There were so many courtesans in that establishment. Yue Niang was not the only courtesan who felt intimidated by Lan Hua's rise to power.
Someone spread a rotten rumour about her. Something that make people doubt Lan Hua's character.
The rumor spread like spilled wine—quick, staining, impossible to ignore.
By the time Lan Hua entered the tea courtyard, whispers had already curled through every corner of the courtesan house. Faces turned toward her, not with admiration, but with the sly delight of vultures circling something they thought was about to fall.
"It's said she charmed Lord Wen by slipping something into his drink."
"No wonder her rise was so sudden. It was never talent—it was trickery."
"I heard she sells more than her words. A woman like that can't possibly be trusted with matchmaking."
Lan Hua's lips curved into the faintest smile, though her pulse thrummed under her sleeve. She didn't need to ask who was behind it. Only one courtesan in this house had the combination of ambition and malice to seed such poison.
Mei Lian.
The woman was beautiful in a delicate, trembling-flower way—always pretending to be too fragile for schemes, while her tongue was sharper than a blade. Mei Lian had been smart enough not to challenge Lan Hua openly, but she couldn't resist trying to cut her down in shadows.
Lan Hua let the rumors flow. Let them stain. She walked the courtyard with grace, spine straight, every movement slow and deliberate, as if the whispers were no more than the wind.
When she finally reached Mei Lian's table, she stopped, folding her fan closed with a soft snap. "Sister Mei Lian," she said sweetly, her voice carrying just enough to reach the ears of those who had been whispering. "I couldn't help but overhear the most curious story this morning. They say you saw Lord Wen last week?"
Mei Lian blinked, caught off guard. "I—I may have greeted him briefly. Why?"
Lan Hua tilted her head, eyes glinting. "Oh, it seems everyone knows. How devoted you must be to his company, since you've memorized every detail of his drinking habits."
A ripple of laughter stirred around them.
Mei Lian's painted lips trembled, but no words came. Around her, the other courtesans shifted in their seats, some with poorly hidden smiles, others with wide, curious eyes. They were wolves in silk, eager to see blood drawn, no matter whose.
"Strange," murmured one of the younger girls, pretending to whisper though everyone could hear, "I thought Sister Mei Lian always said she disliked Lord Wen's company."
Another courtesan covered her mouth with a fan, laughter dancing in her eyes. "Perhaps dislike turns to devotion when a man carries enough silver."
Mei Lian shot them both a glare, her composure slipping further with each passing second.
"Some say, he is your secret patron, Sister, an agreement you made without the madam being informed."
Mei Lian flushed. "That's not what I—"
Lan Hua leaned closer, her voice silken but loud enough for the room. "Tell me, Sister. If he's really your secret patron, you would know so much about his cup, his wine, his pulse… does that mean it was you who slipped something inside? After all, who but his closest confidante could know such secrets?"
The courtyard stilled. Every whisper turned, sharp as glass, onto Mei Lian.
"No, I never—!" Mei Lian stammered, panic rising.
Lan Hua straightened, her smile calm, untouchable. "Ah. Forgive me. I must have misunderstood. Rumors are dangerous things, aren't they? They twist and change until no one knows what's true." She spread her fan with a flick, the lacquered wood gleaming in the sun. "But I would never believe something so ugly about you, Sister. I prefer to see only the best in others."
It was a dagger wrapped in silk. To defend herself, Mei Lian would now have to explain how she knew so much about Lord Wen—without revealing her desperation or schemes. Either way, the suspicion was hers to carry, not Lan Hua's.
The whispers shifted like reeds in the wind. "Maybe it was Mei Lian…"
"She was with Lord Wen, wasn't she?"
"I heard she lingered near his rooms."
Lan Hua let the murmurs blossom, her expression serene. Then she rose, bowing slightly to those gathered. "We are courtesans, not gossips. Let us remember that dignity is worth more than rumor. If anyone has questions about my work, they may speak to the clients themselves—who seem, thankfully, quite satisfied."
Her tone was neither sharp nor defensive—merely confident. That was the final twist. The rumors Mei Lian had sown were now wilted, their roots tangled around her own ankles.
As Lan Hua glided away, a maid hurried to her side. "Mistress, you turned it all back on her. The house will be buzzing for days."
Lan Hua's smile sharpened, though her eyes remained cool. "Buzzing bees can sting, but they also make honey. Let them talk. Every word makes my name harder to ignore."
Behind her, Mei Lian sat frozen, pale as rice paper. And Lan Hua knew this was only the beginning. Rivals could spread rumors all they liked—but she would always be the one who twisted them back into weapons.
Lan Hua didn't press the blade deeper; she didn't need to. The crowd was already carving Mei Lian apart with their laughter. Instead, she glided to her seat near the window, settling with such serenity that it seemed she'd never been touched by rumor at all. She reached for her teacup, sipping slowly, as if every eye wasn't still drawn to her.
Inside, however, her thoughts were sharp and quick. So this is the first open strike. Mei Lian has patience, but not enough. She showed her hand too early.
It was a lesson for Lan Hua as much as for Mei Lian. Enemies could be useful—they stirred her name into every mouth, made her fame impossible to ignore. But enemies also required careful tending, like snakes kept in a jar.
A hush fell as the madam herself entered the courtyard, gaze sweeping over the women. She had clearly heard the tail end of the chaos. Her eyes lingered on Mei Lian—flushed and trembling—before sliding to Lan Hua, calm as porcelain.
"Whispers travel fast," Madam said coolly. "But only fools believe shadows without light. I trust my daughters will remember that."
Her words landed like a gavel. And though she hadn't named names, the judgment was plain.
Lan Hua bowed her head respectfully, hiding the triumphant curve of her lips. Rumors could sting, yes. But today, she had proven they could sting their master instead.
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