Four Seasons Brocade – CH 064

Chapter 64 ☆、

“Go back and tell Father everything that’s happened these past few days, from beginning to end. Maybe you will get what you want.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Yin suddenly understood. He jumped up laughing, “Alright, Ah Wu, you just wait! When I finish my training and come back, I will be there to protect you. I guarantee no one will ever steal you away again! You are so beautiful; when you grow up, who knows how many people will like you? Watch me beat them all down! They dare to even think about my sister…”

Ah Wu broke out in a cold sweat, thinking Rong Yin was even more impulsive than herself. What kind of nonsense was this?

Rong Yin left, and Ah Wu watched his retreating figure with a smile. “The sea is wide enough for fish to leap, the sky is high enough for birds to fly,” she thought. Ah Wu did not approve of Third Master Rong and Lady Cui’s control over Rong Yin. Their parental love sometimes backfired. Ah Wu had talked to Rong Yin a lot and knew what kind of person he was. He was already twelve years old; if he did not go out into the world soon, he might never be able to take flight.

Ah Wu always managed to kill two birds with one stone; she never aimed for just one. The more she thought about it, the more smug she felt.

Unfortunately, she was too smug.

Back to Third Master Rong, after hearing Rong Yin’s words, he immediately agreed to let him go to Wudang to become an apprentice under the protection of Master Wang. The Duke of Anguo also agreed; he hoped his grandson would become a military talent. He had heard of Gong Tongzi of Wudang; the former Grand Marshal of the Army’s name resounded throughout the land.

This time, Third Master Rong was even more anxious than Rong Yin. He made all the necessary arrangements, and in just five days, Rong Yin was on horseback heading to Wudang. He was still in a daze, feeling as if he had been kicked out by his father. But with his wish fulfilled, he happily whistled and embarked on his own life.

Afterwards, Third Master Rong spoke to Ah Wu alone. “You are really bold,” he said.

Ah Wu smiled slyly. “I know Father and Fifth Brother agreed out of necessity, but I cannot swallow this insult.”

Third Master Rong felt that Rong Jie would no longer be pleasing to Dong Mi, which was why he weighed the pros and cons and acquiesced to the Duke of Anguo’s arrangement.

But since Ah Wu had pleased Dong Mi and given Rong Jie another chance, he naturally would not delay Rong Jie’s plans by moving Concubine Hua back to the Rong family ancestral graves. He firmly believed that one day, the Duke of Anguo would voluntarily propose the relocation.

Meanwhile, the First Madam’s nanny quickly discovered that Rong Yin had leaked the information. The Old Madam was furious, and the First Madam was seething with hatred. She immediately wanted to punish the unfriendly, disobedient, and scoundrel Rong Yin.

However, Rong Yin had already gone to Wudang.

Lady Cui, who had been having a minor argument with Rong Jie because of Rong Yin and had even soaked several handkerchiefs with tears, now saw the Duke of Anguo, the Old Madam, and the First Madam’s expressions of utter hatred for Rong Yin. She immediately felt that her husband was indeed wise and insightful, having foreseen everything.

Now that Rong Yin, the “culprit,” was gone, the Old Madam and the First Madam had no one to retaliate against, especially since Master Dong had not indicated any intention to remove Rong Min.

However, ten days later, Master Dong issued a statement, fearing that some talented individuals might have been overlooked, and ordered the unsuccessful candidates to submit their essays again. Everyone was delighted, and this time Rong Jie lived up to expectations and entered the third round.

The third round involved Master Dong and the prospective disciples debating Neo-Confucianism face-to-face. He selected three disciples: Tang Yu, the second son of Cabinet Minister Tang, styled Xiujin; Qi Rui, the third son of the Duke of Jin, styled Minxing; and Rong Jie, the fifth son of the Duke of Anguo, styled Shenzhi.

Upon hearing this news, Third Master Rong was overjoyed and immediately drank a large toast. Lady Cui was also overjoyed and did not know what to do. The Duke of Anguo meant that he would be happy with whichever grandson was selected, although he was slightly disappointed that it was not Rong Min.

The Old Madam’s and the First Madam’s faces were so dark they could drip rain. Surprisingly, they remained calm, which gave Ah Wu a bad feeling.

Sure enough, a month later, an imperial decree suddenly arrived, appointing Third Master Rong as deputy envoy to Ryukyu due to his successful compilation of the Tonghai Dian.

Upon receiving this decree, Lady Cui fainted.

Ah Wu noticed a cold smile on the First Madam’s lips. Afterwards, she asked Tang Yin to inquire, and it turned out that the First Madam’s family had indeed intervened. Otherwise, such an envoy would never have been a compiler who had only been in the Hanlin Academy for a year.

In fact, being sent on a diplomatic mission overseas and returning safely would have been a significant achievement, leading to promotions and titles.

But the vast ocean was treacherous, with howling winds and high waves, frequently capsizing ships. To date, the Great Xia Dynasty had been established for over sixty years, sending envoys overseas several times, but only one or two out of ten had returned. Gao Tao, after more than twenty years of wandering at sea, finally returned to his homeland, already in his sixties. His wife had passed away, his daughter had remarried, and years had passed; his heart was ashen. He never again took up an official post in the court, choosing instead to stay home writing and educating his grandchildren.

No wonder Lady Cui fainted upon hearing that Third Master Rong was going on a diplomatic mission overseas.

However, Ah Wu was unfazed. The First Madam, despite her meticulous calculations, had no idea that this mission would be so successful. All that remained was for Third Master Rong’s triumphant return.

After receiving the imperial decree, Third Master Rong was to depart in half a month. Lady Cui fell ill, and Ah Wu, along with the maids, prepared all the clothing and utensils. Both Third Master Rong and Lady Cui marveled at how much Ah Wu had grown up.

After Master Rong left, Lady Cui fell seriously ill. Ah Wu diligently cared for and comforted her, but Lady Cui would not listen to anything she said. Ah Wu could only console her with tales of spirits and deities, saying that her father was the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examinations, a time of great fortune, and that the God of Literature was watching over him, so he would surely be alright.

Ah Wu then advised Lady Cui to go to the Daci Temple to make a wish and light an oil lamp.

This time, Lady Cui listened to her a little, and she mustered her spirits. She informed the Old Madam that she wanted to go to the Daci Temple, and the old woman, having probably gotten her wish, did not make things difficult for her anymore.

That day, after waiting for Lady Cui to rise, Ah Wu said, “Madam, let Concubine Mu and Concubine Wang go with you to pray for Father’s well-being.”

Lady Cui had no objection to Concubine Mu going, but what Concubine Wang had done was too heinous; she could not tolerate it. “Why are you still sending her?”

“I have my reasons. Besides, she knows she was wrong now, and she’s a pitiful person. Madam, please allow it,” Ah Wu said sweetly.

Lady Cui now knew Ah Wu was a decisive person. After a moment of silence, she agreed. Ah Wu knew Lady Cui was somewhat angry, but she had other plans regarding Concubine Wang, which she just did not want to tell Lady Cui.

When Lady Cui and her party arrived at Daci Temple, she reluctantly offered incense and made a wish, saying that if Third Master Rong returned safely, she would sculpt a golden statue for Buddha.

After offering incense, Lady Cui and the others were led by the guest monk to the guest rooms to rest. The Daci Temple was bustling with worshippers, but it did not have many guest rooms available. This privilege was mostly reserved for noblewomen, and even then, not everyone could have their own private courtyard.

Therefore, Lady Cui encountered many acquaintances in the guest courtyard. Among them was the most gossipy woman in the capital—Madam Jin nee Luo, the Second Madam of the Marquis of Anping, the Jin family.

“Oh, Lady Cui, you’ve come to offer incense too!” Madam Jin nee Luo raised her voice as soon as she saw Lady Cui. Those around her had been whispering, unsure of who Lady Cui was. After all, Lady Cui rarely went out and was known for her gentle and unassuming nature; many people did not remember her.

Madam Jin nee Luo’s loud voice was a clear announcement that she knew everyone; in the capital, there was no one of any importance she did not know.

Lady Cui greeted Madam Jin nee Luo. Madam Jin nee Luo glanced at Ah Wu, offered a perfunctory compliment, then her eyes swept over Concubine Mu and Concubine Wang following behind Lady Cui. Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, “Oh, look at these two! So beautiful!”

Lady Cui’s face darkened. “These are my Third Master’s concubines.”

Madam Jin nee Luo clicked her tongue in admiration. “Such beautiful faces! Third Master Rong is truly blessed.”

Someone nearby, unable to bear Madam Jin nee Luo’s behavior any longer, came forward to speak to Lady Cui, sat down, and began exchanging pleasantries.

Ah Wu, listening to Madam Jin nee Luo’s words, remained silent. However, as you all probably know now, among so many gossipy women, Madam Jin nee Luo was widely considered the most talkative woman in the capital.

Madam Jin nee Luo herself was truly detestable. Her words and actions always seemed designed to pick on people’s sore spots, as if she wanted to kick them while they were down, to rub and twist them, as if afraid they had not suffered enough. Not content with praising the beauty of Third Master Rong’s concubines, she also boasted about Third Master Rong’s good fortune in his overseas mission. This infuriated Lady Cui so much that her eyes immediately blurred with anger.

Ah Wu, too lazy to entertain these people, having achieved her goal, excused herself, saying Lady Cui was unwell, and helped her away.

Returning to the matter of the third branch of the family, Lady Cui now only had Ah Wu by her side. Third Master Rong was away on his mission, Rong Jie had gone to Baihe Courtyard, and Rong Yin had even gone to Wudang Mountain. With Lady Cui ill, all the affairs of the third branch—Lady Cui’s dowry, shops, and so on—fell onto Ah Wu’s petite shoulders.

As the saying goes, the capable were often burdened with more work. Ah Wu did not find it hard; on the contrary, without Lady Cui’s constraints, she could work even harder.

Ah Wu cared for Lady Cui, and Zi-Yan cared for Ah Wu. Watching Ah Wu’s hardship these past few days, Zi-Yan felt a pang of heartache; after all, she had served her mistress for many years.

Lady Cui fell ill, and Ah Wu had to inquire about her health, bring her medicine, and handle various chores every day. The First Madam, meanwhile, began to suppress the Third Branch of the household, not only delaying the matter of hiring a physician for Lady Cui but also making decisions that made it increasingly difficult for them. Because Ah Wu had gained the favor of the zither teacher, Gu Yu, the First Madam dismissed Gu Yu, and the household no longer hired any zither teachers.

As for Bai Suxin, perhaps at the First Madam’s behest, she also relentlessly made things difficult for Ah Wu, assigning her excessive homework that even all-nighters could not complete. Using this as an excuse, she reported to the First Madam that Ah Wu was lazy, unruly, and incorrigible, claiming she could not teach such a student.

As a result, Ah Wu could no longer attend school. The First Madam was trying to make Ah Wu stupid. Ah Wu ignored her, thinking it was a good way to save time. She did not believe that someone of Bai Suxin’s character could produce anything worthwhile.

Of course, all of this was kept from Lady Cui; otherwise, her illness would likely have worsened.

That day, Zi-Yan was tidying up Ah Wu’s bedding when Ah Wu asked, “How is Concubine Wang doing lately?”