Volume One, Chapter 16: Long Discarded

“Is it true that Madam Lu serves as a handmaiden to the Empress in the imperial palace?”

Everyone knew the story well—the betrayal of the new emperor, once the Seventh Prince, by Ruan Liuzheng, who then turned to lie with Lord Lu. The methods were cruel and despicable, earning universal disdain.

The new emperor detested her deeply and, to humiliate her further, had her enter the palace as a handmaiden. Though this was an open secret, no one spoke of it openly. However, Lady Zhou, already jealous of Ruan Liuzheng’s superior status, deliberately demeaned her.

Ruan Liuzheng was momentarily taken aback, yet before she could respond, Ruan Yingying said, “She is my sister, merely here to attend to the Empress. There is no distinction of handmaiden or not.”

This was an admission. Lady Zhou sneered, “I never expected those delicate hands that play the zither so skillfully to be servants. Then, Madam Lu, kindly pour me some wine.”

Before Ruan Liuzheng could reply, Ruan Yingying interjected, “My sister only obeys me; please pour wine for Lady Zhou instead.”

They wanted her to publicly admit she was a handmaiden. If she truly did so and the rumor spread, she would become the laughingstock of the entire capital.

Ruan Liuzheng was indifferent. Pouring wine was trivial, and she reached for the wine vessel. Before her fingers touched it, Lu Chengze pulled her behind him.

“What is the purpose of the maidservants by Lady Zhou’s side? Don’t you hear the lady asking for wine? If not, I’ll teach them a lesson myself.”

Lady Zhou retorted, “She schemed against you back then, and you still defend her?”

“So what? Now she is a Lu family woman, no one can mistreat her at will.”

Seeing his protectiveness, Lady Zhou ceased her provocations.

Lu Chengze bit his lip and asked Ruan Liuzheng, “Don’t you know how to fight back?”

Ruan Liuzheng replied, “I was a handmaiden in the palace from the start; she’s not wrong. You and Ruan Yingying made me realize my place, didn’t you?”

He seemed to have forgotten how they once forced her to kneel and serve.

“You weren’t like this before,” he said.

If she had been humiliated in the past, she would not have been so indifferent. How could she now be so easily bullied by everyone?

Ruan Liuzheng sneered coldly, knowing she was already the joke of all. They all wanted to see her fall—especially Chu Yunze. Seeing her like this must satisfy him.

Thinking of this, her eyes reddened.

Ruan Yingying, who hadn’t seen Lu Chengze defend Ruan Liuzheng like this in a long time, wondered if he had truly fallen for her sister.

Impossible; Lu Chengze belonged to her, and she would never allow otherwise.

She said to Chu Yunze beside her, “It seems the bond between Sister and Brother Chengze is growing stronger.”

Chu Yunze took a sip of wine and said, “Isn’t that what you want?”

“Yes,” Ruan Yingying smiled, though her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

The royal banquet displayed a dazzling array of flowers—magnificent peonies and pure, elegant lotuses, among many rare blossoms—each more breathtaking than the last.

“These are the seven-colored flowers sent from the Western Regions by His Majesty’s command. Their petals are full and vivid, a testament to how much the emperor favors the Empress.”

He had once treated her with such special care; now, he was equally attentive to her sister. This was who he was—a sincere, passionate man.

Ruan Liuzheng had always loved flowers, yet now she felt no joy in admiring them.

After a few sips of wine, she planned to find an excuse to leave and rest.

But someone refused to let her go—Lady Zhou again.

“Madam Lu used to play the zither so well. Why not perform a piece for everyone at this flower appreciation banquet?”

Her hand trembled slightly; her fingers had been cut by the strings and bitten by a snake behind the secret door.

She dared not ask Doctor Zhao about her hand’s condition or whether she could still play. The truth was unbearable for her to face.

Lady Zhou continued, “What’s the matter? Is it difficult? It’s just a performance. Or are you really just an obedient dog, only serving the Empress?”

Ruan Liuzheng shot her a warning glance. With so many people present, she had to restrain herself and quickly said, “I was only joking.”

Ruan Yingying smirked, “Sister, isn’t this your greatest skill? You were once famed throughout the capital for your zither playing. Your Majesty, would you like to hear her play?”

Ruan Liuzheng was nervous, but Chu Yunze said, “Whether I listen or not is immaterial. If you wish to hear, so be it.”

It was as if she were nothing more than a servant playing the zither. Yet at that moment, the words “so be it” were once spoken by him to her.

They had spent days playing together—their music accompanied by flowing water as they sat in the small boat. He would sometimes stop to pick lotus seeds and feed them to her.

On a whim, she suggested fishing and roasting the catch; he indulged her, saying, “Whatever you want.”

Her throat tightened with emotion. “Very well, your humble servant will disgrace herself.”

Her zither was ruined, but Lu Chengze had sent her a new one.

Ruan Yingying remarked, “I haven’t seen this zither before. Did Lord Lu send it to Sister? What about your old one?”

Ruan Liuzheng’s breath caught; she hadn’t expected Ruan Yingying to know even that.

Lu Chengze said indifferently, “How long has that old zither been played? Madam discarded it long ago.”

Those words struck hard in certain hearts.

Chu Yunze’s grip on his porcelain cup tightened, his expression calm.

Ruan Liuzheng’s fingers trembled uncontrollably as they touched the strings. She frowned, sensing a bad omen.

She hadn’t played in a long time, and whispers began to spread.

“Could it be that Madam Lu can no longer play?”

Lu Chengze declared, “How absurd! My wife is most skilled at the zither. There’s no way she can’t play.”

Yet even he was anxious; with so many watching, she represented the Lu family’s honor.

Ruan Liuzheng remained silent for a long while before lowering her gaze and plucking the strings.

The melody was gentle and still beautiful, but soon discordant notes arose. Her hand shook violently; she looked at her trembling fingers in agony.

She could no longer do it—the skill she once took pride in was beyond her reach now.

Whispers and criticisms filled the air.

Lady Zhou sneered, “What is this? She’s barely played a moment, yet now Madam Lu is worse than a three-year-old child. She’s truly unfit to perform.”

Ruan Liuzheng’s hand stiffened; she knelt down and whispered, “Apologies, I cannot do it. I beg Your Majesty and the Empress to punish me.”

Ruan Yingying said, “Your Majesty, Sister may be unprepared and out of practice. Please don’t blame her. Perhaps she should learn from the opera troupe; maybe then she’ll remember how to play.”

This was a blatant insult to Ruan Liuzheng.

Her zither skills were incomparable to those of performers.

Unexpectedly, Chu Yunze said, “Madam Lu, did you hear that?”