Chapter 14: 14

Second visit to Ci’en Temple

***

　That night, Jiafu and Madam Meng fell asleep together. Her mother wrapped her in her arms, ensconcing her in a warm embrace, making it feel like she had returned to her childhood.

　The events that transpired these past few days had transformed from mountain roads twisting around each new peak to an enchanting springtime scene of dense willow trees and bright flowers. Just this morning, a granny from the Pei family had come to entreat her mother to return to the manor to discuss the marriage once more. Jiafu had feared that everything would circle back to the starting point, her heart rapidly sinking, but never did she expect that the next moment, her mother would respond with a refusal towards Madam Xin’s initiative to convey her goodwill.

　Jiafu knew her mother. She was highly cultured and steeped in propriety, gentle and virtuous, and well-read on the “Moral Instructions for Women”. When her father was alive, her father was her mother’s sky. After her father’s demise, in front of her imposing grandmother, she obeyed her words and complied with her plans without a sliver of doubt or resistance. Moreover, as far as Jiafu could remember, her mother had also taught her to develop similar practices as she matured.

　She hugged her mother tightly. “Mother, since you rejected them today, if by any chance grandmother blames you once we return, I will plead with you!”

　”Silly darling, what does it have to do with you? If your grandmother wants to blame me, then let her. I’m not worried. It’s all clear to me now. Such a family, no matter how lofty their station is, it’s not a marriage good enough for you. To be marrying you off this way, Mother’s heart won’t be at ease.”

　Jiafu’s nose was slightly sour. She nuzzled her face into her mother’s bosom, closing her eyes and vaguely murmuring, “Mother, you are so kind to me.”

　Madam Meng smiled and stroked her daughter’s soft black hair resting on the pillow, feeling as though she could vaguely catch a whiff of the sweet scent of milk her daughter had given off as a baby in her embrace.

　”In this life, Mother hopes for nothing but for you and your elder brother to live well. So long as you’re all well and happy, Mother will be perfectly content.”

　Her mother’s gentle yet powerful sentiments accompanied Jiafu to a good night’s sleep.

　After such a long time, this was the longest and most peaceful sleep she had had ever since her return from Xishan Temple. After waking from an ample sleep the next day, the sun had risen three poles high,1 and her mother was nowhere to be seen. Tanxiang informed that Madam had risen early and promptly bid people to pack up their belongings in preparation for their return journey to Quanzhou the next few days.

　After Jiafu freshened up, she proceeded to assist her mother.

　For this trip to the capital, they had originally planned to stay for at least a few months and also spend the New Year here, so when they came, they had also brought along plentiful utensils and objects of every kind. There were over a dozen boxes and baskets for clothes alone that had just been put in place two days ago. This day, they had to pack them again one by one. The steward Zhang Da and Liu momo led the servants, both occupied with their respective internal and external affairs, busy going about their work. Three days passed in a flash, and there had since been no movement from Madam Xin’s side.

　From Madam Xin’s viewpoint, for her to take the initiative to propose marriage once more was a great condescension, but never did she expect to be affronted with Madam Meng’s rejection. Having lost face in such a way, she was inevitably ashamed and enraged. These past few days, she never showed her face around. Only Pei Xiuzhi came once, seeming to want to redeem himself with the best of his efforts.

　Utterly fatigued both mentally and physically for some time now, and considering how busy she had been, Madam Meng inadvertently caught a wind chill the day prior. Knowing that Pei Xiuzhi had come, she nonetheless received him personally, still throwing him phrases stating how humble their family’s status was and how unworthy it was to seek connections with them. After her superficial chatter, she courteously sent Pei Xiuzhi away.

　Following which, Liu momo jabbered on about how, when Pei Xiuzhi left, he looked rather battered out of his senses and somewhat pitiful. What a pity it was, for, if he did not have a former mother-in-law such as Madam Song who stirred up trouble, he alone would have been a handsome and outstanding prospect.

　Jiafu listened with a dim smile.

　Ah, yes. Had she not experienced it herself, how could she have believed that such a husband, one who ardently loved her so, would give her away to another man twice?

　He, Pei Xiuzhi, was nothing but a spineless man who would bend his knees beneath power.

　After Pei Xiuzhi had gone that time, he no longer showed up again. According to the Pei family’s Second Madam, Meng-shi, on one of her visits, Madam Xin had found out about his private visit to the Zhen family, reprimanded him, and ordered him not to come over again.

　Meng-shi had truly been diligent in visiting these past two days. She not only brought a multitude of hearsays to Madam Meng who was recuperating from illness, but she also assisted in managing household affairs with great zeal. She would point out which local products and specialties in the capital were worth buying and giving away as souvenirs. She was also warm and cordial to Jiafu, completely devoid of any trace of ill feelings.

　Madam Meng had always had a benevolent heart. Although the incidents as of recent had cooled her affections, she was still, after all, her own biological sister. Meng-shi also took the initiative to alter her attitude. She naturally would not repel this person who was normally a thousand miles distant, and their sisterhood thereby seemed to have restored its former harmony.

　The next day, the Zhen family would depart from the capital. When evening fell, Second Madam came in a carriage with a smile, this time on Old Madam Pei’s orders. It was to bestow a reward to Jiafu, expressing that she had journeyed all the way to the capital to offer her birthday felicitations, yet she was subjected to false rumors for no reason at all. Now that she was leaving, this reward was to lighten her mood, hoping for her to have a smooth voyage and to return home as soon as possible.

　Madam Meng was grateful to Old Madam from the bottom of her heart. Today, she felt that she was finally refreshed. She had initially thought that she should personally take her pair of children there to kowtow to the elderly lady as farewell, only that, because of the incident the past few days, she feared that it would be awkward. She had just been brooding over this matter in her head and was about to bid someone to first send a visiting card to probe their attitude, but never did she expect Old Madam to be the first to ask her elder sister to come over. Both appreciative and ashamed, she said, “Sister, when you return, can you help me ask if I can take the children there to give the elderly lady a kowtow?”

　Madam Meng smiled and replied, “Old Madam had foreseen this. She specially asked me to tell you that she understands and that you need not be so meddlesome to go so far as to head over to kowtow. You’re leaving tomorrow, so you must surely have plenty of things to do in the evening. Pack up and rest early. What’s important is for you to have enough spirit. Besides, Old Madam herself also has matters to tend to.”

　Madam Meng inquired about the content of these matters. Second Madam responded, “Tomorrow is the death anniversary of the First Empress. On this day year after year, Old Madam will do a ceremony for her in Ci’en Temple. Didn’t she personally go there a few days ago to ask the monks to make enough preparations to avoid delay? That Eldest Young Master from the main branch who had just returned, I heard that he’s been living in the Southwest these years. He was primarily supposed to leave two days ago, but this time, he’ll have to complete the ceremony for his aunt before leaving.……”

　She moved closer to Madam Meng’s ear and whispered, “Speaking of Old Madam’s partiality, the one she favors most is still that daughter who’s been long gone. After all these years, year after year, her favor has yet to dwindle. Well, their family did once produce a daughter that became the empress. If it weren’t for the fact that her poor fate had rendered her childless prior to her demise, then it would be impossible to tell who would have the final say now!”

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　Her tone of voice was bristling with sympathy and woe.

　Second Madam was implying that, if the First Empress had given birth to a prince during those years, with her position in the Central Palace coupled with the Tianxi Emperor’s favor for her, her son definitely would have become the crown prince. The crown prince would succeed to the throne, and everything would be straight sailing. There would have been no such thing as the late emperor and Prince Shun’an becoming emperors, and the Pei family would not have declined to this level.

　When it involved the imperial court, Madam Meng responded rather obtusely. Second Madam also accepted her response, shifted the conversation to a different direction, and then rose to take her leave, saying that if she had the time the next morning, she would bring her son with her to see them off. Madam Meng fervently declined and ultimately beckoned her children over to send off Second Madam together while repeatedly urging her to travel safely and to express thanks to Old Madam on her behalf.

　No more words were spoken that night. The next day, two trusted old servants stayed behind to guard the residence, while the rest of the Zhen family were busy preparing to leave the capital. Although they had risen early, and although many of their things had been moved to the ship ahead of time, it was no longer early by the time each and every one of their belongings was carried aboard. Only a quarter of time remained before they would leave at the period of the snake2 when they discovered that Zhen Yaoting was not on the ship. Only his manservant remained there, and when Madam Meng asked, he responded, “Young Master left early morn. He urged me to say that if he has not yet returned when the ship is about to embark, I must tell Madam to wait until he comes back. As for where Young Master has gone, I was not informed.”

　Madam Meng did not desire to stay any longer even for a moment. Moreover, she wanted to return to Quanzhou before the end of the year, so she was set on departing today despite her poor health. Never did she expect that her son would disappear once more. She had no other choice but to postpone their departure and bid someone to disembark and scour the vicinity. They searched high and low at every possible place, yet the man was nowhere to be found. Her initial anger gradually transformed to anxiety. Aware that the brother and sister had always been close, she asked Jiafu if she knew where her elder brother could have disappeared to this early in the morning.

　Jiafu had just been mulling over it. Eventually, one thing came to mind.

　The day before yesterday, her elder brother had sought her out and furtively pulled her to a discreet corner. After faltering out a few words for a long while, his intent finally spilled out. It turned out that he wanted to ask her to think of a way to seek Yuzhu who was serving Old Madam, expressing that since he was leaving, he yearned to tell her a few things.

　Jiafu could discern that her elder brother had some ideas about Yuzhu. But her elder brother, who was already eighteen years of age, was still much too roguish. He often mingled with the company of pampered sons of wealthy families in Quanzhou, and for them to embody the so-called “leaning over a bridge while on horseback, greeted by numerous red sleeves from the building”3 was no longer a startling sight. His studies, needless to say, had long been a hopeless case, compounded by his lack of interest in business. Though speaking of which, he had wanted to voyage to the sea with a fleet of ships, but as the Zhen family’s sole scion, how could his mother and grandmother allow him to set sail on the sea? They had previously decided on a match for him, wishing for him to settle down by means of marriage, and had already contrived to schedule the wedding around the beginning of the year. Unexpectedly, someone from the bride’s family had died, delaying their union. Scatter-brained as he was, he still continued to gallivant around all day, either parading in the streets on horseback, or secretly running to the dock. This time, Yuzhu had stirred his thoughts, which, in all likelihood, must have been a whim. The weather would soon turn cold after a few days, and even if Jiafu had turned stupid, she would never aid her elder brother in committing such an act. At that time, she had immediately refused and admonished him, from which she recalled that he had trudged away rather sullenly. She then called to mind that when her aunt had gone over yesterday, she had mentioned that Old Madam would visit the Ci’en Temple again today. 

　Could her elder brother have snuck out to go to Ci’en Temple this morning in the hopes of meeting Yuzhu?

　The more Jiafu pondered about it, the more plausible it seemed to her, so she told her mother exactly that. Flummoxed, Madam Meng exclaimed, “What is he trying to do? Does angering me to death still not satisfy him? No, I have to go there!” She sprang up and was about to stalk out when a dizzy spell suddenly overcame her, causing her to shut her eyes.

　Jiafu promptly supported her back to her seat and said, “Mother, fret not. It was merely a conjecture. I may be wrong. You have yet to recover, so just wait here. Perhaps Brother will return from somewhere all by himself. I’ll head over there. I know the way, and Uncle Zhang can send me there. If Brother had indeed gone there, I will bring him back. If he has offended Yuzhu, I will apologize to Yuzhu on his stead.”

　Madam Meng composed herself and said, “I’ll have Liu momo accompany you. Go and return quickly. Be careful on the road.”

　Jiafu agreed and asked Zhang Da to prepare the carriage. Accompanied by Liu momo and Tanxiang, she boarded the carriage and made headway to Ci’en Temple. Upon learning that the ceremony was underway at Dafa Hall, she hastened over, but when she finally reached its premises, she was obstructed and informed that the religious ceremony for the former first empress was still ongoing inside. There were eunuch officials from the palace present, and outsiders were not permitted entry.

　Jiafu had a feeling that her elder brother, Zhen Yaoting, would certainly be in this place, just that she had no idea where exactly he could have slunk into right this instant. Fearing that he would cause a commotion once more, she was incessantly anxious. She surveyed to her left and right and suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure advancing her way. Her heart jumped slightly. After a brief moment of hesitation, she nevertheless rushed over, paused in front of the man, gave him a curtsy and said, “Da Biaoge, I’m looking for Miss Yuzhu. There’s something I’d like to discuss with her. If it’s inconvenient for me to go in, can I trouble you to ask Miss Yuzhu to come out?”

　Pei You’an’s footsteps paused. He looked at her and said, “Follow me.”

　Jiafu softly expressed her thanks, but she was unsure whether or not he had heard. As she faced the gate, a faint wind flew by from the flick of his clothes——the person had walked past her.

　Jiafu abruptly turned around and took Tanxiang with her to follow him inside.

Translator’s Note:

Apologies for the irregular updates! My work schedule is packed, and I’m often too tired to do anything else. I do try to translate and edit chapters whenever I have the chance. I hope you understand. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

Footnotes:

1 ​​The sun has risen three poles high – an expression that means it’s already late in the morning. 

2 9am-11am (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times)

3 This line is from a poem believed to be written by Wei Zhuang during the Five Dynasties. The image this is trying to illustrate is of men on horseback on a bridge facing a building filled with women (most likely prostitutes), where the women beckon them over.

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