CH 4

Chapter Four:

The Fate of the Parents and the Final Reasoning

When Yu Cai Ling fell asleep, she dreamed of the boy from next door who was handsome and tall as the tree in her grandmother’s back yard. She stood beside him and looked up in admiration.

She had been obsessed with him since she was a child. Why was it that the combination uneducated men and educated women from rural communities allowed couples to have a loving relationship? Their ostentatious style was to follow the wife to read more books, donate a public library or set up a scholarship for elementary schools, rather than going to the prosperous customs industry like her father.

When she was young, Yu Cai Ling often looked up at the wall while lying on her stomach to look at this happy family of three. She was envious and jealous. When she got older, she started to become obsessed with the son’s behavior, only for him to take his girlfriend home and smile at her saying, “This is my sister from the family next door.”  The only thing more tragic than being put in the friend-zone was being put in the family-zone.

In other words, in the drama club of the department back then, President Xian Yu secretly poked fun at her. If she hadn’t always thought about him as a child, Yu Cai Ling wouldn’t have died without experiencing a good love life. It really was a big loss.

After indulging in the past for an unknown amount of time, Yu Cai Ling, who was semi-conscious, felt weak all over and unable to move. She felt someone help her sit up and fed her a mouthful of cool and spicy soup. After a few mouthfuls, Yu Cai Ling felt her head clear a bit and she tried to open her eyes. It was like trying to forcibly open a closed box and she was sure the creaking of hinges could be heard.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

Yu Cai Ling recognized the voice as the joyful and relieved voice of the ‘good aunt’ Madam Ge.

“The attendants in the palace are really good, the medicine is working after just a few doses. Congratulations Mother, Brother, and Sister …”

Before Madam Ge could continue, an elderly woman with a weird voice said, “Don’t get so worked up. Others will think we did something to their daughter. After ten years, we’ve endured all sorts of hardships to raise her and there’s a lot of hard work without merit. There is nothing wrong with the little doll, but after burning with fever for a few days she is a mess. If you are so worried, you should raise her yourself.”

Yu Cai Ling opened her eyes and saw a dozen maids sitting on their knees in the room. She followed the voice and saw a plump and tall old woman surrounded by a group of her own maids sitting on a brightly painted sandalwood bed. She was wearing a dark purple straight necked robe, with many gold thread patterns faintly embroidered on top. Her waist was wide and loose, tied with a jade belt four or five fingers wide, and there was only a round bun on the back of her head and a long hairpin. Upon closer inspection, the hairpin was all gold, as thick as a firewood stick. She had a large red gold pendant strung around her earlobe, nearly drooping her ear. Under the candlelight, it looked particularly shiny.

Yu Cai Ling felt angry looking at her and thought to herself, ‘Did you open a gold shop? Why don’t you insert two gold chopsticks into your nostrils to fill the elephant’s gold teeth?’*

[Golden elephants can represent good luck and prosperity. Yu Cai Ling is making fun/pointing out how outrageous it is how much gold this old woman is wearing.]

The old woman’s face was pulled long, her eyes disdainful, as if she was constantly dissatisfied. Sitting next to her were Madam Ge and a handful of servants, either holding lacquer trays or hand warmers, with a grand appearance. Only one of Madam Ge’s hands were empty, and she was anxiously looking to the side of Yu Cai Ling.

Yu Cai Ling realized that a middle-aged man and woman were sitting next to her bed. The man was tall and burly and she unable to see his face clearly due to his large beard. He wore a red velvet robe inside and a dark purple robe outside, his right arm bare. A pair of dark gold and heavy iron wristbands were on both of his wrists. This was the outfit of a military general.

The man had already removed his armor, but he exuded a powerful aura of fighting in a sea of blood. He was looking closely at Yu Cai Ling and his eyes showed concern. The woman kept her head bowed and didn’t say anything and was crying. Yu Cai Ling couldn’t see what she looked like but felt that she was graceful and tall, with a pleasing figure.

Hearing the old woman’s words, the woman who had been kneeling and supporting the weeping woman suddenly straightened up. She was dressed in a dark blue dress, with delicate features, and although she was middle-aged, her voice was very clear. “What Old Madam said was really a joke, as if the Fourth Young Lady was kept at home because Master didn’t want to take care of her. I dare not presume, but I also know that the Fourth Young Lady was left to show filial piety to Old Madam. If it weren’t for the shaman’s divination, would Madam be willing to leave behind her three-year-old child?”

Yu Cai Ling immediately understood who these people were and, as she quickly looked around, she realized that this was no longer the house where her ‘good aunt’ had placed her. The room was a bit small and the decorations were also very simple. It had a shiny wooden floor, but it was covered with thick fur carpets. The stove warmed the inside, and everyone wore thick socks.

Several short square scales were placed on the ground, some resembling the footed chessboard in The Soul of Chess,* with plush leather cushions on top. Some people knelt and sat on them, which was about the purpose of a stool, but more people knelt directly on the shiny floor.

[The Soul of Chess is a film about Go, which is like a Chinese version of chess.]

“A’Qing, don’t talk nonsense.” The weeping Madam Xiao raised her head and said to Old Madam Cheng, “Forgive me Mother. A’Qing has such a temper, she feels sorry for the Fourth Young Lady.”

However, Old Madam Cheng refused to give up and said angrily, “Lowly maid, don’t you dare make a mistake! Someone, the palm stick…”

Before the words were finished, the general coldly interrupted, “What’s wrong with what A’Qing said? I left Niao Niao to fulfill filial piety, but now it’s being said that we as parents refused to raise her and, instead, I’m being seen as unfilial and am bothering Mother. Filial piety for Mother should be done, but it’s time to be straightforward.”

“Shi’er, you…!” Old Madam Cheng couldn’t bear to hear the words ‘we as parents.’ She was both surprised and angry, and thought to herself that although her eldest son had always listened to his wife more than his mother, there were hardly any face-to-face retorts like this.

Yu Cai Ling was dizzy but managed to pay attention to one key point, her name was Niao Niao. Obviously, it was a girl’s name, but Niao Niao? Could it be that there is something missing to make up for?

[Here her father calls her 嫋嫋 but she refers to herself as 鸟鸟. 嫋嫋 means delicate/graceful and 鸟鸟means bird. It’s can also be used as ‘to pay attention,’ or ‘damn/goddamn.’ I’m not 100% sure but I’m thinking the author is doing some fun word play that I’m just not getting. If anyone knows, please feel free to let me know!]

A’Qing turned her head and saw Yu Cai Ling’s glazed expression. She said softly, “The Fourth Young Lady is in better spirits. You haven’t seen your father and mother in many years. Anyway, let’s give a bow first.” As she spoke, she gestured to the two maids next to Yu Cai Ling.

Yu Cai Ling had seen Fu Deng greet Zhu and Fu Yi, but she didn’t know if there was anything unusual here, so she weakly raised her arms and made a crooked gesture. The two maids were very clever and immediately approached Yu Cai Ling, lightly supporting her arms and half kneeling on the bed. They pressed her right hand against her left hand, and covered her arm with her sleeve, raised her hands to her forehead and bowed down on the bed. A maid whispered in Yu Cai Ling’s ear, “The young lady asks how my parents are doing.” Yu Cai Ling followed her words and then was lifted up, raised her hand to her eyebrows and finally put down her arm, which concluded the ceremony.

Madam Xiao was looking at her daughter with a somewhat complicated expression and only said, “Good.”

Only then did Yu Cai Ling see Madam Xiao’s face clearly and couldn’t help but exclaim in her heart. After being in this era for a while, she hadn’t seen a lot of beautiful women. They either had buck teeth or protruding eyes, hunky waists or thin as bamboo poles. This woman was more beautiful than those vixens her father had kept around. Yu Cai Ling was suddenly very excited to see what she looked like.

Probably because she got up a little too quickly, Yu Cai Ling became dizzy again and leaned against the maid’s shoulder, half-conscious.

Cheng Shi saw that his daughter was thin and small, and her voice was childish and pitiful just now. There were still tears left on her face from when she slept. She leaned against the maid and looked even smaller and as thin as a paper doll. Her face was only half the size of his own palm. His own daughter’s pitiful appearance made him feel heartbroken, so he exclaimed, “I am guarding and killing enemies outside. In such difficult times, even my wife can take care of the troops and raise our children. The first three sons and the youngest born after are all in good condition. Only Niao Niao can be raised like this in this happy house of the capital! Can’t we ask a question?”

With these words, Madam Ge, as the actual person in charge of raising the children, turned pale. Cheng Shi clearly blamed her.

Truth was, Cheng Shi had wronged her. Except for this emergency illness that was indeed caused by her own neglect, the rest of the days were provided with good food. Old Madam Wan from next door would occasionally visit with an expression of ‘pity for the child without parents; if you can’t raise her well, why not send her back to General Cheng?’ Old Madam Cheng was old and lazy and, as long as someone was next to the Fourth Young Lady, she didn’t care if one wanted to vent anger as long as there were no overly insidious methods used.

The girl was born with a petite and lonely appearance, no matter how much chicken, duck, or fish she ate, and she had a small face. At five years old, she looked three. At ten years old, she looked seven, and at thirteen years old, she still looked like she was starving and didn’t have enough food. Others would think that her aunt was mean when they saw her, but in the past ten years, apart from deliberately pampering and scolding her from time to time, she couldn’t do anything about it.

Old Madam Cheng suddenly became angry with her son taking advantage of her. She pounded on her chest and cried loudly, “As expected, I am old and despised! You haven’t come back for many years and when you do, you only remember your little one. You don’t even ask if your own mother is good or bad. I am also very sick these days…” As she spoke, she quickly coughed a few times to show her authenticity, then continued to cry. “What did you say when your father passed away? If you want to be filial to me, it’s good to not be angry with me now!”

Crying and pounding on her seat was not enough. She straightened up, her eyes red, and howled like a wild boar. “If you find me inferior, why don’t I die and give Fourth Young Lady my life!”

Old Madam Cheng, who was originally a rural peasant woman, had a tall physique and made the house shake when she erupted. Li Zhui saw the opportunity and hurriedly pushed Madam Ge. She quickly approached and said, “Don’t be sad. Brother is a high ranking official. Isn’t the emperor the most filial person today? So how can Brother be unfilial?”

Cheng Shi couldn’t get angry with his mother, so he turned to Madam Ge and said, “A few years ago, Mother’s health improved. I once sent someone to pick up Niao Niao. At that time, what did Sister say in the letter? You said that Niao Niao was excellent at home and everything was fine, but you were afraid that going outside would be inappropriate!”

Yu Cai Ling felt great joy in her heart. This old man Cheng had no gentlemanly demeanor at all, and was not bothered to call out women.

Madam Ge was frightened by this loud scolding and hurriedly shrank aside. Upon seeing this, Old Madam Cheng said sharply, “You don’t have to turn around and scold me, I won’t let the Fourth Young Lady leave! The shaman said, although I was fine at the time, who knows if it will change as soon as the Fourth Young Lady leaves.” Madam Ge’s words also reminded her of something, and hurriedly said, “The filial officials outside, they are all those who cut blood and flesh for the sake of their parents’ illness. A girl is sick, so you are anxious to get angry!”

Looking down at Madam Xiao, who was kneeling respectfully, Old Madam Cheng sneered. “Or, take her and leave Shaogong to me. They are twins of the dragon and phoenix after all. Leaving either one is the same. If not… you are my son and I cannot bear to part with you. But your wife is such a good bride, I must sue her for unfilial behavior!”

“What does this have to do with her?” Cheng Shi asked. “Mother, why do you always look to blame her?”

Madam Xiao kept her head lowered, but Yu Cai Ling’s eyes were sharp. Looking at it from this angle, she saw a sarcastic smile pulling at the corner of her lips. When she raised her head again, she looked sad and respectful.

She bowed long and low to Old Madam Cheng and said in a mournful voice, “Don’t be angry, Mother. Don’t you know what type of temperament your son has? These years outside, he has been frustrated that he can’t personally serve you on his knees. What he thinks in his heart is not something he can say out of his mouth.”

Old Madam Cheng looked at her and sarcastically said, “I don’t have your skills. Just now, didn’t Shi’er say you were so capable that you can take care of both troops and children, yet I can’t even take care of a small child? In the early years, Shi’er discussed everything to do with the Cheng family with me, but since you entered the family, no matter how big or small, inside or out, whenever you open your mouth Shi’er is ‘yes, yes, yes, right, right right.’ Does Shi’er still take his mother seriously?”

After hearing these sour complaints, Yu Cai Ling dared not move her neck, but shook her head in her heart. This old lady consciously wanted to postpone her retirement, thinking herself young. But, as a son and daughter-in-law, you do not let the other person continue to shine and heat up. You deserve to be punished.

Cheng Shi had a headache and said, “The sage said, there are disciples who work hard. The bride also took care of family affairs for the sake of filial piety to her mother, so that her mother could enjoy the blessings of …”

That was not the thing to say. As soon as Old Madam Cheng heard this, she became even angrier. “Sage my ass! Those noble ladies outside only praise you for being virtuous, but they don’t look up to me as an old lady. I can’t make friends with ordinary people. General Wan’s mother lives next door but she hasn’t been able to say three words to me over the years. Whenever we meet, it’s not enough to praise your new wife, but to ask the Fourth Young Lady how she is doing, as if her aunt and I are about to eat her! This time, you’ve had a lot to do outside and haven’t said how many you’ve captured or how many rewards you gained. If you don’t tell me, no one will, and I am just a blind woman!”

After such a long rant, Yu Cai Ling only agreed with the first sentence, and didn’t know what the last part meant.

Madam Xiao repeatedly prostrated herself and apologized, “It’s my fault I offended Mother. It’s getting late, you should hurry back and rest.”

Old Madam Cheng ignored her daughter-in-law and only looked at her son with a sneer, saying, “I’ll rest when I’m dead, and you’ll be all right. I don’t care. This time you come back, you’ll have to give your uncle a few hundred stone rank, he’s been working hard for many years. Also, find another 20,000 yuan to give to your aunt. The Dong family is going to marry a new wife.”

Cheng Shi couldn’t bear it anymore and said, “I already know that it’s not marrying a new wife, it’s taking a concubine and maidservants! My cousin is a few years younger than me; how many are there? They have no children yet still need a lot of money…”

Old Madam Cheng looked at Madam Xiao, who was still kneeling on the floor, and up to her son, saying in a weird manner, “Over the years, you haven’t blinked at how much money you spent for Xiao Feng to study and marry a bride. Your bride’s brother is a brother and your mother’s brother is an outsider! What’s more, finding more maidservants and concubines to help serve the husband, uncle, and aunt are virtuous brides of An’er, unlike others… Hmph! If you are really filial, you should also take a few more to serve me.”

Cheng Shi felt that his mother was being unreasonable and said angrily, “It is right to study and marry a woman, but to accept a concubine…”

Madam Xiao suddenly turned around and gently interrupted. “Husband, don’t say anything. Just do as Mother says.” She turned her back to Old Madam Cheng, Madam Ge, and the group of maidservants, and her eyes flickered slightly towards her husband, as if it were a signal.

Cheng Shi closed his eyes and helplessly arched his hand, saying, “What she means is that it is getting late, it’s time for Mother to settle down.”

Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law had conceded, Old Madam Cheng stood up and left contentedly, followed by seven or eight maidservants, shaking their heads and tails and resembling the Prime Minister of the East China Sea Dragon Palace. Madam Ge quickly followed, feeling secretly happy that she passed the trial of Fourth Young Lady’s illness. It looked like Madam Xiao was still afraid of her mother-in-law and dare not ask any questions. She was panicked for a few days and didn’t spare any excuses. Before going out, she looked at her confidant Li Zhui proudly, as if to say, ‘Look, it’s okay.’

Li Zhui had wanted to make a joke out of it and hurriedly stepped forward to help Madam Ge, but was surprised. Ten years ago, this kind of mother-in-law, daughter-in-law warfare occurred frequently, and most of the time it ended with Madam Xiao bowing to make amends. When the trouble was severe, Cheng Shi and his own wife would exchange insults and the confrontation quickly ended.

Today, although Madam Xiao repeatedly apologized, her attitude wasn’t very anxious, and she even had a hint of superficial intent; and Cheng Shi was even more strange. In the past, it was necessary to make a lot of noise out of such a situation. Today it would have been easy to end the disagreement, and he didn’t think to hurry to help Madam Xiao up off the floor. Thinking about it, Li Zhui dared not say anything. She knew that Old Madam Cheng didn’t like her own Madam, but she disliked Madam Xiao even more, and Madam Ge was the bridge to deal with her.

Watching Old Madam Cheng and Madam Ge leave the room like flowing water, the smile on Madam Xiao’s face disappeared. She turned around and quietly looked at Cheng Shi. Don’t say a word. Cheng Shi sighed and sat down on the bed where his mother had just sat. He turned his head to look at his daughter, who was leaning against the maid and had fallen asleep. He sighed again.

A’Qing stood up and asked the two maids holding Yu Cai Ling up to lay her down. She carefully touched her forehead and put down the heavy brocade hanging curtains from the bed railing. Then, in silence, she gestured to the other maids to exit and close the door.

In such an isolated space, Yu Cai Ling lay on her side facing inward, trying to regulate her breathing and continue pretending to be asleep. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes, her palms were sweating, unsure of what the couple would say privately – she was now extremely curious about the parents of this body.

Madam Xiao had a cautious nature. If it weren’t for Madam Ge’s unpreparedness, she would only vacate a few rooms for Cheng Shi and others in a hurry. Madam Xiao refused to put her daughter back in Madam Ge’s place. She would never have stayed in her daughter’s room to speak.

Not long after, A’Qing came in through a door and brought in a woman. The woman greeted and called, and Yu Cai Ling immediately recognized the person was A’Zhu!

“A’Zhu, get up,” Madam Xiao personally went to help her up. “These years it’s been hard for you, and you can only reunite with A’Yi sporadically.”

A’Zhu looked at Madam Xiao with tears in her eyes and sobbed, “Madam has not changed at all but you are more powerful than before.”

Cheng Shi smiled for the first time since entering the room, touched his beard, and turned to his wife, saying, “A’Zhu is still the same. If she doesn’t speak, she will. Whenever she speaks, she always tells the truth.”

As soon as he said this, everyone from Yu Cai Ling pretending to be asleep to Madam Xiao, who was calm, twitched the corners of their mouths. A’Qing covered her sleeves and chuckled lightly.

After a few pleasantries, Madam Xiao sat with a straight face and said, “Tell me about it.”

A’Zhu solemnly raised her hand and said, “Back then I stayed in our estate just as Madam instructed. There was no movement for several years. I only vaguely heard of Young Mistress’s reputation for stubbornness. A month ago, I heard that Young Mistress had an argument with someone at the plum blossom banquet and she didn’t know the truth or falsehood, so she was punished by the Ge family and went to the garden. It was Li Zhui’s cousin who was ordered to take care of the young lady. On such a day when the water dripped into ice, the Young Mistress was left alone in the cold brick house that had been abandoned for a long time. There was no hot soup and no hot rice. Young Mistress fell ill within a few days. By the time I rushed to bribe Li Zhui to serve, Young Mistress was already burning with fever for many days…”

Cheng Shi was furious and slapped the palm of his hand on the bed railing. He heard the carved railing crack in response and said, “That woman is really despicable. It’s time to ask Second Brother to divorce her!”

A’Zhu quickly bowed, “It was my fault.”

Madam Xiao waved her hand and said, “It’s not about you. It’s not you who was on standby at the house. It’s great that you made it in time.”

“A’Yu…” A’Zhu opened her mouth, and Madam Xiao simply said, “Don’t say it, I have a number.”

Yu Cai Ling was speechless. Listening to Madam Xiao’s decisive and capable tone at this time, she couldn’t believe that it was the same woman who bowed her head and apologized softly just now. She really was pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger.

A’Qing looked at the faces of her Master and Madam, her eyes turned and she joked to A’Zhu, “That’s the first time you’ve seen the Young Mistress. I heard the Young Mistress has a bad temper, and she once scolded you.”

A’Zhu sobbed softly and said, “What’s the blame? When I rushed over, Young Mistress was on the verge of death. Poor little one, burning hot all over, lying on such a damp and cold floor. She was feverish and confused, and the medicine couldn’t be swallowed. At the time, this servant was so scared, afraid that the Young Mistress would not make it, and would fail Madam’s trust!”

Cheng Shi looked back at the bed with the curtains hanging low, remembering the fragile and childish appearance of his daughter he had just seen, and regretting the four sons who wanted to stay by their side, each as strong as a calf.

“As for Young Mistress’s temperament, I dare not say much. Only adults and women were invited to check on her after she recovered from her illness.” A’Zhu said angrily. “Whether someone deliberately spread rumors or not, everything is known.”

Fu Yi and his wife followed Cheng Shi for more than a decade, and he was well aware of their temperament. A’Zhu dared to say that his daughter was not like the rumors outside.

A’Qing carefully observed Cheng Shi’s expression and turned her head to smile, saying, “Madam has a plan. She left someone on the estate long ago, otherwise it would have been a bad thing. Who would have thought Madam Zhong was so cruel.”

Cheng Shi’s face darkened again. Madam Xiao glanced at him, but slowly said to A’Qing. “There’s no way. Who told me that I met a fool? I’m not afraid to meet a smart person. You know they can’t do stupid things, but it’s not good to meet a fool.”

At this point, she chuckled contemptuously again, as if chatting slowly, “Do you still remember the step wife married by the Dong Lu family in the village that year? The original wife’s family was not powerless, and the son-in-law was not blind. Who knew that she gave birth to a son, and when the men went out to inspect the thieves, she sold the one son and one daughter from the original family, and said they were lost. It scared everyone, and I was shocked how there could be such a stupid woman. But there are such idiots in the world, who feel that they can be safe and sound after doing evil.”

A’Qing continued, “Later on, when the woman was brought out for questioning, she still yelled that the Bo family had her child and couldn’t kill her biological mother. However, later on, the leader of the Dong Lu family took the initiative and ordered her to commit suicide. Alas, unfortunately, her biological child died young within a few days. Not long after the Dong Lu family welcomed a new bride and she gave birth again. Who still remembers her?”

Madam Xiao said, “It’s a pity that the children who were originally born were the ones who killed the culprit. What if the two families are heartbroken, like a good golden boy and jade girl, they have never been able to find them back, and don’t know how what is like to be spoiled.” The voice turned, “Moreover, our family is not as good as the Dong Lu family. If Niao Niao really dies of illness, can adults still kill her aunt for a younger generation? Besides, there is still Mother above.”

Having said that, Madam Xiao’s gaze was fixed on Cheng Shi’s face, and Cheng Shi looked at his wife without speaking.

A’Qing looked at the head of the household and his wife’s gaze, and said softly, “I’m dull. If you want to be scolded in the house, nothing will happen, but if you go out the door, you can’t guarantee it.” When the Young Mistress arrived at the house, there were no servants to care for and protect her. If she would run into a rogue man and was bullied, she would not know what to do.

Madam Xiao looked at her husband’s gloomy and unhappy expression and sneered, “Fortunately, our family comes from a rural background and has a poor family. Over the years we have built two small estates together. If it is like the Yuan family, the world is expensive, the family property is not complicated, and the manor stretches for two or three counties…”

Cheng Shi closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, “You don’t have to say anything. I understand all of this. A’Qing, go and ask Cheng Shun to wait for me in the front yard.”

A’Qing’s face lit up and hurried away in response. Upon seeing this, A’Zhu also respectfully retired.

Madam Xiao stood up slowly, walked to her husband, stroked Cheng Shi’s thick shoulders with both hands, and said, “Didn’t the letter say that A’Yiqu Cong was also unfilial? These years, Mother has really…”

Cheng Shi covered his wife’s hand on his shoulder with one hand. “I understand. When the family was poor in the past, Mother was not like this. She had surplus food and was willing to help the poor neighbors. Although she had a bad mouth, her heart was real. Over the years, she has become increasingly arrogant, often asking for official money for my uncle’s family, and being instigated to embezzle their land. Not to mention my uncle’s family. I worked hard in front of him, and he only fought against my mother when he collected money from behind.”

At this moment, A’Qing returned and said, “My Lord, Cheng Shun has arrived.”

Cheng Shi stood up and said to his wife, “You have been tired all the way. Take a rest. In a few days, the children will arrive with General Wan and his team. Don’t be tired. “After saying this, he pushed out the door.

Madam Xiao remained silent and turned her gaze to the bed. A’Qing understood and went over to the bed, gently opening the curtain to look inside. The little girl was in a deep sleep, her nose red. She lowered the curtain and turned back to her Madam. “It seems that the fever has not completely subsided but she is sleeping soundly.”

Madam Xiao sat on the bed, supporting her waist, and said, “The illness is like a pulling silk. The doctor has seen it and said to take a few more medications. She will be fine.”

Pretending to be completely asleep, Yu Cai Ling was so excited in her heart. Her mother in this lifetime was much more exciting than the one in her previous life and it seemed that no one was suspicious of this body’s personality change. She deserved an Oscar for her performance!

A’Qing walked over and gently rubbed her Madam’s waist. “Master must have made up his mind.”

“My husband has wanted to do this for a long time now,” Madam Xiao said. “It’s just that Mother was always in the way.”

A’Qing sighed, “Old Master passed away at an early age and it is not easy for the Old Madam to be widowed.”

Madam Xiao smiled. “If Father were alive, Mother would be easy to deal with.”

A’Qing couldn’t help but smile.

Madam Xiao sneered. “The son of the fallen emperor, who loves to sing and compose music, has a broken family. At the time, the empire was chaotic and everyone had no food to eat. Who would still listen to music and sing? If you can’t marry Zhuo Wenjun, who is crazy and rich, you won’t be able to become Sima Xiangru.* Seeing that he is hungry and discouraged, he has to ask for a wealthy peasant woman. When Father was alive, he couldn’t even talk to Mother patiently. When he bought the new house, he hurriedly occupied the big residence and took care of himself. He also said he saw his old wife a few more times a day, and couldn’t eat anymore.”

[* Sima Xiangru and Zhu Wenju were a pair of poets that eloped in 2 century BCE. Sima would go on to be invited to the court of Emperor Wu (r. 141-186 BCE), who commissioned poems and spread his work. It’s a cute ancient love story.]

Remembering Old Master Cheng’s disdain for Old Madam Cheng before his death, A’Qing smiled and said, “Old Master was good to you. He protected you during his lifetime.”

“Of course. The rhythms he wrote are only understandable to me throughout the family. After decades of being a married couple and having children, Mother thought that Father was learning how to draw talismans from shamans. She wanted him to set up a stall for divination and supplement some household expenses.”

A’Qing couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Madam Xiao did not smile and sighed, “Later on, the world became more chaotic. The Cheng family was not wealthy, and it was thanks to the support of Mother, who was able to make a living. Since childhood, he saw his mother working hard and father being indifferent. As the eldest son, how could he not be distressed?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Cai Ling sneered maliciously, and she now understood why Old Madam Cheng’s resentment was so great.

A’Qing sighed. “If only Old Master were still alive, he wouldn’t have let Old Madam bully you. You wouldn’t have had to be separated from Young Mistress for ten years.”

Madam Xiao sighed and was silent for a moment. “If only one of the two could live a long life and enjoy happiness, it should be Mother.”

A’Qing was startled and said, “Madam, you are confused.”

“It’s one thing that she doesn’t like me but, in my heart, I respect her,” Madam Xiao said. “She went up the mountain to pick vegetables, down to the fields to cultivate them, went home to spin, wash, and sweep, and had her husband and children to feed. When the sky was about to fall, she was exhausted and had to stand up straight to withstand it, not her husband who manipulated silk and bamboo. Now, it’s her turn to enjoy the blessings of her children and grandchildren.”

Yu Cai Ling felt a budding respect for Madam Xiao, feeling that although she was skilled in calculation, she still had a clear distinction between right and wrong.

“Besides, Mother is much stronger than my own mother.”

A’Qing didn’t dare to discuss her Madam’s biological mother, so she had to digress and say, “Did you see that the Young Mistress is like her maternal grandmother?”

Madam Xiao’s cold face once again showed a complex expression, “It would be great if she didn’t have a bad temper. It’s useless. It’s better to be like her grandmother.”

Madam Xiao’s cold face went blank. “It would be great if she didn’t have a bad temper. It’s better to be like her grandmother.”*

[She is talking about Old Madam Cheng here.]

“Don’t worry,” A’Qing chuckled hastily. “Regardless of her temperament, she still looks like her mother.”

Thinking of Old Madam Cheng’s meaty and majestic demeanor, Madam Xiao chuckled softly.

Watching Madam Xiao’s face, A’Qing said, “Actually, what do you think Old Madam is working so hard for? Master has been supporting the family since he was ten years old and she hasn’t worked hard for a long time.” Then she worried and said, “You can put your heart into dealing with Old Madam.”

“If she were that type of woman, I don’t know how many times she would have died,” Madam Xiao said confidently.

She looked up at the high beams of the house and said to herself, “There’s no bride in the world who can’t compete with Mother. It’s just the son refuses to help.”

Yu Cai Ling was stunned by this opinion, and suddenly realized that her mother in this lifetime was not only an outstanding actor and fighter, but also a philosopher with materialistic dialectical thinking!

However, why was it that she always encountered such a powerful mother figure? The predecessors were so outstanding, and it’s difficult for the future generation to break through. Maybe she should set a small goal first, for example, reincarnation?

…

So, lots of characters and backstories introduced here! It is a little confusing because the author calls the same character a different name depending on the context. Here’s a handy-dandy little cheat sheet for the characters so far.

Yu Cai Ling / Young Mistress / Fourth Young Lady: Our FML, Cheng Shaoshang. Her name does become CSS eventually.

Madam Xiao / Madam: CSS’s mother.

Master / General Cheng/Shi’er/Cheng Shi/ Eldest Son: CSS’s father.

Old Madam Cheng: The hilarious grandma.

Madam Ge / Second Aunt: The aunt who was in charge of CSS’s upbringing.

Zhu / A’Zhu: The woman who took care of CSS at the beginning. They began calling her A’Zhu this chapter and it sticks.

Also, I’m sorry if some parts were a bit confusing! Some parts were a bit vague and that made it hard to translate into something coherent.