Perfect Match – CH 009

Chapter 9

Teng Family Mansion, Outer Courtyard Study.

Teng Yue casually flipped through the recently arrived register of officials from the capital. Hardly surprising, someone had once again curried favor with the powerful eunuch and been promoted.

Now, the Ministry of Personnel had practically become his personal court; promotions and demotions were entirely at his discretion.

The official gazetteer was so intriguing that it made one shake one’s head. Teng Yue sighed and set it aside.

At that moment, the guard Tang Zuo came to the window. “General, something happened at the Huang family today.”

“The Huang family?” Teng Yue called him in. “What happened to the Huang family?”

Tang Zuo’s expression was somewhat strange. “I heard that the Huang family urgently summoned a physician today, saying that Old Madam Huang has fainted.”

Old Madam Huang was perfectly fine at the birthday banquet.

“What could be the reason for this?”

Tang Zuo’s face became even more embarrassed. He recounted what he had learned.

“…That maid was the one the Yang family brought to the birthday banquet who broke the bonsai. Now that she has jumped into the river, outsiders say she was forced to her death by slander, but in fact, someone else did wrong… Old Madam Huang is a very virtuous and kind person. When she heard that the maid had died because of what happened at the birthday banquet, she said, ‘What a sin!’ twice and then fainted.”

Teng Yue frowned. How could such a small matter as breaking a bonsai tree have escalated to this?

But then he noticed Tang Zuo’s expression grew even stranger, as if he had something left to say.

Teng Yue’s heart skipped a beat. “Who exactly broke the bonsai tree?”

“General, I’ve only heard rumors; it might not be true…” Tang Zuo said in a low voice, “They say… it was our lady.”

Teng Yue took a deep breath as soon as his guard finished speaking.

*

The incident that occurred early that morning outside the city gates had become the talk of the town within half a day. Those who had seen it, those who speculated, and those who believed it—all mingled together, making it the hottest rumor in Xi’an Prefecture that day.

Deng Ruyun had naturally heard about it too.

Xiuniang’s face turned green; she wished she could go up and cover everyone’s mouths. But there were so many mouths in the city, Xiuniang could not silence them all.

Upon hearing this, Deng Ruyun, unusually serious, did not joke. “How is Old Madam Huang now?”

“I do not know yet. I only heard the Huang family called a physician immediately, but I do not know if she can be saved.”

The wind outside made the doors and windows creak. Deng Ruyun remained silent.

*

In Canglang Pavilion, Old Madam Lin asked Qingxuan to go to the medicine storeroom and fetch the best ginseng in the house.

Nanny Wei shook her head beside her. “How did things turn out like this? Old Madam Huang is truly suffering for no reason. In my opinion, it’s mostly because the second cousin of the Yang family went back and lost her temper, which triggered Ai Liu. That maid is easily angered and actually jumped.”

Her jumping was not the problem; the rumors outside were all pointing to the Teng family. Nanny Wei said, “What will we do if something happens to the Old Madam?”

Old Madam Lin also pinched her brow. If Old Madam Huang were to die because of this, Huang Xiqing, who was working in the capital, would definitely have to return home to observe mourning. Huang Xiqing was a long-serving official, highly regarded by the late Emperor, but since the current Emperor ascended the throne, he had only trusted the powerful eunuch Hong Jin. Not everyone in the court followed Hong Jin, so they naturally needed the support of veteran officials to counter him.

Once Huang Xiqing returned to his hometown to observe mourning, those in the court would lose their protection and become restless. If they investigated the source of the old lady’s misfortune and pinned the blame on the Teng family, the Teng family could not bear the responsibility.

“We certainly cannot take that blame. We must clarify this matter no matter what. After all, it was not Deng Ruyun’s doing.”

Nanny Wei repeatedly agreed, “This old servant will send someone outside to clarify the situation immediately.”

Old Madam Lin nodded, but what was more important right now was the condition of the old lady.

Not wanting to wait passively, she took the best ginseng from her household and immediately drove to the Huang family.

*

At the Liumingxuan courtyard.

Deng Ruyun’s stomach churned unbearably.

Nanny Wei brought her some contraceptive soup again that morning. Having already taken such bitter medicine and smelling the medicinal odor in the side courtyard, she felt nauseous, and her stomach kept turning over.

Linglang was feeling a little better today, sitting obediently in Xiuniang’s lap, eating breakfast. But she could not eat anything, and chills kept creeping through her body.

She came out of the side courtyard, intending to go back to her room to change her clothes, but just as she reached the courtyard, she encountered a man striding towards her.

His steps were heavy on the autumn-cool bluestone slabs. He had been walking briskly, but when he saw her, he suddenly stopped.

Deng Ruyun’s eyelids twitched inexplicably.

Seeing his calm gaze, she could only step forward and bow to him.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his entire being exuding a cold and austere aura. The servants working in the courtyard all disappeared, leaving only Deng Ruyun standing before him.

Two steps separated them. They had been intimately passionate in their canopy bed the night before, but now only the howling autumn wind swirled between them.

His voice was deep and heavy. “Do you know what happened to Old Madam Huang?”

Deng Ruyun was not too surprised by his question.

“I’ve heard.”

“Do you know why?”

There was no one else in the courtyard; even the last cicada hidden among the autumn leaves had fallen silent.

The man’s gaze was fixed on her.

Her eyelids lowered slightly. “I heard it’s because a maid jumped into the moat.”

“Then why did this maid jump into the river for no reason?”

“I do not know yet.”

She heard the man almost laugh out loud in anger.

“You still do not know…”

Deng Ruyun truly did not know the reason; Xiuniang was asking around.

The bitter medicine gnawed at her stomach, the churning sensation shooting up her throat, and a strange urge surged within her. For a fleeting moment, she wanted to ask him, “What answer did you hope to get from me by coming to Liumingxuan?”

But the churning in her stomach prevented her from asking.

She stood ramrod straight in the autumn wind, and she showed no remorse whatsoever. Teng Yue suddenly felt there was no need to ask anymore.

If her laziness and negligence at home were minor matters, the theft of medicine from the medicine storeroom had already revealed her greed, shortsightedness, and utter lack of responsibility.

What else did he hope for?

Everyone outside was saying that she had shifted the blame onto the Yang family maid to save face, driving the maid to jump into the moat. Now, she was again claiming she knew nothing.

But the missing medicine was one thing; he had not mentioned it again except for a reprimand. But now, a human life was at stake?

Although Xi’an Prefecture was filled with high-ranking officials and nobles, were not the lives of servants also lives?

Not to mention, this matter also involved the Huang family and would likely have far-reaching implications…

“Alright,” he said, his lips pressed tightly together.

He already knew her attitude.

Teng Yue felt ridiculous. Coming all this way specifically to ask her, what other attitude had he expected to hear?

The fallen leaves that had not been swept away in the courtyard were now swirling and piling up, then swirled like dust onto Deng Ruyun’s skirt.

The man had already turned and strode away from Liumingxuan, stepping across the threshold, not even wanting to touch a wisp of the wind in the courtyard.

Standing amidst the swirling autumn wind and fallen leaves, Deng Ruyun’s throat tightened, and she almost spat out the bowl of contraceptive soup.

But she still covered her mouth and nose and swallowed.

Her gaze swept past the door where he had left, then she turned and slowly returned to her room.

*

The Huang Mansion.

The courtyard of Old Madam Huang was filled with people, all holding their breath and staring intently at the doorway.

The physician emerged from Old Madam Huang’s room and said, “She’s alright. Old Madam Huang just had a momentary lapse in breath, but she’s awake now.”

Everyone in the courtyard breathed a sigh of relief.

Huang Yudai followed her uncles and elders quickly to check on Old Madam Huang. Old Madam Lin, being an outsider, could not go in. She said to Third Madam Huang beside her, “Thank God, Old Madam Huang is our lucky star; she will be alright.”

Third Madam Huang was Huang Xiqing’s daughter-in-law and knew about the relationship between the Teng family and them.

A weight lifted from her heart, and she politely reassured Old Madam Lin not to worry too much, “Our matriarch has seen it all; it’s just a small matter. She’s just too kind-hearted, and this has upset her.”

Old Madam Lin agreed, but since they had already brought the ginseng, it would not be appropriate to take it away. She immediately called to the maidservant beside Madam Huang, “Quickly put the things away.”

Madam Huang repeatedly said, “You are too kind.”

Old Madam Lin said it was the right thing to do, her eyes showing apology. “In the end, we bear some responsibility for how things turned out.”

Seeing Old Madam Teng’s politeness, courtesy, and sense of responsibility, Madam Huang nodded secretly.

While others might not know the details, Madam Huang did. It was the Yang family’s lax discipline that led to the maidservant jumping into the river after the incident and the subsequent harsh treatment of the servants. The Teng family was merely an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.

But today, it was the Teng family, not the Yang family, who arrived in time. She remembered the Teng family’s sense of responsibility and would definitely speak up for them with her husband and father-in-law later.

After a few more polite words, seeing that Old Madam Huang was indeed stable and alright, Old Madam Lin finally felt relieved and took her leave.

However, she had not gone far from the Yang family’s gate when her carriage was intercepted.

Old Madam Lin lifted the curtain and saw her cousin, Second Madam Yang, standing opposite her.

Second Madam Yang had also heard about Old Madam Huang’s awakening. Fortunately, this major upheaval had not truly struck, but rumors were already spreading throughout Xi’an Prefecture.

This morning, when Ai Liu’s body was found, she was wearing the Yang family’s waist token. Upon hearing this, she knew something was wrong, and her useless daughter was so frightened that she started talking nonsense.

“How did she die? I only sent her to the estate to be married off; I did not want to force her to her death! I did not want to force her to her death…”

Madam Yang immediately ordered someone to cover Yang Youling’s mouth.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Do you not want your reputation? Do you still want to marry into a wealthy family?!”

Seeing her daughter still frightened and uneasy, she quickly comforted her, “Why are you so flustered over such a small matter? You’re an unmarried girl. No matter what, I will not let this happen to you.”

“Then…then what should we do? Ai Liu was still a maid in my courtyard…”

Madam Yang glanced at her daughter. “So what? Have you forgotten why you punished her? Was it not because someone in the Huang Mansion broke Old Madam Huang’s bonsai and insisted on framing Ai Liu, which drove this maid to her death?”

She said, “Ai Liu was framed by that country bride from the Teng family, and that’s why she jumped into the river to prove her innocence. It has nothing to do with you or our family. I’ve already sent someone out to explain. Remember that. Do not talk nonsense again!”

The daughter vaguely said she remembered, but she was still terrified.

“But will Aunt Teng accept it? And I’m really scared; won’t Ai Liu’s ghost haunt me? I do not want to stay in Xi’an anymore. Mother, I want to go stay at a country estate for a few days…”

Madam Yang could only try to appease her daughter with a few words, but her daughter had asked the right question: would the Teng family accept this matter?

If something happened to Old Madam Huang, the Teng family certainly would not accept it.

However, at this moment, Madam Yang heard that Old Madam Huang had woken up and was waiting along the road for her cousin, Old Madam Lin’s carriage. She then personally got out of her carriage and went to the Teng family’s carriage.

Old Madam Lin snorted when she saw her cousin.

“You framed my family and still have the nerve to come see me?”

Madam Yang feigned a pained expression. “Cousin, you’re so forgiving. It’s all my fault, but I had no choice. That girl, Youling, is terrified. She’s at the age where marriage is on the horizon. If she really gets the reputation of driving a maid to her death, which wealthy family would dare to take her in?”

She looked troubled. “Cousin knows that in this world, everyone looks up to others. If she cannot marry into a higher social class and ends up lower, who will respect her? How will she live in the future?”

Madam Yang continued, complaining and apologizing.

Old Madam Lin ignored her.

“Your daughter cares about her reputation, but does my daughter-in-law not care about hers, too?”

“…”

Upon hearing this, Second Madam Yang smiled. Looking around to make sure no one else was present, she whispered, “If that Deng woman were truly your daughter-in-law, I certainly would not dare pin the blame on her today. But then again, she is not.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lin fell silent and glanced at her.

Second Madam Yang leaned closer to her. “My dear cousin, that Deng woman is doing this for your money. She’s an outsider; let her take the blame for Youling this time. What’s the harm? At worst, I will give her some money.”

As she spoke, she took out two fifty-tael silver notes from her sleeve.

“Cousin, quickly accept these for her. Anyway, Old Madam Huang has not suffered any harm. That Deng woman will just be gossiped about for a couple of days. In a couple of years, after she’s gone, who in Xi’an will remember her?”

But seeing that her cousin still did not budge, she added, “That’s it?”

“You gave her far too little.”

Madam Yang smiled awkwardly. “Cousin, please forgive me. I’m not exactly rolling in money. But this amount is more than enough for her, and besides, does my cousin not have any favors for me to do?”

As she spoke, she glanced towards the capital.

“My niece from the Zhang family of the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion is all alone in the capital observing mourning, which is quite pitiful. I was just thinking of sending her something. Cousin, is there anything you’d like to take along? A letter, or even just a message, would be fine.”

The Zhang family of the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion was a truly prestigious family of the dynasty. How could outsiders easily approach their noble ladies, except for distant relatives by marriage?

Old Madam Lin did not say anything more, glancing at Second Madam Yang with a snort, but she still had Nanny Wei accept the one hundred taels of silver.

Second Madam Yang beamed, said a few more flattering words to her cousin, and finally left with peace of mind.

As soon as she left, Nanny Wei asked Old Madam Lin…

“What does the old lady plan to do?”

The old lady sighed softly, “What else can we do? Deng Ruyun will inevitably suffer some losses.”

Nanny Wei thought for a moment and said, “Madam Deng has indeed suffered losses, but with all the gossip in the city, it’s not appropriate to leave her here. Why not send her out of the city to avoid the storm?”

Sending her out of the mansion would not only avoid this matter but also had another advantage. Without her in the mansion, she and the general would never see each other again, meaning there would be no need for contraceptive soup between husband and wife, and their affection would be even less present.

Nanny Wei secretly thought this was a very good idea, but then the old lady suddenly glanced at her.

“What are you so happy about?”

Nanny Wei was startled and quickly said nothing, “This old servant is just thinking of things for the old lady. It’s a convenient way to kill two birds with one stone; in the end, we will not lose out.”

Old Madam Lin did not ask any more questions and, upon returning to the mansion, saw Teng Yue. Whether sending Deng Ruyun away would work ultimately depended on Teng Yue’s decision.

Old Madam Lin first recounted that Old Madam Huang was unharmed. Seeing her son breathe a sigh of relief, she continued, “I want Madam Deng to leave the city to avoid further trouble.”

She had not even asked Teng Yue’s permission before he spoke up.

“Then let her go as soon as possible.”

His voice was unusually cold, his brows were furrowed, and his face betrayed silent disappointment.

… …

At Liumingxuan courtyard.

When news of her leaving the city reached Deng Ruyun, she went directly to Old Madam Lin.

“Old Madam, I know you want me to leave the city to avoid this matter, but I need someone to look after my family. Linglang is ill now, and she’s still young; I really cannot leave her.”

She herself could manage, but the elderly, the young, and the sick in her family—she could not just leave like that.

But Old Madam Lin took out a box from behind her back.

Inside the box were two fifty-tael silver notes and another one hundred taels of silver.

“I know you’ve had a hard time. I will send two more maids to help your maternal grandmother. As for Linglang, you can take her with you. Take these two hundred taels; it’s not in the contract, it’s a separate gift from me. Is that alright?”

She said, pushing the silver box towards her, adding, “This is not just my idea; it’s Teng Yue’s too.”