The Chen household had descended into complete chaos. Third Madam Chen refused to go out, shrinking away at home with a face as pale as a ghost. She no longer even went to Old Madam Chen’s quarters for morning and evening greetings. She was truly terrified, constantly afraid that one day Old Madam Chen would jump up and curse her as a harbinger of misfortune—she truly never dreamed things would blow up like this, and even less did she expect that Lu Bingyu and Zhou Chengfang, who had given silver to her husband to use, would actually be involved in the Spring Examination fraud.
She had no idea where these two had obtained those silk documents. She speculated wildly for a while, then recalled the terrified expression on her husband’s face when she had previously gone to question him. Her head throbbed even more painfully, and she cried out “Aiya” several times in succession. The maids and old servants hurriedly rushed over to pound her back and rub her legs.
But these measures couldn’t relieve the anxiety and irritation in her heart at all. She was now so tense that her legs constantly cramped up. As soon as she remembered what her husband had said—that he had once written out a set of examination questions for Zhou Chengfang—she would be seized with terror, and the veins in her temples seemed ready to burst out at any moment.
That Zhou Chengfang was truly going to be the death of them. If he had bought the examination papers, fine, he bought them—but why did he have to bring them to Third Master Chen to write out? Right beside him was Lu Bingyu, such a great talent, but he didn’t use him and instead had to come find her husband. Once this matter was exposed, how could her husband explain himself? That Zhou Chengfang wasn’t someone who could keep his head straight. To escape punishment, who knew what he might dare to say.
Now her father-in-law had already gone to the Ministry of Justice prison. Recently, Second Uncle had been anxious beyond measure. People had come from the main family branch, and the lights in the front study had never gone out—everyone was discussing the father-in-law’s matter.
Actually, in Third Madam Chen’s view, as long as her husband’s acceptance of silver was kept tightly covered and not a hint of news leaked out, the household probably wouldn’t have any major problems—yesterday she had heard her husband mention something, saying that both Meng Jiming and Feng Yinglong had simultaneously fallen ill and declined the Emperor’s proposal for them to serve as chief examiners. These two officials in charge of criminal justice had both adopted this attitude, which was sufficient proof that her father-in-law hadn’t reached the point of collapse. Since he hadn’t reached that point, what was there to fear? Moreover, the one appointed to supervise was Prince Dongping. However foolish Third Madam Chen might be, she knew that Prince Dongping was on their side.
The only thing to worry about, when all was said and done, was still this matter of accepting silver on her end. She wondered whether she should mention it to Old Madam Chen, so they could be prepared.
As soon as Third Madam Chen thought of this, she couldn’t help but shudder. Her whole person felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and even her blood couldn’t flow smoothly—she had truly been possessed by foolishness. How could she have thought of mentioning this matter to Old Madam Chen? Once she said anything, Old Madam Chen’s first action would surely be to push their master and their Third Branch out to take the blame, and she would definitely insist on opening the ancestral hall and dividing the family. She couldn’t do such a foolish thing.
She had been lost in these wild thoughts for only a short while when she heard that Old Madam Chen had summoned her. Having just been thinking of Old Madam Chen, she felt her legs go weak. She gave a meaningful look to someone nearby, and the old servant by her side hurriedly stuffed a thick red envelope into the hands of Huazhi, who served Old Madam Chen, and quietly asked, “Miss Huazhi, please give us some hint—is it something urgent?”
Old Madam Chen couldn’t sleep because Elder Chen had entered the Ministry of Justice prison, so she had excused everyone from morning and evening attendance. Apart from Second Master and Chen Mingyu, she normally didn’t think of the Third Branch at all. For her to suddenly send someone to summon Third Madam Chen was indeed no wonder she was so frightened she nearly thought everything had been exposed.
Huazhi wore an expression of compassion on her face and sighed as she tucked away the pouch. “It’s about Miss Qing. As for exactly what the matter is, I can’t gossip with Madam about it. When Madam arrives, she’ll know.”
Related to Miss Qing? What business could there be with Miss Qing out of the blue? Old Madam Chen had never even looked properly at Miss Qing. Third Madam Chen’s eyes widened. This time she was truly bewildered and at a loss. Only at the prompting of the old servant did she cry out “Aiya” in confusion and get up to go to the washroom to change into clothes for going out. Following Huazhi with a head full of doubts, she headed toward Old Madam Chen’s courtyard.
Outside Old Madam Chen’s courtyard, that circle of lush green pothos plants was still full of vitality, and inside was as quiet and solemn as always. Third Madam Chen had always felt that Old Madam Chen’s quarters were too oppressive, but now thinking about it, having suffered such a great calamity yet still maintaining this level of propriety showed that the Chen family’s foundation was still deep. For some unknown reason, her heart actually felt somewhat more settled.
Harboring a chest full of wild thoughts, she entered the room with her heart pounding loudly. Following Huazhi around the curio shelf to the main room, she first performed a courtesy to Old Madam Chen and displayed an extremely ingratiating smile. “Mother sent for me?”
Old Madam Chen’s spirits were still good, and no joy or anger could be seen on her face. She nodded slightly toward Third Madam Chen, turned her face to the side, and addressed a round-faced woman sitting on a circular stool with her body slightly angled: “Our Third Daughter-in-law is here. Whatever the matter is, you may speak of it now.”
Third Madam Chen followed her gaze and recognized that the round-faced woman was the steward from Minister Tong’s household. Her heart felt somewhat surprised, and after surprise came delight—her Miss Qing’s wedding date was approaching. She had been busy with this matter before, only later forgetting to manage it because of the silver business and then Elder Chen’s affair. Now they had probably come to urge things along.
The round-faced woman respectfully and distantly rose and first curtsied to Old Madam Chen, then turned to look at Third Madam Chen. With what seemed like a belly full of apology, she lowered her head. “With the wedding date imminent, we really shouldn’t say anything under normal circumstances. However, our household’s Second Young Master fell from his horse the other day and broke his leg. The physician now says it probably won’t heal properly, and he will likely be left with lingering effects in the future. Our master and mistress are both kind people, and they thought they should inform you of this matter. Our master and mistress’s intention is that since our Second Young Master has become like this, it truly wouldn’t be right to delay your family’s young lady who is as beautiful as flowers and jade.”
The smile froze on Third Madam Chen’s face. Her entire mind went blank for a moment, and she only felt a buzzing sound in her brain. She looked blankly toward Old Madam Chen, then looked at the round-faced woman again, her eyes widening.
What had this person just said? The Tong family’s Second Young Master had fallen from his horse and broken his leg? So the implied meaning of “not delaying” was that they wanted to break off the engagement?!
Third Madam Chen’s heart pounded like a drum. She couldn’t clearly describe what she was feeling, only that it was like an overturned jar of mixed spices. Just last night she had heard her husband mention that Minister Tong had also claimed illness and didn’t dare serve as chief examiner. She had thought it was out of consideration for their in-law relationship. How could they now suddenly pull this stunt of wanting to break off the engagement? Was this meant to draw a clear line between themselves and the Chen family?