Spring of the Blade - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"Go to the gate and find out exactly who delivered this letter," Madam Hu ordered hurriedly. "See where the person who delivered it is now, and find a way to track them down. I have words for them."

Cailian acknowledged the order and left to carry it out.

Qingru was somewhat confused. Her mother was always steady; even in the face of great crises, she remained composed. What kind of critical turn of events had she encountered to make her lose her composure so instantly? She cautiously pursued, "Mother, what is the matter? Who wrote this letter?"

Madam Hu could not explain the details to her; she turned her head and called for Nanny Sun. Nanny Sun was her personal servant, having served her since her time in her maiden home, and was her most trusted confidante. As soon as Nanny Sun arrived, she dismissed Qingru, "The sutras I asked you to copy yesterday, you surely haven't finished them yet, have you? They are needed in two days for the offerings at the Great Buddha Temple. Make sure you don't delay. Go on."

Qingru could not say anything more; she curtsied and retreated to the outer room, but her feet hesitated, and she did not immediately walk away. She vaguely heard her mother cursing, "Truly, the human heart is never satisfied! I gave so much before; whatever they were doing was enough to scrape by. Now, more than ten years later, they come to demand more. If I had known this would happen, I should have been heartless back then and ended it all once and for all..."

It was only a single letter, yet Madam Hu’s courtyard was truly a hive of activity. The trusted head maid had arrived, and those sent to investigate had also passed through the second gate. Nanny Tao, who had been huddled behind the rockery, returned to Danyue Pavilion and reported everything she had seen and heard to Qingyuan, concluding firmly, "It seems it is the Madam, without a doubt."

Qingyuan sat there. While she had felt very uneasy waiting for news earlier, she was able to settle her emotions now. If she was to die, she would at least be an enlightened ghost; one must clarify who to hate. The letter to Madam Hu actually didn't state anything specific; it merely pleaded with the Madam, saying that life had become unbearable at home and requesting that, in light of her past hard work, the Madam lend a few silvers as startup capital, vowing that they would surely cherish the Madam’s great kindness and virtue. There were few people in this world who could demand money directly from a Governor's wife; naturally, it was because they held a handle over her that they dared to open their mouths. If Madam Hu had a clean conscience, she could easily disregard this letter, but at this moment, she had completely lost her footing—the household had two back-to-back joyful events, and her husband would be returning home in a few days. If she didn't settle these debts with petty people before then, she feared that if a scene were to erupt, it would be difficult to clean up.

Qingyuan exhaled a long breath. "Did anyone from the Madam’s courtyard go to Aunt Mei’s?"

Nanny Tao said no. "I watched from behind the rockery until it was pitch black, and I didn't see anyone from the Madam’s side head toward the Pomegranate Flower Courtyard."

Then, there was no need to waste effort testing Aunt Mei’s side for the time being. If the two had been colluding, Madam Hu would never be willing to bear the brunt of the storm alone; she would certainly have summoned her co-conspirator immediately to discuss countermeasures. Qingyuan deliberated and said, "Since the play has been performed to this point, we must see it through to the end. Take the money as it comes; consider it 'hard-earned' money for Nanny’s son and the others below. Just have Nanny instruct them to be extremely careful and guard against the Madam losing her mind and taking things to the extreme."

Nanny Tao acknowledged this. "The rest, they will handle themselves... Does the Young Miss wish to use this momentum to bring down the Madam?"

Several pairs of eyes stared at her in a daze for a moment. Qingyuan knew they were worried and gave a calm smile. "The events happened so many years ago that even if they were exposed, no one would stand up for justice. It’s just two concubines, after all; who would take their lives seriously! But every grievance has its head, and every debt has its debtor. I have my own plans, and my mother will have her hope."

Nanny Tao agreed repeatedly. "The Young Miss should put her mind at ease; a gentleman's revenge is never too late. To be honest, I was also afraid that the Young Miss would lose her patience. What a formidable figure the Madam is; the Young Miss is young, so how could you be her match!"

That was true. At Madam Hu’s age, she had eaten more salt than Qingyuan had eaten rice; if she truly decided to make a scene, she had plenty of ways to handle it. With only this bit of evidence, she was completely casting an egg against a rock. It was unwise to openly create enemies. If there were any rumors in the future, it would give others an excuse to frame Danyue Pavilion. Wouldn't that be a loss?

She nodded slightly, stroking her knee, and murmured to herself, "In high-gate noble households, struggles between wives and concubines are common, and often lead to loss of life. Those heartless women are indeed abominable, but are the men who instigate these affairs and then stand by watching not even more hateful? My mother’s life was ill-fated, and Aunt Xia’s life was not good either. Having met a man like the Master, who indulged such vicious means of eliminating rivals in the inner courtyard, it truly is a pathetic sight. But I don't understand why the Madam couldn't tolerate my mother and Aunt Xia. If one thinks about it, Aunt Mei has given birth to two sons; she is the one the Madam should have been most wary of."

Nanny Tao said the Young Miss didn't know. "Aunt Mei was originally a serving maid in the Master’s room. Which gentleman, before marriage, doesn't have a couple in his room? The Master originally had three or four. After the Madam married in, she sent those three away, leaving only Aunt Mei. Firstly, Aunt Mei knew how to behave and appeased her well; secondly, the Madam wanted to earn a reputation for virtue, so she kept one as a facade to avoid gossip behind her back. Who knew that Aunt Mei’s stomach would be so 'competitive'? After she had two young masters, she became completely impossible to handle, so she had to be left alone. As for the concubines who came later, because they were highly favored and sometimes inevitably arrogant, the Madam couldn't stand the sight of them and naturally couldn't tolerate them."

Qingyuan sighed. "If you speak of pity, Qingrong is even more pitiable than I am. Although I lost my mother, I still had my grandparents from the Chen family who loved me and raised me like a treasure until I grew up. And Qingrong? Having returned to the Madam, her circumstances are naturally incomparable to Qingru’s. Her own mother died at the hands of the Madam, yet she still has to be grateful to the Madam and fawn over Qingru everywhere, training herself to be sharp-tongued and unforgiving even when she is in the wrong."

"If the Young Miss can think of the Third Young Miss’s hardships at a time like this, it is enough to show that the Young Miss’s heart is broader than all of theirs," Baoxian said with genuine sincerity, not the slightest bit of flattery in her tone. "The outside world says the Xie family is a nest of wealth and luxury, but who knows about the darkness under the lamp? It is better for the Young Miss to have grown up in the Chen family than to have had to live here in the Xie family, watching people’s faces to eat. Though it is difficult now, if you grit your teeth and endure for three or five years, there will always be a day when you stand tall."

Qingyuan smiled. "In three or five years, who knows what the scene will be like."

"In my opinion, it won't take three or five years," Chuntai said. "That heir to the Marquis of Danyang is quite good. Why else would he rush to our house today if not for the Young Miss!"

Qingyuan laughed. "For me? You hold me in too high regard. He is a close friend of the founding Earl’s son and a classmate of the eldest brother; isn't it the most common thing in the world for him to visit the Xie family?" Knowing that once the girls started talking about this, there would be no end to it, she turned and instructed Nanny Tao, "Handle things as I told you before. Don't let the Madam see the real Buddha. After tomorrow, everyone must be careful. Once they regain their senses, they will surely set their sights on Danyue Pavilion."

Nanny Tao acknowledged this and left the garden while the gates were being locked.

The kitchen maid came with the evening meal. Chuntai took it to the flower gallery in the front to set the table, while Baoxian stepped up to fasten the apron for her, smiling, "I think that girl Chuntai is right; the Young Miss should still be careful."

Qingyuan was a young girl; to be obsessed with which young master was worth entrusting her life to was both too early and too rash. However, upon further reflection, they were right—the Xie family was not a place to stay for long. The Old Madam spoke incessantly of raising her as a spinster; was this any mindset for a grandmother to have? Did they move heaven and earth to get her back from the Chen family just to rightfully bury her whole life?

In any case, one could not be rash at this moment; everything had to be handled gradually. That letter would play its part. Qingyuan remained as composed as usual, but on Madam Hu’s side, things were clearly not very peaceful.

That lack of peace was noticed even by the two sisters-in-law. Madam Pei remarked, "Sister-in-law has been too busy lately; your complexion is not very good."

Madam Jiang simply teased, "The eldest master is about to return; I fear Sister-in-law won't be able to sleep soundly."

Qingyuan stood to the side for a moment, then turned and followed her three sisters into the Old Madam’s main chamber.

The granddaughters were gradually growing up, all reaching the age of marriage. Only now did the Old Madam treat them as independent individuals, willing to share some domestic chatter with them. "In households with many daughters, the marriage of the first is always the hardest to manage. Once the first succeeds, one supports the other, and there is no need to worry about the sisters’ marriages. The founding Earl’s family came to betroth the other day; I don't worry about Qinghe anymore. She is at least matched with a respectable family and can look out for her younger sisters in the future." After pondering for a moment, she added, "Yesterday, the Madam came to see me and spoke of the heir to the Marquis of Danyang... Looking at the eldest Madam’s intent, she wants to arrange a match for Qingru."

No sooner had the Old Madam finished speaking than Qingru’s face turned as red as blood. Because the Old Madam did not avoid anyone, she put on a show of bashfulness, twisting her handkerchief and pouting, "Mother is too impatient; why didn't she ask for my opinion..."

Qinghe curled her lips in disdain and turned to look at Qingyuan’s expression.

The Old Xie Madam also glanced at Qingyuan intentionally or unintentionally, saying in a melancholy tone, "The Madam has always had her own firm ideas. Seeing how set she is on this, I couldn't reject her face. However, I have said before that the Marquis of Danyang’s family is not a family easy to climb into. The proper Marchioness has only one son; she will inevitably be picking flaws everywhere. Is the rice in that house really easy to eat? But the Madam just wouldn't listen. As for that young Marquis, I have only seen him once or twice, and I cannot say what his temperament is like... You sisters have been watching coldly, what do you think?"

This was an intentional probe of Qingyuan’s attitude. Originally, there would have been no need to avoid her, but having just said the other day that 'the Qi family is too big to be a match' (a proverb meaning families of different statuses should not marry), and now immediately agreeing to Qingru, it was, after all, difficult to account for herself in front of Qingyuan.

As for Qingyuan, though she appeared naive on the surface, she was no fool. The Old Madam’s favoritism was undisguised; after all, what was a little concubine’s daughter compared to a legitimate daughter! Not to mention the difference between having a mother and not having one, even if her mother were alive, at such a juncture, she wouldn't have a word to say.

Qinghe’s response was hesitant. "I have only met the Marquis of Danyang’s son once; I cannot judge if he is good or bad... Fourth Sister, what do you think?"

Qingyuan smiled. "I also only saw him once at the Spring Banquet, so it is not my place to make a reckless judgment. However, if we speak of being a perfect match, Second Sister and he are indeed a very suitable pairing."

Only then did Qingru feel relieved. Seeing that Qingyuan did not dare to say anything different, she became even more triumphant, even her high-lifted chin showing that she thought, "Consider yourself sensible."

The Old Madam had actually expected Qingyuan to retreat. In fact, this was for the best. With her status, even if she had some connection to the Marquis of Danyang’s heir, it would be difficult for it to end well. The Madam wanted to use Qingru for the match; at least the origins were a match. The Old Madam had her own considerations: children’s marriages were meant to serve the family’s glory; nothing could be higher than the dignity of the surname. Qinghe, as a concubine’s daughter, married into the founding Earl’s family, and Qingru, as a legitimate daughter, was naturally to be one step above Qinghe.

"Since that is so, the next time we meet the Governor’s wife, let us ask her to mediate on both sides." The Old Madam left a retreat in her words. "However, the Marquis of Danyang’s family is known for being difficult. It is good if it can be spoken for, but if it cannot, there is nothing to regret."

After hearing their grandmother’s instructions, everyone retreated one by one. Qingru still refused to let it go, chasing after Qingyuan and saying, "You probably hate me in your heart, don't you? You thought you had a chance to climb a high branch, but I cut off your path halfway."

Qingyuan secretly laughed in her heart; things weren't even decided yet, so to say she 'cut off the path' was too early. Qingru was used to being overbearing, but she didn't have much brainpower. Being so arrogant and bullying in front of her, it was as if she were certain the Marquis of Danyang’s family would take a liking to her.

Of course, she only thought it to herself; on her face, Qingyuan still smiled calmly. "Second Sister, don't misunderstand. Every word I said to Grandmother was the truth. We are the closest of sisters; if Second Sister can marry into the Marquis of Danyang’s family, I, too, will have glory on my face."

Qingru snorted. "Stop trying to get close to me. I will speak the truth, and I don't fear that you will be angry. In terms of beauty and talent, you are not inferior, but it is a pity your virtue in your past life wasn't enough, causing you to be born from a concubine’s belly. If you want to blame anyone, blame your mother!" Having said this soul-piercing remark, she walked away with her head held high.

If one were to argue based on legitimate versus concubine-born, it wasn't just Qingyuan who was offended. Watching her back, Qinghe gnashed her teeth. "Amitabha, I will wait to see her get her retribution; that day will surely come!"

Qingyuan, however, didn't take it to heart at all and smiled. "Yesterday, I dyed a piece of marbled floral cloth with a pattern that had never been seen before. I would like to invite Eldest Sister to come and take a look; if you like it, I will respectfully present it to you to make a skirt.”