When the Crown Princess woke up, the ban on Baiyun Temple was still not lifted yet and everyone inside Baiyun temple was detained in the courtyard for investigations. Since the Emperor issued an urgent imperial edict, the Crown Prince prepared a comfortable and warm carriage, and ordered the coachman to slowly ride back to the capital.
When the Crown Princess left, she did not forget to bring Old Madam Yu back with her. She even ordered Song Momo to personally send her to the door of the Marquis manor.
Two shichen (4 hours) had passed and Song Momo was still very emotional. She held Old Madam Yuâs hand throughout the journey and described the dazzling scene of the Taoist rays shining over everything. She exclaimed repeatedly, âMiss Xiangâer really is an auspicious person. There were so many Qians, but out of all of them, she drew the âDragon and Phoenixâ Qian. Especially the second half of the inscription on the Qian, itâs simply divinely accurate! If I hadnât seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought I was dreaming! Itâs a pity that Miss Xiangâer left first and didnât see it. Our Ninth Princess was stunned at that time and stood in the courtyard jumping and exclaimingâŠâ
The Old Madam was conversing with her in high spirits, and she was also very interested and eager to see the miraculous occurrence. Unfortunately, she woke up a little late and was only able to catch a little of the light that had not dissipated.
Time passed quickly, and they were about to reach the Marquis manor. Song Momo attentively helped the Old Madam into the manor. She also ordered someone to carry several large boxes of valuable gifts and said that these were brought for Miss Xiangâer by Her Highness.
Pei Shi managed to catch a ride down the mountain in another carriage because of the Old Madam. If not, she would be guarded by a group of Dragon Scale guards all day, and would be so scared and fell ill.
They parted at a fork in the road. Pei Shi hurried back to her room to wash up, and the Old Madam went straight to the West courtyard to visit her granddaughter.
âGrandmother, you just got back?â Yu Xiang raised her head and muttered sleepily.
It was already forty five minutes past sishi[1] (9.45a.m.) and she was still lying in bed as she slept in. She did not wear anything on her upper body and was wearing a pair of dark green lantern pants[2]. The quilt was slightly opened and it exposed half of her very jade-like arms, so white that it was glowing. It slightly glimmered when the sun shone through the window. It was very enchanting/mesmerising.
The Old Madam went over to her, helped her cover the quilt for her, and straightened her untidy hair and scolded, âLazy girl, what time is it already and you are still lying on the bed? Get up quickly! You didnât know, right? The Crown Princess has given birth prematurely!â
Yu Xiang was fully awake and propped up her upper body and asked, âGiven birth? Is it a boy or a girl?â
âItâs a pair of boy and girl twins[3], the bazi[4] are very good and the heavens have even sent down an auspicious signâŠâ The Old Madam embellished while telling the story of what she had heard from Song Momo about the daoist rays shining forth. She affectionately pinched the tip of her granddaughterâs nose and said with a smile, âMy granddaughter is truly a little lucky star! Let your grandmother have a look to see if your blisters have recovered.â
Yu Xiang lifted up her long hair and said, âItâs much better after applying the medicine. Grandmother, donât be happy yet. I have something aggravating to tell youâŠâ
The Old Madam was still grinning at first, but after she had heard everything, her face was so dark and gloomy water could drip from it.
Yu Xiang rubbed the corner of her eyes and complained with a slight sobbing tone, âThat Fang family has humiliated me so much. You have to return justice to me!â After saying, she blinked her feline eyes and tears streamed down as she looked very pitiful.
The Old Madam didnât know whether to laugh or cry and poked her forehead. She said angrily, âWipe that tears of yours. You think I donât know your disposition? Itâs good that you didnât berate the boy from the Fang family boy until he was ashamed to death.â
Yu Xiang wiped away her tears and smiled bashfully, âHow can I relieve the hatred in my heart if I donât scold him to death? Grandmother, you should quickly kick them out. Itâs too unpleasant to have them live in the Marquis manor.â
âAlright, Grandmother will kick them out.â The Old Madam stroked her granddaughterâs hair and lamented, âMen fear getting into the wrong line of business and women fear marrying the wrong man. In the end, Pei Shi had married the wrong person. Those salt merchants stole the Emperorâs silvers and are living a more prosperous life than the Emperor. This made the group of officials in charge of salt flattered until they didnât know the immensity of heaven and earth, not knowing that the wealthier they got the closer they were to their death. This time, the Crown Princess and the two little grandsons were harmed and the Emperor had pent up anger in his heart with nowhere to vent. He would vent on them. I watched Pei Shi grow up. When she was young, she was quite magnanimous. However, after spending a few years in Yangzhou where she immersed in the noisy and pretentious life, she seemed like a vulgar merchantâs wife that is unsophisticated. EhâŠâ
The Old Madam shook her head and sighed for a long time. Seeing that it was getting late, she urged her granddaughter to get up. Then, she went back to her room and ordered Ma Momo to call Yu Si Yu.
Yu Si Yu knelt down with trepidation and was about to open her mouth to complain, but she heard the Old Madam questioning in a deep voice, âYou are so good. You are grown up that you even did such scandalous things like secretly meeting an outside man and bringing him into your ladyâs chamber. Is that Fang family so good that you wish to marry at the expense of losing your reputation? â
Yu Si Yu gritted her teeth, kowtowed and said, âGranddaughter doesnât care whether the Fang family is good or not. Granddaughter has fallen in love with the Fang familyâs noble son. Since my reputation has been tarnished, I seek Grandmother to help me fulfill my wish.â
Yu Si Yu once heard Pei Shiâs description of her familyâs situation. Not to mention the clothes and jewelry she wore were worth a fortune, even the food was exquisite, a simple dish of fried rice with eggs could cost fifty taels of silver to make. The hens that laid eggs ate fine powder made of ginseng, astragalus, atractylodes macrocephala, red dates, etc. every day. Their family was extremely wealthy. And the fact that Fang Zhi Chen was like an orchid tree with a promising future. It was exactly the kind of man she had imagined in her mind countless times.
If she missed Fang family out, she was afraid that she wonât be able to find a better place in the future.
The Old Madam laughed in anger and began to speak slowly, âWhat do you mean when you say your reputation has been tarnished? Iâll get rid of Qing Ya later. Qiu Shi, Tao Hong and Liu Lu, those three, will never speak of this. How can your reputation be tarnished? You are the one who doesnât want it anymore, arenât you?â
She smashed the teacup in her hand and chided, âHow could my Yu manor have produced such a shameless thing like you?!â
Yu Si Yuâs forehead was red and swollen, but she was unrepentant. She repeatedly kowtowed and begged continuously, âGranddaughter begs grandmother to help me fulfill my wish. Granddaughter begs grandmother to help me fulfill my wish. Granddaughter has nothing else she wished for, I beg grandmother to help me fulfill this wish of mine. I will cherish your kindness to me forever in my mindâŠâ
The Old Madam pondered for a long time and said in a cold voice, âSince you have made up your mind, I have no choice but to help you fulfill it. I will personally visit and discuss with Pei Shi of your marriage. You donât have to remember my kindness. I just hope you wonât go back on your word at the last minute⊠â
âGranddaughter will never go back on her word!â Yu Si Yu immediately assured her.
The Old Madam stared at her for a long time and then waved her hand to dismiss her.
Ma Momo asked anxiously, âOld Madam, are you really going to marry Eldest Young Miss to the Fang family? How could it be feasible?â
âHow could it be feasible? The little imperial grandchildren were harmed which aroused the Emperorâs anger, and he would surely clean up the imperial court with a strike of his fist. After three months, the salt tax case will have been settled and the Fang family will not be able to escape it. Iâm afraid that Fang Zhi Chenâs newly acquired title will be compromised and taken away because of his crime. He will become a commoner and his career in officialdom would be ruined. I donât need to worry about arousing the Emperorâs suspicion on my Marquis manor. Instead, I can let Yu Si Yu marry them. Isnât this what she cried and begged for? And Iâll help her fulfill that wish.â
Ma Momo was speechless for a long time. She felt that Eldest Young Miss was pitiful and hateful. If she hadnât made such a fuss, she could have married into a decent family and lived a smooth and peaceful life. If the Old Madam was really determined to marry her to the Fang family, she will suffer in the future.