Four Seasons Brocade – CH 147

Chapter 147 ☆、  

Actually, Ah Wu had roughly figured out the meaning, but she absolutely refused to think in that direction. However, she considered herself to be fairly good-looking and talented, and her father was his teacher, a staunch supporter of the Fourth Prince. Logically and emotionally, Chu Mao should be close to her. If it were Ah Wu herself, she probably would have done the same.

But it was precisely because this matter was so reasonable that Ah Wu felt troubled.

“Your Highness, Eunuch Lu from the Prince’s side came to say that the Prince had an urgent matter and had left first, instructing us to pack our belongings and return to the mansion this afternoon,” Zi-Shan said, finding Ah Wu in the study.

Ah Wu hummed in agreement, a sigh of relief washing over her. “Do you know what the Prince wants?”

Zi-Shan shook her head. She could not possibly find out; everyone around Prince Qi was tight-lipped.

Ah Wu did not expect Zi-Shan to glean anything. “Go and call Xiu-Yi over.”

When Xiu-Yi arrived, Ah Wu dismissed everyone. There were some things she should have done long ago, but the two of them were ill and dizzy, and Chu Mao was acting strangely, so she had not had the chance.

Xiu-Yi entered, curtsied to Ah Wu, and stood quietly to one side. Her beauty was striking, but her calm demeanor tempered her allure, making her unremarkable even when standing still.

Ah Wu had been silently observing her for several days. Although she had neglected her slightly these past few days, Xiu-Yi remained unperturbed, showing no resentment or complaint, which pleased Ah Wu even more.

“You said you have no intention of serving His Highness, so would you be willing to serve me?” Ah Wu asked.

Xiu-Yi nodded slowly but firmly, knelt before Ah Wu, and said, “This servant is willing.”

“How about I change your name?”

Xiu-Yi said, “Please bestow a name upon me, Mistress.”

Ah Wu was truly pleased with Xiu-Yi’s understanding and tact; she was not a Princess, but a mistress.

“Let’s call you Zi-Yi.”

Xiu-Yi was slightly surprised. Only Zi-Yan and Zi-Shan, who had served this mistress since childhood, had the character “Zi” in their names. Even Tong-Guan and Tong-Wen did not have this honor. She was naturally delighted. “Zi-Yi thanks Mistress.”

“Get up. For us, who are mistress and servant halfway through our lives, it’s better to be frank. Do you want anything from me?” Speaking of affection, Ah Wu knew she and Xiu-Yi did not have much of a bond. Since she could not appeal to emotions, she could only offer benefits.

“This servant asks for nothing more than that my master trust me as much as she trusts Sisters Zi-Yan and Zi-Shan. I would give my life for that.”

“You know Zi-Yan?” Ah Wu smiled, admiring Zi-Yi even more. Zi-Yan had only visited the mansion once, yet Zi-Yi had already found out everything. That was truly remarkable.

“Please forgive me, my master,” Zi-Yi said, somewhat fearful. Ah Wu, in turn, felt a pang of displeasure. What master would appreciate their servants meticulously gathering such detailed information about their lives?

“This is a one-time exception. However, Zi-Yi, from now on, we are master and servant. If you do not betray me, I will certainly not betray you,” Ah Wu said solemnly.

“Zi-Yi understands.”

Now that the matter was clear, Ah Wu stopped beating around the bush. She stood up, walked to the window, and said slowly, “You are adept at observing subtle signs and quite skilled at communicating with people. Do you have any way to find out more about His Highness and those around him?”

Zi-Yi was taken aback, not expecting her mistress to be so ambitious. “This servant will do her best.”

“Good. When you leave the mansion, I will also prepare a position for you like Zi-Yan’s; how about that?” Ah Wu understood that someone as capable as Zi-Yi was not someone who would be content to simply marry a good man. Therefore, she made such a promise.

Zi-Yi was slightly excited, not expecting Ah Wu to value her so much. “Zi-Yi thanks her mistress.”

This conversation was undoubtedly a pleasant one for both mistress and servant. After Zi-Yi left, Ah Wu announced Zi-Yi’s name change and spoke with Nanny Gong, promoting her to a first-class maid, with her monthly allowance coming from her own dowry.

In terms of dowry, even the princesses in the capital might not be able to match Ah Wu’s, so she naturally would not be stingy with money.

Ah Wu returned to Prince Qi’s mansion but did not see Chu Mao. She did not think much of it, assuming he had gone out to “visit monks and scholars” again. When Nanny Hao sent someone to deliver a message to Ah Wu, she mentioned that the Longqing Emperor had temporarily dispatched Chu Mao to Jizhou for disaster relief.

Ah Wu looked at the invitations Nanny Hao had collected for her. The Fifth Prince’s Prince Jin’s banquet was scheduled for the seventh day of the first lunar month, the Sixth Prince’s Prince Wei’s for the eighth, and the Duke of Wei’s for the ninth. These were all invitations Ah Wu had to attend. As for the Duke of Anguo’s residence, where Ah Wu’s grandparents lived, they had also sent an invitation for the twelfth.

“When is our family’s banquet?” Ah Wu asked. In the capital’s custom, after the third day of the first lunar month, various families would begin inviting guests for banquets, and Prince Qi’s mansion was no exception.

“Nanny Hao discussed it with the Prince and set the date for the fourteenth of the first lunar month. The Prince might be able to return by then. Nanny Hao sent this old servant to ask the Princess Consort if Lady He should be brought back; otherwise, when the Duchess of Zhenguo comes on the fourteenth, it might be difficult for her to save face,” said Nanny Lu.

“Has Lady He’s copy of the Women’s Precepts been sent over?” Ah Wu asked.

Zi-Shan, standing nearby, replied, “No.”

“Nanny Lu heard it too. Lady He shows no remorse. If she’s brought back like this, will the rules of the mansion not become meaningless?” Ah Wu said calmly.

“Nanny Hao is just worried…” Nanny Lu tried to explain awkwardly.

Nanny Hao was not the one who was offended, so she spoke without thinking and could easily play the good guy. Ah Wu was already unhappy, so she gave Nanny Lu a cold look.

Zi-Shan busied herself, helping Tong-Wen prepare clothes and jewelry for Ah Wu to wear on the seventh day of the lunar month. Ah Wu, however, was completely uninterested. She had no interest in such social obligations, and besides, the mere thought of the Fifth Prince’s face disgusted her; this Fifth Prince was truly shameless to the point of having no scruples whatsoever.

While Ah Wu was annoyed by the Fifth Prince, she heard Lu Ruoxing’s voice outside. She wondered, “Why is he here?”

Zi-Shan had already lifted the curtain and entered. “Your Highness, Eunuch Lu has brought a maid, saying the Prince sent her to serve you.”

“Let them in,” Ah Wu said, also puzzled by the situation.

Lu Ruoxing entered, accompanied by a girl of about eighteen or nineteen. She was petite, with slightly dark skin, a round, rosy face, and bright, piercing eyes. She was curiously sizing up Ah Wu, looking more like someone from the mountains than someone trained to serve. “Eunuch Lu, she is…” Ah Wu asked.

“Reporting to Your Highness, her name is Yuan-Chun. The Prince ordered her to serve you. I do not know the specifics, only that the Prince brought her back from outside.”

Ah Wu nodded. “Then you may go.”

Ah Wu looked at Yuan-Chun. “Your name is Yuan-Chun?”

“That’s right.” Yuan-Chun smiled and stepped forward, looking at Ah Wu. “Your Highness, you are truly beautiful.”

Ah Wu was taken aback by Yuan-Chun’s direct praise. She had never encountered a maid like this before. “Where did you come from? Did His Highness tell you anything when he ordered you to serve me?”

“I came from Zhijing Mountain. The Prince only ordered me to protect Your Highness,” Yuan-Chun answered succinctly.

However, Ah Wu understood. “Oh, so your martial arts skills must be quite good?” Ah Wu did not know why Chu Mao suddenly thought of arranging such a maid for her, but she figured it was a kind gesture. She observed Yuan-Chun; her eyes were bright, and her demeanor was simple and innocent, still like a big child.

“I would not dare say that,” Yuan-Chun smiled. She loved to laugh, and her smile revealed two dimples.

“I also have a maid here who knows a little martial arts. Why not have the two of you spar?” Chi-Jin was a martial arts-savvy maid whom Ah Wu had painstakingly found. If Yuan-Chun could not beat her, there was no need to keep her. In any case, Ah Wu did not want to keep Chu Mao’s people around.

Although Yuan-Chun was simple, she was quick-witted. Hearing Ah Wu’s suggestion, she understood her meaning and readily nodded, “Alright.”

Ah Wu valued Chi-Jin highly. She could easily defeat two or three men on her own, yet this woman could not even last a single move against Yuan-Chun.

No one present expected Chi-Jin to lose to the seemingly small Yuan-Chun. Chi-Jin, however, was quite easygoing and even begged to become Yuan-Chun’s disciple.

Although Ah Wu did not understand martial arts, she could tell that Yuan-Chun’s skills were exceptional. She was increasingly confused by Chu Mao’s actions.

On the seventh day, Ah Wu went to Prince Jin’s residence. As soon as she entered Hechun Hall, Yin Xuexia smiled and rose to greet her, “Fourth Sister-in-law is here! Please have a seat.” The Fifth Prince’s consort, Yin Xuexia, was a virtuous woman. While her appearance was only average, her demeanor was graceful and composed. Ah Wu had not had much contact with her, but she quite liked her; it was just a pity she had married someone like the Fifth Prince.

The moment Ah Wu entered, she stole everyone’s attention. The noblewomen who had seen her during the palace court ceremonies fared slightly better, but the others stared at her blankly, only snapping out of their daze after a long while, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes frequently darting towards her.

“With Princess Qi here, we all look like old tree trunks in comparison,” a comment that immediately drew a lot of hatred for Ah Wu.

Ah Wu looked at the speaker; it was Zeng Xiuzhi, the Fifth Prince’s concubine, the daughter of the Zeng family, the salt commissioner of Lianghuai. She was beautiful and gentle, but her words were far from pleasant.

When Zeng Xiuzhi saw Ah Wu looking at her, she straightened her neck, looked back at her, and her eyes held a hint of defiance. Ah Wu was completely bewildered, wondering what she had done to offend this concubine.

Yin Xuexia glared at Zeng Xiuzhi and quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Lady Zeng is young and does not know how to speak properly; Fourth Sister-in-law, please do not mind.”

Ah Wu naturally did not mind; it was the old fogies who should mind.

“Lady Zeng is absolutely right. Only a beauty like Fourth Sister-in-law could make the Fourth Prince so attentive, even dismissing Sister He,” said Herui, the Sixth Prince’s wife, with a sneer.

Although He Peizhen’s grandmother, the Duchess of Zhenguo, was not in Hechun Hall at the moment but had gone to the stage, He Peizhen’s mother, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo’s heir, was present. Hearing this, she looked at Ah Wu, a sharp glint in her eyes.