Four Seasons Brocade – CH 245

Chapter 245 ☆、

“So, Dong Rumei’s act of seeking death today was fake?” Ah Wu asked calmly.

Chu Mao gently rubbed Ah Wu’s earlobe. “Dong Rumei is not as simple as you think.”

Ah Wu turned her head away from Chu Mao’s hand. She was not angry with Chu Mao but rather felt incredibly stupid. Dong Rumei was the most famous courtesan in Jiangnan, and she had actually been deceived by her innocent appearance.

Ultimately, even the smartest person could not develop discerning eyes without experience. This blow, however, was like a wake-up call for Ah Wu, shattering her arrogance.

“How did Your Highness persuade Dong Rumei, and what benefits did you promise her?” Ah Wu asked.

“Dong Rumei’s only purpose in life is to clear the name of the Dong family. We were simply exchanging what we needed,” Chu Mao said.

Hearing Chu Mao say this, Ah Wu did not even need to ask when Chu Mao had planted Dong Rumei as a pawn; he had probably been planning it long before he went to Jiangnan. Ah Wu remembered that Chu Mao had mentioned his advisor, Fu Yishi, was going to Jiangnan and had asked if she needed anything brought back for her. That was several years ago; Fu Yishi’s trip to Jiangnan was naturally on Chu Mao’s orders.

“Dong Rumei’s acting was truly superb,” ​​Ah Wu said with a self-deprecating smile.

“You women’s hearts are much harder than men imagine,” Chu Mao said, with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

“Now that Dong Rumei has hanged herself, she can enter Qinghe Garden?” Ah Wu asked.

“Lin Zhensheng’s primary wife has passed away, and he does not want to remarry. He’s always wanted to take Dong Rumei into his household, but the old lady has always disagreed. Lin Zhensheng was forced to send her to Qiao Garden,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu chuckled coldly. “Oh, so that Dong Rumei can climb up to His Highness, enjoy endless wealth and glory, and incidentally help the Grand Canal Gang?”

“They are just like the pot calling the kettle black. But Lin Zhensheng does have some genuine feelings for her; otherwise, he would not refuse to remarry for her sake. Filial piety weighs on him; he cannot do anything about it,” Chu Mao said. “Just wait and see how Lin Zhensheng handles this matter, and you will know how much Dong Rumei means to him.”

Although Dong Rumei deceived her, and Ah Wu no longer had any good feelings towards her, she did not think Dong Rumei was wrong at all for scheming against Lin Zhensheng. In the end, did Lin Zhensheng not still give her to another man?

“This is also His Highness’s ability to recognize and utilize talent, his skillful planning,” Ah Wu said calmly.

When Ah Wu returned to the capital, news of Dong Rumei also arrived. Lin Zhensheng had finally persuaded the old lady to take Dong Rumei into his household, but on one condition: Dong Rumei could never have children of her own and could only care for Lin Zhensheng’s three sons and one daughter born to his first wife, as well as several illegitimate daughters.

Upon hearing the news, Ah Wu did not feel sorry for Dong Rumei. Instead, she felt that Dong Rumei had gotten what she wanted. She had been dealt a bad hand, but in the end, she gambled on the Fourth Prince, Chu Mao, winning the opportunity for the Dong family to be exonerated. Moreover, she had entered the Qinghe Garden and would no longer have to force a smile for the rest of her life—she was a true winner.

Looking at herself, the only thing that brought her comfort was that her Second Brother Gu had gone to Luoning Guard, and Rong Yin and Tang Yin had gone to Luobei. Tang Yin had given birth to a daughter named Rui’er, whom Lady Cui adored, but she feared the child was too young to withstand the journey, so she stayed in the capital.

Ah Wu arranged for Yuan Yifang and her daughter, Luan-niang, to stay at the Yinxia Pavilion in the garden, and then asked Zi-Shan to fetch an embroiderer to make clothes for them.

“They probably do not have many clothes. Make eight sets of autumn clothes for each of them, and have the winter clothes made in advance as well. Take out the lynx and fox pelts from my trunk and make them some eastern robes, and also make some cloaks,” Ah Wu instructed.

During the time Ah Wu spent traveling back to the capital with Yuan Yifang and her daughter by boat, she noticed that they were practically invisible, avoiding trouble as much as possible, and possessing a rather proud spirit.

Such people, even in dire straits, would never beg for help, so Ah Wu had to think more about their situation.

“The Princess is treating them too well, but these past few days, Nanny Hao has been frequently visiting the Yinxia Pavilion; she’s probably a second Consort Yuan,” Zi-Shan said bluntly.

Ah Wu smiled. “Never mind them. We need to make sure no one can find fault with us. Besides, this Fifth Aunt Yuan is definitely not like Yuan Rongmeng.” Otherwise, she would not have disfigured herself. “Oh, speaking of clothes, they do not have any jewelry yet. If they dress shabbily, the servants might neglect them. Have Tong-Wen choose a few sets of jewelry from my box and send them to Yinxia Pavilion. Hmm, also give them fifty taels of silver for expenses. For Fifth Aunt, set her monthly allowance at twenty taels, and Luan-niang at ten taels.”

“By the way, do not pick expensive jewelry. Choose something nice and affordable. I remember there were quite a few palace flowers sent from the palace in the box. Pick some for Luan-niang to wear; Fifth Aunt should not refuse then.” Ah Wu was extremely thoughtful in everything she did for Yuan Yifang.

Zi-Shan returned from delivering the gifts to Yinxia Pavilion and reported to Ah Wu, “That Miss Luan-niang is truly beautiful; I doubt any young lady in the capital can compare. Given time, she will surely have all the noble young men of the capital swooning over her.”

“Stop talking nonsense! What about Luan-niang’s reputation?” Although Ah Wu scolded Zi-Shan, she herself thought the same thing. She had no real affection for Fifth Aunt Yuan, and the reason she went to such lengths to arrange things for them was firstly out of respect for her courage—she was Chu Mao’s aunt—and secondly, partly for Luan-niang’s sake.

Since ancient times, the imperial family had often used princesses to win over powerful officials. Emperor Zhengyuan probably would not have any princesses, and Luan-niang’s status could fill that gap. Of course, that was all in the future, but the Prince Qi’s Mansion was not short of money, and Ah Wu was happy to do this favor.

The mother and daughter at Yinxia Pavilion, however, looked left at the mountain of gifts Ah Wu had sent and then right at the medicinal herbs and fabrics from Hongyao Villa, their faces devoid of any smiles. Having endured so many years of poverty, to remain so composed upon seeing these things—if Ah Wu were to see them, her opinion of them would surely rise even higher.

Especially Luan-niang, who had never seen such fine things since birth—luxurious houses, beautiful clothes, and charming maids—yet, despite her curiosity, she behaved with the poise of a woman who had seen the world.

“Luan-niang, what do you think we should do?” Yuan Yifang turned to look at Zheng Luan-niang.

“Tomorrow, Mother and I will go to Yulan Hall to thank the Princess. We will go again the day after tomorrow,” Zheng Luan-niang said. “However, there are some rules. If the Princess invites us to lunch, we naturally cannot refuse, but we cannot stay at Hongyao Villa for long.”

Yuan Yifang gently stroked Luan-niang’s eyebrows with her thumb. “My Luan-niang has grown up. Tell me, what do you see?” Zheng Luan-niang was Yuan Yifang’s daughter, whom she had raised with great care. Although she was down on her luck, she always believed that Luan-niang’s character should not be buried like this. So, no matter how hard life was, she never forgot to raise Luan-niang. And Luan-niang indeed lived up to her expectations. If it were not for this, she would not have agreed to return to the capital with Prince Qi.

In Yuan Yifang’s view, no matter how good the royal family was, it could not compare to what a young woman cherished. She had never regretted her choice, but she preferred that Luan-niang decide her own life. Going to Prince Qi’s mansion was also Luan-niang’s own decision.

“I heard that this Nanny Hao is the Prince’s wet nurse and is highly respected by him. However, two tigers cannot share the same mountain. I am afraid she and the Princess Consort are not on good terms; otherwise, she would not have gone over the Princess Consort’s head to send us so many things, showing her rivalry with the Princess Consort,” Luan-niang analyzed crisply.

Yuan Yifang nodded. “Then what do you think we should do, try to please both sides?”

“Trying to please both sides is not impossible, but it depends on their character. Luan-niang thinks neither the Princess Consort nor Nanny Hao is easy to fool. We cannot play the victim,” Luan-niang said.

Yuan Yifang’s smile deepened as she looked into her daughter’s eyes. “So, Luan-niang chose the Princess Consort. Why the Princess Consort? Even if I do not know the details of His Highness’s situation in the palace after the late Empress’s death, I imagine it must have been extremely difficult. Without Nanny Hao, there would be no His Highness today. His Highness treated her like a mother; otherwise, how could he tolerate Nanny Hao’s rivalry with the Princess Consort?”

“If the Princess Consort were just a Princess Consort, we would naturally side with Nanny Hao. But the way the Prince looks at the Princess Consort is exactly the same way Father looked at Mother back then, so we absolutely cannot offend the Princess Consort,” Luan-niang said, taking Yuan Yifang’s arm.

Yuan Yifang, thinking of her deceased husband, could not help but tear up again. “If your father knew how intelligent and sensible you are, he could rest in peace in the afterlife.”

“But Mother, I heard that the Princess and the Prince have been married for almost three years, and she still has not conceived. When she saved you, it was in front of the Guanyin Temple, a place famous for the efficacy of the Goddess of Fertility.”

Yuan Yifang had not expected Luan-niang to be so insightful at such a young age; she was even more perceptive than she had anticipated. “I only conceived you five years after marrying your father. No one can say for sure. Luan-niang, your intelligence and understanding are good, but there’s one thing you forgot to mention. Even out of gratitude for the Princess saving me, we should still be loyal to her.”

Luan-niang thought for a moment and nodded, “Mother is right.”

The next day, Yuan Yifang and Zheng Luan-niang came to Yulan Hall. Ah Wu indeed invited them to stay for a meal, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely. Zheng Luan-niang was lively and adorable, easily winning Ah Wu’s favor.

However, Ah Wu was more concerned about something else. She privately asked Zi-Shan, “While I was away, did you find someone you liked?”

“Your Highness!” Zi-Shan blushed and said, “Your Highness has time to worry about this matter, but you should worry about the Prince. I thought I’d be happy to return after this trip, but Your Highness…” Zi-Shan’s popularity with Ah Wu was not without reason; she was far too perceptive.

When Ah Wu returned to the mansion, Chu Mao originally wanted her to continue living in Bingxue Forest. However, Ah Wu asked, “Is the bathing room in Yulan Hall completed?” Upon receiving a reply, she insisted on moving back to Yulan Hall, even using the rules to silence Chu Mao.

For several days, Chu Mao did not return to Yulan Hall. Of course, having just returned to the capital, he was busy with audiences with the Emperor and handling official business.

“I did not know you’d even be meddling in my affairs with His Highness,” Ah Wu sneered.

Zi-Shan was not afraid of Ah Wu’s temper. She knew her mistress had been holding back her anger these past few days. “Mistress, you are always arguing with the Prince. I am worried. I’d rather stay by the Princess’s side for life than deal with those men’s attitudes and my mother-in-law. It’s much better to stay by your side and enjoy your freedom.”

“Easy for you to say. When you are old and have no children, you will regret it,” Ah Wu retorted, giving Zi-Shan a reproachful look. She was angry with Chu Mao over this. He had not been near her for two months, which made Ah Wu, who desperately wanted to be pregnant, furious but too ashamed to confront him.

Author’s Note:
Si-Mao: Is it because you want meat or because you want to get pregnant?