Four Delicate Offenders – CH 032

Chapter 32. A Young Maiden Of Proper Instruction; A Pure Lady Worthy Of Admiration.

“What a coincidence!” Yunpan thought, a smile involuntarily playing on her lips. So, on her first day of marriage, she felt things were going fairly well.

Since they had not consummated their marriage the night before, but the Princess of Liang had already glossed over it, it was considered a proper wedding to the outside world. After the ceremony, there was still a rather embarrassing procedure: writing wedding invitations to the bride’s family.

Li Chenjian picked up his brush in his study, dipped it in ink, and wrote eight characters ^{(Note below)}: “A young maiden of proper instruction; a pure lady worthy of admiration.” He handed it to Yunpan, asking her to send it to the Duke of Shu’s residence.

Nanny Yao clutched the invitation, finally feeling truly relieved. She went outside the second gate to find a servant boy to deliver the message. Returning, she found only Qin-Dan with her in the main room and whispered, “Madam, this matter has been concealed from outsiders, but the proper rites of marriage still need to be observed. I know you are a young lady, quite naive, but the Duke is a kind man. How long will this constant deference last? You need to be more open-minded and not always so restrained. Although the Duke is tolerant, the Princess Consort will eventually inquire. Besides, the male heirs of the imperial family are not numerous. If Madam could have good news sooner, then…”

Nanny Yao looked at her, leaving her unfinished, letting her weigh the matter herself.

Now that she was married into the Duke’s household, she had to consider her current situation. The Emperor had three imperial nephews; she should understand the principle of “if you do not rise, you fall.” The Duke of Chen’s household had two sons and two daughters, and the Duchess of Chu also gave birth to her eldest son last year. Even if the Emperor were to choose a successor, he would first consider those with heirs to prevent the Li family line from falling into the wrong hands. Therefore, if one truly wished to rival the Dukes of Chen and Chu, one must first, like them, have a son or daughter. Now that the Emperor was getting older, time was running out; it was always better to act sooner rather than later.

To survive in such a precarious situation, one must have the determination to look towards the sun. After all, in such a volatile climate, taking a step back might not guarantee survival, while taking a step forward might bring a glimmer of hope.

Yunpan listened, head bowed, and said, “I understand what you mean, Nanny. Do not worry, I will handle it.”

Seeing her feigned composure, though her ears were turning red, Nanny Yao’s heart softened. “Madam, you do not mind this old servant’s nagging, do you? A clever person like you does not need me to be so talkative…”

Yunpan turned from the embroidered stool and said gently, “Not at all. I need Nanny Yao’s wake-up call. Sometimes I am thoughtless, and Nanny Yao’s broad knowledge can give me a nudge.”

When her aunt asked Nanny Yao to accompany her, she only thought that having more people meant more courage, and it would be nice to have company in a new place. Now, after hearing her words, she realized that older people could indeed be meticulous and thorough in everything they did.

She placed her hand on her knee, her fingertips aimlessly fiddling with the gold-embroidered floral pattern on her skirt, leaving a rustling sensation.

Calming down to reflect, she realized she had indeed been too selfish, preoccupied only with her shame and fear, failing to consider his situation.

But how did the Empress Dowager view this matter? She was to pay her respects in the palace tomorrow, and her heart pounded with anxiety, unsure how to proceed.

Perhaps she should just wait and see. The Emperor, of course, did not want to see her immediately align herself with the Duke of Wei; otherwise, would the Empress Dowager’s efforts not have been in vain?

Sigh, she sighed inwardly. This was not something she should discuss with others; she had to sort things out herself and establish her own stance. The Emperor wanted to use her as a pawn, and the Duke of Wei might not be someone she could rely on. Previously, she had considered that after marriage, she would merely appease both sides and remain unscathed; now it seemed that it would be much more difficult.

Footsteps sounded outside. She looked up and, through the half-open window, saw a girl in a high-waisted ochre-colored ruqun, walking lightly down the corridor. Li Huicun was Li Chenjian’s younger sister, but the two did not look alike. Perhaps Li Chenjian resembled the Princess Consort of Liang, while the princess resembled the Prince of Liang.

Huicun was naturally delighted. The girl’s innocent and bright nature made all her joy evident on her face. The addition of a new member to the household gave this princess, who often felt bored in her boudoir, hope. She finally had a new playmate, and this sister-in-law even had a skill, which made her even more eager to form a bond.

When she reached the door, she did not step inside immediately. Instead, she stopped and stood outside the threshold, calling out, “Sister-in-law!” This was good manners from the noble family; one should not barge into someone’s house just because of initial intimacy. Especially since her mother had warned her that now that her brother was married, the young couple had many private matters to discuss, and as the sister-in-law, she should avoid them. Joining in the conversation would be considered tactless.

So, the princess thought for a moment and added, “Is my brother home?”

Yunpan came out to greet her, taking her hand and leading her into the house. “The Duke just received news that there’s urgent business at the yamen; he will be right back.”

“On the second day of our marriage, why does he have to attend to official duties? Did the Emperor not grant him leave?” Huicun complained, but inwardly she was pleased. With her brother gone, she could spend more time with her sister-in-law.

Huicun was like a little sister, lively and obedient. Yunpan liked her very much, taking her hand to sit down and having Qin-Dan serve fragrant drinks.

Yunpan often liked to put her mind to creative ideas about tea drinks, such as making buckwheat drinks for the Spring Equinox and red wine for the Beginning of Summer.

A delicate lotus leaf cup held amber-colored tea, topped with a sprig of mint. Huicun took a sip, expecting it to be just plain mint water, but it was not. The tea was warm, mellow, and sweet, with the mint flavor only subtly present in the aftertaste.

She looked up with bright eyes and asked, “Sister-in-law, what is this?”

Yunpan said it was Pear Dew. “It would be even better if you could get fresh autumn pears. You steam the pears and water chestnuts together in a steamer, like steaming flower dew. Then you add a little apricot juice and honey to the extracted liquid, and that’s it.” She smiled as she spoke, “The Duke has a chronic ailment; he coughs a lot. This dew can clear his lungs and moisturize the dryness, which is good for his health.”

Huicun immediately showed her great respect. “Sister-in-law, you are indeed ingenious! My brother is so lucky to have married you; even I get to enjoy your special drink.”

The two girls sat in the shade, whiling away the time. Sunlight streamed in through the eaves, and they were quite content with their tea and incense.

Huicun took another sip, then said gently, “Sister-in-law, once you are in your new home, please do not feel constrained. My mother and I like you very much. Just treat this place like your maiden home…” She wrinkled her nose. “No, you should feel even more at ease than at your maiden home. We do not have any troublesome concubines here. If any servants misbehave, just punish them severely.”

Yunpan smiled wryly. “Even you’ve heard about my maiden home?”

“Of course,” Huicun said. “Your mother also sent people to inquire. We heard that your father’s concubine is quite wicked. If it were me, I would have definitely smashed down the gates and caused a scene that day. I’d like to see how that concubine handles things.”

So Huicun also had a passionate side.

Yunpan shook her head. “The city was in chaos that day. It was raining heavily, and everyone was too busy taking care of themselves to come and see someone causing trouble. Besides, in a family like that, if one plan failed, she’d just come up with another. How many lives do I have to have to be enough for her to scheme against?”

Huicun tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then suddenly understood. “That’s right. If you had not come to the capital, you would not have entered the Duke of Shu’s mansion, and your fate with my brother would have been impossible. You see, people’s destinies are arranged by the Heavenly Master. If it does not bloom here, it will naturally bear fruit elsewhere, right?”

She laughed heartily. It was quite amusing that a young girl could utter such a sophisticated fatalistic philosophy.

Yunpan personally poured her a cup of fragrant tea, then forked a piece of orange-red cake and placed it on her celadon plate, saying, “I’ve just arrived, and I do not know how Grandmother sees me. I was so nervous during the tea ceremony today, afraid Grandmother would not like me, and I would not be able to please her in the future.”

Huicun hummed in agreement, “Grandmother was a concubine in her younger days, and the rules in the palace are strict. Grandmother is a bit strict with her grandchildren, but as long as we do well and do not make any mistakes, Grandmother is still very kind.”

Yunpan nodded, then smiled again. “I heard from Mother that you will be getting married in a few months?”

Huicun said shyly, “The date is set, at the end of the year. At first, I did not think much of it; I’d be married, and I could come home often anyway. But now that my sister-in-law is here, I do not want to get married anymore. The better we get along, the more I worry about not getting along with my sisters-in-law. Staring at each other every day—that’s so unbearable!”

It seemed every girl had this worry: being afraid of not fitting into a new family in a new place, yet there was nothing she could do; she could not very well remain unmarried forever.

Yunpan said some comforting words to Huicun. Huicun was not one to suffer unnecessarily; it seemed the Prince of Liang and his wife had doted on her since childhood, fostering her carefree, cloud-like nature.

After sitting for a while longer, when it was time to rest, Huicun’s maid came to invite her back. She reluctantly stood up, smiling, and said, “Sister-in-law, I have some sweet coconut wine. I will get it for you to try when you return from the palace tomorrow.”

Yunpan agreed and saw her to the door, watching her quickly walk away, lifting the hem of her skirt.

Qin-Dan, supporting Yunpan, returned to the inner chamber, smiling as she said, “This princess is quite kind. I see that the heads of the household are all very polite and respectful. I was worried before, fearing that in such a prominent family, the lady would face difficulties after entering the household.”

Nanny Yao, tucking her hands behind her back, said, “A blessed family does not produce unfortunate people. The higher the status of the family, the less they adhere to strict rules and formalities compared to those of lower status. The old prince in this mansion originally had several concubines, but none of them bore children, so they each lived in their own courtyards, and all was well.”

When a concubine gave birth, competition and strife were inevitable. Sometimes, Yunpan thought that if Liu-niang had not given birth to Mi’er, perhaps she would not be so arrogant. When her father had a son, he completely disregarded her mother’s feelings, naming the child Jiang Mi. After searching and searching, he finally found his match, and he no longer cared about her mother.

She sighed softly, feeling sleepy. It was time for her afternoon nap, so she turned to ask Nanny Yao, “The master has not returned yet; can I go to sleep?”

Nanny Yao almost laughed. The pampered young lady, now a wife, was always trembling with fear. She said, “Madam, please sleep. There are people watching at the door. As soon as the master returns, they will send word.”

She yawned and was about to go to the inner chamber to lie on the bed when someone indeed came in to report.

“Has the master returned?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

Nanny Yao presented a visiting card, saying, “It’s from the wife of the Deputy Envoy of the Eastern Shanghe Gate.”

The wife of the Deputy Envoy of the Eastern Shanghe Gate? That must be Aunt Jiang.

Yunpan took it and opened it; indeed, it was. “My aunt says she will come to pay a visit in three days.”

An aunt she was not very familiar with. In her memory, she always came to the Marquis’s Mansion to beg for money. Her mother, being of high moral character, rarely paid them any attention. It was Liu-niang, on the other hand, who was always very friendly with them. This time, it was probably like a weasel offering New Year’s greetings to a chicken—no good intentions. But since she had only recently established her own household, and the woman had sent a visiting card, it was neither proper etiquette nor a matter of personal courtesy that she should refuse to see her.

Nanny Yao did not know the Jiang family relatives very well, but she felt her aunt was quite inconsiderate. “Tomorrow you’re going to the palace to express gratitude, the day after tomorrow you’re returning home, and the day after that your aunt will come to visit, keeping Madam from getting any rest.”

Yunpan could not directly criticize her aunt, so she only instructed Nanny Yao, “Just be more careful. Grandmother and Mother are used to a life of leisure; do not let our relatives disturb them.”

Nanny Yao understood immediately and nodded in agreement.

Just as she finished speaking, a maidservant stood at the door and reported that the Duke had returned. Yunpan had no choice but to stand up and wait quietly at the door, realizing she would not be able to rest.

The path from the front courtyard to the back was a long one; even walking slowly, he could not outrun the servant who would leap and bound in to deliver the message. Yunpan stood there, her gaze lingering on the weeping crabapple tree in the courtyard. The flowers had long since faded, but the tree was beautifully pruned, and tiny fruits, clustered among the leaves, trembled in the breeze, delicate and lovely.

He entered through the door, dressed in a scarlet robe with a round collar and a jade belt fastened at his waist. Being newly married, the joy still lingered in his attire. He seemed lost in thought, with a hint of melancholy in his eyes, but upon seeing her standing in the corridor, his displeasure vanished instantly. Beneath his deep lashes, a gentle smile appeared in his eyes, and he said politely, “I am sorry; I did not tell you when I would return before I left, causing you to wait for me, My Lady. In the future, you will not need to do that. If I return late, I will stay in the study; that way, I will not disturb you.”

Although they were married, they were still quite distant. Perhaps his intentions were good, but Yunpan could not accept them.

She stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. After a slight pause, she said, “Waiting for your return, Your Grace, is my duty. I thank you for your consideration. However, if you return late, you should still sleep in your room. Otherwise, outsiders might misunderstand and think we’ve fallen out, which would not be good.”

She spoke without any hesitation; though small in stature, her words carried an undeniable air of authority, causing him to pause slightly in surprise.

“I was inconsiderate,” he chuckled. “Then I will try to return as early as possible. You do not need to wait; just leave the door open for me.”

She nodded solemnly, as if she had made a momentous decision. He found it somewhat amusing but did not say anything. He loosened his wrist guard, intending to change his clothes behind the screen.

But no sooner had he entered than she followed. “This concubine will help Your Grace change.”

He was startled again. Seeing her muster her courage to step forward and untie his jade belt, he had no choice but to raise his arms so she could complete this important task smoothly. With a soft “click,” the jade clasp was undone, and they both breathed a sigh of relief. She gently tucked away the jade belt, her movements so gentle that even the cold jade seemed to soften.

Their eyes met, a little awkward, but changing clothes had to continue. She reached out and loosened the tie of his inner robe. His clothes always carried the scent of orchids, which drifted gently over, seeping into her mind—a feeling both strange and familiar.

Whether it was the sweltering heat or the cramped space behind the screen, she felt somewhat stuffy, as if she could not breathe properly. She slightly turned her face away and helped him remove his outer robe. As she lowered her head, her glass earrings swayed gently, revealing a soft, ethereal beauty. Sunlight filtered through the gauze curtains, enveloping her entirely, tinging her cheeks with a pale pink, and giving her a strangely delicate and beautiful appearance.

The maidservant who had been helping him change brought over a long robe. She unfolded it and draped it over him. He was tall, and she had to raise her arm high to adjust the collar. He had to bend slightly to accommodate her, and they were very close. Suddenly, he remembered the fleeting intimacy of the previous night, and his heart pounded. Embarrassed, he took a half-step back and said, “I can do it myself.”

Having fulfilled her duty, Yunpan felt more at ease. She withdrew and ordered someone to prepare hot water and snacks.

He emerged from behind the screen, still exuding a refined and elegant air. He thanked her for her hospitality and sat down at the small table. Picking up a cup, the red-gold ring on his finger looked especially precious and ornate against the dark Jianzhan teacup.

A gentle breeze drifted in through the window, ruffling the green silk ribbon at his sleeve. His mouth and nose were partially obscured by his hand, revealing only a pair of deep, captivating eyes. He glanced at her, his gaze shifting. “When I returned earlier, I saw someone delivering a visiting card to the door. Is it a relative of the Madam’s family?”

Yunpan poured him tea. “It’s my aunt. We have not seen each other much in recent years, and when we do, we are not particularly warm.”

Her visit at this time might be a gesture of goodwill, or perhaps something else entirely; who knew?

He hummed in agreement. “Let’s meet her first. It’s good to receive kind elders, but if they are unkind, then we can simply close the door to visitors from now on.”

Yunpan said, “That’s what I thought too, but I am afraid that relatives who rarely visit might disturb Mother and Grandmother’s peace.”

He said it was fine. “Every family has a few relatives. Actually, I know a little about the situation of your two aunts.”

Yunpan then remembered that, strictly speaking, the two were related. Always separated by great distances, and because her mother had married out and moved to live with the Jiang family, gradually distancing herself from the Li family, she likely would never have crossed paths with him in this life if not for the marriage alliance.

“My mother does not get along with those two aunts,” she said slowly. “They both fear and hate my mother, and consequently, they are not close to me either. Last time, during the earthquake, I was refused entry. If my aunts were fair, I should have gone to them instead of coming to the capital to trouble my maternal aunt.”

He pondered for a moment after hearing this. “My mother asked me before if I wanted to transfer one of the head matrons from the garden to your side. I was afraid you would not be used to strangers, so I politely declined on your behalf. Now it seems it’s best to transfer one over. Firstly, to familiarize you with the household affairs, and secondly, to protect you from trouble if you encounter any unpleasant people.”

Yunpan agreed. “Although I have Nanny Yao by my side, she’s still a newcomer like me. Having an older person from the household to help will make things more convenient.”

The two chatted about household matters, and the afternoon passed quickly. Later, he went to his study to read, and Yunpan took a half-hour nap. When she woke up, Nanny Shi was already waiting in the courtyard.

The servants dared not show the slightest disrespect to the newly arrived duchess. Nanny Shi greeted her with a deep bow, saying, “This servant was sent by the Princess to serve you, Madam. I have served in the Duke’s Mansion for thirty years and am quite familiar with its affairs. Madam, please feel free to give me any orders; I will handle everything perfectly.”

Yunpan nodded, “I will trouble you in the future, Nanny.”

Nanny Shi said she dared not accept such praise, bowed again, and then withdrew.

Looking at the sunlight outside, the setting sun was just casting its rays on the courtyard wall. Because the Duke’s Mansion had a small household, there was no custom of having small kitchens in each courtyard. Thanks to Nanny Shi’s reminder, they would eat at Mao Garden at the appointed time, allowing the family to enjoy a lively meal without the hassle of special morning and evening greetings.

In any case, if someone in the family particularly liked you, then everyone else would treat you well, as well. Huicun tried her best to mediate, switching between calling her “sister-in-law” and “grandmother” all the time. Old Lady Hu, exasperated by her antics, could not maintain her solemn composure and laughed, saying her head ached from the noise.

The family’s first evening banquet ended peacefully. Yunpan and Li Chenjian bowed and left Mao Garden, carrying a slight scent of Qianrichun liquor. This pleasantly tipsy feeling was perfect, a little lightheaded.

Yunpan looked up at the moon, which was bathed in a soft glow. Sometimes, being too clear-headed, a little haziness allowed for a calmer, more decisive courage.

T/N:
The eight characters are “闺门有训，淑女可钦” also the title of this chapter.
淑女 means virtuous lady, a term used often, indicating the embodiment of a respectable woman. But it has so many syllables, so I used “pure lady” instead.