At the hou fu, in Songhe Hall, everyone was accompanying Wei lao furen in conversation.
Someone casually mentioned the matter of wedding-dress gold thread, and Wei lao furen asked about it.
Wei shi coughed lightly and said, “In the Gu fu next door, both Xiao Jiu and Yue yatou are beginning preparations for their wedding gowns. Xiao Jiu received eight taels of gold thread, while Yue received four.
“Xie dimei, feeling distressed for her own daughter and thinking Yue yatou was slighted, went to quarrel with Zhang dimei. But in the end, Zhang dimei did not yield, only saying that such was the established rule.”
Wei lao furen frowned. “To quarrel over just a few taels of gold thread, does Xie shi not know she could take out her own gold, have it spun into thread, and add it for her precious daughter?”
Wei shi smiled faintly. “Perhaps Xie dimei was reluctant to part with it.”
Wang shi laughed. “She calls her a precious daughter, yet she won’t even spend a few taels of gold on her. Isn’t that far too stingy?”
Wei shi chuckled but said nothing. She was happy to see others belittle Xie shi; Xie shi was due for a lesson.
Wei lao furen asked, “Xiao Jiu’s wedding date hasn’t been set yet, has it?”
Wei shi nodded. “Not yet. But I’ve heard that the wedding date for Ning wang’s gongzi and Xiao guniang has already been fixed, it will be this July.
“If the marriage between Gongzi Zhao and Xiao Jiu is not decided soon, her wedding will be after theirs. In that case, once Xiao Jiu marries into the wang fu, although she will be the eldest di daughter-in-law, she may still be overshadowed by Xiao guniang.
“I truly don’t know what Ning wang fu intends. And as for Gongzi Zhao, he doesn’t seem in any hurry to wed either.”
Wei lao furen frowned slightly. “Our family has little contact with Ning wang fu. Otherwise, we could send someone to inquire.”
Duan shi spoke up: “But since Xiao Jiu is already betrothed to Gongzi Zhao, that in itself is a legitimate reason to open conversation. It would only be proper for er laoye from the Gu fu to send someone to inquire at the wang fu.”
Wei shi nodded. “San dimei is right. Marriage is a ready excuse. If the wang fu doesn’t act first, the Gu fu must not stay passive. Someone should indeed be sent to ask.”
Wei lao furen said: “Tomorrow I’ll speak to the old houye and hear his thoughts. Yu mama, go check the chest, how much gold thread is left?”
Yu mama obeyed and went inside to look.
Wang shi asked, “Lao furen, are you planning to send gold thread to the girls in the neighnouring fu?”
Wei lao furen smiled. “Xie shi makes a muddle of being a wife. To quarrel so much over a bit of gold thread, not only is it shameful, but such things will also cause estrangement between Xiao Jiu and Yue yatou, two sisters. If I didn’t know, that’s one thing. But since I do, I must knock some sense into Xie shi.”
Yu mama returned. “To report, lao furen, there’s half a jin of gold thread left.”
Wei lao furen decided promptly: “Send two taels to Xiao Jiu, and two to Yue as well. The two sisters will be treated equally, with no favouritism.
“I also heard that Zhen yatou is discussing marriage, but it’s been delayed because of the national mourning. The remaining one tael, send it to Zhen yatou.
“I hope her betrothal goes smoothly this time and she secures a good match soon. Tell her, whether or not the marriage is fixed, the wedding dress should be prepared. One tael isn’t much, but it’s my heartfelt token.”
“Lao furen is truly kind and caring.”
Yu mama accepted the task, took a little maid with her, and went to the Gu fu with the half jin of gold thread.
Zhang shi came out to receive her.
Hearing that Wei lao furen was sending gold thread for the young ladies, she immediately had the girls called to the flower hall and also sent for Xie shi.
As the er taitai, it was proper for Xie shi to be present when Yu mama delivered gifts.
Once everyone was gathered, Yu mama explained: “Lao furen heard that Xiao Jiu guniang, Yue guniang and Zhen guniang are all working on their wedding dresses, so she sent me specially to deliver gold thread for them.”
With that, she had the maid present the thread.
Gu Jiu quickly stepped forward. “This is too much trouble for lao furen. The fu has already prepared sufficient gold thread; how can we accept more from her? That would not be proper.”
Gu Yue lowered her head and pouted. Of course Gu Jiu could decline so easily. She already had eight taels! But she cared deeply about it.
Yet she could not say so outright; that would be improper.
Gu Zhen also looked forward to it, but she also knew it was customary to decline at least once when receiving an elder’s gift.
Yu mama smiled. “Lao furen said this is her personal goodwill, and the three guniang must accept it. Otherwise, she would be displeased.”
Gu Jiu looked toward Zhang shi.
Zhang shi gave her a nod.
Gu Jiu said promptly, “If that is so, then as juniors, we dare not refuse. On behalf of my da jiejie and san meimei, I accept this gift with gratitude.”
Yu mama smiled broadly. “As it should be.”
Zhang shi chuckled. “Lao furen always has the girls in her heart. Dimei, don’t you agree?”
Xie shi forced an awkward smile. “Lao furen’s goodwill, the children will surely remember.”
Yu mama turned to her. “Er taitai, it is no small burden to oversee the marriages of the three guniang. Lao furen also said she hopes you and da taitai can visit the hou fu when you have the time, she misses you both.”
Zhang shi smiled. “Tomorrow, if I have time, I’ll go pay my respects to lao furen. Dimei, will you come along?”
Xie shi forced another smile. “Of course I’ll come.”
Inside, Xie shi felt very uneasy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Yu mama’s words carried hidden meanings, but she couldn’t figure them out.
The whole matter seemed strange.
Yu mama, with a faintly knowing smile, drank a couple of sips of tea and then excused herself to leave.
Gu Yue, having received two taels of gold thread, was overjoyed. Her excitement was written all over her face and could not be hidden.
Gu Zhen was also delighted, though she at least remembered to restrain herself a little.
Zhang shi laughed and said, “Well, that’s settled. Dimei no longer has to worry about the gold thread for Yue yatou’s wedding robe.”
Xie shi gave a cold snort. “If it weren’t for dasao forever chanting ‘rules this, rules that,’ why would I need to worry about the gold thread for Yue’er’s dowry?”
Zhang shi gave her a half-smile, half-smirk. “Two taels of gold thread are hardly worth much, at most a few hundred taels of silver. How can dimei begrudge so little when it’s your own daughter’s wedding robe? You won’t even part with two taels of gold thread?”
Xie shi nearly toppled backwards in anger. “Easy enough for dasao to say. Our second branch isn’t like your main branch, controlling the fu’s estates and with no daughters to marry off. Naturally, you don’t care about a few hundred taels of silver. But we, sons and daughters both! Aside from arranging the marriages of three daughters, there are also sanlang and liulang’s marriages that must be seen to.
“Just those alone have already emptied out years of savings from me and laoye. Where would I find extra money for gold thread? If dasao were willing to let me manage the family estates, a mere few hundred taels I could take out without a thought. But alas, dasao will not give me the chance.”
Zhang shi gave a sharp, cold snort. “So it is as I thought, petty-minded. It seems, dimei, that my warning fell on deaf ears.”
Xie shi’s expression shifted slightly. She still remembered Zhang shi’s threat to lock her in the ancestral hall for reflection. And she had no doubt Zhang would do it.
That was the way with old military families, brutal in action.
Xie shi snorted again. “I’m busy. I’ll take my leave. Dasao, do as you please.”
With that, she rose and left. Gu Yue hurried after her.
Zhang shi sneered softly and rolled her eyes in secret.
Gu Jiu only shook her head with a smile. Clearly, Xie shi never managed to win even the smallest advantage against Zhang shi, yet she refused to admit defeat and insisted on running headlong into humiliation. Admirable spirit, if nothing else.
Gu Jiu rose, intending to take her leave as well.
But Zhang shi stopped the two sisters.
“Zhen yatou, it’s still the period of national mourning, when everything is inconvenient. But once the hundred days of deep mourning pass, it will be time to discuss your marriage.”
Gu Zhen’s cheeks flushed red at once, and she became flustered.
“Da bomu, my marriage… Wasn’t it said that there would be no further talk of it?”
Zhang shi smiled. “My maternal uncle’s family has indeed dropped the matter. But my younger sister’s family has taken a liking to you. Would you object?”
Gu Zhen quickly waved her hands. “Of course I wouldn’t object!”
“That’s good. Once the hundred days are past, the two families will meet again. If all goes well, the marriage can be settled. You’ll need to have your wedding clothes made in good time too.”
Gu Zhen blushed deeply and nodded hard. “Thank you, da bomu.”
Her excitement brimmed over, and her eyes filled with tears.
Zhang shi hurried to say, “Look at you, child, it’s not such a great matter. Why so moved?”
Gu Zhen wiped her tears, saying, “My marriage should have been arranged by my taitai. I never expected she would fail me. In the end, it is da bomu who has helped me resolve my life’s greatest matter.”
Zhang shi said, “It’s too early to call it resolved. Wait until the betrothal is set. Then you may thank me again.”
Gu Zhen nodded emphatically.
Gu Jiu and Gu Zhen left the flower hall together.
Gu Zhen looked up at the gloomy, overcast sky, yet to her it seemed just right, just like her mood.
She said to Gu Jiu, “Er meimei, this time I still have you to thank.”
Gu Jiu replied, “Da jiejie is too polite. Lao furen is truly kindhearted. I never thought she would still be thinking of our marriages.”
Gu Zhen smiled faintly. “I almost wish I could be lao furen’s real granddaughter.”
But alas, lao furen was the matriarch of the hou fu, not of the Gu fu.
In her heart, Gu Zhen felt a pang of regret that she had not been born into the hou fu. If she had, life would never have been so hard.
Gu Zhen then took the gold thread to show Hu yiniang.
Hu yiniang was overjoyed. “So lao furen still keeps you in her thoughts, what a rare kindness! I must make her a pair of shoes and socks with my own hands. Tomorrow you’ll take them to lao furen, and say they’re your handiwork, a token of filial piety.”
Gu Zhen hesitated. “But what if lao furen sees the stitching and realises I lied?”
“Don’t worry, she won’t see through it,” Hu yiniang assured her confidently.
Relieved, Gu Zhen added, “Da bomu also said that once the hundred days are over, she’ll arrange a match for me. If nothing goes wrong, the marriage should be settled.”
“Truly?”
Gu Zhen nodded firmly.
Hu yiniang was even happier. “Thank Heaven. At last, there’s hope for your marriage. As long as you can wed into a good family, all the suffering of these past days will have been worth it.”
Mother and daughter embraced, weeping together.
Just then, a maid entered. “Yiniang, taitai asks that you come to Furong Yuan. She has something to instruct.”
Hu yiniang wiped her tears and ordered hot water brought for washing.
She asked the maid who delivered the message, “Did taitai say what it was about?”
The maid shook her head. “No, taitai only said you must go quickly.”
“I understand. I’ll go right away.”
Gu Zhen asked worriedly, “Yiniang, nothing will go wrong, will it?”
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
Hu yiniang made her way to Furong Yuan. After the maid announced her arrival, she entered the main hall.
Inside, Gu Yue was keeping Xie shi company. Her eyes were swollen red. It was obvious she had been crying.
Hu yiniang felt puzzled. Gu Yue had just received two taels of gold thread; she ought to be delighted. Why was she weeping?
Gu Yue wiped the corners of her eyes and said, “Mother, nü’er will take her leave now.”
Xie shi nodded. “Go on.”
“Nubi greets taitai,” Hu yiniang said respectfully.
Xie shi gave a short nasal “Mm,” and pointed to a stool nearby, signalling Hu yiniang to sit and speak.
Hu yiniang lowered her eyes and spoke softly, “Thank you, taitai.”
Xie shi smiled faintly. “By my reckoning, Bai yiniang should be due any day now. Your courtyards are right next to each other. Why haven’t I seen you go to visit her recently?”
Hu yiniang’s heart gave a jolt. Even whether she had visited Bai shi was something Xie shi knew, nothing in this fu escaped her gaze.
She bowed and replied, “To report to taitai, nubi has been feeling unwell these days, afraid of passing an illness to Bai yiniang, so I dared not visit her.”
Xie shi sneered. “Bai yiniang is about to give birth. What are your plans?”
Hu yiniang froze.
Xie shi’s face hardened. “Don’t tell me you have made no preparations at all?”
Hu yiniang opened her mouth, tongue-tied. After a long while, she managed to say, “Taitai, as for Bai yiniang, one can only act once she goes into labour.”
“I know that. I am asking, are you confident?”
Hu yiniang’s face changed slightly.
It was obvious Xie shi wanted her to take the blame. Should she carry this burden or not?
A thousand thoughts ran through her mind.
Xie shi smiled coldly. “Zhen yatou and Gu Heng are both of marriageable age. One needs dowry, the other needs betrothal gifts. The fu is strained; I fear both children will have to make do.”
“Taitai…” Hu yiniang’s voice shook with panic.
Xie shi arched her brows, smiling with easy confidence. To manipulate Hu yiniang required no effort at all.
“Well, Hu yiniang, have you thought it through?”
After a hard pause, Hu yiniang finally nodded. “Nubi has thought it through. When Bai yiniang goes into labour, I will personally handle the matter. If it is a girl, so be it; if it is a boy, the child will not live to see the next day’s sun.”
But Xie shi’s face darkened, her voice gritted with hate. “Girl or boy, that child does not deserve to see the next day’s sun. Do you understand?”
Hu yiniang blinked in confusion, then realisation dawned.
The timing of Bai yiniang’s pregnancy was too coincidental, right when Xie shi was cold-shouldered by Gu daren. Worse still, Xie shi’s own child had been lost, yet Bai yiniang carried hers safely.
One thing after another had driven Xie shi nearly mad.
She could not tolerate Bai yiniang’s child, nor could she tolerate Bai yiniang herself.
If not for the constraints of propriety, she would have killed them both with her own hands.
But to use Hu yiniang’s hand to rid herself of Bai’s child, this was enough to satisfy her.
Hu yiniang bowed low in acknowledgement.
Xie shi waved her hand. “Go and prepare. If you need anything, tell Chun He, she will see to it. Remember what I said: if that child lives to see another dawn, don’t blame me for giving Zhen yatou a shabby dowry and Gu Heng a pitiful betrothal gift. Consider carefully what you will do.”
Face ashen, Hu yiniang left Furong Yuan, her heart in chaos.
She wandered aimlessly through the garden until she suddenly realised she was already standing before Xiangsi Yuan, the residence of Bai yiniang.
“Ah, Hu yiniang, you’re here. My yiniang was just mentioning you. Would you like to come in?” The old maid at the door greeted her warmly.
Hu yiniang nodded silently and stepped inside.
Bai yiniang’s belly was enormous now; she could give birth at any moment.
“Hu jiejie, you finally remembered to visit me. With the birth so near, my heart grows more and more anxious. Tell me, do you think this child will come smoothly?”
Hu yiniang stared at Bai yiniang’s swollen belly, then nodded. “It will certainly be a smooth delivery. Raise your clothes, let me check if the child has descended.”
“Hu jiejie knows how to check this too?” Bai yiniang asked in surprise, but she still lifted her robe, revealing her great belly.
For all its size, Bai yiniang’s belly bore no stretch marks.
Hu yiniang muttered inwardly, full of envy.
When she had carried Gu Heng, it was her first pregnancy. She hadn’t known how to care for herself, and her belly had been marred with several stretch marks. It had always left her resentful.
During her pregnancy with Gu Zhen, she had learned her lesson, controlling her diet carefully. That time, she avoided the marks.
Hu yiniang stretched out both hands, cupping Bai yiniang’s belly.
“The child has already begun to descend.”
“Truly?”
Bai yiniang’s face lit with surprise and joy. “Then the child is about to be born?”
Hu yiniang nodded, then secretly pressed harder with her hands.
Bai yiniang gave a startled cry. “Oh! The child is moving.”
“It’s good that the child is moving.”
Hu yiniang continued to press with force.
Leave a Reply