He Baoyan still refused to give up. “Why won’t you agree, Yunzhu? You’ve met Miss Chen yourself—she is as gentle as they come, dutiful and well‑mannered, and she treats you with the utmost kindness. You could lean on her as a support, and after marriage, it would spare you much effort.”
Xiao Yunzhu retorted: “Would a well‑bred young lady seduce another woman’s fiancé?”
That was an insult to the very word *well‑bred*. And as for being his “support”? She had her own hands—she needed none of that.
He Baoyan: “…Don’t put it so harshly.”
Between him and Chunsi was precious affection, not seduction.
Xiao Yunzhu replied politely: “Then enlighten me, Third Cousin—what should I call it?”
He Baoyan, with great self‑assurance: “It was I who first desired her, not her fault. Love between man and woman sometimes comes unbidden, beyond one’s control.”
Xiao Yunzhu said evenly: “So it’s you who is shameless.”
He would rather shoulder all blame than tarnish Chen Chunsi’s name—so sincere, so devoted. If she were not already betrothed to him, she might almost have been moved. But since she was, she only felt disgust.
Not wishing to hear more of his nonsense, she said coolly: “Whether you want Chunsi or Qiusi, that’s your business. I have no objection. But don’t expect me to arrange it. Please leave.”
He Baoyan’s face turned dark; he swept his sleeve and left. To be called shameless by his own fiancée! Outrageous. His mother had been right—Yunzhu was stubborn, ignorant of a woman’s proper gentleness and obedience.
Once he was gone, the two maids who had been sent outside earlier came back in. Since the door had been left open, they had heard what was said.
Lǜ Mei, furious: “Truly, you never know a person’s heart. Chen Chunsi looked so kind and gentle, but secretly she’s deceitful!” She wanted to curse He Baoyan, too, but dared not.
Qing Zhi added angrily: “Always acting like a big sister to our lady—shameless!”
From the start, Chen Chunsi had been attentive, circling around Xiao Yunzhu like a caring elder sister. Xiao Yunzhu had even thought it nice to have such a companion. But in truth, she wanted to be “sisters” in sharing one husband.
Xiao Yunzhu, uninterested: “Ignore them.”
Since childhood, she had known she would marry her cousin, He Baoyan—her parents’ will, the matchmaker’s word, her grandmother’s expectation. So even if she sometimes felt he was not a good match, she had no other thought. Now it was he who had thoughts—and grand ones at that.
Lǜ Mei hesitated: “Miss, do you think Third Young Master will really go to Old Madam?”
If Chen Chunsi entered first, the Xiao family’s face would be lost. Even later would be unacceptable—her scheming nature and affection for him would bring disaster. She must never be chosen as a concubine.
Xiao Yunzhu said firmly: “He wouldn’t dare.”
Because Chen Chunsi’s background was unusual—she was a distant relative of Grandmother’s family. Her ancestors had once held office, but the family had since declined. Grandmother, moved by pity, had helped them several times.
Last year, Chen Chunsi’s mother brought her to the He household, saying her father meant to marry her off to a merchant in his fifties. She begged Grandmother to find her a better match.
Grandmother, seeing Chen Chunsi educated and pretty, could not bear to let her be ruined, so she agreed to keep her in the household and raise her like one of their own daughters.
Some foolish old madams might push distant kin into their sons’ or grandsons’ chambers as concubines, using them to spar with daughters‑in‑law and exert control. But families with true propriety and heritage would never do such a thing.
Grandmother was certainly not that sort.
Xiao Yunzhu knew it. He Baoyan knew it too—that was why he came to her for “consent.” If he dared shamelessly to speak of it before Grandmother, he would face punishment, and Chen Chunsi would be sent home at once.
Lǜ Mei also thought that Chen Chunsi was a distant relative of Old Madam He, and whispered, “The old madam misjudged—she’s brought a wolf into the house!”
Xiao Yunzhu cast her a glance.
Lǜ Mei quickly slapped her own mouth. “This maid was wrong, I should not have spoken ill of the old madam!”
Xiao Yunzhu wasn’t truly angry. After sitting for a short while, she went to Shou’an Hall to see her grandmother.
Old Madam He brightened the moment she saw her. After Xiao Yunzhu finished her courtesies, Old Madam He beckoned her to sit by her side, chiding affectionately, “Why so late? The pear blossom cakes are nearly cold!”
Both Lǜ Mei and Qing Zhi thought Xiao Yunzhu would complain, but she did not. She only smiled and said, “The weather was pleasant today. I slept deeply at noon and rose a little late.”
Old Madam He laughed. “No matter, no matter. Children are meant to be fond of sleep.”
She ordered the maids to bring pear blossom cakes and several other pastries. Grandmother and granddaughter chatted as they tasted the sweets.
“Zhu Zhu, when you and Baoyan are married at year’s end and you enter our household, you’ll be able to stay by your grandmother’s side for good!” Old Madam He’s face was full of joy.
Of all her grandchildren, the ones she cherished most were Xiao Yunzhu and He Baoyan. To see the two dearest to her joined as one family was her greatest happiness.
Xiao Yunzhu answered softly, “Yes.”
Old Madam He patted her hand and said gently, “Then we’ll bring your mother here too. After all these years, it’s time she let go.”
Xiao Yunzhu was silent for a few breaths, then said, “I also hope Mother can let go.”
But how could she?
For her mother, it was the grief of losing her husband and sons.
For herself, it was the sorrow of losing father and brothers.
She had been only six years old then, her memories of them not deep, so she could move forward. But her mother—bound by love for her husband and devotion to her sons—how could she? Not nine years, not ten, not twenty; she feared her mother would never be able to let go.
Old Madam He sighed several times, then said, “Zhu Zhu, do not resent your mother. Her heart is bitter.”
Her son‑in‑law, Marquis Xingyuan, had been a man among men; her two grandsons were bright and gifted boys. Heaven had not granted them years, and they died too soon. Her daughter, consumed by grief, forgot that her young child also needed care and affection. Luckily, Xiao Yunzhu was precocious—otherwise, who knows what might have become of her.
Xiao Yunzhu said, “Grandmother need not worry. I do not resent Mother. I never have.”
It was her mother who resented her.
Nine years ago, her father and elder brothers had left the capital on assignment. On their return, to make it in time for her birthday banquet, they braved the rain by boat. The vessel capsized, and their bodies were never recovered. During the funeral, some old servants muttered that her birth characters were ill‑starred, that she brought misfortune to kin. Her mother flew into a rage and had them beaten to death, blood flowing across the ground. From then on, no one in the household dared utter the words “ill‑starred.” But Xiao Yunzhu knew her mother believed it—or at least suspected it.
At times she treated Xiao Yunzhu like a precious jewel; at times she blamed her for the deaths of father and brothers. One night, her mother nearly strangled her with her own hands. When she came to her senses, she was overcome with remorse and begged forgiveness through tears. Of course Xiao Yunzhu forgave her—how could she not?
In truth, she hated herself for being born on that day. Had it not been her birthday, her father and brothers would not have rushed home, and would not have met with disaster. Even as a child, she felt the piercing pain; her mother’s heart was shattered beyond repair. If not for Xiao Yunzhu as her tether, her mother would long ago have followed her husband and sons to the Yellow Springs. Now she lived on only in name, like a walking corpse, cloistered in the Xiao family’s Buddha hall, rarely stepping outside.