The Young Lady of the General’s House

Chen-cefei and Shen Jin sent Rui-wangfei out, then they walked towards Moyun Courtyard. Only then Shen Jin could wrap her hand around Chen-cefei’s.

Chen-cefei touched it and suddenly said, “What happened to your hand?”

Shen Jin stretched a hand out, it was still fair and pretty but Chen-cefei could feel it wasn’t as tender as when Shen Jin was still in the Capital, “But….”

“That time when the Barbarians besieged the town, as the wife of Count Yongning I couldn’t not do anything.” Shen Jin didn’t think it was any big deal, “I helped wash things at the back line.”

Chen-cefei’s heart ached. It was a winter and the border must had been colder, “You did right.”

“I think so too.” Shen Jin smiled, “Mother don’t worry.”

Anping and Anning knew Shen Jin had things to talk to Chen-cefei, they followed a bit far behind along with the maids, this way they wouldn’t disturb but still could go over if needed.

Chen-cefei spoke up, “I don’t know how it is at the border, but ….. about people…. it is the heart that matter. If you are not sincere to them, how would they be sincere towards you?”

“I know that.” Shen Jin acted spoiled.

Chen-cefei nodded, “You are out there by your own, so don’t worry about too many things, don’t worry about me either.”

“Mother.” Shen Jin’s face moved, she paused the walk and looked at Chen-cefei.

Chen-cefei laughed, it was just like when Shen Jin was small. She touched Shen Jin’s face, finding it softer and smoother, she felt relieved, “This time, you and Son-in-law shouldn’t have come.”

“It was Fujun who wanted to.” Shen Jin said in low voice, “Not me.”

Chen-cefei released her breath, she continued the walk with Shen Jin towards her courtyard, “Don’t be impetuous, listen to people around you, and listen to your Fujun, understand?”

“Understand.” Shen Jin felt sour and her eyes reddened. Chen-cefei’s concerns were all for Shen Jin, nothing was said of what would have happened to Chen-cefei herself if she and Chu Xiuming hadn’t returned.

Chen-cefei was satisfied that her daughter was fine, “Today I didn’t expect you’d come, but tomorrow I’ll prepare some snacks you like.”

“Good.” Shen Jin responded with a smile, but tears started to fall. Now that she was with mother, the tears couldn’t be held back anymore. She hadn’t cried through everything that happened wasn’t because she didn’t like crying, she just didn’t do it. The anxiety and fear when she just arrived at the border town, the grief and despair during the siege, and the happiness that followed afterwards. Only in front of her mother that she no longer needed to hide them.

She knew Chu Xiuming, Zhao-momo and the rest were feeling guilty of all her sufferings so they had been treating her extra well, but that was exactly the reason she couldn’t tell them about the pain in her heart or what she had gone through.

Chen-cefei knew her daughter was crying, she walked her directly into the room. The maids didn’t follow, they thoughtfully closed the door. Inside the room, Chen-cefei took a handkerchief and wiped Shen Jin’s face, “How old you are, still dropping golden beans.”

“Mother.” Shen Jin dived into Chen-cefei’s arms, just like in the past when she secretly cried after being bullied. “Fujun is very good to me, really good.”

She didn’t know what to say to reassure Chen-cefei, but she knew her mother’s heart was all on her happiness. “Wait a little longer, I will pick you up, and we will live together at the border town.”

“Silly child.” Chen-cefei took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, her face was smiling but her tears fell, “Since I came to Wangfu, I never meant to go out again.”

She was made a Cefei, but a Cefei was still a concubine and destined to be under others her whole life. She couldn’t give trouble to her daughter, her presence would be a reminder that Countess Yongning was the daughter of a concubine.

T/N – Cefei is侧妃 with the Fei 妃 = ‘Consort’ the same character in Wangfei 王妃 = Prince Consort (the main wife). Concubines with 妃title were of higher status than ordinary concubines, but still weren’t wives.

“I am doing well now,” Chen-cefei wouldn’t tell Shen Jin these thoughts, she only smiled, “Wangfei has been taking extra care of me, Mansion people are respectful because of my son-in-law, moreover Li-shi is now pregnant and the child will be raised by me, you don’t need to worry.”

Shen Jin bit her lips and said nothing but she had made up her mind to find a chance to take Mother away. The life in Wangfu wasn’t as good as how Mother pictured. Wangfei could still go out to socialise but Chen-cefei could never walk out of the residence. She couldn’t even go to the front courtyard, no matter how good the rear courtyard was, it was stale after over ten years.

Chen-cefei held Shen Jin to sit on the soft bench, she changed the topic to the border town. Shen Jin answered her questions sincerely one by one unlike the perfunctory answers given to Shen Zi and the others. She spoke about the scenery, the market, and many others, she wanted to describe everything for Mother to hear, “I also have a dog called Xiaobudian, Fujun said when it grows up, it will be taller than me.”

“Naughty.” Chen-cefei smiled. Shen Jin had liked furry things since small, but there were too many children in the Mansion, Chen-cefei couldn’t let Shen Jin keep any cats or dogs. The annual allowance of furs was only that much, nothing left after Shen Jin’s use. “In the future no need to send me so much furs, I have enough from the allowance.”

“There are plenty of it at the border.” Shen Jin proudly said, “Fujun said when it’s getting cold he would cover my room with furs, it will be comfortable and warm.”

Nothing made Chen-cefei happier than hearing the son-in-law cared and pampered her own daughter, “No wonder I feel that you have become sillier and sillier after married.”

“I am smart!” Shen Jin instantly retorted, not even her mother was allowed to call her silly, “Really.”

Chen-cefei didn’t reply, she felt it good. Only when loved and pampered that someone could became silly, only when happy that someone could became naïve. Her daughter had gone through many years of pain at the Wangfu, and it was good now.

Shen Jin glanced at Chen-cefei, “Really.”

“En, really.” Chen-cefei touched her daughter’s face, carefully examined her appearance. Her make up was different from when she was married out from the Wangfu, it was now inconspicuous but fine and meticulous.

Shen Jin said with a smile, “Fujun prepared two rolls of moonlight brocade for Mother. One roll of elegant white and one roll of red purple.”

“I don’t need that many, give one roll to Wangfei, and the rest keep for yourself.” Chen-cefei said.

Shen Jin leaned over and whispered on Chen-cefei’s ears, “Moonlight brocade is very comfortable for underwear, Mother can wear it inside, I have also prepared some for Mother.”

“Give me the red purple one,” Chen-cefei said, “Don’t need that many.”

Shen Jin pursed her lips, only then she responded, “Alright then.”

Chen-cefei pulled Shen Jin into inner room, opened a jewellery box and took out a piece of pendant. She carefully stroked it then hang it around Shen Jin’s neck.

“Before your paternal grandfather passed away, he privately gave it to me as a dowry, said I could give it to my child or my husband. When I was brought into Wangfu, I secretly took it with me. Today I give it to you, your dowry was all from the Wangfu, whatever I gave you before was Wangfu stuff, only this one pendant is from me.”

It was a simple round ping’an pendant, it’s surface was smooth and shiny from being touched very often. “I will wear it.” She put it inside her clothes, instead of cold it felt slightly warm. “This….”

“En. It’s a warm jade.” Chen-cefei was waiting for her to discover it herself. “Your grandfather had it carved in a simple and rough shape, so even if it is found, noone would notice.”

Shen Jin said, “Grandfather was very wise.”

Chen-cefei slowly exhaled, “En. Otherwise there wouldn’t be all those properties, however ……. never mind. Let’s not talk about it. This pendant you can keep for yourself or give to son-in-law.” She changed the topic without finishing her words.

The pair of mother and daughter happily talked for a while until they heard a knock on the door. Chen-cefei said, “It’s probably Son-in-law picking you up.”

Shen Jin was deeply dissatisfied, Chen-cefei laughed and pulled her to go outside. Chu Xiuming was waiting in the yard, Chen-cefei wished to be with Shen Jin longer but she knew her daughter was happier on his side.

They walked over to Chu Xiuming who then called out, “Mother-in-law.”

Hearing the words, Chen-cefei’s eyes reddened, “Don’t call me that in the future.”

Chu Xiuming’s mother-in-law was and could only be Rui-wangfei. Chen-cefei’s words made Chu Xiuming knew her feelings towards Shen Jin, he respectfully paid Chen-cefei a tribute to the elder, the meaning was clear even without words.

Shen Jin’s eyes was brimming with tears, she sucked her nose. She had shed more tears today than the whole year.

Chen-cefei was completely relieved, she looked at Chu Xiuming, “The two of you have a good life in the future.” As she spoke, she put Shen Jin’s hand in Chu Xiuming’s.

Chu Xiuming calmly said, “I will treat her well, for the rest of my life.” This was a promise to a mother who loved her daughter.

Chen-cefei smiled in response and walked them out of the courtyard. Shen Jin turned her head to look at Chen-cefei from time to time until she got into the carriage. She directly sat in Chu Xiuming’s arms, whispering with a sob, “I haven’t farewelled Father and Mother Consort yet.”

“Wangfei said we could just go home.” Chu Xiuming lightly pressed his wife’s head to lean into himself, “Just come earlier tomorrow.”

“En.” Shen Jin said.

Chu Xiuming said, “I will accompany you to stay at Wangfu for a few days, I think Wangye and Wangfei won’t mind.”

“You kept calling him Father-in-law this Father-in-law that.” Shen Jin was all smiles, she wouldn’t show a sad face to the husband who was trying to make her happy. No wonder Chu Xiuming was so generous to gift him something that Rui-wang had long wanted, so there was an intention behind it.

Chu Xiuming looked at her smiling face, a smiling wife was still the best thing, “I’ll call it again when we are at Wangfu.”

Shen Jin grabbed his hand and lightly bite him, pouting, “Mother called me stupid, she said I should listen to you….”

Chu Xiuming listened to her talking. She said nothing substantial and sometimes she jumped around across topics, but whatever he heard increased his regards towards Chen-cefei. He wasn’t annoyed with the talks about small family matters, they made him feel some warm sense of belonging.

But nothing was completely predictable, even Chu Xiuming was unable to make a fool-proof calculation. In the middle of the night Shen Jin was roused from deep sleep by the sound of a barking dog. Chu Xiuming had sat up, “I’ll have a look.”

Shen Jin nodded her flushed face, “Maybe Xiaobudian is hungry?”

Chu Xiuming shook his head, putting on an outer wear and walked out. Zhao-momo and the rest had awakened as well, they quickly came in to help Shen Jin dressing.

Shen Jin was worried for Xiaobudian, “What is going on?”

Xiaobudian that was normally well-behaved was barking loudly at the entrance, looking nervous and fierce with it’s body arched and the furs standing up. It saw Chu Xiuming but instead of the usual spoiled aowu aowu bark, it kept on barking wang wang towards the west side.

Chu Xiuming looked to the west with a frown, his face suddenly changed, strode inside in quick steps and ordered the guards in loud voice, “Call everyone out.”