The obvious actions of Madam Sun and Madam Yang caught not only Mudan’s attention but also that of others, who noticed the tension between these three women.
Initially, Madam Xue tried to maintain peace, tolerating Madam Sun and Madam Yang’s behavior. However, after repeated provocations, she lost patience. She caught them in a compromising situation and publicly embarrassed them in front of the family, asserting her authority as the eldest daughter-in-law. Gradually, the three women reached a point where they wouldn’t even speak to each other.
Everyone knew the situation, but due to Madam Xue’s long-standing position as the eldest daughter-in-law who had been assisting Madam Cen in managing the household, no one dared to openly challenge her. Instead, they whispered rumors about her being power-hungry, unable to tolerate her sister-in-law, her father-in-law’s concubine, and her half-brothers and sisters-in-law.
To maintain family harmony, Madam Wu and Madam Bai tried to mediate, but to no avail. Madam Cen’s attitude was perplexing; she remained silent on the matter, continuing to rely heavily on Madam Xue and pretending to be unaware of the situation. This apparent favoritism towards the eldest daughter-in-law, even over her daughter, further complicated others’ views of Madam Xue.
As for Madam Xue herself, she felt as if she were being roasted over a fire. She vaguely knew this was related to Madam Sun’s recent scolding but couldn’t understand why the two women suspected her, leaving no room for explanation. She cried several times in private, not daring to tell her husband, and could only grit her teeth and endure.
Compared to Madam Sun and Concubine Yang’s attitudes, she cared more about Madam Cen and Mudan’s perspectives. Madam Cen’s indifference was inscrutable, seeming to rely on her as before. As for Mudan, Madam Xue wanted to explain herself several times but always hesitated upon seeing Mudan quietly tending to the peonies. She feared that if Mudan was unaware of the situation, telling her might cause worry or make her want to move out, which would only worsen matters and play into the hands of whoever was scheming behind the scenes.
On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, as Mudan and Madam Xue prepared the longevity threads for the family, Mudan noticed Madam Xue’s sudden weight loss and asked, “Elder Sister-in-law, when shall we depart tomorrow?”
Madam Xue paused, eyes downcast, and replied, “There’s too much to do at home. Perhaps your second sister-in-law could accompany you instead?”
Mudan smiled, “My dear sister-in-law, I’d prefer your company. We agreed on this long ago; you can’t back out now.”
The affectionate tone reminded Madam Xue of how Mudan used to cling to her as a child. She looked up at Mudan, who gazed into her eyes and said softly, “I’ve noticed you’ve lost weight recently and seem to have something to tell me, but I’ve been waiting in vain. Although I can’t help much, I understand your difficulties. I’m not a child anymore, nor am I the frail Danniang of the past. You can speak openly with me. We’re family, not strangers.”
Mudan’s clear eyes, gentle expression, and calm tone naturally put people at ease. Madam Xue held Mudan’s hand, her eyes reddening involuntarily. For someone who had been wronged, what could be more touching than understanding from others? As the most advantaged eldest daughter-in-law, she had no reason to do anything that would offend her in-laws, husband, and sister-in-law, giving others ammunition against her. Moreover, she truly hadn’t envied the dowry given to Mudan back then.
Madam Xue, having managed the household for years, quickly composed herself. Holding Mudan’s hand and looking into her beautiful phoenix eyes, she said deliberately, “Danniang, rest assured, your elder brother and I truly care for you. No matter what happens in the future, we will always look after you.”
Although Mudan didn’t need to rely on others for her livelihood, Madam Xue’s words were rare and precious. Mudan had been thinking a lot lately and concluded that one couldn’t judge a person’s character based on a single incident. She didn’t know the truth or who was right or wrong, but through her recent observations, she had seen sides of people that others didn’t notice. Lin Mama and Yuhe felt indignant on her behalf, but Mudan believed that despite their many schemes, the moment they welcomed her home was genuine. They had presented a united front against the Liu family and hadn’t hesitated to protect her. Family bonds were valuable and worth preserving; how could a single word cause so much strife?
During dinner, Madam Cen noticed the change between Madam Xue and Mudan and was pleased. After the meal, she called Mudan to her room, dismissed the others, and asked with a smile, “Did your elder sister-in-law approach you, or did you approach her?”
Mudan smiled, “She tried to speak with me several times but said nothing. Seeing her struggle, I took the initiative. It turns out you knew everything but didn’t intervene. I wasted my concern, not daring to tell you for fear of upsetting you.”
Madam Cen sighed, lovingly stroking Mudan’s head, “What don’t I know? I merely wanted to see how far they would go and what kind of waves they could make. Your elder sister-in-law is someone who can endure hardship for the greater good. You should remember her and your elder brother’s kindness in the future.”
Sensing hidden meaning in Madam Cen’s words, Mudan frowned and asked, “Do you know who’s behind this?”
Madam Cen smiled faintly, not answering Mudan’s question. Instead, she took her hand and led her to the back corridor, saying, “Let me see what my Danniang will wear tomorrow. Since you’re meeting an important person and asking for a favor, you can’t dress too flamboyantly or too plainly. We must choose carefully.”
Madam Cen’s well-maintained hands were soft and warm, their warmth spreading to Mudan, making her feel relaxed and coy. She whined playfully, “Mother, I’m a bit nervous. I wonder what kind of person this important figure is, whether they have a good temper, and if they’ll be willing to help me. Won’t you come with me?”
“Mother is old now and can’t squeeze through crowds with you youngsters. I’ll stay home with your fifth sister-in-law to watch the house,” Madam Cen replied. She took an ivory-white, narrow-sleeved gauze jacket embroidered with light green peonies and silver stamens from Yuhe’s hands. Squinting at it under the lamplight, she nodded in satisfaction, “What skirt should we pair with this?”
Shuer, showing great perception, promptly presented a six-panel jade-green gauze skirt and a snow-white light gauze shawl. Madam Cen approved, “Yes, that’s perfect. Keep the hair ornaments simple. I remember you have a pair of butterfly-patterned gold hairpins; those will do nicely.”
With the outfit decided, Shuer and Kuaner hurried to prepare hot water, a warming basket, and fragrant incense in the adjacent room to iron and perfume Mudan’s clothes.
To ensure that the meeting place with Lady Bai wouldn’t be occupied and to provide a good vantage point for the family to watch the festivities, He Silang set out early the next morning, just as the ward gates opened. He took several strong servants with him, grabbing a few flatbreads before hurrying off to secure a spot.
By the Chen hour (7-9 AM), Mudan was fully dressed. She brought out the colorful silk longevity threads and tied them on the arms of He Zhizhong, Madam Cen, and her nieces and nephews. Meanwhile, Madam Xue directed others to hang longevity threads on the doors of each room.
As breakfast was served, Madam Cen swept her gaze over everyone and said authoritatively, “Today is a festival day. No one is to cause any trouble.”
Everyone exchanged glances before agreeing, their faces immediately brightening with smiles, creating a harmonious atmosphere. He Zhizhong instructed his sons, “It’s rare to have a day off. Two of you stay to watch the shops, and the rest can go out after eating and tidying up.”
As soon as he finished speaking, He Sanlang, He Wulang, and He Liulang all volunteered to stay and mind the shops. With the guard duty settled, everyone’s excitement grew. Madam Sun, the most eager for fun, impatiently announced the latest news she’d heard from the servants, “I heard the night curfew will be lifted today.”
Madam Bai teased her, “Everyone’s known that for a while. You’re just finding out?”
Madam Sun hurriedly continued, “Oh, I wasn’t finished! I heard the Court of Imperial Sacrifices borrowed over five hundred sets of women’s dresses and jackets from civilians for the performers to use. I wonder how many people are coming and what kind of performances there will be. It must be so lively!”
Concubine Yang sighed wistfully, “If we were in Yangzhou, there would be boat races. The prefecture would hire musicians, and the counties would compete. They’d set up many colored tents along the river. When the drum sounded three times, people would cheer, and the boats would fly across the water. Oh, how lively it would be! Alas, I’ll never see it again in this lifetime.”
He Zhizhong glanced at her and said irritably, “If you want to return to Yangzhou, that can be arranged. If you find it unpleasant here, just stay home and attend to the mistress.”
“Yes, sir,” Concubine Yang immediately realized that her recent behavior had likely been noticed and that he was just waiting for an opportunity to discipline her. She dared not provoke him further and lowered her head submissively, not daring to speak more.
Everyone left the house in high spirits, finding the streets packed with people in groups of three or five, shoulder to shoulder. Following behind her father, brothers, and sisters-in-law, Mudan noticed that in the few days since she’d last been out, things had changed. Fewer women were wearing veiled hats; most now showed their hair buns, dressed in bright colors with lively expressions. As Li Xing had predicted, most men’s headwear now had upturned corners.
As they approached the East Market, they could hear the clamor of the impending song and dance performances. He Dalang and He Erlang, along with several strong servants, escorted the family members to the spot He Silang had secured earlier.
Just as Mudan took her place, a sudden burst of drumming, like a violent storm, erupted from Qinzheng Tower, silencing the crowd. Standing on the low stool He Silang had prepared, Mudan craned her neck to see. Banners fluttered atop Qinzheng Tower, and canopies billowed like clouds. She could see many people up there, with someone speaking loudly, though she couldn’t make out the details. The crowd knelt and prostrated themselves, shouting “Long live the Emperor” three times. After the speaker finished, the crowd again shouted “Long live the Emperor” and stood up. With so many people shouting at once, it truly was an impressive sight.