"Yiniang, before you saw the Second Wife only using feminine wiles, but now she can even accompany the Master when he goes out as a guest. When Yiniang was at home, didn't you also read and paint? Why not…" Qing Feng immediately urged Concubine Ding.
Concubine Ding had entered the household a year before Xiao Fu Shi. When she first arrived, Liu Chengxu didn't even glance her way, his heart belonging only to his Principal Wife, Fu Shi. Fu Shi came from a noble background—her father was a double-list jinshi and a member of the Hanlin Academy, her mother also from a wealthy and prestigious family. Moreover, she gave birth to a son and a daughter shortly after entering the household, as if she possessed nearly all the blessings in the world.
The Master was not lustful. Concubine Su had served him as a chambermaid before his marriage and was later elevated to concubine after giving birth to two sons in succession. As for Concubine Ding, she had entered the household entirely on Old Master Liu's decision, with a single decisive word. Liu Chengxu was a filial son and could not easily oppose, but Concubine Ding understood his character.
She had thought she would be like a piece of glazed tile or a tree in the Liu Family, quietly staying in place. After all, her entry into the household was the result of her parents swallowing their pride to find a refuge for their late-born daughter. Her husband already had someone he loved and surely would not fall for anyone else.
Who could have known that after Fu Shi's incident, Xiao Fu Shi entered the household? This Xiao Fu Shi was indeed as beautiful and ethereal as Xi Shi. The Master treated her poorly as well, feeling she had usurped another's place. He even preferred coming to Concubine Ding's quarters over visiting Xiao Fu Shi's room, to the point where even Concubine Ding worried about the new wife's plight.
She had even thought Xiao Fu Shi might fade away like a delicate flower, but who could have imagined Xiao Fu Shi was truly formidable? Within just three months, she managed to win over the Master. At first, the Master still visited Concubine Ding to put on a show, pretending not to care for Xiao Fu Shi, but later he became utterly infatuated.
Xiao Fu Shi took control of the household's authority, punished unruly servants, and later, even though she gave birth to only a daughter, the Master cherished her like a precious jewel.
It so happened that Concubine Ding also gave birth around that time. Although her daughter, Li Rou, was treated well, she could not compare to Li Shu—not because Li Shu was the legitimate daughter, but because the Master loved the mother and extended that affection to the child.
Sometimes Concubine Ding wondered: Did the Master fall for Xiao Fu Shi because of Fu Shi, treating her as a substitute, or did he genuinely come to love Xiao Fu Shi?
Soon, she got her answer. When Fu Shi returned, Xiao Fu Shi faded into obscurity.
Concubine Ding felt a bit of sympathy for Xiao Fu Shi again. Who would have thought that after several years, she would regain favor? Of course, Xiao Fu Shi was indeed beautiful, but if it were only for her looks, Concubine Ding wouldn't feel threatened. Now, however, she could even sketch portraits of criminals based on descriptions, helping the Master solve cases.
She could even accompany the Master when he went out, earning his special regard.
Thinking of this, Concubine Ding felt somewhat uneasy. If the Master had initially seen Xiao Fu Shi as a substitute, why would she regain favor now that the original was back, with Fu Shi still present?
"I never heard she was skilled in Dan Qing. Since she can sketch portraits of criminals for the yamen based solely on descriptions, it shows she is highly proficient." Concubine Ding wondered if the Master was doing this for his career.
Yes, in the past, when the Liu Family was prominent, the Master, as the Second Son, indulged in poetry, moon-gazing, and the romantic pursuits of a scholar. Now, with Old Master Liu and the Eldest Master of the Liu Family implicated and never reinstated, the family's revival rested entirely on her own husband. Perhaps it was for his future prospects.
Qing Feng couldn't help but ask, "Then, Yiniang, what are you thinking?"
"Wait," Concubine Ding replied calmly.
Qing Feng and Ming Yue exchanged puzzled glances. Wait? Wait for what?
Concubine Su continued eating her sweet melon as her maids, Ying Tao and Putao, presented her with a small box of candied fruit. Concubine Su clicked her tongue. "It's almost melted. You two can have it."
Ying Tao smiled. "Thank you, Yiniang."
"Why thank me? I can't compare to others. Fainting once and being able to paint—I heard that Third Miss has a jar of candied cherries like this, and a small jar costs five hundred coins. What a pity I don’t know that useless skill, otherwise I could buy it too." Concubine Su wore an expression of displeasure, annoyed that she was inferior to a mere girl.
Both Ying Tao and Putao knew that Concubine Su had always been fond of food. Back when she was chosen to be Second Master’s chambermaid, it was because she had a fortunate appearance. Now, she had grown even plumper.
Putao comforted her, "How could Second Wife compare to you? Even if she can paint, it’s just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. You have raised two sons and a daughter, and our Second Miss is favored by the master and mistress. Even if that Xiao Fu Shi is favored now, in the future she’ll still have to defer to you."
Concubine Su smiled without a word.
That night
Fu Shi remained seated by the window. Nanny Rao sighed inwardly, then put on a smile and approached, addressing her as she had when Fu Chunhua was still unmarried. "Miss, it’s getting late. You should rest."
After a moment of deep thought, Fu Shi spoke, still perplexed. "Nanny Rao, back then, my mother said she wanted my sister to return home and remarry. Why didn’t she leave?"
Though the remark seemed unrelated, Nanny Rao understood its meaning. "Second Miss was always ambitious even before marriage, longing to marry into a prominent family. Having finally entered the Liu Family, why would she retreat?"
"I used to feel guilty toward her. She was also properly married into the family, but once I returned, the master never visited her again. Yet I know that in matters of affection, there cannot be three people. So, I had no choice but to be selfish. She only has one daughter. I even thought that after Li Shu marries, my Shu Zhao could support her as well." Fu Shi smiled bitterly.
Seeing Nanny Rao about to speak, Fu Shi raised a hand to stop her and continued, "I suspect that back then, she might have been afraid of bearing the stigma of divorce, which forced her to stay. Now, looking back, I realize she probably resents me for being in the way."
Nanny Rao exclaimed, "What kind of reasoning is that? Clearly, you are the rightful wife, and she is the usurper. How can there be such shameless people…"
Nanny Rao was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes. She felt that her mistress had suffered far too much.
Just then, there was a commotion outside. Yu Lan entered to report, "The master and Second Wife have returned."
Everyone knew that the master would likely spend the night with Xiao Fu Shi tonight, but there was nothing they could do. In this household, the fate of women depended entirely on a man’s favor.
Afraid that Fu Shi would be upset, Nanny Rao changed the subject. "Young Master Zhao seems to have caught a chill these past few days. Should we summon a physician tomorrow to examine him?"
Fu Shi was an intelligent woman. She understood that when a woman began to pin her hopes on her son, and the servants hinted that she should place her expectations on him, it meant her husband might have fallen for someone else.
This kind of pain was difficult for any woman to bear, let alone for Fu Shi.
Of course, Liu Chengxu had also come to many realizations. Initially, he felt guilty toward Fu Shi and neglected Xiao Fu Shi, to the point where Xiao Fu Shi lost her will to live, becoming like a walking corpse.
In that case, it would be better to follow one's heart.
Xiao Fu Shi removed her hairpins and ornaments at the dressing table. She had expected to be cold-shouldered at today's social gathering, as such official wives' banquets were usually handled by her elder sister. To her surprise, although she was seated in the lowest position, everyone treated her kindly. Some even praised her as a capable helpmate upon learning of her talent in painting.
As for those few who made sarcastic remarks out of jealousy, Xiao Fu Shi paid them no mind. Unexpectedly, this earned her even more goodwill from others.
In the past, she had truly been too self-restricting.
Her jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Liu Chengxu embraced her from behind and couldn't resist teasing, "From now on, I'll have to rely on you."
Looking at Liu Chengxu, Xiao Fu Shi could almost imagine how witty and humorous he must have been in his youth, unlike the gloomy and irritable man she had married back then.
Thus, she also joked, "Husband, they say one should serve their lord faithfully after receiving his favor. Since I've helped you so much, how will you thank me?"
Liu Chengxu knew that Xiao Fu Shi, being a concubine-born daughter, had always been hesitant to make demands. But seeing her speak so boldly, he curiously asked, "I will certainly thank you, but what do you want?"
"It's not yet curfew. I want to eat Jiujiang's famous snack, Xiushui Shaozis," Xiao Fu Shi said with a smile, tilting her head to look at him.
Xiushui Shaozis are a common snack in Jiujiang, made from taro. The taro is peeled, steamed, mashed into a paste, mixed with sesame oil, and shaped into small balls. There are two types of fillings: sweet fillings made from sugar, sesame powder, dried orange peel, osmanthus flowers, and lard or sesame oil; and savory fillings made from cured meat or ham, garlic, shrimp, and other ingredients.
They melt in the mouth, fragrant and soft.
Liu Chengxu glanced at her. Though initially reluctant to agree, he couldn't resist her sweet and gentle words and nodded, "Alright."
…
When Li Shu woke up early in the morning, Xiao Fu Shi handed her "Xiushui Shaozis." Meanwhile, Xiao Fu Shi herself drank a bowl of medicine. From the smell, Li Shu knew it was a fertility-enhancing tonic, typically taken when preparing for pregnancy.
"Mother, where did these come from?" Li Shu asked curiously.
Xiao Fu Shi only smiled without answering.
That night, however, Liu Chengxu did not come. It was said that Fu Shi's son, Liu Shuzhao, had fallen ill. Dan Hong pursed her lips and remarked, "The master has only been here for a few days, and the first wife is already acting like this."
"Yes, I overheard the servants from the main household gossiping, asking why you didn’t leave back then…" Dan Qing was also indignant.
Xiao Fu Shi was taken aback but shook her head. Before she was married, her stepmother had only arranged a match with a minor rural landowner, one without any substantial foundation. What’s more, if she had become a divorced woman, would she have been able to marry a decent man?
It was likely she would have ended up in a household where suffering went unspoken, just like her stepmother herself—outwardly sweet but inwardly bitter. Her stepmother had used her Yiniang as a facade while secretly forcing her to drink contraceptive medicine. That medicine caused severe abdominal pain for over half a month, and her menstrual periods were like heavy hemorrhaging, ultimately leading to her Yiniang’s death the year she married.
Having suffered under her stepmother’s cruelty herself, how could she abandon her daughter, leaving her to endure the same fate and live under Fu Shi’s scrutiny in the future?
"Such gossip is not worth dwelling on. Perhaps Shuzhao is genuinely ill," Xiao Fu Shi said no more. She didn’t believe Fu Shi would resort to such tactics. With only one son, it would be unwise to make him fall ill for no reason.
Moreover, she had grown weary of the petty struggles in the inner household. Her paintings had helped identify thieves, bringing peace and stability to many wealthy households and commoners. That sense of accomplishment was far greater.
Li Shu heard that Liu Shuzhao had fallen ill. She accompanied Xiao Fu Shi to visit him once, and seeing that Fu Shi did not seem overly concerned, Li Shu also assumed it was just a common cold.
However, she knew that in her previous life, Liu Shuzhao had died young at the age of nine.
Compared to the matters at Fu Shi’s place, over a month later, Xiao Fu Shi received joyful news—she was pregnant. Liu Chengxu, who had just returned from official duties elsewhere, heard the news and immediately rushed to the west courtyard. Seeing Li Shu resting her head on Xiao Fu Shi’s stomach, he quickly pulled his daughter away.
“Don’t crush your mother.”
He then sat by the bedside and asked, “Is it true?”
Xiao Fu Shi nodded shyly, “Two months along. Although it’s still early, the physician confirmed it. By the way, was the painting I made for you last time useful?”
Just as Liu Chengxu was about to speak, Yu Ping stumbled in, “Master, it’s terrible… our eldest son, he…”
“What happened to him?” Liu Chengxu abruptly stood up.
It must be known that Liu Shuzhao was his eldest son, upon whom he placed great hopes. In a few years, he would even be eligible to take the imperial examinations. Just a few days ago, he had sent someone to inquire and was told that Shuzhao was much better.
Yu Ping cried, “The physician said he was fine the day before yesterday, and this morning he even drank an extra bowl of rice porridge. Who would have known that when the pageboy pushed the door open just now, he had already stopped breathing. Madam… she refuses to let go of the eldest young master’s body…”
Hearing this, Li Shu looked at Xiao Fu Shi’s stomach and couldn’t help but think, what a mix of joy and sorrow.
Concubine Su and Concubine Ding also came out upon hearing the commotion. They had originally intended to visit Xiao Fu Shi to congratulate her on her pregnancy but then heard that Fu Shi’s son had died.
These two women did not interact much on a daily basis, but they were of equal status. Although Concubine Su was originally a servant, she had two sons and a daughter. Concubine Ding, though the daughter of a County Magistrate Assistant and a legitimate concubine, only had one daughter.
Concubine Su spread her hands, “What kind of situation is this?”
Concubine Ding seemed to sense something, “I’m afraid things won’t be so peaceful from now on.”
“Do you think the younger one did this?” Concubine Su asked Concubine Ding with a smile.
Concubine Ding replied coldly, “I advise you, sister, not to speak without cause.”
Concubine Su raised an eyebrow—wasn’t it obvious? After Xiao Fu Shi gained favor, Grand Tutor Fu’s son died, and then Xiao Fu Shi became pregnant. It was entirely possible that Xiao Fu Shi was behind this.