Cheng Wen and his wife were ultimately “escorted” back to the Fifth Branch by Qin Zi’an himself.
But after this commotion, from the Fifth Branch through the Fourth Branch to the Main Branch, there was no one in Jiuru Alley who didn’t know about this matter.
The old ancestor of the Second Branch, Cheng Xu, came forward and severely reprimanded Cheng Wen. Wen’s wife wasn’t spared either—she was sent to the Main Branch’s Hanbi Mountain House. According to Cheng Xu’s intention, Old Madam Guo had best find the “Admonitions for Women” and make Wen’s wife read it twice.
Old Madam Guo sneered coldly and let Wen’s wife kneel in the covered corridor, ordering Feicui to read the “Admonitions for Women” to her twice.
No matter what, Wen’s wife was still a mistress of the household—how could it be a servant woman’s turn to humiliate her like this?
Feicui was so frightened her face turned pale. She cast pleading looks at Zhou Shaojin, hoping Zhou Shaojin would say a word on her behalf before Old Madam Guo.
Biyu had sharp eyes and couldn’t help but curse Feicui in her heart for being “foolish.” She quickly stepped forward to block her gaze and said gently to Old Madam Guo: “Old Madam, what do you think—should we move a stool for Wen’s wife? Although the spring sun isn’t scorching, being exposed to it can easily cause freckles…”
Old Madam Guo had no intention of sparing Wen’s wife. Before Biyu could finish speaking, she said: “Just let her kneel and listen like that. She dared to strike even my servant woman—if I don’t teach her a lesson, I’m afraid she won’t even know her own name!”
Biyu took the opportunity to pinch Feicui and said: “Then Feicui and I will withdraw.”
Old Madam Guo nodded, her expression softening slightly.
Zhou Shaojin gently advised her: “Wen’s eldest uncle’s wife has this rash temperament—all of Jiuru Alley knows it. If you damage your health getting angry over this, it wouldn’t be worth it. Perhaps Wen’s wife doesn’t even know you’re angry!”
“That’s exactly why I can’t be bothered to say much to her,” Old Madam Guo said, seeing her so gentle and compliant, her anger dissipating a bit more. “I’ll just show her directly what’s what.”
But this seemed too simple and brutal.
How would Wen’s wife have the face to visit the Main Branch in the future?
Though perhaps that was precisely Old Madam Guo’s purpose.
Zhou Shaojin pondered this as she peeled a plum for Old Madam Guo.
Meanwhile, as soon as Biyu left the hall, she whispered urgently to Feicui: “Whatever you do, don’t drag Second Young Miss into this. Didn’t you see yesterday—Wen’s wife merely implicated Second Young Miss in one sentence, and Old Madam sold Wen’s wife’s trusted nanny and that nanny’s entire family—Old Madam doesn’t like people plotting to use Second Young Miss.”
Feicui had already vaguely sensed this. But she thought Zhou Shaojin was kind-hearted and soft-handed—if she could actively help her, Old Madam Guo probably wouldn’t say anything.
Now she could only smile bitterly.
Biyu was always more astute than her. If even Biyu had noticed something and spoken so plainly, if she still tried to appeal to Zhou Shaojin, Biyu would certainly think she had ulterior motives and wouldn’t help her anymore.
“Then, then should I just read the ‘Admonitions for Women’ to Wen’s wife like this?” Feicui’s legs trembled just thinking about it.
Biyu chided: “What are you afraid of! Since Old Madam ordered it, if something goes wrong, Old Madam will surely take responsibility, won’t she? Look at Miss Ji Ying—she beat Second Master Yi and that was that. Although Fourth Branch’s Old Madam is upright in character, he’s still her own grandson—can she really have no temper at all about it? In the end, isn’t it because Fourth Master won’t relent, and Fourth Branch doesn’t want to make a big fuss for others to laugh at? Just go read your ‘Admonitions for Women’ with peace of mind.”
Feicui couldn’t help murmuring: “If I’d known it would come to this, I shouldn’t have studied reading and writing so diligently with my sisters back then.”
Biyu covered her mouth and laughed.
But Feicui had already begun thinking of withdrawing, deciding to find Nanny Lü later to ask for advice and marry out sooner.
Meanwhile, when Wen’s wife saw Feicui holding a copy of “Admonitions for Women” and walking in, she still harbored some hope. But when Feicui explained her purpose and began reading the “Admonitions for Women,” she fainted from anger on the spot.
Old Madam Guo had people use a soft sedan to send Wen’s wife to Old Madam Tang of the Second Branch, saying: “Yi’s nephew-wife also comes from a scholarly family—let her help read this ‘Admonitions for Women’ to Wen’s nephew-wife.”
Looking at the fainted Wen’s wife, Old Madam Tang had no choice but to settle her in a guest room.
When Wen’s wife woke up, she naturally launched into a tearful complaint: “…She’s just a young miss living under someone else’s roof as a dependent. I didn’t even say anything—was it necessary to sell my trusted nanny? I respected her as an elder of the family and didn’t say a word. But she, in her advanced age, had a servant girl read the ‘Admonitions for Women’ to me. And I was kneeling in the covered corridor at the time! She didn’t treat me as a nephew-wife at all!”
Didn’t treat her as a nephew-wife at all.
This phrase moved Old Madam Tang.
Old Madam Tang said: “Your eldest aunt-in-law has that temperament—don’t you know it? Why did you have to provoke her and even injure her gatekeeper woman? That was your fault to begin with, yet you dare speak nonsense here. Never mind you—even I, when encountering this hall sister-in-law from the same generation, must be yielding in my words and actions. Stop being upset—you’re only hurting yourself!” As she spoke, she handed over a handkerchief for her to wipe her tears. She was about to say a few more words when Cheng Yu came back from school to pay respects, and Old Madam Tang could only comfort her a few sentences before returning to the main room.
Cheng Yu was seventeen this year, the same age as Fourth Branch’s Cheng Yi and one year younger than Fifth Branch’s Cheng Nuo. He was as handsome as an orchid or jade tree, especially with his slightly slanted phoenix eyes that seemed molded from the same cast as Old Madam Tang’s, which made Old Madam Tang fond of him just looking at him. Moreover, since Cheng Yu was a second grandson who didn’t need to support the family’s public face, Old Madam Tang could dote on him without any psychological burden. As a result, Cheng Yu’s words carried more weight with Old Madam Tang than anyone else’s, which had cultivated in him a somewhat spoiled yet naive character.
He approached with a smile to greet Old Madam Tang, then clung to her side, asking about the Fifth Branch’s affairs: “…I heard that the Main Branch’s great-aunt had a maid read the ‘Admonitions for Women’ to Fifth Aunt Wen—is that true? Fifth Aunt Wen is quite pitiful. I was furious when I heard about it, but Cousin Nuo acted like nothing happened, saying something about how although he doesn’t want to marry that outside woman’s niece, he also doesn’t want his cousin because she and Fifth Aunt Wen look like mother and daughter, and seeing his cousin makes him shudder!”
Old Madam Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she swatted Cheng Yu: “Nonsense! What do you mean they look like mother and daughter? Only you would say such things. Never speak like this again.”
Cheng Yu giggled.
Old Madam Tang’s heart stirred.
The Second Branch was also worried about Cheng Yu’s marriage prospects. That Cheng Nuo was already eighteen years old this year. If it weren’t for Cheng Wen and his wife having major quarrels every three days and minor ones every two days, Cheng Nuo would have been betrothed long ago…
She dismissed Cheng Yu and summoned her eldest grandson’s wife, Madam Zheng, wife of Shi: “I want to arrange a match for Fifth Branch’s Nuo—does your natal family have anyone suitable for him?”
Madam Shi was somewhat confused at first.
Old Madam Tang explained: “Although the Fifth Branch is weak, it’s still a branch household after all. Nuo has a gentle and weak temperament. If your natal family has a sensible young lady, we might as well be matchmakers for Nuo. In the future when matters arise, if Second Branch and Fifth Branch speak with one voice, that would be good too.”
By “sensible,” she meant someone who could control Cheng Nuo.
Madam Shi immediately understood. She smiled: “These days I’ve been busy helping arrange viewings for Second Uncle, so I haven’t paid attention to the young ladies on my natal family’s side. I’ll go back and carefully inquire about it.”
Old Madam Tang nodded with satisfaction, saw off her eldest grandson’s wife, and sat alone in the room quietly thinking. She called in her trusted nanny and said: “Go invite Auntie Liang over, tell her I’m inviting her for tea.”
Her father-in-law Cheng Xu was a widower, and she was a widow. Although both were advanced in years, it was still inconvenient for them to come and go frequently. When there were matters to discuss, she mostly had Cheng Xu’s concubine, Madam Liang, relay messages.
Auntie Liang soon arrived.
Old Madam Tang had her tell Cheng Xu: “Now that Fifth Branch is in such turmoil, it’s only Nuo who suffers. I think we should have Nuo come live with us for a while, arrange a good match for him, and in the future when matters arise, we can maintain frequent contact.”
Cheng Xu immediately understood her meaning.
Although he felt there wasn’t much significance in winning over Cheng Nuo, there was no great harm either. Since it was his daughter-in-law’s wish, he nodded in agreement.
Old Madam Tang then told Wen’s wife what Cheng Nuo had said: “…He said the cousin looks just like you, and seeing the cousin is like seeing you, which fills his heart with awe.”
At first, Wen’s wife didn’t understand the implication. When she figured it out, her face flushed bright red and she began to stammer: “I, I never expected… What do you say we should do about this? Anyway, I won’t agree to him bringing that outside woman’s niece into the house—what would that make me?” By the end of her speech, she was already shouting loudly.
Old Madam Tang pondered: “What do you think of this—I’ll have Shi’s wife help you look. She’s been helping find a wife for Yu lately too.”
Wen’s wife was still somewhat unwilling.
Old Madam Tang smiled: “Nuo’s marriage isn’t your concern alone. It won’t be too late to go back and discuss it thoroughly with Nephew Wen.”
Discuss with Cheng Wen!
Wen’s wife ground her teeth but knew Old Madam Tang spoke the truth.
Her initial plan to arrange the betrothal with her natal family’s niece behind Cheng Wen’s back was merely a gamble that the Cheng family valued face and would reluctantly accept it despite their displeasure. Now that the matter was exposed, she could no longer arrange Cheng Nuo’s marriage privately.
Her fear was that the girl Madam Shi would introduce to Nuo would be someone Yu didn’t want.
She said awkwardly: “Then I’ll go back and discuss it with the master first.”
Old Madam Tang sneered inwardly but showed nothing on her face as she had someone escort Wen’s wife back.
Madam Shi, who was patting her young son to sleep, felt quite troubled.
The Fifth Branch could be said to be neither high nor low—such matches were the hardest to arrange.
Although her natal family had several younger cousins from collateral branches, there wasn’t a single one who had strong opinions at such a young age.
If they couldn’t control Cheng Nuo, this match would be arranged in vain.
Madam Shi somewhat vexedly flipped through the candidates she’d prepared for Cheng Yu these past days, feeling overwhelmed.
Her personal maid Hong Rui brought in a bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest, smiling: “Madam, please stop troubling yourself—when Master returns and sees this, he’ll feel distressed.”
Madam Shi’s face flushed red.
Cheng Shi would be returning with Cheng Xu.