Four Seasons Brocade – CH 046

Chapter 46 ☆、 A Kind Person’s Kind Heart Is Startled

Under Lady Cui’s expectant gaze, Ah Wu opened the box. Inside was a pair of gold loops, adorned with three trumpet-shaped gold bells. Exquisitely crafted, these were the most fashionable hair ornaments among young girls in the capital, costing at least twenty taels of silver.

“Madam,” Ah Wu said, both touched and excited, “Why did you spend money on this? I already have one.”

Lady Cui sighed, “The needlework shop has gradually started to make money these days. You’ve always loved beauty; it’s my fault as your mother. Last time, I made you a laughingstock.”

Lady Cui stroked Ah Wu’s bun and personally put the gold loops on her head. “Look, our Ah Wu wearing these outshines all the young girls in the capital.”

If someone else had bought such gold loops for Ah Wu, she probably would not have felt much, but it was Lady Cui. She would not even spend money on the kitchen or to nourish herself when she was sick, yet she was willing to spend over twenty taels of silver to buy her daughter a gold ornament that she would not wear when she grew up, simply because she was afraid her daughter would suffer mistreatment when going out.

Ah Wu blinked, already worried about Lady Cui’s illness, and now moved by her mother’s love, she suddenly remembered that she was not actually Lady Cui’s daughter, Ah Wu, and felt incredibly guilty. Her daughter only cared about the Princess, yet only managed to extract the “stolen” maternal affection from Lady Cui.

Ah Wu could not express her gratitude to Lady Cui verbally, only scolding, “Why did you buy these things, Madam? The other day, Nanny Li advised you to buy two taels of bird’s nest, but you refused. Now you are spending this money…”

Lady Cui pinched Ah Wu’s nose. “You are happy now. I think it’s more nourishing than half a pound of bird’s nest.”

Ah Wu snuggled into Lady Cui’s arms, curling up into a ball, her head resting on her lap. Lady Cui casually stroked her hair. These quiet, flowing days filled Ah Wu’s heart with tenderness. She looked up at Lady Cui, who smiled down at her.

Ah Wu looked at Lady Cui, thinking, “She’s my mother too. The Princess is, and so is she.” Ah Wu rubbed her face against Lady Cui’s palm. Lady Cui sighed and embraced her, saying, “Ah Wu, my Ah Wu.”

Ah Wu knew that Lady Cui had quarreled with Third Master Rong. Although Third Master Rong was not going to Concubine Wang’s place, he had not returned to the main house for quite some time. And he had been having Concubine Wang serve him more often this month.

Ah Wu could not persuade Lady Cui; every time she tried, she only made Lady Cui angrier.

Fortunately, after a stalemate of about ten days, Third Master Rong and Lady Cui were reconciled, at least on the surface.

That day, Ah Wu went to the main room to pay her respects to Lady Cui. Her cough was worsening, her face was sallow, and she showed signs of serious illness. Even so, she leaned against the window, holding an embroidery frame.

Ah Wu stepped forward and snatched the frame away. “Madam, really! You are so sick; why not go to bed and rest? Why bother with all this?”

Lady Cui, seeing it was her, forced a smile and said, “Oh, so young, yet you are already disciplining your mother.”

“Am I wrong?” Ah Wu retorted with considerable assertiveness.

Lady Cui did not argue. She took out a newly made little jacket, peach-red with gold-flecked peach embroidery, exquisite and lively—something you definitely could not find or buy in the market.

Lady Cui picked up the jacket and held it up against Ah Wu. “Hmm, it fits perfectly.”

Ah Wu looked at the jacket. She could not imagine how many nights Lady Cui had spent working on it. The pattern was intricate and unique, and the peach-patterned thread alone came in over ten different colors, ranging from deep red to pinkish-white. Lady Cui also knew Ah Wu’s personality, so she had carefully cinched the waist, ensuring the jacket would make her look shapely even in the dead of winter.

This was exactly what Ah Wu, who was currently deeply annoyed by her short and stocky appearance, wanted.

Ah Wu’s fingertips traced the exquisite embroidery, but her heart was not filled with joy. Instead, she sobbed, “What are you doing, Madam? You are so ill, and it’s the dead of winter. Do you not want my brothers and me anymore?”

Lady Cui wiped away Ah Wu’s tears. “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I abandon you?” She then sighed, “It’s just that birth, illness, and death are preordained by Heaven; no one can escape them.”

Ah Wu shook her head, her eyes still brimming with tears. “No, no, I know it’s a heartache. Actually, actually…”

Lady Cui’s face stiffened; she knew what Ah Wu was about to say.

Ah Wu continued, “Madam, if you are tired of that Concubine Wang, just find an excuse to sell her. Why torture yourself like this?”

Lady Cui remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh. These past few days, Ah Wu had heard Lady Cui sigh ten or more times in the half-hour she spent with her.

“You are still young; you do not understand. This is not Concubine Wang’s problem; it’s your father…” Lady Cui said with tears in her eyes, “If it were your father… even if there were ten more Concubine Wangs, I would not be sad.”

Lady Cui’s demands stumped Ah Wu. Ah Wu could manage to dismiss a dozen or so concubines, but she could not control Third Master Rong’s heart and feet.

Lady Cui’s beauty faded day by day. Ah Wu watched, heartbroken, yet unable to express it. She was furious at Lady Cui’s weakness and also at her own incompetence.

That night, Ah Wu played the zither by the window, watching the third heavy snowfall of the winter.

As the zither fell silent, the soft rustling of footsteps echoed on the snow. A beautiful woman, draped in a peacock-green satin cloak lined with gray rabbit fur, approached gracefully.

Ah Wu looked up at Concubine Wang outside the window.

Concubine Wang was young. Although her features were not as delicate as Lady Cui’s, she was undeniably more radiant. Now, with Third Master Rong, she resembled a rose just beginning to bloom or a ripe peach on a branch for next year.

“What a beautiful piece, ‘Asking the Setting Sun.'”

Ah Wu raised an eyebrow. “How did you know it was ‘Asking the Setting Sun’?”

There was no such piece as “Asking the Setting Sun” in the world. Ah Wu always played her zither spontaneously, but today she truly played “Asking the Setting Sun.” In the music, Ah Wu asked the setting sun why it had to sink, letting the gloom descend and the snow fall.

“In Sixth Young Lady’s music, I heard the brilliance of the setting sun’s afterglow, and I also heard Sixth Young Lady’s reluctance and longing for the setting sun. This afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, but in the blink of an eye, the sky darkened, and it started snowing.”

What a kindred spirit! Ah Wu’s face lit up with a lovely smile.

“I truly did not expect that you, Young Lady, would be so young yet possess such exquisite zither skills. I have never heard anyone’s music compare to yours,” Concubine Wang praised sincerely.

Because what Concubine Wang said was the truth. Among Yangzhou’s “skinny horses,” there were specialized teachers who taught the zither. These teachers were all diligent students, and many were exceptional. Concubine Wang considered herself quite skilled, but listening to the zither on this snowy night, she realized there were always those more talented than herself. Concubine Wang, with her extraordinary talent, had not expected the usually sharp-tongued Sixth Young Lady to be so accomplished on the zither, truly worthy of being Third Master Rong’s daughter.

Ah Wu’s smile grew even brighter; she was practically ready to invite Concubine Wang inside for a cup of hot tea to have a heart-to-heart talk with her like Bo Ya and Zi Qi, sharing their profound sentiments.

Concubine Wang, aware of her place, was not surprised that Ah Wu had not invited her immediately.

After Concubine Wang left, Zi-Shan curiously approached and asked, “Miss, did you really play ‘Asking the Setting Sun’?”

Ah Wu’s smile had already darkened. She nodded to Zi-Shan.

“That Concubine Wang is truly remarkable! She’s the first person to understand the young lady’s music and even guess the piece correctly,” said Zi-Shan with admiration. Having learned a few characters and recited a few poems, she held great respect for talented women.

Ah Wu let out a sigh incongruous with her age. “Yes, she’s amazing.”

Concubine Wang’s “understanding of music and manners” served as a warning to Ah Wu. How long could Third Master Rong remain in the gentle embrace of a woman as understanding as a flower?

She had heard that the nightly affair of her adding fragrance to Concubine Wang’s sleeves had already occurred.

A few days later, Concubine Wang personally delivered two pairs of socks to Ah Wu.

The socks were made of the finest Songjiang cloth, the most comfortable for undergarments or socks. Concubine Wang was also extremely skillful, having added a pair of small pom-poms to the cuffs, making them look incredibly cute. Even though Ah Wu was not a pure young girl, she could not help but admire Concubine Wang’s dexterity.

“Thank you so much, Auntie. It’s so cold, and you’ve made socks for me. I feel terrible,” Ah Wu said with a smile.

Concubine Wang looked slightly surprised. Ah Wu’s attitude was gentle and kind, but this was not the reaction she had expected. There was a hint of detachment in the Sixth Young Lady’s words.

“It’s nothing. Master and Madam gave me a place to stay, so I no longer have to wander aimlessly. I should be grateful. I am usually idle and do not have any great skills, so I thought I’d make some things to show my respect to Master, Madam, and the young masters and ladies. These are all within my means. I’ve already sent things to Master and Madam, so naturally, I cannot neglect the young lady.”

Concubine Wang was very eloquent.

Zi-Yan and Zi-Shan, listening nearby, nodded repeatedly. Seeing her sincere expression, they both thought she was a good person.

Ah Wu took the socks and praised Concubine Wang’s skillful hands.

Concubine Wang noticed the coldness in Ah Wu’s expression, did not stay long, and took her leave. After Concubine Wang left, Zi-Yan picked up the socks and praised, “The needlework is really good, and the design is clever. Miss, these two pom-poms are so cute!”

“At first, I thought she was a bad person. I’ve been watching her for so long, but I have not seen her do anything. She seems like a kind person.” Zi-Shan also imitated Ah Wu’s pretense of being kind.

“How is she kind?” Ah Wu asked.

“The other day, the old woman who sweeps the courtyard, Lady Cui’er’s nanny, slipped and broke her leg on a snowy day. Lady Cui’er was crying in the courtyard, and Concubine Wang heard her and gave her a silver ingot so she could get a physician to treat the nanny’s leg.” Zi-Shan knew all this information best.

Ah Wu said, “Oh.”

“Also, yesterday, the Third Master’s servant, Ming-Tu, wanted to bring a warm coat to his sister who was on duty in the garden, but he could not get in. It was Concubine Wang who had a maid help him.”

Ah Wu did not even say “oh” this time. She stood up and said, “Come on, let’s go to Madam’s room.”

Zi-Yan exclaimed, “It’s so late! Madam should be resting. It’s snowing heavily tonight, Miss. Do not go out; be careful not to catch a cold.”

Ah Wu’s heart was burning with warmth. She could not wait a moment longer. “Get me a hand warmer; I will go myself.”