Chapter 8: 8

Encounter at the bamboo forest

***

　The past few days, Madam Xin had been utterly fatigued from overwork.

　Several years had passed since Old Madam last celebrated her birthday. Whenever this day arrived, the only activity she desired to partake in was nothing else but to eat birthday noodles, but for her 60th birthday this year, she acquiesced to a celebration at her children and grandchildren’s behest. The preparations for this grand birthday was naturally Madam Xin’s topmost priority, and above this, she was awaiting certain news from the Ministry of Personnel. A few days ago, the long-awaited article was released, published in which was that Pei Xiuzhi would occupy the vacant post of a lower sixth-rank “commandant of flourishing might”.1

　In spite of it merely being a post appointed by virtue of Protection Privilege2——a position so unremarkable that it ought not to be mentioned in the same breath as when Grand Duke Wei was still alive and well——the circumstances as of recent were also different from before. So far, families of outstanding ministers, as well as the eight dukes and marquises, spanned only until three or four generations. In the end, not many descendants were capable of garnering glory through their skills, as the rest relied on their ancestors’ Protection Privilege. There were only so many official titles in the imperial court and a multitude of rules and fetters——too many monks but too meager gruel.3 With the Wei Grand Duke Manor’s current state of affairs, it was already a feat for this vacant post to land on Pei Xiuzhi.

　As an event that could elevate the family’s prestige especially on today’s birthday celebration, it ought to be a good thing. It was something worthy of revelry, yet the second branch was a little sullen. In the end, it still had something to do with silver. The Pei family had yet to separate.4 For Pei Xiuzhi to occupy a vacant post, despite the Song family contributing to it, silver was still a pertinent element, one that they had to obtain from somewhere, ultimately expending a total of two thousand taels. Probably because the Pei family had an established set of rules, everything involving the official advancement and erudition of the younger generation was deposited to and withdrawn from the shared funds. With two thousand taels shelled out, the second branch was naturally bitter for having lost some of their share. Because Old Madam was still around, they clearly could not air out anything in the open, but it was inevitable for them to harbor complaints in private. When it reached Madam Xin’s ears, for such trifles to vex her was only a matter of course. Succeeding the Zhen family’s entrance to the capital, marriage talks were imminent, and careful calculations had to be done everywhere. With how busy she was, it could be said that she had exhausted all of her heart’s blood. Scarcely had she stopped for a breath when her grandson, Quan-ge’er, encountered a mishap two days ago.

　When she awoke after a sound sleep this morning, one of Madam Xin’s teeth was swollen, but thinking about how today’s event in the Grand Duke Manor was of primary importance, and with her eldest branch managing the household, everyone in the clan, apart from the second branch, had their eyes peeled on her, so there must not be even the slightest setback. Her spirit imbued with enthusiasm, she grew so busy that she was no different from a spinning top. After noon, upon hearing that Madam Meng had arrived, she hastened out at lightning speed to welcome the person and very affectionately led her inside, abandoning the great care she had expressed on their first meeting the day before.

　Although it had only been three or four days since Madam Meng had come to the capital, after bustling about several times a day, she felt that the second branch had become estranged, far more than they had been a few years earlier. She and Madam Meng could be considered to be sisters deeply attached to each other, a pair who would often intercommunicate about family affairs. After the awkwardness that rose from meddling with their children’s matters, ever since her arrival at the capital, she sensed that the atmosphere between the two was no longer as congenial as before. Anyway, she was an outsider, so she feigned ignorance and acted as she usually did. At present, after arriving, she only strived her hardest to help handle miscellaneous trivialities. When she grew busier, Jiafu was welcomed by the second branch. After learning that her uncle’s concubine, Rong Fang, had not gone to the front, she went over there to look for her.

　Rong Fang was originally a maid from the Meng family who had served Jiafu’s mother for several years and was afterwards sent to her aunt. When her aunt married, she became a dowry maid, one so loyal and competent. Later, her aunt asked her to become Pei Quan’s bed servant. Now that she was older, servants addressed her as Concubine Fang.5 Jiafu had become acquainted with her during her visits to the Grand Duke Manor in her childhood. Rong Fang was especially kind to Jiafu because of Madam Meng. On an occasion like today, she had originally wanted to assist in handling matters, but unfortunately, she just so happened to slip and fall, consequently twisting her ankle and robbing her of the ability to walk. Left without a choice, she could only rest in her room and do some needlework. Delight overcame her when she saw Jiafu approaching, and she hurriedly bid a young maid to fetch some cloud cakes and sesame candy. She picked up a piece, took one and tapped its surface on powdered sugar, brought it to the side of Jiafu’s mouth, and said with a smile, “I remember you loved eating this when you were little.”

　Jiafu laughed as she replied, “Auntie,6 your legs aren’t well, so stop moving around so much. I am no longer a child who needs you to feed me.”

　Rong Fang also laughed. “Yes. Young Lady is getting married, no longer a child for certain.”

　Jiafu smiled and said nothing. Rong Fang assumed she was shy, so she ceased with her teasing. The two did needlework side by side, gossiping, chatting and laughing freely as they did so. Time passed quickly. Madam Meng’s maid came over and beckoned Jiafu to head to the front court, informing her that a frequent visitor had dropped by and asked to see her to hand her a present. Rong Fang quickly prompted her to go. Jiafu laid down her needle and thread and trod with Tanxiang to accompany Madam Meng. As she was about to return after meeting the guest, when she passed through the festoon gate, she caught sight of Pei Xiuzhi standing from a distance on the roadside where she had just come from. There was no one by his side, and his gaze was fixed on the direction where she was. She recalled how she kept shirking his advances when he had stopped by the Zhen family residence yesterday and suspected that he was waiting for her there. Having no desire to participate in this unanticipated and one-sided rendezvous, she instantaneously turned around.

　As Pei Xiuzhi was tarrying on the way back without anyone knowing how long he would stand there, Jiafu turned around and took a detour to the back garden.

　The bustling excitement at the front court rendered the garden devoid of a single soul. She ambled leisurely for a while and landed her sight on a stone bridge ahead, onward which was a bamboo forest.

　She was naturally not unfamiliar to the path here and recalled that there was a road through the bamboo forest. Although she had to make a turn, to avoid Pei Xiuzhi on her way back, she strode through the bend in the road and went down the bridge.

　It seemed that not many people typically traversed this route. The mottled bamboo poles were greenish yellow in color, deep-green moss crawled on both sides of the stone path underfoot, and dead leaves soughed drearily on the ground. Before passing by the courtyard adjacent the bamboo forest, what heaved into her view were two grannies sweeping the path inside with bamboo brooms. They swept and chattered at the same time, though barely audible. When she heard what seemed to be some prattle about herself, she arrested her step.

　“……The Zhen family is about to marry their Miss to the Heir,” yapped a granny, clicking her tongue twice, “Truly reaching the sky in a single bound.”

　”You’ve only been here for a few years, what do you know?” snapped the other granny. “Back then, when their Miss was still young, they would visit from time to time. I knew right away that sooner or later, they would cement their ties by marriage, and that that person would join the household. Just that, back then, their family had their thoughts on the Third Young Master. Now, they climbed up to the Heir’s level, which no one really expected……”

　A gust of wind passed, and the bamboo branches rustled, muffling the granny’s voice.

　Simmering with indignation, Tanxiang was about to appear before them, but Jiafu shook her head and motioned towards the byway in the bamboo forest. However, the voices of the two grannies blathering on surfaced once more.

　”See, this courtyard is already cold and eerie in the daytime. Come night, I fear ghosts will run amok. If it were not for the many affairs in the front court today, I would not have taken on this task even if people were to break my legs……”

　”It also isn’t easy for Madam, who must probably be anxious all the time. I’ve been here for several years, and on this day every year, Madam always asks people to clean this place up, wanting to prepare for Eldest Young Master’s return to celebrate Old Madam’s birthday. But how come I’ve never seen that person? Lao Zhao, from what I’ve heard, was Eldest Young Master really removed from his position as Heir and driven away?”

　That one called Lao Zhao exhaled slowly and lowered her tone. As the wind blew, her indistinct voice came intermittently with the breeze.

　“……mourning for the Grand Duke hadn’t passed yet……it was really ugly……one really couldn’t tell from the way he acts in broad daylight……that concubine was also unwilling to keep on living and hanged herself in the dead of the night on that branch you’re now leaning on. When I ran over to take a look, her face was purple, and her tongue hung down until it reached her neck. I was so frightened that I couldn’t sleep for several nights……”

　”Ai, my mother! You should’ve said so earlier! No wonder it’s so cold!”

　The other granny jumped, leaping until about three feet away, rapidly distancing herself from it. She then faced about and paid respects to the tree, muttering incoherently to herself.

　Jiafu knew that this courtyard used to be the residence of Pei You’an, the eldest son of the eldest branch. It had been unoccupied for many years, and the gate was usually closed. Passing by here, she never really intended to listen to these two grannies wagging their tongues. Had she been the lone subject of their gossip, she would not have bothered. Her grandmother indeed had such a plan, so she really could not blame others for talking about it behind her back.

　But then they broached the subject of Pei You’an’s affairs. Jiafu could not help but be reminded of the past events. In those years, war had persisted with all its stresses and strains, and she was trapped in prison all alone, despondent and mortified. Unexpectedly, she received help from a person she had originally not pinned her hopes on. Until now, she could still recall that type of emotion similar to what an outstretched arm was to a person hanging from a cliff. To this day, her impression of that incident was still quite profound. Although she was eventually delivered to Xiao Yintang’s hands, that was naturally another story, two entirely different things.

　That man had left an excellent impression on her, not only because he aided her when she was at her most helpless, but also because of his character and demeanor, which deeply stirred her.

　Later on, when Jiafu became a person in the deep palace, she also heard about some matters concerning him.

　In the game of thrones among three imperial brothers, Prince Yunzhong became the ultimate victor who ascended the throne and changed the reign title. With Pei You’an’s meritorious deeds during the ‘Clear Sky’ incident as well as the new emperor’s high regard for him, riches, honor, and splendor were all within his reach. It was entirely possible for him to attain the highest official position conceivable, but just a short while later, his grandmother, Old Madam Pei, passed away. Soon after the funeral, it just so happened that the Turks attacked the border again, so he requested to depart from the capital to serve as a military commissioner in a garrison guarding outside the border.

　At that time, the Turkic rebellion bore down in full fury, and considering his physical condition, the climate outside the border made it unsuitable for him to reside there for too long. Furthermore, he was not the only person at the new emperor’s disposal, and the task could have been relegated to another. However, in the end, he still parted from the prosperous capital and ventured all the way to the border town, conclusively serving as a military commissioner. There he comforted the people, basking in great fame as he did so, and his name was exalted outside the Great Wall until he died of illness amidst his tenure.

　In all honesty, Jiafu never believed that such a man would have done such a reviled thing in his youth. Now hearing some drivel about him, she found it rather grating on the ear.

　She had already turned around and walked away, yet she could not help but pause in her tracks.

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　“……heard that he also provoked Old Madam’s anger that moment and was beaten out. Even so, today is Old Madam’s grand birthday. Even relatives eight generations away have come, but no one has seen him come back. After so many years, there wasn’t even news of his return, so it’s clear that he’s still holding grudges. We shouldn’t keep blabbing. All that happened when he was younger, so now he’s probably too ashamed to return and face others. It can also be considered excusable, but it’s now clear to us what filial piety means to him……”

　This Lao Zhao was brandishing her seniority. As they were blithering endlessly there, they suddenly heard the sound of footsteps behind them. They immediately shut their mouths and turned to look, seeing Jiafu approaching with a maid. Stunned, she hastily put down her whisk broom, stepped forward, and said with an obsequious smile, “The front court is bustling with excitement today. Why is Young Lady here?”

　Jiafu smiled and replied, “Zhao mama, it originally isn’t my place to say much. However, since I passed by, I feel like I should say a few words regardless of how rude they might seem. Today is Old Madam’s birthday, and you were sent to tidy up the courtyard to prepare for Eldest Young Master to live here upon his return, yet why are you just talking indiscriminately instead of doing your job properly? Do you suppose that since Madam is busy and lacks the time to check on you, you can be indolent, imprudent, and prattle on about your master? What were all those things you talked about? You were making groundless accusations and spreading falsehoods. I don’t believe that the Grand Duke Manor is without rules for you to indulge in disrespecting your master like this!” 

　Lao Zhao‘s and the other granny’s complexions slightly changed.

　If it were in the past, there was naturally no need to be afraid of this Zhen family’s daughter who merely had an aunt in the second branch, but things were now different. Everyone in the manor knew that she would marry immediately after Old Madam’s birthday. Regardless of what they were saying behind her back, the Zhen family’s Young Lady would soon quickly assimilate into the Pei family. Even if she had nothing to offer, she would still become a proper Madam of the Grand Duke Manor’s Heir. Hearing how heavy her words were, although the granny did not know how much the other had heard just now, she still could not help but be diffident. She hastily bowed her head and admitted her mistake. “Yes, yes, it’s just as Young Lady said. Our mouths are vulgar! Never again will we dare!”

　Since Jiafu could not resist interposing, she was also unafraid of offending others. Besides, after withdrawing from the marriage, she would no longer be involved with this family in the future. All the innate tendencies she had repressed in her previous lifetime seemed to slowly manifest in this life.

　Jiafu glanced at the half-open gate and saw that although the inside of the courtyard had just been swept, they had only done a few strokes for the sake of appearances and nothing more. Even the fallen leaves on the ground had not been cleaned, let alone had water been sprinkled on the ground to eliminate dust. She flatly said, “Today is Old Madam’s 60th birthday. Eldest Young Master is sure to return. Since you have the spare time to gossip and idle away, why don’t you go clean the rooms inside and out?”

　Granny Zhao was an elder, but she suddenly received such an unceremonious lecture from a young miss. Although she criticized the Zhen family’s daughter in her heart for overstepping her authority despite not having yet joined the household, she did not dare reveal it on her face. She barked, “Now go, go——” She pulled up the broom from the ground, turned around, and plodded inside with puffed cheeks and a bulging mouth. Witnessing this, the other granny briskly followed suit.

　Jiafu watched the two grannies sweeping the ground again and knew that once she left, even if they wagged their tongues once more, the only subject they would touch was her terrible character and nothing else, so she turned around went about her way.

　”When we showed up before the two grannies just now, their faces were truly a delight to behold. I only fear that it will arouse animosity, saying that Young Lady is overreaching.”

　Tanxiang remarked, venting her anger while also feeling a little uneasy.

　Jiafu responded, “They can complain all they want, I don’t care. I truly could not continue to listen any longer. Even if Da Biaoge won’t care, he is far above their station for them to blather on about him like that.”

　”Young Lady, you said Eldest Young Master is returning today. Is that true?”

　Tanxiang recalled the certainty of her tone just then and was somewhat curious.

　”I just think he will return.”

　“How does Young Lady know?”

　”I, ah, if I say I dreamt last night that Da Biaoge will return for Old Madam’s birthday, will you believe me or not?”

　She jested, turned to a corner, and halted her steps.

　On the road at the corner of the bamboo forest, just a few steps away from the opposite side, stood a gray-haired elderly lady with a cane in her hand supported by a head maid beside her, motionless, seeming to have been standing there for some time.

　This elderly lady was Old Madam Pei, today’s birthday celebrant. Jiafu was naturally no stranger to her, but she did not know that the other had actually come here. There were many guests out front, but here she was clad in everyday clothes that were very slightly worn, not at all attired like she was celebrating her birthday. That moment, Jiafu was unprepared and was completely caught unawares.

　When Jiafu visited the Grand Duke Manor in her childhood, Old Madam Pei had treated her as nothing but an ordinary relative, from whom she did not detect any disgust or affection. Often when she came, she would kowtow after her mother, say her farewell, and do no more than that. After she married Pei Xiuzhi, Old Madam did not want Jiafu, her granddaughter-in-law, to serve her, and often sequestered herself in the Buddhist hall. A short while later, embroiled in the chaos of war, Jiafu departed from the Pei family and never saw her again thereafter. Her impression of her was that she was rather staid and distant, but right this moment, she never expected to encounter the other in such a manner. Seeing the elderly lady standing there gazing wordlessly at herself with an expression that exhibited neither joy nor anger, she very hastily took a step back and performed a decorous curtsy with Tanxiang.

　Old Madam remained uncommunicative.

　Jiafu recalled her manner of speaking just now and could not help but feel a bit of regret, so she lowered her eyes, her ears listening to the rustling sound of the wind through the bamboo forest. A moment later, she finally heard the other open her mouth to ask, “Are you that girl from the Zhen family?”

　Jiafu softly answered, “Yes. My mother and I paid a visit a few days ago. Old Madam was in the Buddhist hall at that time, so we were not able to pay our respects.”

　The elderly lady was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “This place has been unoccupied for many years and is somewhat deserted. You should return soon.” She then turned around and trudged away with the head maid’s support.

　Jiafu raised her head and watched the elderly lady’s slightly hunched back gradually fade away. When she finally disappeared at the end of the bamboo forest, Jiafu slowly exhaled a breath.

Footnotes:

1 The position is 奋威都尉. I can’t find a direct translation for it, but 都尉 means commandant, while 奋威 means dauntless, etc. There was a designation in Military Classics called 奋威人, literally meaning “officers of flourishing awesomeness”, who were responsible for officer recruitment, weapons, and flash attacks. This is probably the closest I can find for that, so I’m sticking with “commandant of flourishing might”. (Source: Liutao 六韜)

In the nine-rank system (pin 品), there are 18 half-ranks (ji 級), each full rank being divided into “principal” (zheng 正, in translations indicated by the letter A) and “lower” (cong 从, B: 正一品 1A, 从一品 1B; 正二品 2A, 从二品 2B; 正三品 3A, 从三品 3B,…). Pei Xiuzhi is a lower sixth-rank 从六品 (6B).

2 荫: (from Hucker) Protection Privilege, the process by which officials in service were rewarded with authorization for one or more sons to be qualified for official appointments when they matured without undergoing other qualification tests, or with exemptions from most other qualification tests. This  was considered one of the “proper paths” to attain official status in most dynasties and probably throughout history yielded half or more of the total civil service personnel. 

3 僧多粥少: An idiom meaning not enough to get around.

4 Meaning all the branch families still reside in the same compound or manor. Typically when their elder dies, Old Madam in this case, the families can separate if they choose to.

5 姨娘 (yí niáng): One way of addressing an ordinary concubine

6 I translated it as Concubine Fang above, but as an address, I used “Auntie”.

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