Chapter 12: The Porcelain Wife

                           

Cui Xingzhou, both Zhao Quan’s close friend and distant relative, couldn’t allow the man to behave recklessly. To prevent the Marquis of Zhengnan from getting the wrong idea, he stated plainly, “He has many wives and concubines. If you invite his relatives, you’ll inevitably favor some over others. That won’t end well. It’s better to avoid inviting him altogether.”

Liu Mentang hesitated. “But the doctor seems to have a deep friendship with you, my lord. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to treat him so coldly?”

Cui Xingzhou lowered his eyes. He had decided to cut trouble off at its root. “Although Brother Zhao is highly skilled in medicine, he has an unfortunate fondness for other men’s wives. Those who know him well keep their wives and concubines away from him. If you hadn’t been gravely ill, I would never have invited him.”

Mentang blinked, finally understanding the meaning behind her husband’s words. So the handsome, talented doctor was actually a brazen womanizer? A wolf lurking among beautiful women?

Thinking back to his eagerness to help her last time, and her husband’s displeasure… could it be that Cui Xingzhou had been jealous? Yet when she was critically ill, he ignored all risk and insisted on inviting Zhao Quan to save her. How deep must his feelings be?

Realization washed over her, leaving her apologetic and sweetly flustered. She quickly reassured him, “Since he’s like that, I won’t even look at him in the future… My lord, were you angry with me for talking to him before?”

The woman before him was beautiful, but she was most irresistible when her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed. Mentang was exactly like that now—face like a peach blossom, eyes like autumn waters. Cui Xingzhou gazed at her for a long moment before answering, slow and gentle, “Those who don’t know cannot be blamed. It’s enough that you won’t speak to him in the future.”

Though reluctant to part, Mentang knew her husband’s chess studies were important. The master was notoriously strict and despised laziness. Her husband had to set out early.

After seeing him off and watching the carriage disappear down the alley, Liu Mentang reluctantly turned back. Just then, Old Zhang from next door, carrying her freshly emptied night-soil bucket, caught up with her. She had glimpsed a carriage leaving in a hurry, its curtains swaying. She quickly asked, “Mrs. Cui, was that your husband in the carriage just now?”

Liu Mentang smiled and confirmed. Old Zhang sighed in regret. “I only saw him rush into the carriage. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, and his cloak collar was so large it covered half his face. I only saw the top of his head. Next time he passes by, I might not recognize him…”

Mentang didn’t think much of it. “We’re neighbors, Auntie Zhang. There will be plenty of chances to meet him in the future.”

While answering, she turned toward her courtyard. Li Mama had mentioned the water in the pot was still hot, and she wanted a warm bath. The rainy, damp days had made her injuries ache; heat would ease the pain.

But Old Zhang was a nosy creature, eager to dig into neighborhood gossip for future entertainment.

“Mrs. Cui, don’t think I’m meddling, but your husband always comes at night and leaves at dawn. People will talk. You should tell him that this isn’t good behavior.”

Lowering her voice, she added, “You know, the officials with mistresses behave the same way, as if afraid to be seen. Our street is chaotic because of them. Every few days a legitimate wife causes a ruckus…”

She stared at Mentang, hunting for guilt on her face.

But Liu Mentang only smiled gracefully. “My husband isn’t an idle playboy. He has proper business to handle. Many working men leave early and return late. Why should he waste his time worrying about gossip? If someone has nothing better to do than make up stories, I can’t stop them. But if anyone dares slander my husband and tarnish our family reputation, I’ll storm their house, smash their belongings, and drag them by their lying tongues to the village head.”

Her smile was sweet, but her eyes carried a flash so sharp Old Zhang felt her bones chill. This young woman looked capable of much more than shouting.

Frightened, Old Zhang retreated with awkward laughter and hurried home with her night-soil bucket.

Li Mama, standing by the door, had heard everything. Her heart twisted with mixed feelings. The young mistress was doing everything she could to protect her husband, unaware that her own status was even lower than that of an official’s mistress. Seeing her stand so upright and righteous made Li Mama’s heart ache.

That noon, Li Mama made an exception and prepared a nourishing red date and ginseng chicken soup for Liu Mentang.

Mentang looked at the tender yellow chicken in the clay pot, its fragrance rising gently.

As Li Mama lifted the lid, she said, “Madam, your cold symptoms have worsened these past few days. I added red dates, wolfberries, and ginseng. This will warm your body and drive away the chill…”

But Mentang cut her off, worried. “Such good ingredients should be saved for when the master returns! Otherwise it’ll be like last time, when the meat spoiled before he came back!”

Li Mama’s expression stiffened. “Men don’t need such nourishment. The Cui family is still well-off; madam doesn’t need to be so frugal.”

A thousand-mile dike collapses by an ant hole, but never in a day. Mentang finally understood that the Cui family’s decline wasn’t just her husband’s poor management; the servants knew nothing of thrift.

Even so, Li Mama meant well. Though Mentang’s heart ached at the sight of the thick ginseng root, she didn’t scold her. She only instructed gently, “Tell me in advance before using such expensive ingredients. And only use them when the master is home.”

Li Mama’s face darkened. She ladled out the soup and set it in front of Mentang with a heavy thud. “Madam is right. This old servant overstepped.”

Mentang sipped the warm, fragrant soup. Heat spread through her whole body, loosening the cold lodged in her bones.

She looked up at Li Mama, still sulking, and said softly, “Please don’t think I’m nagging. We don’t have much money now. When the shop opens and we start earning, everyone will eat meat every day. At that time, you too, Mama, should have ginseng chicken soup daily to nourish yourself. You’ve been loyal to the Cui family through thick and thin. I thank you on behalf of my husband.”

Hearing this, Li Mama’s stern expression finally cracked. She sighed, picked up her chopsticks, and placed a drumstick into Mentang’s bowl.

She didn’t know how the prince planned to deal with this woman in the future, but days like this—days of eating meat so freely—were unlikely to last. She couldn’t influence the prince’s decisions. Out of sympathy, she could only cook a little more meat for this pitiful woman while she still could.

The opening day of the small shop had been carefully chosen—mid-month, an auspicious day. Two long strings of firecrackers hung high at the entrance. The fresh “Yushao Porcelain Shop” signboard was covered with a bright red cloth.

Though the Cui family had no relatives or close acquaintances here, Mentang invited neighbors to create a lively atmosphere.

Only then did the townspeople realize that the two storefronts had been bought by the newly arrived Cui family on North Street.

Some curious individuals asked how much Mrs. Cui had paid, shocked at her shrewdness and quietly admiring her business sense.

The newly renovated shop gleamed; porcelain sparkled under the light. Seeing Mrs. Cui’s capable management, the gossiping women no longer looked at her as an official’s mistress.

Though she was stunningly beautiful, she was clearly a proper businesswoman earning an honest living.

If she were truly a former courtesan trying to reform, she would have long been spoiled by an idle life and quick money, spending extravagantly and flaunting wealth. How could such a woman endure the hardships of running a shop?

Soon, neighbors sincerely congratulated her, wishing her prosperity.

However, despite the grand opening, her husband was nowhere in sight. Mrs. Cui explained that he had gone to study chess under a famous master and could not descend the mountain.

The crowd immediately understood. A delicate flower planted in useless mud.

So the Cui family’s young master was a wastrel after all. A hands-off boss. Letting his beautiful wife run the business alone while he pursued “refined hobbies” like music, chess, calligraphy, painting… or indulged in bird fighting and other frivolities.

What a pity! What a shame! A woman this capable and beautiful, married to such an unreliable young master.

Some men, captivated by her beauty, even harbored inappropriate thoughts. Since her husband was away, perhaps her boudoir was lonely. They planned to lurk near her back door at night, hoping for a chance to slip in.

As the crowd whispered, five strings of firecrackers crackled—symbolizing fivefold blessings. The red cloth was lifted amid the beating of a gong, and the Cui family’s small porcelain shop officially opened in Longquan Town.

But opening a shop was far more difficult than unveiling one.

Porcelain shops filled the town—competition was fierce. Established stores had steady customers and solid supply chains, many tied directly to local kilns.

But the Yushao Porcelain Shop was new, and its owners were outsiders. Opening here was like burning silver.

After the lively first day, the shop fell silent. Several days passed. Not a single customer walked through the door.

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