Mudan hadn’t forgotten that Li Xing had once sought out Jiang Changyang, nor the sudden appearance of Prince Min at the Wuming Restaurant, heading straight for Duke Zhu. She remembered Jiang Changyang’s words and the expensive gardener Li bought from Prince Jing for Fang Garden. If Prince Jing wasn’t the insignificant person rumors portrayed, but rather the one who had quietly forced Yan Balang to his demise for Qin Niang, he would surely know of her close relationship with Jiang Changyang.
Furthermore, if Qin Niang truly intended to repay her someday as she claimed, there must be a reason why she had refused to acknowledge both Mudan and Lu Wulang earlier. Lu Wulang had long sought help from the He family and maintained a close relationship with them. Yet, after contacting Qin Niang, he didn’t mention anything to the He family. Now he suddenly approached them, revealing intimate details about Qin Niang’s pregnancy and her misunderstanding with Prince Jing. The drastic change in his attitude made Mudan suspicious—surely this wasn’t aimed at her but at Jiang Changyang and those behind him.
Mudan didn’t dare share these suspicions with Madam Cen in detail. She could only say, “Some people, after achieving success, are most reluctant to see those who witnessed their lowest, most miserable times. If Qin Niang wanted to acknowledge me, she would have come long ago. She’s willing to recognize Lu Wulang but not me, which I believe is for this reason. Lu Wulang is just being wishful. Even if I agreed to his request, I wouldn’t have received a warm welcome from Qin Niang. Moreover, this involves the competition for favor among the prince’s consorts and concubines. We should stay out of it. With Father and Big Brother away, we should be extra cautious.”
Madam Cen pondered briefly, then said, “You’re right. Caution ensures longevity. If she was willing to be kept outside by Prince Jing from the start, she should have been prepared and had her strategies. Your going there would be of no help.”
Mudan nodded and smiled, “Mother, didn’t you mention the other day that as the weather cooled, your face and hands were getting drier? You wanted some fragrant cream, right? It’s perfect timing. Let’s make some today. We can make extra to give as gifts.”
Madam Cen, though not young, had maintained herself well and had many hand care methods. Recently, she had been feeling somewhat lethargic, so engaging her in these interesting activities would help alleviate her fatigue.
Madam Cen indeed became enthusiastic. “That’s easy enough. If you want to make it, let’s do it. I’ll teach you. First, clean two pig’s trotters and wash a dou of white rice. Add five dou of water and simmer over low heat until the trotters and rice are soft. Strain and reserve one dou of the clear liquid. That’s step one. Then, chop five liang each of white poria and lu, one liang of weirui, two liang each of baizhi and fangfeng.
Simmer these into one dou of medicinal liquid. That’s step two. Finally, grind one sheng of apricot kernels and cook them with the medicinal and clear liquids until reduced to one and a half dou. Strain out the solids and pour them into a porcelain bottle. Add one Liang each of powdered gansong and linglingxiang, mix well, and let cool. Cover the bottle tightly with silk cotton. Apply to face and hands before bed each night.”
Ah, so this was the ancient version of collagen whitening anti-wrinkle night cream, truly all-natural. Excited, Mudan called for Kuan’er to take money to the kitchen to prepare pig’s trotters, while Shu’er took money to the storehouse for the other medicinal ingredients.
“Share with everyone!” Concubines Wu and Yang entered hand in hand, smiling. “No wonder Madam’s skin has remained so fair and moisturized all these years. You had a secret recipe. Since Dan’er is footing the bill, make some extra for us to use too. Let us benefit as well.”
Mudan smiled, “How about one portion for everyone?”
Concubine Yang clapped her hands, “Good, good.” Then, looking around and touching her cheeks, she smiled flatteringly at Madam Cen, “Although this concubine is younger than Madam, my facial skin isn’t as firm, smooth, and fair as yours!”
It was an obvious attempt to curry favor, probably out of a guilty conscience. Madam Cen smiled faintly, “You’re over ten years younger than me and Concubine Wu, and you’re from Yangzhou. We can’t compare to you in any way.”
Concubine Yang laughed dryly, “Madam is teasing me again.”
Mudan noticed that the gold-framed jeweled rhinoceros horn comb on Concubine Yang’s head was gone, replaced by a very ordinary silver-gilt hairpin.
Soon, Madam Xue and others also came, having heard the news. They all sat down to grind medicinal herbs and apricot kernels by hand, chatting and laughing together, creating a lively atmosphere. Only Madam Sun sat in a corner, absentmindedly turning over a handful of apricot kernels, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Mudan moved next to her and smiled, “What are you doing, Sixth Sister-in-law?”
Startled, Madam Sun looked up and smiled faintly at Mudan, “Nothing, I just think these large apricot kernels are rare.”
Compared to Concubine Yang’s springtime elation and attempts to please everyone, Madam Sun still wore a somewhat worn everyday dress, with just a few double-pronged gold hairpins and two pearl flowers in her hair, without even powder or rouge. She seemed to have lost a lot of weight and appeared preoccupied. Mudan asked, “Sixth Sister-in-law, why have you lost weight?”
Madam Sun touched her face and smiled faintly, “Have I? Perhaps it’s because I’m not wearing powder?” She then stood up, exclaiming, “If you think I’ve gotten thin, I’ll go look in the mirror. If it’s true, I’ll eat more tonight.” She left and didn’t return, deliberately avoiding Mudan.
It was clear that Madam Sun and Concubine Yang knew something but were unwilling to share, likely due to the distinction between main and secondary wives, causing them to be wary. In reality, Madam Cen, the eldest son, and others weren’t the type who wished for the concubines to live poorly. Mudan tilted her head in thought for a moment, then buried herself back in her work. After grinding a bowl of apricot kernels, Shu’er quietly entered and whispered in her ear, “The letter has been given to Gui. He left on horseback.”
Mudan nodded. Although everything was based on her intuition, without concrete evidence, and she wasn’t clear about the complex relationships involved, she still hoped that Jiang Changyang could gather more information to protect himself.
Meanwhile, after leaving the He residence, Lu Wulang headed straight for Fengle Ward. After winding through several turns, he dismounted in front of the back door of a large mansion. His servant lightly tapped the door twice with a horsewhip handle. After a long wait, the door opened slightly, and an old servant peeked out. Seeing Lu Wulang, he immediately perked up, stepped aside with a broad smile, and came forward to take the horse. “Young Master Lu has arrived?”
Lu Wulang nodded and gave his servant a look. The servant quickly handed some money to the old servant and silently followed him as he led the horse away. Lu Wulang, familiar with the route, walked along a small path of cracked ice pattern stones, past elegant and quiet rockeries and streams, until he stopped in front of a small building and coughed softly.
The stone-blue curtain was lifted, and Ahui poked her head out, smiling, “Young Master Lu is here? Madam has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Lu Wulang entered the room and handed his cloak to Ahui. “Is Aunt upstairs?”
Ahui hung up his cloak and said softly, “She’s watching the embroiderers make small quilts. Did your errand go smoothly?”
Lu Wulang shook his head and sat down on a brocade stool by the window. “Please ask Madam to come down.”
Qin Niang’s clear and melodious voice came from upstairs, “Wulang, come up.” Then, two embroiderers wearing stone-blue jackets and skirts quietly walked down the stairs carrying white wicker boxes filled with needlework, silently retreating from the small building. Ahui unobtrusively stood by the door, acting as a guard.
Lu Wulang lifted his robe and went upstairs. Through the crystal curtain, he could see Qin Niang lounging lazily by the window on a brocade couch, motionless as she gazed outside. She wore a light purple lotus-patterned robe, with a gold hairpin with four butterflies seemingly about to take flight adorning her reversed bun. Her snow-white, delicate hands held a cup of steaming hot tea, looking both languid and alluring.
Madam Cai lifted the curtain for Lu Wulang: “What tea would you like, Young Master?”
Lu Wulang replied, “Anything is fine.”
“Give him a cup of the purple bamboo shoot tea I’m drinking,” Qin Niang turned her head, not adjusting her posture, and complained, “The weather is getting colder, leaving one without any energy.”
Lu Wulang sat far away on a crescent-shaped stool by the crystal curtain, holding a silver-gilt double-eared teacup, and said somewhat stiffly, “Aunt, your condition is different from usual. You shouldn’t sit there in the cool breeze.”
Qin Niang smiled and tightened her robe. “How did it go?”
Lu Wulang said, “As you predicted, she refused.” He then recounted the events in detail, and couldn’t help but add, “Aunt, what if she had agreed? What would you have done then?”
Qin Niang turned the teacup in her hand, staring at the rising mist of steam, and said softly, “She and I are practically strangers. She’s just been through such an ordeal, nearly suffering greatly. When she heard you say I was pregnant and had fallen out of favor with Prince Jing, she would have to be a fool to come. Don’t worry, I keep my word. If she were foolish enough to come, I would try my best not to let her suffer.”
Lu Wulang remained silent for a long time before asking, “Aunt, now that this plan has failed, what will you do about Prince Jing?”
Qin Niang smiled, “What can I do? Nothing! The fish didn’t take the bait, but that’s not my fault. He’s made several attempts himself, hasn’t he? If he blames me for this, he deserves to fail.” She casually uttered words that ordinary people wouldn’t dare to hear or say.
Lu Wulang uncomfortably gripped his cup. He had unwittingly become involved in such matters and didn’t know if his mother would beat him to death when he returned home. But thinking about seeking fortune amidst danger, and the slim chance of success that could change his entire family’s prospects, he felt a bit excited.
“You needn’t worry. If he truly wants to win over that person, he’ll naturally find another way and put in a great effort,” Qin Niang glanced at Lu Wulang, noticing his whitened knuckles, and said gently, “It’s been hard on you, asking you to do such things. After meeting with His Highness tonight, you should set out for Yangzhou tomorrow. If your mother asks, just tell her the truth. She’ll know what to do. I originally didn’t want you to get involved in this, but we were both unlucky to be caught up in it. I’ve dragged you into this.”
Lu Wulang boldly said, “Aunt, perhaps it’s not bad luck, but something that was bound to happen sooner or later.” Once targeted by a wolf, how could one escape? Unless the wolf gave up on its own, changed its mind, or was killed.
Qin Niang was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly, “Perhaps so. It’s about time. Go downstairs and rest for a while. I need to prepare myself.”