Perfect Match – CH 020

Chapter 20

Linglang moved into Liumingxuan’s west wing. Her daily running and jumping, and her cheerful laughter, seemed to have instantly transformed Liumingxuan’s life, bringing it from winter into spring.

Teng Yue’s spirits also lifted considerably. Seeing his wife’s injuries noticeably improve, her complexion gradually regaining its rosy hue, and her attitude towards him softening like a spring breeze, he finally felt a little relieved and began to focus some of his attention on confronting the Prince Enhua’s Mansion.

That day, Old Madam Lin summoned him to Canglang Pavilion and inquired about the Prince Enhua’s Mansion. He then spoke to Old Madam Lin in detail.

In recent years, the Prince Enhua’s Mansion had gained considerable influence. Although it was only a county prince’s mansion, it was more powerful than the Prince Qin’s Mansion and Prince Qing’s Mansion, which were both first-rank princes. While other princes kept a low profile, afraid of attracting the attention of the palace, the Prince Enhua had been openly displaying his power.

Teng Yue said, “The army has lost armor, and Prince Enhua’s Mansion is colluding with the bandits who stole it. Although we have not yet found out where these bandits took the armor, this is a perfect opportunity to get to the Prince Enhua’s Mansion.”

These bandits had intermediaries who sold the stolen armor for them. The armor and military supplies all flowed into the black market through these intermediaries. Now that the bandits were in trouble, the intermediaries they traded with had naturally disappeared.

However, that was not important. Even if they could not impeach the Prince Enhua’s Mansion over the armor, just saying that they’ve captured the Prince Enhua’s guards would make them inextricably linked.

As for where the armor actually went, Teng Yue could find that out later. Right now, he needed to use this incident to make the Prince Enhua’s Mansion behave itself.

He said, “Some people have been trying to impeach the Prince Enhua’s Mansion for its excessive power in this important border town. I’ve given them a pretext.”

He added that he had already discussed the matter with his close colleagues in the army. “Wang Fuxiang and Kong Hui have other evidence of misconduct by the Prince Enhua’s Mansion. Prince Enhua is trying to win over people everywhere on the border, and those who are not won over are being ostracized. This time, if we do not take action, the lives of the generals at all levels in the army will become increasingly difficult.”

Teng Yue told his mother not to worry, but Old Madam Lin did not feel relieved.

“Although we’ve followed the wishes of the masses, we’ve also found ourselves at the forefront of the confrontation with the Prince Enhua’s Mansion, directly facing them head-on.”

Her face was filled with anxiety, and Teng Yue could tell at a glance that his mother had fallen back into her old predicament.

He could not help but say, “Your son is no longer what Father once was. Why must you worry so much, Mother?”

Over the years, his mother had only feared he would repeat his father’s mistakes, trying her best to cultivate relationships everywhere. But the thought of being trampled underfoot in the past still kept her awake at night.

Now that Teng Yue had said this, his mother continued, “But the court is not the same as it used to be. Right now, powerful eunuchs hold sway. If, by some chance, the Prince Tong’en and the Prince Hua’s Mansion join forces, we will be at a disadvantage.”

Hearing this, Teng Yue felt even more reassured.

“The former eunuch sent people to cultivate land in Ningxia. Not only did they embezzle funds everywhere, but their men also bullied the wives of soldiers, incurring public wrath. Mother knows this. But these soldiers are deputy generals under the men Prince Enhua has won over. The feud between the two sides has actually been brewing for a long time, but the former eunuch has more power, and Prince Enhua cannot do anything about it.”

Both sides were fierce tigers and leopards, and Teng Yue and those who did not want to associate with them stood in the middle.

He said that this time, everyone was joining forces to put pressure on Prince Enhua. “Perhaps that powerful eunuch will also take the opportunity to strike. If so, we will have less to worry about, and Mother will not have to fret.”

But as he spoke, his brows furrowed slightly.

“However, the one who has actually harmed us this time is Zhu Yijiao. But for now, we can only focus on the big picture and let the small things go. With her father, Prince Enhua, above us, the blame will not fall on her.”

Unfortunately.

… …

However, even though Teng Yue had made things so clear to his mother, Old Madam Lin’s anxiety did not subside. She had written several letters a few days ago and had received replies in the past few days. But no matter how well the letters were written, they could not compare to speaking with people face-to-face.

Since Teng Yue was so openly opposing the Prince Enhua’s Mansion, the more people in court who could speak on his behalf, the better.

She had been wanting to find an opportunity to meet with the ladies of her husband’s influential connections in court, but had not yet set a date.

She focused solely on diplomatic affairs, paying no heed to what was happening inside Liumingxuan.

At first, Nanny Wei had hoped she would keep an eye on things, but over the past few days, she’d seen the Second Master spending every day in Liumingxuan, tending to Madam Deng, and even bringing little trinkets to amuse the young child. He was staying longer and longer, and even when he went to the outer courtyard to give orders, he’d frequently send someone to Liumingxuan to check on Madam Deng’s condition.

Anyone who did not know better would have thought they were a perfectly harmonious couple.

Seeing that Old Madam Lin truly did not care, Nanny Wei secretly shook her head. “This old servant must give her a heads-up.”

She turned and found a maid dressed in bright red and green.

Seeing the maid’s flamboyant attire, she said, “You only stay home taking care of the young lady all day; why are you dressed like this? Go back and take it off immediately. I need you to go to the east of the city to run some errands for me…”

She quickly gave the maid her instructions.

The maid, quick-witted and clever, had not taken Nanny Wei’s earlier reprimand seriously, but now, after hearing Nanny Wei’s instructions, she replied… “Did Godmother not dislike that new lady? Why is she helping her now?”

“Helping her?” Nanny Wei scoffed. “Do you think I’m just being idle?”

She continued, “It’s not that I look down on her, but she has a family to support. If it were not for the Old Madam’s help, her uncle would have sold her long ago. Her uncle and aunt are a pair of bloodsuckers… With a background like that, she should be obedient and not forget her place.”

As she spoke, seeing her goddaughter Qingrui not only dressed in flamboyant clothes but also with her hair braided, she sneered even more.

“She’s not the only one who needs to behave. I know you’re proud and ambitious, but unfortunately, you were born into a slum. People from slums can never become noble ladies.”

As she spoke, she tugged at Qingrui. “I’m giving you a wake-up call today. Put away your unnecessary thoughts, remember the kindness of me pulling you out of the mud, and stay home to take care of Xia’er—that’s your real job!”

After saying this, Nanny Wei left.

Qingrui pouted and muttered to herself.

“How old is she? Over twenty, and she still needs constant care? Like a rich young lady.”

She continued muttering, “She’s just luckier in birth than I am. If I were her biological daughter, I could wear whatever I wanted, maybe even be a head maid. But is a goddaughter not a daughter? I’m much more useful than Sister Xia. Who knows, you might still need me to take care of you in your old age, and yet you treat me like this…”

*

Although Teng Yue was not in the army, this lawsuit actually made him even busier.

The next day, after giving his orders, it was already late afternoon. He returned to Liumingxuan and found the courtyard quiet. At first, he assumed Deng Ruyun and her niece had taken a nap after lunch, but after looking around carefully, he realized something was amiss.

“Are Madam and the others not in the courtyard?”

A maidservant came to report, “Second Master, Madam is not here. It seems her maternal grandmother and aunt have arrived.”

Teng Yue was surprised.

Such an important matter, and no one had informed him.

He first went back to his room to change into proper clothes, then left Liumingxuan and headed towards the main gate.

However, he still asked the gatekeeper of Liumingxuan, “How long has Madam been at the main gate greeting her maternal grandmother?”

He wondered if she had already been welcomed in.

But the gatekeeper’s face turned awkward. “Second Master, Madam has been there for some time, but she did not go to the main gate.”

“Did not go to the main gate?” Teng Yue was almost confused.

The gatekeeper pointed to the small side gate on the northeast side of the Teng mansion. “Madam went to the side gate.”

The side gate?

Teng Yue was stunned. He did not know who to ask. How could Madam’s maternal grandmother have gone to the northeast side gate? That was the place where the servants of the Mansion frequently passed through.

He frowned and hurried on.

Walking from a distance, turning onto a side path, he spotted her figure through the shadows of the trees.

She, along with Xiuniang and Linglang, had reached the side gate but made no move to invite them in. They stood in the bamboo grove by the gate, talking to her family.

It was an elderly woman with silver hair, dressed in simple clothes; she must be her maternal grandmother. Beside her stood a middle-aged woman leaning on a cane, her collar faded from washing; this was presumably Aunt Juan.

They each held one of her hands.

The old grandmother, bent over and head bowed, kept looking at the unhealed wound on her hand. She gently stroked the scabbed wound with her aged hand, calling out with heartache, “My Yunniang, my little Yunniang…”

Aunt Juan kept asking her, “I heard it was a wound on your waist. You bled so much you fainted. You and Xiuniang, why did you not tell us? If it were not for the rumors outside, we would not have known you suffered so much!”

As she spoke, she wanted to examine the wound on her waist.

But the wound was hidden; how could she show it to others?

She quickly said it was nothing, “Just a minor injury, not as serious as people outside say, and it will heal almost completely.”

She laughed, “I thought I could keep it from Aunt, but I did not expect Xi’an to be full of messengers; you all found out. From now on, we must keep our affairs well hidden and not let the people of Xi’an hear about them!”

Teng Yue saw her laughing; it was the first time he’d heard her joke, but her joke brought tears to Aunt Juan’s eyes.

“You child, are you still joking? This is a matter of life and death! We were almost scared to death, and you do not seem to care!”

She did not seem to care at all and only asked how they had come. “We came from the east of the city; it’s quite a distance.”

Aunt Juan told her that she had asked the family’s servant to find a carriage outside.

“I originally intended to come by myself, but your grandmother overheard, and you kept nagging me, so I had to bring her along.”

After Aunt Juan finished speaking, she looked down at her elderly grandmother.

Grandmother took her hand and gently pressed it against her wrinkled face. The old woman was a little confused and could not tell where the injury was. She only asked, “Does it still hurt? How did Little Yunniang get hurt?”

These words instantly brought tears to her eyes, yet she still smiled. “It does not hurt anymore. Your granddaughter had a nightmare last night and accidentally fell off the bed, rolled around, and got hurt like this.”

The old grandmother seemed to believe her, letting out a long “Ah.”

Aunt Juan, however, turned her head away, wiping her tears with a handkerchief, “You are just talking nonsense, lying to your grandmother…”

Teng Yue stood there, stunned.

So she actually liked to joke like this? He had never heard her do that before.

But they stood by the door talking, one sentence after another. Seeing that the old grandmother was too old and Aunt Juan had difficulty walking, the doorman brought over a stool, and she thanked the doorman.

Aunt Juan said to her, “Since you’re still alright, then take good care of yourself, rest more, and move around less. We will be going back now.”

Aunt Juan actually suggested leaving just like that.

Seeing the reluctance in her eyes, Teng Yue expected her to say something to persuade them to stay, but instead, she nodded.

“Yes, I will have Xiuniang take you back.”

As she spoke, she actually gave the order to Xiuniang, then turned and saw Linglang.

Aunt Juan asked her, “You need to recover from your injuries, so why don’t I take Linglang with me?”

Linglang seemed reluctant to leave, tugging at her skirt, but Teng Yue patted Linglang’s little head.

“Alright. You go too. Auntie will come to see you in a few days.”

Linglang lowered her head and obediently followed Aunt Juan, ready to leave together.

Teng Yue was stunned.

After what happened at Baifeng Mountain, he knew he had not done well. He did not dare hope for her immediate forgiveness, but he always wanted to do more, at least to lessen her resentment and make her accept him a little more.

These past few days, he had thought that the relationship between him and his wife was slowly thawing, gradually becoming closer.

But now he knew, not at all.

She still maintained a distance from him, just in a different way.

It was as if she wore masks, masks she only showed to him.

Initially reserved, later gentle, but this was not her true nature, at least not the nature of this witty Deng Yunniang.

And her true nature, she never told him.

He looked over and saw that her clothes were loose because of her thinness; she was reluctant to part with them, yet she led them towards the door.

Teng Yue walked straight over.

As soon as he arrived, they all fell silent.

She turned back to him in surprise, “General…”

Without the gentleness he had expected these past few days, her aloof attitude remained unchanged.