Chapter 17: Writing a Letter to Sow Discord
In the letter, the Eldest Young Mistress told me that she had gone to the Capital City on business a few days ago and met Miss Xun. Miss Xun was exceedingly polite and intimate with her. They went to the Lantern Market together, bought cosmetics together, and dined together, becoming closer than sisters-in-law.
Finally, she wrote: It is said that not all people can be harmonious, and not all words can be believed. But Eldest Sister-in-law must tell you the truth. Never mind Second Brother, even Eldest Sister-in-law feels that you are far inferior to Miss Xun. Do not blame Second Brother for associating with Miss Xun.
She wrote it deliberately for me to see.
Fearing that the servants might deliver it to the wrong courtyard, she specifically wrote: For the Second Young Mistress’s eyes only.
She finally had a good opportunity to avenge the last time.
“Do not blame Second Brother for associating with Miss Xun.” She clearly wanted me to resent Cheng Huaishi. Now, with us separated by a thousand miles, it is the perfect time to sow discord.
The Old Madam beside me, seeing my displeased expression, took the letter and began to read.
In a moment, her face turned ashen, and she repeatedly said: “Unacceptable, unacceptable…”
I said: “Mother, your daughter-in-law does not mean to blame Second Master. I was just thinking that Second Master left home for the countryside in pursuit of fame. For Eldest Sister-in-law to write such a letter at this time is truly inappropriate.”
The Old Madam held my hand and led me to the North Courtyard, repeatedly instructing people to tell the kitchen to prepare my favorite dishes.
She said: “This Yu Zhen is becoming more and more muddled. Last time, she made a big mistake, and you were merciful. Now, not only does she not feel grateful, but she is stirring up trouble, making baseless accusations to anger you. Sang Yu, you must not take it to heart. Huai’er, he… he wouldn’t.”
The Old Madam, being elderly, greatly enjoyed liveliness. As the Cheng Family had once again secured the quota for Tribute Tea, she ordered red lanterns to be hung all over the manor.
“Sang Yu, tomorrow send a troupe to perform a play in the manor. Let’s have some fun, mother and daughter.”
“As Mother wishes.”
I quietly said to He Hua: “Tell the kitchen not to just make my favorite dishes. Cook more sweet and soft food.”
Elderly people enjoy sweet and soft food.
In the North Courtyard, the food was served.
Seeing this, the Old Madam sighed again: “Sang Yu, you are truly a good child, more thoughtful than anyone…”
She gently patted my hand: “I do not think highly of that Miss Xun. Before you married into the family, she was already frequently in contact with Huai’er. A young lady from a noble family, instead of staying in her chambers embroidering, she ran around everywhere, forming poetry societies with scholars from Jiangnan, boating on the lake. What kind of conduct is that? Her father did not even discipline her, letting her act wildly. When Lord Xun had his incident, she did not avoid suspicion and almost implicated my Huai’er. I was furious. This time, when Huai’er went to the Capital City, she followed him again. I need to write a letter to tell Huai’er not to get involved with this Miss Xun. Sang Yu, you can rest assured…”
She looked at me carefully, afraid I would be angry.
However, I did not appear angry.
Instead, I comforted her: “Mother, Second Master would not be so indiscreet. Eldest Sister-in-law’s words cannot be fully believed.”
She relaxed, saying: “Sang Yu, you are truly an understanding child.”
The meal was eaten with mixed emotions.
In the evening, returning to the West Courtyard, a Servant Boy came to announce: “Second Young Mistress, another family letter has arrived, written by Second Master.”
I took it and opened it. The neat, strong handwriting was indeed Cheng Huaishi’s.
“My wife, as a mirror, the roc flies north, the phoenix faces the sun, and the road with books and swords is vast. Your husband is here, all is well, do not worry, my wife. A few days ago, I met Minister Zhang. His profound knowledge and broad mind are truly admirable. I heard that my wife is managing the household affairs in the manor very properly, which greatly pleases your husband. Do not be startled by the wind in the morning or evening. Remember me. Sincerely. Huaishi, Husband.”
I smoothed out his letter and carefully placed it within a book.
He did not mention Miss Xun.
Did he not want to mention her, or was he open and honest, with no need to mention her?
He should not intentionally hide anything from me.
At night, lying on the bed, I drifted into a dream.
Huai Shi practicing swordplay, dressed in snow-white clothes, unstained by dust.
Half awake, with a touch of melancholy.
The next day, the weather was very good.
The rare sunlight of a gloomy winter day filled the courtyard.
The opera troupe invited by the Old Madam arrived, singing Embroidered Skirt Record on the stage.
“My life is ill-fated, like a tumbling weed, my orchid fragrance burns, my own oil is consumed. My brocade screen is empty, my youth wasted, my hundred years of life fly like an arrow from the string. Youth gone, regret for old age, peach blossom face, lamenting the past. Let go of karmic grievances, do not linger, do not listen to the songs of the merchant women of Xunyang…”
The voices were mournful and sorrowful, like climbing vines, enveloping me.
The accumulated snow had melted, and the courtyard was damp.
I leaned on my chair, my heart also feeling damp.
The leaves on the Chinese parasol tree were gone, but their shadows were everywhere on the ground. Occasionally, the wind would blow, lifting the leaves, dancing dimly.
He Hua suddenly leaned close to my ear and said urgently: “Second Young Mistress, my sister just sent word that the child is ill, with a high fever all over his body. It has been a day and a night, and it has not subsided… I need to go out of the manor for a while and ask for leave from Second Young Mistress…”
I stood up and said: “I will go with you to see. Call the best doctor in the city.”
She said gratefully: “How can I trouble you, how can I trouble you…”
I took her hand and we left.
The horse carriage traveled for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, arriving at a tea stall we had passed on the way back.
He Hua alighted from the carriage and rushed inside.
However, when I entered the room, I saw Wu Bi inside. He was carefully feeding the child medicine, spoonful by spoonful, blowing on it to cool it before giving it to the child. The child’s forehead was covered with a towel, his little face flushed with fever, and he kept calling out: “Mama, Mama…”
Wu Bi removed the towel, soaked it in the cool water at the copper basin behind the door, wrung it out, and placed it back on the child’s head.
He seemed very familiar with this place.
Not like it was his first time here.
He Hua’s eyes were red-rimmed, and she was at a loss.
After Wu Bi finished feeding the medicine, he dared not look at He Hua, bowed to me, and left, only saying that he had matters to attend to at the counter.
I nudged He Hua, signaling her to follow him.
He Hua’s gaze followed Wu Bi as he left, but her feet were rooted to the spot.
“I… I…”
She could not take a step.
It seemed that step was the hardest step in the world to take.
She dared not love, dared not believe, dared not entrust herself.
The child on the bed woke up, opened his big eyes, looked at He Hua, then at me, and then broke into a smile.
Such a pure smile, it softened my heart.
I stepped forward to play with him.
“What is your name?”
“Pinecone.”
I pointed at He Hua and asked: “Do you know who she is?”
The child nodded heavily: “Big Mama.”
“If Auntie takes you back to the manor, you can see Big Mama every day, okay?”
The child thought seriously, then shook his head: “No. Big Mama works very hard, I won’t bother her, I’ll be good.”
My heart ached.
Children’s hearts are actually the most sensitive; they know everything.
Time passes quickly.
Unknowingly, it was already New Year’s Eve.
The scent of Rice Cake wafted through the manor.
The Old Madam said that in the South, one must eat Rice Cake on New Year’s Eve. Rice Cake, Rice Cake, means prosperity year after year.
The Steward and Servant Boys had already set off Firecrackers early in the morning.
I took He Hua and Xiao Yin to the market.
Xiao Yin chirped excitedly: “Miss, this is our first New Year since leaving Dongchang Prefecture. Yangzhou is so different, with so many Lanterns. The restaurants and shops are not closed…”
We bought many exquisite small trinkets and returned to the manor. As soon as we entered the gate, before we could even put down our things, we saw several Officials standing solemnly in the courtyard.
The leading Official said: “Madam Cheng, there has been an incident with the Tribute, please come with us.”
My heart suddenly pounded like a drum.
The Officials seemed unable to wait a moment longer, urging me to get into the sedan chair.
He Hua said: “Officer, please be kind, at least let our Second Young Mistress finish the New Year in the manor.”
The Officials ignored her and carried the sedan chair away.
The sedan chair was carried directly into a small courtyard within the Prefectural Office and stopped.
The sedan curtain was lifted.
A light laugh.
“Elder Sister, I hope you are well.”
Looking up, it was Feng Gao, dressed in a red robe. His lips were thin, his face powdered, and his narrow phoenix eyes were full of mischief.
