Chapter 26: Stirring Fury and Fanning the Flames

In her previous life, she too had served tea.

Madam Zhou handed her a scalding cup, deliberately tipping it over so that Bai Huan’s delicate hands were instantly blistered. Yet Gu Yuanzhou did not protect her; he stood by, claiming to feel sorry for her, but insisted she endure, saying parental orders must be obeyed, and respect must be shown to her husband’s family elders.

She could only let Madam Zhou refill her cup with boiling tea, while Lady Gu Zhou complained the tea was too hot to accept. To curry favor with Lady Gu Zhou, Bai Huan gritted her teeth and held the cup for a full quarter of an hour, the pain nearly causing her to faint.

Chenxiang and Doukou tried desperately to save her, but Madam Zhou ordered them dragged away and beaten thirty times. The hands in the Marquis’s residence were merciless, leaving the two young maids barely clinging to life.

Afterwards, Lady Gu Zhou forbade them from seeing a doctor. Bai Huan’s hands festered and she fell gravely ill with fever. When she finally woke, she learned Chenxiang had survived but lost a leg. Doukou, being younger, didn’t withstand the abuse and died that night, her body wrapped in a straw mat and dumped in a pauper’s grave.

As for Bai Huan, she was left with scarred hands, struggling to make incense. Foolishly, she wrapped her hands, endured the pain, and picked up the brush to recite and transcribe the “Twelve Grades of Heavenly Fragrance” for Gu Yuanzhou.

Bai Huan wanted to laugh.

Laugh at herself for having her mind clouded by love into foolishness.

Now, with love extinguished, her mind was clear and she saw everything as it was.

Madam Zhou, having received her orders, raised her brows and signaled to the maid behind her, who brought over a white porcelain teapot and two matching cups.

Steam billowed from the spout.

Another maid, using a handkerchief for protection, poured the scalding tea into the cups.

The tea was handed to Bai Huan, and Madam Zhou said with a smile, “Fourth Young Madam, please kneel and serve the tea.”

Gu Yunjiao waited eagerly for the spectacle, urging, “Why are you standing there? Kneel!”

Gu Yuanzhou looked at the steaming cups, his brows slightly furrowed, but he said nothing.

Gu Yuanhuai sensed something was wrong and was just about to speak when Bai Huan shoved her feather fan into his hands, smiling brightly as she spoke, “Madam Zhou, this isn’t right. How can we serve tea to our father and mother-in-law using inferior imitation porcelain? Wouldn’t that embarrass them?”

She turned, “Chenxiang, bring our imperial porcelain set…”

As she spoke, she lifted her hand, just in time to tip the tray, sending two cups of boiling tea straight onto Madam Zhou’s chest.

Madam Zhou screamed and stumbled backward, tripping and falling heavily to the ground.

As the scalding tea threatened to splash her face, she flailed, trying to swat the cup away, but one full cup landed squarely on her face.

With a shriek of agony, she clawed at her face, leaving ten bloody scratches; the burned skin peeled away in chunks. Still screaming, she kept tearing at herself, nearly gouging out an eye.

Unexpectedly, the other cup she swatted away flew off course and headed straight for Lady Gu Zhou.

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Half a cup of boiling tea splashed over Lady Gu Zhou’s thin dress, making her shriek and jump up, hands flailing wildly. The cup then tipped toward Gu Yunjiao, splattering hot droplets onto her hand, causing her to scream and thrash.

Several slaps landed on Lady Gu Zhou’s face as the room descended into chaos.

Amidst the uproar, Bai Huan used her elbow to jab the maid holding the porcelain teapot, making half a pot of boiling tea pour onto Madam Zhou, who lay on the ground howling. The pain made her curl up and roll across the floor.

The room was in utter disarray.

Lord Ruyang and Gu Yuanzhou’s faces changed dramatically. They hastily ordered someone to fetch a doctor, and the whole room scrambled to help the three injured women.

Gu Yuanzhou ignored Bai Huan and followed closely after his mother.

Lord Ruyang was about to leave when Bai Huan blocked him at the door.

“My lord, please accept tea from Fourth Young Master and your daughter-in-law.”

Who would want tea at a time like this!

Lord Ruyang waved his sleeve impatiently, “There’s no need!”

But Bai Huan didn’t step aside.

She smiled respectfully, “Today is your daughter-in-law’s first day in your household. If word spreads that you refused her tea, it would bring disgrace to me and the Marquis’s residence, wouldn’t it?”

Lord Ruyang’s expression darkened as he frowned at Bai Huan, “Are you threatening me?”

Bai Huan bowed, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Then she straightened, “But just now, that boiling tea was nothing more than a jealous woman’s cruel trick, harming not only my hands but also the reputation of the Marquis’s residence. What good does it do?”

Lord Ruyang’s eyes flickered.

“At present, isn’t the most pressing matter for the Marquis’s residence the inheritance of the title? A fraudulent marriage and a swapped groom are already the talk of Chang’an. If word spreads about the matriarch abusing the new wife, seizing her dowry, and using underhanded methods to torment her, your reputation will only worsen.”

Bai Huan raised her injured hands and waved them before Lord Ruyang’s eyes, “Moreover, you may have forgotten: if my hands are ruined, I won’t be able to serve the Imperial Consort. If someone seizes on this to impeach you before His Majesty, and His Majesty lays blame, the marquisate—already two generations without merit—might not just be stripped, but downgraded. Is that what you wish to see?”

Lord Ruyang’s face was grim.

Bai Huan knew him well.

He cared only for his title and always looked down on women.

To him, women were mere stepping stones—useful when needed, discarded when not.

Bai Huan smiled, “My lord, you’ve exhausted yourself for the family’s prosperity, but sadly the matriarch is incompetent and the heir is disappointing. This stalemate cannot be broken without bold action. From another angle, perhaps I can help you safeguard the marquisate?”

Lord Ruyang looked at her thoughtfully, then glanced at Gu Yuanhuai, who was now dressed in finery and looked respectable.

Only then did he realize that the Fourth Young Master, once known only for cockfighting and dog walking, had grown up.

Bai Huan bowed again, “Please, Father-in-law, take the seat, and allow Fourth Young Master and your daughter-in-law to serve you tea.”

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Gu Yuanhuai quickly bowed, “Father, please take the seat. Your son and daughter-in-law wish to serve you tea.”

Lord Ruyang had endured a string of troubles lately. Seeing these two golden treasures showing him proper respect, he felt soothed.

A smile appeared on his face, “Very well.”

Gu Yuanhuai hadn’t seen his father smile since his mother’s death; he was so moved he didn’t know what to do, nervously wringing his hands.

A gentle, soft hand reached over and patted his, “Be at ease.”

Her gentle reassurance instantly steadied him.

Once Lord Ruyang was seated with dignity,

Bai Huan signaled to Chenxiang to open her lacquered ebony box, taking out a set of exquisitely crafted white-glazed begonia porcelain teapot and cups.

Each cup was shaped with eight petals, forming a begonia blossom, the porcelain body white and fine, with walls so thin the glaze shone with hints of yellow.

Lord Ruyang was accustomed to fine things and recognized at once that this was top-quality imperial porcelain.

The Marquis’s residence had long been in deficit; aside from some fine items kept for guests, they had sold much to cover losses. Most used at home were imitations, just waiting for Bai Huan’s dowry to replenish the stock.

“This set of imperial porcelain, Fourth Young Master will bring it to your study later for your use.”

Lord Ruyang was in excellent spirits.

The box was insulated, and the tea inside was at the perfect temperature. Bai Huan poured two cups, handing one each to herself and Gu Yuanhuai.

Bai Huan glanced at the prayer mat on the floor and smiled apologetically, “My lord, I bear the Imperial Consort’s jade token and cannot kneel to serve tea. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Bai Huan tilted her head to look at Gu Yuanhuai, who caught on and quickly knelt, calling out with joy, “Your son serves tea to his father.”

Lord Ruyang looked at his long-neglected son, whose once round, charming face had slimmed, now bearing a touch of his late mother’s gentle southern beauty.

Something stirred in his heart. He looked again at Bai Huan’s jade token hanging at her waist, “No matter.”

Lord Ruyang accepted the tea and handed over a red envelope.

Bai Huan’s smile was radiant as she signaled Doukou to open her own lacquered ebony box.

Inside lay a square rosewood carved box, which Bai Huan opened herself and handed to Lord Ruyang—a gold-plated silver sachet ball adorned with twin moths and floral patterns.

Lord Ruyang’s eyes lit up immediately.

Such a beautiful and large gold-plated sachet ball was rare indeed, and the fragrance wafting from it…

Was it not the very scent the Emperor often carried—ambergris?