"Go to the gate and find out exactly who delivered this letter," Madam Hu said hurriedly. "Where is the messenger now? Find a way to track him down. I have questions for him."
Cailian said yes and went out to carry out the order.
Qingru couldn't make sense of it. Her mother had always been steady, composed no matter how serious the matter before her. What could have happened this time to throw her off balance, even for a moment? She asked carefully, "Mother, what is wrong? Who wrote this letter?"
Madam Hu didn't want to explain. She turned and sent for Nanny Sun, her dowry servant, who had attended her from her family home until now and was the confidante she trusted most. As soon as Nanny Sun arrived, she dismissed Qingru. "The sutras I had you copy yesterday, I suppose they aren't finished? They're needed for the vow-fulfilling at the Great Buddha Temple in a couple of days, so don't fall behind. Go on."
Qingru couldn't say more. She curtsied and withdrew to the outer room, but her steps hesitated and she didn't go far. She faintly heard her mother cursing: "Some people are never satisfied! I gave them so much back then, enough to make an honest living with. Now, more than ten years later, they come asking again. If I had known, I should have been ruthless from the start and finished it for good..."
All over a single letter, Madam Hu's courtyard was thrown into a flurry. Her trusted nanny was summoned, and the people sent to investigate went out through the inner gate. Nanny Tao, who had been hiding behind the rockery, returned to the Pavilion of the Pale Moon and reported everything she had seen and heard to Qingyuan. "It must be Madam," she said with certainty.
Qingyuan sat there. She had been anxious while waiting for news, but now she could settle. Even if she were to die, she wanted to die knowing the truth; she had to be clear about whom to hate. The letter to Madam Hu hadn't actually said much. It only begged: the writer's household could no longer get by, and would Madam, in recognition of past service, lend a little money as capital? She would be forever grateful for Madam's great kindness. Few people in this world could ask a military governor's wife for money so directly. Only someone holding a handle against her would dare. If Madam Hu had a clear conscience, she could have ignored the letter. Instead she had lost her head. Two happy events had come to the house in succession, and Lord Xie would be home in a few days. If she didn't clear away those old debts before he arrived, it might be hard to contain things once trouble broke out.
Qingyuan let out a long breath. "Did anyone from Madam's courtyard go to Concubine Mei's?"
"No," Nanny Tao said. "I watched from behind the rockery until dark, and none of Madam's people went to the Pomegranate Courtyard."
Then there was no need to probe Concubine Mei for now. If the two women were in league, Madam Hu would never be willing to weather the storm alone; she would have called in her accomplice at once to plan together. Qingyuan thought it over. "Since the play has come this far, we should see it through. Take the silver. Call it hardship money for Nanny's son and the others who helped. But tell them to be very careful. Madam may turn vicious and see this through to the bitter end."
Nanny Tao said yes. "They'll manage the rest themselves... Miss, do you mean to use this wind to bring Madam down?"
Several pairs of eyes stared at her in dismay. Qingyuan knew they were worried and smiled calmly. "So many years have passed. Even if it all came out, no one would take up the matter. They were only two concubines; who would care about their lives? But every wrong has its wrongdoer and every debt its debtor. I know in my own mind, and that gives my mother something to hope for."
"Yes, yes," Nanny Tao said. "Put your mind at ease, Miss. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. To tell you the truth, I was afraid just now that you wouldn't be able to hold back. Madam is a formidable woman, and you are young. How could you be a match for her?"
It was true. At Madam Hu's age she had eaten more salt than Qingyuan had eaten rice, and if it came to a fight she had plenty of ways to deal with it. With only this scrap of evidence, Qingyuan would be throwing an egg against a rock. Making an open enemy was unwise. Later, at the slightest disturbance, people would have an excuse to pin it on the Pavilion of the Pale Moon, and she would be the one to suffer.
She nodded slightly, stroking her knee, and murmured to herself: "In great households, quarrels between wives and concubines are common, and so are deaths. Those cruel women are hateful, certainly, but are the men who stir up trouble and then stand by with folded arms any less hateful? My mother had bad luck, and so did Concubine Xia. They met a man like Lord Xie, who let the women's quarters use such vicious means to get rid of rivals. It is truly ugly, every bit of it. What I don't understand is why Madam couldn't tolerate my mother and Concubine Xia. If anyone should have worried her, it was Concubine Mei, who bore two sons in a row."
"You don't know, Miss," Nanny Tao said. "Concubine Mei used to be Lord Xie's bed-maid. Which young master these days doesn't keep two or three in his rooms before marriage? Lord Xie had three or four. When Madam came into the household she sent three of them away and kept only Concubine Mei. For one thing, Mei knew how to behave and kept Madam well pleased. For another, Madam wanted a reputation for virtue, and keeping one served as a front so no one could gossip behind her back. But then Concubine Mei's belly proved capable, and after two sons she became impossible to deal with, so she had to be left alone. The women who came later were greatly favored and sometimes grew a little proud. Madam couldn't stand the sight of it, and naturally she wouldn't tolerate them."
Qingyuan sighed. "If we speak of pity, Qingrong has it worse than I do. I have lost my mother, but I still have my grandparents in the Chen family, who raised me like a treasure. Qingrong went to Madam, and her circumstances can't compare with Qingru's. Her own mother died at Madam's hands, and she still has to be grateful to Madam, flatter Qingru at every turn, and she has grown sharp-tongued, never giving way even when she is in the wrong."
"That you can think of Third Miss's hardships shows your heart is broader than theirs," Baoxian said sincerely, with no intention of flattering her. "Outsiders say the Xie family is a nest of wealth and rank, but who knows the darkness under the lamp? Growing up in the Chen family was better than eating at the Xie table under other people's frowns. Things are hard now, but grit your teeth for three or five years and there will be a day you come out ahead."
Qingyuan smiled. "Who knows what things will be like in three or five years?"
"I say it won't take three or five years," Chuntai said. "That heir of the Marquis Danyang is very good. Why else did he come to our house so eagerly today, if not for Miss?"
Qingyuan laughed. "For me? You think too highly of me. He is close friends with the Earl Kaiguo's son and was a schoolmate of the young masters here. For him to visit the Xie house once is perfectly ordinary." She knew Chuntai would go on endlessly once she started on this subject, so she turned to Nanny Tao. "Do as I said earlier. Don't let Madam see the real thing. After tomorrow, everyone should be careful. When they come to their senses, they will certainly set their eyes on the Pavilion of the Pale Moon."
Nanny Tao said yes and left the garden just as the gates were being locked for the night.
Outside, kitchen maids had brought the evening meal. Chuntai took it to the flower corridor in front to set it out, and Baoxian came forward to tie a napkin around Qingyuan's front. "I think Chuntai is right," she said with a smile. "Miss should pay some attention."
Qingyuan was a young girl. To be looking for a gentleman fit to be trusted with her future was too early and too rash. But on second thought, they were right: the Xie house was not a place to stay for good. Old Madam was always saying she would raise her as an old maid, which was no way for a grandmother to think! She had gone to every length to get her back from the Chen family. Was it just to bury her whole life with a clear conscience?
In any case, there was no rushing ahead now. Everything had to be taken gently. The letter would do its work on its own. Qingyuan remained as calm as ever, but Madam Hu's side was clearly unsettled.
Even her two sisters-in-law noticed. Madam Pei said, "Elder Sister-in-law, have you been too busy lately? You don't look well."
Madam Jiang teased, "The eldest lord is about to come home. Elder Sister-in-law probably can't get a full night's sleep."
Qingyuan stood to one side for a moment, then turned and followed her three sisters into Old Madam's main room.
The granddaughters were growing up and had all reached the age to be betrothed, and Old Madam now treated them as individuals in their own right, willing to have a family chat with them. "In a household with many daughters, the first marriage is always the hardest to arrange. Once the first is settled, each one can help the next, and then the sisters' marriages are nothing to worry about. The Earl Kaiguo's family sent the betrothal gifts the other day. I no longer worry about Qinghe; the match is of no low standing, and in time she can keep an eye out for her younger sisters." She paused to consider, then went on. "Yesterday Madam came to see me and mentioned the Marquis Danyang's heir... From what the First Madam implied, she wants to arrange it for Qingru."
Before Old Madam had finished, Qingru's face went red as blood. Since Old Madam was making no effort to hide it from them, she put on a show of modesty, twisting the corner of her garment and complaining, "Mother is too impatient. Why didn't she ask my opinion first..."
Qinghe curled her lip in disdain, then turned to look at Qingyuan's face.
Old Madam also glanced, deliberately or not, toward Qingyuan, and said with a sigh, "Madam always has her own ideas, and seeing how set she is, I couldn't bring myself to refuse her. But I did say that the Danyang Marquis's family is not an easy one to marry into. The marquis's principal wife bore only this one son, so she is bound to find fault at every turn. Eating that family's rice is no easy thing, yet Madam wouldn't listen. As for the young marquis, I have only met him once or twice, so I can't say what his character is like... You sisters have looked on from the side. What did you make of him?"
She was fishing for Qingyuan's view. There wouldn't normally have been any need to be careful with her, but only the other day Old Madam had said the match was too high for them, and now, turning around and agreeing to it for Qingru, she could hardly face Qingyuan.
Qingyuan, though she looked simple and guileless, was no fool. Old Madam's favoritism was plain. After all, what did one small concubine's daughter matter compared with a legitimate daughter? Never mind the difference between having a mother and not. Even if her mother were alive, she would have had no say at a moment like this.
Qinghe answered slowly, "I have met the Danyang Marquis's son only once, so I can't say whether he is good or bad... Fourth Sister, what do you think?"
Qingyuan smiled. "I only saw him once, at the spring banquet, so it wouldn't be right for me to judge him. But if we're speaking of a good match, he and Second Sister suit each other very well."
Only then did Qingru relax. Seeing that Qingyuan didn't dare say anything more, she grew even more pleased with herself, her high-lifted chin announcing, so you know your place.
Old Madam had in fact expected Qingyuan to back away. It was just as well. With her status, even if something were to develop between her and the Danyang Marquis's heir, it would never end well. Madam wanted to use Qingru to form this alliance, and at least their births were an even match. Old Madam had her own reasons. Marriages of sons and daughters served the glory of the family, and nothing ranked above the dignity of a name. Qinghe, a concubine's daughter, had married into the Earl Kaiguo's household; Qingru, as a legitimate daughter, naturally had to marry higher than Qinghe.
"In that case, when we next see the Prefect's wife, we'll ask her to make the proposal on both sides," Old Madam said, still leaving herself a way out. "But the Danyang Marquis's family is known for being difficult. If it can be arranged, all the better. If not, there will be nothing to regret."
Only after hearing their grandmother's instructions did everyone file out. Qingru still wouldn't let it rest and chased after Qingyuan. "You must hate me in your heart, don't you? You thought you had a chance to climb to a high branch, and I cut in halfway."
Qingyuan laughed to herself. Nothing was settled yet, so calling it cutting in was premature. Qingru had always been domineering but had little in the way of brains, parading her power in front of her so arrogantly, as if certain the Danyang Marquis's family would take to her.
Silent grumbling was one thing. On her face, Qingyuan still smiled openly. "Don't misunderstand, Second Sister. Everything I said to Grandmother was true. We are sisters. If you can marry into the Danyang Marquis's family, I will share in the honor."
Qingru snorted. "Don't try to get close to me. I'll tell you plainly, and I'm not afraid you'll be angry: you're not lacking in looks or talent, but you didn't accumulate enough virtue in your last life and were born to a concubine. If you must blame someone, blame your mother!" Having said these words that pierced to the heart, she strode off, head held high.
If birth as legitimate or concubine's child were the measure of worth, Qingyuan wasn't the only one offended. Qinghe gritted her teeth watching Qingru's back. "Amitabha. I'll wait and see her get her just deserts. That day will come!"
Qingyuan took it all lightly and said with a smile, "Yesterday I dyed a piece of cloth in a splash-dyed pattern, a design I've never made before. I'd like to invite Eldest Sister to come see it. If you like it, I'll offer it to you to make a skirt."