Chapter 44: Clear-Eyed and Articulate

Chapter 44: Clear Eyes, Articulate Speech

“Though she is officially my mother, her heart toward me...” Yun Jiao straightened up, deep in thought.

“And what about the second young lady and the others...” Jian Jia still seemed uncertain.

“Those several elder sisters may stir up quite a storm at home, but none have yet married, so they have no connection to Shen Changdong. Besides, although those concubines have such intentions, they lack the means to truly move Shen Changdong’s heart,” Yun Jiao plucked a flower and toyed with it in her hand. “After all this contemplation, it can only be my dear mother.”

“The madam’s schemes are too sinister. She actually wants such a villain to ruin the young lady’s entire future,” Jian Jia said indignantly.

“Words like that, you may say them in front of me, but you must never mention them once you return,” Yun Jiao tightened her cloak. “Go back now, it’s terribly cold outside.”

“Yes,” Jian Jia replied.

“Miss, Ninth Miss!” Mu Jin came running from afar, breathless but smiling.

“What is it?” Yun Jiao stepped forward to meet her.

“Auntie has arrived!” Mu Jin shouted without catching her breath.

“My auntie’s here?” Yun Jiao was initially pleased, then seemed to recall something, quickly suppressing her joy to ask seriously, “Did she come happily, or with a worried look?”

“Well... Grandmadam is ill, so naturally Auntie wouldn't come happily...” Mu Jin was puzzled but answered truthfully.

Yun Jiao dropped the flower from her hand, stamping it underfoot. “Let’s go see.”

---

At Qixia Courtyard.

Bo He waited at the gate with a few maids. Upon seeing Yun Jiao from afar, she hurriedly bowed.

Inside the room, Qian Fangguan was holding the hand of Old Madam Qian, crying uncontrollably. Maids Qu and Li stood nearby, offering comfort.

Qian Fangguan’s life had been frail, born with a certain delicate charm. Though married for many years with a son and daughter, her face remained exquisitely fair and tender, still resembling a young girl in her prime.

“Auntie,” Yun Jiao softly greeted as she entered.

“Jiao’er,” Qian Fangguan quickly took her daughter’s hand, tears streaming. “You’ve suffered so much, my child. You seem much thinner these days.”

“Auntie is mistaken. Everything is going smoothly here, and I’m able to be with Grandmadam. How could I have lost weight?” Yun Jiao smiled gently, wiping away her tears. “Please don’t cry, Auntie. Grandmadam would be heartbroken to see you in tears. She loves you and cannot bear to see you sad.”

Qian Fangguan nodded, then looked back at her emaciated mother, who lay there unaware of her surroundings. Thinking of how carefully and lovingly she had cared for her in the past, and now, having been ill for so many days without her by her side, her heart was torn to pieces. How could she hold back her tears?

After Qian Fangguan had cried enough, Yun Jiao asked, “Auntie, how did Mother let you come out?”

At the mention, Qian Fangguan’s face turned pale. Her eyes reddened as she looked at her daughter, on the verge of tears again.

“Don’t cry, Auntie. Whatever it is, say it. I’ll find a way to handle it,” Yun Jiao urged, worried that if she cried more, they might not get another chance.

With a sniffle, Qian Fangguan said, “How could she allow me out... She says this house has only one true family, which is her own. As a mere concubine, how could I expect to return to my maternal home? There’s no precedent for a concubine to go back and tend to her mother’s final days. If this got out, would it not disgrace the Right Deputy Prime Minister’s residence?”

Yun Jiao nodded; she understood well. When she arrived, the madam had given the same excuse. “And then? How did she finally let you come?”

“She demanded I hand over the tea and wine shops I control to the public estate. There’s a vacancy at the Salt Office now, a lucrative position. Father is currently negotiating everywhere and is indeed short on silver...” At this, Qian Fangguan’s voice grew heavy with sorrow.

“And you agreed?” Yun Jiao frowned slightly.

“You know I have only these two shops left. My brother is the legitimate son, so no need for me to worry about his wife, but your dowry depends on these two shops. How could I easily let them go...” Qian Fangguan’s voice grew faint as she spoke.

“Did Father know that Mother wanted the tea and wine shops?” Yun Jiao watched Auntie’s expression, already anticipating the answer.

“He knew...” Qian Fangguan faltered, unsure how to continue.

“More than that, Father sat silently nearby while Madam pressed hard, insisting it was for the family’s sake, saying she had put all her dowry into it to secure Father’s future. Auntie was selfish, only scheming for herself, so don’t blame Madam for being ruthless in preventing you from seeing Grandmadam one last time.

Seeing Father tacitly agree and Grandmadam feigning illness to avoid leaving, Auntie had no choice but to tearfully nod her consent, only then was she allowed out to see Grandmadam once,” Maid Qu, unable to hold back, spilled the whole story like beans from a bamboo tube.

“Yun Jiao...” Qian Fangguan grasped her daughter, overwhelmed by grief. “It’s all Auntie’s fault for failing to protect your dowry...”

“Auntie, it’s no use dwelling on the past. I will have my own fortune in the future. Dowry or not, it will come as fate wills,” Yun Jiao was not angry. “Money is but an external thing. Auntie being able to see Grandmother even once is better than how much silver I could have for a dowry.”

“But your dowry...” Qian Fangguan still felt shame and guilt. The more sensible her daughter was, the heavier her remorse weighed.

“We’ll talk about the dowry later; there’s still time,” Yun Jiao smiled to comfort her. “Father is a man of pride—he won’t let me marry without anything.”

“Even so, a girl should have some personal belongings when she leaves home,” Qian Fangguan wiped her tears. “From now on, I can only rely on the public estate. Life for you and me will likely be even harder than before...”

“We’ll face that when it comes,” Yun Jiao appeared indifferent, though a trace of worry lingered in her heart. Relying on the public estate won’t be easy. She had managed the household affairs these past years; with only the meager funds from the estate, it would be but a drop in the bucket.

Suddenly, Old Madam Qian struggled to sit up.

Everyone was startled and hurried to support her.

“Grandmadam, tell me what you need—I’ll fetch it for you,” Yun Jiao, ever attentive, noticed her gazing outside and asked.

“Yun Jiao, help me up. I want to go to the courtyard,” Old Madam Qian’s eyes were clear, her speech lucid.

“Grandmadam, you recognize me?” Yun Jiao was overjoyed, quickly taking her hand and looking closely from all sides, afraid that if she let go, her mind would cloud again.

Has Grandmother improved?

“Girl, do you know who I am?” Qian Fangguan, delighted, grasped her mother’s hand.

“Who are you? You’re my unfilial daughter!” Old Madam Qian tapped her on the nose.

“Mother,” Qian Fangguan’s heart warmed, tears streaming down her face.

“No crying,” Old Madam Qian pretended to be angry.

Qian Fangguan hurriedly wiped her tears and nodded repeatedly. “Mother, I won’t cry.”

“Help me up. I want to go out,” Old Madam Qian insisted.

“Grandmadam, it’s very cold outside. Why do you want to go out?” Yun Jiao asked softly, puzzled.

(End of Chapter)