Spring Message in the Snow – CH 011

Chapter 11

Seeing that the Grand Madam had given the order to leave, the maid had no choice but to look at Shangrou standing to the side and call out, “Young Madam, you see…”

Shangrou smiled. “I am doing fine here. Nanny Fan, please give Madam a message and tell her not to worry.” With that, she called to her maids, and they all went to the flower hall.

Normally, this young mistress of the Marquis’s Mansion was quite mild-mannered, mostly prioritizing appeasement. Even if she was completely in the right, she would concede before the Marquis even had a chance to admit his mistake. This time, however, was different. Looking at her complexion, it was vastly different from when she was at the Marquis’s Mansion, even radiating a healthy glow. Nanny Fan knew that this time, she could not be allowed to return on her own; it seemed that without the Marquis’s wife’s intervention, this matter could not be resolved properly.

As instructed, Nanny Feng escorted her out. Seeing that she did not move, she gestured with her hand, reminding her, “Please, Nanny.”

Nanny Fan had no choice but to follow her out of Suihua Garden. On the way, she could not resist finding a way to save face for the Marquis’s wife, saying, “This is my second visit to your esteemed mansion. The last time was around the winter solstice last year. This garden is so beautifully maintained; it has the atmosphere of each season. No wonder our young mistress said it’s very pleasant here. I’ve also noticed that your mansion is indeed suitable for recuperation. There are many sisters at home to keep her company, the old lady is kind and gentle, and the garden is quiet… However, even though your family is good, we should not disturb you too much. Our mistress said that we can arrange another courtyard for the young mistress to recuperate, also to help her improve her health. The main one.”

Nanny Feng, a shrewd and capable woman, sensed the underlying meaning in her words but did not want to offend her. She simply agreed, “Our eldest mistress’s former courtyard has been kept for her. Maids clean it carefully every day, just in case she misses home and wants to stay there. Actually, the Marquis’s wife does not need to arrange another courtyard for her; her own home is perfectly comfortable. Why bother? To be frank, I’ve watched our eldest mistress grow up and know her temperament well. She’s always been gentle and easygoing. As long as no one upsets her, she will not complain about simple meals and will still be happy.”

Nanny Fan, having met with a rebuff, did not want to argue further and could only repeatedly agree.

Upon reaching the moon gate, Nanny Feng walked a few more steps down the corridor. Once someone was waiting to meet her, she smiled and said to Nanny Fan, “Take care, Nanny. I will not see you off.”

Nanny Fan gave a forced smile and a polite bow. Nanny Feng nodded slightly and turned back into the garden.

Well, what a wasted trip. Nanny Fan reluctantly stepped out of the Zhang Mansion gate. Two seven-fragrant carriages were parked at the bottom of the steps. The steward of the Marquis’s Mansion, who had accompanied her, glanced behind her. “Did the young mistress not come out with you?”

The blazing sun made her forehead burn. Nanny Fan irritably raised her hand to shield her eyes but did not answer him. She lifted her skirt and descended the steps, fanning herself as she said, “Let’s go back.”

The two carriages returned empty-handed. Entering the inner courtyard of the Marquis’s Mansion, Marquis Chen and his wife were waiting for news in the hall. Seeing Nanny Fan return alone, they knew that their attempt to act arrogantly had failed; the Zhang family would not have any of that.

Marquis Chen sighed, slapping his right hand against his left. “I told you it would not work.”

Madam Chen, hearing the news brought back by Nanny Fan, said blankly, “The Zhang family is really arrogant; are they not afraid we will divorce her?”

But this talk of divorcing her was just an angry outburst. A lose-lose situation was something only a madman would do. The Zhang family had always had a good reputation for strict family discipline, while Chengchuan was known for his promiscuity. If this marriage fell through, no girl from a good family would be willing to marry into the Marquis’s household.

Hearing her talk of divorce, Marquis Chen’s anger flared immediately. He pointed a finger at her. “What nonsense are you spouting! That murderer caused all this trouble because you protected him! A doting mother spoils her son; if this continues, you will ruin him!”

Madam Chen, angered by her husband’s accusations, retorted, hands on her hips, “Just because I protect our son does not make you good! Before the marriage, I said I’d deal with those two concubines. Who said they were allowed to stay? Chengchuan’s philandering ways are exactly like yours in your youth. I will not say you are like father, like son, but you turn around and accuse me!? It’s laughable!”

Marquis Chen was speechless. After a long pause, he muttered “shrew” and stormed off.

Winning the couple’s verbal altercation could not alleviate Madam Chen’s sorrow. Dejected, she asked Nanny Fan, “How is An’er?”

Nanny Fan replied, “I only spoke a few words with Grand Madam Zhang; I did not see An’er.”

Madam Chen missed her grandson even more, clutching her head and pressing her temples.

Seeing her distress, Nanny Fan helped her sit down and said gently, “Madam, please do not be upset. Calm down first. From what I saw at the Zhang family’s house, if you and the young master do not go together to fetch her, I am afraid the young mistress will not return. I know you are angry too, but if not the young mistress, at least keep an eye on An’er. The Zhang family has just received imperial commendation, and the Chancellor has been enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The whole family has risen in status, so naturally, their tempers are a bit stronger than usual. Besides, the young master’s courtyard still needs someone to look after it. It will not look good if the young mistress is not home. Madam, please condescend to go and coax her back first. We can discuss other matters later.”

Madam Chen agreed, taking a few breaths in her armchair before continuing, “Forget it, this cannot go on like this. What if she really stays at her parents’ house for months? When she comes back, my An’er will not even recognize me as his Grandmother anymore. Besides, I’ve been asked to do this, and I will have to visit the Zhang family sooner or later.”

Nanny Fan was somewhat puzzled. “Asked to do this? By whom?”

Madam Chen said, “Yesterday, did we not go to the tea party hosted by the wife of the Duke of Anning? The wife of the Grand Secretary of the Yankang Hall privately told me that she wanted to arrange a marriage for her second son.”

Nanny Fan said, “Oh,” and immediately remembered the scholar’s son. “His wife just died last winter, and he’s already remarrying?”

Madam Chen nodded. “He’s still young; he cannot remain a widower forever.”

“So, they’ve taken a fancy to a Zhang family’s young lady?”

Madam Chen said, “Indeed, the Zhang family is a respectable family. With the Golden Duck Banquet approaching, if we do not ask someone to act as a matchmaker now, once the young lady attends the banquet, there will be many suitors, and I am afraid they will not have a chance.”

Such matchmaking was very common among the ladies. Marriages between high-ranking families were not simply a matter of sending any matchmaker with an invitation; they required a prominent matchmaker—not necessarily a lady of high rank, but at least the wife of an official. The more prestigious the matchmaker, the more important the marriage seemed, and naturally, the higher the chances of success.

Nanny Fan accepted the fragrant drink brought by the maid and placed it beside Madam Chen, asking, “Which young lady do they have their eye on? Since it’s a second wife, the standards must be lowered, right? Could it be their third young lady?”

The third young lady, Qingrou, was the daughter of concubine-born Zhang Zhi, and she herself was born to a concubine. With such a background, becoming a second wife would not be considered a disgrace.

To everyone’s surprise, Madam Chen smiled mysteriously and said, “No, her second young lady was just released from the palace. Although she’s a legitimate daughter, she’s getting on in years, and good marriages are not easy to find. The scholar’s wife likes her because she grew up in the palace, and her manners and etiquette are more refined than most. Bringing her in would surely make her a capable wife to manage the household.”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Fan grinned hesitantly, “Well… her father was just enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple; I am afraid she would not want to be someone’s second wife!”

Madam Chen was always enthusiastic about matchmaking and believed anything was possible. She took a sip of warm water and said, “What use are posthumous honors when the person is gone? Go outside and see; most women her age are already mothers!”

That made sense. It was just a casual mention; if they were willing, it could facilitate a marriage; if not, it could be dropped without consequence.

Madam Chen was eager to try. At this moment, getting a daughter-in-law seemed secondary; she’d better try to get some information out of Lady Zhang first. So she had Nanny Fan prepare again. Because of the heat, walking at midday was inappropriate, so she lit a lamp and dawdled until late afternoon. Seeing the sun was already setting, she went to her son’s courtyard and dragged Chen Ang, who was napping, out of bed, telling him to quickly change his clothes so they could go to the Zhang family to fetch her.

Chen Ang was very reluctant, frowning and saying, “If she wants to come back, she can come back; if she does not, so be it. To make me come all the way to fetch her is really giving her too much face.”

Madam Chen was immediately furious, giving him two hard slaps on the back. “I am doing this because you are restless, offering my warm face to someone’s cold backside, and you are unwilling!” Without another word, she snapped, “Are you going or not? If not, I will call a broker and sell Nian’er into a brothel.”

Chen Ang had no choice. After weighing his options, he could only go behind the screen to change.

Madam Chen was still cursing, “You heartless wretch, just like your father!” After he finished getting ready, she gave him a stern look, and they left the Marquis’s Mansion together.

Chen Ang, being a man of wide social connections, encountered several acquaintances along the way who greeted him, “Chengchuan, where are you going?”

He, concerned for his reputation, forced a smile and replied, “My wife went to her parents’ home for a few days, and I am going to fetch her.”

The midday sun was blinding. He wiped the sweat from his brow, but inwardly he felt deeply resentful. He thought to himself that this matter had been smoothed over without harming Shangrou in the slightest; he truly did not understand what kind of pretense she was playing.

However, he dared not speak, fearing his mother’s glare would have him executed on the spot. Finally arriving at the Zhang Mansion’s gate, the servants who came out to greet them were rather unenthusiastic, simply leading the way routinely, saying, “Madam, please; Young Master, please.”

Fortunately, the Grand Madam was gracious enough to greet them politely. Madam Chen repeatedly apologized, saying she was truly confused. “Since those two ladies have come to speak, they certainly will not be able to leave anytime soon. I thought it was hot, and Shangrou and An’er might catch heatstroke walking in the middle of the day, so I sent my maidservant ahead. It turned out to be a big misunderstanding.”

This was clearly an excuse; there was no misunderstanding at all. The Chen family wanted to put on airs, but the Zhang family simply did not want to engage.

Lady Pan, who had been listening in, disliked her bad manners and asked calmly, “Did my niece’s husband also accompany you?”

Lady Ling, who was sitting with them, almost burst out laughing when she saw the displeased expressions on the faces of the Chen mother and son.

“Never mind,” Madam Chen thought, “these are all minor matters. As long as I can get them home, that’s all that matters.” She had given the Zhang family ample face; everyone had compromised, and they would continue to be in-laws in the future.

The Grand Madam turned her head and instructed Nanny Feng, “Invite the eldest young lady here. Tell her the lady and young master of the house have arrived, and see what she says.”

Nanny Feng agreed, retreated to the outer room, and beckoned to the maidservant standing nearby. Without saying a word, she gestured towards Shangrou’s courtyard, and the maidservant understood, quickly leaving the garden.

Inside, the Grand Madam remained silent, simply sitting quietly and gently inviting Madam Chen to have tea.

Madam Chen knew that the Grand Madam’s anger had not subsided, and she herself felt uneasy. She could only offer a few kind words, awkwardly saying, “It’s common for young couples to quarrel. This time, it was indeed Chengchuan’s absurd behavior that caused this. I’ve already scolded him severely. When Shangrou arrives, I will have him apologize to her properly.”

The Grand Madam forced a smile. “We elders only want the best for our children; no one wants to be the bad guy. Whether Shangrou goes back or not is not up to me; it depends on Shangrou’s wishes. If she comes later, it will be up to Marquis’s Son himself. If he can persuade her to go back with him, that would be best. If not… then let’s discuss it again later.”

Madam Chen’s heart skipped a beat. What good could come of discussing it later? It seemed the only option was divorce. She turned and glared at her son. “Did you understand what your grandmother said?” she said, frowning. “You are still sitting there with your back slumped! Stand up!”

Chen Ang, scolded by his mother, could only awkwardly stand aside. Shangrou arrived with her child. Upon entering, she first bowed to her mother-in-law, but as for her husband, she would not even glance at him, finding him an obstacle. Madam Chen could only manage a forced smile and try to smooth things over, saying, “Young couple, you seem so shy meeting each other.” Then she gave Chen Ang a sharp look, “Did you not have something to say to Shangrou?”

Chen Ang had no choice but to bow deeply to Shangrou, saying listlessly, “My lady, it’s all my fault. I was foolish enough to indulge my concubine, causing such a mess and making you suffer. I promise I will reflect on my actions, be self-disciplined, study hard, and never again cause you pain or worry our elders. Please forgive me this time, and come home with me.”

Everyone looked at Shangrou. Madam Chen’s heart was pounding in her chest. Seeing Shangrou remain silent for a while, then slightly turn her face away and say, “Go and hold An’er,” the clouds finally parted, and she breathed a huge sigh of relief, saying, “Alright, alright…”

Chen Ang, hearing this, reached out and took the child from the wet nurse. An’er, too young to understand, beamed with joy in Chen Ang’s arms. If one did not know the inside story, they would think the family was harmonious and living a sweet life.

“After all, they are blood relatives. Look at our child; how close he is to his father!” Madam Chen smiled, smoothing things over. Now it was time to discuss the other important purpose of her trip, so she said to the Grand Madam, “Grand Madam, the Imperial Censor’s wife came to our residence for a short visit earlier and mentioned the tea party held at the Duke of Anning’s residence yesterday. That reminded me that the wife of Grand Secretary Kong had entrusted me with a matter. Since I have some free time today, I’d like to discuss it with you, Grand Madam.”

The Grand Madam nodded. “Madam, please speak freely. We are family; why be so polite?”

Madam Chen chuckled and said, “Scholar Kong has two legitimate sons. The eldest is serving as an official in Qingzhou, and the second is currently a commander in the Imperial Guard. At such a young age, he’s already a fifth-rank official; his future is very bright. Yesterday, during the banquet, Madam Kong privately discussed with me finding a marriage for the second son, mentioning your young lady, and asked me to inquire after her.”