The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 75

Chapter 75

The Eastern Chambers

Lady Zhu sat upon the couch supporting her forehead, her two eyes dull and lifeless. Before her gaze, the scene from just earlier before she escorted her son on his departure continuously surfaced: her son had solemnly bid farewell to his grandmother, showing incomparable respect. Yet when parting words with herself, he merely told her not to be anxious—a scant few words and nothing more.

If it were just this, it would be fine. After twenty years, she also knew the status that old lady held within her son’s heart, and she had never counted on pressing above her head from the start.

Yet right at the end before his departure, Lady Zhu had noticed that his gaze had consistently remained upon the Qiao girl's face.

The kind of gaze her son used to look at the Qiao girl caused Lady Zhu, within the deepest recesses of her heart, to once again feel a profound sense of fury and loss.

She did not dare to let herself loose against Madame Xu. But regarding a daughter-in-law whose status was naturally unequal to her own, she naturally possessed no scruples whatsoever.

A daughter of an enemy house—upon what basis did she unexpectedly get to press above her own head where her son was concerned?

The more Lady Zhu thought, the angrier she became. Her head throbbed, and her chest also implicitly throbbed with pain. The sound of footsteps drew near behind her; turning her head, Nanny Jiang had come.

Nanny Jiang delivered a cup of brewed hashima to Lady Zhu. Lady Zhu drank two sips and subsequently set it down.

Nanny Jiang coaxed: "Madam has labored hard these past days. Hashima is best for nourishing the spirit and settling the heart; eat a few more sips."

Lady Zhu pushed the cup and saucer away, shaking her head as she said: "I truly cannot swallow food. Seeing that Qiao girl putting on affectations, my chest feels stifled and hard to endure."

Nanny Jiang sighed: "How could this servant not feel the exact same empathy? I also do not know what she spoke of at the Old Madame's place, but right now the Old Madame's eyes solely contain her alone. Yesterday Nanny Shi from the food storehouse came to complain to this servant, saying that although the Lady has not yet stripped her of her position managing matters, she utilizes other people to do things and manage the accounts. It has only been a few days' worth of work, yet she has already moved against Madam’s people. Give her a bit more time, and I fear Madam will also possess no place to stand."

Lady Zhu had her hidden troubles pricked, her heart jumping with sudden thuds, and her expression became all the more unsightly. Only after a long while did she say: "She has the Blind Nanny backing her up; what can I do?"

Nanny Jiang cast a glance behind her back, leaning over to say in a low voice: "Madam, a few days ago this servant went to visit Zheng Shu according to Madam's words. When returning at that time, there were some words I also could not bear to speak to Madam, fearing Madam would be heartbroken."

Lady Zhu said: "What words? Speak quickly!"

Only then did Nanny Jiang sigh: "When Zheng Shu initially returned home, the aunt within her household feared the pressure applied by the Old Madame and hurriedly found a household for her to marry into. Her husband is coarse and violent, not understanding how to be close and considerate. Right now Zheng Shu's days are exceedingly difficult to pass; at the time she saw me, she wept without ceasing. When I returned at that time, I feared Madam would be heartbroken upon hearing it, which is why I did not dare to mention it."

Lady Zhu revealed a pained look: "It was I who harmed my niece!"

Nanny Jiang said: "How does it concern Madam? When Zheng Shu mentioned Madam, she was still grateful in hundreds of ways. She only mentioned..."

She paused for a bit, puckering her mouth toward the direction of the Western Chambers, "Mentioned that one inside that room, hating her to the bone."

Lady Zhu gritted her teeth and said: "How am I not hateful as well! It is just that what can be done!"

Nanny Jiang’s gaze shifted slightly: "It is not that there is no way. It just depends on whether Madam can bring yourself to strike."

Lady Zhu was startled: "What way?"

Nanny Jiang leaned into her ear: "The Grand Shaman is versed in the methods of shamanic curses. I have heard that so long as one obtains a person’s eight characters of birth time to fabricate a doll, and the Grand Shaman performs the curse and executes the method while adding sufficient resentment, within ten days to half a month, that person will definitely die of a sudden, violent illness. An even more wonderful aspect lies in the complete absence of any unusual appearance; other people will absolutely not harbor separate suspicions."

Lady Zhu received a fright: "You are telling me to take the Qiao girl's life?"

Nanny Jiang hurriedly fell to her knees: "Madam, forgive my crime! This servant was also merely acting out of a temporary surge of fury, speaking wild and absurd words! If Madam cannot bear it, then treat it as if this servant never spoke of it!"

Lady Zhu waved her hand: "I have not blamed you!" Her mind was in a tumult, making it difficult to decide. Her breathing gradually became rapid, her face turning red and white by turns. At one moment she felt this plan of Nanny Jiang's was extremely in accordance with her mental wishes. Turning her thoughts, she again felt terrified and trembling, not daring to strike.

Nanny Jiang cast a glance at her expression, saying in a low voice: "Madam, it is not that this servant is long-tongued. The Qiao family originally possessed an feud wherein both sides could not live under the same sky with Madam; one wishes nothing more than to eliminate her to sacrifice to the heroic spirits of the late master and late young master in heaven. Madam is benevolent and charitable, yet the Qiao girl far from being grateful to Madam conversely opposes you at every turn. It is only because it is Madam like this that you can tolerate her, while you yourself are conversely forced to retreat step by step."

Lady Zhu fiercely pinched her palms, her nails sinking deeply into the flesh of her palms, saying with gritted teeth: "What you say is not without reason! If I yield and give way further, I fear she will end up forcing me into a dead end!"

Nanny Jiang said: "It is not that Madam cannot tolerate her; it is merely avenging the late master and late young master who passed away back on that day!"

The moment Lady Zhu thought of the pain of losing her husband and son back on that day, her heart felt like a twisting knife. Turning her face to look at Nanny Jiang: "How should this matter be done for it to be proper?"

Nanny Jiang lowered her voice: "To not conceal the truth, this plan was not devised by this servant, but is rather Zheng Shu’s intent. If Madam gives her assent, this servant shall step out of the estate once more to hand this matter over to Zheng Shu, letting her execute it in secret so as to hoodwink people's eyes and ears. If it truly shows efficacy, it will also absolutely not cause people to suspect Madam’s side!"

Hearing that it was her niece’s meaning, Lady Zhu felt all the more of one heart, and subsequently no longer hesitated. Nodding her head, she said: "This is exceedingly good. Within these two days, look for an opportunity to take another trip and carry my words over. Tell her she must execute the matter with caution, and not hand over any handles to other people."

Nanny Jiang complied.

...

In the area near the city gate in the south of the city, there resided a household with the surname Liu. Although their ancestors were not prominent and they were a minor household, the family possessed a residence of three courtyards and a hundred-odd mu of land, and the household also did not lack slave servants. In the past year, the son had furthermore received local recommendation due to his reputation for filial piety, working as a Chief Registrar within the government office of neighboring Chang County. They were also a clean, well-off household whose circumstances were more than the lower but less than the upper.

Half a year ago, a matchmaker came to the door to act as a go-between, speaking of a niece within a household surnamed Zheng to the son of the Liu family. The Liu parents inquired and found out that although Zheng Shu had lost both parents, she possessed a maternal aunt who was the managing mistress of the Lord’s Wei Estate. Before Zheng Shu returned home, she had resided within the Wei Estate for many years. Although they did not know why Zheng Shu had reached a grand age without marrying and had now returned to the Zheng family so completely solitary, if they could utilize this opportunity to scale up to this relative of the Wei Estate, they could not manage other things for the moment. Far from having even a sliver of hesitation, they conversely felt their own family was marrying above themselves, and at that time agreed to the marriage alliance with one mouth. Three months later, Zheng Shu entered the door. The Liu parents, seeing that Zheng Shu's appearance was outstanding and her dowry was abundant, felt joy within their hearts. Furthermore, due to that layer of relationship she possessed with the Wei Estate, how did they dare to put on the air of elders before her? They wished nothing more than to carefully enshrine her. That Liu family son loved the beautiful appearance of his newlywed wife, and was also pleased in heart.

The Liu family originally believed that a fine marriage alliance had descended from heaven, obtaining a good marital relationship for nothing. Yet they had never thought in their wildest dreams that before even half a month passed, Zheng Shu subsequently began to change her face. Every day within the home, if she was not loathing the diet as coarse and difficult to swallow, she was punishing the slave servants as clumsy-handed and serving without proper care. The Liu parents initially endured it, thinking in their minds that she was accustomed to passing days of brocade clothing and jade food within the Wei Estate, so marrying down into their own family and being unable to become accustomed to it for a time was also human nature, and they supplied her with greater care. How could they imagine that Zheng Shu, certain that the Liu family did not dare to do anything to her, vented all the resentment and dissatisfaction from being expelled from the Wei Estate previously onto her husband’s family? After a bit more time passed, far from scolding the domestic servants at every turn, she even contradicted her father-in-law and mother-in-law. As for her husband, she was all the more filled with cold sarcasm and hot mockery, scolding him as useless; sleeping with him for a bit when interest arrived in the room, and shutting the door to disallow him from going onto the bed when disgusted. Right now, having reached this time, the Liu parents finally regretted it repeatedly, hating that they had coveted wealth and nobility back then and planted a bitter fruit. That Zheng Shu moved out the Wei Estate’s mistress to press people down at every drop of a hat; how did they dare to make separate thoughts? As for the Liu family son, right now he was all the more terrified of his wife like a tiger, simply avoiding to the county and not returning home even a few turns in a month. The home had completely become Zheng Shu’s world.

On this day, the sun was already high in the sky. Zheng Shu had drunk until intoxicated last night, sleeping until this moment before waking. Rising lazily, while being served to comb her hair, the Liu parents outside saw a blue felt mule cart halt at the doorway. A nanny descended from within the cart, her legs and feet appearing slightly lame. Recognizing her as a respectable nanny from the Wei Estate who had visited a few days ago, they did not dare to be remiss, hurriedly going out to welcome her. How could Nanny Jiang have the Liu parents within her eyes? She merely met faces with them indifferently, and subsequently entered within as if it were her own home. Inside the room, Zheng Shu heard that Nanny Jiang had come and revealed a joyful expression, hurriedly welcoming her into the room personally. Commanding the servant women to present tea and fruits, she said with a smile: "A few days ago Ah-mu merely came to visit me, and I still said I did not know when we would be able to meet faces again next turn!"

Nanny Jiang responded a few phrases with a beaming smile, casting looks at her with her eyes. Zheng Shu knew she should have words to say, dismissing the subordinates within the room outside and closing the room door tightly, asking: "Ah-mu goes and returns; could it be that you possess words?"

Nanny Jiang beckoned her to her side, whispering into her ear for a turn. After Zheng Shu finished listening, her face changed slightly. While she hesitated, Nanny Jiang said: "This is the intent authorized by Madam. Madam right now suffers deeply from the bitterness of the Qiao girl, and does it as a matter of having no alternative. It is merely that she suffers from her own inconvenience to show her face, and treats you as a close and intimate person, which is why she secretly handed this matter over to you to execute. Think on it: if you had not been harmed by that Qiao girl previously, how would you have been expelled from the Wei Estate, and right now be aggrieved to marry into such a dilapidated household?" As she spoke, she surveyed the furnishings within the room a round with a contemptuous gaze.

Zheng Shu had her hidden troubles touched, gritting her teeth as she said: "What Ah-mu speaks of is exactly right!"

Nanny Jiang revealed a smile on her face, saying: "Madam spoke: so long as this matter is managed to completion, she can afford to put forth any amount of gold and silks. This turn I came, Madam first gave some convenience money." As she spoke, she fished out a money bag from the wrap-around pouch she carried with her, untying it; gold cakes were revealed within.

Zheng Shu originally textually detested the Qiao girl. Being forced to marry into the Liu family, she had originally believed this lifetime would just be like this; she had not expected her maternal aunt would suddenly unexpectedly design to eliminate the Qiao girl. It precisely fell into her wishes, and she had furthermore dispatched her confidante Nanny Jiang to let her do the matter—how could she not respond? Pondering for a round, she subsequently made her determination, saying: "The money I shall first accept; managing and paying off the Grand Shaman’s side will require its use. The Grand Shaman does not easily consent to strike. Fortunately, I previously possessed some old acquaintance with her; if I go and beg her properly, it might just succeed. You return and quietly await tidings."

Nanny Jiang was joyful. The two of them each exhorted that the leak of wind and sound could absolutely not be permitted, plotting closely in low voices time and again. After the consensus was settled, only then did Zheng Shu escort Nanny Jiang out as if nothing were amiss.

...

Wei Shao had dispatched his troops and departed Yuyang, and in the turn of an eye, three days passed.

Lacking one Wei Shao, Xiao Qiao was missing an obligation to serve her husband, and her movements were much more free. During these three days, apart from some domestic matters that required her to extricate herself to handle, she opened her eyes in the morning and went to the Northern Rooms, while in the evening she waited until Madame Xu settled down to sleep, and only then returned.

On this day at night, Madame Xu took her medicine. Before resting down, she smiled, telling Xiao Qiao that from tomorrow onward she need not guard her like this anymore.

Xiao Qiao said: "Husband has gone on a campaign, so the Western Chambers are empty and deserted; it is also meaningless for me to remain there alone. It is better to come here to accompany Grandmother. I only fear Grandmother will loathe my clumsy hands and feet as being a hindrance instead."

Madame Xu shook her head, chuckling as she said: "How could that be? Grandmother wishes nothing more than for you to consistently be before my presence. It is just that I fear you will labor too heavily. Furthermore, accompanying me, this old woman, truly also possesses no great meaning; I know it within my heart."

Xiao Qiao said with a micro-smile: "Grandmother possesses a benevolent countenance; I merely cannot get close enough, so how could it be meaningless? Wait until Grandmother completely recovers; at that time, there will be no need for Grandmother to drive me away, I myself will also stealthily be lazy. At that time, I still hope Grandmother will not blame me."

To the side, Nanny Zhong said: "The Lady possesses a patch of filial heart. Furthermore, this is also as it should be. The Old Madame need not feel heartache. Wait until your own illness is better, then hurt and love her a few points more back and it will be fine."

Madame Xu smiled, saying: "Let it be so. Since my grandson is not before my presence, I shall enjoy the blessing of my grandson's wife."

Xiao Qiao supported her to lie down. After arranging everything well, she accompanied her to the side. Seeing her gradually drift off to sleep, only then did she rise, being escorted out by Nanny Zhong. Returning to her own Western Chambers, she also felt fatigued. Entering the bathhouse to soak in a hot water bath, she came out and donned her clothing, sitting alone before the lamp.

It was already somewhat late. The clamor of the daytime had faded away. The grand Wei Estate had also fallen into the tranquility of the night.

Xiao Qiao slowly wiped her long hair dry herself. While she was lost in thought, Chun Niang suddenly entered, whispering a phrase of words into her ear. Xiao Qiao let her bring the person within. A moment later, Nanny Huang from the Eastern Chambers entered within in a covering and concealing manner. Entering the room door, she paid her respects to Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao told her to dispense with the courtesy, and furthermore offered a seat. Nanny Huang repeatedly stated she did not dare.

Xiao Qiao said with a micro-smile: "Chun Niang said you possess a matter to speak of?"

Nanny Huang subsequently stepped forward, lowering her voice as she said: "These past few days this servant obtained the Lady's instructions, so I kept heed of the movements of Madam and that Nanny Jiang at all moments. Today after midday, Madam went to sleep, and that Nanny Jiang changed into a set of clothing, quietly stepping out of the estate from the back gate. She did not sit in a cart, nor did she bring people to walk together. This servant saw that the traces were suspicious, and quietly followed up. Does the Lady know where it was she went?"

Nanny Huang paused for a bit. Seeing Xiao Qiao cast her gaze over, she lowered her voice as she said: "She went to a high-walled, grand-doored residential estate in the west of the city. When I followed over, I saw her flash into the back gate, appearing as if someone inside was waiting, and the person immediately disappeared. It was inconvenient for me to draw near, so I merely waited far away in the back. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, I saw her come out in a stealthy and ghost-like manner, returning to the estate in a rush. The more I thought, the more I felt it strange. Recalling the Lady's instructions, that is why I came over to report."

Xiao Qiao asked: "Do you perhaps know who that household belongs to?"

Nanny Huang said: "This servant has been in Yuyang for several decades, and also knows some matters. It appears to be the residence of the widow of a local marquis surnamed Li."

Xiao Qiao told her to describe the orientation and address clearly. Furthermore, she cross-examined her minutely. Seeing that there should be no omissions, she ordered Chun Niang to hand reward money to Nanny Huang. Nanny Huang declined a few turns, accepted it, and was endlessly grateful.

Xiao Qiao said with a micro-smile: "Ah-mu did excellently today. After returning, do not leak wind or sound. If there is any unusual movement, come and tell me again."

Nanny Huang hurriedly said: "I dare not accept the Lady’s high regard. This servant’s whole heart merely wishes to serve the Lady. In this manner this servant shall return first, lest it be detected by people."

Xiao Qiao nodded with a smile containing warmth. Waiting until Nanny Huang went, she pondered for a brief moment, asking Chun Niang: "The day before yesterday you helped me send a letter out; is that person right now still present?"

Chun Niang said: "He should still be present. I heard the implication within that young master's words; Yuyang appears to possess his old acquaintances, and he wishes to linger for several more days to visit friends, returning after some time passes."

After Chun Niang responded, seeing Xiao Qiao remain silent as if lost in thought thinking about something, she initially did not dare to disturb her, but afterward truly could not endure, asking: "This servant sees that the Lady these past days appears to possess weights upon her mind. In the end, what matter has occurred? Upon what basis do you ask after that young master's whereabouts again?"

The "young master" within Chun Niang's mouth was precisely that person who, a few days ago, had delivered the written letter to Yuyang on behalf of Bi Zhi and Da Qiao. Da Qiao had also mentioned a phrase in the letter, saying that person's name was Zong Ji, originally a son of a generation-spanning clan in Xuzhou who possessed a hereditary feud across generations with Xue Tai. In his childhood his family was broken, and he obtained the chance to bow to a high master to practice martial arts. In his youth he became a wandering knight-errant, walking the four quarters with his sword. Several months ago he returned to Xuzhou, assassinating Xue Tai without result; when he encountered danger due to injury, he was precisely saved by Bi Zhi. Wandering knight-errants consistently valued promises, and the two of them furthermore appreciated each other's character, so Zong Ji on the spot swore an oath to exert his strength to repay the grace of saving his life. Learning that his husband and wife desired to send a letter north to Yuyang, he said that when he was a youth, he had also traveled far and gone there, and Yuyang still possessed one or two old acquaintances. He was willing to send the letter in their stead.

In the current chaotic world, there were barriers and dangers everywhere upon the roads, and communication between north and south was all the more uneasy. Who knew how many family letters of people departed from home were lost upon the road? Obtaining Zong Ji's promise, Da Qiao on the spot wrote the family letter, bowing and requesting him to deliver it into her younger sister's hands.

Da Qiao had also mentioned a phrase in the letter, saying that if there was a return letter, she could also feel at ease handing it to Zong Ji to bring back. That was why the day before yesterday Xiao Qiao wrote a return letter, letting Chun Niang deliver it to the inn where Zong Ji resided.

At this moment, hearing Chun Niang question herself, Xiao Qiao pondered for a brief moment, saying: "Tomorrow you accompany me, and we shall go to meet faces with that young master for a turn. I possess a matter to beg of him."