Chapter 7: Getting Beaten Up

Pang Ruxue only revealed that her maiden family was a prominent household in the capital, and after that, she was unwilling to say more, making an excuse of fatigue and leaning against her pillow to rest with her eyes closed.

Xia Yiqing and Xia Leqing, however, were excited by this information for half the night. With a maternal grandfather's family, they would have a backing! The two sisters chattered in whispers on the bed, discussing various hypotheses regarding the capital and their grandfather's family, only falling asleep in the latter half of the night.

The next day, the gates of the South Courtyard were tightly closed. Aside from Mother Liu entering and exiting two or three times, no one came to disturb them. Xia Yiqing and Xia Leqing took out the work they had received yesterday, spread it out, organized and arranged it, intending to work through the evening to complete it and return it to the embroidery workshop as soon as possible.

At the same time Xia Jinshi received a letter from her son Xia Xiuping's house, she also received two sets of high-quality summer clothes sent back by Huang-shi, along with several cooling supplements and dried fruit snacks. There was another different set for Tong-shi's two children. Having gained these benefits, the mother and daughter wanted to suppress the three women within two days to quickly clear out the South Courtyard for Aizhi and Xizhi. However, the usually gentle and graceful Xia Yiqing had suddenly become forceful, even threatening to set a fire. This was a grave matter; if the fire couldn't be controlled and burned down the entire Xia family, it wouldn't be a joke!

It was better to wait until Xia Xiuping brought Huang-shi and her daughters back. Xia Xiuping was an official with authority, and he was their father. No matter how formidable the little girl was, she wouldn't dare be insolent in front of her father!

Xia Xiuping's post was in Nanping County, two hundred miles away. He took some time to escort Huang-shi and her two daughters back to their old home to stay temporarily. Three days after the commotion in the South Courtyard involving the women of the Xia family, they returned.

As late summer approached, the roses were in full bloom, growing more brilliant and lovely by the day. Clusters and strings of flowers covered the walls and trellises, filling the entire courtyard. It was lively and bright, with a nose-filling fragrance; the fresh scent of roses was something one could never tire of, no matter how much they smelled it.

After the sisters' midday nap, Xia Yiqing and Xia Leqing washed their faces and sat facing each other under the veranda of the main house. Each occupied one side of an embroidery frame, working together on a peony painting over ten feet in length and width. This was intended for making a hall screen, and the proprietress of the embroidery workshop had entrusted it to the sisters to complete.

Usually, Pang Ruxue would also do embroidery work with the two daughters. Due to the commotion that day, her body was somewhat unwell, so the sisters had her rest in bed as much as possible and not leave her room unless necessary.

Mother Liu was nearby, using a bamboo tray to pick through some white rice in preparation for cooking dinner. Hearing a few knocks on the courtyard gate, she walked down the steps to open the door and see who had come.

The sisters were fully focused on their embroidery and did not notice Mother Liu's movements, until Mother Liu opened the door and ran back into the courtyard, shouting, "Miss, the Master has returned!"

Only then did the sisters snap out of it and look down together. They saw a crowd of people standing in the courtyard. Besides their father Xia Xiuping, Huang-shi, and her two daughters, there were also Xia Jinshi and Tong-shi. Lin-shi did not come this time, but the Third Master, Xia Xiuhe, was unexpectedly present. It seemed the Xia family was quite united; whenever something happened, members from every branch arrived. There is strength in numbers, after all!

Xia Leqing was very vigilant. She immediately ran over, spread her arms to block the stone steps, and said, "Are they here to fight again? Sister! Quickly put the embroidery away, lest it gets ruined. We can't afford to pay for it!"

Xia Yiqing was not afraid of a fight. Even at her worst, Xia Jinshi would not throw a tantrum or act violently in front of her son. However, she did not want them to see the work she and her sister were doing, lest they point fingers or touch it, and she also feared they might dirty the fabric. Thus, she quickly and efficiently packed everything up, carried it into the room, and locked the door behind her as she came out.

Over there, Xia Leqing received a reprimand from Xia Xiuping: "Le'er, do not be rude! How can you lack even the slightest sense of decorum in front of your elders?"

Xia Jinshi took the opportunity to say to her eldest son, "Son, I was just about to tell you. Qing'er and Le'er are quite capable when it comes to eating and drinking, but they understand nothing of rules! Pang-shi is weak and incompetent and cannot discipline them. Every day they cause a ruckus in front of me; my old lady's headache flares up ten times, and nine of those are because of them!"

Xia Xiuping felt a sense of guilt. He turned to support Xia Jinshi and said, "The children are naughty and不懂事 (lack understanding). I have troubled you, Mother. Your son apologizes to you!"

Standing beside Xia Xiuping was a woman in her thirties with exquisite makeup and a plump figure. It was Huang-shi, who wished to take Pang Ruxue's place as the primary wife. She stepped forward, pursed her crimson lips, and said with a smile to Xia Leqing, "Le'er, one must observe filial piety and etiquette in front of elders. Look, your grandmother is here, and your parents and uncles and aunts are present. You should perform your salutations and sit to serve tea!"

Xia Leqing was long accustomed to Xia Jinshi's hypocrisy and couldn't be bothered to care. She merely rolled her eyes at Huang-shi and said, "My mother is unwell and is lying in her room! Forgive me for my poor hospitality as a child. If you have something to say, say it here!"

Hearing this, Huang-shi's expression darkened. She turned to look at Xia Jinshi and then at Xia Xiuping, saying, "Master, look at this child. She is no longer small; she is a year older than Aizhi, yet she is far inferior to nine-year-old Xizhi! For a girl, it is impossible not to learn the rules. Since I have come back to stay this time, I will certainly set proper rules for them!"

Before Xia Xiuping could speak, Xia Yiqing walked over with light steps, pulled Leqing down from the steps, and performed a junior's greeting to everyone with elegance and respect. With a bright smile, she said, "Grandmother, Father, Uncles, and Aunts have arrived! Because of the events of the other day, the main house is a mess and hasn't been tidied up, so there is no place to stand. Entering might make the elders feel uncomfortable. The sun is setting now, and this half of the courtyard has become cool. Why don't the elders sit under the flower trellis? You can enjoy the fragrance and the scenery; it is pleasing to the eye. We usually sit here to enjoy the cool air. The bamboo chairs and stone tables are quite refreshing, much more comfortable than being indoors. What do you all think?"

After all, she was his firstborn. Xia Xiuping still held quite a bit of affection for his eldest daughter. Seeing how Yiqing had grown into a bright and beautiful girl with an elegant temperament and dignified manner, he was very satisfied. Unwilling to offend his eldest daughter, he said "Fine" and led the way to sit under the rose trellis. Xia Xiuhe naturally followed his elder brother, and seeing this, Xia Jinshi and the others had no choice but to follow and sit down.

Huang-shi sat beside Xia Xiuping, her eyes fixed on Xia Yiqing. Xia Leqing, however, got into an argument with Xia Aizhi and Xizhi because Aizhi and Xizhi had plucked rosebuds again to tear them apart for play. Xia Yiqing went over to persuade them with soft words, but Xia Leqing walked away huffily.

Aizhi and Xizhi gave Xia Yiqing a contemptuous glance and continued running around to pick rosebuds to play with. Xia Yiqing ignored them, turned to meet Mother Liu, took the teapot from her hands, and walked to the table to pour a cup of warm tea for everyone.

Xia Yiqing said with a smile, "Grandmother, please have some tea! Father, please have some tea! Third Uncle, Second Aunt, please!"

As for Huang-shi, she merely slid the teacup slightly toward her and said, "Concubine Huang has traveled a long way; she should also have a cup. This is yours!"

Being the daughter of an official's family, Huang-shi was much more composed than Xia Jinshi and Tong-shi. Although her expression changed and her gaze became sharp and cold, she still sat steadily and spoke in a calm, unhurried tone: "Qing'er, did you... say something wrong? The world knows that the Xia family married me with the rites of a primary wife. I am your father's original wife!"

Xia Yiqing looked at her calmly: "Concubine Huang should go to my mother to receive punishment, because Concubine Huang has said something wrong—my mother, Pang Ruxue, is my father's original wife! There is a marriage contract as proof, held by the government! If you don't believe us, we can go to court to confront the matter! You, Huang-shi, are merely my father's concubine, a concubine! For over ten years you have been Concubine Huang, and you will always be!"

"You... you..."

Huang-shi finally lost her composure, trembling with rage. She shouted at Xia Xiuping, "What a fine daughter you have raised! With such brazen words, she has effortlessly turned the situation around! If this spreads, what face will I have left? If you do not distinguish between the legitimate and the concubine's line today, I will take Aizhi and Xizhi back to my maiden home, and we shall end this marriage!"

Xia Jinshi also stood up, pointing at Xia Yiqing and recounting her crimes to Xia Xiuping: "At first she looked like a well-behaved and sensible girl, but she is just good at pretending! Within two minutes, her fox tail has shown! You don't know, the day before yesterday she hit your second sister-in-law and even twisted my wrist. My headache was triggered by her, and it still hasn't gotten better! Oh!"

Tong-shi also covered her eyes with a handkerchief and began to sob: "Hitting me in front of the servants, and even cursing my maiden family... I didn't even dare tell the Second Master. These past two days, I haven't been able to sleep or eat, my whole body feels terrible... *sob sob*"

Xia Xiuping was dizzy from the three women's shouting. He said to Xia Yiqing with a dark face, "Who taught you to be so rebellious and unfilial? How dare you contradict and offend your elders! Kneel down!"

Xia Yiqing met Xia Xiuping's gaze: "I have done nothing wrong, so why should I kneel? Father, won't you ask me why I contradicted my elders? If the elders do not understand kindness and love for the young, must the juniors simply hold their heads high and take the beating?"

"There are no parents in this world who are not right. Grandmother raised me, so you should respect and honor her; you cannot disobey even a little!"

"I understand that principle, but Grandmother is self-righteous, cruel, and tyrannical, making it impossible for me to respect her!"

Hearing this, Xia Jinshi grabbed her son's sleeve and wailed loudly, "Look! Now you must finally believe how I have suffered from her temperings every day... Ahhh! I can't live like this!"

Seeing his mother lose all dignity in her crying, Xia Xiuping truly became angry. He shouted again, "Qing'er, why haven't you knelt yet? Kowtow to Grandmother and admit your crimes!"

Xia Yiqing stood straight, motionless. Xia Jinshi cried even harder, beating her chest and stamping her feet, calling upon the ancestors. Xia Xiuping grew desperate and stepped forward to deliver a slap to Xia Yiqing: "You dare to be unfilial!"

Xia Yiqing staggered two steps from the blow, and was intentionally tripped by Tong-shi, falling to the ground.

Xia Leqing helped Pang Ruxue out. Seeing this scene, she immediately rushed forward to push Xia Xiuping, screaming in fury, "Don't hit my sister!"

Xia Xiuping was caught off guard, and his waist slammed into the corner of the square wooden table. The pain made his mouth twist. He raised his hand and delivered two consecutive slaps to Leqing.

Although Xia Xiuping was a scholar and a civil official who was not physically active—someone who used carriages and litters instead of riding horses—he was tall and had become stout in middle age. When those large palms struck, a normal person would find it hard to bear, let alone under the influence of intense rage where the force was multiplied several times. Leqing, a twelve-year-old girl, was sent flying and fell to the ground, motionless for a long time.

Xia Jinshi and Tong-shi gloated, while Huang-shi gave a huff, her expression relaxing significantly.

Pang Ruxue ran over, leaning down to scoop up Leqing, crying out with tears streaming down her face, "Le'er! Le'er, what's wrong? Don't scare Mother, Le'er, wake up!"

Seeing this, Xia Xiuping felt a pang of guilt, fearing he had truly injured Leqing. He hurried over to look, but was forcefully pushed aside by Xia Yiqing, who had run in from the side. As Xia Yiqing walked toward her mother and sister, she turned back and roared at him

"Don't come near us! Get away!"