The Courtier's Revenge

At the flower-viewing banquet, I was drugged and forced into an affair with a groom, becoming the laughingstock of the capital. My father was so angry he disowned me. My mother, already frail, died of grief within days.

On the day of her burial, my former fiancé publicly returned his betrothal gifts, declaring he wanted nothing more to do with a "shameless woman" like me. That same day, he took double the betrothal gifts and proposed to Minister Xie's daughter, Xie Xiyu.

My heart turned to ash as I knelt and bid farewell to my father. I had intended to follow my mother in death, but Cheng Feiran, the newly appointed top scholar, saved me from the lake. He said he had admired me for a long time, didn't care about the rumors, and only wanted to marry me.

Under his companionship, I gradually forgot that painful past. But on our wedding day, I overheard his conversation with a friend.

"Back then, when you drugged Xie Xiyu and that groom for Xie Xiyu's sake, wasn't that too cruel? Now her mother is dead, her father disowns her—her life is ruined."

Cheng Feiran said calmly, "As long as Xiyu can marry the young marquis as she wished, what's wrong with being a bit cruel? Besides, I've received my karma... I'm bound to her for the rest of my life."

1

I stood outside the door, listening to their conversation, my body suddenly froze. I dug my fingernails into my palm. The sharp pain told me this was real, not a dream.

The person talking with Cheng Feiran was Physician Song from the palace, also Cheng Feiran's closest friend. He sighed, "If I had known you wanted that medicine to use on Qi Yingying and that groom, I would never have agreed..."

After a pause, he persuaded with some reluctance, "Qi Yingying is a good girl, and she suffered so much because of you. Since you're both getting married now, you should treat her well."

Cheng Feiran was silent for a long moment before saying, "I will spend the rest of my life compensating her, ensuring she wants for nothing. However, I promised Xiyu I would never touch another woman. I'll need your help with this."

Physician Song sighed again, "You truly are devoted—waiting until Xie Xiyu married the young marquis before finally marrying Qi Yingying. Now, for Xie Xiyu's sake, you refuse to touch her. Aren't you afraid she'll seek revenge against you and Xie Xiyu when she finds out?"

When Cheng Feiran heard that I might seek revenge against Xie Xiyu, his tone suddenly turned cold. "That groom, I already had people deal with him. She will never know the truth, and I won't give her the chance to harm Xiyu in the slightest! Besides, she sees me as her savior, is deeply devoted to me, and obeys my every word. As long as you help me hide it tonight, she won't suspect anything."

Physician Song said helplessly, "Fine, what do you want me to help you with?"

Cheng Feiran said coldly, "Tell her she contracted a vile disease from that groom, which is incurable and prevents her from marital relations. Then prescribe her medicine that will make her body break out in sores starting tomorrow, making it appear she has this disease for the rest of her life."

2

Physician Song didn't quite agree, "If you do this, won't she live in pain for the rest of her life?"

Cheng Feiran replied, "It's fine, I will always stay by her side."

Listening to his cold, heartless words, I felt my blood freeze, chilling me to the bone. Yesterday was precisely the day Xie Xiyu and the young marquis Lang Yankai got married.

I had once asked Cheng Feiran why he set our wedding for today. At that time, he held me with deep affection and said to me, "Yingying, I want everyone to know you are wonderful. It was Lang Yankai's loss not to marry you. Even without him, you can still have a good home."

I was so moved my eyes turned red. Looking back now, it's utterly ridiculous. So it was because Xie Xiyu had married that he finally gave up and was willing to marry me.

What's even more ridiculous is that for the past year, I had countless times felt fortunate to have met Cheng Feiran. He pulled me, shattered as I was, from despair and gave me hope to live again. Even everyone in the capital said I was fortunate—that after experiencing such a thing, to still have such a talented and handsome top scholar love me so deeply, that even though I had lost my chastity, he still wanted to marry me without hesitation.

But who could have imagined that the person who drugged me, ruined my life, and indirectly caused my mother's death was Cheng Feiran, this hypocrite in gentleman's clothing! And the person he truly loved was never me—it was Xie Xiyu all along!

I dug my fingernails into my palm, not letting a single cry escape. Seeing the two men inside finish their conversation and prepare to come out, I quickly wiped my tears and returned to my room.

Soon after, Cheng Feiran came back. He lifted my wedding veil, first dismissed everyone in the room, then looked at me with deep affection in his eyes. When he saw my red-rimmed eyes, he frowned slightly and said with concern, "Why are you crying? Did those gossiping women say something to you again?"

3

Seeing his hypocritical expression made me feel nauseous, but thinking of my suffering over the past year and my mother's tragic death, I suppressed my churning emotions. Now was not the time to tear apart this façade. I would make him pay back a hundredfold, bit by bit!

I looked down despondently and said, "It's nothing, I just miss my mother a bit. She was still worrying about me when she died. Unfortunately, I'm useless—after investigating for over a year, I still haven't found who harmed me back then, to avenge myself and my mother. Husband, do you think I can still find the culprit?"

After speaking, I looked up and carefully observed Cheng Feiran's expression. Cheng Feiran's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to normal as he pulled me into his arms and comforted me softly, "You will, Yingying. I will help you look for him together."

I clenched my fists and said, "Husband, you're so good. If I find that person, I will chop him and his accomplices to pieces to comfort my mother's spirit in heaven. You'll help me, won't you?"

I don't know if it was the word "accomplices" that made him think of Xie Xiyu, but he could no longer maintain his calm expression. His face instantly darkened, and the arm around me suddenly tightened with such force it felt like it would break my waist.

Only when I cried out in pain did he suddenly awaken and release me, saying apologetically, "I'm sorry, wife. When I thought of your suffering these past days, I couldn't control myself..."

Ha, what "couldn't control himself." He was just anxious because he heard I wanted to retaliate against his beloved. You can't handle just hearing about it? Cheng Feiran, your retribution is still coming.

I pretended nothing was wrong and shook my head. "With my husband by my side, I'm not suffering." Then, remembering what he had just said, I actively reached for his neck and deliberately said in a soft voice, "Husband, let's rest."

As expected, Cheng Feiran's expression suddenly changed.

4

He took my hand down and said with feigned concern, "Yingying, I've noticed your complexion hasn't been good these past few days. Coincidentally, my good friend Physician Song is at our residence attending our wedding banquet. How about I let him check your pulse?"

I looked down, suppressing the coldness in my heart, and pretended to be moved. "Husband, you're so good."

Soon, Physician Song came in. After taking my pulse, he hesitantly glanced at Cheng Feiran. Seeing Cheng Feiran nod without hesitation, he said with difficulty, "Brother Cheng... your wife's pulse seems to indicate she has contracted a venereal disease..."

Cheng Feiran's expression changed instantly. He slammed his fist on the table and said angrily, "I knew that groom looked unclean! He truly harmed my Yingying! Unfortunately, he escaped, or I would have chopped him to pieces."

I dug my fingernails into my palm, pretending to be shocked as I widened my eyes in disbelief. Physician Song sighed and said with reluctance, "I'll prescribe a medicine for your wife. If she takes it daily, there's a chance she can recover. Remember, this disease is contagious—absolutely no marital relations."

Cheng Feiran nodded with a heavy expression. After he left, Cheng Feiran held me in his arms with a pained expression and comforted me in a low voice, "Yingying, don't be sad. I will accompany you through treatment until you're well."

Listening to his words, I couldn't help but sneer in my heart. I never imagined he could find such a noble excuse for not wanting to touch me, shifting the blame to me. Of course, I didn't want this hypocrite to touch me either.

To avoid alarming the snake, I still pretended to be moved and nodded with tears in my eyes. But in my heart, I began planning my revenge.

"Husband, I'm useless... I can't even serve you like a proper wife."

Cheng Feiran shook his head and said, "Don't be so hard on yourself. You were also harmed by wicked people and had no choice. Yingying, I don't mind these things. As long as I can be with you, even if I can never touch you for the rest of my life, I would be content."

5

To make me appear more like I had a vile disease, that very night Cheng Feiran had someone decoct medicine for me and even wanted to feed it to me personally. I pretended to take a sip, frowned and said it was bitter, then tried to kiss his lips, coquettishly asking him to taste the bitterness too.

Cheng Feiran's expression changed in alarm. He quickly told me he was going to the kitchen to find some preserved fruits and left in large strides. Watching his back, I sneered. So he was afraid of getting sores too.

While he was away, I secretly poured the medicine into a flowerpot. When he returned, I pretended I had already finished it.

Early the next morning, Cheng Feiran asked me, "Do you feel any better?"

With tears in my eyes, I said with difficulty, "I feel increasingly uncomfortable, and it seems sores have appeared..."

Cheng Feiran seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and then said, "Last night Brother Song told me this is a normal phenomenon. As long as you take it daily, there's a chance you can recover."

I nodded obediently.

For several consecutive days, I told Cheng Feran that I had developed many sores on my body and was always in unbearable pain. The great weight finally lifted from his heart, and he then comforted me that I would soon get through it and he would always be with me.

A few days later, Cheng Feiran, using the excuse that he was afraid of touching my sores and hurting me, moved to sleep on a small couch in the outer room, no longer sharing the bed with me. I was happy for the peace and quiet, sleeping alone in the large bed.

In the blink of an eye, Cheng Feiran and I had been married for over a month. During this month, I had been secretly having him watched. My father was the current prime minister, and my mother also came from a wealthy family. Although my father disowned me after that incident, he and my mother had prepared substantial dowry for me in their early years. There were also many useful people who all came with me when I married Cheng Feiran.

Cheng Feiran, though a top scholar, came from a poor family and was utterly penniless. Even the residence we married in was part of my dowry. Most of the servants in the residence were also my people. So he knew nothing about my surveillance of him, nor that I hadn't developed any sores.

6

Soon, the secret guards monitoring him told me that today Xie Xiyu had sent someone to deliver a letter to Cheng Feiran, asking to meet him at a teahouse that afternoon. After court, Cheng Feiran returned to the residence beaming, bathed, and washed his face. He then changed into several outfits before finally selecting one he was satisfied with. Only then did he leave the residence with a smile on his face.

Watching his back, I thought—so this is how he behaves when facing his beloved—so cautious and careful.

The moment Cheng Feiran entered the private room, I entered the one next door. As soon as I sat down, I heard Cheng Feiran's concerned voice from inside, "Xiyu, is he treating you well?"

That tone was extremely gentle, as if filled with endless affection—something I had never seen before. The next moment, I heard the rustling of fabric from next door—it was Xie Xiyu throwing herself into his arms.

Xie Xiyu's voice was choked with sobs, "Brother Feiran, I'm sorry. Yu'er has made you suffer."

Cheng Feiran said softly, "It was just marrying a woman who had been violated—what's so difficult about that? For you, I would even die willingly."

I gripped my teacup tightly, sneering in my heart. What a pair of devoted adulterers. Next door, Xie Xiyu paused at his words, then said in a choked voice, "Brother Feiran, for Yu'er's sake, are you truly willing to do anything?"

Cheng Feiran answered without hesitation, "Naturally."

Hearing this, Xie Xiyu didn't speak but instead began to cry softly again. Cheng Feiran immediately grew anxious and repeatedly asked her what was wrong. After he asked for a long time, Xie Xiyu finally told him through tears.

Xie Xiyu was the daughter of a concubine in the Minister's household. With such family background, wanting to marry the young marquis Lang Yankai was truly a marriage above her station. Her appearance could hardly be called stunning—at most, she was delicate and pretty. But she had a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes. With every frown and smile, they presented the appearance of an innocent little white rabbit.

Added to her slender build and frail appearance, plus her habit of pretending to be pure and untainted by worldly dust, she gradually became known as the purest maiden in the eyes of men in the capital. Lang Yankai once had me, a "shameless woman," as his fiancée. When he looked again later, he naturally preferred a pure girl like Xie Xiyu.

Xie Xiyu, for her part, had long set her sights on Lang Yankai's family background and had made many overtures. The two quickly hit it off and got together. At first, Lang Yankai was naturally satisfied with marrying her. But as time passed, he grew less enamored.

7

Moreover, her family background wasn't good and offered no help to Lang Yankai's career. Plus, the old marquis's wife had never been quite satisfied with her出身 and disliked her weak, seemingly ignorant, petty mannerisms. So Xie Xiyu's days in the marquis's residence were not good.

Lang Yankai and I were childhood sweethearts, engaged since childhood. He once had some genuine feelings for me. After learning about my incident with the groom, he was first enraged at being cuckolded, then grew to hate me. In a fit of anger, he got engaged to Xie Xiyu.

But men are generally base creatures who like what they can't have. Now, after more than a year, he started remembering my good qualities. Added to my marrying Cheng Feiran, he felt increasingly displeased and often found himself thinking of me.

Xie Xiyu was already frequently blamed by the old marquis's wife. Now she discovered that Lang Yankai often stared blankly at my portrait, carried the sachet I had once given him, and that I had been having my people spread rumors that I had been framed and was investigating who had harmed me.

Others saw that after that incident, I lived a stable life with Cheng Feiran without any wanton behavior, so they gradually came to believe I had been framed. Moreover, the shops under my name were managed in perfect order and had become the most fashionable establishments in the capital. Although my father was angry with me, he frequently promoted Cheng Feiran in his career. And with my substantial dowry as backing, Cheng Feiran's life became increasingly smooth.

Public opinion about me in the capital had gradually improved. People said openly and covertly that if Lang Yankai had married me back then, it would have been much better than marrying Xie Xiyu the vase. And Xie Xiyu's appearance was at most considered delicate—far inferior to mine. Even the old marquis's wife and Lang Yankai always told Xie Xiyu she couldn't compare to me.

Over time, the anger and hatred in Xie Xiyu's heart could no longer be suppressed. She wanted the incident from a year ago to replay itself, and this time she still wanted Cheng Feiran to help. She planned it well—last time it was my fiancé catching me in adultery; this time it would be my husband catching me. And this time she wanted to find several more men for me to mix with, completely solidifying my reputation as a licentious woman.

8

By then, everyone would spurn me, and no one would say she was inferior to me anymore. Lang Yankai and the old marquis's wife would also completely give up on me and no longer feel she was inferior.

Finally, she tugged at Cheng Feiran's sleeve and said softly, "Brother Feiran, I beg you, help me one last time, can you? My life in the marquis's residence now is truly worse than death. If even you won't help me, I really don't know what to do..."

Seeing Cheng Feiran remain silent, Xie Xiyu said with tears, "Brother Feiran, do you too think Qi Yingying is better than me? Have you stopped liking me and started liking Qi Yingying instead? Then what's the point of my living? I might as well jump from here and drown in the lake!"

She cried like pear blossoms in rain, utterly wretched. Cheng Feiran sighed and quickly pulled Xie Xiyu into his arms with concern, "Xiyu, even if all the women in the world were added together, they wouldn't amount to half of you in my heart. How can you say such things to hurt me? Do you know, I married Qi Yingying all for you, and after marriage, I have been preserving my chastity for you..."

As Cheng Feiran spoke, he told her about his conspiracy with Physician Song to feed me medicine to make me pretend I had contracted a venereal disease. Xie Xiyu's crying stopped, then she said chokingly, "Brother Feiran, I knew only you in this world truly treats me well. If there's a next life, I will definitely marry you and be your wife."

The two spent about two quarters of an hour in this intimate exchange before discussing again how to ruin my reputation once more.

Half a month later would be the birthday of the current queen's mother, the old mistress of Rongguo. The old mistress of Rongguo has always liked to worship Buddha. Every year on her birthday, she goes to Tongyin Temple outside the city to burn incense. At that time, most of the high officials and nobles in the capital would go to congratulate the old mistress of Rongguo.

Cheng Feiran would take me there, then secretly drug me and several monks, letting us commit licentious acts in broad daylight in the temple's bamboo forest. He would then bring people to catch us in the act. The sores on my body would look like venereal disease. By then, everyone would see I had this vile disease and was committing such acts with several monks in a place of Buddhist cultivation. My reputation as a licentious woman would be irrevocably tarnished, beyond any hope of redemption!

9

Hearing this, I felt fire rushing to my heart, drinking two cups of tea before barely suppressing my anger. What a vicious scheme.

First, committing such acts in a temple would make my filthy reputation even worse. Second, the old mistress of Rongguo had a noble status, and causing such trouble on her birthday would undoubtedly be disrespectful to her. There would absolutely be no good outcome for me. They wanted to drive me to death once again!

Later, the secret guard told me Cheng Feiran left very quickly. Xie Xiyu came out of the private room half a quarter hour after he left. When she came out, her face was flushed and her eyes moist—one could imagine what the two had done inside. What a truly pure and untainted woman!

Back at the residence, it was already dusk. Cheng Feiran had returned long ago. Seeing me return so late, he seemed somewhat surprised. "You went out today?"

Because of last year's incident, whenever I went out, people would always point and gossip. So I rarely went out, and even when managing my shops, I never went personally, instead having the shop managers come to the residence to report.

After being married to him for so long, this was my first time going out alone. I nodded, "I went to the teahouse for a cup of tea with an old close friend from my boudoir days."

Hearing this, Cheng Feiran, who had just returned from the teahouse, trembled so violently that tea spilled on his clothes. He asked unnaturally, "Why did you suddenly think of going to a teahouse? Which one did you go to?"

I smiled and said, "I went to the one in the west of the city. It's been over a year, and I need to move on eventually. I can't always avoid it."

Cheng Feiran relaxed upon hearing this. The place where he met Xie Xiyu was the teahouse in the east of the city. He smiled at me gently, "That's very good. In that case, let me accompany you out more often these days to relax your mind."

He was happy about my going out—was he afraid I wouldn't have the chance to go out after my reputation was ruined again? How thoughtful of him.

10

The next day, Cheng Feiran sent a letter to Physician Song, again asking for those drugs. Physician Song replied advising him:

[Brother Cheng, I hope you will think twice. I see that over this past year, Miss Qi has been truly devoted to you. Not only does she manage your household in perfect order, but she is also meticulous in all social engagements. Your career advancement cannot be separated from Miss Qi and her family's help. Spending a lifetime with her would not be a bad thing. Why must you always think of others? If you do this, the second half of her life will be completely ruined.]

After receiving Physician Song's letter, Cheng Feiran angrily smashed his teacup. Soon, he replied to Physician Song:

[I am a top scholar—could I possibly have benefited from a violated woman? You need not persuade me further. If you still consider me a friend, give me the medicine. As for Qi Yingying, it doesn't matter if her reputation is ruined. I won't divorce her anyway—I'll spend the rest of my life repaying her!]

Finally, Physician Song compromised and sent someone to deliver the drugs to him. My secret guards had people imitate their handwriting and secretly swapped the original letters. They also swapped the medicine Physician Song gave him.

Watching the letters between them, I couldn't help but sneer. He wouldn't divorce me and would spend the rest of his life repaying me? He certainly thought it was a beautiful plan! If my reputation was ruined, others would only sympathize with him. They would praise him for his devotion and righteousness for taking me back without divorcing me.

And if I didn't know the truth, I would probably be deeply moved, living the rest of my life in guilt toward him, unconditionally subsidizing him with my dowry. My father would also promote him more for my sake. Ha, he gets all the benefits. How could there be such a cheap thing in the world!

11

Perhaps to compensate, in the following days Cheng Feiran always took me out after court. Clothing shops, jewelry shops, teahouses, restaurants, boat tours—he took me everywhere. Rumors in the capital about our deep marital affection grew stronger.

Even two days before the old mistress of Rongguo's birthday, I ran into the young marquis Lang Yankai, whom I hadn't seen in over a year. Xie Xiyu was with him. When he saw me, Lang Yankai froze slightly. He stared at me trance-like, seeming to want to approach me.

"Ying..." But in the next moment, he saw Cheng Feiran standing beside me. Lang Yankai's expression immediately became somewhat unpleasant.

I lowered my eyes and saw the mandarin duck sachet at his waist—the one I gave him on my fifteenth birthday. I remembered he was delighted then and wore it at his waist every day after. For my coming-of-age ceremony, he gave me a jade pendant he had carved himself—a matching pair with his, of excellent quality. On the day he broke our engagement, he took that jade pendant back.

Looking at the sachet, I thought—I must have been too heartbroken over my mother's death then, how could I have forgotten to take it back? I didn't look at Lang Yankai again but turned my gaze to Xie Xiyu beside him. Xie Xiyu was tightly clutching her handkerchief. Though trying hard to suppress it, her eyes still held a hint of jealousy and hatred when she looked at me.

I ignored this married couple and turned to leave with Cheng Feiran's arm in mine. The next day, Xie Xiyu indeed wrote another letter to Cheng Feiran, asking to meet at the teahouse. Coincidentally, Cheng Feiran and I had also agreed to go to the teahouse to listen to storytelling that day.

We had just arrived at our private room when Cheng Feiran said with an embarrassed expression that he had something to attend to and hurried off to meet Xie Xiyu. My secret guards quietly followed. Because of Lang Yankai's attitude toward me, Xie Xiyu hated me even more. She met with Cheng Feiran to discuss how to ruin my reputation at the old mistress of Rongguo's banquet tomorrow.

She needed Cheng Feiran to guarantee everything would go perfectly, wanting me to make Lang Yankai loathe me as soon as possible—she didn't want to wait a single day longer. After the two discussed their plans, they had another intimate encounter. Under my arrangement, my secret guards secretly put the medicine Physician Song had prescribed into their tea water. They watched personally as the two drank the tea after their encounter before returning to report.

12

I listened to storytelling at the teahouse all afternoon but didn't wait for Cheng Feiran to return. Instead, I waited for the arrogant Xie Xiyu. She walked up to me haughtily, sneered, and said, "So it's Miss Qi. After what happened back then, you still have the face to go out now? If I were you, after doing something so indecent, I would have hanged myself long ago. How could I be parading around like you are now."

Coincidentally, there were several men nearby who knew Xie Xiyu. They immediately whispered among themselves:

"I wouldn't believe it if others said this, but if Lady Lang said it, I believe it. She's the purest woman in the entire capital—she would absolutely never do anything unchaste. If she were really framed and lost her chastity, she would die to prove her innocence."

"Lady Lang in a white dress looks so pure and flawless. No wonder Young Marquis Lang chose her back then. I heard that even at home, she doesn't speak to male servants—she's someone who has chastity carved into her bones."

"Yes, I heard she even avoids suspicion with her own father and will only eat at the same table with her husband. She's simply a model among women."

"That's right. This Qi Yingying is too beautiful—she looks like someone who can't sit still. She's a world apart from Lady Lang."

Listening to their conversation, I found it amusing in my heart. I hope you can still say this tomorrow. As for Xie Xiyu, hearing their discussion, she became even more arrogant. She approached me and said with disdain in a voice only we could hear, "Qi Yingying, besides having a better family background than me and being prettier than me, what else can you surpass me in? The men you like all chose me. You're destined to be spurned by others your whole life. And do you really think Cheng Feiran truly likes you? Believe it or not, with one wave of my hand, he'll circle around me like a dog."

After speaking, she straightened up and left with a triumphant expression. Cheng Feiran didn't return until dark. My secret guards told me it was because Xie Xiyu said she wanted to eat pastries from the north of the city, so he went to queue and buy them. After buying them, he rushed to deliver them to Xie Xiyu, having long forgotten his wife at home.

13

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day. At dawn, Cheng Feiran began urging me to hurry up and get ready to go with him to Tongyin Temple. On the way, he kept looking at me from time to time. His gaze initially showed some conflict and reluctance, but gradually became determined.

Coincidentally, when we arrived at the temple, I ran into Lang Yankai and Xie Xiyu, as well as the old marquis's wife. When the old marquis's wife saw me, she smiled and took my hand, chatting with me about family matters while treating Xie Xiyu with a cold eye.

Lang Yankai, meanwhile, kept staring at me trance-like. The noble ladies around all looked at us with strange expressions. Xie Xiyu's face grew increasingly ugly. She tightly pinched her handkerchief and shot me a hateful glare, her eyes filled with determination.

Probably thinking about what I would experience soon, her expression gradually improved, and her smile widened: "I didn't expect Sister Qi to come today. I'm really looking forward to today's banquet." After speaking, she glanced in Cheng Feiran's direction. Cheng Feiran gave an almost imperceptible nod, giving her a reassuring expression. Xie Xiyu's smile grew even wider.

Is that so? I'm looking forward to it too.

At noon, Cheng Feiran handed me a teacup. After drinking it, I pretended to feel dizzy. Cheng Feiran helped me with concern to the bamboo forest to rest for a moment. After placing me by a stone bench, he turned and left. A moment later, several drugged monks arrived.

I had my secret guards tie them up and then turned to leave. A moment later, Cheng Feiran and Xie Xiyu sneaked over, wanting to see if their plan had succeeded before bringing people to catch us in the act. But they didn't know they had already been drugged—and now it was taking effect. Meanwhile, the drugged monks had been untied and were pouncing on them like wolves.

14

I leisurely returned to the banquet. After about the right amount of time had passed, I began anxiously telling people that my husband had disappeared somewhere and started my high-profile search.

Lang Yankai, who had been watching me, didn't notice Xie Xiyu was missing. Instead, he followed me out of the banquet, walking behind me, seemingly wanting to say something to me. Because of my high-profile search, many people witnessed this scene. The capital's noble ladies, with their love for gossip, all came along too.

Finally, we found Xie Xiyu, Cheng Feiran, and several monks tangled together in the bamboo forest. The noble ladies gasped in surprise, then covered their eyes with disgusted expressions. Lang Yankai, who had been following me, only then discovered Xie Xiyu was having illicit relations with others—his face instantly turned as dark as night.

To be cuckolded twice in less than two years—one can imagine how terrible Lang Yankai felt. Discussions arose from all directions:

"Isn't that Xie Xiyu, who's famous for her purity? How could she do such a thing! One man wasn't enough—she needed several monks!"

"Behaving like this in a sacred place of Buddhism—it's simply disgraceful!"

"So pure and flawless, a model among women—what a joke!"

"And that one—isn't it Cheng Feiran, Qi Yingying's husband? Ah, they both have sores on their bodies—obviously they both have venereal diseases! These two have apparently been committing adultery for a long time! I wonder who infected whom?"

As they spoke, some subconsciously glanced at me and Lang Yankai with very subtle expressions.

Lang Yankai could no longer control his anger. He rushed forward, pulled these people apart, and began punching and kicking Xie Xiyu. "You shameless woman!"

I pretended to be deeply shocked, standing there with a pale face. After a long moment, I covered my face and began to cry: "No wonder, since getting married, my husband has always refused to share my bed. So it was because of this..."

The gazes of the people toward me became even more sympathetic. In the midst of this chaotic scene, a young man's voice rang out: "How dare you be so audacious at my mother's birthday banquet—take them all away!"

I followed everyone's gaze and froze completely. The young man had dark skin and was wearing splendid brocade robes. He was actually... that groom from a year ago!

15

It turned out that the people Cheng Feiran sent to hunt down the groom had not succeeded. He hid and later found his own family. It turned out he was the young son the old mistress of Rongguo had lost seventeen years ago.

Over the years, the old mistress of Rongguo had spent much effort searching for her youngest son and had been eating vegetarian and praying devoutly. Now that the young master of Rongguo had returned, he was naturally doted on and cherished. However, he had told the old mistress of Rongguo about how he had been framed, and since returning, he had not shown himself, instead quietly investigating the truth of that year.

Now, he finally had some clues. Rongguo Mansion also planned to take this opportunity at the birthday banquet to formally introduce him to everyone and clear his name from that injustice.

After Xie Xiyu and Cheng Feiran regained consciousness, they were wrapped in clothes and brought before the old mistress of Rongguo. Both wore expressions of utter disbelief and shock, their faces pale and eyes desperate.

The young master of Rongguo stepped forward and detailed how Cheng Feiran had framed him, presenting corresponding evidence, as well as Physician Song's and Xie Xiyu's involvement in the matter. I also said with red eyes how Cheng Feiran had had Physician Song check my pulse on our wedding night, claiming I had contracted a venereal disease from the young master of Rongguo, and refused to share my bed with me.

The young master of Rongguo was furious. The old mistress of Rongguo summoned the chief physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau to personally check our pulses. The result was that we were both in good health with no illness.

The crowd spat out in condemnation again:

"I just clearly saw it was these two who had venereal disease—they both had sores! How could they push it onto Qi Yingying!"

"Disgusting, simply shameless!"

"Speaking of which, Qi Yingying is also a pitiful person—harmed so terribly by these two!"

"Calling her pure and flawless—what a joke! That young marquis truly picked up sesame seeds and lost the watermelon."

Lang Yankai's face alternated between green and red before he finally came before the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau and awkwardly asked him to check his pulse. After checking his pulse, the chief physician shook his head and said he was fine and in good health. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

16

Then he angrily looked at Xie Xiyu and presented a letter of divorce on the spot. Xie Xiyu cried and hugged his legs but was kicked away by him. "Get away, you filthy woman! Don't touch me!"

Cheng Feiran, for his part, was still deeply in love with Xie Xiyu at this moment. He protectively held Xie Xiyu in his arms and glared angrily at Lang Yankai. "If you have issues, come at me. What kind of man hits a woman?"

So Lang Yankai beat him until his nose was bruised and face swollen. He lay on the ground barely breathing. Meanwhile, Xie Xiyu, hearing what people said, thought she really had contracted a vile disease and completely broke down, throwing herself at Cheng Feiran and starting to scratch his face.

"It was you, you infected me, right? You filthy man, how dare you touch me when you have a vile disease! You've ruined my entire life—I'll fight you!"

Cheng Feiran was stunned. He had never imagined that the usually delicate Xie Xiyu would strike him. Only when his face was scratched with many bloody marks did he react. "I don't have a vile disease! Xiyu, you're the only woman I've had in my life. I've been preserving my chastity for you."

Xie Xiyu sneered, "You haven't had other women—do you mean to say I infected you?"

Only then did Cheng Feiran seem to think of something as he suddenly looked up at me in disbelief. Then he explained anxiously, "Xiyu, we don't have any disease. This is medicine I had Brother Song prescribe for Qi Yingying—as long as she takes it, she'll develop sores that resemble a vile disease. I just don't know how it ended up on us..."

After speaking, he suddenly looked up angrily at me, "You shameless woman—you did this, didn't you?"

I didn't admit it but looked at him in disbelief instead. "To avoid touching me, you actually had someone prescribe this kind of medicine for me?"

The gazes of the people toward Cheng Feiran became even more contemptuous.

17

The reputations of Cheng Feiran and Xie Xiyu were completely destroyed. Xie Xiyu was divorced, and the Xie family, ashamed of her, simply disowned her. For a time, Xie Xiyu became a homeless person with nowhere to go.

As for me, I divorced Cheng Feiran and returned to my parents' home. When my father took me back, his eyes were red for a long time. "Child, you've suffered so much this past year."

It wasn't bitter. Fortunately, I found the person who framed me back then and cleared my name. My mother's spirit in heaven should be able to rest in peace now.

Cheng Feiran was truly a devoted lover—in the end, he took Xie Xiyu back. He had wanted to marry her with great fanfare, but unfortunately, he was utterly penniless. Before, the Xie family's glory was all supported by my dowry; now that my dowry had returned, he moved back to his small broken courtyard. Even marrying Xie Xiyu was done hastily.

Cheng Feiran had offended too many people. Before long, he was dismissed from his official position due to moral corruption. As for Physician Song, who had helped him, he was also dismissed from his post. I heard later that Cheng Feiran could only support his family by copying books.

Unfortunately, Xie Xiyu was arrogant—how could she endure a hard life? She began arguing with Cheng Feiran every day, cursing him as useless. Their life became a chaotic mess of constant conflict, unbearably bitter.

Amusingly, I later went to listen to storytelling and saw those people at the teahouse who had compared me to Xie Xiyu. This time they all looked embarrassed, said nothing, and left as if fleeing.

The second month after returning to the prime minister's residence, we had some unexpected visitors. First, Cheng Feiran knelt at our gate, asking to see me and my father, saying he had been blinded by greed back then, knew he was wrong, and begged for my forgiveness. I had been his wife and he didn't want to divorce me.

I ignored him. Not long after, Lang Yankai and the old marquis's wife came. They were here to present betrothal gifts, wanting to renew our relationship. I and my father refused them. The betrothal gifts were all thrown out.

I heard that when Lang Yankai left, Cheng Feiran was still kneeling at the gate. He had been looking for someone to vent his anger on, so before leaving, he beat Cheng Feiran half to death and then rode away on horseback.

The next day, the old mistress of Rongguo came with the young master of Rongguo. They were also here to propose marriage. The old mistress said that we had been brought together by a strange combination of circumstances, and since we had already had marital relations, and both she and the young master of Rongguo liked me very much, they wanted to arrange this marriage.

I hesitated for a long time but still refused. What happened between me and the young master of Rongguo was an accident—we were both victims. Moreover, we had no feelings between us, and after these two experiences, I was even less willing to marry hastily.

The two respected my decision, but as they were leaving, the Rongguo servants once again beat Cheng Feiran half to death. After they left, my father asked me if I had any plans.

I smiled and said, "Father, I've already been married once. I don't want to marry again. I want to study medicine and see the great rivers and mountains of our dynasty."

Medicine should be used to save people, not to harm them. My father nodded, "Tomorrow, I'll ask the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau if he's willing to take you as an apprentice."

"Thank you, Father."

I studied medicine under the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau for five years. On the day I prepared to leave the capital, a small tail suddenly appeared behind me. Behind me, the young master of Rongguo gave me a shy smile, "Miss Qi, I also want to travel the world. May I join you?"

I was about to refuse when he suddenly added, "By the way, let me tell you some gossip. Scholar Cheng in the east of the city—his wife climbed into the bed of the neighboring Wang Yuanwai. I hear she's causing a fuss every day about divorcing him to become Wang Yuanwai's eighteenth concubine. Scholar Cheng also has quite a temper—a few days ago he actually killed his wife in a fit of anger..."

As he spoke, he shook his head, rode his horse to my side, and urged, "Let's hurry, or we won't reach the next town before dark."

I rode forward, asking him, "What happened then?"

He smiled and followed, "Afterward, that Scholar Cheng took a life and had to pay with his own—he was sentenced to execution in the autumn."

I nodded. So that's how it was.

---End of Story---