When Xie Rutang came to Shou’an Hall that morning, her sister-in-law, Ye Wanyu, was there as well.
Besides Shen Yuan’s legitimate line, the Shen household had a branch of concubine-born descendants. Its son, born to Old Master Shen and Concubine Cheng, was named Shen Wen. His wife, Madam Ye—Ye Wanyu—was Xie Rutang’s sister-in-law.
Concubine Cheng had died young, and Master Shen Wen had been taken to Old Madam’s side to be raised from childhood. As the years passed, she came to regard him as her own son and had never treated the Second Branch harshly.
Old Madam also had an unmarried daughter, Shen Xiaoxiao, who was Xie Rutang’s younger sister-in-law. Spoiled and willful, she was accustomed to having her way, and it was nothing unusual for her to order Xie Rutang around.
After Ye Wanyu gave birth to the Shen household’s precious grandson half a year ago, she finally held her head high. Now that Xie Rutang was widowed, and Shen Wen had been promoted to deputy commander of the Military Affairs Bureau at the beginning of the year, Madam Ye had begun to take frequent opportunities to kick Xie Rutang when she was down.
When Xie Rutang entered the room, she saw a woman adorned with pearls and jewels from head to toe keeping Old Madam company.
Ye Wanyu was wearing the Hangzhou silk Shen Wen had brought back from an out-of-province assignment. Her hair was piled high in a cloudlike coiffure, decorated with kingfisher-feather hairpins set with pearls, and she wore a pair of gold-and-jade bracelets.
It was time to attend to her mother-in-law.
That day, it was supposed to be Ye Wanyu’s turn to help Old Madam eat.
Holding a bowl of soup, Ye Wanyu smiled and demurred. “Sister-in-law, I really can’t judge how hot this soup is. I’m afraid I’ll burn Mother with the first spoonful. You usually handle this, and you know Mother’s tastes and habits best. Why don’t you do it instead?”
Xie Rutang pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Ye Wanyu turned to Old Madam and cooed softly, “Mother, you know how naughty Jia’er is. I carry him all day, and my arms get so sore I can barely hold a bowl…”
“Unlike me, Sister-in-law has it easy. I’m stuck with the child all day, and even when my arms ache like this, there’s no one to feel sorry for me.”
The complaint in her voice was unmistakable.
Looking after their in-laws was a duty shared by Xie Rutang and Ye Wanyu. But ever since Ye Wanyu had given birth to the Shen household’s only son, she had started shirking her responsibilities, always coming up with one excuse or another to get out of them.
In the afternoon, when it was her turn to keep Old Madam company, she said she had to make new clothes for Jia’er.
At dusk, when it was her turn to light the lamps, she claimed her headache had returned and went back to her room early.
She left everything to Xie Rutang.
After a moment, Xie Rutang simply smiled and reached out to take the bowl. “I’ll do it.”
She had not borne Shen Yuan a child, and now she was a widow, dependent on the Shen household for a place to live. It was better to be accommodating and not take issue with everything. Otherwise, Ye Wanyu would only find more ways to mock her.
Old Madam, wearing a coral-bead forehead band, gave Xie Rutang an indifferent glance. “Very well. You do it.”
Having gotten her way, Ye Wanyu settled onto a small stool nearby and did nothing more.
Back when Shen Yuan was alive, he had spoiled Xie Rutang so much. Shen Wen had not been so affectionate toward Ye Wanyu then, and she could only watch, envious, as Xie Rutang had such a loving husband.
Who would have thought their fortunes would change? Ye Wanyu smiled.
Xie Rutang lowered her head and scooped up a spoonful of tremella and red-date soup. She blew on it gently a few times, judging the temperature carefully before bringing the jade spoon steadily to her mother-in-law’s lips.
Old Madam opened her mouth and slowly swallowed the spoonful. “Madam Xie, don’t feel you’ve been wronged. If you’d borne Yuan’er a child, you could leave these little chores to the maids. You wouldn’t have to tire yourself out. But, unfortunately, your womb failed you.”
Xie Rutang’s hand paused around the jade spoon, but she did not answer back.
Seated in an armchair, Ye Wanyu held a teacup. Her nails were painted a vivid red, and she spoke in a gentle voice.
“Sister-in-law takes such good care of everything. I’m not like her. Ever since I married into the Shen household, my husband has always doted on me and wouldn’t let me lift a finger for even the roughest chores. Just now, I was worried the soup would be boiling hot and that I might scald Mother by misjudging it. I’ll have to learn more from Sister-in-law in the future.”
Xie Rutang gave her a faint, perfunctory smile, though her fingertips had gone white.
She had just served her mother-in-law half a bowl when a commotion came from beyond the large chrysanthemum-patterned door curtain.
A maid told them that Second Master had just returned from the palace.
Xie Rutang stiffened. While the servants cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, she quietly retreated a few steps and hid behind Ye Wanyu as the latter rose to greet him.
She hadn’t expected him to come by just then.
A moment later, Pei Zhiheng entered the flower hall.
He had changed into a crow-blue informal robe of dark silk, faintly patterned with icy ripples. The severity he wore in court had fallen away, leaving him looking refined and aloof.
Ye Wanyu shed her arrogance at once, putting on a welcoming smile and not daring to show the slightest neglect. “Second Master, you’re here!”
“Have you eaten, Second Master? Would you like to try the tremella and red-date soup from the kitchen? It’s sweet and soothing. I’ll have someone bring you a bowl…”
Whether her husband could be promoted to commander of the Military Affairs Bureau depended on Pei Zhiheng. He had deep roots and connections throughout the Six Ministries. One word from him would be enough to secure her husband’s promotion.
With his hands behind his back, Pei Zhiheng stepped into the room and instinctively glanced toward the corner.
And there he saw Xie Rutang, hiding behind the servants.
She usually dressed simply in the household, but today she was dressed even more plainly.
She wore a misty white dress. Her gentle nature was like a softly flowing stream, and there was only a silver hairpin in her hair.
Xie Rutang stood quietly with her eyes lowered. The slender, pale nape beneath her dark hair was just visible. She looked both fragile and pitiful; one glance was enough to pick her out of a crowd.
Her clothes today were rather modest.
Pei Zhiheng’s gaze settled on her.
She had wrapped herself up completely today, which somehow made her seem all the more innocently alluring.
Xie Rutang frowned, her fingertips tensing slightly.
Fortunately, Pei Zhiheng merely gave her a cool glance, then turned away. He took a few steps toward Old Madam and began speaking with her.
How could Ye Wanyu pass up a chance to make herself known to him?
She hurried over too. Always adept at pleasing everyone, she soon had Old Madam smiling and laughing.
“Mother, have you heard? Since Second Master was appointed Minister of the Dali Temple, his reputation has spread far and wide. The whole city is saying His Majesty praised him several times in a row at the Golden Throne Hall. Even our Shen household has benefited from the association.”
Pei Zhiheng leaned back in his chair and smiled faintly.
Xie Rutang still had little presence in the room. She was already deeply grateful that the Shen household gave her a place to stay.
Besides, with Pei Zhiheng here, she could hardly sit still.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Ye Wanyu rose to take her leave. The wet nurse had just brought Jia’er over, saying that he had been crying in the courtyard, calling for his mother. Ye Wanyu’s heart softened immediately, and she hurried off with the child in her arms.
Jia’er was a lovely little bundle, with a small, shapely nose and bright black eyes. He was so adorable that even Xie Rutang couldn’t help feeling fond of him.
Just then, Shen Wen, fresh from the government office, came to fetch Ye Wanyu.
He wore a scholar’s long robe and looked refined and cultured.
Watching the three of them return to their courtyard, a picture of domestic harmony, Xie Rutang was moved by the scene. Her lovely face, illuminated by the lamplight, grew desolate as a faint sadness settled over her.
Pei Zhiheng watched her coldly from nearby.
It took Xie Rutang a long while to recover. She had meant to leave too, but she still had to serve her mother-in-law her medicine after the meal.
Xie Rutang glanced at the man in the room.
Pei Zhiheng seemed to have no intention of leaving at all.
Her slender, moonlike brows drew together slightly once more.
The maid had already finished boiling the herbal medicine.
Xie Rutang set down the handkerchief she was holding and reached for the medicine bowl. Heat seeped through the thin, coarse porcelain.
Old Madam was reclining against a bolster, her eyes half-closed.
Xie Rutang sat down sideways at the edge of the couch and scooped up a spoonful. “Mother, it’s time for your medicine.”
She blew carefully on it. Only after making sure it had cooled to a warm temperature did she bring it to Old Madam’s lips.
But the moment Old Madam’s lips touched the edge of the spoon, her expression darkened.
She suddenly flung out a hand.
“Madam Xie, this medicine is so hot! What are you up to? Did you mean to scald me?”
The shove sent the entire bowl of herbal medicine spilling down Xie Rutang’s chest.
The lychee-white skin there flushed red at once. Xie Rutang gasped in pain, her face turning deathly pale.
The unexpected push sent her stumbling half a step backward, and more than half the bowl of medicine sloshed over her plain-colored brocade skirt.
Xie Rutang hurriedly slipped a handkerchief inside her collar to soak up the liquid, forgetting that there was another man in her mother-in-law’s room.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly withdrew her hand.