How Did the Female Lead in the Angst Novel Become My Ex-Wife’s Sister? - Chapter 13

What sort of day was this? Cen Juexing could hardly believe her eyes, finding that stray “wild seed” of their family here in the Shuxue Pavilion.

Just a few days ago, this person had been curled up like a drowned dog in that dilapidated shack in the far corner of their estate. Yet, the moment her elder sister took her away, she appeared in the Shuxue Pavilion, looking for all the world like a pathetic wretch trying to fly up and perch on a phoenix branch.

Juexing’s teeth ground together. It had to be her sister, Cen Xianyue, pulling strings behind the scenes again.

Everyone knew that Cen Xianyue had once been favored by the Princess Regent for her skill in celestial observation. Although Xianyue had declined that path to marry, supporting a mere Pei Linlang would be a simple task for her.

It was pure favoritism. Juexing remembered how much effort she had spent just to get a foot inside Shuxue Pavilion, yet her sister hadn’t lifted a finger to help, instead criticizing her for being “overly ambitious and chasing worldly dust.” Who did Pei Linlang think she was? Juexing was the one related by blood!

As Juexing moved to confront her, whispers broke out among the surrounding crowd.

“Is that…?”

“Indeed, it’s that one from the Cen Estate. The one who used to follow the eldest Miss Cen everywhere. I’ve seen her before.”

“And here I thought the eldest Miss Cen was so aloof, refusing to mingle with us for years. To think she’d descend into the mundane world for the sake of a vulgar commoner. What a pity…”

These snide remarks followed Linlang all the way into the second-floor private room. Only when the door was pushed half-shut did the silence finally return.

Linlang exhaled a long breath and looked around. The walls were hung with Song Dynasty landscapes, and the furniture was crafted from fine pearwood. A branch of winter jasmine sat in a Longquan celadon vase, creating a scene as elegant as a painting with the snow-covered trees outside the window. It was exquisitely refined.

As she sat down, a maid promptly served a cup of tea. Linlang took it with a nervous “thank you,” and the maid gave a small smile. “Her Highness has not yet returned. Please wait here for a moment, Young Master.”

Linlang took a small sip, startled to find the tea was of exceptional quality.

But before she could savor it, a cold sneer drifted from the doorway. “Oh? If it isn’t the second ‘Young Master’ of our Cen Estate, the one who doesn’t even carry the surname Cen?”

Cen Juexing appeared at the door, draped in fine silks and swaying jewels, flanked by several noblewomen. Her eyes were filled with mockery. “What’s this? Having clung to my sister’s skirts, do you now have the audacity to step over the threshold of Shuxue Pavilion?”

Linlang didn’t recognize the others, but their attire made it clear they were people she couldn’t afford to provoke. She continued to sip her tea, the bottom of the celadon cup reflecting a small tear in her sleeve—it had been snagged by a gilded Phoebe zhennan carving on her way in. She truly was different from these people, whether in the modern world or this book.

“Mind your words, Second Miss,” Linlang said, keeping her eyes downcast. “It’s fine if you loathe me, but Xianyue is your own sister.”

“You—!” Flushed with anger, Juexing hurried forward, clutching her skirts. “What right do you have to even mention my sister? She has always been upright and self-restrained. If it weren’t for a villain like you intentionally clinging to her, she would never be subjected to such gossip! Do you have any idea…?”

These past few days, the entire Cen household had been gossiping about Xianyue.

It was bad enough that she had returned home alone only to leave with a non-blood-related stray. The capital was small, and the Cen and Shen families were in-laws; the very next day, a nanny claimed to have run into Nanny Zhang from the Shen household. The gossip was that Cen Xianyue was disliked by her husband for bringing along a “burden,” causing the couple to fight that very night.

Her sister was a renowned talent, praised by all for her grace. If it weren’t for Pei Linlang’s interference, how could her sister…

But before Juexing could finish, she froze.

Tea had splashed onto Linlang’s sleeve. As she wiped it, she grumbled, “Did I bring her up first? Cen Juexing, I am here today on important business that has nothing to do with your sister. Stop pestering me.”

Juexing then noticed that the “stray” was wearing brand-new clothes. She remembered the nanny saying: “You wouldn’t believe it, the Eldest Miss hasn’t touched a needle in years, yet to please the Master, she’s staying up all night to sew new clothes. If she had done this sooner, things wouldn’t be this way… It shows a girl truly needs a mother’s guidance.”

So, even the new clothes were prepared for this Pei Linlang!

A surge of fury rushed to Juexing’s heart. She slapped the table. “I didn’t realize your skin was so thick! You eat my sister’s food, take my sister’s things, and then refuse to acknowledge the debt! Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on her behalf!”

“This is ridiculous! When did I refuse to acknowledge anything?”

“You call me ridiculous? If you have the guts, don’t wear the clothes my sister made!”

“Cen Juexing, I had these made myself—”

Rrrrip!

Half of the sleeve tore away, revealing the coarse linen undershirt beneath. The gathered noblewomen gasped at the sight. Even Juexing was momentarily stunned, clutching the torn fabric before regaining her composure. “Since it’s already ruined, you might as well take the rest off yourself. Otherwise, don’t dream of walking out that door today.”

Linlang couldn’t break free from Juexing’s grip, but she felt a profound sense of injustice. “Cen Juexing, don’t push me too far! I told you, I commissioned these clothes myself. What does it have to do with your sister? Besides, why would she suddenly make me clothes? I didn’t even know about it. You haven’t seen her in days, yet you’re so sure?”

“You ungrateful thing! Half the capital knows how my sister treated you. She’s endured years of cold looks for your sake. If it weren’t for her protection, a stray like you would have been kicked out of our house long ago! And now that you’ve supposedly ‘made it’ by clinging to the Princess Regent’s coattails, you…”

Juexing’s indignation was so intense that her friends were moved, patting her back. “Some people are like rats in a gutter; give them a bit of light, and they think they can enter the main hall. Don’t waste your tears; it’s not worth it.”

What kind of drama is this? Linlang grew more confused the more she heard.

Yes, the heroine was kind to her, but it wasn’t for her. It was for the sake of the heroine’s own sense of virtue and justice. Whether now or in the past, it was simply because Linlang was in a pathetic state, and the heroine couldn’t stand to see it. How did they make it sound like the heroine was deeply in love with her?

Linlang stopped struggling. She looked at Juexing seriously. “I swear these clothes have nothing to do with your sister. I even have a note from the manager of Zuixiandeng in my pocket. As for the clothes your sister made, I suspect they were for her husband.”

She pulled out the note. “I am eternally grateful for your sister’s care, but today’s visit to Shuxue Pavilion truly has nothing to do with her. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Her Highness yourself when she arrives.”

Juexing took the note, half-doubting. Before she could read it, a loud announcement echoed: “Her Highness the Princess Regent has arrived! Ladies, prepare to receive her!”

The voice came from outside. A crowd had gathered to watch the commotion, blocking Linlang’s view. Before she could stand on her tiptoes to see, everyone around her dropped to their knees.

Linlang was forced down as Juexing shoved her neck toward the floor. Her forehead hit the ground just as a languid female voice laughed.

“How lively it is today. What’s the fun? Why didn’t anyone wait for me?”

Xiao Wanqing replied, “Your Highness, there is no real ‘fun.’ We simply noticed a new guest and felt a bit curious.”

The sound of footsteps approached slowly, and the newcomer took the seat opposite Pei Linlang. Linlang tilted her head slightly, seeing only a pair of feet casually crossed beneath the hem of a luxurious silk robe.

“So it seems you have all met my guest already.”

Another collective gasp of surprise echoed through the room. Linlang buried her head even deeper, terrified she might be sliced to pieces by the daggers flying from Cen Juexing’s eyes.

“Young Master Pei, look up and let this Princess have a good look at you.”

“Yes…”

Linlang looked up cautiously, meeting a pair of eyes filled with a playful, knowing glint.

The Princess Regent remarked, “Indeed, just as Xianyue said, you are a quite handsome youth.”

Linlang felt like she was sitting on a bed of nails, a thousand needles pricking her back. “This lowly one… does not deserve such praise…”

I’m doomed, she thought. Even if I jumped into the Yellow River, I could never wash this clean…

******

As soon as the Princess arrived, the others were dismissed.

Cen Juexing continued to glare at her with a death stare until her friends practically dragged her away. Before leaving, Juexing mouthed the words: “You just wait!”

Linlang couldn’t help but shiver. Fortunately, the Princess Regent was relatively easygoing. Once the others had left, she ordered seats and tea, as well as an assortment of pastries and fruits, which gradually allowed Linlang to relax.

During their casual conversation, the Princess brought up some small talk, mentioning how Linlang used to be a little “bean” following Xianyue around. She shook her head with a touch of nostalgia at how much Linlang had grown. “How time flies…”

“By the way, I heard you are currently staying at Xianyue’s home, is that right?”

“Yes,” Linlang bowed her head. “Thanks to my Sister’s help, I am currently staying with her and my Brother-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law…” the Princess murmured coldly. “I almost forgot that Xianyue had married.”

The Princess set down her teacup, and an unreadable silence stretched between them for a moment. Linlang stole a glance upward; although she couldn’t see the Princess’s expression clearly, the atmosphere had shifted drastically from the lightheartedness of moments before.

It seemed the connection between the heroine and the Princess was deeper than she’d thought. Linlang recalled Xianyue’s earlier warnings:

“I do not want you to go.”

“Why? Is there something wrong with the jade pendant?”

“There is nothing wrong with it. I simply, personally, do not want you to go.”

Could it be that the heroine once served as a female official under the Princess because of something Linlang had said? Then, for some reason, they had a falling out—or perhaps she had abandoned the Princess for her marriage to Shen Zhao? Was the heroine afraid the Princess still held a grudge?

“How is your Sister faring now? That… what was her name? Shen…”

“Shen Zhao.”

“Right. Is Shen Zhao treating her well?”

How was she supposed to answer that?

Linlang stammered, “To answer Your Highness… Sister does not lack for food or clothing, so I imagine she is…”

“No need to say more, I understand,” the Princess interrupted. “Hmph. Well, she chose her own path. Let her endure it.”

She gulped down a mouthful of tea and slammed the cup onto the table, gesturing for a maid to refill it as if she were drinking wine. Linlang felt a surge of mixed emotions; she could tell the Princess felt a sense of “hating that the iron wouldn’t become steel,” a frustration Linlang shared.

“Sister’s life is indeed… not easy. But her love for Brother-in-law is deep-rooted. I think she probably finds the bitterness sweet.”

The Princess sneered. “Yes. If it weren’t so, she wouldn’t have abandoned the freedom and wealth within her reach to never look back. But don’t you think this ‘sweetness’ of hers is utterly ridiculous?”

Linlang had absolutely no idea how to respond to that. Cen Xianyue and Shen Zhao were, after all, a “fated match,” even if Juexing described her sister as brilliant and the Princess favored her.

“One knows not whence love arises, yet it grows ever deeper. Sister is a person of deep feeling; what can we outsiders say?”

She didn’t know why she felt resentful, but her tone came out sounding decidedly sour. The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them, thinking perhaps last night’s dream had infected her with emotions that weren’t her own.

“Tsk. You really have grown up.”

Linlang blinked and looked up instinctively. Opposite her, the Princess Regent was leaning her cheek on her hand, watching her with a smile that was hard to decipher.

“The old you would cry ‘Sister’ at every turn. Even if I just touched her, you would fly into a rage. Now, you can speak such high-sounding, diplomatic nonsense.”

“I heard you lost your memory. Or is it that the current you is the true you?”

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