“No feeling at all?” Zhuxiang heard the hint of gladness in Shiyiniang’s tone and sensed this was not a bad thing — yet she needed to understand it clearly. “Madam, should we call Nanny Tian in and ask her?”
“No need.” The heavy, stagnant feeling that had pressed against her chest every morning since she became pregnant had suddenly vanished, and she felt at once lighter all over. Add to that the joy of Xu Sizhun’s recovery, and the corners of Shiyiniang’s eyes and the curve of her brow had both eased considerably. “Daoist Master Changchun is here today to perform a ceremony, and everyone is busy. If we make a fuss now, people will come flocking to check on me.”
Zhuxiang smiled and acknowledged this.
Living in the old dowager’s quarters had its inconveniences.
She hoped only that this matter would be resolved soon, so that everyone could return to the quiet life they had before.
Xu Lingyi had left for the outer courtyard at the very first light of day. After washing and dressing, Shiyiniang went to the old dowager’s quarters.
The old dowager was already up, seated at the edge of the couch watching the wet nurse spoon-feed Xu Sizhun his morning meal. Seeing Shiyiniang enter, she smiled and called out a greeting: “You’re here!” Then she told Nanny Du: “Have the little maids bring in the morning meal.”
Nanny Du went off to carry out this instruction.
Xu Sizhun, in the midst of swallowing a mouthful of rice, called out “Mother.”
He had just come out of his long unconscious spell and looked somewhat wan and weak.
Shiyiniang smiled and asked: “Are you feeling better?”
Xu Sizhun nodded, a little shyly.
The old dowager had been firm in insisting that Xu Sizhun had seen things wrong. When a lie is repeated a thousand times, even the one telling it may come to believe it — and all the more so given that Xu Sizhun had been in a state of panic at the time. He no longer raised the matter of seeing a ghost, and tacitly accepted that he had simply made an error.
The wet nurse smiled: “Yesterday the Fourth Young Master had half a small bowl of plain congee, and he woke in the middle of the night calling for food, and had a piece of rice cake as well.” She held out the bowl for Shiyiniang to see. “More than half a bowl — only this little bit is left.”
While they were speaking, Nan Yong’s wife came carrying Xu Sijie for the old dowager’s morning greeting.
The two brothers clasped hands, one asking “Have you been attending your lessons properly these past few days?” and the other asking “Has Fourth Elder Brother recovered?” Seeing the brothers’ warmth and brotherly regard, the clouds that had been gathered over the old dowager’s heart finally began to clear.
After the morning meal, Xu Siqin, Xu Sijian, and Zhen Jie’er arrived one after another.
Word had already spread throughout the house that Yi Yiniang had wandered the courtyard in the middle of the night and given Xu Sizhun a terrible fright. Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, meeting Xu Sizhun, could not help but feel a measure of embarrassment. But Xu Sizhun was generous in his manner: “It was my own fault. I am too timid by nature. It had nothing to do with Yi Yiniang.”
At this, Xu Sijian was all right — but the older Xu Siqin felt even more ashamed, and said quickly: “My father has already written to Fourth Uncle, authorizing him to handle the matter as he sees fit. Fourth Uncle has decided to send Yi Yiniang to Shanyang. Nothing like this will ever happen again.”
“All right, all right!” The old dowager did not wish the children to dwell on such things, and she smiled and interjected: “These are all matters of the past now. Say what needs to be said, and let it be. Among brothers, there is no need to keep it in mind.” She also said: “Will you boys be attending lessons today? Daoist Master Changchun has already set up his altar in the outer courtyard for Zhun Ge’er’s blessing ceremony. Would you like to go and have a look?”
Xu Sijian’s eyes lit up at this, but then dimmed again. He deflated and said listlessly: “We still have to go to lessons today.”
The old dowager chuckled: “Then go and have a look at midday!”
Xu Sijian brightened again.
Everyone talked and laughed together for a while, then Nanny Du walked the young masters to Shuangfu Courtyard for their lessons.
Zhen Jie’er offered Xu Sizhun a few parting words — “take good care and rest well” and the like — and then also rose to take her leave.
From beginning to end, she had been quite subdued.
Shiyiniang quietly found this strange.
Zhen Jie’er was not usually like this.
Fifth Madam arrived, holding little Xin Jie’er in her arms.
“Mother, let us go and watch Daoist Master Changchun perform the ceremony!” she invited the old dowager. “We can also ask Daoist Master Changchun to take a look at our Yun Jie’er.”
It was said that Daoist Master Changchun gave readings according to fateful encounters — if you brought a thousand taels of gold to seek one out, he might not grant it; but if you met him in passing without a word said, he might on occasion draw you aside for a lengthy discourse. And so many people liked to bring their children to watch him perform his rituals, hoping to receive a word or two of guidance from him.
The old dowager understood that Fifth Madam was seeking blessings for Xin Jie’er, and smiled: “You and Xin Jie’er go. I will stay here, play a round of cards with Shiyiniang, and have a chat with Zhun Ge’er.”
Xu Lingyi had entrusted this large and small pair to the old dowager’s care — the old dowager was surely afraid to leave for fear of leaving the two of them unattended.
Shiyiniang quickly said: “Mother, do go with Fifth Sister-in-law! I’ll be here.”
Fifth Madam was still a young woman, and the idea of running off to the outer courtyard to watch a Daoist perform rituals made her feel somewhat self-conscious. Hearing this, she tugged at the old dowager’s sleeve and coaxed: “Mother, do come with me, please!”
The old dowager hesitated.
Shiyiniang laughed and urged her toward the door: “If you go, Zhun Ge’er and I can eat and drink to our hearts’ content.”
This made the old dowager chuckle, and she went off with Fifth Madam to the outer courtyard.
Shiyiniang sat at the edge of the couch, doing needlework while chatting idly with Xu Sizhun, without any particular aim. The wet nurse pulled up a small stool and sat at Shiyiniang’s feet, borrowing thread and needle from one of the little maids to make a pair of socks for Xu Sizhun.
As they talked, Xu Sizhun drifted off to sleep.
A little maid came in to report: “Madam, Hupo has been waiting for you outside for quite some time.”
Shiyiniang was mildly startled. She turned and went to the west side room.
Hupo stepped close and whispered: “Yi Yiniang says she has a secret concerning the First Young Madam — and she wishes to tell you.”
“Big Sister?” Shiyiniang was taken aback. “A secret?”
“Yes!” Hupo nodded. “She says this matter has been locked away in her heart for many years, and she fears that if she does not speak now, she will never have the chance again. She asks that you see her, no matter what. The matrons on watch duty did not dare decide on their own, and so they came specially to report to me.”
Shiyiniang’s brow creased slightly.
Yesterday evening, Xu Lingyi had received the Third Master’s letter and had planned to send Yi Yiniang off to Shanyang first thing this morning. But at the very crack of dawn, Daoist Master Changchun had arrived with a retinue of Daoist priests in great procession. The departure had been postponed to the following day.
From Yi Yiniang’s words, it was plain she already knew of Xu Lingyi’s arrangements.
At this moment, under these circumstances, Yi Yiniang was claiming to have a secret about Yuan Niang to tell her… Was it true? Or was it false?
If it was true, why was she choosing this moment to speak? Could it have anything to do with Xu Lingyi’s plans for her?
If it was false, what confidence did she have that she could deceive her into believing it?
Shiyiniang was torn.
Xu Lingyi had already made very clear that Yi Yiniang could not be kept — and this so-called sending Yi Yiniang to Shanyang was nothing more than a cover story. If what Yi Yiniang wished to tell her was true, not going would mean she might lose the chance forever to know.
She thought of how the old dowager had once regarded Yuan Niang upon her first arrival at the household. She thought of Xu Lingyi’s prejudice against herself. She thought of Second Madam’s condescension toward her in the early days… Yuan Niang had left behind many secrets.
If she had been as she once was, she certainly would not have gone.
She had always felt: what was past was past — best let it go.
But ever since the incident with Nanny Tao, she had come to understand deeply that the events of the past were quietly shaping her life in the present.
And if it was false…
Shiyiniang gave a quiet sigh.
It seemed there was no great loss in going, either.
She could not help but admit that Yi Yiniang had phrased this with real skill.
Shiyiniang brought Hupo with her to the room where Yi Yiniang was being confined.
Perhaps because the plan had originally been to send Yi Yiniang away today, she had dressed in a brand-new deep scarlet short jacket, her hair combed neatly, and her body lightly scented with a faint trace of jade-hairpin flower dew. Though she appeared clean and put-together, her skin was sallow, her eyes lifeless, the corners of her mouth twitching constantly — as though she had aged ten years overnight, and she could not conceal the bleakness of her decline.
Seeing Shiyiniang, her eyes lit up, and she immediately rushed toward her.
The barrel-waisted matron who had opened the door twisted her broad frame and planted herself like a door-board in front of Shiyiniang.
Shiyiniang barely had time to register the flash of movement before there was a heavy thud — Yi Yiniang had dropped to her knees on the ground: “Fourth Madam, Fourth Madam — I have been wronged. You must stand up for me, please!”
The matron at the door glanced at Shiyiniang, asking silently what she should do.
Shiyiniang gave a slight nod.
The matron stepped quietly to one side.
Hupo set down a grand armchair for Shiyiniang, dusted the seat with her handkerchief, and gave a meaningful look to the matron who had let them in.
The matron worried that Yi Yiniang might work herself into a frenzy and harm the Fourth Madam, yet seeing that the Fourth Madam had come alone to speak with her, this was clearly a private matter… After a brief moment of hesitation, she smiled and withdrew.
Shiyiniang settled slowly into the armchair, her gaze fixed coldly on Yi Yiniang, and said nothing.
For a moment, the room was utterly still — only Yi Yiniang’s somewhat clumsy and labored breathing could be heard.
Yi Yiniang did not know what to make of her silence. Her gaze began to shift uneasily, and she murmured: “Fourth Madam, I — I have something I wish to tell you.”
Still Shiyiniang said nothing. After a moment, she spoke slowly: “Say whatever you wish to say — but stand up first.”
“Yes!” Yi Yiniang rose to her feet, halting and uncertain.
“You say there is a secret that concerns my elder sister,” Shiyiniang then said, unhurried, “What sort of secret is it?”
“Fourth Madam, to speak plainly — the matter of Qin Yiniang putting a curse on the Fourth Young Master truly had nothing to do with me. I have been wronged.” Yi Yiniang spoke, and her agitation flared up again. Hupo, watching, soundlessly shifted a step closer toward Shiyiniang’s side. “Qin Yiniang harbored malicious intentions from the very beginning — she had long since plotted to harm the Young Master. I was taken in by Qin Yiniang and had no other choice — it was only then that I helped her find the Daoist woman Zhu. Fourth Madam, please, I beg you to speak a word on my behalf to the Marquis, given that I acted out of ignorance and did not understand the gravity of what I was doing. Any punishment will do — only do not send me out of the household.” And saying this, she began to kowtow, forehead striking the floor: “Fourth Madam, I implore you, I implore you!”
People who have committed a wrong almost never believe themselves to be in the wrong.
Shiyiniang sat unmoved, watching until Yi Yiniang’s forehead had been knocked red, then said at a measured pace: “Yi Yiniang, I came because I thought, given that you once served the Third Master, you must be a woman of some sense. When people speak, words — though unlike writing — still require solid evidence. You go on so carelessly. I think,” she paused, “I need not hear any more of this.” With that, she rose and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Yi Yiniang scrambled to her feet in a panic.
“Fourth Madam, Fourth Madam!” She stepped forward and reached out to grab Shiyiniang’s sleeve. “I did not speak carelessly. Back then, everyone said it was your elder sister who caused Tong Yiniang to miscarry and die. In truth — it was Qin Yiniang who did this. She stirred the waters and muddied them, killed Tong Yiniang, and then placed the blame on your elder sister, leaving your elder sister to carry this black mark for all these years…”