Secretly colluding with outsiders

After leaving the Prince Li’s study, Sang Hongyun returned to her own quarters, filled with confusion. Prince Li had provided her with a small, separate courtyard with only three rooms. She stayed in the middle one, while the side rooms remained empty. In the days since she’d moved in, Prince Li had ordered the left room to be renovated into her study and the right into a bathing chamber, with doors opened from inside to both sides. Although the entrance was through the central room, this arrangement made everything remarkably convenient for Sang Hongyun.

The furnishings in the main room were nothing like those of a young lady’s boudoir. Half the room was taken up by a heated brick bed, on which stood two small cupboards. Sang Hongyun placed her large cloth bundle inside one of them. In the center was a pearwood table set upon the bed, and beneath the bed itself stood a large square table. Everything was just as it had been in her room at the border. Stepping inside, Sang Hongyun felt as if she had returned home, a genuine sense of comfort washing over her.

Yet amid her relief, she couldn’t fathom Prince Li's intentions. Logically, even if the emperor had issued a decree to bring her into the prince’s residence, it would hardly warrant assigning her such a private space. In the end, she could only conclude that perhaps this was one of Prince Li’s peculiar preferences, perhaps owing to his own simple way of life.

Back at the Sang estate, Steward Sang and the household waited for Sang Hongyun’s return until nightfall, but she was nowhere to be seen. It was as if everyone had forgotten that today was the first of the tenth month—the day to offer cold-weather clothes and pay respects to the ancestors.

Madam Feng, sequestered in her own courtyard, believed her chance had finally arrived. Unable to contain herself, she cried out, “So this is the obedient granddaughter you spoke of? Look at what you’ve done—entrusting everything in this household to your legitimate son and grandson. See how they repay you? Even in death, you won’t let me have a hand in the family’s affairs, keeping me on the sidelines for decades. And for what? I’m honestly delighted—delighted that you’re finally getting your retribution. If my son cannot inherit the title, then your son won’t keep his life! Hmph!” She was furious that she could not leave her courtyard, but surely her son would find a way.

It seemed no one remembered today’s significance, as Madam Feng muttered bitterly to herself. Meanwhile, in the second branch of the family, Sang Zhongli left the estate that day and entered a private room on the second floor of Fragrant Garden. He ordered a lavish meal for himself and, after gorging for a while, finally set down his chopsticks and stared blankly at the storyteller performing below.

Now that his father was dead and his elder brother was stationed at the border, everything in the estate should have fallen under his control, or so he believed. As for Sang Yangshi and Sang Zhen, he did not consider them threats.

But fate had other plans. His brother Sang Zhongyang did not return; instead, the one who did was even more ruthless and cunning than Sang Zhongyang himself—something he never anticipated. What shocked him even more was that the six guards, long rumored to exist in the Sang estate, were real—truly real!

He picked up his chopsticks and viciously stabbed at the carp before him, as if stabbing Sang Hongyun herself, feeling a bit more at ease.

As the dishes grew cold, someone entered the room and remarked, “Second Master Sang, isn’t it tasteless to dine alone? Why torment yourself so? I hear the Sang estate is in your niece’s hands now. How could you let a slip of a girl take control? Pathetic!”

Sang Zhongli glared at the newcomer. “You know nothing about that girl. She’s not what she seems—she’s… she’s…” He suddenly cut himself off, realizing he’d nearly let slip the secret of the six guards, something outsiders must never know, no matter how much he resented Sang Hongyun. The memory of how she nearly wiped out his mother, brother, and himself on the eve of his father’s funeral still sent a chill through him. He dared not say more.

Awkward silence fell between them.

The visitor sneered, “Enough. Think about your future! You’re still the master of the Sang estate—stand tall. Otherwise, I’ll pity you, watching the feast from afar and never tasting a bite.”

When Sang Zhongli finally left Fragrant Garden, a smile played on his lips. He even stopped by the medical hall for a while to make his outing seem justified, then returned to the estate.

Unable to stay inside, Sang Hongyun waited until the city was quiet, slipped out of Prince Li’s residence, and made her way to the Sang estate. Steward Sang hurried to greet her. “Young Miss, where have you been? Today is the first of the tenth month; everything is prepared. What are we to do now, it’s already nightfall!”

“I’ve already visited Grandfather’s grave,” Sang Hongyun replied. “You needn’t worry.”

The steward’s expression was both sad and relieved. “As long as you went, that’s what matters.”

In truth, Sang Hongyun had wanted to go to her grandfather’s grave with the rest of the family, but circumstances had changed. No matter how anxious those at the estate were, there was little they could do. After all, Prince Li was the emperor’s son.

For Prince Li to condescend to accompany her to the grave was an extraordinary honor in the eyes of the world. Thus, when she heard the curses of Madam Feng, the complaints of Sang Zhongli and Sang Zhongshi, and the indignation of her cousins, she could only suppress her own feelings.

Sang Zhongli sent word that, though Sang Hongyun was unfilial, they themselves could not be. Using the banner of filial piety, Sang Zhongli and Sang Zhongshi started a commotion an hour after her arrival at the estate. Word of the incident quickly spread, and onlookers began to gossip. The gatekeepers, unable to stand the slander, reported it to Steward Sang. Hearing this, Sang Hongyun realized there must be someone within the estate colluding with outsiders.

With the true motive revealed, Sang Hongyun stood in the main hall, once more confronting Madam Feng and the members of the second and third branches.

Sang Zhongli spoke first: “Today is the first of the tenth month—the seventh week since your grandfather’s passing. You’ve confined us and forbidden us to pay our respects at his grave. What are your intentions? I’ll go to the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, even the War Office, and accuse you of disloyalty and defiance. Sang Hongyun, before you spilled blood within the Sang estate; now you show no respect for your elders. You won’t do as you please any longer!”

Sang Hongyun nodded. “Then go ahead, uncle. But tell me—Grandfather was always in good health. How did he suddenly die? Where were you at the time? And you, Third Uncle—where were you then?”

At the time, Sang Zhongli had been dallying with his concubine, while Sang Zhongshi was fighting over a courtesan in a brothel, both affairs leaving little to the imagination. Sang Hongyun’s maids had already uncovered every detail.

In truth, Sang Hongyun had no intention of allowing these wastrels near her grandfather’s grave. As for their accusations of her being unfilial, she simply ignored them.

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