Never before had the two of them been so quiet together. One sat doodling with a brush, the other stood doodling with her foot.
The window paper had already darkened. Hong Mei and Bai He came in to light the lamps, then soundlessly went out again.
“Do you know that Xiao San’s first wife truly had a lover?” Qiu Sanniang suddenly stared blankly at the paper, somewhat angrily crumpling and tossing it away.
The paper ball rolled to Mo Zi’s feet.
Mo Zi restrained the impulse to pick it up. Hearing Qiu Sanniang’s words, she couldn’t help asking in surprise, “What? Wasn’t it Jin Si’s doing?”
“Listen as I tell you slowly. That lady already had a sweetheart before marriage—her father’s advisor. Because of his lowly position, the two didn’t dare speak of it. After marriage, when Xiao San saw she was always melancholy and cheerless, he naturally distanced himself. At some point, she resumed contact with her sweetheart. Being kind-hearted by nature and having no feelings for Xiao San, she had originally gotten along peacefully with Jin Si, but suddenly began targeting Jin Si everywhere. Unable to endure it, Jin Si turned around to catch her errors and actually uncovered this matter. Thus, she used the strategy of catching adultery. It looked as if everything was arranged by Jin Si, but Xiao San said the first wife deliberately revealed it to Jin Si, and with things pushed along, ensured he would catch them. After she was cast out, her father and brothers only made a show of fussing for a few days, then sent her to a nunnery. Now, guess what happened?” Qiu Sanniang smiled faintly, lowered her eyes, then raised them again.
Mo Zi shook her head. She naturally had some premonition but couldn’t say it clearly, so she might as well be a good listener.
“Now, she’s already the mother of two children, having gone far away with her sweetheart. That eldest child was born in the nunnery. All of this was only accomplished because Xiao San knew about it and helped make it happen. No one knows—even Jin Si only thinks she succeeded herself.” With names, details, and timing, it was hard not to believe.
Mo Zi let out a long breath. “Between the marketplace and even Prince Jing’s mansion, only scattered fragments circulated, making people imagine wildly, while the truth was actually so close, yet a hundred thousand miles away.”
“Those rumors—half were spread by Jin Si, the other half were spread by Xiao San through those friends of his.” To make that former wife a complete victim—quite painstakingly done.
“Indeed, not knowing others’ affairs, don’t judge others’ wrongs.” Mo Zi shook her head in amazement, then thought of the second wife. “Could it be that the young master’s second wife was also like this? What seemed like no fault of the wife was actually quite the opposite?”
“No. This second one was truly ruthless. Born as the legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family, she used those tactics for fighting concubines and competing for favor to perfection. Xiao San saw through her arrogance and still paid her no attention. Who knew, she not only repeatedly struck at Jin Si, but also administered a chronic poison to the two children. That poison, when continuously consumed, would weaken the body within five years, causing the five senses to decline until a common cold could take a child’s life—called ‘Five-Year Withering.’ For adults who consumed it, there was no harm. Hearing that many children of concubines in her family died young over the years, Xiao San secretly kept watch, intercepted some food and sent it for examination, but found no abnormalities. He thought of Master Abbot at Tian’en Temple, his friend despite their age difference, who was well-informed, and asked him to help examine it. As a result, an inconspicuous milky-white plant juice was discovered on the rim of the children’s drinking cups. Angered that she would use innocent children, Xiao San had someone mention this to Jin Si, even hinting at revenge methods of repaying like with like. He served as backstage strategist while Jin Si fought on the front lines, exposing the second wife’s invisible cruelty before everyone. That lady cried injustice for several days until Xiao San showed her the Five-Year Withering, and only then did she have to request her own dismissal. The Old Princess Consort and Princess Consort didn’t know much about this matter, but the Old Prince and Prince knew. So even though the other party was also from a high and noble family, they could only endure it. Moreover, I heard that after that lady returned to her natal family, her mother was also sent to the family temple to accompany her, spending the rest of their lives with Buddhist lamps and scriptures.” Qiu Sanniang stared at the flickering candlelight and sighed again. “What I think he did wrong was that he shouldn’t have shrunk behind the scenes, letting Jin Si come forward while deliberately concealing the truth. Jin Si is so domineering now—isn’t it precisely because his self-satisfaction pampered and spoiled her into what she is?”
“What you don’t want done to yourself, don’t do to others. The young master neither gives Jin Si higher status nor uses such clear eyes to watch how she strengthens herself from humiliation—he seems to treat Jin Si more like a pet dog than a lover. I guess he doesn’t want to show himself as fussy and meddling in his own backyard affairs. Jin Si was the earliest to be by his side, and he’s very confident in her pure and kind nature. Little does he know, people’s greed, without the experience of great enlightenment and letting go, will only expand. From her poisoning you this time, you can see she plans to change from passive to active. Jin Si already has two children—even if not for herself, she must fulfill a mother’s responsibility, not to mention she was bullied by two wives with different motives.” The Jin Si of the past might not have been so bad, perhaps just wanting to simply be with the man she liked. “I agree with your view. Jin Si being this way—the young master should bear more than half the blame.”
“Mo Zi, if you were me, what would you do?” The past—who was right and wrong—was now clear. It turns out everyone had their own difficulties and reasons for sadness. But what about her? Where should she go from here?
“This ‘if’ will never hold true—why does Madam ask such a question?” Mo Zi was a modern female soldier. Polygamy? Kill her instead! However, in Qiu Sanniang’s shoes, inevitably constrained by propriety and teachings, she could only evade. But she couldn’t advise like this. Regarding matters of the heart, she wasn’t the person involved and couldn’t presumptuously speak. “I’m only afraid this divorce letter probably won’t come. Not to mention the young master has feelings for you—just those many elders above would absolutely not allow a third divorce.”
Divorcing a third wife—the unlucky one wouldn’t just be Xiao San alone, but the entire Prince Jing’s mansion.
“How about this? I’ll go back and play the wicked woman, harm the concubine and poison the children, requesting my own dismissal? Anyway, someone has used this method before. Xiao Sanlang most hates bullying the weak and using power to oppress the small. If I become like the second wife, he’ll rush to drive me away.” Qiu Sanniang propped up her delicate chin with its widow’s peak.
“Madam, that person had a powerful natal family, which is why the matter could be glossed over as requesting her own dismissal. Our natal family has neither people nor power. If you did that, you’d certainly be sent to a nunnery to be a nun, never able to come out for the rest of your life. Although Xiao Yi would be there, you could forget about doing business in the future—hiding and sneaking around for the rest of your days would be it.” Based on Mo Zi’s understanding of Qiu Sanniang, she would definitely suffocate from boredom. “Besides, from what you’ve just told me about the young master’s deeds, he’s clever to excess. After spending three months with you, wouldn’t he see your true nature? I’m not so sure. If we had started acting crazy and playing dumb from the beginning, there might have been some possibility.”
“According to what you’re saying, I can’t wait for this divorce letter?” Qiu Sanniang suddenly straightened up and grabbed the wolf-hair brush. “Mo Zi, come grind ink for me. If he won’t give it, I’ll still write it myself.”
Mo Zi couldn’t help laughing. “A woman writing a divorce letter to a man—the man would feel he’s lost face and wouldn’t let you go even more. If you ask me, if you truly have no feelings for him at all, mutual separation is the only path. Unfortunately, you’ve developed feelings.”
“And then?” Qiu Sanniang’s bright beautiful eyes fixed on her.
Mo Zi shrugged, her autumn-water eyes so clear. “There is no ‘then’—you must think it through yourself. In the world, only the word ‘feelings’ is hardest to resolve. And I cannot give you an answer. I can only say—if someone treats you sincerely, you also treat them sincerely, then there will be methods to resolve everything.” She might even give the wrong answer for herself.
Between the two, another stretch of silence.
“Young master, young master, please walk slowly! Madam is talking with Mo Zi—she’ll come out soon.” Bai He’s voice carried through the garden into their ears.
Mo Zi was still in men’s clothing, so she said, “Madam, shall I go change clothes?” This sentence should have been declarative, but she made it into a question.
Qiu Sanniang listened to the footsteps outside. Her almond eyes narrowed, light sinking to the bottom of her eyes as she recovered her usual languid expression. “No need. The young master has already seen your men’s clothing appearance—I expect he won’t be shocked.”
Mo Zi was unhurried, as if guessing she would understand her meaning. She looked at her levelly and said “yes” with a smile. Before Qiu Sanniang, she hadn’t lowered her head fifteen degrees in a very long time.
“Sanniang!”
The voice arrived before the person appeared.
Qiu Sanniang and Mo Zi, one after the other, walked to the outer room.
Hong Mei reported from outside, “Madam, the third young master has arrived, and the second young master too.”
“Xiao Er? He’s been coming quite frequently lately. Could he still be afraid I’m smuggling goods?” Qiu Sanniang pursed her lips, her eyes flowing to Mo Zi with a somewhat mischievous gleam. “Could it be something happened on the boat that I don’t know about?”
“No.” Mo Zi returned her a mischievous smile. “Madam can rest assured—we’re holding each other’s secrets, so neither can curry favor. The worst case would be the second young master encouraging the young master to become distant from you, which would actually help you. As the saying goes, long-distance affection cannot be maintained for long. Once the young master stops clinging to you and you can’t see the young master, feelings will naturally fade.” Lightly skimming over the topic of Xiao Er.
During her convalescence, Xiao Er had come twice, each time to see Xiao San. She had only heard Bai He and Lu Ju mention it afterward and hadn’t met him face to face. She shared Qiu Sanniang’s opinion that he came to observe “enemy conditions.”
“Where did this saying come from? I think you just made it up yourself.” And always made it up quite reasonably.
Before Qiu Sanniang’s words finished falling, Xiao San lifted the curtain.
In Mo Zi’s eyes, Qiu Sanniang’s thoughts were churning, her gaze at Xiao San drifting uncertainly, while Xiao Sanlang was radiant, looking at Qiu Sanniang with affectionate indulgence.
“I told Mother that although your health has recovered, you still need to rest quietly for a while. Mother agreed and is letting you stay another half month—just return to the mansion before Mid-Autumn Festival. Are you happy?” Still eagerly trying to please, waiting for Qiu Sanniang to praise him.
Qiu Sanniang’s eyes brightened, but her words were quite disappointing. “Who asked you to meddle and talk to mother-in-law?”
Xiao San wasn’t affected at all, his spirits still high. “If you want to go anywhere, I’ll take you. Master Abbot at Tian’en Temple has always wanted to meet you—why don’t we go tomorrow? Would that be good?”
They say you don’t strike a smiling face. Facing such a Xiao San, Qiu Sanniang couldn’t maintain a hard heart to the end, and faintly hummed in agreement.