Chapter 11: The Second Personality

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Su Qing was stunned for a long moment before finally letting out a soft “hmm” and nodding. Only then did he, somewhat absent-mindedly, step out of the Wisteria Courtyard where Murong Huan was.

It seemed she was truly better now. He recalled how, after the untimely death of their second brother, the child had seemed to change completely — not only setting fire to the mourning hall but also harboring hostility toward all the Su family members, avoiding anyone’s company. She had even accidentally injured Mrs. Qiu with scissors, though fortunately, Mrs. Qiu had been magnanimous and did not hold it against a mere seven-year-old.

Later, the family agreed to send the child to live at the estate, and their father no longer opposed the idea.

…

After Su Qing left, Ashu brought the freshly cooked glutinous rice cakes to Murong Huan and curiously asked, “Huan, why did you say that getting too close to the Qiu or Zhou families would bring disaster?”

Murong Huan closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time. Just as Ashu thought she wouldn’t answer, she suddenly opened her eyes, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips as she said, “Because… I will make them die.”

“Oh!”

Ashu responded out of habit but immediately sensed something was amiss. She looked at Murong Huan again and quickly changed her posture, kneeling before her.

“Are you… Her Highness the Princess?”

“What does Her Highness command?”

This title of “Princess” was the first sign Ashu noticed that another persona existed within Murong Huan. Unlike Murong Huan, who preferred white garments, this so-called princess only wore dark robes, made from the finest fabrics. She was proud, sharp-tongued, picky, violent, and extremely vain.

This “princess” was difficult to reason with and carried an air of superiority.

Thus, when facing her, Ashu could only show utmost loyalty and respect.

The awakened Li Linghuan hummed softly, took a bite of the rice cake before her, then frowned. “Terrible taste. After all this time, why does it still taste so awful?”

“Princess, Ashu has been trying very hard to improve her cooking,” Ashu said with some grievance.

Unexpectedly, this time the young lady did not blame her.

“Fine, just enough to fill the stomach,” she said, standing up. Her gaze fell on her clothes. “What am I wearing? It doesn’t highlight my noble aura at all. Where are my clothes?”

“Right here, right here!”

Ashu hurriedly found the dark robe embroidered with golden patterns that had once cost several taels of silver from a master tailor and draped it over her.

“Now take me out for a stroll.”

“So late? Going out for a stroll?”

“Having finally escaped that remote, oppressive place that restricted my freedom, I naturally need to familiarize myself with this environment.”

Ashu did not want to go out, so Li Linghuan shot her a glare. Ashu quickly became obedient and tremulously replied, “Yes, I will obey Her Highness’s command!”

She did not understand why her young mistress had developed such a strange affliction—to be so vain as to call herself a princess! But as long as she didn’t shout it in public, it was fine.

Thinking this, Ashu’s mood brightened, and she swiftly adjusted to the change, embracing her new role.

To be the perfect servant to Her Highness the Princess!

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…

As evening deepened, around the hour of You (about 5-7 pm), many of the Su family members had already gone to sleep. The spacious residence, stretching four courtyards deep, had grown very quiet, with ancient trees towering and pavilions scattered throughout.

After exiting the hanging flower gate, Li Linghuan followed a verdant path toward a pavilion ahead. She glanced at the Su family’s ancestral hall, likely where the tablet of Duke Su Dingfang was enshrined.

At the thought, a sigh escaped Li Linghuan’s heart.

Without Su Dingfang, the Su family had inevitably declined. The current patriarch, Su Qing, held only a lowly ninth-rank official position attending the imperial carriage.

What if the second young master of the Su family were still alive?

Li Linghuan thought of Murong Huan’s father, Su Minghe, the only member of a military family who had passed the imperial examination to become a doctoral scholar at the Imperial Academy. He had apparently accompanied the famed physician Yang Shangshan into the palace to treat Emperor Gaozong. Though he cured the emperor’s blindness through bloodletting, the emperor’s chronic headaches soon relapsed. After the Fengshan sacrifices on Mount Tai in the second year of Yongchun, the emperor died shortly thereafter.

Subsequently, the Wu family, with the Empress Dowager ascending to regency, began eliminating rivals and monopolizing power. Using her authority as the founder of the Wu Zhou dynasty, she replaced the core governance of the Li Tang imperial clan. When the time was ripe, she formally ascended the throne and changed the country’s name to Wu Zhou.

The second year of the Tian Shou era marked the second year of her reign. Before this, three crown princes had died amid the power struggles led by the Empress Wu: Prince Yan Li Zhong, Emperor Xiaojing Li Hong, and Crown Prince Zhanghuai Li Xian.

Two others were deposed after becoming emperor: King Ying Li Xian and Prime Minister Li Dan.

Now, Li Xian had been demoted to King of Luling and placed under house arrest in Fangzhou, living a life of trembling fear with his wife, Lady Wei. Every inquiry by the empress’s envoys further crushed their fragile spirits.

In a previous life, if not for Lady Wei’s constant comfort and protection, the weak deposed emperor might have taken his own life before anyone else could lay a hand on him.

After all, Crown Prince Zhanghuai Li Xian hanged himself after a visit from the ruthless official Qiu Shenji. His chilling, maniacal laughter before death served as a grim warning to the Li Tang clan.

After touring the Su family mansion, Li Linghuan pointed to the courtyards on the east and west and asked, “Who lives in those two places?”

“I… I don’t know. We just arrived at the Su family. We’re not very familiar with everything here.”

“I give you three days to learn about everyone here and their relationships.”

“Ah?”

“Do you think it’s easy to survive in a noble household? If you don’t know about people, you won’t even know how they died.”

Ashu responded with an “oh,” then heard Li Linghuan continue, “Also, have Murong Huan study at the Imperial Academy.”

“What? You want my mistress… to study at the Imperial Academy? Do they even accept female students?”

Li Linghuan shot Ashu a displeased glare.

“Shangguan Wan’er established the Xiuwen Institute and managed imperial edicts, earning the reputation of a female prime minister. The imperial guards have a female officer named Wulingyue who spies on ministers’ secrets. Even the current sage is a woman. Why can’t your mistress study at the Imperial Academy?”

Li Linghuan’s words left Ashu dumbfounded. Then she shifted tone: “If being a woman is inconvenient, then disguise her as a man and find a way to get her in.”

“Disguise as a man? Last night, we couldn’t even fool that white-haired gentleman…”

“That’s because you encountered someone with a ‘Seven Thefts Exquisite Heart’—a person with hawk-like vision and a nose as keen as a dog’s. Not everyone is as discerning as him.

Besides, he recognized her because you, foolish girl, blurted out the truth yourself.”

“I… I…” Ashu’s tongue tied, “May I ask, why?”

“Studying history brings wisdom; knowing the past helps judge the present. Reading more books will benefit you all in the future. Do you want to be as foolish as you are now?”

Li Linghuan scolded sharply. Ashu had no reply. Then Li Linghuan mused, “Besides, I want her to become an official someday, to follow the path her father never completed. No one in this city knows Su Minghe has a daughter. They’d just think she’s a son.”

“But the Su family knows!”

Ashu’s words made Li Linghuan fall silent. Finally, she said, “Then she must find a way.”

Ashu was speechless. When they reached the Wisteria Courtyard again, Li Linghuan suddenly paused and said, “I’m going out for a moment.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Ashu, frightened, hurried to grab her and pitifully asked, “So late, where are you going? Can I come with you?”

“Bringing along a silly, cute girl like you? Do I have that much of a death wish?”

“I… I…”

Ashu’s eyes widened; she didn’t even notice how her hand slipped loose. In the blink of an eye, Li Linghuan, like a night elf, leapt over the black-tiled walls and red brick fences, vanishing into the night, leaving only trembling flower branches and scattered petals behind.

Ashu stood stunned for a long while before finishing her words: “Silly and cute?”

She was clearly very clever!

…

At the hour of Xu Yi (about 7:15 pm), the grand residence of the Taiyuan Wang family in Sigong Lane was still brightly lit, especially in front of Wang Xueying’s chamber, where a crowd had gathered.

News of Wang Xueying’s death and resurrection had spread through the streets and alleys of the capital. The tale grew with each retelling until people believed the fifth lady of the Wang family was divinely protected, a heavenly maiden descended to the mortal world.

Visitors kept pouring in. Zhou Jiulang’s interest in Lady Wang had grown stronger than ever. The very next day, he sent a marriage proposal with gifts, declaring he would marry no one but Lady Wang.

Thus, the Wang family had gathered here, worried she might attempt suicide again.

“Everyone, please go home. Aying will no longer harm herself. I ask grandmother to negotiate a fortunate wedding date with the Zhou family so Aying can marry soon.”

Her tone, free from past sorrow, seemed to accept fate.

Several women of the Wang family sighed with relief.

“Aying, don’t blame your grandfather, grandmother, or your father for being heartless. Zhou Shilang has made many attempts using this method. If we refuse, not only your grandparents and father, but even your uncles could be falsely accused and imprisoned. The charges they fabricate are impossible to escape. Even Prime Minister Le committed suicide. You don’t want our Wang family to suffer that fate, do you?”

The matriarch of the Wang family wiped her tears, wearing a look of agonizing compassion. Wang Xueying nodded, “Grandmother, I understand. I will follow whatever you arrange.”

The old lady’s eyes brightened. “Then tomorrow, you shall meet Zhou Jiulang?”

“Yes.”

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