Chapter 10: The Affair
There wasn’t much time. Noise from the front courtyard was already beginning to swell.
Ming Wei composed herself and adjusted her appearance once more. She must not lose face in front of others! Since she had made mistakes in her past life, this time, she would do her best to make up for them. She would not live out this life groveling in the rear court of the marquis household. The regrets of her former life must not repeat.
She smoothed out the creases on her dress caused by her clenched fists and looked again in the mirror. The pale yellow dress was perfectly fitted, her lightly powdered face held a faint glow, and the red-gold hair ornaments inlaid with pearls added a noble flair.
But when her gaze fell upon her black hair, her heart suddenly dropped—a long hairpin was missing!
The most eye-catching piece in the whole set was a long red-gold hairpin with a southern pearl clutched at its end. The pin itself wasn’t particularly rare—just heavier due to the gold—but that pearl, large and lustrous, gleamed with a warm sheen.
Panicked, Ming Wei reached up and felt through her bun—sure enough, it was gone. Where could it have fallen?! She forced herself to stay calm, replaying everything in her mind. It wasn’t that she was materialistic or overly attached to the pin. In her past life, she had indulged in riches beyond imagination, handing out night pearls as if they were candies. No, what worried her now was the trouble it might bring.
In her mind, she saw Manao’s smug face. Her two personal maids, Tangli and Yuelin, would surely be implicated too if it stirred up drama.
She had witnessed firsthand how ruthless Second Madam could be, especially in the way she handled Ming Rui’s marriage. That woman already disliked her—if she got a hold of this as a weakness…
She had to retrieve the pin immediately!
She’d ridden the carriage straight from the courtyard—had it fallen there, she would’ve felt it. At Rongshou Hall, she had been surrounded by people—if it had fallen then, someone would’ve noticed and told her.
That only left one place—the rockery. Ming Wei suddenly remembered. That was the only time she had been alone, and she’d been rushed out by Ming Fang. The entrance to the rockery was hidden and littered with dead branches. Even though she had been careful, one could easily snag a hair ornament.
The more she thought, the more certain she became. The pin must’ve been lost there.
Just losing the pin was one thing—while Second Madam was harsh toward illegitimate daughters, Ming Wei could still deal with that. But if someone else found it, and told Second Madam where it had been picked up... and if they also happened to mention Liu Jun and Ming Jue had been there... no matter how she tried to explain, it would look bad.
She didn’t dare imagine the consequences. If someone with ill intent got their hands on it, her reputation would be completely destroyed.
She had to find that pin!
Ming Wei took a deep breath and glanced at the little maid outside, who kept craning her neck to listen to the front courtyard commotion. Seizing the moment, Ming Wei quietly slipped along the covered corridor toward the large garden.
She lifted her skirts and walked briskly toward the rockery. Fortunately, she encountered no one along the way. Reaching the rockery, she crouched and searched carefully—and sure enough, there it was: the golden glint of the hairpin hidden among dry grass.
Ming Wei finally let out a sigh of relief. Finding it spared her from a world of trouble.
She picked up the pin, wiped away the dirt and grass, and carefully tucked it back into her hair.
Time was running out. The banquet in the front courtyard would begin soon. If she didn’t return soon, Ming Lian would surely send someone to find her. If anyone saw her here now, she wouldn’t be able to offer a good explanation.
She must avoid Ming Fang in the future! Ever since that girl showed up, nothing good had followed. If she hadn’t been dragged here, none of this would’ve happened! And with the second master’s favor behind her, Ming Fang acted without fear. Ming Wei shook her head bitterly. Who knew what that sister of hers might do next? While Ming Fang had her mother’s protection, Ming Wei was just a scapegoat for Second Madam’s temper. It was a terrible trade.
Just as Ming Wei was about to leave, the sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears. She thought it might be a maid sent to look for her and leaned forward slightly, ready to come up with an excuse.
Then a woman’s soft, breathy moan rang out.
Ming Wei froze. She wasn’t some naive girl—she knew exactly what that kind of sound meant. Her face flushed red instantly.
Were people... engaging in that kind of act here in broad daylight?
Worse still—she couldn’t reveal herself now!
She wanted to cry. She hadn’t asked to know about some lewd affair in the backyard!
But the most miserable part of all—she was squatting behind the rockery. One wrong move, and she’d be seen. If she were in the rockery, at least she could’ve stood more comfortably and stayed hidden.
As she tried to quiet her thoughts, the woman’s flirtatious voice rose again: “Fourth Young Master, you don’t miss me at all!”
It was sweet and cloying, like a cat pawing at someone’s heart—but Ming Wei found it nauseating.
The speaker was actually that Cuiniang—the newly purchased concubine maid her father had bought from a trafficker. Ming Wei remembered her clearly because of that vicious brawl with Concubine Wen—fighting over her father, no less.
Though Concubine Wen had barely won that round, Cuiniang hadn’t lost either. She’d gone all out, tearing Wen’s famously smooth hair into a tangled mess, even ripping out chunks—leaving Concubine Wen wailing in pain.
Just earlier, the second master had followed the Old Madam to receive an imperial decree. Ming Wei had seen it herself—he was busy entertaining imperial envoys! How would he have time to sneak into the garden for a tryst?
If not the second master, then who...?
"My little darling, my sweet treasure," came a lascivious male voice that made Ming Wei’s jaw almost unhinge in shock. "I haven’t eaten or slept thinking about you—"
It was Liu Yi, the second madam’s cousin!
She had long suspected he wasn’t a decent person—a vain, lustful dandy. But to seduce his aunt’s concubine? That was utterly shameless. From their tone, this wasn’t even their first time!
And to think Liu Yi came from a prestigious noble house—his name “Yi” (meaning propriety) was a complete joke.
Both Liu brothers had stood before the rockery and spoken today. But Liu Jun and Ming Jue had discussed matters of the nation—a sign of noble character. Liu Yi, meanwhile, was here committing adultery with a relative’s concubine.
Ming Wei was thoroughly disgusted. Thinking back to Liu Yi’s lewd stare the other day, she felt physically sick. No wonder Ming Fang and Ming Rong had fought so hard for Liu Jun—now she understood why.
To marry someone like Liu Yi… she wasn’t sure who was worse off—him, or Ming Rui, who’d been married off to some old widower.
Their conversation grew filthier by the minute, but the dirtier it got, the less Ming Wei dared to move. If Liu Yi discovered her... she didn’t even want to imagine what might happen.
And Cuiniang, who fought like a wildcat—Ming Wei’s head throbbed just thinking about her. She absolutely didn’t want to get tangled up with these people.
Then came the unmistakable rustling of fabric. Their voices changed. Still crouched behind the rockery, Ming Wei’s face flushed deep red, her breathing turned rapid.
Were they really going to do it right here…?
"Fourth Young Master, don’t be like this. What if someone sees us?" Cuiniang’s voice was soft as silk, dripping with feigned reluctance. It practically melted Liu Yi on the spot.
Liu Yi was already too aroused to care. He pressed himself onto Cuiniang, calling her every pet name he could think of.
Ming Wei was mortified. She had never been caught in such an awkward position. Though these things were common in noble households, her own family had always been different—her father and mother had loved each other dearly. Even her brother and sister-in-law were still in their honeymoon phase when she last saw them. As a modern woman, she couldn’t tolerate this kind of behavior.
She was completely helpless now. Having died once, she valued life more than ever. She could not risk it all just to avoid hearing some sordid backcourt gossip.
But she couldn’t just keep listening either. The longer she hid, the more anxious she became. What if Ming Lian came to find her, since she hadn’t returned?
Liu Yi and Cuiniang were already half-undressed, clearly about to light a fire that couldn’t be put out.
Crack—
She’d crouched too long. Frustrated and inattentive, her leg went numb and gave way. She nearly collapsed but quickly used her hand to steady herself.
Unfortunately, that movement caused a dried branch beneath her hand to snap, sending some pebbles tumbling down the side of the rockery with a soft clatter. The sound wasn’t loud—but it was loud enough for the pair nearby to hear.
Liu Yi, still somewhat alert, noticed immediately. Cuiniang’s panting ceased, and she scrambled to put her clothes back on.
“Who’s there?!” Liu Yi barked harshly. “You’ve got a death wish, spying on me? Show yourself!”
Now Ming Wei was truly panicking.
Liu Yi, his clothes haphazardly thrown on, was already stumbling toward her hiding place. Ming Wei trembled, teeth chattering, nearly in tears. She was about to be exposed right in front of him—
Her mind went completely blank.
What should she do?!
She screamed silently in her heart.
How could she possibly escape this disaster?
Ming Wei composed herself and adjusted her appearance once more. She must not lose face in front of others! Since she had made mistakes in her past life, this time, she would do her best to make up for them. She would not live out this life groveling in the rear court of the marquis household. The regrets of her former life must not repeat.
She smoothed out the creases on her dress caused by her clenched fists and looked again in the mirror. The pale yellow dress was perfectly fitted, her lightly powdered face held a faint glow, and the red-gold hair ornaments inlaid with pearls added a noble flair.
But when her gaze fell upon her black hair, her heart suddenly dropped—a long hairpin was missing!
The most eye-catching piece in the whole set was a long red-gold hairpin with a southern pearl clutched at its end. The pin itself wasn’t particularly rare—just heavier due to the gold—but that pearl, large and lustrous, gleamed with a warm sheen.
Panicked, Ming Wei reached up and felt through her bun—sure enough, it was gone. Where could it have fallen?! She forced herself to stay calm, replaying everything in her mind. It wasn’t that she was materialistic or overly attached to the pin. In her past life, she had indulged in riches beyond imagination, handing out night pearls as if they were candies. No, what worried her now was the trouble it might bring.
In her mind, she saw Manao’s smug face. Her two personal maids, Tangli and Yuelin, would surely be implicated too if it stirred up drama.
She had witnessed firsthand how ruthless Second Madam could be, especially in the way she handled Ming Rui’s marriage. That woman already disliked her—if she got a hold of this as a weakness…
She had to retrieve the pin immediately!
She’d ridden the carriage straight from the courtyard—had it fallen there, she would’ve felt it. At Rongshou Hall, she had been surrounded by people—if it had fallen then, someone would’ve noticed and told her.
That only left one place—the rockery. Ming Wei suddenly remembered. That was the only time she had been alone, and she’d been rushed out by Ming Fang. The entrance to the rockery was hidden and littered with dead branches. Even though she had been careful, one could easily snag a hair ornament.
The more she thought, the more certain she became. The pin must’ve been lost there.
Just losing the pin was one thing—while Second Madam was harsh toward illegitimate daughters, Ming Wei could still deal with that. But if someone else found it, and told Second Madam where it had been picked up... and if they also happened to mention Liu Jun and Ming Jue had been there... no matter how she tried to explain, it would look bad.
She didn’t dare imagine the consequences. If someone with ill intent got their hands on it, her reputation would be completely destroyed.
She had to find that pin!
Ming Wei took a deep breath and glanced at the little maid outside, who kept craning her neck to listen to the front courtyard commotion. Seizing the moment, Ming Wei quietly slipped along the covered corridor toward the large garden.
She lifted her skirts and walked briskly toward the rockery. Fortunately, she encountered no one along the way. Reaching the rockery, she crouched and searched carefully—and sure enough, there it was: the golden glint of the hairpin hidden among dry grass.
Ming Wei finally let out a sigh of relief. Finding it spared her from a world of trouble.
She picked up the pin, wiped away the dirt and grass, and carefully tucked it back into her hair.
Time was running out. The banquet in the front courtyard would begin soon. If she didn’t return soon, Ming Lian would surely send someone to find her. If anyone saw her here now, she wouldn’t be able to offer a good explanation.
She must avoid Ming Fang in the future! Ever since that girl showed up, nothing good had followed. If she hadn’t been dragged here, none of this would’ve happened! And with the second master’s favor behind her, Ming Fang acted without fear. Ming Wei shook her head bitterly. Who knew what that sister of hers might do next? While Ming Fang had her mother’s protection, Ming Wei was just a scapegoat for Second Madam’s temper. It was a terrible trade.
Just as Ming Wei was about to leave, the sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears. She thought it might be a maid sent to look for her and leaned forward slightly, ready to come up with an excuse.
Then a woman’s soft, breathy moan rang out.
Ming Wei froze. She wasn’t some naive girl—she knew exactly what that kind of sound meant. Her face flushed red instantly.
Were people... engaging in that kind of act here in broad daylight?
Worse still—she couldn’t reveal herself now!
She wanted to cry. She hadn’t asked to know about some lewd affair in the backyard!
But the most miserable part of all—she was squatting behind the rockery. One wrong move, and she’d be seen. If she were in the rockery, at least she could’ve stood more comfortably and stayed hidden.
As she tried to quiet her thoughts, the woman’s flirtatious voice rose again: “Fourth Young Master, you don’t miss me at all!”
It was sweet and cloying, like a cat pawing at someone’s heart—but Ming Wei found it nauseating.
The speaker was actually that Cuiniang—the newly purchased concubine maid her father had bought from a trafficker. Ming Wei remembered her clearly because of that vicious brawl with Concubine Wen—fighting over her father, no less.
Though Concubine Wen had barely won that round, Cuiniang hadn’t lost either. She’d gone all out, tearing Wen’s famously smooth hair into a tangled mess, even ripping out chunks—leaving Concubine Wen wailing in pain.
Just earlier, the second master had followed the Old Madam to receive an imperial decree. Ming Wei had seen it herself—he was busy entertaining imperial envoys! How would he have time to sneak into the garden for a tryst?
If not the second master, then who...?
"My little darling, my sweet treasure," came a lascivious male voice that made Ming Wei’s jaw almost unhinge in shock. "I haven’t eaten or slept thinking about you—"
It was Liu Yi, the second madam’s cousin!
She had long suspected he wasn’t a decent person—a vain, lustful dandy. But to seduce his aunt’s concubine? That was utterly shameless. From their tone, this wasn’t even their first time!
And to think Liu Yi came from a prestigious noble house—his name “Yi” (meaning propriety) was a complete joke.
Both Liu brothers had stood before the rockery and spoken today. But Liu Jun and Ming Jue had discussed matters of the nation—a sign of noble character. Liu Yi, meanwhile, was here committing adultery with a relative’s concubine.
Ming Wei was thoroughly disgusted. Thinking back to Liu Yi’s lewd stare the other day, she felt physically sick. No wonder Ming Fang and Ming Rong had fought so hard for Liu Jun—now she understood why.
To marry someone like Liu Yi… she wasn’t sure who was worse off—him, or Ming Rui, who’d been married off to some old widower.
Their conversation grew filthier by the minute, but the dirtier it got, the less Ming Wei dared to move. If Liu Yi discovered her... she didn’t even want to imagine what might happen.
And Cuiniang, who fought like a wildcat—Ming Wei’s head throbbed just thinking about her. She absolutely didn’t want to get tangled up with these people.
Then came the unmistakable rustling of fabric. Their voices changed. Still crouched behind the rockery, Ming Wei’s face flushed deep red, her breathing turned rapid.
Were they really going to do it right here…?
"Fourth Young Master, don’t be like this. What if someone sees us?" Cuiniang’s voice was soft as silk, dripping with feigned reluctance. It practically melted Liu Yi on the spot.
Liu Yi was already too aroused to care. He pressed himself onto Cuiniang, calling her every pet name he could think of.
Ming Wei was mortified. She had never been caught in such an awkward position. Though these things were common in noble households, her own family had always been different—her father and mother had loved each other dearly. Even her brother and sister-in-law were still in their honeymoon phase when she last saw them. As a modern woman, she couldn’t tolerate this kind of behavior.
She was completely helpless now. Having died once, she valued life more than ever. She could not risk it all just to avoid hearing some sordid backcourt gossip.
But she couldn’t just keep listening either. The longer she hid, the more anxious she became. What if Ming Lian came to find her, since she hadn’t returned?
Liu Yi and Cuiniang were already half-undressed, clearly about to light a fire that couldn’t be put out.
Crack—
She’d crouched too long. Frustrated and inattentive, her leg went numb and gave way. She nearly collapsed but quickly used her hand to steady herself.
Unfortunately, that movement caused a dried branch beneath her hand to snap, sending some pebbles tumbling down the side of the rockery with a soft clatter. The sound wasn’t loud—but it was loud enough for the pair nearby to hear.
Liu Yi, still somewhat alert, noticed immediately. Cuiniang’s panting ceased, and she scrambled to put her clothes back on.
“Who’s there?!” Liu Yi barked harshly. “You’ve got a death wish, spying on me? Show yourself!”
Now Ming Wei was truly panicking.
Liu Yi, his clothes haphazardly thrown on, was already stumbling toward her hiding place. Ming Wei trembled, teeth chattering, nearly in tears. She was about to be exposed right in front of him—
Her mind went completely blank.
What should she do?!
She screamed silently in her heart.
How could she possibly escape this disaster?
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