Chapter 14: Qin Mu's Revenge Begins

Although Madame Qin would not admit it, the unease of living under someone else’s roof was instantly stirred by Qin Mu, embedding itself like a thorn in her heart.

Now, with everyone brimming with joy and her son set to study at the Imperial Academy, she was filled with grievances she could not voice.

There was also another matter she could not bring herself to speak of.

That day, words were exchanged hastily, and in a moment of impatience, she had forced Lady An to leave. Yet, only two days later, Madame Qin already began to regret it.

In the past, whenever she felt unwell, Lady An, who had some medical knowledge, would tend to her tirelessly day and night. When she was in a bad mood, a few harsh words to her could ease her temper.

Now, the place before her was cold and empty; apart from her great-grandson, the son of her nephew, there was no one who would speak kindly or flatter her.

The maids and older servants sent by Lady Liu only swept the floors and delivered meals, treating her with cold indifference and never uttering an unnecessary word.

Thus, toward the Lady An who had abruptly left, Madame Qin’s heart was filled with both anger and resentment: that wretched woman was truly foolish; if she hadn’t wanted to leave, she could have stayed.

In the past, she would have just scolded her, but this time Lady An was stubbornly holding a grudge.

Both being mothers, yet she beat the child and refused to admit fault.

If only she had come early to beg for mercy, knelt and pleaded for a while, Madame Qin might have calmed down, spoken a few good words to Tang Yushu, and perhaps agreed not to drive her away.

Seeing the unmistakable disappointment in Madame Qin’s eyes, Qin Mu’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile: This is only the beginning; there is still a long road ahead!

In the previous life, the Sun family had also given a mansion in Shunan Lane, just two streets away from the Tang family.

Back then, he was immature, only knowing that his father, Tang Yushu, had passed the imperial examination and married in the new residence.

The house was part of Lady Sun’s dowry, but with the Tang family’s elder and younger members living there, the arrangement felt improper and uneasy; the servants and maids were displeased as well.

Grandmother was bedridden, never leaving the house, while his own mother, Lady An, stayed cooped up in her room threading silk cords, her face growing ever more sullen.

Lady Sun was not easy to get along with either; she appeared gentle and virtuous before Tang Yushu but was cold and harsh toward grandmother behind her back.

His own mother was an eyesore and a thorn in Lady Sun’s side; she tormented her in every way, not only forcing her to weave countless intricate silk cords used by the Tang family but also making her prepare medicinal meals.

Now, whenever Qin Mu thought of it, he clenched his teeth with hatred. At that time, he had never considered his mother’s difficulties and blamed her for being cold.

The entire household was staffed by the Sun family’s servants, who paid lip service to Madame Qin’s words but disobeyed in secret. Six months after Lady An’s disappearance, no one mentioned it. Such a large living person had vanished without a trace.

Tang Yushu was entirely absorbed in seeking promotion and socializing, neglecting family affairs.

Grandmother’s health was already poor, and just six months after Lady Sun married into the Tang family, she fell gravely ill and lingered on her sickbed.

Recalling Madame Qin’s agonizing groans on her deathbed in the previous life, Qin Mu’s gaze toward her grew increasingly cold.

This woman had been not only harsh and ungrateful to Lady An but also treated Qin Mu merely as a bargaining chip against Lady An.

While Madame Qin was alive, although Qin Mu’s material needs were met, he never received proper guidance, resulting in a bad temper, poor academic performance, and, after leaving the Tang family, like a fledgling forced from the nest, he did not even know how to survive.

This life, he was determined not to let tragedy repeat itself.

“Great-aunt, I’ve been lying down for two days and want to go out for a walk!” Qin Mu pleaded with Madame Qin.

Lady An had left home amid heavy rain; it was unknown if she had found lodging at an inn.

Yesterday, Qin Mu had wanted to go searching, but Tang Yushu had gone to the Sun family to propose marriage—a serious matter—and Madame Qin dismissed his concerns as nonsense, refusing permission.

Now, hearing her grandson wanted to go out again, Madame Qin’s irritation flared. She put on a stern face and said, “We’ve just arrived in the capital and don’t know the place. Don’t go out and cause trouble for your uncle.”

She did not know the way and would have to ask Lady Liu for help if she wanted to go out, and with her resentment running high, she was hardly willing to ask for favors again.

Without an adult to accompany him, Qin Mu naturally could not leave.

Being only six years old, despite having been intimately familiar with every alley in the capital in his previous life, and despite his current anxious heart, he had no right to roam freely.

At the inn, upon receiving notice from the pawnshop, An Chunfeng packed up and prepared to move into her new home.

The plump landlady, knowing she had rented a residence on Pear Blossom Alley off Chessboard Street, remarked with envy, “That’s an incredibly valuable location. I wouldn’t have guessed, Lady An, that although you dress plainly, your purse is quite deep. If only you’d stayed longer at the inn, I could have given you a discount.”

She had assumed An Chunfeng sought a cheap, out-of-the-way place due to limited funds, not that she would rent on Pear Blossom Alley.

Paying the monthly rent there was about the same as staying at the inn.

For a widow to be so generous with money, surely she must have a benefactor or be engaged in some kind of trade?

Thinking this, the landlady scrutinized An Chunfeng’s round face and graceful waist a few times.

As someone with experience, she knew what men truly desired.

Her own shopkeeper had once said, slender women looked nice but were no good once undressed.

In bed, men actually favored women with full, supple figures, much like Lady An right now—slightly plump… just a pity she was a bit too heavy herself!

Jealousy tinged her voice with acidity as she added, “If Lady An prospers in the future, please help your old sister’s business by introducing some suitable gentlemen as guests.”

An Chunfeng paused slightly but replied calmly, “Landlady, if you want customers, I’ll be sure to introduce plenty. But if I’m acting as your matchmaker and procurer, you must pay the full fee!”

The landlady’s expression changed instantly. “What do you mean by procurer? Sister, you can’t say such things! Who’s making money off this?”

An Chunfeng picked up her bundle with surprise. “Didn’t you just say that? You know I’m only renting to make and sell these silk cords, yet you say otherwise. Since you want to earn extra money, I naturally have to agree.”

She spoke earnestly, as if it were the landlady herself eager to gather customers.

Such talk was a severe blow to a respectable woman; even the innkeeper, who saw people coming and going daily, was embarrassed, her face flushing red. “You… you… oh dear, it’s me who misspoke!”

An Chunfeng was no naive girl raised in confinement; having signed her contract at the pawnshop, she had some idea where Pear Blossom Alley and Chessboard Street were.

Chessboard Street housed the former dynasty’s entertainment bureau, which had been flourishing seven or eight years ago.

There was a large garden with hundreds of girls, vibrant with lights and wine every night, and a steady stream of patrons; naturally, it was more prosperous than other places.

But after Emperor Rong ascended the throne, the entertainment bureau suddenly declined overnight, its license revoked and operations shut down.

The young women gradually transferred elsewhere, leaving behind only aging courtesans who could no longer welcome guests.

With patrons gone, the remaining women could only sell off properties to survive.

The courtyard An Chunfeng rented was part of the old entertainment bureau’s rear garden, so it carried a certain disreputable air.

The bureau’s notorious reputation meant that any single woman living on Chessboard Street was assumed to be engaged in flesh trade.

Now the landlady thought so, and had said so.

An Chunfeng did not mind much.

First, she truly liked the courtyard.

Second, widows always attracted gossip, and single women were forever subject to misunderstanding.

Even in modern times, moving into a high-rise villa could not prevent people from whispering.

There was no truly peaceful place in the world; one could not let others’ words cause personal grievance.

The more she explained, the less clear things became, so she decided it was better to say nothing and simply live her life.

Her words rendered the landlady speechless, and An Chunfeng left with an air of nonchalance.