Four Seasons Brocade – CH 129

Chapter 129 ☆、

“Oh, did you not say you’d let Nanny Hao manage things for a few years so you could learn from her when you are young and inexperienced?” Chu Mao’s tone was slightly amused.

Ah Wu glared at him and said coquettishly, “That was when I first entered the mansion. I thought I’d win over the Prince’s heart; that’s what I said. Actually, that’s not what I really meant.” Ah Wu said half-jokingly, but when she said the word “win over,” she could not help but blush.

“Oh, but I am serious. Judging from how long it takes for the Princess to learn to manage the household, I think it will not take more than a year, hmm, my Princess?” Chu Mao raised an eyebrow.

Although Ah Wu did not understand flirting, she was still somewhat moved by Chu Mao’s words, “my Princess.” Using “my” meant he considered her one of his own.

Only then did Ah Wu realize she had truly misunderstood Chu Mao. She had always thought Chu Mao was wholeheartedly protecting Nanny Hao and did not want her, an outsider, to manage the household. Little did she know that she was the one who treated herself as an outsider, while in Chu Mao’s eyes, she was already part of his group. He had treated her with sincerity, but she had been cynical.

Ah Wu felt she should have expected it. Chu Mao was indeed wholeheartedly protecting Nanny Hao, so he certainly would not put Nanny Hao in opposition to his Princess. That would not be protecting her but rather creating an enemy for her. With Chu Mao’s intelligence, he would not do such a foolish thing. Therefore, whenever she and Nanny Hao had a conflict, he always sided with her, actually to defuse her hostility towards Nanny Hao.

Heaven knows, Ah Wu had even once thought that Chu Mao was moved by her beauty—truly shameful!

What made Ah Wu even more ashamed was that Chu Mao had treated her with sincerity, yet she had failed to reciprocate. Her overthinking made her seem petty. “To be able to speak so frankly with Your Highness has truly cleared up my great doubts. I hope to speak with Your Highness in this way in the future, and I wish Your Highness would guide me from time to time.”

Chu Mao looked at her and smiled, “Your Highness is intelligent and insightful; you do not need my guidance.”

Ah Wu could not tell whether Chu Mao’s words were sincere or sarcastic, but with a guilty conscience, she could not help but be suspicious, thinking that Chu Mao was mocking her for overthinking.

Ah Wu’s face flushed, making her appear even more radiant.

Chu Mao paused for a moment, then stood up and said, “You eat; I am going to Bingxue Forest.”

Although Chu Mao left in a hurry, Ah Wu was not surprised. It was not unusual for someone like him to be so eager to go to Bingxue Forest; what was truly unusual was that he stayed at Yulan Hall so late in the morning.

After Chu Mao left, Zi-Shan came to serve Ah Wu and reported something to her.

“You mean, last night the Meis and others bullied Cai-Mei, and you saw it?” Ah Wu had thought that after so long without any news, she was overthinking things, and those people were just brainless idiots. Unexpectedly, she had been narrow-minded and impatient, while the other party was quite patient.

“It did not seem like it was intentional. I passed by there unintentionally; they could not possibly have known I would happen to be passing by.” Zi-Shan hesitated. She felt sorry for Cai-Mei and considered owing her a favor, so she did not want to think of her that way.

Ah Wu did not think Zi-Shan was wrong to think that way; it just showed the girl was kind-hearted. “I did not say anything about her. But since you saw it, I have to be careful. We are not going to harm Cai-Mei, just keeping an eye on things.”

“Besides, they really could not guess you’d pass by there, and they do often bully her behind her back. Maybe they are just waiting for your chance encounter.” Ah Wu’s lips curled into a sneer; she’d probably spent so much time on this charade to make it seamless.

Although Ah Wu had experienced Chu Mao’s “sincere treatment,” whether she believed it or not, her tendency to overthink was innate, and innate traits were hard to change. She had not understood why these people would target Zi-Shan before, because although she held the position of principal wife, her interests did not conflict much with theirs. Even if she were to step down, they would not become principal wives; who knows, someone even more powerful might appear.

But things were different now. Ever since Ah Wu heard Chu Mao’s words and discovered that he had indeed temporarily entrusted Nanny Hao with managing the household affairs, she understood somewhat why Hongyao Villa and Mei-Ying were involved in this mess.

Ah Wu never underestimated her opponents, nor did she believe that the methods of Xiangsi and Mei-Ying were so crude. Today, they indeed put on this second act, but it was unclear where it would ultimately end.

“Did you go up to help Cai-Mei out of that predicament?” Ah Wu asked again.

“Yes, I did. I cannot be an unrighteous person; besides, the Princess Consort also told me to act according to their wishes,” Zi-Shan said.

Ah Wu smiled brightly. “Good girl, it’s no wonder I’ve always doted on you.”

“The Princess Consort is right; she worried me so much this morning. Thankfully, the Prince did not get angry,” Zi-Shan said, her heart still pounding.

“Ha, you are blaming me now? I thought you did not even respect me as your mistress! The Prince sat there for so long, and you did not even bother to call me. I just told you last time that you must announce yourself to anyone who comes in. Do you not take my words seriously at all?” Ah Wu got angry just thinking about it. These were all her trusted maids, and she always considered their feelings. Now, they were all siding with outsiders.

“Your Highness, it’s really not our fault. Just the sight of the Prince sitting there, just a glance at us, and we trembled. How could we dare disobey his orders?” Zi-Zhui cried out first.

Zi-Shan nodded vigorously beside her.

“He’s like a tiger about to eat people, but I have not seen him punish you!” Ah Wu said angrily.

Zi-Shan shrank her neck. “More fearsome than a tiger.”

Ah Wu glared at the spineless Zi-Shan, thinking how embarrassing it was that she was her head maid. “Tell me, how exactly are you afraid?”

Zi-Shan said, “This servant cannot really explain it. If I could, I would not be afraid. Do you not believe me? Ask everyone in the mansion. Who is not afraid? Does the Princess Consort not fear him?”

Ah Wu thought for a moment; she herself had never been afraid.

At this moment, Tong-Guan, who had entered from the side, interjected, “This servant thinks there might be some fear, but I am afraid the biggest reason is that no one can bear to go against the Prince’s wishes.”

“Oh dear, are you not ashamed to say that?” Zi-Shan laughed.

Tong-Guan said bluntly, “What’s wrong with saying it? I have nothing to hide; that’s what I think. The Prince is just handsome, do you not think, Sister Zi-Zhui?”

Zi-Zhui nodded blankly.

Ah Wu sighed, rubbing her forehead. “These girls are hopeless! Do you think being pretty will put food on the table? Do not you even think about who’s paying your monthly wages?”

“You know what, it really is the Prince who’s paying,” Tong-Guan chuckled. She usually handled Ah Wu’s accounts and was very familiar with money matters.

“Fine, fine, pretty, huh? Then do not let the Four Beauties come in. We might as well just give you all your hair cut open and offer you to the Prince,” Ah Wu said, amused and annoyed.

“No way! We’ve all secretly agreed that we want to get married and become proper wives,” Zi-Shan laughed. Besides, who wanted to live a life of widowhood? This was what Zi-Shan said on behalf of everyone—something unspoken.

But Ah Wu was living a life of widowhood willingly and even enjoying it. That was what you call poison to one, honey to another.

Having finished her joking remarks, Ah Wu then solemnly instructed Zi-Shan, “From now on, you should spend more time with Cai-Mei, but remember to be cautious.”

Zi-Shan nodded.

After Zi-Shan left, Ah Wu called Tong-Guan and Tong-Wen to her side. “You two keep an eye on Zi-Shan and Cai-Mei for me. Zi-Shan is an observer, but I am afraid she might be deceived by Cai-Mei without even realizing it.” Ah Wu then recounted the matter of Cai-Mei, and Tong-Guan and Tong-Wen understood that their mistress was wary of Cai-Mei, so they nodded cautiously.

“Also, keep a close eye on Hongyao Villa and Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng. I have a feeling this matter is not simple,” Ah Wu frowned. Since the future was unpredictable, prevention was the best policy.

However, the immediate matter of Chu Mao scolding her for not acting like a proper mistress could not be delayed.

Before dinner that evening, Xun Mei and the other two chambermaids came to Yulan Hall to serve her. Although they were not actually required to serve her, the three women were always impeccably polite. However, in the past, when Chu Mao ate dinner at Yulan Hall, the three of them would be stopped outside by Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng. Ah Wu ignored them; at that time, she was thinking, “What does the Prince Qi’s Mansion have to do with me?” Of course, it was just a foolish thing to do because she could not understand things clearly. Although Ah Wu knew she should not resent Chu Mao for things from her past life that had not happened in this life, she still felt somewhat uneasy, which led to her somewhat inappropriate actions.

Now that Chu Mao had been open and honest with her, Ah Wu felt too embarrassed to continue freeloading.

After paying their respects, the three chambermaids, not hearing a word from Ah Wu, were somewhat uneasy. Usually, this Princess would have sent them away long ago, but today, for some reason, she had kept them behind without saying a word.

Leaving aside Gongsun Lan and Ouyang Zhi, they were of lowly rank and status, originally low-class dancers, and had not won Chu Mao’s favor. Their livelihood depended entirely on their master’s whims, and they dared not speak a word.

Ah Wu felt it was a pity for these two; their dancing was superb, and their looks were exquisite, yet they had fallen into this abyss.

As for Xun Mei, she was a veteran of Chu Mao’s service. When Chu Mao still lived in the palace, Xun Mei was his close attendant, and it was said that she was the first palace maid to serve Chu Mao and understood matters of the heart. After Chu Mao left the palace to establish his own residence, she naturally followed him to the Prince Qi’s mansion. Therefore, although Xun Mei and Chu Mao were not particularly close, she could be considered someone who knew Chu Mao well.

Because of their familiarity, Xun Mei respected Princess Ah Wu even more. Others might not know Chu Mao’s peculiarities, but how could she not? Let alone the fact that this Princess had managed to change the Prince’s mind and keep him staying at Yulan Hall; even just one night would have surprised Xun Mei, let alone for so long.

Ah Wu was not deliberately feigning profundity; she was simply pondering how to phrase her words. Finally, deciding to drag Chu Mao into it, she said, “Today, the Prince blamed me for being in the residence for so long without establishing any rules for you. It’s my fault. Starting tomorrow, you will come at 3:45 AM and at 5:45 PM to serve me.”

These words left Xun Mei and the other two completely bewildered. Even as they left Yulan Hall, they still had not grasped their mistress’s intentions. Gongsun Lan approached Xun Mei and asked, “Sister Xun, why did the Princess suddenly change her mind?” Gongsun Lan was not stupid. Ah Wu had clearly been neglecting them before; why the sudden insistence on rules? She did not believe the Prince’s excuse of reprimand. If the Prince had reprimanded them, they should have covered it up; it was not something to boast about.

Xun Mei frowned, pondering. If it truly was the Prince blaming the Princess, then they should be even more attentive to her needs. The Prince, after all, would not confide such innermost thoughts to anyone. Xun Mei had served Chu Mao for a long time and had never seen her master blame anyone; a single disapproving glance was enough to dismiss them. This was indeed the principal wife, and with such beauty, she was truly different.

“How could we, the servants, possibly guess what our mistress is thinking? We’ve only done our duty. The Princess is not one to hold grudges,” Xun Mei said to Gongsun Lan.

Gongsun Lan, being younger, was not as open-minded as Xun Mei. Hearing her words, she merely pursed her lips and whispered to Ouyang Zhi beside her.

The next day, Xun Mei and the other two came to pay their respects. There was no word from He Peizhen’s Yaobi Courtyard or Tao Siyao’s Qiongzhi Courtyard; now, they were even too lazy to send someone to inform them.

This, of course, made Princess Ah Wu even more ashamed; it seemed that all the current troubles were indeed her doing.

In front of the three chambermaids, Ah Wu sipped her tea and asked, “Where are the two concubines?”

Zi-Shan replied, “Neither of the concubines sent anyone. This servant will send someone to Yaobi Courtyard and Qiongzhi Courtyard to check.”

A short while later, Cui-Ling and Cui-Long returned with news: “Lady He and Lady Tao both said they are ill and therefore cannot come to pay their respects to the Princess.”

Ah Wu glanced at the three chambermaids and smiled. “It’s all my fault as the principal wife. The two concubines have been too ill to get out of bed since I entered the palace. Today is perfect; the snow has melted. Shall we go together to visit and comfort the two concubines?”

Xun Mei and the other two dared not refuse and could only follow behind Ah Wu, watching the spectacle unfold.

Ah Wu first went to He Peizhen’s Yaobi Courtyard. She was the first concubine to enter the mansion, and her maternal grandfather was the Duke of Zhenguo; everyone in the mansion treated her with respect. Since Ah Wu was going to kill a chicken, she naturally wanted to choose one with the most beautiful feathers.

When He Peizhen in Yaobi Courtyard heard that Ah Wu had brought three chambermaids to see her, her eyes widened. “Ha, she really dares to put on airs in front of me! Does she think she’s so great just because she’s the principal wife? I will see what she can do to me!” He Peizhen, who did not even bother to greet her, was even more furious than Ah Wu.

“My Lady, she is, after all, the principal wife. Why not go to bed and lie down first? That would be giving her a way out,” Zhu-Yi, who was beside He Peizhen, advised, actually also trying to give He Peizhen a way out herself.

To everyone’s surprise, He Peizhen was unmoved, retorting, “Why should I give her a way out? I do not believe she can do anything to me. Even if she’s not perfect, I was betrothed by the Emperor; my name is on the imperial register.”

“That’s right, does she not realize she’s just a daughter of a Vice Minister of Rites? She dares to put on airs in front of our master! Humph!” Zhu-Yun chimed in.

Zhu-Yi shook her head inwardly, knowing her mistress’s temperament—the more she tried to persuade her, the more agitated she became—so she simply remained silent.

When Ah Wu entered the main room of Yaobi Courtyard, she saw He Peizhen calmly sitting on the couch, drinking tea. Upon seeing her, she did not rise, saying, “Please forgive me, Your Highness, but I am ill and cannot rise to pay my respects.”

Such a blatant lie—it was amazing she could come up with it.

Ah Wu, however, remained unperturbed. She walked straight over and sat opposite He Peizhen, saying, “Since you are ill, these formalities are unnecessary. Look at you, so pitiful, too sick to even stand. Which physician did you see? Why has it not worked after so long?”

He Peizhen was infuriated by Ah Wu’s condescending tone. “I would not dare trouble Your Highness. I do not remember which physician it was. If Your Highness wants to know, just ask Hongyao Villa; they’ve hired all the physicians.”

Ah Wu smiled wryly. Was she not a little dim-witted? She even knew how to sow discord. But Ah Wu did not waste any more words with He Peizhen. She carefully stroked the fingers of her left hand with her right, as if nothing in the world was more precious or worthy of her attention. Ah Wu had learned this gesture from Princess Fuhui; to others, it was the most contemptuous manner.

“The Prince said the other day that it’s not good for Lady He to stay ill like this. There are too many people and too much trouble in the mansion, which is not good for her recovery. She should stay at the estate for a while and come back when she’s better,” Ah Wu said calmly, as if she were deciding not He Peizhen’s fate, but the fate of a cat or dog. It must be said, Ah Wu was very good at provoking people.

“You dare?” He Peizhen did not believe Ah Wu would dare to treat her like that.

Ah Wu did not know where He Peizhen got the confidence to say such things to her. Even if Chu Mao had not spoken first, she would still have to teach He Peizhen a lesson to let her know that while you could eat whatever you wanted, you could not say whatever you wanted.

“Of course, I dare! Yesterday, the Prince ordered you to copy the Precepts for Women three hundred times. You will have plenty of time to copy and understand them at the estate.”

Ah Wu stood up and instructed Zi-Shan and the others, “You and Chi-Jin, take a few old women here and help Lady He pack her luggage. I want to see Lady He’s carriage leave the mansion before noon.” Having said that, Ah Wu did not even look at He Peizhen and got up to leave.

Four burly old women, specially selected from Yulan Hall, stood at the door. This was merely to intimidate He Peizhen; in reality, just leaving Chi-Jin alone would be enough to make them obey.

“Rong Xuan, how dare you!” He Peizhen screamed and jumped up.

“Ha, I’ve never heard of a concubine daring to call the mistress by her name,” Ah Wu sarcastically remarked. “Eh, did you not say you could not get up? How come you are standing up now? Are you not afraid that if you curse yourself too much, you will really become paralyzed?”

Zi-Shan, standing to the side, facepalmed, never knowing her mistress could be so sharp-tongued.

Actually, Ah Wu did not want to be like this. Everyone wanted to give off a gentle and kind impression, but with someone like He Peizhen, if you were even slightly soft, she would think you were afraid of her, and she would practically dare to shit on your head.

However, after Ah Wu had so thoroughly mocked He Peizhen, she felt a sense of satisfaction, both physically and mentally. Compared to when He Peizhen called her a “doxie’s child” and she could only retaliate with tears, this was much more satisfying.

Not satisfied with that, Ah Wu walked up to He Peizhen, leaned down, and whispered in her ear with a chuckle, “Did you not call my mother a doxie’s child back then? I’d like to see you have a child too; would that not truly be a doxie’s child?”