Free Web NovelChapter 1070: Chapter 1060: Three Steps (Part 2)
Madam Qian nodded in agreement. "No matter good or bad, as long as it does no harm to the body, there’s no harm in trying." After she spoke, Xiqiu smiled and nodded. "I’ve troubled you over my affairs. You’re both very busy, yet still came in person."
"And you’re still saying such things between us? I’d gladly suffer this in your place if I could." Madam Ruan paused, then added, "Besides, we’re not so busy that we have nothing to spare."
Just then, Madam Jiang accompanied Madam Chen in through the door. The moment Madam Jiang saw Xiqiu her eyes turned red. "Sixth Lady." She knew the truth, but with so many people present, the act still had to be played with real feeling.
Mrs. Chen was startled at the sight of Xiqiu, and for a moment stood in the doorway with a dazed expression.
"Elder Sister-in-law, Younger Sister-in-law." After Xiqiu spoke, she turned to look at Madam Chen. "Madam Chen, please, sit." Madam Jiang nodded her assent and entered with Madam Chen. Only then did Mrs. Chen come back to herself, unable for a moment to accept that this frail, sickly, haggard person before her was Xiqiu.
Madam Chen quickly glanced at Madam Jiang and saw her eyes already reddened beyond her control. Her own gaze shifted as she walked to the bedside with concern, coming up to look closely at Xiqiu’s complexion. A flicker of something unreadable flashed in her eyes, then she too showed a moved expression and said, "When I saw you during your confinement, you were all smiles and in excellent spirits. How is it that in just these few days you’ve grown so haggard?"
So Xiqiu repeated to Madam Chen the words she had just said to Madam Ruan and Madam Qian. Madam Chen let out an exaggerated sigh, even wiping the corner of her eye, and only after lingering in sadness for a while did she say, "I brought along a bit of all sorts of medicinal ingredients. I don’t know if you’ll find any of them useful. If you need any particular one, just tell me and I’ll have someone send more over later."
"I’ve troubled you." Xiqiu forced a smile with effort. "This body of mine..." She looked utterly despairing.
Madam Chen offered her more words of comfort, while Madam Jiang sat silently to one side keeping her company. It was rare that Madam Qian and Madam Ruan did not take Madam Chen’s arrival as their cue to leave first; instead, they stepped aside with Madam Jiang to stay out of the way.
Mrs. Chen twisted her handkerchief, staring at Xiqiu in a daze.
"Younger Sister-in-law, what brings you here?" Xiqiu looked at Mrs. Chen. "You’re still with child, don’t come catching my illness."
Mrs. Chen shook her head. "I’m fine." She spoke a bit awkwardly, afraid that talk of home would weigh on Xiqiu’s mind. "Sixth Lady, just focus on taking care of your health. Seventh Master and the concubine are both very well; you needn’t worry."
Xiqiu looked over at Mrs. Chen and saw in her eyes genuine concern and worry. Somewhat comforted, she nodded. "You’ve had a hard time of it." Mrs. Chen choked up and said nothing.
Madam Chen glanced back at Mrs. Chen, her gaze momentarily dark and obscure. Then she turned and said kindly, "Looking after her husband and mother-in-law, these are all things she ought to do. If Fourth Madam has any need, just order her to see to it. Her health is quite good at home; a bit of extra toil won’t hurt her."
Mrs. Chen pulled at the corner of her mouth and gave Xiqiu a small nod.
"There’s nothing all that pressing. Right now, she herself is what matters most." Xiqiu said with a smile, looking at Mrs. Chen.
Mrs. Chen turned slightly away and quickly wiped her tears.
Madam Chen lowered her gaze, her eyes flickering, then rose to her feet. "I’ll go back for now; there are things at home I truly can’t get away from. I’ll come see you again tomorrow."
"Such a large household, and it’s all managed by you. You have more than enough to do; you needn’t come often, lest I delay you from your affairs on my account." As Xiqiu spoke, she turned to Madam Jiang. "Elder Sister-in-law, may I trouble you to see Madam Chen out for me."
Madam Jiang stood up and nodded in assent, but Madam Chen had already said, "My dear sister-in-law has accompanied me all the way; let’s not tire her out." With that, she took Mrs. Chen’s hand. "Let Younger Sister see me out instead!"
Both Xiqiu and Madam Jiang looked toward Mrs. Chen. Mrs. Chen glanced at Xiqiu and Madam Jiang, then inclined her head in agreement and accompanied Madam Chen out the door.
Once outside, seeing no one around, Madam Chen said in a cold tone, "...Being with child is nothing so precious. When you’re free, come over more often. Don’t lose sight of who comes first and who comes after." Mrs. Chen kept her head lowered and answered in assent. Madam Chen went on, "Lord will be back today. What comes next is the critical time. Be meticulous—if anything comes up, I’ll have someone notify you."
"Elder Sister-in-law, I understand." Mrs. Chen lowered her head obediently in reply. Madam Chen waved a hand. "Go back now; don’t let them start having thoughts about you." With that, she didn’t look at Mrs. Chen again, but left the courtyard with her people without a backward glance.
Mrs. Chen watched Madam Chen leave the courtyard, then turned back inside with a blank expression.
"Madam Chen has left?" Madam Jiang asked. Mrs. Chen nodded. "She has." She sat down beside Madam Jiang. Both Madam Ruan and Madam Qian cast a scrutinizing look at Mrs. Chen, then, recalling that she was after all Xiqiu’s younger brother’s wife, withdrew their gazes and rose to take their leave. "We’ll head back as well."
Xiqiu asked Nanny Cen to see them out.
In front of Madam Jiang, Madam Chen couldn’t very well speak to Xiqiu about anything else, so she only offered her a token comfort. At noon the two sisters-in-law ate in the room, and Madam Jiang then said, "If not, why don’t we have Zhi come stay over at my place for a few days." She was afraid there would be no one to look after Zhi.
"It’s fine." Xiqiu replied with a smile, "First Madam has already taken him over to care for him. Grand Dowager hasn’t been in very good spirits these last two days, and since she can’t spare the energy, she simply had Zhi brought over. He can also keep Xing and Sheng company."
"That’s good too." Madam Jiang nodded in agreement, then she and Madam Chen kept Xiqiu company for a while longer. When they saw fatigue show on her face, they finally went back.
Madam Chen walked away, turning back every few steps. Xiqiu smiled and inclined her head to her, reminding, "Don’t keep coming back and forth so often; taking good care of your own health is what matters most."
"I know." Madam Chen lowered her head, her eyes reddening, and quickly stepped out the door.
For several days in a row, people coming to visit the sick streamed in and out of the residence like a marketplace; Xiqiu could scarcely spare any time at all to look after Ying and Gong. That day, after seeing Madam Xu and Madam Huang off, Fourth Master Xiao came back from the outer room, and as he entered said, "Marquis Taiping has come to the Capital."
Xiqiu sat up and leaned against the head of the bed, asking, "Has the Emperor received him?"
"Mm." Fourth Master Xiao nodded in reply. "He ordered Count Dingyuan and Marquis Jinxiang to accompany him."
The title of Marquis Taiping had been granted to their ancestor. In the Great Zhou today, among the meritorious families that still held titles, there were few who could compare with Marquis Taiping. Moreover, the marquises of Taiping had conducted themselves with low profile for generations; the previous Marquis had almost never left Taiping in his whole life. Yet although no one from the Marquis Taiping household had tended to affairs in the court for generations, the connections they had accumulated and the prestige that came with an ancestral title were still not to be underestimated. Such a low‑key yet renowned and powerful Marquis Taiping, suddenly summoned by the Emperor, could not help but make people speculate.
At first Xiqiu did not understand, until Fourth Master Xiao said quietly, "The current Marquis Taiping has three brothers, but their line is not flourishing in heirs. In his own branch there is only one son and one daughter. The son is over eighteen this year, the daughter is in the flower of her tenth year."
That one line woke her up. Xiqiu looked at him in surprise. "You mean, the Emperor intends to choose the Marquis Taiping’s legitimate daughter as the main wife for one of the Princes?"
"I’m afraid it’s even deeper than you think." Fourth Master Xiao said mildly. Xiqiu’s fine brows knit slightly—deeper than she thought; could it be...
She looked at Fourth Master Xiao and suddenly understood why he was so concerned about this Marquis Taiping, and couldn’t help saying, "The Emperor values how the Marquis Taiping’s clan keeps a low profile and does not compete with outside forces, so..." So he means to make Marquis Taiping the future Great Zhou’s foremost royal father-in-law?
The choice of an Empress had always been stringent. If her status was too low, she would naturally lack the majesty of a Mother of the Nation; but if her power was too great... history held countless examples of relatives of the Empress interfering in government. The Emperor feared that in future his sons might face the same situation, that if the power of the maternal clan grew too large, a son might not be able to keep them in check. So, after careful selection, he chose Marquis Taiping, whose status was exalted yet whose conduct remained low‑key?
If that was the case, then if this time the Emperor betrothed Marquis Taiping’s daughter to someone, could that not be taken as a disguised way of establishing the Crown Prince?
Thoughts turning, Xiqiu said with a faint smile, "The Emperor truly is painstaking. Having Count Dingyuan and Marquis Jinxiang accompany him, he shows not the slightest hint of favoring one over another."
The next day, a peculiar "battle" unfolded in the court. Since the year he had inherited his title and entered the Capital to give thanks, Marquis Taiping had never again come to the Capital. Yet perhaps even he had not expected that his arrival this time would be met with such enthusiasm.
Nearly half the officials in court were stirred into action: inviting him to banquets, sending gifts, calling at his door; courtesans and pretty maids, hiring out whole establishments to drink among the flowers... There were even some who had prepared in advance, tracing their lineage back more than ten generations to claim some distant kinship, for a time calling each other brothers with great merriment. Marquis Taiping himself was rather interesting: when it came to gifts, he refused none; when it came to acknowledged kin, he never denied any. The parties involved all believed their efforts at forging ties had gone smoothly, and his gates were thronged with guests and gifts, as bustling as a market.
Only, after some ten days, Marquis Taiping submitted a memorial. In it he listed in detail all those who had called on him, the gifts they had presented, the kinships they had claimed, and even the words they had spoken, all meticulously recorded, nothing omitted.
For a time the court was in an uproar, everyone on edge, and they all formed a new opinion of Marquis Taiping. From then on, no one dared pay him a visit again.
The Emperor punished a few who had been especially brazen in their methods, and at the same time grew all the more pleased with Marquis Taiping.
Count Dingyuan, Chen Hui, was so anxious he was scratching his ears and cheeks, grumbling to Madam Chen, "Just look at him, neither oil nor salt will get in—acting as if he’s already the royal father-in-law." Thinking of how he had been rebuffed again and again, he could barely contain his anger.
Madam Chen massaged his shoulders and offered a suggestion. "Don’t be upset, Lord. Everyone has their weaknesses and their preferences." She paused, then went on, "Why don’t you send someone to Taiping to make careful inquiries—what the Marquis does usually, what he likes to eat, his various tastes. Then you can prescribe the right remedy; wouldn’t that yield twice the result for half the effort?"
"If you could think of that, how could I not?" Chen Hui said dispiritedly. "I’ve already asked around, and I’ve already sent gifts." He had dispatched so many people bearing gifts, only to have them all returned without the Marquis so much as batting an eye—he truly felt he had lost all face.
"Then we’ll think of another way." Madam Chen sat down in front of him. "Her Majesty has said it plainly: if we can’t handle this matter with Marquis Taiping properly, our heads will be the ones to roll." At that, Chen Hui gave a full‑body shudder. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to him, and he said, "The Marquis Taiping has always been thin in heirs. Though there are two concubines in his household, neither has borne any children." He looked at Madam Chen, and an improper scheme began to form in his mind.
