Four Seasons Brocade – CH 116

Chapter 116 ☆、

“Ah, why should the Princess Consort visit her? That’s so disrespectful.” Zi-Shan was still indignant that her young mistress, a proper Princess Consort betrothed by the Prince, was not in charge of the inner court.

Ah Wu smiled, “What’s disrespectful about it? I am just showing respect to my elders.” Ah Wu winked at Zi-Shan, “Besides, I’ve taught you before: those who already have face do not care about face; only those who have no face are obsessed with putting on a show.”

Ah Wu, as the Princess Consort of Qi, going to Hongyao Villa was a condescending visit to comfort her elders. If anyone else went, it would be like rushing to curry favor with the head housekeeper, Nanny Hao. The former would be incredibly prestigious; the latter, well, that’s another story.

Of course, Ah Wu’s excuse for going to Hongyao Villa was quite convincing. She had Zi-Shan bring a jar of pear syrup and then led her and Chi-Jin there.

Hongyao Villa was located east of Xiangsi Garden, also known as the Prince Qi’s mansion garden, not far from the Bingxue Forest. It was named for the various peonies that bloomed there in spring, and it was said that every peony variety in the world could be found there. Now, however, it was mid-autumn, and yellow leaves covered the ground, spring’s colors concealing winter. Remarkably, Hongyao Villa still had peonies cultivated in greenhouses to admire.

Entering Hongyao Villa, Ah Wu was greeted by a rockery screen made of Taihu stones. She paused to admire the layered, translucent, and exquisitely crafted stones. No wonder Xiangsi Garden was considered one of the four famous gardens in the capital; such stones alone were enough to keep one lingering for a whole day.

Hongyao Villa was exquisitely and elegantly built, with three courtyards forming its own private estate. Ah Wu climbed the steps and looked back at the courtyard, where ancient camphor and ginkgo trees reached for the sky, flanked by peonies piled up like flower mountains, creating a sense of out-of-season beauty. The Hongyao Villa spanned three rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows on both the north and south sides, inlaid with stained glass, and lavishly decorated—even Yulan Hall might not have matched its grandeur.

Ah Wu admired the sunflower-shaped railings of the veranda with “interest” while waiting for the maid, who had gone in to report a while ago, to come out and give her reply. Ah Wu thought to herself, “Two tigers cannot share one mountain; the ancients were right.” She admitted she lacked such magnanimity; in her own home, she felt like a guest.

Behind the door, out of Ah Wu’s sight, Nanny Hao, who had just woken from her afternoon nap, was looking at her adopted daughter with a stern expression.

“Nanny, the Princess Consort has definitely come to complain,” Nanny Lu said disdainfully.

“Shut up, you dog!” Nanny Hao scolded Nanny Lu angrily. “Aunt, it’s not Nanny Lu’s fault; I just forgot.”

“Did you really forget, Xiangsi?” Nanny Hao paused. “I know you are not the type to haggle over such a small amount of money.”

A clear, melodious female voice said, “Aunt, I am just following the rules. The Princess is already receiving the same monthly pay as the Prince’s maids and servants. We cannot break the rules just because she’s the Princess.”

“Oh, is that so? Then Nanny Sang is the Princess’s wet nurse, and I am the Prince’s wet nurse. How should we compare?”

“How can that be the same, Aunt…” Xiangsi addressed her adoptive mother as “Aunt” because when Nanny Hao rescued her, an orphan, she had said that Xiangsi looked somewhat like her brother’s daughter, except that Nanny Hao’s family had all perished in a flood. Chu Mao also called Nanny Hao “Aunt,” so Xiangsi followed suit, but this “Aunt” was not the same as the other “Aunt.”

“It’s nothing different. This is all thanks to the Prince’s kindness, but we cannot forget our place just because of his kindness.”

A hint of hurt flashed in Xiangsi’s eyes. “I understand, Aunt. I was wrong today.”

Seeing Xiangsi admit her mistake, Nanny Hao lovingly smoothed her hair. “Xiangsi, Aunt will do everything she can for you. Because of my connection, the Prince will certainly not mistreat you. Even if I were to go, he would not mistreat you. But the mistress of this mansion is still the Princess. Some things are ours, and we should not think about what is not.”

Xiangsi nodded, tears welling in her eyes. She knew what she lacked was a prestigious background, but she had heard that this Princess was originally just the daughter of a concubine’s son in the Duke of Anguo’s mansion; it was only because her father was so successful.

When the little maid went in to announce her arrival, the gatekeeper stopped her outside the corridor. The masters inside were talking, and no one was to be disturbed unless it was the Prince who arrived.

So Ah Wu sat leaning against a pillar on the veranda outside the Hongyao Villa for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea before someone finally came out to greet her.

During this time, Zi-Shan nearly stomped through the soles of her shoes. “What kind of people are they? They are so snobbish! Miss, look! Several maids and old women have been sneaking around, peeking over there several times already. How dare they humiliate you like this, Miss!” Seeing Ah Wu’s calm expression, even a smile playing on her lips, Zi-Shan was practically bursting with rage.

“It’s good to be watching; I am afraid no one will be watching,” Ah Wu said with a faint smile. “When you go in later, you must not show any displeasure. Remember, Nanny Hao is the Prince’s wet nurse; she nursed him from a young age. Her kindness in raising him is greater than the kindness in giving him life. You’d better put away your sharp tongue.”

The person who came out to greet her from the Hongyao Villa was Nanny Lu, which surprised Ah Wu somewhat. These two, mother and daughter with no official status, were really putting on airs. They’d left her waiting outside for half a day, and now only Nanny Lu had come out.

“Nanny Lu, how is Nanny Hao?” Ah Wu’s face was still smiling, even though she felt her face was almost stiff from smiling all day.

“Please forgive me, Your Highness. Nanny Hao had a cough when she woke up from her afternoon nap, and there was even blood in her phlegm. Lady Xiangsi was so worried that she cried. The little maid did not dare to report, which is why we neglected Your Highness,” Nanny Lu said with a forced smile.

“It’s my fault. I came at the wrong time and disturbed Nanny Hao. But since I am here, I should at least go in and inquire after her. By the way, since there’s blood in her phlegm, we should call a physician. Do not delay her treatment, or we will both be in trouble if the Prince blames us,” Ah Wu said, half-sarcastically and half-seriously.

Upon entering the main room, they saw Nanny Hao reclining on a couch, being fed medicine by her adopted daughter, Xiangsi. Seeing Ah Wu enter, both women made to get up, but Ah Wu quickly said, “Nanny, please lie down. I came to see if you are feeling any better. I heard from Nanny Lu outside that it seems your condition has worsened. I brought a jar of pear syrup; please try it. If it helps, let me know, and I will have someone send more.”

“Your Highness, please sit down.” Xiangsi quickly stood up.

Ah Wu sat down on the rose-covered chair with peony patterns, to the right of Nanny Hao. “Please do not stand on ceremony, Miss. Nanny’s health is important. Please continue serving her her medicine.”

Xiangsi did not refuse. She sat down again and carefully served Nanny Hao her medicine, helped her rinse her mouth, and wiped her lips with a handkerchief before finishing.

“This must be Nanny Hao’s adopted daughter, right?” Ah Wu asked.

“Indeed, her nickname is Xiangsi,” Nanny Hao replied.

Xiangsi stood up again and curtsied to Ah Wu. “Xiangsi greets Your Highness.”

“What a beautiful name, the same as our garden,” Ah Wu praised.

Xiangsi remained calm. The previous two concubines had already found fault with her name, but nothing had happened.

Ah Wu did not continue the topic, instead turning to Nanny Hao and saying, “Actually, I came today because I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Please speak, Your Highness. Whatever I can do, I will do without hesitation,” Nanny Hao said sincerely.

“I’d like to set up a small kitchen in Yulan Hall. Is that in accordance with the rules?” Ah Wu asked, though she already knew the answer in her heart. It had to be in accordance with the rules, since she had noticed a small kitchen there when she entered Hongyao Villa.

“Of course, it’s in accordance with the rules. It was my oversight. I will instruct my subordinates to prepare it tomorrow.”

“I am sorry to trouble you, Nanny. You need to rest, so I will take my leave now.” Ah Wu had achieved her wish and did not want to stay any longer.

Xiangsi saw Ah Wu to the door of Hongyao Villa before turning back. Her mind was still filled with Ah Wu’s image. The purple, dark-colored, ruyi-patterned jacket with a pipa-shaped collar was adorned with buttons depicting bees playing with peonies. These buttons alone must have taken the embroiderer considerable time to complete, not to mention the small pink peony, the size of a bowl, embroidered along the lower edge of the jacket.

Xiangsi, naturally discerning, immediately recognized the peony as Cui Embroidery. With Ah Wu’s movements, the petals seemed to slowly bloom, almost lifelike. Despite the princess’s simple attire—only three small fan-shaped hairpins adorning her hair, each tip inlaid with a tiny pink tourmaline—and the seemingly understated jacket, it was actually quite luxurious.

Xiangsi thought to herself that she was not without similar clothing. Whenever there were rewards or fine items from the palace, Hongyao Villa always got to choose first, but she lacked the status to wear them.

However, this princess was indeed as Nanny Lu had said—arrogant and haughty, never even giving her a second glance. This was the first time Xiangsi had been so thoroughly ignored. Even those two concubines, who did not grit their teeth in envy and resentment towards her? Yet this one knew how to feign it. Everyone said this princess was beautiful, but now, looking at her, she was nothing special, Xiangsi thought.

Seeing Xiangsi’s disdainful expression, Nanny Hao sighed inwardly. Judging by her manners, Xiangsi probably could not compare to the Princess. Today’s events were their own fault for being rude; she hoped the Prince would not take it to heart.

While Ah Wu did not pay much attention to Xiangsi, Zi-Shan certainly did. “This Lady Xiangsi seems like she’d be a good mother; why is she not married yet?”

Ah Wu could not help but laugh. “Where did you learn all this talk about bearing children? You unmarried girl, are you not ashamed?”

“I heard it from Nanny Sang. She said the ‘Four Beauties’ you chose, Miss, are all good mothers.” The Four Beauties were the four maids Ah Wu had chosen to become concubines for Chu Mao.

“Actually, Zi-Shan, you are more beautiful than those Four Beauties,” Ah Wu said with a smile.

“Miss!” Zi-Shan pouted. “I was confused for a moment. The Prince is so handsome that anyone would be confused. But later I realized that someone like him is not someone I should be thinking about. Besides, I can not stand his obsessive cleanliness.” Zi-Shan did not dare say it aloud. Ah Wu’s smile faded. She had not expected Zi-Shan to be so clever. She’d originally hoped Zi-Shan could help win over Chu Mao, but it seemed she could only rely on the “Four Beauties.”

“Miss, why is that Lady Xiangsi not married yet, all these years later? Is she just staying in this mansion?” Zi-Shan asked curiously.

This Lady Xiangsi was rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the capital. Back then, she was quite young, but after all these years, she’d probably be in her twenties. At such an age, not being married seemed like she was determined to stay with Chu Mao. Ah Wu wondered what Chu Mao was thinking. Since things had come to this, why not just take her as a concubine?

“I do not know either. Are you not known for your inquiries? Why not go and find out?” Ah Wu replied. “What do you think of her appearance?” Ah Wu could not help but be curious.

“A bitter face, nothing good about her,” Zi-Shan said, hitting the nail on the head.

Ah Wu was not jealous of Xiangsi, but she did think Xiangsi looked unlucky. Her name, “Xiangsi,” meant “longing for someone who has not found their talent,” sounding nice but carrying a less than auspicious meaning. Moreover, in her previous life, although this Xiangsi girl eventually became Chu Mao’s concubine and ruled the harem after the deaths of two Empresses, she was not the mother of Chu Mao’s only son. Most strangely, despite Ah Wu hovering around Chu Mao for so long, the Emperor had never slept with her.

Oh, my apologies. Ah Wu felt she had become so vulgar, even using the words “slept with” in her mind.

Back at Yulan Hall, Ah Wu was lost in thought when Chu Mao stepped through the door.

Ah Wu was surprised again. She had thought that even if Chu Mao came back to sleep, he probably would not come back for dinner. She had not expected to have to serve him a meal again. Ah Wu rubbed her stomach, which had been abused for the past two days, and smiled as she rose to greet him.