As the sun set, Lin Mama grew anxious when Mudan had not yet returned. She sent Kuan’er to inquire if Mudan was dining at Madam Qi’s. Shortly after, Kuan’er came bounding back: “Mama, the young mistress has returned.”
Lin Mama hurriedly instructed Shu’er to set the table and fetch water: “Quickly now, the food will get cold.”
Just as the meal was laid out, Shuaishuai’s fawning voice echoed from the corridor: “Mudan is the loveliest, Mudan is the loveliest.”
Mudan replied wearily, “Shuaishuai is lovely too.”
Entering the room, Mudan flopped onto the couch and said, “Mama, please have someone prepare a room later. Madam gifted me two people today, Li Mama and Lanzhi.”
Lin Mama paused, surprised: “Why would Madam suddenly gift people?” During Mudan’s long illness, the Liu family had only found excuses to send away the people given by the He family. Even when Yutong had her incident and they were short-staffed, no one was provided. This sudden gift of two people seemed suspicious.
Mudan sighed, “What can we do? We can’t refuse.”
Her words were met with silence as everyone looked at her with concern. Thinking it wasn’t such a big deal to have two more servants and determined not to show weakness, Mudan roused herself. She sat up to wash her hands and picked up her chopsticks, smiling: “An upright person fears no shadow. Isn’t it better to have two more people to help you all?”
Lin Mama, hunched over, just sighed: “Though that’s true, still…”
Seeing Lin Mama’s deeply furrowed brow and worried expression, Mudan felt a pang of sympathy. Knowing what would cheer her up, she signaled to Yuhe: “There’s good news today too. Yuhe, tell Mama.”
Yuhe, catching on, quickly said with a smile: “Mama, Madam announced that starting tomorrow morning, both concubines will bring the young master and miss to pay respects to our young mistress. Madam also said she’ll request the imperial physician to tend to the young mistress’s health.”
“That’s it then,” Lin Mama’s eyes brightened, her worry instantly replaced by excitement. “Madam never paid you much mind before, young mistress. Now that she values you, of course, she’ll send people to your quarters. In this household, whose chambers don’t have a few people given by Madam? This is nothing unusual. Young mistress, you’re on the rise now. You must seize this opportunity and bear an heir as soon as possible.”
Mudan choked on her food and quickly changed the subject: “This sudden attention makes me uneasy. I wonder why. It all feels strange.”
Lin Mama laughed heartily, dismissing Mudan’s concerns: “Who cares? As long as it benefits us.” Seeing Mudan picking at her food, she added some stir-fried liver to her bowl: “It’s getting late. Hurry and finish your meal, young mistress. After bathing, get some rest early. You’ll need your energy for tomorrow.”
“A healthy body is the foundation of revolution! I must have a strong body!” Mudan thought, gritting her teeth as she cleaned her plate, much to the delight of Lin Mama and Yuhe.
Meanwhile, Madam Qi finished her evening prayers. Zhu Nainai efficiently directed the maids to help her wash up, then assisted her to sit under the curtain to enjoy the cool air. As Liu Chengcai had not yet returned, Zhu Nainai brought her sewing basket to keep Madam Qi company while they waited, chatting idly.
Under Zhu Nainai’s subtle guidance, the conversation drifted from decades-old stories to Mudan: “When you mentioned earlier that the concubines and children should pay respects to the young mistress, she seemed stunned. And when she heard about the imperial physician, she was overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Madam Qi glanced at her, saying coolly: “You must be wondering why I suddenly took an interest in her affairs, supported her, and gifted her people today, aren’t you?”
Zhu Nainai smiled: “This old servant doesn’t understand, and it seems the young mistress doesn’t either.”
Madam Qi spoke seriously: “I’m doing this for the good of the family. Though we’ve encountered misfortune, what’s done is done. If we meddle and go back on our word, allowing Zishu and Princess Qinghua to continue their reckless behavior until someone dies, we’d offend the He family. If that matter were to leak out, not only would the master’s reputation and Zishu’s future be damaged, but our Liu family would be branded as heartless and ungrateful. It would be extremely difficult for us to maintain our standing among the upper echelons of Beijing society. Zishu has been wild long enough; it’s time for him to settle down.”
Zhu Nainai chuckled: “Madam has always been farsighted. But from what this servant sees, though the young mistress appears fragile, she’s quite resilient. How could she easily give up?”
Madam Qi suddenly erupted, slamming the table and sneering: “Do you think I don’t know what caused her illness last autumn? Are you really this obtuse, or are you pretending?”
Her accumulated authority was so great that this outburst terrified Zhu Nainai, who fell to her knees trembling: “Please calm down, Madam. This old servant knows her mistake. Please understand, I’ve been by your side since I was seven, for nearly forty years now, and have never had any disloyal thoughts.”
Mentioning their forty-year history softened Madam Qi. She sighed: “I know you’re Zishu’s wet nurse and have doted on him since he was little, always indulging his whims. But this matter is no trifle; we can’t let him act recklessly. He’s fond of Princess Qinghua, and now that she’s unattached, it’s not surprising they harbor such thoughts. But has he considered that our branch of the family has had only one heir for two generations? He’s our only hope for continuing the family line and giving us grandchildren. Danni is still manageable; at worst, she’ll hide away and cry when upset. She won’t cause any real trouble. But if it were that other woman, I fear this household would know no peace. With her noble status, she might not even respect me, let alone allow others to live comfortably. Our family can’t handle such a person.”
“This old servant understands and will advise the young master in the future,” Zhu Nainai said, greatly relieved. Thankfully, Madam only thought she was biased towards the young master and didn’t suspect anything else. It seemed Madam was quite determined. She should stop mentioning this topic in the future. Tomorrow, she’d better find a chance to inform Princess Qinghua to think of another plan.
Madam Qi rubbed her forehead: “It’s truly vexing. That damned Liu Chengcai, so shortsighted, committing such a disgraceful act and leaving his wife and son to suffer the consequences.”
Zhu Nainai dared not respond, only smiling sycophantically.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Mudan was awakened by a cacophony of noise. Bimei’s voice scolding servants, children crying, and Yu’er’s attempts to mediate all blended into a chaotic din.
“What time is it to be paying respects? Is this how one pays respects? Are they here to provoke me? These women are truly annoying!” Mudan thought irritably, pounding her pillow a few times. After trying to endure it, she finally couldn’t hold back. She sat up abruptly and shouted: “Yuhe! Who’s being so ill-mannered, making such a racket outside at the crack of dawn?”
The commotion outside quieted briefly, and Yuhe’s sweet voice responded: “Young mistress, the two concubines have brought the eldest young master and young miss to pay their respects as Madam instructed. Don’t you remember?”
Mudan got out of bed, casually grabbed a thin silk robe from the bedside to cover herself, and with her long hair loose, strolled into the outer room. She gave a cool glance to the carefully dressed Bimei and Yu’er, along with their group of maids and servants, then sat down at her dressing table: “How could I dare forget Madam’s words? It seems some people have forgotten Madam’s instructions instead.”
Bimei’s expression turned extremely unpleasant. With a forced smile, she said: “Young mistress hasn’t yet washed up. I fear you’ll be late for paying respects to Madam later.”
Yu’er, on the other hand, smiled cheerfully and bowed: “It’s all this servant’s fault. Jiao’er snatched Qi’er’s tiger toy, causing this commotion and disturbing the young mistress’s peace. Please forgive us.” Seeing Kuan’er bringing wash water, she took the initiative to take the basin and personally attended to Mudan’s face washing.
Mudan, unaccustomed to Liu Chang’s concubine being so accommodating, looked at Yu’er twice. Seeing only a submissive smile in return, she didn’t refuse the help and lowered her head to wash: “Never mind, children will be children. I still need some time to get ready. Bimei, if you’re in a hurry, don’t wait for me. Go attend to Madam first.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Bimei indeed bowed and had someone take Qi’er away: “In that case, this servant will go ahead. Young mistress, please take your time.”
Yu’er’s face flashed with disdain, and she whispered: “Young mistress, that’s just her temperament. Please don’t take offense.”
Mudan did not comment and called to Yuhe: “Come help me with my hair and clothes.”
A cicada-wing-like cloud bun adorned with golden hairpins and jade ornaments, a short pink gauze jacket, and a lavender silk skirt completed Mudan’s radiant appearance. Yu’er’s eyes flashed with envy and bitterness, quickly replaced by delight and flattery: “The young mistress is truly beautiful. Such looks and grace are unmatched not only in our household but rare even in the capital.”
Mudan sighed, thinking this was perhaps the only benefit of being He Mudan. Seeing Jiao’er drowsily nestled in her wet nurse’s arms, she said: “She’s so young, it’s a shame to trouble her. In the future, let her stay behind.”
Yu’er hesitated, then replied: “This servant dares not go against the rules. Let her learn from a young age so she’ll understand propriety in the future.”
Mudan gave a faint smile without further comment and led the way out.
Outside Madam Qi’s quarters, they found that she had already risen and was washing up, but Bimei and Qi’er were not waiting in the corridor.
Zhu Nainai glanced at Mudan and said coolly: “The young master has been taken inside. Concubine Bimei went to the kitchen to fetch Madam’s breakfast.”
For the legitimate wife to arrive later than a concubine for morning greetings, and to be less attentive in service, would reflect poorly on Mudan in others’ eyes, even if it wasn’t entirely her fault. Yu’er secretly glanced at Mudan but saw her intently watching the servants taking down and extinguishing the red lanterns along the corridor one by one, seemingly fascinated and not at all concerned about what Zhu Nainai had said.
Seeing Mudan’s indifference and self-amusement, Zhu Nainai inwardly cursed: “What a blockhead. It’s a waste of effort to tell her these things.”