Ru Yan entered and saw Mu Wan Yun already in bed. She asked, "Mumu, you're resting so early?"
Mu Wan Yun yawned and said, "Yes. I spent the last few nights staying up late to sew clothes for Miss Wei. It's a relief to finally get some rest early today."
Ru Yan placed an exquisitely carved box on the table in the small room.
"This is a gift to congratulate you on your promotion, Mumu. It's just a small token, so please don't mind."
Mu Wan Yun smiled faintly. "How thoughtful of you. Thank you."
Ru Yan continued, "The other day, the sisters from the Clothing Bureau were helping me with embroidery, so they didn't come to help you.
I feel very bad about that. I've come to kneel and apologize to you today, Mumu. I hope you won't make things difficult for the sisters in the Clothing Bureau in the future."
As she spoke, Ru Yan prepared to kneel.
Mu Wan Yun quickly said, "I don't deserve this. I never blamed you or the other sisters. We were all just trying to make a fine dress for Miss Wei."
But Ru Yan still kowtowed heavily, knocking her head on the floor three times.
Mu Wan Yun scrambled out of bed to stop her. "Get up, quickly, get up."
With reddened eyes, Rushui helped Ru Yan up. "Sister."
Ru Yan said, "It's getting late, we'll be going now. You should also get some rest, Mumu."
After the two sisters, Ru Yan and Rushui, had left, Mu Wan Yun bolted the door.
Opening the box on the table, she found a silver bracelet carved with a lotus pattern.
After putting on the silver bracelet, she walked to the edge of the bed and turned her wrist, now adorned with the bracelet, in front of Lu Jingxing.
"Husband, do you think this bracelet is pretty?"
Lu Jingxing glanced at it and sneered, "Is such a small favor worth you being this happy?"
Mu Wan Yun mumbled softly, "But I've never had a silver bracelet before."
Seeing Lu Jingxing about to get out of bed, she grabbed his hand and pulled him back onto it.
"Husband, Ru Yan and Rushui might not have gone far... If you just wait another hour, I'm sure no one will be around."
Lu Jingxing frowned but didn't get out of bed.
Mu Wan Yun's head hit the pillow, and she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, both her hands clutching tightly to Lu Jingxing's.
Lu Jingxing glanced at the hand she was clutching, then yanked it suddenly, but she only held on tighter. "Husband, don't go."
Lu Jingxing pried her fingers off one by one, then got up and left.
Startled awake, Mu Wan Yun watched Lu Jingxing's retreating back and sighed deeply.
...
「The next morning.」
Mu Wan Yun went to Shi Shanggong, obtained a token to leave the palace, and went to the Wei Family's banquet.
The alley outside the main gate of the Duke Wei Mansion was filled with fine horses and fragrant carriages, and guests were everywhere.
Mu Wan Yun watched the beautiful, splendidly dressed young women entering in twos and threes, her heart filling with envy.
'If only I hadn't grown up in the countryside of Yangzhou, I would have been just like them!'
Mu Wan Yun was in an unfamiliar place among strangers at the Wei Family home. However, as she had been invited by Miss Wei and was a palace maid from the palace, the Wei Family's maids were very polite to her.
A maid led Mu Wan Yun to a waterside pavilion and said, "Mumu, please wait here for a moment. Our young miss is currently occupied with an urgent matter, but she will come find you shortly."
Mu Wan Yun said, "Alright."
The young maid served Mu Wan Yun a cup of flower tea. "Please, have some."
Mu Wan Yun sipped the flower tea. It was the best tea she had ever tasted, with a faint, refreshing fragrance of jasmine.
Not far away, Duke Wei watched Mu Wan Yun in the waterside pavilion. "The resemblance... it's truly uncanny. In terms of appearance, she's identical to Mu Wanruo. But, my lady, you want her to be Mu Wanruo's substitute to pull Mingsang out of his despair? I'm afraid this woman won't agree."
Lady Wei said, "I can't worry about all that. I just want my Mingsang to be well again. Besides, she's an orphan, the daughter of a convicted official. If she stays in the palace, she'll just be a servant for life.
If she enters our Duke Wei Mansion as Wanruo's substitute, she could become the future Heir's wife! How could she possibly refuse?"
Duke Wei sighed, "Alas, she is not Mu Wanruo, after all."
Lady Wei said, "But Mu Wanruo is already dead, and the dead cannot be brought back to life. Can you bear to watch Mingsang continue to live like a walking corpse, wretched and despondent, because of Wanruo's death?"
Duke Wei stroked his beard. He strongly disagreed with his wife's words; making Mu Wan Yun a substitute for Mu Wanruo was clearly a terrible idea.
However, Wei Mingsang had been wasting away for more than two months.
As a father, he truly didn't want to see his son continue this absurd, self-destructive behavior over a woman. He could only let them give Mu Wan Yun a try.
Lady Wei entered the waterside pavilion and, upon seeing Mu Wan Yun, began to praise her:
"Mumu, your hands are so skillful. My Lan'er's feather robe is magnificent and exquisitely made. It's hard to imagine it was rushed out in just a few days. You've worked hard, Mumu."
Mu Wan Yun smiled faintly. "It is what this servant ought to do."
Lady Wei took Mu Wan Yun's hand. "Don't call yourself 'this servant' anymore. This lady feels a connection with you. Who knows, perhaps we could even become family one day."
Mu Wan Yun did not refute this, but a slight blush crept onto her cheeks.
Lady Wei said, "Since you've come to the banquet today, it's not quite right for you to be wearing the clothes of a palace maid. As it happens, I have a set of clothes that would fit your figure perfectly. Why don't you go and try it on?"
Mu Wan Yun said, "That would be against the rules."
"Don't worry, this lady will take care of everything."
Lady Wei patted Mu Wan Yun's hand affectionately.
Mu Wan Yun didn't dare to go against Lady Wei's wishes, so she said, "Then Wanyun will do as you say, my lady."
...
Today, Lu Jingxing, dressed in a casual purple round-collared robe, arrived at the Wei Family home with Prince Jian.
Prince Jian sighed to Lu Jingxing, "Mu Wanruo's death was too great a blow for Mingsang. They were a perfect pair of childhood sweethearts, but in the end, they became star-crossed lovers. Alas!
I wonder if Mingsang will even be able to attend Old Madam Wei's birthday banquet today?
It looks like there are quite a few beautiful young ladies from noble families attending the banquet today!"
Lu Jingxing looked over. The banquet hall was bustling with people, a lively scene that finally seemed to wash away the gloom that had hung over Chang'an for many days.
As soon as the two arrived at the Wei Family's banquet area, all the guests bowed repeatedly upon seeing Lu Jingxing.
Lu Jingxing stepped forward to help up the bowing Old Madam Wei. "Grandmother, there's no need for such ceremony. Everyone, please rise."
Lu Jingxing helped Old Madam Wei to the seat of honor at the banquet and, along with Prince Jian, wished her a long life.
Old Madam Wei didn't dare to actually let Lu Jingxing bow, and said with a smile, "This old woman accepts Your Majesty's filial piety. It would be even better if Your Majesty could bring back the Lady who is among the common folk, and produce heirs sooner rather than later."
Prince Jian looked at Lu Jingxing. "You have a Lady among the common folk?"
Hearing this news, the young ladies and madams among the guests below were all startled.
Many of the daughters of Chang'an's nobles were waiting for the imperial selection to enter the palace.
They were naturally concerned about the origins of this Lady from among the common folk, and wondered if she might already be with child.
Lu Jingxing said to Old Madam Wei, "Grandmother, this matter is not urgent. Besides, the realm has only just found peace. We must prioritize matters of state.
Mingsang and Min Lan are no longer young. If a suitable match arises, Grandmother, you need only tell Us, and We will immediately issue a decree for Our cousins' marriage."
Wei Mingsang had actually washed and groomed himself today, and he didn't reek of alcohol, but he was still dejected. Hearing Lu Jingxing divert the attention to him, he said:
"Your Majesty, this subject will never marry in this life—"
Before the word "wife" could leave his lips, a series of gasps erupted from the crowd.
"Mu Wanruo? Didn't she die? Why is she with Madam Wei?"
"No wonder they say Mu Wanruo is the most beautiful woman under heaven. Seeing her today, it's really true."
Dressed in a magnificent red gown, Mu Wan Yun followed beside Madam Wei, stepping gracefully into the banquet hall.
It was her first time seeing so many of Chang'an's nobles, and she couldn't help but feel a little flustered.
Madam Wei squeezed Mu Wan Yun's hand. "Don't be afraid."
Wei Mingsang stared blankly at Mu Wan Yun, then strode over to her and, in full view of everyone, embraced her. "Wanruo! Wanruo, you've come back?"
"CRACK!"
Prince Jian heard a sound next to him and saw that Lu Jingxing had just crushed the porcelain cup in his hand.