Spring of the Blade - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Qingyuan looked thoroughly aggrieved. "Second Sister, whatever is the matter?"

Qingru was about to speak, but Qingrong gave her sleeve a gentle tug. Her heart skipped a beat, and she glanced back to see her grandmother, her mother, and several outside guests standing on the wooden corridor diagonally across from them. Panic suddenly washed over her. The reputation for being warm, virtuous, and refined that she had worked so painstakingly to cultivate was utterly shattered by that single slap.

The Old Madam looked at Madam Hu with irritation. "What is going on?"

Madam Hu, however, remained calm, smiling, "They are sisters and often play-fight. I’ve told them countless times—they are all grown up now and shouldn't keep acting like children. Fourth girl sometimes loves to joke around, and Second girl isn't willing to yield to her younger sister... Well, look at this, we’ve become a laughingstock for everyone."

A mother determined to defend her daughter can always make things seem ambiguous. Everyone present had eyes; it was clearly the Second Miss who had humiliated the Fourth Miss, yet in Madam Hu’s words, it had turned into a playful sibling scuffle—and one provoked by the Fourth girl's teasing at that.

If they were sisters born of the same mother, it would be one thing; teeth and tongue occasionally clash in every household. But the Fourth girl was born to Aunt Jin and had only been back for two months. Everyone present knew the implications, even if no one spoke of them. The Second Miss was the legitimate daughter and inevitably arrogant, while the Fourth Miss was pitiable, cowering and trying to curry favor only to be bullied like this. If things were like this with outsiders present, one could only imagine how much bitterness she must swallow when behind closed doors.

To save Madam Hu’s face, the noblewomen offered a few polite platitudes, but their expressions told a different story. The Old Madam frowned, glanced at Qingyuan from afar, and said vaguely, "Let the children squabble. They are at each other’s throats today, but tomorrow they will be as thick as thieves." With that, she gestured toward the flower hall. "I have just acquired some fine tea, and such weather is perfect for listening to the rain and sipping tea. Ladies, please, follow me inside."

As the ladies gradually moved into the hall, Qingru, who had felt as if needles were pricking her back, finally let out a breath. But the mistake was already made. Her carefully crafted persona as a well-bred lady had been decimated by that single action. It was too late for regrets now, and she could only vent her overflowing anger on Qingyuan.

"You did this on purpose!" Qingru stared at her with reddened eyes. "You calculated that Grandmother would lead the guests over here, and you deliberately provoked me to make me lose face."

Qingyuan still maintained her look of innocence. "Second Sister, why would you say such things? We are branches of the same tree; what benefit would it be to me to ruin your reputation?"

"The benefit is great—you just want to suppress me so you can make a name for yourself!" Qingru’s anger surged like a mountain. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had been wronged. If not for the current situation, she would have slapped her. Since she couldn't strike her, she had to sting her with words. She scoffed, "Don't imagine that because they see you as pitiable, you have gained power. Stop dreaming! People like you are inferior even to the lowliest maid in this household. I advise you to curb your temper and stop trying to climb higher. Be careful, the higher you climb, the harder you fall. The Old Madam took you back merely to raise you like a dog. Do you really think you are some golden-thousand-tael miss who can challenge me?"

Having finished these words as if venting a grudge, she turned and headed toward the other end of the corridor. She met Baoxian head-on. The maid stood aside to bow, but Qingru, finding no favor with the servant of a mistress she despised, brushed her aside with a low, "Get out of the way," using enough force to nearly push the maid off balance.

Baoxian stood stunned, knowing immediately from the atmosphere that a scene had occurred. Without time to worry about it, she hurried back. Finding Qingyuan standing there in a daze, she asked what was wrong. "I was gone for only a stick of incense's time, how did things turn into this again?"

Qingyuan sighed. Qingru’s words were indeed piercing; anyone with a shred of spirit would have been angered to death. But since she had indeed used a little bit of calculated effort earlier, it was a tie, and she decided not to dwell on it. She picked up the lacquer box from the ground and looked at the scattered pastries with a sense of regret. "What a pity; I didn't get to eat even one."

After the brief storm, peace returned. The guests departed after the evening banquet, and the Old Madam led the household’s wives and daughters to see them off. A long line of ornate carriages waited before the Xie estate, everyone struggling to maintain a smile. Once the last carriage was out of sight, Qingru, who had been holding back her temper for a long time, erupted. She pointed at Qingyuan’s nose and accused her before the Old Madam: "Grandmother, you must discipline her properly! Today, she set a trap for me, causing me to lose face in front of everyone. I will definitely settle this score with her."

The Old Madam was impatient with such behavior and barked harshly, "What are you shouting about? Isn't it shameful enough? Did she drag your hand to make you knock that box down? If you had even a shred of self-respect, would today’s events have happened? All the ladies and misses of Shengzhou are watching. As the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, this is the conduct you show? How do you think they will gossip about you behind your back!"

Though these words were a rebuke to Qingru, the Old Madam’s gaze remained fixed on Qingyuan’s face. Qingru was spoiled and admittedly tyrannical, but Qingyuan’s depth of calculation had left the Old Madam impressed.

"That box of pastries—what was it all about?" the Old Madam asked, pausing.

Qingru grew angry just thinking about it and turned her head away, unwilling to answer. It was Qingrong who clumsily blurted out, "They were sent to Fourth Sister by the young Marquis of Danyang. Fourth Sister was using them to play host and treat us to eat."

So that was it. No wonder Qingru had fallen into the trap. But in such matters, no fault could be found. If the Third Young Master sent food, one could not blame him; that Qingyuan received food and shared it with her sisters showed she had others in mind and didn't act like a greedy glutton. So, looking back and forth, one could only blame Qingru for being foolish; she couldn't blame anyone else.

Madam Hu, seeing that they had suffered a loss but unable to make a scene, felt her own frustration simmering. But since even the Old Madam had taken a stance, if she—the legitimate mother—tried to stir up trouble, it would only make her appear lacking in the poise expected of a mistress. Unable to complain, she could only try to settle the matter. She glared at Qingru and said, "Your sister was in the right; what do you want Grandmother to discipline her for? As for you, I thought you were usually steady, but to be so disgraceful on such an occasion..." Seeing her stiffen her neck in a refusal to be taught, Madam Hu became even more annoyed. "What are you still standing there for? Am I wrong? Get inside immediately!"

Qingru stomped her foot and stormed through the threshold. Qingyuan timidly said, "Madam, don't be angry. This matter was truly my lack of consideration."

Unexpectedly, Madam Hu smiled. "You were not lacking in consideration. I think you were very thorough. However, things sent by men shouldn't be accepted. You are fourteen; you should know how to avoid suspicion." This was a rebuke that was perfectly reasonable in the grand scheme of things, and no one could find fault with it. Turning back to the Old Madam, she added, "You have been exhausted all day; Mother, go in and rest. Don't worry your mind over the small affairs of the children."

The family entered the house. Baoxian supported Qingyuan as they walked back. The light rain tapped on the umbrella, and a lantern carried in front cast a dim light, reflecting a patch of orange-yellow brightness on the smooth flagstones.

"I fear the Madam will be watching you closely from now on," Baoxian said. She turned to look at her mistress, whose profile was firm and showed no sign of worry.

"Ever since the day I returned to the Xie house, hasn't she been watching me?" Qingyuan looked at the lanterns under the distant eaves and murmured, "Earlier it was cutting my supplies, and in the future, she will surely interfere in my marriage. These are things that cannot be avoided. Since I can't hide, whether I stretch my head or pull it in, the blade falls all the same. If Qingru hadn't been so difficult, the conflict between the Madam and me would have had nothing to do with her. But as you’ve seen, while the Madam knows how to keep up appearances, Qingru is direct with her malice, always leaving people without a way out."

Baoxian nodded. "I understand what you mean, Miss. The Second Miss is spoiled; not only you, but even we servants cannot stand her foul words. However, I am quite happy about today..." She left the sentence unfinished, winking at Qingyuan.

Qingyuan was puzzled. "What are you happy about?"

Baoxian said, "The young master of the Danyang Marquis house—he must have you in his heart, ten times over. This is such a good thing. Miss, you grew up without a mother; although the two elders of the Chen family treated you well, it was never that close. My godmother used to say that a person’s life is split into two halves. Being a maiden is but a fleeting decade; only if one marries a good husband can one be called a fortunate person. Your marriage luck has arrived. The young Marquis is an imperial relative; many noble women in Shengzhou consider marrying into the Danyang Marquis family a glory. Such a good opportunity—you must seize it. Since things have reached this point, you might as well go all the way."

Qingyuan listened silently. These words rolled over her heart like a millstone, again and again. As for seizing it—at fourteen, what did she know of love? She only felt that if something was being fought over by others, it must be something good.

She loosened up, leaning against Baoxian’s shoulder. "Let’s keep these words between us; don't mention them to anyone else in the courtyard."

Baoxian agreed, though her expression was blank, as if she were trying to discern the intent behind her words.

Qingyuan sighed. "There are people of the Madam’s in our courtyard. Regarding that letter from a few days ago, she is likely suspicious of us, but she hasn't dared to seize any evidence yet, so she is just biding her time."

Baoxian was a smart person; she steadied herself and immediately knew who she meant. "Are you talking about Xiaoxi?"

That girl’s parents managed the household’s carriages, and that position was secured through connections with Nanny Xu in the Madam’s courtyard—a tangled web of relations, but it all pointed back to the same place.

Seeing Qingyuan nod, Baoxian added, "Then let’s find a way to have her transferred to the lower quarters. If we keep her by our side and something slips, wouldn't she become a major threat?"

Qingyuan said it was unnecessary. "Keeping her here has its uses."

As she spoke, a gentle, kind smile played on her face. With such appearance and disposition, to outsiders, she was nothing more than an innocent little girl.

The mistress and servant walked slowly through the narrow corridor. After a while, she suddenly asked Baoxian, "Do you think I am too calculating? I don't know how I became this way. Sometimes I am very afraid—afraid that one day I will become a monster, living a life of resentment."

Baoxian was two years older, steady and sensitive, and good at comforting people. She smiled, "Miss, why think like that! If I had encountered what you encountered, I fear I would be even more calculating. Those who point fingers are all outsiders; you don't need to listen to them. Don't worry, Miss. When you marry a good man in the future and become the mistress of another house, who would still want to live in resentment?"

So, the future was something to look forward to. Just like moving forward, getting closer to the belt of light cast by the lanterns—life was the same. When it is bad to the point where it cannot get any worse, everything that remains must be good.

—

That night, the rain beat against the moss, rustling all through the night. The next day, when she rose, she could hear the gurgling of water in the eaves’ drains. Closing her eyes and listening, she had the fleeting illusion of being in the mountains.

Nanny Tao came in to deliver freshly picked goji berries, saying they could be stir-fried or dried for tea. Qingyuan leaned over to look; the tender sprouts in the basket were fresh, green, and lovely. She pinched a leaf to taste, laughing, "It is indeed a bit sweet."

Nanny Tao said, "These are the first batch to sprout; they are most tender after the rain. I got up at dawn just to pick these. If I pick more tomorrow, the quality won't be nearly as good as this." Her voice lowered, and after looking left and right, she said, "The Madam originally wanted to invite the Governor’s wife to the Qixiang Pavilion today, but the person sent to report back said the Governor’s wife has guests today and couldn't make it. Miss, guess who the guest is?"

Qingyuan shook her head, took the gauze bag delivered by Chuntai, and slowly filled it with the goji berries to hang under the eaves to dry.

Nanny Tao smiled. "It is the Second Madam of the East Mansion. They originally had no dealings, but to visit specifically—who knows the reason."

Qingyuan gave an "oh." The handkerchief tied to her sash slipped through the gap of the railing. She leaned halfway out to pick it up, the morning light dancing in the depths of her eyes. She said calmly, "It’s likely that the Fourth Young Master of the East Mansion is at the age for marriage, and the Second Madam wants to ask the Governor’s wife to broker a good match.”