With the Empress’s death, entertainment and marriages were suspended, leaving most people bored. This year was particularly challenging, with severe drought in the south. The capital’s residents found entertainment in counting the messenger horses racing to the imperial city with urgent reports. Their conversation topics revolved around the Empress’s funeral arrangements, its grandeur, and the appearances of noble attendees.
Fang Garden also suffered greatly, with no one buying or viewing flowers. Yuhe came to report on the garden’s situation and review accounts, lamenting, “The flower-viewing season is just these few days. In previous years, we’d make significant daily income from visitors alone. This year’s flowers are even better, but who could have foreseen such events?” While selling flowers could still generate substantial revenue, Jiang Changyang had reduced the garden’s business last year, and with Mudan pregnant, they hadn’t taken many flower orders. With both avenues limited, they incurred losses.
Mudan calmly replied, “These things can’t be helped. It’s temporary; the situation will improve next year. Since the peonies were lost, let’s have everyone tend to the fruit trees well.” With the southern drought, fruit prices would surely rise. Even if they couldn’t sell for much, the fruit would make excellent gifts for relatives and friends.
Yuhe agreed and presented two pairs of shoes she had made for Zhengr and Xianr. “Young Master Zheng and Miss Xian will be leaving soon. These shoes are specially made for their journey.”
Mudan accepted the shoes with a smile, noting they were adorable tiger-head shoes with soles of appropriate firmness and fine stitching, clearly made with great care. She praised Yuhe, “Managing such a large garden is already taxing enough, yet you still find time to make shoes for them. Shuer, go see if Zhengr and Xianr are asleep. If not, bring them here to play.”
“Sister Yuhe has more influence. Mother rarely brings them out for others to see,” Shuer teased Yuhe before fetching the children with their wet nurses. After playing for nearly half an hour, a servant from the He family arrived, asking if Mudan and Jiang Changyang could come for dinner that evening, offering to send Dage to escort them.
This dinner had been arranged the day before, so Mudan was puzzled by the additional inquiry. Usually, when they agreed to return, the couple would go together without an escort from her family. She replied, “We’ll go. We’ll leave as soon as my husband returns home. There’s no need for my elder brother to come.”
Hearing this, Yuhe hastily rose to leave, “The garden needs tending. I should return now.”
“What’s the rush? I’ve told you to stay for a couple of days. Who would dare object?” Mudan smiled, glancing at Shuer and the others, signaling them to leave. “You rarely visit. You’re not even going to see Mother Feng? Are you afraid someone will eat you? Come with me today. It’ll save Mother Feng from thinking I’m hiding you away.”
Gui had originally agreed to a one-year term with Yuhe, but nearly two years had passed without any word from him. Yuhe had become an old maid. Mother Feng couldn’t help but worry about Yuhe’s marriage prospects, especially urging her over the past year. As servants, they wouldn’t normally dare to act on their own, but Mother Feng had a unique standing with Madam Cen. She had early on sought Madam Cen’s help and asked Mudan, determined to find a good match for Yuhe. However, Yuhe, with Gui in her heart, stubbornly refused, going so far as to avoid her mother by staying in Fang Garden year-round, only making brief trips to the city for errands before disappearing again.
Yuhe hesitated, “I came in a hurry and didn’t prepare any gifts. I’ll be scolded if I go. I’ll visit next time.”
This was an excuse. Mudan raised an eyebrow, “Can you keep avoiding her forever? She wants to see you, not gifts from you. She’s your mother, not unreasonable. Just explain things clearly to her, so she doesn’t worry silently. There are some things that others can’t say for you two.”
“Fine, I’ll go,” Yuhe bit her lip, looking at Mudan, wanting to speak but hesitating.
She was still asking about news of Gui. Mudan shook her head gently, sympathetic but helpless. Yuhe’s large eyes quickly misted over, and she lowered her gaze, silent.
Mudan took Yuhe’s hand, feeling its icy coldness. Feeling sorry for her, she said, “My husband once had someone inquire. He was seen, but only half a year ago…” Mudan paused, lowering her voice further, “However, we’ve checked, and his name isn’t among the list of criminals.” It was said that Gui had gone to seek revenge. If he had been caught by officials, his name would surely be on record. But it was also possible that he hadn’t fallen into official hands and had instead met his end at the hands of his enemies.
Yuhe kept her head down, silent for a long while. Finally, she looked up, her voice hoarse, “Alright, I’ll wait a bit longer.” She sighed softly, and then a sweet smile spread across her face. “It’s been a long time since I’ve helped you dress. May I help you with your hair and clothes today?”
Unable to find words of comfort, Mudan forced a smile, “I was just telling the others how good you are with color coordination. I’ll leave myself in your hands now. Keep it simple, but make sure it looks good. I won’t let you off easy otherwise.”
Yuhe smiled, pressing her lips together. She brought over a mirror, opened its cover, and began carefully tending to Mudan’s hair and attire. Kuaner and Shuer, hearing the commotion, came to help, playfully teasing, “We finally got Mother to stop thinking we’re clumsy, but with Sister Yuhe back, we seem clumsy again…” Yuhe smiled, unhesitatingly directing them in their tasks, gradually dispelling the slight melancholy in her brow.
Shortly after, Jiang Changyang returned home. Just as he entered the room to change clothes, He Dage indeed arrived to escort them, as if right on cue.
Jiang Changyang expressed surprise, “What’s the occasion, Elder Brother-in-law? You’ve never been so eager before, coming personally to escort us.”
Mudan smiled, “I found it strange too. They even sent someone earlier to ask, as if particularly afraid we wouldn’t come. If we weren’t so close, people might think I had a falling out with my family.”
As they were speaking, He Dage entered, first taking the two children into his arms to cuddle them. Then, lowering his voice, he said, “There is indeed a matter. Old Master Li wishes to see Chengfeng, but it’s inconvenient for him to visit directly. He asked our parents for this favor. Though they didn’t say what it was about, we can’t refuse such a request from relatives. But our parents were worried about putting you in a difficult position, so I came specifically to inform you. You can decide how to handle it.”
Regardless of what the Li family was asking, given the long-standing friendship between Old Master Li and the He family, from the He family’s perspective, they naturally hoped to help as much as possible without harming Mudan and Jiang Changyang’s interests. However, since it was ultimately Jiang Changyang who would have to act, they needed to discuss it with him first.
Hearing this, Mudan looked at Jiang Changyang. She had once asked him what would happen to Old Master Li if Prince Ning couldn’t ascend to the throne. Jiang Changyang had pondered for a long time before saying he didn’t know, as it depended on how far the Li family was willing to go in supporting Prince Ning. If it came to that point, if the Li family’s stance remained unchanged, even those who wanted to help might be powerless. Now that the Li family had taken the initiative to reach out, it was worth hearing them out.
Jiang Changyang smiled, “It’s just a meeting, isn’t it? Let’s meet first and then decide. If we can help, we should. If we can’t, there’s nothing to be done. Let’s go.” In truth, Prince Ning’s situation was dire—since Empress Wang’s death, Prince Ning had cried so hard at her spirit tablet that he vomited blood and fell ill. The Emperor had only sent people to visit him twice and hadn’t shown his face. This attitude was vastly different from when Prince Jing had fallen ill. Old Master Li coming at this time could only mean two things: either he was planning for Prince Ning, or he was planning for his own family. Regardless, Jiang Changyang needed to meet with Old Master Li to fulfill this familial obligation.
Seeing his readiness, Dage’s face lit up with joy, “Father said Chengfeng is chivalrous and would surely come!”
Receiving such praise from his wife’s family, Jiang Changyang felt slightly embarrassed. In reality, it depended on the person. If it were Li Xing behaving detestably, would he still go?
As they arrived at the He family’s door, Mother Feng was waiting. She spotted Yuhe hiding behind Mudan but pretended not to see her. Smiling, she greeted Jiang Changyang and Mudan, then whispered to Mudan, “They’ve already arrived. The Li father and son are in the study with the master, having tea. Please ask the son-in-law to go directly to the study. Oh, and Madam Cui is sitting in the back.”
It seemed the whole family had mobilized. This was the first time Madam Cui had appeared in their home since that incident, likely intending to apologize and make amends. But was this necessary? The relationship between these two families didn’t hinge solely on Madam Cui. Mudan sighed lightly and relayed the information to Jiang Changyang. She then pushed Yuhe towards Mother Feng, saying, “She’s usually busy managing the garden for me and rarely gets away. It’s a rare visit, so you two go talk. There’s no need for her to attend to us upfront. I’ll explain to my mother.”
Mother Feng thanked Mudan with a smile, glancing lightly at Yuhe before saying softly, “Come with me.” As soon as Mudan and the others were out of sight, she immediately raised her eyebrows, glaring at Yuhe and grabbing her ear, “You naughty girl! I’d like to see you try to fly away from me now!”
The surrounding young maids giggled, but Yuhe, concerned about her dignity, slapped away her mother’s hand. Her face flushed with anger as she said, “If you grab me again, I’m leaving!”
“Oh? So you’ve grown wings now, have you?” Mother Feng grew angrier, turning to scold the maids watching the scene, “What are you looking at? Have you finished all your work?” The group of maids scattered like frightened birds.
Mudan, watching this scene from afar, couldn’t help but smile. She then noticed Xue Shi standing in an inconspicuous spot under the corridor, beckoning to her, “Danniang, come here. Mother asked me to have a word with you.”