Four Seasons Brocade – CH 013

Chapter 13 ☆、 A Noisy, Chaotic Scene

Ah Wu had been raised in an environment where she was taught to cultivate relationships with anyone who could increase her political capital. Therefore, if she and Fourth Young Lady Rong were in each other’s shoes, she would only applaud Fourth Young Lady Rong, sincerely befriend her, and even go so far as to flatter her. Especially since they were family, sharing both glory and hardship, she wanted everyone in the family to be well. After all, one arm could not support the whole family, and one tree could not make a forest.

Ah Wu did not believe that Rong Jichang’s passing the imperial examination would change the Rong family’s fortunes. The important thing was for the family to support each other. If someone in the Rong family caused trouble, outsiders would see the entire family, not just that one person. Therefore, Ah Wu did not want anyone to hold them back.

But Fourth Young Lady Rong, and even Second Master Rong and Eldest Master Rong, might not think the same way.

Take Fourth Young Lady Rong, for example; she was the type who could not stand seeing those around her doing well. There were so many noble ladies in the capital, far superior in status, appearance, and intelligence, yet she never seemed to cause them trouble, nor did she seem to dislike them much. But when it came to her own sisters, all their virtues became her unbearable flaws.

It was hard to say if this was what they called “familiarity breeds contempt.”

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And Fourth Young Lady Rong was not alone in her inability to tolerate those around her being better than her.

Everyone had their sore spots, and the new dress was Ah Wu’s sore spot. Looking at the glaring ink stains, Ah Wu was so angry she felt dizzy. Princess Kangning had never suffered such humiliation. Being bullied and unable to retaliate was something Ah Wu could not tolerate.

Ah Wu glanced at Zi-Shan beside her. This girl was incredibly arrogant in her own courtyard, but outside, she was like a little white rabbit, only good for making faces. It seemed she could not be relied upon to stand up for herself. In her past life, her four maids would have already taught Fourth Young Lady Rong a lesson.

Ah Wu thought about it and decided she was not going to let it go. Besides, Fourth Young Lady Rong would be begging her for favors from now on, not the other way around. There was no need to be afraid of her. Ah Wu still harbored a bit of arrogance, relying on Third Master Rong’s future power.

So, Ah Wu decisively poured the ink she had just ground onto Fourth Young Lady Rong.

This ignited a firecracker.

Who was Fourth Young Lady Rong? She was Concubine Lan’s daughter. The old folks in the manor still remembered how shrewish Concubine Lan had been when she was favored.

Fourth Young Lady Rong jumped up and grabbed Ah Wu. “How dare you splash ink on me?”

Ah Wu was a “refined person.” She never expected Fourth Young Lady Rong to grab her like that. She quickly backed away, but her words were sharp. “You got my dress dirty first.”

“I already said it was not intentional.” Fourth Young Lady Rong’s hand was already scratching Ah Wu. Ah Wu cried out in pain as she was scratched on the face. A surge of anger welled up inside her, but her legs were blocked by the table, preventing her from retreating further. Since her rebirth, Ah Wu had been harboring a pent-up resentment, never able to let it go, so she decided to vent it all at once.

Thus, she cast aside all precepts of a virtuous, gentle, and dignified noblewoman, raising both hands and scratching Fourth Young Lady Rong in return.

Girls fighting was utterly chaotic and unrefined; they went straight for each other’s hair and faces, acting like mortal enemies, using both hands and feet, scratching, kicking, biting, and pulling.

Fourth Young Lady Rong, being older and taller than Ah Wu, inflicted considerable damage on her. Ah Wu, however, grew increasingly fierce. She had been practicing a health-preserving method from India daily, making her flexible and agile. Although she had never fought before, she quickly learned from Fourth Young Lady Rong and was able to dodge his vicious attacks, returning half a scratch or two in return. Neither of them fared well. When they were pulled apart with screams, both of them had bruises on their faces. Ah Wu’s sleeve was torn from the shoulder, and Fourth Young Lady Rong was not much better off; her shirt was half-open.

“Alright, alright, I am telling you two, look at yourselves! You are both dressed like crazy women; where’s your ladylike demeanor?” Fifth Young Lady Rong interrupted, silencing the two who were blushing like fighting roosters.

Fourth Young Lady Rong retorted directly, “Shut up! What are you pretending to be a good person for? Where were you first?”

Fifth Young Lady Rong’s face changed after being rebuked by Fourth Young Lady Rong, embarrassed and unsure what to say.

Fourth Young Lady Rong had regained some composure by now, somewhat annoyed that she had blurted out her true feelings, but too embarrassed to apologize to Fifth Young Lady Rong, so they remained frozen in place.

If Ah Wu were lucid at this moment, she would definitely look at Fourth Young Lady Rong differently. This girl was straightforward enough, although a bit annoying, she did not make one too wary. Ah Wu was not truly angry with her, just momentarily indignant.

Ah Wu had known Fifth Young Lady Rong was like this for a long time. The so-called “Twin Beauties of the Capital” were all just pretense. Pretending to be virtuous, pretending to be gentle, pretending to be talented. Therefore, if she really had to choose the better one, Ah Wu would usually prefer to be closer to Fourth Young Lady Rong.

But Ah Wu’s face was blank at this moment, as if she had suffered a great shock. Zi-Shan hurriedly grabbed a young maid and sent her to report to Lady Cui.

Ah Wu stood there blankly as Zi-Shan checked her for injuries. She was obsessed with only one thought: she had fought! She had actually fought, and all over a dress! How was she any different from those shrewish women in books?

It was said that one’s company influenced one’s character; had she been living in the Duke of Anguo’s Mansion for too long, degenerating from a phoenix that only perched on parasol trees into a sparrow? Or perhaps, deep down, a vulgar person still resided within her?

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Neither reason was acceptable to Ah Wu.

Fighting—that was an unforgivable mistake! Yet why did she feel a strange sense of satisfaction? Ah Wu was heartbroken. She felt she had failed the Imperial Princess’s upbringing in her previous life; it turned out she harbored such a base nature.

Lady Cui and Lady Wu from the second branch of the family rushed over. Upon seeing Fourth Young Lady Rong, Lady Wu began to wail, “My poor Yue’er, my poor Yue’er, look at your face! What am I to do? What will I say if your father asks? Ahhh—” Lady Wu wailed, wiping away tears with a handkerchief—though, of course, not a single tear came out.

Fourth Young Lady Rong’s birth mother, Concubine Lan, rushed over, bursting into tears before even speaking, wailing, “Miss! Miss! Quickly find a physician to examine her…”

Although their cries differed, both Lady Wu and Concubine Lan’s gazes towards Ah Wu were identical—a gaze as sharp as a knife.

Lady Cui, meanwhile, stroked Ah Wu’s head, tears streaming down her face, unable to utter a sound.

“Sister-in-law, how did you raise Ah Wu? So young, yet disrespectful to her elder sister, even hitting her! Look what you’ve done to our Sister Yue! Come on, let’s go talk to the Old Madam. Do not think that just because the third son passed the imperial examination, he can disregard his elder brother and sister-in-law like this! Now that things are like this, do you think our family is just your side dish ^{(slang, target of bullying)}?” Lady Wu shouted fiercely.

Concubine Lan also came to her aid, trying to pull Lady Cui away. Lady Cui stumbled as she was pulled. The maidservants around Lady Cui had long been pushed to the side, anxiously waiting.

Ah Wu, seeing the commotion, also came to her senses. She thought to herself that all the maids in the third branch of the household needed to be retrained; they were nothing but wooden stakes who only knew how to eat.

But this was not the time to worry about such things. Ah Wu quickly helped Lady Cui up, calling out, “Sister Si-Hua, come quickly and help me support Madam!” Si-Hua, Lady Cui’s head maidservant, also snapped out of her daze at Ah Wu’s call and quickly squeezed through the crowd, prying Concubine Lan’s hand off Lady Cui’s.

Fourth Young Lady Rong, now having found her backer, gave Ah Wu a smug look. Ah Wu ignored her.

Seeing that Ah Wu had regained her composure, Lady Cui felt much relieved and had a sense of security. “I will go to the Old Madam myself, but I need to apply medicine to Ah Wu first.” Lady Cui was only concerned about Ah Wu’s condition; she did not care about the Old Madam’s feelings.

Concubine Lan also came to her senses. Yes, she should apply the medicine first; after all, Fourth Young Lady Rong’s face was injured.

Seeing that neither side was willing to go to the Old Madam first, Lady Wu had no choice but to angrily flick her handkerchief and go to the Old Madam first.