Chapter 1
Song Jinyu was so startled by my words that she forgot to cry. I added,
“The lady seated at the head must be Grandmother, and the man who brought me home is Father. So which of them are you cursing?”
“I wasn’t! Jinyu would never dare!”
Song Jinyu hurriedly wiped away her tears. The red rims of her eyes alone were enough to inspire pity.
Lu Cheng’an, who was standing nearby, certainly fell for it. He crossed over in a few strides and helped her to her feet.
“Jinyu meant no such thing. Words can wound worse still, so I hope you will mind your tongue, miss.”
I could not even be bothered to look at him.
“And you are?”
Only then did Chancellor Song, who had been silent behind me, step forward to make the introduction.
“This is Lu Cheng’an, the eldest son of the Marquis of Pingyang.”
I said disdainfully,
“You interfere freely in another family’s affairs. I see the Marquis of Pingyang’s household is no better at raising its children.”
Anger flashed across Lu Cheng’an’s face. He was about to argue when Old Madam Song, seated above us, laughed.
“The girl is right. I am still alive, and the young lord need not trouble himself to interfere in the Song family’s affairs.”
Lu Cheng’an looked humiliated.
“Jinyu and I are betrothed. Surely that means I am not an outsider to the prime minister’s residence.”
I arched a brow. The young lord’s skin was every bit as thick as I remembered.
Old Madam Song waved a hand.
“You are not yet married. Whether this engagement still stands must be reconsidered from the beginning. The girl promised to the Marquis of Pingyang’s household was not Jinyu, but the daughter of the prime minister’s family.”
At those words, not only Lu Cheng’an but Song Jinyu also went white. She sniffled.
“Grandmother, please don’t be angry. This is all my fault. I took my younger sister’s identity and condemned her to so many years of hardship. It was all my fault. Now that she has returned, I will accept becoming her slave or servant if that is what it takes. I only beg her to calm her anger and not drive me out of the Song family.”
Lu Cheng’an’s heart ached for her.
“Jinyu, none of this was your fault…”
“Gladly!”
Ignoring the fool, I beamed at Song Jinyu.
“First, kneel on the floor and slap yourself a hundred times. Then change into a maid’s uniform and go empty the chamber pots in the back courtyard. How does that sound?”
Before Song Jinyu could react, Lu Cheng’an cut in.
“Don’t go too far!”
“And what if I do?”
I walked up to Song Jinyu and lifted her chin.
“Your birth mother switched us at birth. You occupied my place for fifteen years. You lived in wealth and luxury while I begged in the streets and endured beatings and abuse. Shouldn’t you suffer a little? Surely you don’t truly think I believe you knew nothing about your identity.”
Everyone in the hall changed color, Song Jinyu most of all.
I gave a derisive laugh and flung her aside. She fell to the floor.
“Don’t worry. Your birth mother is already dead. If you want to confront her, I’m afraid you’ll have to petition the King of Hell in person.”
Blue veins stood out on the hand Song Jinyu had clenched around her skirt. She gritted her teeth and looked up at me.
“May I ask how she died?”
“I killed her.”
I spoke as casually as if I were discussing the weather.
“I drugged her, tied her up, and waited for her to wake. Then I used a kitchen knife to sever the tendons in her wrists and ankles. The knife was terribly blunt. It took me a full hour. She screamed so loudly, sweating from the pain, and the smell of blood on her was unbearable, so I threw her into the Earth God temple outside the city. She stopped breathing that same night.”
Song Jinyu endured the whole account and even managed to shed two more tears. Lu Cheng’an was about to interfere again, but I glanced at him.
“If I’d had the sword at your waist, young lord, perhaps that old whore would not have suffered so much.”
The young lord shut his mouth.
Old Madam Song, however, regarded me with newfound affection.
“Did Huai’an know about this?”
Chancellor Song, who had been making himself invisible at the side, was called out by name. His face looked as though he had eaten filth.
“I arrived just as she was throwing the old woman out.”
“Oh? What was the scene like?”
“Rather bloody.”
“Did she have any help?”
“No.”
“Was she afraid?”
“No.”
“Good!”
Old Madam Song slapped the table.
“Now that is a daughter of the Song family—ruthless enough and brave enough, unlike certain creatures who spend all day weeping and putting on an act!”
The target of her remark knew perfectly well who she was. The insult was the last straw, and she fainted on the spot.
“Jinyu!”
Lu Cheng’an panicked. He swept her into his arms.
“Old Madam, Chancellor Song, I don’t care which woman is the daughter of this household. Jinyu is the only wife I acknowledge, and she is the only woman I will marry!”
With that, he turned and carried Song Jinyu away.
Chancellor Song looked rather awkward. Few people had ever humiliated him so openly.
I snorted.
“That man wasn’t raised properly, and he’s far too full of himself. Does he honestly think he’s some prize everyone wants? Nothing annoys me more than a posturing fool who looks righteous but is actually as stupid as a pig. Old man, if you’re so determined to keep the engagement, marry him yourself. He may already be used goods, but you’re almost twenty years older than he is, so at least you won’t be getting the worse end of the bargain!”
Lu Cheng’an, who had not gone far, faltered and nearly dropped Song Jinyu.
Chancellor Song was speechless.
Was that really the issue here?
Old Madam Song, on the other hand, laughed heartily and beckoned me closer.
“You really are an amusing girl. As expected of my own granddaughter!”
I obediently went to her.
“You’re a little too thin.”
Old Madam Song stroked my cheek.
“What have you been called all these years away from home?”
“Caihua.”
“What in heaven’s name is that?”
I explained with complete seriousness.
“I love wealth, and I’m as pretty as a flower, so I called myself Caihua—Wealth Blossom.”
Old Madam Song stared at Chancellor Song in disbelief. He nodded painfully. She drew a deep breath and forced a smile.
“Now that you are home, your name should change as well. How about Weilan? Song Weilan?”
I rolled the three syllables over my tongue, then smiled at Old Madam Song.
“I’ll do as Grandmother wishes.”
Old Madam Song nodded in satisfaction and held my hand, her face blooming with delight.
“I’ve already had a courtyard prepared for you. Grandmother will walk you there. On the way, you can tell me in detail how you finished off that wicked old woman!”
I fell silent.
This grandmother of mine was a little unhinged.