As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, news arrived from the palace that Prince Qing and his consort, who usually resided in Yidu, would rush back to the capital from Qingzhou Prefecture to attend this year’s Mid-Autumn banquet. The Prince Qing’s consort, formerly a close friend of Princess Ruian in the palace before her marriage, wanted to visit her former good sister after more than twenty years apart. With so much to catch up on, they decided to stay in the Marquis’ Mansion for a few days.
For Yuexi, who had just taken over the management of the mansion and was still in the midst of chaos, this was not good news. Welcoming a prince and his consort was a cumbersome affair, and just finding suitable accommodations for the consort proved to be a headache. In the end, following Aunt Cai’s suggestion, they refurbished the Quxia Court next to the main court where the princess resided. This was the most time-saving and convenient arrangement for the two to come and go. However, this incurred significant expenses, requiring careful budgeting of funds, arranging craftsmen, and controlling the construction period.
Yuexi found herself immersed in these trivial matters almost every day, busy to the point of being overwhelmed, only finding time to catch her breath in her room. On this day, as she stole a rare moment of leisure, reclining on the beauty couch, she sipped on the sour plum soup Anhe had prepared for her. Her gaze fell on the book that had been lying idle on the table for who knows how long, and she suddenly felt deeply nostalgic, realizing she could never return to the days when she could hide in the prime minister’s mansion, reading and daydreaming alone.
But presiding over such a large marquis’ mansion was no easy task. If Wang Yiniang were still here, she would surely have arranged everything properly. Thinking of this, Yuexi glanced at the soup in her cup, sighing silently: Although Wang Yiniang was selfish and greedy, she had devoted all her energy to the Marquis’ Mansion. Whether her actions were right or wrong, who could judge clearly?
Just as she was lost in thought, Lao Mama Li gently pushed the door open, followed by a charming little maid with tear stains on her fair face. Her round, big eyes looked timidly at Yuexi, evoking pity.
Seeing Lao Mama Li’s hesitant expression, Yuexi quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”
Lao Mama Li sighed and said, “Madam has been busy with affairs lately, and it’s not right to bother you, but…”
Yuexi set down her bowl, deliberately putting on a stern expression. “Why beat around the bush between us? Just tell me what’s wrong. If you don’t speak up, I’ll be angry.”
Lao Mama Li then pulled the pitiful little maid forward and said, “This maid’s name is Zhui’er, she served in the Second Young Lady’s courtyard. She happens to be from the same village as me, so we’ve always been close. Who would have thought a few months ago, when she went to deliver tea to the Second Young Master, she was…” She paused, sighing deeply. Zhui’er burst into tears, covering her face, and Lao Mama Li wiped her tears, continuing, “We servants have no control over our lives. Even if we’re wrong, we can only swallow our grievances. But this month, she found out she was pregnant, and the Second Young Master refused to acknowledge it. The Second Young Lady says she behaved improperly and wants to expel her from the mansion, leaving her with nowhere to go. As a weak woman with no relatives or connections in the capital, she came to me, hoping the madam could intervene on her behalf.”
Yuexi frowned. If what she said was true, this matter concerned the bloodline of the Marquis’ Mansion. Why hadn’t it reached her attention? So she tentatively asked the tearful Zhui’er, “Do the Lord and the princess know about this?”
As Zhui’er wiped her tears, she said, “I begged the princess, but she only let Lao Mama Yu and me talk. The Second Young Master has never been under her control, and she can’t intervene in this matter. I also went to see the Lord, but he wouldn’t see me.”
Yuexi felt puzzled. Why would the lord and the madam be so indifferent when this matter concerned the Marquis’ Mansion’s bloodline? With a troubled expression, she was about to refuse, but Zhui’er suddenly knelt with a loud thud, crying out, “Please, madam, save the child in my belly! I am just a lowly servant, but this unborn child is innocent. As long as I can give birth to this child, I’m willing to leave the Marquis’ Mansion forever and entrust the child to the Second Young Lady. I swear I will never see him again.”
Seeing Zhui’er determined to protect the unborn child at all costs, Yuexi felt a pang of emotion. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “Alright, I’ll try to talk to the Second Young Lady and see if there’s any room for negotiation.” Zhui’er lifted her head in pleasant surprise, thanking Yuexi profusely. Lao Mama Li was also overjoyed and helped Zhui’er up. After comforting her for a while, Yuexi took Lao Mama Li to Wang Shuqin’s room.
When she entered, Wang Shuqin was trimming a peony in front of her. She looked much thinner, with a faint trace of sorrow between her brows. Upon seeing Yuexi, she greeted her solemnly, “Why does the eldest sister have time to come to my room today?”
This was Wang Shuqin, who always maintained such a dignified demeanor no matter what she was feeling inside. Yuexi couldn’t help but recall the experience of being framed by her before, but she shook off those thoughts and said, “I’m here today because of Zhui’er.”
A hint of resentment flashed across Wang Shuqin’s face, but she still smiled and said, “Just a lowly servant girl. There’s no need for the eldest sister to intervene.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yuexi slowly said, “She told me she’s willing to keep the child, raise him under your name, and leave the Marquis’ Mansion herself, swearing never to see the child again. What do you think, sister?”
Wang Shuqin casually tossed the branches she had just trimmed out the window, her expression indifferent. “She’s a servant in my courtyard, and this is a matter for our family. As for how to deal with it, I don’t think the eldest sister needs to meddle.”
Her words were cold and firm, leaving no room for negotiation. Yuexi sighed and knew there was no more room for discussion. She had to bid farewell to Wang Shuqin with Lao Mama Li. When she returned to her room, Zhui’er immediately rushed forward with a hopeful look, but seeing Yuexi’s expression, she understood what had happened. She then knelt on the ground in despair, covering her face and crying bitterly.
After letting Lao Mama Li send Zhui’er away, Yuexi felt a little uncomfortable. She understood that she couldn’t do anything, nor should she. But were some people just destined to be trampled on like weeds? She looked out at the gradually dimming sunlight and suddenly longed to return to the prime minister’s mansion, to be a simple girl who wasn’t favored but lived happily.
Just then, a servant called from outside the door, “Madam, the lord requests your presence.” Thinking of Xiao Du, Yuexi’s heart softened slightly. She suppressed the emotions of sorrow and melancholy, tidied up her appearance, and followed the servant to Xiao Du’s study.
As she entered, she felt that something was amiss. Xiao Du stood with his back to the door, his gaze fixed on some point outside the window. Hearing footsteps inside the room, he simply coldly instructed the servant to close the door without turning around.
Once the door was closed, the room fell into a suffocating silence, broken only by the sound of water dripping from a leaking pot. Yuexi had never seen him so cold and unfeeling before. She felt a sudden unease creeping over her.
Finally, Xiao Du turned around, his face showing a mixture of pain and mockery as he picked up a piece of paper from the table. “Why do you still have a name called Wanwan?” he asked.
Yuexi’s body shook violently, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning. She stared fixedly at the half-sheet of paper in his hand, unable to say a word for a long while.