Chapter 49: Still Sympathetic to the Greenery (12)

Chapter 49: Still Sympathetic to the Greenery (12)

Song Yueniang's father had come to the residence of the Duke of Britain. The Duke hurriedly accompanied him in drinking. After the meal, the Duke wrote a letter to his third son, stating that he would move Sheng-ge to the main courtyard for upbringing, allowing him to serve as an official with peace of mind.

Upon hearing the news, Song Yueniang held her head high like a victorious rooster, assisting her elderly father out the door. However, she was scolded by him, "Grow up and learn some propriety. From now on, you mustn't speak ill of others in front of anyone!"

This time, Song Yueniang truly felt afraid and nodded in lingering fear, "I understand. In the future, I'll only share good news and not troubles."

Song's father stumbled, almost falling.

Well, she even referred to gossiping behind people's backs as "sharing troubles." All the children in the family had received the same upbringing, without any favoritism. Because she had seemed dull-witted since childhood, he had deliberately allowed her to travel and study with her brother, hoping that seeing the world and its vast landscapes would broaden her horizons. Yet, she remained as uncultivated as ever.

Her elderly father was at a loss, both amused and exasperated. "Then tell me, what do you consider as sharing good news?"

Song Yueniang replied smugly, "Of course, it means that I still manage the household finances. Father, my mother-in-law has always been on my side. Even when He Min is not around, I am still standing up for him in the first wife's household."

Official Song was utterly helpless. He raised his hand, wanting to give her a hard slap on the wrist but couldn't bear to do so. Instead, the slap landed on his own thigh as he sighed, "Fortunately, you have a destiny, and your sisters-in-law are sensible people who won't hold grudges against you."

Song Yueniang was very unhappy. The same went for Lady Zhao.

Sending her grandson to Hu Province displeased her, but not sending him there also made her unhappy. So, she planned to find another suitable candidate for her youngest son. In her letter, she wrote, "I've been persuading your wife not to tell the Song family, but after several arguments, she no longer listens to me. She's invited your father-in-law to put pressure on you. Your father is skilled at smoothing things over and pretending to be a kind old man. He's already spoken, so I can't help you anymore. You'll just have to have another child in Hu Province."

After writing the letter, she wept through the night without sleep. Yet, Song Yueniang appeared refreshed, and seeing her swollen eyes, she thought something serious had occurred.

Madam Zhao stammered, "Nothing much, just missing He Min."

Zhe Wan sat nearby sipping tea, chatting with Fourth Miss about some gossip regarding the Count Chengyi's family. Before she could finish, she heard Madam Zhao mention her, "Yueniang still has a conscience, unlike others who only know how to flatter and run around all day, ignorant of the meaning of filial piety."

Both Second Lady and Fourth Lady panicked, but realizing it wasn't directed at them, they lowered their heads. Since Fourth Lady owed Zhe Wan a favor, she bravely spoke up, "Mother, we're all willing to serve you."

Lady Zhao harrumphed. Fourth Miss also tried to smooth things over, "Mother, don't be angry. We're all learning from Third Sister-in-law's filial piety."

Zhe Wan didn't even frown. This was an old tactic - whenever her mother-in-law and sister-in-law presented a loving and harmonious front, they would inevitably take jabs at her. It was either that she wasn't filial enough or that she didn't know how to treat her younger siblings with kindness.

At first, Zhe Wan was genuinely anxious and made great efforts to engage in conversation with the two of them as a display of her filial piety. She would force a smile when speaking, trying to show her benevolence.

But every time she spoke, no one echoed her words, simply ignoring her.

This kind of treatment had been used on her since she married into the family. Yet, it was only now that it was being employed once more.

Indeed, it was their "kindness."

Zhe Wan followed up with a cheerful smile, "Yes, Third Sister-in-law treats Mother well, and Mother treats Third Sister-in-law kindly too—I heard He Chun mention that Mother even sent a concubine to Third Brother who could bear him children—When are you leaving today?"

Song Yueniang's lips, which were initially curled up, gradually widened in astonishment. She stared at Zhe Wan in disbelief for a long while before abruptly turning to look at Madam Zhao and shouting, "Mother! What concubine? What bearing children!"

Feeling guilty, Madam Zhao shot up from her seat and pointed an accusing finger at Zhe Wan, fuming, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Zhe Wan accepted the correction smoothly. "Oh, I must have remembered wrongly then."

But Song Yueniang wasn't so easily fooled. Her commotion forced Madam Zhao to dismiss everyone else. Zhe Wan left calmly, leaving Fourth Miss still apprehensive. "Nothing bad will happen, right?"

Zhe Wan smiled reassuringly. "No, nothing will."

The bonds between people were truly strange. Despite their fierce arguments, Madam Zhao and Song Yueniang would reconcile like true mother and daughter after a dozen years.

She sighed, "Just wait and see, they'll make up within three or five days."

Fourth Miss tactfully dropped the topic of the mother and daughter, instead commenting, "The face powder that Eldest Sister-in-law gave me is very effective. I used to use Jade Radiance, but yours is even better when compared side by side."

She asked, "Have you thought of a name for it?"

Zhe Wan replied, "Not yet. I just can't seem to come up with the right one."

Shopkeeper Zhou urged her to think harder, "This is different from nurturing flowers, making flower cakes, or drawing patterns. This is a treasure that can bring in a lot of silver!"

Zhe Wan realized she needed to take this more seriously. Initially, she hadn't given it much thought. While she was content, she wasn't as excited about it as Shopkeeper Zhou.

Shopkeeper Zhou sighed, "Madam truly isn't cut out for business. You're not keen on silver."

Zhe Wan took it in stride, "No one is perfect, after all."

But once she started taking it seriously, she found herself unable to decide on a name for a long time. This became the task that took her the longest.

Leaving Fourth Miss, she returned to her study to peruse ancient texts, hoping to borrow inspiration from the past and find an appealing name from the ancients. He Chun, however, interrupted her thoughts. He came to discuss whether to move Chuan-ge to the main courtyard.

"Sheng-ge has already moved there. It wouldn't be right if Chuan-ge doesn't follow, would it?"

The children studied with their tutor in the main courtyard, and now, the talk of moving referred to relocating their sleeping quarters as well.

With this arrangement, Zhe Wan would barely see Little Chuan every day unless she went to the main courtyard. He Chun was quite hesitant. Little Chuan was just starting to seek a closer relationship with Zhe Wan and his mother. Wouldn't moving him out now ruin all their progress?

Zhe Wan, on the other hand, was in favor of it. "Move him out. Let him live in the same courtyard as Sheng Ge. We can prepare the east and west chambers – they'll be perfect."

She thought it was a good idea. "They're both only four years old. It's not too late to separate them when they grow up."

Initially hesitant, He Chun changed his mind when he saw how easily Zhe Wan had agreed to move Little Chuan out. Having been scolded a few times, he had learned to speak more tactfully around her and understood the value of diplomacy. He paused before saying, "Yes, they're still too young."

He sat down, picked up a book from the table, casually flipped through it, and spoke nonchalantly, "Forget it. Little Chuan is timid. It's best he stays in Cangyun Pavilion for a few more years."

Zhe Wan raised her eyes to look at him and scoffed. "If that's the case, why ask me at all?"

Once again, she had put him in his place.

He Chun suppressed his frustration and stood up. "My mother mentioned today that she wants to arrange a concubine for me."

Zhe Wan began grinding ink, "Then take one! There are plenty of empty rooms in the courtyard."

He Chun sighed, "You're truly incorrigible."

Of course, he had no intention of taking a concubine.

Zhe Wan also believed that he didn't have such thoughts.

He seemed to genuinely have no interest in concubines; his refusal was firm and rooted in his commitment to his elder sister. When she was suffering from her medicine, he even said, "Perhaps I'm destined to have only one son, Chuan-ge. There's no need for you to trouble yourself further."

At that time, he hadn't considered taking a concubine either.

But Zhao asked Zhe Wan to persuade He Chun to take a concubine, so she tried. He Chun scolded, "What foolishness are you spouting? You're utterly clueless."

Zhao wept bitterly, "I don't know what spell she's cast on you. Your elder sister is a vixen, and you're so useless, not absorbing any of her wit!"

During this period, besides Zhao's attempts to provide him with concubines, some of his colleagues also offered, but all were politely declined by him.

Zhe Wan recalled that he did consult a physician once, but only once.

It was humiliating for a man to seek a physician's advice on fertility. Besides, he already had a son, Changge, and he always believed there was nothing wrong with him. It was only at Lady Zhao's persistent urging that he agreed to consult a doctor—she was desperate for a grandson.

Yet, the physician also found nothing amiss. Zhe Wan was present during the consultation, and the doctor was a referral from a trusted acquaintance, someone who kept their involvement confidential and acted with great discretion.

The elderly physician, stroking his beard, said, "There is no issue with the Young Master or the Young Mistress's health. Perhaps they simply lack the destiny to have children."

Everyone sighed in relief. Lady Zhao hurriedly asked, "Doctor, how does one acquire the destiny for offspring?"

The physician spoke cryptically, "That depends on fate."

And so, Lady Zhao took her to pray to Buddha.

Later, they turned to the Three Pure Ones.

Eventually, Zhe Wan could recite by heart the birthdays of Buddha and the Three Pure Ones, observing their worship with dedication.

But Zhe Wan never truly believed. She merely felt that by kneeling before Buddha and the immortals in public, people would forgive her a little, allowing her to be "forgiven."

In the haze of incense before the divine statues, she knelt, unable to see the path ahead, lost and confused. This was why she empathized deeply with Sun Sanniang.

She pondered that if she had indeed given birth to a child in her previous life, but it had been a daughter, she would still have been pressured into conceiving a son. But why bother?

The more one lived, the more one came to understand. Sanniang's misfortune was that she hadn't reached this realization before Longlong passed away.

She never got the chance to do so.

But fate granted her another opportunity.

Grateful to the heavens, Zhe Wan stood up slowly and wrote four characters on the paper.

He Chun approached to read them aloud, "Beyond the Mortal Realm."

Surprised, he asked, "Is it from 'Amidst peach blossoms, water flows away, leaving a secluded world unseen by mortals'?"

Zhe Wan acknowledged with a soft sound. This was the name she wanted.

She was content. As long as she preserved this mindset, she would discover unique realms wherever her future led her, through any circumstances.

Proprietor Zhou, however, was not satisfied. "Too long. Who would shout 'Heavenly Balm Beyond Mortal Reach' when selling their products?"

Zhe Wan awkwardly replied, "Then should I go back and think of something else?"

Proprietor Zhou suggested, "How about just the first two characters?"

Zhe Wan asked, "Plum Blossom?"

Proprietor Zhou nodded. "Yes, Plum Blossom Powder."

Zhe Wan pondered. "Wouldn't that sound too common?"

"Great vulgarity can become great elegance."

And so, the matter was settled. Zhe Wan replaced 'Heavenly Balm Beyond Mortal Reach' with a plaque bearing the new name, hanging it in front of the main study.

Jing'er, who didn't know many characters, stood at the door, struggling to read it. " Mouth, moon, person, day!"

Zhe Wan chuckled. "It says 'Heavenly Balm Beyond Mortal Reach'."

Yingjie felt no embarrassment at all; she understood the situation now, didn't she? Curious, she asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Zhe Wan replied, "It means there's a whole different world inside."

Yingjie exclaimed, "I get it! There's something behind the door!"

Of course, she understood. What didn't she understand? But she had come across something she was puzzled about. Supporting her chin with her hands, she looked at her gentle aunt and said, "I'm so worried."

Zhe Wan treated her as if she were a guest, serving her homemade flower cakes, arranging a vase of peonies, and pouring her favorite sweet tea. "Why are you worried?"

Yingjie enjoyed her aunt's attentiveness and decided to share her little secret. "Aunt, Sister Yan Yan wrote to me today, saying she feels terrible for what happened."

In truth, there wasn't much to it. Sister Yan Yan had mentioned earlier that she would be sending a small rabbit woven from string these few days, but unfortunately, it fell into the water after she finished making it, and thus, she couldn't send it right away.

That wasn't a big deal. Yet Yingjie was troubled. "But in her letter, she apologized so much. I told her it was okay, but then she wrote another letter to apologize again."

Yingjie was also flustered. "Aunt, how can I reassure her?"

Zhe Wan's gaze softened. "Well—it's actually quite simple. Just tell her that you're not in a hurry. Don't say you don't want the rabbit anymore, just say that you'll wait for her to finish it and place it on the display shelf."

She said, "Yan Yan... She had a very tough upbringing, growing up in an orphanage where there was nothing. Although she's now wealthy, she doesn't feel that she has much."

"You're her first true friend, and she doesn't want to lose you. That's why she's so anxious to keep you close."

"But she doesn't intentionally apologize all the time; it just comes naturally to her. As she grows older and your Aunt Sun teaches her more, she won't behave like this anymore. She'll talk to you and ask for a few more days, promising to work hard to make things right."

Ying Jie understood and nodded. "I know I should talk to Aunt Sun about it."

She had actually mentioned it to her mother, but her mother had forbidden her from playing with Sister Yan Yan, even calling her a lowly creature, a mere amusement for Aunt Sun. However, her mother had also warned her not to speak of these matters outside their home.

So Ying Jie secretly wrote a letter to Sister Yan Yan and gave it to Aunt Sun to deliver.

Mother is just too hateful!

She paused, her thoughts clearly written on her face. Zhe Wan's heart ached at the sight. "Then would you like to continue playing with Sister Yan Yan?"

Ying Jie replied, "Yes, I do. Sister Yan Yan worries so much when I walk just a few steps, showing how much she cares for me."

Children are best at distinguishing who treats them kindly and who does not.

Zhe Wan pressed some snacks into her hands. "Jing'er, thank you."

Jing'er waved her tiny hand. "Aunt, don't worry. Sister Yan Yan is timid. In the future, I'll take her to play at other people's homes."

Zhe Wan nodded. "Yes, she won't be timid anymore."

The two sat together, enjoying their food and chatting merrily. When Song Yueniang arrived, she shut her eyes in frustration upon seeing this scene.

Well, her sister-in-law had not only won over her husband but also her daughter now.

But she had recently felt guilty for considering sending her daughter to Province Hu, and her daughter had noticed. How could she possibly scold Zhe Wan in front of her? Jing'er seemed to have been bewitched by Zhe Wan, always speaking up for her.

All she could do was say reluctantly, "Jing'er, come on, let's go back."

Zhe Wan smiled. "Sister-in-law, would you like to stay for a while?"

Song Yueniang replied sourly, "Why, do you want to see me make a fool of myself?"

She pulled Jing'er away. Zhe Wan stood by the door with her hands folded, watching the mother and daughter leave warmly. For a moment, she didn't understand what kind of joke Song Yueniang was referring to.

But she soon found out.

Lady Zhao secretly sent a maiden to Li Hechun. At that moment, Su Lan was in the study, telling Zhe Wan that Manager Zhou had negotiated a deal for motherwort with the medicine shop and agreed on a porcelain box with peach blossom patterns for the ceramics store.

"Money is flowing out like water, and my heart aches with every coin spent."

Zhe Wan replied, "This is necessary. Our business is still small, so Manager Zhou wouldn't bat an eyelid over it."

Su Lan continued, "Yes, he said that in the future, both I and Su Lan need to learn how to spend money."

Zhe Wan responded, "He's genuinely teaching you both."

After taking charge of household affairs, the first thing she learned was how to save money. Believing she had done well, she even mentioned it to Lady Zhao in her first month, saying, "Mother, look, we can use this money elsewhere."

However, Lady Zhao scolded her, "Don't you know our social status? It would be a laughingstock if others found out."

Zhe Wan then learned the art of spending money. In this, she acknowledged Lady Zhao's wisdom.

She advised Su Lan, "Study hard, as there will be plenty more responsibilities waiting for you in the future."

With a delighted smile, Su Shan said, "Great, Miss, let me tell you something –"

Before she could finish her sentence, Lady Zhao entered the room accompanied by a young maid. Not wanting to provoke Lao He Chun's anger, she hadn't officially announced her intentions.

She had secretly arranged for the gift, specifying that it was meant to "add fragrance with a red sleeve."

Zhe Wan responded with a smile, "Thank you, Mother, for thinking of us."

She asked, "Did you give one to Third Sister-in-law? I'm afraid she might cause a scene, assuming I've deceived Mother into giving our maids to us, and then blame Mother for being overly suspicious."

Lady Zhao felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this and replied, "Of course, she knows."

It was, in fact, Lady Zhao who had orchestrated the whole thing.

Yueniang mentioned sending something to He Min, so she had to do the same for He Chun. Otherwise, Zhe Wan would tease her. Lady Zhao closely observed Zhe Wan's expression and realized that she truly had a steady temperament, not feeling envious at all. She sincerely accepted the maid and even called for Song Ting, saying, "The Young Master's quarters could indeed use a maid to grind ink and serve tea."

Song Ting looked at her in surprise but respectfully took the maid away.

When Lao He Chun returned, his face darkened immediately. "What's going on here?"

Song Ting: "It was sent by Madam, she said that men are clumsy, while women are more meticulous."

Li He Chun narrowed his eyes. "Does the First Lady know about this?"

Song Ting: "She does."

Li He Chun: "What did the First Lady say?"

Song Ting: "She said that you indeed need it."

Li He Chun was skeptical. "What was her expression like?"

Song Ting: "She looked very pleased."

Li He Chun scoffed. "If it were Ayan, he would have surely cut me down."

He went into the room and asked Zhe Wan, "Why did you accept it?"

Zhe Wan replied, "This was my mother's intention. I thought, given your filial piety, how could I dare to refuse?"

He Chun felt that she was lying without a second thought.

She sat upright, engrossed in her writing. He Chun approached and glanced at her work, discovering that she was documenting how to make her mysterious ointment.

"Motherwort is most effective during Dragon Boat Festival. Gather motherwort, burn it to ashes, then knead with thick rice into the size of an eggshell. Use mature charcoal for forging..."

Surprised, he asked, "Is it really that complicated just for your ointment?"

Zhe Wan rolled her eyes at him. "Scram!"

He Chun pulled up a stool and sat down. "Alright, alright. You can send back that maid. I'm not willing to take her."

Zhe Wan gave a sardonic smile. "Isn't this actually good for you? Why are you unwilling?"

He Chun spoke earnestly, "If your eldest sister were still alive, perhaps I could accept it. But she's gone."

Lowering his voice, he continued, "When Ayan was pregnant, Mother also mentioned giving me a concubine. I didn't pay much attention then and simply declined, so the matter was dropped."

"But when I returned home once, I found Ayan crying in bed, and that's when I learned she had been suffering because of this issue."

On that occasion, there was even bleeding, and Ayan wasn't in a good state then. It was also during that time when Lihua first yelled at their mother.

He had many grievances against his mother. "When Third Sister-in-law was pregnant, Third Brother was also at home. Why didn't Mother send a concubine to him? Isn't it because the Song family can't be provoked, and Song Yueniang can't be provoked either? She's just biased and doesn't want to provoke them. But the Zhe family isn't well-off, and Ayan has always been obedient and filial. So she picks on her."

This time, it was no different in his mind. He held back his anger. "How could I not understand what Mother is thinking? She's just listening to Third Sister-in-law's instigation and sending a concubine to stir up trouble between us."

Lihua even thought their mother was foolish. "Do you think Third Brother doesn't hold a grudge against her? He's just more tactful and doesn't say it outright. Otherwise, why would Third Brother want to take Sheng-ge to raise? It's because he doesn't trust Mother."

Even their father, Third Brother didn't trust. But he couldn't tell Zhe Wan this.

He sighed and said to Zhe Wan, "Mother likes Third Sister-in-law because she's sweet-tongued. You should be more talkative too, not act like a mute all day."

He added, "Choose some pleasant words when you repeat what I said today, or Mother will get angry."

Since he had said this, Zhe Wan naturally had to move the maid out. She led the servant to Madam Zhao and lowered her eyes. "Mother, He Chun said you're biased towards Third Brother and, seeing how well he's doing, you want to send a concubine to cause trouble between us."

"He insisted that I send her back."

Madame Zhao instantly fainted from the shock. When she regained consciousness, she wept uncontrollably, yet dared not make a sound. Her eyes swelled from crying as she said before Duke of Ying, "What sin have I committed? Why did I oppose his entry into the palace back then, but you insisted? Now he hates me—why is my life so bitter?"

Duke of Ying sighed and went to find He Chun. He Chun returned in a huff. "Didn't I tell you to say something comforting to your mother?"

Didn't he teach her to be sweet-tongued?

Zhe Wan replied, "I was already very sweet."

She asked, "Should I have told Mother that you accused her of causing Eldest Sister's death?"

He Chun was surprised. "When did I ever say that?"

Although he had thought so back then.

Zhe Wan continued, "You did say that Eldest Sister bled due to her torment during pregnancy. I suppose there must have been a connection to her passing."

"Could I have said such things?"

He Chun frowned. "Of course not."

Zhe Wan replied, "That can't be said. If you were to mention that Third Brother also blames her for being foolish, it would sound even worse."

She smiled and added, "Otherwise, she wouldn't just cry; she'd throw a tantrum and threaten to hang herself."

She turned to He Chun and said, "Only when you say she's playing favorites will she merely weep in such a simple manner."

Upon hearing this, He Chun instantly realized that the last sentence... was quite insulting.