Chapter 204: Special - : Wang Dongpo

Chapter 204

Special Chapter: Wang Dongpo

When Wang Dongpo learned that Chunmei had followed the Kang Wang’s consort to reside in the Eastern Palace, he was unsure how to feel.

She hadn’t even said goodbye to him...

Since discovering that Zhang Liyong was his long-lost sister, Wang Dongpo could no longer fool himself into believing Chunmei was his sister. When traveling back to Huangjing City with Kang Wang’s entourage, Wang Dongpo couldn’t even bring himself to look her in the eye. Every time she came to talk and joke with him like before, he found himself unable to respond to her normally.

“Third Brother, the Princess Consort shared some plum blossom cakes with me. You should try some,”

Chunmei said while feeding the cake to him with a bright smile, her eyes curving into crescents, her cheeks glowing with a rosy hue. Her delicate, fair hand offered him the cake right by his lips. Wang Dongpo quickly turned his head away, and he said while refusing to meet her gaze.

“I’m not hungry. You keep it for yourself,”

He muttered before walking away hastily, leaving Chunmei standing there, confused.

At first, Chunmei didn’t notice the change, but throughout the journey, Wang Dongpo tried to avoid her, never meeting her eyes when they spoke. When she asked him directly, he claimed there was nothing wrong, but Chunmei wasn’t convinced. She had her own secrets, and she couldn’t help but feel guilty, thinking that perhaps Wang Dongpo had discovered she wasn’t truly his sister, which explained his coldness toward her. Neither dared to confront the other.

Before he had found Zhang Liyong, Wang Dongpo had asked Princess An Le to investigate the Mu family, confirming that Chunmei wasn’t his sister. Yet, he never told her the truth. Instead, he took advantage of her trust to stay close. He made excuses for himself to continue to be her brother, telling himself it was out of pity. Chunmei was alone in the world, without family, and if she found out that the man she saw as her brother wasn’t related to her by blood, she would be heartbroken. He would no longer be her third brother, and he feared he would never again see that bright gaze she gave him.

He had once convinced himself that she was his sister, never allowing himself to think beyond that. But now, having found his real sister, he could no longer lie to himself—he didn’t see Chunmei as just a sister anymore. At some point, he began looking at her as a man looks at a woman! Whenever she smiled and playfully teased him, his heart would burn with the desire for her to look at him like that and only him. He wanted to hold her in his arms, to possess everything about her.

How could she possibly accept him if she knew he harbored such inappropriate thoughts about her? Day by day, Wang Dongpo was tormented, torn between his desire and his fear of losing her. He could no longer bear to be just her brother, yet he was terrified of losing her completely! And so, he chose to distance himself.

At least, his image in her mind would not be destroyed. She would continue to see him as her third brother forever...

Eventually, Chunmei stopped approaching him altogether. Even when he saw the hurt in her eyes, he told himself it was for the best. He feared that if he allowed himself to get any closer, he would no longer be able to control his feelings.

It was unfortunate that Wang Dongpo wasn’t the only one who noticed Chunmei’s radiant beauty. Having grown up alongside a direct descendant of the Mu family, she naturally possessed refined manners and an exceptional appearance. Many of Kang Wang’s entourage couldn’t help but steal glances at her. During the journey, Wang Dongpo often overheard these men talking about her. They were captivated by her and even considered asking for her hand through the princess consort.

But so be it...He was never truly worthy of her in the first place. The members of Kang Wang’s entourage had bright futures ahead of them, while he was merely a head manager. Even though he held some standing in Huangjing, how could he possibly compare to those serving directly under Kang Wang?

Since the princess consort was pregnant, she no longer sent Chunmei to assist at the tea house. Wang Dongpo also avoided personally delivering the ledgers, so they rarely saw each other anymore. Yet, Chunmei continued to send him clothes and shoes she had sewn with her own hands. Things continued this way until the day Kang Wang and the princess consort were set to return to the capital.

Chunmei, of course, would follow the princess consort back.

Wang Dongpo felt as though a large chunk of his heart had been torn out. Even though he knew this day would come, the pain was unbearable. From now on, he would never see her again, never be able to ask how she was doing. It was as if they now lived in completely separate worlds.

The night before Kang Wang and the princess consort were to leave, Wang Dongpo couldn’t sleep. He found himself reminiscing about the times when they had been close, caring for each other and managing the tea house together with mutual support. He loved listening to her speak and seeing her by his side when he made rounds to ensure everything was in order at the tea house. None of his personal belongings—from his clothes to his shoes, sachets, or even his jade tassels and hairpins—hadn’t been crafted by her hands. But all that was now a thing of the past.

Before dawn, Wang Dongpo left his house and made his way to Kang Wang’s palace. The guards at the gate recognized him immediately and greeted him politely.

“Manager Wang, do you have urgent business? It’s still early, and I believe no one is awake yet. Perhaps you should wait until daybreak, and I’ll have someone report your arrival...”

“No need,”

Wang Dongpo waved a hand dismissively as he sat down on the steps in front of the gate. He gazed at the sky as it slowly transitioned from dark gray to silver, then finally to a golden hue as the first rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon. Sounds of activity began to stir within the palace walls, and smoke rose from the kitchen. Wang Dongpo’s handsome face remained contemplative, his eyes distant, lost in thought. The gatekeepers dared not disturb him.

“Manager Wang, shall I send word to the Princess Consort that you’re here?”

The guard asked cautiously. Wang Dongpo stood up slowly.

“I didn’t come to see the Princess Consort. I only wish to speak with Miss Chunmei. Please send someone to fetch her.”

When Chunmei heard that Manager Wang had come to see her, she could hardly believe it.

“Really?!”

“Yes, Sister Chunmei. One of the maids from the outer quarters just delivered the message. Manager Wang said he needed to speak with you. He didn’t come inside, but waited at the gatehouse.”

Chunmei glanced toward the bedchamber. Kang Wang and the princess consort hadn’t yet awakened, and she wouldn’t be gone for long. With that thought, she quickly made her way to meet him.

“Third Brother!”

Upon seeing him, Chunmei hesitated in her greeting, unsure of how she should act. Though he was impeccably dressed as always, the dark circles under his eyes revealed that he hadn’t rested well the night before. When he turned to look at her, his eyes reflected a mix of emotions—joy, worry, and shame. The moment their eyes met, tears welled up in Chunmei’s eyes, streaming down her face. She felt a mix of hurt from his coldness and happiness that he had come to see her.

“Don’t cry.”

Wang Dongpo stepped closer and gently wiped her tears away with his sleeve. His tenderness eased her heart a little.

“Third Brother, I thought you didn’t care about me anymore,”

She said through her sobs. Large tears continued to roll down her cheeks, no matter how much he tried to wipe them away, making Wang Dongpo feel even more guilty.

“It’s my fault, Chunmei, for making you worry. I heard that Kang Wang and the Princess Consort are leaving today, so I came to say goodbye. I wish you a safe journey. You’ll have a good life following the Princess Consort. I will always remember you.”

Chunmei looked up at him, confused.

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’ll never see you again? Did..did I do something wrong that made you dislike me? Why don’t you care for me anymore, Third Brother?”

“No, that’s not it. Why do you think that? How could I ever dislike you, silly girl?”

Despite her innocence, Chunmei began to suspect that Wang Dongpo had discovered something.

“You stopped calling yourself Third Brother, and no longer call me A’You. You’ve been avoiding me. Does this mean...”

She couldn’t finish her sentence before bursting into tears again. Fortunately, it was still early, and aside from the gate guards, there was no one around. They were speaking in the room near the gate, so they didn’t have to worry about being overheard.

“Chunmei, don’t overthink this. I’m still your older brother, but one day, you’ll marry. You can’t stay a child forever. Speaking of which, Sun Jing, Kang Wang’s attendant, is a good man. He seems to care for you. If you choose him, I can be at peace.”

Wang Dongpo’s warm gaze did not leave her face for an instant, but the tone of his voice at the end of the sentence had a hint of bitterness that even he noticed.

“You don’t want me anymore, do you? That’s why you’re trying to push me to someone else.”

Chunmei’s heart ached even more at his words.

“You’ll always be my sister.”

Wang Dongpo only knew that he just wanted to see her one last time, to say goodbye and then move on. At least, in her memories, he would remain the kind and caring older brother, not the man who looked at her the way a man looks at a woman he desires. He didn’t want her to despise him as well.

“But I don’t want to be your sister!”

Chunmei suddenly blurted out through her tears, her brow furrowed in frustration. Wang Dongpo’s face filled with shock, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure what she meant.

“Third Brother! I’ve known for a long time that I’m not your A’You. I’m shameless, aren’t I? I knew I wasn’t really your sister, but I pretended to be just to stay close to you.”

“...”

Wang Dongpo was stunned, unable to say anything for a moment. Before he could react, she covered her face with her hands and spoke again.

“You don’t have to worry anymore. From now on, I won’t trouble you by showing myself to you again.”

With that, she turned and ran away.

“Chunmei, no, that’s not what I meant. I...”

Before Wang Dongpo could finish speaking, Chunmei had already run off, her slender figure fading into the distance. He could only watch her disappear as the inner grounds were forbidden, and he couldn’t follow.

When Chunmei returned to the bedchamber, Nie Ying was already awake. Chunmei brought in the basin to assist her mistress with washing up. Noticing that her close maid’s demeanor was like someone who had just cried, Nie Ying couldn’t help but ask,

“Chunmei, what’s wrong? Why have you been crying so early in the morning? Are you sad about leaving because you’ll miss your brother?”

“Hah! I don’t care about him at all. From now on, Chunmei no longer has a brother like him, Miss.”

Chunmei replied, sniffling. When they were alone, Nie Ying allowed Chunmei to address her as Miss in a friendly manner like before.

“Did you two argue? He’s still your brother, after all. You’ll be traveling far, and it might be difficult to see each other again. Wouldn’t it be better to make amends?”

“He...he’s not my brother. I asked Momo who followed the Third Master, and it turns out my parents were guards for the First Master.”

Nie Ying’s expression turned to surprise. This meant that Chunmei had known the truth all along, yet she continued to act as if she were siblings with Manager Wang. Seeing her mistress’s reaction, Chunmei quickly explained,

“I’ve known for a long time that I’m not his sister, but he seemed so lonely, all alone in this world. So, I chose to be his sister willingly. But it seems he has realized the truth and no longer wants to see me.”

Tears began to flow again as she finished speaking. Nie Ying grasped Chunmei’s hand and pulled her to sit beside her.

“No wonder you’ve been so down lately and stopped visiting him. We’ve been through so much together. If anything troubles you, tell me. Even if I can’t fix it, I can at least offer some comfort.”

“Waah...Miss, you are so kind to me. I made the right choice by staying with you. No matter what, you’re the best,”

Nie Ying took the handkerchief she’d prepared and gently wiped away Chunmei’s tears.

“Manager Wang has always cared for you. He can’t possibly stay angry forever. He’s probably unsure of how to treat you now, more than anything. Give him some time. Don’t be too sad.”

After crying for a while, Chunmei composed herself and returned to assisting her mistress.

“Miss, today is your departure. Let’s not waste time because of me. By now, Kang Wang has surely finished dressing.”

Though her eyes were still a little red, Chunmei’s cheerful chatter resumed as if nothing had happened. Having vented her bottled-up emotions, she returned to her usual lively self.

When it was time to depart, Chunmei shared the carriage with Kang Wang, Princess Consort, and their young son, who sat on his father’s lap, looking around excitedly. A trusted servant came to report from outside the carriage.

“Your Highness, Manager Wang sent word that he wishes to speak with Miss Chunmei. Shall I...?”

Chunmei quickly knelt and kowtowed.

“Your Highness, please continue the journey. I dare not delay the procession. I already saw Manager Wang this morning. There’s no need for further conversation.”

Kang Wang and Nie Ying exchanged glances before he spoke,

“Do as Chunmei says.”

Throughout the journey, Chunmei kept her head down. If they hadn’t been in the presence of Kang Wang and the princess consort, she likely would have burst into tears. Nie Ying exchanged glances with her husband and played with their son, pretending not to notice Chunmei’s quiet sobbing.

When the carriage stopped for a rest, Nie Ying took the opportunity to speak with Chunmei in private.

“If you can’t let it go, why didn’t you go see him before we left?”

“There’s no point. Things can never go back to the way they were, Miss.”

Chunmei replied, her voice trembling. Having been together for so long, Nie Ying understood her maid’s temperament well. She sensed that this was unrequited love. Chunmei seemed to have feelings for Manager Wang, but since he had once been a eunuch, how could he possibly return her affections? All Nie Ying could do was take her hand in sympathy.

“No matter what, the feelings between you two were real. Blood relations don’t matter in that. But remember, Manager Wang was once a eunuch...”

“That doesn’t bother me at all. I never intended to marry. I just wanted to be part of his family for the rest of my life. He saved me once, and I’ll never forget that.”

Nie Ying embraced her.

“This is the Chunmei I know—always so dutiful. You’ve done everything you could to be his family and to care for him. You gave Manager Wang a sense of belonging. It doesn’t matter what he thinks now; as long as you’ve done nothing wrong, that’s all that matters.”

Chunmei looked up.

“Yes, Miss, I won’t cry anymore.”

From then on, the journey continued smoothly until they reached the capital. Even though they would now reside in the royal palace, Chunmei didn’t find it troublesome at all. She could act without any embarrassment because she had been trained in palace etiquette since the Mu family had once intended for Nie Ying to be presented as an imperial concubine. Among the maids, Chunmei naturally had the highest status she was a maid from the natal family who had served the princess consort since childhood.

Chunmei became so busy she barely had time to think about Wang Dongpo. Kang Wang was set to undergo the formal ceremony for his appointment as Crown Prince, and Nie Ying, as his consort, had to attend. The event was of great importance, with numerous intricate procedures that could not be overlooked. Since Nie Ying was pregnant, it fell upon Chunmei to oversee all the arrangements on her behalf. Nie Ying trusted no one else to handle the task.

After the ceremony, Kang Wang, the newly appointed Crown Prince, and his family moved to the Eastern Palace, which brought even more responsibilities for Chunmei. The new residence and the increase in staff to manage added to her workload, and there were also more and more small tasks for her to handle every day. Before she realized it, the time for the princess consort’s delivery arrived.

One night in the tenth month, the princess consort gave birth to a daughter, Lady Ye Rongji. Chunmei instantly fell in love with the newborn, caring for her as if she were her own child. Nie Ying, seeing Chunmei’s joy, entrusted her with a significant role in looking after the baby. Since Nie Ying had been elevated to Taizi Fei, things had finally settled into place, leaving both of them with more free time. With Nie Ying’s new status, it was no longer appropriate for her to be involved with the tea house business. They dedicated their time to raising Ye Tianpeng and Ye Rongji.

When Ye Rongji was three months old, Nie Ying, along with Kang Wang and their children, visited the Xiangyun Tea House. Even though they had been in the capital for a while, Chunmei had never seen the capital branch of the tea house. She had heard that Kang Wang and Princess An Le were also partners in the business. Chunmei found herself reminiscing about her time working at the tea house in Huangjing City. Life back then was simple and joyful. Every day, she enjoyed her work, meeting new people, and most importantly...she had been close to him all the time. Chunmei tried to stop herself from thinking about him. After all, they were unlikely to ever meet again in this lifetime.

At the tea house, their friends were already waiting. Nie Shuang, Song Qilin, Princess An Le, and Song Ren were all there, surrounded by their children. Chunmei’s eyes widened—just the six children of Lady Boss alone were plenty, but now with Princess An Le’s twin daughters, along with the Young Wang and the Lady, the gathering included ten children in total. It was a lively and bustling reunion.

Nie Shuang and An Le stood up happily as soon as they saw Nie Ying and Kang Wang enter. Everyone bowed respectfully to the pair.

"Greetings to Taizi[1] and Taizi Fei."

"We’re all family, no need for formalities,"

Kang Wang, now the Crown Prince, said in a friendly tone. Nie Ying took the hands of Nie Shuang and An Le, before speaking with joy.

"It’s been so long since we last met. I’ve missed you both so much."

"You’ve just given birth, and with Ye Tianpeng still so young, you must be quite tired,"

Nie Shuang said.

"Let’s not stand around chatting. Sister-in-law, please have a seat. We’ve got a new drink here at the tea house for you to try."

An Le chimed in, pulling Nie Ying to sit beside her. The husbands stepped aside to let their wives converse freely. They gathered to drink tea and discuss court matters, while the children, after exchanging greetings, were taken by their nannies to play in another room filled with toys. Only little Ye Rongji remained fast asleep in her father’s arms.

A servant came to pour tea for Nie Ying before withdrawing. Soon after, they brought in a small porcelain bowl.

"Try this, Sister Yingying. It’s a new creation from Sister Nie."

Nie Ying removed the lid and took up a spoon. The drink had the aroma of tea, but the liquid was cloudy, unlike the clear tea she was used to. Noticing the eager expression on An Le’s face, she smiled and cautiously took a spoonful.

"Tangyuan?"

Nie Ying raised her eyebrows upon seeing the round, clear dumplings in the bowl.

"Try it and tell me what you think,"

Nie Shuang exchanged glances with Nie Ying, and then laughed in unison.

"Why are you so excited, Your Highness?"

Nie Ying teased, smiling at her sister-in-law. Though An Le had already become a mother, she still looked as youthful as ever, with rosy cheeks that made her appear charming and sweet. Song Ren, who was conversing with Taizi and his elder brother, couldn’t help but glance at her frequently.

"I just want to know if my sister-in-law will like it too."

Nie Ying took a taste and looked up in surprise.

"This tea has milk in it? The taste is unusual, but it’s really delicious."

Nie Ying still remembered the time she had tasted Mo Cha Fen Tangyuan with hot ginger soup—how delicious it had been. But this time, it was served in milk tea, and the combination of the sweet, fragrant milk tea with the soft dough was perfect. Without realizing it, she had finished the entire bowl. When she looked up, she met An Le’s pleased gaze.

"Did you like it, Sister-in-law? I really love drinking Zhenzhu Naicha, but Sister Nie says I shouldn’t have too much, or I’ll get fat. But who cares about that? These days, A’Ren keeps saying I’m too thin anyway."

Song Ren, who had been sneaking glances at his wife from nearby, turned red upon hearing her words. Song Qilin and Wuqian discreetly sipped their tea, pretending not to hear. Nie Ying turned to Chunmei and said,

"You may go rest for now. I’ll send for you if I need anything."

Chunmei nodded and left the room. The servants, knowing she was close to Taizi Fei, led her to a resting area and served her snacks and tea. Chunmei sipped her tea alone, her eyes wandering around. The tea house was stunningly decorated, with fine materials and exquisite craftsmanship, not much different from the palace. As she admired the surroundings, the door suddenly opened, and someone stepped inside.

“You!”

Chunmei’s hand trembled, forcing her to set down the teacup.

"How are you here?"

Memories of their last encounter—when she had blurted out her feelings and then run away—flooded back, filling her with shame. She didn’t know what he must think of her now.

"I’m working for the Lady Boss,"

Wang Dongpo replied softly, his gaze fixed on her, unwavering.

“Aren’t you still in Huangjing?”

“Manager Liu, who used to work in the capital, was happy to move to Huangjing. There, she can start a new life without anyone knowing her past.”

Chunmei lowered her gaze, trying to keep herself from crying. She couldn’t help but hope that Wang Dongpo had followed her here because of her, but it was clearly just wishful thinking. He worked for Lady Boss, and he was merely following orders, relocating for work, not because of her.

“I hope you’ve been well,”

She no longer dared calling him Third Brother. Nor did he refer to her as A’You.

“Chunmei, I want you to meet someone.”

Chunmei looked up as a beautiful young woman entered the room and sat beside Wang Dongpo. Their similar features left no doubt in Chunmei’s mind who she was. Instantly, her heart filled with bitterness.

“This is A’You. I met her here not long ago. It’s fate that she’s also working for the Lady Boss.”

Tears welled up in Chunmei’s eyes, but she swallowed them down.

So, he had moved to the capital because of his sister, not because of her. She lowered her head, trying to keep her voice steady as she spoke.

“I’m happy for you. You’ve finally found your sister.”

“A’You, this is Chunmei—the one I told you about.”

Chunmei couldn’t bear hearing him call his sister A’You with such affection. He used to speak to her like that. Now, she was just a stranger. She wanted to leave this place. He must have told his sister all about how she had falsely claimed to be A’You. The thought made her face burn with shame.

“Sister Chunmei, my brother speaks of you often. He never stops telling me how wonderful you are. Now that I’ve met you, I can see that his praise was well-deserved. He clearly has good judgment.”

Zhang Liyong’s friendly tone made Chunmei unable to ignore her, so she smiled softly and replied,

"You’re too kind, Miss Wang. I’m not as good as you say."

“Please, call me A’You, like my brother does. We’re not strangers. The tea house is quite busy at the moment, so I should go check on things. I’ll leave you and my brother to talk.”

With that, Zhang Liyong exited the room, leaving Chunmei alone with Wang Dongpo. Lost in her thoughts, Chunmei jumped slightly when she heard his voice.

“What are you thinking about?”

His voice was still gentle, but now it only caused Chunmei more heartache. She sipped her tea in silence.

“It’s my fault for ignoring you. I didn’t know how to treat you. You saw me as your real brother, and I didn’t want to betray your trust. The closer we got, the harder it became for me to see you as just a sister.”

Chunmei looked at him in surprise.

“Besides, you’re the princess consort’s close attendant. Whether it’s Sun Jing or any of Taizi’s men, they all have brighter futures than I do. I thought I wasn’t worthy of you,”

Wang Dongpo said, looking into her eyes. Chunmei smiled through her tears.

“So why are you telling me this now?”

“If you hadn’t told me that day that you didn’t want to be my sister, I never would have had the courage to say any of this. Isn’t it shameful? You see me as a brother, yet I’ve had these kinds of thoughts about you.”

“Third Brother.. what should I call you now?”

Wang Dongpo gently wiped her tears with his handkerchief, and said,

“You can call me whatever you want, as long as you don’t cry anymore. It pains me to see you like this.”

“Third Brother, when I found out you were a eunuch, I decided I would never marry and would stay by your side for the rest of my life. Even now that you’ve found your real sister, my feelings haven’t changed. I’m still willing to be your family forever.”

Her words touched Wang Dongpo deeply, but at the same time, he had a strange expression on his face.

“About me being a eunuch, the truth is...”

He hesitated, lowering his head in embarrassment.

“The truth is, I never...Although I was sent to the palace as a child to become a eunuch, my appearance caught the attention of De Fei. She kept me close until I grew up, having me serve in her chambers.”

“How is that possible!? Wouldn’t there have been strict inspections for something like that?”

“If enough bribes are paid, anything is possible. And besides, there are many dark secrets in the inner palace. De Fei couldn’t have children anymore, so she chose to indulge herself in other ways. I served her for years, but as I grew older, it became more obvious that I was still a man. De Fei eventually wanted to get rid of me, but it’s fortunate that I sensed it and fled. I confessed everything to Princess An Le, hoping she would help me. The Princess has a reputation in the inner palace for being mischievous and unpredictable, but she’s also kind-hearted. At that time, I thought if I had to die, I didn’t want to die at De Fei’s hands.”

“How did you know De Fei was planning to kill you?”

"My friend was one of De Fei’s close attendants. We were all servants, and De Fei often took her bad moods out on us. When my friend found out De Fei planned to get rid of me, she quickly warned me. De Fei intended to accuse me of theft and have me beaten to death. In the inner palace, the life of a eunuch is worth nothing. But if I were to die, I’d rather confess the truth than be falsely accused. If Princess An Le hadn’t helped me, at least I would have died for deceiving the imperial family, not for a crime I didn’t commit. Back then, I wanted to bring De Fei down with me, but Princess An Le told me that someone like her wasn’t worth losing my life over. I don’t know how the Princess dealt with De Fei, but from that point on, De Fei no longer dared to trouble me. Eventually, when the Lady Boss was about to escape from her manor, the Princess gave me to her, so that I could start a new life."

Upon hearing this, Chunmei’s eyes widened, mouth agape in shock. The story seemed too incredible. How could a man who hadn’t been castrated remain hidden in the inner palace? It was beyond anything she had ever imagined. Her expression was so amusing that Wang Dongpo chuckled. However, when Chunmei realized she had pitied him all this time for nothing, a flash of irritation crossed her face.

"So...so, you could have a family like any other man. You can marry and have children. You don’t need me. I misunderstood everything, thinking I was going to be your sister and your family."

“Chunmei, I never meant to deceive you. But revealing that I am a man, who hasn’t been castrated, isn’t something I could just openly share with anyone. At the time, I saw you as my sister, so I didn’t correct the misunderstanding,”

Wang Dongpo explained and then paused, allowing Chunmei to process his words.

Chunmei’s face turned red. Back then, he saw her as a sister. What about now...? Her heart raced, though she didn’t dare ask more. Wang Dongpo saw her reaction and laughed softly.

“Ever since the Lady Boss accepted your young miss as her sister, I knew that you weren’t really my sister. I saw how happy you were to have me as a brother, so I didn’t say anything. But the last time, you said you didn’t want to be my sister anymore. What did you mean by that?”

Chunmei covered her face with her hands, feeling embarrassed just thinking about what she had blurted out.

“I meant exactly what I said!”

She mumbled, her voice muffled by her hands. Her ears turned bright red, causing Wang Dongpo to smile. She probably didn’t realize how happy he had felt when she had confessed her feelings.

“Well, I’ve found my real sister now, so I don’t want to be your brother either.”

Chunmei slowly peeked through her fingers, looking at him in surprise.

“Th...Third Brother...”

“Soon enough, you can just call me, dear husband.”

The following spring, Wang Dongpo and his wife were managing the Xiangyun Tea House in the capital. Word spread that the wife of Manager Wang had once been a close maid to Taizi Fei. Their wedding was a modest affair, with Princess An Le and Taizi Fei acting as hosts. Aside from the tea house staff, only close friends attended. Zhang Liyong had reverted to her original surname. Princess An Le frequently visited the tea house, and Wang Liyong, being an excellent hospitality, always attending to the princess’s attendants. A year later, one of the princess’s royal guards requested to marry Manager Wang’s younger sister. Even after her marriage, Wang Liyong continued to help her brother manage the Xiangyun Tea House.

[1] Taizi is the title of the crown prince of imperial China.