Four Seasons Brocade – CH 022

Chapter 22 ☆、 A Heroic Woman’s Quick Words Help

Ah Wu was indeed Ah Wu in name only; the tears in her eyes came and went in an instant. Moreover, the thought of He Peizhen insulting Lady Cui, and the fact that she could not directly slap her back, made Ah Wu feel wronged. And when one was wronged, tears naturally flow.

Ah Wu, tears dripping, walked to Fourth Young Lady Rong and sobbed, “Fourth Sister, what do you mean by ‘daughter of a doxie’? Are you talking badly about my mother?”

There was no way around it; Ah Wu was still a young girl, her baby fat still lingering, still looking like a dumpling. Her crying only made her seem both cute and pitiful, breaking one’s heart.

Ah Wu’s voice was not quiet, immediately attracting the attention of the dozen or so noble ladies and maids in the room.

Fourth Young Lady Rong was taken aback by the question, feeling quite embarrassed. She laughed first, clearly forgetting that she was an actual concubine’s daughter. However, relying on Second Master Rong’s status as the legitimate son, she completely ignored her concubine background and even planned to have Second Master Rong register her under the name of the Second Madam as his legitimate daughter.

“Fourth Sister, what is a ‘doxie’? What is a ‘doxie’? Is this a bad word? Is this a bad word? Waaaaah—”

It was understandable that a naive little girl would not know the meaning of ‘doxie.’ It was also understandable that a little girl would cry loudly after being bullied.

However, everyone present was a noble lady, each one more virtuous than the last, whether genuinely or feigning virtue. Even if they heard such vulgar language, they would pretend not to hear it; otherwise, it would only offend their ears. Who would have thought that Ah Wu would be so naive as to ask the question directly?

Normally, young ladies would not use such vulgar words as “doxie,” and immediately, the young lady of the Imperial Censor frowned.

“Ah, do not cry, do not cry!” Fourth Young Lady Rong frantically wiped Ah Wu’s tears, but Ah Wu cried even louder. Fourth Young Lady Rong had no choice but to yell impatiently, “Shut up!”

Ah Wu was stunned. She had not expected Fourth Young Lady Rong to be such a simpleton, yelling at her younger sister in public like that. A girl really should not be raised by a stepmother.

Ah Wu stopped crying for a moment, but instead of shutting up, she started wailing even louder. If she had not been disgusted by the dirt on the ground, she might have even sat down dramatically, kicking her legs and sobbing. Ah Wu’s chubby little hands wiped away the torrent of tears, wailing incessantly.

Wailing—that was truly a skill and a physical challenge. If Ah Wu had not been so strong, she would not have dared to wail like that.

Seeing that Ah Wu’s wailing could not be stopped, someone quickly went to report to the adults.

Before the adults arrived, they encountered several male guests who had also come to stroll in the courtyard. Hearing the mournful crying, they disregarded the rules of propriety and followed the sound.

Upon arriving, they saw a beautiful little girl, her hair styled in a bun, wearing a golden sunflower necklace and a longevity lock, her face adorned with delicate pink and white hair, weeping bitterly. Her eyes were red and swollen, brimming with tears.

Ah Wu was exquisitely beautiful, with delicate features and a lovely, innocent charm. Her weeping did not seem unpleasant; rather, it tugged at the heartstrings, evoking pity even in strangers. If another child had cried, their tears and snot would have been far less effective.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Yu, the leader, recognized Ah Wu immediately and stepped forward to help her up.

Ah Wu rubbed her eyes, looked up, and sobbed, “Brother, what, what do you mean by ‘daughter of a doxie’?” See? When he was useful, she was all brother; when he was not, she would not even warn someone if they fell down. That was Ah Wu for you.

Tang Xiujin was taken aback. “Do not talk nonsense. How can a young lady use such vulgar language? Who taught you?”

Ah Wu glanced at Tang Xiujin, thinking that this “brother” title was not just for show. She wondered if he said it casually or was deliberately playing along. If the latter, he was truly clever and cunning.

Regardless, Tang Xiujin immediately passed the conversation to Ah Wu.

Ah Wu pointed at He Peizhen and continued sobbing, “This sister said…they said my mother was a doxie’s child. What does ‘doxie’s child’ mean, brother?”

At this moment, not only the noble ladies but even the male guests looked at He Peizhen with disapproval. He Peizhen was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear into a hole. Ah Wu herself wanted to cry too.

“I…I did not…” He Peizhen covered her face and began to cry.

But no one believed her. Not only had He Peizhen’s unrestrained laughter been heard, but even if no one had, looking at the eleven-year-old He Peizhen and then at the innocent eight-year-old Ah Wu, it was clear who was right and who was wrong. The adults rushed over, too. Hearing Ah Wu crying in the courtyard, Lady Cui was already frantic. She was the first to run over and hug Ah Wu. “Ah Wu, Ah Wu, what’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

Ah Wu nestled in Lady Cui’s arms, her sobs subsiding softly. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Lady Cui with wide, pitiful eyes. “Madam,” she sobbed, “someone said you are a doxie’s child. I do not understand what that means, but I know they were not saying anything nice. Ah Wu is heartbroken.”

How could anyone bully such a lovely little girl, so soft and sweet like a dumpling?

Lady Cui trembled with rage. “Who said that?!”

Lady Cui then coaxed Ah Wu, “Ah Wu, be good. That’s not nice talk. A young lady should not use such vulgar language. Just pretend you did not hear it, alright?”

Look at her; even a concubine’s daughter was so well-mannered, while the young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo spoke and acted like this. It was enough to make He Peizhen mortified.

Ah Wu pointed at He Peizhen again, quite rudely. Actually, Ah Wu really wanted to expose Fourth Young Lady Rong. That fool! She was a concubine’s daughter herself, yet she was laughing on the sidelines. But since the Duke of Zhenguo’s family had not divided yet, if one suffered, all would suffer. Ah Wu considered the bigger picture and held back her anger.

Someone nearby chuckled, “Oh, it’s Young Lady He. I seem to remember Young Lady He’s grandfather was also… well, you know.”

The speaker was also a young girl. Ah Wu looked up and saw a girl with exquisite makeup and a somewhat spirited air. She was being led by the hand by a noblewoman, whom Ah Wu recognized. This lady was Tang Xiujin’s mother, and the girl was Tang Xiujin’s younger sister, Tang Yin.

Hearing Tang Yin say what she wanted to say, Ah Wu felt a surge of warmth and instantly developed a liking for Tang Yin.

The adults finally calmed Ah Wu and He Peizhen down from their crying. The children’s commotion finally ended. Although Ah Wu had been sitting on the ground and sobbing, she was not seriously injured, but He Peizhen’s reputation was ruined.

Unfortunately, she could only vent her anger internally, unable to find any way to cause trouble for Ah Wu. As for her family, the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion was a military family, while Third Master Rong was a civil official—the two were unrelated, all of which Ah Wu had carefully planned.

Madam He, looking ashamed, led He Peizhen back. Tang Yin, meanwhile, took Ah Wu’s hand and went off to play.

“Are you stupid? When someone scolds you, all you do is cry,” Tang Yin scolded Ah Wu.

Ah Wu looked at the little girl curiously. She had not expected Tang Jinshan to raise such a chivalrous daughter. Looking at Tang Yin’s bluntness, Ah Wu thought that only someone who was pampered and spoiled would have the audacity to speak like that.

Seeing Ah Wu remain silent, only staring at her with her large, expressive eyes, bright as if washed by lake water, Tang Yin, out of curiosity, poked Ah Wu’s rosy cheeks. The texture was indeed delicate.

Tang Yin could not resist pinching them again.

Ah Wu decisively covered her face and took two steps back, glaring at Tang Yin. Did this girl think she was a steamed bun? If she were not somewhat pleasing to the eye, who would want to talk to her?

In her past life, Ah Wu and Tang Yin had little interaction, and Ah Wu was not very familiar with Tang Yin’s personality. Ah Wu never imagined Tang Yin would turn out to be such a person.

Tang Yin looked at the “angry but speechless” Ah Wu with amusement. “You idiot, all you do is cry! You do not even know your front teeth are broken!”

Ah Wu quickly covered her mouth with her hand, covering her face, looking annoyed. She had completely forgotten about it. She’d gotten used to her missing tooth.

“You only know how to talk about me, but your front teeth are broken too!” Ah Wu retorted, pointing at Tang Yin.

Tang Yin quickly covered her mouth as well. The two stared at each other for a while, then burst out laughing together. That was how their friendship was formed.

T/N: Contextually, I’m sure you understood “doxie” which and old fashioned term for hussy, mistress, or sexually promiscuous woman. I could’ve used hussy but I wanted to retain the historical tone. Mistress and concubine are not vulgar in the English translation and when I use it. Also, concubines are legal in this novel’s era.