Spring of the Blade - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After so many years, if one were to recount it in detail, it would be a long story indeed.

Nanny Tao began from the day Concubine Jin first entered the manor. She and several other matrons had been assigned to serve in Danyue Pavilion from the very beginning; she knew exactly how Concubine Jin had lived in the Xie family. Concubine Jin was born a beauty, possessed of the typical beauty of the south: a bright, beautiful face, elegant bones, and a pure, serene air. Who in the world does not love a beauty? Although Master Xie Shu was a military official, he was well-read and was no less skilled in writing than any scholar. Concubine Jin, despite her humble origins, was also cultured and wrote a fine hand. Because of this, she was especially favored by the Master.

Every romance always has a pleasant beginning. For the first two years after the concubine entered the manor, the two were inseparable. That tender, delicate affection was truly beyond words. However, to occupy such favor inevitably invited jealousy. At that time, the Master already had a wife and two concubines, all of whom had borne him sons and daughters. Concubine Jin was alone in this deep residence, and in places where the Master could not reach, she suffered untold grievances in silence.

"Suffering in silence would have been fine if the Master had remained constant; it would have been some comfort. Back then, the Master had not yet taken his post in Jiannan Circuit; he was serving as the Military Commissioner in Shengzhou. Subordinates who wanted to curry favor with him sent the singing and dancing Concubine Xia into the household, and Concubine Jin was gradually left out in the cold." Nanny Tao shook her head and sighed incessantly. "People say that in great households, the battle for favor among wives and concubines is deadly, and truly, the ominous winds blew immediately. Concubine Xia became pregnant not long after she started serving the Master and gave birth to the Third Miss. After she finished her confinement, she complained of stomach pain every day, and within half a year, she was dead. Later, 'down-horse fairy' (a toxic herb) was found in the medicine Concubine Xia had frequently taken. The Master interrogated everyone, and bit by bit, the trail of evidence pointed toward the concubine. A little maid even testified that the concubine had once ordered the herb to be purchased under the pretext of needing it to reduce swelling. The concubine had no defense, and in the end, she was driven out of the Xie family."

Qingyuan sat there, listening quietly until her hands and feet turned cold, "Why would my mother harm Concubine Xia? Was it merely to compete for favor?"

Nanny Tao replied, "That is what they say. Do the wives and concubines in this manor not live entirely for the Master? Mistress, think about it: with your mother’s natural beauty and grace, could there have been no day for her to rise again? To speak bluntly, a woman who has given birth is fundamentally different from one who has not. The Master is not lacking in heirs; eventually, he would have returned to Danyue Pavilion."

"If that is the case, it makes even less sense to kill Concubine Xia." Qingyuan was silent for a long moment before saying, "The most favored one dies, and the other is driven away. Now that the thorns in the eye and the thorns in the flesh have been removed, the world is at peace. Truly a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone."

Nanny Tao smiled helplessly. The great house was filled with traps at every turn. Those with firm foundations could not be removed, but the two newcomers without support—were they not there to be bullied at will?

Qingyuan’s heart was in turmoil. Her fingers tightly twisted her handkerchief, squeezing until her knuckles lost all color. She could not imagine how the conviction of her mother had been decided so carelessly. Based on the dregs in Concubine Xia’s medicinal pot and the testimony of a single maid, her mother had been branded a murderous, poisonous woman and driven out of the Xie family without argument. If not for the fact that even her mother did not know she was pregnant, she likely would never have had the chance to come into this world.

She plunged into that whirlpool, biting her teeth as she said, "If she had committed murder, she should have paid with her life. Why was she only driven out? It simply makes no sense."

Nanny Tao said, "I suspect it was to protect the family name. The Xie family has been distinguished for generations. If they had reported it to the officials and caused a scene, the Master would have lost face. So, they only told the outside world that Concubine Xia had taken the wrong medicine and died from it. But how could they plug the mouths of the masses? The rumors never stopped. The Master originally intended to strangle Concubine Jin; it was the Madam who pleaded for mercy, and only then was her life spared."

Qingyuan heaved a long sigh. Only now did she realize that Madam Hu was the cleverest of them all. Xie Shu still held affection for her mother; perhaps if he had killed her in a fit of anger, he would have regretted it once he had calmed down. A person who regrets often harbors resentment, and those present at the time who did not dissuade him would surely have been held responsible. Madam Hu understood this clearly, so she preferred to play the "good person" and gain a reputation for virtue. Regardless, the person was driven out, and she could never return; the Old Madam would not permit it.

So, being a concubine was a matter of life and death. No wonder everyone wanted to be the legitimate wife; since being a concubine could not guarantee lasting favor, one might as well occupy a secure position and suppress those who followed.

Qingyuan released her grip on her hands. A gentle breeze from outside the curtain blew through the gaps in the bamboo strips, and her mind gradually cleared. She steadied herself and asked, "Where is the maid who testified against my mother now?"

Nanny Tao said, "After the concubine was driven out, the gates of Danyue Pavilion were sealed. The servants who worked in the courtyard were reassigned to other duties. Where they went exactly, I cannot say."

Baoxian, who had been listening for a while, saw the unyielding look on her mistress's face and whispered, "Let it go, Mistress. It has been so many years. If that maid was really incited by someone to frame the concubine, I fear she was either killed or sold far away once the deed was done. How could she possibly still be within the borders of Shengzhou?"

Qingyuan felt distressed. She stood up and walked around the room aimlessly, murmuring, "I just want to know who was behind it all, causing my mother to suffer these years of injustice."

Two lives, lost one after another at that person's hands. And now, she had to bear the crime others had forced upon her mother, living with a guilty conscience. When she thought about it carefully, she truly could not accept it.

Nanny Tao pondered and said, "Mistress, do not be impatient. Allow me to think of a way. I have been in this manor for over thirty years; I still know a few people. I will make inquiries in various places; perhaps there will be news." She paused, took a look at her expression, and said, "But I must also advise the Mistress: in this life, there are many storms and waves. Such an old, long-standing matter, while deeply painful, is something you should set aside to take care of yourself. Even if you find out who it was, what could you do? The children of the Madam and the two concubines are all grown now. Out of consideration for them, the Master will not pursue it further."

Qingyuan nodded, "I understand, Nanny. You need not worry."

She only wanted to find out who it was. As for how to deal with them afterward, she would be the one to decide.

Nanny Tao bowed and slowly retreated. Baoxian saw her standing by the window, lost in thought, and called out, "Mistress, you woke up early today. There is nothing urgent now; why not nap for another half hour?"

She did not answer, still standing there in a daze. The sky outside had become clear as the wind dispersed the morning mist. She looked at it steadily for a while, finally withdrew her gaze, and turned, saying, "It is time to decoct the medicine for the Old Madam."

She walked out of Danyue Pavilion toward the hallway outside Huifang Garden. Baoxian followed behind her, unable to understand why she would bother to put in such effort when the Old Madam did not appreciate it anyway.

The little maid specifically in charge of the fire saw her coming and lifted the fan, bowing respectfully. Just as she was about to tell the Fourth Miss to go rest, she heard her say, "I have come to brew the medicine. Once it is done, you can send it to Yuejian and let her serve it to the Old Madam."

The little maid replied "Yes" hesitantly, filled with wonder. Of all the masters and young ladies in the manor, let alone showing filial piety, they were usually too lazy to even keep up appearances. It was nothing like the Fourth Miss, who sought no credit and silently squatted here watching the fire and adding medicine.

However, this boring task, because of the beauty’s presence, gained a hint of fragrance amidst the bitterness. The little maid watched her work, unhurried and steady. The way she turned her wrist to fan the flame, the way she leaned over to stir the charcoal—it was all so vivid and natural. The child's heart was simple, and she sighed secretly: the person the Fourth Miss marries in the future must be like a god. Of all the men in this world, the pure are few and the turbid are many; that person must have a heart of crystal to not be scared off by the bad name of Concubine Jin.

"Pop!" The charcoal in the stove cracked gently, splashing out a cluster of blue sparks. Qingyuan used a cloth to shield her hands, lifted the lid, and took a look. Amidst the rolling medicinal soup, she could see the dregs settling at the bottom. She removed the pot and placed it on the blue bricks to the side.

As she was pouring the medicine into a bowl, Yuequan arrived and said with a smile, "Why does the Fourth Miss need to do this herself? If you just leave it to these little maids, you’ll only make them lazy."

The little maid muttered with grievance, "I told the Fourth Miss not to bother..."

Yuequan gave her a look, and the little maid immediately stopped talking and stepped aside.

The head maid beside the Old Madam was quite authoritative. Qingyuan filled the bowl, covered it with a lid, and smiled, "I am idle anyway, and finding some work to do keeps a person from becoming lethargic. The medicine is brewed; please deliver it to Grandmother for me, Sister."

Yuequan hesitated, "Why don't you deliver it yourself, Mistress?"

Qingyuan remained smiling, "Grandmother shares your sentiment, Sister; she would prefer I spend my time reading and practicing calligraphy..."

Before she could finish, someone in the alleyway behind her took over the conversation with a lazy and vicious tone, drawing out their words, "Sister Yuequan, you had better be careful. One never knows if someone has added something else to the medicine. If the Old Madam falls ill because of it, you won't be able to absolve yourself of the blame."

Qingyuan turned to look; it was Qingru and Qingrong. Qingru held a roll of xuan paper—presumably the Neixun she had been punished to copy, which she was now delivering to the Old Madam. Qingrong accompanied her, and every time she saw her, it was as if she were seeing the murderer of her own mother; her eyes were filled with murderous hatred.

If she hadn't heard Nanny Tao’s account, she wouldn't have known the sequence of events from fourteen years ago. With Qingrong’s barbed words making her uncomfortable, she might have felt resentment or indignance, or perhaps she would have retorted sharply. Now that she knew the reason behind it, she was unexpectedly calm. There was only a hidden, untouchable pain deep in her heart, which she could only endure.

She bowed slightly, "Second Sister, Third Sister."

Qingrong was even more severe than Qingru; she was merciless because she considered herself the victim. In her eyes, Qingyuan was a criminal who deserved to be trampled underfoot. She glanced at Qingyuan with contempt, sneering, "I dare not accept that. You are such a formidable figure, who would dare be your sister! Before, when the Old Madam and the Madam were discussing bringing you back, I said that you would certainly not want to come. It would be better to be a phoenix in a chicken coop than a beggar in a golden nest. Although the Chen family is not an official family, they were able to get by, and they didn't mistreat you with servants to wait on you. Who knew you would be like this, clinging to a high branch, forgetting even the grace of your upbringing, preferring to bow your head as a person in the Xie family and competing to do the work of a servant. Let me ask you: is this life easy to live?"

Qingrong’s words pointed straight at her face, cutting to the bone. Qingru listened with great satisfaction from the side, watching Qingyuan with schadenfreude and giggling.

Since it was a matter between the sisters, bystanders didn't dare to intervene, all looking at Qingyuan with anxiety.

Qingyuan’s face remained indifferent. As usual, she handed the tray to Yuequan and placed the small begonia box to the side, reminding her of what the Old Madam needed after finishing the medicine.

Seeing her ignore them was like punching a bag of cotton; Qingrong’s anger grew even more, and she turned to Qingru and said, "Second Sister, look, there is actually such a person in the world who acts as if nothing happened even when scolded to her face. I see it now: the daughter is just like the mother. That saying is truly not wrong."

At this point, even Baoxian couldn't listen anymore and spoke up, "Third Miss, you cannot say it that way..."

Qingyuan gently tugged at her, turned, and smiled at Qingrong, "Third Sister, I originally said I would not return, but I feared that causing a scene at the magistrate would look unseemly, so I entered the Xie family gate. Now that I have been home for over a month, I feel more and more that coming back was the right thing to do. This is my true root. Every day I see Grandmother and the Madam, I feel a deep, familial affection. The brothers in the family treat me very well, and my sisters take care of me. Even though I did not grow up in the family, everyone treasures the bond of blood and kin, and inevitably they are tolerant of me."

Qingrong had originally intended to goad her into a fight so that she could escalate the situation. Since everyone already disliked Qingyuan, they would naturally unite against her if a scene broke out. But she had managed to deflect it with ease, telling lies with a straight face, leaving Qingrong unable to find a retort for a moment.

Yuequan saw that Qingyuan could handle the situation and smiled, "I am going to deliver the medicine to the Old Madam. Are you young ladies here to see her? Later, when I deliver the message, you can come over. Earlier, the Old Madam mentioned she wanted to check on your studies. I assume the Fourth Miss has also finished copying the Nüjie; bring it along, and let the Old Madam have a look."

Just like that, the siege was invisibly resolved. Qingyuan had no intention of fighting them anyway, so she used this as an excuse to excuse herself for the time being.