Madam Lu shook her head vigorously, gently clutching her son’s hand and refusing to let go. “I’m not leaving. I have to stay with Lu Chengyu.”
Physician Wu sighed, his gaze falling upon Shen Qingqing beside the bed with a hint of scrutiny. So this was the girl with the Four Pillars of Pure Yin whom Nanny Zhou had found? She was thin and tiny, dressed in old clothes covered in patches. Her hair was dry and yellow, and there were still streaks of mud on her face that had not been washed clean. Yet her eyes were clear, black and white distinct, quiet and completely without fear. She did not look like a six-year-old child at all.
“Madam,” Physician Wu began hesitantly in a lowered voice, “that method the Taoist spoke of… are you truly going to do it? This child is only six years old.”
Physician Wu opened and closed his mouth, unable to say anything. Over the past few days, he had exhausted everything he had learned in his lifetime, and even the physicians in town were helpless. Lu Chengyu’s body was already at the end of its strength. This method was their only lifeline.
Madam Lu looked at her son’s flushed little face, her eyes filled with the resolute determination of someone burning her boats. She said each word clearly, “As long as it can save Lu Chengyu, I’m willing to try anything. Even if it means defying Heaven and changing fate, I accept it.”
By evening, the Lu Family Ancestral Residence began making preparations for the “marriage to bring good fortune.”
The Taoist had only said that a wedding ceremony was needed to bring yin and yang together; he had not said that it needed to be grand. Madam Lu was at a loss, and Physician Wu could not explain the details clearly either. In the end, Nanny Zhou made the decision.
“Madam, the Young Master is unconscious and unable to rise and perform the rites. In this old servant’s opinion, why not find a red-crested rooster to stand in for the Young Master? We can hold the ceremony in the front hall and keep things simple. If the heart is sincere, the spirits will answer.”
Madam Lu hesitated for a moment. Looking at her son lying on the bed, utterly lifeless, she finally nodded. “Do as you say. Be sure to arrange everything properly.”
Nanny Zhou acknowledged her and withdrew, setting the servants to work:
First, she sent people to search the storeroom for red candles, red silk, and double-happiness paper cuttings, and had them decorate the front hall simply but festively;
Then, she sent people to clear out the eastern side room of Qingyuan Pavilion as a place for Shen Qingqing to rest. After all, she would have to care for the Young Master in the future and needed somewhere to stay and rest. Though this was merely a marriage to bring good fortune, she was nominally already the Young Madam of the Lu Family Ancestral Residence, so they could not make her squeeze into the servants’ quarters;
Finally, she ordered someone to catch a large rooster from the rear courtyard, its feathers bright and its red comb standing tall. They tied its legs with red silk and placed it in a bamboo cage, ready for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the little maid Moqin took Shen Qingqing to bathe and change clothes.
The little maid led her to the bathing room in the rear annex. A huge wooden tub stood in the center, filled with warm water and scattered with flower petals that gave off a faint, delicate fragrance. Shen Qingqing stood beside the tub with her eyes wide open. She had never seen anything like this before and did not even dare touch it.
“My name is Moqin.” The little maid was two years older than Shen Qingqing. She had a round face and round eyes, and when she smiled, the corners of her eyes and brows curved pleasantly. She was very gentle. Seeing Shen Qingqing standing motionless beside the tub, she stepped forward to help her undress. As she reached out, she said softly, “From now on, I’ll be the one serving you. Let me help you take off your clothes.”
Shen Qingqing suddenly took a step back, clutching the ragged hem of her clothes tightly. There was awkwardness and resistance in her eyes as she shook her head softly. “No, no, Sister Moqin. I can do it myself.”
She had bathed herself ever since she was little. When she had been younger, her mother would help scrub her back, but once she grew older, she had always done it herself and had never let an outsider serve her. Now that Moqin was trying to help her undress, she felt uncomfortable all over, and even her ears quietly turned red.
Moqin froze for a moment. Seeing Shen Qingqing’s tense little face and the tightly clenched hem of her clothes, she hurriedly withdrew her hand and smiled as she stepped back. “All right, all right. I won’t help you. You can do it yourself. Take your time—don’t rush.”
Only then did Shen Qingqing relax. Lowering her head, she quickly removed her old clothes, then carefully held on to the edge of the wooden tub and slowly climbed inside. Throughout the entire process, she did not dare raise her head to look at Moqin even once, and her cheeks burned fiercely.
The moment the hot water rose over her shoulders, Shen Qingqing could not help letting out a soft “Ah.” Every bone in her body seemed to loosen and stretch out. She could no longer remember the last time she had taken a hot bath. On the road while fleeing, she had merely wiped herself down hurriedly with cold water by the river. Sometimes she could not find any water at all and would go several days without washing, leaving her body perpetually sticky and grimy.
Moqin stood beside the wooden tub and did not come forward to disturb her again. She only took a soft silk cloth and handed it over, saying gently, “I’ll stay here with you. If you can’t scrub your back, call me.”
Shen Qingqing accepted the cloth and softly answered, “All right.” She then wet it herself and began scrubbing. Her movements were practiced, but she was still somewhat restrained because someone else was present. She did not scrub her back very thoroughly, yet she refused to trouble Moqin again.
When she scrubbed her right arm, Moqin could not help moving a little closer. She let out a soft “Oh,” her voice full of curiosity. “What’s this on your arm? It looks like a little plum blossom.”
Shen Qingqing lowered her head to look at her right arm. Near her wrist was a pale pink mark shaped exactly like a tiny plum blossom. It was faint, yet very clear.
“My mother said it’s a birthmark,” she replied. “I’ve had it since I was little.”
Moqin looked at it curiously twice but did not ask anything else, nor did she step forward to help again. After Shen Qingqing finished bathing by herself and reached for the new clothes beside her, Moqin hurriedly handed them over. “Put them on quickly, or you’ll catch cold.”
They were a red fine-cloth dress and matching garments. The fabric was soft and very comfortable to the touch, and when Shen Qingqing put them on, they felt warm against her body. She lowered her head and looked at them, then touched the front of the dress with her little hand, unable to believe that they were meant for her.
After getting dressed, Shen Qingqing was just about to arrange her own hair when Moqin stepped forward and asked softly, “Shall I comb your hair for you? It’ll be quicker this way.”
Shen Qingqing hesitated, then gently nodded. Patiently, Moqin combed through her dry, coarse hair bit by bit until it was smooth. She tied it into two small bunches with two red hair ribbons. It was simple, but neat.
“All done.” Moqin looked her over and smiled. “Nanny Zhou told me to take you to the front hall. Madam wants to see you.”
Shen Qingqing followed Moqin outside, her heart filled with unease. She thought of her mother and her younger brother. Her mother should have gotten medicine for her brother by now, shouldn’t she? After her brother drank the medicine, would his fever go down? Did her mother have somewhere to stay tonight? Did she have hot water to drink?
“Qingqing!” Moqin called from ahead.
She came back to herself, hid the sadness in her eyes, and hurried to catch up.
The front hall of the Lu Family Ancestral Residence had already been decorated. Two large red candles stood on the table, with golden double-happiness characters affixed to them. Several more double-happiness paper cuttings adorned the walls. The candle flames flickered, filling the room with a warm red glow, yet they could not dispel the heavy oppression hanging over the hall. The red-crested rooster stood quietly inside the bamboo cage, occasionally flapping its wings and giving a soft “cluck.”
Madam Lu sat in the principal seat of the front hall. Her face was still pale, but she was forcing herself to remain composed. When Shen Qingqing entered, she beckoned to her. Her voice was much gentler than before.
“Qingqing, come here.”
Clutching the corner of her clothes, Shen Qingqing walked over in small steps and stood properly before Madam Lu, still keeping her head lowered and not daring to look up at her.
Madam Lu looked at the little girl before her, now washed clean and dressed in new clothes. Her features were delicate and her gaze calm, which only deepened Madam Lu’s guilt. She gently took Shen Qingqing’s little hand. It was still cold, but her touch held a trace of tenderness.
“Qingqing, I have something to tell you. You must listen carefully.”