Lanyin snapped back to reality at the sound of Old Madam Qi’s voice.
Fearing that others might notice, she quickly withdrew her gaze and suppressed the fluttering in her heart, responding with a soft “Mm.”
On the surface, she could feign indifference, but how could she conceal the stirring in her heart? The lychees of this season were the first batch—not only sweet but also bursting with juice. Lanyin felt as if that sweetness traveled straight from her throat to her heart, spreading through her limbs, momentarily overwhelming the bitterness that had been lodged there.
Today was the grand opening. Although Shopkeeper Sun was overseeing the affairs downstairs, it wouldn’t do for Lanyin to remain idle upstairs the entire time. Just then, Shi Yu arrived with a message, saying that a few of her old acquaintances had come. After briefly excusing herself to Old Madam Qi and the others, she made her way downstairs.
“Who’s here?” Lanyin asked as she walked.
Shi Yu lowered her voice and reported, “The eldest young madam of the Xu family from the Ministry of Appointments, the second young madam of the imperial censor’s family, and the eldest madam of the Cheng family…”
They were indeed her former acquaintances.
However, Lanyin had married into Bianjing. Her acquaintance with these women was mainly through banquets and social engagements, facilitated by their families’ connections. Their relationships could be considered amicable, but not particularly close. They exchanged pleasantries during festivals and formal gatherings, but they never maintained personal contact.
Otherwise, during her divorce, how could they have remained utterly silent?
Lanyin didn’t think much of it. The world was full of relationships built on convenience and benefits—just as Madam Cheng had once advised her, “It is always better to maintain good relations than to make enemies.” She understood their position. After marriage, a woman’s social circle changed drastically. Daily life was consumed by household responsibilities, leaving little time even for visiting their own families, let alone maintaining friendships.
Unless they were childhood companions, their friendships, built mid-way through life and tied to family interests, neither had the time nor the inclination for deep bonds.
When she reached the private room, she heard voices from inside before she even entered.
“I never expected Gu Lanyin to be living even more comfortably after leaving the Earl’s residence. I heard that the person who came from the Pang family to deliver gifts today was none other than Madam Pang’s trusted servant, Madam Cheng. And that’s not all—the esteemed Old Madam of Prince Rui’s residence also attended.”
“That’s not even the most shocking part!”
Another voice, though hushed, could barely contain its amazement. “Even the matriarch of the Ji family showed up today! She’s someone even the emperor addresses as ‘Aunt.’ I heard that when Noble Consort Du held her birthday banquet last time, she specifically sent an invitation to the Ji matriarch, but the old lady claimed she was unwell and didn’t attend. And now, unexpectedly, she has come out to support Gu Lanyin!”
“Who knows how she managed to invite such figures to back her? I saw the carriages lining up outside, with gifts pouring in from all directions. Even prominent families are sending invitation cards, eager to have her attend their banquets.” Someone sighed in admiration. “Not long ago, people were saying that after leaving the Marquis’s household, we would probably never see Gu Lanyin again. But now, it looks like if she’s willing, the noble families of Bianjing will be vying to make her their honored guest!”
The murmurs continued inside, but Lanyin kept her expression unreadable. Just as she was about to enter, another comment reached her ears.
“By the way, did you see it? Even the Xiao family sent someone.”
Lanyin’s steps halted, and her brows furrowed.
“They dared to come?” someone asked in surprise. “Could it be the heir of the Xiao family? I heard from my husband that he’s been acting strange lately—perhaps he regrets divorcing Gu Lanyin. But since the separation was already finalized and even officially recorded by the emperor, he wouldn’t dare to cause trouble now.”
“Master…”
Hearing Xiao Ye’s name, Shi Yu immediately tensed up, fear flashing in her eyes. She worried that he might cause another scene like before. Her voice dropped into an anxious whisper, and she glanced toward the entrance, as if wanting to send someone to confirm the situation.
Before Lanyin could speak, another voice from inside chimed in.
“That’s not it. It was just a maid sent to gather information—probably by the Marchioness. Speaking of her, she’s truly laughable. My maid told me something interesting the other day. The Marchioness originally planned to arrange a new marriage for the heir, but first, she was disrupted by her own daughter, then scolded by her son. I heard that she’s been bedridden these days, supposedly due to illness.”
“The son had only just divorced, and she was already making such arrangements—no wonder Xiao Ye and Xiao Siyu clashed with her!” The young madam speaking was also a daughter-in-law herself and had suffered at the hands of her mother-in-law. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but share in the indignation.
Others chimed in, “Her methods of tormenting people were infamous in our circles. Even my mother-in-law can’t compare to her. It’s fortunate that Gu Lanyin is both capable and resilient. If she were weak-willed, she wouldn’t have lasted even a year in that household.”
“I heard that the second madam of the Duke of Lu’s household also sent a gift to Gu Lanyin today. If the Marchioness finds out, won’t she be furious again?”
A round of suppressed laughter echoed through the room.
Lanyin glanced at Shi Yu, who immediately understood and stepped forward. The door creaked open, cutting off the laughter and chatter inside. Lanyin smoothed her clothing, and as Shi Yu pushed the door open, she stepped into the private room under the eyes of all present, walking in with the sunlight at her back.
“Apologies for keeping you all waiting.”
Unlike her earlier flustered state before Qi Yubai, Lanyin always maintained an air of calm composure before others. Her expression was warm, her smile gentle, giving no indication of the nervousness she had felt upstairs.
The gathered women, unsure how much she had overheard, relaxed upon seeing her unchanged demeanor. No one brought up the previous conversation, and they simply greeted her with a smile. “We were just talking about you, and here you are.”
“Come sit, sister! We’ve been waiting for you!”
Several of them rose to take her hand in a display of sisterly affection.
Lanyin maintained a soft smile, letting them pull her along. As they walked together, she caught a glimpse of a young lady in the room out of the corner of her eye, and her smile paused for a fraction of a second.
“You still remember my niece, Rou’er, don’t you?” It was Madam Zhou Chaofang, the eldest young madam of the Xu family, who spoke. Among the women present, her status was the highest—not only was her husband’s family powerful, but her own natal family held considerable influence in the city.
Lanyin had once been closest to her.
Zhou Chaofang affectionately linked arms with Lanyin while glancing toward the young girl in pink. “Today is your grand opening, so I thought I’d bring this little one along to broaden her horizons.”
The young lady was the unmarried daughter of the Xu family. Lanyin had met her before when visiting the Xu residence, so she naturally recognized her. Seeing the girl bow politely and greet her with impeccable manners, Lanyin remained composed, nodding slightly in acknowledgment and offering a polite compliment. “She’s grown even more lovely.”
Yet, she understood the underlying intent.
Zhou Chaofang’s visit today was likely not just about celebrating the opening.
Though the others had their own intentions as well, hers was likely… related to Qi Yubai.
Lanyin recalled that, during past visits to the Xu residence, Zhou Chaofang had mentioned that her mother-in-law hoped to establish a marriage alliance with the Qi family. The Xu family had even sent invitations to Qi Yubai on multiple occasions. Back then, as an outsider, Lanyin had no particular thoughts on the matter and had even occasionally helped offer advice.
But now…
The realization that the man they had once set their sights on had been with her just a while ago unsettled her.
Yet, Lanyin quickly suppressed that feeling. So many people liked Qi Yubai—who was she to feel uncomfortable about it?
Sure enough.
After a round of tea and casual conversation, as the other two madams stepped outside to admire the displayed garments, Zhou Chaofang took the opportunity to speak privately with Lanyin.
“This may be a bit presumptuous,” she began, “but I wanted to ask—what exactly is your relationship with Old Madam Qi? When I arrived earlier, I overheard people saying that she treats you like her own junior.”
“She was a close friend of my maternal grandmother. When she visited Jinling in the past, she stayed at my grandmother’s estate for a time. I only learned of it recently.” Though she was uncomfortable, Lanyin answered truthfully.
Many had heard about the Qi family’s exile to Jinling back then. Zhou Chaofang’s father had served in the Ministry of Justice and would have known even more. Hearing Lanyin’s explanation, she suddenly understood and sighed with a smile. “Fate truly works in mysterious ways!”
After a moment of reflection, she set down her teacup and reached for Lanyin’s hand.
“Sister, since we’ve known each other, I’ve never asked you for anything—but today, I have no choice,” Zhou Chaofang sighed before glancing at Xu Rou beside her. “My sister-in-law has already come of age and is at the right age for marriage. The problem is, she has taken a liking to Lord Qi. But you know how he is—he has never been one for lively socializing, and Old Madam Qi rarely appears in public. Even if we wanted to inquire about his thoughts, we wouldn’t even know where to start.”
Families of their status never acted rashly.
If they formally sent a matchmaker only to be refused, it wouldn’t just be personal embarrassment—it would be a blow to the entire family’s reputation. That’s why they always sought to sound out the other party’s intentions first. If both sides were interested, only then would they proceed with formal marriage negotiations.
As soon as the Xu family heard that the Qi family’s grandmother and grandson were here today, they rushed over, hoping to take this opportunity to test Qi Yubai’s stance.
Seeing Lanyin’s hesitation, Zhou Chaofang pressed further. “Sister, please help me just this once. No matter what difficulties you may face in the future, the Xu family and the Zhou family will never stand by and do nothing.”
Lanyin had no interest in earning their gratitude, but when she looked at Xu Rou, she hesitated. The girl was dressed in soft pink, youthful and delicate. Though she kept her head lowered in shyness, the flush on her cheeks could not be concealed. The bright, clear eyes filled with shy longing and hopeful anticipation—
Perhaps, if Qi Yubai saw a girl like this, he would realize what he truly needed. A gentle and affectionate young lady who gazed at him with admiration—how could a rigid, unromantic woman like her compare?
Conflicting emotions swirled within Lanyin’s heart. One voice urged her, “Gu Lanyin, don’t agree! Don’t you like him?” But another voice whispered, “Do you really deserve Qi Yubai?”
In the end, the latter voice won.
She let out a quiet sigh. No matter what she felt inside, not a single trace of emotion showed on her face. She withdrew her gaze and looked at Zhou Chaofang. “I can only help you ask. I cannot guarantee that they will agree to meet.”
“That is more than enough!” Zhou Chaofang did not bother hiding her excitement, gripping Lanyin’s hand gratefully. “The fact that you are willing to introduce us is already a great kindness. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on fate.”
She turned to Xu Rou and urged, “Rou’er, quickly thank your Sister Gu.”
Xu Rou was just about to rise when Lanyin stopped her. “There’s no need for that.”
She wasn’t doing this for her.
Since Shi Yu wasn’t around, Lanyin called over a servant and instructed them to go upstairs and inquire whether Old Madam Qi was willing to receive guests. While they waited for a response, Zhou Chaofang pulled Xu Rou aside, instructing her on etiquette and proper behavior, making sure that everything—from her posture to her appearance—was impeccable.
Lanyin, however, felt increasingly distracted.
Finally, the servant returned with a message. Old Madam Qi was willing to meet them.
Zhou Chaofang, overjoyed, immediately took Xu Rou’s hand. Seeing that Lanyin remained seated, she called out, “Sister?”
Lanyin snapped out of her thoughts. Looking at the two, their faces alight with joy and anticipation, she felt a bitter taste on her tongue. Forcing a smile, she said, “I won’t be going up. You go ahead.”
With so much happening downstairs, Zhou Chaofang assumed she was simply busy and didn’t take offense. Laughing, she said, “Then go on with your work. I’ll come find you later to discuss business.” She nodded at Lanyin before leading Xu Rou outside.
As their footsteps faded, Lanyin continued staring in their direction. Her mind was a mess. She couldn’t stop herself from wondering—if Qi Yubai really fell for Xu Rou, then she…
Just the thought of that possibility made her chest tighten with an unexplainable sadness.
Lowering her gaze, she let out a self-deprecating laugh. Once again, she found herself thinking that she truly wasn’t worthy of Qi Yubai’s affection. Look at her—this was just the kind of person she was. Always thinking about the worst possible outcome, retreating before anything even began, fearing this, fearing that. She pushed people away, only to find herself lingering in regret afterward, unable to let go.
How could someone like her deserve to be loved?
Perhaps she truly was meant to spend the rest of her life alone.
The world outside bustled with activity, but Lanyin raised her hand to cover her eyes, unwilling to look out even once more.