Four Delicate Offenders – CH 021

Chapter 21. Even One’s Own Flesh Cannot Be Stuck To Someone Else.

On the way back, Qin-Dan was still feeling fortunate. “The Duke of Wei often coughs, not because of illness, but because of old injuries. It’s a miracle that Heaven has taken pity on her and found her a sickly young man; things will not be difficult for the young lady from now on.”

Though she said this, the undercurrents beneath the rosy facade were evident.

Yunpan remained silent, thinking to herself that being targeted by a cold arrow in the army meant someone was surely trying to kill him. That arrow had wounded his heart and lungs; his survival was perhaps a stroke of luck. He had escaped death years ago, but who knew how many hardships awaited him on the long road ahead? This marriage seemed glamorous on the surface, but whether their lives would truly be smooth sailing depended entirely on luck.

Nanny Yao stayed by her side the whole time, escorting her back to Yipengxue. Before leaving, she said to her, “The Madam previously said that the maidservants around you are too young and might not be able to handle things properly. When you get married, I will accompany you. From now on, if you have any instructions, just tell me. I will be a servant in your courtyard from this day forward.”

Yunpan was somewhat surprised. “How can that be? Nanny is someone from Auntie’s household!”

Nanny Yao smiled and said, “Precisely because you are someone from the Madam’s household. That’s why she specifically transferred this servant over. This old woman was the mistress’s maid back then, and she will be the young lady’s maid in the future. When the young lady arrives at the new mansion, she will inevitably encounter some difficult people. The maids might not have any advice and would not be able to share the mistress’s burdens. But this old woman, relying on her age and thick skin, has seen some storms; even if nothing else, she can still offer the young lady some suggestions.”

Yunpan’s heart, which had been restless, finally settled down. She took Nanny Yao’s hand and said, “Since that’s the case, I will entrust my care to you from now on. When I left Youzhou, only Qin-Dan remained by my side. I do not know where the other maids were sent by Liu-niang. I was just worried about not having a trustworthy maid by my side.”

Nanny Yao said, “Madam knows your difficulties, Young Lady, which is why she sent me. Please do not worry, Young Lady. When our Madam got married, Old Madam also appointed me. Now that it’s your turn, I will again be your escort.”

Yunpan nodded. “With Nanny Yao here, I feel relieved.”

Nanny Yao bowed slightly and said, “You’ve been through so much today, Young Lady. Have them serve you and help you settle in as soon as possible. You will likely have a lot of challenges ahead, so please take good care of yourself.”

Yunpan agreed and had Ruo-Lan see Nanny Yao out. She sat down at her dressing table to remove her hair and makeup. Only after finishing did she realize how sore her shoulders and back were; she had indeed been working hard all day and was quite exhausted.

The willow-colored bed curtains were drawn, and Qin-Dan knelt on the bed to loosen her muscles, whispering, “That lord does not seem like a military general; he seems more like a scholar.”

Yunpan closed her eyes and twisted her neck. “Perhaps he cannot be considered a military general. Those imperial relatives hold remote positions, carrying titles like militia commanders or governors, but they do not actually go to the battlefield to train.”

Qin-Dan said, “Oh,” then added with surprise, “I really did not expect that we, in our current predicament, would fall into his hands. That’s good, though. He knows about the changes in Youzhou, so even if someone harbors malicious intentions and sows discord, it will not cause any trouble in front of the Duke.”

Yunpan nodded, resigned to her fate. Having come this far, she would simply face the rest step by step.

The next morning, as she finished dressing, she opened the door to see Meifen entering from the courtyard gate. Freed from the burden of an engagement, her heart was much lighter, and a smile appeared on her face. As she entered, she said, “They are celebrating the Six Betrothal Ceremony in the front courtyard; I heard it’s even more lavish than mine… Did you see the Duke of Wei last night? What did you think of him?”

Yunpan had nothing to say, only replying, “I met him back outside the capital. He helped me then, and I know he’s a very good person.”

“A very good person” was actually a very high compliment. Meifen smiled and said, “I told you long ago that the young man there is no mistake.”

Yunpan was both amused and annoyed. “If he’s no mistake, why will you not marry him, Sister?”

Meifen was a little embarrassed and stammered, “Do you not know me? Do not tease me.”

Yunpan stopped teasing her and pulled her to sit on the goose-neck chair. The two sisters leaned over to watch the babbling brook flowing beneath the pavilion. Unidentified petals drifted in the stream that cut through the courtyard, meandering along its course towards the other side of the courtyard.

Yunpan rested her face on her arm and murmured to herself, “I am afraid there will not be many opportunities to sit and enjoy the cool air with you, Sister.”

Meifen said, “You can come back and visit often. I am in Zilan Garden anyway; I will not go anywhere.”

Yunpan was silent for a moment, then turned to look at her. The sunlight outside was reflected in her eyes. Meifen seemed truly happy now.

She smiled happily, “Sister, from now on, you must always be happy; no matter what happens, do not worry.”

Meifen’s smile gradually faded, and she lowered her eyes, saying, “Si Si, anyway, I am sorry to you.”

Yunpan felt there was no need to dwell on this, so she adopted a lighthearted tone, “The Duke of Wei’s Mansion is not a den of dragons or tigers. They are from a high-ranking family; how can you say you’ve wronged me? Think about it, I came from that family in Youzhou. I’ve seen my wicked aunt and half-sister; what can possibly defeat me?” As she spoke, she leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Besides, I have money. Mother left me some savings to rely on. Even if I cannot stay in the Duke of Wei’s Mansion in the future, I will not have to worry about food and drink.”

Even someone as clueless as Meifen knew the benefits of money. With money, any setbacks could not be considered a problem.

“I have some too,” Meifen said with a smile, covering her mouth. “Even though I do not go out, my grandparents and several uncles and aunts send me New Year’s money every year, and I save it all. Si Si, if you ever need anything, just tell me, and I will give you all my money, alright?”

This was a life-or-death friendship, sharing everything and helping each other without reservation. This sister was far better than those half-sisters from Youzhou.

The two girls huddled together, whispering intimately and chatting happily, when they heard a servant announce at the door that Xiang Xu had arrived.

Yunpan and Meifen quickly stood up and saw Xiang Xu enter through the moon gate. His complexion seemed unwell, and he appeared somewhat listless. Reaching the pavilion, he did not enter but handed a rolled-up cloth package to a maid beside him, saying to Yunpan, “I obtained some excellent stone pigments and brought them to you specially.”

He must have recalled that she loved making qiankun walnuts, and he even remembered to collect stone pigments for her.

Yunpan smiled at him, “Thank you, Brother. I just made some pear tea; please come in and have a cup.”

Xiang Xu shook his head, saying no, his lips curving slightly downwards, “I heard… Si Si, thank you for your trouble.”

After saying this, he quickly left. The thrill of those past few days was still fresh in his mind; he had thought he could cherish it forever, but everything had come and gone so quickly.

The two Qiankun walnuts she had given him were hidden in his sleeve, warming him from the heat. Last night, he suddenly learned that she was going to marry into the Duke of Wei’s family. Hearing this news, he was stunned, thinking he had misheard.

How could this absurd thing happen? He felt depressed. Who should he blame…? He felt he should blame someone, but after thinking it over, he seemed to have no right to harbor such emotions. He gave a bitter smile; the sun slanted in from outside the eaves, making his head spin.

He touched his forehead, feeling dejected. From now on, he could only be her good brother.

***

This news spread throughout Youzhou almost overnight.

The old woman who had gone out to buy groceries returned to the backyard and gathered with a group of maids doing rough work, gossiping, “Have you heard? The Empress Dowager has arranged for our Young Lady to be married off to the Duke of Wei.”

Those helping in the kitchen, their faces flushed and necks red from the heat, stared blankly, their eyes wide with astonishment, and said, “Really? Is that true?”

The old woman waved her hand. “It’s all over the place…” she said, chuckling. “They say our Master is going to be the Duke’s father-in-law! That’s incredible! The Duke is a title, and below princes and dukes are only a few ranks. Tell me, will our Young Lady not soar to great heights? Leaving this family, she’s become even more successful.”

“Tsk tsk…” everyone gasped. After all, she was the daughter of the mistress of the house; even if her father could not support her, she still had her maternal family. Duchess of Shu, who had come to the capital, was a living, breathing County Princess. How could she stand by and watch her niece fall into misfortune without offering a helping hand? A servant woman who knew a little about the situation chimed in, “The Young Lady’s maternal grandmother is the Princess of Pingyao. In terms of kinship, our mistress should call the Empress Dowager ‘aunt’.”

People were quick to flatter the powerful and scorn the weak. Before, when the Young Lady lost her mother, Liu-niang took power in the household, and everyone fawned over her. The Young Lady was just a child, ignorant of such matters. Now that the Young Lady had risen to the rank of duchess, some began to mock, “They do not even know her background, yet they have the audacity to treat the Marquis’s legitimate daughter so disrespectfully.”

The servant woman scoffed. Concubine Liu had once been just a wine seller; her background was not much higher than that of the household servants. Later, relying on her seductive skills, she bewitched the master, and even though she took control of the household, it was all illegitimate.

“Fortune favors the bold,” someone said. “Earlier, they changed the gatekeeper, making it impossible for the Young Lady to enter her own home. We in the back courtyard do not care about the servants in the front; we were all fooled by Liu-niang, thinking the Young Lady was dead.”

Liu-niang, who was passing by, overheard this. Already annoyed, she stopped and said coldly, “Quiet down! The monthly allowance is too much; does that give you the time to gossip? The household expenses are more than the income; I am thinking of laying off some people. Anyone who thinks the work is too easy, just tell me, and you can pack your bags and get out of here.”

This finally shut them up. Liu-niang stood with her hands on her hips, watched for a while, and seeing them disperse, she stormed back to her own courtyard.

Xuepan, having heard the news, came in to discuss the matter. She sat down in her armchair, sipped her tea, making a clattering sound, and gritted her teeth, saying, “How did Jiang Yunpan get such good luck? Everyone said she was like a stray dog, utterly inferior in every way, but unexpectedly, she’s married into a noble family. The Duke of Dongchang’s family was bad enough, but now she’s found someone of even higher status, with the Empress Dowager personally acting as matchmaker.”

Liu-niang was also very frustrated, her fan dangling, making the pendant flutter. “It’s just because of her background,” she said. “That County Princess is worlds apart; she’s not like ordinary people.”

“Background, background!” Xuepan shouted, “Why does Mother always bring up background?!”

Liu-niang was startled and slammed her hand on the table, saying, “What are you yelling about! If you do not rely on your background, find a respectable man to make me proud; that’s your way of showing filial piety.”

But these words struck a nerve with Xuepan. She muttered to herself, “After what happened last time, our family was ridiculed behind our backs. Who knows what will become of Yupan and me in the future! Besides, finding a respectable young man… considering Youzhou and the capital, where is there a more respectable one than the Duke of Wei? Am I supposed to marry one of those old princes or officials? Now, Mother’s slave certificate has not been found, and Yunpan is perfectly fine. Father cannot officially make Mother his wife anytime soon. Yupan, Mi’er, and I are stuck with this illegitimate status; who knows how long we will have to bear it?”

Liu-niang was silenced by her words, and after a long while, she said resentfully, “I’ve schemed every step for you, and now you blame your mother? There’s nothing to be proud of about Yunpan; originally, this marriage was with the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Shu. She only got married because the girl was ill. Once she’s married into the household, she will be treated like a concubine. I doubt the head of the family will even treat her well. Think of those noble families; which one does not have four wives and four concubines? Will the Duke of Wei really keep only her? If she meets such a powerful man in the future, she will end up like her mother. I do not think it’s so bad.”

Xuepan rolled her eyes. “Mother, do not try to comfort yourself with this. Even the worst family is still a proper match made in heaven, a noblewoman. Mother has schemed her whole life, and she still has not even gotten a proper concubine status!”

Liu-niang was furious with her daughter and raised her hand to strike her, yelling, “Yunpan did not come to humiliate me, but you do!”

But before she could land the slap, a servant in the courtyard reported that the master had arrived at the door.

Liu-niang hurriedly got up, looked at herself in the mirror, glared at Xuepan, telling her to shut her mouth, and then forced a smile as she went to the front courtyard.

Jiang Heng entered, his expression displeased; it was obvious what he would say.

Liu smiled and gave him a curtsy. “Congratulations, Master.”

Jiang Heng glanced at her. “You’ve heard?”

Liu said, “It’s all over the place. They say our Young Lady is betrothed to the Duke of Wei’s family. This is truly a triumphant moment! Let the Duke of Dongchang’s family see for themselves—they were blind to befriend such a wealthy family! Our Young Lady’s husband is far superior to theirs! Is that not wonderful?”

Jiang Heng sat down in the armchair. A tea set sat on the small table. The wind blew in from the window, and the tea whisk spun rapidly in the bamboo tube, making him even more restless.

He averted his gaze, letting out a long sigh. “Indeed, relatives are all relatives, but they have nothing to do with me. Has anyone even bothered to inform me, her father, who is still alive?! Now, it’s as if I am dead. My daughter is getting married, and I only heard the news from others. In their eyes, I’ve become a laughingstock.”

Liu-niang’s expression darkened. After thinking for a moment, she said, “The Young Lady will eventually leave the Marquis’s residence; this is her maternal home. Even if there were some misunderstandings before, what grudge could a father and daughter hold overnight? Master should at least bring the Young Lady back. Let’s have a grand send-off, a magnificent send-off for the Young Lady. Firstly, to show outsiders that the family is harmonious, thus dispelling the rumors; secondly, to bring some joy. Since the Lady left last year, the family has been shrouded in gloom. This time… let’s use this joy to send away this bad luck.”

Jiang Heng rubbed his forehead and said, “I know what you mean. Yunpan has been given to the Duke of Wei, which will help with Xuepan and Yupan’s future marriages. But now that child is like a black-eyed chicken to me, and with Xiang Junjie and his wife stirring things up, how could she possibly want to come back with me?”

“They must be mindful of etiquette. The Young Lady is the Master’s own daughter, flesh of her own flesh. Even one’s own flesh cannot be stuck to someone else.” Liu-niang paused, wiping away tears, and said, “I know the Young Lady does not blame the Master; she resents me. It’s just that I was foolish and listened to the maid. If I had been more careful and sent someone outside to check, this would not have happened.”

Jiang Heng glanced at her; her weeping annoyed him greatly. Sometimes, resentment could not help but creep in. When the County Princess was alive, he had no worries at all. He could relax and indulge in romance, showering her with all the tenderness and care a man could offer.

But after the County Princess left and she took over, he had to admit there was a world of difference between a noblewoman and a street vendor. Under her management, the household appeared to be maintained on the surface, but his reputation was utterly ruined. Take the disaster relief donations, for example. Had he not been encouraged by her, he would not have only brought fifty taels. After being tricked by Cao Muqing, he could not even come up with the money to match him, earning him a reputation for stinginess and heartlessness.

Indeed, a petty wife could bring misfortune to her husband; within just one year, this began to come true. Alas, there was nothing he could do. At least she had borne him a child. Though her vision was somewhat narrow, she had at least put in the hard work, even if she had not achieved great things.

Liu-niang was not stupid. Seeing his blank expression and silence, she felt a little intimidated and said, “How about I go to the Duke of Shu’s Mansion to apologize to the Young Lady and ask her to come back?”

Jiang Heng raised his eyelids slightly. “You will go?”

Liu-niang nodded. “My relationship with the Young Lady is fairly close. For that one incident, it’s not a capital offense.” She then sighed aggrievedly, “My Lord knows the difficulties of being a stepmother. Even if I give my all, one mistake can lead to a lifetime of resentment. But after thinking it over, for My Lord’s sake and for the Young Lady’s future reputation, I should swallow my pride and go. The Duchess of Shu is from a prestigious family; she will not embarrass My Lord. Besides, if I sincerely apologize to the Young Lady, the Duchess will not throw me out, will she?”

T/N: To explain, Liu-niang, being a slave with her indenture contract in the primary wife’s hands, is not a proper concubine who is married into the family with a banquet and offering tea to the primary wife. She’s just a female servant favored by the Master. Which is also why Liu-niang being in charge of the household now makes their household a laughingstock. Who allows a slave to behave as a master?