Four Seasons Brocade – CH 107

Chapter 107 ☆、

Ah Wu, usually so quick-witted, sat like a puppet on the couch by the south window, her eyes barely moving for a moment.

Zi-Shan and Zi-Zhui, quick and efficient, had already gathered up the broken pieces before the Fourth Prince Chu Mao entered, hastily placing them in a box.

The people inside held their breath; even the maids Ah Wu had brought dared not breathe. Therefore, Ah Wu could hear even the slightest rustling of the curtains.

“Your Highness,” the maids outside greeted in unison.

Then Ah Wu saw a figure walking around the lattice window, a faint smell of alcohol wafting in the air. Chu Mao stood in the candlelight, his face slightly flushed.

“Your Highness,” the maids inside bowed in greeting, then silence fell.

Nanny Sang was the first to react. “What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help the Prince change his clothes!”

After Nanny Sang spoke, Ah Wu recovered and stood up, nodding her head.

Since Ah Wu was assigned to Chu Mao, her four head maids had received special training from the palace matron. Although Nanny Sang had spoken, none of them stepped forward.

Behind Chu Mao, two groups of maids, around fifteen or sixteen years old, entered. The two leading maids were pretty but not exceptionally beautiful, though both gave off a clean and pleasant impression.

Chu Mao paused slightly as the maids greeted him, then walked past an eight-panel screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl and openwork carvings of children playing, set on a rosewood base, to the washroom.

The two groups of eight maids curtsied to Ah Wu behind Chu Mao, then stood up straight without waiting for her to speak.

The first two maids took the black lacquered trays with gilded plum blossom designs from the maids behind them and entered the washroom. One tray held twenty-four neatly folded white Songjiang cotton towels, while the other held a set of celadon porcelain boxes and jars specially made by the imperial kiln, containing bath powder, perfume, shampoo, and dried flowers.

The next two maids turned and took the same black lacquered wooden trays, which held a clean set of inner garments and outer garments. The trays carried by the last two maids contained shoes, socks, sachets for hanging, and jade pendants.

Nanny Sang and Zi-Shan were all stunned. It was truly royal grandeur; even serving a simple grooming involved two rows of eight maids—more than their own mistresses had.

Ah Wu, however, was not looking at these things. Ah Wu had become accustomed to Chu Mao’s grandeur and refinement during her years of wandering, but the first time she saw this, she too seemed like a country bumpkin, much to her dismay that she was still Princess Kangning back then.

Ah Wu noticed that all the clothes and shoes were brought from outside, implying that Chu Mao did not live in Yulan Hall and had no intention of ever living there.

Ah Wu felt a surge of life, like a fish in fresh water.

Inside, Nanny Gong was also present, observing the row of maids. Each one of them was incredibly arrogant, their eyes only on the Prince, completely disregarding their mistress. The two maids at the head of the group acted like stewards, their airs surpassing even many noblewomen in the capital. Their clothes were made of tribute silks and satins, and their jewelry cost at least five hundred taels of silver. As for their demeanor, even Nanny Gong, who was notoriously critical, had to admit it was flawless. “It must be a chambermaid,” Nanny Gong assessed.

In that case, the four stunningly beautiful maids that Ah Wu had prepared, all thoroughly examined by Nanny Gong, were actually insufficient. This other family had eight in total.

Nanny Sang looked at Ah Wu with deep worry. Zi-Shan and the other three were both worried about their young mistress and secretly competing with each other, determined not to let the prince’s maids outshine them, not to embarrass their mistress, and not to let her be unable to control the demons and monsters of this mansion.

“Nanny Gong, wet nurse, you should all go and rest. Zi-Shan and Tong-Wen, please stay.” Ah Wu sat back down on the couch and took a sip of tea.

Zi-Shan was sharp-tongued, and Tong-Wen had some martial arts skills; Ah Wu was not sure if they could protect her.

When Chu Mao emerged, his hair was slightly damp, but he was impeccably dressed, wearing a bright blue python robe. His sash, jade pendant, and sachet were neatly arranged, making him look like he was about to leave, not just return home. This attire would not be inappropriate even for an immediate audience with the Emperor.

Ah Wu immediately rose and stood by the couch upon seeing Chu Mao. Chu Mao glanced at her indifferently and sat down at the other end of the couch.

At this moment, the eight maids inside also silently filed out, carrying neatly folded clothes and other items that Chu Mao had changed out of. It was obvious without even looking that Yulan Hall’s washroom was now spotless, as if it had never been used.

Chu Mao gestured for Ah Wu to sit down. Ah Wu then sat down, placing her hands on her lap and tilting her head slightly to look into Chu Mao’s eyes.

A moment later, the maid named Mei-Ying, who had led the group earlier, entered with a cup of hot tea. She curtsied to Chu Mao and Ah Wu, quietly placed the paper-thin, sky-blue teacup on a small, carved, three-curved rosewood table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and then quietly withdrew.

Ah Wu then noticed a small screen on the table, a double-sided embroidery by Cui Ji. One side depicted wealth and prosperity, the other peace and safety. Ah Wu was familiar with Cui Ji’s embroidery; though small, this double-sided embroidery required six months of work from the embroiderer, was expensive, and was rare, requiring at least three years’ notice before it could be obtained.

Who had thoughtfully placed this screen here? It certainly helped to put Ah Wu at ease.

Chu Mao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and his long, slender fingers and elegant posture were truly pleasing to the eye. Ah Wu’s tense face relaxed a little.

“Get settled early; you must go to the palace to meet the Emperor tomorrow morning.” Chu Mao’s voice was deep and resonant, like the ancient melody of a zither.

However, even this could not soothe Ah Wu’s turbulent heart. The words, “Get settled early,” had already captured all her attention.

After a long while, Ah Wu finally came to her senses, stood up, and walked to Chu Mao’s side, trying to control the tremor in her voice: “This lord’s lady will help Your Highness undress.”

“No need, I will stay a while longer. You should go and rest,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu quietly returned to her seat, silently praying, “As long as I do not sleep, as long as I do not sleep.” Ah Wu dared not go to rest first. This Fourth Prince not only had an extremely fastidious obsession with cleanliness but also an extremely fastidious adherence to rules and a grudge-holding nature.

“The husband is the head of the household; if the husband does not sleep, the wife must serve him.” This was the conclusion Ah Wu had drawn after observing Chu Mao and his concubines’ interactions for several days. Even a small oversight could lose this master’s favor.

At this moment, Mei-Ying, who had been serving outside, entered again, presenting Chu Mao with a book.

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu. Ah Wu smiled slightly at him, indicating that he did not need to worry about her.

Ah Wu glanced at Zi-Shan, then at the crimson satin pillow embroidered with gold dragons beside her. Zi-Shan obediently withdrew, then, with great effort, retrieved Ah Wu’s sewing basket from the room in the west wing where Ah Wu’s dowry was kept and brought it into Yulan Hall.

“You two may leave as well,” Ah Wu said to Zi-Shan and the other woman.

By candlelight, Ah Wu diligently did her needlework, occasionally glancing up at Chu Mao before returning to her work on her purse. Her mind, however, was preoccupied with how the maid always seemed to anticipate Chu Mao’s teacup being emptied, entering to refill it, and changing the tea for the fourth infusion.

“This maid is not to be underestimated,” Ah Wu thought.

Until the moon was high in the sky, Chu Mao showed no sign of resting. Ah Wu, exhausted from a day’s work, had long since begun to droop her eyelids, only managing to stay awake through sheer willpower—she was always prone to drowsiness.

Finally, after Ah Wu gave a remarkably elegant yawn, Chu Mao put down his book. Ah Wu’s heart tightened as she heard him say, “Settle in.”

Ah Wu nodded and followed Chu Mao to the bedside, draped with gold-flecked red gauze curtains. Ah Wu stood to the side, not stepping forward to unbutton Chu Mao’s clothes. Being a similarly fastidious person, she naturally understood Chu Mao’s habits.

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu and called out, “Mei-Ying.”

Only then did Ah Wu realize that the girl’s name was Mei-Ying. Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng entered, followed by two other maids. Mei-Ying stepped forward, bowing and keeping a half-foot distance from Chu Mao, and began to undo his sachet and other accessories. Her movements were fluid and graceful, with only her fingertips lightly touching the objects. Ah Wu’s heart tightened as she watched; it was truly difficult for Mei-Ying. Her movements had to be precise; she absolutely could not touch Chu Mao’s body—it was harder than walking a tightrope.

Mei-Ying placed the removed accessories into the tray held by Mei-Meng.

Next, Chu Mao unfastened his outer robe himself. Mei-Ying, quick-witted yet dignified, took it and handed it to Mei-Meng, who promptly folded the garment and placed it on a tray carried by a maid behind them.

Finally, Chu Mao, still in his undergarments, sat on the edge of the bed. Mei-Ying helped him remove his shoes and socks, neatly arranging them on the footstool. She lowered the bed curtains for Chu Mao, curtsied to Ah Wu, and the four of them filed away.

After watching this mime performance, Ah Wu summoned Zi-Shan and went behind the screen to help her undress. She emerged wearing a red undergarment and sat before the dressing mirror, removing her jewelry and carefully putting away her bangles. Zi-Shan let her hair down and braided it.

Only then did Ah Wu lift a corner of the bed curtains and sit on the edge of the bed. Zi-Shan removed her shoes and socks, gently lifting her legs and placing them on the bed before she lay back. Zi-Shan rearranged the bed curtains and neatly arranged Ah Wu’s shoes. Then she went behind the screen and, together with Tong-Wen, hung up and folded Ah Wu’s clothes.

If someone could look down at the two people on the bed from above, they would be surprised to find that the sleeping postures of the male and female masters of the Prince Qi’s residence were almost identical. They lay flat on their backs, hands folded and resting on their abdomens.

Ah Wu closed her eyes, thinking that tonight was actually quite nice. A faint, cool fragrance of plum blossoms wafted from Chu Mao nearby, evoking a sense of pristine whiteness.

There was no masculine body odor, like that of the active Rong Yin, nor any indescribable male stench, like that of the slightly damp feet of the Master Rong.

Chu Mao closed his eyes, finding this princess consort tolerable. Although the washroom she had used was damp, it was clean and tidy. Her manners were also proper; she did not rush forward to help him change. Furthermore, her complexion was like a lotus emerging from water, her face unadorned, giving her a clean and pleasing appearance. A faint, subtle fragrance wafted from her pillow, almost imperceptible, elegant and cool, and pleasant to the touch.

The night passed peacefully and harmoniously, leaving both masters quite satisfied.