Chapter 8: The Jade Dew Cluster

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Pei Zhenzhen stared in disbelief at everything unfolding before her, never imagining things could be handled in such a way.
“Thank you... thank you, sister,” she said, dazed, looking at Lin Menghua, who had just stopped her.
“I hope cousin won’t blame me for making a scene,” Lin Menghua said, rubbing her forehead with a smile.
Pei Zhenzhen shook her head. “If they started quarreling in the street, it was only a matter of time before everyone knew. Now, your family has gained the upper hand.”
Lin Menghua nodded appreciatively, seeing how quickly Pei Zhenzhen composed herself to think things through.
“Princess, Miss Cousin wishes to invite you and the secondary consort for tea,” Lin Quan said upon returning.
Lin Menghua spotted a lady not far off as soon as she got out of the carriage. She turned and smiled at Lin Quan. “You did well. There will be a reward!”
Lin Quan chuckled. “Princess, if there’s another chance for such a pleasant task, just send me.”
“I’ll reward you too!” Pei Zhenzhen said, looking at him.
Lin Quan no longer hesitated. “Thank you, secondary consort.”
Yang Yin, upon learning the two had come out for Jade Dew Dumplings, had reserved a private room.
“Madame Wang once tried making them herself, but they never turned out as good as those from outside,” Lin Menghua remarked, gazing at the translucent flower-shaped dumplings on the table.
“Could it be that the cheese wasn’t prepared right?” Yang Yin asked.
Lin Menghua shook her head, admitting ignorance.
Pei Zhenzhen candidly said, “We only know how to eat!”
Yang Yin couldn’t help but smile at Lin Menghua. “Even after getting married, you’re still like this.”
Though she smiled, her expression held an unshakable sadness.
“Cousin Yin, when did you arrive in the capital?” Lin Menghua asked.
Lin Menghua’s maternal aunt, Xue Min, had married into the Yang family of Yongzhou and had a son, Yang Sheng, and a daughter, Yang Yin. Yang Yin had married into the Zhou family.
“My father-in-law was recently transferred back to the capital and promoted to Imperial Censor, so our whole family returned. I originally planned to visit my grandfather soon, but then this incident happened...”
“Cousin, have you ever thought about divorce?” Lin Menghua asked.
“Nonsense! Families like ours don’t consider divorce!” Yang Yin sighed.
Lin Menghua looked at her, somewhat enlightened. She had seen Yang Yin after her death—pale, gaunt, utterly exhausted—a woman literally killed by grief and anger.
After her death, Yang Yin was branded a jealous woman and hastily buried. Zhou Shi quickly brought a concubine into the household, citing her jealousy and lack of children as reasons.
No wonder she had so much resentment when she first arrived in the underworld.

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No children? Ha...
Yang Yin and Zhou Shi did have a son. That child, unable to bear seeing his mother’s sorrow, took a servant and went to persuade his father to come home. On the street, a mad horse charged, and the boy was thrown far away. When Yang Yin arrived, the child was already dead.
Afterwards, Zhou Shi lied, claiming he was with friends discussing business and pinned all the blame on Yang Yin.
In front of everyone, he accused her of being unable to even care for her own child, unworthy of being a mother!
From then on, he grew increasingly reckless, openly bringing a concubine into the household and calling her madam...
“Cousin Yin, how is your little brother He?” Lin Menghua asked.
Mentioning her son, Yang Yin’s face brightened with a few smiles. “He’s already started his studies. I’ll bring him to pay his respects to you someday.”
“In that case, I’ll buy a box of Jade Dew Dumplings for my little nephew!” Lin Menghua and Pei Zhenzhen exchanged knowing smiles.
Imperial Censor Zhou was also watching the servant scurry about outside with amusement.
Because of his position, he paid close attention to every movement in the capital, so he always had his ears open.
He lifted his teacup and took a sip.
“What’s the matter? Found something?”
His tone betrayed a hint of excitement.
Though new to the capital, he knew that making enemies was unwise, but fortune favored the bold.
And as an official, everyone had their own methods.
Seeing the servant panting, he guessed it might be some noble’s son bullying others—a sure way to make a name but also dangerous due to possible retaliation.
“Did some aristocrat’s son cause trouble?”
“No...” the servant gasped for breath, “It was the Eldest Young Master...”
“The Eldest Young Master was bullied?” Zhou frowned, clutching his robe tightly.
Good! If a noble’s son was abusing his power and beating a fellow official’s child, it would be easier to sway the other censors!
“The Eldest Young Master’s keeping a concubine has been discovered! Now the common folk are gossiping, saying he’s committing adultery and plotting against his lawful wife... they even say our family tricked her into marriage!”
The servant lowered his head and recounted everything in one breath, then looked at his master.
Zhou’s hand trembled slightly as he held his teacup, his face darkening.
“How was it suddenly discovered?”
“His wife found out. She wanted to bring the concubine home and give her a status, but the Eldest Young Master accused her of ill intentions. They argued, drawing a crowd of onlookers.”

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“A lot of people gathered around. Our Eldest Young Master often attends poetry gatherings and is well-known, so he was quickly recognized. The villagers say the scholar is having an affair. They saw him speak rudely to his wife and then insulted him, calling him and the concubine vile names—horrible things!”
Zhou trembled with anger. “Go fetch the Eldest Young Master and the madam!”
The Zhou family had two sons: the eldest, Zhou Shi and his family; the second, Zhou Li.
By now, the second household had also heard the news.
Zhou Li smirked, then turned to his wife, Sun, and flashed a charming smile. “See, I told you, unfaithful men are mostly scholars!”
Sun, furious, threw an unfinished shoe insole at him. “Enough! I know you don’t like studying. Don’t make excuses for yourself.”
“Madam...”
Zhou Li decisively tossed aside his book and sat beside Sun on the bed, hearing her say, “Big brother is really getting more and more reckless!”
“I heard father called big brother back. He’s probably going to scold him. Let’s go see!” Zhou Li’s interest was piqued at the thought.
After all, it wasn’t him who would be scolded!
About fifteen minutes later, the servant returned with Zhou Shi.
Zhou Shi had been planning to return anyway. After calming his mother-in-law, he was ready to confront Yang Yin.
Outside, he maintained a refined demeanor, but once through the door, he transformed like a rooster, striding in angrily.
Entering the main hall, he bowed to Zhou, “Father.”
“Where is Madam Yang?”
With a loud bang, Zhou slammed his teacup on the table.
“You scoundrel! What kind of trouble have you caused? You’ve brought shame on the family!”
His feelings toward this son were complicated. The second son was irresponsible and had failed the imperial exams many times after all those years of study. For now, this son was slightly better.
But the worst part was his obsession with that concubine.
“Hurry and send that concubine away!”
“Impossible!”
Zhou Shi’s anger flared. It was clearly all Yang Yin’s fault, yet the blame always fell on his mother-in-law, who had done nothing. No wonder she never wanted to enter the household!