Early the next morning, Old Madam Zong summoned Madam Liu and relayed Zong Xian’s wishes to her.
Madam Liu was in a difficult position.
After all, Madam Shen was set on securing the position of principal wife[1]The formally recognized primary wife, whose position and household authority were generally above those of concubines in traditional elite households. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733106_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733106_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); in the Zong Residence for her legitimate daughter. If Shen Mingzhu were made a concubine[2]A secondary partner with lower status than a principal wife in a traditional household. The standing of concubines and bedchamber servants could differ by period and household. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733106_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733106_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, Madam Shen’s pride would surely keep her from agreeing.
Madam Liu naturally knew why Old Madam had summoned her. Wasn’t she simply trying to dump this unpleasant task on her?
But how could she bring herself to raise it with Madam Shen? If someone wanted to take her daughter as a concubine, she’d be furious too.
Madam Liu hesitated. “Shen Mingzhu is a legitimate daughter, after all. Wouldn’t making her a concubine be an insult? Madam Shen probably won’t agree.”
Old Madam Zong replied coolly, “Shen Mingzhu isn’t her biological daughter. She’s only a stepdaughter. If Madam Shen can trade her stepdaughter for the future of the whole family, she’ll know which matters more and make the sensible choice.”
“Besides, being Second Master[3]A household title identifying a male master by his position in the family’s birth order, rather than by his personal name. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733106_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733106_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });’s concubine won’t mean her daughter is treated poorly. Go speak with her first. If she refuses, then so be it.”
When Madam Liu left Old Madam’s rooms, anger simmered inside her.
She’d known there could be no good reason for Old Madam to summon her.
Madam Liu sighed and instructed a servant, “Take my calling card and deliver it to the Shen family. Since Old Madam has said so, I’ll have to make the trip.”
As soon as Zong Xian returned, the Zong Residence began receiving a flood of visiting cards, most of them from officials at court.
The Salt Tax Case had implicated a great many people. In the few days since Zong Xian’s return, three households in the capital had already been seized, their heads imprisoned—and all three men were influential court officials.
The entire court was now on edge, afraid that the blade hanging over their heads might fall on their own families at any moment.
The officials implicated in the case were especially anxious. They tried every possible way to beg Zong Xian for mercy; some even wanted to send their daughters to him, willing to let them become concubines.
But Zong Xian rarely received visitors. He had been busy ever since his return, and the Zong Residence held no banquets. As always, it remained quiet and subdued.
Mingyi didn’t care about what was happening outside. Whether Zong Xian was home or not made little difference to her life.
When she had nothing to do, she usually stayed in her own little garden, only occasionally hearing news of the outside world from Yuegui.
Yuegui naturally had no way of finding out what was happening at court. All she had heard was that Zong Xian was about to take a wife, and she came to tell Mingyi about it, brimming with excitement.
Mingyi listened, then suddenly understood. “So that day, they were arranging a marriage for him. No wonder all the servants in the household rushed off to watch. I wonder what Shen Mingzhu looks like.”
She wondered whether the young woman she had seen in the waterside pavilion that day had been Shen Mingzhu.
“This maid doesn’t know. But whoever Second Master has taken a fancy to must be lovely. Still, she definitely won’t be as pretty as you, Miss!”
Mingyi shot her a reproachful look. “Why compare me to her, Lass? Stop being so glib.”
Yuegui wasn’t teasing her; she was telling the truth.
Though she was only a little maid and hadn’t seen much of the world, Mingyi truly was the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes on.
Even after being together for years, Yuegui still often found herself staring at Mingyi’s face, lost in thought. How could anyone be born so beautiful? Nuwa really did play favorites.
“What are you daydreaming about? Come grind the ink for me. I’m going to write to Brother Huaiyu.”
Yuegui came to her senses and answered at once, “This maid will do it right away.”
Xie Huaiyu was currently serving in the Ministry of Works[4]A central government department generally responsible for construction, public works, and related state projects. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733106_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733106_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. He had secured a sixth-rank position, and three months earlier had been assigned to oversee road construction in another region.
If all went well, he might even be promoted when he returned.
They had been exchanging letters throughout this time.
They should have married long ago, but unfortunately, Master Xie had died. As the legitimate son, Xie Huaiyu had to observe mourning, so the marriage had been put off.
Mingyi had always thought of Xie Huaiyu as a shield, but she also felt some affection for him.
After all, they had been together day and night for years. He had never treated her or her younger brother poorly, and had always done his best to give her the best of everything.
Xie Huaiyu was handsome, too—the sort of man one might describe as “a jade-like gentleman, unmatched in the world.”
More importantly, she knew Xie Huaiyu inside and out. Marrying him might be a good choice.
So when she left the Zong Residence, she would consider taking him with her—unless he was unwilling.
She just hadn’t brought it up with him yet. For one thing, it would be hard to find a reason to explain it; for another, setting up a new residence outside would require a good deal of money.
There was no need to rush.
…
After a busy day, Madam Liu was finally able to rest. Qinghe was helping her back to her room when she caught sight of a furtive figure nearby.
Qinghe immediately called out, “Who’s there?”
A moment later, a timid figure emerged from the shadows and dropped to his knees without a word.
“Your servant Fugui greets First Madam[5]A household form of address for the wife of the senior son or principal master of a family branch. It denotes her position within the household hierarchy. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733106_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733106_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });! Your servant has something important to report to First Madam. I beg you to forgive my offense!”
Weary, Madam Liu pressed her fingers to her temples. She said nothing, but her expression was already one of deep impatience.
She had more than enough troubles on her mind. How could she spare the energy to deal with a servant’s business?
Reading her expression, Qinghe scolded him, “Which household do you serve? Who gave you permission to come here? Don’t you know what time it is? Not even the most urgent matter should disturb First Madam’s rest. Guards, drag him out!”
The two older women on duty immediately came forward, one on either side of the young servant, and began to haul him away.
Fugui panicked and called out, “First Madam, what I have to tell you concerns Second Master! He mistook someone for someone else that day!”
Madam Liu stopped and looked at him. “Wait. Let him finish.”
At her order, the older women released him and stepped aside.
Fugui hurriedly explained, “On the day Second Master returned, I was dozing beside the lotus pond near Tingshui Pavilion. Then I heard someone shouting loudly. It sounded like Shen Mingzhu…”
Fugui recounted everything he had seen that day, from beginning to end, to Madam Liu.
He told Madam Liu that Shen Mingzhu had already left in a huff before Zong Xian arrived; the two hadn’t met at all.
And the woman Zong Xian had seen in the waterside pavilion was Ji Mingyi!
Madam Liu was stunned. She demanded sharply of Fugui, “Is this true? Do you understand the price of lying to me?”
Fugui hurriedly knocked his head against the ground. “Your servant wouldn’t dare lie to First Madam! If a single word of this is false, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!”
Madam Liu snapped, “It’s been seven days. Why are you only telling me now?!”
Madam Liu was furious.
Two days earlier, she had already suggested to Madam Shen that Shen Mingzhu become Zong Xian’s concubine. Just as she had expected, Madam Shen’s face darkened on the spot. She said that no legitimate daughter of a marquis[6]A hereditary or honorific noble title within a rank system that varied across Chinese dynasties. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733106_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733106_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });’s household had ever become someone else’s concubine!
Naturally, the discussion went nowhere.
When Old Madam Zong had asked about it yesterday, she had been displeased, thinking Madam Liu incompetent for failing to handle such a small matter. Concubine Yu had even taken the opportunity to mock her.
Madam Liu had been deeply vexed. If Fugui had told her earlier that Zong Xian’s choice had been Ji Mingyi, why would she have had to suffer that humiliation?
References[+]