Four Seasons Brocade – CH 045

Chapter 45 ☆、Feeling Envious and Contemplative, Deeply Reflecting

Since it concerned Tang Yin, Ah Wu naturally had to go. The only slight trouble was getting past the Old Madam, but it was not impossible.

That day, Ah Wu accompanied Lady Cui to the main room to pay her respects and explained Tang Yin’s situation, saying only, “Fifth Sister and Sister Yin are very close. We even played together at the birthday party for the Second Young Lady Gu of the Duke of Wei’s Mansion last time. Now that she’s sick, I think Fifth Sister and I should go see her.”

The Old Madam glanced sideways, saying nothing, but clearly did not quite agree. The Old Madam’s strategy was to vehemently oppose anything anyone she disliked wanted to do.

However, the First Madam was clever; the Old Madam had finally seen through her choice of a wife for the heir. “Yes, yes, you two get along so well; you should go visit her. We never get the chance otherwise,” the First Madam said, her eyes sharp as she saw Cabinet Minister Tang was destined for the position of Grand Secretary.

The Second Madam was now regretting not having a daughter to accompany them. As for Fourth Young Lady Rong, she had no intention of paving the way for her; the incident where Rong Jue was beaten was all that wretched girl’s doing.

Because the First Madam had spoken, the Old Madam no longer objected.

Upon arriving at the Tang Mansion, Su Nian saw that Rong Wan had also come. She gave Ah Wu a deep look, sighed, and took Ah Wu’s hand, leading her inside.

Su Nian was a regular at the Tang Mansion. Her father was the Minister of Revenue, and he and Cabinet Minister Tang, who concurrently oversaw the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works, were close friends and often visited each other.

When Madam Tang saw her visiting Tang Yin, she said gently, “It’s kind of you to remember to visit her in this cold weather. Yin’er misses you all so much; she talks about you every day.” Madam Tang held Su Nian’s hand and spoke softly.

Then she had a maid lead Su Nian and the others to Tang Yin’s room.

“Sister Yin, how are you?” Ah Wu was a little anxious from the strong smell of medicine in the room. Her old room was always filled with the smell of medicine, making Ah Wu momentarily think that Tang Yin was seriously ill.

Tang Yin leaned against a dark brown satin cushion embroidered with gold threads depicting chrysanthemums and intertwined branches. Her face was sickly yellow, with two unnatural blushes on her cheeks.

Ah Wu skillfully touched her forehead. “A little feverish.”

Tang Yin smiled. “Nothing serious, just a slight fever all the time. It’s nothing to worry about. You must have heard from Sister Nian that I am sick.”

Ah Wu nodded.

Tang Yin then looked at Fifth Young Lady Rong and tugged at Ah Wu’s hand, indicating that she understood and appreciated the gesture.

Fifth Young Lady Rong also came forward to inquire about her well-being, and Tang Yin patiently answered his questions. A maid brought over an embroidered stool, and Ah Wu and the others sat around the bed talking to Tang Yin.

After a while, another maid came to report, “Miss, Concubine Huang has come to see you.”

“Let her in.” Tang Yin adjusted her posture.

Ah Wu was slightly surprised. Normally, Tang Yin should not let a concubine in at this time, but judging from Tang Yin’s words, this concubine seemed to be quite familiar with her.

A moment later, a maid lifted the curtain, and a beautiful young woman entered, wearing a light blue chrysanthemum-patterned jacket with indigo trim and a wide indigo skirt, carrying a food box. This was clearly the Concubine Huang that the maid had mentioned.

Concubine Huang smiled before speaking and said apologetically to Ah Wu and the others, “With such distinguished guests present, I should not have disturbed you, Young Lady. But I had the maid simmer this Xini soup on the stove this morning, and it’s just the right consistency, so I mustered the courage to come and bother you.”

Tang Yin said calmly, “Thank you for your trouble, Aunt. Si-Lu, take the Xini soup from me.”

Si-Lu, Tang Yin’s head maid, took the food box from Concubine Huang, who then discreetly left.

“Xini soup relieves fever and phlegm, calms the mind, and stops coughing. Sister Yin, please drink it first,” Ah Wu urged.

Tang Yin nodded. “Then I will be very rude. This Xini soup that Aunt Huang made is just what I need for my illness.” This was also why she had Concubine Huang come in.

“Your concubine seems quite good,” Su Nian said.

Tang Yin nodded. “My mistress had someone buy her to serve my father; she’s very considerate and understanding.”

Si-Lu served the Xini soup, rolled up Tang Yin’s sleeves, and Tang Yin sat up, scooping some out with her hands. As she ate, she said, “She really knows how to serve people. If it were not for her making this Xini soup, my illness would probably be worse. My mistress is thinking that Father is getting old, and it’s good to have someone who can take care of him so he can recover properly. My father likes Aunt Huang to serve him, so we should give her some face.”

Cabinet Minister Tang was the pillar of the Tang family; his good health was the family’s good health. Madam Tang’s actions were truly generous and virtuous. Ah Wu thought this was normal.

Fifth Young Lady Rong asked curiously, “Does Madam Tang not get jealous?”

That was a good question. All three madams of the Rong family were jealous. Ah Wu originally thought the Eldest Madam was the most jealous, since she kept the Eldest Master under tight control, not even allowing a female fly into their courtyard. The Second Madam could not control the Second Master, yet she was always causing trouble. But unexpectedly, it turned out that Lady Cui was the most jealous one. Although the Eldest Master could not get close to female flies, he still had several concubines.

Tang Yin chuckled, meaning that Fifth Young Lady Rong’s question was really strange. “If she were jealous, why would she buy people for Father?” As long as Tang Jinshan was doing well, the whole family would be happy. Madam Tang and Tang Yin were both smart people.

Fifth Young Lady Rong was a little embarrassed.

Ah Wu was also a little embarrassed. Tang Yin, however, did not know why.

“My mother is not even the most virtuous; you can ask Sister Nian,” Tang Yin said. She disliked Fifth Young Lady Rong; this was a veiled criticism of Fifth Young Lady Rong’s family; secrets did not stay hidden forever. Everyone knew what kind of person the wife of the Duke of Anguo’s heir was.

“Oh, why are you talking about my family?” Su Nian laughed.

“Praising your mother’s virtue. Everyone says she has the heart of a bodhisattva. It’s a blessing that the son and daughter were born into your family.” The son and daughter Tang Yin referred to were not Su Nian’s maternal siblings.

“It’s just a bowl of rice and a dowry; why should we haggle with them?” Su Nian said with a faint smile.

Of the six ministries, the Ministry of Revenue was the most lucrative. All the nation’s money and grain passed through their hands; even a small amount scraped off would be enough for them to live a life of luxury.

“Sigh,” Ah Wu sighed inwardly, looking at their carefree attitude; even she felt a little ashamed of herself.

Initially, Ah Wu thought she was being biased, believing that a mistress should be like the Princess. However, the three ladies of the Duke of Anguo’s mansion were clearly not like that. Ah Wu had been confused, but today, seeing the qualities of a proper mistress in Madam Tang and Madam Su, she became even more undecided.

Ah Wu had learned from Princess Fuhui to treat these concubines and maids as lowly servants, or simply playthings, and did not care about them. However, she was not as insightful about the issue of illegitimate sons and daughters as Madam Su, and Ah Wu truly felt inferior.

In fact, Princess Fuhui did not like children at all. If her two sons were not her own, she would not have bothered with them. Although Ah Wu was sickly from a young age, she was the most worry-free, and the Princess loved her the most.

Blinded by love, Ah Wu could not see the Princess’s faults. She blindly followed her example, believing that as long as a man did not produce illegitimate children, that was enough. Ah Wu also advised Lady Cui in this way. Of course, secretly, she did not want another younger brother or sister to share Third Master Rong’s fatherly love.

On the way back from the Tang Mansion, Ah Wu was deep in thought. She desperately hoped Lady Cui could be as magnanimous as Madam Tang and Madam Su, but clearly, this was not easy.

Even now, Ah Wu was still focused on working on Lady Cui.

In life, self-cultivation was fundamental.

In the depths of winter, Lady Cui’s face grew increasingly grim, yet she still struggled to go to the main room to serve every day. Ah Wu tried to persuade her countless times, but Lady Cui stubbornly refused to listen.

“I am the Old Madam’s third daughter-in-law. Serving her is my duty. Filial piety towards my stepmother is what I, as the legal wife, should do. I cannot let people gossip about your father behind his back,” Lady Cui insisted. She upheld the duties of a principal wife, and of course, she also upheld her rights.

Although Ah Wu disapproved of Lady Cui’s blind filial piety, she felt a touch of admiration for her. Someone as self-serving as Ah Wu would not do such a “foolish thing” unless there was a profit to be made. Yet, those who did such foolish things were often the most reassuring and the most endearing.

Lady Cui covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed lightly a few times. She had been coughing for over ten days without improvement, and Ah Wu was worried. She wondered what kind of mediocre prescriptions the physicians had given her.

Lady Cui beckoned to Ah Wu, “Come here, I will show you something good.”

Ah Wu moved closer to Lady Cui and saw her take a wooden box from the foot of a small table on the kang bed, presumably deliberately hiding it to surprise Ah Wu.