Chapter Thirty-Two: Infertility

The Wang family was required to provide seven able-bodied men. The Zhang family needed to contribute a load of grain and one hundred taels of silver. The Bai family, one able-bodied man and two loads of grain. ... The register was written clearly. The Wang family's obligation to provide seven able-bodied men was indisputable, but they simply did not have so many. Something was amiss.

All other prominent households were asked for reasonable amounts of supplies, tailored to each family's circumstances. Only the Wang family faced such an excessive demand. The household guards, Wang Han and Ma Chao, the servants Zhang San and Li Si, and even counting himself, Su Yang could only muster five people. Even if the situation outside the city was dire, no one would expect the heads of such households to go to war themselves—at most, they would be required to provide more money and grain.

Su Yang was certain he had not offended anyone lately. As for the band of bandits he had subdued days before, he had already registered the matter and paid the taxes; the records were sealed and stored, and it was unlikely the officials would retrieve them to cross-check. Slave transactions among the gentry were frequent, and the paperwork abundant—only during disputes or lawsuits, when a slave questioned the validity of a contract, would the officials retrieve the original documents. The household registry was managed by the Revenue Office, whereas today's conscription roll was prepared by the Military Office. The military clerks could hardly be expected to know the Wang family had acquired new servants, and likely based their requisition on old impressions.

“Constable Liu, as the master, I truly cannot bear to send my servants to war. Might I donate more grain instead?” Su Yang probed.

“No, it must be able-bodied men—seven, not one less. If you can't provide them, as the son-in-law, you will go as well,” Constable Liu replied in an official tone.

“My family truly cannot produce so many able-bodied men. Perhaps you could wait half a day while I go outside and spend some silver to buy a few substitutes?” Su Yang tried again.

“No, you must come with me now. I have no time to wait. If you cannot produce the men before this incense stick burns out, Scholar Su, though you hold a degree, for the sake of the nation, you must serve,” Liu's tone was severe.

Su Yang felt a chill. In the past, it was always possible to substitute grain for conscripts, or to purchase replacements from the human dealers. Why now was it not allowed? Such arrangements benefited everyone. Unless, someone was truly targeting the Wang family. But who?

“Go to the woodshed and pick out seven people. Don’t forget to get the indenture contracts from the mistress,” Su Yang instructed. The two guards went to the woodshed and soon returned with seven people bound together. A strange look flickered in Constable Liu’s eyes; with evident displeasure, he glanced at one of the ninth-rank constables, full of reproach.

Su Yang noticed this exchange. It seemed Constable Liu and the ninth-rank officer knew who was behind this. Coincidentally, the Mind-Control Worm would be ready for refinement tomorrow—enslaving a ninth-rank officer would be a fine choice, providing an informant in the yamen. Though his friend Shen Lian was well-connected, he could not always report everything.

“Scholar Su, when did your family buy so many servants?” Liu asked, putting on a smile to hide his displeasure. “Wasn’t your granary burned? Yet you still have grain to feed idle hands.”

“I consulted the divinations and decided it was wise to buy a few. I never expected they’d prove so useful,” Su Yang replied.

“Well done. Take them all away!” Constable Liu scanned the indenture contracts in Su Yang’s hand and left with his officers and the newly conscripted militia.

Returning home, Su Yang recounted the matter to Liu Wenxiang. His mother-in-law breathed a long sigh of relief: their earlier precautions had unexpectedly come to fruition so soon.

...

“Boss, no one expected the Wang family to suddenly buy so many servants,” one of the ninth-rank constables remarked.

“Turning misfortune into blessing—this scholar has luck,” the lead replied.

“What do we do now?”

“Let’s finish our duties today. Tomorrow night, at midnight, we’ll kill them all in one swift stroke. We’ll report it as the work of rebel remnants hiding in the city—no one, man or woman, old or young, shall be spared.”

“Boss, your methods are best. We’re officials—no need for scheming, just kill them outright. Afterward, we’ll change clothes and investigate as if nothing happened—any excuse will do.”

“Why the trouble?”

“I just want things to appear proper.”

“Talk less, just act swiftly tomorrow night,” Liu ordered. The two ninth-rank warriors exchanged cold, murderous glances.

...

Inside the Wang family courtyard!

Taking advantage of her mistress’s midday nap, Xichun sneaked off to the Hundred Flowers Courtyard. Once called the Golden House, Su Yang had recently decided the name was distasteful and changed it, hoping that one day the courtyard would indeed blossom with a hundred flowers. For now, only peach and plum trees adorned the spacious grounds.

“If elder sister could join us as a chambermaid, Meihua and I would have another companion,” the petite Taohua teased.

“Don’t talk nonsense, how could I become master’s chambermaid?” Xichun blushed and protested.

“Still shy, are you? Meihua, weren’t you just as bashful when you first came?”

“Of course. After one night, I wasn’t shy anymore.”

“Taohua, you’re talking nonsense. I’ll pinch you to death...!”

...

“All right, enough mischief.” Looking at the two lovely girls, Su Yang felt great contentment. Once upon a time, to have beauties in each arm was a dream. Now, it was only the beginning—the prospect of three wives and six concubines, a harem of beauties, and the continuation of the family line was a responsibility etched into his very bones.

“Xichun, Taohua and Meihua know your situation; you needn’t hide anything here,” Su Yang said.

“Master, how can you say such things...!” Xichun’s cheeks glowed crimson as she lowered her head, her slender, delicate hands nervously twisting her sleeve, but a hint of sweetness lingered in her heart.

“Thanks to Meihua and Taohua, I figured out how to ask for you from your mistress.”

“Oh? What’s the plan?” Xichun’s face lit up with hope.

“Your mistress’s biggest fear now is that another chambermaid will soon be pregnant. Yet if she doesn’t assign one soon, she’s afraid I’ll dally with someone else. So if a maid unable to conceive were to appear, what choice would she have?” Su Yang’s lips curled with a mischievous smile. “Go and tell your mistress that you’ve been barren since childhood, suffering from cold in the womb, which is why your parents sold you.”

“Does Wang Chunxiao know why you were sold?” Su Yang asked.

“No, neither she nor the lady do. I was sold to pay for my father’s treatment,” Xichun replied joyfully. “Master, will this work?”

“It should be no problem.”

“Taohua, let’s go out and chat—let’s leave the room for the master and this little maid,” Meihua suggested.

With that, Taohua and Meihua left sensibly, closing the door behind them. Now only Su Yang and Xichun remained in the dim room. At that moment, Xichun felt her master’s gaze was that of a starving wolf.

“My little Xichun, you’ve made me pine for you,” Su Yang’s eyes smoldered as he swept her up in a bridal embrace. The frail girl curled into his arms like water, her eyes full of helpless longing. “Master, you mustn’t...”

“Don’t worry, I won’t misbehave.”

“Master, I still have to serve the mistress this afternoon. She mustn’t suspect a thing—there’s plenty of time ahead...”

...

With Meihua and Taohua both pregnant, Su Yang had been abstaining for days, but he still had to restrain himself with Xichun, since she would soon be serving Wang Chunxiao. If anything were discovered, it would not be good. Better to forego a fleeting pleasure than jeopardize the long term.

He held her close, never expecting that this once-conservative, rule-abiding girl would one day fall so deeply in love.

...

The Zhang Residence.

Zhang Qingshi, dressed in white, lounged idly by her window, gazing at the garden and breathing in the floral scents. Her mind kept replaying memories of Su Yang, and the poem he had written for her:

A girl of the Zhang family, grown in seclusion, unknown to the world.
A backward glance, a hundred charms arise—no earthly red dress could compare.

What was her beloved Su doing now? Perhaps sipping tea, reading... or composing more poetry?

A maiden’s heart, now awakening to longing, her slender hand untied her sash... The day was growing warm.

...

Xichun dared not linger long in the Hundred Flowers Courtyard, fearing the young mistress would wake and find her missing. She hurried back, and shortly after, Wang Chunxiao awoke, her face clouded. She gathered her maids once more, but still could not choose one to her liking.

...

“Miss, just choose any maid at random. I think Xueyuan is quite suitable—why trouble yourself so?” Xichun offered tea and spoke softly.

“Sigh...” Wang Chunxiao sighed deeply. It wasn’t so simple. The last two chambermaids, Taohua and Meihua, had both become pregnant, which troubled and made her jealous. If this continued, soon everyone in the house would be with child.

She planned to choose a maid who was less likely—or unable—to bear children, but how? She wasn’t a doctor and couldn’t easily ask. If word spread, she’d be branded a jealous shrew. So she summoned all the maids, dismissed them, unable to determine who might be infertile. Yet if she didn’t assign a chambermaid quickly, who knew whom that wretched scholar might seduce next?

She must protect her mother’s reputation, and not let her sister fall prey to that scoundrel. The matter vexed her deeply, exhausting her both physically and mentally.

“Miss, if not for my childhood illness that left me barren, I would volunteer to serve the master as chambermaid myself, to ease your worries,” Xichun sighed in resignation.

Cold in the womb! Infertile! As soon as Xichun spoke, Wang Chunxiao’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but she quickly masked it. “Have you seen a physician?”

“Yes.” Xichun’s expression was downcast. “One winter, I fell into an icy river and contracted a cold womb—now the blood is stagnant, and I cannot conceive. My parents sold me to pay for my mother’s illness, but she wasn’t saved in the end.”

“Why have you never told me this?”

“You never asked, miss. Who would volunteer such a thing? Besides, a personal maid is meant to serve the master and bear heirs. I feared you’d dismiss me if you knew I was barren,” Xichun whispered.

Wang Chunxiao was half-convinced. She gazed at Xichun with reluctant affection—after so many years together, she couldn’t bear to part. But for her mother and sister’s sake, she asked, “Xichun, would you be willing to serve the master as chambermaid?”

“Ah?”

“Miss, what are you saying? If I am barren, serving the master would only harm him.”

“Xichun, if the master and I both fell into the water, whom would you save first?”

“Of course, you, miss!”

“Whom do you care for more—me or the master?”

“Of course, you, miss!”

“Would you rather wrong me or the master?”

“Then... I’d rather wrong the master...” Xichun murmured, head bowed, her heart guilty—though in truth, she was wronging her mistress most of all.

A girl’s love runs deeper than any bond of servant and mistress.

“In that case, go serve as chambermaid. Keep a close watch on him—don’t let him stray. Make sure he sleeps in your bed every night.”

“Yes, miss...”

“Xichun, you’re my personal maid. You won’t be sent over as simply as Meihua or Taohua. Don’t worry.” Wang Chunxiao patted Xichun’s hand, her spirits brightening. Xichun’s tension eased, her excitement barely contained at the thought of soon sharing her master’s bed.

“Xichun, why are you trembling? Are you feeling weak?” Wang Chunxiao helped the trembling girl, concerned.

“It’s nothing, miss. Just lingering effects of childhood illness—the doctor said it was due to cold in the womb...”

...

With the matter decided, Wang Chunxiao ordered two banquets for the following days, gathering the household before sending Xichun to Su Yang’s rooms. Hearing the news, Su Yang breathed a sigh of relief. How hard it must have been for Xichun, a girl raised so conservatively, to tell such a lie. Fortunately, Wang Chunxiao, clever as she was, had been thoroughly convinced.

With Xichun gone, Wang Chunxiao needed a new personal maid. Liu Wenxiang assigned Qinzhu—aloof, but otherwise unremarkable. Su Yang had seen her a few times—her legs, long and slender, would look exquisite in black stockings.

.......................................

PS: Brothers, it’s Monday—let’s charge the new book rankings! Whether we make the top depends on you. Throw your votes my way...

Taohua, Meihua, and Xichun are the three chambermaids. As for the fourth, here’s a hint: she’s not a maid. Guess her type—loli, maiden, young wife, mature lady, icy, cute, seductive...?