Chapter 38: The Third Party

Lin Qingyu had originally assumed that Shen Mengli, a woman from an obscure, low-ranking family, would be unrefined, lacking in worldly experience, and unloved by her husband, and thus expected her manners and speech to be timid and petty. She had not expected to be met with such a dignified and elegant beauty.

With a beautiful bone structure, graceful bearing, and an air of noble poise, every movement Shen Mengli made commanded attention.

It seemed she had truly underestimated her.

When she had previously gone to treat the Princess Consort Duan, she had not caught sight of Shen Mengli. Today was the first time she had seen her clearly.

Lin Qingyu possessed a delicate, fragile appearance—the kind of "little white flower" look that inspired pity—complemented by a cool, detached temperament that gave off an air of feigned superiority.

So, this was the type Qi Yunyan preferred.

"Concubine Lin, for what purpose have you come to seek the Heir Consort?" Shen Mengli asked politely.

"Lin Qingyu, aren't you tired of putting on this act of the mistress of the house every single day?"

Lin Qingyu, possessing the soul of a modern person, viewed these noble ladies and their constant adherence to rules as incredibly pretentious; she felt exhausted just watching them. Unlike them, she championed freedom, disregarded trifles, and acted with untethered ease, holding the world’s stale conventions in complete contempt.

These pedantic ancients, she thought, were not even worth a fraction of her own worth.

Shen Mengli, upon hearing this, looked utterly bewildered.

She had traveled all this way to the Snow Bamboo Residence just to say this?

As the mistress of the Prince Duan’s manor, if she did not uphold the dignity expected of her position, was she supposed to be as lax as a concubine and make a laughingstock of herself?

This Concubine Lin, she felt, was not quite right in the head.

She truly could not understand what exactly Qi Yunyan saw in her.

"No, I am not tired. I am accustomed to it."

"As expected, you are just a boring, feudal woman. No wonder Yunyan doesn't like you," Lin Qingyu said with disdain.

"Feudal? This is the first time I have heard this term. What does 'feudal' mean?"

"Feudal refers to a pitiable person like you, bound by rules, devoid of freedom, and unable to live as your true self."

Shen Mengli was left baffled. "Is it wrong to observe rules? Rules are a form of etiquette."

As the saying goes, nothing can be accomplished without norms and standards. If there were no rules to maintain order, the Prince Duan’s manor would have long since descended into chaos.

"That is not etiquette; it is a backward custom, the dregs that shackle human thought."

Shen Mengli was speechless. Why did this woman always spout such strange nonsense? She found it impossible to reason with her; how could observing rules be considered "dregs"?

Seeing the confusion on Shen Mengli’s face, Lin Qingyu continued, "Forget it. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it. You have been poisoned beyond repair by those archaic ideas."

"Do you think everyone is as unruly and ill-bred as you? Then again, you are a courtesan from a brothel; you would have no concept of breeding."

Xique, seeing Lin Qingyu’s arrogant expression, could not help but retort sharply.

"So what if I come from a brothel? That was beyond my control. Even in such a wretched environment, I remained virtuous and noble, rising from the mud without being stained. Unlike your Heir Consort—a proper noble lady who chooses to be a third party interfering in someone else’s relationship."

As she spoke, Lin Qingyu straightened her back, looking proud and self-satisfied.

Shen Mengli felt her mouth twitch in disbelief.

"You enchantress, how dare you spout such nonsense here! Our Heir Consort was betrothed with the three letters and six rites, married in a grand ceremony, and carried into the manor in an eight-bearer sedan chair. She is nothing like the 'third party' you speak of."