How would Mudan live from now on? According to her original plan, she would first establish a female-headed household, then buy land, purchase a house, build a garden, and grow peonies. She would make her fortune and spend her money as she pleased. If she met the right person and fell in love, she would have children, and experience the ups and downs of married life, and that would be her life’s story. If not, she certainly wouldn’t rush into another marriage. One experience like Liu Chang and the He family was enough; she didn’t want a second.
With this in mind, Mudan tentatively asked, “Mother, I’d like to establish a female-headed household.” She sensed Mrs. Cen’s hand on her head suddenly pause and nervously looked up at her. Would Mrs. Cen be hurt by her desire for independence so soon after the divorce? Would she think Mudan was ungrateful?
Mrs. Cen gazed at her sternly without speaking. Mudan could hear her own heart pounding in her chest, beating as rapidly as when she had nearly been trampled by Princess Qinghua’s horse. Despite her nervousness, she maintained a gentle gaze and said softly, “Mother, I know you care for me, and I understand this might not be the best time to bring this up. But I believe you and Father will understand my feelings.” After a long hesitation, she added quietly, “To be honest, I want to grow peonies in the future.”
If Mrs. Cen had thought to separate Mudan’s property from the He family’s and made every effort to plan for her future, surely she would have understood Mudan’s desire for independence and control over her destiny and property.
After a long silence, Mrs. Cen finally said, “I need to discuss this with your father first.” Though she hadn’t agreed outright, Mudan could tell from her expression that the battle was half-won. Changing the subject, she asked, “Mother, did you have something you wanted to tell me?”
Mrs. Cen composed herself and said, “You know the Liu family hates you deeply and doesn’t wish you well, right?”
Mudan smiled. “It was a doomed relationship from the start. If they could have accepted me, things wouldn’t have come to this. Whatever they do is to be expected. What have they done now?”
Mrs. Cen carefully observed Mudan’s expression. “Your eldest brother returned from outside today and learned that rumors have already reached our doorstep. They’re saying you’ve ruined your health, can’t bear children, cause trouble at home, and are despised by everyone. That’s why you were divorced and sent back home…”
This meant that even if she met a suitable family in the future, such rumors would cause significant problems for her prospects. Mudan raised an eyebrow, feeling angry inside, but seeing Mrs. Cen’s worried expression, she smiled nonchalantly and stroked her mother’s hand. “They’re not entirely wrong. I didn’t bear any children, and I did cause trouble, upsetting their entire family. They’ll have more to deal with in the future. Isn’t that enough to make people dislike me? As for being divorced, whether it’s called separation or divorce, it’s still the same. Are all divorced women at fault? Don’t they remarry? Why should we care about what they say? If we get upset, we’re just falling into their trap.”
Mrs. Cen hadn’t expected this response. She thought Mudan would be devastated or cry in her arms. Instead, Mudan was comforting her. She said sadly, “Your father and I were thinking of finding you a suitable match after some time, but now…”
Mudan smiled sweetly. “Mother, this is for the best. It saves us a lot of trouble. Let me live the life I want for a few years. If someone is truly meant for me, they won’t care about these rumors. You should believe that after surviving great hardship, good fortune will follow. My best days are still ahead.”
Seeing her daughter so understanding and sensible, Mrs. Cen felt a pang in her heart but held back her emotions. She patted Mudan’s hand and said, “Good, good. I’m glad you can see it that way.” Then she added, “Perhaps you shouldn’t go out for a few days? To avoid hearing unpleasant things.”
Mudan lifted her chin. “No, I will go out. I haven’t done anything shameful, so why should I be afraid to show my face? Should all divorced women hide away from the world? The more I hide, the more it seems like I have something to be ashamed of, which is exactly what the Liu family wants. I’m going out tomorrow.”
Mrs. Cen found her adorable and felt slightly better. She smiled and asked, “Where will you go?”
Mudan replied, “To the Lotus Garden at Qujiang Pool. Please help prepare a gift, and have Father or one of my brothers accompany me to thank Young Master Jiang. Without him, I wouldn’t be alive now.”
Mrs. Cen said, “The gift is already prepared. Your father said to send a fragrant wood carving.”
Mudan agreed and escorted Mrs. Cen to the door. “You should rest early, or you’ll harm your health. How could I bear that?”
Mrs. Cen pinched her cheek. “You’ve been home for days now, and I haven’t seen you eat less. Why aren’t you gaining weight? You’re so thin, how can that be good?”
Mudan puffed out her chest. “Where am I thin? The flesh is just hidden.” This made Mrs. Cen laugh heartily.
After Mrs. Cen returned to her room, He Zhizhong eagerly asked, “How did it go?”
Mrs. Cen smiled slightly. “Our daughter has truly grown up. Even if we die, we won’t have to worry about her anymore.”
He Zhizhong asked, puzzled, “What do you mean?”
Mrs. Cen relayed Mudan’s words to him, laughing, “She says it’s not a big deal and wants to go out tomorrow, letting others say what they will.” She then looked at He Zhizhong and added, “She wants to establish a female-headed household and says she wants to grow peonies in the future.”
Indeed, she had become much wiser than before. He Zhizhong remained silent for a moment, rubbing his forehead as he sighed, “Let her have her way. Children grow up and make their own decisions. Look at us, we’re not even dead yet, and things are already like this, with undercurrents stirring. If I die before you, you’ll have even more to be upset about. We can’t say any of our children are bad, but you and I have been through this. It’s not about having too little, but about inequality – it’s bound to happen sooner or later. It’s better to set her up independently early, so we’re prepared. Otherwise, when the time comes, we’ll be caught off guard, and she’ll have nowhere to go, suffering unnecessary grievances.”
Mrs. Cen agreed, “That’s what I think too. Blood is thicker than water, but how can siblings be closer than parents and children? Still, I have one condition: after establishing her household, she can do whatever she wants outside, but she can’t move out before remarrying. I wouldn’t feel at ease.”
He Zhizhong replied, “It’s up to you. Have her spend more time with her nieces and nephews. If anything happens in the future, they might be able to help.”
Before he finished speaking, Mrs. Cen’s eyes suddenly reddened. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and choked out softly, “My poor Danniang. Why does she always encounter so much trouble? You must make the Liu family suffer a great setback to ease my anger.”
He Zhizhong gently patted his wife’s shoulder, comforting her softly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. We’ll do as you wish.”
Early the next morning, Mudan woke up early. She had Yuhe find her a rouge-red Hu-style robe with a folded collar, change into a pair of boots, tie a Diexie belt, and style her hair in a Huihu bun before going out to eat. As she encountered Mrs. Cen, before she could speak, Mrs. Cen said, “Your father has agreed, but you must live at home. I’ll send for a geomancer soon to select a spot and add a room for you. You’ll be comfortable there in winter.”
This was probably the biggest concession they could make, so Mudan didn’t insist further. “Thank you for your trouble, Mother.”
As soon as she entered the room, she saw her brothers smiling at her, while her sisters-in-law looked at her with sympathetic gazes. Zhen Shi, who usually loved to bicker, approached her with utmost gentleness and warmly said, “Danniang, are you hungry? Come sit here, we’re about to eat. We’ve made the crystal rice you love this morning.”
“I’m not hungry yet, I ate so much last night,” Mudan said, knowing full well that everyone had heard the news and was sympathizing with her. After all, they were family, and in times like these, they quickly united. Suddenly, her mood brightened considerably. She happily sat next to Zhen Shi, holding the youngest, He Chun, in her arms, and asked with a smile, “I heard you were scolded by Grandmother the other day. Why was that?”
He Chun, only five years old, buried his face in Mudan’s embrace and wrinkled his nose, saying, “Shanshan is a big meanie, hateful and nasty.”
Everyone burst into laughter, and the fifth young master pinched He Chun’s nose, saying, “It’s just a bird. You were trying to tease it, but it ended up teasing you instead.”
Bai Shi looked at Mudan with concern and said, “Danniang, are you going out? Why don’t you wait a few more days?”
Before Mudan could answer, He Zhizhong had already made the decision: “After breakfast, I’ll accompany Danniang with the eldest son to express our gratitude. The fourth son goes and makes arrangements with Zhang Wu Lang. Find a suitable place and treat him to a meal to thank him. Invite all his brothers as well, choose a good location, and don’t be stingy. Once the eldest son and I finish our business, we’ll come to toast him.”
Hearing this, the fourth young master He solemnly replied, “Father, rest assured. I’ll handle everything perfectly.”
Qujiang Pool was four districts away from Xuanping Ward – not too far, but not exactly close either. Along the way, Mudan encountered several familiar neighbors. Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt their expressions were different when they looked at her. She didn’t mind, greeting those she should greet and exchanging pleasantries as usual, treating curious glances as if they were thin air.
The eldest young master He kept a stern face, looking quite displeased. Whenever someone tried to engage Mudan in conversation or inquire about inappropriate matters, he would crack his whip loudly, frightening them into swallowing their words and hastily bidding Mudan farewell.
He Zhizhong didn’t interfere, maintaining a calm demeanor. He would respond briefly when greeted and otherwise patiently wait for Mudan. He had seen far greater storms; what was this in comparison?
As they approached the Lotus Garden at Qujiang Pool, the eldest young master He asked an old man pushing a cart selling steamed Hu-style flatbread, “Excuse me, sir, do you know where a certain Jiang Changyang, titled Da Jiangjun, lives around here?”