Chapter 41: Intentions

Xue Huaijin pondered for a moment, glanced at Han Shujing, then at Liu Chuyan, and spoke in a voice clear enough for everyone to hear: "Elder Brother Zhou is sincere in all his dealings. He is dutiful and respectful to his grandmother and mother, courteous to elders, honest and genuine with friends, and supportive of colleagues. He is decisive and courageous, his loyalty and integrity are plain for all to see. The only flaw is his lack of eloquence—one might even call him awkward. Yet those who truly know him never fault him for it, for no one is perfect, after all."

Liu Chuyan looked to Han Shujing for her reaction, who merely nodded, showing her appreciation. Chuyan continued, "I have heard that his feelings for his late wife run deep, and he has yet to forget her."

"They were married young and had a sweet, well-behaved daughter together. Elder Sister Zhou was very kind to us while she lived, approachable, and never once quarreled with Elder Brother Zhou; they treated each other with mutual respect. Elder Brother Zhou cherished her, and it is only natural that he still holds her in his heart," Xue Huaijin replied with a smile, watching Han Shujing, whose brow was slowly furrowing.

"Huaijin, let us speak plainly," Liu Chuyan said, grasping Huaijin's hand with sincerity, unable to discern the true meaning behind her words.

Xue Huaijin reached out to stop her. "Sister Chuyan, I understand your concerns. In fact, what you may not know is that having Madam Zhou approach Sister Shujing was Elder Brother Zhou's own idea."

"His own idea?" Han Shujing was startled, and both Liu Chuyan and Han Shuwei widened their eyes in surprise, speaking in unison.

"Yes, it was his own wish. Had it not been, Madam Zhou would never have dared to aspire to the Marquis Wukang's household. Elder Brother Zhou has finally taken a liking to someone and is willing to remarry. Madam Zhou is simply fulfilling his desire, which is why she braced herself to ask your second aunt to arrange the match."

"Why wasn’t this made known earlier?" Liu Chuyan exclaimed, both surprised and delighted.

"Such matters are not easily spoken of; if the Marquis Wukang's household had refused, it would have been a blow to his reputation, and finding another match would be difficult. With only Madam Zhou acting, it can be said she was simply being presumptuous, and even if refused, there would be no blame."

"So that's how it is." Liu Chuyan understood at last and felt relieved. She glanced at Han Shujing, whose shy and uncertain face betrayed her feelings. "Who would have guessed Elder Brother Zhou took a fancy to our cousin? Such a tongue-tied fellow, and yet he went to Madam Zhou to propose."

Han Shujing pressed her lips tightly, thinking for a moment. Suddenly her cheeks flushed, and she twisted the corner of her handkerchief, lowering her head in embarrassment.

That expression clearly hid something, and Liu Chuyan noticed. Seeing this, Han Shuwei suddenly slapped her forehead with an "ah," as if she had recalled something. Han Shujing turned pale and slapped her hand sharply. "Wewei, we're in the Duke of Xingguo's residence—do not make a scene. Drink your tea."

Han Shuwei, chastised by her sister, looked pitifully at Liu Chuyan, but Chuyan merely shook her head, refusing to intervene. So Han Shuwei took the tea handed to her by Han Shujing and drank two large gulps in protest.

Xue Huaijin and Xue Huaiyu exchanged a glance but said nothing, instead instructing the maids outside to bring fresh tea and pastries. Since Elder Brother Zhou was a friend of Xue Ao, it would not do for them to pry into matters between Han Shujing and him.

Still, the silence was awkward, so the group fell to chatting idly about embroidery and new styles of pastries.

Xue Huaiyu had been watching Han Shujing, but with her head bowed and eyes lowered, nothing could be gleaned. Not being familiar with Han Shujing, she moved to sit beside Liu Chuyan and struck up a conversation.

"Sister Chuyan, last time my second brother said he was going to the Han household, but it turned out he was only deceiving us. My mother was anxious and acted rashly; I hope you won’t hold it against her."

Liu Chuyan turned her head, full of doubt. She had not spoken with Xue Ao and did not know what he had reported on his return. Yet from Xue Huaiyu's words and expression, it seemed she had been cleared from suspicion, and the matter of the kidnapping had not been revealed. She replied somewhat ambiguously.

"Sister Chuyan, my second brother’s birthday is coming up, and yours happens to fall on the same day. So, I cannot attend your celebration," Xue Huaijin joined in, full of regret, but comforted her before Chuyan could speak. "Though I won’t be there, my gift will certainly arrive."

Xue Huaiyu laughed and tugged at Xue Huaijin’s sleeve. "Sister, why don’t you stay at home and I go celebrate Sister Chuyan’s birthday instead?"

"Nonsense," Xue Huaijin said, pinching her cheek.

Xue Huaiyu stuck out her tongue and made a face. "I’m not speaking nonsense; I mean it."

Liu Chuyan was not particularly enthusiastic about her birthday banquet; but on the tenth day of the next month, she would turn fifteen—a coming-of-age celebration. In plain terms, she would be an adult, eligible for marriage. If her parents were alive, they would have begun seeking a match when she was fourteen, and after her fifteenth birthday, she could expect to marry within months. Yet she had neither father nor mother, only an attentive grandaunt. In her current situation, how could her grandaunt arrange a marriage for her? Better to remain at her side, she thought; the idea of marriage did not appeal.

Xue Huaijin noticed her troubled expression, guessing she was reminded of her own awkward circumstances. Yet she could not bring up her elder brother Xue Tan at this moment, so she merely sighed inwardly and changed the subject.

The room fell silent again, and Xue Huaiyu lamented that with Han Shujing present, things were indeed less lively—not like last time, when only Liu Chuyan and Han Shuwei were there and the conversation was much more interesting.

Fortunately, Second Madam Han and Madam Xue had finished their discussion, and Madam Xue summoned the young ladies to her courtyard for a while. After some tea and idle conversation, Second Madam Han took her leave.

On the way home, Liu Chuyan asked Han Shujing about the blush and embarrassment when she had heard Elder Zhou had specifically requested to marry her.

Second Madam Han was in the carriage ahead, with maids and servants following behind. At that moment, only the three sisters were together. Han Shujing hesitated for a moment before quietly relating the story, and Han Shuwei wisely did not interrupt.

This May was Han Shujing’s birthday, but she could not return home, so Second Madam Han quietly arranged to celebrate for her at Hongjue Temple, with Han Shuwei accompanying.

Coincidentally, it was also the memorial day of Elder Sister Zhou, and Zhou Fuyun brought his daughter to pray at Hongjue Temple. However, midway through, Zhou Fuyun accidentally lost track of his daughter, Zhou Ruosu.

By then, it was already evening, and Hongjue Temple was surrounded by mountains. If the child wandered into the hills, the danger would be unimaginable. Zhou Fuyun was frantic; with few attendants and only a handful of idle monks available, he sought help from Second Madam Han, who sent people to search.

But Zhou Ruosu had hidden herself somewhere unknown, and even by the hour of the Dog, no one had found her. Zhou Fuyun led a group into the hills to search, with some young attendants lent by Second Madam Han.

When Han Shujing and Han Shuwei returned to their room, they heard crying from the trees at the gate and, looking up, saw Zhou Ruosu perched up there.

It turned out that, at dusk, Zhou Ruosu had slipped away while her mother wasn’t looking, and encountered a small green snake. Terrified, she scrambled up the tree. The snake paid her no mind, flicking its tongue below, then disappearing into the grass. Zhou Ruosu was so frightened she could not speak, and once up the tree, she could not get down. Eventually, exhausted, she clung to the trunk and fell asleep.

When she awoke, night had fallen, darkness surrounded her, and faint footsteps approached. Overcome with fear, she began to cry.

Luckily, Han Shujing and the others found her and quickly ordered a ladder to be fetched so they could climb up and rescue her.

But before anyone could ascend, Zhou Ruosu, sobbing, slipped and fell.

Though the tree was only about twenty feet tall, for a six-year-old girl, a fall from that height could have been fatal or crippling. The nearest person was not the servant carrying the ladder, but Han Shujing. Though she herself was a delicate young lady, she did not think twice in the moment, rushing forward to catch the falling child.

Zhou Ruosu was unhurt, though terribly frightened; but Han Shujing’s wrist suffered a severe impact and was fractured, requiring two months of rest.

When Zhou Fuyun hurried back, Zhou Ruosu was still with Han Shujing. He rushed in, just as the doctor was tending to Han Shujing, and Zhou Ruosu clung to her rescuer’s hand, refusing to let go, insisting she would care for her savior.

Second Madam Han was distressed; though her daughter had been married once, she could not allow her to be slighted, nor let Zhou Fuyun, a man, tarnish her reputation. She promptly sent him away.

Zhou Fuyun had no choice but to take his daughter and leave, returning later with his mother to offer thanks. Though grateful, Zhou Fuyun said nothing further, merely expressing gratitude. To everyone’s surprise, he now sought Madam Zhou to propose marriage.

Liu Chuyan mused that Zhou Fuyun was indeed a grateful man, but if his actions were merely out of gratitude, he would not have sought marriage so hastily, and Han Shujing would not have reacted as she did.

"Cousin, you’ve told me you have done the Zhou household a favor; I’ve heard of that. But you were blushing—surely Elder Zhou must have done something more."

"Chuyan..." Han Shujing protested coquettishly, but Chuyan would not let her off, forcing her to lower her head. "The day after, when my mother was absent, he came personally to thank me, brought supplements, and we spoke for a while."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing much..." Han Shujing was not as open as Han Shuwei; no matter how Chuyan pressed, she would not reveal more, so Chuyan let it go.

"Cousin, since you have this connection, why then do you worry he still mourns his late wife?"

"His feelings for his late wife are obvious to all. As for me, I fear he is simply grateful, wishing to thank me for saving Ruosu. Even if we spoke, it was merely polite. He praised me for being virtuous and considerate, eager to help others, saying anyone who married me would be fortunate..." Han Shujing stopped abruptly, realizing she had let slip too much.

Liu Chuyan covered her mouth, laughing. "See? He must have had thoughts of marrying you then, and was just waiting for your mourning period to end before proposing."

"Chuyan, don’t be ridiculous—he was only expressing his feelings. I didn’t take it to heart," Han Shujing protested, blocking Chuyan’s mouth.

Just then they reached the gates of the Han residence, and Liu Chuyan smiled, saying no more.

Upon entering, a matron greeted them: "The young ladies have returned; the First Madam wishes to see you. Please greet Second Madam."

"Ah, isn’t that Nurse Ye?" Han Shuwei narrowed her eyes at the woman, circling around her.

Nurse Ye was First Madam Han’s dowry maid. She had always been light-fingered, but only with minor things, so First Madam turned a blind eye. Two months ago, however, she overreached herself and stole from Old Madam Han—an act bold as a tiger, but lacking skill, and was caught. Yet as she was an old servant and First Madam pleaded for her, Old Madam Han spared her, merely sending her away. Unexpectedly, she had now returned.

Second Madam Han had clearly heard rumors; seeing her, she gave no reaction, simply walked past her to her own courtyard, instructing her daughters to return promptly.

Liu Chuyan saw from afar several maids, including Qing Ying, coming from First Madam’s courtyard. She recalled that, during their time at the villa, First Madam Han had been beaten and scolded by Han Ruoyu, even given a divorce letter, yet no one dared help her. Clearly, apart from Nurse Ye, she had not a single confidante left. Now, with the addition of Qing Ying, who harbored ulterior motives, First Madam had brought Nurse Ye back to assist her.

Well, it wasn’t an urgent matter, as long as they left her alone. Most important was to guard against First Madam Han causing trouble for her. Liu Chuyan smiled inwardly. "Nurse Ye, do you know why First Madam wishes to see us?"

Author's note:
Today is a brand new day; this year is a brand new year. Wishing everyone 384 days of happiness in 2014, 9,216 hours of health, and 552,960 minutes of joy.

To think, writing on New Year's Day! Anjia really is a devoted author. Aren’t you going to show your appreciation and toss some flowers my way?