Spring Message in the Snow – CH 077

Chapter 77

If asked if she regretted it, of course, she did not. She even regretted not making such arrangements sooner. It turned out that people were not born weak; when pushed to the limit, they were capable of anything.

A man like Chen Ang was bound to face this calamity sooner or later; he would either ruin himself or turn on others out of jealousy. It was better to cut off his escape route now than let him commit crimes and harm his descendants. Like now, lying obediently in bed, asking for nothing except eating, drinking, and relieving himself, not throwing tantrums, and not frightening the children—this was the conduct of a good man—never before since their marriage had he been so satisfactory.

Shangrou slept half the night in the bedroom, intending to sleep until tomorrow, but it was not a good idea, so she went back to the front courtyard around midnight.

Upon entering, she saw Madam Chen sitting dejectedly by Chen Ang’s bedside. Her two sisters-in-law had already been sent back, leaving only a few maids and servants, with Yu Bo waiting nearby, harboring resentment towards Shangrou for her absence.

Madam Chen glanced at her and said, “Why are you only coming now? Your husband is in this state; how can you be at peace?”

Shangrou replied, “I was worried about my husband, but Ze’an has not been sleeping well. I could not just leave him there.”

Madam Chen thought she was being incredibly frivolous. “A child crying a few times is nothing compared to Chengchuan’s current situation!”

Shangrou did not take her words to heart. She tucked her sleeves into her sleeves, looked at the person on the bed, and said indifferently, “In a mother’s eyes, naturally, the child is more important. An’er has me, and my husband has you, Mother. We each protect our own sons. Is that wrong?”

These sentences left Madam Chen speechless, and she could only stare at her blankly.

The usually submissive and meek daughter-in-law had suddenly become sharp-tongued, which was truly perplexing. Madam Chen said sternly to her, “Is your Zhang family not a family of scholars and gentlemen? How could you be so disrespectful to your mother-in-law?”

Shangrou replied, “How could I be disrespectful to my mother-in-law? I was only speaking the truth. Why should Mother be angry? Besides, in this situation, we should all work together to take care of the young master. Why create internal strife among family members?”

She was now speaking without any regard for sentimentality. This mother-in-law seemed oblivious to her situation. Her only son had lost feeling in all four limbs and was bedridden and unable to move. Most people would be too busy comforting their daughters-in-law, but this Marquis’s wife was acting the opposite, as if her son were still a precious gem and someone else would cling to him.

Madam Chen was speechless, her eyes wide with anger. She wanted to retaliate, but seeing Chen Ang’s condition, she could only temporarily refrain from further confrontation.

Around midnight, news finally came in that the Marquis had returned. Madam Chen quickly wiped away her tears and stood up, asking, “How is it? Has the magistrate said anything?”

Marquis Chen turned and sat back down in his armchair, looking dejected. He lowered his head and said, “The magistrate received our report and immediately sent people out to investigate. At first, someone said they saw the gang of thieves in the northern part of the city, but after investigating for a while, they said they had all fled outside the city… Anyway, they are just a band of robbers, specializing in robbing people. Now the government has issued an arrest warrant, and we can only wait for news from the yamen.”

“What?” Madam Chen clearly could not accept this explanation. “Robbers robbing people’s money… is it worth hurting someone like this for money? They are just making us wait for news; how long will that take?” Turning to look at her son on the bed, tears welled up again. She choked out, “My lively son, I poured so much effort into raising him, and now he’s been killed by a bunch of lowly, pig-like people! I am not happy about it! Anyone with eyes can see there must be some deep-seated grudge to warrant such a cruel act. The prefect might have noticed, but he’s just afraid to investigate further and is using these excuses to appease you.”

Marquis Chen knew perfectly well that the young masters who frequented the capital were all influential figures. If the instigator was indeed one of them, the prefect could try to smooth things over. But what could he do? Magistrate Qu had promised to investigate thoroughly, and he could only wait for news. After all, his title of Founding Marquis was earned through his mother’s status; his mother, the Princess of Huayang, had been the adopted daughter of Empress Chengxian, and it was through this connection that the late Emperor had bestowed upon her a title. Although he held the title, he lacked real power and the ability to exert pressure on others in case of a major incident.

“Sigh…” Marquis Chen sighed, leaning on the armrest of his armchair. “None of my relatives hold high positions, and I am hesitant to ask my friends for help.” He thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered his daughter-in-law and looked at Shangrou, saying, “Is your sister not married to the Heir Apparent of Wukang? If we could ask the Heir Apparent to intervene in the case, it might be easier to solve it quickly.”

Perhaps due to the late hour, Shangrou’s reaction was somewhat slow. “My second sister just married into the family. It’s really embarrassing to ask her for help. But with such a serious matter at home, I must swallow my pride and go. Father, do not worry, I will go to the Prince’s Mansion first thing tomorrow morning and definitely ask him for help.”

Marquis Chen nodded, seemingly relieved. He could do nothing more than stay by the bedside and wait for the man to wake up.

Because of the recent injury, the deep wounds had not yet spread, so at least the outlines were still visible upon return. As time passed, the hidden injuries surfaced, and the disfigured face finally became unrecognizable.

Shangrou looked down, never having seen anyone’s face swollen like this. Water was seeping under the skin, which was stretched almost to the point of bursting. She even wondered if a needle prick would cause fluid to flow. Looking at this face, she found it somewhat amusing; this person was alive, yet looked dead. However, in her heart, he had, over the years, indeed been no different from dead.

Finally, dawn broke, and it was a brand new day. Having not slept well last night, enduring until morning, she felt nauseous at the sight of this head. She excused herself, saying she needed to go to the Prince’s Mansion, and went back to her own courtyard to change clothes and had breakfast before slowly heading out.

The Emperor held court on odd-numbered days, and today there was a court assembly; the Heir Apparent should not be home, giving the two sisters a chance to speak alone.

The carriage clattered along at a leisurely pace until it reached the Prince’s Mansion. A servant was sent to the gate to announce their arrival, and soon a maidservant from the inner courtyard came out to greet them, politely leading them into the main hall.

Surou vaguely knew Shangrou’s purpose; it was simply that something had happened at home and she wanted to discuss it with her. Just the previous night, Helian Song had brought back news that Chen Ang had been ambushed and beaten in an alley, and he had not intervened out of respect for her elder sister. Could this have led to some consequences?

After inviting her to sit down, Surou carefully examined her again. Although she seemed somewhat tired, her spirits were high. She said, “I’ve come too early, disturbing my second sister’s peace and quiet,” a slight smile even playing in her eyes.

Surou took the tea brought by the maid and placed it in front of her. She did not rush to ask questions but waited until the maids standing nearby had all left before speaking softly, “Elder Sister, you came so early; is something wrong?”

She looked at her seriously, and Shangrou could not help but laugh. She put down her Jianzhan teacup and said, “It’s nothing serious, just that last night Chen Ang encountered a group of thieves and was beaten almost to death. Luckily, someone from the nearby teahouse found him and carried him back. After he got back, they called a physician and reported it to the authorities; it was a commotion all night. I thought he was going to die, but he’s lucky he survived. He just has no feeling below his neck. I even stabbed him with scissors, and he did not even feel it. He’s shrunk a bit.”

Surou was surprised. “How did it get like this? Last night, Jie Ran hosted a banquet for his colleagues. When we came out of the restaurant, we saw those people attacking him. He thought it was just a lesson, so he did not intervene. I did not expect it to be this serious!”

Shangrou’s face remained calm. She said, “Luckily, he did not intervene. If he had, things would be different now. To be honest, everything is exactly what I wanted. It’s better to immobilize him so that An’er and I can live in peace. However, my in-laws will not let it go. They insist I ask the Heir Apparent to pressure Magistrate Qu. I could not avoid it, so I verbally agreed. This is a good opportunity to catch my breath.”

Surou nodded. “When Jie Ran returns, I will discuss it with him. After all this fighting, we need to get justice.”

But Shangrou disagreed. After a brief silence, she said, “I know who the real culprit is—it’s Prince Dai’s son. Magistrate Qu promised my father-in-law he’d do his best to investigate, and if they find the mastermind, he’d turn a blind eye. I came here simply to relax; I did not intend for you to get involved. Ultimately, Chen Ang’s current situation is something I intentionally orchestrated.”

Surou found her words increasingly unbelievable. “Elder Sister, are you implying that you planned last night’s events? Did you and Prince Dai’s son… Do you know him?”

Shangrou shook her head. “I do not know him, but I know he has a lover, a courtesan, who’s involved with Chen Ang. So, he used Chen Ang’s name to redeem that courtesan, quickly provoking Prince Dai’s son to punish Chen Ang severely. This tactic of using someone else to do the dirty work is not particularly clever, but it’s enough to deal with lustful men. Women waste money fighting over men, and men waste their lives fighting over men. Perhaps I am being a bit malicious. Before, I was hoping Prince Dai’s son would kill him; I’d rather be a widow than be his wife again.”

She became agitated at the end, her previously relaxed brow furrowing again. Surou could see that she was still struggling internally—perhaps resentment, perhaps lingering fear.

Nanny Zhu, standing nearby, stepped forward to comfort Shangrou and told Surou the whole story: “After dealing with that matter concerning Sheniang, I thought we could finally live in peace. But the Marquis’s son was still relentless. He came to make a scene with Madam last night, probably instigated by the Marquis’s wife. He was red-faced and demanding that Madam clean the courtyard and allow him to bring in more servants. Second Mistress did not see it, but his violent outburst was truly frightening. Not only did he argue, but he also hit her. If it were not for the number of us, Madam would probably have been in trouble.”

Surou, upon hearing this, was furious. She gritted her teeth and said, “That vile scoundrel deserves this fate!” Then, she gently comforted Shangrou, “Elder Sister, do not be afraid. This is his own doing. Even without Prince Dai’s son today, someone else with real power would have dealt with him in the future. Was he not clamoring for more people? Giving him his wish is more than fair. It’s just bad luck that he ran into someone powerful; it has nothing to do with you, Elder Sister.”

Shangrou nodded, tears streaming down her face. She wiped them away with her hand and said, “I do not regret doing this. Seeing him get his comeuppance finally made me feel relieved. I just pity our An’er; his father is bedridden, and I’m afraid it would delay his marriage prospects.”

Surou, on the other hand, comforted her, saying, “When noble ladies choose a husband, they always consider the family background and the number of people in the household. It’s better to have a father-in-law who is bedridden year-round than one who is physically healthy but has a bad reputation. By the time An’er reaches marriageable age, it will be more than ten years later. In ten years, how many people will remember what happened? After all, the Marquis’s family fortune is still there. An’er is an only child. As long as he’s ambitious, marrying a girl of equal social standing will not be difficult.”

Shangrou sighed in relief, agreeing, then smiled again, “I do not know why, but I am suddenly thinking so far ahead, even about my son’s marriage.”

Surou reached out and patted her hand. “Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Elder Sister, do not worry. I feel sorry for you, wasting your prime years on that kind of person.”

Speaking of divorce, it was not realistic. She was not childless; she still had Ze’an. The Marquis of Xingyang’s mansion only had this one grandson, and they would never let him go. If Shangrou left, Ze’an would fall into the hands of Marchioness Chen, and that excessive pampering would raise him into another Chen Ang. Shangrou could not agree to that. Besides, if his father were paralyzed and his mother had remarried, the child would truly be ruined. So Shangrou was still bound by invisible chains; even if she grew wings, she could not fly out of the Chen family.

Fortunately, she was easygoing, resignedly saying, “If the tiger on the east mountain eats people, does that mean the tiger on the west mountain will not? These days, which family does not have wives and concubines fighting? It’s finally peaceful in the courtyard, and I do not want to move again and plunge into another messy place.”

Right now, she was torn between the lively ones she could not control and the half-dead ones she could, making it difficult to choose. Comparing the two, the latter was better. She had maids, servants, and attendants at home to serve her, so Shangrou would not have to clean up after him. As long as she used the excuse of needing to look after An’er, Shangrou could occasionally check on Chen Ang, which would be enough, and that shrewish mother-in-law could not say anything. If she displeased Shangrou, she could take Ze’an back to her parents’ home for a while. The only grandson always staying with his maternal relatives was naturally a cause for concern for the Marquis of Xingyang and his wife.

After drinking two more cups of tea, Shangrou gradually calmed down and sincerely told Surou, “From now on, I will not have to worry about Chen Ang’s debts from visiting prostitutes anymore. You do not know how much I have to pay off for him every year; I am so tired of it. So it’s better for him to be dead than alive. If he cannot die, being paralyzed is the same.”

Surou had always thought Shangrou was too weak, unable to stand up for herself, and did not know how to fight against fate. Even sending Sheniang to the manor in Chanzhou to be imprisoned was her idea. However, this time, she had made such a bold attempt on her own, had gotten her revenge, and had succeeded. From then on, she had gained confidence and would no longer live a subservient life in the Chen family.

Later, they talked about some everyday things, and Chen Ang was no longer a topic of conversation. The two sisters then discussed what to prepare for Mianmian’s wedding dowry. By the end, Shangrou’s eyebrows relaxed, and she had completely forgotten about the mess at home.

As the sun slowly moved higher, it was getting late. Shangrou rose and said, “I’ve been here quite a while; it’s time to go back. Just consider what I told you earlier a joke; do not worry about it.”

Surou agreed, seeing her off as she carefully instructed, “Elder Sister, take good care of yourself in the Chen family. If Madam Chen still has a problem with you, we can confront her directly and see what her true intentions are.”

Shangrou nodded in agreement and then, supported by Nanny Zhu, boarded the carriage.

Surou stood on the steps watching her go, while Nanny Fu sighed, “Our eldest young mistress was such a refined young lady. The Chen family said so many nice things to persuade the eldest master and his wife to marry her. I heard Nanny Zhu say that not long after the marriage, trouble started in the courtyard. One day, this concubine was sick; the next day, that concubine was jealous. She’s a cultured noblewoman; she’s never experienced anything like that.”

Surou felt a pang of disappointment. When she encountered unfriendly families, her refined manners became a weakness, and now, things had deteriorated further; she did not know how easy the road ahead would be.

The Marquis’s carriage turned onto the straight road and headed south. Just as Surou was about to turn back and enter, another carriage turned into the alleyway. Its black lacquered and gold-plated panels clearly identified it as Helian Song’s carriage.

“Now he’s taking better care of his health. Unless he’s going on a long trip, he always travels by carriage.” When asked why, he said that a man with a wife needed to take extra care of his skin to avoid getting freckles from too much sun, which his wife would not like. Besides, riding a horse was tiring for the buttocks and bad for the back. Since he was married, he had to be responsible for his wife, avoid things that harm his health, and prioritize his own and his wife’s happiness. Surou was stunned by his words.

The carriage slowly came to a stop. He lifted the curtain and leaned out, immediately seeing Surou standing beside it. He asked in surprise, “I do not have a set schedule for when I return. Did you come out specifically to wait for me, My Lady? Have you been waiting long?”

Surou smiled. “I just saw my elder sister off, and my husband happened to return.”

He said “Oh,” without adding anything else. After getting out of the carriage, he stretched and softly said, “Let’s go in.” He then walked towards the door with his hands behind his back.

Surou was somewhat puzzled, wondering why he seemed different today… She hesitated slightly but followed him inside.

Walking through the wooden corridor of the front courtyard, he strolled along casually. After a while, realizing she had not followed, he stopped and turned back to look at her. “Why was Elder Sister here so early? Is something the matter?”

His question was casual, his composed demeanor almost making one think he was still navigating the officialdom.

Surou was puzzled. Accustomed to his ever-present, surging passion, his sudden cooling was unsettling. However, she did not press him, simply saying, “My brother-in-law was beaten so badly last night he cannot move. He’s paralyzed in bed now.”

He was surprised. “So serious? If I’d known, I would have stopped them.”

Surou did not want to discuss this with him now. Her thoughts were increasingly focused on his words and actions. She thought to herself, “We’ve only been married a few days. How come he’s suddenly such a different person? He was so eager before he got me, but now that he has, he’s nothing special?” But it was not like this before he left this morning…

She scrutinized him carefully for a moment. “My Lord, did something happen while you were out?”

He said no, turning to look at the garden scenery. The slanting sunlight shone on half his cheek. He squinted and sighed, “Autumn comes so quickly; the leaves have turned yellow in the blink of an eye…”

Surou followed his gaze and saw, among a clump of lush greenery, a single yellow leaf nestled, falling gently in the wind.