Four Delicate Offenders – CH 026

Chapter 26. An Invisible Knife.

After the Duke of Wei left, Yunpan reported the matter to the Duke of Shu and Lady Ming. “I’ve thought it over carefully and feel that only in this way can I barely save face for my father. However, this is just my childish thought, and I dare not make a decision lightly, so I am reporting to my aunt and uncle to hear your opinions.”

The Duke of Shu stroked his knee, quite agreeing with the suggestion. “After all, he is your father. As the old saying goes, there are no parents who are entirely without fault. He has lost his virtue, but you cannot completely disregard your father-daughter relationship. Besides, Jifu and he serve in the same court. Whenever they go to court, the two of them stand diagonally opposite each other, making the father-in-law and son-in-law look at each other with disdain. This is not a solution. Although we hate that your father is muddle-headed, he is still quite clear-headed when he is away from that concubine. I think we should do as you wish. Then he will receive a great courtesy from you, and it will be easier to talk to him when they meet again.”

Lady Ming, somewhat reluctantly, muttered, “They’ve already set their sights on the Duke of Wei; he’s probably been instigated by that woman again. Luckily, the Duke of Wei is not petty; if it were anyone else, he’d look down on you, too. A father who does not consider his daughter’s feelings, only thinking of his own future and benefits—he’s wasted his life!”

“Alright, alright…” Duke of Shu also tried to persuade her, “Just think of the child’s feelings! This is a major life event; is it not better to wish for good fortune? We’ve given him plenty of face this time; if he’s still being difficult, let him be. Anyway, we can explain things to the Duke of Wei; that’s all the aunt and uncle can do for them.”

Lady Ming, hearing this, calmed down slightly. She raised her hand to smooth a stray strand of hair from Yunpan’s temple, saying, “Let’s put those aside for now. There’s an important matter to attend to: bring your mother’s memorial tablet back to the capital. Whether your father attends is up to him, but your mother absolutely cannot be left behind.”

Yunpan agreed, “Among the properties my mother left me, there’s a villa on Huajing Street. We’ve had people looking after it all these years, but I’ve never been there and do not know what it’s like. If it’s feasible, we should renovate it and enshrine my mother’s tablet there, making it easier for me to pay my respects in the future. Next year they are all moving to the capital, leaving my mother alone in the house in Youzhou; I cannot bear to do that.”

Lady Ming nodded, then continued, “I know that house. It was originally the garden where Consort Sun stayed before she entered the palace. It’s small and exquisite, with a very nice layout. The head of the family moved to Xuzhou, so they sold it. Your mother bought it, and it’s been vacant ever since. Last time I went to the Manwang Garden, I saw from afar that it was well-maintained.”

Yunpan smiled and said, “That’s good. But since the memorial tablet needs to be moved in, it needs to be rearranged a bit. I will have to trouble you, Aunt, to hire a few people to renovate the house and garden.”

This was not difficult. The Duke’s Mansion had plenty of servants and male servants; just send a few to help, and hire a few bricklayers.

After everything was agreed upon, Yunpan bowed to the Duke of Shu and Lady Ming, saying, “Thank you so much, Uncle and Aunt, for your kindness. I initially thought this idea was a bit absurd and did not know how to bring it up with you.”

Duke of Shu waved his hand. “You’ve thought things through carefully; you are very much like your mother in that respect.”

Lady Ming felt a pang of sadness thinking of her younger sister. “Your mother, when she was still young, everyone praised her intelligence and resourcefulness! She was capable of managing a household and was skilled in business. Ask her about all the properties in the Princess’s residence, and she would know everything. It’s a pity that such a capable woman misjudged your father. I suppose it’s because your maternal grandfather passed away early, and she was a posthumous child, so she did not know what men are really like. Therefore, when she met one, and he treated her so well, she became infatuated. This loss has haunted her for a lifetime, and even now it’s affecting you, forcing you to endure so many hardships.”

Fortunately, she was finally able to break free from that family. A woman’s marriage was like a second birth; no one could say for sure whether it would be good or bad. It was all about the family’s social standing and the man’s character. As for the joys and sorrows of married life, it all depended on how they managed it.

Lady Ming observed their relationship and secretly mentioned it to the Duke of Shu. She said that even if they were not particularly loving, they could at least maintain a respectful relationship.

Duke of Shu agreed, “I’ve been secretly observing Jifu for several years. He’s shrewd, resourceful, good at managing the situation, and knows how to handle people’s hearts. To be presumptuous, he might have a very promising future. If Si Si marries him, she will definitely be a titled lady. It’s just a pity for our Mei’er. This marriage is called off, and everyone in the capital knows she’s ill. What will happen to her? A perfectly good young lady, stuck at home for the rest of her life?”

Lady Ming was also very worried; just thinking about Meifen gave her a headache. She herself was quite happy, bustling about making arrangements for Si Si, humming a little tune from time to time… Perhaps it just was not meant to be; a forced marriage would not be sweet. Maybe if this marriage did not go through, a weight would be lifted from her heart, and she might finally feel better.

Lady Ming then asked Yunpan, “The Duke of Wei must still be waiting for your news, right? You two are really something; if you really had this idea, you could have just said it to your aunt and uncle. Why go through all that trouble?”

Yunpan smiled and said, “The Duke of Wei also feels that such a request is too impolite to my aunt and uncle. I will simply ask him to go back first and then send someone to inform him once everything is settled.”

Lady Ming had completely given in. “In that case, send someone! Your father is probably waiting impatiently. This time, give him a way out; let’s see if he takes it. If he does not, then you should make up your mind from now on never to acknowledge him again.”

Yunpan agreed, “That’s what I was thinking too.” She then bowed to the Duke of Shu and Lady Ming. “Aunt and Uncle, then I will take my leave.” With that, she left the main room, taking Qin-Dan and a handful of snow with her.

Her aunt took meticulous care of her, assigning her maids and servants, and even providing two young servants for chores and errands. After returning to the courtyard, she sent word to the second gate and only sat down after everything was settled.

Qin-Dan smiled and said, “Young Lady and the Duke really have a harmonious and loving relationship. If our Madam were watching from heaven, she would be so happy.”

Yunpan felt embarrassed and playfully hit her. “You are talking nonsense again! What will people say if they hear this!”

Ming-Ke and Ruo-Lan, who were serving in the room, also chimed in, “With only a few of us here, who would laugh at the young lady? To be honest, we are happy that the young lady has found such a good marriage. Although we were not by her side before and did not experience it firsthand, just hearing about it made us worry for her. Now that the hardships have passed and things are going smoothly for her, it has made up for the difficulties of the past. It’s so important for husband and wife to be of one mind. Not to mention others, just look at our Young Lady and Duke in our household; they discuss everything together, which saves them so much trouble!”

That was true. When Yunpan was at home, she watched how her mother carried everything alone. Father only cared about spring flowers and autumn moons; he never concerned himself with household expenses or social interactions, which caused Mother to suffer greatly, even while seriously ill, still having to manage the household chores. Looking back now, Mother’s early death was undoubtedly due to excessive grief and overwork; Father did nothing, yet he was the invisible knife that wounded her.

Mother’s marriage served as a cautionary tale; therefore, Yunpan paid particular attention to the character and methods of her future husband. She had carefully considered the Duke of Wei’s speech and thoughts, and so far, he was impeccable; she just did not know what the future held.

Anyway, her request was simple: even if they could not have a harmonious marriage, finding someone who would not be a burden would already be a great blessing.

***

The servant boy from the Xiang family arrived breathlessly at the gate of the Duke of Wei’s mansion. Standing on the porch, he inquired, “Excuse me, sir, is the Duke of Wei at home?”

The gatekeeper came out. Perhaps influenced by his master, he was far more polite than the gatekeepers of ordinary households, speaking with a pleasant expression, “The Duke has gone to the banquet hosted by the Censor-in-Chief and is not home at the moment. Who is the head of your household? We will inform our Duke when he returns.”

The servant boy said, “I am from the Duke of Shu’s mansion. I have been sent by our Young Lady Yun to deliver a message to the Duke of Wei. Our Young Lady said that everything had been discussed and agreed upon with the master and his wife. Please proceed according to the previously agreed plan.”

The gatekeeper, upon hearing this, dared not delay. He immediately beckoned for someone and hurriedly ordered, “Quickly, go to the Censorate and find Bi-Xie. Convey the message word for word.”

Truly befitting a head of household in charge of the Imperial Guards, even his subordinates were efficient and decisive. The gatekeeper had barely finished speaking when a swift horse galloped up the steps. The rider, on command, leaped onto the horse, whipped it, and vanished before anyone could even comprehend it. The servant was utterly dumbfounded; even the fastest courier service could not match this speed!

The censor’s residence was indeed quite a distance from the Duke of Wei’s mansion—one in the east of the city, the other in the south. Avoiding the Imperial Street and navigating narrow alleys, it took about the time to drink two cups of tea to travel and reach the mansion.

At that moment, Bi-Xie was standing guard in the courtyard. While the Censor and the Duke were discussing matters, he stood idly by the banana tree watching ants carry their loads, completely absorbed in the spectacle, when the Censor’s servant entered through the gate with his young apprentice. It was almost like relaying a secret. The young man leaned close to his head and whispered in his ear, “Young Lady Yun said she has already discussed it with the Duke of Shu and his wife. Please proceed as previously agreed, Young Master.”

It was a seemingly random sentence, but Bi-Xie understood. He nodded and sent him back first. After the Duke of Wei finished his meeting, Bi-Xie went up to him, called him “Young Master,” and repeated the message verbatim. Then he asked, “It’s getting late. Will you return to your residence first, Young Master, or will you pay your respects to Marquis Jiang immediately?”

Things needed to be resolved, and the other side must be getting impatient. Fortunately, the weather was warm, and he could handle it. Li Chenjian simply gave the order to go to the small goods market.

When the Princess of Yuyang was alive, she had purchased a small property in a courtyard near Donghua Gate for Jiang Heng to use as a resting place on days he went to court. Later, after the Lady of Yuyang passed away, this small house could not be rebuilt. At the end of the year, the Founding Marquis’s family was moving to the capital, needing to buy new property. The public accounts were tight, and if they moved here with Yanqiao and their three children, the small gate would not be enough to support the Founding Marquis’s nameplate…

Jiang Heng, leaning against the setting sun, was pacing worriedly in the courtyard when he suddenly heard a servant at the gate report that the Duke of Wei had arrived. His spirits lifted immediately, and he hurried out to greet him.

Upon reaching the gate, after exchanging pleasantries, he was led into the pavilion. Jiang Heng said somewhat awkwardly, “This small house is quite simple; I apologize for the humble appearance, Your Grace.”

Li Chenjian was not one to be inflexible. Looking at the house, though small, it was by no means shabby. He smiled and said, “This is the villa where Marquis Jiang lives alone. I find it quite elegant; how can you say it’s simple? Marquis Jiang, please do not address me with my official title anymore; just call me Jifu. It’s easier to talk casually then.”

Jiang Heng repeatedly said “good,” finally savoring a bit of the joy of being a father-in-law. Once they were seated, servants served tea, and he began to inquire about Si Si’s recent situation and thoughts. He ended with an awkward smile, “Being a father like this… is really quite unpleasant.”

The son-in-law opposite him remained calm, remarking, “Every family has its own troubles,” which saved Jiang Heng some face. He paused slightly and continued, “I’ve listened to the young lady’s wishes. Youzhou is too far from the capital; the round trip for the wedding is two hundred li. I know my health, and I am afraid I cannot handle it. So please forgive me.”

Jiang Heng was immediately disappointed. Using distance and his health as leverage was indeed difficult to refute. If he persisted, he would seem like an unapproachable father-in-law. It seemed this approach was blocked; Si Si, the eldest daughter, was effectively gone.

His dejection was impossible to conceal; it was all written on his face. Li Chenjian had held back a bit in his words, only to minimize his temper. Seeing that things were about right, he offered a solution, speaking softly, “Marquis Jiang, please calm down. The young lady still cares about the bond between father and daughter and has informed the Duke of Shu and his wife that on the wedding day, you are invited to the Duke of Shu’s residence to receive our grand ceremony. Marquis Jiang need not worry about gossip; everyone in the capital knows that my health is frail, and the fact that we are not holding the banquet in Youzhou is due to the elders’ understanding of the difficulties faced by the younger generation. In the future, it will be a testament to the virtue of our elders, and no one will say a word against you.”

Jiang Heng hesitated, “Receiving your grand ceremony at the Duke of Shu’s residence… that seems a bit too casual.”

Li Chenjian raised his eyes, a hint of a smile in his slightly upturned phoenix eyes. “Then, Marquis Jiang, is it possible to prepare a marquis’s residence before the wedding? If so, holding the banquet in the new residence is also acceptable.”

“This is simply asking the impossible,” Jiang Heng stammered. “This…this is absolutely too late.” Not only was it too late, but the house they had their eye on last time had also increased in price. Now they would have to sell their estate to make up the difference, and it would take at least two or three months to recover the money. Their wedding was just around the corner; even if they traveled at top speed, they could not make it in time.

Since it was too late, they could only settle for second best. The person opposite him persuaded gently, “Although Marquis Jiang and Duchess of Shu have some disagreements, they are still family. Even if it’s just for the Young Lady, it will not hurt to compromise this once.”

This matter really needed careful consideration. The insistence on returning to Youzhou for the wedding was for the sake of appearances. If they really could not get it done, another approach was not a bad idea. The officialdom in Youzhou and the capital was interconnected. The wedding banquet could be held in the capital, and then two more banquets could be held in Youzhou to thank the guests. That way, they could regain face.

Thinking it over, his expression finally brightened, and Jiang Heng smiled. “I was inconsiderate. I should have considered things more for you. The two places are indeed too far apart, and in this heat, I cannot bear to see Si Si sitting in the bridal sedan chair all night. Since you’ve already agreed, I think we should do it this way. I will go back and inform her…”

“Marquis Jiang,” Li Chenjian suddenly interrupted him, “You are the only one in charge of the household now. Who else would you need to inform when you go back? For the young lady’s departure, bidding farewell to her father, aunt, and uncle is enough. As for that concubine, there’s no need for her to be present, nor should she.”

Jiang Heng was stunned. Although the person before him was still gentle and kind, and his voice was still soft, an invisible sharpness had been added. Just these few words were enough to make his heart tremble.

He began to wonder if he had truly become confused and why he was still thinking of going back to inform his concubine at this crucial moment. Perhaps because the County Princess had left, he had relied heavily on Yanqiao in everything and, sometimes, due to misunderstandings, had genuinely treated her as his legal wife.

This unintentional slip of the tongue, which seemed absurd to others, made Jiang Heng choke on his words. He licked his dry lips and said, “I meant Si Si’s three younger siblings…”

Li Chenjian smiled. “The younger siblings born of a concubine do not really need to be brought to the wedding banquet. After all, it’s a banquet held at someone else’s residence. If the Duke of Shu and his wife do not invite you, Marquis Jiang should go alone. In the Young Lady’s heart, Marquis Jiang is the only one she truly loves.”

Jiang Heng opened his mouth, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt and heartache. He had not truly cared for this legitimate daughter over the years. On the contrary, Xuepan, who was already on the way when Yanqiao entered the household, was the product of a forced marriage, and he had doted on Xuepan far more than on Yunpan.

Ultimately, he felt guilty towards his eldest daughter. Now that she was getting married, she would belong to another family. What could he, as her father, do for her? He could only offer her a peaceful wedding banquet, a farewell to her less-than-pleasant childhood.

“I understand what you mean,” Jiang Heng said, calming himself. “This time, it’s just me. I want to personally see my Si Si off.”

Li Chenjian finally heard these words, and his heart settled. “In that case, I will not trouble Marquis Jiang any further.” He stood up and bowed. “If Marquis Jiang needs anything from Jifu, please do not hesitate to send someone.”

These words were out of respect for his future wife. Although he did not intend to cause any real trouble, maintaining a polite appearance was necessary.

Talking to indecisive people was exhausting. He had been busy all day and was indeed tired. He even had to be helped into the carriage by Bi-Xie. Before parting, he bowed and exchanged polite greetings several times before returning to the Duke’s Mansion as dusk fell.

***

Another five-day court assembly followed. During this time, Jiang Heng, like any ordinary father, began planning his child’s wedding. After finishing his daily official duties, he meticulously considered how much dowry he should prepare for Si Si to ensure she would not be ostracized in the Duke’s Mansion.

“Or… should I sell those shops in Dangshan?” he pondered as he walked, counting on his fingers. “At least a thousand or eight hundred taels, plus the betrothal gifts from the Duke of Dongchang’s mansion, could we scrape together… two thousand taels?”

A man unskilled in managing a household truly could not manage those internal accounts.

He walked ahead, so slowly that colleagues frequently caught up with him, greeting him, “Marquis Jiang, I heard the date for your daughter’s wedding has been set?”

Jiang Heng responded with a genuine smile, “It’s the sixth day of next month.”

Someone, not wanting to miss an opportunity, pressed further, “Is it being held in the capital, or back in Youzhou?”

Now Jiang Heng was more agreeable, raising his eyebrows triumphantly. “My family is co-hosting with the Duke of Shu’s residence. Our old house in Youzhou is too far from the capital, two hundred li round trip, and the wedding night would be spent on the road. My daughter is usually delicate and extremely sensitive to the heat in summer. After discussion, we’ve decided to hold the ceremony at the Duke of Shu’s residence and then return to Youzhou later to host a proper banquet for relatives and friends who could not make it to the capital.”

He explained in detail, striving to let everyone know that the conflict had long since been resolved amicably. This time, it was all for the child’s sake; at least he regained some of the dignity a father should have.

Of course, some busybodies specifically pressed the Duke of Shu to confirm the matter. The Duke of Shu, of course, would not expose him, simply saying, “Yes, yes.”

Jiang Heng felt at ease; then, clutching his official tablet, he lowered his head to calculate, “And those twenty taels of gold…”

Of course, no matter how he calculated, it could not compare to the clarity of calculating when the silver was piled up in front of him.

Five days later, it was a day off. That day, after court, he rushed back to Youzhou early in the morning, arriving home while the sun was still high in the sky.

Liu-niang welcomed him in, chattering, “I’ve been waiting for you, My Lord, for days! Finally, you are back… Did you go to see the Duke of Wei? What’s his plan?”

Jiang Heng took a sip of cold tea, wiped his face with a handkerchief, and said, “The wedding banquet will not be held back home.”

Liu-niang was taken aback. She thought to herself, “He went to the Duke of Wei, and this is the result? It seems that young man truly does not respect his father-in-law. Otherwise, even if he was just being perfunctory, he would have at least said something polite!”

But looking at him, he did not seem to care much. It seemed that the past five days, from resentment to compromise, had completely extinguished his anger.

“Forget it, forcing a cow to drink water is not a solution,” she sighed. “This Young Lady does not care about this family anymore. We are just offering our kindness, and she will only take us less seriously. Do not be angry, sir. Even if she did die in that earthquake, so what? If your own daughter is not considerate, you cannot expect her husband to care for you.”

Jiang Heng remained calm, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. “Although it will not be held in Youzhou, they’ve invited me to preside over the ceremony at the Duke of Shu’s residence.” There was even a hint of smugness in his words.

Liu-niang was startled, blinking in surprise. “How can such a thing happen? The eldest daughter of a noble family is not getting married at home but instead goes off to marry someone else! Would not people laugh at us?”

She had been hoping Yunpan could hold the wedding in Youzhou. Since the death of the Princess of Yuyang, the family had not had the title to host a banquet, and no one knew how well she was managing the household. Outsiders only said she was a concubine acting as the mistress of the house, and she was eager to clear her name and show them her abilities. But her hopes were dashed again; even Jiang Heng had to go to their house to receive gifts… It seemed she had lost both ways, making it even more of a bad deal.

There was another matter. Standing to the side, Liu asked, “With the Duchess of Shu’s fiery temper, will she allow us to come?”

Jiang Heng lowered his eyes and said indifferently, “None of you needs to go. We are just using their residence for business; bringing your whole family along will make people talk.”

This was something she had not expected. Liu-niang was utterly dumbfounded. “No…no…since we are using their residence for our own business, why can we not attend?”

This showed how naive she was. Did she really think the vast Duke of Shu’s residence was a rented shop? Jiang Heng, somewhat impatient, frowned and said, “It’s called a ‘borrowed’ event, but in reality, I was invited there to send Si Si off on her wedding day. The entire banquet was handled by the Duke and Duchess of Shu. Do you not understand the proper etiquette?” He turned his face away, pressing his knees down, and said, “After the scene with my elder sister last time, you think she would dare to invite you, but you’d dare to show your face? Just stay home and wait until this marriage is over before discussing other matters further.”

Liu-niang was speechless. She felt indignant for a long time, finally asking, “What about Xuepan and the others? Although they are half-siblings, they are still related. The Young Lady would not even acknowledge her siblings, would she?”

“You are going to send Xuepan, Yupan, and Mi’er to their household, to be treated like dirt and subjected to cold stares?” Jiang Heng raised his voice, pointing his index finger towards the door. “They are Si Si’s father’s concubine’s children, and there are many complicated relationships between her and the three children. Even if you want the children to see the world, you should not choose this time.”

“Then…then…” Liu-niang racked her brains, bringing up Jiang Heng’s two older sisters. “What about her two aunts? It’s their niece’s wedding; they cannot very well go to her house to offer congratulations!”

Jiang Heng waved his hands haphazardly. “They are not marrying into any respectable families. In my opinion, it’s better if they do not go.” He thought for a moment and added, “We will set up two tables at the mansion later and invite them for a celebratory drink. That will be enough.”

Liu-niang was bewildered, muttering, “Doing this will make us the laughingstock of the whole of Youzhou…”

At the mention of this, Jiang Heng became furious, shouting, “Laughingstock? I’ve already become the laughingstock of both places, do you not know?”

He had never been so angry before; his shout stunned Liu-niang.

All the resentment had been building up, and it was bound to overflow one day. She was a woman confined to the inner quarters, her world limited to a small space; how could she know the situation outside? A man must navigate the officialdom and establish himself in society, and even the slightest mistake would invite countless scornful glances. Did she even realize this?

Because of the Si Si incident, he had become a laughingstock in court. Even the Emperor had heard of the strange events in his household. The other day, when inquiring about the Duke of Wei’s marriage, he specifically instructed him to treat the Marquis of Jiang’s eldest daughter well. Did the implication need further explanation?

Sigh, it was infuriating just thinking about it. Although matters of the inner quarters did not require such extreme measures, and men had all had their moments of favoring concubines, being the center of attention in court and among the public was never a glorious thing. Right now, he truly missed the days when the County Princess was alive—a simple, ordinary life, far better than having all his flaws magnified before everyone’s eyes.

But what could he do? He was not unaware of Liu-niang’s faults: two-faced, shallow-minded, calculating, and greedy… But these flaws were not enough to make him harden his heart and punish her. After all, over a decade had passed, and she had accompanied him through countless days and nights of frustration and despair. She was pitiful, and Liu-niang was tragic; in the end, this messy affair was so tangled that it was impossible to discern right from wrong.

Meanwhile, Liu-niang, in shock, was thinking rapidly. She had urged him to seek out the Duke of Wei, and the final outcome suggested the process had not been pleasant.

This time, she was truly afraid. Not of anything else, but of Jiang Heng’s waning affection for her. So she wept silently, a tearful, yet not sobbing, expression—she knew this was most likely to touch a man’s heart.

“I was wrong…” she whispered, “I forgot my place, treating this young lady like my own daughter, even thinking of personally seeing her off.”

Jiang Heng looked up and saw that scene of tearful pear blossoms in the rain.

She spoke calmly, but large tears streamed down her face. “I thought that since she’d lost her mother, there would be someone to hand her the fan and cover her veil… I never imagined I’d be the one putting on airs and forgetting my place.”

Jiang Heng suddenly felt a pang of pity and frowned. “Why are you crying?”

Liu-niang lowered her head and rolled up her sleeve to wipe her eyes, her eyes still brimming with tears, but a forced smile graced her face. She sighed, “Indeed, it’s a good thing that my Young Lady is getting married and still willing to acknowledge her husband as her father. What is there for me to cry about…” Tears welled up again as she murmured, “I just feel sorry for my husband. His own daughter is getting married, yet he has to hold the wedding in someone else’s house, making him feel like he’s living under someone else’s roof.”

These two short sentences truly struck a chord with Jiang Heng.

Who could know that behind the seemingly joyous announcement of a joint venture lay endless grievances? His daughter was his own flesh and blood, and the Duke of Wei was a legitimate son-in-law of the Jiang family. What was the Duke of Shu compared to him? Now, he was being treated better than her own father. The Jiang family had raised the child with every meal they ate, yet was that less than the warmth and care the Xiang family had shown her over the past month?

But the world was a strange place. A father could not afford to make even the slightest mistake; otherwise, someone from the perspective of a public servant or relative would condemn him, making him the laughingstock of the capital.

Now, who cared about him? Only Yanqiao, of course.

Jiang Heng suddenly softened, reaching out to wipe away her tears. “Alright, I know how you feel, but things have come to this. There’s no other way. Only by yielding this time can we preserve our dignity.”

Liu-niang nodded obediently and sat down beside him.

After a moment’s thought, he asked, “What does the Young Lady plan to do with her dowry, Master?”

Jiang Heng sighed. “I will do what I can. I will add some more to the betrothal gifts from the Duke of Dongchang’s family, making it two thousand taels, and send it over.”

Liu-niang hesitated, looking troubled, before saying, “The Duke of Dongchang’s betrothal gifts were five hundred taels of silver and twenty taels of gold. Even after all that, there’s still a shortfall of about a thousand taels. Right now, our income is limited; besides the harvest from the estate, we rely on the rent from the shops. When the Lady was alive, a drunken old woman in the main house said that the household could earn two or three thousand taels a year, but somehow, after the Lady passed away, we only had seven or eight hundred taels left…”

She did not finish her sentence, but Jiang Heng understood. “You mean, before the County Princess passed away, she gave all those unseen assets to Si Si?”

“Sigh…” Liu-niang smiled, her brows furrowed. “The Lady has thought things through very carefully. After all, a daughter is destined to marry out, and it’s not good for her to control her own family. If the Lady’s things are not given to the young lady, are they supposed to be given to Mi’er?” Seeing Jiang Heng’s dazed expression, she seized the opportunity to continue, “Actually, when I learned that the Young Lady was still alive, she refused to go to you. I knew exactly what was going on. She’s just grown up and can survive without a home. So why are the Duke and his wife so protective of the Young Lady? Is it not because they see the property she owns?”

Now that she said that, it seemed to make some sense. From what Jiang Heng knew, Lady Ming had only met Si Si a few times. How could she have developed such an inexplicable protective instinct? Now, he suddenly understood. There truly was no love without a reason.

However, it was too late now. He could only blame himself for failing to raise his daughter properly.

He lowered his head, and seeing this, Liu-niang said, “We understand in our hearts; that’s enough. The young lady is still the master’s daughter, so the master does not need to worry about this. Right now, we need to prepare a dowry for the young lady. In my opinion, we should just do our best. Xuepan is not young anymore; in a year or two, she will be ready for marriage. And Yupan and Mi’er are growing up so fast… We will also be moving to the capital at the end of the year… Thinking about it, there are so many expenses. The master has no idea of ​​my difficulties.”

Anyway, she had managed the household with great skill, like a clever housewife cooking without rice. The Marquis’s Mansion had survived to this day entirely thanks to her frugality and skillful management.

Jiang Heng then remembered that last time he rushed home, the four of them ate only plain porridge for lunch. He had not thought much of it then, but now he realized it was because of frugality. How could such a noble mansion have fallen into such a state!

Unfortunately, even the person in charge was clueless about the accounts. He pondered for a moment and said, “Regardless of the circumstances, getting this matter settled first is the most important thing. I’ve already decided to sell the shop in Dangshan and the villa in Shangjing to fund the construction of a new mansion. That should be enough.”

Liu-niang agreed, then hesitated for a moment before tentatively suggesting, “Let’s raise a thousand taels for the young lady’s dowry! We can use the remaining two or three hundred taels to purchase bedding and other necessities. It will be a festive occasion, and it will look grand. We can send people to transport it all out of here in a grand procession, so the people of Youzhou can see it and shut them up.”

Jiang Heng thought it was feasible and nodded. “Let’s do it that way. Get it ready quickly; there are only ten days left.”

Liu-niang agreed, “I think we should inform the aunts. After all, the young lady is the eldest daughter of the master, and the aunts have always cherished her. Besides, your second sister’s residence happens to be not far from Youzhou, and next year, when the Emperor changes the date of his court session, she will be moving to the capital with Master Peng.”

Jiang Heng, unwilling to deal with such trivial matters, stood up, casually flicked his fingers, and then strolled out with his hands behind his back.

Watching his retreating figure, the sorrow on Liu-niang’s face vanished in an instant. She instructed Nanny Kong, who stood by, “Find the matchmaker and sell Chen-Xiang.”

Nanny Kong was somewhat puzzled. “Is Madam worried that this girl will not keep a secret?”

“She’s still someone from Yunpan’s household. Although she’s been trained to obey me, if Yunpan investigates the earthquake after we move to the capital at the end of the year, as long as we have Chen-Xiang and she forces her to tell the truth, the whole thing will be exposed,” Liu-niang murmured. “It’s better to sell her. Just say she stole something from the house, sell her far away, preferably never to return to the capital. Then there will be no way to verify the story.”

As for the two old women who sent her to the estate, even if they knew that Mu-Xiang was the one who was crushed to death that day, several months had passed without any evidence, so it was impossible to prove anything. All things considered, only Chen-Xiang remained a potential problem. As long as she was dealt with properly, there would be no need to worry after moving to the capital.

***

Jiang Heng rested at home for three days. On the fourth day, he was to return to the capital. Liu-niang prepared all the necessary dowry, binding it with bright red and green silk ribbons, filling six carts to the brim, and parking them on the straight road in front of the mansion.

This time, she was also going to the capital, not to visit the Duke of Shu’s mansion, but to visit Jiang Heng’s second sister’s residence. Over the years, she had cultivated a deep friendship with these two sisters-in-law; Jiang Fengzhu and Jiang Fengyu were actually closer to her than their high-ranking sister-in-law, the County Princess.

The carriage swayed, traveling from dawn until late afternoon. This time, there was no need to apologize profusely, so the heat was not felt. Sitting inside, Liu-niang even had the leisure to lift the curtains and look at the sun-bleached official road and the distant mountains.

Jiang Fengyu married Peng Sheng, a man from Guankou, about ten miles from the capital. Minister Peng was a seventh-rank official, the Deputy Envoy of the Eastern Shanghe Gate, responsible for guiding civil and military officials and foreign envoys to court. His family was declining, and the man’s income was limited. They lived in a once-respectable old house, hastily furnished with rooms and concubines. The entire household consisted of only four or five servants, and there was also a bedridden mother-in-law. Therefore, whenever Jiang Fengyu visited relatives in Youzhou, Liu-niang would always prepare cloth and spices to ensure she did not return empty-handed.

That was how relationships were built—through these small, everyday acts. She befriended those the mistress of the house disdained and did things the mistress of the house disdained, thus cultivating relationships with like-minded people who might be useful in times of need.

After traveling dozens of miles under the scorching sun, the carriage, loaded with dowry, made it difficult to ride a horse, forcing them to proceed at a slower pace. Jiang Heng initially held an umbrella, but the thin layers of oiled paper could not block the scorching heat, so he retreated to the carriage to rest after a short distance.

As the sun was about to set, the caravan finally arrived at Guankou and split up at a fork in the road.

Liu-niang’s carriage entered the market and continued along the street. The Peng family’s house was at the end of the straight road. Having sent a servant ahead to inform them, Madam Peng was already waiting at the gate. Seeing Liu-niang’s carriage arrive, she smiled and greeted her politely, calling her “Little Sister-in-law.”

Normally, a concubine would not deserve such a title, but years of cultivating relationships had not been wasted. The Princess of Yuyang was addressed as “Elder Sister-in-law,” so Liu-niang had earned the honorable title of “Little Sister-in-law” from both her sisters-in-law.

Madam Peng helped Liu-niang down from the carriage, greeting her warmly and then turning to wave to the accompanying old woman.

The old woman presented two bolts of fine satin with five-petaled floral patterns. Liu-niang smiled and said, “This is a new pattern from Youzhou. I brought it especially for my second sister to have a couple of new clothes.”

Madam Peng was flattered. She glanced at the satin and smiled shyly. “It’s always such a waste of money on you, Sister-in-law. I cannot do anything for you; I really feel bad.” As she spoke, she led the woman inside.