The two young masters behind her continued their conversation, but Wang Cuilan could no longer hear them. She was stunned.
The Divine Martial General and the Divine Maiden.
She had heard their story countless times these days.
Princess Lingyao was attacked by bandits on her way to a marriage alliance. In her hour of need, she was saved by the Divine Martial General. The two then lived in seclusion until the Jing Kingdom was in crisis. They only returned at the beginning of the year, pacified the border, regulated the court, ascended to the position of Divine Maiden, and opened the Divine Altar.
A heavenly couple, their love stronger than gold.
Everyone in the capital knew this.
The Divine Maiden, the Divine Maiden who attracted circling phoenixes, the most noble legitimate princess of the Jing Kingdom.
How could it be her?
Wasn't she just a bought female slave?
"Hey, old woman, how much for the sachet?" a passing maid asked.
Wang Cuilan looked up, her cloudy eyes filled with confusion. "How could it be?"
"Oh! You're so silly. Forget it, I don't want it!" The little maid, finding her unlucky, left.
Wang Cuilan had no intention of selling sachets anymore.
Her steps were unsteady, her white hair disheveled by the wind. Her thin clothes could not ward off the cold, which seeped into her bones.
They had a feud.
"What should I do? What about my son?"
Even if he became the top scholar, what good would it do? She had cursed the Divine Maiden and framed the Divine Martial General.
"Donghuai, mother is going to kill you, mother is going to kill you... It's over, it's all over..."
Wang Cuilan returned to her rented courtyard in a daze.
Donghuai had gone out to sell calligraphy and paintings and was not home at this hour, but there was movement inside the house.
It must be Madam Su inside. Wang Cuilan had no energy to bother with her until she heard a man's voice.
Could it be her son returned?
Wang Cuilan's eyes welled up with tears. She didn't know how to tell her son, but if she didn't, what if they took revenge on her son...
Wang Cuilan pushed open the door.
The scene inside stunned her, and she couldn't react for a long time.
Su Yurou, pale with fright, scrambled for clothes. "Mother-in-law, it wasn't me, he forced me. I couldn't resist, mother-in-law..."
The man slowly put on his clothes, smacking his lips playfully. "What are you afraid of with an old thing like her? Even if it was forced the first time, what about the second and third times? Didn't you come and lick it yourself?"
"Don't say it, don't say it..."
Su Yurou shook her head, trembling. "I didn't want to, I didn't want to, but I can't eat enough..."
She couldn't let her husband know, couldn't let him know.
"Bitch! Bitch! You shameless bitch!" Wang Cuilan's vision blurred. Excessive grief caused her madness to relapse.
These past few days, Su Yurou had voluntarily gone to the city gate to beg for porridge, and she had given most of it to her and Donghuai upon her return, saying she had eaten her fill outside.
She thought she had become sensible and could endure hardship, but who knew, who knew, she was eating wild food from other people's homes!
"I'll kill you, you shameless slut!"
Wang Cuilan picked up the stool on the ground and lunged.
The night fell, and East Twelfth Street was brightly lit. Gentlemen and ladies strolled in lines, and every stall with lanterns was crowded.
There were prizes for guessing riddles. Some were for silver, some for fame, and some for winning a beauty's smile. They all put in their best efforts.
At this moment, Lingyao had entered the exclusive room of Hua Shang Tower, gazing enviously at the lively scene below.
"Alas, you are definitely no match for martial arts competitions, but for guessing riddles, you are not good enough."
Watching a beautifully decorated rabbit lantern, hung the highest, being won by a young scholar, Lingyao regretfully said to Xiao Shan.
"Hmph! If you can't buy it with money, I'll buy you one."
"You wait!"
Xiao Shan stormed out. Lingyao turned to another window and peeked out.
Xiao Shan looked around. That beautiful rabbit lantern was truly unique. The lanterns at other stalls were very ordinary and not pretty at all. He had to search again and saw a tiger lantern, which looked majestic, just like him.
This is it!
"Not for sale!" the boss said, lifting his eyelids. "If you guess correctly, it's free."
"I don't want to guess, I want to buy."
"Not for sale!"
This boss must be a sour scholar. If he doesn't sell, he doesn't sell. Who cares!
Just as he was about to leave, a lady wearing a veil approached.
"Father-in-law—the answer is:仗 (zhàng)."
"This young lady has answered correctly. Here is the tiger lantern for you. May your wishes come true and your luck be abundant in the new year!" the boss said, delivering auspicious words while handing over the tiger lantern.
The lady bowed to express her gratitude.
Then she turned to Xiao Shan and said politely, "Greetings, sir. Are you looking for a lantern for your wife? If you don't mind, I will give this tiger lantern to your wife. May your wife be blessed with peace and well-being."
If she hadn't known her character beforehand, she would have been deceived by this hypocritical appearance.
Xiao Shan's expression was blank. He said indifferently, "No need!"
The woman's hand, offering the lantern, remained in mid-air. The person in front of her had already turned and left, carrying an aura of killing intent.
She shivered. Such a man was too terrifying. How could the Divine Maiden have taken a liking to him?
"Miss, this person is too ungrateful."
The ignorant maid beside her complained. No one who had met Miss had ever refused her. Who was this person? Did he have no eyes?
"Don't speak nonsense!" the woman reprimanded.
She had intended to curry favor, but if he didn't appreciate it, so be it. She dared not provoke the Divine Maiden's man.
Xiao Shan returned to the room with a lotus lantern.
As he opened the door, he met a pair of clear, beautiful eyes.
"Go take a bath," she commanded, reclining on the couch by the window.
"So early? Tired?" Xiao Shan stepped forward solicitously, but Lingyao pushed him away with her leg. "You smell like a fox!"
"Huh? You can see from this far?" Xiao Shan understood. He pushed her legs apart and leaned in. "Tell me, have you not taken your eyes off me since I went downstairs?"
"My man must be watched closely." Lingyao pouted. "Who was that? Why was she giving you a lantern?"
She was too far away to see clearly, only that the woman raised her head and held the lantern for a long time.
"It's just that ambitious woman who pretends to be someone she's not. I'm far away from her. Don't you believe me? Smell me."
He was very pleased, showing his white teeth, looking naive and honest, completely different from his demeanor outside.
Lingyao indeed wrinkled her delicate nose and sniffed. She found no trace of any inappropriate scent and then looked at the lotus lantern, getting off the couch to play with it.
Fireworks began to be set off outside again.
Clusters and clusters, exploding in the sky like giant flowers.
East Twelfth Street was nearing its end. The young scholar turned around helplessly, looking at the lady who had followed him all the way.
"Miss, do you really have to have this rabbit lantern?"
Liu Donghuai was extremely helpless. His stomach was very hungry. He had bought some food and was eager to go home to eat with his family, but this lady seemed a bit stubborn.
Lingxi was also helpless. Looking at the person's attire, a faded scholar's robe that was not warm at all, his family must not be well-off. Ten taels of silver for that lantern was a very good deal!
This person looked good, but was his brain stupid?