Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

“Your assessments are rarely wrong. You remember the complicated ties between the households better than I do.”

“For seven years, you used every skill you had to win over the families of Xiao Chengli’s superiors. It’s time to build a future for yourself.”

Qinghe closed the ledger and accepted the charge solemnly.

“Mother, you can rest assured. I won’t let the Shen family lose face at the banquet in five days.”

I only learned what happened to Xiao Chengli after he left the manor later, from the steward’s reports, the calling cards he sent out begging for help, and the testimony given in court. But his troubles began the very evening he was thrown out.

Cui’er, the brothel woman, had imagined that following a marquis would mean fine food and clothes. Only after she left the manor did she discover that he had nothing of value to his name.

Young Master Xu Shao had once called him brother. So Xu was the first person Xiao Chengli sought out.

At their drinking parties, the two of them had said countless times:

“We’ll share our good fortune.”

Now he stood outside the Xu residence for a long time, but only the steward came out to meet him.

“Young Master Xiao, my young master has caught a chill and cannot receive guests today. Please take these ten taels of silver and find another inn.”

Xiao Chengli knocked the silver to the ground and shouted angrily.

“Go tell Xu Shao that I’ve just earned military merit, and my reward will arrive before long! If he humiliates me today, he’d better not come begging me for help later!”

The steward did not bend his back. He only looked at him calmly.

“Young Master Xiao, have you still not understood? Your military commendation memorial has been held at the Ministry of War at the Shen grand elder’s request.”

“Now that you’ve been struck from the genealogy, the Shen family has made its position clear. Who would dare accept your memorial?”

Only then did he understand that the flattery he had received before had never been meant for him.

Cui’er clutched her lower belly, the hope on her face turning to fear.

“My lord, where will we stay tonight? The child in my belly can’t endure the cold.”

Xiao Chengli glanced at her and, for the first time, saw her as a burden. But he had nowhere else to go, so he could only lead her to a cheap inn.

When the autumn chrysanthemums were in full bloom, I took Qinghe to the West Garden.

The noblewomen of the capital gathered in groups of three and five. When Qinghe appeared, every gaze turned toward her. The Grand Princess sat in the place of honor and beckoned us closer.

“Zhaoning, is this the daughter you’ve just adopted?”

“It is. Qinghe, go and pay your respects to the Grand Princess.”

Qinghe stepped forward and bowed, her expression composed. The Grand Princess studied her for a moment, then had someone bring over a guest list.

“I hear you used to keep the Xiao family’s accounts, and could remember the guest lists for every household without making a mistake.”

“I’m hosting a banquet in the West Garden and need someone to arrange the noblewomen’s seating. Can you manage it properly?”

Qinghe remained unhurried. She accepted the list, looked it over once, and began arranging the seats.

“Minister Zheng’s Old Madam prefers quiet. She can sit at the Listening-Wind Pavilion by the water, apart from Censor Zhang’s household. The two families had a dispute over land last month.”

She pointed out several more households on the list, then moved the families recently granted imperial favor to the front seats.

“The He family in the eastern part of the city was just commended by His Majesty. Madam He should sit in the second seat on the left, to show the Emperor’s favor…”

She explained everything clearly. With only a few words, she untangled the complicated relationships. The Grand Princess grew more pleased as she listened, and finally laughed.

“Shen Qinghe, well done! It would be a waste to keep such a meticulous mind trapped in the inner chambers, pouring tea and serving people.”

“Your Highness is too kind. This one merely has a decent memory.”

After the banquet, many noblewomen came over to speak with her of their own accord. Standing beneath the corridor, Qinghe saw for the first time that beyond the high walls there was a much wider world. Her struggle to build a new life had only just begun.

The seating chart was not merely a test of memory. Which family had just gained imperial favor, which had recently made an enemy, and which Old Madam could not bear noise—all of it determined whether the banquet would descend into public disorder.

Qinghe had not asked me to secure this opportunity for her. She showed the skill she had honed over seven years and let the Grand Princess see with her own eyes what she could do.

5

Three days after the chrysanthemum-viewing banquet, the Grand Princess summoned Qinghe to her residence in private. Decisive by nature, she entrusted Qinghe with a truly important task.

“A girls’ academy is soon to open in the capital. I want you to oversee the site selection and renovations, recruit instructors, and make proper arrangements for the girls sent by their families.”

Qinghe did not feign modesty. She accepted the command token on the spot. When she returned to the manor, she drew up a list, noting each expense and deadline. Watching her work late into the night, I saw that light finally return to her eyes.

Once she had managed the Xiao family’s inner household. Now she was taking responsibility for the futures of countless girls. Meanwhile, Xiao Chengli had been forced to move from an inn to a ruined house in the north of the city.

The money from pawning his belongings was not enough, and Cui’er needed to nourish her pregnancy. The two of them often quarreled over a single meal. His military commendation memorial remained unanswered, while all those who had once called him brother now shut their doors to him.

Xiao Chengli still refused to admit that he had ever relied on anyone. Instead, he blamed us for his downfall. Since the Shen family and the Right Chancellor had long been at odds in court, he tried to attach himself to Academy Director He, a subordinate of the Right Chancellor.

Academy Director He needed a blade to use against the Shen family, so he accepted Xiao Chengli’s calling card. Within days, ugly rumors began circulating in the capital. Some said I had abused the power of my birth family, driven out my own son, and handed all the marquisate’s property to my adopted daughter.