble ladies of the capital.

As one of Zhao Fang’s future Fourth Ladies, this, combined with her status, soon drew many to her side.

Whether it was Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Feiyan, or Zhang’s Fifth Lady, all who arrived at the Shen residence went straight to Li’s Fifth Lady.

When the Sheng family’s four Lan arrived at the Shen residence, they saw a group of noble ladies gathered together chatting.

After some laughter and chatter,

Shen Hezhen also appeared in the garden.

While speaking with others, Shen Hezhen, aside from the top-tier noble ladies of the capital, took extra time to speak with the Sheng family’s four Lan—especially holding Pinlan’s hand longer—drawing the attention of other noble ladies.

After all, Pinlan rarely appeared in this circle; her closest contacts were still the legitimate daughters of Kaifeng’s wealthy merchants.

Some noble ladies unfamiliar with the Sheng family’s four Lan asked their companions why.

The question eventually reached Gu Tingyi.

Gu Tingyi needed say no more—she simply said Pinlan of the Sheng family was the younger sister-in-law of Doctor Yu, and the noble ladies immediately understood the connection.

Shen Hezhen’s own elder brother had been saved by Doctor Yu; their bond was naturally extraordinary.

Then,

the poetry gathering began,

after several verses on changing scenery and phrases, the theme eventually came to “spring rain.”

After the noble ladies had pondered and recited their poems, Mo Lan rose, fanning herself with a round fan.

“At home, I’ve occasionally come up with a couple of lines.”

Shen Hezhen, seated nearby, smiled and gestured: “Fourth Sister Sheng, please.”

Mo Lan smiled, bowed, glanced around, and her eyes swept over Rong Feiyan before saying: “Petals cling, damp with spring rain; willow winds blow cool against the face.”

After she finished reciting the two lines,

the garden, which had been noisy moments before, fell instantly still.

Li’s Fifth Lady nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining: “Excellent, truly excellent—Fourth Miss Sheng is truly gifted.”

Beside the proud Mo Lan, Ru Lan whispered: “Fourth Sister, if you don’t tell the truth, I’ll speak up for Xu Wu!”

(End of Chapter)