That evening, Sheng Hong rested in Wang Shi’s room. While a maidservant helped him remove his outer garments and cloak, he listened to Wang Shi’s flowing account of Lady Qin of the Gu Household’s visit that day.
“…That lady is both warm and refined, with not a trace of arrogance. Everything she said was reasonable and fitting. Compared to the in-law at the Liang Household, it is truly a world of difference — ah… I must say, it is the sixth daughter who has the real fortune!” Wang Shi personally took from Caipei’s hands a rain-washed cerulean Ru-ware teacup. “Here — this is the tea tips the lady sent today. Old Master, do try some.”
Sheng Hong had changed into everyday clothes and settled onto the kang: “Grandmother is also fond of this. Mind you don’t intercept the whole lot of it.” He couldn’t be blamed for speaking frankly — Madam Wang did have an unflattering history in this regard.
Wang Shi felt a flicker of unease inwardly, then gave a soft, indignant look: “Old Master — what are you saying? Am I still the thoughtless young woman of earlier years? Half of it has already been left in the Shouan Hall; only the remainder went to Old Master and the children.”
Sheng Hong gave a brief nod, accepted the teacup Wang Shi passed him, and took a sip. A pleased expression came over his face, and he said admiringly: “Fine tea. Even what gets presented as tribute likely isn’t this good.”
“Ah — the sixth daughter need not be worried about anymore, but my poor Rulan will have to deal with a formidable mother-in-law.” Wang Shi sat on the other side of the kang table, fiddling with the gold-and-jade ring on her finger, her face full of worry. She sighed over Rulan while praising Lady Qin’s virtuous and gentle manner.
The more she dwelt on Lady Qin’s virtues, the more she privately disdained Sheng Lao as vulgar and sharp-tongued. And the more she disdained Sheng Lao, the more she felt Lady Qin was truly a good person. Her thoughts swirled in confusion, and she spoke on without being able to stop herself, while beside her Sheng Hong did nothing but drink his tea steadily, without uttering a single word.
“Old Master, do say something!” Wang Shi had been performing a solo act for quite some time and, seeing her husband paying her absolutely no attention, could not help calling out: “You feel no concern for Rulan at all — as if our daughter belongs to me alone!”
Sheng Hong set down his teacup with unhurried deliberateness and turned to face Wang Shi. Wang Shi also turned slightly toward him, composing herself to listen earnestly. Then Sheng Hong said: “In the future, you must be very careful and reserved in your dealings with this lady. Leave yourself seven parts of leeway in all things — no, seven parts is enough — do not say everything you are thinking, and be on your guard. Otherwise you will regret it later.”
Wang Shi was greatly puzzled, and stared: “Why on earth? I thought she was very good. You haven’t even met her, Old Master — how can you say such things? What is there to regret?”
Sheng Hong stroked the short beard at his chin and shook his head: “No need to meet her to know. If you found her good, then she must be a formidable one.”
Wang Shi’s head was a complete muddle. She dimly felt her husband was mocking her, and said loudly: “What are you saying, Old Master?!”
Sheng Hong appeared to be in fine spirits and chuckled: “When we were in Quanzhou, you and the magistrate’s wife were practically sworn sisters — and then, for some unknown reason, you fell out, and you cursed her for a full two hours straight at home. In Dengzhou, you and Pingning Junzhu were so close you were practically taking blood oaths of sisterhood — and now? If the temple abbot at Guangji Temple had not talked you down, you would have been making a straw effigy to curse her! And there is also your sister-in-law of the Kang Family — when you and she had your long-awaited reunion you couldn’t stop singing her praises to me, and begged me to help her. And now? You came that close to skinning her alive… ha-ha! Your husband has figured it out. Whoever you find good, sooner or later you will fall out with them — better to prepare for it early!”
Having delivered this speech, Sheng Hong laughed so hard his shoulders shook, his beard quivering in all directions. Wang Shi went crimson with outrage, her mouth opening and closing like a carp out of water — but she could find nothing to say in rebuttal. In the end she could only say indignantly: “Old Master is in such a fine mood — finding leisure to tease your concubine like this!”
These days Sheng Hong was in a state of great personal satisfaction: every evening brought invitations from one colleague, one former classmate, or one superior, and the goodwill and social approaches from all sides were evident. Sheng Hong could not have been more pleased. The more pleased he was, the more irritated Wang Shi became at his laughter, and all she could do was sit with a stiff face, chest rising and falling, nursing her private indignation.
After laughing for a while, Sheng Hong straightened up and turned to Wang Shi: “How are preparations coming along for the two daughters’ weddings?”
Wang Shi said sulkily: “Rulan’s engagement has already been formally presented. After the spring examinations’ results are announced in the new year, the wedding date will be fixed for the end of the second month, regardless of whether the son-in-law passes or not. Since Minglan is the younger sister, it would not be proper for her to go ahead of Rulan — we are thinking of setting hers for around the beginning of the month.”
Sheng Hong gave a small nod, then suddenly thought of something and said to his wife: “Since we will be celebrating a wedding so soon after the new year, let us keep the New Year celebrations rather simple and quiet. First — no need to make a conspicuous display, drawing unwanted attention. Second…” He paused, then said to Wang Shi with a grave expression: “When the new year opens, hand over household management to your daughter-in-law, and then make a trip to Fengtian.”
Wang Shi was surprised: “What is there to do in Fengtian?”
Sheng Hong was quiet for a moment, then sighed lightly: “Go to Fengtian and personally apologize to your mother. While you are there, inform her of the two daughters’ marriages.”
Wang Shi thought of her own mother, and felt a pang of guilt. She said in a low voice: “I only worry Mother is still angry with me. I’ve apologized so many times already — they say there is no grudge between a mother and daughter that lasts overnight, but Mother is unyielding.”
Sheng Hong’s expression became solemn, and he urged Wang Shi earnestly: “What happened last time was genuinely our fault. No wonder your mother was angry. All these years, your mother and your elder brother have given us their support. Yet you treated your own family with such carelessness. Your nephew is, after all, the eldest legitimate grandson of the Wang Family — how could they not be aggrieved?! Now the Wang and Kang Families have concluded a marriage alliance of their own. The matter is past — we cannot remain estranged indefinitely. When you go this time, offer your sincere apologies. If your mother is at leisure and in good health, invite her to come and stay with us for a while. It would liven the house up.”
Sheng Hong held this mother-in-law in considerable respect. When he had gone to the Wang Family to seek a match, Wang’s father had initially been opposed — he felt Sheng Hong was of concubine-born status and had no powerful family connections to rely upon. It was Wang’s grandmother who had taken one look at him and declared that Sheng Hong had a solid, upright character and would make something of himself — and so had given her second granddaughter to him in marriage. For this, Sheng Hong had felt grateful to the old lady ever since.
Wang Shi’s eyes grew red. Thinking of decades of a devoted mother’s love, and of her mother coming and going to help during the crisis of Lin Yiniang after the wedding, sending people and issuing stern warnings — her tears slowly fell: “It is all my unfilial failing — Mother has been so devoted to me, and yet I let her down before her sister-in-law!” She wiped her tears quickly, then managed a smile: “I will do as Old Master says. This time I will go and kowtow in apology myself — if need be, let Mother give me a thorough scolding!”
Sheng Hong saw this and also smiled with a sigh: “That is more like it. Ah… it is easy to add flowers to a bouquet, but hard to send coal in the snow. These days, watching all those people who have come to curry favor, I often find myself thinking of the early kindness of your family. Now that things are looking up for our household, we cannot forget where we came from.”
Wang Shi was moved. The look she gave her husband was full of warmth, and her voice carried a faint tremor of emotion: “Mother was not wrong about you. You are a person who remembers kindness.”
Having said the good things, it was time for the difficult ones. Sheng Hong was a seasoned operator in the world of officialdom and had a thorough grasp of conversational strategy. He picked up his teacup and took another sip, and asked: “For the two daughters’ weddings — how much of a dowry are you planning to prepare for each?”
At this subject, Wang Shi’s face stiffened. She lifted the warming cover from the kang table, picked up the teapot and refilled Sheng Hong’s cup with movements that were slow and dawdling: “Was this not already decided long ago? We will do it as it has always been done — the same as before.” Seeing that Sheng Hong was still watching her steadily, Wang Shi understood she could not be vague, and said with considerable reluctance: “Though, to speak plainly — naturally Rulan’s should be thicker. First, Rulan’s standing demands it; second…” Wang Shi bit her lip. “Rulan is marrying beneath her — naturally she should have more to make herself secure.”
“Foolish woman!” Sheng Hong said, without a moment’s hesitation. He slapped his palm on the kang table; the freshly filled teacup sloshed and spilled.
Wang Shi, not conceding, immediately fired back: “Minglan is already getting such a fine husband — what more could she possibly want?!”
Sheng Hong raised his voice, his words laced with sarcasm: “That fine husband — did you find him for Minglan? Or did Rulan give him up for her younger sister?” Wang Shi was instantly silenced.
Sheng Hong fixed Wang Shi with a glare of several seconds, then flicked his sleeve, only to discover it had been soaked half through with tea. He wrung out his sleeve, composed his expression, and said in a stern voice: “This match was something Grandmother was unwilling to accept from the start. You failed to raise your daughter properly; Rulan committed such a shameless act, and in the end, when there was no way out of the mess, it was Minglan who was made to take the fall. And you have the nerve to talk?!”
Every time this matter came up, Sheng Hong could not stop himself from taking pointed shots at Wang Shi. For a man who prided himself on moral standards and classical principles, having a legitimate daughter secretly meet an unrelated man was as good as a slap across his own face. And every time this happened, Wang Shi could only listen meekly — after all, raising daughters was a mother’s responsibility, no matter how one looked at it.
Just thinking about the incident involving Rulan and young Yan Jing made Sheng Hong feel as though he had swallowed a fly. After venting at Wang Shi for another round and releasing some of the pent-up frustration, he returned to the main point: “Let me make this completely plain to you! This time, in all things — whether publicly or privately — and including the residence you already arranged for Rulan, you must prepare both daughters’ dowries to be equally substantial!”
Wang Shi’s lips moved several times. She said nothing, but her expression was one of suppressed resentment.
Sheng Hong stood up and looked at Wang Shi’s unwilling, disgruntled face. He said in a low, deliberate tone: “Since the day you married into the Sheng Family, have I ever made any claim on a single coin of your dowry? Even if you wanted to keep it all for the children you bore yourself, I would not have said a word. But think honestly — has your elder sister been so fortunate? Where, over all these years, has her dowry gone?! To say nothing of all that the Kang husband has spent at will — there is also that houseful of concubine-born daughters; every single engagement and wedding has been financed by your sister’s dowry. Has your Kang sister-in-law gone around weeping and crying about it to everyone?!”
Compared to Kang Yima, Wang Shi’s situation was undeniably better. She had nothing to say.
Sheng Hong saw her expression waver slightly, and pressed on with steady intent: “As for Molan and Changdong, I will say nothing. But Minglan has been registered under your name! Therefore — whatever you prepare for Rulan, Minglan must receive the same. If you wish to blame someone, blame yourself for raising a daughter without discipline and producing a troublemaker who nearly dragged the entire family into disgrace. Even if you were to bring this before your mother, do you think she would take your side?! When you and your sister were married off, our family was far less illustrious than the Kang Family — and yet did your mother apportion your dowries unequally between you two sisters?”
Wang Shi had grievances she could not articulate. She collapsed limply onto the kang, twisting her handkerchief between her fingers until it was unrecognizable.
Sheng Hong watched Wang Shi’s expression with a cold eye, then slowly added one more thing: “Furthermore — whatever Grandmother sees fit to supplement toward Minglan’s trousseau, you are not to ask a single question about it!”
Wang Shi’s heart seized. She snapped her head up to look at her husband, her expression aggrieved and agitated: “And why should that be? Old Master’s instruction I dare not disobey — very well, both daughters’ dowries will be equal. But they are both Grandmother’s granddaughters! Surely there is no question of favoritism between them?!”
Sheng Hong said coldly: “Grandmother has never made an explicit public announcement, but at the time of Hualan’s marriage, the amount she supplemented was far more than one thousand five hundred taels. Do not assume I am unaware of that.”
Wang Shi immediately countered: “But Hualan was raised by Grandmother herself—!” She caught herself mid-sentence with a start and fell silent. When it came to that — Minglan had even more thoroughly been raised by Grandmother.
Sheng Hong fixed his gaze on Wang Shi, unable to conceal the disappointment in his eyes. He said slowly: “Grandmother raised me as well. For the sake of my career she has already sacrificed a great deal. Whatever she has left of her private savings, she may give to whomever she pleases — and no one had best covet a single bit of it.”
Wang Shi seethed inwardly — after all, whoever Sheng Lao gave it to, it would all be going to Sheng Hong’s own flesh and blood. Of course he wasn’t concerned.
Sheng Hong kept his eyes on Wang Shi, let out a breath, and continued: “Grandmother is a person of deep feeling. She raised both Hualan and Minglan, and naturally wishes to give them more. Now we have gone against her wishes and used Minglan to carry the burden. If Grandmother wants to give Minglan more, you are not to make a sound of complaint. And if you do otherwise…” He brought his palm down hard on the kang table, making Wang Shi flinch. His voice sharpened: “In all the years you have been married into the Sheng Family, there have been many instances of insufficient respect and proper conduct toward your mother-in-law, and many failures of virtue and propriety in your treatment of the concubine-born members of the household. I have tolerated all of this out of regard for your mother and elder brother. And do you honestly believe you bore no fault whatsoever in the death of Wei Shi?!”
Wang Shi reeled as though struck by lightning. She shook violently, her face draining to the pallor of a corpse. Since she had embraced Buddhism, hearing the monks expound on scripture over time had made her a true believer in the cycle of karma and retribution. Lin Yiniang had already received her punishment — confined to her bleak days on the farm estate. Molan’s life in the Liang Household was not going well either. Perhaps, then, the dues owed for her own transgressions had yet to fall somewhere.
Her face ashen, she said in a low voice: “I will do everything as Old Master wishes.”
Wang Shi, for all her pettiness and lack of magnanimity, was at least decisive when she made up her mind. Once she had agreed, she had agreed.
The very next day, she went to brief her daughter-in-law on household affairs: “…As soon as the new year opens, I will be going away. These next few days I will be occupied sorting out the two younger sisters’ dowries — keep a watchful eye on the house. When preparing the New Year gifts, if there is anything unclear, come ask me. Once I leave, ask Grandmother. You are carrying a child now — if you feel unwell or don’t feel like moving about, send for one of the two Lan sisters to help.”
Hai Shi had already been managing most of the household for some time and was thoroughly at ease with it — naturally she had no objection. But noticing Wang Shi’s reddened eyes, she felt privately puzzled. Over the next few days, when Hai Shi heard that Wang Shi was opening the storerooms and bringing out long-stored fine silks, brocades, and quality timber — and dividing them evenly into two equal portions — she understood at once what it was all about.
Hai Shi had always been perceptive. She immediately said to Wang Shi: “With two younger sisters-in-law being married off, I as their elder sister-in-law cannot very well come empty-handed. I will add something toward their trousseau later — just a small token of goodwill from me and their elder brother.”
Wang Shi immediately waved her off. Her arithmetic was quite good, and this calculation was one she understood perfectly. If Hai Shi’s own dowry were left untouched, it would all go to her own grandchildren in the end. But if she gave a portion to Rulan, then a portion could equally not be withheld from Minglan. Every day now, as Wang Shi inventoried and counted her possessions and trousseau goods, she felt each item like a knife cutting into her heart. How could she bear to bleed further?!
“The Hanlin Academy is a modest post, and the child is still small — there will be many uses for your money in the future. Don’t worry about it. Your younger sisters’ trousseau is something I will take care of. It’s not as if we cannot manage it — and besides, it is not our Sheng Family’s custom to covet a daughter-in-law’s dowry!” Wang Shi gripped Hai Shi’s hand and dismissed the idea in one breath.
Despite these words, Hai Shi understood perfectly well. After discussing it with Changbai, she privately went ahead and prepared a generous collection of fine jewelry and decorative pieces as an addition to the two younger sisters’ bridal gifts.
As for the dowry — it is an eternal topic, always involving mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and sisters-in-law. Compared to the warmth and harmony of the Sheng Household, the Yuan Household made for quite an unpleasant spectacle.
In the main reception hall of the Zhongqin Earl’s Household, all the doors and windows were tightly shut. On the floor lay the fine shards of a broken porcelain piece; tea had spilled across the ground; the room was permeated with a faint fragrance of the spilled tea and the drifting sandalwood scent from an overturned incense burner, together creating an indescribable smell.
Yuan’s father stood with an iron-gray face, finger pointed and shaking uncontrollably at Yuan’s mother, who stood below: “You — you — you! What possessed you to think of such a thing?! You actually wanted to take our daughter-in-law’s dowry to supplement the expenses for Ying’er! Have you lost your mind entirely?!”
Yuan’s mother glanced at Yuan Shao standing to one side, and having no face to spare, said stubbornly: “Once she married into our family she belongs to us! What is this talk of dowry or no dowry — everything has the Yuan name on it! When the mother-in-law says she wants it, the daughter-in-law ought to hand it over nicely and obediently! And she had the nerve to go and tell tales to her husband?! What kind of upbringing is that?!”
Crack! The Earl of Yuan brought his palm down hard on the square-headed case, making everyone’s heart jump. His beard trembling, he bellowed: “Hold your tongue! You dare talk about the daughter-in-law — over these decades, never mind your own dowry, how much of the Yuan family’s silver have you taken and given away to your maternal family and to the Zhang household?! How do you have the face to mention anything belonging to the Yuan family?!”
Yuan’s mother was stopped cold. Seeing her husband’s furious expression, knowing he had aired their family’s dirty laundry in front of their son and was clearly genuinely enraged, she could only pull out a handkerchief and hold it to her face in a show of weeping: “Everything I do is for Ying’er’s sake! The Shoushan Earl’s Household has so many branches and so many brothers — if Ying’er does not go in with a generous dowry, she’ll be looked down on by all the sisters-in-law! Old Master, don’t just defend your daughter-in-law — think of your own daughter too! We only have this one daughter!”
Yuan’s mother had only been pretending to cry at first, but thinking of her daughter, she began to weep in earnest. The more she said, the more genuinely sorrowful she became, until she burst out bitterly: “That vicious creature — I’ll go tear her mouth apart right now! Egging my son on to defy his mother! A daughter-in-law who won’t listen to her mother-in-law — does she want to start a rebellion?!” She turned and went straight for Yuan Shao, raising her fists to beat at him, crying and scolding as she struck: “…My fate is so bitter — I raised you up with my own hands, and the moment you had a wife you forgot your mother! I only asked for a bit of dowry for your sister, and you went off and told your father! You wretched creature — I should have just beaten you to death while I had the chance!”
Yuan Shao did not dare push his mother aside, and could only dodge. He took a few blows without direction or cause. The Earl of Yuan, rage consuming him — he was no mild-mannered man of letters like Sheng Hong — strode forward in two great steps, reached out, and hauled his wife away from their son. Then he raised his hand.
Crack!
Yuan’s mother received a hard blow to her face. She stared at her husband in disbelief, her hand flying to her cheek: “You — you — you actually hit me in front of our son… I want to die!”
Crying and screaming, she lunged forward. The Earl of Yuan pulled her hard, sending her crashing to the floor, and said coldly: “Do you still remember what Old Madam said before she passed?”
Yuan Shao did not understand the reference — but Yuan’s mother abruptly fell silent, a look of shocked fear crossing her face.
The Earl of Yuan’s expression was cold and impassive. He said slowly: “Mother spoke those words in the presence of Elder Sister, you, and me. She said you were foolish and greedy, that you would sacrifice great things for petty gain, and that you were unfit to be the principal mistress of this household — but that you could not be dismissed because of the children you had already borne. Before Mother passed, she had me write out a writ of divorce, and she herself wrote an addendum stating that the restoration of our noble title had not been easy and was something of a miracle of Heaven; no further transgressions could be permitted; and that if you proved beyond reforming and brought disgrace upon the family, there would be no need to observe the three years of mourning for the two elders — you could be dismissed forthwith. That writ of divorce is still locked away on the altar table of our ancestral hall!”
Yuan Shao was struck with astonishment — he had never heard of this. Yuan’s mother stopped crying entirely. She shook like a sieve. The Earl of Yuan’s eyes held a flash of contempt. He snapped: “Look at yourself — do you have what it takes to be the principal mistress of the Yuan Household?! Since my two daughters-in-law married in, I have been swallowing my anger out of deference to your position as their mother-in-law. But you have only taken this for weakness and pushed further and further!”
Yuan’s mother was white as a sheet with terror. Yuan Shao slowly helped his mother up and guided her to sit in a square-backed chair nearby. In truth, he understood well enough that the writ of divorce was primarily meant as a threat — if it were actually enacted, the Zhongqin Earl’s Household would not look well either.
The room fell into silence. Only Yuan’s mother’s fine, intermittent sobbing could be heard, along with the Earl of Yuan’s heavy, angry breathing. Then the hall doors burst open with a bang, and Yuan Ying rushed in, her face streaming with tears. She took one look at the chaos of the room — her father shaking all over with rage, her mother clutching her cheek in a daze — and immediately broke into fresh weeping. She dropped to her knees with a thud and kowtowed to her father and mother in turn. Yuan Shao saw that something was wrong, and with a quick step to the doorway, shut the doors.
Yuan Ying’s beautiful face was streaked with tears. She choked out: “Elder Sister-in-Law has already told me everything — this is all my unfilial fault, for making Father and Mother argue because of me!”
The Earl of Yuan deeply cherished his daughter and, seeing her so distressed, could only sit down in silence and give a cold snort: “She passes messages quickly enough! Everything else she is useless at, but she has quite the mouth on her, always talking about others behind their backs!”
Yuan’s mother, hearing that her husband was displeased with her niece, immediately rushed to embrace her daughter, weeping: “My poor Ying’er — your father and elder brother are so cruel-hearted!”
A look of displeasure appeared on Yuan Shao’s face, and he could not help saying: “Mother! Other things I might overlook — but you asked for Hualan’s income-producing estate. That estate in the western suburbs of the capital spans over a dozen acres of good farmland. And on top of that, the Sheng Family is nearby — if anything were to happen to that property, does anyone think they would not find out?! You — how can I ever hold my head up in front of my in-laws after this?! How can Hualan ever go back to her family?!”
This set the Earl of Yuan off again. He pointed at his wife and raged: “Exactly so! All these years — do you think I am unaware of how much of the second daughter-in-law’s private wealth you have been quietly chipping away at, openly and covertly?! The in-law family is generous and good-natured, and so they have never raised a fuss with us about it! Not to mention that a dowry is by rights the wife’s own property — even if the family were in desperate need of cash, it would not be appropriate to press in this way! And you — you might as well have been stealing from her outright! Have you no shame?!”
The Earl of Yuan, the angrier he became, suddenly recalled something, and bellowed: “Just two days ago, the younger brothers in the other branch came to me to complain — several marriage prospects in a row have fallen through. It is all because of you, ruining our Yuan family’s name! The word outside is that Yuan family mothers-in-law are heartless and make a habit of appropriating their daughters-in-law’s dowries. Who would dare marry into our family?! You still have the nerve to put on airs as the grand Elder Sister-in-Law at family gatherings — I am mortified on your behalf!”
Thinking of his younger brothers, the Earl of Yuan felt a surge of guilt. The Yuan Household’s standing in society was neither high nor low, and finding a suitable marriage match was not easy. Thinking that his wife’s stupidity had implicated the clan members, his anger burned hotter, and he denounced her in several more sharp terms.
Yuan’s mother wore an aggrieved expression. The Shoushan Earl’s principal wife had always looked down on herself as a sister-in-law, and that was precisely why she was so determined to assert herself in her presence.
Yuan Ying was sharp-eyed and clear-headed, and understood exactly where the real problem lay. She knelt before Yuan’s mother and said in beseeching tones: “I know Mother is doing this for my sake. But Mother… think of it this way — Auntie herself married out of the Yuan Family. How well she knows our family circumstances! Auntie has always loved me dearly — even if I brought not a single coin with me, would Auntie let me be wronged?! If I arrived bearing Elder Sister-in-Law’s estate — or the silver that estate converted to — Auntie would only look down on me! …Ever since Second Sister-in-Law came through our doors, she has treated me as a true younger sister — always making sure I have the best of food and clothes before she takes anything for herself. Mother, by acting this way, you have hurt Second Sister-in-Law’s feelings — how will she and I ever get along well as sisters-in-law?!”
Yuan’s mother found that every person was taking the second daughter-in-law’s side, and felt as though she had a mouthful of bitter herbs and could not get out a single word.
Yuan Shao felt some relief inwardly — at least this younger sister was a sensible one. The Earl of Yuan looked at his daughter with gratification and let out a long sigh. Recalling that his son had just mentioned having things to attend to that evening, he quickly gave his son a meaningful look. Yuan Shao caught it, and quietly slipped out along the edge of the doorway — not toward the main gate, but straight toward Hualan’s small western courtyard.
He stepped into the room to find Hualan in a lightly worn jacket of emerald-green ground with small scattered flowers and velvety trim. Yuan Shao felt a pang of guilt inwardly, thinking of the trunks of crisp new garments Hualan had brought with her when she first arrived. Now… Hualan sat on the edge of the kang, propped on her elbow against the kang table. Seeing her husband come in, her expression was calm: “Is it settled?”
Yuan Shao nodded.
Hualan gave a bleak smile: “Every time it is like this — the family in such upheaval over and over again; the household reduced to this. I truly want to ask Mother: what have I ever done wrong? What is it that she insists on finding fault with me? If Mother truly cannot tolerate me, give me a writ of divorce early and be done with it — I will leave this marriage myself. Why must she make me suffer this slow, grinding torment?!” As she spoke, tears slid down her cheeks.
Yuan Shao stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his wife, coaxing her softly: “What nonsense are you saying? We are going to grow old together — even if you wanted to leave, I would not let you go!”
Hualan wept freely, tears flowing without stop: “It is not that I am unfilial — I only want to ask: when will this life ever have an end?! The silver I brought in my dowry is long gone. The fine fabrics and valuables in my trunks have been picked over one by one by Mother, day after day. And now she has set her eyes on that estate. Mother — what does she actually want?! It is not as if the family is on the brink of ruin?!”
Hualan’s tears poured down in streams. She collapsed, weeping, into her husband’s arms. Yuan Shao felt a surge of deep, fierce resentment within himself as well. In truth he understood his mother’s mind very clearly — she simply could not bear that Hualan, with a capable family behind her, should be favored by her father-in-law and cherished by her husband, effectively placing the mother-in-law beneath her.
Yuan Shao had nothing useful to say, and could only offer gentle words of comfort. Then Hualan suddenly pulled herself upright from her husband’s arms, her expression resolute. She said in a loud voice: “Shao, if it were only me — following you even through a life of coarse food and bare poverty, I would not breathe a single complaint. But… but…” She began to weep again. “I only feel so desperately sorry for the children! They are still so small!”
Yuan Shao watched his wife weep and wail until she could barely breathe, and felt as though a knife were being twisted in his own heart. Hualan cried on: “In time, the title will go to Elder Brother — and looking at Mother’s attitude, we will likely see little of the family’s assets when they are divided. What will become of the children then?! Last time when my mother came, she was already starting to notice things. I managed to convince her that pregnant women are comfortable in old clothes — but what I wear is one thing. The clothes on Zhuang Jie’er’s back are another — those cannot be explained away. My mother went home and sent back two lengths of large crimson brocade! It is one thing for a grandmother to send gifts to her granddaughter — but if more were to come, would that not embarrass the Yuan Household?!”
Yuan Shao felt a sudden sharp vigilance. His jaw set, a cold light flashing in his eyes: “…From now on, stop going along with Mother in all things. If Mother makes any demands, you come and tell me. And furthermore…” He paused, then said with cold resolution: “If you’re feeling up to it, tomorrow sell off those four maids of Qiu Niang’s!”
Hualan was greatly startled, her voice trembling: “But… those are Mother’s gift to you as personal attendants — it would not be right to…”
Yuan Shao’s eyes held a barely restrained anger: “Mother says the household is strapped for money, says she does not have enough to finance Sister’s wedding. What is the point of keeping those girls and wasting food and wages on them? You sell them tomorrow — and hand every coin from the sale to Mother. Let’s see if she can still claim to have no money!”
Hualan was inwardly overjoyed, yet dared not show it, and said hesitantly: “Is… is that acceptable?”
“What is there that isn’t acceptable?! I have long had my eye on those tiresome creatures — nothing but trouble!” Yuan Shao had come up through the military and spoke plainly. He made the decision on the spot and that was that.
Hualan wiped her tears hard, understanding that her husband was showing consideration for her. She leaned gently against him. The couple were quiet and close for a little while; then Hualan pulled back from her husband and smiled: “Isn’t Senior Official Dou holding a banquet tonight? You mustn’t be late — go quickly!” As she spoke, she reached to the head of the kang and lifted a small, heavy bundle, pressing it into her husband’s hands: “Take this.”
Yuan Shao took it and felt at once that it was heavy with silver. He studied Hualan for a moment and said quickly: “Where is your gold necklace?”
Hualan gave a slightly rueful smile: “I’m already a mother — what use have I for a gold necklace?”
Yuan Shao knew that the gold necklace was something every Sheng daughter had received, and that Hualan was now reduced to pawning it just to make up funds for him. His resentment toward Yuan’s mother surged again, and he said firmly: “Have no fear! I will return every bit of your dowry to you, piece by piece!”
Hualan smiled with deep warmth: “Shao is a man who keeps his word and never breaks his promises.”
After a warm exchange of goodbyes, Hualan stood smiling as she watched Yuan Shao go out the door. When he had gone some distance, the smile at her lips gradually faded. She sat quietly for a while; then a young matron lifted the door curtain and entered, smiling: “Miss, the young master has left.”
Hualan gave a small nod. The matron helped Hualan settle comfortably onto the kang, smoothed and arranged the bedding, then smiled: “Miss has won again. These two years, the young master has always taken your side — when the old madam learns of it, she is sure to be pleased. Last time she came, did she not say she was looking at the Gu Family more favorably now?”
She had originally come from the Shouan Hall. When Hualan married, Nanny Fang had personally selected her and sent her as part of the trousseau. She had since married the steward who managed Hualan’s dowry properties, and was now one of Hualan’s most trusted and capable allies.
Hualan broke through her tears into a laugh: “That’s right! And Gu Second Young Master — he’s quite an eager one! It’s only been a few days since the birth-date cards were exchanged, and already he’s rushing to send New Year gifts to our family. Trunks and trunks of fine goods — Jiangnan gauzes and silks without end, not to mention furs from beyond the pass: lynx, purple lambskin, fox pelts, snow-bear, and ginseng roots half a foot long. My mother received so many her hands went soft, I think! It is obvious he had been stockpiling things all along, just waiting for the matter to be settled!” As she said this, Hualan could not stop herself from laughing.
Cuichan listened with a wave of envy, her mouth falling open: “So many fine things! Even if Grandmother claimed she does not care for such worldly goods, she would surely see how seriously the Gu Family intends this marriage.”
Hualan nodded with a smile: “Precisely.” Then, glancing down, she caught sight of the lightly worn garments on her own body, and a shadow passed over her face.
Cuichan stole a glance at Hualan’s expression and guessed her thoughts. She leaned close and said softly: “Miss, please don’t take it to heart. Sixth Young Miss hasn’t yet left home, and speaking of it — the waters run deep inside the Gu Household as well. Sixth Young Miss will have many a battle ahead of her, and will certainly have her share of hardships. But you — you are nearly through to the other side. Did not Grandmother say: watch how the husband is. If the husband has no heart, hold tight to your money and look after yourself. If he is kindhearted and loves you, give him everything and hold nothing back!”
Hualan’s spirits lifted. A look of pleasure crossed her face. She took Cuichan’s hand and said warmly: “Thank Heaven Grandmother gave you to me. All these years you have kept my heart from breaking. Very well — no matter how I look at it, I have not lost every bit of my dowry either! …Now that his father has come to understand what is right, he will no longer hand all the money straight to his mother. So long as he is willing to stand united with me, I will gladly spend whatever it takes. If we can manage a few postings away from the capital, life will be easier.”
Cuichan, following along cheerfully, asked with a teasing smile: “Did not the young master just get promoted to Deputy Commander of the Five City Militia? Miss has such grand ambitions — you have barely begun eating what is in the bowl, and already you are eyeing what’s in the pot!”
Hualan reached out and tapped Cuichan on the forehead with one finger, laughing and scolding: “You little minx — making fun of your mistress!” After finishing her glare at Cuichan, a trace of wistfulness came over her, and she sighed softly: “To speak of it — I feel I have wronged Grandmother. Yet…” Hualan’s eyes grew bright with unshed tears, and she said quietly: “Being a daughter-in-law is so terribly hard! And with a mother-in-law like this one, I had no wish at all to use Minglan as a pawn. Commander Gu’s position and appearance are nothing to look down on — I would gladly have given up even a true blood sister for such a match. But I only hope that Sixth Sister’s days ahead will be good ones. Otherwise I truly will have no face left to go before Grandmother.”