“You’re joking, Steward Zhong. To tell you the truth, I’m scared to death. But this matter is staring at me straight in the face, so what use is there in being afraid? Although we all know that death is the most inevitable of ends the moment we’re born, do we stop living as a result? As afraid as we might be, we need to keep on living. Everything will sort itself out when the time comes. We just have to leave things up to fate.”
“Precisely so!” Steward Zhong burst out laughing.
Qin Yining gave the steward some further instructions and finally whispered at the end, “My odds of making it back aren’t great. If I don’t come back, the emperor might take back the Institute. He was already thinking about the business when he raided the Ding Manor. If something happens to me, it would only be right and proper if the emperor takes back the business. You’re an old employee of the Institute, so the emperor will treat you well, but I’m worried about my maternal grandmother and family.”
As long as Qin Yining was alive, she could use her identity to hire out the Sun females and put them up nicely. But once she was no longer the owner of the Institute of Luminous Charm, the emperor would never hire out people with no expectation of being paid back.
“Miss, my words are unimportant because of my lowly status, so I don’t dare promise much.” Steward Zhong sighed. “But I promise that I’ll help the old owners as much as I can. They treated me well when they were alive, and you saved my entire family. I haven’t paid back this debt yet. Don’t worry, if something really does happen to you, miss, I’ll take care of them the best I can. If there’s really nothing to be done, I’ll give them enough money to run away.”
Qin Yining nodded and expressed thanks from the bottom of her heart. “Many thanks.”
Monkeys scatter when the tree falls, and rarely does someone give up the opportunity to hit someone when they’re down. Now that she was about to fall out of favor, even her own cousins and grandmother were getting their kicks in. She was quite touched already that Steward Zhong wasn’t adding fuel to the flame and had promised to help the Sun widows and orphans.
As they finished up their conversation, Bingtang joined them, having finished today’s treatment. Qin Yining took her maids back to the Qin Manor and didn’t set foot outside over the next couple of days. She stayed in the Garden of Tranquility to serve née Sun.
The senior madame had suffered repeated blows recently. First learning that her daughter of fourteen years was a fake, then the death of Sun Yuanming and the execution of all the Sun males. Qin Huaiyuan had immediately taken née Cao as a concubine shortly after, and the difference in everyone’s attitudes had become the straw that broke the camel’s back. And now Qin Yining was going to be offered to an old lecher and might not even come back alive? She had just started improving relations with this long lost daughter and now had to watch the girl throw herself into a fire pit. How could née Sun possibly take all this?
She finally fell ill from all the worrying. Qin Yining spent her days taking care of her mother, paying little to no attention to anything else. In the blink of an eye, eight days had passed. On the fifteenth day of the new month of the year, Zhan-mama took her leave and returned to the palace. Before the palace servant left, Qin Yining thanked her with sincere gratitude.
She had learned much from the mama during the latter’s short stay and had benefited greatly. As the palace servant looked at Qin Yining’s pretty face, the words ‘beautiful faces make for unlucky lives’ sprang to mind. But she was just a servant, a floating stick really. There was nothing she could help with, so she could only take her leave with resignation.
A house banquet was held during the Lantern Festival [1], but the atmosphere in the Qin Manor was subdued. The old dowager raised the wine jug and sighed. “The retinue for peace negotiations will set off tomorrow. Has everything been readied for granddaughter Yi?”
“Yes, everything’s been prepared.” Qin Yining nodded.
“Mm. That’s good.”
The old dowager had just finished speaking when Qin-mama entered with an exceedingly ugly expression on her face. “Old Dowager, mistresses.”
On the other side of the great redwood divider carved with images of the four gentlemen of flowers, Qin Huaiyuan and the other men also put down their silver chopsticks and turned questioningly to the old servant.
Qin-mama lowered her head, her tone exactingly even. “The empress has sent a mama of joy to offer guidance to the fourth miss. She’s waiting outside.”
* * *
The fifteenth day of the new month in Chinese culture.
Chapter 106: A Strong Father
Chapter 106: A Strong Father
Everyone knew what a mama of joy did. Qin Yining was an unmarried girl, and even though she was going to be offered to the old lecher hosting the Great Zhou side of the talks, they couldn’t just blatantly send her a mama to teach her how to pleasure a man!
It wasn’t her wedding night, nor was she a hooker reporting for work in a brothel. The empress was serving a dish of humiliation to the Qins and shredding their face with these actions!
Qin Yining compressed her lips. She’d strongly suspected that the trampress would do something before her departure. Everyone’s expressions had gone ugly. Née Sun was still quite weak after her bout of illness and had managed to scrape together enough energy to participate in the house banquet. Who would’ve thought that this kind of news would be delivered? Her mind hummed loudly with anger, rage alternatively dimming and brightening her vision. If it wasn’t for Jin-mama acting quickly to bolster her frame, née Sun would’ve collapsed to the ground.
The third, seventh, and eighth misses all looked at Qin Yining with helpless gazes of pity. Only the sixth miss rolled her eyes, silent in the belief that Qin Yining deserved all this. She’d been lectured heavily by her father, and her father’s wife had punished her with copying the four classics for women. She’d been released from her punishment only this morning.
Meanwhile, Qin Huining dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and said worriedly, “Something like this happening before she even sets out. What about after she sets off? Will she be able to come back alive?”
These were actually everyone’s thoughts, but only Qin Huining would actually say them out loud. The old dowager, second and third madame all felt that Qin Huining was being simply too heartless in saying this now. But due to Cao Yuqing’s presence, they didn’t dare say anything to avoid offending the new concubine.
Née Sun started coughing again from anger. She glared at Qin Huining, absolutely livid. To think that she’d raised this girl for fourteen years! She’d gone and raised an enemy!
Qin Huining sneered back proudly at the quiet Qin Yining and glaring née Sun. Who would’ve thought that it’d be Cao Yuqing who would frown and scold her, “What do you think you’re saying, Qin Huining?! Shut up!”
Qin Huining’s eyes widened with shock, stunned silent. She didn’t understand why Cao Yuqing spoke for Qin Yining time and time again! Why did everyone in this family like Qin Yining and take a stance against her?!
The clashes between the women lasted only a breath. On the other side of the divider, Qin Huaiyuan, Qin Xiuyuan, and Qin Zhiyuan all had solemn expressions. However, the younger generation, Qin Yu and Qin Han, couldn’t keep still.
Qin Han was a heroic person and loved standing up for justice. He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, speaking urgently. “Senior uncle, we can’t let people bully fourth sister like this! Fourth sister joining the peace talks is due to the imperial decree. She’s doing this for our country! What do they mean by sending this person? What do they think an official Qin daughter is? If we allow that mama in, won’t we be inviting everyone to look down on us?!”
Qin Han’s words were also a reminder to the women on the other side of the divider. The second and third madame’s expressions began to grow stern and they unconsciously crumpled their clothing in tight fists. If that palace servant did indeed enter the hous
e, all sorts of rumors would develop. What about their daughters’ dignity? Their branches of the house had unmarried daughters, to say nothing of anything else!
The second and third madame looked to née Sun for help, but the senior madame was busy trying to master her temper and didn’t look at them. It looked like she didn’t have the excess capacity to think about the larger ramifications. The two then looked at the old dowager, but the matriarch lowered her head to take a sip of tea. She didn’t look at them or anyone else. That told them everything they needed to know... the old dowager had thought of everything but was unwilling to say anything. She was afraid of offending the trampress’ sister.
The two mothers instantly flushed beet red with anger. What kind of mother-in-law was this?! The second madame hesitated; she was just about to speak when Qin Yining beat her to the punch.
“Please think about this carefully, father. I may be about to be discarded, but there are other sisters at home. They have their future to think of.”
Her two aunts looked gratefully at her, while the girls finally realized the severity of the situation. Some frowned nervously, others lowered their head to hide their emotions. Some looked at Qin Yining gratefully as well, while Qin Huining and the sixth miss glared at her, resentful that they’d been dragged down by her.
Qin Huaiyuan slowly rose to his feet and strode to the door with his arms crossed. “Have the person be brought here.”
“Understood.” Qin-mama left after this order.
A thirty five year old woman quickly walked over before long, dressed in a rose-red, flowery vest and skirt ensemble. She wore powder on her cheeks and a big red silk flower on her head. She looked very joyous. When she saw Qin Huaiyuan, she curtsied with beaming smiles. “Greetings to Grand Preceptor Qin. This servant wishes the grand preceptor good health and pays her respects to all the masters and mistresses present.”
Qin Huaiyuan inclined his head slightly. “What is your honored surname?”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t dare. This servant’s plain surname is Jiang.”
“Mm. Jiang-mama.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled faintly and asked gently. “Are you here today with the empress’ decree or the emperor’s?”
Jiang-mama looked swiftly at Qin Huaiyuan, wanting to carry on an apologetic chat. Although the grand preceptor’s smile was warm, the look in his eyes was much too cold. Jiang-mama’s smiling face froze and she hastily made another curtsey. “In response to my lord, the empress’ decree.”
Qin Huaiyuan nodded. “Servants, prepare the carriage and take Jiang-mama back to the carriage.”
The mama widened her eyes with surprise. The heretofore silent old dowager shot to her feet and charged a few steps out from the divider to grab Qin Huaiyuan’s sleeve.
“Meng’er, you can’t!”
The second and third madame almost did their best née Sun-angry-fit-imitation when they saw the old dowager thus. Even the second and third elder master frowned and pursed their lips. Qin Huaiyuan wasn’t angry as he was too well acquainted with the old dowager’s temper.
“Don’t worry mother, I have my plans. I’ll tell you later.” He spoke soothingly. The old dowager looked hesitantly at Qin Huaiyuan and nodded slowly after a long moment. Qin Huaiyuan turned back to Qin-mama. “Prepare a large red envelope for the mama.”
He then turned with another gentle smile. “I must ask Jiang-mama to exert herself and bring back a message to the empress.”
“Certainly. This servant will do as the grand preceptor says.”
“I will commit to heart the empress’ kind intentions. If the Qin Manor marries off a daughter in the future, we will certainly request a mama of joy from the palace.”
Go back and tell your mistress that we're not marrying off a daughter today. There’s no need for this hypocritical act!
Jiang-mama’s face had gone pale with this message. She hesitated, “But the empress’ verbal decree…”
“If Her Majesty is set on doing this, then have His Majesty give an imperial decree. I will do whatever the imperial decree says!”
We didn’t defy the decree to send Yining out because we are loyal subjects and love our country. But the Qins have a grand preceptor and think nothing of a mere woman from the imperial harem! This strong display of emotion was overtly expressing anger and going head to head with the empress!
Some of the Qins found a sweet thrill in this resistance, while others were worried like the old dowager. In fact, the old dowager almost fainted on the spot from this. Cao Yuqing rose at this time to speak to the palace servant.
“Go back and tell Cao Yurou to keep her nose out of our business. Just mind her own.”
Sweat dripped down Jiang-mama’s forehead. This must be the empress’ sister? But, she can do so because they’re sisters from the same mother. If I went back with a message like this, I wouldn’t live to see the next morning! And yet, she could only assent while she quietly sweated through her undergarments. She couldn’t not pass on the message, but neither could she really pass it on. She wanted to stay alive!
Qin Huaiyuan stayed where he was with his arms crossed. He didn’t care whether the palace servant was in a difficult position. These people were accustomed to feting those in power and stepping on those who lost favor. They bullied the weak and feared the strong. She’d so happened to run into someone firm like him today. If she’d been facing someone weak, she would’ve been much more devious than any regular person. There was no reason why he couldn’t be angry when someone was bullying him to his face!
Cao Yuqing looked tenderly at Qin Huaiyuan and spoke gently, “My lord, let this concubine accompany the mama back into the palace. I can make my explanations to the empress. We’re sisters, after all, and also bound by ties of marriage. It’d be bad if misunderstandings developed.”
“Good, good. Yuqing, I’ll have to trouble you for these efforts.” The old dowager heaved a long sigh of relief and pulled on Cao Yuqing’s hand to give her intimate pats.
“Don’t say that, Old Dowager. Since this concubine has entered the Qin Manor, I’m one of the Qins. How can I sit idly by and watch us be made a fool of?” Cao Yuqing smiled at Qin Huaiyuan. “My lord, what do you say?”
Qin Huaiyuan looked at Cao Yuqing and was silent for a moment. He nodded and raised his hands in a cupped fist salute. “Then I thank you for your troubles.”
The light in Cao Yuqing’s eyes dimmed when she saw how polite her husband was being. She immediately returned the gesture. “You’re too polite, my lord. I’ll be on my way then. I will stay at the empress’ tonight and return tomorrow. Please be at ease.”
She summoned Jiang-mama after this and left with her maids.
* * *
Chapter 107: Wholehearted Devotion
Book 2: The Path of Love is Long
Chapter 107: Wholehearted Devotion
The old dowager put her hands together in prayer and made a few worshipful gestures.
“Amitabha, praise Buddha! Thank goodness we still have such a virtuous and helpful person at home, unlike some who stirs up trouble everyday and only knows how to lose their temper in every situation. They are of no use to the family at all.”
She was obviously talking about née Sun. Qin Huaiyuan frowned.
“Mother, it’s getting late. We’ll be setting off tomorrow morning, so I’ll have to take my leave to make preparations.” He didn’t wait for the old dowager to respond and circled past the divider to née Sun’s side. He coaxed, “Come, let’s go home.”
Née Sun’s tears broke through the last vestiges of her will, her anger at the old dowager’s oblique insults vanishing. She nodded mutely.
The old dowager was stunned, and didn’t collect her senses again until the two were far away. “Let’s all go back. Give them some room for their preparations,” she commanded awkwardly.
The sudden development had doused everyone’s enthusiasm. The group left for their own respective residences. Qin Yining returned to Venerable Study Hall and rested af
ter her customary washing up.
The next day, officials from the Ministry of Rites were waiting outside the manor doors early in the morning. Qin Yining followed Qin Huaiyuan in bidding farewell to her family, going in for a round of “you must be mature and docile” from the old dowager. Bingtang and Songlan helped her into the carriage decorated with eight treasures and tassels before settling in themselves. Qin Yining pushed open the carriage windows and lifted the aqua-colored tassel curtains. She took off her veiled hat and raised her eyes to take a last look at the Qin Manor front doors.
Under the piercing winter sunlight, the large words, ‘Qin Manor’, on the gold trimmed board over the doors made her squint. The matte black tiled walls stretched to both sides, encircling the large Qin household in their arms. Girls and women wearing cheery clothing and jade ornaments stood in front of the doors, both real and fake tears brimming in their eyes. They looked at her in helpless longing as née Sun leaned against Jin-mama’s shoulder, her body wracked with heartbreaking sobs.
This home wasn’t always warm, but the existence of this manor had given her an anchor in life. Sadly, fortune was capricious. Even though she’d finally come to have a true home, she was bidding it farewell today, her return up to the whims of fate.
Qin Huaiyuan’s red-wheeled carriage, decorated with brocade coverings, had taken its place in front of Qin Yining’s carriage. He too was looking out the window at the moment. The accompanying officials noted that the auspicious hour had arrived and pulled up to his carriage to make a cupped fist salute.
“Sir, the hour has arrived.”
“Then let’s be on our way.” Qin Huaiyuan nodded and let down the curtains. Qin Yining smiled at née Sun, Qiulu, and the others when she heard this. She also let down the curtains and closed the window. She’d already asked Jin-mama to take care of all the servants in Venerable Study Hall. This was the last of the arrangements she could make for those she cared for. If she couldn’t make her way back, her heart would be satisfied that she had done all she could for them.
Return of the Swallow c1-644 Page 69