Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 37
Chapter 37: The Old Madam's Birthday Banquet
After dinner, Yunchu was pulled into the room by Chu Hongyu, who proudly shoved a wood carving into her arms like a treasure hunter. "Mommy, do you like it?"
It was a palm-sized wooden figurine that could barely be recognized as a woman wearing a skirt, and it was clear that it was meant to be Yunchu.
With overflowing joy, she examined the carving over and over again. "Brother Yu, thank you. Mommy loves it so much, and Mommy has a gift for you too."
She brought out a small sachet and handed it over.
Impatiently opening the sachet, Chu Hongyu pulled out a tiny doll sewn entirely from scraps of cloth.
The doll was only as large as a thumb, but its facial features and expression were remarkably lifelike, so vivid that anyone could tell at a glance it was Chu Hongyu.
"Wow, Mommy, you are truly amazing! I love this doll so much!" the little fellow said excitedly. "If only this doll were a little bigger, I could hold it in my arms."
Lifting him up onto her lap, Yunchu said softly, "I purposely made it this small so you can put it in your sachet and wear it on you every day. Remember, you must never let anyone know you came to the Xie residence, and you must never let anyone know you call me Mommy, or else I will face a terrible disaster."
Nodding earnestly, Chu Hongyu thought for a moment before asking hesitantly, "Can I let my little sister know?"
He had mentioned before that his younger sister couldn't speak, and someone who couldn't speak certainly wouldn't leak secrets, so Yunchu gave a gentle nod.
The little fellow jumped for joy.
Yunchu could tell that the brother and sister had a very good relationship, and that little girl must be just as lovable as him.
Perhaps because he was leaving the next morning, the little fellow was exceptionally clingy, wrapping his arms and legs around Yunchu and pressing his head against her chest, refusing to close his eyes and sleep no matter what.
Yunchu told him several stories and sang a few songs, and it wasn't until around midnight that the child finally drifted off to sleep.
Looking at the sleeping child in her arms by the dim light, driven by some inexplicable impulse, she gently kissed the boy on the cheek.
The moment she kissed him, the hollow, empty void in her chest felt suddenly filled to the brim.
Holding the child tightly, she too sank into a deep, heavy slumber.
Early the next morning, the faint light of dawn had just begun to shine through the window when Yunchu opened her eyes, but the child in her arms was gone.
Panicked, she hurried to get out of bed.
"Madam, the Little Heir woke up and left during the Yin hour, but seeing that you were sleeping soundly, he didn't allow us to wake you up." Tingshuang walked in carrying a basin of water. "Today is the Old Madam's birthday banquet, and all the courtyards are already up and busy. Let this servant help you dress and do your hair, Madam."
Clutching the wood carving tightly in her hand, Yunchu realized this was the only tangible proof left that the child had ever been here.
Sitting before the mirror, she exerted a great deal of effort to chase the child's figure out of her mind, looking at her own reflection and saying, "Keep the hair bun simple."
Tingshuang nodded, quickly styling the simplest of hair accessories and pinning a plain jade hairpin into place. She then proceeded to apply makeup for Yunchu, coating her entire face with white powder, leaving her lips unpainted and her brows unshaped, making her look entirely devoid of color. Finally, she dressed her in a dark purple gown, which set off her pale, paper-thin complexion even further.
Just as her grooming concluded, all those coming to pay their morning greetings had arrived.
Because of the Old Madam's birthday, Xie Shian had skipped the academy and was waiting in the parlor along with the rest of the greeting party.
As Yunchu walked out, the crowd bowed in unison.
Xie Shian looked up at Yunchu's face, hesitating before asking, "Why is Mother's complexion so pale? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"A headache started in the middle of the night, and right now my head feels like it's going to split open." Yunchu pressed her fingers to her temples. "An'er, do you think I'm suited to go out and welcome guests looking like this?"
Xie Shian pressed his lips together in silence.
If Mother didn't greet the guests, the rumors outside would likely grow even worse.
Yet with Mother looking so sickly, the guests would undoubtedly harbor all sorts of suspicions upon seeing her.
"Madam, I happen to have brought some lip tint." Tingyu stepped forward. "This concubine can add some color to your lips, and your complexion should look a bit better."
Yunchu nodded, letting her fiddle with it.
However, once her lips were painted red, it only made her face look even whiter by contrast.
Xie Shian spoke up, "Mother's skin is naturally fair; it looks better without lip tint."
Embarrassed, Tingyu could only use a handkerchief to wipe the lip tint away.
Standing off to the side, Tingshuang felt a deep sense of injustice for her mistress. These people were only worried that the Madam's appearance would invite gossip about the Xie family, and not a single person genuinely cared about the Madam's health.
She suddenly understood why the Madam no longer grew close to the children of the Xie family—because every single one of them was an ungrateful wretch.
Even if the Madam poured her heart and soul into raising these children, she would probably never get a single kind word in return.
They couldn't even compare to the Prince of Pingxi's Little Heir...
Standing up, Yunchu smiled and said, "Let's go, then. Let's go offer our birthday wishes to the Old Madam."
The entire group surged collectively toward Anshou Hall.
Dressed in completely new garments, the Old Madam sat in the main seat with a spirited, glowing expression. Madam Yuan had already arrived, and Yunchu's father-in-law, Xie Zhongcheng, was there as well.
Among all the masters of the Xie residence, the one Yunchu interacted with the least was Xie Jingyu's father, Xie Zhongcheng, because this father-in-law spent the vast majority of his time lodging at the agricultural estates outside the city, dedicated entirely to managing the Xie family's businesses.
Walking inside, she offered her greetings one by one before looking toward the Old Madam with a smile. "This granddaughter-in-law wishes the Old Madam a happy birthday. May the Old Madam's blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity stretch like the Southern Mountains, with every year bringing joyous celebrations just like today."
The concubines, young masters, and misses trailing behind her also stepped forward one after another to offer auspicious birthday greetings.
A broad smile lit up the Old Madam's face. "Good, good, good! You all possess filial hearts, and our Xie family depends on you to bring glory to our lineage!"
The Xie family consisted of this single branch in the capital, and once the birthday greetings concluded, the presentation of congratulatory gifts began.
Xie Zhongcheng had gone to a temple to beseech a longevity talisman for his mother, claiming he had knelt for nine days and nine nights at the Hanshan Temple—the most miraculous temple outside the city—to finally secure it.
Madam Yuan presented the Old Madam with a longevity jade vase.
Yunchu followed with her gift. Every year on the Old Madam's birthday, Yunchu's gift was always the most precious and expensive among all the offerings.
Seeing Tingshuang and Tingsue carrying in a large item, the Old Madam knew at a single glance that it was a screen.
"Old Madam, this is a Hundred Longevity Screen that this granddaughter-in-law spent three months embroidering for you." Yunchu pulled down the red cloth covering it. "As the daughter of a military general, I am not skilled in needlework, and despite trying my hardest to learn, I didn't turn out very good at it. I hope the Old Madam will not disdain it."
Madam Yuan chimed in, "The importance of a birthday gift lies in the sincerity behind it; whether the embroidery is fine or not is secondary."
Yet upon laying eyes on the individual characters for longevity embroidered across the screen, Madam Yuan found herself unable to offer any praise, for the work was truly hideous.
If this screen were displayed in a room, it would likely become the laughingstock of everyone who saw it, forcing them to stash it away in the storeroom—though even in the storeroom, it would just take up space...
The Old Madam's mouth twitched. The maidservants with the worst embroidery skills in her own quarters stitched better than Yunchu. If her embroidery was going to be this atrocious, she shouldn't have bothered embroidering at all; wasn't this just making a fool of oneself in public?
Yet embroidering a full hundred longevity characters was indeed no easy task, especially for someone who knew nothing of needlework to begin with.
If she uttered words of dissatisfaction and caused Yunchu to lose face, who knew what kind of outrageous stunt this granddaughter-in-law might pull next.
"Chuchu has put in the effort," the Old Madam said against her true feelings. "To carefully prepare a birthday gift even while ill—such filial piety is truly touching."
Lowering her head, Yunchu murmured that she dared not accept the praise.
Next came the gifts from the concubines and junior generations, consisting of items like clothing, shoes, calligraphy, or paintings—nothing particularly novel or extraordinary.
Once the gift-giving concluded, the Old Madam stood up. "The time is nearly right. It's time to open the gates and welcome the guests. Let's go, to the front courtyard.”