While the Liu couple didn’t mind striking their son, seeing an outsider hit their precious child was a different matter entirely. Madam Qi rushed to embrace Liu Chang, wiping blood from his lips with her handkerchief while glaring at Liu Chengcai, “My lord, are you going to let these uncouth barbarians bully our Liu family? A commoner striking an official is punishable by caning!”
He Zhizhong reprimanded He Dalang, “We should talk this through calmly. You’re in your thirties, how can you be so impulsive and violent? You’re making us look uncivilized and ignorant of proper etiquette.”
Liu Chengcai, though pained, managed to maintain his composure. Stamping his foot, he said, “He did something outrageous, beating his wife. He should taste what it’s like to be beaten! Let this be a lesson to him, see if he dares to misbehave again! He’s in his twenties and still doesn’t know right from wrong! He’s completely disgraced our Liu family!”
He Dalang flexed his fingers, smirking at Liu Chang’s bloodshot, furious glare. “Not satisfied? Get up and fight if you’re not. We’re not afraid to go before a magistrate. We’ll take a few dozen strokes of the cane to vent our anger first! In court, I’ll let everyone know what kind of shameless adulterer dares to come swaggering into our home after his misdeeds. We’ll have to chop down and burn our threshold, replacing it to cleanse our home’s feng shui! Pah! What rubbish!”
Liu Chang, unaware that Princess Qinghua had visited the He family, looked questioningly at Madam Qi. She scolded, “Why did you provoke her? After leaving our house yesterday, she went straight to the He family to boast.”
Liu Chang violently pushed Madam Qi away, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva. He glared defiantly at He Dalang, “I’m not afraid of you, it’s just…” He shot a vicious look at Mudan, not wanting to divorce her. Seeing Mudan’s expressionless face, he felt conflicted. She probably wished he were dead. The wound on his arm throbbed again, and he laughed coldly, “Now that you’ve hit me and vented your anger, can we talk properly?”
He Zhizhong glanced at his wife and daughter, noting Madam Cen’s resolute expression and Mudan’s indifference. Though unaware of the details, he trusted his wife’s judgment. Sighing inwardly, he beckoned Mudan, “Danniang, things have come to this point. What do you want to do? The choice is yours.”
Mudan approached, but before she could speak, Liu Chengcai coaxed gently, “Danniang, my child, you’ve been wronged. Rest assured, this will never happen again.” He looked at Madam Qi, urging her to placate Mudan as well.
Madam Qi, now harboring intense hatred for Mudan, remained silent with a stiff face. Liu Chengcai left with no choice, berated Liu Chang again, “You rebellious child! Quickly apologize to your wife!”
Liu Chang remained silent, glaring fiercely at Mudan. She wouldn’t dare say she wanted to leave, would she? Mudan gave him a faint smile and curtsied to Liu Chengcai, “My lord, why force the unwilling? A forced melon isn’t sweet. It’s better to be accommodating to others and oneself. I don’t want to be the villain, and I’d like to keep my life to serve my parents.”
Mudan then turned to He Zhizhong, speaking clearly, “Father, even if I were to fall ill and die, I no longer wish to be a Liu family wife! He and I will not share a bed in life nor a grave in death. It’s best if we never meet again.”
He Zhizhong sighed, squeezing Mudan’s shoulder, “If that’s the case, let’s go.”
“He Mudan!” Liu Chang lunged forward, reaching out to grab her. How dare she reject him in front of everyone when he hadn’t even divorced her? He wouldn’t allow it! If anyone were to end this, it should be him rejecting her. But before he could touch even the hem of her garment, He Dalang pushed him away.
“Does the Liu boy want another beating?” He Dalang sneered, “If he’s this vicious in our presence, who knows what he’s like behind closed doors!”
“Insolent!” He Zhizhong pretended to scold He Dalang, then nodded to Liu Chengcai, “I propose we part ways amicably. What do you think, Lord Liu?”
Part ways amicably? What would be the terms? Liu Chengcai’s mind raced through dozens of possibilities, quickly deciding that since it had come to this, he should secure as many benefits for his family as possible. Before he could speak, Liu Chang, glaring challengingly at Mudan, shouted, “No way! She’s my woman, and I decide! I don’t agree! I won’t write a divorce letter!”
As expected of his temperament, he could discard others like worn-out shoes, but no one else could reject him. Mudan looked at him with a mocking smile, “So you can’t bear to part with my dowry and my family’s money.”
Liu Chang’s face flushed with a myriad of colors as he gritted his teeth, “You…” He didn’t need that paltry sum now!
Mudan spoke earnestly, “If not that, then what? Do you still remember the initial humiliation and insist on keeping me here to torture me to death? You resent me for taking away your grand marriage prospect. I’ve repaid you with three years of my youth; we no longer owe each other anything. If you’re a man, stop this obsessive pursuit. Save some face for yourself. Don’t let others look down on you. A man should focus less on these matters and be more magnanimous. That way, people might respect you more.”
Mudan’s words were harsh, even Liu Chengcai couldn’t bear to hear more. He coldly commanded, “Enough! Stop obstructing her!”
Madam Cen spoke up, “Then we women will return home first. The men can stay behind to discuss matters with Lord Liu.” She handed the dowry list to He Dalang, “I think we should take the smaller items now. Our shop isn’t far; we can send workers to collect these things shortly.”
This was too much! Madam Qi, having forgotten how they had once begged the He family, trembled with anger, “This is the Liu household, not the He household. Do you think you can do as you please? Is there no law?”
Madam Cen smiled cryptically, “It’s precisely because of the law that we’re taking the dowry. Unless… Danniang’s dowry isn’t complete? If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to say so. We can be flexible if necessary. Our family doesn’t lack money, and we understand the importance of giving others face.”
Madam Qi was furious, “Who cares about her dowry?”
Madam Cen replied, “Well, there you have it. Your insistence on stopping us might make people think you can’t bear to part with Danniang, but others might interpret it differently.”
Liu Chengcai’s temple throbbed with irritation. He impatiently said, “Let them take it.” Prolonging this scene would only cause more trouble. It was better to resolve the immediate crisis. His status and position couldn’t withstand such ridicule.
He Zhizhong bowed slightly to Liu Chengcai, saying nothing more. He sat down in the center of the courtyard, waiting for his family members to arrive and collect the belongings. Even at this point, he didn’t want to completely sever ties with Liu Chengcai, as the latter was an official and he was a commoner.
Mudan stepped forward to take Zhangzhi’s perch, carefully instructing He Dalang, “Brother, please be careful with my flowers.”
He Dalang nodded, “I understand. You can go now.”
Zhangzhi, excited about going out, laughed oddly, “Ha, ha!”
Liu Chang clenched his fists tightly, watching helplessly as Mudan left the courtyard with light steps, showing no reluctance, surrounded by her family. Shame, anger, and unwillingness nearly drove him mad. Several times he wanted to rush forward and grab her, but he felt it would be too humiliating. Conflicted, he suddenly called out, “Wait, I have something to say to her!”
Seeing his bloodshot eyes and sinister gaze, Mudan felt inexplicably uneasy, but she still straightened her back and asked, “What do you want to say?”
Liu Chang, noticing her feigned fearlessness, sneered, “Go home and enjoy yourself for a few days. I’ll come to fetch you in a while.” As Mudan turned away, he added silently, “Do you believe I can wear you down?”
Mudan paused, then gave him a contemptuous glance, replying silently, “We’ll see who wears out whom.” She could wait, but could he? Princess Qinghua certainly couldn’t. Besides, she had already taken the most crucial step; the rest wouldn’t be a problem.
Stepping out of the Liu family’s main gate, Mudan looked up at the bright sun. The sky seemed so blue, the clouds so white, the air so fresh. Even the bustling streets and passersby exuded an indescribable charm.
The He family, both men and women, traveled on horseback, except for Madam Cen, who due to her age and dislike of stuffy carriages, rode in a sedan chair. Xue Shi helped Mudan put on a veiled hat, smiling, “If we had known, we should have brought a carriage. Danniang is still ill and might not have the energy to ride. Shall we wait a moment and rent a carriage?”
Madam Cen glanced at Mudan and said, “She’s so frail. Let her ride with me in the sedan chair. We’ll just go slowly.” She took Mudan’s hand and helped her into the white wicker sedan chair. Mother and daughter nestled together, each lost in their thoughts as they headed home.
Xue Shi sighed quietly, put on her veiled hat, and skillfully mounted her horse. She led the group, following slowly behind the sedan chair, her mood not exactly heavy but certainly troubled. How should they arrange Mudan’s living quarters?
Madam Cen’s sedan chair, unlike a palanquin, had only an oilcloth canopy for shade and light curtains on all sides, making it cool and convenient for sightseeing. It was perfect for Mudan, who rarely went out and found everything novel. Beautiful foreign women sold wine at counters, and men rode horses with swords at their sides, looking dashing and carefree. Women wore men’s clothing, foreign dress, or brightly colored skirts, their faces visible beneath veiled hats as they rode horses or walked in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing merrily.
This was the life Mudan had longed for. She took a final glance at the Liu family’s imposing black gate, a symbol of their status and position, then resolutely turned away, leaning on Madam Cen’s shoulder. She said softly, “Mother, I keep causing trouble for you and Father.”
Madam Cen stroked her hand lovingly, “Why say such things? We’re family.”
Mudan sighed, “He probably won’t let me go easily. And that money…”
Madam Cen replied firmly, “What is there to fear? Just live peacefully, eat well, and enjoy yourself. The rest is for your father and brothers to worry about.” Though they spoke thus, both mother and daughter knew the matter wasn’t so simple.
The reason they could stand so tall before the Liu family was that they held leverage over them. Similarly, the Liu family wouldn’t easily let Mudan go because of this leverage. Today was merely a small victory.