Chapter 19: Cherishing the Delicate Willow Blossoms as the Cold Food Festival Approaches

Chapter 19: Cherishing Liu Jiao as the Cold Food Festival Approaches

Bai Yanhua suddenly tensed up. “Mother-in-law, this…”

“Mother-in-law of the bride, this… this is absolutely impossible!” The elder lady also grew somewhat flustered.

“What’s impossible about it? Your son may not acknowledge this child, but my daughter still does. The bond between mother and daughter is deep. Tell me, what harm is there if she accompanies the child back to her maternal home?” Lady Qian spoke mercilessly.

“Mother-in-law, if you take Guan’er back, and the remonstrators at court find out, won’t it ruin your son-in-law’s future!” The elder lady was almost stomping in anger.

With her current status, she need not have cared about Lady Qian at all. Moreover, Lady Qian had witnessed her in her most destitute, wretched days—she wished they would never meet again in this lifetime.

Yet, regarding Lady Qian’s concubine, it was he who had wronged the family. With this leverage in the Qian household’s hands, she had no choice but to treat Lady Qian with courtesy, not daring even to speak harshly.

In these times, if one’s reputation was ruined, their entire life would be lost.

Bai Yanhua held an official position at court, and though others saw her as prosperous and illustrious, only those who walked this path knew how many dangers lurked beneath the seemingly splendid road.

“Future prospects?” Lady Qian sneered coldly. “A man who degrades his wife to a concubine—what future is there to speak of?”

“Mother-in-law… this matter… it has been years…” The elder lady, half angry and half humiliated, could only hold back, nearly suffocating with anguish.

“Mother, everything was my own choice; no one else is to blame.” Lady Qian’s concubine spoke up to defuse the tension.

“Oh, you!” Lady Qian sighed deeply as she looked at her daughter. “What a burden it is. Why did I give birth to one with such a temperament?”

“Mother…” The concubine fought back tears. “This is my fate…”

Lady Qian was both heartbroken and helpless. “What good is it to cry all day? If you feel wronged, just tell me. Even if I must exhaust the family fortune or beat the beating drum in the marketplace, I will seek justice for you.

The current ruler governs with benevolence and filial piety. I want to see how one who demotes a faithful wife to a concubine can be called righteous.”

She then looked toward Bai Yanhua.

Bai Yanhua’s face went pale but kept her head lowered in silence.

***

The elder lady could no longer restrain herself and hurried forward. “Guan’er, listen to your mother. Although in the past, we did wrong by you, you have never truly been wronged. Talk to your mother…”

“Mother, I am not wronged,” Lady Qian’s concubine glanced at Bai Yanhua, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile. “Yilang treats me well.”

“All right, all right. If there’s nothing else, you may leave first. I have some private words to share with Guan’er.” Lady Qian, annoyed that her daughter still spoke for their side, did not want to see them anymore—out of sight, out of mind.

Lady Qian carefully gave a few more instructions to Lady Qian’s concubine to take good care of herself before reluctantly departing.

Lady Qian turned her face away, unwilling to see their hypocritical performance.

No sooner had she stepped outside than her expression turned ashen.

The nanny quietly followed and asked, “Madam, who does that old shrew think she is, acting so arrogantly? Why do you tolerate her?”

She knew well when to speak and what to say.

“Who says otherwise? Let’s see how many more years she has left!” Lady Qian ground her teeth in fury.

The nanny agreed repeatedly, and the two vented their frustration before leading the servants away.

***

Inside, Lady Qian handed the swaddled infant to Nurse Qu, holding Lady Qian’s concubine’s hand.

“Your miscarriage today is truly suspicious. That woman in the East Wing is not one to trust. This courtyard isn’t very safe either. You must find a way to clean things up. Also, hiding here all the time isn’t a solution.”

“Mother, I will simply avoid provoking her,” Lady Qian’s concubine sighed.

“If you don’t provoke her, who can guarantee she won’t provoke you? She comes to your courtyard so often—do you think she will leave you be?” Lady Qian both scolded and worried.

Lady Qian’s concubine hung her head in silence.

“Although she stole someone, she didn’t steal his heart. That heartless woman isn’t treating you badly enough,” Lady Qian sighed. “Luckily, she has given birth to three daughters and no son, so Yun Ting’s status remains.”

Yun Ting, styled Jiuxiao and nicknamed Shao Shao, was Yun Jiao’s legitimate elder brother.

At the time, Lady Qian’s concubine gave up the position of the first lady with only one condition: that her son remain the legitimate eldest son of the Bai family, and this could never be changed under any circumstance.

Bai Yanhua was very fond of this son. When the mansion initially hesitated, after much negotiation, it was agreed that Yun Ting could be recognized as the Bai family’s legitimate eldest son but had to be raised under the first lady’s care. Publicly, his birth mother was declared deceased, and any children Lady Qian’s concubine bore afterward would be considered illegitimate.

Bai Yanhua agreed immediately.

***

“Speaking of which, your marriage is all my fault. I shouldn’t have thought Bai Yanhua was promising and agreed to the match.

If you were like your older sisters, marrying an ordinary family and being the main wife, you could have lived a peaceful life.

Now that he has achieved success and wealth, he has become heartless—not the man I once hoped he would be, steadfast and loyal to you.”

Lady Qian’s regret grew, tears streaming down her face.

“Mother, this is my fate. It cannot be forced, so how could I blame you?” Lady Qian’s concubine saw her usually strong mother nearly breaking and quickly changed the subject, looking to Qian Shijiang beside her. “This child has yet to be named. Since elder brother is literate, could you give the baby a name?”

Qian Shijiang had studied at a private school in his youth and read quite well, but poverty and many siblings forced him to abandon his studies early to work and support the family.

Though he had never formally learned the flute, he was self-taught and skilled, earning the admiration of neighbors who marveled at his talent.

Qian Shijiang hesitated. “I’m not sure it’s appropriate. Yun Ting’s name was given by the brother-in-law. Perhaps we should ask him to name this one too?”

“Name it yourself,” Lady Qian said sternly. “He is about to send this child away; do you think he still cares about such things?”

“Mother is right.” Dutiful, Qian Shijiang agreed and after some thought said, “This child is delicate. Since she suffered hardship even at birth, let’s use the character ‘Jiao’ (delicate) and incorporate the ‘female’ radical.”

“Bai Yun Jiao,” Lady Qian’s concubine pronounced the name carefully, very pleased. “Big brother chose a fine name.”

“Then it’s settled. Jiao’er,” Lady Qian, forgetting her earlier displeasure, took the swaddled infant in her arms and caressed the little face lovingly. “Little Jiu, from now on you have a name—Jiao’er…”

The atmosphere inside the room relaxed considerably.

After a while, Lady Qian handed the child back to the nurse and looked seriously at Lady Qian’s concubine. “Xiao Ba, I can raise this child for you, but the third formal ceremony must be held by the Bai family.”

(End of chapter)