Third Master Chen wailed in his wife’s embrace. The grievances he had suffered over the years were vivid before his eyes. He had always known that as a son born of a concubine, he was not favored. He had always been too afraid of his own incompetence to cause his father any trouble—even when he accepted silver from Lu Bingyuan, it was truly because he had no other options and had been driven to desperation by his legitimate mother. He had been uneasy and guilt-ridden over accepting that silver, yet in the end he had become a laughing stock! He too was someone with sons and daughters, yet compared to the children left behind by his eldest and second brothers, his own were treated as if they weren’t even human. His legitimate mother had always disregarded them.
He thought of his daughter’s eyes, always tinged with melancholy. He thought of how just the day before yesterday, upon hearing about the broken engagement, her eyes had clearly reddened yet she had still helped him comfort his wife. His daughter was so innocent! His wife was right—Qing’er was a good child. She was no worse than Chen Mingyu. The only reason Old Madam treated her with such contempt was because she was his daughter, not his eldest brother’s daughter.
Third Master Chen wept in his wife’s arms, feeling muddled and confused, his head heavy and dizzy. He leaned against the soft pillow on the couch and wearily closed his eyes. Third Madam Chen was frightened enough to panic, thinking her husband had fainted from the shock. She reached out to check his breathing and found it steady—he had simply fallen asleep from exhaustion. Only then did she let out a soft breath of relief.
She had barely relaxed when she heard Huazhi from Old Madam’s side asking from outside, “Has Third Master returned? Old Madam requests his presence.”
Third Madam Chen felt all the grievances she had suppressed for half a lifetime explode on this single day. For the first time in her life, she spoke with such justified confidence and resentment, calling someone in to tell her, “Third Master is unwell and has already retired. He will pay his respects to Old Madam later.”
Huazhi was a senior maid who had served Old Madam Chen for several years. Her ability to read people’s expressions had long since been honed to perfection. With one glance, she could tell that Third Madam was not in a good mood. Though she found this strange, she didn’t dare show it on her face. She curtsied slightly, her attitude more respectful than usual, and left with a smile after smoothing things over.
Although Third Madam Chen was the wife of the concubine-born third master, she was still a mistress of the household, while Huazhi herself, no matter how favored or how much face she had with Old Madam, was merely a servant. Huazhi had always understood this clearly. It was precisely because she knew when to bend with the wind that she could receive more important tasks than Huaqiao and the others.
The young maid following at her heels was also puzzled: “Third Madam’s expression was truly ugly today. Usually whenever she sees you, doesn’t she greet you with smiles? Today was truly strange.”
Huazhi was not without her own puzzlement. While others might not understand this Third Madam’s temperament, she saw it crystal clear. A young lady from a Hanlin family, yet over these years Old Madam Chen had worn her down until she had not a trace of refinement or pride left. Every day she envied the first and second branches for their silver and clothing. Some time ago, she had even done the foolish thing of accompanying Old Madam to the Song family to demand a person, all for the sake of silver. One could see what kind of desperate situation she had been forced into in the Chen family. Ever since being quietly sent back from the Song family, Third Madam Chen had nearly been divorced. It was only with great difficulty that Third Master Chen pleaded on her behalf that she wasn’t cast out. Third Madam Chen had felt guilty ever since, and having no status to begin with, she had always kept her tail between her legs. This time, who knows what happened…
Thousands of thoughts turned through Huazhi’s mind. In the end, she concluded that Third Madam was upset because Miss Qing had been jilted, and thought no more of it. She took the opportunity to rebuke the young maid: “The affairs of the masters—is that something for you to comment on? Involve yourself less in idle matters!”
When she returned to the room, Huazhi saw that Chen Mingyu was also there. She first smiled warmly and nodded at Chen Mingyu: “Old Madam has been thinking of you for quite some time. If you hadn’t come soon, she would probably have driven us all out to fetch you. You’ve finally arrived.”
Chen Mingyu had recently stopped going to the palace to copy Buddhist scriptures. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to go, but rather that now that her grandfather was imprisoned, her own situation had become awkward. Although the Empress still summoned her to copy scriptures, how could she actually go? She had declined by saying she needed to care for her grandmother, so she didn’t go. Yet though she remained at home, she heard far more news than before.
Previously, she could only catch a word or two in her grandfather’s study or glean bits and pieces of information from her grandmother. But now, with her grandfather no longer presiding over the household, wild rumors spread everywhere. She had truly opened her eyes to the world.
For instance, there were claims that her grandfather had truly embezzled silver and sold the examination papers. Then a few days ago, some people from the Zhou family had come to the door to plead their case, as if feeling things weren’t chaotic enough and there wasn’t enough mud on Elder Chen’s reputation. The more Chen Mingyu heard, the more alarmed and frightened her heart became.
Although she had always considered herself outstanding from childhood, she had never experienced such momentous affairs. Now that such great upheaval had suddenly befallen the family, she was already frightened out of her wits. Added to this, a few days ago she had heard news that was even more unfortunate for her personally. She had fallen seriously ill and lain in bed recuperating for four or five days before improving somewhat. At this moment, her face was pale as she forced herself to show Huazhi a slight smile. Gripping Old Madam Chen’s hand, she tried hard to speak cheerfully: “Sister Huazhi loves to tease me. Who doesn’t know that Sister Huazhi is the indispensable treasure at Grandmother’s side?” She smiled, then looked behind Huazhi. Seeing no one, she frowned slightly: “Didn’t Sister Huazhi go to the third branch to request Third Uncle and Third Aunt? Why haven’t they arrived yet?”
Huazhi lowered her head as she massaged Old Madam Chen’s shoulders, softly and tactfully relaying Third Madam’s words.
Chen Mingyu had heard during her illness about Chen Mingqing’s broken engagement. Thinking of her own prospects, she actually felt for the first time a sense that when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves—when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold. She had, for once, no desire to watch others’ misfortunes. However, seeing that Old Madam Chen’s summons to Third Uncle and Third Aunt had gone unanswered, she felt an inexplicable displeasure in her heart, as if not witnessing their misfortune with her own eyes left something to be desired. Thus she turned to Old Madam Chen and said, “Third Uncle and Third Aunt are truly something. When the entire household is busy, Third Uncle still has the leisure to sleep… And Miss Qing hasn’t come either?”
Huazhi sighed inwardly, knowing this was Chen Mingyu sowing discord against the third branch before Old Madam. She felt it was rather unnecessary. Regardless of anything else, Old Madam Chen had always disliked the third branch that had not come from her own body. Whether or not Chen Mingyu spoke ill of the third branch would not change that. Chen Mingyu’s inability to tolerate others’ wellbeing was truly gilding the lily and showed that she was somewhat too vicious.
Although Old Madam Chen had taught her to be calculating and ambitious, with aspirations to rise in status, compared to those young ladies who neither spoke nor heard evil words, she fell to a lower class.