Spring of the Blade - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Yet, Hengtang is so far away, a journey of a thousand miles. If there are things that cannot be done in time, once she is married, they will never be done at all. Is she truly willing to leave the Xie family like this? Is she truly willing to leave Youzhou?

Bao Xian remained silent. She turned and went under the eaves to give instructions, ordering the staff to clear away the washbasins and toiletries from the room. Old Maid Tao then brought over some mung bean soup from the small stove, saying, "Young Mistress, have a little. It will help cool the summer heat. You’ve been rushing about these past few days and even encountered those bandits; I fear your body cannot withstand the strain. Tomorrow is the sixth day; don’t go to the temple. I will take two people to keep watch for you. You should rest well tomorrow, and it won't be too late to go the day after, on the actual anniversary. The Concubine understands your filial piety and also feels for your hardships; she certainly will not blame you."

Qingyuan hesitated. In truth, as far as her health was concerned, she had been truly exhausted over these last two days, feeling as though a string had been stretched to its limit—it might snap at any moment. However, she had been attending to these matters for days on end, and since she had already failed to go today due to the travel, she feared the abbess and the nuns might take offense, causing all the previous merit to fall short of completion.

Old Maid Tao comforted her, saying that as long as the heart is sincere, any corners cut by the temple staff would only harm their own karmic fortune; they would not dare to be lazy with such matters.

Qingyuan asked hesitantly, "But you have also been exhausted for these days; how can I still send you?"

Old Maid Tao laughed, "We are just rough servants; who pities us for our exhaustion when we do our chores? There have been far more trying tasks than this, so don't worry about us! I am thinking, how terrifying last night's events were. If you go again and there happen to be remnants of those bandits left behind, what will you do if you are waylaid again on the road? We servants have lowly lives; if the bandits don't see the Young Mistress, they won't bother to kill us. It is better that we go. The day after tomorrow, let the Old Madam send more manpower, and it won't be too late for you to go in person."

Qingyuan thought it over. Since the Old Madam’s garden was already locked for the night, there was no way to request more guards, and Old Maid Tao’s words were not without reason. She nodded and said, "Then I must trouble you to take my place for the day, Nanny."

Old Maid Tao went to carry out her orders. Chuntai and the others cleared away the things that had been laid out in the room. Qingyuan changed her clothes and reclined on the couch, suddenly remembering to instruct Bao Xian, "Just now, the Mistress only agreed to allocate thirty taels of silver from the communal funds. Add another twenty taels to it, and deliver it for me tomorrow. I feel a lingering guilt; if they hadn't been following me, those people would not have died."

Bao Xian sat on the edge of the couch and fanned her. Although she agreed, she also tried to console her, "This sin was not created by you, Young Mistress, so you need not take it to heart." After a pause, she asked again, "Actually, when you previously promised the Third Young Master, you had other intentions, didn't you?"

Qingyuan gave a soft 'mm,' revealing a slightly surprised smile, "You are clever indeed; you saw through it?"

Bao Xian waved her round fan and said, "At such an uncertain time, the Second Young Mistress is the most anxious. The more anxious she is, the more easily she reveals her flaws, and the more anxious she is, the more likely she is to harbor malicious intent. Isn't that what you were waiting for?"

Qingyuan laughed, "You truly have been by my side long enough to know exactly what I am thinking. It's just the Third Young Master… I know well that it will not work out between us, yet I promised him regardless; my heart cannot bear it."

Bao Xian’s gaze fell upon the small Boshan incense burner on the desk, where the blue smoke drifted, aimless and unattached, scattering at the slightest breath of wind. She watched it for a while, then looked at Qingyuan, "What Chuntai asked you just now, I also wanted to ask. If the Third Young Master truly manages to persuade the Marquis’s wife, what do you intend to do?"

Qingyuan said, "A bowl, once cracked, is cracked. Even if you mend it, it can still be used, but its appearance is ruined, and it is no longer valuable. I have thought about it—a person is not a bowl, and I don't care about such things. If he really succeeds, I will do my best to please the Marquis’s wife. As for how others perceive me, that is beyond my control, and I do not care."

"And what about Commander Shen?" Bao Xian asked abruptly. "If you provoke him later, I fear it will even bring disaster upon the Third Young Master."

Qingyuan was stunned and unable to speak. She did not know how she had suddenly fallen into such a strange trap. Anything involving Shen Run made her hesitate and fear taking action. Truly, this man was too wicked; she feared him just like everyone else in the Xie family, yet this fear was mixed with something else. Whenever he was mentioned, her heart would jump and her earlobes would burn. It was likely because of his cryptic words and incomprehensible actions, which worked upon her like a poison.

Seeing her dazed, Bao Xian nudged her gently, "Do you like Commander Shen, Young Mistress?"

Qingyuan almost laughed out loud, "Why would I like him?" Yet, after saying this, a chill went through her heart. She wearily covered her eyes with her hand and said in a muffled voice, "I am a little afraid of him, but although he is odd, his character is not exactly evil. Yesterday, he even treated me to the food from the Hall of Supreme Command—a bowl of porridge and a large white steamed bun."

Bao Xian gasped, "We were locked in that pitch-black room; forget about buns and porridge, we didn't even have a pot of tea." She then scoffed, "How can you only think of the food? One bowl of porridge and one steamed bun, and you’ve been bought over?"

Qingyuan said that wasn't it, "I just feel this person isn't bad. A man who can provide charcoal in the snow and food during a famine—how bad can he be?"

A drop of water in need should be repaid with a gushing spring; Shen Run had saved her life. But how exactly should she repay such a debt of gratitude?

She and Bao Xian chatted idly back and forth, and she did not even know when she fell asleep.

The next morning, she heard Chuntai calling for the Young Mistress outside the window. Qingyuan answered in a daze; the paper on the window was already glowing with a pale crab-shell green. It was time to pay respects to the Old Madam again.

Struggling to sit up, she kept her eyes closed while Chuntai helped her wash. By the time she had finished changing into her clothes, she barely managed to muster some spirit and stepped onto the first rays of morning light to head toward the main quarters. After a night of rest, the Old Madam appeared full of energy again; regarding constitution, she was better than many young people. Qingyuan had once heard Lady Jiang and Lady Pei complaining, "This Old Madam, living to ninety is a certainty. By then, she’ll still be fine, while her children and grandchildren will have been worn to death by her first." Thus, one sees that longevity brings many indignities; no matter how respectful they were to her face, one could never be sure what they said behind her back.

Offering morning greetings in Youzhou was not like it was in Hengtang. The courtyards in the South were exquisite, and the rooms were delicate. Everything in Youzhou was grand and open; the main quarters were very spacious, large enough to accommodate the whole family. Therefore, apart from the Second Master, who could not get up after a night of wine and song, the rest of the family was present.

Respects were paid in groups by seniority, starting with the Third Young Master, followed by the wives and sisters-in-law. After the men of the 'Zheng' generation had finished their salutations, Zhenglun said with a smile, "Chunzhi came to find me last night. We spoke for a long time, and I heard that he has proposed to the Fourth Younger Sister?"

Qingyuan remained silent in embarrassment, while Qingru rolled her eyes at the side. Qingrong, having sought refuge under the Mistress’s wing and harboring a hatred for Qingyuan due to ancestral grievances, naturally sided with Qingru. She curled her lips and sneered, "The brothers didn't see it, but the Fourth Younger Sister was quite impressive yesterday. The Little Marquis did indeed propose, but if the Marquis’s residence doesn't agree, isn't it all a waste of effort?"

Zhenglun said, "That may not be so. He already rushed back to Hengtang by fast horse this morning. Just wait a while; perhaps when the time comes, he might be able to invite the Marquis’s wife to come to Youzhou to take charge."

This was very unpleasant to Qingru's ears. As if stung by a needle, she said in a sharp voice, "It is strange, Second Brother. Since you are such close friends with the Little Marquis, why do you need to verify his words with Grandmother? If he went back, he went back; why do you need to report it to the Fourth Younger Sister? Since when did you become so intimate with the Fourth Younger Sister, Second Brother?"

Zhenglun was reprimanded senselessly, and he felt quite uncomfortable. Since this younger sister was accustomed to being overbearing, his own wife had often complained about her behind her back. Furthermore, the disgrace she had suffered at the Commander's mansion had also caused others to look down on her, so he said with an 'eh,' "What is the matter with the Second Younger Sister? I was merely chatting casually with Grandmother; how does it inconvenience you? Even if I specifically informed the Fourth Younger Sister, is that not human nature? We are a family of siblings; if we are close, we are close. Are you unhappy seeing that, Second Younger Sister? Your words are filled with barbs, and the Mistress is still standing right there; do not lose the decorum of a young lady."

Qingru was currently burning with jealousy, and no one was allowed to say a word against her. She resented Zhenglun: why did he have to be a meddler and inform Li Congxin? If it weren't for his tip-off, the Little Marquis would never have gone to the Hall of Supreme Command to look for people, and he would never have personally brought Qingyuan back. Without these coincidences, the marriage would have been out of the question, so she blamed everything on Zhenglun. Even though they were not born of the same mother, they had grown up together, so why treat a 'cheap' sister picked up halfway as if she were a treasure? It shows that children raised by concubines remain children raised by concubines; their origins were the same, so they probably found it easier to get along with each other than with others.

"I find it amusing. You say it is improper for you and the Fourth Younger Sister to be close, but you have too many hidden agendas, Second Brother. I only wanted to remind you that this marriage is not yet settled, so stop meddling in the inner chambers. You care about her whereabouts, but we do not." As she said this, Qingru suddenly drawled, "Oh, I forgot! Second Brother is probably counting on the Fourth Younger Sister to win him over so he can secure a good position later!"

Seeing them start to fight, Qingyuan quickly tried to soothe the situation from the side, saying sadly, "Second Brother… Second Brother, do not quarrel with the Second Sister over my affairs. How can I feel at ease with this…"

Zhenglun had a fiery temper; he waved his hand and said, "This matter has nothing to do with you."

Zhenglun’s wife, Lady Ming, was also not one to be trifled with. She had initially been trying to persuade Zhenglun, but hearing Qingru say more and more outrageous things, she said faintly, "Second Younger Sister, that is not the right way to speak. Your Second Brother has always been on good terms with the Little Marquis; it is not because of the Fourth Younger Sister that they became acquainted. We study and prepare for the autumn civil and martial examinations; why would we need to beg others to plan a good position for us? Second Younger Sister, please make yourself clear. I don't want people gossiping later when your Second Brother places high in the exams, saying we relied on nepotism instead of our own genuine ability. Besides, the Little Marquis himself only holds an eighth-rank post in the Ministry of Rites; he has to avoid suspicion himself, let alone open the doors wide for us?"

It turned into a full-blown argument, and for a moment, everyone in the room looked at the Old Madam, hoping for her to make a decision. The Old Madam looked to her left at her own grandson, then to her right at her own granddaughter, and ultimately decided not to say a word, resting her face in her hands and watching to see how long they could keep arguing.

Qingru naturally could not curse them both with her one mouth; she glared at Qingrong in frustration. Qingrong was no fool; she would not join in the chaos, but just smiled at Lady Ming, "Second Brother and Second Sister are bickering; why doesn't Second Sister-in-law urge them to stop, instead of joining in the commotion? What does that look like?"

Lady Ming scoffed, "Third Younger Sister is clever. You are allowed to stir up trouble and sow discord, but I am not allowed to say a fair word?"

The eldest daughter-in-law, Lady Qiu, who loved nothing more than a chaotic spectacle, mediated from the side, "Don't take it to heart, Sister-in-law. The Second Younger Sister is just straightforward; you are all brothers and sisters, why be so serious?"

Lady Ming slanted a look at Lady Qiu, "Does the Eldest Sister-in-law have something to say? When the martial examinations come around later, if the eldest brother places high, it will be due to his true talent, whereas when we place high, it will be because we relied on relationships and favors."

Lady Qiu was choked by these words, "Hey, you…"

Zhengze had a massive headache, "Enough, enough…"

Lady Hu’s voice was drowned out in the noise, "It is getting worse and worse; there is no sense of propriety or rules left, and there is no peace even in front of the Old Madam…"

Zhenglun had long since seen through the subtext, and finally struck the vital point, "Who do you think doesn't know? The Second Younger Sister has her eyes on Chunzhi, it's just a pity that he would rather have the Fourth Younger Sister than you. Who was it that humiliated themselves at the Commander's mansion last time? Any man who has a choice wouldn't dare to provoke you. A lady from a great family should be able to let go of her face; what men want to marry is a mistress of the house, not a fierce beast in a lady's skin."

At this, Qingru froze. A kind of humiliation of being exposed on the spot seized her. Although everyone had known this, no one had ever pierced through it so sharply before. Her face turned red then white, then pale, and finally, all the shame and grievance transformed into tears that welled up in her eyes. Crying, she ran out of the main quarters.

Alas, why cry? With the opponent gone, the squabble naturally ended. Zhenglun and his wife also fell silent. Lady Ming glanced toward the door, her gaze drifting and then retracting, a faint, secret sneer on her lips, "If you can't win an argument, you cry; who is afraid of her few drops of tears!" Earlier, that legitimate mother-in-law had forced the concubine to take her daughter-in-law's private savings; she and Second Young Master Zhengjun’s wife both knew this. Although they didn't speak of it, their resentment was great. It was only fitting that the Second Young Sister had started this today, and she had taken the opportunity to vent some of that filth—it was not a loss.

Lady Hu’s face was as dark as water. She did not chase after Qingru, but merely looked coldly at Concubine Mei, "Is this how you usually teach your children? Brother Lun is three years older than the Second Girl. Even if the Second Girl spoke incorrectly, as an older brother, he could just teach her a few words; but this? It’s as if they are life-and-death enemies. Do you think I am dead, and that I can do nothing about you?"

Concubine Mei was the victim of a disaster she didn't deserve. Initially, when the children were bickering, she had been watching the fun, and although she knew the result would inevitably be this way, she still felt wronged when she was truly named.

"The Mistress teaches correctly, it was Brother Lun’s fault," Concubine Mei said sheepishly. "When I return, I will certainly punish him strictly…"

Lady Hu sneered, "The child is not at fault; I am only speaking to you. You are the one who failed to teach them, the fault lies entirely with you. Today, I will apply the family discipline. You will go to the ancestral hall and kneel, kneel for the entire night, and you are not allowed to rise without my word. I have seen that the children are all grown up, and you are a person with grandchildren; I didn't want to make you lose face in front of your daughters-in-law, yet who would have thought the more I tolerated you, the more outrageous you would become. Today, in front of the Old Madam, I will restore the family discipline so that there is no more following in others' footsteps, and so the children below do not lose respect for their elders."

Concubine Mei’s face turned crimson instantly. Being made to kneel in the ancestral hall at such an age truly caused her to lose face completely. The Mistress was showing partiality; everyone could see it clearly, but this was the chasm between the legitimate and the concubine. One word from the mistress of the house, and it didn't matter if you had grandsons or great-grandsons; she could beat you or scold you as she pleased. A concubine is a concubine, and even in heaven, they are still servants, unless one day Brother Lun and Brother Jun succeed and earn her a title, otherwise, she would spend her whole life under the Mistress, oppressed by her forever.

Zhenglun naturally did not want to implicate his mother in such punishment; he looked anxiously at the Old Madam, "Grandmother…"

The Old Madam lowered her eyelids and did not acknowledge him.

The Mistress was, after all, the mistress of the house, and there was no logic in slighting the Mistress's face for the sake of a concubine. Since the Mistress had spoken, the concubine could only comply. A mother being punished was also a warning to her son; he would be more careful in his speech and conduct in the future and not defy the legitimate wife so casually.

In the end, Concubine Mei received the family discipline, and the morning greeting ended unhappily. Qingyuan retreated from the main quarters and hurriedly caught up with Zhenglun and his wife, saying with deep guilt, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, it was because of me that Concubine Mei was implicated."

Zhenglun said dejectedly, "I already said this matter has nothing to do with the Fourth Younger Sister; I was the one who was confused and harmed my mother."

Lady Ming gritted her teeth, "The Mistress is incredibly unfair. A brother and sister bicker, and the mother has to be held collectively responsible. Since she punished the concubine, why didn't she punish herself? Was her own upbringing so good, raising a daughter to act like a demon, only to come here and act superior to others? Just wait and see; everyone has their day of misfortune. When their 'Main Chamber' takes a fall, Amitabha, we will just clap and cheer. Who doesn't know how to stand on the dry bank?"

Zhenglun and Lady Ming also left in a huff. Qingyuan watched them walk away, shared a glance with Bao Xian, and then instructed, "Tomorrow is the actual day; everything that needs to be prepared should be prepared, and we will still leave early."

Bao Xian replied, "Yes," and supported her as they headed toward the courtyard gate. They had only walked a few steps when they saw Yuequan leading a eunuch wearing a brown official uniform inside. Inside the inner courtyard, Yuejian was there to receive them. Yuequan finished her task, and Yuejian led the man toward the main quarters. Yuequan stood at the gate, looking inside.

Bao Xian called out, "Sister Yuequan, has someone come from the palace?"

Yuequan said, "Indeed. I quietly inquired; I heard the time for the palace's selection of imperial concubines has arrived. This year, they are broadly conscripting daughters from the families of ninth-rank-and-above officials. If things go poorly, it is not impossible for our family to produce a palace lady."

Upon hearing this, Qingyuan could not help but turn her head to look back, "Is the Mistress still in the main quarters?"

Bao Xian said yes, "I haven't seen her come out; I imagine she is discussing matters with the Old Madam."

Qingyuan smiled and said to Bao Xian, "Let’s go." She used her round fan to shield herself from the sunlight and walked slowly along the path through the garden.