As June approached, the hot breeze swept through Lan’s manor, which remained bustling like the old days. Yet, some couldn't find rest even on this night.

    Yun Si diverted her attention from the accounts on her desk, stretching her legs while gazing out the window. Despite the refreshing June rains, the heat still felt scorching.

    "Furen, I just heard that Master Lan ordered A-De to cut the salary and jewelry allowance of the Fifth Furen, Ling Xi, for three months,"

    reported Xiao Ying, her loyal maid, with a bright voice that clearly relished the other’s misfortune. Ling Xi, a niece of the third Furen Ling Ji from her father’s manor, was known for causing troubles for her mistress. This severe punishment indicated serious displeasure from her master.

    Yun Si smirked. Ling Xi was the one who reported the scandal involving the maid Xiao Xiang to the elderly Furen, leading to a lot of turmoil. Lan Qing had not mentioned it, but given his character, he likely harbored resentment. Intentionally ignoring Ling Xi recently must have irritated her pride, leading to her altercation with Concubine Jiao and providing a pretext for her punishment.

    Yun Si’s smile deepened. She knew Ling Xi orchestrated a scene during the elderly Furen’s birthday feast. Hence, the rumor spread by Xiao Ying and Xiao Yuan, and the trap set for Ling Xi, were all her schemes.

    Yun Si wasn’t a saint. She wouldn't be aggressive unless provoked, but she bore no kindness toward those who harbored ill will against her. If they plotted deceit, she would retaliate fully. What a pity, indeed.

    "Which quarter will my husband choose to stay in tonight?" she asked indifferently, unconcerned about which concubine her husband preferred, compelled to inquire, nonetheless.

    "The quarter of Concubine Jiao,"

    Xiao Ying replied softly, sensing her mistress's detachment. Since Lan Qing returned from her father’s home with Yun Si, he hadn't visited her quarter, prompting concern about her mistress’s feelings.

    The maid was afraid Yun Si might take things too seriously, but she herself was unaware of such matters. Recently, she had been living comfortably, not giving a second thought to anyone else. However, when summoned by the elderly Furen, her somber demeanor emerged. The maid believed Yun Si was upset over her husband's neglect, but only Yun Si knew that wasn't the case.

    Because her beloved husband spent too much time exclusively with one concubine, the other Furens went to weep and complain to the elderly Furen. Obviously, when the mother-in-law knew about it, Yun Si would inevitably be implicated. She regretted the recent peace she had enjoyed.

    Being the Great Furen is not easy; she would argue vehemently!

    "You all should rest," she dismissed her maids, and once they left, her expression immediately turned stern.

    The harmonious melody of a string instrument intertwined with the laughter of a man and woman. Of course, Yun Si knew well who they were none other than her beloved husband and the sweet Concubine Jiao, sweet but poison coated.

    In the fresh morning, Yun Si struggled to rise, her sleep difficulties making mornings particularly challenging. Yet, she forced herself up, assisted by her close maid.

    She envied the other concubines who could sleep, unlike her, who, despite deep fatigue, had to dress up and pay respects to her mother-in-law. Upon her arrival, the elderly Furen was already awake. Yun Si served her breakfast and then left, receiving another reminder about Concubine Jiao.

    Yun Si smiled pleasantly, her eyes calm, hiding her inner exasperation. 'Dear mother-in-law, your son is not a child anymore. Why bother when he's content with his concubine? I'm already flawed without an heir, and now you wish to see me act narrow-minded too?'

    She pondered solutions after leaving. Without an heir was her first imperfection; following the elderly Furen’s direct suggestion would only compound her faults, manifesting as jealousy and interference, potentially grave missteps. Even if Lan Qing respected her as the Furen, there was no guarantee he wouldn't later use these issues against her.

    She had to leave, if ever, with dignity, not in disgrace, hence the need for subtlety over the elderly Furen’s blunt strategies.

    Soon after her return, Yun Si and her maids welcomed a visitor who arrived gracefully with her entourage of two maids.

    Concubine Jiao, who entered and bowed to Yun Si before sitting down without awaiting an invitation, expressed concern over Yun Si’s recent illness. “I heard that Furen has recovered from the fever. I've made some soup for you. I'm not sure how you're feeling, Furen?"

    "It's better now," Yun Si replied with a smooth smile.

    "I've wanted to visit after hearing about your illness but didn't get the chance. You're not upset, are you?" Concubine Jiao added, her face blushing slightly, revealing several faint red marks, likely from her husband.

    "Not at all,"

    Yun Si reassured her with a comforting smile, a semblance of genuine concern despite recognizing the other's pretense. Would Concubine Jiao dare to use such transparent tactics against her again?

    Just by seeing the marks on the beautiful concubine's body, Yun Si could guess how wild the previous night had been between her husband and the concubine. However, what she couldn't comprehend was why the woman felt the need to flaunt her. Yun Si had no taste for pain and couldn't muster any jealousy.

    Observing the doubtful look as the other woman glanced at the marks on her arm, Jiao Mingqi couldn’t help feeling triumphant, assuming the Furen was undoubtedly jealous. This only spurred her to serve Yun Si more zealously.

    Yun Si noted the concubine's sweet behavior while serving her food, which was indeed a feast for the eyes. No wonder men relished such attention from beautiful women. Even Yun Si, a woman herself, found herself eating an extra bowl of rice under such careful ministrations.

    Watching Yun Si consume two bowls of breakfast and slurp down the soup she had prepared, and then casually rewarding her with a marvelous jade bracelet, Jiao Ming qi felt a surge of pride, but her facade soon faltered. Even her prepared song seemed to fade in, leaving her to haul back an empty soup bowl in confusion.

    Why did she feel belittled, despite her intention to mock Yun Si for her husband's neglect?

    "Furen, is it good for you to consume Lady Jiao's soup to the last drop like this?"

    Xiao Ying inquired with concern, tempted to question her mistress about the fear of being poisoned. Was she so famished under their care that she had to devour everything served?

    Yun Si leaned back, stretching her elegant legs in a relaxed posture, and shook her head, "She's the favored one now; why would she dare poison me? Her visit was merely to flaunt her status." Her thin lips curled into a wide smile before she spoke again, "She doesn't intend to harm me. She came hoping that I would deal with her instead."

    If she really loves Lan Qing, seeing him happy with those marks on Concubine Jiao’s body might cause her to lose her composure or even provoke jealousy. However, due to her unconcern, the plans of Concubine Jiao are ultimately thwarted. Yun Si appreciated her husband's new favorite not only for her youthful beauty and lively demeanor but also knew better than to fall for her tricks.

    Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean she would allow the other party to deceive her like this. She still remembered the previous banquet debacle that Jiao Ming qi orchestrated. Now here she was, stirring trouble again. Even though it may be a foolish plan, if it were someone else, it could lead to unexpected consequences. To prevent problems in the future, she may have to confront Concubine Jiao. With a tired sigh, she exhales deeply, feeling exhausted and worn out.

    She has to play the role of a stand-in once again, doesn't she...

    "Xiao Ying, is there still some of that ginseng chicken soup you made left?"

    Xiao Ying tightly pressed her lips together. Sometimes she really couldn't keep up with her mistress's thoughts. Suddenly, the other party changed the subject, leaving her unable to follow. Despite this, Xiao Ying still responded with a confused expression.

    "Still a bowl left, Furen. Would you like more?"

    Yun Si waved her hand dismissively and continued giving orders in an indifferent tone. "No, warm it up and take it to my husband at the Grand quarter on my behalf."

    “Yes, Furen” Xiao Ying obeyed, though she thought it was an attempt to please her husband…., wondering ‘why just a leftover bowl was used for the treat. Shouldn't it be more elaborate?’

    After issuing her orders, Yun Si became indifferent, then turned to instruct Xiao yuan to bring out guqin, the stringed instrument from the room, lost in her thoughts. From what she heard from Xiao ying, the last time her husband left her quarter, he visited Concubine Jiao, who was playing the song "Swan's Plea." Since then, he hadn't spent nights in any other concubines' quarter.

    "Swan's Plea," huh?

    soft murmurs outside the door drew his attention momentarily away from his paperwork. His sharp gaze flicked toward the door before he resumed his focus.

    "What is it?"

    Lan Qing asked in his soothing, deep voice as A-Yin, his close servant, stepped in with a sly smile.

    "Master Lan, this is the ginseng chicken soup that the Great Furen personally prepared for you."

    A-Yin was unaware that the soup was merely leftovers from Yun Si’s meal. Nonetheless, always treated kindly by Furen, he couldn't resist exaggerating the truth slightly.

    Lan Qing raised his eyebrows, his eyes flashing with surprise. When had his Great Furen ever shown such endearing behavior? That was hardly typical of her.

    "Master Lan, the soup should be consumed while it's still hot,"

    Seeing his close aide's eagerness, his sharp eyes narrowed with irritation. Should he assign this person to follow his wife instead? He seemed to be overly enthusiastic. Despite his irritation, his well-shaped hand lifted the spoon to sip the steaming soup. The taste on his tongue wasn't bad at all, so he couldn't help but take another spoonful, before raising his eyebrows slightly in surprise.

    "Why is this soup richer than usual?" A-Yin, spotting the opportunity, chuckled, hinting at a deeper affection behind the meal's preparation.

    "The Furen must have been particularly mindful of you, master Lan, stewing the soup until it reached this rich consistency, to please you."

    Shaking his head at his servant's cheekiness, Lan Qing ‘s expression was softened. He continued to enjoy the hearty soup, savoring the flavor, unaware of the true, unromantic origin of its richness – merely leftovers.

    "Summon A-De for me,"

    Lan Qing commanded after finishing the soup. Thinking about Yun Si’s unusual act of care, he wasn’t gullible as his servant, Yun Si had been taking care of the Lan family's affairs for almost two years. She was not the type to please her husband in the same way as other wives.

    A-De perfectly performed his role as a butler quickly reported Concubine Jiao’s ill-fated attempt at the Furen quarter. It seemed Concubine Jiao’s effort to pilfer affection backfired.

    Poor lady Jiao not only did her scheme to attract attention fail, but she also faced the indignity of being perceived as a maid by Yun Si. Furthermore, it led to a misunderstanding where even Master Lan and the butler suspected her of malice toward the Furen , resenting the twisted narrative that painted her as the aggressor.

    That evening, in the Great Furen’s quarter. A-Yin stepped in with a smile, bearing good tidings to the owner's personal maids that Master Lan would be staying here that night.

    Xiao ying and Xiao yuan shared joyful smiles, turning to look at their mistress, ready to express their delight. However, they found the slender figure of their mistress indolently sprawled on the floor, showing no sign of pleasure, soon drifting off to an indifferent sleep.

    That night, Yun Si’s quarter was completely quiet, devoid of its usual inhabitants.

    As Lan Qing entered, the first thing that greeted his ears was a plaintive melody, a familiar tune wafting in the air, stirring an inexplicable thrill in his heart.

    The young man stood enchanted by the music for a long moment before a frown creased his brow, calling out softly, " Si'er."

    But there’s still no response He moved through the hallway to the inner room, drawn by the melody. There, he found his sought-after figure.

    Yun Si , clad in a vibrant red attire accentuating her pale, glowing skin, sat upright behind a seven-stringed guqin. Her slender, luminescent fingers plucked across the strings, eliciting emotions Lan Qing found mesmerizing.

    Captivated by the bewitching woman in red, he was spellbound until the song ended, but remained motionless. When the song finished, the candlelight cast revealing shadows across her figure, suggesting a siren's allure. When he regained consciousness, it was already too late; he'd been completely disarmed.

    The sixth month's rains brought freshness, inside the bedroom, two figures tangled, one advancing, the other seemingly retreating with deliberate strategy. "Swan's Plea" was meant for pure love, yet not all humans are virtuous...

    Deep into the night, Lan Qing slept soundly on the plush bed, while on the other side, Yun Si sat lost in thought, gazing out the window where a light was kept burning. The flame that attracted certain moths only to burn them reflected in her eyes.

    She sighed, pondering the irony of the attraction to destructive flames.

    True love given might not always yield the desired outcome. Even when one offers genuine love, it doesn't ensure the recipient's appreciation or depth of feeling.