Chapter 2: Reborn as a Low-Ranking Official’s Daughter (2)

The young ladies clustered together, chattering among themselves, casting strange glances at Wen Suisui from time to time. Yet Wen Suisui remained as steady as Mount Tai. She leaned against the waterside pavilion, holding the teacup presented by a maid of the He household, and drank with composed calm.

She of course understood that in the eyes of these young ladies she appeared to have undergone a complete transformation, and she could well imagine how unwilling they must feel. But to her these were trivial matters not worth mentioning.

In her previous life she had been a young lady of a duke’s household. The open and covert struggles among girls were things she had long grown accustomed to. Compared with the true undercurrents of competition and schemes among the genuine noble young ladies of the capital, the disdain and whispers of these few girls before her were no more than children’s playacting—utterly incapable of shaking her.

Her eyes were fixed only on He Yifei and the somewhat delicate, timid distant cousin who always followed at He Yifei’s side—Zhang Xiuqing.

He Yifei had not yet come of age, yet her figure already showed a touch of grace. She wore a gold-threaded brocade jacket and an emerald-green flower-scattered skirt, her feet shod in a pair of upturned embroidered shoes whose tips were adorned with pearls of extraordinary quality that shone brilliantly.

This noble attire suited her status as the granddaughter of a marquis household. Zhang Xiuqing’s clothing was far inferior, and her looks could not compare either. She wore an ingratiating expression as she personally poured tea for He Yifei, yet He Yifei could not even be bothered to spare her a glance from the corner of her eye.

Watching this scene, Wen Suisui could not help the thoughtful smile that rose at the corners of her mouth.

He Yifei noticed it. In her view, the way Wen Suisui looked at her with that half-smile was clearly a deliberate provocation. An inexplicable obstruction rose in her chest. With a single glance, her personal maid understood the hint and brought over an exquisite soft armrest so that she too could lean back and sit.

He Yifei took a handful of fish feed and appeared to be playing with the koi in the pond, yet in truth she was deliberately striking up a conversation with Wen Suisui. “Elder Sister Wen is so leisurely. Look—ever since you entered this garden you’ve only been drinking tea and haven’t spoken a word with the other sisters.”

Wen Suisui smiled faintly. She did not immediately set down the teacup, but took another slow sip before answering unhurriedly. “Superior Junshan Silver Needle naturally deserves to be savored carefully.”

He Yifei raised her brows in surprise. “You can actually tell that this is Junshan Silver Needle?”

“Junshan tea is elegant in color, with tender buds. After brewing, the tips stand upright in the cup without falling, like a forest of blades and swords. This tea is indeed superior Junshan Silver Needle.”

Only, compared with the tribute-grade Junshan tea, its quality was a shade inferior. Yet that was hardly surprising. No matter how much the He family wished to show off their wealth, and no matter how much Madam Fang wished to display her status as a noble young lady of a marquis household, they would not be willing to use tribute tea to entertain these ordinary guests.

The fact that they were drinking this cup of Junshan Silver Needle today was most likely because He Yifei was eager to contend for face before these young ladies from other households and firmly establish her position as the one around whom all the stars revolved.

Wen Suisui’s words flowed smoothly, seeming to speak of tea lore casually, yet the more He Yifei listened the more she felt an odd discomfort. She could not help speaking mockingly.

“I’ve heard that County Vice-Magistrate Wen’s salary is not particularly high. Elder Sister’s aunt sometimes has to haggle over every last copper when buying a few things in the shops. Unexpectedly, Elder Sister is rather well-versed in the way of tea.”

The implication was clear: your family has no real foundation and cannot afford such fine tea at all. You are merely putting on a show of learning and trying to bluff people.

Wen Suisui had no desire to engage her in verbal sparring. She merely smiled faintly. “My family’s circumstances are ordinary. Naturally we cannot compare with younger sister’s broad experience and refined taste.”

The more lightly and casually Wen Suisui spoke, the more He Yifei’s face burned. In truth her own palate was not particularly sensitive. Her mother had privately complained countless times that giving her fine tea was like casting pearls before swine.

She could not help puffing out her cheeks in annoyance, and the motion of tossing fish feed into the pond unconsciously grew heavier, as though she were taking out her temper on someone.

Zhang Xiuqing had been observing quietly the whole time. Seeing that He Yifei’s expression seemed displeased, she quickly came forward with a smile and said in a soft voice, “Yifei, didn’t you say you wanted to play pitch-pot today? The maids have already prepared everything.”

He Yifei shot Zhang Xiuqing an irritated glance. When her gaze shifted, she indeed saw that the pitch-pot equipment had already been set out beyond the waterside pavilion, and the group of young ladies were eager to display their skills.

Her eyes turned. Noticing that Wen Suisui also wore an expression of considerable interest, a sudden idea struck her. She rose and clapped her hands. “Today we won’t play pitch-pot. We’ll compete in the qin!”

“Compete in the qin?” The young ladies all froze.

He Yifei smiled brilliantly. “Everyone knows that my mother’s birthday banquets have always been the liveliest. Right now my elder brothers and the others are over there composing poetry and matching couplets. We should compete in talent as well—we mustn’t lose to them.”

The moment she spoke, the young ladies immediately understood. They knew full well the purpose of today’s banquet. Before leaving home they had already heard that young masters of any reputation or talent from the neighboring counties had all received invitations. The girls were in the bloom of youth; their hearts could not help fluttering a little, and shy blushes rose to their cheeks.

“Then let’s compete in the qin.”

Compared with pitch-pot, the sound of the qin could naturally travel more easily to the ears of those young masters and leave a favorable impression in their minds.

The young ladies giggled, secretly pinching one another or exchanging knowing glances, clearly teasing each other about their girlish sentiments.

Only Wen Suisui remained composed throughout, which made He Yifei dislike her all the more.

“Why isn’t Elder Sister Wen saying anything? I heard from my elder brother that the eldest young master of the Zhou family will also be coming today.”

The eldest young master of the Zhou family was precisely that wastrel who had picked up the original host’s hairpin, stirred up a storm throughout the town, and driven the original host to such unbearable humiliation that she had attempted to hang herself—the chief culprit.

Wen Suisui’s expression turned solemn. Although He Yifei and these young ladies did not know that their idle gossip had already cost a young girl her life, they still had to bear responsibility for such a sin.

Wen Suisui rose abruptly. Her sharp gaze swept over everyone present, and she declared with grave seriousness, “I care nothing for how those rumors outside came about. Today I, Wen Suisui, dare swear before all of you: between myself and that eldest young master of the Zhou family there has never been the slightest improper contact. Whoever dares to sully my reputation again, I will not rest until one of us is dead—just like this teacup!”

With those words she lifted the teacup and smashed it heavily to the ground. The sharp sound startled the dozen or so young ladies around them.

The girls were all frightened. He Yifei’s face looked even worse. After a long moment she forced a smile and said, “Elder Sister Wen is taking it too seriously. We sisters were only joking…”

Wen Suisui cut her off coldly. “You and I are both young ladies who have received education and know propriety. We ought to understand that a girl’s reputation is of the utmost importance. A few joking words from you have wounded my pure and unsullied name. How can I endure it?”

He Yifei’s face turned ashen.

Zhang Xiuqing, seeing the situation, stepped forward, performed a refined curtsey to Wen Suisui, and said in a soft, gentle voice, “My cousin is still young and may have been less than thorough in some respects. I earnestly hope Elder Sister of the Wen family will be a little more forbearing.”

Her words were polite. On the surface she was mediating for her cousin, yet in truth she was placing the hat of youthful ignorance upon He Yifei’s head. One wondered whether this reckless girl would be able to grasp it.

Wen Suisui gave He Yifei a meaningful glance. He Yifei was no fool and immediately realized that her cousin harbored no good intentions. She angrily flung her sleeve and brushed her aside.

“Get out of the way! If you don’t know how to speak, just keep your mouth shut!”

At those words Zhang Xiuqing’s entire body began to tremble. “Cousin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

She apologized in a stammering voice and retreated several steps, looking so aggrieved and pitiful that He Yifei appeared all the more overbearing—even treating a relative with such arrogance. Some of the surrounding young ladies began to feel a touch of sympathy for her.

What a fine play this was. Wen Suisui gave a faint, cold smile.

He Yifei caught the smile at the corner of her mouth and grew even more furious. She pointed at her and declared, “Since Elder Sister Wen considers herself dignified and proper, her household upbringing must be excellent. Today, for our qin competition, why not invite Elder Sister to perform so that everyone may witness your fine bearing?”

Wen Suisui casually adjusted her sleeve. “Are you certain you want me to play the qin?”

“And if I am? Don’t tell me you’re afraid?”

“I only fear stealing the limelight from all the sisters present.”

“You—!” He Yifei’s cheeks flushed red with anger. She ordered her maid, “Biyu, bring the qin!”

The clear, resonant notes of the qin rose and fell, filling the rear garden of little bridges and flowing streams.

Everyone was stunned. The ladies who had been taking tea and refreshments under Madam Fang’s guidance stopped their conversation. The young masters drinking and composing poetry on the other side of the garden also ceased their merriment.

When the music reached its most stirring passage, He Yifei’s elder brother even voiced a heroic sentiment. “What a fine ‘Ambush from Ten Sides’! The clash of arms, the surge of mighty waves—we fine men ought to be like this piece, serving the country and the people, realizing our ambitions!”

“Serving the country and the people, realizing our ambitions!” The young masters raised their cups and drained them in one go, full of lofty spirit.

The young ladies gathered around Wen Suisui listening to the qin had long since been struck dumb, staring blankly in bewilderment. With such sharp and powerful music, Wen Suisui had not been wrong—once she made her move, there was no longer any room for others to perform. She alone monopolized the spotlight and stole all the glory.

Even He Yifei, who had always been extremely proud of her own qin skill, dared not say another word after Wen Suisui finished the piece. She ordered the maid to put away the qin and, swallowing a bellyful of anger, began playing pitch-pot instead.

This was truly a case of bringing misfortune upon oneself.

Even though some of the young ladies disliked He Yifei’s usual arrogance and privately grumbled a few words, on the surface they said nothing more. With perfect tact they continued laughing and playing as though the qin competition had never taken place.

Everyone treated it as if nothing had happened, yet He Yifei still felt she could not recover her face and remained thoroughly out of sorts. Somehow, when a maid was serving fruit wine, she accidentally overturned the cup, spilling an ugly streak of red across He Yifei’s skirt.

She was furious. After scolding the maid thoroughly, she was persuaded by Zhang Xiuqing to return to her own courtyard to change clothes. Yet on the way, Zhang Xiuqing suddenly caught sight of a small snake darting out from the grass and, in fright, dodged toward her. He Yifei’s foot twisted as a result. The pain was so sharp she could no longer walk and had to rest temporarily in a nearby small building while waiting for a maid to fetch a change of clothes.

After the maid left and Zhang Xiuqing had been scolded away as well, only she remained inside. She had just drunk the fruit wine and felt somewhat dizzy; her throat was also dry. She picked up the teacup on the table and drained it in one go. Unexpectedly it did nothing to quench her thirst. Instead her head grew even dizzier, and her body suddenly began to heat up until she could no longer bear it. Instinctively she wanted to remove her outer garments.

She had only just loosened the sash when her arms grew so weak she could no longer raise them. When she tried to stand, her body was soft and powerless. Just as she felt herself growing muddled, a noisy clamor suddenly rose outside the building.

“Young Master, you’re drunk. Please don’t thrash about.”

“This young master is not drunk! Who told you I’m drunk? Eh? I can still drink more. Tell them to keep bringing the wine—hurry!”

“Young Master, please stop making a scene. There’s a small building here. Why don’t this lowly one help you inside to rest?”

“No… no need for you to help! I can walk by myself… Go get the wine—hurry up!”

Master and servant were arguing noisily, about to barge into the room. He Yifei finally sensed that something was wrong. Had she fallen into some kind of trap? Her clothing was already disordered. If an outside man rushed in, what would become of her reputation?

She wanted to hide, to put her clothes back on properly, yet she could not move at all. No matter how frantic she became, she could only lie limply across the table, helpless tears welling at the corners of her eyes.

“Mother, save me… Father…” She sobbed, her voice as faint as a kitten’s, tears streaming down her face in desperation.

“You two, stop right there!”

Just as she was sinking into despair, a clear voice suddenly rang out outside. He Yifei’s mind was hazy and confused; she could not tell whose voice it was. She only vaguely sensed that the people outside seemed to argue for a while before the young master and his page left, muttering. Then a young lady entered the room.

He Yifei struggled to raise her head and open her eyes wide to look at the newcomer. It was actually Wen Suisui’s calm, serious face.

“It’s… you?”

“It’s good that you recognize me.” Wen Suisui’s cherry lips curved in a slight smile that seemed to carry a touch of mockery. “Otherwise I fear that even after saving you, no one would acknowledge the debt.”

“You…” He Yifei felt a breath catch in her chest, nearly unable to breathe. “Why save me?”

“Naturally so that you will owe me a favor.” Wen Suisui’s smile was like a flower, dazzling enough to make He Yifei’s eyes ache. “After you escape this calamity, don’t forget to repay me.”

“What… exactly is going on?”

“You’ll understand in a moment. Whoever brought outsiders here to watch the spectacle is the mastermind who designed all of this.”

He Yifei was still bewildered, yet a short while later she understood. That cousin of hers who most loved to play the weak and pitiful role had brought a large group of young ladies here to see her.

The one who had schemed against her was Zhang Xiuqing!

Several days later, He Yifei brought her personal senior maid and carried several boxes of gifts, personally coming to the Wen residence to pay a visit.

The two young ladies sat in the room drinking tea. He Yifei first awkwardly and hesitantly offered her thanks to Wen Suisui, then finally could not hold back the question that had been circling in her mind for days.

“How did you detect this matter? How did you know that cousin of mine harbored ill intentions and wanted to harm me?”

Wen Suisui smiled, took a sip of tea, and deliberately kept He Yifei in suspense for a good while before speaking at leisure. “Actually it was rather coincidental. That previous time you invited me to Cheng Garden for the poetry gathering, when I went to the upper side room I happened to overhear that distant cousin of yours who is staying in the household and her maid muttering. At the time I didn’t fully understand what they were saying. After returning home I carefully pondered it and realized they intended to use the day of Madam’s birthday banquet to do something earth-shattering—to ruin your reputation so that you would never again be able to put on airs in front of her.”

This incident had indeed existed in the original host’s memories. Only the original host had never liked to use her mind. After listening to Zhang Xiuqing and the maid speak vaguely for a long time she had still looked completely bewildered. It was only after she dug out this memory and examined it back and forth that she suddenly understood—and instantly realized that this was precisely the good leverage she could use to protect her father’s path to promotion.

Just as expected, after she saved He Yifei that day, Madam Fang thanked her a thousand times over and repeatedly praised her cleverness and quick wit.

“My mother said that if it hadn’t been for you that day, I fear I would never have escaped the vicious scheme my cousin carefully laid.” He Yifei gritted her teeth, unable to hide her indignation. “She didn’t merely resent me. The main reason is that she has always secretly admired my mother’s nephew—that is, my cousin. She is jealous of the relationship between my cousin and me…”

She suddenly stopped, a flush of red rising to her cheeks.

Wen Suisui understood in her heart. “You and that cousin are currently discussing marriage arrangements, aren’t you?”

He Yifei’s breath caught. Yet since Wen Suisui had already guessed it, there was nothing left to conceal. She answered frankly.

“Yes. My cousin and I have been childhood sweethearts. My mother and my aunt have long had an understanding. They are only waiting until after I come of age to arrange the marriage for the two of us.”

Resentment and jealousy truly could cloud a person’s mind—especially the jealousy born of love.

Wen Suisui neither commented on the baseness of Zhang Xiuqing’s motives nor had any interest in inquiring about her current fate. Since she had laid such a vicious trap to harm her own cousin, the He family would deal with her themselves.

“Do you understand now? How easily a girl’s reputation can be splashed with dirty water by others. The one who was drunk and about to barge into the small building that day was precisely that eldest young master of the Zhou family. Can you imagine what would have happened if a scandal involving the two of you had spread far and wide through Ping County? Would you still be able to hold your head up when going out in the future?”

He Yifei was shaken by these words. In truth this was precisely the part that made her most fearful afterward and most filled with guilty shame. She looked at Wen Suisui with distress, and at this moment she sincerely felt the weight of her own sins.

She rose and performed a solemn, earnest bow to Wen Suisui. “I know I was wrong. Although the rumors surrounding Elder Sister Wen did not originate from me, I did have the evil of adding fuel to the fire. I hereby offer my formal apology. Please forgive my recklessness and carelessness.”

Whether to forgive or not no longer held any meaning—after all, the original host had already departed. Yet since she was occupying the original host’s body, she at least had to help resolve the original host’s final residual resentment. She looked straight at He Yifei and spoke with earnest weight.

“A single kind word warms the heart through three winters; a harsh word wounds a person even in the sixth month. If you truly feel guilt in your heart, then please use your status as the legitimate daughter of the county magistrate to clear my name and protect my reputation in this county town… Are you willing to do so?”

He Yifei drew a deep breath. “I am willing! Elder Sister Wen, rest assured. Not only I myself—I will also request that my parents clarify the rumors on your behalf. As for that eldest young master of the Zhou family, my father will certainly not let him off. He will pay the price he deserves!”

“Then I’ll trouble you.” Wen Suisui’s tone softened slightly.

He Yifei felt even more ashamed and could hardly look directly into Wen Suisui’s calm eyes. “It is what I ought to do.”

As she spoke, she selected several volumes of qin scores from a gift box carried by the maid and said with some embarrassment, “Elder Sister Wen’s skill on the qin is superb. You must be someone who loves music. I have copied several volumes of scores—all from our family’s private collection—and present them to Elder Sister as an apology gift.”

Wen Suisui raised her delicate brows, accepted the scores, and flipped through them briefly. Indeed they contained some rarely seen pieces. One of them was something she had never even seen in her previous life in the duke’s household. Moreover, the handwriting of the copied scores was neat and elegant—clearly He Yifei had put thought into it.

She smiled faintly. “Since it is Younger Sister He’s kind intention, I will accept this favor from you.”

Hearing the smile in her words, He Yifei immediately relaxed. She then presented another box. “Inside are some palace-made pearl hairpins and silk flowers that Elder Sister may wear after completing the mourning period. Father says that your father’s evaluation this time was rated excellent and he has already been promoted to seventh-rank county magistrate. Your family will soon return to the capital. I wish Elder Sister a safe journey.”

The smile at the corners of Wen Suisui’s lips deepened. “Thank you.”

After seeing He Yifei off, Wen Suisui suddenly felt a lightness throughout her body. She could sense that the last thread of residual resentment the original host had left in this world had also dissipated like smoke—as though the final worry had been laid down, and she could now depart freely and unburdened for another world.

Go then. Take good care of yourself.

She silently bid farewell to the original host in her heart and raised her head to look at the distant sky. It was a clear, azure blue, without a single cloud for ten thousand li.

One girl had left; another girl remained. The one who left had resolved her attachment; the one who remained now carried even more concerns.

Wen Suisui smiled faintly. She was not afraid of concerns—only afraid that the person she cared about would be left alone and lonely. This, too, was the choice she had made in living this life anew—

to repay his intense, sincere love.