How Did the Female Lead in the Angst Novel Become My Ex-Wife’s Sister? - Chapter 16

Before Xianyue could answer, the door was pushed open by Yunxiu.

“Miss, Nanny Zhang says…”

The two of them entered the room and stopped dead in their tracks at the edge of the inner screen.

Linlang scrambled to let go and hung her head, but it was too late. The nanny’s eyes were wide, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Oh, just the two ‘siblings’ catching up, I see.”

Xianyue lowered her gaze and covered her wrist. “Just a few words. What is it, Nanny?”

“Nothing much. The Master heard Young Master Pei was ill and sent me with some soup.”

More soup. Every day it was something different, like cordyceps, ginseng, and black chicken—all heavy tonics. Shen Zhao was sick of them, and Linlang, after the initial novelty, found them hard to swallow, especially with the bitter taste of illness in her mouth.

She looked to Xianyue for help. “I don’t really have an appetite. Maybe Sister should have it.”

But Xianyue had already taken the bowl, meeting Linlang’s eyes with a gentle, coaxing look. “Drink at least a little. I’ll skim the oil off for you, okay?”

She sat back down beside her, carefully skimming the fat into the empty medicine bowl. Nanny Zhang’s expression grew weirder by the second, looking back three times even as Yunxiu dragged her away.

Linlang felt this was improper, but Xianyue didn’t seem to care. She acted as she always did, still mindful of the fact that Linlang was a woman and should eventually reclaim her true identity.

While the “siblings” were occupied, Nanny Zhang marched straight from the side courtyard to Shen Zhao’s study, muttering under her breath the entire way.

Inside, Shen Zhao wasn’t reading. She stood by the window, ruminating on the report from her subordinate, Xuan Miao.

“I heard it clearly, Master. They said Young Master Pei is a woman, and judging by Miss Cen’s reaction, she has known for a long time.”

“If you are still uneasy, I will find the physician who visited today and get a definitive answer tomorrow.”

“Master? Master?”

Shen Zhao snapped back to reality. Nanny Zhang was standing behind her, her face etched with concern.

“Nanny,” Shen Zhao said with a tired smile. “Is my younger brother feeling better?”

The nanny’s expression soured instantly. “You’re still worried about him? Hmph!”

Shen Zhao chuckled. “What? Did she offend you again?”

“If it were just a matter of offense, it wouldn’t be so bad! Master, you have no idea!” Nanny Zhang leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially. “When I went in, those two were holding hands in a most… improper manner!”

Shen Zhao’s smile faltered. “Nanny, surely you’re mistaken? Perhaps it was just—”

“Mistaken? I’ve lived a long life; I know what I saw! Hands joined, eyes glued to one another with such longing… if I had walked in a second later, they’d have been rolling around together on the bed!”

“I told you something was wrong. What kind of siblings act like that? Last time I saw them holding hands, they looked like they’d seen a ghost! Master, you must speak to the Madam. This lack of decorum reflects poorly on you! If this continues…”

The nanny pivoted back to her favorite topic: Shen Zhao taking a concubine. She argued that since the Madam had failed to produce an heir in two years and was now behaving so scandalously, a second wife would bring her down a peg. Did she really think the Shen estate couldn’t function without the daughter of a Minister?

Shen Zhao brushed her off with her usual excuses, but a seed of doubt had been planted.

Cen Xianyue and Pei Linlang?

No. It was likely just Linlang’s unrequited obsession. Xianyue’s devotion to her was obvious to everyone. Why else would she have agreed to marry her after only one meeting? And…

Shen Zhao recalled the dream she’d had two years ago. Except for Linlang’s unexpected presence, everything was unfolding exactly as the dream predicted. Even if she didn’t understand the “why” yet, she knew she had the means to eliminate Linlang if necessary.

But first, she could use Linlang’s female identity as leverage to seize the position of Shaoqing from the Eldest Princess.

Shen Zhao gazed out the window. The cold moon reflected off the snow, and withered branches cast dancing shadows. Night was falling fast.

******

In the side courtyard, dinner had concluded.

Linlang was losing her patience with Cen Juexing, who was hovering around Xianyue and calling her “Sister” incessantly. Seizing an opening, Linlang suggested it was time for Juexing to head home. But Juexing refused to be ordered around, clinging to Xianyue’s arm even tighter just to spite her.

Linlang didn’t want to stoop to her level, but she refused to let Juexing win. She began to fake a heavy cough, prompting a worried Xianyue to urge Juexing to leave before it got too late.

Outside, the Cen family carriage was waiting.

Juexing lingered by the door, her face clouded with worry. Hearing about her sister’s living conditions was one thing; witnessing it was another. The fact that her sister and brother-in-law didn’t even eat dinner together was bad enough, but Shen Zhao’s cold indifference was even worse.

“Sister,” Juexing said, taking Xianyue’s hand. “Why don’t you let Pei Linlang come back with me? I promise I won’t bully her anymore.”

Xianyue patted her hand gently. “I appreciate the thought.” She hesitated, her smile fading. “About pushing Linlang into the water… have you told her?”

“No. Only a few of my servants know. I didn’t want to cause trouble.” The “trouble” being Xianyue, of course.

“If she doesn’t know, then don’t tell her,” Xianyue instructed. “Let the secret stay buried. It’s better than her holding a grudge against you.”

In truth, Xianyue just didn’t want Linlang to suffer any more mental distress. If she had forgotten, it was better to start fresh.

Juexing beamed, convinced her sister was taking her side. She threw her arms around Xianyue. “I knew you were the best! That Pei Linlang is nothing compared to us!”

“Go on now, head home.”

Juexing waved as she boarded the carriage. “I’ll come pick you both up for the Luofu Spring Feast in a few days!”

*****

The Luofu Spring Feast was, in simpler terms, a plum blossom viewing party.

It was scheduled for the day of Da Han (Great Cold), just a few days before New Year’s Eve. The venue was a plum grove behind the Shuxue Pavilion, promised to be filled with fine wine and gourmet food. To most, it was a romantic scene of “seeking plums in the snow.” To Linlang, a self-proclaimed “vulgar person,” it was just a cold outdoor event she was only attending to keep the lead couple apart.

The feast began in the evening, requiring an afternoon departure. Since it was Shen Zhao’s day off, she would be traveling with them. Linlang’s plan was simple: wedge herself squarely between Shen Zhao and Xianyue in the carriage and play the role of a radiant “third wheel” all the way to the pavilion.

To ensure this, Linlang spent the entire morning glued to Xianyue. She clung to her during breakfast and medicine time, claiming she felt “dizzy” and needed Xianyue to hold her. She didn’t give Xianyue a single moment alone with Shen Zhao.

Yunxiu saw right through her. After Linlang finished her medicine, Yunxiu brought over a bowl of soup and remarked snidely, “If you’re so dizzy, perhaps you should stay home and rest instead.”

Xianyue looked worriedly at Linlang, checking her forehead for a fever. “She has a point, Linlang. I can make your excuses to the Princess.”

“No!” Linlang tightened her grip on Xianyue’s arm. “It’s a royal invitation! I’ll crawl there if I have to! Besides, I only feel better when Sister is near me. Just for today, please?” She looked up at Xianyue with puppy-dog eyes.

Yunxiu puffed up with indignation, but Xianyue silenced her with a look. Yunxiu huffed, “What a piece of work!” and stormed off.

Once they were alone, Xianyue smiled and tapped Linlang’s forehead. “Are you really dizzy?”

“Of course! Would I lie to you?” Linlang leaned her head on Xianyue’s shoulder, groaning theatrically. “You know I have a delicate constitution.”

“You aren’t worried about being a burden anymore, then?”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Linlang nuzzled into her shoulder, then looked up suddenly. “Am I holding you too tight? Your heart is beating so fast.”

“A little…”

“I’ll loosen up, then.”

“…”

“Just for today, you’ll have to put up with me, Sister.”

Xianyue’s heart was soft. Linlang knew that even if Xianyue suspected she was faking, she wouldn’t have the heart to refuse. As long as I’m by her side at the feast, there won’t be any ‘plot’ happening between her and that scumbag!

But as the saying goes, “man proposes, God disposes.” Just as they were about to leave, Cen Juexing arrived.

Worse, she had put on a mask of fake friendliness. “Linlang! I’ve come to pick you up!”

Linlang hid behind Xianyue. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking you to the feast! Come on, let’s go!”

“Don’t call me Linlang, it’s disgusting!”

“Linlang! Linlang!” Juexing chirped, grabbing her just as tightly as Linlang had grabbed Xianyue earlier.

Linlang knew Juexing was up to something, but Xianyue looked so relieved to see them “getting along” that she couldn’t refuse. They set off in two carriages: Shen Zhao and Xianyue in the first, and Linlang and Juexing in the second.

As soon as the carriage curtain fell, Juexing’s smile vanished. She kicked Linlang twice. “Move over. Get to the corner.”

“You were the one who insisted I ride with you,” Linlang grumbled, shrinking into the corner.

“You think I wanted this? Yunxiu told me you were making trouble for my sister and her husband!” Juexing adjusted her hair jewelry, glaring at Linlang. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You’re a toad dreaming of swan meat. My sister is kind to you because she thinks of you as a brother. Don’t think for a second you have a chance. Take a look in a mirror. You don’t match her.”

Linlang ignored her, tucking her hands into her sleeves and peeping through the curtain at the carriage ahead. I hope those two haven’t touched hands yet. How did this scene go in the original book?

“Hey! Pei Linlang! Are you listening to me?”

“I heard you. Toad, swan meat, yeah, yeah,” Linlang muttered, still looking out the window. “Swan meat is delicious, who wouldn’t want a bite?”

“You—!”

“Ah!”

Juexing suddenly reached out and twisted Linlang’s ear. Linlang yelled, trying to push her away. “Cen Juexing, let go!”

“I won’t! Jixiang, hold her down! If she keeps looking out that window, poke her eyes out!”

“You’re a shrew! A violent woman! No wonder Sister likes me better—no one could like someone like you—Cen Juexing, I’m not a pushover!”

“Bastard! You dared to grab my hair! Jixiang, get her! Get her!”

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