Four Seasons Brocade – CH 033

Chapter 33 ☆、 Protecting His Sister; Rong Yin Gets Into Trouble

Ah Wu was on her way to have dinner at Lady Cui’s house when she saw Rong Yin peeking in from outside. Ah Wu was puzzled; today was not Rong Yin’s usual day to return to the inner courtyard—he’d just been back yesterday.

Upon seeing Ah Wu, Rong Yin immediately beckoned to her and gestured for her to be quiet. When Ah Wu approached, he pulled her aside and slipped into the back courtyard.

“What’s wrong, Seventh Brother? Why are we not going in?” Ah Wu shook off Rong Yin’s hand like a fly, looking puzzled by his furtive behavior.

Rong Yin now knew his sister did not like being touched, so he chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head apologetically.

“Oh, is Madam happy today?” Rong Yin whispered to Ah Wu.

Ah Wu glanced at Rong Yin sideways, thought for a moment, and said, “Not bad. Why do you ask that?”

Rong Yin then told Ah Wu the whole story. It turned out that Rong Yin was furious that Fourth Young Lady Rong had insulted and beaten Ah Wu, so today, the schoolteacher had them practice martial arts in pairs.

The Dukes of Anguo had all been military men, and the Old Master had also served in the army. The sons of the Duke of Anguo’s family were required to study both literature and martial arts. The Duke of Anguo would personally instruct them, and they also found skilled martial arts and archery instructors specifically to teach their children and grandchildren.

Today, Rong Yin happened to be sparring with Rong Jue. Rong Jue was the sixth son and of the second branch of the family, and Rong Yin did not care about whether they were legitimate or illegitimate; he only thought that the second branch was a den of snakes and rats. Since Fourth Young Lady Rong dared to bully Ah Wu, he had to retaliate. He felt that beating Rong Jue was beating Fourth Young Lady Rong, so he took this opportunity to give Rong Jue a good beating.

Rong Jue was a coward, too. He was two years older than Rong Yin, yet Rong Yin had beaten him black and blue, sending him running away with his head in his hands. Finally, he complained to the Old Madam, who, wanting to repeat her old trick, told Rong Yin to go back to his room and wait for Third Master Rong to return before making a decision.

The Old Madam knew Rong Jie was clever, so she had the gatekeeper keep Rong Jie out of the outer courtyard, allowing Rong Yin to return to his room. Rong Yin knew he had caused a great deal of trouble and was at a loss, which was why he lingered outside Lady Cui’s room.

Although Rong Yin did not say he beat Rong Jue because of Ah Wu, Ah Wu understood immediately. She felt only gratitude and did not think Rong Yin had acted impulsively. “Seventh Brother did well! Giving him a good beating is truly satisfying.” If Ah Wu had martial arts skills and been a man, she would have loved to give Fourth Young Lady Rong a good beating, too.

“Yes, I had a really good time, but this time I’ve caused Father trouble again with Grandma.” Rong Yin was initially happy, but then his spirits plummeted.

Ah Wu rolled her eyes. “Things are different now. You are not like me anymore. It’s impossible to do it like last time,” Ah Wu whispered in Rong Yin’s ear for a while. “Seventh Brother, listen to me; I guarantee nothing serious will happen.”

Rong Yin nodded. He had no choice but to try anything, and besides, Ah Wu’s words made sense. Relieved of his burden, Rong Yin was in the mood for a joke, giving Ah Wu a serious look. “Little girl, you’ve grown up.”

Ah Wu smiled smugly, thinking Rong Yin was praising her intelligence. She thought modestly to herself, “I would not say I am intelligent, but I do know my enemy well.”

“Even with a missing front tooth, you’re so adorable. I do not think any noble lady in the entire capital can compare to my sister,” Rong Yin exclaimed sincerely.

Unfortunately, his flattery backfired. Ah Wu glared at Rong Yin, covered her mouth with her hands, and refused to say another word.

Rong Yin and Ah Wu entered Lady Cui’s room. Lady Cui was also surprised. She pulled Rong Yin aside and asked what had happened. After learning the whole story, she could only sigh repeatedly, feeling somewhat scared and anxious, but unable to bear blaming Rong Yin. After all, he had caused trouble because he loved his sister.

“You, you, what can I say?” Lady Cui said, both helpless and pitying.

“Madam, do not worry. It’s just a friendly sparring match. Seventh Brother has only been practicing for a few years; it’s perfectly normal for him to lose control and make a mistake. Even his instructor did not say anything. Besides, last time he had a sparring match, he came back covered in bruises, and you did not think much of it then, did you?” Ah Wu comforted Lady Cui.

Lady Cui sighed. She did not want to overthink it, but the Old Madam and the others were making a fuss over nothing.

Over there, Third Master Rong returned to the mansion and was immediately summoned to the main room by the Old Madam. The Old Madam then sent a maid to fetch Lady Cui and Rong Yin, and Ah Wu insisted on going along.

When Lady Cui heard from the maid that the Old Madam had summoned them to the main room, she became anxious. She wanted to scold Ah Wu for causing trouble, but remembering the suffering Ah Wu had endured last time, she felt a pang of sadness and was even more bewildered, unsure how to resolve the situation this time.

Ah Wu, however, gave Si-Hua a wink. Si-Hua, being a senior maid who had worked in the mansion for many years, quickly grabbed a handful of copper coins and gave them to the maid who had come to deliver the message, “Take these and buy some snacks. Go and tell the Old Madam that our Madam has changed her clothes and will be here soon.”

The maid looked at the copper coins in her hand; there were at least a hundred. Her monthly salary was only two hundred. She was delighted and said, “I understand, Sister Si-Hua; I will go back now.”

Ah Wu sent Zi-Shan to inquire if the Old Master was in the outer courtyard. She then whispered something in Rong Yin’s ear, arranging everything, before turning back to Lady Cui and saying, “Madam, do not worry. Father is there to protect us anyway. Seventh Brother is a boy, not like me. I will teach you a method that will surely leave the Old Madam helpless.”

“What method can a little girl like you have?” Lady Cui was skeptical, but once someone felt they were in dire straits, they would grasp at even the smallest straw.

Ah Wu knelt on the couch and whispered something in Lady Cui’s ear. Lady Cui looked at Ah Wu and hesitantly nodded. She did not care anymore; she’d try anything.

Lady Cui changed her clothes and led Rong Yin and Ah Wu to the main room. On the way, they met Zi-Shan, who nodded to Ah Wu. Ah Wu smiled and told Rong Yin.

Inside the main room…

Inside, the old woman was pounding her chest and stamping her feet, cursing loudly. Third Master Rong stood with his head bowed slightly, seemingly listening respectfully to the “sacred instruction,” without even a furrowed brow.

“You unfilial son, kneel down!” The old woman’s cane pounded so hard it almost wore through the floor, but the man before her remained unresponsive.

“What wrong has your son committed to disobey his mother? Please enlighten me. I just entered the house, completely bewildered, and was summoned to the main room. If I am truly wrong, I will correct myself, but I do not deserve the title of unfilial son,” Third Master Rong said, bowing respectfully.

“Rebellious! Rebellious! Now that you’ve grown powerful, you think you just won’t kneel whenever I tell you to? Do I, as a mother, not even have the right to make my son kneel?” The old woman was resorting to unreasonable and shameless tactics.

But when a scholar encountered a soldier, even though the scholar was angry, the soldier was not necessarily in an easy position.

“Mother, of course, you have the right. As the sages said, one should kneel to Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, and one’s parents. If Mother commands her son to kneel, then naturally I must. However, Mother has called me a rebellious son, and I dare not accept that.” Third Master Rong’s expression remained unchanged. He then added, “Besides, with Jue standing before me, I would also like to kneel, but I fear it would shorten his lifespan, and then I would be failing Mother.”

Third Master Rong’s words were truly piercing. Having spent some time in officialdom, he had lost the arrogance and naiveté of a scholar, gaining a touch more shrewdness. The Old Madam could no longer catch him.

Third Master Rong’s words infuriated the Old Madam, but she knew Rong Jichang was right. She told Rong Jue to stand aside.

The Old Madam gave Third Master Rong a disdainful look and simply said, “Now you should kneel.”

Third Master Rong remained unfazed, even sporting a slight smile, and said, “Please, Mother, grant me a kneeling cushion. I only have these two pairs of trousers; my knees are worn raw, and I cannot face anyone.” The Old Madam was capable of mistreating the third branch of the family, forcing them to conduct their own spending; naturally, Third Master Rong could also claim poverty.

It was a mutual humiliation.

Third Master Rong’s shameless actions thwarted the Old Madam’s entire plan. Suddenly, she realized that her most lethal tactic against her enemy was no longer effective. Previously, Third Master Rong would only feel deeply humiliated in such situations; the more aloof and pained he was, the happier the Old Madam would be. Now, seeing that Third Master Rong did not care about such things, she lost that torturous pleasure.