Four Seasons Brocade – CH 167

Chapter 167 ☆、

Ah Wu was actually a businesswoman. She did not expect to receive more than she gave, and for safety’s sake, she did not accept high-interest loans. The feeling Ah Wu got from Prince Qi was that he was tempting and forcing her to accept the loan. Unfortunately, if she accepted, she feared she would not be able to repay even the interest, let alone the principal.

Moreover, the hardest debt to repay in this world was a debt of gratitude.

Ah Wu now wished Chu Mao would use her, even ruthlessly, as long as she had value, instead of this tender affection.

So, Ah Wu said, “Why the rush? Actually, there are a few suitable families in the capital. Let me inquire more carefully.”

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu. “No need. The Bai family is good, with good family traditions. A man can only take a concubine if he is forty without a son. Xiangsi will not suffer if she marries into their family.”

To be honest, apart from the fact that they were not in the capital, Chu Mao felt that Ah Wu was truly thinking of Xiangsi wholeheartedly. This proved that she was upright and not someone who would kick someone when they were down. Looking at Xiangsi again, Chu Mao frowned.

Ah Wu watched as Chu Mao held her hand in his and heard him say, “Nanny Hao, she…” Chu Mao did not finish his sentence, but his apology was clear.

Chu Mao had already dealt with Xiangsi because of this, and it also served as a warning to Nanny Hao. Ah Wu was more than satisfied. Afraid that Chu Mao might do something else, she quickly said, “Your Highness, no one knew I had a problem with fainting at the sight of blood; even I myself did not know it would be this severe.” Ah Wu attributed her problem to fainting at the sight of blood.

Chu Mao did not speak but simply played with Ah Wu’s fingers, as if her hand were a jade lion. Finally, Chu Mao brought her hand to his lips, his lips caressing her fingertips.

Although Ah Wu had reluctantly accepted Chu Mao’s intimacy, she still felt awkward, her face slightly flushed.

“Do you hate me treating you like this?” Chu Mao asked, looking into Ah Wu’s eyes.

This question startled Ah Wu. She felt she should hate it; she hated being touched by anyone. But a voice inside her told her that she did not hate it. She felt awkward, uncomfortable, and afraid of his next move. Yet, Ah Wu had to admit that she secretly enjoyed being treated this way by Chu Mao; who would not like being pampered?

Ah Wu blushed, startled by her own thoughts, but under Chu Mao’s gaze, she could not nod. She could only lower her eyes and shake her head.

Chu Mao’s lips curled slightly, then he heard Ah Wu say, “But Your Highness, I did not wash my hands after offering incense.”

Chu Mao’s face twisted with a rare strangeness. After hesitating for a long time, he finally released Ah Wu’s hand.

Ah Wu withdrew her hand with satisfaction.

Back at Prince Qi’s mansion, Chu Mao went to Bingxue Forest, while Lu Ruoxing led several people to Yulan Hall.

Among the group, Ah Wu immediately spotted the woman who stood out from the crowd. She was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, cold as ice, with sharp features. Even after being there for so long, her eyes remained fixed straight ahead. Ah Wu saw a hint of Yuan-Chun in her but felt she was even more enigmatic.

However, since Ah Wu woke up, she had not seen Yuan-Chun in the Prince’s mansion, nor had she heard any news of her.

Lu Ruoxing bowed to Ah Wu, his face beaming with smiles, and said obsequiously, “Master, this is Miss Bing-Shuang. His Highness specially invited her to protect you. His Highness specifically said that Miss Bing-Shuang only listens to you.”

Ah Wu thought to herself, “Another one like this. Is His Highness not afraid I will want to ‘castrate’ the Fifth Prince again?” But since Chu Mao specifically stated that Bing-Shuang would only listen to her, it meant that something like what happened at Hongyao Villa would not happen again.

“Hmm.” Ah Wu glanced at Bing-Shuang. “Zi-Shan, take Bing-Shuang downstairs and settle her in.” Bing-Shuang was not like an ordinary maid; she was practically a hired servant. Ah Wu treated her like a palace maid—taking good care of her.

Then, Lu Ruoxing smiled, his wrinkles deepening, and said, “These are the new head matrons of the inner courtyard. His Highness asked me to bring them here for the Princess Consort to see.”

Ah Wu looked up and saw that these women all had their hair neatly combed, looked clean and capable, and were all around thirty years old.

According to Lu Ruoxing, the first one, wearing a ginger-yellow jacket, was Matron Huang, who now managed all personnel matters in the inner courtyard. Another one, wearing a tea-colored jacket, was Matron Hua, in charge of purchasing and the kitchen. The one wearing a brown-green jacket was Matron Wei, in charge of the storeroom, and the one wearing a bamboo-green jacket was Matron Hai, who was in charge of Chu Mao’s concubines and chambermaids.

“His Highness said that from now on, if the Princess needs their help, she can simply summon them to Yulan Hall without going through Hongyao Villa.” Lu Ruoxing practically beamed with joy.

Ah Wu understood. Chu Mao had essentially sidelined Nanny Hao in the most crucial affairs of the mansion. Although these four matrons were still under the control of Hongyao Villa, Ah Wu could now use them without Nanny Hao’s intervention.

“Thank you for your trouble today, Eunuch Lu,” Ah Wu said with a smile. Zi-Shan quickly slipped a purse to Eunuch Lu. Lu Ruoxing, beaming, tucked it into his sleeve.

“This servant is overwhelmed with gratitude. This servant wishes he could come to Yulan Hall every day to share in the Master’s good fortune.” Lu Ruoxing’s flattery was so blatant that Ah Wu felt a little embarrassed. No wonder he had been suppressed by Li Yanguang for so many years.

“Oh, by the way, why have I not seen Eunuch Li all this time?” Ah Wu asked.

“Eunuch Li is not feeling well, and His Highness has granted him permission to recuperate at a separate residence for a period of time,” said Lu Ruoxing.

Ah Wu nodded.

That evening, Chu Mao, as usual, came to Yulan Hall for dinner and chanted scriptures for Ah Wu, but he did not rest there. The two were not exactly close, but neither were they distant.

However, Ah Wu became increasingly afraid of Chu Mao’s gaze. Every time he stared at her, she felt as if she had turned into a piece of braised pork. Then, sometimes, while eating, Prince Qi would grab her hand and gnaw on it like a bamboo shoot, leaving Ah Wu no room for complaint.

Sometimes, Ah Wu even maliciously speculated that if she offered her toes, Prince Qi would probably be willing to gnaw on them too.

That evening after dinner, Chu Mao gave Ah Wu a small porcelain bottle. “This is the antidote for frost. Take it once every three months. Keep it safe. There are four pills inside.”

Ah Wu’s hand tightened around the bottle. She looked up at Chu Mao, a surge of gratitude rising in her heart.

Chu Mao took Ah Wu’s hand and stroked her fingertips.

By the second month, good news was everywhere, and Ah Wu felt that no one’s life could be more comfortable than hers.

Rong Jie had been selected as the top scholar in the imperial examination—a truly momentous occasion. Ah Wu did not bypass Nanny Hao and went directly to Matron Wei, who managed the storeroom. Although Chu Mao had sidelined Nanny Hao, Ah Wu thought he probably would not want to see her and Nanny Hao at odds.

“Go tell Nanny Hao that I want to return to the Rong Mansion tomorrow to congratulate my elder brother,” Ah Wu instructed Zi-Shan.

A short while later, Nanny Lu from Hongyao Villa came to report that the carriages and horses needed for tomorrow were ready. Matron Wei also sent a gift list for Ah Wu to review.

During dinner, before Ah Wu could even mention it to Chu Mao, he brought it up himself, saying, “Tomorrow I will go with you to congratulate Elder Brother-in-law.”

Ah Wu felt a warm glow at Chu Mao’s address of “Elder Brother-in-law,” and she turned to him with a gentle smile.

“Now I understand what ‘a smile that could launch a thousand ships’ really means,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu knew she should not be smiling, but she could not suppress the smile; she had to admit she liked hearing such words. Ah Wu even thought that if she were a man and became Emperor, she would definitely be a tyrannical ruler who only favored flatterers.

Before going to the Rong Mansion, Ah Wu specifically instructed Zi-Shan and the others not to tell Master Rong and Lady Cui about her illness.

Upon entering the Rong Mansion’s second gate, Lady Cui saw that Ah Wu looked remarkably well, which brought her comfort. Her biggest worry was that Ah Wu was being mistreated in the Prince’s Mansion, with a wet nurse in charge and two high-ranking concubines around. How could Lady Cui be at ease?

“The Fourth Prince seems quite fond of you,” Lady Cui said. Otherwise, given Rong Jie’s influence, would the Prince have condescended to come and offer his congratulations in person?

Ah Wu nodded.

Lady Cui dismissed the others and said softly, “It’s been over half a year now; have you news of anything?”

Ah Wu blushed and shook her head.

“Oh, do not be anxious. You cannot rush this. But you should put in more effort. Do not think that just because you were born well, you can throw tantrums at the Fourth Prince. Try to coax him into your room more often; it will make it easier to conceive.” Having reached this point, and being mother and daughter, what could they not say? So Lady Cui spoke without restraint.

Ah Wu’s face grew increasingly red, as if she did not want to listen. Even with Lady Cui, Ah Wu was too embarrassed to discuss matters of the bedroom with her.

Seeing Ah Wu’s reaction, Lady Cui became even more anxious. “Let me tell you,” she said, “a woman’s appearance is not the only important thing. Has your father not seen a woman more beautiful than me? He still…” Lady Cui herself blushed. “Anyway, you must carefully read that little booklet I gave you.”

Ah Wu remained silent; the booklet had long since vanished into dust.

“You also need to be wary of those vixens,” Lady Cui continued. “What man does not crave novelty? You are still young, and the Fourth Prince is in the throes of passion. If you do not hurry and get pregnant to secure your position, what will become of you? I heard there will be a selection of concubines this year, and the palace will definitely be choosing brides for the princes. I am not forcing you, but even your father has privately told me to hurry. The Fourth Prince has no heir, which is very disadvantageous.” Even Lady Cui knew that a prince without an heir was a serious problem.

Ah Wu now missed her parents, Master Rong and Lady Cui, but she dreaded returning to the Rong Mansion. Every time she came back, she would repeatedly say to Lady Cui, “Did you not say I was still young and it would not be good to get pregnant too early?”

“Silly girl, times have changed. I’ve already found the best midwife for you,” Lady Cui said.

Helpless, Ah Wu could only say, “I am going to see my brother.”

However, Ah Wu had not expected that while she did not want to talk to Lady Cui, some people had been waiting outside for a long time. No sooner had Ah Wu left than someone came to inform Lady Cui.

“You mean, the Fourth Prince wants to see me alone?” Lady Cui was both surprised and confused. Even someone as naive as Lady Cui knew that a son-in-law meeting his mother-in-law alone was probably a bad sign.

Soon after, Ah Wu also learned of the news. “His Highness met with Madam alone?”

In Ah Wu’s mind, Chu Mao could meet with Master Rong alone and with Rong Jie and Rong Yin alone, but to meet with Lady Cui alone was truly incomprehensible. What could he possibly have to talk about with Lady Cui?

Ah Wu had just sat down in Master Rong’s study when she suddenly stood up. “Father, I have something to attend to.” Without waiting for Master Rong’s reaction, she hurried to Lady Cui’s courtyard.

Prince Qi was still in Lady Cui’s west-side room. All the maids and servants attending to Lady Cui were standing in the corridor.

Author’s Note:
Si Mao: I had a very pleasant conversation with my mother-in-law.
Ah Wu: My father and I… did not talk at all!