The next morning, Shaoshang was still drowsy in her bedding when A’Zhu came to report that Madam Xiao had fallen ill. Her heart trembled, secretly thinking it might be because she had angered her into illness. She dared not delay and quickly got up to wash and dress. After dressing properly, she ran in two steps instead of three to the main residence.
After entering the Cheng Shi couple’s inner chamber, she saw Madam Xiao running a fever, her face flushed, her lips dry and slightly cracked, her breathing heavy and irregular. Before Shaoshang could say more than a few words, the three elder brothers and Cheng Yang all arrived.
Madam Xiao’s limbs were weak and aching, yet she remained conscious, explaining clearly and distinctly to everyone that it was due to recent travel fatigue.
Cheng Shi’s face was full of worry, yet he said: “Speaking of which, how long has it been since you’ve been sick? The physician said minor illness is a blessing! All these years riding horses and dismounting, who knows how much illness and fatigue you’ve accumulated. Take this opportunity to recuperate well.”
Shaoshang observed the couple for a while, knowing in her heart they were making excuses for her. She too remained silent, only quickly consulting with Cheng Yang to have Cheng Yang continue managing household affairs while she herself took over part of the nursing duties from Lady Qing Cong. Cheng Yang greatly admired Madam Xiao in her heart, but it wasn’t proper to compete with someone’s own daughter to care for her, so she could only nod in agreement.
Lady Qing Cong had originally thought Shaoshang was still so young, and over the past few months had only seen her skill at quarreling and confronting people. She figured how could she possibly know how to care for the sick? Having her hold the medicine bowl and taste the medicinal soup would count as filial piety, and it would sound good when mentioned outside. Who knew that after half a day, Shaoshang proved unexpectedly capable—not knowing that children without fathers or mothers mostly learned to treat their own illnesses.
Shaoshang first cleared out all the visitors, maintaining warmth indoors while from time to time introducing fresh air. Every quarter hour, she used warm water to wipe Madam Xiao’s hands, feet, chest, and back, constantly having Madam Xiao drink warm water. Before half the morning had passed, Madam Xiao had already been helped to the privy six times. The remaining time was spent having the patient lie flat and sleep.
With reasonable nursing care plus Madam Xiao’s already robust constitution, before the physician’s second dose of medicinal soup had finished brewing, Madam Xiao’s fever had already subsided considerably. Shaoshang then sat upright in the corridor, quietly watching over a medicine stove and a congee pot, gently waving the palm fan in her hand. All around, the buildings were peaceful, time flowing gently by.
When Cheng Shi returned home from reporting to General Wu, this was the scene he saw—Old Comrade Cheng’s heart felt lost, feeling as if his daughter had grown up considerably overnight.
Wan Songbai, following behind him, looked and turned back to say: “Qiqi, look at Niaoniao—how filial, how well-behaved. When I was sick last time, how did you show filial piety? You actually went out and got into a fight with someone!”
Wan Qiqi glared at her own father and said loudly: “Does Father even know how to speak? Praising one while criticizing another like this—are you hoping my sister and I will develop resentment toward each other? However, seeing as you’re praising my own sister, I won’t hold it against you this time!”
Wan Songbai also glared at his daughter: “You disrespectful child…”
“My lord!” Madam Wan touched her forehead helplessly: “We’re here to visit Yuan Yi!”
When everyone entered the inner chamber, Madam Xiao had just awakened from sleep. At this time her spirits were much better, and she chatted and laughed with great interest. As they talked, the topic was about to turn toward adult matters, so the two couples sent Shaoshang and Qiqi off to play by themselves.
The two girls, arm in arm, walked chatting and laughing toward Shaoshang’s small courtyard. Today the sunlight was just right. Wan Qiqi wore a gold-threaded brocade light pink triple-wrapped curved hem garment that appeared especially bright and vivid in the sun. After the two sat down, she said impatiently: “Hey, hey, early this morning Mother told me you’re engaged! I heard it’s the nephew of Grand Coachman Lou, called Lou Yao or something. Is it true?”
Shaoshang openly nodded in acknowledgment.
Wan Qiqi’s face lit up as she looked the other up and down, making clicking sounds with her mouth: “Who would have thought! You little girl are quite capable! After one trip out, you grew taller and prettier, and casually brought back a husband! You’re younger than me, yet your engagement will be before mine… tsk tsk…”
It would have been better if she hadn’t mentioned it, but raising this matter made Shaoshang couldn’t help but sigh: “Ai, I don’t even know if settling this marriage so quickly was right or wrong.” Last night’s argument with her parents still rang in her ears. She had clearly won the argument, yet her heart held not half a trace of happiness.
Wan Qiqi said strangely: “Your words are very odd. Marriages don’t have distinctions of fast or slow, only willing or unwilling. We were born into good wombs and are loved by our parents. Like some elders who don’t take their children seriously—in the time it takes them to drink one meal’s worth of wine outside, they might settle their children’s marriages without allowing you any say! Uncle Cheng loves you so much—before settling this marriage, he must have asked you, right?”
Shaoshang froze, suddenly understanding the shock and astonishment on her parents’ faces last night.
Old Man Cheng and Director Xiao both had typical straight-guy thinking—Daughter, if you like it, agree; if you don’t like it, don’t agree. How simple! When they solicited her opinion and received an affirmative reply, the couple naturally assumed Shaoshang and Lou Yao had mutual feelings. Who knew that after asking last night, not only did the truth differ vastly from their original assumptions, but they also discovered their daughter’s thinking was abnormally strange.
Shaoshang reflected on what she’d said last night and realized it was full of problems—indeed, one shouldn’t talk much when agitated. She should have insisted from the start that her feelings for Lou Yao were as deep as the sea, as vast as the sky, groundless as wind, with lingering charm still present. Could Old Man Cheng and Director Xiao have attached a lie detector to her?!
“…Sister Qiqi, what about you? In the future, if Uncle and Aunt want you to marry in a husband, what will you do?”
Wan Qiqi said confidently: “I don’t care—I must marry the person I love! If Father and Mother obstruct me, I’ll tell Grand Mother!”
Shaoshang fell silent, thinking: This is what a teenage girl should truly think.
Actually, Old Man Cheng was already a rare good father. According to realistic thinking, with the Lou family having such excellent social standing, when they came to propose marriage he should have agreed eagerly. Yet he still let his daughter make her own decision. How did she repay Old Man Cheng?
Director Xiao and Sang Shi married down into the Cheng family brothers because their families or they themselves had encountered enormous difficulties, almost at the end of their rope, needing to find a lifeline or escape route. But looking at herself now from any angle, her youth was bright, her whole family was intact and happy—she should be full of high spirits. Yet in her mentality toward choosing a spouse, she was no different from someone with nowhere to turn. No wonder Old Man Cheng and Director Xiao would become depressed!
The two young sisters, long separated and reunited, originally had endless things to say. Who knew that after saying barely two sentences, Wan Qiqi suddenly remembered something. Acting as if it didn’t matter, she indicated that she’d recently obtained a bundle of excellent deer tendon and wanted to give it to Cheng Song for bowstrings.
Shaoshang wanted to laugh but put on a doubtful expression: “You didn’t come today specifically to give Second Brother something, and then chat with me by the way, did you?”
Wan Qiqi immediately showed a resolute face and firmly denied it, even citing literature about how “treating tendons in summer prevents troubles, and since summer is not far off, one must prepare early.” She even wanted to pull Shaoshang along to find Cheng Song to demonstrate her innocence.
Shaoshang hurriedly indicated that after tending to medicinal soup for most of the day, she was very tired now. She requested that Miss Wan of the Wan family trouble herself to go alone—she absolutely dared not doubt her again. Only then did Wan Qiqi swagger out of the corridor with swaying head and tail.
Shaoshang shook her head vigorously behind her, laughing as she said: Forget it! Did they think she was blind and couldn’t see that this pink embroidered pig wanted to dig up her family’s second cabbage? However, well, the second cabbage himself was also crying and shouting that he was willing to be dug up by her.
After dozing against the armrest for about half an hour, Wan Qiqi returned. Not only did she return herself, but she also came arm in arm with an elegantly dressed dignified young lady. Shaoshang focused her gaze and saw it was actually Yin Jue’e.
Wan Qiqi’s mouth corners pulled into a smile without mirth: “I’d barely sat down when Sister Jue’e arrived. Mm, she came to find Eldest Brother, saying she was bringing horse mane for Eldest Brother to make qin strings…” She deeply felt that her creative idea had been plagiarized by Yin Jue’e. She gave bowstrings, so Yin Jue’e gave qin strings—couldn’t she have given a nine-ring broad sword instead?!
Yin Jue’e twisted her sleeves with an embarrassed expression, saying in a refined manner: “…My mother is on very close terms with the Cheng family’s aunt. If she knew Aunt had fallen ill, she would certainly come to visit.”
Shaoshang: …
Even if she originally hadn’t thought much about it, seeing Yin Jue’e’s blushing, embarrassed appearance, what wasn’t clear? Excellent, excellent—now the eldest cabbage could also be sold off. She just didn’t know how long the third cabbage could remain.
With their sweethearts right outside, how could the two young ladies Yin and Wan be willing to let Shaoshang continue hiding indoors? They immediately joined forces in rare unity to drag her out. A room full of young men and women gathered in the outer hall of the three brothers’ residence. Not long after, the newly appointed future son-in-law of the Cheng family also came hurrying over. After learning Madam Xiao was ill, Lou Yao was stunned for a long while, then rushed out the door in a fluster. It wasn’t until mealtime that he came hurrying back, bringing half a cartload of medicinal herbs and supplements along with the Lou family’s household physician.
When the Wan couple learned of this, they clapped their hands, both laughing and sighing. Wan Songbai nearly slapped his sworn brother’s shoulder off, loudly clamoring that “none of my dozen sons-in-law are as attentive as this!” Madam Wan sat beside Madam Xiao, softly teasing her: “Younger sister is truly blessed—filial children, and now this son-in-law is filial too.” What could the Cheng couple say? They could only smile bitterly and shake their heads.
Madam Xiao also instructed Cheng Yang to prepare a proper banquet, letting the young people dine by themselves without needing to attend the elders. During the meal, the four Cheng siblings were inevitably called upon by the guests to perform together again. Yin Jue’e glanced at Cheng Yong and, smiling, had her servants go to her family’s carriage to carry over a fifty-stringed se inlaid with jade and wrapped in brocade, joining the ensemble. Wan Qiqi refused to fall behind and immediately rose to take up a sword, performing a sword dance to Cheng Song’s singing for entertainment.
At this time, the sky was bright and their young blood ran hot—everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Shaoshang turned her head to look at Lou Yao, seeing him having been plied with quite a bit of wine by three brothers-in-law with ulterior motives. His face was now flushed red, his expression dazed, only knowing to smile foolishly at his fiancée.
Shaoshang stared at him for a long while, seeing the martial young man who had shown his first glimpses of excellence now smiling like a big, foolish pumpkin. She suddenly smiled gently and turned to instruct the servants to help him rest in Cheng Shaoshang’s room.
—This was very good. In the many, many years to come, they would countless times gather and drink heartily like today—close siblings, dear friends accompanying them, qin, se, flute, and xun playing in harmony, accompanied by singing and sword dancing. Could there be any better youthful years than this?
…
The second day, Shaoshang continued attending Madam Xiao’s medicine and grooming. Mother and daughter seemed to have formed a peculiar tacit understanding—whenever the two had an argument, it was as if both forgot the previous matter and absolutely never mentioned it again. After quietly finishing the arrangements, mother and daughter also had nothing much to say. Shaoshang then sat as usual in the corridor, watching over the medicine stove.
Who knew that not long after, she saw Cheng Yang leading Lou Yao and a richly dressed middle-aged woman walking gracefully toward them. Shaoshang glimpsed that this woman had a round, protruding mole at the left side of her brow and immediately knew this was Lou Yao’s mother, Second Madam Lou of the main branch of the Lou clan of Hedong.
Second Madam Lou glanced sideways and saw the young girl sitting upright in the corridor, her skin like snow, wearing a semi-worn jade green curved hem wide jacket—neither ostentatious nor dejected. Her still childish face showed a gentle, quiet, beautiful expression. Before her, firelight flickered in a small red clay stove, and misty steam rose from the soup pot, making the girl appear even more like smoke and mist, her appearance beautiful and lovely.
Everyone loves beauty. At first sight, she already liked her thirty to forty percent. She then turned to glare at her son: At home, he’d praised his fiancée three hundred eighty times—what a good temperament, what a good disposition, lively and cheerful—yet he’d failed to mention that the young lady was this beautiful.
Second Madam Lou naturally came to visit Madam Xiao. Shaoshang dared not be careless and quickly brought out Sang Shi’s months of training—lowering her delicate head, nimbly helping Madam Xiao half-sit up from the bed. Second Madam Lou saw her actions were respectful and quiet, and liked her another thirty to forty percent.
“Oh my, why are you getting up? I came because I was worried about you. If I tire you out, I might as well not have come!” Second Madam Lou was several years older than Madam Xiao, but her skin was fair and tender, her expression cheerful, and her words and actions carried a few traces of childishness.
Madam Xiao leaned against the hidden pouch, her breath still insufficient: “Originally we should have been discussing the two children’s important matter, but look at my body—the timing of this illness is truly inconvenient…” Since both receiving their husbands’ letters settling the marriage, she and Second Madam Lou had already been in contact several times and could be said to get along very pleasantly.
“You recuperate slowly.” Second Madam Lou smiled broadly: “Don’t be anxious—I’m not anxious either.” She playfully turned toward her own son: “Is my son anxious?”
Lou Yao wished he could cover his own mother’s mouth: “Mother!”
“I’m not anxious either.” Shaoshang hurriedly smiled to clarify.
“Shaoshang!” Lou Yao immediately felt surrounded on all sides.
Seeing her son’s face full of embarrassment, Second Madam Lou immediately laughed heartily. Madam Xiao also somewhat reluctantly laughed along.
“…I heard that Master Cheng’s mission to accept the surrender this time was handled perfectly, and His Majesty has already ordered Master Cheng’s promotion to Left Assistant of the Chamberlain for Ceremonials?” Second Madam Lou smiled: “Today I came first to visit the sick, and second to congratulate.”
Madam Xiao handled such social situations with ease. She joked: “Visiting the sick is one thing—yesterday I already received many things from A’Yao. As for congratulations, did you come empty-handed?”
Second Madam Lou immediately pushed her son sitting beside her forward and said seriously: “Who says I came empty-handed? Isn’t this presenting this brat with both hands?! Tell me, will you have him or not!”
Madam Xiao pointed with her finger, helplessly shaking her head as everyone in the room laughed together.
Shaoshang also laughed. Old Man Cheng had been promoted to an official rank of one thousand shi—truly great news. Even better was that what she saw today confirmed that this Second Madam Lou was indeed as Lou Yao had said—innocent and forthright.
Second Madam Lou could be called one of the few fortunate women in these chaotic times. Born into a substantial local aristocratic family, loved by her parents from childhood, she had neither encountered military chaos and bandit disasters like Madam Xiao, nor experienced a romance that nearly exhausted her heart and blood like Sang Shi. When she reached marriageable age, her family arranged for her to marry the second son of the Lou clan’s main branch—a suitable match. Her eldest brother-in-law and sister-in-law were both shrewd and capable people. After she married in, she didn’t manage anything. Apart from bearing and raising children, she only needed to tend flowers and enjoy wine each day, peacefully enjoying honor and glory.
“However, my sister-in-law says we should avoid going out these next few days. Who knows how many heads have rolled outside!” Second Madam Lou suddenly said worriedly.
Madam Xiao’s expression didn’t change as she smiled: “It’s all those blind fools who’ve ruined this fine spring weather. They actually dared to falsely accuse His Highness the Crown Prince of being implicated in this Yanzhou Fan rebellion, wanting to take advantage of His Majesty’s eastern tour to commit regicide and ascend the throne early. Fortunately, His Majesty is sagely wise—I think it will be resolved soon.”
“It’s been several days now, and the city gates are still under strict control! The spring weather is so lovely now. Every year at this time, we go outside the city for spring outings and pleasure trips!” Second Madam Lou’s nature was simple—how could she understand court matters?
“You go spring touring every year—there are only those few places outside the city. Aren’t you sick of it?” Madam Xiao laughed: “I heard there’s a small county in Hongnong Prefecture where every year between late spring and early summer they hold a great ceremony for the Hundred Puppet Spirits. After this storm passes, I’ll lead my guard unit to escort you there to play for a couple of days.”
These words were simply boyfriend power at maximum. Second Madam Lou nodded happily, increasingly feeling that her future in-law mother was frank and enthusiastic—someone worth befriending. Loving the house and its crow, she looked upon Shaoshang with increasing favor.
Seeing Lou Yao’s mother coaxed into blooming happiness, Shaoshang maintained an obedient appearance on her face, but in her heart she clearly understood this was Madam Xiao deliberately cultivating good relations and winning favor, so that her future mother-in-law would like her more.
From now on, she would have to rely on herself.