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墨書 Inktalez
Su Wan'er sat at her desk, her fingertips unconsciously stroking a plain handkerchief.
The tea on the table had long gone cold, and the room was silent except for her faint breaths.
Outside the door, a maid whispered, "Madam, Young Master Zhao is waiting in the flower hall."
She composed herself, raised her hand to smooth her hair, and spoke in a gentle yet undeniably calm voice, "Please let him in."
Zhao Ziming entered the room, his steps as lively as ever, though a hint of seriousness clouded his brow.
Noticing her lack of expression, he felt a slight tightening in his chest and cautiously asked, "Su Wan'er, have you been well lately?"
Su Wan'er nodded lightly, her features remaining unchanged. "Everything is normal in the residence, Young Master Zhao. I have an important matter to entrust to you, and I hope you can assist me."
Zhao Ziming's heart stirred; he lowered his voice and said, "Speak freely, Su Wan'er. As long as I can do it, I will spare no effort."
She handed him a small embroidered pouch, her tone devoid of any emotion. "Go to Jiangnan and find Mei Ruolan. Tell her that if she agrees to this matter, all this silver will be hers. Once it's done, send her out of the city and never let her return."
Zhao Ziming was taken aback, his gaze fixed on the pouch as if he had yet to process her words. "Su Wan'er, are you truly going to do this?"
She lowered her eyelashes, her voice indifferent as if it had nothing to do with her. "The Li residence has no children; Li Lingfeng suffers daily because of it. Others think me virtuous but do not know that I blame myself every day. Ruo Lan's family is poor; if this can help her escape her troubles, isn't that a win-win situation?"
Zhao Ziming gritted his teeth, suppressing his indignation. "But you... you don't have to put yourself in such a position. Li Lingfeng..."
"Young Master Zhao," she interrupted him, raising her eyes. The glimmer of tears quickly vanished from her gaze. "Do you know that some things in this world cannot be changed by mere willingness? Just carry out your task; there's no need to ask about the rest."
Zhao Ziming looked at her, feeling a lump in his throat. In the end, he took the pouch from her hand and replied softly, "Alright, I will go."
He turned to leave but found his steps considerably heavier.
Su Wan'er sat alone for a long time, unconsciously tightening her grip on the handkerchief.
A sharp pain pierced her heart—though it was she who had orchestrated everything, it felt as if each cut was made upon herself.
In the deep of night, she quietly summoned her trusted maid Qing Xing.
"You will go to Jiangnan with Young Master Zhao tomorrow. Be sure to meet Mei Ruolan in person and hand her my letter yourself."
Su Wan'er’s voice was calm to the point of being cold. "If she refuses, consider this matter as if it never happened, and send her the silver as well."
Qing Xing lowered her head in acknowledgment, her voice barely a whisper. "Madam... if Mei Gu Niang asks about the reason, how should I respond?"
Su Wan'er closed her eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly. "Just say it is my personal matter and has nothing to do with anyone else."
Qing Xing nodded and withdrew.
The next morning, Zhao Ziming set off southward in a carriage with Qing Xing.
In early spring in Jiangnan, a fine drizzle fell like silk.
Mei Ruolan stood by the riverbank under the willow trees practicing a new dance. When she saw Zhao Ziming approaching with a maid dressed in plain clothes, she had an inkling of what was coming.
"Young Master Zhao, what brings you here?" She ceased her dance, smiling lightly, though her eyes held an instinctive wariness.
Zhao Ziming glanced at her, his expression complicated. He said simply, "Miss Ruo Lan, this is Miss Qing Xing from the Su Residence. The Madam has a letter she wishes to personally deliver to you for your perusal."
Mei Ruolan took the letter, her fingertips feeling cold against the paper.
As she looked at the familiar handwriting, her heart inexplicably raced.
She unfolded the letter, each word striking her deeply—
"Miss Ruo Lan, I am making a bold request today. I hope you can agree to one matter: spend one night with my clumsy husband Li Lingfeng. Once you bear a child, I will generously reward you with silver and ensure your safe departure. Knowing that your family is in difficulty, I cannot bear to see you suffer. This matter concerns the reputation of the Li Residence; I hope you will consider it carefully."
Mei Ruolan was momentarily stunned, her fingers gripping the letter tightly.
Inside her heart was a mix of shame, astonishment, and an almost humiliating pain—she couldn’t quite discern which feeling was dominant.
Zhao Ziming spoke softly, "Miss Ruo Lan, the Madam is also left with no choice. If you are willing, all this silver will be yours; if not, let this matter be as if it never happened."
Qing Xing quietly placed the brocade pouch in front of her.
Mei Ruolan remained silent for a long time before slowly lifting her head, her expression calm. "Madam is indeed a wise woman, but the world is unpredictable. What has befallen me now is merely a stroke of bad luck."
She neatly folded the letter and gently caressed it. "Do you know why people say that Madam Li is virtuous?"
Zhao Ziming opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
Mei Ruolan's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. "Because she is willing to turn her own suffering into an opportunity for others."
She lowered her gaze to the brocade pouch, her fingertips lightly tapping on the table, while a storm brewed within her heart.
She recalled her mother's groans on the sickbed, the financial struggles at home, and those countless nights spent dancing in the cold wind, forcing herself to appear composed just to earn a few coins.
She once believed that one day she could rise above her circumstances through her skills; she also thought she would have a warm home.
Yet all of this had turned into a bargaining chip in Su Wan'er's letter.
Her teeth gently bit down on her lower lip as humiliation, anger, and helplessness surged within her.
But in the end, she raised her head again, her voice surprisingly calm. "Alright, I agree, but I have conditions..."
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