Chapter 8: Relatives

The word "apology" hung in the air, and the atmosphere in the hall turned stagnant once more. Even Aunt Mei dared not speak.

Hong Xing felt a bit awkward and said, "What nonsense are you spouting? When relatives visit one another, how can you talk about apologies?"

Xueliu was about to retort, but Zhuang Li spoke first.

"When I married the Heir in the outside world, the Heir also wrote a letter to the Earl of Ding'an," she said, looking at Xueliu. "The Earl of Ding'an is the Heir's father-in-law, and the Heir is like a son to him. This bond will not be severed just because the late Young Mistress is gone, nor because I have arrived. When family members meet to discuss matters, how could it ever reach the point of talking about 'guilt'?"

She actually dared to say that? She was already pointing fingers at the affairs of the late Young Mistress's maiden family? Xueliu’s hands, hanging at her sides, clenched into fists. Of course, the bond between the Heir and the Earl of Ding'an wouldn't be severed. Moreover, the Earl had originally intended to renew the marriage alliance, and the young ladies of his house had already been selected. Yet, the Heir of Marquis Dongyang had suddenly married someone else—it would be a wonder if the Earl wasn't furious!

The Marchioness of Dongyang should have taken her along to serve tea to the Earl and his wife. The Earl and his wife wouldn't have paid her any mind; they might not even have let her through the door! Let’s see if she could still remain so calm and collected then, talking about whether or not family members should discuss guilt!

Xueliu gritted her teeth. The Marchioness of Dongyang didn't want to lose face, which was why she hadn't taken the new bride along. But this visit would surely result in being slighted, and the new bride would naturally have to bear the brunt of that anger. Thinking of this, she suppressed her excitement, lowered her head, and fell silent.

……

……

Standing outside the courtyard gate, watching Hong Xing walk away with a dark expression, Aunt Mei couldn't help but say, "You, why did you have to say those things?"

"Why couldn't I?" Xueliu said coldly. "She’s a replacement wife; does she not know there is a dead woman above her?"

Aunt Mei muttered, "Your words are too harsh. I can't tell if you're feeling aggrieved for your young mistress, or for yourself!"

Xueliu was ashamed and angry. "Naturally, I feel aggrieved for my young mistress, and for the Earl as well. If it were a daughter from a noble family, that would be one thing, but a person like this! What has become of the Earl's heartfelt intentions!" With that, she flicked her sleeves and left.

Aunt Mei curled her lip behind her back. "I think it’s your own heartfelt intentions." She muttered again, "Back then, when the late Young Mistress asked you to look after the Heir, you really started harboring intentions toward him. Do you even know where the Heir's heart lies?"

"Naturally, it lies with the late Young Mistress," a young maid said.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained chaste for so many years for her sake. As for finding this replacement wife now, although everyone felt it was sudden, in her view, it was just a careless act—perhaps to avoid pressure from the family, or because he didn't want to see the late Young Mistress's family anymore and be reminded of his longing, so he just picked someone to get it over with.

"That's not it," Aunt Mei said, her expression somewhat strange. "Actually, the night before he was supposed to marry the third daughter of the Earl of Ding'an, the Heir painted a picture in his study. On it..."

The young maid asked curiously, "What was painted on it?"

Aunt Mei refused to say more, clicking her tongue twice. "I’m going to check on Xueliu. That girl is proud and arrogant; I hope she doesn't cause any more trouble."

The young maid didn't press further and followed her forward.

Aunt Mei let out a soft sigh. No one else knew about this. She had been the Heir's personal maid at the time and had seen it when she went in to deliver a late-night snack. She had been shooed out as soon as she entered, and the Heir had covered the painting on the table, but she had caught a glimpse with her sharp eyes.

It was a woman.

At first, she thought the Heir had painted the third daughter of the Earl of Ding'an, whom he was about to marry, but after the third daughter entered the household, she immediately knew it wasn't her.

Although she hadn't seen the woman's face clearly, her figure was graceful and magnificent, like a celestial being.

To be painted by the Heir, she must be his beloved.

But why didn't the Heir go to propose? With the status of the Marquis of Dongyang's household, plus the Heir's talent and appearance, which young lady couldn't he have proposed to?

Could she be a woman of low status from a pleasure house?

Aunt Mei had guessed many things at the time, but she never saw that painting again. Since the Heir lived very affectionately with the third daughter of the Earl of Ding'an, she had put the matter out of her mind.

It had suddenly come to mind just now.

However, after so many years, her memory was nothing but a blurred image. She doubted if she had seen it correctly; it had nothing to do with a beloved, and the Heir had simply painted a picture.

……

……

Zhuang Li sat in her chair, seemingly lost in thought.

Chun Yue watched her expression carefully from the side. Would she be affected by Xueliu's words? But this woman’s expression was one of composure beyond her years; no emotions could be discerned.

"Young Mistress, didn't you want to practice calligraphy this morning?" Chun Yue asked softly. "Let me grind the ink for you."

Zhuang Li came back to her senses and shook her head. "No, I didn't plan to practice calligraphy today."

Did that need planning? Chun Yue was puzzled; one could just pick up a brush and write. But she could probably understand what Zhuang Li meant. Originally, she was supposed to pay her respects to the Marchioness, so she hadn't arranged anything else. Now that those plans had been disrupted, she didn't feel like writing anymore.

She saw Zhuang Li’s gaze land on the wall, where a bamboo flute was hanging.

Chun Yue couldn't help but ask, "Does the Young Mistress know how to play the flute?"

Zhuang Li hummed, but withdrew her gaze, stood up, and asked, "Does the Heir have a study?"

Chun Yue nodded. "He does." But she hesitated. "It's just that the Heir's study..."

It couldn't be entered casually.

When the late Young Mistress was alive, she had never set foot in the Heir's study either.

Zhuang Li didn't make things difficult for her. She walked to the table and wrote down a few book titles on a piece of paper. "The books I usually read were Master Zhuang's; I didn't bring them with me. Could you ask the people in the study if they have these three books? I would like to borrow them to read."

Borrowing books was certainly fine. Chun Yue hurriedly took the paper and smiled. "Please wait a moment, Young Mistress."

Although Zhou Jingyun was rarely at home, his study was always maintained, with a servant responsible for cleaning. When the servant heard that the new Young Mistress wanted to borrow books, he chuckled. "The Young Mistress really is a scholar."

When he saw the titles, he couldn't help but scratch his head; they were very obscure.

"If we don't have them, it would make the Heir look inferior to her," the servant muttered as he went in to search. After waiting for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, he finally emerged holding three volumes. "Good, good, our Heir is learned and talented."

Chun Yue also breathed a sigh of relief. If they hadn't been found, she would have felt a bit embarrassed.

Chun Yue brought the books back, and Zhuang Li sat down at the desk and opened one.

"Young Mistress, should I change the lotus buds?" Chun Yue asked again.

They had been there for three or four days, but they looked even fresher than the ones in the pond.

Zhuang Li said, "No need to change them."

Chun Yue said, "Very well. In a few more days, the ones in the pond will bloom, and we can pick some then."

Zhuang Li didn't speak again. Chun Yue placed the tea on the table and quietly retreated.

Although there was now a Young Mistress, she liked to stay by herself, no one came to visit, and people even deliberately stayed away from this area. Xueliu used to disdain mingling with the maids, and now, feeling unhappy, she didn't know where she had gone to lie down. The three of them were even more idle than before.

Leaving one young maid in the courtyard to listen for the Young Mistress's orders, the three maids went outside, sat on the steps, and ate dried fruit while chatting.

The topic still couldn't stray from the new Young Mistress.

"Did she study with the Heir at the academy?" Chun Hong whispered.

That must be how they met and fell in love...

"Don't talk nonsense," Chun Xiang whispered. "The Heir is not that kind of person."

Men and women were kept separate; how could they study together? Master Zhuang's academy would never be so lacking in decorum. Even if this woman were willing, the Heir would have avoided it.

"It was said to be to repay the Master's kindness," Chun Yue said hurriedly. "He couldn't bear to see an orphan girl without support."

That was what was said, but Chun Hong covered her mouth and laughed. "The Heir has had many masters, and there are many orphan girls in the world."

Why hadn't the Heir repaid or shown pity to any of them? To specifically seek to marry this Miss Zhuang—he must have lost his heart.

Chun Yue coughed lightly. "Don't talk about the past. In any case, Miss Zhuang is the Young Mistress now."

It was a done deal.

However, Chun Hong lowered her voice again. "Xueliu said the Marchioness's intention is that since the wedding ceremony was already held outside, there won't be a grand celebration at home."

Logically, the marriage of the Heir of Marquis Dongyang should be a grand affair; it was a matter of the Marquis's face. But perhaps it was because the new bride's background was not presentable, or perhaps out of consideration for the Earl of Ding'an's household...

Actually, what Xueliu had said earlier wasn't an exaggeration. The three maids all looked somewhat uneasy.

"I wonder if the Marchioness will really be slighted at the Earl of Ding'an's residence."

Just as they were chatting, a young maid ran over, panting. "It's bad, it's bad! The Marchioness is back."

The three maids all stood up.

"Slap your mouth!" Chun Yue scolded the young maid. "Why is it bad that the Marchioness is back!"

The young maid realized her slip of the tongue, raised her hand, and slapped herself. "That's not what I meant." She gasped, her eyes wide, and lowered her voice. "The Marchioness is back, and she brought Miss A-Jin from the Earl of Ding'an's house."

The maids were stunned. Chun Hong blurted out, "Is that the young lady who was supposed to marry the Heir?"

(End of chapter)