The Zhou family of Yizhou was a major silk producer who regularly supplied silk to the Yang family’s weaving workshop. Zhou’s Second Young Master had married the eldest daughter of the Yang family’s Second Branch. The Zhou and Yang families were properly connected through marriage.
That night, when Zhou Seventh Young Master returned home in a sorry state, he gave Mr. and Mrs. Zhou quite a shock. As was his habit, he twisted the truth and shifted all blame onto Yang Jingyuan.
Early the next morning, Mrs. Zhou, who had spent the entire night fuming, took her daughter-in-law from the Yang family and Zhou Seventh Young Master straight to Yang Family Lane.
Being in-laws with the Second Branch, Mrs. Zhou’s group first went there to file their complaint.
“He went with Yang Third Young Master and their servants to watch lanterns and admire the moon at Huanhua Stream, yet my son alone returned with a bruised face. Second Madam, just look at the pitiful state of my Seventh Young Master!”
“Yang Third Young Master saw that young lady was beautiful and instigated my son to block her path. He caused my son to suffer this undeserved calamity. The Huanhua Stream is so wide and deep! My son nearly lost his life!”
Zhou Seventh Young Master wore a purple brocade robe, his face covered in blue and purple bruises. His naturally small, single-lidded eyes were now so swollen that his pupils could barely be seen, leaving only a thin slit. He added plaintively, “She kicked me into the river. Yang Third Young Master even laughed at me in public!”
Mrs. Zhou’s anger bubbled like magma in her chest as she berated her son: “You fool, treating him like he’s your brother. You’re helping him count money after he’s sold you out.”
She turned to face Yang Second Madam Zou and began crying: “…And there he went, running away without a care. Even his servants didn’t lose a single hair!”
“I let my son follow him because I saw Third Young Master’s good martial arts skills. My son is only seventeen—is this how an elder brother should behave?”
“Seventh Son, tell them how Yang Third Young Master treated you!”
Zhou Seventh Young Master grumbled, “Those people chased after me with clubs as thick as arms. I called out to Third Young Master, but he completely ignored me, running away with his servants faster than a rabbit.”
“Just listen to that! Madam In-law, the Zhou and Yang families are relatives by marriage. How could Yang Third Young Master be so cold-hearted? Oh, my poor Seventh Son, you’re treated worse than their servants! It breaks your mother’s heart!”
Mrs. Zhou wept with snot and tears flowing. Zhou Seventh Young Master was her youngest, raised like a precious pearl in her palm. That damned Yang Third Young Master used her son as a scapegoat. When trouble arose, he fled without even trying to help.
Second Mistress Yang, Zhou’s wife, also covered her face with a handkerchief and cried. She wasn’t crying for Zhou Seventh Young Master. She was crying for her bitter fate. Last night, her mother-in-law summoned her to the main chamber again, scolding her indirectly while making her serve tea, massage her legs, and rub her shoulders all night long. Young Mistress Yang didn’t dare talk back to her mother-in-law and could only resent Yang Third Young Master: “Mother, Third Young Master has gone too far! First Aunt must give him a proper lesson this time.”
Her daughter’s eyelids were swollen, and no amount of powder could hide her haggard appearance. In just two years of marriage, she looked like she had aged ten. Second Madam Yang felt angry, resentful, and heartbroken. Angry at how the Zhou family mistreated her daughter, resentful of the First Branch’s Third Young Master for causing trouble and implicating her daughter.
Seek justice from the First Branch? That would be asking for humiliation! Expecting Sister-in-law Shi to punish that brat? That would be daydreaming!
But seeing her daughter’s expectant gaze, Madam Yang Zou knew that if she didn’t accompany the Zhou mother and son to complain to the First Branch, her daughter would have no peace in the Zhou household.
Out of love for her daughter, she could only follow Young Mistress Yang’s lead and present a united front with the Zhou family. She immediately dabbed her handkerchief and said loudly, “Don’t be angry, In-law. Come with me to seek justice from my elder sister-in-law!”
The group left the courtyard, heading to the main courtyard with their maids and servants in a grand procession.
The First Branch’s matriarch, Madam Shi, had just finished breakfast and was about to go to the flower hall for business. Hearing the maid’s report, she reluctantly sat back down.
Did they know how many matters the matriarch of the vast Yang family had to handle in a day? Coming to make demands so early, like debt collectors. Madam Shi looked down on her sister-in-law Zou from the Second Branch, but she couldn’t ignore them. She irritably instructed, “Invite Second Madam and Mrs. Zhou to the front hall for tea. Find out what happened.”
She readjusted her clothes and slowly sipped her tea.
Soon after, the head maid Xueqing entered, curtsied, and softly reported: “Madam, we’ve learned what happened. Last night, the Third Young Master went to Huanhua Stream to view lanterns with Zhou Seventh Young Master, and young masters from the San and Chen families. They were beaten by people gathered by the Zhao family’s Second Young Master from Three Culverts.”
“The Zhao family?” Madam Shi was somewhat surprised. The Zhao and Yang families had been competing for the Brocade Crown for over a hundred years. Though they were sworn enemies, they wouldn’t openly start fights. The Brocade Competition wasn’t far off this year. Was the Zhao family deliberately provoking them?
“I heard the young masters were harassing a young lady while viewing lanterns, which angered the locals. Zhao Second Young Master rallied support, and many locals joined in the fight.”
So that was it. Madam Shi’s suspicions were cleared, but she asked in confusion: “If they all got beaten, why is the Zhou family making such a fuss?”
Xueqing wasn’t quite sure, only knowing that Second Madam had brought people over. She hesitated before saying: “Perhaps because Third Young Master is fine… while Zhou Seventh Young Master was beaten until his face looked like a pig’s head.”
Madam Shi burst out laughing and said disdainfully: “Do they expect Third Young Master to be beaten to a pulp too before it’s fair? How dare Zou bring Mrs. Zhou to the First Branch to demand justice!”
Knowing the reason, Xueqing quickly said: “Mrs. Zhou brought the First Young Mistress too.”
Madam Shi sneered: “Only knows how to bully her own! The dignified Yang family’s eldest daughter has been ground down to mush by the Zhou family, using visits home to make trouble. Aren’t they ashamed?”
She felt even more annoyed about having to deal with Second Branch’s Madam Zou and the Zhou mother and son.
When the mistress was in a bad mood, servants had to tread carefully all day. Xueqing, not wanting to make things difficult for herself, immediately said: “Our Second Young Mistress is much more capable. Madam needn’t worry too much.”
While the Second Branch’s eldest daughter who married into the Zhou family was weak and often suffered, Madam Shi’s second daughter who also married had her husband wrapped around her finger and was well-loved by her in-laws. Her in-laws held a position as Senior Official in the Ministry of Works’ Textile and Dyeing Bureau and had often helped the Yang family.
Comparing the two, Second Young Mistress Yang far surpassed First Young Mistress Yang. Madam Shi’s mood gradually improved, and she found herself missing her daughter who had married into a family in Chang’an: “I wonder if Second Daughter had a boy or a girl.”
“It must be a young master. By my calculations, Manager Yan should be returning from Chang’an soon. He might bring the good news back in the next few days.”
Madam Shi’s mood improved further: “Go invite the Third Young Master over.” After thinking, she added, “Does the Master know?”
This was her way of saying she wanted the master to know. Xueqing smiled and said: “With Second Madam rushing over so early, everyone in the mansion is shocked. Someone has probably already gone to Report to Lefeng Court.”
Madam Shi smiled and headed to the front hall with her servants.