Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Never to Be Named

The Eunuch Attendant, who was reading the Empress Dowager’s decree, did not even spare Meng Yang a glance. He announced in a sharp voice:

“By order of the Empress Dowager:

Meng Yang, concubine of Qi Shu Xian, has behaved immorally, exploiting natural disasters to gather wealth and harm the people. Her character and virtue are deeply flawed! Henceforth, she shall never be listed among Qi Shu Xian’s family records and will bear no official status. Should she dare to seek recognition or cause trouble in the future, severe punishment will swiftly follow as an example to all. Thus proclaimed!”

Only after finishing did the Eunuch Attendant look her way.

Meng Yang stared blankly.

Behaved immorally, exploiting disaster to gather wealth and harm the people—this much she understood.

But what came afterward?

What did it mean that she would never be listed in Qi Shu Xian’s family records, never have any status?

No status at all?

Was it truly as she feared?

Meng Yang turned instinctively to Qi Shu Xian.

The Eunuch Attendant snorted lightly. “Meng Yang, mere chambermaid, why have you not knelt to receive the decree?”

Meng Yang—a chambermaid?

Her face paled, her heart plunging instantly into freezing depths. She was clearly the Heir Apparent’s concubine!

“I… accept this decree on behalf of chambermaid Meng Yang.” Qi Shu Xian knelt slowly, a bitter smile on his lips.

The Eunuch Attendant showed no interest, casting Meng Yang another scornful look.

With such plain looks, how could she ever compare with the Princess? Heir Apparent Qi must have been blind!

As the Eunuch Attendant departed, Qi Shu Xian rose, only to have Meng Yang clutch desperately at his robes.

“Heir Apparent, what does the Empress Dowager’s decree mean? I—I am clearly your concubine!”

“You are a cursed star!” Before Qi Shu Xian could speak, Duke Qi kicked Meng Yang away roughly. “How dare you call yourself concubine? You will be a chambermaid forever—nameless, statusless!”

Meng Yang fell to the floor in disbelief.

How—how could this happen?

“If not for you, Shu Xian would never have fallen from junior fifth rank to sixth, and now from sixth to no rank at all! You are a cursed star! I was blind to allow Shu Xian to marry you!”

Duke Qi’s fury grew, and he raised his foot again to kick her.

“Father!” Qi Shu Xian stepped forward, shielding Meng Yang behind him. “I accepted her willingly. If you must punish, punish me.”

Duke Qi felt breathless with rage.

This son was once his pride, the best hope for the family’s prosperity, but now…

His hand raised high, then dropped powerlessly.

“Heir Apparent,” Meng Yang sobbed desperately, “please tell me Father isn’t speaking the truth!”

She refused to spend her life as a chambermaid.

She wanted to become a renowned Right Prime Minister’s Madam, her name forever linked to Qi Shu Xian’s in history—not an unnamed, insignificant chambermaid, invisible in family records.

Qi Shu Xian met her gaze silently for a long moment, finally saying with great difficulty, “From now on… I will protect you.”

“So, it’s true?”

Even with Sheng Zhi Wan gone, she still could never become his wife—not even his concubine? She was doomed to remain a nameless, rankless chambermaid forever?

Why?

“It’s Sheng Zhi Wan—it must be Sheng Zhi Wan!” Meng Yang shouted furiously. “She hates me for stealing you away, and wants me to be a slave forever!”

Meng Yang’s eyes grew red as she moved to run outside. “I—I will accuse her! She abuses her power!”

Princess or not, Sheng Zhi Wan was divorced herself. She simply could not bear to see anyone else happy!

A sharp slap struck Meng Yang across the face.

She froze mid-step, turning in disbelief. “Heir Apparent?”

Qi Shu Xian took a deep breath, horrified by Meng Yang’s accusation.

Even putting aside the fact that today’s punishment had nothing to do with Sheng Zhi Wan, the Emperor had already disciplined him for poor household management and allowing Meng Yang to harm the people. Of course, she herself would be punished!

Moreover, even if Sheng Zhi Wan had influenced matters, what right did Meng Yang have to complain?

A peasant girl, now not even a concubine but merely a chambermaid—how dare she compare herself to Sheng Zhi Wan, even boldly calling her by name? Who had emboldened her to such arrogance?

Perhaps it was his own indulgence that had led her to this.

Qi Shu Xian opened the door and pointed outside. “Go ahead! If you do not fear death, then go!”

Meng Yang shivered beneath his stare, finally remembering that this was not her original world, but the Sheng Kingdom from centuries past.

With her lowly origins, how could she ever compete against Sheng Zhi Wan?

Tears fell, heavy and hopeless. Why, if Heaven had given her a second life, did it place her in the body of a peasant girl?

“Enough,” Qi Shu Xian said softly, unable to bear her despair. He drew her into his arms. “I will protect you. Even as a chambermaid, no one shall bully you.”

Could she believe him?

Meng Yang’s eyes were vacant, yet she clung desperately to hope. If she abandoned hope now, then what was the point of all her struggles?

Perhaps… perhaps when the Third Prince ascended the throne, when Qi Shu Xian rose to greatness, she could still see that day!

Yes, she would surely see that day!

Meng Yang relaxed into Qi Shu Xian’s embrace.

But no matter Qi Shu Xian’s promises, a chambermaid was still only a chambermaid.

That very night, Meng Yang was driven from Endless Courtyard. Its plaque was removed and smashed to pieces.

When Qi Shu Xian sought Qi Fei Rui, now the steward, the latter simply asked a single, gentle question, leaving Qi Shu Xian speechless:

“Elder Brother, by keeping Meng Yang’s courtyard, do you wish to openly defy His Majesty and the Empress Dowager’s decree?”

Qi Shu Xian remained silent.

Finally, Meng Yang was arranged to serve in his Mountain Mist Courtyard.

Reduced from concubine to chambermaid, even her speech changed—she now called herself Maidservant, a humiliation nearly unbearable.

Yet she had no choice but to endure.

Meng Yang’s heart burned with hatred, blaming all her suffering on Sheng Zhi Wan.

She swore silently she would one day trample Sheng Zhi Wan beneath her feet.

Meanwhile, the object of her resentment sat calmly in the Empress Dowager’s Ci Hui Palace.

Sheng Zhi Wan faced dozens of portraits of young men, each accompanied by descriptions of their ages and characters.

“This young man is the nephew of the late Princess Consort Xian Huai. His looks may be ordinary, but he is kind, learned, and ranked second in the recent imperial examinations. He currently serves as a junior fifth-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy.”

“This is the second son of Minister Liu’s household. I originally preferred his elder brother, but discovered he was already engaged. Still, this younger son is handsome enough…”

“And this one here is General Han’s former subordinate’s son—a fierce and valiant warrior, already holding rank as an Imperial Army commander…”

The Empress Dowager patiently introduced each candidate.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyelid twitched. “Grandmother, haven’t I said I have no intention of marrying yet? Besides, it’s been only two months since my divorce—who remarries so quickly?”

“Of course, I don’t mean now,” Empress Dowager smiled gently. “But it’s wise to select someone soon. Otherwise, all these fine young men will be taken.”

“You’re at the perfect age. Marrying early means having children sooner…”