Chapter 94: Yao Niang's Identity

The sky was still early; Madam Liu left the palace gate and boarded the carriage of the Dukedom Manor.

The coachman habitually asked, "Shall we go straight back to the manor?" Who knew Madam Liu would beam and say, "To the Treasure Pavilion."

The coachman startled, didn't ask further, agreed, and drove the carriage to the Treasure Pavilion.

Madam Liu sat upright on the soft cushion, her joy impossible to hide, then soon felt a tinge of regret.

The joy was because her daughter finally nodded.

Madam Liu had thought, her daughter Ningning, who loved home, hearing of an engagement in June would probably think it too early.

Unexpectedly, the daughter lowered her eyes and spoke softly yet clearly, "No need to wait for June; pick a propitious day soon and settle it quickly."

Madam Liu was naturally overjoyed.

The Yongning Marquis's Manor is of equal standing, and that child Xie Lin is steady and reliable; many families are eyeing this marriage.

These days the capital's situation is unsettled; settling a child's marriage a day earlier brings peace of mind a day sooner.

If dragged out, long nights bring many dreams; who knows, some family might swoop in first, and then one would truly regret it to death.

But merely thinking that once the engagement is set, the daughter raised for over ten years will soon marry brings a touch of reluctance.

Soon, the carriage steadily stopped before the Treasure Pavilion's gate.

Madam Liu had come to finalize the daughter's headpieces and ornaments.

Although she had already prepared a lavish dowry in advance for Shen Shuangning, Madam Liu always felt something was lacking, especially the bride's headwear, which allowed no margin for error.

In the capital, few merchants fail to recognize the Duchess of Rong.

Seeing Madam Liu enter, the shop attendant respectfully led her to the tea room.

"Madam, please wait a moment; I'll fetch the manager."

Madam Liu slightly nodded, lifted her teacup and took a sip, her gaze sweeping over the room's furnishings without changing expression.

The pearwood tables and chairs were polished to a shine; a monochrome orchid painting hung on the wall, elegant and unrefined, unlike the perfunctory tea rooms of ordinary shops.

Although the Treasure Pavilion isn't an old establishment in the capital, having only opened in East Market a few years ago, it relied on novel jewelry designs and unique fabrics to become the top shop in East Market.

What's more surprising is that the capital's high-and-mighty ladies' daughters all love to come here, gradually becoming a much-sought-after spot in the capital's noblewomen's circle.

Madam Liu was quite perceptive; at a glance she saw the Treasure Pavilion was far from as simple as it appeared.

To captivate half the capital's aristocratic ladies in just a few years surely means powerful backers; the boss's background must be considerable.

Madam Liu withdrew her gaze, not feeling curious.

Regardless of who stands behind it, she came today to pick headpieces for her daughter; as long as the items are good and to her liking, other matters are none of her concern.

Not long after, a woman entered lifting the curtain; her moon-white gauze skirt swayed lightly with her movements, graceful and alluring.

She introduced herself as Yao Niang, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion.

The woman was extremely beautiful; even Madam Liu couldn't help but brighten at the sight.

Upon learning the esteemed guest was selecting a daughter's dowry headpieces for the manor, Yao Niang knew the ordinary wares on the counter wouldn't suffice; she immediately told the attendant, "Go fetch those few new headpiece sets from the rear chambers."

After Madam Liu examined several headpiece samples, she was thoroughly satisfied and, with a wave of her hand, ordered a set.

The two conversed happily; Yao Niang smiled and said, "It seems the Dukedom Manor has a happy event imminent; allow me to congratulate you, Madam—just may I ask which young lady of your household?"

By rights, before an engagement is formally settled, such talk ought not be spoken outside.

But Madam Liu, her heart full of joy, thought the marriage with the Yongning Marquis's Manor was already seven‑eighths agreed, only lacking the exchange of posts and setting a date; she thus did not conceal it and answered with a smile.

"Ah, it's the Fourth Miss." Yao Niang understood, her smile deepening: "Miss Shen is talented and beautiful, famed in the capital; a match with any family is a heavenly union—no wonder you, Madam, are so attentive."

Who dislikes hearing pleasant words? Madam Liu felt her heart ease, her smile grew more genuine, and she couldn't help but add a little more.

Yao Niang, upon hearing, couldn't help but envy: "From what Madam said, I now see the Fourth Miss and the Young Marquis are truly destined, their affection deep—indeed a heaven‑sent good match."

Madam Liu, seeing she was clever, felt a bit more fond and casually said, "I see you, miss, are perceptive and thorough; you ought to be of marriageable age—have you been promised to any good family?"

Yao Niang, hearing this, could not hide her sorrow and replied, "Never."

"How could that be?" Madam Liu gazed at the woman's striking looks, unable to believe no one would seek her hand.

Yao Niang poured tea for Madam Liu, lowered her eyes and said, "I am of thin fortune, lacking Miss Shen's luck; I am merely an orphan girl, fortunate to have gained a patron's favor, allowing me to establish myself in this prosperous place; now I am content."

Madam Liu stared at her face, gazing longer, then suddenly narrowed her eyes.

Her formerly relaxed expression turned somewhat solemn, and she blurted, "I feel I've seen you before... Are you surnamed Mo?"

Yao Niang, hearing that surname, had her pupils contract; she hurriedly lowered her eyes, forcing a calm smile: "I have no surname, Madam; you must be misremembering."

Madam Liu saw she was concealing something, yet did not press further, merely lifting her teacup and taking a sip.

No mistake—she certainly hadn't misidentified her.

Yao Niang is precisely the orphan of the Mo clan.

More than ten years ago, the most prosperous merchants in Jiangxi were nothing but the Liu and Mo families; the two clans were evenly matched, discussing a marriage alliance to become the Qin‑Jin good and expand their business.

Yet no one expected a heavenly‑toppling disaster to strike suddenly—the Mo family was slaughtered to a man in one night, shocking the court and countryside!

The case was handed to the Front Commandant's Office for investigation; the incumbent Commandant, Official Yuan Zhenfeng, personally oversaw it.

Back then, the Commandant's Office investigated and found the case linked to a wandering knight named Wu You; but after the culprit committed heinous crimes, he vanished without trace.

Heartbreakingly, in the ruins of the Mo family that year, officials searching through piles of corpses unexpectedly discovered a child still breathing!

Later it was heard that the child was adopted by Official Yuan, but where he was raised and how he fared remain unknown.

All the more lamentable, Official Yuan was finally killed ruthlessly by Wu You.

After killing Yuan Zhenfeng, the murderer fled again, only to be apprehended by the Commandant's Office not long ago; Madam Liu had even specially inquired about this.

Madam Liu still recalled how the Mo lady was beautiful enough to topple nations; having glimpsed her once from afar, that fleeting view stayed with her for over ten years.

And the reason Wu You annihilated the Mo family was absurd: merely because the Mo lady refused to wander with him in the wind and dew, she instead married into the Mo clan, sparking his jealousy and hatred, driving him to commit such heinous slaughter.

Now looking again at Yao Niang before us, the subtle grace in her brows and eyes is virtually identical to that remembered of the Mo lady.

Madam Liu's heart involuntarily gave rise to a feeling of pity.

But seeing Yao Niang now living well, Madam Liu also refrained from mentioning her painful past, pretending she had not recognized her.

Thinking she still had to make a trip to the money shop for Consort Li's affair, Lady Liu didn't stay any longer.

Yaoniang stood before the door of the Treasure Pavilion, watching Lady Liu recede into the distance; the nails dug deep into her palms remained clenched for a long while before slowly loosening.

She had almost forgotten what her original surname was.

After the Mo family was exterminated, she was taken in by her adoptive father at the farmstead, who took the 'you' character from her name and gave her the alias Yaoniang.

Few people knew her true identity.

If Magistrate Yuan had not taken her in, he would not have died.

She felt indebted to the Prince Yan's manor, to Xiao the heir apparent, and especially to Yuan Zhenfeng, so she constantly wanted to do more to make amends.

Such great kindness and virtue cannot be repaid; if one day she were asked to die for the Prince Yan's manor, she would do so willingly.

"Miss Yaoniang, the Duchess hasn't set a deadline—will this headpiece be ready in time?" the clerk said, having approached her at some point.

Yaoniang came to herself, suppressed the surging emotions in her chest, and calmly said, "Let the masters finish it quickly; I think it's almost done."

The clerk let out an "oh."

Yaoniang thought, Miss Shen the Fourth also owed a favor to the heir apparent; since the Fourth Miss was to have a major celebration, she must have the masters craft that headpiece set even more exquisitely, and also prepare a proper congratulatory gift.

Yaoniang turned back into the shop and told the clerk, "Pass the word: for the Fourth Miss's headpiece set, spare no expense—use the finest materials."

Thus.

The news of the Fourth Miss of the Duke's manor getting engaged spread behind the Treasure Pavilion to the ears of the true owner.

"She's going to get engaged to Xie Lin?" Xiao Jingyuan murmured.

Yaoniang brewed tea for him and asked his opinion: "Heir apparent, what congratulatory gift do you think would be appropriate?"

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his eyelids, his fingers slightly curved touching his temple, remained indifferent for a long while, then said, "You handle it as you see fit."

Yaoniang answered "Yes," only then noticing the heir apparent's expression was off, and she couldn't help but feel suspicious.

The Young Marquis and the Fourth Miss are becoming allies through marriage—isn't that a good thing?

The Eastern Palace.

The Crown Princess invited Shen Shuangning and Jingyu to come as guests together.

The three sat in the waterside pavilion, chatting idly.

The Crown Princess's complexion was still not good; a palace servant just brought her medicine, which she drank as usual, then she popped a candied fruit into her mouth.

The table was laden with various pastries, fragrant and appealing, yet the Crown Princess ate only a piece of peach-blossom cake, then silently watched Jingyu eat.

"The Princess's appetite is still as good as before," the Crown Princess said, as if letting out a sigh of relief.

"I... I wonder if I've eaten a bit too much?" Jingyu felt a little embarrassed.

The Crown Princess couldn't help laughing, pushing the plate of peach-blossom cake forward: "It was prepared especially for His Highness; I was afraid you wouldn't like it, so if you love it, eat more."

Jingyu's face broke into a smile again, she reached for another peach-blossom cake, and finally said, "You're really kind."

Having thought that the Virtuous Noble Consort's death would be a huge blow to Jingyu, seeing that she could still eat and drink, with a hint of sunshine previously unseen in her brows and eyes, the Crown Princess felt somewhat relieved.

She then turned to the radiant lady beside the princess and smiled lightly: "Miss Shen, you've been quieter today—is something on your mind?"

Shen Shuangning came to, shook her head: "Nothing."

Looking at the Crown Princess's slightly pale face, Shen Shuangning suddenly recalled Muyu from the Wonderful Hands Hall and proposed to recommend her to the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess knew she was concerned for her, did not refuse her goodwill, and smiled: "Then when you have time next, I'll go see your female physician you mentioned, to see if she's really as miraculous as you say."

She said that, but the Crown Princess held no hope.

For she had seen countless renowned physicians, yet all they offered were futile remedies—useless.

"Where is Elder Brother Crown Prince?" Jingyu asked casually.

The Crown Princess replied: "He's busy; he's gone out of the palace."

Jingyu let out an "oh," and didn't ask further.

Not long after, a palace maid entered from outside the pavilion, leaned in and whispered something to the Crown Princess's ear.

Shen Shuangning saw the Crown Princess's expression visibly soften a little; it must be that the Crown Prince had returned.

She saw the Crown Princess rise and say gently: "You go on eating; I'll come back shortly."

The Crown Princess walked down the steps of the pavilion, suddenly paused, then immediately turned back to look at Shen Shuangning and gestured for her to come over.

Shen Shuangning walked to her side; the Crown Princess lightly took her hand and whispered: "Actually today is the Crown Prince's birthday, but he usually dislikes fuss, so I thought I'd make him a bowl of longevity noodles."

"But I can't taste anything; I'm afraid I'll make it poorly—could you try it first for me?" the Crown Princess said, her eyes clear and gentle.

Shen Shuangning naturally had no reason to refuse, but she glanced back at Jingyu still seated where she was; Jingyu waved her hand indifferently: "Go ahead and do what you need; I'm fine as long as I have something to eat."

Shen Shuangning then went with the Crown Princess.

Upon reaching the small kitchen, the Crown Princess quickly prepared a bowl of longevity noodles, ladled a small portion into a bowl for Shen Shuangning, and said: "Quickly try it and tell me how it is."

Shen Shuangning rolled up her sleeves, bent over, took a sip of broth with the spoon, and said: "It's a bit bland."

Having said that, she added a bit of salt for the Crown Princess, then some spices, tasted again, and remarked: "Hmm, now it's fine."

Shen Shuangning took a longevity bowl from the side and carefully filled it.

The Crown Princess watched silently the whole time, then suddenly said: "I've heard that Miss Shen the Fourth is discussing a marriage with the heir of the Yongning Marquis's manor."

Shen Shuangning paused, lifted her gaze to the Crown Princess, answered with a smile "Yes," only then noticing that the Crown Princess's expression seemed somewhat off.

Shen Shuangning gradually let her smile fade, puzzled: "Is there a problem?"

The Crown Princess first had the surrounding attendants withdraw, then closed the door, approached Shen Shuangning's side, and whispered low: "Do you know Xie Yan?"