In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the seventh month. The Old Princess Consort’s birthday celebration would be tomorrow. Because it was a major birthday and also the Qiqiao Festival, all the gates within Prince Jing’s Mansion’s three gardens were opened wide. Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, clusters of flowers blooming. Besides the mansion’s own troupe of performers, they had invited the most famous theater company in the capital to add to the festivities. The First Household had arranged for acrobats and comedians, while it was said that the Third Household would have a troupe of singing and dancing girls from Wuyou Pavilion perform the day after tomorrow, which had many people eagerly anticipating it. Though rules were usually strict, during these three days things were more relaxed for the servants, allowing them to enjoy the celebration alongside their masters.
There were quite a few activities for entertainment. One couldn’t tour all three gardens in a single day, but the newly arrived Third Lady Yong had arranged things well, posting program schedules at each gate listing the entertainment content, times, and locations, making everything clear at a glance. It was said that all the birthday celebration arrangements at Jingfang Garden had been handled by Third Lady, and even someone as meticulous as the Old Princess Consort couldn’t find the slightest fault. Third Lady Yong’s reputation became resounding after this.
And so, when Xiao San went early in the morning to pay his respects to his grandmother, he received praise once again because of his capable wife.
Ever since Qiu Sanniang entered the family, Xiao San had often been praised. The first time he felt nothing, the second time he just nodded along, but by the third time he felt that pride of “half the military medal belongs to you, and half belongs to me.”
But on this day, he still harbored some resentment in his heart and said, “This sort of thing—any virtuous wife could do it well. Grandmother, please stop praising her so much. If you keep praising her, she’ll—”
The Princess Consort had also come today to dine with her mother-in-law. Hearing her youngest son speak this way, she frowned. “She’ll what?”
Xiao San still understood the principle of not speaking ill of one’s wife before grandmother and mother, so he quickly changed his tune. “She’s still not very old. With too much praise, she can’t withstand all the blessings the elders are giving her.”
The Old Princess Consort laughed until her eyes disappeared. “Go on, talking nonsense. Sanniang clearly has deep fortune—how could she not withstand it? Don’t be like the fox who can’t reach the grapes and calls them sour, thinking we love her more than we love you.”
Xiao San thought to himself—but wasn’t it precisely because he couldn’t reach them that they were sour? The longer he spent with Sanniang, the more he felt she was different from others. She played chess and competed in music with him, wrote seal script and painted ink wash with him, and loved reading all sorts of miscellaneous books. Even his close friends weren’t this compatible with him. To call her perfect—well, that wasn’t quite right either. Whenever it touched on matters of the heart, that woman’s temper and her words could truly infuriate him to the point of fainting. No matter how he hinted—subtly or obviously, from every direction, circle after circle of showing favor—she just had no reaction. And whenever Jin Si appeared, she avoided him as if fleeing from the plague.
Fine, he admitted it. Previously he had no interest in his two former wives, and when his courtyard descended into chaos, he watched coldly with one eye open and one closed. But this Sanniang—should he say she was clever, or that he had failed? Not only did she refuse to make a fuss, but whenever something came up, she pushed him toward Jin Si, all but directly saying how difficult it was for the concubine.
Xiao San had been spoiled by women. Meeting someone like Qiu San left him somewhat lost.
The three generations were eating when suddenly a maid rushed in to report, “This is terrible, terrible!”
Great households were superstitious about mentioning bad things on auspicious days. An experienced senior matron at the side rebuked her with a “Tut! On such a fine day, nothing is terrible—everything is wonderful.”
The clever maid quickly kowtowed. “Yes, yes. Third Lady felt unwell when she woke up this morning. She’s already sent someone to fetch a physician and specially asked me to inform the Old Princess and Her Ladyship.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao San shot to his feet, even knocking over his chair. He asked urgently, “What illness? Is it serious? She’s only been in the family how many days—does she know which physician to call? Don’t let her summon some quack of unknown background.”
The Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort exchanged glances. This illness of Sanniang’s was indeed a good thing—it had touched Xiao Sanlang’s heart.
The maid had only come to relay a message. How could she answer Xiao San’s questions? She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.
Xiao San lifted his foot to leave. “Grandmother, Mother, I’ll go take a look.”
The Old Princess Consort called him back. “Let’s go together. You’re not a physician—being anxious won’t help.”
“I walk faster. I’ll go ahead, and you can come slowly.” Xiao San couldn’t wait. Even as he spoke, he lifted the curtain and was already outside.
The Princess Consort was somewhat worried. “Could Sanniang have fallen ill from exhaustion? Just yesterday she was talking and laughing with me—how could she be unwell today?”
But the Old Princess Consort wasn’t worried. “Think about it—being unwell doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good thing. It might even be wonderful news.”
The Princess Consort immediately grasped her mother-in-law’s meaning and exclaimed, “I was so anxious I got confused and didn’t think in that direction. To be honest, it really is quite possible.”
The two chatted and laughed as they headed toward Mozhi Residence, followed by a grand procession of maids and matrons.
As for Xiao San, as soon as he entered the room, he saw Mo Zi lowering the door curtain and hastily asked, “How is your mistress? Exactly where does she feel unwell? Is the illness severe? Has the physician arrived?” After firing off this string of questions, he made to go into the inner room.
Mo Zi extended her hand to block him. “Young Master, Miss is lying down. Her whole body is feverish. When she woke, she couldn’t get out of bed. We’ve already sent a young maid to fetch the physician from Nuanchun Hall.” After answering all of Xiao San’s questions, she added, “Young Master, Miss has instructed that no one is allowed in.”
Xiao San was taken aback, then immediately his face darkened. “Why can’t anyone enter? Could she still be quarreling with me at a time like this?”
“Young Master, Miss said no one is allowed in—not specifically you.” Listen carefully, now.
Xiao San asked why again.
“Miss’s illness doesn’t look very good, and she fears infecting others. Except for us few maids, she refuses to see anyone else. She’ll wait until after the physician has examined her.” Mo Zi ushered Xiao San toward the outer room. “Young Master, please go sit in the side chamber. If you also fall ill, how will we explain to the Old Princess and Her Ladyship?”
Xiao San said he wouldn’t go. For the first time, he flung his sleeve at Mo Zi with an angry expression. “Am I someone you servants can dismiss? You’ve eaten the leopard’s gall! I want to go in and see her—whoever dares to stop me can expect a slap across the face.”
“Xiao Yong, it was I who gave the instruction. Why are you throwing your young master’s temper at my maid?” Qiu Sanniang’s voice came from within, weak with a hint of indignation. “If you insist on coming in, I’ll—” She panted heavily.
Hearing Qiu Sanniang speak, Xiao San only worried about how ill she was. How could he continue to speak loudly? In a conciliatory tone, he moved closer to the curtain and said, “Don’t be angry. I was just talking. How could I actually strike anyone? If I can’t come in, then I won’t. But I’m not going to the side chamber either—I’ll sit right here. Is that acceptable?”
No response came, which meant agreement.
Xiao San pulled over a chair and sat outside the curtain, asking Mo Zi, “Who’s attending to Miss inside?”
“Bai He and Xiao Yi are there.” Mo Zi lowered her eyes demurely and poured a cup of tea for Xiao San.
Xiao San waved it away. Before long, he couldn’t sit still. “Didn’t they fetch a physician? Did they go to Mount Tianshan to fetch him? Why isn’t he here yet?”
Lu Ju came in just as he said this and nearly laughed out loud.
Mo Zi glared at her, and only then did she hold it in, answering with a straight face, “Young Master, the Prince’s Mansion is so large—they’ve probably only just left the main gate.”
“How did this illness come about? Wasn’t she fine just yesterday?” His not going in didn’t mean he wasn’t concerned.
Mo Zi said nothing. Lu Ju also said nothing. They exchanged glances.
Xiao San began to find it strange. Suddenly he wondered if there was trouble brewing again—only this time the other side had struck first. His brows immediately knitted together, and his tone turned harsh again. “You all follow Miss around day in and day out—have your eyes grown in vain?”
Mo Zi’s expression remained unchanged as she looked at the teacup in her hands and said, “Some things can’t be seen with eyes alone.” She retorted.
Xiao San was momentarily stunned.
Then they heard maids outside calling layer by layer—the Old Princess and the Princess Consort had arrived.
From inside, Qiu Sanniang had Mo Zi try to persuade the elders to return, saying they’d wait until after the physician had examined her.
Xiao San immediately stopped Mo Zi, saying he would do the persuading, and went outside to see his grandmother and mother. He only said it might be an acute case of cold wind and she couldn’t be disturbed. However, he couldn’t convince them to leave. The two ladies waited for the physician in the side room, naturally also keeping Xiao San there with them.
Mo Zi had Lu Ju watch for developments while she went to the inner room, where she saw Qiu Sanniang leaning against soft cushions eating snacks, her face covered in red spots. “Miss, aren’t you afraid the young master will force his way in?”
Qiu Sanniang pointed at Xiao Yi. “If he dares come in, I’ll have Xiao Yi knock him unconscious.”
Probably only when it concerned Xiao San did Qiu Sanniang display this adorable girlish temperament. It was precisely because Mo Zi had noticed this that she sometimes gave Xiao San lessons to remind him.
Bai He brought over a leather water bag and placed it on Qiu Sanniang’s hand, then pressed it to her forehead.
This too was Mo Zi’s idea—filled with hot water to fake a fever.
After a while longer, calculating that the physician would arrive soon, Mo Zi had Qiu Sanniang get out of bed and do one hundred jumping rope motions—this was to confuse the physician.
Outside, Lu Ju announced the physician had arrived.
Mo Zi and Bai He quickly lowered the brocade bed curtains and had Xiao Yi hide inside the bed. When necessary, she would press acupuncture points to disrupt the pulse. Only then did they invite the physician in.
The physician from Nuanchun Hall had quite a reputation. However, no matter how renowned, encountering an expert like Mo Zi, he couldn’t detect any flaws. One moment the pulse seemed chaotic, the next moment it was strong and vigorous, then suddenly it weakened. Seeing the red dots on her wrist and Mo Zi constantly mentioning sudden chills and cold sweats, he was thoroughly confused and ultimately agreed with Mo Zi’s assessment.
Going outside to report to Xiao San, the Princess Consort, and the others, he said it was a sudden chill from cold wind, very fierce, requiring seclusion.
Seclusion—meaning it might infect others. It wasn’t fatal, but required seeking a quiet, secluded place for rest and treatment.
The Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort had thought Qiu Sanniang was pregnant. They never expected such a fierce acute illness. They couldn’t help but feel both heartache and worry. They hoped Qiu Sanniang would be safe and sound, but also feared that mentioning seclusion would hurt her feelings.
Xiao San firmly disagreed with seclusion, saying they should just seal off Yonggu Studio.
Bai He came out, kowtowed to the Old Princess and the Princess Consort, and conveyed Qiu Sanniang’s wishes. “Miss says she cannot implicate the people in the mansion. She’s willing to go into seclusion using Miss’s own residence. It has a large garden suitable for recuperation. If the Old Princess and Her Ladyship are worried, they can send people daily to report that all is well.”
Despite Xiao San’s opposition, the Old Princess Consort still agreed, only instructing that they must send word every day.
The Princess Consort, tears streaming down her face, gave Bai He countless instructions to take careful care.
After all this commotion, through both soft and hard persuasion, they dragged away the unwilling Xiao San.
That very day, Qiu Sanniang, taking her six maids and packing simple valuables, left the mansion.
Some gloated, thinking Qiu Sanniang would never return.
Those with ulterior motives thought their scheme had worked—separating the two at the very moment when Xiao San was about to give his heart to Qiu San, everything would return to how it once was.
Little did they know, whether she returned or not, for a certain Mo and a certain Qiu, it was something they could laugh off.