Volume One, Chapter 20: Underlying Currents Stirring

The old nanny once again imparted some words to the young lady.

“Are you saying that there will be many important figures at the palace banquet, and I should pay close attention to them?”

After speaking, the young lady smiled brightly. “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”

The old nanny, who had worried that Meng Tingfeng might shy away or retreat, was taken aback by this reaction. All her carefully prepared words were swallowed back down.

She felt a bit uneasy. “Miss, do you truly understand what this old servant means?”

She wasn’t referring to making friends or learning from these people, but rather to matters concerning marriage. Yet, why did it feel as if her young lady’s expression bore the determined look of a conqueror about to claim her prey?

Meng Tingfeng gently patted her hand, offering reassurance.

“I understand perfectly, nanny. You can rest assured.”

Seeing the old nanny’s restless gaze, Meng Tingfeng realized she still harbored doubts. She leaned close and whispered softly into her ear:

“As a woman in this world, one must learn to draw strength from others to nourish oneself and rise by riding the tide. Everything you’ve taught me remains etched in my heart.”

She would no longer be timid and hesitant as before, allowing her possessions to be snatched away by her foster sister and brother. Instead, she would not only guard what belonged to her but also seize everything they possessed!

The palace banquet would be attended by many young ladies and noble masters. It was very likely that she would encounter Liu Xiayang. She had to act with caution and be especially vigilant against her foster sister.

So far, Meng Xueyi had not made a move against her; perhaps she was still testing her strength, lying in wait in secret. Meanwhile, Meng Tingfeng had to quickly uncover any clues about that “deadly weapon”... How had Meng Xueyi managed to cause the mysterious death of the Qiao family in the previous life?

Resolute, Meng Tingfeng entrusted the old nanny to secretly keep an eye on Cheng Cai, then turned and entered the courtyard to rest.

The next day, both Meng Tingfeng and Meng Xueyi were summoned by Meng Lan to the main hall.

The steward entered first, followed by a procession of maids, each carrying exquisitely crafted, luxurious gowns and breathtakingly delicate jewelry.

Even the single pearl hairpin from the South Sea caught the servants’ eyes with its dazzling brilliance.

Meng Lan spoke:

“The palace banquet is tomorrow. As daughters of the Meng family coming of age, you must not bring shame to your father in the palace. Take a look at these gowns and jewelry, and you two sisters can each choose one.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Shuang stepped forward first, pointing excitedly at a magnificent deep grayish-purple gown embroidered with lilacs.

“This one is exquisitely made, with smooth stitching. It’s also one of your favorite shades of soft purple. Miss, why not select this set first?”

After a long pause with no reply, she turned to see her young lady motionless, seated like a statue.

Meng Xueyi’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“You choose first, little sister.”

Yin Shuang was stunned, forced to watch as Meng Tingfeng stepped forward to make her selection.

Though her young lady must be doing this to reassure the family head, believing she bore no intention to compete with her sister, this was no ordinary feast—it was a banquet hosted by Consort Xian, a truly prestigious occasion...

She had even planned to learn several hairstyles to adorn her young lady, hoping she would dazzle everyone that day.

Yin Shuang retreated to the side but kept her eyes fixed tightly on Meng Tingfeng’s hands.

However, just as Meng Xueyi was putting on a show, Meng Tingfeng was no stranger to such games.

She deliberately avoided the so-called favorite “soft purple gown” of Meng Xueyi and instead chose a frost-colored gown—simple, elegant, and refined.

When the maid held the gown up to Meng Tingfeng, Yin Shuang only then realized that the seemingly plain gown was embroidered along the hem with blooming moon lotuses. With every graceful step, it appeared as if lotus flowers sprouted beneath her feet, lending a delicate charm.

Paired with Meng Tingfeng’s gentle, tender face, the entire ensemble exuded an ethereal elegance.

Yin Shuang clenched her back teeth in frustration.

Though she had initially chosen the lilac gown, its design was conventional and lacked the subtle ingenuity of this more understated gown.

To give this gown to Meng Tingfeng felt like a waste!

As Xiang Ju and Fu Rong praised the gown’s beauty, Meng Lan furrowed his brow, noticing the faint disappointment on Meng Xueyi’s face.

After a brief hesitation, he said,

“This set suits Xueyi better. It looks somewhat petty on Tingfeng.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned. Meng Tingfeng’s smile did not falter; instead, she agreed,

“I was thinking the same. This gown is more fitting for a well-mannered and accomplished young lady like my elder sister.”

She had carefully compared the sizes of the two gowns—they had clearly been custom-made to suit the sisters’ preferences and figures.

Meng Xueyi was not slender; she was even somewhat voluptuous.

Since her sister desired that gown so much, she might as well have it.

Only then did Meng Lan relax his furrowed brow and nod with satisfaction.

Thus, the gown belonged to Meng Xueyi.

That would have been the end of it, if only during the jewelry selection Meng Lan had not frequently interrupted, giving the better pieces to Meng Xueyi.

The pearl hairpin naturally went to her as well.

Meng Tingfeng’s expression softened, but inside she sneered coldly.

In the previous life, she had neither contested nor fought, forced to wear the servants’ clothes. When Meng Lan encountered her in the residence and learned she was Meng Yuhong’s daughter, he had simply ignored her. No one at the time knew she was the legitimate young lady brought back home; Meng Yuhong ran wild, and what could she do? Moreover, he disliked her because she reminded him of his mother, and so he was even less inclined to care.

This time, she still would not contend or fight. Whatever her foster sister wanted, she would willingly offer with both hands. She no longer cared about the imbalance in Meng Lan’s affections.

She only hoped that when Meng Xueyi wore that gown and adorned the large, bright pearls, she would look befitting.

Watching the father and daughter laugh and chat amiably, Meng Tingfeng concealed the sharpness in her eyes.

...

At midday, the sun shone brightly, with beams filtering through the leaves, falling upon a disheveled woman covered in dirt.

She gazed in disbelief at the charred ruins before her.

This had once been her warm home.

Her father, her elder brother, and she had lived here together.

But since a few days ago when she returned, the place had not yet turned to ashes, yet her father and brother were nowhere to be found.

Her heart pounded with anxiety as she searched everywhere, but not a trace of the two could be found.

How could two living people simply vanish so suddenly?

Were they dead or alive...?

In desperation, she descended the mountain to search, but to no avail. Returning to the mountain, she found her home completely burned to the ground.

Her anguished cries echoed through the forest.

Suddenly, a voice called her name:

“Li Yin.”

She whipped around and recognized the figure standing among the bushes.

It was the poor scholar secretly sheltered by the dog servant.

But he was transformed—wearing thick, clean clothes, and no longer emitting that sour odor.

Her eyes blazed with fury as she charged forward, knocking him to the ground and clutching his neck.

With venomous rage, she demanded:

“Where is my father? Where is my brother? Where is the dog servant?!”

Where had they gone?

These questions churned repeatedly in her mind.

Now, at last, she had an answer.

Unconsciously, she loosened her grip and whispered:

“You say... they’re all dead? But the dog servant is alive?

Why, why did they die? Could it be that the officials discovered our identity?

No, no—that can’t be. So why is the dog servant not dead?”

Cheng Cai crawled out from beneath her, his delicate face flushed a deep purplish hue. After a while, he caught his breath.

He curled his lips and looked at the heartbreak-stricken woman.

“You still don’t know? The dog servant is no longer a dog servant.”

As the woman’s eyes filled with confusion, he slowly spoke.

“She is now the second young lady of the Minister of Revenue, a noble daughter destined to enjoy a lifetime of endless wealth and honor!”

Li Yin’s entire body trembled.