Four Seasons Brocade – CH 082

Chapter 82 ☆、

Ah Wu’s room was the same as when she lived there. Sometimes, if she stayed late at Lady Cui’s place, she would not return to Yongtian Courtyard but would stay here temporarily.

Ah Wu sat down on the couch by the window. The morning sunlight shone through the open window lattice onto her eyebrows and eyes. Her eyebrows were not sparse and thin but rather thicker than others’. On such a face, they made her features three-dimensional and exquisite, instantly captivating the eye. One’s gaze lingered on the delicate and charming array of her features, unable to look away.

Concubine Wang thought to herself, how could she have been so foolish? How could someone with such eyebrows and eyes be an ignorant and mischievous child? She had even been so proud of herself, thinking that she had won over Lady Cui’s own daughter with such a little trickery. Now, thinking back, it was truly lamentable and laughable.

Concubine Wang lifted her skirt and knelt again.

“Young Lady, you are so kind-hearted. I humbly begged to see you, only to ask that you take care of my poor Huan’er in the future,” Concubine Wang kowtowed. She was truly desperate. After all, she had stayed in the Duke of Anguo’s mansion for so long; how could she not know the First Madam’s character? She was a typical person with a sweet exterior but a bitter heart. Huan’er might not even grow up well in her courtyard. But no one in this mansion could help her, so Concubine Wang could only come to beg Ah Wu.

Ah Wu’s lips, hidden beneath her veil, curled slightly. “Huan’er is the eldest son’s child. Even if I, his cousin, am powerful, I would not dare lay a hand on the eldest son’s family. Why have you come to me for help?”

Concubine Wang, easily provoked, raised her head, her eyes showing the firmness of a mother. “It’s all because of my bad character and self-degradation that I’ve ended up like this. From this day forward, I will definitely repent and reform myself. I will eat vegetarian food before the Buddha, only seeking to purify my sins and pray for the blessings of Master, Madam, and Miss.”

This was an expression of repentance and loyalty. Ah Wu nodded.

“Actually, these past few years, I’ve always felt uneasy, feeling that those days were stolen and would have to be repaid sooner or later. I foresaw this day, but I never expected Miss to be so kind and spare my life,” Concubine Wang said with remorse.

“But back then, when Master confined me to the backyard, it was Miss’s kindness that led her to let me out to clear my mind, so I… That day in the garden, the little maid who was supposed to be with me went off to gather grass and weave baskets on her own, which is why Second Master treated me so badly. I know it’s because I am lowly, but I…”

Concubine Wang’s words were truly piercing; she was implying that Ah Wu had helped Second Master mistreat her.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Did someone force you out with a knife? You are lowly yourself, yet you blame others? Bah!” Zi-Shan had a fiery temper, though she had improved considerably, but hearing Concubine Wang’s words, she could not hold back.

Concubine Wang shrank back. She knew it was a stretch, but she had no other choice. Her connections and favors were useless; the young lady would not help her. So she had to resort to this tactic, to force her way out, to gamble.

Concubine Wang kowtowed repeatedly, “Yes, it’s all because of my lowly nature. But you, young lady, are kind-hearted. You saved me when I was almost driven to death by the Second Madam, and now you’ve pleaded for me. Could you please go all the way and look after Huan’er for me?”

Ah Wu remained silent.

Concubine Wang ignored her silence and continued, “This whole mess is my own doing. If it were not for my maidservant instigating me to go to the temple to pray for Huan’er, I would not have run into Second Madam Jin. It just so happened that the First Madam came to arrest me that day, and I ran into Second Madam Jin, who then spread the word. Actually, when the First Madam saw it was me, she wanted to kill me, but luckily, my maidservant was strong and protected Huan’er and me as we escaped to the street, where we met Madam, and that’s how we survived.”

The implication was clear.

Finally, Concubine Wang’s eyes opened. Last night, she went over the whole story several times and then, in disbelief, realized that it could not all be a coincidence. Who was behind it all? Who benefited the most?

Actually, Ah Wu was not afraid of Concubine Wang figuring things out. After all, it was her own mistake; no one forced her. The Second Master had mistreated her, and Ah Wu had saved her. She could have easily chosen not to follow the Eldest Master, but she could not let go of wealth and status—she could not blame anyone else.

However, if Concubine Wang revealed these things, Ah Wu would inevitably be troubled. But at this moment, she seemed confident and unaffected by Concubine Wang’s threats.

Concubine Wang waited a long time for an answer from this thirteen-year-old girl, whose mind was more cunning than Bi Gan’s. The longer Concubine Wang waited, the colder her heart grew. She had no bargaining power whatsoever. If the Sixth Young Lady feared her, she would not have spared her life. Therefore, Concubine Wang concluded that she must still be of use.

Thinking of this, Concubine Wang felt a bitter pang in her heart. She had originally been sent by the Old Madam to cut off the flesh of the third branch of the family, but instead, the Sixth Young Lady had used her to cut off the flesh of the legitimate branch. With such thoughts and schemes, if Huan’er could just learn from her, he would surely not remain immature. At this point, Concubine Wang did not expect Huan’er to have any future; she only hoped he could grow up safely.

“Miss, please have pity on my heart as a mother. I will set up a longevity tablet for you in the nunnery and offer it to you for the rest of my life. I am sincere. You have saved me time and time again; I am not a heartless person. Even if you refuse to help me, I will never tell anyone else these words.”

Ah Wu put down her teacup. At this point, Concubine Wang had truly seen through things and was someone she could talk to.

“Aunt, please rise. I will still call you Aunt today. As for Huan’er, I cannot promise much, but I will do my best.”

Concubine Wang quickly kowtowed again, this time with extra force. Although Ah Wu’s words were vague, it was precisely this that made Concubine Wang trust her more. If Ah Wu had made grand promises from the start, Concubine Wang would have hesitated. After all, Ah Wu was only a daughter of the third branch; how could she possibly control the first branch?

“But Aunt, you must understand, if Huan’er wants to live with his head held high, he cannot have an adulterous concubine mother. If his concubine mother endures humiliation and eventually sees through the illusions of the world and enters a monastery, then his reputation will be better, and he will not resent you, his own mother. My father’s pity for you will not have been in vain.” Ah Wu shook the bamboo fan in her hand.

Concubine Wang’s eyes lit up. Love and affection were all illusions, vanishing in an instant. Only her son was her sole hope. She naturally wanted the best for Huan’er. Now that Concubine Wang had seen through everything, she was much more insightful and understood things quickly.

“I understand.”

After Concubine Wang left, Zi-Shan curled her lip at her retreating figure, full of disdain. Such an unchaste woman, yet she had the nerve to blame her young lady. “Young Lady, why did you agree to take care of Huan’er?” Zi-Shan felt a sense of injustice, as if her young lady had been bullied.

Zi-Shan’s eyes lit up immediately, and she said, “I know, Miss, you were trying to appease her first, were you not?”

Ah Wu looked at Zi-Shan amusedly and scolded, “You are so clever. Give up your ideas. I promised her, and I cannot go back on my word. I do not expect Huan’er to live a good life; I just hope they do not kill him. Keep an eye on things for me, Sister Zi-Shan.” By the end, Ah Wu was almost pleading. Over the years, Zi-Shan had grown up, and Ah Wu had treated her like a sister and servant, but she was proud and would not do anything foolish unless you coaxed her.

“Ah… I really owe you something.” Zi-Shan had been right, as Ah Wu had predicted. She had planned that although her mistress had given orders, she herself might not necessarily follow them strictly; if Concubine Wang wanted to blame her later, she could do it herself. But Ah Wu’s pleading left her helpless.

“What’s gotten into you, Young Lady? Why are you still thinking about helping her at a time like this? Sparing her life is a miracle; she’s even threatening you!” Zi-Shan stamped her foot, still unconvinced.

“Good sister, I have my reasons. Please, do not hold a grudge.” Ah Wu was adept at using coquettishness and charm behind people’s backs, and Zi-Shan was completely under her thumb.

Zi-Shan helped Ah Wu remove her shoes and then reclined on the couch to cool off. Ah Wu wanted to be alone for a while, so she had to leave and close the door.

After Zi-Shan left, Ah Wu practically collapsed on the couch. The reason she was so kind as to agree to help Concubine Wang was not just because of her threats or a deal; it was because Concubine Wang’s words touched Ah Wu deeply. She said: “Actually, these past few years, I’ve always felt uneasy, as if those days were stolen and would have to be repaid sooner or later…”

Yes, what went around came around. Ever since her rebirth, Ah Wu had been asking herself why Heaven had arranged for her to be reborn. What merit had she accumulated, or was she repaying a debt?

Over the years, Ah Wu had been extremely grateful to Rong Jichang and his wife. It was their daughter, Rong Wuyou, who had given her a second chance at life. But where was the real Rong Wuyou now? Was she, like her former self, living a nocturnal existence, wandering in the darkness with despair? Ah Wu could not help but think about it. The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt, and she tried her best to make amends.

This kind of scheming, almost cruel, behavior was not Ah Wu’s wish. Their lives were not unbearable, nor were they being held hostage. Yet, Ah Wu, who firmly believed in cause and effect, still did it. The reason was simple: Lady Cui had been agitated, spending her days in tears. She could have been a proper wife, controlling her concubine, but she could not. Ah Wu had no choice but to step in. Now that the move had been made, there must be no turning back, no hesitation, and a fatal blow to deter future attempts.

Fortunately, things did not get dirty. But it was Ah Wu who intentionally created opportunities for Concubine Wang to be alone in the garden that led to the Second Master’s mistreatment of Concubine Wang.

When parents were weak, children had to become strong. Back then, Princess Kangning would not have cared about such things; she was practically of impeccable character, beautiful as an orchid. It was only because her mother protected her that she developed a compassionate heart, a crystal-clear soul, and a proud spirit that would not break.

Back then, the Old Madam forced Ah Wu to kowtow and apologize to Fourth Young Lady Rong. If it were Princess Kangning, she would rather die than suffer such humiliation, even if she were reduced to the ground. This was not a lack of appreciation for life; it was simply that for these self-important aristocratic families with royal blood, pride sometimes meant death rather than kneeling.

As a child, she studied the decadence of the high-ranking aristocratic families of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, yet she also admired their initial pride. Ah Wu deeply longed for it. She vowed to be like such a crystal bottle, strong yet fragile, so that her noble life in this world would not be in vain.

But now, because of Third Master Rong and Lady Cui, Ah Wu felt as if a thousand-pound weight was pressing on her knees and a ten-thousand-pound stone on her neck, with only the agonizing pain of tossing and turning at night.

However, for a princess like her, frail from childhood, who spent her life in melancholy, composing poems and burying flowers, this alone could be unbearable. But now, Ah Wu had seen more of the world and was no longer tormented by this matter; she herself did not know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. In short, she had become worldly and sophisticated, even with herself.

Hot tears streamed down Ah Wu’s face. She did not wipe them away, curling up against the back of the stool like a child who had done wrong, murmuring, “Mother…”

This was the behavior of a child who had been wronged. Although Ah Wu clearly understood that Lady Cui was her mother in this life, her attachment to her loving mother still belonged to Princess Fuhui. She only had one mother in her heart. No matter how good Lady Cui was, she was still a mistress. She could repay her kindness, respect her, and protect her, but she could not share the deep bond of blood. Lady Cui could not comfort her lonely soul.

Even though Princess Fuhui disliked Ah Wu intensely, Ah Wu, though heartbroken and afraid to acknowledge her, remained steadfast in her resolve.

After a while, Zi-Zhui came to invite Ah Wu to lunch. Ah Wu sat up, her eyes already resolute again. She was once again the cunning Sixth Young Lady.

Zi-Zhui entered and saw tear stains at the corners of Ah Wu’s eyes. Seeing that Ah Wu did not say anything, and not daring to ask, she quickly fetched water and, with a maidservant, helped Ah Wu redo her face.

A few days later, it was the Dragon Boat Festival.

From the first day of the festival, Jingming Pond in southeast Shangjing hosted daily dragon boat races, attracting countless spectators, shoulder to shoulder, a lively affair that lasted until the fifth day.

This time of year should have been the happiest time for noble ladies like Fifth Young Lady Rong, who could legitimately invite friends and family to go out and watch the dragon boat races, enjoying four or five days of leisure. However, the three young ladies of the Duke of Anguo’s mansion rarely went out.

Fifth Young Lady Rong’s father had committed such a disgraceful act. Although there was no punishment, public opinion was enough to cause him trouble, and it also made Fifth Young Lady Rong unable to hold her head high in public. Therefore, she simply stayed at home. Although Fourth Young Lady Rong was secretly pleased that her uncle had committed such a disgraceful act, embarrassing Fifth Young Lady Rong, they were still family, and as a young lady, she felt ashamed to go out. Ah Wu had absolutely no desire to go out.

However, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the twenty-ninth year of the Longqing reign, the actual day of the Dragon Boat Festival, their entire household had no choice but to go out. The old Emperor’s health was deteriorating day by day, but he seemed to be sprouting new buds, suddenly bursting with a passion for travel. This year, he would personally attend the dragon boat races at Jingming Pond, and there would be rewards for the winning teams.

Therefore, this year’s Dragon Boat Festival was exceptionally grand. Moreover, the Emperor’s travels had been announced well in advance, and everyone had made preparations. Before Eldest Master Rong’s incident, the First Madam had already prepared all the materials and utensils for setting up tents and displaying items at Jingming Pond during the Dragon Boat Festival. In the capital, nobles and officials, unless their parents had died, were all expected to attend and support the Emperor.

Therefore, the third branch of the Rong family had no choice but to go to Jingming Pond, enduring the pointing fingers and whispers of others, forcing smiles and pretending nothing had happened, oblivious to the contempt on others’ lips.

However, everyone was civilized, and it was an auspicious day, so no one dared to gossip too much. Fifth Young Lady Rong, who was usually well-liked, had several close friends who offered comfort and support, so she stood tall.

Jingming Pond was a garden complex in the southeast of the capital, a famous scenic spot, though somewhat remote and not usually visited. Behind Jingming Pond meandered a not-so-wide river with a very archaic name: Qujiang. This was at Qujiang, where hundreds of years ago, the Emperor had bestowed a banquet upon the top scholar in the imperial examinations.

However, the location of the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty had long since changed, and this Qujiang was not the same as that Qujiang, but it still boasted beautiful scenery and was the place where young ladies could play during the festival on the third day of the third lunar month. During the Lantern Festival, people would travel great distances to release river lanterns along the riverbank and pray for blessings.

In short, this area, spanning dozens of miles, was a place for recreation and entertainment. Today, on the Dragon Boat Festival, for the safety of the old Emperor, all outsiders had been cleared out. Only nobles, officials, and their families were allowed to enjoy themselves here; ordinary people could only watch from the other side of Jingming Pond.

Therefore, while the area was not particularly noisy, groups of finely dressed noblemen were scattered everywhere. Although Lady Cui and Ah Wu had come with the First and Second Madams, the younger members of Fifth Young Lady Rong’s family each had their own social circles and dispersed as soon as they arrived. Only the three madams had to painstakingly maintain a facade of harmony in front of others, indicating that the Duke of Anguo’s mansion was peaceful and that the vixen Wang did not cause any trouble, so they should not expect to see any excitement.

Although it was a time for leisure, the boundaries between men and women could not be ignored. While the rules could be relaxed slightly on this day, some self-respecting young ladies wore veils to avoid the gazes of lecherous men, most of whom came from noble families.

Ah Wu also wore a white veiled hat, which was not particularly conspicuous. She did not dare wander around and waited for Tang Yin in a conspicuous spot. Sure enough, Tang Yin arrived shortly after.

“Hey, why are you so late? I thought you were not coming.” Tang Yin walked over, intending to pull Ah Wu, but then remembered her peculiar aversion to being touched, so she refrained. “Come on, Sister Gu is here too; let’s go say hello.”