The Young Lady of the General’s House

Zheng Jiaqu released Shen Hao only after Shen Rong and her maid had been far away, his teeth were tightly clenched and his face was distorted into a vicious and terrifying expression. Shen Hao jumped away in horror, his sudden movement knocked Zheng Jiaqu back to his senses. His head lowered, he asked Shen Hao in a grim voice, “Are all these true?”

Shen Jin shook his head vigorously, “I don’t know….”

Zheng Jiaqu grabbed Shen Hao’s shoulders, he was a literary person but as his six-arts training was never abandoned, his grip made Shen Hao cried in pain. Zheng Jiaqu loosened his fingers, looking down at Shen Hao, “Then what do you know?”

T/N – Gentlemen’s six arts 君子六艺 = etiquette, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, mathematics. So Zheng Jiaqu also had some physical trainings.

Shen Rong had told him to just tell the truth if Zheng Jiaqu asked, so Shen Hao said with a knotted heart, “I know Mother and Fourth Sister were locked up because of Second Sister.”

But this wasn’t what Zheng Jiaqu wanted to hear, he pursued, “What about your Second Sister’s marriage?”

Shen Hao shook his head, “I don’t know…. I was sleeping. I think Father told Mother that Second Sister was going to marry far away, so Mother and Second Sister cried. Mother told me to hug Father and cry too, so I did, but then I got tired and I was sent to bed.”

He spoke incoherently, but Zheng Jiaqu understood. Suddenly mental exhaustion took him over. Fated to meet but not destined to be together….. Their fate was brutally broken by these selfish people….. Otherwise such a pure and delicate woman wouldn’t have been suffered in the land of tiger and wolf.

Moreover he also saw how Shen Zi behaved after meeting Count Yongning, how much she focused on him, how she had schemed. Zheng Jiaqu felt as if a green hat was put on his head, heart filled with hatred, that poisonous woman’s selfishness had harmed him.

“I see….”

Shen Hao saw Zheng Jiaqu that way, he was too scared to make a sound.

T/N – wearing a green hat = cheated, wife having going-ons with other men.

Shen Zi had been standing at the gate of Yilan Courtyard for some time but she dared not enter. Shen Rong and her maid were walking over when they saw her figure from behind.

A touch of mockery flashed on Shen Rong’s smile for an instant, but she called out delicately, “Second Sister, why are you not going in?”

The startled Shen Zi turned around and frowned, “Why are you standing behind someone without making a sound?”

Shen Rong smiled, “My fault.”

Shen Zi felt a bit guilty for losing her temper, but as she had been used to be domineering, she only said, “Come inside with me.”

“Yes.” Shen Rong bowed her head, stepped into the courtyard at the front.

The gate was locked, one of the maids went forward to knock. After a while, a rough job pozi opened the door, she bowed and silently moved aside to let them enter. Shen Rong gave the gate-guarding pozi a pouch then led Shen Zi inside. Inside the courtyard, another pozi came up to meet them.

This courtyard was a remote one, hidden in a corner, but it was very clean. The garden was planted with a variety of flowers, the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. It was different from what Shen Zi imagined,  she expected that Rui-wangfei would have taken the chance to revenge, but despite the low number of servants, the place was neat and orderly. The tea was warm, the cakes and the fruits were properly served.

“Where is my mother?” Shen Zi was planning to run to Rui-wang to complain if she spotted any slightest mistreatment, but now she didn’t know whether she should be glad or disappointed.

The pozi didn’t reply, she simple walked them inside to see Xu-cefei and Shen Jing. At the door the pozi said, “Please Second Junzhu and Fifth Miss be careful.”

“It’s my mother, what do you mean to be careful.” Shen Zi frowned. Pushing the door open, she saw four other strong pozi’s standing at the corner of the room.

A thin white-haired woman in silk dress was sitting in the middle of the room. Holding a piece of red cloth, the needle in her hand kept threading in and out of the cloth. She was humming a song to herself while ignoring  the visitors.

“Who is this?” Shen Zi’s sharp voice rang out, she dared not believe what she saw.

Shen Rong answered from the doorway, “Mother has calmed down a lot. Mother Consort invited imperial doctors for Mother. Imperial doctors’ skill is excellent.”

Shen Zi turned to Shen Rong in fury, shock and horror reflected in her eyes. But Shen Rong just smiled, “Better not to disturb Mother.”

“What do you mean?” Shen Zi asked.

Shen Rong didn’t answer it, “Second Sister, do you want to see Fourth Sister?”

Shen Zi bit her lower lips and looked at Xu-cefei once again. She still couldn’t believe this mad old woman used to be their beautiful and charming mother. In panic, she retreated, turned, and ran away from the courtyard without looking back.

Shen Rong had anticipated this reaction, she turned her body sideway to let Shen Zi squeeze through the door. From her position at the doorway, Shen Rong stared at her mother for a long time, then she left after handed some pouches to the pozi’s. There was no surprise at not finding Shen Zi outside, she walked back to the main courtyard to keep Rui-wangfei company.

The dinner was moved earlier because Zheng Jiaqu and Shen Zi had to return to their residence. Shen Jin weren’t coming, and Shen Qi also sent a maid to inform Rui-wangfei that she wouldn’t be there. When Rui-wang asked, Rui-wangfei said, “Both of them are pregnant so they shouldn’t smell alcohol. They held back at lunch, but they better not be here for dinner.”

Rui-wang frowned, “About to become mothers already, why are they still unable to see what’s important and what’s not.”

Rui-wangfei glanced at him, gently said, “They knew Wangye was happy so they didn’t want to spoil your mood, isn’t it?”

Hearing this, Rui-wang once again felt Shen Qi and Shen Jin were caring and attentive daughters, “No wonder, I saw they didn’t eat much at lunch. Tell the housekeeper that next time their meals should be  from their own small kitchens.”

Yongle Shizi on his side felt his eyes twitched, he was sitting next to his wife at lunch, he had seen how much they ate.

Shen Zi was full of thoughts and was unable to really noticed her surrounding. When she finally realised Shen Qi and Shen Jin’s absence, she was going to ask but then she saw Rui-wangfei’s eyes. She looked down and absent-mindedly started to eat. She failed to see her husband was in a strange mood, and that her brother Shen Hao was trying his best to avoid anyone’s eyes.

Zheng Jiaqu and Shen Zi left after the meal. Rui-wang was in a good mood, he brought his three sons and one son-in-law who was still remainig there into the study to continue chatting.

Shen Rong excused herself, “Mother Consort, I am going back first.”

Rui-wangfei calmly looked at Shen Rong, and as Shen Rong started to break out in cold sweat. Rui-wangfei said, “En.”

Shen Rong left in a hurry, Rui-wangfei frowned, “Cuixi, go check.”

“Yes.” Cuixi responded respectfully.

In Moyun Courtyard, Shen Jin was soaking her feet, her white and tender feet moved in the water. She yawned as she was listening to Chen-cefei and Zhao-momo talking on the side. “What is there to discuss about nappies, you can’t embroider every piece, right?”

Once this got out, Chen-cefei instantly glared at her, “Children skin is tender, how if it scratches?”

Shen Jin pulled her feet out as the water was becoming cold, Anping who was squatting on her side wiped her feet. Shen Jin climbed up the bed, still saying, “But what is there to discuss about?”

This time not only Chen-cefei, but Zhao-momo also raised her eyes, “Both are pigeons, why does Furen like honey roasted pigeon but not steamed squab?”

Shen Jin paused, suddenly she felt Zhao-momo had a point. After thinking she said, “Then you two continue discussing, I’ll go to sleep.”

“Heartless little one.” Chen-cefei laughingly scolded. She stood up and walked to the bed to tuck Shen Jin in, “Go to sleep now.”

Shen Jin pursed her lips and blinked her eyes.

Chen-cefei was so amused that she laughed out loud, turning to Anping who was on night shift that day, “Just call if needed.”

Chen-cefei and Zhao-momo left after the latter checked that the windows were all shut. Anping closed the door after them, “Furen, should I put down the lights?”

“En.” Shen Jin who was lying on the bed suddenly asked, “Anping, what do you think Fujun is doing?”

Anping put out the lights, the room got darker and darker, “Nubi don’t know.”

“Furen rest early, the General’s letter must soon be coming.”

“En.” Shen Jin closed her eyes.

Chu Xiuming didn’t know that in addition to Shen Jin, there were two other people in Zheng residence who were thinking about him at that moment. One was cursing non-stop while the other one was immersed in melancholy.