Precisely because she felt her hands and feet were bound, Qiu Sanniang was in a very bad mood. Growing up, she could go almost anywhere she wanted. Before marriage, staying home for half a year without going around was to dispel Zhang Shi’s suspicion that she was falsifying accounts. However, she really had falsified accounts.
How much silver had she embezzled? No, it couldn’t be called embezzlement. It could only be said it was what she deserved.
Starting from age fourteen, she’d helped her father manage the business. Just when it finally prospered under her hands, Zhang Shi whispered in her father’s ear, and her six or seven years of effort were to be handed over to those two brothers who’d never contributed. Why should they get it? Since half that family fortune came from her hard work, of course she should take half. Actually, she’d already anticipated this day would come, so she’d long ago started manipulating the account books. She’d opened Wangqiu Tower, bought estates, and it even became capital for smuggling operations. With money rolling in until now, among the Xiao family daughters-in-law, probably none were richer than her. If counting the Water Purification Pearl, about three hundred thousand taels. Not the most, but more than enough compared to others.
People—whether men or women—once they had silver, they had confidence.
Qiu Sanniang had always carried “huge wealth” and lived quite freely, yet on this day, she discovered that having a lot of silver was useless. In others’ eyes, the title of Third Young Madam of Prince Jing’s Mansion was far more glorious than silver. Therefore, she couldn’t casually stroll the streets, casually peek out, casually inspect her own properties. She should sit in a gorgeous rear courtyard, waiting for those stewards to come one by one with bowed heads presenting account books, and she could only command them to act through these books.
Having never been truly restricted before, Qiu Sanniang suddenly panicked, as if when making money could no longer be her sole goal, she would be lost.
These words she wouldn’t say to Xiao Yi because Xiao Yi wouldn’t understand; she wouldn’t say them to Bai He because Bai He hoped she’d be a virtuous wife and loving mother; she especially wouldn’t say them to Lu Ju because Lu Ju would only be anxiously distressed. The only person she could talk to was Mo Zi. Although she really hadn’t treated Mo Zi well, and every time she saw Mo Zi’s cleverness and capability, recognizing in her heart that she couldn’t match up, she could only withhold the benefits Mo Zi should receive. But she believed that if there was one person in the world who could understand her unscrupulous money-making mentality, it was Mo Zi. The two of them were very similar in one aspect—they looked down on this society’s regulations for women and believed that only by being strong themselves could they have choices rather than depending on others.
Amid chaotic thoughts, the carriage stopped in front of the Lin Mansion. Bai He and Xiao Yi helped her down from the carriage.
That squad leader who dared speak back to her came up and asked, “Third Young Madam, is it this residence?”
Qiu Sanniang said coldly, “It’s not.”
The squad leader saw Qiu Sanniang was displeased. However, being a man, he was rather careless and unconcerned. “I thought Third Young Madam came to see the newly purchased estate. If it’s not this one, it’s better not to casually get out in unfamiliar places.”
Qiu Sanniang felt that invisible chain on her body tighten again. Prince Jing’s Mansion guards were more arrogant than ordinary people, weren’t they? Speaking of it, it was all that useless Xiao San—instead of being promoted, he was demoted in rank, so the mansion’s servants and followers could be insolent toward her too.
“Since I stopped here, it’s naturally not an unfamiliar place. You’re merely an escort—what business is it of yours where I go or what I do? Am I a prisoner?” As soon as she opened her mouth, extreme dissatisfaction showed. The unprecedented sense of constraint made her temper flare.
The squad leader’s intentions weren’t bad—he was just that kind of dutiful person. The Princess Consort had instructed him to protect Qiu Sanniang’s safety, so he tried his best to avoid any potentially dangerous situations. Seeing Qiu Sanniang unhappy, he thought to himself that women were troublesome, and wouldn’t say anything more, retreating backward.
Bai He was a very dutiful person. Even knowing Qiu Sanniang had spoken too harshly, as a maid she couldn’t properly advise. She only said she’d go knock on the door, leaving Xiao Yi by Qiu Sanniang’s side.
Qiu Sanniang herself felt she’d spoken too sharply and almost immediately regretted it. Her nature was fiery, but she wasn’t usually impulsive. Today her emotions were truly too terrible, as if her whole body were tightly bound, hurting so much she wanted to struggle free regardless of consequences. But she was ultimately a clever woman who could pull down her pride to make amends after causing trouble.
“Guard Xiao, Sanniang spoke somewhat rashly. Please forgive me.” This squad leader could be arrogant naturally because of his Xiao surname connection. He was the grandson of Xiao Wei, the old Prince’s first guard, and was named Xiao Min. The old Prince and Xiao Wei were as close as brothers, treating Xiao Min no differently than his own grandson. Xiao Min had aspired to join the military from childhood, but Xiao Wei felt he lacked patience and first had him start as a mansion guard.
Xiao Min grumbled inwardly but hadn’t expected such a delicate young madam like Qiu Sanniang could admit fault. He couldn’t continue to fuss about it. “Third Young Madam just entered the capital—some curiosity is normal. It was Xiao Min who was too inflexible, making Third Young Madam unhappy. My apologies.” A man of character with a magnanimous spirit.
Qiu Sanniang changed her opinion of this person—it seemed one truly couldn’t judge someone by just a few words.
“This is a residence a good friend from Luo Zhou just purchased. Since leaving home isn’t easy normally, passing by this way, I wanted to stop briefly—it won’t take long.” Feeling he was a straightforward person after all, Qiu Sanniang was willing to explain clearly. Of course, this explanation was for external purposes and untrue.
“It was my oversight. Third Young Madam needn’t panic—we just need to return to the mansion before evening meal.” Xiao Min became amiable too. Thinking about it, he realized it really was difficult for ladies from deep inner courtyards to come out once.
Having reached consensus, the atmosphere improved considerably.
Just as everyone waited for the Lin Mansion’s main gate to open, a white-haired old man suddenly appeared at the corner of Lujiao Alley. When the old man drew near, Qiu Sanniang saw he wasn’t actually old but had a crane-haired, child-faced appearance. In his hand was a bamboo pole with a gray banner, one side reading “Divination” and the other “Physiognomy.” He wore a sky-blue ink-wash white robe with two large, wide sleeves, bare feet in wooden clogs. A glossy black jade hairpin secured his silver hair in a topknot. Snow-white beard, jet-black long eyebrows, not a single wrinkle on his face—very smooth. He walked unhurriedly with a somewhat leisurely and free air.
The wooden clogs clip-clopped past the prince’s mansion carriage, past Xiao Min, and also past Qiu Sanniang and Xiao Yi, not glancing at them once.
Qiu Sanniang was just thinking this fortune-teller seemed to truly have immortal bones, appearing so different from ordinary people. After the person passed, a low murmur came—
“This lady has a good fate, but what a pity, what a pity.”
Qiu Sanniang believed in Buddha and also in fate. Hearing that person’s opening words were meaningful, she couldn’t help asking, “Sir, whom are you speaking of?”
“Who asked me is whom I’m speaking of.” The fortune-teller didn’t walk fast, his voice quite clear.
“Sir, please stop. Could you tell me—why a pity?” Then he was speaking of her?
“Fated to be a sparrow flying onto a phoenix branch—a good fate, but pity the wealth and honor won’t last long, pity the luck is running out. Say, isn’t that a pity?” The fortune-teller didn’t stop, still walking forward neither fast nor slow.
The more the fortune-teller refused to stop, the more Qiu Sanniang felt he was unusual. “Sir…”
The fortune-teller turned around to walk backward, stroking his white beard, looking at Qiu Sanniang and shaking his head. “This lady, your fate lacks water, thus your name contains water. You recently married, your husband’s family is extremely noble, yet you’re far from your own hometown. The energy in your brow is extraordinary—you already have great wealth and nobility. However, dark clouds accumulate before your forehead—a tragic omen of reaching a dead end. The water in your name has dried up. Before long, your gold will scatter and wealth will be exhausted, no more good fortune ahead.”
Qiu Sanniang saw this person calculated her affairs extremely accurately, and thinking of how she currently couldn’t move an inch, truly had that feeling of reaching a dead end. “Sir, how should I resolve the difficulty of lacking water?”
“Difficult.” The fortune-teller sighed and turned away. “Splendor and wealth are originally fleeting like clouds—lady, just let go.”
How could Qiu Sanniang have a personality that would let go? She quickly walked before the fortune-teller and curtsied gracefully. “Please, sir, guide me through this confusion. If it can be resolved, I’ll certainly reward you handsomely.”
“Water has dried up—unless more water follows. If there’s wood within the water, it can even better enliven the water and wood, flourishing vigorously. Only this water and wood—even if you have it in hand, it won’t thrive in your hands. It must be held by someone whose heavenly fate belongs to water and is destined for wood. Though water can invigorate you, it’s not for generating wealth but for generating roots. When roots are secure, branches flourish; when roots wither, branches dry up.” That person’s eyes flashed with sharp light, staring at Qiu Sanniang’s features. “Though the lady wishes to be a swan, if your heart isn’t broad, how can you fly high? You should have a benefactor to help you, but pity—”
Another pity.
Qiu Sanniang was about to ask more carefully when she saw the Lin Mansion gate creak open, and Mo Zi and Cen Er came out to greet her.
The fortune-teller followed Qiu Sanniang’s gaze and looked back, then suddenly laughed heartily. “Lady, see if what I said is right or wrong? Water and wood wither in your hand, yet you also have a person of living water. But you’re unbearably foolish, eyes dull and ears deaf, insisting on clipping people’s wings, coveting petty immediate gains. You must know that in all matters, sincerity brings results, broadness of heart brings distance. If you refuse to let go, how can you obtain the true heart of the benefactor who helps you?”
Qiu Sanniang was already too shocked to speak.
“There’s giving and receiving, receiving and giving. Your heart is already anxious, your energy weak, your fortune nearly exhausted. This old man has fate with you, so I point out your foolishness. Lady, take care of yourself.” That person shook his head, tapped his bamboo pole on the ground, about to leave.
Qiu Sanniang bowed deeply. “Sir, Sanniang’s last question—must it be her?”
That person didn’t accept Qiu Sanniang’s bow, turning his body aside, somewhat indignant, patting his own mouth. “Cannot say, cannot say. Can’t control this mouth, that’s why my hair turned white. If I continue like this, my life won’t last long. Making a living, spouting nonsense is one thing, but alas—I just can’t stand by and watch.”
The wooden clogs clattered away. That person neither answered Qiu Sanniang’s question nor looked back. Though seeming to walk slowly, he was soon far away.
Qiu Sanniang stared blankly at that divination and physiognomy banner, unable to come back to her senses for a moment. She memorized every word and sentence the fortune-teller said in her heart. She had to think, think it through clearly.
“Miss Qiu? Miss Qiu?” Mo Zi performed according to the script they’d discussed beforehand, but saw Qiu Sanniang staring blankly at a fortune-teller’s retreating figure. Lowering her eyes, not knowing what Qiu Sanniang was thinking, she tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“Brother Mo can’t change how you address her?” Bai He walked forward from behind, smiling as she reminded, “My young lady is now the wife of Prince Jing’s Mansion’s Third Young Master. Calling her Third Madam would be more appropriate.”
Mo Zi quickly changed to calling her Third Madam, but still received not the slightest response. She raised her head to look and saw Qiu Sanniang staring at her, extremely complex emotions in her eyes.