Chapter 7 — The Tigress Who Craved Mantou

So, the jade pendant you accepted from me the night before last, and your instructions for me to intercept Lin Wan-Tang today—was that all just me being a fool, lost in my own delusions?

The sound of shattering jade was crisp and jarring. Xie Han-Yan jerked her head up.

You are speaking nonsense!

Pei Zhi-Xing’s eyes were bloodshot.

Nonsense? You told me that if you could gain the favor of the Princess at the spring hunt, the Xie family would reconsider our marriage. Now that you are pushing me out to take the fall, you want to act as if your hands are clean?

Xie Han-Yan finally panicked, losing all sense of composure.

Pei Zhi-Xing, shut your mouth!

But Pei Zhi-Xing was beyond stopping. In a single breath, he laid bare every secret token, every illicit poem exchanged between them, and every hidden meeting spot. The steward, listening from the side, was drenched in a cold sweat. The Princess of Ning slammed her teacup down hard against the table.

That is enough.

The moment those words fell, the entire courtyard dropped to their knees. The Princess of Ning looked at Xie Han-Yan, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

The spring polo hunt is meant to showcase the virtues and talents of young ladies, not to serve as a stage for your petty intrigues and schemes to frame your peers.

Xie Han-Yan collapsed to the ground. She turned her gaze toward me, her eyes burning with a venomous, deep-seated hatred. I stared back, genuinely puzzled. I was not the one who sabotaged her, so why was she glaring at me? After a moment of contemplation, I asked quite sincerely, So, does this mean I can eat my meal now?

My father gave a light cough, stepping in to support me. The child is still growing, after all.

10

The Princess of Ning struck Xie Han-Yan’s name from the registry on the spot, forbidding her from further participating in the banquet. When the servants from the Xie estate arrived to plead for leniency, they were blocked by the Prince’s guards. Pei Zhi-Xing fared no better. When his father arrived, his face was as dark as the bottom of a scorched pot. Before everyone present, the Magistrate Pei kicked the back of his son’s knees, forcing him to kneel and apologize to both my father and me. Pei Zhi-Xing gritted his teeth, refusing to bow his head. My father was in no hurry. He simply asked the Magistrate, Your son claims that my General’s estate ruined the reputation of others; does the Magistrate also subscribe to this view? Cold sweat instantly poured down the elder man’s brow.

My foolish son spoke without thinking! Please, General, do not take offense!

He pressed Pei Zhi-Xing’s head down, forcing him to knock his forehead against the ground three times. My mother, standing beside me, looked deeply satisfied, though she tugged at my sleeve, fearing I might show too much glee. Restrain yourself, she whispered.

I immediately sucked in the grin that was stretching across my face. I pulled it in so quickly that I let out a loud, involuntary hiccup. My mother squeezed her eyes shut in resignation. The Princess of Ning, who had been maintaining a stern expression, could not help but burst into laughter.

Miss Lin is truly amusing.

I quickly bowed in respect. Thank you for your praise, Your Highness.

My mother leaned in, whispering, She wasn’t praising your ability to hiccup. I nodded. Oh. The spring polo hunt was forced to pause for half a day, but the rumors did not stop. The teahouses in the capital were quick to capitalize on the chaos. By the afternoon, people had already spun a new tale: they spoke of a young lady from the General’s estate who was so fragile a breeze could topple her, yet who could break through a defensive line with a single strike when well-fed. They also whispered that the eldest daughter of the Xie family had the face of a lotus flower but a heart like a sieve, leaking nothing but dirty water.

After returning to the estate, I braced myself for my mother’s reprimand. After all, I had shattered the image of the delicate, fragile girl she had worked so hard to cultivate in me. To my surprise, she called me into her chambers and watched me for a long time before finally sighing.

Tang-Tang, I was wrong.

She stroked my face. For years, the capital has prized weak and fragile women. I was afraid you would be too much like your father; I was afraid you would be loathed, that you would never find a husband. That is why I restricted your food and your spirit.

Her eyes grew red. But today I understood: no matter how much I mold you to look like others, I cannot stop malicious people from bullying you. I only succeeded in making you afraid to even fight back.

From now on, I will not let you go hungry.

My eyes lit up instantly. Can we add a pork knuckle to dinner?

The maternal warmth she had just mustered dissipated by half.

...Fine.

I threw myself at her, hugging her tightly. She was knocked backward, nearly gasping for air.

Gently! Your mother’s bones are not as sturdy as yours!

I quickly released her. She clutched her waist, unable to decide whether to laugh or scold me, You truly are a troublemaker. That night, I ate two pork knuckles, three bowls of rice, and a whole pot of mutton soup. I felt my life was complete.

Unexpectedly, trouble arrived early the next morning. The Xie family sent a message stating that Xie Han-Yan had fallen ill, was delirious, and kept insisting that I had harmed her. Lady Xie invited me to their estate for a direct confrontation. My mother threw the invitation straight to the floor.

She is dreaming!

My father was even more blunt. Prepare the horses. I shall go to the Xie estate and ask them where they found the audacity to pull such a stunt.

I swallowed the last bite of my steamed bun and asked softly, Can I go too? My mother looked at me guardedly.

What would you go for?

I thought for a moment. To see if their breakfast is any good.

11

In the end, I went to the Xie estate. The meeting was set in their front hall. The moment Lady Xie saw me, her eyes reddened as if she wanted to devour me whole.

Miss Lin, even if my daughter has committed a thousand errors, she has already suffered the consequences. Why must you push her to the brink of destruction, causing her to run a high fever all night and talk in her sleep?

My mother’s expression darkened. Watch your words, Lady Xie.

Lady Xie opened her mouth to argue further, but the sound of shattering porcelain erupted from the inner chamber. Xie Han-Yan burst out, her hair a wild, matted mess. After only one night, she looked like a completely different person. Yesterday, she had been a haughty, high-ranking noblewoman; today, her eye sockets were sunken and her lips were deathly pale. She pointed a trembling finger at me and screamed: