Chapter 9: Silver

Early the next morning, Xia Xiuping was to return to his post. Before leaving, he came to check on Leqing's injuries. Perhaps truly feeling guilty, he untied a piece of emerald jade hanging from his waist and placed it in Leqing's hand: "Take your medicine properly. This jade has been consecrated in a famous temple; it can ward off evil and impurities. Keep it on you, and it will ensure your safety!"

Seeing that the jade was bright in color and lustrous and emerald green throughout, Leqing toyed with it in her hand, but then asked a question: "Does Sister not have one?"

Xia Xiuping looked at Yiqing and smiled faintly: "Your sister is older now. Just because you like it doesn't mean she will. How about this: your mother is accustomed to moving in social circles and knows what kind of clothing and adornments are fashionable for ladies and young misses. When she has leisure, let her take your sister out to get a few sets of clothes and jewelry... When September comes, I will return to hold your sister's coming-of-age ceremony and invite several distinguished guests. Your sister should also make an appearance to meet the outside world!"

Xia Yiqing said indifferently: "My mother is right here. Since you have such intentions, you might as well leave the silver behind. When my mother has time, she will accompany me to the streets to have clothes custom-made. I thank you for this!"

Xia Xiuping said with a flat face: "Qing'er, how can you speak to your father in such a tone? Your manners are indeed lacking. That female teacher who instructs you in love and cherish is excellent. I will discuss it with your mother later and let you and Le'er also..."

"Don't trouble Lord Xia. The manners of us sisters were personally taught by our mother, and they are quite good! Also, please do not compare me and Leqing to concubines' daughters born of secondary status!"

"You!"

Xia Xiuping frowned deeply and looked toward Pang Ruxue: "Axue, didn't we agree on this the night before last? You didn't tell them?"

Pang Ruxue's eyes reddened. She lowered her gaze and shook her head: "I have no face to tell them! They are all like you, with too much pride; they certainly won't agree!"

Xia Xiuping fell silent for a moment, then cleared his throat twice and said: "In that case, I will tell you sisters! After this year, I should go to the capital to report my duties and undergo performance evaluation. If I get some assistance and my evaluation is rated as 'excellent,' I will be promoted! When that happens, your benefits will certainly not be lacking! The reason I have been able to serve as a county magistrate in this large southern county for so many years and build up some foundation for our Xia family is entirely due to the support of your maternal grandfather, Prefect Huang. This trip to the capital also relies on him..."

Xia Yiqing said impatiently: "You don't need to say more. My sister and I are grown; we have brains to think and eyes to see. Our mother is of the Pang clan. Who Prefect Huang is the maternal grandfather of is none of our business, so don't drag us into this! We are naturally happy to see you promoted and wealthy and the Xia family's status rise, but we only ask that you do not favor a concubine to the detriment of your wife, or drive us to the brink, offending heaven and earth. That benefits no one!"

Xia Xiuping said angrily: "Do not talk nonsense! What 'favoring a concubine to the detriment of a wife' or 'driving to the brink'? I am your biological father; how could I do such a thing?"

"You couldn't? One slap knocked me down, and two slaps nearly blinded Leqing! Is there such a father in this world? To please and accommodate the Huang clan, you wish to make a concubine a wife, elevate a secondary child to primary status, and even want the children born of my mother to be raised by Huang! What kind of logic is that? Of course, you won't personally kill your wife and daughters; you only need to let the Old Madam and Lady Huang lock us mother and daughters in the rear courtyard, denying us food, clothing, and sunlight. In less than a year, your primary wife, Lady Pang, and her two daughters will either starve to death or go mad, and Lady Huang will become the legitimate wife. Even then, is that not driving us to the brink?"

Hearing this, Xia Leqing hugged Pang Ruxue and began to sob uncontrollably.

Xia Xiuping trembled with rage, glaring at Pang Ruxue with a face of iron-blue: "Is this my daughter? Ah? When she was just born, she was only as big as a palm; I pampered and loved her like my own heart and soul. Even when she had to study for exams, I couldn't bear to see her cry, holding her in my arms while writing essays... and now she treats me like this?"

Hearing him mention the past and recall those affectionate and warm, beautiful days, Pang Ruxue wept with a broken heart, unable to speak.

Xia Yiqing sneered: "Old, rotten sesame seeds—you actually still remember them? Then in these past ten-odd years, while you kept Lady Huang by your side for romance, did you ever think of a woman named Pang Ruxue who was lonely and lingering on her sickbed? Lord Xia, we cannot meet your demands. A primary wife is a primary wife, and a legitimate daughter is a legitimate daughter; there is absolutely no logic in replacing or changing them! Unless you divorce my mother! My mother has endured bitterness and humiliation in the Xia family for over ten years; you must allow her to retain at least a shred of dignity. Even if she leaves, she should descend from the position of a wife!"

Rather than anger, Xia Xiuping felt shock. He stared blankly at Xia Yiqing: "You... Qing'er! As a child, how dare you speak so recklessly of your parents... and, and demand that I divorce your mother? You, you, you are simply unfilial!"

Xia Yiqing's gaze was cold, meeting Xia Xiuping's eyes without a hint of fear: "The Old Madam also calls me an unfilial daughter. As the ancient teachings say: if the child is not taught, it is the fault of the father! If Lord Xia does not want people to mock him for having an unfilial daughter, he can specify in the divorce papers: Leqing and I shall take our mother's surname, and from then on, we shall have no further connection to the Xia family!"

Since the mother and daughter had already reached an agreement and planned to find another way out, there was no need to care about this scumbag father's feelings. It was best to provoke him into a towering rage, making him slap himself in frustration and causing Pang Ruxue to feel heartache and complete despair!

Xia Xiuping's hand indeed moved, but Pang Ruxue lunged forward, clutching his arm tightly. She shook her head desperately, unable to utter a word, only weeping with her whole body trembling like a pear blossom in the rain. Considering that Pang Ruxue was pregnant, Xia Xiuping ignored Xia Yiqing for the moment and hurriedly picked up Pang Ruxue to take her back to her room.

Yiqing thought for a moment and quickly pulled Leqing to follow behind. She thought to herself that this incident must not go wrong; Pang Ruxue must be fine, and more importantly, Xia Xiuping must not stay by her side for too long, lest Pang Ruxue develop feelings of attachment again!

Pang Ruxue was merely crying heavily with some emotional fluctuations; she was fine. Xia Xiuping covered her with a quilt and soothed her: "You are pregnant now, do not be anxious about anything. Speak slowly... Rest assured, I will not hit them again. Hitting my daughter makes my heart ache too; I have already regretted that slap from the day before yesterday deeply!"

After saying this, he resumed his airs as a father, sitting by the bed to lecture Xia Yiqing. Yiqing was too lazy to speak, lowering her eyes and letting him talk to himself. His trip could not be delayed, so he would eventually have to end his speech.

Even after finishing his lecture, Xia Xiuping did not leave. Unexpectedly, he pulled a roll of banknotes from his sleeve, placed them by Pang Ruxue's pillow, and said: "These three hundred taels of silver were entrusted to me by a fellow student in this city to bring to relatives in Nanping County. You mother and daughter take them first. This South Courtyard is something Lady Huang insists upon; since it concerns Ai'er's marriage, just let her have it... Axue, you know this is all just for show. Take Qing'er and Le'er and patiently move to the rear courtyard for a year. Just do not provoke Lady Huang. Once this critical period passes and I am promoted, I will come to argue the matter then. I certainly won't let you mother and daughter suffer!"

Hearing that this silver belonged to someone else, and fearing that Xia Xiuping might be unable to repay the person immediately, Pang Ruxue hurriedly picked up the banknotes to return them to him: "A friend's entrustment... one must not break a promise..."

Xia Xiuping took her hand and patted it gently, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Xia Yiqing felt an inner urgency. They were short on silver right now, and here it was being handed to them, yet she was returning it. What a foolish mother!

She quickly gave Leqing a nudge. Leqing was undecided, but upon receiving the hint, she immediately lunged forward, snatched the banknotes from Pang Ruxue's hand with one claw, and stuffed them under her pillow, saying

"This is what Daddy gave us! We are going to live in that dilapidated rear courtyard, so we need to buy many things! Also, Daddy just said he would buy clothes for Sister!"

Seeing Leqing acting this way, how could Pang Ruxue not understand? She froze for a moment, looked at Xia Xiuping, and slowly turned her face away.

Xia Xiuping patted Leqing's twin buns and smiled: "Le'er is right. Once I go over there, I will find a way to get more silver to repay them. Now that Lady Huang is not by my side, I can still manage a few hundred taels! Axue, you are with child, take good care of yourself and recuperate well. Buy whatever you want to eat! Get some good clothes for Qing'er and Le'er, and get them a few pieces of jewelry like Ai'er and Xi'er, don't be stingy! After Qing'er's coming-of-age ceremony, there will be a good marriage proposal... Eh! I will tell you more then!"

Nanny Liu entered to report that someone in the front courtyard was urging them to set off. Xia Xiuping stood up, told Yiqing to take good care of her mother, and hurriedly left.

Xia Yiqing saw him out. As soon as he had walked out of the courtyard, she immediately turned back into the room and huddled with Leqing. They took the three hundred-yuan banknotes and counted them over and over, the two sisters blooming with joy.

They already had travel funds, and with this additional three hundred taels, even if they failed to find their relatives, it would be enough for them to live in a foreign land for a while!