Spring of the Blade - Chapter 101

Chapter 101

This was their first New Year in the Shen household. Back when she was just a maiden, the elders arranged everything, and she could remain as carefree as a child. Only now, as the lady of the house, did she realize that managing a household was no simple feat.

Purchasing New Year goods, decorating every corner of the home, preparing gifts for the social exchanges between noble madams after the holiday, and the mandatory New Year tributes to the palace—these were all things she had to oversee. By the time everything was finally in order, it was New Year’s Eve, the day to clean the ancestral tablets in the family shrine. This was a task that could not be left to servants; they had to do it themselves. Thus, the four of them—armed with brooms, feather dusters, buckets, and rags—marched grandly toward the shrine.

The men didn’t seem very skilled at this. While wiping the tables, they practically sprawled across the altar, saying respectfully, "Great-Great-Grandfather, let me wash your face," only to turn around and knock over the tablet of the Founding Ancestor.

Qingyuan frowned as she watched, saying to Fangchun, "When you celebrated New Year’s in the past, didn't you come here to clean?"

Fangchun sighed as she wrung out a rag, "I was the one doing the work every time, while they just stood by and put on a show."

No sooner had she spoken than a "rip" sound echoed. They turned to see Shen Che had torn down the hanging banner, holding it in his hands at a loss, grinning awkwardly: "It’s been hanging for a whole year; it was already rotting..."

Shen Run chided him with furrowed brows: "Are you here to work, or to make trouble?" Yet he was no better; while clearing spiderwebs from the eaves, the handle of his long pole poked into the incense burner on the altar, sending ash flying everywhere.

Qingyuan felt a headache coming on. "You two, get out of here. Go deal with the spiderwebs in the corridor." She shooed the brothers out. Frankly, it was better for her and Fangchun to do the work. Being girls, they were adept at meticulous tasks. They tended to the ancestral tablets one by one, replaced the candles in the holders, and polished every piece of bronze on the altar until it gleamed, giving the shrine an air of renewal.

As Fangchun worked, she stole glances at Qingyuan. Since the incident, she hadn't found an opportunity to speak with her. Her heart was heavy with unspoken words; she felt embarrassed and didn't know where to begin, so she remained hesitant, only stealing occasional looks.

Qingyuan noticed and smiled, "Sister, do you have something to say to me?"

Fangchun nodded, fidgeting: "About that matter... I still haven't thanked you. It’s all thanks to you. Although I am a few years older than you, I was as foolish as an ox before you. You hinted at it to me time and again, but I never believed you. I was even a bit unhappy, misunderstanding that you looked down on my maiden family. Now that the truth is out, I realize you were looking out for me wholeheartedly. My previous petty-mindedness was truly unfair to you."

Qingyuan laughed upon hearing this: "How can this be blamed on you? Blame it on the Yao family for being so wicked. Actually, it’s quite a coincidence; neither of our maiden families is reliable. You were misled by your aunt and cousin, while I was burdened with such a large family where neither grandmother nor father truly cherished me. Fortunately, I have Grandpa and Grandma Chen; they treated me even better than my own kin. I was thinking, since you don't have a maiden family in Youzhou either, let’s consider ourselves close kin from now on. The Shen household is sparse; just the four of us is too lonely. Getting together during the holidays will be much livelier."

Fangchun now listened to Qingyuan in everything; naturally, she had no objections to this. After agreeing, she hesitated and asked cautiously: "I discussed it with Chengbing yesterday. Since you and Big Brother are married, it is only logical that you should have your own separate household... Big Sister-in-law, what do you think?"

Qingyuan looked at her, bewildered: "Do you feel that living in the same mansion with us is inconvenient?"

"No, no, no..." Fangchun waved her hands repeatedly: "I’m just afraid that I am so foolish that I will drag you down in the future. Originally, you and Big Brother had no troubles, but it became a chaotic mess because of me. I truly feel ashamed."

Qingyuan understood her insecurity and smiled: "We are one family; why speak of two? While living, who can guarantee they will never be foolish? Today I understand and remind you, tomorrow you understand and warn me—isn't that good? I have discussed it with my husband, and our view is that the residence in Youzhou is large enough, and the house in the capital is not small either. It is more than enough for the four of us; there is no need to build another mansion. The family population is already small; to split it up would only make the household feel even more deserted." She paused to observe the expression on Fangchun’s face before adding, "However, if you feel constrained living with us, then building another mansion would be fine, too."

Fangchun realized she had misunderstood and hurried to say: "We never meant that! We were just afraid that Big Brother and Sister-in-law would dislike us for lacking social awareness." She smiled cheekily while speaking: "Since Big Sister-in-law has given the word, we will shamelessly stay with you. To be honest, it is truly great living in the same mansion. If I get tired of my own kitchen one day, I can still come over to your place for a free meal. If we split up, I’d have to take a carriage just to have a meal; that would be too inconvenient."

It was precisely because they had so few close kin that the four of them needed to huddle together for warmth. Qingyuan recalled that when Fangchun was acting recklessly with Shen Che, Grandma had worried about potential friction between sisters-in-law and suggested they live separately, but she had never entertained such a thought. She felt for Shen Run; though he didn't say it, his feelings for Shen Che were too deep. How could she, upon entering the family, tear his brotherhood apart?

This was perfect. As long as everyone harbored no ulterior motives, the next generation of children could get along like brothers. With the people in this household bound tightly together, the Shen family would soon thrive and flourish again.

Just as they were chatting away, they suddenly heard shouting outside. Qingyuan and Fangchun hurried out to look. It turned out the two men were chasing a stray cat with bamboo poles. Qingyuan remembered that cat; it was the one Shen Run had monitored from behind the window. He hated it for coveting his "big round meat buns," and they were like red-eyed enemies meeting; he chased it even if he saw it in the daytime. He had teamed up with Shen Che, using their wall-scaling skills to flank the cat, but unfortunately, human agility couldn't match the feline’s. The cat, with nowhere left to turn, scurried between Shen Che’s legs and escaped. The brothers collided head-on, looking so stupid it was truly a sight to behold.

Qingyuan and Fangchun both held their foreheads, inwardly amazed that these men who stood tall and mighty in official circles were secretly this clumsy. One really shouldn't treat men as adults too often; this type of person occasionally had a lapse in intelligence, and even at eighty, they would still have their boring, silly moments.

"You two..." Qingyuan called out loudly, "Stop playing, it’s time to head back."

Only then did they stop, sighing with regret. Shen Run looked back three times as he walked, asking her: "My lady, did you see that cat?"

Qingyuan said she did.

"That cat is like a ghost that won't go away, howling on the wall in the middle of the night."

Qingyuan sighed: "Then if you catch it, how do you intend to deal with it?"

Shen Run said: "I’ll have someone send it by fast horse to Kaifeng. Let’s see how it returns then."

So this was the man who sat in the Palace Guard with such majesty, only to be a fool at home! Qingyuan laughed dryly: "We are moving to the capital after the New Year. Isn't sending it to Kaifeng a complete waste of effort?"

Shen Run suddenly realized this, looking stunned: "Ah, right... I completely forgot..." Even Shen Che looked down on him a little now.

And so, the cleaning of the ancestral shrine was largely handled by the two sisters-in-law. The two men were just there to make up the numbers; they spent their time chasing cats, wasting all their energy on non-serious matters.

But what could she do? She still had to spoil them. Once home, Qingyuan took out the clothes she had just made and asked him to try them on, so she could make timely adjustments if anything was off.

Shen Run turned before the mirror to look. It was indeed made by his lady’s own hands! The fine stitching and intricate embroidery—every needle and thread was full of deep affection; there wasn't a single place that didn't fit perfectly.

Qingyuan helped him tidy up, smoothing the hem of the robe, tying the waist belt, and adjusting the pouch hanging from it. She smiled: "I was telling Fangchun the other day that she had made pouches for the Second Uncle, but I haven't gifted you anything. From now on, all the small items on your person will be prepared by me; you’ll never need outside things again."

He agreed: "The embroidery bought outside is too poor and not durable; how can it compare to what my lady makes?" As he spoke, he turned to hug her: "You don't know how envious my colleagues are of me. They say my wife is young, virtuous, and beautiful, too."

Qingyuan blushed: "Talking nonsense again! I’m afraid there are plenty who talk about my background, thinking I married above my station."

He was silent for a moment, then gave a profound smile: "Don't worry, I have a plan for that; I will vindicate your name sooner or later. Besides, regarding family background—I hold a second-rank official position; I don't need to rely on marriage to find a patron. If I really had that intent, there are plenty of noble girls among the imperial relatives; marrying a wife wouldn't be hard!"

Qingyuan thought it sounded reasonable, but this question had once puzzled her deeply: "Yes, why didn't you seek to marry those noble girls?"

Shen Run thought for a moment: "Because the Li family’s girls aren't good-looking; none are as beautiful as you."

Qingyuan squinted at him: "Wasn't it because no one was willing to marry you?"

The truth always made things awkward. He laughed sheepishly: "People like us live and die for the Sage; to put it nicely, we are the 'new nobility,' but to put it bluntly, we are the claws and fangs. We don't know what tomorrow holds; there are so many examples of 'the birds are gone, the bow is put away'—girls from good backgrounds didn't dare marry me. As for me, I have my pride. If I know others aren't interested, why should I force myself on them? If they don't marry me, there are others thousands of times better who will. I am a respectable man; surely I wouldn't be 'strangled to death by urine'..." Before he could finish, he was beaten by Qingyuan.

She blushed: "What urine... you..."

He apologized hurriedly: "I misspoke. I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

Qingyuan sighed: "Yet, one cannot blame them. They are used to comfort; who would be willing to accompany you through wind and waves..." She looked at him miserably: "Only me." Her regretful gaze was met by a round of lingering kisses from Shen Run.

However, a household like theirs truly couldn't find peace even on New Year’s Eve. In the afternoon, the steward sent to inspect the orphanage returned to report that the grain, coal, clothing, and quilts prepared by the mistress had all been distributed to the kitchens and the elderly and young. "Those people were all kowtowing toward the direction of Youzhou, thanking the Master and Mistress for their kindness. I also took the liberty of asking around; in previous years at this time, there would be eighteen or twenty people lying dead on the streets, but this year—it’s wonderful, there isn't a single one. Just as the Mistress said, the young and old have a place to return to, are well-fed and warmly clothed, and there are doctors there to see to their illnesses. The common people all praise the Sage’s benevolent governance; yesterday, they even went to the gate of Chengtian to kowtow and offer thanks."

Qingyuan sat upright in the hall and nodded: "That is good. As long as the common people are grateful to the Sage, then everything we have done is worth it. You pass a message to the accountant later and tell him to prepare the records for next year’s expenses. As spring opens, clothes will need changing, and there are many epidemics in the spring, so common medicinal herbs should be prepared. Have the purchasing done so that when we need them, we won't have any shortages."

The steward replied in the affirmative: "Mistress, rest assured, I will pass on the message."

As he was about to leave, Qingyuan asked him to wait and said with a smile: "This year, everyone has been busy for the entire year, and the mansion has been of one heart. The Master and I are very grateful. Besides the regular monthly silver, give a bonus of five taels to each patrolling guard, two taels to each manager, and one tael to each maid, servant, and laborer. Consider it a New Year’s gift from us, so everyone can have a good holiday."

The steward was all smiles upon hearing this: "Many thanks for the Master and Mistress’s bounty. Wishing the Master and Mistress a happy New Year and may you have a big, healthy son in the coming year."

The servants were uneducated, and their wishes were the most practical. Shen Run sat to the side and laughed. Qingyuan felt a little embarrassed but nodded: "Go."

Once the man was gone, she complained softly: "Why were you just sitting there without saying a word?"

Shen Run was happy to be at leisure now: "I have no worries when the Mistress handles things. In any case, you are the one in charge; there’s no need to ask me."

Qingyuan finally understood that there was a reason her grandfather lived a life of integrity and didn't ask about matters. Shen Run wasn't old yet, but wasn't he already like that?

Sigh, women are born to toil. She smiled helplessly, but fortunately, he knew how to roast sweet potatoes for her in the charcoal brazier. He carefully covered them with charcoal, and by the time she finished her work, the sweet potatoes were mostly cooked. He crouched there, digging them out with fire tongs, then, ignoring the heat, peeled them and brought them to her. His hands were covered in soot, and he accidentally touched his nose, looking for all the world like a laborer digging coal in a coal mine.

She raised her handkerchief and wiped his face with a laugh, sighing at how sweet the sweet potato was. The two sat facing each other, a bite of sweet potato and a sip of tea, and after one, they were actually half-full.

Someone else entered the door, standing in the slanted light, reporting the harvest from the manors and official fields. Qingyuan opened the ledger to look; she could see the discrepancy on the books at a glance. These people coming to report at this hour were simply counting on the time being short and the mistress being careless.

She closed the ledger and lowered her eyes: "The grain seed entry is wrong. This is not the figure registered by the accounting department. Take it back and correct it before coming again. Also, report the harvest from these two places by the 28th of the twelfth lunar month next year to allow time for reconciliation. Don't be in such a rush at the end of the year, or you will accidentally make mistakes."

She always left some leeway in her words and never lost her temper unless absolutely necessary. She knew the servants were playing tricks, but still said "accidentally." In such a large family, one couldn't succeed by just playing the master. Even if you had heaven-defying abilities, you couldn't do everything yourself; you still needed these people to help you.

The servants who had learned of the mistress’s prowess never dared to be smart in front of her again. The ledger went and came back; this time every item was clear, and the confusing accounts were clarified. Now, they could seal the books, close the accounts, and have a solid New Year.

The brothers and sisters-in-law sat across from each other, pouring wine and wishing each other a happy New Year. Three rounds of drinks passed, and they heard the sound of firecrackers outside. The servants carried giant fireworks out to the open ground. Youzhou was full of nobility, and the mansions weren't far from each other, so one sang and then another took the stage. Standing at the door to watch, the dark night was filled with colorful fireworks, even the zenith of the sky was brilliant blue. If there were people in heaven, they would surely sigh: what a lively and noisy human world!

As for Shen Run, he spent his whimsical ideas on small details. During the New Year’s Eve vigil, there was the custom of giving New Year’s money. They had no children, so he treated her like one. He had ordered gold ingots the size of fingernails made in advance, drilled holes in them, strung them on a thread, hung them around her neck, and bowed to her: "May my lady remain forever young, with abundant blessings and long life."

Qingyuan was dumbfounded, feeling as if she were covered in golden light, looking just like a nouveau riche villager. But he didn't think so. In his eyes, she looked better in gold than in silver. With her whole body hung in gold, not only did her skin become more lustrous, but her gaze was also exceptionally soft.

The next day, when they went to pay New Year’s greetings to the grandfather and grandmother, Qingyuan pulled the ingot necklace out from under her outer coat to show Grandma, saying with a bitter face: "I didn't know before that he was such a tacky person."

Fangchun dug out an identical one and fiddled with it: "I actually think it looks quite good."

Grandma just smiled; she was relieved to see that they were each safe and sound. It was rare for the family to be complete, so they had to prepare food and drinks; they were busy with this all morning. By midday, the old Master and the Shen brothers were nowhere to be found. When someone was sent to ask, it was said that they had gone fishing in the small river in front of the gate.

"This old man must be crazy, going fishing on the first day of the Lunar New Year!"

Grandma complained grumblingly and was about to send someone to call them when a steward’s wife hurried in from the gate, running and shouting for the Eldest Lady.

Grandma was displeased: "On such a big holiday, why are you running around like a headless chicken!"

The woman gasped: "Old Mistress, it’s bad. Two military officers have come from outside, saying that the Yao mother and daughter hanged themselves in the prison—one is dead, and the other can only breathe, but she won't open her eyes!”