Chapter 283

Lady Fei seemed to know exactly what Yu Jingxiu was thinking, and smiled as she explained, "Having nothing to do these past few days, I've occasionally taken Concubine Wu for strolls in the garden. I noticed a patch of plantain lilies blooming in the back courtyard, yet no one had picked them—they simply fell to the ground, which seemed a pity. So I gathered some of the ones that had already bloomed, thinking that since summer is approaching, I might make a few bottles of floral dew for everyone to use. It's fragrant, and it also keeps mosquitoes and insects away."

Yu Jingxiu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected her to know how to make floral dew.

What surprised him even more was Lady Fei's demeanor.

The last time he had left so abruptly, judging by the situation at the time, Lady Fan must have been quite angry. Though she wouldn't go so far as to punish Lady Fei, a scolding would have been unavoidable. Yet not only had she not wallowed in self-pity, she was in good enough spirits to make floral dew. She hadn't uttered a single word of complaint upon meeting him either—she looked calm and refined, bearing an air of composure that could withstand both praise and humiliation.

No wonder Eldest Aunt had chosen her.

Though her family background was somewhat humble, her upbringing was in no way inferior to that of the most proper young ladies.

Yu Jingxiu had always favored those who spoke with substance and carried themselves with elegance.

With that thought, he considered whether he might exchange a few more words with Lady Fei.

As the thought crossed his mind, he saw Lady Fei smiling warmly and making casual conversation: "Is the young master heading out? The weather today seems to alternate between clear and overcast—do be careful not to get caught in the rain on the way. Perhaps you should tell the servants to bring an umbrella."

Yu Jingxiu nodded. "I have some urgent business..."

Hearing this, Lady Fei immediately let out an "Oh!" and looked somewhat flustered, quickly saying, "Then I'll be on my way—I won't delay the young master's departure..."

Yu Jingxiu, in turn, felt he was being a bit cold, and said, "A moment won't make a difference!" His expression turned quite gentle.

Lady Fei let out a long, relieved breath and smiled. "That's good, that's good!" Yet she didn't linger, bending her knees in a respectful salute and saying, "Then I'll take my leave." After speaking, as if feeling the words had come too abruptly and fearing Yu Jingxiu might take it the wrong way, she smiled somewhat sheepishly, and added by way of remedy, "I've invited Concubine Wu to help me make the floral dew. If it turns out well, I'd like the young master to take a look as well. The principal wife has said that the young master is immensely learned—not only well-versed in the Hundred Schools of Thought, but also knowledgeable in inscriptions on bronze and stone, painting and calligraphy, tea brewing, and wine making..." At this, a hint of chagrin flickered in her eyes, and she said with embarrassment, "Look at me—showing off my meager skills before an expert, forgetting that the young master is a master of the craft..."

Yu Jingxiu found her manner amusing and couldn't help but laugh. "I'm afraid I don't know how to make floral dew at all—I'd only disappoint you."

"Really?" Lady Fei's face lit up with surprise, and she said with a touch of delight, "So there are things the young master doesn't know how to do."

Yu Jingxiu couldn't help but remark, "Judging by your expression, you're rather pleased that I don't know how?"

Lady Fei smiled awkwardly. "Isn't it just that I'm afraid of making a fool of myself in front of the young master?"

Yu Jingxiu laughed heartily. "If you're looking for a true expert, the young mistress is your woman. She not only knows how to make floral dew, but also how to make aloeswood incense." At this, his expression faltered, and he swallowed back the words, "If you want to learn, have the young mistress teach you."

It had been a long time since Lady Fan had looked as relaxed and content as she had in the early days of her marriage, leading her maids in making incense.

Lady Fei noticed the subtle shift in his expression and took the opportunity to take her leave.

Yu Jingxiu snapped back to himself and left the courtyard in low spirits.

Lady Fei did not take the side passage to the rear building, but instead went through the corner door beside the main hall toward the rear quarters. Along the way, she was bound to run into the young maidservants from Lady Fan's rooms.

She smiled and greeted the young maids, picked out a few plantain lilies with the finest colors and shapes to give them to wear, and then casually asked about Yu Jingxiu: "...I ran into the young master at the gate? When did he return? He gave me quite a start. Had I known, I would have lingered in the garden a while longer."

One of the young maids, whose hair had not yet been pinned up, was quick of tongue and laughed, "The young master just got back. He'd been here less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before he went out again."

"Is that so?" Lady Fei smiled and didn't pursue the matter further, instead complimenting the young maids, "Those flowers look lovely on you," before returning to the rear courtyard and knocking on the door of Concubine Wu's side chamber.

Lianxin answered the door.

Lady Fei smiled and gestured to the small bamboo basket she held in her arms: "I just picked these fresh—I've brought some for Concubine Wu to choose from, and you can see if any catch your fancy as well."

Lianxin hurriedly smiled and thanked her, inviting Lady Fei inside to sit.

Concubine Wu, who had been doing needlework, heard the commotion and came down from the kang, inviting her to sit on the kang as well.

Lady Fei didn't stand on ceremony, drank the tea Lianxin served, and asked Concubine Wu to help her make the floral dew.

Concubine Wu smiled. "I'm afraid I don't know how to do such things. Besides, I still need to make a few winter garments for my father and younger brother. The weather is still cool these days, but once summer arrives and my palms are all sweaty, I won't be able to sew anymore."

"That's good, then. You just wait for my flower dew to be ready." Lady Fei was not one to stand on ceremony. She asked Concubine Wu about her hometown, and gradually the conversation drifted toward Yu Jingxiu. "I wonder what the master has been busy with? He doesn't even stay home in the capital—he's always running out every few days. Could he have some social engagements or other?"

"I haven't noticed." Concubine Wu truly hadn't observed anything. She smiled and said, "Perhaps the master really does have some engagements."

Lady Fei hesitated for a long moment before saying, "Then could you help me find out what the master has been up to these days?"

Concubine Wu was taken aback. "I never set foot outside the inner quarters—how could I possibly find out for you?"

"Ask Madam Wu," Lady Fei said. "The Wu family is sure to know what the master is busy with."

Concubine Wu immediately declined with gentle words: "The lady doesn't like me going back to the Wu family. I didn't even go to pay New Year's calls during the holiday. You know that well enough."

Lady Fei's brows knitted tightly at this, her gaze dimming as she said in a low voice, "It's not that I want to know what the master is doing, but someone in my family has gotten into trouble, and I want to ask the Yu family to put in a good word. I was hoping the master could help deliver a name card on our behalf..."

Concubine Wu was quite surprised. "Isn't there still the eldest madam?"

"If I could dare bring this matter to the eldest madam, I wouldn't be in such a difficult position." Lady Fei gave a bitter smile. "It's our family that's in the wrong—how could I ask the lady to step in? I understand that well enough, but they are still my closest kin. I have to think of some way to help."

Concubine Wu said apologetically, "I'm afraid I really can't help with this matter."

"Forget it." Lady Fei waved her hand with a show of magnanimity. "Perhaps this is their fate. Let them be." Then she turned the conversation to making flower dew.

Concubine Wu had made up her mind not to get involved in this matter. The two chatted idly for a while, and then Lady Fei took her leave.

As Lianxin set down the teacup, she complained, "Elder miss, you can't just spend the rest of your life in the Yu household like this, can you? Since you could help Lady Fei, why not lend a hand? Even if the lady doesn't like you going back to the Wu family, she can't forbid you from returning. During the New Year, it was because you didn't want to go that you didn't..."

"What would you know?" Concubine Wu, who was usually tolerant of Lianxin, suddenly turned cold and cut her off. "From now on, don't get mixed up in Lady Fei's affairs. She has plenty of ways and means of her own. Don't end up being sold by someone and still counting the money for them."

"How can you talk like that, elder miss..." Lianxin muttered under her breath.

But Concubine Wu said, "If she truly wanted nothing, she would stay shut in her room all day. Going around visiting like this every day—that's not the behavior of someone who can sit still... You need to use your head more when things come up from now on."

Lianxin lowered her head and said nothing, but in her heart she grew more and more curious about what Lady Fei was really up to. Thinking that Lady Fei's quarters had few people, she kept an eye on Cairong in Lady Fei's rooms whenever she had the chance. Before many days had passed, she actually discovered something major.

"Elder miss, elder miss!" She rushed into Concubine Wu's room, slammed the door of the side chamber shut, and dragged Concubine Wu, who was sitting on the kang doing needlework, into the narrow passage where the chamber pot was kept. Concubine Wu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "This room is no bigger than the palm of a hand—even if you hide in the passage, others can still find you." Then she teased her, "Have you gotten into some kind of trouble? Don't worry—your indenture papers are with the Wu family. If worst comes to worst, I'll find a way to get you out of the mansion, and you can go straight to the Wu residence to seek help!"

"Oh, my dear elder miss!" Lianxin stamped her foot. "It's just like the emperor not worrying while the eunuchs fret themselves to death! Do you know what's happened over at the main quarters?"

Concubine Wu's face darkened at this, and she said with displeasure, "What has Lady Fei been saying now?"

"It's not Lady Fei," Lianxin hastily protested. "It's Cairong." She then leaned in to whisper in Concubine Wu's ear, "Cairong said that the master has been taking over two thousand taels of silver from the eldest young mistress in bits and pieces these past days, without saying what it's for. The eldest young mistress is terribly worried, and Mozhuan told her to ask the master directly, but the eldest young mistress said that since the master's private funds are all under her management, if she kept pressing him about how he spends his money, not only would the master be displeased, but if he got truly angry, he might have his personal servant hold onto his private funds in the future—and then she wouldn't know how the money was spent anyway... The eldest young mistress has called Chengxin in for questioning!"

What could Yu Jingxiu possibly need that would require so much silver in such a short time?

Concubine Wu's heart tightened, and she was silent for a long while.

Lianxin said anxiously, "Elder miss, what should we do? Should we also send someone to make inquiries..."

"No!" Concubine Wu cautioned her. "We'll just hold our ground and wait—let things come to us."

At this, a hint of panic crept into Lianxin's expression. "Elder miss, Cairong said that spending so much silver without letting the master and the lady know—either the master has made a blunder in his official duties, or he's been gambling outside..."

"Lianxin!" Concubine Wu abruptly cut off Lianxin's words, casting a warning glance at her, and said, "These matters were all told to you by Cairong, who serves Concubine Fei, weren't they? As for what really happened, you didn't see it, and I didn't hear it. Concubine Fei is different from us. Behind her stands the First Lady, and no matter what happens to the Yu family, she has somewhere to hide. But we are different. If the Yu family runs into trouble, even if the Wu family wanted to drown us all in the pond, they would have to consider their reputation and pull us out first. Do you think it's better to muddle along half-dead in the Yu family, or to go back to the Wu family?" After saying this, she added with pointed meaning, "You don't know this, but the Yu family has been unsettled ever since they fell into conflict with the Zhao family. Even if they get past this hurdle, there will be another one. Unless the Zhao family collapses, it's still uncertain what will become of the Yu family. You're getting older year by year. If the mistress betroths you to one of the Yu family's servants, your fortunes will be tied to the Yu family's rise and fall from then on... Some things, you need to think through carefully!"