The group members eagerly offered Xiang Qianlan advice—men are all despicable creatures who shouldn’t be indulged. Ming Shu directly suggested a different method of torment.
For example, forcing Qin Aiguo to get up and work in the middle of the night, making him redo tasks over petty complaints, or hurling the nastiest insults at him.
Having spent years in the imperial palace, Ming Shu knew countless ways to torment people. Every method she mentioned was like a treasure to Xiang Qianlan. Immediately, Xiang Qianlan went around the village and even spent a few cents to buy several bundles of willow branches from Uncle Sun next door. She also took the initiative to collect twenty pounds of hemp strips from the brigade.
By now, Xiang Qianlan’s name had spread throughout Qinjiachuan. She became the secret envy of young wives and the most despised figure among the older generation of mothers-in-law. Men her age would avoid her whenever they saw her.
Now, Qin Aiguo and his mother had become the laughingstock of the entire Qinjiachuan. Qin Aiguo, in particular, was privately mocked by the men—not only was he lame, but he couldn’t even control his woman. What a useless man.
Qin Aiguo spent his days doing household chores, tending to the vegetable patch, and not daring to step outside. The more he acted this way, the worse his reputation became. Now, the men in the village secretly referred to him as "Aiguo the Maiden."
Xiang Qianlan strutted through the village with her hemp strips, and the men squatting outside the brigade office watched her leave without daring to utter a word.
In the past, these lowlifes would have whistled at the original host. After all, she had married into the village from the mountains—more like being bought than married. Being teased a little was nothing, and she had no family to stand up for her.
As for whether the original host would later be beaten by Qin Aiguo, the whistling men couldn’t care less. If Qin Aiguo minded, it just showed how petty he was. Or, if they stretched it, it was the original host’s fault for being too flirtatious. What did it have to do with them?
Xiang Qianlan, frustrated after dealing with Qin Aiguo earlier, wanted to vent her anger somewhere. But the men were behaving themselves today, giving her no excuse. The reasonable part of her only made her angrier.
When she got home, she instinctively wanted to take it out on Qin Aiguo, but the thought of how much he enjoyed being beaten made her stop herself. Instead, she stormed into the next room.
The expected slap never came, leaving Qin Aiguo disappointed. He had even planned to "accidentally" expose himself when Xiang Qianlan hit him.
He recalled the sensation from a few days ago—the whip striking his body, sending shivers of pleasure through his soul. He couldn’t get enough of it. Finally, he understood why he had felt so unsatisfied after marrying.
He missed that feeling terribly.
Seeing his expression, Xiang Qianlan shuddered and hugged herself, feeling utterly pitiful. She had thought she married an abusive monster—who would have guessed he was actually a masochist at heart?
……
No one knew about Xiang Qianlan’s meltdown. The next day, Lin Xi didn’t go out but stayed home to make a collar for Caor. The jeweler arrived at dawn.
In Yunnan, it was customary to treat any guest with the best hospitality, no matter who they were.
Chi Xiangping had woken up early and stewed a cured pork trotter with fennel root before the jeweler arrived.
The unique aroma of fennel root blended with the rich scent of the cured meat, making mouths water just from the smell.
The jeweler could tell the quality of the household’s meals from the fragrance. He efficiently laid out his tools while exchanging pleasantries with Chi Xiangping and the others.
Caor’s collar was simple to make, and the gemstone didn’t require any special design—just a secure setting. As he worked, the jeweler remarked on how vibrant the glass gemstone was and how smooth it felt.
Lin Xi smiled but said nothing. The jeweler finished quickly, and Lin Xi carefully placed the collar around Caor’s neck.
Then, she set Caor on the stone table for a photoshoot. Her roses had bloomed alongside a patch of yellow chrysanthemums, and against the backdrop of blue skies and white clouds, the red gemstone seemed to shimmer.
She couldn’t resist taking several photos, each capturing Caor in a different pose—always regal, always adorable.
Ah Huahua received the photos and excitedly looked through them again and again. Lin Xi was a good owner—Caor never lacked food or comfort, living a life of ease. Since arriving in Yunnan, Caor’s favorite pastime was patrolling Lin Xi’s home several times a day before finding a sunny spot among the flowers to sprawl out and bask.
Ah Huahua missed Caor dearly. Back in primitive society, she had started raising livestock—first sheep, then a creature resembling a rabbit.
Sometimes, when she looked at the rabbit-like animal, she thought of Caor. How she longed to hold Caor again. Would she ever get the chance?
Ah Huahua sighed, her longing growing stronger.
……
The jeweler worked all morning. At noon, Lin Xi invited her granduncle and uncle over to accompany the guest—another local custom. When male guests visited, male hosts had to be present.
Lin Xi figured it was to avoid gossip. After all, rural grandmothers could be the kindest souls or the most vicious rumor-mongers.
Just after lunch, Da Mingbao came running over.
"Lin Xi, Lin Xi! Let’s go to Wufeng Town! My boyfriend has work there, and I’m bored staying home alone. He’ll be busy during the day, so he can only spend time with me at night. I need company!"
Wufeng Town was a centuries-old ancient town that had long embraced tourism. Though heavily commercialized now, its historic streets and architecture remained beloved by domestic and international travelers alike.
A film studio had even invested heavily in building a movie set there, turning Wufeng Town into a bustling hub. It wasn’t uncommon for passersby to spot celebrities strolling or working near the set.
"Lin Xi~ Come with me! I’ll cover all the expenses!" Some girls were born knowing how to wheedle, and Da Mingbao was one of them—especially when she dragged out her words and gazed pleadingly, melting hearts on the spot.
Remembering that Ming Shu had traveled through Wufeng Town, Lin Xi felt a stir of curiosity and agreed. Da Mingbao rewarded her with an enthusiastic hug.
They decided to leave that evening, with Da Mingbao’s boyfriend driving. After making plans, Da Mingbao skipped away happily.
After Chi Xiangping left, she asked, "Don't you have work today?"
Lin Xi stiffened slightly. Being her own boss, she had completely forgotten about work. She could only reply, "I do. I’ll go in the afternoon when I get back."
Chi Xiangping wagged a finger at Lin Xi in mock scolding. Though she found her granddaughter a bit unreliable, the thought of how long it had been since Lin Xi last went out to have fun softened her heart.
"Go on, go have fun for a couple of days. If that job doesn’t work out, you can always find another one after the New Year. Take this time to relax properly."
"Okay."
Lin Xi skipped back to her room, packed two sets of clothes, and didn’t even have dinner before Da Mingbao arrived. The beef hotpot in Wufeng Town was famous, and that’s where they were headed for their meal.
Da Mingbao had mentioned this plan to Lin Xi earlier.
Lin Xi hopped into the back seat with her small bag of clothes, and the man in the driver’s seat turned around to greet her. "Class President Lin, long time no see!"
"Long time no see, long time no see!" Da Mingbao’s boyfriend, Sun Xianquan, was also an old acquaintance of Lin Xi’s. They had been classmates from elementary school through middle school, only separating when they chose different academic tracks in high school.
Sun Xianquan and Da Mingbao had started dating back in middle school, and now, six or seven years later, they were still together.
A love story that began with school uniforms and might end in wedding gowns—honestly, Lin Xi envied them. Watching them, she couldn’t help but think of someone else.
Neither Da Mingbao nor Sun Xianquan noticed her wandering thoughts. After exchanging greetings, the three chatted as they drove toward Wufeng Town.
Wufeng Town was less than a hundred kilometers from Lianhua Village, and the drive took just an hour. They arrived as the sky was darkening, their stomachs growling, and headed straight to the Qingzhen Beef Restaurant to join the queue.
From a distance, the rich aroma of beef wafted through the air. The restaurant’s entrance was already packed with cars bearing license plates from all over. As they stepped out of the car, Da Mingbao took a deep breath and said, "Good thing I made a reservation an hour ago. Otherwise, we’d still be waiting at seven o’clock."
Lin Xi hadn’t tasted this dish in ages. She gave Da Mingbao a thumbs-up. "You’re the best, Mingbao~"
Da Mingbao linked arms with Lin Xi and marched forward with gusto. "Come on, let’s eat!"
The two strode toward the restaurant, leaving Sun Xianquan behind to park the car. By the time he caught up, their backs had already disappeared into the crowd.
Da Mingbao’s reservation proved invaluable. They barely waited in the seating area before their number was called. The tantalizing smell of beef had them practically drooling, and they rushed inside the moment their turn came.
Their table had just been cleared by a cleaning auntie. As they sat down, a group filed in at the neighboring table.
Though dressed casually, the newcomers wore elaborate hairstyles and heavy makeup. Da Mingbao leaned in and whispered to Lin Xi, "Those are actors from the film studio crew. Aren’t they all gorgeous?"
Da Mingbao had always admired tall people—she stood only 1.58 meters herself. Back when they were in school together, she’d often ask Lin Xi what the air was like at 1.65 meters.
Her fascination with height persisted. Even now, the first thing she noticed about anyone was how tall they were.
Lin Xi studied the group and nodded. Da Mingbao grinned so wide her eyes nearly disappeared.
The restaurant served their food quickly. While hotpot here usually came with a spicy dipping sauce, the establishment had set up a condiment bar for out-of-town guests, much like those in chain hotpot restaurants.
As true southwesterners, their dipping sauce never changed: ground chili peppers, cilantro, scallions, fish mint, blanched cherry tomatoes, salt, MSG, and a ladle of the broth.
The beef hotpot came with radishes—a perfect pairing. Unable to resist, Lin Xi first sipped the soup, then ladled rice into her bowl, dipping the beef into the spicy sauce between bites.
They’d chosen the hottest level of chili, and though it had them sniffling, they couldn’t stop eating.
Once they’d stuffed themselves and were sipping chilled plum juice to settle their stomachs, Lin Xi finally had time to observe their surroundings.
The extras at the next table, loosened by their meal, had grown chatty.
"Do you think that crazy woman will show up now that Actress Lin is here?" a girl in a pink high-neck sweater asked in a hushed voice.
Had Lin Xi’s body not been enhanced by genetic repair serum, she might not have caught the whisper. But the mention of gossip instantly sharpened her focus.
"Isn’t that a dumb question?" The girl across from Pink Sweater retorted sharply, clearly holding a grudge. "Every time Actress Lin goes on location, that auntie follows. And honestly, calling her a ‘crazy woman’ is rude. She just wants to know what happened to her daughter. No need to be so nasty."
Pink Sweater—Little Ke—flushed at the rebuke but fired back, "What’s wrong with calling her that? Her daughter and Actress Lin were classmates and friends, sure, but even best friends aren’t attached at the hip 24/7."
"If her daughter went missing, she should report it to the police, not pester Actress Lin all the time!"
Little Ke’s indignation was palpable, as if she were the one being harassed. The girl across from her opened her mouth to argue, but someone else cut in: "Enough. We’re in public. And you know how much Little Ke idolizes Actress Lin. Badmouth her idol, and of course she’ll get defensive."
"In this industry, you have to watch what you say. Everyone’s got a camera these days. If this gets uploaded, we’re all screwed."
The topic clearly wasn’t one they’d broach sober. The reminder silenced Little Ke, her mouth snapping shut.
The gathering wrapped up hastily. From the fragments, Lin Xi pieced together that Ming Li, mother of the missing Ming Shu, had never given up searching for her daughter. With no leads, Ming Shu’s close friend Lin Muxi had become her only hope.
And so, for years, wherever Lin Muxi filmed, Ming Li followed.
The task Ming Shu had assigned to Lin Xi still showed no sign of completion. Lin Xi was pondering how to approach Ming Shu’s mother when, before she could figure it out, Sun Xianquan returned from settling the bill.
Lin Xi put on her coat and followed the two to their hotel.
Sun Xianquan’s family was wealthy. Back when tourism in Wufeng Town was just beginning to flourish, they had invested in a hotel there. Now, their hotel business thrived, becoming one of the top-tier establishments in Wufeng Town. They had even opened two branch locations, one of which stood right beside the film studio. Da Mingbao, endlessly curious about the entertainment industry, always stayed at this particular hotel whenever she visited. This time, she had arranged for Lin Xi’s room to be right next to hers.
To match Wufeng Town’s distinctive charm, Sun Xianquan’s hotel emphasized a "classical" aesthetic. From the lobby to the guest rooms, every step offered a picturesque view. The rooms featured wooden furnishings, with only the bedding in crisp white.
Lin Xi’s room was spacious. Drawing back the curtains, she could overlook the entire Wufeng Town. At night, the town was far from dark—scattered lights twinkled like a river of stars. Small hills, flowing water, pavilions, ancient bridges, and blooming flowers painted a serene scene.
Girls dressed in Hanfu wove through the crowd, carrying bouquets of flowers, as if past and present had collided. A sense of fate, tangled across time and space, washed over her.
Just then, voices rose in the hallway, growing louder. Lin Xi went to open the door.
"Mu Xi, you were closest to Xiao Shu. You two came to Wufeng Town together to film. Before she sent me her last message, she mentioned she’d just returned to the hotel with you. Please, tell me—where did Xiao Shu go? What happened to her?"
"It’s been almost eight years, Mu Xi. Look at me. I can barely go on living. Have pity on me—just tell me what really happened that night."
In the hallway, Ming Li clutched the hand of a strikingly beautiful woman, pleading desperately. The woman waited for her to finish before gently holding Ming Li’s hands in return.
"Auntie, I don’t know. All I remember is that night, Xiao Shu and I returned to the hotel, showered, and went to bed. When I fell asleep, she was already asleep beside me. The next morning, when I woke up, she wasn’t there."
"After that, I never saw her again. Auntie, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you—I truly don’t know anything. You know how it is. All these years, I haven’t stopped searching for her. Every month, I go to the police station to provide updates."
"Auntie, stay strong. Let’s find Xiao Shu together. We’ll bring her home." Lin Xi watched as the woman named Lin Mu Xi gripped Ming Li’s hands tightly, her eyes gradually reddening.
Ming Li stared at her, tears welling up, and the two embraced, their sobs heart-wrenching enough to move anyone who heard them.
From start to finish, neither seemed to notice Lin Xi’s presence.
Lin Xi returned to her bed and relayed everything she’d heard to Ming Shu.
Upon hearing Lin Xi’s account, Ming Shu suddenly felt an intense headache. She clutched her head, unable to bear the pain.
Qingxiang and the others attending to her were startled and rushed over, asking what was wrong. Ming Shu wanted to reassure them, to say she was fine, but the faces before her blurred into multiple overlapping images. Their voices echoed in her ears, merging into an indistinguishable cacophony.
Her head felt like it was splitting apart. Ming Shu writhed on the bed, as if floating in a void—sensing nothing, yet somehow aware of everything.
The imperial physician arrived swiftly, and the emperor wasn’t far behind. The physician administered acupuncture while the emperor raged in the palace hall. Soon, a flood of sisters from the harem came pouring in.
With no reply from Ming Shu, Lin Xi turned to Da Mingbao for conversation. Da Mingbao, ever well-informed, immediately declared she’d come over to chat.
Before Da Mingbao even arrived, a message popped up on Lin Xi’s phone:
[Palace Intrigue Ming Shu: No, that’s not right. When I fell asleep, Mu Xi was already asleep too. We drifted off together.]
