The fierce afternoon sun had wilted the willow branches, and even the cicadas in the trees sounded listless, their “zhi-le” calls fading away before the next one could begin. However, in the water pavilion by the Emerald Wave Pool inside the Chu State Marquis’s mansion, a cool breeze blew, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.
The latticed doors around the pavilion had been removed to allow the crisp scent of the pool water and the fragrance of blooming white lotuses to drift in with the wind. Lady Bai reclined on a rattan bed, holding a book. She alternated between reading and smiling at her son Pan Jing, who was rolling about on a mat nearby, happily playing under the watchful eye of his wet nurse. Noticing that her son’s chubby feet had wrinkled the white silk mat with its green brocade border, she discreetly smoothed it out and lovingly pulled down the legs of his red silk trousers to cover his plump little legs.
Seeing this, the wet nurse stood up nervously and said with an apologetic smile, “My lady…”
Lady Bai adjusted her light green single-layered gauze robe and waved her hand gently, “It’s no matter. Children love to play. Just be more careful in the evening.” As soon as she finished speaking, Pan Jing sat up and grabbed her sleeve, trying to snatch the book from her hand. His drool dripped onto the light green gauze, quickly spreading into a large stain.
Lady Bai lovingly picked him up and held him in her arms, saying with a smile, “Does A’jing want to read too? Come, mother will teach you.”
Nienyu entered, carrying an exquisite porcelain box. Seeing the scene, she smiled and said, “The young master is so fond of reading at such a young age and is naturally intelligent. He’s sure to become a cultured gentleman in the future.”
Lady Bai glared at her mildly and said, “Don’t say such things in front of him. Jade must be carved to become a tool. No matter how smart he is, he needs careful teaching and guidance.” Noticing the porcelain box in Nienyu’s hands, her expression suddenly turned serious. “What’s that?”
Nienyu just smiled without answering and opened the lid, offering the box. Inside were neatly arranged incense cakes about the size of copper coins. Lady Bai leaned in to smell them, and her expression became somewhat distant. Nienyu asked, “What does my lady think of this incense?”
Lady Bai composed herself, turned away to stroke Pan Jing’s head, and said indifferently, “It’s nothing special.”
Nienyu deliberately pouted, pretending to be hurt, “If the person who sent this incense knew that her carefully aged creation of 49 days only received such a comment from my lady, who knows how disappointed she’d be? She even said that this incense has a serene and pure nature, thinking my lady would love it. I’ll go return it now, saying that our lady doesn’t care for it at all.” She turned to leave.
Serene and pure? That doesn’t sound like something the flamboyant Pan Rong would say. Lady Bai quickly called Nienyu back and said sternly, “You naughty girl, how dare you tease me. Tell me who sent this quickly, and I’ll forgive your disrespect just now!”
Nienyu covered her mouth and laughed softly, presenting the porcelain box with both hands. “It was sent by Miss He’s maid, Yuhe. She said that after parting with you last time, Miss He created this ‘Deep Tranquility’ incense during the Dragon Boat Festival. After the aging period was complete and she tested it, she felt it was good enough to send for your enjoyment.”
“It’s been so many days since the Dragon Boat Festival…” Lady Bai sighed slightly. “She’s very thoughtful. Let’s try a piece first. Where is she?”
Nienyu efficiently retrieved a gilt silver incense burner from beside the bed, placed a piece of the incense cake in it, and replied, “She’s still waiting outside. Would you like to see her?”
Lady Bai said, “Of course I want to see her. I should return the gesture, shouldn’t I?” She gently sniffed the incense and thought to herself, “They say it’s serene and pure, but it smells a bit lonely. Indeed, it suits my mood well. Miss He from the He family, no matter how strong she appears, must be just as lonely as I am inside.”
Yuhe followed Nienyu into the water pavilion with poise, keeping her eyes straight ahead. She gracefully bowed to Lady Bai and greeted her, “I hope my lady is well. My mistress sends her regards.”
Lady Bai glanced at Yuhe, noticing her light blue silk jacket paired with a long white skirt. Her large, round eyes and smiling lips with a hint of a dimple made her look both charming and neat. Lady Bai smiled and said, “Please sit. It’s been a while since I’ve seen your mistress. Is she well?”
A young maid brought over an embroidered cushion. Yuhe thanked her and sat down carefully, catching the familiar scent from the incense burner. Feeling relieved, her smile grew even brighter. “My mistress is very well. She’s been constantly thinking of you but couldn’t visit in person. That’s why she made this ‘Deep Tranquility’ incense. I hope you don’t find it lacking.”
Lady Bai understood the reasons why a personal visit wasn’t convenient and smiled slightly. “She’s very thoughtful. I like this incense very much. I heard from Nienyu that it was aged for 49 days. I assume you know the recipe?”
Yuhe had been instructed by Mudan before coming and knew that noble families were particular about incense. They would usually inquire about the recipe and only use it after confirming its safety. The fact that Lady Bai had already started using it showed her trust in Mudan. Yuhe composed herself and replied, “Yes, this is the first incense my mistress made after returning home. I was by her side throughout the process.
She used five taels of white honey, refined with water to remove its sticky nature, slowly steamed over water for half a day, then washed with warm water and set aside. Two taels of Hainan agarwood were cut into fingertip-sized pieces and ground into powder with four taels of tibia charcoal, then sifted through a horsehair sieve. This was mixed with the cooked honey to form a paste, which was aged for 49 days. After that, she added one qian of borneol, one qian of musk, and one fen of benzoin, molding it into incense cakes to complete the process.”
Lady Bai smiled, “The recipe isn’t complicated, yet the fragrance is outstanding. I heard about what happened on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival. Knowing she was safe, I didn’t specifically go to visit her. What has she been up to lately?”
Yuhe understood Lady Bai’s position and the constraints she faced. She explained about Mudan buying property by the Yellow Canal to build a garden and plant peonies. When Lady Bai heard that the garden was designed based on Master Fuyuan’s peony painting draft, she became very interested. “How far along is the construction now? I hope it’s finished soon so I can join in the excitement.”
Yuhe had held back several times, following Mudan’s instructions not to mention the difficulties with the steward from Prince Ning’s estate. She only said, “It’s still early. It probably won’t take shape until next spring. Master Fuyuan says that to see all the beautiful scenery, even with careful maintenance, it might take two years before we can fully appreciate it.”
They chatted for a while longer until Pan Jing started to fuss, getting sleepy. Yuhe quickly stood up to take her leave. Lady Bai didn’t try to keep her but asked Nienyu to bring out two small carved and green-dyed ivory tubes. She smiled and said, “Your household has plenty of good incense, so I won’t presume to compete. These two tubes of homemade lip balm are something I made myself in my spare time. They’re very moisturizing and have a delicate color that you can’t buy outside. She’s young and in her prime, the perfect time to dress up. Take these for her to try.”
Yuhe stood up, bowed to express her thanks, and was then escorted out by Nienyu. When they reached the second gate and saw no one around, Nienyu took Yuhe’s hand affectionately and said, “Sister, when you go back, remember to tell your mistress that if she has time and wants to go out, she should invite our lady. She’s always cooped up in the mansion and gets bored. When the garden is finished, make sure to tell our lady first.”
As Lady Bai’s long-serving personal maid, she was keenly aware that Lady Bai liked Mudan and naturally hoped that Lady Bai could go out more often with someone she got along with.
Yuhe smiled and said, “Don’t worry, sister. I’ll tell my mistress when I get back. She greatly admires your lady’s character but feels it’s not appropriate to visit in person.”
Nienyu nodded, “Your mistress’s difficulties are well understood by our lady. We’ve heard those rumors too. At the time, I even suggested that our lady let me go check on your mistress. But our lady said that your mistress is of high character and wouldn’t take such small matters to heart, so it was better not to go. However, when we heard she fell ill during the polo match, there was some concern. But a couple of days later, we heard she was seen riding a horse in the street, so we guessed it wasn’t anything serious.”
Hearing this, Yuhe thought to herself that Lady Bai was indeed someone with a cold exterior but a warm heart, having been paying attention to Mudan’s affairs all along. Feeling both grateful and sensing a kindred spirit for Mudan, she proudly said, “Your lady is truly perceptive, guessing correctly every time. When those rumors spread, everyone in our household was upset and indignant, but my mistress didn’t care at all. She ate and slept as usual. The next day, she went out to handle affairs as always, and when those ill-intentioned people came to greet her, she smiled and responded, showing a broader mind than even a man. You don’t know, but these days we often ride to the estate. Although it’s tiring, it’s not dull at all.”
Nienyu listened with both joy and envy, “Is that so? That’s wonderful. Our lady hasn’t gone horseback riding for a long time. One day, I’ll ask her to take us to visit your estate.” Although they often accompanied Lady Bai to various social gatherings in noble households, those were always for social obligations, with all sorts of unpleasant people present, never truly relaxed or enjoyable. How could that compare to the freedom of playing in the countryside?
Yuhe excitedly replied, “Definitely! We have a peach and plum orchard behind our house. Some of the plums are already ripe, sweet, and crisp. The peaches will be ready soon too. It’s really fun!”
As they reached the side gate and were about to say goodbye, they suddenly saw Liu Chang and Pan Rong entering from the side door, surrounded by an entourage and trailing a cloud of perfume. Liu Chang’s eyelid twitched when she saw Yuhe smiling and chatting, and she stopped in her tracks.
Yuhe caught sight of Liu Chang out of the corner of her eye and was startled, silently cursing her bad luck for running into trouble as soon as she stepped out. She exchanged a glance with Nienyu and turned to leave, but after taking just one step, she heard Liu Chang coldly say, “Stop right there!”
Yuhe ignored her and walked even faster, almost breaking into a run if she hadn’t been concerned about appearances. Nienyu inwardly groaned, stepped forward to block Liu Chang’s gaze, and smiled as she bowed, “This servant greets the young master and the Gentleman of Ceremonies.”
Pan Rong gave Liu Chang a wry smile and asked Nianyu, “Who’s that? She looks unfamiliar, not like someone from our household. She has no manners at all. Didn’t she hear the Fengyilang calling her? Why does she look like she’s seen a ghost? Is he really that frightening?”
Though her words seemed to scold Nianyu and Yuhe, they were mocking Liu Chang. Liu Chang, however, appeared not to have heard. He stepped forward, blocking the door, and glared coldly at Yuhe, sneering, “Well, well, a servant skilled at playing deaf and dumb! Why are you in such a hurry to escape? Have you done something you shouldn’t have?”
Seeing no way out, Yuhe reluctantly gave him a cursory bow. “This servant greets Liu Fengyilang. You jest, sir. The Hou mansion is no ordinary place. How could a servant like me do anything improper here?”
Liu Chang noticed Yuhe’s aversion to him and her sharp tongue, remembering how she used to act pitiful and ingratiating before him. An indescribable feeling washed over him, and he pressed his lips together, saying nothing. As Yuhe tried to walk past him, he reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, bristling with anger. “How dare you, insolent servant! Did I say you could leave?”
Nianyu, thinking this was a task assigned by her mistress and determined to see Yuhe safely out, decided it was best to fetch help rather than argue with Liu Chang. But as she turned to leave, Pan Rong called out, “Why bother the mistress with such trivial matters? How thoughtless of you!”
Nianyu’s face reddened, but she didn’t try to flatter or hide anything from Pan Rong. Biting her lip, she said, “She came to deliver incense to the mistress, who instructed me to see her out safely.” She hoped Pan Rong would consider Madam Bai’s position and prevent Liu Chang from causing trouble in the Hou mansion, which would reflect poorly on Madam Bai.
Indeed, though Pan Rong maintained his casual demeanor, he replied, “I understand. She’ll certainly leave this door alive and well. If you’re worried, stay and watch. Then you can report back to the mistress.”
Knowing her master’s temperament, Nianyu was relieved by this assurance. She gave Yuhe a reassuring look and stood by to observe.
Yuhe, seeing that Liu Chang was determined to take out his anger on her and that Pan Rong was merely watching the spectacle, stood up straight and addressed Liu Chang directly. “This servant belongs to the He family and came to deliver something to the Hou mansion. The task is complete, and my master awaits my return. What reason does Liu Fengyilang have for preventing me from leaving?” Times had changed, and if he had an endless supply of foul temper, he should save it for those at home who enjoyed bearing it, not direct it at her.
Liu Chang was momentarily at a loss for words. How could he admit that he simply despised anyone associated with Mudan? That he habitually wanted to lash out at Yuhe? He had been waiting for the He family to come begging him again after they claimed illness last time. Growing impatient, he was about to send someone to inquire when he saw them walking cheerfully in the street, smiling more brightly than anyone. He realized then that Mudan had been pretending! She truly no longer needed to beg him for anything! They had all used him and tossed him aside. The thought made him tremble with hatred.
This wretched Yuhe, who dared to act pitifully and defy him before, had become even more lawless and disrespectful now. Even if she was no longer a servant of the Liu family, he was still an official! Shouldn’t she show him the utmost respect? Like master, like servant indeed! But he couldn’t bring himself to find an excuse to whip Yuhe and make her wail pitifully at the Hou mansion’s gate.
Pan Rong, seeming to read Liu Chang’s thoughts, stepped between them and shouted at Yuhe, “You insolent dog of a servant! What does it matter whose family you belong to? If you know to call him Fengyilang, you should know he’s an official! Shouldn’t you bow and greet him respectfully? Why do you act like you’ve seen a ghost? How dare you speak so boldly and disrespectfully! You’re asking for a beating! Even I can’t stand it. If you’re not taught a lesson, it’s simply unbearable!”
Yuhe, unafraid of Pan Rong, kept her eyes fixed on Liu Chang. Seeing his expression fluctuate, she feared he might suddenly lose control and strike her, which would be disastrous – not only would she be hurt, but it would also upset Mudan. As she pondered this, she noticed Pan Rong winking at her and quickly said, “This servant was disrespectful earlier. Please forgive me this once, Liu Fengyilang. If you have no other instructions, I’ll take my leave.” She deliberately circled Pan Rong and slipped away quickly.
This time, Liu Chang didn’t stop Yuhe. Watching her flee through the side gate as if chased by ghosts, he suddenly lost interest in going inside to drink tea and chat with Pan Rong. He said listlessly, “I’m going home.”
Pan Rong, thinking Liu Chang might pursue and harass Yuhe, grabbed his arm and said, “You’ve come all this way, why leave now? Since you’ve taken office, we rarely get to meet. Don’t let someone like that ruin our chance to catch up.”
Liu Chang glanced at him, seeing his innocent and eager expression, and said flatly, “Don’t worry, I’m not that petty.”
Pan Rong blinked, feigning confusion. “Hm? What do you mean?”
Seeing Pan Rong play dumb, Liu Chang sighed softly, “I’m just… upset.”
Pan Rong snorted, “Is that all you’ve got? She’s just a woman with a pretty face and a fierce temper. You rejected her first, why does it matter so much? Go on, get out of here!” With that, he turned and left. Watching Liu Chang exit, he turned back to Nianyu with a mischievous grin, “Where’s the mistress? I did all that for her sake. Surely she won’t give me the cold shoulder?”
Seeing Pan Rong’s demeanor, Nianyu inwardly sighed for Madam Bai. She voiced a few objections, then bowed and led the way without further comment.
Upon returning home, Liu Chang had barely changed his clothes when Xiansu, dressed up and reeking of perfume came to curry favor with a bowl of iced mung bean soup. “My lord, it’s hot out. Please have some of this to cool down,” she said, snuggling up to him and trying to feed him with a silver spoon.
Liu Chang irritably pushed her away and asked coldly, “How is Madam’s health?”
Xiansu’s face fell. She withdrew the spoon and looked at Liu Chang with infinite grievance and resentment. “This servant wishes to attend to Madam, but with my lowly status, how could I enter the main courtyard to serve her? Even Sister Biwu, who usually serves Madam, had to go look after Sister Yutong, who is unwell.”
Liu Chang ignored her contrived words and asked directly, “Then who is attending to Madam?”
“It’s Sister Yu’er,” Xiansu replied, deeply disappointed that Liu Chang ignored her insinuations. She had hoped that with the new bride – a princess no less – coming soon, she could win Liu Chang’s affection early on, as advancing her position would be impossible for some time after the princess’s arrival. But now it seemed hopeless. However, there was some encouraging news: Liu Chang showed no reaction to hearing that the pregnant Yutong was unwell! This was good – if he didn’t favor a pregnant woman, one without a child stood even less chance of stirring up trouble!
Seeing Liu Chang get up to leave, she hurried after him. “My lord, what would you like for dinner? I’ve learned a new dish…” Before she could finish, Liu Chang had already walked away without looking back, leaving her to bite her handkerchief in distress.
Liu Chang arrived outside Madam Qi’s room. The servant girl quickly raised the curtain and announced, “Madam, the young master is here.”
A sharp crash of breaking porcelain came from inside, followed by Madam Qi’s shrill cry, “Tell him to get lost! What is he doing here? Has he come to see if I’ve died from anger yet? Get out!” This was followed by Yu’er’s soft, comforting voice.
The servant girl looked at Liu Chang worriedly. Ever since Princess Qinghua fell from her horse, Madam Qi had been elated for a while, even making more elaborate offerings to the Buddha, hoping the princess would quickly pass away. Who would have thought that just as the princess regained consciousness before it was even certain if she was paralyzed, Liu Chang would say such things in front of the imperial clan? Then the imperial decree of marriage came down, shocking Madam Qi into a faint! Since then, she had been bedridden, developing chest pains and becoming increasingly irritable. The old master was too scared to come home, often staying overnight at his office, which only exacerbated Madam Qi’s condition.
Liu Chang frowned and angrily threw back the curtain, standing at the doorway and shouting, “What more do you want at this point? It’s bad enough that others don’t understand me, but now you’re pressuring me too? Fine, you don’t want to see me, right? I’m leaving!” At the time, Princess Qinghua’s injuries were unclear, yet she had schemed to force him to answer whether he would reject her in front of many members of the imperial clan. How could he say no unless he wanted to end his career?
Hearing this, Madam Qi felt a pang of guilt but couldn’t bring herself to call him back. Instead, she spat at Yu’er, “Fool! Don’t you know to hurry and stop him?”
Yu’er endured the humiliation, bowing and wiping the spit from her face only after turning away. She hurried after Liu Chang, pleading, “Young master, Madam is ill. She’s always thinking of you… She fell ill because she cares for you so much…”
Liu Chang stood still and sighed impatiently, “Madam is in a bad mood. Seeing me will only worsen her condition. Let’s wait until she feels better!”
Before he finished speaking, the increasingly plump Nurse Zhu came rushing over, her bosom heaving, “Terrible news! Miss Yutong has miscarried.”
Madam Qi, overhearing this, shrieked angrily from inside, “How could she suddenly miscarry when everything was fine?” Yu’er’s face turned ashen with fear, and she repeatedly backed away, eager to escape the impending drama.
Liu Chang had barely left the courtyard when he was stopped by Yutong’s tearful maid, begging him to see Yutong, saying she no longer wanted to live. Liu Chang felt as if a heavy hammer was pounding inside his head, threatening to split it open.