Xue Niang looked slightly disappointed but quickly cheered up. She then said, “Do you know why Cheng Meiniang always dislikes Qi Yuzhu? Qi Yuzhu isn’t usually so unlikable. She’s been quite pleasant the few times she’s visited me. I don’t know what happened today that made her keep opposing you.”
No one was foolish, and even the straightforward Xue Niang could see the subtle competition among the ladies today. Mudan knew why Qi Yuzhu targeted her but didn’t want to tell Xue Niang directly. She smiled and said, “It’s not opposition. She was just telling the truth. My family is indeed in business, and I did build this garden to make money.”
Xue Niang pouted, “No, I know the reason!”
Mudan felt a bit alarmed, wondering if Xue Niang also knew about Li Xing’s interest in her. Who could have told her? If she knew, Xue Niang couldn’t keep a secret, and it would be terrible if it spread.
However, Xue Niang said, “There are some issues between Qi Yuzhu and Cheng Meiniang. Qi Yuzhu must be upset about her cousin. Her whole family feels they’ve lost face, and her cousin has to marry that lame princess. Her aunt is so angry she can’t get out of bed. That’s why she resents you and doesn’t want to be nice to you. As for Cheng Meiniang, even without today’s situation, she wouldn’t be nice to Qi Yuzhu because Qi Yuzhu is Liu Chang’s cousin and will be that lame princess’s cousin-in-law!”
Mudan asked curiously, “Does Cheng Meiniang have a grudge against Princess Qinghua?” So the bully had finally been bullied to the point of being bedridden. Now, before the person had even entered the family, she was already this upset. What would happen when she officially moved into the Liu family? Wouldn’t she be angered to death?
Xue Niang said, “Do you remember Liu Yun, the cousin of Princess Xingkang who was thrown off her horse by Princess Qinghua? This Cheng Meiniang is also Liu Yun’s cousin. Her family hates Princess Qinghua so much they could tear her apart. Of course, they won’t be nice to anyone associated with her. Similarly, they’ll be nice to us.”
Mudan suddenly understood. If that was the case, Cheng Meiniang was likely telling the truth, and even if others wouldn’t visit her garden, Cheng Meiniang certainly would. She asked, “How is that young lady doing now?”
Xue Niang frowned and sighed, “Not well at all.”
Mudan fell silent. With broken limbs and being dragged for so long, given the current medical conditions, how much could she recover? It probably wasn’t good. People like Qinghua, who completely disregarded others’ lives and safety, truly deserved to die. If it hadn’t been for Jiang Changyang’s help back then, she would have been even worse off than Liu Yun.
Xue Niang suddenly grabbed Mudan’s arm, her eyes shining, “I heard that you were almost trampled to death by that vicious woman’s horse, and it was, that Mr. Jiang who saved you, right?”
Mudan smiled, “Yes if he hadn’t stepped in bravely, I probably wouldn’t have met you.”
Xue Niang bit her silver-tipped ebony chopsticks and remained silent for a long time.
Soon after, the banquet ended. The slightly tipsy ladies were invited by Li Manniang and Madam Cui to rest and chat inside. Madam Cen came to Mudan and said, “He Chun is feeling a bit unwell, probably from heatstroke. Your aunt doesn’t need any more help here, so why don’t we go home first?”
Mudan thought that Madam Cui and Li Yuan probably didn’t want her to stay long and that leaving early would be better for everyone. She said goodbye to Xue Niang, explaining that she had to leave.
Xue Niang was reluctant to let her go and insisted on taking her to say goodbye to Cheng Meiniang and others, reminding them not to forget their promise to visit Mudan’s garden when it opened. Madam Cui was excitedly praising Lady Nineteen’s grace and sweetness to her mother when she saw Mudan enter with Xue Niang to chat with Lady Nineteen and others. Mudan’s lively presence was jarring, and Madam Cui couldn’t help but frown, wishing Mudan would disappear quickly.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Mudan followed Madam Cen to bid farewell to Li Manniang. Li Manniang was extremely busy but, knowing the situation sympathetically pulled Mudan aside and whispered, “Good child, I now have my residence, which makes it much more convenient to entertain guests. Remember to come often with your mother, and when autumn comes, I’ll take you hunting!”
Mudan smiled and agreed, also bowing to Madam Cui. Madam Cui gave a forced smile and said a few polite words but didn’t invite the He family to visit. Mudan didn’t mind, knowing that she probably wouldn’t set foot in the Li family home for a long time.
As they were leaving, they saw Li Xing standing by the wall talking to someone. He Lie wanted to greet him, but Mudan pulled him back, whispering, “Can’t you see your cousin is talking to someone? Don’t disturb him. Your seventh brother isn’t feeling well, we should hurry home.” Others might not have noticed, but Mudan saw clearly that Li Xing had seen them but deliberately turned his head away, pretending not to see them. Whatever the reason, it was probably related to today’s events. Since he didn’t want to greet them, she didn’t want to force the issue.
Mudan’s voice was soft, but Li Xing heard it. He helplessly watched Mudan’s graceful figure disappear around the corner. He had once tried to sound out Prince Ning, but the prince had extinguished all his hopes with a single sentence, mentioning Lady Nineteen of the Qinghe Wu clan: “Your father has spoken to me, and in the past, Aqin also told me that Lady Nineteen is a good match for you. Her judgment was always accurate. You’re not young anymore, you can’t mess around like before. After you marry, settle down quickly and help me achieve great things. It will also ease your parents’ worries.”
In his most desperate moments, he had thought about running away with Mudan, but after calming down and thinking it through, he realized Mudan would never agree. A woman who elopes becomes a concubine, scorned by parents and society alike. How would that be any different from Li Yuan deliberately making things difficult for him?
As he was lost in thought, Luoshan came out biting his fingers, and looked at him sympathetically, “Young Master, the Madam is asking for you. She says some ladies want to see you.” Li Xing remained silent with a gloomy face. Cangshan also approached and said quietly, “Young Master, the Master is calling for you. Some guests want to see you. He asks you to go immediately.”
Li Xing stood silently for a moment before following Cangshan with heavy steps to see Li Yuan.
That night, it was the Qixi Festival, when the Cowherd and Weaver Girl met. In every household with women, they would thread needles under the moonlight to pray for skills and set up fruit and wine in the courtyard. The He family had many women, so it was exceptionally lively. The eldest son led a group of boys and girls searching for spiders throughout the courtyard, putting them into prepared small boxes. Each woman had one, waiting to check the density of the spider’s web the next morning. A dense web meant more skills, while a sparse one meant fewer.
Mudan had always kept a respectful distance from spiders, but as it was the custom, no one could avoid it. She reluctantly accepted the small wooden box He Ru handed her, disgustedly tossing it on the table and repeatedly wiping her hands on her clothes. The bold Rui Niang, seeing this, grabbed a small spider and threw it into Mudan’s hand, causing her to let out a shrill scream, jumping and shaking her hands frantically.
No one in the family went to help her; they just stood there watching her make a fool of herself. The children laughed uproariously, calling her a coward. Mudan felt as if the arm the spider had crawled on was numb, along with half her body and neck. Her hair stood on end, and she almost started crying.
Finally, the eldest son took pity on her and came forward, holding her shoulders, saying, “I’ll remove it for you, stop screaming!” Upon closer inspection, the poor little spider had long since been shaken off to who knows where. He said, “You’ve already shaken it off somewhere, why are you still screaming and jumping?”
Mudan, with her neck and hand stiff, said pitifully, “It must have crawled into my clothes. Yuhe, come help me find it.” Before she finished speaking, she felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck, as if something was crawling lightly across it. She screamed desperately, “It’s on my neck! It’s on my neck! Quick, get it off!”
Everyone burst into laughter, with the eldest son laughing so hard tears came to his eyes. Mudan turned her head to see Wan Niang standing behind her, holding a thin blade of grass, looking at her with wide, innocent eyes. It was she who had been tickling Mudan’s neck with the grass. Feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, Mudan shouted, “You little rascal!” Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Wan Niang took off running.
Mudan rolled up her sleeves and chased after her fiercely. The aunt and niece ran around the courtyard, playing and chasing. The other children, finding it fun, also joined in the fray. For a while, the He family’s courtyard was filled with laughter and joy. He Zhizhong and Madam Cen lounged on the rattan couch, laughing so hard they couldn’t close their mouths.
The family continued to play until the moon was high in the sky before dispersing. Because Mudan’s room in the back corridor was relatively low and narrow, with small windows and poor air circulation, it was too stuffy to sleep in at night. They had no choice but to have Yuhe and others move the rattan couch to the courtyard, cover it with a gauze tent, and set up a small landscape screen at the head of the bed, preparing to sleep outdoors to escape the heat.
After everything was set up, Mudan climbed onto the couch and lay down. Looking up at the brilliant stars through the thin cyan gauze above, she rarely felt poetic. The verse “Autumn light on silver candles chills the painted screen, light silk fan flutters after fireflies. The night street cool as water, I lie watching the Cowherd and Weaver stars” must describe a scene like this. Unfortunately, she could only see a sky full of twinkling stars, not knowing which was the Cowherd star and which was the Weaver star.
Someone’s night banquet was still ongoing, with the sound of silk and bamboo instruments and singing drifting on the wind. It was pleasant. Mudan looked at the starlight in the sky, smelling the plum fragrance emanating from the silver sachet beside her, listening to the faint singing, and gradually fell asleep. When she woke up in the morning, it would be a new day, a new beginning.
Busy days always pass quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was mid-July. Mudan calculated that it was time to sow seeds, so she sent Yuhe to ask Xue Niang if she was free to go to Fangyuan with her the next day to sow seeds. Xue Niang readily agreed.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Mudan, accompanied by Feng Daniang, Yuhe, and several strong servants, waited for Xue Niang outside the Qixia Gate. Soon, Xue Niang arrived on a white horse, wearing a red Hu-style dress with a turned-down collar, her hair in double buns, looking beautiful and radiant. Behind her were two old women, a maid, four servants, and even a felt-covered carriage.
Mudan found it strange. Xue Niang was just coming to play with her, why did she not only ride a horse but also bring a carriage?
Xue Niang was also curious, “Didn’t you say you were going to stay at your estate for a while? Why are you only carrying a few baskets?”
Mudan replied, “I’ve already sent my things over. It’s very convenient to stay there. Besides, I don’t plan to stay there today. I need to send you home.”
Xueniang pouted unhappily. “What do you mean?”
Mudan, puzzled by her reaction, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xueniang’s face reddened slightly as she whispered, “You said you were going for a short stay and invited me along. I finally convinced my mother, and look, I’ve packed a whole cart of belongings. Now you want me to return home on the same day? Aren’t you just toying with me?”
Mudan felt overwhelmed. The estate was in disarray, and she hadn’t planned on hosting guests for long under these circumstances. Especially not a girl like Xueniang. Providing meals for a day or two was manageable, but a longer stay would be troublesome, requiring new arrangements for food, lodging, and other necessities.
Seeing Mudan’s silence, Xueniang realized she might have been too hasty. However, she had longed for this day and sought this opportunity for so long. Having taken this step, she couldn’t bear to return empty-handed. Determined to fulfill her wish, she clung to Mudan’s arm and pleaded, “Sister He, I know I’ve been impulsive, but I’ve come this far. You can’t send me back. Don’t worry about me; I can endure hardships. As long as I have food and a place to sleep, I’ll be fine. I’ve brought all my toiletries. Please, I don’t enjoy being around those delicate city girls with their cryptic words. I just want to be with you!”
Mudan sighed in resignation. “Whether you can endure hardships or not, it’s all the same. The place is still under renovation and in chaos. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Xueniang’s face lit up with joy. “If you can endure it, so can I!”
Mudan had no choice but to send a servant back home on horseback, asking Madam Xue to help prepare additional food and utensils to be delivered to the estate later.
The group set out from the city towards the estate. Xueniang noticed Mudan’s improved horse-riding posture and suggested playfully, “Sister He, shall we race to the place where we watched polo last time?”
Seeing the road wasn’t crowded, Mudan smiled and agreed, “Sure, I’d like to see if I’m still as bad as before.”
Xueniang winked, “If you lose, you have to let me stay at your estate for a few more days.”
Mudan knew that despite her recent efforts, she was no match for Xueniang’s riding skills. Realizing the young girl’s ploy to extend her stay, Mudan sighed internally. Whether it was one day or two, it would be troublesome either way. She rubbed her forehead and drawled, “Fine.”
Xueniang generously offered, “Sister He, I’ll give you a six-count head start.”
Mudan accepted without hesitation. Xueniang instructed her maid, Xiao Ling, to count. After Mudan galloped off, Xiao Ling counted to six before Xueniang set off in pursuit. Madam Feng and the others followed, shouting and calling after them.
Thanks to her recent training, Mudan was no longer the frail woman she once was. Riding at full gallop to their destination wasn’t difficult for her now. As she raced ahead, the wind whistled past her ears, making her feel as if she were flying. She experienced an unprecedented sense of freedom and joy.
Xueniang watched as Mudan quickly gained a considerable lead. She put her fingers to her lips and let out a piercing whistle, then smiled confidently before spurring her horse onward with a firm whip.
In terms of horsemanship, Mudan was no match for Xueniang. Once Xueniang unleashed her true skills, the difference became apparent. She quickly overtook Mudan and left her far behind. This outcome was expected, but Mudan determined not to lose by too large a margin, continued to push forward. However, the gap between them was too great. By the time Mudan caught up with Xueniang, two rounds of tea had passed.
Ahead, a crowd had gathered. Xueniang’s bright red Hu-style clothing stood out among the people. She had dismounted and stood with her head bowed, clutching her whip as two elderly matrons berated her harshly. Nearby, a carriage was stopped, surrounded by about a dozen men wearing blue round-collared robes with side slits, all armed with swords. As Mudan approached on horseback, a short, stout man stepped forward, ordering her to halt and dismount.
The carriage appeared ordinary, but Mudan surmised that being near Prince Ning’s estate, they had likely encountered some important dignitary. Xueniang had probably offended the carriage’s occupant. Feeling responsible for bringing Xueniang along, Mudan dismounted, bowed, and said with a smile, “Sir, that’s my little sister. She’s young and playful, often careless. May I ask what improper act she has committed?”
The stout man glanced at Mudan, noting her refined attire and beauty, as well as her poised manner and appropriate speech. Guessing they were well-bred young women out for a ride, he frowned and said, “Your sister is quite inconsiderate! When one sees a carriage ahead, one should slow down and proceed cautiously. How could she charge ahead so recklessly? What if she had offended an important person?”
Mudan’s guess was correct; Xueniang’s behavior had merely displeased the carriage’s occupant without causing any real harm. Relieved, Mudan continued to apologize profusely, “My sister only arrived from out of town before the New Year. She’s unfamiliar with the capital’s customs and, being young, can be careless. Could you please help us seek forgiveness? Let her apologize and make amends if there’s any loss. Can’t we let this incident pass?”
The stout man, faced with such a charming and polite young woman, softened his stance. “Come with me,” he said, his eyes still stern.
Mudan quickly tied her horse to a nearby willow tree and followed the stout man to where Xueniang stood. The two matrons were berating Xueniang harshly, their words growing increasingly cruel and unforgiving.
Xueniang had lowered her head to her chest, not daring to argue back. She bit her lip hard and gripped her whip tightly, her knuckles turning white. Hearing movement, she turned to see Mudan. Her eyes reddened, and large teardrops rolled down her cheeks, though she bit her lip to keep from sobbing aloud.
The stout man explained to the matrons, “This is her sister, here to apologize. They’ve just arrived from out of town and are unfamiliar with the customs.”
The matrons gave Mudan a cold look. The one wearing a gray short jacket said haughtily, “It’s precisely because they don’t know the rules that we must teach them! Lest they lose their lives one day without even knowing why!” They showed no signs of relenting.
Mudan observed that although the two women’s clothes were simple and modestly colored, the materials were of high quality. Their faces shared a common feature: deep nasolabial folds. Realizing that ordinary things wouldn’t appease them, Mudan quickly removed the pair of silver bracelets inlaid with turquoise from her wrists. Without hesitation, she grasped the hand of the matron in gray, using her sleeve as cover to slip the bracelet onto the woman’s wrist. Sincerely, she said, “You’re right to reprimand her. I’ll make sure to teach her a good lesson when we return home, ensuring she never makes such a mistake again. Please, could you do us a kindness and intercede on our behalf with the noble person? My sister and I will apologize to them personally. We won’t forget your kindness.”
The matron discreetly felt the object Mudan had slipped her, her expression softening slightly. However, at the mention of apologizing to the carriage’s occupant, she seemed reluctant. Mudan felt confused. In her experience, offending a noble’s carriage could result in a severe beating, but this situation of neither punishment nor release was puzzling. Who could this noble person be? She cast a pleading glance at the kind-hearted stout man.
The stout man looked at the sky, then pulled the matron aside and whispered something. Mudan strained to hear, catching only a few words: “Ru Ren,” “His Highness,” and “Not good.”
When the matron returned, her expression had improved considerably. “Wait here,” she said. “I’ll inform the noble person. If they’re willing to forgive you, then that’s that.” She then approached the carriage and began speaking in a low, apologetic tone.
Xueniang gripped Mudan’s hand, choking back sobs as she whispered, “Sister He, I truly didn’t mean to cause trouble. It was actually…”
Noticing the other matron’s sharp gaze, Mudan squeezed Xueniang’s hand, signaling her to stop talking. They both turned their attention to the carriage, hoping the matron would successfully plead their case and allow them to leave soon.
However, the situation seemed to worsen. Mudan couldn’t hear the conversation, but she saw the matron’s expression becoming increasingly distressed as if she were being scolded by the carriage’s occupant.