Xuezhi noticed Yining suddenly sit up straight, seemingly lost in thought and felt puzzled.
“Young miss, are you thirsty? Songzhi brought a pot of mung bean soup…”
Yining shook her head, her gaze fixed on the lotus buds in the pond. Luo Yiyu was just a young girl, how could she use lotus leaves to brew anything? Suddenly, she said, “Xuezhi, I want a lotus bud too, but don’t pick it for me. The buds those maids just delivered look fine. After they leave Fourth Sister’s courtyard, go ask them for one.”
Xuezhi didn’t understand why Yining wanted this. The pond was full of lotus buds; what difference did it make which one she got? Why insist on one already chosen by others?
Yining couldn’t explain her suspicions to Xuezhi. She merely had a hunch.
Standing up, she brushed off her clothes and said to Luo Yixiu, who was still gathering twigs, “Fifth Sister, I’m tired and want to go back. Let’s leave soon.”
Luo Yixiu, far from finished playing, walked over with several lotus flowers in her arms. She complained, “You’re as weak as a kitten now.” Pinching Yining’s round cheeks, she added, “Have you gained some meat on your face? You tire so easily.”
Yining never saw a connection between these things. Taking Luo Yixiu’s hand, she led her back, saying, “I still have half of the glutinous rice chicken I made at noon. Let’s have the kitchen warm it up for us to eat together.”
Though Luo Yixiu thought Yining stingy, the thought of Old Madam Luo’s kitchen’s delicious glutinous rice chicken made her follow Yining back eagerly. She ate nearly half the chicken and drank two bowls of sweet mung bean soup before leaving.
That evening, Yining received the lotus bud Xuezhi had brought back for her.
Luo Chengzhang, Lin Hairu, and Madam Chen came to pay respects to Old Madam Luo. Hearing that her old ailment had flared up, they expressed concern about her condition outside her rooms. They even suggested inviting the eldest uncle back from the capital. As they discussed matters, Yining returned to her gauze-curtained room.
Xuezhi fanned her to keep her cool, watching with amusement as Yining examined the lotus bud from all angles without explaining why. She asked teasingly, “What are you looking at so intently?”
Yining, still focused on the bud, replied casually, “I’ll embroider this for tomorrow’s needlework lesson. I’m just observing it.”
Songzhi brought in a candlestick for Yining and was surprised to see her start pulling apart the lotus bud. “Young miss, why are you tearing apart such a beautiful bud?” she asked, perplexed.
Yining remained silent, tossing the torn petals into a copper basin at her feet. Finally, she found a small note tucked inside the bud’s core, her heart skipping a beat. Xuezhi wondered aloud, “I didn’t touch it after bringing it back. How did a note end up inside?”
Yining carefully unfolded the note, revealing two lines of poetry: “Exquisite dice conceal red beans within, do you know my longing that cuts to the bone?”
Inwardly, Yining laughed coldly.
She had only suspected before, but now her fourth sister had truly proven herself foolish, mimicking the ladies in operas by exchanging poems with others. Didn’t she fear Madam Chen would beat her to death if this was discovered? If word got out, not just Luo Yiyu but all the unmarried Luo daughters would suffer the consequences. How reckless of her!
Songzhi, noticing Yining’s changed expression, leaned in and whispered, “Young miss, is something wrong?”
Yining handed the note to Songzhi, who quickly grasped the situation. Her face paled. “This… this is unacceptable! Fourth Young Miss is being so careless. Our family is already betrothed to the Liu family! If this gets out, you’ll be implicated too. Seventh Young Miss, we must tell Old Madam. You can’t bear this burden alone.”
Yining thoughtfully held the note. The difficulty lay in Yiyu’s certain resentment if she told Old Madam Luo. Yet, if she kept quiet, Yiyu’s reckless nature might lead to future disasters.
She shook her head and said softly, “Only you two attend me closely. Let’s pretend we never saw this note. Don’t speak of it to anyone else…” She turned to Xuezhi. “Bring the candlestick here.”
Xuezhi, seeing Yining’s composure despite her young age, took a deep breath and brought the candlestick.
The flame flickered as Yining held the paper to it, burning it completely. Songzhi watched nearby as Xuezhi brought an incense burner. Yining placed the ashes inside and closed the lid.
Xuezhi hesitated. “Young miss, are we not going to address this? If it comes to light later…”
The Luo family’s reputation would be tarnished, and Yining herself might not escape implication.
Fearing they might find her unnaturally perceptive for a child, Yining simply said, “Sister Yiyu and I are already at odds. If I tell Grandmother about this, both Yiyu and First Aunt will surely resent me.”
Though still worried, Xuezhi said nothing more, as the evidence was now destroyed.
Just then, a young maid entered to announce that Old Madam Luo was calling for Yining. Xuezhi helped Yining put on her shoes and led her to the west side room. Madam Chen had left, but Lin Hairu and Luo Chengzhang were still with Old Madam Luo. Seeing Yining enter, Luo Chengzhang smiled and beckoned her over. “Meimei, I’ve brought you something. Come see if you like it.”
Since the aquamarine incident, Luo Chengzhang had felt deeply guilty and often sent her small gifts, which Yining refused. She pitied the original young Yining who had endured such mistreatment. If even she, with all her knowledge, struggled to navigate these situations, how much harder must it have been for a true seven-year-old? This only worsened her impression of her adoptive father.
Xuezhi led her over, and Yining saw that Luo Chengzhang had brought a small basket containing a tiny puppy. It was palm-sized with curly white fur and a tail no longer than Yining’s little finger. The puppy lay in the basket, looking bewildered and utterly adorable.
“I had someone buy this for me. I hear many people in the capital like to keep them as pets. Would you like to raise it?” Luo Chengzhang coaxed.
Yining’s face remained expressionless as she replied, “I already have a turtle to care for. I can’t manage another pet.”
Old Madam Luo chuckled and drew Yining to her side, embracing her. “If the child doesn’t want it, that’s fine. Don’t force her.”
Luo Chengzhang’s smile faded as he instructed a servant to take the puppy away.
Yining knew Luo Chengzhang felt guilty, but did he think a few simple gifts would suffice? It wasn’t that easy. Leaning into Old Madam Luo’s embrace, Yining noticed Lin Hairu’s smile in the candlelight and softly said, “Father, I’d like a little brother.”
Always accommodating towards his daughter lately, Luo Chengzhang replied, “But Xuan’er is your little brother.”
“Xuan’er isn’t my brother. He’s Sixth Sister’s brother,” Yining said, knowing her childish words wouldn’t be held against her. She pursed her lips and clenched her little hands, adding, “If I had a brother, he surely wouldn’t falsely accuse me as Xuan’er did…”
Luo Chengzhang coughed, understanding Yining’s implication.
He looked up to see Old Madam Luo and Lin Hairu silent, then said hesitantly, “Yining, about this brother…”
“Father, why don’t you and Mother have a baby brother for me?” Yining suddenly smiled. “Then I’d have someone to play with.”
Lin Hairu finally grasped Yining’s meaning. Despite her usual composure, she couldn’t help but blush.
“Yining is right,” Old Madam Luo agreed. “The second branch lacks a legitimate son. It’s time to give Yining a brother.”
Lin Hairu blushed even more, mumbling, “We can discuss this later.” Soon after, she excused herself to leave.
After the couple departed, Old Madam Luo patted her granddaughter’s head, smiling. “You clever little imp. If your mother gives you a brother someday, you must take good care of him.”
Yining agreed with a sweet smile.
Mama Xu helped Old Madam Luo to her inner chamber to rest.
Yining felt a moment of anxiety, wondering if there would be any lingering smell from the burned note. Entering the inner chamber, she sighed in relief. Xuezhi had lit an incense burner with lily fragrance, filling the room and masking any other scents.
She exchanged a glance with Xuezhi, whose smile revealed nothing unusual.
Yining began to wonder about her eldest sister, Luo Yihui, who had married into a family in the capital. To have trained such an exceptional maid, this eldest sister Luo Yihui must be quite remarkable herself.