Wu Baozhang had never been one to sit idle and await her fate.
After thinking it over carefully, she decided on a two-pronged approach.
The first step was to write a letter to Madam Zheng, the eldest daughter-in-law of the second branch who had always been on good terms with her and had even acted as her matchmaker. She would tell her what had happened and ask her to help come up with a solution. Her father-in-law and father didn’t understand her—they felt that after being married for four or five years without bearing a child, she should have “virtuously” arranged for a concubine for her husband long ago. But the Cheng family had ancestral rules: only men over forty without sons could take concubines. Even though the first branch had separated from Jiuru Alley, these ancestral rules still applied equally. Although she had her faults, her case wasn’t unreasonable. Since Madam Zheng was also a Cheng family daughter-in-law, as long as she insisted that she hadn’t failed to seek medical treatment but that it was simply heaven’s will, Madam Zheng would surely sympathize with her and take her side. She only needed a buffer period—even if she had to hold her nose and do it, she would find a way to share a bed with Cheng Nuo and bear an heir. When that time came, Cheng Nuo wouldn’t be able to escape her grasp, and that harlot would regret not entering the Cheng family’s door today.
The second step was to bring Cheng Nuo under her control. When all was said and done, she had underestimated the situation before, not thinking to bear a son first before turning against Cheng Nuo. Now that she had reported Cheng Nuo’s matter of keeping a mistress to the first branch, given the first branch’s temperament, they would never allow Cheng Nuo to take a concubine. That woman couldn’t enter the Cheng family’s door and could only remain a mistress, just like her father-in-law’s mistress—even after bearing four sons and three daughters, she was still a mistress who couldn’t enter the door. Even if by some chance the first branch allowed that woman to enter, one would be the wife and one the concubine. That woman would fall right into her hands, and she could do whatever she wanted… This actually coincided perfectly with her original plan.
However, when she had previously proposed letting that woman enter the door, Cheng Nuo hadn’t agreed. Was he afraid that once she had official status, it would be disadvantageous for that woman? She didn’t know if this was Cheng Nuo’s idea or that woman’s.
Thinking of this, Wu Baozhang clenched her handkerchief.
She felt this must be Miss Kang the Sixth’s idea.
Based on her understanding of Cheng Nuo, he wasn’t that clever.
Only that merchant family’s daughter would calculate so clearly.
It seemed that woman was no pushover either.
Just thinking about it fired up Wu Baozhang’s fighting spirit.
She refused to believe that she couldn’t handle a merchant family’s daughter.
Wu Baozhang called her personal maid in: “Bring water to help me wash and groom.”
She was preparing to go to the teahouse to find Cheng Nuo.
The maid responded and left.
She deliberately changed into a pomegranate-red embroidered jacket covered with gold patterns, lightly applied a layer of powder, put on lip rouge, and looked in the mirror, feeling she looked quite radiant. Only then did she get into her sedan chair.
Who knew that Cheng Nuo wasn’t at the tea shop at all.
She frowned and had someone go look for him at Miss Kang the Sixth’s place.
The servant woman who returned was soaked with water, looking embarrassed. She said in a low voice: “Miss Kang the Sixth said the master isn’t at her place… and also said that whether the First Young Madam can control the master has nothing to do with her… She splashed water all over this old servant…”
Wu Baozhang’s face flushed red with anger.
Not only because of Miss Kang the Sixth’s shrewishness, but also because that servant woman spoke without restraint, saying such humiliating words as “whether the First Young Madam can control the master has nothing to do with her” in front of so many people.
She waved her hand, dismissing the servant woman.
But the servant woman complained grievously: “First Young Madam, that Miss Kang the Sixth is so shameless. Why do you speak to her of propriety and righteousness? Even if you speak to her, she probably can’t even read. She likely can’t understand either. I think it would be better to call up several female sedan chair bearers, storm into Miss Kang the Sixth’s home and beat her up, make her lose face, make the Kang family lose face. See if the Kang family will keep her then. When she has no one to rely on, won’t she obediently enter the Cheng family’s door? Then you can shape her however you want…”
Wu Baozhang’s heart jumped.
What this servant woman said coincided with her own thoughts.
Did everyone know what she was thinking?
Her expression immediately became somewhat unpleasant.
The servant woman, seeing this, rose to take her leave.
But Wu Baozhang had a sudden thought.
When they came to the capital, they had originally planned to attend Cheng Chi’s wedding, tour around, and then return. They never expected to stay in the capital to do business. Apart from two or three personal servant women and young servants, they hadn’t brought many people. Later, when Cheng Wen decided to stay in the capital and called over two trusted people to help, he still hadn’t brought many people to the capital. The household servants were all newly hired or newly purchased. This servant woman was one of them.
Wu Baozhang had never thought much of these people and didn’t know them well.
Seeing this servant woman act this way today, she couldn’t help but have an idea. She called the servant woman back, had a maid pour her tea, and brought over a small stool for her to sit on.
The servant woman was filled with trepidation.
Wu Baozhang didn’t say much to the servant woman, simply saying: “I see you’re someone with ideas. For my situation, how do you think I should handle it?”
The servant woman hesitated timidly, not quite daring to speak.
Wu Baozhang rewarded the servant woman with two silver ingots.
The servant woman’s eyes lit up. No longer caring about anything else, she said: “I used to be a wet nurse in a wealthy family, but later I was implicated and driven out. I’ve been doing odd jobs to support myself. If First Young Madam trusts me, according to my thinking, your family are officials and their family are commoners. Why not plant something in that Miss Kang’s home, then report it to the authorities and have the officials search for it? Whether they find it or not, Miss Kang the Sixth’s reputation will be finished… If she begs the master, you’ve already cleared things with the elders, so take this opportunity to bring Miss Kang the Sixth back home. If she doesn’t beg the master, take the opportunity to have a word with the authorities and throw her in jail. If the master wants to save her, the elders surely won’t want to offend you to plead for Miss Kang. When the time comes, won’t the master have to beg you? Then won’t you be able to say and do whatever you want?”
This was a good plan!
Wu Baozhang pondered secretly, but also knew this servant woman had a vicious heart and cruel hands. Keeping her would be a source of trouble—she needed to find a way to send this servant woman away.
She rewarded the servant woman with two more pieces of silver to keep her steady, saying: “I haven’t made up my mind about this yet. Nanny has worked hard. Let me think about it more.”
The servant woman laughed and said: “Women are like men—once they enter the bridal chamber, they throw the matchmaker over the wall.”
Wu Baozhang assumed a shy expression and said nothing.
The servant woman, having probably seen much of this before, also said nothing and was led out by a maid.
Wu Baozhang then had the kitchen prepare a feast and waited at home for Cheng Nuo.
Cheng Nuo didn’t return until lamplight time, looking somewhat weary.
Seeing Wu Baozhang sitting in the main hall waiting for him, he couldn’t help but freeze.
Wu Baozhang smiled and walked over, calling for a young maid to bring water and personally helping Cheng Nuo change clothes.
Cheng Nuo was greatly startled and clutched his lapels, saying: “If you have something to say, just say it directly. I’ll do it myself!”
What an uncultured thing!
Wu Baozhang inwardly sneered coldly and said: “Didn’t I used to help you change clothes before? Why are you suddenly uncomfortable with it now?”
Even when they were newlyweds, she had only perfunctorily helped him change a few times as if to get it over with… Who couldn’t see her dismissive attitude?
After complaining quietly in his heart, Cheng Nuo smiled and said: “I’ve gotten used to doing everything myself. Let me do it myself?”
He insisted on changing his own clothes.
Wu Baozhang became even more annoyed.
What was he afraid of?
They were husband and wife.
Even if they engaged in daytime intimacy, as long as Cheng Wen didn’t interfere, who would dare say anything?
Cheng Nuo clearly didn’t think this way. He quickly ran into the washroom side chamber and with a “click” bolted the door. At night when sleeping, he used business as an excuse to sleep at the shop.
Wu Baozhang had people watch Cheng Nuo.
Sometimes Cheng Nuo slept at the shop, but sometimes his whereabouts were unknown.
She had no choice but to run to the first branch again to cry and complain.
Madam Yuan comforted her: “We’ve already had your eldest uncle speak to him. Your eldest uncle said he happens to have some matters these days. He’ll invite your father-in-law over on this rest day.”
Wu Baozhang returned disappointed.
She discovered that most of Cheng Nuo’s clothes and belongings were gone.
She angrily summoned the household steward to question him.
The steward said with difficulty: “The master said a few days ago that he had already arranged with the merchant caravan from the west to go with the horse caravan. He won’t be back for two or three months.”
By the time he returned, it would be too late.
Madam Yuan clearly didn’t want to get involved.
Wu Baozhang gritted her teeth and returned to her room, summoning that servant woman to talk. From her dowry, she took out two pure gold phoenix hairpins, a pair of solid pure gold “touch of oil” bracelets, and a “happiness upon the branches” Hetian jade pendant and handed them to the servant woman: “I’ll need Nanny to step forward in this matter. After it’s done, there will be another generous reward.”
The servant woman happily agreed. Using some unknown method, she stuffed all those jewelry pieces into Miss Kang the Sixth’s trousseau. Then she reported it to the authorities, instigated people to retrieve the items, brought officials to compare them with Wu Baozhang’s dowry list, and had Miss Kang arrested.
This really stirred up a hornet’s nest.
Cheng Nuo immediately stepped forward to dismiss the case, then came back and beat Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang’s two personal maids loyally protected their mistress, grabbing Cheng Nuo around the waist. Only then did Wu Baozhang escape. She decided to go all in—sporting a black and blue mark on her face, she went straight to Xinglin Alley.
Cheng Wen had just returned from a trip to Tongzhou, having completed a medium-sized business deal. He was in good spirits when Cheng Jing summoned him.
The two cousins were drinking wine and chatting when the tea shop steward was led in by a Cheng family servant, panting and saying: “First Master, Fifth Master, this is bad! The eldest young master and the eldest young madam got into a fight. That Miss Kang the Sixth from the Kang family was thrown in jail and then rescued by our eldest young master.”
Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen were both stunned. They let the steward catch his breath and speak slowly before understanding what had happened.
But before they could react, a young maid quickly entered and reported: “First Young Madam Nuo has arrived. The mistress asks Master to return to the inner courtyard to speak.”
This made Cheng Wen somewhat annoyed.
When husband and wife fought, they fought; when jealousy arose, it arose. But to bring this disturbance to the eldest uncle’s household in the first branch, where he served as a cabinet minister—what was the meaning of this?
He set down his wine cup and stood up as well, saying: “She’s not an outsider. I’ll go take a look too.”
Cheng Jing had originally called Cheng Wen over merely to warn him not to act recklessly. As for how to handle this matter, he hadn’t prepared to get involved. Since Cheng Wen wanted to go take a look, he could handle this matter. After all, he was only a cousin-uncle. With Cheng Nuo’s parents both present, how could it be his turn to interfere? This was also a good opportunity to make things clear to Cheng Wen, lest every trivial matter be stirred up like this. The capital was different from elsewhere—everyone had sharp eyes and ears. If other Jiangnan families learned of this, they would become a laughingstock.
The two of them went to the inner residence together.