Four Seasons Brocade – CH 052

Chapter 52 ☆、

Concubine Wang’s gentle tactics had little effect on Third Master Rong, so she naturally turned to think of the Old Madam.

A while ago, the Old Madam was extremely happy because of the chaos in the third branch of the family, with Lady Cui and Ah Wu both falling ill. She even relaxed her treatment of Lady Cui considerably. But since Lady Cui and Third Master Rong reconciled, her complexion had worsened again.

Just as Lady Cui recovered, the Old Madam fell ill again, requiring medical treatment and becoming bedridden. All three daughters-in-law had to stay by her side to care for her. The First Madam managed all the affairs of the household, her days filled with endless tedious tasks, so the Old Madam exempted her from serving her. Even more surprisingly, the Second Madam was rumored to be pregnant.

Therefore, the heavy burden of serving the Old Madam fell on Lady Cui’s shoulders.

Lady Cui could hardly return to her own courtyard anymore, sleeping on the floor in the Old Madam’s room at night, tending to her every need, from changing diapers to cleaning up after her. When Ah Wu went to pay her respects in the main room, she saw that Lady Cui barely had time to comb her hair, looking utterly disheveled. Her health had only just recovered; how could she withstand such relentless toil? A full hour of sleep a day was already a mercy from the Old Madam.

Ah Wu learned of the Old Madam’s methods: as she aged, she slept little, waking seven or eight times a night, sometimes wanting water, sometimes needing someone to massage her legs for pain, all requiring Lady Cui’s personal attention. Even though there was a couch in the room, Lady Cui was forced to sleep on her footstool, her bedding rolled up, unable to even turn over.

Meanwhile, Lady Cui, having just reconciled with Third Master Rong, was even more unwilling to let him bear the stigma of disrespecting his stepmother because of her, so she gritted her teeth and endured the hardship.

In the dead of winter, it was practically a death sentence. Ah Wu secretly hated the old woman’s cruelty. Seeing the Old Madam’s radiant face, she knew she showed no signs of illness; it was clearly a deliberate scheme to torment Lady Cui. Ah Wu returned and told Third Master Rong about Lady Cui’s situation, including that he had not seen her in a long time.

Lady Cui herself was haggard, and when Third Master Rong came to pay his respects, she refused to see him. She feared he would feel sorry for her and oppose the Old Madam.

Hearing Ah Wu’s words, Third Master Rong’s expression darkened. He lowered his head in silence, his eyes glistening with tears. He, too, had a difficult time. The Old Madam was manipulating human relations, and he could not think of a suitable solution.

“Father, Ah Wu does not want a stepmother.” Ah Wu loved calling Third Master Rong “Father” when she was close to him.

Third Master Rong patted Ah Wu’s hair, which was styled in a bun. “Nonsense, Ah Wu will not have a stepmother.”

“Stepmothers are fierce,” Ah Wu pouted.

Third Master Rong was about to comfort Ah Wu when his eyes suddenly lit up. He gently pinched Ah Wu’s nose. “Good Ah Wu, you are your mother’s savior, you little devil!” Third Master Rong smiled broadly and strode out of the house.

Ah Wu touched her nose, wiping it with a handkerchief in disgust. Sigh, she did not like anyone touching her except for the fragrant Lady Cui. Fortunately, Third Master Rong was a smart man and understood immediately.

Ah Wu summoned Zi-Shan and asked, “How’s Concubine Wang doing lately?”

“She sent purses to Yao-Huang and Wei-Zi in the Old Madam’s room. From a distance, the purses looked bulging. Qing-Ming in her room is getting close to Qiang-Wei, a third-class maid in the Old Madam’s room.”

Ah Wu tapped the table with a forced smile. She did not seem very clever. Where could she find a tolerant mistress like Lady Cui? If things really went as planned, what if a shrew came in later? She’d be sure to be dealt with.

Ah Wu had no idea what Concubine Wang was thinking. Concubine Wang saw that Third Master Rong was truly devoted to Lady Cui and knew she could not interfere. Unless something happened to Lady Cui, even if another formidable woman came in, so what? Concubine Wang was confident she would not lose.

Besides, she had won over the Sixth Young Lady, who also favored her. She was not afraid of becoming a stepmother. At this time, Concubine Wang was carefully concealing her resentment towards Ah Wu for cutting off her escape route, only bowing her head and trying to please Ah Wu at every turn. Now was not the time to turn against her.

As for why the Old Madam suddenly had the intention to torment Lady Cui, the slanderous words spoken by Yao-Huang and Wei-Zi, who had received many favors from Concubine Wang, played a significant role. The two of them frequently stirred up trouble in the Old Madam’s ears, saying how Lady Cui cursed her behind her back, wishing the old hag to die.

The Old Madam had kept Lady Cui around all these years because of her weak nature, poor background, and easy-to-manipulate qualities. But the older she got, the more afraid of death she became, and Lady Cui’s curses precisely targeted this point, which the Old Madam could no longer tolerate.

Moreover, as her son grew older and the Duke of Anguo gradually withdrew from affairs, the Old Madam became increasingly arrogant and self-centered, easily believing she held the power of life and death, deciding life and death at will. Instead of becoming more benevolent with age, her mind became increasingly narrow and vicious.

It was also said that Third Master Rong was quick and efficient, and soon news of his “good fortune” reached the household.

Since ancient times, there had been the story of a man finding a son-in-law after passing the imperial examinations, but unfortunately, Third Master Rong already had a beautiful wife. Despite his elegant demeanor and refined good looks, he could not win her favor. However, if Third Master Rong lost his wife, even as his second wife, there would be a thousand women willing to take her place. The dashing figure of the top scholar riding through the streets had left an indelible mark on the hearts of countless young women. Moreover, this top scholar was the third son of the Duke of Anguo.

Faced with the prestigious future in the Hanlin Academy and the talent of the top scholar, the word “illegitimate” was practically negligible.

Ah Wu sat quietly in the room sketching flower patterns when Zi-Shan suddenly returned from outside, exclaiming without restraint, “Miss, something terrible has happened!”

Ah Wu looked up at Zi-Shan, put down her brush, walked to the south-facing window, poured a cup of hot water from a double-layered blue-and-white porcelain pot with fish and lotus leaves that was warming on a small table, and sat down. “What’s wrong?”

Little maids were playing in the courtyard. Zi-Shan made a move to close the window lattice, but saw Ah Wu shake her head.

“What is it?” Ah Wu urged Zi-Shan.

Zi-Shan quickly said, “Those gossipy people outside are saying our mistress is not well, and Master is waiting to remarry. They’ve even spread rumors about who it might be! Miss, you have to think of something! What are we going to do?”

Ah Wu had not expected Third Master Rong to act so quickly, but it made sense. Lady Cui had already been through seven or eight days of this; if it would go on any longer, even if she did not lose her life, she would be seriously harmed.

“Ah, who are they talking about?” Ah Wu asked, also curious.

“They say she’s a daughter of a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel. Miss, what kind of official is that? Is she comparable to our Madam’s father, the Prefect?”

“What do you know, you little girl?” Ah Wu hesitated for a moment, then said, “This will not do. Do not tell Madam about this. She’s already in bad shape; if she hears this, she might really have to make way for someone else.”

“Miss, why are you afraid of her? Even if…even if that day comes, she will just be a second wife. Can she possibly surpass the legitimate daughter?” Zi-Shan said.

“You do not understand. If that secretary’s daughter really marries into the family, Father… he might not care about us anymore.”

“Ah, how can you say that? Master usually dotes on you so much; he would not do that.” Zi-Shan did not believe it.

Ah Wu naturally had to explain to her.

“Do you know what kind of official a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel is?”

Zi-Shan shook her head.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Ministry of Personnel is the most lucrative official position in our dynasty. They are in charge of evaluating the ranks of civil officials, their selection, appointment, promotion, and transfer, as well as issuing monthly selection decrees. All civil officials throughout the dynasty, from top to bottom, must go through the Ministry of Personnel for selection and promotion. Do not underestimate them just because they are only fifth-rank officials; even our master, the heir of the Duke of Anguo, could not get close to them.”

Zi-Shan exclaimed, “That powerful?”

“Of course. Do not be fooled by Father’s top score in the imperial examinations and entry into the Hanlin Academy. Countless second- and third-ranked scholars sit idly in the Hanlin Academy, and only a few ultimately rise to high positions. Becoming an official requires background and seniority. If Father truly marries that official’s daughter, his future will be bright, and his great success will be just around the corner. I am afraid… I am afraid, Father…”

Although this “secret plan” was Ah Wu’s idea for Third Master Rong, Ah Wu was still afraid that if the other party was truly the daughter of the secretary at the Ministry of Personnel and had such intentions, Third Master Rong might actually take it seriously.

“No, how could he?” Zi-Shan said anxiously.

“Why not? Having mastered both literary and martial arts, one can serve the Emperor. Father is talented and naturally wants to rise in the officialdom; all he lacks now is an opportunity.”

“Even so, a girl from such a scholarly family is certainly good,” Zi-Shan advised hesitantly.

“You do not know their family’s rules. I’ve heard Sister Yin mention them,” Ah Wu said. Tang Yin was the daughter of a high-ranking official, the superior of Secretary Shi of the Ministry of Personnel; it was plausible that she knew about the Shi family. “The rule of the Shi family in the Qing Dynasty is that a man can only take a concubine if he is forty and childless. When Madam Shi married into their family, she immediately dismissed the pregnant concubine from Master Shi’s household, and Master Shi did not dare utter a word. Just imagine, this Young Lady Shi is Madam Shi’s legitimate daughter; what kind of person could she be?”

As for just how formidable Young Lady Shi was, Ah Wu had no interest in explaining to Qing-Ming, who was eavesdropping under the eaves. They imagined it would be even more frightening.

Under Concubine Wang’s instructions, Qing-Ming had been diligently cultivating a good relationship with the maids in Ah Wu’s courtyard. She had not expected to hear such astonishing news today and quickly returned to the back courtyard to tell Concubine Wang everything.

Concubine Wang rewarded her with a gold bracelet and then fell into deep thought.

Concubine Wang’s insight was superior to Qing-Ming’s or Zi-Shan’s. From a young age, she had heard countless tales of her adoptive parents’ ambition to climb the social ladder and curry favor with the powerful. She had heard of the Ministry of Personnel, a place her adoptive parents dreamed of connecting with. She had even witnessed the obsequious and envious faces of officials discussing the Ministry of Personnel when she served the masters in the inner quarters and listened to music.

Thinking about how, if the Shi family’s daughter were to marry into the family, not only would the mistress be young and fresh, but her status alone would be unapproachable. Third Master Rong would certainly dote on her. No wonder even Sixth Young Lady was afraid.

Concubine Wang repeatedly berated herself for being so foolish as to come up with such a stupid plan. Was there any mistress in the world easier to deal with than Lady Cui? Look at her now—free and easy, living comfortably and happily in the courtyard. Except for the Third Master not visiting her room, she was living a life far more comfortable than other young ladies from wealthy families.

Lady Cui neither beat nor scolded her, nor did she impose any rules on her. Even Sixth Young Lady showed her a great deal of affection. If it were someone else, who knew how things would be?

While Concubine Wang was regretting her foolishness, the Old Madam was naturally also regretting it.