Mo Zi bit her lip. She should leave now. Though Ai Lian’s eyes were open, they were unfocused—one could tell at a glance she was in a dazed mental state, completely unable to comprehend anything.
But her feet seemed nailed in place, unable to move.
Er Ya had said Ai Lian’s child was gone.
When she heard it, she hadn’t thought much about it. If Zhang Shi learned of Ai Lian and Fifth Master Qiu’s affair and confirmed the child wasn’t Fourth Master Qiu’s, this outcome was completely foreseeable. However, she’d forgotten that ancient abortion techniques were far inferior to modern ones. Without considering the pregnant woman’s physical condition, purely using medicinal effects to abort the child in the womb was almost no different from taking a life.
Looking at Ai Lian’s complexion and the shocking bloodstains on her skirt, this was clearly severe hemorrhaging after a miscarriage. She had no experience in this area, but she’d read plenty of books in both lives and understood the commonly popularized theories. Hemorrhaging caused by childbirth or miscarriage was a signal of life-threatening danger even under modern medical conditions, let alone now.
“Ai Lian.” Regardless of this person’s character, as fellow women, with the other party already fallen to such misery and having never harmed her, Mo Zi ultimately couldn’t bear it. “You should lie down and rest quietly. I’ll carry you back on my back, all right?”
Ai Lian, originally unclear in consciousness, had been staring only at the round-moon arched gate ahead. Hearing someone speak to her, she struggled to pull her gaze back.
“You…” What was the name again? She couldn’t remember, but it didn’t matter. “I must… see… Madam.”
As she spoke, she reached out to grab Mo Zi, refusing to let go.
Those fingernails, dyed with bright red balsam flower juice, had faded in patches.
“Wait until you’re feeling better, then it won’t be too late to see Madam.” Mo Zi knew this was purely consolation. Qi Shu had mentioned Ai Lian’s parents came to make a scene at Zhang Shi’s place—Zhang Shi must be planning to dismiss Ai Lian from the mansion.
“No… don’t… patronize me… If I can’t see her today… even if I die, I won’t rest in peace.” In one sentence, Ai Lian paused several times.
“Don’t say such things.” Some things, even knowing they were futile, had to be done. “You’re weak now and shouldn’t move around. Didn’t the physician come to see you? As long as you take your medicine properly—” Pain shot through her arm as Ai Lian’s nails dug into her flesh.
“Stop deceiving me!” Her voice shrill, her face ghastly, her gaze fierce like a man-eating demon. “Quick… quickly call Madam!”
“Even if you see Madam, what can you do?” Consolation was patronizing, futile efforts produced no miracles. Mo Zi asked Ai Lian helplessly.
“…” Ai Lian painfully closed her eyes, then opened them with unwillingness.
But before she could speak, several maids and servants ran out from inside the gate. Leading them was Zhou Family’s Wife, a steward matron under Safety Matron, large-handed and large-footed, as strong as a man.
She brought people over, and her tone toward them was nothing like Mo Zi’s gentle one. “Madam said she doesn’t want to see you. Even if you crawl over, what good would it do?”
“I must… see her once. When Ai Lian was still a maid by Madam’s side, I gave Sister Zhou many benefits, yet never asked her to help with anything. Now I beg you, for the sake of past sentiment, please inform Madam for me.” Withdrawing the hand that had been digging into Mo Zi, Ai Lian tried to reach toward Zhou Family’s Wife.
“What a shameless, lowly creature, spouting nonsense. When did I ever receive benefits from you? Even if what you say is true—we were both in Madam’s courtyard before, and I got along well enough with you—but ever since you thought yourself half a mistress, where did you still deign to look at me? What? Now that trouble’s come and your luck’s run out, you suddenly remember me?” Her nose huffing high, Zhou Family’s Wife laughed coldly in succession. “Ai Lian, I’ll tell you straight—Madam is so angry at your mother she’s beside herself, calling Fourth Master to have the household guards throw them out. For your own good, you’d better obediently go back, pack up, and leave quickly with your parents. Having done such shameless things, don’t dream of continuing to stay. Even if Madam agreed, the two mistresses wouldn’t.”
“My mother… is inside?” No wonder when she came out, her parents weren’t by her side. Ai Lian was greatly shocked—now she wanted even more desperately to go in.
“And your father. Your father’s an honest man, not making a sound. Your mother—” Another huff, disdain in her narrowed eyes. “Truly a fine mother-daughter pair.”
Mo Zi slowly stood upright, thinking this Zhou Family’s Wife really knew how to add fuel to the fire.
“You two.” Zhou Family’s Wife had no time to notice Mo Zi now. She casually pointed to two servants. “Carry her back. Be careful with your hands and feet—don’t damage the young lady’s weak body. Also, keep your own mouths tightly shut. Not a single word about tonight’s events is to be spoken.”
“No… I won’t go, let me… go in!” Her hands and feet lifted up by others, Ai Lian struggled with difficulty. Her skirt hem was pulled open, revealing it was completely red underneath.
She shouldn’t have taken the main gate, but she did. She shouldn’t have encountered Fourth Master Qiu, but she did. She shouldn’t have looked to see who was on the ground, but she did. She shouldn’t have stayed, but she did. Then, she shouldn’t interfere—but if she did interfere, could her luck get any worse?
“Let Ai Lian go in.” Mo Zi heard her own voice.
An extremely calm voice. Beneath the calm, there was caution.
Only now did Zhou Family’s Wife focus her attention on Mo Zi, recognizing her at a glance. “Oh? Isn’t this Miss Mo Zi? The eldest miss came to dine tonight, and Madam and the mistresses asked about you. I see you’re carrying a bundle—just returned?”
Zhou Family’s Wife had heard much and knew many things. Therefore, she showed excessive kindness toward a second-rank maid.
“Yes. Hearing the young miss came to Madam’s place, fearing there weren’t enough people, I came directly here.” Mo Zi understood in her heart, deliberately ignoring that awkward feeling.
“Such a thoughtful girl—no wonder the masters all dote on you so.” One face with two expressions, she turned to glance sideways at the struggling one. “Ai Lian, if you’d been obedient and proper like Mo Zi, how would you have fallen to today’s state? Originally it was quite a good thing—you could continue Fourth Master’s incense and have another younger sister—”
“Sister Zhou, there are many rules in the mansion. Some matters, when not certain, shouldn’t be lightly spoken of to others.” Mo Zi pursed her lips, her gaze calmly lowered.
“I’m truly being foolish.” Zhou Family’s Wife pretended to slap her mouth. “But you just said to let Ai Lian go in? That’s not good. Madam gave the order personally. If I handle it improperly, that would be serious.”
Mo Zi pulled Zhou Family’s Wife aside a few steps and softly told her, “Ai Lian’s parents are making a scene before Madam. If we don’t let Ai Lian in, there’ll be no peace inside or out. When that happens, it won’t be something that can be stopped just by telling people to shut up. Moreover, look at how Ai Lian is struggling—what if she expires halfway? What if it becomes a death? Though reason is on our side, Qiu Mansion’s reputation would be finished. She insists on seeing Madam. But after seeing her, what more can she do? She did the shameful deed herself—can she deny it? Most likely, it’s because she came from Madam’s side. Now that she can’t stay in the mansion, she must see Madam once before she’ll give up. We can’t use force. When we should be gentle, be gentle, otherwise the commotion will only grow. Once this courtyard gate closes, apart from Ai Lian’s family of three, we have many people—what is there to fear from her?”
Zhou Family’s Wife felt Mo Zi made excellent sense. With such matters, quiet resolution was most important.
So she said, “How about I ask Madam’s opinion again as you suggest?”
Mo Zi nodded. “Sister Zhou, thank you for your trouble.”
Zhou Family’s Wife instructed the others to wait while she alone went to see Zhang Shi.
Mo Zi walked to Ai Lian’s side, telling her not to move around. “The faster the blood flows, the faster you’ll die.”
“You… are Mo Zi?” Ai Lian stopped struggling—actually, she had no more strength.
“I am Mo Zi.” Acknowledged frankly.
Those somewhat unfocused pupils wandered for a while, finally settling on Mo Zi’s face. “Don’t… be as… foolish as me.”
Mo Zi looked at Ai Lian with pity, not speaking.
Ai Lian revealed a trace of bitter smile. “You… are indeed… cleverer than me.”
Counting by minutes, about five minutes later, Zhou Family’s Wife returned.
She nodded at Mo Zi, still impolite to Ai Lian. “Madam has shown mercy and allows you to see her once. However, I’ll say the ugly words first—if you make a scene like your mother, I won’t care whether your body is well or not. Tonight you’ll be carried out.” After this warning, she had those two servants carry Ai Lian into the courtyard.
Mo Zi followed them at neither too close nor too distant a range, also crossing the threshold. To slip away now would be too late. She might as well watch how this drama planned by Qiu Sanniang would conclude. Anyway, by now, she only felt her head splitting with pain, not knowing what connection making such a huge uproar over Ai Lian’s matter had with her being taken as a concubine.
Passing through the deserted little garden to the main hall, beside the door beneath the window, Mo Zi saw Zhou Family’s Wife and the others all go inside. Looking in, there were quite a few people in the room. Zhang Shi, two sons and two daughters-in-law, Qiu Sanniang, along with their respective personal maids, stewards and servants—surrounded in a circle.
The situation wasn’t as bad as Mo Zi had imagined. Those present were all trusted confidants. If not for Qiu Sanniang being mixed in there, they could form a united front and easily suppress the family scandal of a younger brother stealing his elder brother’s woman. Even if someone caught wind or glimpsed shadows later, it wouldn’t hurt Qiu Mansion’s century-old reputation.
Seeing Ai Lian laid flat on the ground with her parents rushing over, triggering a round of wailing, Qiu Sanniang pretended to pick up her cup and drink tea with lowered eyes.
This Ai Lian—her timing was perfect, neither too early nor too late, exactly to her satisfaction.
A snow-white handkerchief was passed over from beside her. That hand, beautiful as bamboo yet not weak.
“You’re back?” Qiu Sanniang accepted the handkerchief, touched her vermillion lips, and revealed a trace of smile.
No one could see it. Because that handkerchief blocked it just right.
“The young miss picked a good position to sit.” With that earth-shaking family and Qiu Sanniang sitting on the square chair closest to the door, when Mo Zi slipped in, no one glanced at her.
If she hadn’t passed the handkerchief, prompting Qiu Sanniang to speak and drawing Bai He and Lu Ju’s gaze back from staring at the center of the room, she probably could have remained invisible under their very eyes for quite a while longer.
“I picked a good position; you picked a good time.” Qiu Sanniang tilted her head back slightly, her voice very low.
“Young miss…” Mo Zi smiled at Bai He and Lu Ju. The joy of reunion after long separation couldn’t mask her puzzlement at Qiu Sanniang’s methods.
“Wait quietly.” Qiu Sanniang said.
The white handkerchief was passed back, without a single tea stain.