Lingquan Town, famed for its exquisite porcelain under the Great Yan Dynasty, bustled with merchants from every corner of the realm. The prices of houses and land deeds had soared, yet outsiders still flocked here, drawn by opportunity and ambition.
On a breezy February morning, when grass sprouted fresh and orioles sang, a horse-drawn carriage creaked along North Street’s stone pavement. Idle women gathered at their doorsteps, needlework in hand, craning to see who would occupy the long-vacant blue-tiled house.
The carriage halted in front of the aged gate. A thin, dark-faced elderly woman lifted a small plum blossom stool from the carriage and helped a young woman descend. She was eighteen, draped in a smoky silk robe, and leaned slightly on a bamboo walking stick used for climbing mountains.
Once on the ground, the young woman’s eyes and finely arched eyebrows caught the morning light, as if mountains shrouded in mist had come alive. Onlookers whispered in awe: Such beauty… how is this possible?
Lingquan Town had always been known for its fair maidens, yet this young woman’s allure was different. Tall and slender, with a jet-black hair bun accentuating her bright gaze, she carried herself with a regal elegance. Despite her beauty, an unapproachable aura emanated from her, as though she belonged in jade halls under the sun, not among the ordinary streets.
Curious eyes lingered as she led the elderly woman and carriage driver into the courtyard. Whispering, Yin Pozi exclaimed to her neighbors, “I’ve lived long, but never seen such beauty! Who could her husband be to have such a wife?”
A sharp reply came, “Most outsiders here are porcelain merchants. Ordinary craftsmen couldn’t afford a house on North Street!”
A more cunning observer added, “If her husband is a merchant, he’s blind. To marry such a beauty and leave her alone… with these low walls and short doors, who could keep her in check?”
North Street’s merchants often brought former courtesans as concubines. Gossiping old women had grown adept at spotting the slightest intrigue. And now, a newcomer with such charm promised to stir curiosity and speculation among the young men of the town.
Meanwhile, inside the blue-tiled courtyard, Liu Miantang surveyed her new home with a frown. Only the outer wall and main gate remained weathered; the courtyard itself, with its pond, flowerbeds, and sandalwood furniture, was exquisite.
“Didn’t my husband suffer huge losses in the capital? How could he afford this house?” she murmured, uncertainty tightening her chest.
The elderly dark-faced servant, Li Mama, snapped, “The master comes from a wealthy lineage. Even a lean camel is larger than a horse. You’re overthinking it, Madam.”
Miantang remained silent, gently stroking her bamboo walking stick. Memories came slowly—her name, her lineage as the youngest daughter of the once-prominent Liu family of Peishan, the loss of her mother at ten, and her elder brother. She recalled her reluctant marriage to the Cui family, a union arranged to recover financial stability, and her deep resentment at being sold like a commodity.
Her illness and subsequent memory loss had left her fragile. Her husband, patient and steadfast, had spared no expense in restoring her health. Even after a year, the Cui family’s fortune had diminished, the business moved to Jiangnan, and Miantang now faced a new life in Lingquan Town.
Despite Li Mama’s sharp tone, Miantang chose patience. She would not confront the loyal but harsh servant, instead seeking ways to assert her presence calmly. Perhaps the days ahead would be like the February breeze—gentle, persistent, and full of warmth after the lingering chill.
Her trunks and clothing had arrived earlier, yet were tossed carelessly into the wardrobe. Miantang began folding them by the window, her legs tiring quickly after her illness. These clothes were all hers—no sign of her husband’s belongings. Had Cui Jiu not sent his luggage yet?
Lost in thought, she was interrupted by the sound of a carriage arriving, the gate opening, and the unmistakable sound of someone entering the courtyard.
Soon, a tall, commanding figure strode confidently inside.
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