Four Seasons Brocade – CH 047

Chapter 47 ☆、 Pinching the Seven-Inch Mark: Concubine Wang Begs for Mercy (Part 1)

The light in Lady Cui’s room was still on. Ah Wu quietly entered. A maid helped her take off her cloak. Ah Wu went to the side room, where Lady Cui was already preparing for bed.

Inside, the sound of Lady Cui’s cough could be heard. Nanny Li spoke, “Madam’s cough is getting worse; she should see a physician.”

“What’s there to see? What’s there to see? It would be better if I just died.”

“Madam, why are you getting so worked up again? Do not say that! What will happen to the young masters and the young lady? Look, even tonight, Third Master did not go to her room; he went to the outer study instead.”

Lady Cui’s sobs drifted out. “What do you know? What do you know? Even though he’s not in that room, his heart is only with her. Even here, his heart is not with me. I am not good at keeping a man company; I do not know how to play with books or tea, and I do not understand any kind of music.”

Ah Wu’s eyes stung. After standing there for a while, she quietly left.

The cold wind stung her face, but Ah Wu’s heart was crystal clear. She had figured many things out.

Since Lady Cui could not get over it, someone needed to protect her. Rather than being angry at her inaction and watching her suffer, it was better to cut off the root of her pain. “So what if there are a thousand or more concubines like Wang?” Ah Wu thought. She’d eliminate them one by one until Lady Cui regained her former vitality.

Ah Wu was actually a believer in ghosts and spirits. When Ah Wu was ill, the Imperial Princess had prayed to gods and Buddhas, accumulating good deeds and avoiding harming the spirits. Ah Wu had learned from her. Now reborn, Ah Wu was even more convinced of the existence of ghosts and spirits, and even more unwilling to harm the spirits. Therefore, even as she watched Lady Cui suffer unbearable pain, she never considered harming Concubine Wang.

But Concubine Wang’s ambition was too great; given time, she would inevitably become uncontrollable. Lady Cui’s pain worsened day by day. Ah Wu tightened her grip on the hand warmer in her arms. She would protect her mother herself. Fools were the happiest in this world. She had long said that Lady Cui was a fool with foolish luck.

Ah Wu smiled at the heavens in the snowy night. “Alas, I deserve to be a worrier and a more troublesome person.”

As for how Concubine Wang crossed Ah Wu’s line, it was because of her excessive “kindness.”

Ah Wu’s first impression of someone universally praised was never good. She assumed such a person was either extremely wicked or extremely kind, the latter being highly unlikely.

A truly virtuous concubine should have stayed quietly in her room, timid and cautious, avoiding trouble, and certainly would not have so readily given away a single tael of silver, nor would she have so readily helped men from the outer courtyard deliver things to maids in the inner courtyard.

But the maid she helped happened to be from Lady Cui’s courtyard, and the servant happened to be from Third Master Rong’s household. Such manipulation, even if not outwardly malicious, was certainly insidious and a premeditated act. Ah Wu hated and feared this type of person the most.

The last time Ah Wu played the zither on a snowy night, Concubine Wang’s words, so insightful and clear, had already put Ah Wu on her guard. What a formidable confidante! If she were Third Master Rong, she probably would not be able to resist Concubine Wang’s smooth-talking charm for long.

It seemed that Lady Cui was no match for Concubine Wang.

Concubine Wang’s evil deeds were not yet fully apparent, but Ah Wu did not mind giving her a push. Originally, Concubine Wang planned to gradually and subtly influence Ah Wu, establishing herself firmly in three to five years before making her move. Perhaps she would not even need to make a move; by then, Third Master Rong would be promoted and sent to a distant post, and the outside world would be hers to rule.

But Ah Wu could not tolerate Concubine Wang’s slow and steady approach any longer.

If she were truly kind, that would be her good fortune; if she were fake, then Ah Wu would not hold back, Ah Wu thought to herself. Of course, Ah Wu was absolutely certain. There were not many people in this world who could not be forced into something bad, especially smart people; they were the easiest to push.

“Miss, is this really the right thing to do? Should we tell Madam?” Nanny Qu looked at Ah Wu with a troubled expression. Nanny Qu was also from Lady Cui’s household, but she was not as trusted as Nanny Li and only had minor responsibilities.

“Do not tell Madam. She’s ill right now; do not let her worry,” Ah Wu thought. If Lady Cui found out, all her planning would be for nothing.

“But, but…” Nanny Qu was still hesitating.

Like master, like servant. She did not even have the guts to do such a small thing. Ah Wu could only pick up her teacup. “Just go when I tell you to. I will handle everything. Do you want to wait until that little bastard is born and kills my mother before you are happy? Or are you already trying to curry favor with Concubine Wang?”

Ah Wu cursed aloud, but inwardly she was chanting Buddhist prayers. What a sin! She did not mean to curse; she just would not dare go without making a scene and scaring this Nanny Qu. A servant who did not share the master’s burdens expected their master to be a bodhisattva.

Nanny Qu hesitated before going. In the end, she could not resist her young mistress’s insistence. The older she got, the more cunning she became.

“Miss, why did you not go find Nanny Li?” Zi-Shan asked from behind. Compared to Nanny Qu, Nanny Li was more loyal to Lady Cui and was more shrewd in her dealings.

Ah Wu slowly said, “If Madam Li did this, how could anyone believe Mother if she said she did not know? Besides…”

“Besides, if Nanny Li did this behind Madam’s back, she’s Madam’s most trusted and devoted servant. I am afraid Madam will be heartbroken when she thinks about it later.” Ah Wu truly thought of everything for Lady Cui.

However, Ah Wu was still worried about this Nanny Qu. She gave Zi-Shan a wink, and Zi-Shan understood, going to find two sturdier maids to accompany Nanny Qu to Concubine Wang’s room.

“Nanny, what do you mean by this?” Concubine Wang looked at the bowl of dark medicine in front of her in surprise.

“This is a contraceptive soup. Master told Concubine to take it,” Nanny Qu said somewhat guiltily.

Concubine Wang was no ordinary person; she immediately saw through Nanny Qu’s guilt. She did not believe that the Third Master would make her drink contraceptive soup. “No, I do not believe it! How could Master be so heartless?” Concubine Wang’s tears came easily, and she cried pitifully, making Nanny Qu feel a little sorry for her. “Concubine, you should drink it,” Nanny Qu advised. Who told you to anger the young lady?

Concubine Wang shook her head. “I do not believe it, I do not believe it! Was it Madam? Was it Madam who sent you? I, I…” Concubine Wang clutched her heart, almost bursting into tears. “Madam already has two sons and a daughter, but I… I just want to have something to look forward to in this life…”

Nanny Qu turned her head away, unable to bear it, which only strengthened Concubine Wang’s belief that Lady Cui had ordered it.

“Concubine, you should drink it, lest you force us to take action.” Chun-Shan was a rough maid, but also an ambitious one. At this opportune moment to prove her loyalty, she worked much harder than Nanny Qu.

Concubine Wang shook her head. “No, I will not drink it. I will go tell Madam.”

Chun-Shan gave Chun-Shui a look, and the two of them grabbed Concubine Wang, ready to force-feed her the medicine. Qing-Ming, already terrified, tried to pull at Chun-Shan, screaming, “Nanny, Nanny, what are you doing?”

Qing-Ming was too young to fight Chun-Shan, and Concubine Wang’s frail body was no match for her either. She was forced to drink a bowl of medicine while Chun-Shui gagged Qing-Ming.

After the medicine was administered, Nanny Qu took Chun-Shan and Chun-Shui back to report. Qing-Ming rushed over and hugged Concubine Wang, crying, “Concubine, Concubine…”

Concubine Wang, instead of crying, laughed. Qing-Ming thought she was terrified and said worriedly, “Concubine.”

Concubine Wang turned around and smoothed Qing-Ming’s hair. “Silly Qing-Ming, do not cry. You should be happy.”

Of course, she should be happy; Concubine Wang was so happy she wanted to jump for joy. If we were talking about Lady Cui, she was truly an impeccably virtuous woman. Beautiful and gentle, she had the Third Master’s heart firmly in her grasp. Even with her own stunning looks, the Third Master treated her with indifference, visiting her only once or twice a month.

The more virtuous Lady Cui was, the less at fault she seemed, and the more helpless Concubine Wang became. It was truly a pity that Lady Cui had caused such a scene; let’s see how she would maintain her facade of virtue and gentleness in front of the Third Master now.

As for the contraceptive potion, it was not like she would never be able to conceive; there was no rush. Concubine Wang’s eyes shone brightly, her fists clenched. She’d waited enough these past few months.

Chun-Shan and Chun-Shui reported back to Ah Wu, who generously had Zi-Yan reward them. “From now on, I will need you to keep a close eye on Concubine Wang.”

Chun-Shan quickly pledged her loyalty, “Do not worry, Miss, we will definitely keep a close eye on her.”

Ah Wu nodded.

“Miss, this matter…” Zi-Yan watched from the side, her heart pounding. This was not something a young girl should do. If things escalated, her young lady would not fare well. Besides, her young lady was too ruthless.

Zi-Yan truly did not understand. If you did not kill a snake, it would bite back. Since Ah Wu had made up her mind to protect Lady Cui, she naturally would not allow Concubine Wang any chance to retaliate.

“I am not afraid.” Ah Wu was full of confidence, and this was also a good opportunity to test Third Master Rong. Ah Wu had heard of the heartless lovers in the plays.

Concubine Wang only made a fuss while taking her medicine, but afterwards, there was complete silence. When Ah Wu heard Zi-Shan’s report, she just smiled. It was indeed as Ah Wu had predicted.

In the afternoon, Ah Wu took a good nap, so she had the energy to watch and perform the play that evening.

That evening, Third Master Rong returned home, and Concubine Wang went to Lady Cui’s room to pay her respects. Logically, Lady Cui had long since exempted her from the evening greetings; who could bear to see a beautiful concubine standing in their room at night, flirting with their husband?

Concubine Wang had indeed been well-behaved for several months, not daring to disturb Lady Cui and Master Rong at night. But tonight, she was fearless, and Ah Wu had made things easy for her; the gatekeeper happened to be dozing off, and Concubine Wang quietly entered Lady Cui’s room.

“This servant greets Master and Madam.” Concubine Wang knelt as soon as she entered the room.

Third Master Rong’s face immediately darkened. Lady Cui’s dislike for Concubine Wang had never been hidden from Third Master Rong; the two had argued about it more than once. However, Concubine Wang’s gentle and charming nature, coupled with her knowledge of literature and art, had stirred a sliver of tenderness in Third Master Rong, which was why he visited her monthly. But he had also instructed Concubine Wang not to frequent Lady Cui’s vicinity unnecessarily. It was for Lady Cui’s sake, but also for Concubine Wang’s.

“Why are you here?” Third Master Rong’s voice was somewhat cold.

Concubine Wang’s heart was filled with bittersweet emotions, evident in her eyes, as she looked at Third Master Rong with a pitiful and aggrieved expression.

Third Master Rong felt a little guilty under her gaze. Seeing that she was only wearing a tight-fitting light blue robe embroidered with plum blossoms in the dead of winter, looking both pitiful and charming, her ample breasts a sight to behold, both adorable and pathetic, Third Master Rong could not bring himself to scold her anymore.

Upon seeing Concubine Wang’s appearance, Lady Cui felt a pang of jealousy and pinched Third Master Rong’s arm hard.

Third Master Rong gave a bitter smile. This kind of “blessing” with two women was not something everyone could handle.

T/N: There’s a saying “打蛇打七寸” “Striking the snake at the seven-inch mark below the head” which means “Attacking the problem at its core” or “Hit it where it hurts.”
The title references that though the author used pinch instead of strike, possibly to imply that it’s not exactly a kill-strike, just a pinch. Anyway, that’s the context of the title name.