Chapter 197: Trouble
Miss Shi had a change of heart and decided to let go of the marriage, planning to return to the Capital City soon. Second Madam Pan’s worries about Miss Shi could finally be put to rest.
Second Madam Pan was a person who truly let fate take its course.
When the Young Lord suddenly broke off the engagement, although she was very reluctant to see the marriage end and couldn’t understand why the Young Lord would do so, she came to terms with it not long after receiving the news.
All things in the world are a matter of fate, and marriage especially depends on destiny. The arising and passing of destiny are beyond one’s control, and when something is beyond control, one should let go and follow fate.
But she dared not say these words.
She enjoyed lively gatherings, family gossip, and trivial matters. However, every time she heard gossip and advised others to let go, she was rebuffed nine out of ten times, for example:
“You don’t have children, how would you know a mother’s constant worry and her inability to let go?”
“You don’t have to manage the household, how would you know the countless difficulties of not being able to do things right, no matter which way you turn?”
“You are alone and haven’t experienced a man constantly flirting around, how would you know how upsetting and draining such a situation can be?”
“You are blessed with good fortune, with no one in your maternal or paternal families who doesn’t dote on you, how would you know the suffering of being constantly tormented?”
…
After being rebuffed so many times, she stopped speaking and advising. After all, it wasn’t her who had her engagement broken off; how could she know the embarrassment and suffering of such an experience?
She watched Eldest Sister grow up and genuinely treated Eldest Sister as her own child. All she could do was to help Eldest Sister as much as possible. If Eldest Sister felt unwilling, she would do her best to support Eldest Sister’s unwillingness and help Eldest Sister do whatever she wanted.
Although she truly didn’t understand what there was to be unwilling about. No matter how good the Young Lord was, it was no longer possible, and she should let go. Holding on would only lead to her own suffering.
Now, Eldest Sister had come to terms with it. She had examined it carefully and asked Mrs. Fu. Both she and Mrs. Fu could see that Eldest Sister had truly, genuinely come to terms with it and let go.
Second Madam Pan’s mood was as light and carefree as the green willows in the spring breeze of February.
Two days before the Crown Prince left the villa for an inspection tour, Second Madam Pan received the news. She began to pore over the playbills of various opera houses in Pingjiang City, carefully considering them multiple times and selecting a few performances. As soon as the Crown Prince left, she would go out to watch opera!
Although Miss Shi had come to terms with it, she never liked watching opera. Furthermore, she was very frail and needed to rest and recuperate quietly. Second Madam Pan did not disturb her at all about going to watch opera.
Gu Yan had departed with the Crown Prince, and there were many matters to attend to in closing down the villa. Mrs. Fu had to oversee everything, and after everything was settled, she had to rush back to Hangcheng.
Mrs. Fu was extremely busy, and the young ladies of the Wei family had to learn management from their mothers.
After all, the Crown Prince’s stay was a rare opportunity. They had to learn from their mothers during this grand event, gaining experience, learning rules, and understanding propriety. They had no time for anything else.
Also, it was heard that the fifth young master of the Yang family had arrived again. Their two families were discussing a marriage, which was a significant matter.
Second Madam Pan thought about the marriage between the Yang and Wei families and also wanted to witness the excitement. However, Mrs. Fu was not one to spread gossip. If they were in the Capital City, there would be many people who could inquire about the marriage discussions and gossip about them.
Never mind, she would take Ninth Sister to watch opera instead.
On the first day, after a grand performance, Second Madam Pan and Ninth Lady were both thoroughly satisfied. On the second day, Second Madam Pan took Ninth Lady to the opera house early and settled into their prime private box.
Second Madam Pan was very fond of Pingjiang City. Among all the good things about Pingjiang City, her favorite was the opera in Pingjiang City.
The opera in Pingjiang City was exquisite and refined everywhere. It was said that the costumes were made of real gold and real jewels, and the singing was extremely delicate and refined, soft and melodious, truly comfortable to listen to!
As the curtain rose on the opera stage and the singing began, Second Madam Pan leaned against the railing, watching and listening intently.
“Get lost!”
A sharp cry suddenly rang out, startling Second Madam Pan. Ninth Lady jumped up in fright.
“Get lost!”
With another scream, a disheveled young lady, holding a gleaming dagger, rushed into Second Madam Pan’s private box.
Ninth Lady screamed and buried herself in Second Madam Pan’s arms.
Second Madam Pan tightly hugged Ninth Lady and said with a trembling voice, “Where is she? Get her out! Get…”
“You all get out, or I’ll kill her!” The young lady exuded madness, brandishing her knife and moving behind Second Madam Pan.
Second Madam Pan stared intently at the gleaming dagger, frozen with fear. Ninth Lady clutched Second Madam Pan’s collar tightly, pressing herself into Second Madam Pan’s embrace, trembling uncontrollably.
“Miss, please speak calmly. This is the Prince’s Estate…” Before a steward nanny could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the young lady’s scream: “Get out! If you don’t leave, I’ll kill her!”
The young lady held the knife to Second Madam Pan’s neck. “Make them leave!”
“You all go out! Go out!” Second Madam Pan was so terrified she couldn’t move.
“My family name is Chen. My elder brother, my second brother, my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather – our Chen family has worked diligently for four generations at the Maritime Tax Bureau. Our family, for four generations, even without martial arts, we have contributed labor, haven’t we!”
The young lady’s knife was at Second Madam Pan’s neck, touching the railing, as she cried out with all her might.
“You nobles, you fight for power and profit, you want to seize the Maritime Tax Bureau, you want to seize this and that. As you fight, you take people like us who work like oxen and horses and kill us! You come to kill us!
“My brothers, my father, what mistakes did they make? What crimes did they commit? What wrong did our family do? You want to confiscate our home, on what grounds!
“My mother is dead. My mother gave alms every year, every month. How many people did she save, how many people did she help? A person like her, who wouldn’t even harm an ant, what wrong did she do? You wanted to force her to her death!
“Is it just because you are nobles? On what grounds do you do this!”
The young lady burst into tears.
Outside the private box, chaos had already erupted. Guards sitting downstairs rushed to the door of the private box. Taking advantage of the young lady’s crying, two guards quietly moved into the private box.
The moment the young lady cried loudly and raised her knife-wielding hand to wipe her tears, two guards lunged forward. Each grabbed one person and violently pulled Second Madam Pan and Ninth Lady away.
The remaining guards rushed in.
“Don’t come any closer!”
The young lady looked at the guards rushing towards her, gripped her knife with both hands, and plunged it into her own chest. Facing Second Madam Pan’s terrified gaze, she said word by word, “Even if I become a vengeful spirit, I will…”
Second Madam Pan stared at the blood gushing from the young lady’s chest. She could no longer bear it, let out a scream, and fainted.
