A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 106
by Little PandaExtra
Fortunate to Meet You
Shen Yunshu had been preoccupied with the matter of Shen Hetang’s identity. After Ye Huaiqing ascended the throne, she laid her cards on the table with him, trading the Shen family’s merit for her Death-Exemption Medallion1.
Though her identity still hadn’t been publicly announced, as long as the Death-Exemption Medallion was in hand, even if it were exposed in the future, there would be no risk of execution.
She also made Ye Huaiqing promise that as long as Ah Tang no longer wanted to be this general, she could come back whenever she liked—after all, Great Qian was not without capable men.
After careful consideration, Ye Huaiqing agreed to Shen Yunshu’s terms. This brought considerable stability to his own throne—a win-win situation with no reason to refuse. However, if Ah Tang truly stepped down one day, a successor would need to be found beforehand. Still, this task was naturally best left to Ah Tang herself.
After reaching this understanding, Shen Yunshu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even the sky seemed a deeper blue.
Jiang Ning’s business had grown larger and larger, firmly establishing itself in the capital. Yet suddenly, she found the whole enterprise rather tiresome and wanted to take a break.
Jiang Chenyu, who had once fought alongside her, had run off with the general—they barely met once or twice a year. Chuntao, who had always looked after her, had turned to care for someone else. Only then did Jiang Ning realize, belatedly, that she had become a lone wolf.
Though over the years, there were things she couldn’t see through and things she pretended not to notice, as long as everyone was doing well, she had no regrets. Earlier this year, she had rescued a woman from a flower boat—a pure courtesan2 who had been sold.
Seeing that the woman bore some resemblance to an old acquaintance, she truly couldn’t bear to let her fall into the pleasure quarters, so she paid silver to redeem her. From then on, that spirited girl stayed by her side, taking over Chuntao’s former responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Chuntao was in her new home, tidying up the courtyard. From the grand essentials of food, clothing, shelter, and transport down to the flowers and plants—she handled everything herself.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford servants, but living with Lin Qiubai, having servants would only get in the way.
Fortunately, she was alone during the day. Come evening, she just needed to cook a meal for the person coming home. When she truly had nothing to do, she would count her silver—the retirement money from her young lady, the dowry from Jiang Ning, the salary submitted by Female Official Lin—added together, she was an invisible little rich woman.
In her free time, she made clothes, bought jewelry, listened to operas. Life was full of flavor—she just occasionally missed her young lady and the Little Miss. When bored, she would drop by Jiang Ning’s place, but she didn’t dare let the one at home find out, fearing she’d overturn the vinegar jar3.
Their new home was settled in a new alley where no one knew them. If anyone asked about Chuntao’s identity, she claimed to be Lin Qiubai’s biaomei4—a widow whose husband had died, now relying on her biaojie5, a female official in the palace. As everyone knew, Great Qian’s female officials had to serve until age thirty-five before they could return home. These two cousins who couldn’t marry were indeed good partners, relying on each other for survival.
The two of them thus hid away in their little courtyard of spring blossoms, living their own small life. Lin Qiubai’s quest to clear her family’s name was also resolved after she received her master’s grace. From then on, she had no more worries—just the two of them, three meals a day, four seasons a year.
Occasionally, when she received rewards, they happily went into Chuntao’s little treasury. This was their rather amusing shared pastime—to this end, Lord Lin would often shamelessly, yet with proper measure, beg for a few rewards.
Fortunately, her professional abilities were outstanding, and she had no suspicion of bewitching her superiors, so she had good relationships in the palace. She could always get extra bonuses to bring home and make her wife happy.
When Chuntao learned that her young lady was going to the border, she thought for a long time before deciding to stay. Because her young lady had many others to care for her even without her, but that person only had herself.
When her young lady learned that she had decided to stay with Shopkeeper Lin, she wasn’t surprised. And she also knew that her young lady’s child was not her young lady’s biological daughter—but what did that matter? Whatever decisions her young lady made were naturally the right ones.
As for her parents, she and Lin Qiubai had visited once, leaving quite a bit of silver. Naturally, she had to subject her lord to the indignity of wearing men’s clothing to fool them.
Seeing her doing well, her parents were quite comforted. They said they would keep watching over the young lady’s courtyard and wouldn’t come to the capital.
Chuntao bought two servants to attend to her parents and would send someone to deliver their monthly allowance6 once a year. This way, she could get news of her parents, and the servants would take better care of the two elders’ daily lives. As for the future, that could wait—when that person could leave the palace, the two of them could go back then.
Or perhaps they could go settle down with her young lady. In any case, there were always more solutions than difficulties.
As for County Princess Qingyang, her days were always a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. She spent three years as bait to lure the enemy, even borrowing Zhao Chenlan and twenty thousand soldiers from General Shen. She rigorously trained in naval warfare, expending the strength of nine bulls and two tigers7 to deceive the enemy into attacking, finally wiping away past humiliation8 and avenging the Prince and Consort. Only then did she have time to seek out that oriole who would fly away the moment she let go.
In a rouge shop in a small Jiangnan town, Ye Qingyao, dressed neatly and properly, said to Cuidie, “Xiaodie, watch the shop for me. I’m stepping out.”
“Got it,” Cuidie replied skillfully. She worked for Miss Yao but drew two salaries—truly a plum job.
But this silver wasn’t easy to earn either. Lately, too many matchmakers had come for Miss Yao, and she had secretly sabotaged several proposals. If she slipped up and one actually succeeded, there was nothing she could do—after all, if Qingyang herself wanted to, no one could stop her.
“Young lady, you truly are as beautiful as Matchmaker Wang claimed,” a man in his thirties said, sizing up Ye Qingyao with satisfaction.
“Thank you for the compliment.” Ye Qingyao looked at the man opposite her—whose features resembled a shoe horn—and thought to herself, what sins had she committed to have so many peach blossom disasters9?
Ugh, spit—these weren’t peach blossoms at all. They were more like dog tails.
“Miss Yao, I hear you were married before. Though I’m older than you, this is my first marriage. I hope that after we wed, you won’t interfere with my taking concubines and sharing my bed.”
“If I may ask—do you currently have concubines in your household?”
“Mm, not yet, but I can’t say about the future,” the man said confidently.
“Why is that?” The man was already in his thirties and hadn’t had a single hair of a woman before—how could he be so certain about the future?
“Didn’t that old Matchmaker Wang say that Miss Yao runs a rouge shop? Even if she’s not earning a peck of gold a day10, supporting a household would be no problem at all.”
“After we marry, won’t what’s yours be mine? Otherwise, why would I let you take the position of primary wife?” The man spoke with such righteous conviction that he seemed like an idiot.
Ye Qingyao stared at him blankly, feeling like she didn’t want to eat dinner tonight. Why had she let that matchmaker talk her into coming to meet all sorts of fools?
Just as she was marveling at the spectacle, a figure burst from the adjacent private room—dressed in a pale purple long robe with cloud-patterned shoulder pads, a gold-and-jade belt, and a gem-studded hair crown, paired with a woman’s slightly wicked expression that left the man speechless.
“Scram.” County Princess Qingyang raised the tail of her eyebrow, enunciating each word with perfect clarity.
“You—who are you, daring to tell this lord to scram?” The man retorted, trying to save face.
“Scram or die. Choose one.” Her narrow eyes locked onto the man, her hand already resting on her knife handle.
Seeing this, the man lost his nerve and ran.
Seeing it was Ah Yin, Ye Qingyao studied her face carefully. A mist of tears welled in her gentle eyes—she couldn’t name the feeling, only knowing that she truly had missed her.
She stepped forward and embraced her, which only made Zhao Lanyin laugh in exasperation. Through gritted teeth, she said, “What do you mean by this? Were you going to marry that fool just now?”
“Not at all. Life was too boring—I had to find some amusement.” Ye Qingyao said guiltily, her hands still tightening around her, as if afraid she would run away. She breathed in that unique faint fragrance on her body, realizing that she truly couldn’t let her go.
“Bored? Looking for someone to pass the time? Why not find me instead.” With that, she dragged her into a small boat without giving her any say in the matter.
The small boat drifted leisurely to the center of the lake. In Jiangnan’s summer, the fine rain fell continuously, lasting all day. From daylight to midnight, Ye Qingyao couldn’t leave that boat.
The County Princess settled the new accounts with her, but there were still old ones to reckon—such as the matter of the drug she had been fed. It was estimated that it would be impressive enough if the boat could make it back by tomorrow.
Ye Qingyao completely gave up struggling. She agreed to everything, promising to return with her and never run away again. Only then did she get a moment to catch her breath.
In a small Jiangnan town in the seventh month, the pattering rain washed over the blue-stone paved roads, falling from the sky like a curtain.
On either side of the narrow paths, scattered houses and interspersed trees lined the way. Ivy covered the eaves, hanging across the walls like green curtains.
Jiang Chenyu leaned against the window on the second floor of the inn, gazing at the beautiful sight of raindrops falling into the river. The river’s surface, struck by the rain, rose in a hazy mist, as enchanting as a fairy realm.
Her hair was styled in a half-coil, loosely pinned with a white-pink peony in full bloom. Between her brows, she wore a gold-pink huadian11, and her lips were painted red. It was a rare, glamorous look for her, yet it suited her perfectly.
A white floral-patterned under-robe, layered with a gauzy pink over-shirt, made her skin appear even more fair and luminous. A water-green silk skirt, light and soft, clearly outlined her alluring figure.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? The rain is about to hit your face.” Shen Hetang came up from behind, wrapping one arm around her slender waist, so slender as to be held in one hand12, watching the rain with her. The sound of raindrops pattering into the river was oddly addictive.
“It’s so wonderful here. The border winds have dried me out—I need this damp climate to nourish myself.” She reached out to catch the raindrops beyond the window, feeling the difference.
Shen Hetang, her long hair loose, wearing a white wide-sleeved inner robe, leaned against her from behind, feeling the softness in her arms. No matter how much time passed, this delicate, lovely body held an irresistible attraction for her.
She still couldn’t fathom it—they were clearly the same species, so why was she nothing but lean muscle and bones? Fortunately, she mostly loved leaning against Chenyu, letting herself go boneless against her, feeling that different softness.
Jiang Chenyu turned her head to look at her. Her long hair, caught by the wind, fell in slight disarray against her jade-white face. Her manner was languid and relaxed—compared to her stern expression at the border, Jiang Chenyu much preferred how she looked now.
She rested both hands on Shen Hetang’s shoulders and leaned in willingly. Looking at those red lips, she remembered how she had secretly yearned for them for so long.
No wonder she used to run from her like a mouse from a cat. At the thought, she suddenly laughed out loud.
After waiting a while without receiving a kiss—and seeing her inexplicably laughing instead—Shen Hetang asked in displeasure, “What are you laughing at?”
“Hehe, I’m laughing at how you used to see me and run like a monk bewitched by a fox spirit.” She gazed at her with seductive, silken eyes.
“A monk?” Where did she look like a monk?
“Whether I look like a monk is debatable, but you certainly look like a fox spirit.” Saying this, she reached out and hooked her hand around the back of Jiang Chenyu’s neck, pressing her lips against those smiling ones.
The burning kiss smeared the red lip rouge she had so carefully applied onto her own jade-white skin, a hazy blur of intimacy.
Jiang Chenyu’s eyes shimmered as she hooked her fingers into her collar, pulling her back onto the bed.
A lifetime is both long and short. Fortunate to meet you, be with you, give to you, spend the rest of my days with you13.
The author has something to say:
Meet you, be with you, give to you, spend the rest of my days with you. — From Qian Yu Shi Jing
Footnotes
- An imperial gold medallion granting immunity from execution.
- A courtesan who performs musical and artistic talents without selling her body.
- Colloquial metaphor for romantic jealousy; to become intensely jealous in a romantic relationship.
- Younger female cousin via a paternal aunt or maternal uncle.
- Older female cousin via a paternal aunt or maternal uncle.
- Regular monthly stipend paid to servants or concubines.
- Tremendous physical or strategic effort; an idiom describing immense exertion.
- To redeem oneself and avenge a past defeat or tragedy.
- Calamity or nuisance brought on by unwanted romantic pursuers; a Taoist/astrological concept paired with peach blossom romance.
- Making vast daily profits in commerce; earning enormous amounts of money daily.
- Decorative facial floral ornaments applied to the forehead or temples, worn by noblewomen.
- Classical poetic metaphor describing an extremely slender waist; so narrow it can be encircled in one hand.
- Poetic wordplay on 'yu' expressing eternal romantic devotion; quoted from modern poet Qian Yu's poetry collection (Qian Yu Shi Jing). The four homophones mean: to meet, to be with, to give, and to remain.
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