Chapter 23: Unyielding

Liuchu Yan wanted to agree, but proper etiquette and decorum had to be observed. She bent her knees in a respectful salute. “The old general thinks well of me; it is a blessing I have earned over many lifetimes. But this is a matter of great importance, and I must return to ask my great-aunt.”

General Liu smiled approvingly and patted her hand. “Indeed, a child who is filial and knows propriety. It is right to consult Lady Han. But I must ask you—are you willing?”

Liuchu Yan bit her lower lip, misty-eyed, and nodded.

“Good child,” the old general said, her heart full of satisfaction. “Then call me grandmother.”

“Grandmother,” Liuchu Yan called out. At this moment, she felt the joy of regaining family, for she had found another home; besides her great-aunt, she now had a grandmother who cherished her. Yet what stirred her most was the excitement of finally seeing the clouds part and the moon shine through—after living again, she had thought her path would be difficult, but now, with the support of the General’s Mansion, it would be much easier. And she stood here not simply as a teacher, but as a true member of the General’s household.

Liu Songxian had still harbored some hesitation, but seeing Liuchu Yan like this and remembering her tragic story, she breathed a long sigh of relief, stepped forward, and took her hand. “You are fifteen now, and I am thirty-one. Though I am only sixteen years older, in both age and seniority, I am fit to be your mother. Do you have any objection?”

“None at all,” Liuchu Yan shook her head quickly.

“Then call me godmother.” Liu Songxian rarely smiled, but now her voice was gentle.

“Godmother.” Liuchu Yan called her, and the tears she had been holding fell suddenly, as if a spring had burst forth.

“Silly child, why are you crying?” The old general teased her with a smile, while Liu Guanju handed her own handkerchief.

“Don’t cry, sister. From now on, I’ll protect you,” Liu Guanju said in her childish voice, making Liuchu Yan laugh through her tears.

Liu Songxian gently touched her shoulder. “I know life at the Duke Wu Kang’s Mansion has not been easy for you. After I discuss it with Lady Han, I’ll have you move into the General’s Mansion. You can stay with Guanju and help me look after her. There’s no need to hold back.”

“Thank you, godmother, but my great-aunt’s health is poor, and I wish to care for her. I fear I cannot stay long at the General’s Mansion,” Liuchu Yan said, troubled.

“It’s not as if you can’t go back,” the old general said, rising from her seat. She thought this girl was far too cautious, perhaps due to being orphaned—truly pitiful. Such a good child must be cherished and never made to suffer again.

“Liuchu Yan, since you call me grandmother, I must think of everything for you. You grew up at the Duke Wu Kang’s Mansion; if you suddenly leave and move into the General’s Mansion, outsiders might say you are ungrateful and use people then discard them. So I think you should spend a few days at the General’s Mansion, then a few days at the Duke’s Mansion, and so fulfill both obligations.”

“Thank you, grandmother. I am deeply grateful.”

“Silly child, still so formal,” the old general said, glancing out the window. Dusk had fallen, and the servants were lighting lamps, casting a warm orange glow. “The night has settled in, but you must return to the Duke’s Mansion today. Stay for some tea while I write a letter; you can deliver it directly to Lady Han.”

“Yes, grandmother.” Liuchu Yan obeyed, waiting for the time it takes to finish a cup of tea.

Once the letter was written, the old general sent someone to escort her home, leaving Liu Songxian in the room. Liu Guanju followed her to the door, hoping she would return the next day.

Upon arriving at the Duke Wu Kang’s Mansion, she was met by Qingmian. At first glance, Liuchu Yan knew something serious must have happened and hurried forward. “Qingmian, what has happened?”

“Miss, you’re finally back,” Qingmian helped her inside. “The old lady fainted again. Sister Yunling wanted to send someone to fetch you from the General’s Mansion, but feared disturbing General Liu, so she had me wait at the gate to make sure you would go see the old lady as soon as you returned.”

“Why did great-aunt faint?” Liuchu Yan didn’t even think of the gifts sent by the old general still in the carriage and rushed toward Qingxin Residence.

“It’s the master; he brought someone back,” Qingmian lowered her voice, though by now everyone in the mansion knew—rules, nothing more.

“He brought someone back?” Liuchu Yan stopped. “Those two women?”

“No, just one.”

“Which one?” Not waiting for an answer, she guessed, “The one who’s pregnant?”

“Yes, they say her name is Xia Luzhi, and she’s been pregnant for two and a half months now.”

“The old lady said she wasn’t to enter the house. Why did uncle bring her back?”

“People say the master has been bewitched by a vixen, doing foolish things. But the truly pitiful one is the old lady. Sick and always upset. We servants dare not speak much, only do our best to serve her.” Qingmian noticed others approaching, trying to glean information, and glared at them to drive them away.

Liuchu Yan looked at the behavior of the servants and understood what their masters were like. Lady Han was tough on the outside but weak within; Han Ruoyu never took charge. The second branch always preferred less trouble, only managing their own servants. She had lived here for seven years, was used to it, and sighed softly. “Has a doctor seen her?”

“Yes, they found a new one this time—a physician from the palace, Dr. Fu.”

“Is she awake?”

“When I came out, the doctor had just arrived. Yunling chased us all out so we wouldn’t disturb them, but told me to wait for you. Just now, I saw Dr. Fu leave, so it seems there’s no danger. But whether the old lady is awake, I don’t know.”

“Very well. I’ll go see her.” Liuchu Yan glanced at Songling, asking her to take care of the gifts from the General’s Mansion in Huaxiao Pavilion, and then followed Qingmian into Qingxin Residence.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Han Ruoyu kneeling on the ground. Beside him stood a dazzlingly seductive woman, dressed brightly, wrapped in a gray-white fur cloak. Her profile was graceful, a gem necklace around her neck, large pearls dangling from her ears, her whole body shining with jewels. Her chest was high and full, and perhaps because she had stood too long, she trembled slightly, but her face was still full of pride as she looked down at the Duke, her expression unchanged. Such alluring beauty, no wonder Han Ruoyu had fallen for her.

If it were an ordinary woman, Liuchu Yan wouldn’t care, but these two had angered Lady Han to the point of fainting. Her heart flared up. “This must be Miss Luzhi?”

Xia Luzhi heard the voice, her temper obvious, and turned, raising her brows. “And who are you?”

Han Ruoyu looked up at the sound, but he was being punished and couldn’t rise, only tugged Luzhi’s cloak. “She’s my niece, her name is Liuchu Yan.”

“Oh, the young lady,” Xia Luzhi replied, clearly already familiar with the household's relationships. She lifted her chin. Taller than Liuchu Yan by half a head, she looked even more like a proud peacock.

Xia Luzhi deliberately emphasized “young lady,” implying, “What right do you have to interfere with me?” Liuchu Yan ignored her scorn and smiled quietly. “Miss Luzhi, what brings you here to see the old lady? But her health is poor; perhaps today is not the day. Yunling, escort her out!”

Even Lady Han herself hadn’t dared to be so bold as to send her away. Xia Luzhi glanced at Han Ruoyu, astonished, but Yunling had already called two maids to lead her out.

Han Ruoyu gave a cry, trying to rise and stop them, but Liuchu Yan shot him a fierce look. “Great-aunt hasn’t told you to get up yet, uncle. I know you are a filial son and would never want to upset her. Since she hasn’t spoken, you should continue kneeling.”

Han Ruoyu had been praised, then blocked with a few words, and could only kneel again.

“Han Ruoyu, you are the Duke of Wu Kang. Will you let an outsider run wild here?” Xia Luzhi was furious, cursing as she was led away.

Lady Han was embarrassed—Liuchu Yan had the courage to deal with her, while she herself had always shrunk back out of fear of Han Ruoyu. She stepped forward and slapped Xia Luzhi twice on her right cheek. “Where did this mad woman come from, daring to call my husband by name!”

“Han Ruoyu, are you even a man? She hit me, and you do nothing? Do you care nothing for your son?” Xia Luzhi wailed pitifully, calling Han Ruoyu, but her tone was full of anger. “Don’t you want your son?”

“What are you, to call the Duke’s name?” Lady Han slapped her twice more, this time on the left cheek.

Xia Luzhi tried to retaliate, but both her hands were firmly held by the maids, and she took the blows, her fair face suddenly marked by red handprints.

“You’ve got some unknown flesh in your belly and now cling to my husband. If I don’t teach you a lesson, do you think the Duke’s Mansion is easy to bully?” Lady Han cursed fluently, her expression twisted. “Die, you vixen!”

Liuchu Yan could only shake her head in exasperation. But Xia Luzhi, heedless of danger, dared provoke Lady Han and insult the Duke. She deserved the beating. For the first time, Liuchu Yan found Lady Han’s harshness oddly satisfying and pressed down the Duke who tried to rise. “Uncle, please continue kneeling. I will go see great-aunt. As for Miss Luzhi, let her return whence she came. Yunling, see her out properly.”

“Yes!” Yunling replied crisply, already efficiently “escorting” her away.

“Cousin, you’ve improved today,” Han Shuwei, who had been watching all along, followed Liuchu Yan into the house with quick steps.

“Such a woman must be taught a lesson. As for uncle, I merely conveyed great-aunt’s wishes to him,” Liuchu Yan said. Though she had chased Xia Luzhi away, the matter was far from resolved. Her brows were tightly knit, her heart restless.

Han Shujing also followed, tugging at Liuchu Yan’s sleeve. “Yan Yan, you’ve overstepped today.”

“Cousin, I only care for great-aunt. The rest are none of my concern. As for uncle, if he knows propriety, he will see his own fault. If not, whatever I do is overstepping. Let him be. My conscience is clear.”

“Well said—‘my conscience is clear,’” Lady Han had already awakened and, hearing her words, beckoned her to the bedside.

The second mistress of Han helped the old lady sit up, placing two pillows behind her. “Mother, be careful.”

“What good is care, if I’m still going to be angered to death?” Lady Han said irritably.

“Mother, don’t say too much, lest you upset grandmother further,” Han Shujing whispered, urging the second mistress to stand aside.

Lady Han didn’t dwell on it, only studied Liuchu Yan for a moment, feeling she had changed. “You went to the General’s Mansion—was it all right?”