Fate-Holding Women
CHAPTER 5:
28
The Eldest Princess was unsettled by my words.
After a long pause, she said, “You are so intelligent and have such a strong personality, why don't you leave this Chunzhu Building?”
I shook my head, “It's not that I can't, it's that I don't want to. To be honest with Your Highness, I'm looking for my future husband here.”
“Oh?” The Eldest Princess was intrigued.
I then revealed my origins:
“Your Highness may not know, but my ancestors were immortals. If I want to follow in their footsteps and cultivate, I must find several husbands to serve as my cauldrons.”
The Eldest Princess chuckled, “You believe such nonsense?”
“Of course I do.” I said with a serious expression, “A born ruler will always have extraordinary individuals appearing by their side to assist them in ascending to the throne. I am Your Highness's extraordinary individual.”
I winked at her.
“If what I've said is difficult for Your Highness to accept for the moment, why don't we make a bet?”
“A bet?”
“Yes. In a few years, I will climb the ranks using ambition and greed. From an unknown servant girl in the Chunzhu Building, I will enter the palace and appear before Your Highness in a completely legitimate manner.
At that time, I hope Your Highness will carefully consider whether or not you should fight for it.”
29
“And now, you've finally appeared before me?” The Eldest Princess, in her red dress and dark hair, smiled at me.
I shook my head, “Not yet. Today was merely a coincidence.”
“I never imagined you were that Song Xian.”
Mentioning this, the Eldest Princess's expression hesitated, “That matter from back then…”
“That matter from back then,” I interrupted her, “My father alone was responsible for throwing me into the river; Your Highness is not to blame.”
The guilt of those in power can sometimes be a good thing, sometimes a death warrant.
If every time she thought of me, a knot formed in her heart, then sooner or later I would become someone she would eliminate without hesitation.
I met her gaze, making her believe that every word I spoke came from the bottom of my heart.
“My father used my concubine mother's funeral as leverage against me, also knowing that I was exceptionally talented and had a volatile personality.
I suppose he was afraid that I would become powerful and seek revenge for my concubine mother's death. That's why he was so eager to eliminate me.”
I said sincerely, “Besides, there must be something more to this marriage, wouldn't you agree?”
The Eldest Princess looked at me intently, then suddenly smiled.
“You truly are intelligent. However, that son of the Mu family is not a good man; you should make plans accordingly.”
“Has Your Highness forgotten what I said before?”
I smiled mysteriously and handed her the Mu family intelligence from my sleeve.
“Perhaps, Your Highness can lend me a hand and help me win our bet.”
30
I returned to Mu Qi's side. He looked at me with displeasure. “Why did you take so long?”
I showed a humiliated and hesitant expression, whispering, “I'll tell you when we get back... I was afraid you'd be angry.”
His tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
“I know even without you saying it. That Qi Changlan fellow was harassing you, wasn't he?”
I nodded, filled with shame and indignation.
“Someone just informed me that they saw you meeting secretly with that scoundrel Qi Changlan. How could I believe it? It turns out he was harassing you.”
The implication was that if I had just glossed over it, he would have suspected something improper between me and Qi Changlan.
I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
31
The Emperor's consort, the eldest daughter of the Mu family, has a son with the Emperor. She often clashes with the Fourteenth Prince, the younger brother of the Eldest Princess.
Now that they have leverage against the Mu family, the Eldest Princess naturally wouldn't let it go to waste.
However, she's more likely to secretly pass the information to the Qi family and remain inactive herself.
As expected, not long after, a seemingly neutral official in the court launched an attack, presenting a petition to impeach the Duke of Fǔguó.
With the manipulation of those involved, the court was filled with opposition voices, all claiming that the Duke of Fǔguó was loyal to the country and how could he possibly allow his relatives to commit such treasonous acts.
They begged the Emperor to severely punish the slanderers and not chill the hearts of loyal officials.
The court was most taboo about forming factions for personal gain. Now, everyone in the court is defending the Duke of Fǔguó, how could the Emperor not be alarmed by this?
He immediately flew into a rage, not only wanting to investigate, but to thoroughly investigate.
No matter who pleads for mercy, they will all be dragged down and severely punished.
Concubine Li, accompanied by the Sixteenth Prince, pleaded for the Emperor's mercy, but she wasn't even granted an audience. Instead, she was directly punished with confinement.
As for my father, ever since he learned that his vengeful daughter had climbed the ladder to the Duke of Fǔguó's mansion, he's been restless, unable to eat or sleep. Now, with this opportunity, he's naturally going to stomp all over us.
The once flourishing Duke of Fǔguó's mansion, for the first time, is in chaos.
The mansion was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere, with everyone in despair. Mu Qi's mother was distraught, spending her days praying to the gods.
It was during this time that the Taoist nun arrived.
She displayed extraordinary skills, such as conjuring water from thin air and creating fire with her fingers.
Unlike mere tricks, the water the Taoist nun produced was crystal clear and sweet, invigorating anyone who drank it.
Everyone in the mansion proclaimed her a true immortal.
The immortal said that the mansion was destined to face this calamity; if they could overcome it, they would have a smooth path ahead. If they could not, the illustrious Duke of Fǔguó's mansion would vanish without a trace.
The Duchess of Fǔguó hurriedly asked how they could overcome it.
The Taoist nun, holding divination symbols, performed rituals for a while, and in the end, the divination pointed to my courtyard.
She said that a woman born in the Year of the Rabbit living in that courtyard had a significant fate. If a direct descendant of the family married her, it would bring prosperity to the household and help overcome disasters.
There was only one woman born in the Year of the Rabbit in the courtyard, and that was me.
Mu Qi's reputation was scandalous, and his late wife had died under suspicious circumstances, making it difficult to find a successor.
Marrying me would serve a purpose; if I’m useful, once the crisis passed, he could divorce me. If it didn't work, a successor wife would share the fate of being executed and have her family destroyed, so what did it matter?
Desperate, the Duchess of Fǔguó, after conferring with the matriarch, opened the family register and made me his wife in the ancestral hall.
The moment my name, Song Xian, was written in the family register, I saw the precarious fortune of this illustrious family.
It was like a wounded, aging beast, lying there gasping its last breath, inviting attack.
And I, without hesitation, accepted the invitation.
32
After generously rewarding the Taoist nun, I greedily absorbed the Duke of Fǔguó's mansion's waning fortune.
Consequently, impeachments and accusations piled up relentlessly, bad news following bad news.
It was as if the mansion had been completely hollowed out and rotted through.
Everyone in the Duke of Fǔguó's mansion was in a state of panic.
The families of several of the younger wives began to visit, urging their daughters to divorce and return home.
Meanwhile, I was daily nourished by fortune and spiritual energy, my complexion radiant, my skin glowing, as if I were a divine being.
When the Duke of Fǔguó's mansion's fortune was nearly depleted, I, clad in coarse linen and a white headband, struck the Drum of Appeals.
The law of the land dictates that a commoner who sues an official shall be beaten with fifty strokes of the board, and a wife who sues her husband shall be rolled over a bed of nails.
I used my spiritual power to protect myself, feigning unbearable pain as I rolled over the bed of nails.
In front of a crowd of people, I, covered in blood, loudly accused Mu Qi, the youngest son of the Duke of Fǔguó, of running over my husband with his horse in the street and then dragging me into his mansion.
The Mu family, in an attempt to cover up the murder, fabricated a reason to confiscate the property of the wealthy Liang family and execute them all.
This act was carried out by the Mu family with brutality and haste, and not much time had passed since the event, making it very easy to investigate.
Within a few days, the Imperial Court of Justice had uncovered the truth.
The bed of nails was rusty and corroded, and many people had died from fever after being rolled over it.
Therefore, it was extremely rare for a wife to dare to sue her husband.
And now, here I am.
I endured humiliation and hardship, submitting myself to my enemy, all for the sake of one day rolling over the bed of nails and avenging my husband.
This legendary story spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys.
The people, moved by my plight, praised my unwavering loyalty and extraordinary courage.
I became a model of faithful and virtuous women, and some even turned my story into popular novels and plays.
The world is full of such strange and bizarre ironies: the more virtuous a woman is, the more tragic her fate tends to be.
Yet, I, a woman of such ruthlessness, am praised for my unwavering loyalty and virtue, becoming a celebrated paragon of womanhood.
33
The day the Emperor summoned me, I drained the last vestige of fortune from the Duke of Fǔguó's mansion.
Threads of spiritual energy swirled around me, and the three flowers above my head flickered in and out of sight.
To better match the image portrayed in the legends, I used my spiritual power to drape a shimmering garment over myself, one that only the Emperor could see.
There's no old emperor who doesn't yearn for immortality.
Their desire for power breeds a longing to hold onto it forever.
As expected, the Emperor was greatly shocked upon seeing me.
“She wears a feathered garment, three flowers gathered on the top of her head, her five energies converge at the source, this woman is a Celestial Being!”
I pretended to be clueless, and the Emperor called for his most trusted National Master, asking him if there was anything unusual about my fate.
The National Master was equally startled upon seeing me. “Your Majesty, this woman is not of the mortal realm!”
Seeing that no one else reacted, only he and the National Master could see it, the Emperor became even more convinced.
The National Master calculated for a moment, then said, “This Fairy has descended to earth to undergo trials, hence her arduous fate.”
The Emperor nodded repeatedly, “Indeed! Indeed!”
The National Master continued, “Now that her trials are over, she should have a smooth path ahead, protecting our dynasty's fortune. Yet, I do not know why, but there seems to be a star of death and bloodshed above her head.”
The Emperor was startled. “Why is that?”
The National Master asked, “I beseech the Fairy to inform this old master, did you have a near-death experience in your thirteenth year?”
“Yes.”
“That's right! The instigator of the death disaster is the killing star, and he has yet to give up his murderous intent! Your Majesty, if you don't kill this beast, the Fairy's safety is unpredictable.”
The old Emperor asked, “Fairy, tell me, why were you nearly killed in your thirteenth year?”
I bit my lip, lowered my eyes, and trembled as I said, “Your Majesty, it's not that this humble servant will not speak, but it's... I cannot say.”
The Emperor was furious, “Why can't you say?!”
“Father, I know why.”
The Eldest Princess's voice came from behind.
I turned to see the Eldest Princess in a red dress, as vibrant as pomegranate flowers.
“This woman is the Second Miss Song, who was betrothed to Qi Changlan. Father once asked Song You if they wished to dissolve the engagement; if not, it would be left alone. If they did dissolve it, a good marriage would be arranged for Second Miss Song.
Who knew that Song You would be so insane as to kill his own daughter? Afterward, he even shifted the blame onto Father and me!”
The Eldest Princess's eyes were filled with indignation. “For these past few years, people have been openly and secretly mocking me for trying to snatch someone else's husband, and then having her killed.
I couldn't defend myself, and after much investigation, I finally learned the truth. I presume Miss Song's silence stems from filial piety, unwilling to accuse her own father.”
Tears streamed down my face, and I nearly fainted from crying.
The Emperor was furious, “That Song You! He committed such an inhuman act against the Fairy and even used MY name!”
The Emperor valued his reputation most; even if he had hinted at this, he would certainly not admit it.
Now, using this as an opportunity, he can shift all the blame onto my father, avoiding the karmic consequences of harming the Celestial Being.
The Eldest Princess and I exchanged a fleeting glance before quickly looking away.
When I fell into the water that day, I had thought, I will make my father and Qi Changlan regret what they did.
With my father dealt with, only Qi Changlan remains.
34
I was welcomed into the Palace under the guise of a Celestial Maiden.
His Majesty bestowed a residence upon me within the capital, allowing me to move freely both inside and outside the Palace.
Everyone in the Palace treated me with utmost respect, even the Imperial Concubines dared not provoke me.
I took a sip of tea and smiled at the Eldest Princess, “Do you believe me now?”
She bowed before me, “Please, Master, help me!”
I helped her up, “Why, Your Highness, there's no need for this.”
She said, “Master, you have solved my biggest problem, no amount of thanks is enough. Now, the Imperial Concubine Li and her sixteenth son have fallen out of favor, and with the Duke of Fǔguó's mansion gone, they pose no threat.”
I laughed.
“Your Highness's true troubles do not lie within the Palace walls, but in the court.”
She was silent for a moment.
“The trouble you speak of... is it Qi Changlan?”
I said seriously, “Precisely.”
She fell silent again.
“Your Highness, do you have feelings for Qi Changlan?”
The Eldest Princess nodded, “Indeed, I do. The incident where he saved me in the capital's outskirts was true. However, Father worried about the Qi family's growing influence and wanted to use the position of consort to cripple Qi Changlan.
Who knew that shortly after the engagement, a rebellion broke out, and the south still hasn't submitted… Qi Changlan went back to the battlefield. The wedding was repeatedly postponed.”
Seeing her troubled face, I said softly, “The word 'love' is indeed difficult to understand. Let me tell Your Highness a story.
My ancestors were celestial beings, known as the 'Fate-Holding Women’.
It is said that the Fate-Holding Women practiced a dual cultivation of fate and destiny, innately able to transfer and share good fortune through arranged marriages.
Those who achieved minor success could exchange lives for others and reverse their fortunes. Those who reached the peak could even suppress the national fortune of a country or sect.
Perhaps this ability was too heaven-defying, so Heaven imposed a punishment, using love to restrain us.
And so, the Fate-Holding Women have died for love, generation after generation.
For example, there was a female immortal who feared that her partner would not survive the tribulation, so she transferred her own fortune to him. From that moment on, this immortal was plagued by misfortune; not only did she fail to overcome the heavenly tribulation, but she also triggered the Five Declines of Heaven and Man, ultimately dying from aging and illness.
Meanwhile, her partner was safe and sound, successfully passing through the tribulation and ascending. Before he left, he even shed a tear for this female immortal.”
The Eldest Princess commented, “The person is already dead; what use is that tear?”
I laughed, “Who can argue with that? Moreover, let me tell you about my great-grandmother. It is said that her partner was infatuated with another woman, and this marriage was forced upon him by my great-grandmother.
After the marriage, even though she was neglected, my great-grandmother quietly reversed his fortune, using her own luck to shield him from disasters.
From then on, he faced no obstacles and achieved great fame, even taking several concubines who resembled the woman he loved.
My great-grandmother, weak after giving birth, could not withstand her partner's misfortune and thus passed away.
When the cultivator heard the maidservant's lament and learned of his wife's deep affection, he finally regretted his past choices.
He spent his days holding the portrait of his beloved, lost in reminiscence, neglecting everything else, while my infant grandmother was cast into the mortal realm's desolate mountains by a resentful concubine.
Fortunately, she was adopted by a couple of County Officials on their way to take up their post, and that’s how she grew up safely, continuing our family lineage.”
The Eldest Princess listened intently, “Are there really Fate-Holding Women?”
I replied earnestly, “Indeed, there are. It is said that both my mother and grandmother brought good fortune to their husbands. I was supposed to be the same, but after falling into the water once, I became a harbinger of misfortune, leading to the deaths of so many husbands.”
The Eldest Princess shot me a reproachful glare, “In this dynasty, many women fabricate tales about being born with phoenix fates and innate blessings to seek high-status marriages. Don’t try to pull that on me.”
I smiled, “Alright, I can't hide it from the Princess. Then let me speak of worldly matters.
In the Chunzhu Building lived a woman named Yin Niang, whom you have seen before, Princess. She was simple-minded and heard a story about a songstress. This songstress liked a poor young man, giving him silver and gifts. The man later became successful, redeeming the songstress and sharing in his wealth and honor.
Yin Niang then had this idea for herself. She supported more than ten down-and-out scholars. Your Highness, can you guess how many returned to repay her?”
The Princess shook her head, “I guess none returned.”
“Exactly. Not only did none come back, but four or five even spent all the money and came back to pester her for more, eventually being chased out by the doorman of the Chunzhu Building with a stick.
Later, she was deceived by a man's sweet words, thinking she could become a noblewoman. Little did she know, she was swindled out of all her money and, with no way out, resorted to hanging herself with a rope.
This woman is one of the few people in the world who has shown kindness to me. At that time, I thought that if one day, others would call me not by my family name, but by my given name, I would call myself Song Xian Yin. (Yin from Yin Niang's name)
Firstly, to remind myself not to easily believe men's promises. Secondly, since Yin Niang rarely came to this world, I would leave her some kind of legacy.”
“The meaning of Xian Yin, I understand now.”
The Eldest Princess stood up and bowed to me, “A woman can have love, but she cannot destroy herself. She should always prioritize herself.”
I helped her up and bowed to her as well, “My lord is wise.”
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