You two are truly alike!

In the afternoon at Prince Jun’s manor, a birthday banquet was no small affair. Hosting hundreds of guests for an entire day was a burden few could afford. Consequently, among the nobles and high-ranking officials of the Jiaoyang Kingdom, lavish birthday celebrations for elders were rare. The kingdom had a law prohibiting officials from accepting overly extravagant gifts at such events, rendering these banquets a loss-making endeavor. Who would willingly engage in such a transaction? This policy also served as a safeguard against those who might use birthdays as a pretext for corruption and bribery, which would only tarnish the honor of the elder being celebrated. Old Man Yang had merely sent a servant with a few gifts, failing to attend in person. Since he had known about the banquet at Prince Jun’s manor well in advance, why had he not tipped off Yue’er? It was truly difficult to fathom his motives.

Yue’er was wandering through the back garden, admiring the flowers, when she noticed the small daisies were missing. Did Zhao Chengxian not wish to keep any memories of their time together? Yet, if that were the case, why did he still grieve for her? In truth, Yue’er had misunderstood him. Ever since the fire two years ago, Zhao Chengxian had moved everything associated with Yue’er—including himself—to a detached villa.

Just then, Concubine Yu approached with her personal maid. Seeing Yue’er, she walked over and wore a hypocritical smile. "Whenever I see the Top Scholar, I am reminded of a girl from two years ago. You truly look so much like her!" When she had first seen "Yang Wentai," she had been genuinely startled, half-believing that Yue’er had returned from the dead. Had she known two years ago that Zhao Chengxian would never have cared for her even without Yue’er in the picture, she surely would not have resorted to murder and arson. Now, she had failed to obtain what she wanted and was burdened with deep, heavy sins. Living in constant fear of discovery, her days were perhaps even more agonizing than Yue’er’s had been. This was what one might call reaping what one sows.

Yue’er feigned ignorance. Looking at Concubine Yu, she acted as if something had just dawned on her. "I seem to recall Prince Jun mentioning her. That girl was his confidante, wasn't she? It seems the Prince was quite fond of her, and I hear he still hasn't forgotten her to this day. A girl capable of capturing the Prince’s heart must have been extraordinary. It is an honor for this humble official to resemble her!" Yue’er was being quite self-absorbed; had Concubine Yu known she was speaking to the real Yue’er, she would likely have died of rage.

Hearing this, Concubine Yu’s suspicions eased slightly. Concubine Qin chimed in, "She was nothing but a vixen; how else could she have ensnared our Lord’s soul?" They lacked the ability to hold his heart themselves, yet they blamed others. In terms of timing, had they not known Zhao Chengxian longer than she had? Since none of them could capture his heart, there was no reason to fault anyone else. Zhao Chengxian’s heart had never belonged to them to begin with, so how could it have been "stolen" by Yue’er?

Yue’er did not show any displeasure, merely smiling as she replied, "To hold a person's heart is a skill in itself. That girl must have been a woman of great character, surely?" Had she not been trying to probe Concubine Yu, she would never have wasted her breath on them.

Concubine Yu laughed. "Indeed, she was a martial artist of great skill. How could delicate girls like us compare? She would fight with men at the drop of a hat, and at the slightest disagreement, she would trade blows with the Lord. A woman of truly peculiar character!" It was clear she intended to paint Yue’er as unrefined and unladylike. Yet, compared to a hypocrite like her, a straightforward girl like Yue’er was surely better; at the very least, Yue’er would never resort to underhanded tactics behind one's back.

Yue’er felt a pang of indignation: *I am still better than you women who badmouth others behind their backs!* She kept an expression of earnest attentiveness on her face and smiled. "Listening to you two ladies, the Prince’s taste is truly unique. I wonder how that girl passed away? Was it from an illness, or was she murdered?" Seeing the typically composed Concubine Yu look visibly tense, Yue’er’s suspicions were confirmed. To avoid further scrutiny, she added with a smile, "One cannot help but be curious when meeting someone who looks so much like oneself!" It was a plausible excuse.

Concubine Yu suppressed her inner turmoil and forced a smile. "I wouldn't know. Well, there are guests outside; please, Top Scholar, do as you please." She then pulled Concubine Qin away. She was always uneasy in the presence of "Yang Wentai," perhaps due to a guilty conscience.

Yue’er watched their retreating figures, a look of resolve in her eyes. *One day,* she thought, *the truth will come to light.*