Love in Red Dust - Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Beijing winters are cold. If you don't keep a coal brazier in the room, it's impossible to survive; your breath literally turns into clouds. The Seventh Prince didn't just stay for tea; he ended up staying for a meal.

The three of them sat around the table, eating hot pot. It was a copper hot pot with a small chimney in the center and a circle of clear broth bubbling away, into which everyone swished mutton. Dingyi moved around the table pouring wine until the Twelfth Prince took the flask from her hands. "Sit down. Don't busy yourself anymore."

The Seventh Prince popped a piece of mutton dipped in sesame sauce into his mouth and mumbled, "Exactly. We have our own hands; if we want to drink, we'll do it ourselves. You, you need to learn to take it easy. Don't be so diligent, doing everything yourself—what would become of us if you did? If you want something or need something, there are plenty of servants idling about; just order them. Our Tree has such fine hands; they need to be taken care of. Look at those Princess Consorts in the various prince's mansions—their faces aren't necessarily anything special, but their hands are like tender spring onions. That's all from being pampered. You need to learn that."

Even as he spoke, his claws grew restless, constantly trying to reach out, only to be flicked away by the Twelfth Prince’s chopsticks. The Seventh Prince looked at her, aggrieved. "Tree, look at him..."

Dingyi just smiled. It wasn't as if there were no servants around to attend to them, but she was used to it and preferred doing things herself. They were all close people, just like her own family. She would be living in this circle from now on; after all, coming from humble beginnings, being too delicate would just invite ridicule.

Hongce carefully dipped some sauce for her and placed it in her bowl, urging her to eat. He had nothing left to worry about now; she was by his side, visible and tangible. Regardless of the Seventh Prince’s heart-wrenching frustration, Hongce responded with the smile of a victor, only asking him idly, "Is the date set for today, Seventh Brother? When is the day? I must prepare a grand gift."

The Seventh Prince blinked, completely at a loss. He paid no attention to such tedious formalities. His previous few consorts were all concubines, so he didn't need to visit their homes personally; someone else handled everything, and all he had to do was welcome them on the wedding day. This time, however, was a major affair. He had stepped up himself, yet he had bungled it completely.

"The gifts have been sent, but no date is set. I suppose I have to wait for the word from the Palace," he replied offhandedly. "Forget it. It is what it is. I'm in no rush to marry; every day of freedom is a day gained."

Hongce gave a subtle smile. "How so? Is the new sister-in-law not to your liking?"

The Seventh Prince said awkwardly, "She looks fine, it's just her temper that's bad. When I arrived, before I even entered the door, I could hear the father and daughter cursing each other in the courtyard; apparently, the lady is unhappy with the marriage. I find it strange. She's displeased—am I forcing her? If she has the guts, she should go to the palace, kneel on the Celestial Street, and beg to have the decree revoked. What’s with the attitude? If she continues to annoy me, I'll teach her a lesson once she's through the door!"

He was only venting here; in reality, he was terrified of her, like a mouse seeing a cat. Mongols weren't to be trifled with; if pushed too far, they would draw a knife and fight to the death. Wouldn't that scare the powerless Seventh Prince to death?

The other two just smiled without speaking. The Seventh Prince felt annoyed and didn't want to talk about his own affairs anymore, so he asked how Hongce and Little Tree planned to handle their marriage. Hongce set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth. "I have a case to try tomorrow, and the day after, I will submit my card to bring her into the palace for an audience with the Emperor."

The Seventh Prince nodded slowly and pondered. "Everything else is fine, but I'm worried about her background. If they ask where she's from, who her parents are, or what her family status is, she won't be able to answer. I fear that will be difficult to handle."

This was indeed a hurdle. Dingyi looked at Hongce. He didn't seem worried, saying dismissively, "If they acknowledge it, it's merely a matter of getting her name into the Imperial Genealogy smoothly. It's just a title—is it really that important? If they can give it, that's best. If not, they can strip me of my prince's title and take back my yellow sash; if I can't be a prince, I can be a commoner, surely that's fine!"

That kind of boldness... The Seventh Prince shakily gave a thumbs up. "I bow to your superiority. Well then... since you're busy, it's no big deal if I take Tree into the palace instead."

He laughed jovially, but did he think others couldn't see what he was up to? Hongce said coldly, "Thank you, Seventh Brother, but don't trouble yourself. I must handle my own affairs; I wouldn't trust anyone else with them."

The Seventh Prince felt sheepish, pursed his lips, and fell silent. After one round of mutton, it was time for the Chinese cabbage and vermicelli. He used his chopsticks to scoop them up, piling a whole bowl for Little Tree.

Dingyi thanked him and asked if the Seventh Prince knew the Suo family. She had heard that household was the Seventh Prince’s baoyi (bondservant). In case of need, a word from a Banner Master was worth ten from anyone else.

The Seventh Prince picked his teeth and said, "The Suo family that guards the treasury? I know them. They used to live in Qinlao Hutong, but later they moved to the Dengshikou East Road area. They built a building next to Jirentang, piecing it together into a bizarre courtyard—it’s quite large; that’s the Suo house. Why are you asking? Are they your relatives? That’s perfect; circling around, you’re all one family anyway."

Hongce frowned and said, "Seventh Brother, can you stop doing that? Always trying to force connections. Once she is with me, she is your sister-in-law. Is that how you speak to a sister-in-law? Even if you don't care about anything else, look at me—I'm still here!"

Now the Seventh Prince was speechless. The man had a point, and he couldn't refute it. The affair between Little Tree and Twelfth Brother was something he had known since Suifenhe; once they had that bond, there was no room for anyone else. He just wasn't very resigned to it; enjoying a bit of banter made him feel better.

Afraid they would start bickering, Dingyi hurriedly changed the subject. She modestly lowered her skirt, turned to the Seventh Prince, and whispered, "They aren't exactly relatives, just old acquaintances. Our fathers were friends, and I intend to pay them a visit. Do you know their daughter? Has she been betrothed to anyone?"

The Seventh Prince thought for a while before saying, "I recall it was several years ago. At that time, I had just opened my office and established my mansion. 'Chicken Feet' came to my mansion on New Year’s Eve to kowtow and celebrate—Chicken Feet is the head of the Suo family, named Suo Tao. The guy is skinny, so I gave him the nickname 'Chicken Feet.' He came in forcing a smile, but after he kowtowed, he cried, saying his eldest daughter was gone. I don’t know what illness she caught; one day she was fine, the next, they knocked on her door for half a day and it wouldn’t open. When they went inside, she was already cold. Anyway, she died. As for the younger one, I don’t recall if she was given away. Ordinarily, if a baoyi family holds a wedding, they must report it to the Banner Master, pay their respects, and invite the master to the wedding feast. I don’t recall the Suo family doing that... or perhaps they did, and I didn't go. With so many servants, I don't have the brainpower to remember."

Dingyi looked back at Hongce. "Dengshikou is not far from Tongfu Alley. I can go back to see my master on the way."

Hongce said, "That is only right. I will have someone prepare a gift for you to send to your master; it shows your filial piety. I have matters on my hands that I cannot drop; I must go to the Ministry of Justice shortly. I will have Guan Zhaojing accompany you back. As for the Suo family, whether she is still there or not, don't let anything slip, so as to avoid unnecessary complications. Understand?"

She nodded. "Don't worry about me. You have heavy burdens on your shoulders; look after your own side first. These are all small matters here that I can handle myself. Before I met you, I was crawling through water and mud, and I was always just fine."

He smiled, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said softly, "That’s different. Before, there was no hope, and I had to rely on myself for everything. It's different now. If I let you go out there alone again, wouldn't that be a dereliction of my duty?"

The two of them exchanged glances, their eyes full of affection, making the Seventh Prince’s teeth ache from the sweetness. He still felt quite sad, thinking that staying for this meal had been a mistake. Seeing their display of love, there was truly no place for him. He needed to reign in his heart. The Twelfth Prince was right; this was his sister-in-law. No matter how much of a rogue he was, he shouldn't entertain such thoughts. He had better focus on how to coax his own Mongolian consort!

Once the meal was finished, they went about their own business. Dingyi had the "Eight Great Treasures" gift prepared. Seeing that the light was right for her master’s work schedule to end, she took a sedan chair toward Tongfu Alley. Upon disembarking, she was supported by Guan Zhaojing, who said, "My Lady, please wait a moment. I will go in and clear the area. This tenement is far too crowded, and all sorts of scoundrels and vagrants might come up to strike up a conversation; I don't want you to be startled."

Dingyi wasn't used to seeing him like this. When she first went to the Prince's mansion to seek an audience, she hadn't dared to breathe loudly in front of this steward. Now, he was "slave, slave" at every turn; she couldn't quite bear it, so she laughed and demurred, "Amsa, please don't call me that. Nothing is settled yet; it will just make people laugh. I’ll go in myself, it's fine. I lived in this courtyard for five or six years; I'm familiar with all the neighbors. I can't ignore them just because I’ve climbed higher, or what would people say about me behind my back?"

Guan Zhaojing had no choice; he bowed and sent her through the gate.

It was a snowy day, and the sky darkened early. It was already dim, and every family had their dinner on the table, waiting to eat. The tenement was a courtyard-style house with residents on all four sides. Heavy curtains hung at the doors, so people outside couldn't see clearly. Dingyi had originally planned to slip into the room quietly, but halfway there, the wife of San Qingzi pushed aside the curtain across the way. When she looked up, she saw a girl dressed in a wealthy style, wearing a goose-yellow skirt and a fox-fur cloak. Beside her, a eunuch was hunched over holding an umbrella—it looked like someone of high status.

In this courtyard, the only time high-ranking officials had appeared was when the grandmother of the Xi family had a funeral. Normally, it was all bottom-tier commoners, none of whom had wealthy relatives. Seeing such a beautiful girl with such an air of distinction, wearing fine silk and jewelry, they wondered if she had knocked on the wrong door.

San Qingzi's wife squinted, leaned forward, and asked, "Miss, in the east room lives a master and his apprentice. Are you looking for Master Wu Changkeng?"

She hadn't recognized her. That made sense; usually, when on duty, she wore a uniform, and off-duty, she would roam the world in a simple, baggy robe, never caring about her appearance. Now that she was a young lady and had no duties, she had more leisure time, and inevitably, she was carefully groomed; this transformation made her unrecognizable.

Dingyi was quite embarrassed. She hadn't intended to make it known to everyone and wanted to keep a low profile, but San Qingzi's wife kept walking closer, staring at her blankly. After a long while, the woman caught her breath and raised her voice. "Isn't this Little Tree? Is it really Little Tree?" As she spoke, she circled her. "How did... you suddenly turn into a girl? Eh, this isn't right!"

Hearing the commotion, Wu Changkeng pushed aside the curtain and came out. When he saw Dingyi, he was overjoyed. His voice trembling, he said, "Our girl has come home! Quickly, come inside." He then busily performed a bow to Guan Zhaojing. "Chief Steward, you have come. I failed to welcome you properly. Please, come inside."

Guan Zhaojing declined with a smile. "You two have private matters to discuss, and it would be inconvenient for an outsider like me to be present; I won't be an eyesore here. I will wait under the eaves outside. When our Lady comes back out, please let Master Wu give us a shout. I thank you in advance."

After all, today was different from the past; there was a sense of "when one person succeeds, even their dogs and chickens ascend to heaven." The Prince’s steward, who previously wouldn't even look at people directly, was now soft-spoken. Seeing him retreat to the gate with his hunched back, Wu Changkeng finally came to his senses. He looked Dingyi up and down, noting that she had grown taller and had a better complexion, which comforted him greatly.

Supporting each other, they entered the room. Dingyi called out "Master," her eyes reddening, and said with a choked voice, "I’ve been gone for over a year and only just returned to Beijing today. I missed you so much while I was away. Seeing you in good health puts my mind at ease. Let me kowtow to make up for the filial duties I missed this past year." Saying this, she knelt and kowtowed three times.

Wu Changkeng hurriedly pulled her up. "I'm doing just fine. The sentiment is enough; don't perform such heavy bows."

At this moment, Xiazhi came out from the inner room. Upon seeing her, he started wailing. "Little Tree! You only missed Master, didn't you miss your fellow apprentice? I went to Mentougou to see my parents, and when I got back, you were gone. We are fellow apprentices; what is the meaning of leaving without a word? Look at you now—a total transformation! My junior brother has become a girl; I feel... so uncomfortable."

He was uncomfortable partly mourning the loss of his "brother" and partly feeling that the girl he grew up with had slipped through his fingers; to him, the irony was tragic. Dingyi, used to his boisterous ways, smiled and offered a few words of comfort. Xiazhi wasn't one to dwell on things; once slightly relieved, he happily busied himself with the bowls and chopsticks.

The three of them were busy catching up, but the courtyard outside had become quite lively. San Qingzi's wife was spreading the news, her voice hushed but loud enough for everyone to hear as she gestured wildly. "You don't know—Little Tree was a girl all along, and now she’s returned home in glory! A eunuch just walked in, looking like the chief steward of some prince's mansion, wagging his tail and calling her 'Lady.' Oh, it’s extraordinary! She’s really made it big, she’s become a Lady! Think about how she used to roll up her sleeves and fry vegetables herself, and now she's a Lady..." By the end, her voice was tinged with sourness. She added, "I don't know which Prince took a fancy to her, but she looks truly beautiful all dressed up. I said back then that this child had a feminine face, but I never expected she really was a girl."

Someone tapped the edge of a water vat, whispering, "If she was a girl, how was she on duty at the Shuntian Prefecture? If the authorities were to question this, it would be a huge crime."

San Qingzi's wife laughed. "Are you stupid? She's a Lady now; except for the Emperor himself, who would dare to hold her accountable? Forget it, stop worrying about it. Everyone, scatter! My little Shun hasn't found a godmother yet, and here is a ready-made one." She scurried back to her room to grab her child, and the ten-month-old Shun was carried into the east room on his mother's shoulder.

If a Lady is the godmother, the Prince must be the godfather! San Qingzi's wife had a good plan. She entered the room and thrust the child toward Dingyi. "You’ve been gone so long, you didn’t see our Shun being born. Come and see, he's a big, fat boy."

Dingyi was quite surprised. She couldn't continue her chat with her master, and with the child thrust at her, she had no choice but to take him. Because she had never held a child before, she didn't know how to position her hands, so she just cradled him in her arms. The child looked at her with two black-bean-like eyes, and she tucked his bib in, smiling. "He is so well-grown, full of spirit."

San Qingzi's wife took the opportunity to say, "Little Shun is almost a year old and hasn't had a godparent yet. People say that children should be given away; being given away can eliminate disasters and calamities. You look like you have an affinity with little Shun; you should take him as your godson. I won't go out to find anyone else; we know each other's roots, and I'm at ease giving him to you."

Dingyi had never encountered such a thing. She was only eighteen herself—where does an eighteen-year-old become a godmother? She was a bit troubled. "I haven't started a family yet... besides, recognizing a godchild requires checking the zodiac signs. Do mine and little Shun’s signs match?"

At this point, the woman’s mind was made up; even if they didn't match, they would have to. San Qingzi's wife chirped, "I’ve already calculated it; they match. It doesn't matter that you haven't started a family; that's just a matter of time, isn't it? If you accept a godson, surely the Prince won't blame you, right?" She glanced at her expression. "Or is it... our status is too low, and you look down on us?"

When words reached this point, how could she push back? Dingyi smiled awkwardly. "How could that be? We are all neighbors." She glanced at her master; his face was full of joy, perhaps feeling proud that his apprentice had succeeded, a sense of vindication. Feeling at ease, she smiled and took off a kingfisher-inlaid bracelet, tucking it into little Shun's swaddling clothes, and said, "I didn't prepare anything, as I didn't know what to give the child. You keep this for him for now. Tomorrow, I will prepare gold and silver bowls, chopsticks, and a longevity lock and have someone deliver them as a small token of my heart."

San Qingzi's wife let out a "Yo," hugged the child, and bowed, mimicking the child's voice: "Thank you, Godmother! Godmother loves little Shun; when little Shun grows up, he will be sure to be filial to his Godmother."

Dingyi could only smile; there was nothing else to do. She had originally intended to talk to her master, but having ended up with a godchild, she had no more time to spare. She still had to go to Dengshikou East Road to investigate, so she made some perfunctory remarks and took her leave.

Her master saw her to the sedan chair, lifted the curtain, and whispered, "That place is not like home; there are many people with complicated motives. Watch yourself in everything. If there's something displeasing, if the Twelfth Prince is unkind to you or speaks with thorns, don't just take it. You aren't married yet; if you're resentful in your heart, you can't live a lifetime like that. We are climbing high, but the higher we climb, the more we cannot break our spines, or people will look down on us."

Dingyi whispered, "I will remember." She felt an inexplicable warmth and sadness. Outsiders saw only the colorful flowers and would certainly urge her to endure any grievance, but only her own family put her well-being first. Her master and Rujian’s hearts were the same. She forced a smile. "Master, go back inside; it's cold out here, don't catch a chill. I'm leaving for today, but I’ll come to see you again. I'm currently staying in Jucuiju Alley; if there's anything, send my senior apprentice to find me."

Wu Changkeng nodded, lowered the curtain, and bowed to Guan Zhaojing. The sedan chair was hoisted up, the two lanterns signaling the way, and it disappeared into the street corner with a swaying motion.

As people left and returned to their rooms, a gust of wind blew through the desolate alley, kicking up the loose snow on the side of the road. From the corner where the mulberry tree stood, a figure walked out, spat out a peanut shell, bit down on his teeth with a crooked grin, and turned to head toward the other end of the alley.