The Seventh Year of Yonglong
As soon as the young Emperor of Dayong began to rule in his own right, he started to purge the powerful ministers who had overshadowed the throne and their factions, while also encouraging agriculture and promoting commerce. For a time, all neglected tasks were being revived.
But these tumultuous court affairs had nothing to do with Second Madam Ding. At twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, Second Madam Ding was slender in figure, with her hair styled in a curtain-like bun. Her skin was as pale as translucent paper, and the duck-egg green pipa-style jacket she wore made her appear several shades fairer than those around her.
However, the pipa jacket on Second Madam Ding had a bluish-white hue, clearly having been washed and starched many times.
The woman standing beside her, on the other hand, wore a bright rouge-colored embroidered skirt, particularly eye-catching. The two walked side by side under the covered corridor, talking, followed by several maids and older women.
"I heard your family's Ping'er made another scene. It's fortunate it's you who can endure it," sighed Fourth Mistress Shang.
At the same time, she couldn't help but express deep sympathy for Second Madam Ding.
Second Madam Ding had no support from her maternal family, her background was pitiable, and to make matters worse, her husband was away studying. Her parents-in-law were also biased, and with such a sister-in-law, it was only because Eldest Mistress Ding could endure it.
Fourth Mistress Shang was the wife of Ruan Jiashang, while Second Madam Ding was the wife of Ruan Jiading. Both had married into the Ruan family in the same year. Although they married into different branches, the two had always gotten along well.
Second Madam Ding smiled bitterly: "It was all over a few bites of food. The other day, I sold some embroidery work and earned a little money. I bought cotton to make a padded jacket for our master and had it sent to him. With the few coins left, I bought a stick of malt candy for Mi Niang to enjoy. She wasn't happy about it. While I was out, she rummaged through my room, stood with hands on hips, and wanted to pick a fight. Unfortunately, it was just when the matchmaker brought the prospective groom's family for a visit. Honestly, it's all my fault."
Fourth Mistress Shang looked vindicated: "She deserved it. I heard this match was arranged back when your grandfather-in-law was still alive, with both families having that intention. The groom's father serves as an instructor in Xingping Prefecture, and the family is wealthy. Now that she's lost this match, let's see how she can still be so proud."
The Ruan family was a prominent clan in Jiangling, having produced officials of the highest rank for four generations. The current Empress also came from the Ruan family. But while some members of the Ruan family reached the pinnacle of officialdom, others from collateral branches lived less prosperously. Second Madam Ding's branch was like this, especially since they were supporting a scholar in the family, making life quite difficult.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, don't just talk about me. Why didn't you go to Jiangnan with Fourth Brother Shang this time? He's traveling on business; someone should be there to take care of him," Second Madam Ding was also concerned about Fourth Mistress Shang. Merchants faced many temptations while away; if he took a mistress outside, how could he still care for the family? Moreover, Fourth Mistress Shang now only had a son by her side, who was sickly and frail, and it was uncertain whether he would survive.
A flicker of gloom passed through Fourth Mistress Shang's eyes, but she was extremely strong-willed and unwilling to let others see her weakness, so she said indifferently: "I'm used to life in Jiangling. I crave spicy food and can't get used to sweet flavors."
Anyone could tell this was an excuse. Second Madam Ding didn't press further. After all, every family had its own difficulties. As they were about to say more, they saw a plump, fair-skinned little girl running from the other side of the corridor. She wore her hair in twin buns, dressed in a goose-yellow ruqun skirt, with eyes as dark and shiny as black grapes, making anyone who saw her feel their heart soften.
Second Madam Ding, who had just been wearing a helpless, bitter smile, instantly beamed like a flower. Ignoring her own frail body, she scooped the little girl into her arms and said with a laugh, "My little Mi Niang, were you waiting anxiously for Mother?"
Mi Niang tilted her little head and nestled into Second Madam Ding's embrace. "I'm hungry, Mother."
"Alright, Mother will take you home now. I just got some yeast from your Fourth Aunt, and I'll make your favorite fermented glutinous rice when we get back, how does that sound?" This little daughter of hers wasn't greedy for anything except food.
After saying this, she gave Fourth Mistress an apologetic smile. Fourth Mistress waved her hand, indicating she didn't mind.
She also knew that Second Madam Ding cherished her daughter as if her life depended on it.
Little Mi Niang snuggled in her mother's arms, still able to catch the faint scent of soapberries. She looked at her own fair, tender little hands, feeling somewhat dazed, then suddenly pinched herself—it hurt.
Second Madam Ding found it amusing. "Mi Niang, you've been pinching yourself off and on these past few days. What's going on?" Thinking of this, her smile faded as she turned to ask Granny Hao, who was following behind, "Could it be that Ping'er has been deliberately leading Mi Niang astray these days?"
Granny Hao quickly replied, "Miss Ping'er has been so upset about her failed marriage proposal that she hasn't dared to step out of her room these past few days. How could she possibly lead our Mi Niang astray?"
Hearing this, Second Madam Ding kissed her plump daughter. "If anyone bullies you, you must tell Mother."
She thought her daughter smelled sweet and her flesh was soft—there was no such thing as loving her too much.
Only then did Mi Niang realize she wasn't dreaming—she had truly returned, back to the year she was six years old. For the past three days, she had felt as though she were in a dream.
The day she woke up, her mother was holding her and silently weeping, while at the door, her aunt, Ruan Ping'er, in her younger years, stood with her hands on her hips, cursing her mother. In Mi Niang's memory, her aunt wasn't like this—she wasn't so arrogant. Every time she returned to her maiden home, it was to freeload.
Later… later… Mi Niang went to the capital and had no impression of this aunt, Ruan Ping'er.
In fact, in Mi Niang's memory, her mother had always been a gentle, fragile person. But looking at the situation from an adult's perspective, she could see many hidden intricacies.
Ruan Ping'er was usually only domineering, bullying her two elder brothers and their wives. Mi Niang's mother had suffered no shortage of grievances from her. She would even often take advantage of Second Madam Ding's absence to barge in and rummage through their belongings.
Not to mention bullying Mi Niang—that was a frequent occurrence, especially whenever her father returned from the academy, or when her mother sold embroidery and occasionally bought her a hair ribbon—Ruan Ping'er would snatch it away.
If Ruan Ping'er were to secure a good marriage, given her vain nature, her dowry would drain the entire family.
Now, the most valuable asset in the family was this ancestral home. It had been renovated during her great-grandfather's time, but later, her grandfather gambled away the family fortune and nearly lost the ancestral home as well. In the end, it was her father who sold the hundred acres of land left to him by his great-grandfather for his studies to pay off her grandfather's gambling debts.
Her grandparents had repeatedly wanted to sell the ancestral home to move to the prefectural city. Ruan Ping'er's marriage proposal had given them the perfect opportunity to sell the ancestral property.
Yet she felt that her mother, who had always seemed delicate, was able to exploit conflicts to have Ruan Ping'er's engagement broken off by the groom's family. Not only did she avenge her daughter and herself, but she also preserved the ancestral property, which made Mi Niang view her in a new light. In her previous life, she had lost her mother at the age of eight. When her mother passed away, she was not yet very sensible and did not truly understand her. But now, reborn into this life, she realized that her mother, though outwardly delicate, possessed inner wisdom and strategy, different from what she had imagined.
But how could such a strategic mother suddenly take her own life over a few rumors?
As she pondered this, she heard Second Madam Ding say with a smile, "Mi Niang, Mother will take you inside and have Granny Hao fry some glutinous rice cakes, alright?"
The family was poor, with only three servants. The grandparents had two, and Granny Hao worked between the eldest and second branches of the family. However, because Second Madam Ding had a gentle temperament, excelled in cooking and needlework, and even took care of the children all by herself without ever scolding the servants, Granny Hao preferred Second Madam Ding and often frequented the second branch.
This was also a testament to Second Madam Ding's capabilities.
The room was simple and plain, but Mi Niang found it the most comfortable. When Second Madam Ding placed her on the bed, she even rolled around. Second Madam Ding poked her daughter's belly and said, "Little chubby pig."
"Mi Niang is not a little chubby pig."
With her father and mother still here, what a wonderful time this was. She was still the little Mi Niang cherished in the palms of her parents' hands.
In this life, your daughter will definitely protect you both, Mi Niang vowed in her heart.