Madam Meng handed over the inventory ledgers she had recorded and watched the steward lock the storeroom door and pass her the key. By the time she finished, it was already the Zi hour (11 PM–1 AM). Her back and waist ached. Remembering that her daughter was still waiting for her, she hurried to the North Main Courtyard without rest, only to learn upon arrival that while she had been in the storeroom, many events had unfolded here. The Pei family’s eldest grandson, Pei You An, who had been away from home for years, had unexpectedly returned, and Young Master Quan had fallen ill again. So she found Madam Xin, exchanged a few words, and then took Jia Fu home.
Earlier, when bidding farewell to Madam Xin, she noticed her forcing a smile, merely saying a few casual words of thanks without offering to see her out, her attitude perfunctory. Madam Meng knew she was worried about Young Master Quan and naturally wouldn’t mind the slight. On the way home, sitting in the carriage, she discussed with her daughter what they had seen and heard that night. After a few exchanges, the conversation turned to Pei You An, who had returned that night, and she couldn’t help but sigh: “This shows that one must not take a wrong step in life—one misstep leads to endless troubles. I still remember how promising that child was in those days. If he hadn’t foolishly done such a thing, he wouldn’t have to face such difficulty returning home now. His suffering is his own, but what’s more pitiful is the pain of his elders. Needless to mention the Old Madam—I remember she loved him most dearly. The Madam also had it hard; back then she carried twins for ten months, and one died immediately after birth, leaving only him. His constitution was weak from birth, often sick since childhood. The Madam originally cherished him like her heart’s flesh. But I’ve heard that this child, from a young age, was different from other people’s sons—he wouldn’t allow himself to be close to the Madam. Later, when the Madam gave birth to your Second Cousin, her Second Cousin was affectionate with her. As a mother, naturally, she came to favor the younger one more…”
As she recounted these old Pei family stories she had heard from somewhere, she noticed her daughter seemed distracted, apparently preoccupied with something. She stopped and asked what she was thinking about.
That night, the way Pei You An had glanced at her made Jia Fu feel uneasy.
She suspected he might know something, yet felt it was unlikely. Her plan had been flawless; she didn’t believe he could have detected anything amiss.
His glance might have been purely coincidental, and she was simply being paranoid.
On the way home, Jia Fu repeatedly reassured herself of this, but the uneasiness in her heart wouldn’t fade. Hearing her mother’s question, she came back to her senses, looked up, saw her mother examining her, and forced a smile: “I wasn’t thinking of anything. Just feeling a bit tired.”
Madam Meng embraced her daughter with concern: “Rest your eyes for a while. Now that the birthday celebration is over, you won’t have to worry anymore. I suspect that once Young Master Quan recovers from his illness, they will likely propose the marriage. Since marriage arrangements will be discussed, it wouldn’t be proper for a young lady like you to visit there anymore. In a few days, I’ll go by myself to inquire about his illness. You needn’t come along; stay home and rest well.”
Jia Fu said nothing, leaning against her mother’s embrace and closing her eyes.
Two days later, as proper etiquette dictated, Madam Meng indeed went to the mansion by herself to visit Young Master Quan.
Pei You An truly had unique medical skills. Following his medical instructions, Young Master Quan’s condition had greatly improved in just two days. This should have been good news, but Madam Meng returned home full of anger. As soon as she had arrived, she had heard rumors from a friendly housekeeper. Two days earlier, when Madam Song learned that Young Master Quan had fallen ill again, she had come early in the morning, flustered and anxious. Later, she and Madam Xin had spoken in private. After she left, over the past two days, gossip had begun to spread quietly, suggesting that Madam Song suspected that the Zhen family’s young miss and Young Master Quan had conflicting fates. Otherwise, why would Young Master Quan, who had been perfectly fine before, suddenly develop this strange illness twice after encountering her?
Madam Xin hadn’t considered this angle, but Madam Song had pointed it out to her, leaving her half-believing, half-doubting. Today, when Madam Meng came to visit, her attitude had grown colder. Madam Meng stayed briefly and returned home, growing increasingly upset as she thought about it. However, worried that her daughter would be distressed if she knew, she dared not mention a word to Jia Fu. Little did she know that within moments of her return, Jia Fu had already learned the news from her mother’s maid.
Events were indeed unfolding according to her initial plan. During these past two days, there had been no movement from Pei You An, whom she had been most worried about.
That night, his sidelong glance might truly have been meaningless. Perhaps she had overthought due to her guilty conscience, frightening herself.
Jia Fu’s tightly wound nerves finally relaxed, but seeing her mother upset while trying to hide it from her, she couldn’t help feeling guilty. Just as she was wondering how to comfort her, an old woman rushed in to report that a maid named Yu Zhu from the Old Madam’s side at the Duke’s mansion had arrived.
Knowing that Yu Zhu must have been sent by the Old Madam, Madam Meng quickly ordered someone to bring her in. After a moment, Yu Zhu entered wearing a water-blue dress, accompanied by two little maids, carrying a food box and smiling brightly. Madam Meng personally took a few steps to welcome her.
Yu Zhu hurriedly said: “Auntie, please remain seated. I’m merely a servant; how could I deserve you coming to receive me?”
Madam Meng took her hand and said: “What harm is there in walking a few steps to meet you? Will my legs break? Looking at you standing there, you’re no less refined than any proper young lady—it’s just that your fate doesn’t match others.”
Yu Zhu smiled: “As a mere servant, receiving such praise from Auntie means I haven’t lived in vain.”
Chatting and laughing, they went to sit in the warm room. Yu Zhu instructed the little maid to present the food box she had brought, smiling as she said: “Auntie, the Old Madam says your young miss is very good. Inside are several dishes she usually eats. Today, she specially ordered the kitchen to make an extra portion and sent me to deliver it to the young miss. She’s not sure if the taste is too salty or bland. Please have the young miss try it and let her know, so next time she can prepare it according to the young miss’s taste.”
The little maid opened the food box. Inside were a plate of chicken strips with bird’s nest and fragrant mushrooms, a plate of buttered grains, a plate of radish cake with osmanthus, and a cup of lamb’s milk skin pastry. They were still hot, with wisps of steam rising.
Madam Meng was both surprised and delighted.
The items themselves were secondary. How could she not see that at this crucial moment, the Old Madam had suddenly sent someone with these delicacies and praised her daughter? The underlying meaning was an expression of her attitude.
Just a few days ago, when she had first arrived in the capital and taken her daughter to pay respects to the Old Madam, she hadn’t even seen them, her attitude cool and indifferent. Unexpectedly, in just these few days, she had suddenly shown approval of her daughter. Though she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what her daughter had done in these few days to win her favor, it was undoubtedly a good thing.
Madam Meng felt a wave of warmth surge through her heart, and much of the anger she had felt at Madam Xin’s this morning dissipated. She quickly called Jia Fu over, pointed to the dishes, and with a face full of smiles, relayed the Old Madam’s message.
Jia Fu smiled outwardly, but inwardly she was distressed.
She had never expected the Old Madam to make such a gesture.
The Old Madam’s intentions were certainly good, Jia Fu understood, but this was precisely what she least wanted right now.
“When convenient, I’ll bring A Fu over to thank the Old Madam in person,” Madam Meng said with a smile.
“Auntie, there’s no need for such formality. When I return, I’ll relay the message. That will be sufficient.”
“Then I’ll trouble you with that.”
The two chatted about household matters for a while longer before Yu Zhu smiled and said: “I’ve heard that the young miss is not only skilled in needlework but also an excellent artist. I have a pattern that I can’t seem to draw properly and would like to ask for the young miss’s guidance.” As she spoke, she gave Jia Fu a meaningful look.
Jia Fu, being so intelligent, immediately understood that she had something to say to her in private. Suppressing her confusion, she stood up and offered to take her to her room to teach her. Madam Meng naturally agreed, so Jia Fu led Yu Zhu to her boudoir. Once inside, she dismissed her maids and invited Yu Zhu to sit down. She was about to fetch the pattern when Yu Zhu stopped her, praised the elegant furnishings of the room, then leaned in close and lowered her voice: “Young miss, to be honest, I have another matter to discuss. Just before I left, the Young Master suddenly called me over and asked me to tell you privately that you should no longer use the fragrance you currently wear, as it may be harmful to others.”
Jia Fu’s heart suddenly pounded, and she flinched but pretended to be unperturbed as she looked at Yu Zhu: “What does he mean by this? Did the Young Master explain further?”
Yu Zhu herself was completely puzzled.
She had secretly smelled the young miss’s body fragrance earlier—a subtle, refreshing scent that seemed to be the same ambergris commonly used in Madam Xin’s chambers.
The fragrance a woman used on her body, though detectable, was invisible and intangible. Since it was often associated with undergarments, it was considered one of a lady’s private matters. Though this Zhen young miss was related to the Second House and addressed the Young Master as “Elder Cousin,” they were not close. Moreover, she was about to be engaged to the Second Young Master. The Young Master had only returned a few days ago, yet he was suddenly concerned with the Zhen young miss’s body fragrance—it was certainly puzzling.
But since the Young Master had given such instructions, Yu Zhu naturally complied. After delivering the message and hearing Jia Fu’s question, she shook her head and said: “I’m also confused. The Young Master only instructed me to tell you this and asked that you follow his advice.”
That sense of unease, which had disappeared just moments ago, rose again from the depths of Jia Fu’s heart.
So it wasn’t just her imagination after all.
Now she could be completely certain that on that night, Pei You An had indeed perceived the connection between her fragrance and Young Master Quan’s illness.
But how much did he know about her secret? Was his message through Yu Zhu a well-intentioned reminder or a warning of disapproval?
These were secondary concerns.
What worried Jia Fu most was whether he would reveal the true cause of Young Master Quan’s illness.
From Yu Zhu’s tone, she could tell that he hadn’t mentioned it to others yet. But there was no guarantee he wouldn’t speak out later.
If—just supposing—he revealed that the real cause of Young Master Quan’s illness was simply frozen aloeswood, then all her careful planning over these days would be ruined in an instant.
Her plan had been meticulously crafted, step by step, with everything under her control.
She hadn’t expected that just as it was about to conclude, such a fatal variable would suddenly emerge.
The weather was cold, but Jia Fu’s undergarments were plastered to her back with cold sweat.
She managed to steady herself and smiled: “Thank you, sister, for delivering the message. I understand now. If it’s not good, then I won’t use it anymore.”
Yu Zhu smiled and nodded: “The Young Master is strange, a bit abrupt. But he knows medicine, and since he said so, there must be a reason. I hope the young miss doesn’t mind. I have no other business; having delivered the message, I should return to prepare things. Early tomorrow morning, the Young Master will take the Old Madam to Ci’en Temple to fulfill a prayer vow.”
Jia Fu’s mind was in chaos, but she casually commended this as virtuous and saw Yu Zhu out. Madam Meng and Yu Zhu were saying goodbye in front of the reception hall when Zhen Yao Ting sauntered in from outside. Seeing his mother talking with a beautiful young woman in a water-blue dress, he kept glancing her way while calling out “Mother” to Madam Meng.
Yu Zhu had never met Zhen Yao Ting before. Hearing this, she knew he was the Zhen family’s son. Seeing that he was handsome but with somewhat frivolous manners, standing there with his eyes fixed on her, she curtsied to him, addressed him as “Sir,” then turned to Madam Meng with a smile: “Auntie, please stay where you are. I’ll take my leave now.”
Madam Meng smiled and wished her a safe journey, ordering an old woman to see her out. After she disappeared, seeing her son still craning his neck to look, she scolded: “Where did you go so early in the morning? Only returning now! This is not Quanzhou where you can strut around as you please. You know what will happen if you cause trouble here!”
Zhen Yao Ting readily agreed, saying he had only gone to the City God Temple in the morning to buy some trinkets for his sister. Then with a chuckle, he moved closer and asked: “Mother, who was that young lady just now?”
Madam Meng, her mood improved by Yu Zhu’s visit, saw her son’s mischievous smile and, knowing his fondness for flirtation, grabbed his ear and scolded: “That’s the Old Madam Pei’s maid. If you dare set your sights on her, I’ll send you back to Quanzhou immediately!”
Zhen Yao Ting cried out, quickly freeing himself from Madam Meng’s grasp, covering his ear. As he backed away, he said: “Alright, I won’t look! I’m going to find my sister!”
…
That night, Jia Fu couldn’t sleep at all.
Early the next morning, after she had risen and completed her grooming, she went to Madam Meng’s room. Mother and daughter had barely exchanged a few words when the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside, followed by a servant’s voice: “Madam! Someone from the Duke’s mansion is here, requesting your presence on an important matter!”
Jia Fu’s heart pounded wildly, but she managed to compose herself and followed Madam Meng out.
The messenger was an old woman who served Madam Xin and was on good terms with Madam Meng. As she spoke, Jia Fu gradually understood.
It turned out that Madam Xin had invited Madam Meng over to discuss the marriage arrangements.
From the old woman’s tone, it seemed that Young Master Quan’s issue had not yet been exposed.
Jia Fu’s wildly beating heart finally began to calm down.
Madam Meng hurriedly changed her clothes and ordered Zhen Yao Ting to stay home and not go out, asking Jia Fu to watch him. Then she took a few servants, boarded the carriage, and headed for the Duke’s mansion.
Jia Fu watched her mother’s figure disappear, returned to sit still, lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said to Zhen Yao Ting: “Brother since we have nothing to do, accompany me somewhere.”
Zhen Yao Ting was the type who couldn’t stay at home for a minute, carefree and thoughtless. He had been wondering how to convince his sister to let him go out without telling on him when he suddenly heard her voluntarily suggest going out. This was exactly what he wanted. After asking about the destination and learning it was Ci’en Temple, he laughed: “I understand! You want to pray to Buddha for a smooth marriage, right? All right, your brother will take you there and ensure your wish comes true—to marry a husband to your liking!”