Four Seasons Brocade – CH 234

Chapter 234 ☆、

Although Xiangsi had returned home, her dowry remained at the Prince Qi’s mansion. Lady Yan said, “Now that Second Brother is gone, and his wife has no children, it’s understandable that she’s worried about being alone. Since her dowry has been brought back, it’s better to leave it at the Prince’s Mansion. In three years, whether she returns north or adopts a nephew or niece, we can discuss the dowry then.”

Xiangsi was about to say something when Lady Yan added, “Keeping your dowry with Nanny Hao is the safest option, is it not, Sister-in-law?”

Xiangsi was speechless, unable to utter another word. Nanny Hao, however, was also worried that if, as Xiangsi said, the Bai family came to covet her dowry during these three years, she would be less confident on her own. Therefore, she acquiesced to Lady Yan’s words; after all, Xiangsi’s dowry was not insignificant.

Finally, Nanny Hao gave Xiangsi two more maids to serve her before seeing her off.

When Chu Mao returned, he only briefly inquired about Xiangsi’s situation before setting the matter aside and asking, “It’s Teacher’s birthday in a few days. Draw up the gift list for me to see.”

Ah Wu was surprised that Chu Mao remembered her father’s birthday, but said aloud, “Is Your Highness afraid I will empty the mansion?”

Chu Mao looked at Ah Wu. “Why have you been so sarcastic these past few days?”

Ah Wu pursed her lips. “Who’s being sarcastic? Your Highness has not inquired about past social interactions; why are you only concerned about this one?” Ah Wu said angrily, calling for Zi-Shan to come in and fetch the list for Chu Mao to see.

Chu Mao added a pair of blue-and-white porcelain gourd-shaped vases depicting the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and a pair of polychrome porcelain mortars and pestles depicting farming and weaving.

“Why are you so temperamental? I was just worried that, as a daughter, you would not feel comfortable emptying your husband’s house. I am just helping you out, am I not?” Chu Mao chuckled, pinching Ah Wu’s nose.

Ah Wu snorted, knowing Chu Mao was trying to save face for her. Though pleased, she still felt uneasy and turned to enter the bathing room.

Chu Mao followed her in. Ah Wu turned back and glared at him, coldly saying, “Your Highness, please leave. I need to bathe.”

“I was just about to bathe too,” Chu Mao said, putting his arm around Ah Wu’s waist.

Ah Wu twisted her body away, dodging him. “Then, Your Highness, please bathe first.” Ah Wu turned and left.

Chu Mao, refreshed after his bath, went out and saw Ah Wu sitting on the couch reading. He walked over and put his arm around her, asking, “What are you reading?”

Ah Wu got up, placed the book in Chu Mao’s hands, and returned to the bathing room. When she came out, she was wearing a slightly worn light purple dress. Sitting at her dressing table applying perfume, she asked Chu Mao without turning her head, “Your Highness, when will Yulan Hall be repaired? It’s just a bathing room; why has it taken two months?”

Chu Mao put down the book in his hand, frowned, and then rubbed his brows together. He then walked over and stood behind Ah Wu, looking at her in the polished bronze mirror. “Why have you been acting so strangely these past few days?”

Ah Wu was so angry she almost fell over. “Who’s acting strangely? Your Highness’s words are so meaningless.” Ah Wu got up, lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, and ignored Chu Mao.

Chu Mao leaned against the headboard, looking down at Ah Wu. Ah Wu had thought closing her eyes would bring her peace of mind, but Prince Qi’s eyes were like fire, burning her eyelids.

Ah Wu sat up abruptly, coldly glancing at Chu Mao. “Since Your Highness is standing, could you pour me a glass of water?”

Without a word, Chu Mao turned and poured Ah Wu water, handing her the cup. Ah Wu tilted her head back and took a large gulp, then handed it back to Chu Mao. Then she saw Prince Qi drink the rest of the water from the cup she had just used, without any sign of disgust.

This somewhat suggestive gesture fueled Ah Wu’s anger. This Prince Qi only humbled himself to appease her in this matter; otherwise, he only had eyes for that old hag.

Ah Wu did not know why she harbored such deep resentment towards Nanny Hao, to the point of irreconcilable enmity. She simply had a fiery temper inside her, a burning rage that made her want to bite anyone she saw.

However, a refined lady like Ah Wu could never do something so unbecoming of her upbringing. She lay down again, pulled the thin blanket under her armpits, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

But Prince Qi was still stubbornly standing by her bedside. Ah Wu, utterly exasperated, sat up and looked at Chu Mao with pity, her voice soft and affected, “What’s wrong with Your Highness today? You are acting so strangely.”

Chu Mao chuckled and sat down on the edge of the bed. “A person without anger would not lie down and sit up so easily.”

Ah Wu gave a cold laugh. “Since Your Highness sees things so clearly, what anger do you think I could possibly have?”

Chu Mao stared at Ah Wu for a long time, until she was almost dozing off, before finally uttering a single word from his precious mouth, “You.” Then Prince Qi threw back the covers and went to sleep.

Ah Wu hesitated slightly, wondering what “you” meant. She felt it could not be what she thought it meant, so she did not bother to think about it anymore. The area around Prince Qi was unbearably hot in the sweltering seventh-month heat. Ah Wu rolled over, then rolled over again, wishing she could kick him off the bed.

But before Ah Wu could kick him off, his hand had already reached her abdomen. Ah Wu secretly gloated; enduring the discomfort of sleeping tonight and choosing a ruqun had indeed been a wise move.

Prince Qi’s hand reached Ah Wu’s neckline, weighing it slightly. He could tear it open with one hand, but it might strangle Ah Wu. So he suddenly moved downwards, lifting it from Ah Wu’s ankles.

Ah Wu kicked out, trying to thwart Chu Mao’s hand.

“Heh, you are really putting on a show,” Chu Mao chuckled, rolling over and pressing down on Ah Wu.

Ah Wu, no match for Chu Mao’s brute strength, was pinned beneath him, panting heavily, with a slight, stinging pain in her skin. At this moment, Prince Qi stopped moving, letting out a sarcastic hiss. “Just because of one sentence, you’ve been holding a grudge all this time?!”

Ah Wu groaned, remaining silent.

“You think I’d be so stupid as to let you and Aunt fall into the water at the same time?” Chu Mao continued his hissing.

After pondering these words for a moment, Ah Wu suddenly smiled. It turned out that the seemingly random “you” he’d just mentioned was actually correct. Unfortunately, Princess Qi was being overly dramatic, so she said, “Why not? What if we travel together and a giant wave comes crashing in? Your Highness is not a god; can you really subdue the River God?”

Chu Mao thought for a moment, “Hehe, you’ve reminded me. In short, I absolutely will not let you travel together.”

Ah Wu disliked Chu Mao playing this game of politeness. She bowed forward and asked, “Are you on my side or hers?” When Ah Wu’s jealousy flared, she did not discriminate based on age or gender; no one could be ahead of her.

Chu Mao paused, then raised his hand and placed it on Ah Wu’s left breast. “If you give me your heart, I will naturally stand by your side.”

Ah Wu was stunned, unsure how to respond. She shrank back. “Your Highness Prince Qi is so cruel. All I asked you to do was choose sides, and you want my life.” Ah Wu feigned sobs, wiping away imaginary tears with the corner of the blanket.

“I do want your life.” Chu Mao lowered his head and kissed Ah Wu’s earlobe. “Call for help.” Chu Mao pressed down.

Ah Wu let out a muffled groan as her chest was squeezed, unable to breathe. She had thought Chu Mao was teasing her, but little did she know His Highness Prince Qi was serious. Ah Wu had to groan a couple of times for help before she could breathe a little better.

When it was fully light, Ah Wu finally tried to stretch her aching legs; even walking was torture.

When they returned to Willow Alley, Chu Mao accompanied Ah Wu. They did not carry the entourage of a Prince, entering very discreetly through the side gate of the Rong Mansion. Although Rong Jichang was Chu Mao’s teacher, due to court affairs and the Longqing Emperor’s summer retreat at the Western Garden, they had not sat down to speak for several months.

Therefore, after the birthday celebration, Rong Jichang invited Chu Mao to his study. Rong Jie and Rong Yin also went along. Ah Wu, meanwhile, played with her eldest nephew, Huan’er. The little guy had already learned to walk, but he wobbled along, looking utterly adorable. Even Ah Wu, a person with a fastidious nature, could not resist giving his chubby, fair face a quick kiss.

However, Ah Wu still disdainfully refused to let Huan’er touch her skirt with his chubby hands that had just rubbed his nose.

Tang Yin’s attitude towards Ah Wu was somewhat cold. When Ah Wu deliberately smiled at her, she would only turn her head away.

Ah Wu did not have many friends, and Tang Yin was both her friend and her sister-in-law. Ah Wu’s shrewd calculations would not allow her to be a fool.

“Sister Yin, are you still angry with me?” Ah Wu asked, seizing the opportunity to be alone with Tang Yin.

“I would not dare,” Tang Yin said calmly.

Ah Wu sat down next to Tang Yin. “I misspoke last time. Please forgive my mistake, Sister Yin,” Ah Wu said pitifully, clasping her hands in a fist salute.

Tang Yin chuckled at Ah Wu’s teasing. “Hmph, not so easy.”

Ah Wu sighed. “Ah, you are not the prime minister, it’s really hard on you.”

Tang Yin thought for a moment before realizing that Ah Wu was mocking her for being petty. She snorted and ignored Ah Wu.

Ah Wu leaned closer to Tang Yin, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Sister Yin, can you take out that picture album from last time and let me look at it again?”

Tang Yin turned sharply to look at Ah Wu. “Did you not say that women from families like ours do not need to be so lowly?”

Ah Wu blushed. She had indeed been too presumptuous back then. “Good sister, please forgive me. I was not thinking clearly back then.”

Tang Yin smiled, stood up, and said, “Let’s go.”

Ah Wu smiled and followed her into her room.

“Go ahead and speak,” Tang Yin said, maintaining her composure, though a forced smile was already playing on her lips.

Ah Wu still did not quite understand Tang Yin’s meaning. She had only brought up the art book because their last argument had stemmed from it. To ease Tang Yin’s mind, Ah Wu had to bring it up again to show that a girl who looked at such art books was not exactly a refined young lady.

Tang Yin looked at Ah Wu’s bewildered expression, feeling utterly exasperated. Her mother-in-law had often lamented Ah Wu’s situation; they’d been married for over two years, and there was still no sign of pregnancy. Not only was Lady Cui worried, but Tang Yin herself was also deeply concerned for Ah Wu.

“Why has your belly not shown any signs of pregnancy?” Tang Yin asked directly. Sometimes, being too tactful could be hurtful.

Ah Wu was drinking tea when Tang Yin’s words stirred up her worries, but she remained stubborn. “You have not shown any signs either.”

“Who said I have not?” Tang Yin retorted.

Ah Wu’s eyes widened. “You are pregnant?! How many months along?”

Tang Yin stroked her belly and chuckled, “A little over a month. It was just diagnosed; even my mother-in-law does not know yet. If you had not said that, I would not have told you. It’s still too early in the pregnancy.”

Ah Wu was genuinely happy for Tang Yin, but thinking of herself, she could not help feeling a little down.

“Ah Wu,” Tang Yin called Ah Wu’s name solemnly, dismissing the trusted maidservants serving in the room, and lowered her voice, “You and Prince Qi must have a child. My father said that His Majesty’s health is currently poor, and all the officials are suggesting establishing an heir, but some say that Prince Qi has been married for so many years and still has no children…”

Ah Wu understood Tang Yin’s meaning, but what puzzled her was that Prince Qi himself seemed to have never paid attention to this issue.

“Even putting that aside, if His Highness Prince Qi were to…” Tang Yin lowered her voice further. “An empress without an heir is always at risk of being deposed. But even if she eventually becomes empress dowager, how can she compare to the Emperor’s biological mother?”

This scenario had played out a thousand times in Ah Wu’s mind; otherwise, she would not be so troubled by the matter of the child, already feeling restless after less than three months.

Ah Wu looked at Tang Yin, believing her words must have another meaning.

Sure enough, after laying the groundwork, Tang Yin took a breath and asked, “Have you and His Highness Prince Qi consummated your marriage?” Compared to Lady Cui, Tang Yin was much smarter. Being Ah Wu’s friend, she had pieced together the general outline from Lady Cui’s snippets of conversation, hence her question.

Ah Wu blushed. “Why are you asking this? Which…which couple does not…does not consummate their marriage?” Ah Wu stammered, embarrassed.

Tang Yin, seemingly unconvinced by Ah Wu’s words, stared intently into her eyes. “But Mother-in-law said…”

Ah Wu frowned. Lady Cui was easily tricked. “Do not listen to Madam’s nonsense.” Ah Wu blushed, rubbing her burning face with a handkerchief.

“Then how could you?” Tang Yin asked abruptly, but then remembered that some women had difficulty conceiving. Afraid she might have touched a nerve, she quickly added, “Uh, that’s not what I meant. You, you did not see a physician to regulate your body?”

Tang Yin paused, then exclaimed in shock, “Could it be His Highness Prince Qi?!”

Ah Wu rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. If she did not explain clearly, Tang Yin’s wild speculations would likely never end. Fortunately, it was much easier to tell Tang Yin than to tell Lady Cui.

“Do not overthink it. I—I only started living with His Highness in the fourth month,” Ah Wu said with difficulty. Tang Yin stared at Ah Wu as if she were a monster. Ah Wu’s eyelashes, thick and curled, drooped shyly; Tang Yin had never seen eyelashes more beautiful than hers. Looking at Ah Wu’s stunningly beautiful face and flawless skin, how could His Highness Prince Qi have endured it for over two years of marriage?

“You and His Highness…” Tang Yin asked hesitantly.

Ah Wu nodded. “There were some problems, but they’ve been resolved.” Ah Wu tried her best to appear nonchalant.

Tang Yin was a smart woman and naturally would not press such an awkward topic. “It’s only been three months, so there’s no rush. Do not be anxious either. You cannot force these things; the more you want them, the less likely they are to happen.”

Ah Wu nodded; she had heard similar things before.

“However…” Tang Yin only finished speaking before reaching into a hidden compartment under her bed and pulling out the booklet from before. She handed it to Ah Wu. “I do not need this anymore, but you still need to take a look.”

Ah Wu felt this booklet was like a hot potato—she wanted to eat it but was afraid of getting burned.

“Look, it will be very beneficial for you. No matter how beautiful you are or how good your family background, sometimes you cannot compare to a poor woman of average looks. Do you know why? Why are those men so easily swayed by girls in bed? Do you know why?” Tang Yin asked as if she knew the answers.

Ah Wu had not studied these questions, but Tang Yin’s question made her want to hear the answers.

“With the lights off, what woman is different?” Tang Yin lowered her voice even further.

Ah Wu paused, then realized Tang Yin’s meaning and spat at her, saying, “Sister Yin, you dare to say anything!”

“So, do you want to hear it or not?” Tang Yin rolled her eyes at Ah Wu.

Ah Wu then fell silent.

“If it were not for this booklet, I would not have been able to control your second brother,” Tang Yin said.

Ah Wu was somewhat surprised. Rong Yin was always so obedient to Tang Yin; how could she not be able to control him? “Are you kidding me?”

Tang Yin shook her head. “Why would I kid you? Your second brother is a martial artist, and he’s quite burly. When we first got married, he tormented me like this, making my mother-in-law and sister-in-law laugh at me behind my back many times.”

Ah Wu blushed; she could basically imagine Tang Yin’s situation back then.

“Then what did you do?” Ah Wu asked.

Tang Yin opened the booklet and pointed to a page for Ah Wu. “Take a close look. Just like this…” Tang Yin raised her fist, clenching and unclenching. “Do not be shy; I am serious. All the women of the Jing family practice this. I heard it helps them suffer less during childbirth and reduces the risk of difficult labor.”

Ah Wu, upon hearing this, took it seriously. “You mean it?”

Tang Yin nodded. “Of course. My mother tried it herself, and her delivery of my brother was exceptionally smooth.”

“And,” Tang Yin almost touched Ah Wu’s earlobe before continuing, “and during…you know…when you really cannot hold back, a few strokes like this will force the man to finish quickly, and you will suffer less.”

Ah Wu’s eyes brightened. Tang Yin nudged her shoulder and said, “His Highness Prince Qi must have bullied you quite a bit, right?”

Ah Wu, seeing Tang Yin’s mischievous smile, could not help but playfully hit her. “You really are shameless!”

Tang Yin laughed. “But you do not think that just because a man is interested in you now, it will always be like this. If that were the case, my father and father-in-law would not have taken any concubines.”

Ah Wu nodded.

“Your second brother is naturally quite strong. When I was on my period, I had Xiangyun open her face ^{(note below)} to serve him, but your second brother did not like touching her. He only let her serve him once in a while when he absolutely has to.” Tang Yin sighed.

Ah Wu was somewhat surprised. This should have been the most normal thing in her mind, but now it felt unsettling. “How could my second brother be like that?” she said.

Tang Yin replied, “Even if he does not want to perform it with her, now that I am pregnant, I still have to elevate Xiangyun. It will save her from standing there attracting unwanted attention. It’s better to give it to her. Your second brother does have feelings for me, but you do not know how ruthless he is. I cannot stand him. With Xiangyun around, I feel a little better.”

Ah Wu thought about it and realized Tang Yin was right. A mistress should act like her; it would actually help her keep a man’s heart.

“Although Xiangyun is mine, I still need to be wary of her becoming ambitious and trying to steal your second brother’s heart while I am pregnant,” Tang Yin said.

“No way! My second brother is not that kind of person. He only has you in his heart,” Ah Wu said.

Tang Yin smiled. “Even if Xiangyun is carefree, I am not afraid. Read this booklet carefully; there’s a lot to learn in it. This is not some shameless, low-class booklet. You will understand what I mean once you read it carefully.”

Even with Tang Yin’s generosity, she could not discuss bedroom details with Ah Wu. Besides, judging from Ah Wu’s obvious ignorance, she only gave her the booklet and added, “Every time you and Prince Qi are finished, remember to put a soft pillow under your lower back, with your legs elevated and your feet flat on the ground. It will make it easier to conceive.”

Ah Wu nodded, blushing as she secretly hid the booklet Tang Yin gave her in her waistband. Then, she went to the front with Tang Yin.

Chu Mao was already waiting for Ah Wu by the carriage. Seeing her arrive, he helped her into the carriage and then sat down himself.

“What were you talking about with your second sister-in-law for so long?” Chu Mao asked casually.

The question was perfect. Ah Wu stammered, “Just some trivial matters. What did His Highness say to my father?”

Author’s Note:
Sister Yin: That is not enough.
Ah Wu: I’ve heard enough.

Translator’s Note:
Open the face = the term is 开脸 (kāi liǎn), which is a procedure for the bride-to-be on the eve of marriage to clear off the fine hairs on the face and neck and tidy up the hairline at the temples. There’s really no proper translation. So even a maid sent to serve a master would go through that.