Chapter 15: The Marketplace

◎ If I had any regrets, I wouldn't have married into this family. ◎

"The situation in the household is no secret to you. Two weeks ago, during that upheaval, your father-in-law and husband were taken into custody right in front of the palace gates. In the dead of night, the Imperial Guards surrounded our residence, and all the female members of the family, children, and servants were taken away. Taking advantage of the chaos, the officials ransacked the entire estate, searching for evidence of your father and husband's supposed rebellion. They even plundered all our valuable possessions."

"Our family, the Huas, have accumulated wealth for generations and could be considered an aristocratic household. Had you married in before this, you would undoubtedly have been treated with riches and luxury. However, now there is hardly any money left in the estate, nor do we possess any farmlands, shops, secondary residences, or precious treasures. After much contemplation, I believe it's best to be honest with you."

She held her granddaughter-in-law's hand, gazing at her with affection and remorse. "Now, both your grandfather and I are ailing, and the family has fallen on hard times. Soon, the authorities might come knocking, forcing us out of our home and leaving us to find another place to live. This mansion will be reclaimed by the state, and being associated with our family has become nothing but trouble. Yet, you, my dear, insist on staying. It truly breaks my heart."

Patting her granddaughter-in-law's hand, she continued, "Yu Lian, if you choose to leave now, not only will I not blame you, but I also wish for you to meet a good man and find happiness. It would bring me great comfort and joy."

After speaking, she took a small box from the bedside table and retrieved a pair of exquisite jade bracelets, their lustrous green hue translucent and soothing. She gently fastened them around her granddaughter-in-law's wrists. "Yu Lian, your hands are delicate and graceful, perfect for adorning jade bracelets. These jade bangles are a gift from me, to serve as part of your dowry."

Yu Lian did not decline; instead, she slowly fed her grandmother the bowl of herbal medicine before responding, "Grandmother, if I had any regrets, I wouldn't have married into this family."

"I have already vowed to your late husband that I would take care of his family, look after you, your father, and mother-in-law, as well as my younger siblings. I won't go back on my word. Grandmother, such words hurt deeply."

Hearing this, the elderly lady felt a pang of guilt and hurriedly said, "Grandmother is just saddened... You're so young and beautiful, with a bright future ahead of you. Now, you've found yourself in this troubled situation. With the state of our family, I have no idea what lies ahead. I can only imagine that life won't be easy."

Thoughts of these circumstances overwhelmed Grandmother with guilt. Hua'er has wronged you, and our Hua Family has too. Had we known... had we known your intentions, I would have sent someone to stop you and explain the consequences. You're still young, with a long life ahead. I dread the thought of wasting your years.

Yu Lian's eyes shimmered with tears, but she managed a smile as she held Grandmother's hand. "Promise me, never again will you ask Lian'er to leave. Since I've married my husband, I belong to him. Even if he's no longer here... I am still part of the Hua Family, your beloved granddaughter-in-law. If my husband is not here, I will honor him by taking care of you in his stead."

Touched to the point of tears, Grandmother struggled to find words. How could she ask her devoted and filial granddaughter-in-law to go? She eventually nodded repeatedly. "Very well, very well. Let's not speak of it anymore. It was my fault."

After soothing Grandmother to sleep, Yu Lian quickly regained her composure. With the key to the accounts room, account books, and indenture contracts, she summoned the remaining six servants: Yi Po's family of four, a crippled doorman, and a young errand boy. These two had nowhere else to go, which is why they stayed.

Yi Po smiled first. "Your Highness, if there's anything, please instruct us." Sincerely fond of the Lady of the Principality, she admired her character and was more than willing to offer assistance.

Yu Lian said, "Today, all of you work harder to find any non-essential items in the mansion and pack them up. Sell them to exchange for some silver."

The group looked at each other, and Yi Po seemed hesitant. "If we sell these items, it will attract attention. If people see us..."

"What if they see us?"

Yi Po replied, "Madam, this old servant is worried that others might say unpleasant things."

Back when the East Yuan Marquis's residence was in its prime, it was frequented by the elite and influential. The more shallow-minded families wouldn't dare set foot in the door. Now, however, they've reached a point where they have to sell their possessions. And those valuable items were long seized by the soldiers; what remains in the mansion isn't worth much...

With a composed expression, the faint remnants of yesterday's tears still evident in her reddened eyes, Yu Lian said, "At this point, what use is there in worrying about reputation? Even if we don't sell anything, others won't talk or speculate about us?"

She continued, "Let's not call me the Lady of the Heir anymore. Just address me as Young Lady to avoid attracting trouble if someone overhears."

The servants all agreed in unison.

Yu Lian instructed, "Carry on with your preparations without concerning yourselves with gossip. If the authorities come knocking, it will be too late to tidy up."

Large furniture pieces were unsellable and would be confiscated along with the estate according to law. However, personal belongings and decorative items could be collected and sold without official interference. Some officials, though, after years of indulging their vanity and luxury, found it difficult to humble themselves by selling their possessions.

Yu Lian, who had previously managed both personnel and administrative affairs, was accustomed to meticulous planning. She had thought it through carefully. Firstly, the household funds were running low, and moving to a new residence would require a substantial amount of money. Every penny counted now; not a single coin should be overlooked.

Secondly, the East Yuan Marquis had made many enemies in its heyday, and the emperor was keeping a watchful eye. In such a critical moment, the more destitute the family appeared, the safer they would be. It would minimize potential conflicts. To put it bluntly, when one has hit rock bottom, foes might not even bother to target them.

In this situation, the strategy was to retreat to the sidelines, find a place to survive, and bide time for growth – this was the survival tactic for those at the bottom rung.

Yu Lian further directed, "After gathering the items, invite buyers from outside to collect them. Move everything out through the back door. Then, lock all unused courtyards and side gates. The four of you men should take turns guarding the main entrance. Don't open it unless necessary. For the next few days, use the back door for grocery shopping and be discreet and cautious in your actions..."

As she spoke, Yu Lian glanced at the vast courtyard. In the East Yuan Marquis' residence, there were at least a dozen such spacious yards, not to mention gardens, ponds, and lakes. If these resources could be utilized, they could sustain themselves by farming and cultivating crops right within the estate, without ever needing to venture out.

With a tinge of regret, she thought to herself, alas, this mansion would soon be reclaimed by that despicable emperor.

There were advantages to having fewer servants; they generally followed orders promptly. Upon Yu Lian's instruction, the six of them sprang into action, scurrying through the various courtyards, moving belongings. The most occupied was the yi po (an elderly female servant), as others were unsure about the significance of certain items. As she had served the matriarch the longest, she knew best. They waited for her confirmation before daring to remove anything.

Realizing that this method was inefficient, Yu Lian instructed them to carry everything out in baskets and pile it together. The yi po watched closely, tossing items into the 'for sale' heap once she verified their suitability.

In truth, there wasn't much that couldn't be sold, excluding a few cherished possessions of the masters. Aside from those, there weren't many valuable items left.

After a day of sorting, the following morning, the yi po's husband summoned a buyer, who carted away the goods through the back door. Yu Lian didn't make an appearance; the couple handled the transaction. The buyer proved to be honest, offering a fair price.

The yi po came to boast of her achievement. "He mentioned being moved by the lady's virtue, so he added an extra 20% on top of the market value."

"I sneaked out with my husband when he went to find a buyer today. I discovered that your name is on everyone's lips at the marketplaces. People are praising your kindness, grace, and noble character. Some have even spun stories about you, which are spreading like wildfire through the streets. One of them was so heart-rending that I almost shed tears standing there listening."

Yu Lian acknowledged with an "oh," then asked, "What was the ending of that story?"

"One version has it that your deep affection moved the heavens, and the Jade Emperor granted the prince life again. From then on, the two of you lived in love and harmony, as a fairy tale couple envied by all."

"However, most versions end tragically, focusing on your virtue without a happy resolution. For instance, one tells how, after the matriarch, patriarch, and madam passed, you chose to die alongside them, a lamentable fabrication that exploits the emotions of listeners... Personally, I prefer that version. Apparently, the citizens of the capital, tired of hearing sad tales, have become enraged. A talented scholar wrote a new story, which was just released yesterday. The storyteller at Fu Lai Inn started narrating it, and the place was instantly packed. After shedding enough tears, people now want to hear this version."

If time permitted, Yu Lian would be intrigued to hear the tales the common folk spun about her.

However, after bidding Hua Ji farewell, there was much to be done within the household. Her father-in-law lay in bed, mostly in a daze, rarely lucid, his once robust frame now gaunt and haggard. It seemed he was on the verge of following his son into the afterlife. Her mother-in-law wept incessantly, frequently fainting from the sorrow.

Her grandmother was also unwell and unable to lend a hand. In this vast estate, there were only a few servants capable of assistance, leaving her with numerous tasks to attend to personally.

Occasionally, thoughts wandered to the Wei Duke's residence. She wondered how her own parents were faring and if her grandmother had held them responsible for the misfortunes.

The third courtyard of the Wei Duke's mansion—

Madam Yu had been weeping for days, more bitterly than when her son-in-law was sentenced to death or when her daughter's marriage was called off. Yet, she dared not cry aloud, instead secretly shedding tears in her room, fearful of being overheard.

On the day her daughter left the Duke's residence, she wanted to chase after her, even if she couldn't persuade her to stay, just to accompany her on her journey. She also wished to tell her not to kneel, for fear that she might hurt herself. However, the matriarch sternly forbade anyone from seeing her off. When the servant returned with the news that Sixth Miss had knelt every ten steps for nearly a hundred meters before turning away, Madam Yu's heart ached uncontrollably, filled with sorrow.

She mustered the courage to beg the matriarch, hoping to provide additional dowry for her daughter. Her daughter had left with nothing, completely devoid of possessions. What could possibly be left in the Hu House after it had been ransacked? It might be challenging just to support her daughter.

But the matriarch refused and declared that neither she nor her husband were allowed to acknowledge their daughter. They were forbidden from secretly aiding her or having any connection with her. If their actions brought disgrace to the Duke's residence, their entire branch would be expelled.

Unable to bid her daughter farewell or provide her with a dowry, Madam Yu was overwhelmed with grief. She had been unable to sleep well these past few nights, often breaking into tears at the thought of her daughter, soaking several handkerchiefs in the process.

She had no choice but to instruct her young maid to secretly venture out and inquire about her daughter's well-being within the opulent Huafu.