Spring of the Blade - Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Madam Jiang was startled, glancing around in alarm. "Fourth girl, why are you here!"
Qingyuan waved her fan leisurely. "I accidentally dirtied my clothes and went back to change. I was just on my way to the front when I happened to run into you, Aunt. Why are you out here instead of enjoying the banquet?"
Madam Jiang’s heart thumped. Although a young girl was nothing to be afraid of, if she were to run to Madam Hu with this, it would be difficult for everyone to save face.
"Our Madam dropped a handkerchief, so I was just going back to fetch it for her." The maid beside her, seeing Madam Jiang remain silent, hurriedly spoke up for her mistress.
Madam Jiang was a straightforward person when it came to this; a hero deals with the consequences of their own actions. If word got out, there would inevitably be a confrontation, which would be undignified for all involved. She looked at Qingyuan and asked, "How much of what was said earlier did you hear, Fourth Miss?"
Qingyuan smiled. "I only heard 'men turned into slaves, women into prostitutes'... I was just about to ask you, Aunt, if some blind fool had offended you."
Madam Jiang felt even more guilty, almost unable to believe those words had come from her own mouth. If it were in the past, she wouldn't have been afraid. No matter how formidable Madam Hu was, with the Eldest Master away and no husband to back her up, she wouldn't have dared to do anything. But now things were different. The Eldest Master was back, a high-ranking military official who had spent years on the battlefield, playing with severed heads like marbles. If he truly turned ruthless, she was no match for him.
The more she thought about it, the more wary she became. She glared at Qingyuan with annoyance. "You are just a child, Fourth Miss; such words should not be spoken casually. You haven't been back in the Xie house long and don't know that the rules here are strict. A single slip could bring disaster upon yourself. It’s better to let things go in one ear and out the other."
Qingyuan didn't speak, just looked at her with a smile. Under her gaze, the root of Madam Jiang’s tongue felt numb. Madam Jiang set her face and snapped, "What are you smiling at? A smiling face every day—the more someone loves to smile, the more devious they are in their heart."
Qingyuan stopped smiling at her words, sighing helplessly, "If I don't smile when seeing an elder, should I cry instead? Don't be angry, Aunt; I simply won't tell anyone else about this."
Even after her promise, Madam Jiang was not at ease. She had intended to leave, but her feet hesitated. She squinted at her sideways and said, "Since you won't tell anyone, just let it rot in your stomach. Why did you have to show your face before me?"
"Because I understand your heart, Second Aunt." Qingyuan couldn't help but smile again. "You are a forthright person and cannot tolerate those double-edged remarks. It’s only because Second Uncle suffered from the matter of seniority. If it had been Second Uncle who received the recommendation back then, your temperament would be even more like a general’s wife. Honestly, I truly envy your temperament, unlike me—cautious and forced to smile at every turn."
Madam Jiang had always been disliked by everyone, and there wasn't a single junior willing to give her face. Hearing Qingyuan say this, she suddenly felt that this child was actually quite pitiable. Despite having a legitimate birth, she had ended up in such a state of living under others' roofs. Moreover, Qingyuan had touched upon the secret wound she felt most aggrieved by; she had always felt that if the Second Master had filled the vacancy, things wouldn't have turned into this mess. So, she simply opened up, huffing, "That legitimate mother of yours is truly heartless. Although she didn't give birth to you, you at least call her 'Mother'; she shouldn't treat you so harshly."
Baoxian seized the chance to add, in a low voice, "Second Madam is absolutely right, but there’s no help for it—the difference between legitimate and illegitimate is like heaven and earth. Just the other day, I heard that the Old Madam and Madam were trying to arrange a match between the Second Miss and the heir of the Marquis of Danyang. It’s a case of the hungry starving to death while the wealthy have more than enough; if it succeeds, our Madam will have even more glory added to her name."
"The Marquis of Danyang’s heir?" Madam Jiang was surprised. "She dares to dream! I suspect she’s unwilling to accept defeat. The founding Earl’s family preferred a concubine-born daughter over their legitimate one, so now she is holding her breath, determined to have the Second Miss marry even higher to be satisfied." Thinking of her own two daughters, whose in-laws were all trash, and then allowing Madam Hu to climb to an even better family to look down on everyone else in the future, she pursed her lips and scoffed, "That Second Miss is extremely difficult. She refuses to forgive anyone with her words. In my view, with that look of lack of fortune, she still wants to enter the Danyang Marquis’s household? Let’s see if she has that kind of luck." Having finished, she didn't linger, taking her maid and swaying away toward the end of the alley.
Qingyuan turned to Baoxian and smiled. "Let's go."
Baoxian supported her as they walked slowly toward the other end. They didn't speak, but they understood each other perfectly. It was not easy for girls in the boudoir to leave the estate; they didn't have the freedom of the matrons of the house. A person like Madam Jiang, who had always been envious of the First Branch, would never let a chance to cause trouble pass once she learned the truth.
The mistress and servant acted as if nothing had happened, going to the front hall to join the others. Since the Master had rarely returned, he was naturally entertaining outside guests. The men and women were separated into two sections, separated by a small courtyard—the male guests in the east, the female guests in the west. When Qingyuan entered, the women in the hall were gathered in groups of twos and threes, chatting idly. Qinghe had just stepped back from the circle of ladies; seeing her, she hurried over and gave a subtle wink toward the east. "The young Marquis has also arrived."
Hearing her words, Qingyuan couldn't help but look toward the east. Qinghe laughed, "It’s like a vase displayed there, pleasing to the eye, but you never thought of bringing it into your own room. Then suddenly someone breaks in, crying and making a scene, demanding to seize it. Do you feel this vase is better than it was before?"
Qingyuan turned her eyes away, thinking that this made a lot of sense. It wasn't that she thought the vase was so good, she just didn't want the person crying and making a scene to get the better end of the deal.
But she remained vague. "What are you talking about, Eldest Sister!"
Qinghe smiled and didn't answer.
When there were outsiders, Qingru was very good at concealing her sharp edges. She sat beside her mother, calm and quiet, like a piece of elegant ceramic isolated from the world. The female guests were all ladies of status; having a good reputation in this circle was essential. It was clear that being a legitimate daughter wasn't easy either. Qingyuan and Qinghe were much more relaxed, sitting in a corner and chatting idly. From time to time, they looked through the latticed window at the sky outside. The sky was gray and overcast, as if it were about to rain.
Sure enough, by the afternoon, a drizzle had begun, and the spring rain turned the banana leaves in the courtyard a vivid green. At this time, the relatives and friends were all at leisure, gathered together to discuss what to do for entertainment. The maids inside set up a card game, and after some polite gestures, the ladies sat down in style. Qingyuan watched her sisters play two rounds of backgammon, but as she watched, she grew sleepy. She hurriedly retreated to the next room, covering her mouth to stifle a cautious yawn.
When she raised her eyes again, filled with tears of fatigue, she looked through the flower window and saw someone standing outside, looking at her with an inscrutable smile. Qingyuan was shocked and froze, regretting that she hadn't been more careful about the window. He then politely called out, "Fourth Sister."
This "Fourth Sister" was particularly charming, worth savoring again and again on the tip of one's tongue. If it were the past, she might have just smiled and let it pass. This time, after some hesitation, she stood up and bowed. "The Third Young Master has come as well."
The fact that she was willing to speak pleased Li Congxin greatly. He smiled through the window, "Fourth Sister, there is no need for such formality. In the future, just call me Third Brother... or you can call me Chunzhi."
He was a gentle and soft-spoken person, and when he smiled, there was an amorous quality in his eyes. Qingyuan looked at him, silently pondering that this person was actually not at all hateful. Perhaps as Qinghe said, when no one was competing, she treated him normally, but the moment someone else tried to seize him, he instantly became a treasure.
In truth, when men and women interact, it is very easy to tell if someone has feelings for you. Although Qingyuan was somewhat dull, she dimly perceived it. He had come twice in a row, each time snatching a moment to greet her. She understood in her heart, but was still a bit stunned—where exactly did this start? Surely not love at first sight!
She was slow to react, smiling shyly. "I had better call you Third Young Master... Why aren't you playing with the others, but instead ended up here?"
He said, "Oh, they are playing 'chuiwan' (golf-like game). I left the field to wander about aimlessly and happened to walk here... I didn't expect Fourth Sister to be here as well."
Qingyuan looked toward the corridor. There was only one path from the East Courtyard; when hosting a banquet, a screen had been intentionally placed in the middle to prevent male guests from wandering into the wrong area. In this weather, with the rain pouring down outside, he would have had to brave the rain and walk under the eaves to get to this side. Thus, it was far from "wandering aimlessly."
His clear, jewel-like eyes moved over, his gaze falling on her shoulders. Li Congxin saw he couldn't lie, shook off his clothes dampened by the rain, and smiled a bit awkwardly.
"Fourth Sister, did you drink wine at midday?"
Qingyuan shook her head. "Why?"
He said, half-jokingly, "Your face is a bit red."
Qingyuan was stunned. Annoyed by his teasing, she placed her hand on the wooden stick supporting the window, signaling she was about to close it.
He hurriedly said no, passing over a small cinnabar-lacquer carved box. "These are goose-yellow pastries made by our kitchen. I originally intended to give them to you when I arrived, but unfortunately, I never found the opportunity."
Qingyuan looked down at the box, hesitating whether she should accept it, stammering, "Our kitchen can also make pastries; there was no need to bring them specifically for me."
"Every house has its own flavor. You take it." He offered it again. A drop of rain from the eaves had just landed in his hair, and after flowing for so long, it reached his temple. The sensation of it crawling there caused a fit of itching; he raised a hand to wipe it away. That single movement had the sincerity of a young man.
Qingyuan finally accepted it, smiling, "Many thanks. Since my sisters are here, I will share them with them."
Li Congxin said that was fine. Before he could speak further, he heard someone from the east calling "Chunzhi." With no choice, he said to Qingyuan, "I am going back. I will come to see you in a couple of days." Having said this, he braved the rain, went around the screen, and headed toward the East Courtyard. That final phrase, "I will come to see you in a couple of days," was like a raindrop falling on the water’s surface, stirring up a circle of ripples.
Qingyuan looked down; the box was still warm, likely because he had been holding it close to his body. She slid open the small drawer. The goose-yellow pastries inside were exquisitely made, each only the size of a fingertip, neatly arranged. Counting roughly, there were twenty or thirty.
"Oh, Fourth Sister, you have good fortune." Qingrong’s "Oh" was drawn out, sharp and long.
Qingyuan secretly cried out that it was bad. When she turned to look, those two sisters had indeed arrived at the door.
Qingru had the look of seeing a rival in love; hindered by the presence of guests, she couldn't spit on her, but her eyes were like blades, just missing the point of drawing blood. Qingrong fueled the fire, fearing the world wouldn't be in chaos, and glanced at the veranda outside the window. "Who was that? Isn't that the young Marquis of the Li family? He probably came to send a token of love to Fourth Sister!"
Qingru heard this and, unable to hold back, gritted her teeth. "Fourth Sister, you really have devious methods. It’s a good thing your mother died early; if it had been a few years later, I fear the face of the Xie family would have been thrown away by you."
They spoke such malicious words to her that Qingyuan, who had originally been flustered, suddenly became calm. She smiled, "Sisters, you misunderstood; it’s just a box of food..." Before she could finish, looking over their shoulders, she saw Madam Hu accompanying the Old Madam and the Governor’s wife and others coming from the door. She opened the box and held it out to Qingru, saying softly, "These are the goose-yellow pastries brought by the young Marquis, who asked that I invite you sisters to have a taste."
Qingru’s anger grew even fiercer; she saw that Qingyuan was showing off to her. Although the pastries in this box were beautifully made, they were truly an eyesore. She spat, "Who wants your fake generosity!" She swung her sleeve and slapped the box onto the ground. The entire box of chess-piece-like pastries instantly tumbled and rolled all over the floor.