HomeA Cup of LoveYi Ou Chun - Chapter 90

Yi Ou Chun – Chapter 90

Old Woman Cui waited anxiously in the side hall, wringing her hands until she finally heard footsteps from the corridor. Lanterns hung high under the eaves, casting shadows of several figures on the window paper as they approached the entrance. She hurried forward, bowing as she called out “Madam.”

Qingyuan sat in the main seat and asked, “Nanny, have you received any news?”

Old Woman Cui confirmed she had. “Young Miss Yao didn’t come today, but Madam Yao did. When she met with our Madam, she spoke of her poor health and inability to bear children, saying the young master wouldn’t keep her around in the future. In the end, she suggested to our Madam that rather than having the Second Master take women from outside, the Madam should find him an Equal Wife herself. Someone with a known background, someone who would be of one mind with our Madam – she all but explicitly suggested the Second Master marry their daughter.”

Qingyuan listened in surprise. “Equal Wife?” She turned to look at Nanny Fu and smiled, “I’ve heard of Noble Consorts before – like Miss Lian from the Xie family – but I’ve never heard of anyone taking an Equal Wife.”

Nanny Fu replied, “Not just in the capital region, but even in small places like our Hengtang, no respectable family would take what they call an Equal Wife. Noble Consort is indeed a term – for those from good families, not minor households. Like merchant families with money but lacking status, who can’t become proper wives in official families, they seek a better-sounding title. They’re called Noble Consorts publicly, but they’re still just concubines. An Equal Wife is different – they claim to be on equal footing with the primary mistress of the house, able to handle social affairs and mediate matters. Think about it, Madam – what proper family would have two mistresses? If word got out, no one would envy such fortune – they’d only laugh at the lack of proper order!”

Qingyuan nodded, “I’ve never heard of such a thing either. What kind of family does Madam Yao think we are!”

Old Woman Cui agreed, “Madam doesn’t know, but I was standing there listening, and it truly made me uncomfortable. The mother and daughter are treating our Madam like a fool as if they’re the only clever ones in the world and everyone else is stupid.”

Qingyuan gave a cold laugh and said, “This is exactly why I didn’t want your Madam to agree to a divorce in front of Miss Xuexue. I wanted to see what other tricks the Yao family would try, and sure enough, I guessed right. I just didn’t expect Madam Yao’s appetite would be so big – not content with suggesting a concubine, she wants to be an Equal Wife.”

Hongmian, puzzled, asked with her hands tucked in, “Why are they so intent on pushing Second Madam toward divorce? Even if the Western Residence falls apart, there are so many noble families with daughters in Youzhou – the Second Master might not necessarily marry their daughter. Isn’t all this effort just making a wedding dress for someone else?”

Qingyuan said you don’t understand, “People come and go freely at the Western Residence now, not even avoiding the Second Master when he’s there. If Second Madam divorces, rumors would immediately spread that Second Master was involved with Miss Yao, forcing him to marry her.” She paused, frowning slightly, “And that’s putting it mildly. If she’s willing to lose face, there are even worse things she could do. If she… were to create some situation, entrapping the Second Master, we’d truly be helpless then.”

With this explanation, everyone understood. Thinking it through carefully sent chills down their spines – if such a weasel-like person got in, the household would never know peace again. It would likely end in splitting the residence, and their good Second Master would be ruined by her schemes.

Nanny Fu said, “At this point, we can only hope Second Madam isn’t foolish and can see through their malicious intentions.”

Qingyuan asked Old Woman Cui, “What was your Madam’s reaction? She didn’t agree, did she?”

“Amitabha Buddha, no she didn’t. My heart was about to jump out of my throat – if she had agreed, it would have been terrible!” Old Woman Cui finished, then showed some concern, “But unfortunately, our Madam still sides with Miss Yao, saying it was all her aunt’s idea, nothing to do with Miss Xuexue.”

Qingyuan frowned – Fangchun’s foolishness was genuine, but at least it hadn’t reached an irredeemable point. If she had agreed, there would have been nothing to be done – a sister-in-law couldn’t manage her brother-in-law’s household affairs, and it would have been up to Fangchun to handle it herself.

She smiled at Old Woman Cui, “Thank you, Nanny, for telling me everything in detail. When you go back, keep watching carefully. Once we get through this period, everything will get better.”

Old Woman Cui repeatedly agreed, “Madam thinks only of our Madam’s welfare. You’ve just had your happy occasion, yet you’re here worrying about our Western Residence. Even we servants feel we’re letting you down.”

Qingyuan just said it was no trouble, waving her hand to dismiss her.

Rising to leave the side hall, the night wind cut like a knife, howling as it passed the corner of the eaves. Baoxian said softly, “Though Second Madam refused, the Yao family likely won’t give up. She’s so kind-hearted – what if Madam Yao keeps pestering her and she eventually gives in? What then?”

Qingyuan sighed deeply, her breath forming clouds in the twelfth-month air. Pulling her warm sleeves around herself, she said, “We’ll need to give her strong medicine to wake her up. No hurry – I’ll think of something. There’s still time before the new year.”

But now she couldn’t dwell on these matters – she needed to think about her newly wedded husband. After washing up in the side room and changing into her nightclothes, she went to the bedroom. Inside it was wonderfully warm, with plush carpets covering the floor – her bare feet made no sound as she walked.

She had thought he would be either reading official documents from the capital or posing dramatically, waiting for her with great charm. Instead, she entered to find him kneeling on the couch, having pushed the window open a crack, peering out through it.

Qingyuan asked in confusion, keeping her voice low, “What’s wrong?”

He made a gesture for silence. “Listen…”

A shrill cry came from outside, sharp and direct as it echoed above the courtyard walls. In the starless, moonless night, it was especially spine-chilling.

Qingyuan stood frozen, “What is that?”

Shen Run said, “Cats in heat. Such enthusiasm, even in the dead of winter.”

Qingyuan couldn’t understand, “Isn’t that supposed to happen in spring? In such cold weather, which shameless tomcat is fooling around at this hour?”

Shen Run looked very indignant, staring outside, “It’s discovered our Dayuanzi. So utterly shameless – Dayuanzi is only three months old, yet it’s trying to court her. Why doesn’t it go find some grown female cats!”

Qingyuan was shocked by his silliness and overprotectiveness, thinking that if such a man had daughters in the future, he would likely be merciless toward their suitors. But pondering it further, she suddenly burst out laughing, holding her stomach as she fell onto the bed.

Shen Run found it puzzling and quickly closed the window, turning around, “What are you laughing at?”

Qingyuan said, “Those words you just said sound strangely familiar.”

He froze, realizing these words applied perfectly to himself.

Indeed, back then when he had set his eyes on the youngest daughter of the Xie family, she was only fifteen, yet he had tried every way to pursue her. Now their cat was experiencing exactly what Qingyuan had, and here he was, filled with righteous indignation, wanting to kill the intruder immediately. When she pointed out the parallel, he found himself suddenly speechless.

She was still laughing foolishly without end, and he, embarrassed and angry, pulled her into his arms and roughed her up, “How can this be my fault? It’s because you’re too attractive, my wife.”

Qingyuan argued, breathless, “Then our Dayuanzi is also a lovely young lady – ‘gentlemen admire young beauty,’ so why are you calling for violence against her suitor?”

But some things that one could do oneself, others were not allowed to do – Commander Shen had always been this domineering. He began to find fault with everything, “What well-off cat would climb onto someone’s courtyard wall to yowl in the middle of the night? Our family’s status is high – wild cats aren’t worthy. We must keep Dayuanzi safe, don’t let that rascal steal her away.”

Qingyuan helplessly said she understood, welcoming his unrestrained hands beneath the quilts.

The fifteen-year-old girl had already blossomed into an enchanting beauty. He measured with his finger, from her shoulder downward, murmuring with closed eyes, “A beauty kills without a blade, her waist alone can steal souls and take lives.”

She hit him, “Where did you learn such lewd verses!”

He laughed, “Then what should I say? Sweet bean soup, deer pear juice, ice snow lychee paste?”

She made a sound of acknowledgment, “You said horse riding can create calluses, let me see.”

Knowing his young wife wanted to examine him again, he guided her hand to feel. There was only a small patch at the base of his thigh, hardly a callus – at most, the skin was slightly roughened. But those delicate embroidery-trained fingers wove patterns in that small space, four strokes horizontally, four vertically, then adding a five-finger brocade pattern… he could hardly contain himself anymore.

Qingyuan was still concerned, “You’ve worked so hard to achieve your current position.”

He made a sound of agreement, “My wife must reward me well… I can’t stay home for long, I need to return to the capital before the new year.”

Hearing this made her heart uneasy. As she stroked his smooth back beneath the brocade, she said wistfully, “I don’t want you to go.”

He mumbled vaguely, “Come with me to the capital.”

She wanted to go too, wanted to forget everything else and spend every night with her husband, but she couldn’t leave now. “About Fangchun… things could go wrong. And Grandfather… they say he’s been having night sweats lately, and has no energy during the day. I’m worried…”

The rest of her words naturally couldn’t continue. He sank into her, and she held him tightly, feeling dizzy and burning hot, yet thinking how wonderful marriage was. To have someone so intimate with you, cherishing you, pleasing you – he was another version of yourself.

He was extremely focused on everything he did. When finished, he lay panting lightly against her chest, “At this rate, I’m afraid you’ll become pregnant.” Originally thinking she was too young, and that early childbearing wouldn’t be good, he couldn’t practice abstinence, and he couldn’t let her take medicine carelessly. After careful consideration, he said, “Tomorrow, I’ll think of something…”

Qingyuan said drowsily that it wasn’t necessary, “When fate comes, let nature take its course. With Fangchun like this… our family needs two children…”

The cat calls continued throughout the night, only gradually quieting near the second watch. The next day, Shen Run needed to go to Lulong Army to review military affairs – after all, having been appointed Regional Commander, he hadn’t properly taken office yet, so he should at least make an appearance.

Qingyuan carefully chose his clothes and dressed him up, patting his chest when finished, “The Commander looks so handsome!”

He was quite pleased, “If I weren’t handsome, how could I have caught my wife?” While turning to take his sword, before leaving he didn’t forget to instruct, “You’ve been so busy these past days, don’t go anywhere today, stay home and rest well.”

She agreed, seeing him off to the door, where he met with Shen Che, and the brothers left together.

She had thought Fangchun hadn’t come to see them off, but when Qingyuan looked back along Shen Che’s path, she saw Fangchun standing far away before the moon gate, wearing an embroidered fur-lined cape, most of her face hidden beneath fox fur. She had probably come to secretly see them off, and when she noticed Qingyuan looking, she even shrank back a bit. Qingyuan couldn’t help but feel sorry for her – she had gotten herself stuck in a mental trap, unable to find peace. The current Fangchun was very different from before – listless and thin, looking constantly drowsy.

Qingyuan went over to her and asked, “Sister, have you eaten?”

Fangchun shook her head, “I only prepared for Chengbing, I had no appetite this morning.”

Qingyuan took her arm, smiling, “I’m not full from breakfast either, let me join sister for another meal!”

So they went together to the Western Residence. The two households had separate kitchens, and the cooks made things that tasted different. They sat together eating milk bamboo rolls, four or five small dishes in compartmented boxes, and rice porridge. Qingyuan said contentedly, “I haven’t eaten so well in a long time. Tomorrow you should come to my place, we’ll eat together – that’s when food tastes best.”

Fangchun knew she had gone to such lengths just to comfort her. Actually, according to custom, an elder sister-in-law was like a mother, and even if she didn’t maintain that level of dignity, she shouldn’t need to be accommodating everywhere. She felt ashamed, “I’m older than you, yet I’m so useless – I must seem laughable to you.”

Qingyuan was surprised, “What kind of talk is that? Since we’ve entered the same family, we’re all one family – what’s there to laugh about!” She came over to lead her into the small warm pavilion, called for a heating stove, and the two sat by the window, leisurely using pine wood to boil tea.

Qingyuan very much wanted to bring up Madam Yao and Xuexue but feared troubling her, so she had to take an indirect approach through casual chat. Looking outside at the approaching snow and wind, she leaned against a pillow and asked, “Sister, have you ever made incense at home?”

Fangchun had grown up with her father in the military, and since her mother had passed away before she began her education, no one had taught her hands-on about the little refinements and sensibilities that young ladies learned.

She touched her forehead, “I buy all my incense from outside.”

Qingyuan said, “Market incense isn’t pure, not as good as homemade. When spring comes, I’ll teach you to make incense! There’s one kind called Hundred Harmony Incense, made by blending twenty fragrances including agarwood, chicken bone, sandalwood, green wood, and spikenard. Put it in porcelain containers in spring, take it out in winter – when you open it that day, it’s extraordinary, the fragrance can spread for ten li.”

After listening, Fangchun made a sound of understanding, “Speaking of incense, I remember last year the Marquise of Guangping gave me a set of fine incense burners. I don’t understand those things, what they call Yi burners, Ru burners… each one about the size of a teacup, said they could be used all day.” She quickly ordered her maid to fetch them, and placed them before Qingyuan, “You take them back to use, they’re wasted here with me.”

Qingyuan looked down at the set of incense burners wrapped in brocade boxes, feeling ineffably melancholic. Fangchun was truly a good person, without a cunning and pure heart, but those who deliberately got close to her harbored ulterior motives, causing her current state.

She closed the brocade box, smiling as she said, “The Marquise is truly generous, these are excellent items, like those supplied to the imperial court – you can’t buy them outside.”

Fangchun said listlessly, “What a waste, like flowers stuck in cow dung – even given to me, they just collect dust.”

Qingyuan reached over and held her hand, “Sister, you just saw the Second Master off, he doesn’t know, does he?”

Fangchun was startled, and shook her head, her expression somewhat embarrassed.

“You care about him so much in your heart, why create discord? Like this, you suffer inside, and the Second Master goes about in a daze all day.” Qingyuan looked around and said, “There are no outsiders here, tell me, if you anger the Second Master so much he stops coming home, what then? If he takes someone outside, what would you do?”

Hearing this, Fangchun straightened her back and said, “While I’m alive, how could I let him have someone outside?”

This time Qingyuan was certain – her heart toward Shen Che hadn’t changed, and she still wouldn’t tolerate any impurity.

“That’s just it.” She said slowly, “Two people living together absolutely cannot accommodate a third person. If our master wanted to take a concubine, I’d probably go mad. Those who want to enter the household speak pretty words, saying they’ll surely be respectful and obedient, following the mistress in everything, but they’ve already stolen half the husband – what’s the point of those empty words!”

She spoke casually, but Fangchun understood very clearly. A husband taking concubines concerned one’s vital interests – in this world, apart from those not right in the head, who would willingly find other women for their husband?

“And those who use children as an excuse…” Qingyuan lowered her eyes, stirring ground tea leaves in the boiling water with bamboo chopsticks, continuing, “All that talk about having no heir being the greatest unfilial act – a child not born from me, what does it have to do with me? Finding a woman to bear children for my husband, they’d be their flesh and blood, only making them grow closer in love while I become the outsider – what’s the point?”

Fangchun listened in a daze, suddenly enlightened.

Yesterday when her aunt spoke of finding someone with a known background to bear children, saying it was better than having mistresses act first and report later, she had found it reasonable. Now hearing Qingyuan’s explanation, she realized there was essentially no difference in who bore the child – either way, it wouldn’t be her.

She opened her mouth to speak but heard Nanny Cui in the corridor announcing that Miss Xuexue had arrived.

Qingyuan turned to look outside, putting down her bamboo chopsticks and smiling, “Perfect timing – we haven’t had a proper chat before, and today we happen to be free.”

Fangchun raised her voice to instruct Nanny Cui: “Quickly invite her in!”

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