Yuanyuan Is Easy to Please
"Jinping, Yu Ming, push me higher."
Jiang Xuesui stood on the swing, gripping the ropes wrapped in red silk on both sides. The spring breeze caressed her face, carrying the scent of flowers. Sunlight, like scattered gold, filtered through the gaps in the leaves and danced across Jiang Xuesui's stunning face. The pear tree branches holding the swing were laden with blossoms, a cluster of white that rivaled frost and snow, an ethereal, pure white untouched by dust. Jiang Xuesui wore a crimson spring gown and a rouge-colored pleated silk skirt. From afar, she looked like a dot of cinnabar red amidst the snowy waves of pear blossoms.
Wu Yaozu, wandering aimlessly, happened upon this scene. Seeing Jiang Xuesui's lively and radiant figure on the swing, his eyes went wide. He wished he could embed that dot of cinnabar red into his own eyeballs.
"You two are weak. Let me push this lovely lady on the swing," Wu Yaozu said, pushing aside Jinping and Yu Ming, even taking the chance to grope the two pretty maids.
Seeing Wu Yaozu's lecherous appearance, hunched shoulders and stooped back, his frivolous behavior, and how he pushed the swing faster and faster, Jinping and Yu Ming quickly tried to stop him. Jiang Xuesui couldn't wait for the swing to stop completely; as soon as it slowed, she seized the opportunity to jump off. Wu Yaozu tried to approach and introduce himself. Jinping and Yu Ming quickly shielded their young lady behind them.
"Stay right there. Why are you pressing so close to our young lady?" Jinping snapped.
"I think this sister smells really good. I want to smell what incense she uses, so I can get the same for my sister at home," Wu Yaozu said, licking his lips. Seeing the snowy white nape of Jiang Xuesui's neck, he felt his mouth go dry. He then walked around Jinping and Yu Ming, reaching for Jiang Xuesui's hand.
How could Jiang Xuesui let him succeed? She slapped him across the face with the back of her hand. That alone was too dirty for her hand. Wu Yaozu, seeing the beauty's anger, found it uniquely charming, and the faint fragrance wafting from her sleeve made his heart itch and his body tingle.
"Baby, hurt me more. Hit me a few times. When you're done venting your anger, call me 'brother' a few times, and I'll be even kinder to you."
Jiang Xuesui had never encountered such shamelessness nor heard such wanton words. Realizing this place was secluded and difficult to deal with this lustful beast, she prepared to leave with Jinping and Yu Ming. In the old days when the Wu family was wealthy, Wu Yaozu had learned all the vices: whoring, gambling, and debauchery. He had even molested every attractive maid in the house. With the family now in decline, he hadn't visited brothels in a long time. Seeing a stunning beauty like Jiang Xuesui, he couldn't bear to let her go. He thought that even if Jiang Xuesui were merely a concubine-born daughter of this mansion, if he succeeded in his assault, he could give her a concubine's status, and the dowry from the duke's mansion for a concubine-born daughter would still be considerable.
Evil surged in his heart. He lunged at Jiang Xuesui like a vicious wolf or a fierce tiger. Jiang Xuesui dodged in time but sprained her ankle. Wu Yaozu fell flat on his face, hitting the ground hard and knocking out one of his front teeth.
"I wanted to get close to you as a favor. Since you're so ungrateful, don't blame me for being rude," Wu Yaozu said, getting up. Relying on his brute strength, he shoved aside Jinping and Yu Ming, who were supporting Jiang Xuesui, and made as if to grab her by the hair and hit her.
Just as his hand was raised, a whip coiled around his wrist. Wen Qiao, holding the long whip, yanked hard, dislocating Wu Yaozu's arm. Seeing Wen Qiao, Jiang Xuesui breathed a sigh of relief and called him "Brother."
Wu Yaozu recognized Wen Qiao; knowing his mother was a pushover, he didn't fear him. "Is this how your mansion treats guests? I'll go tell your old lady!"
Crack—Crack—Crack—
Three lashes from Wen Qiao split Wu Yaozu's skin, blood spattering. Wu Yaozu immediately knelt and begged for mercy. Wen Qiao's attendants quickly escorted Wu Yaozu back to Fuxi Pavilion.
Wen Qiao approached and asked Jiang Xuesui where she was hurt. "I sprained my ankle. Luckily, that filthy good-for-nothing didn't touch me. Otherwise, I'd scrub my skin off and still not feel clean." Jinping and Yu Ming quickly came to support Jiang Xuesui as she walked slowly. Wen Qiao also slowed his pace, walking almost shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Brother."
"Hmm?"
"Didn't you go to Prince Duan's mansion to listen to opera today? Why are you back so early?"
"My mother sent someone to tell me that our grandaunt and cousins had arrived. That fellow just now was my grandaunt's grandson, named Wu Yaozu."
"If he wants to be called Yaozu [Ancestor Glorifier], he shouldn't be named Wu ['None' homophone]. Since his surname is Wu, he shouldn't be called Yaozu," Jiang Xuesui joked.
"You almost got bullied, and now you can make witty remarks. Guess you weren't too scared," Wen Qiao said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Seeing her limping, he realized her sprained ankle must hurt a lot, and his brows unconsciously furrowed.
"How did you come back through the northeast gate today?" Jiang Xuesui asked.
He knew that on fine spring days, Jiang Xuesui would be playing on the swing under the pear trees around this time. He had secretly watched her—the girl on the swing growing taller and bolder, the swing swinging higher and higher. He only dared to watch from hiding. The girl on the swing was strong-willed in front of him; when she saw him, she would order him to push the swing, demanding he push it high. She wasn't afraid of standing on the highest swing. But he was afraid—afraid she might fall, and how would he answer to his uncle?
"I cast a divination today. Coming through the northeast gate, I would pick up a rabbit with a sprained foot," Wen Qiao said.
"Brother—"
Jiang Xuesui pouted and reached out to pinch Wen Qiao's cheek. He usually dodged, but today he didn't, afraid that if she got worked up chasing him, she'd forget her injured foot. After succeeding, Jiang Xuesui was satisfied.
"Now that I've sprained my foot, walking is inconvenient. I can't write large characters or spend much mental energy reading."
"Yuanyuan, proficiency in learning comes from diligence, and waste from play; success in conduct comes from thought, and ruin from carelessness. You haven't broken your hand or damaged your brain; you must still persist in reading and writing," Wen Qiao admonished.
"I understand, Mr. Wen's teachings will be engraved in the student's heart."
Jiang Xuesui pouted. Might as well exhaust me to death. Why did those eccentric scholars write so many books? And those 'Sage of Calligraphy' and 'Cursive Sage'—why did they write so beautifully? Isn't it enough if the characters are legible? It's such a hardship for a little woman like me—learning household management and accounting from Second Maternal Aunt, needlework and embroidery from Hailan, plus painting, playing pipa, cooking delicious food, and more. In a day's twelve hours, after deducting time for eating, sleeping, and washing, the time left for me to play freely is pitifully little.
Wen Qiao noticed she looked as wilted as an eggplant hit by frost. Remembering what He Lanlin had said earlier, "Cousin, Yuanyuan is not like us. We only need to master the Six Arts of a gentleman. She also has to learn all the things a girl should learn. Forcing her to become a talented lady may not be what she wants. She likes painting, playing pipa in her spare time, and researching food—those are what she truly wants."
Starting today, I won't check your homework. But you must read at least ten books a year and practice calligraphy at least ten days a month. Can you do that?" Wen Qiao's heart softened in the end.
"Yes, yes!" Jiang Xuesui nodded like a chicken pecking rice. "Brother, you're a great person. I'll give you two jars of pear blossom brew I just made."
Seeing her beam with joy, Wen Qiao's lips curled slightly. Yuanyuan is easy to please.
Light and shadows shifted. This spring, she was especially bright and dazzling, warming the young man's heart.
This happened before Hailan went to the Penglai Study to report.
*
Duke Xiangguo, Second Master Wen, and Third Master Wen returned from their respective offices to Duke Xiangguo's Mansion, only to hear that Old Madam Wen had fallen ill from anger. Without even changing clothes, they went straight to the main room of the Penglai Study. Lady Sang was serving medicine to Old Madam Wen, who was resting in bed. Lady Zhu held a sugar jar. Lady Yu held a warm, damp silk handkerchief. After Old Madam Wen finished her medicine, Lady Zhu picked a candied date for her to suck on, and Lady Yu handed her the handkerchief to wipe her face.
"Has Yuanyuan seen the doctor?"
After wiping her face, Old Madam Wen returned the handkerchief to Lady Yu.
Lady Zhu replied, "Yes, the doctor prescribed herbal compresses for heat application. He said after a month of compresses, Yuanyuan's sprained foot will be fully recovered. Thanks to A Qiao coming home just in time. I shudder to think what could have happened. Even losing a single strand of hair would make it hard for our family to explain to the master."
"I wonder if they're relatives or enemies."
This remark was deliberately said for Lady Sang's ears. Lady Sang felt both scared and aggrieved, lowering her head deeply.
"My aunt is too indulgent with her grandson. But A Qiao was also in the wrong—lashing out with those whips. If he broke the Wu boy's bones, how would we handle it when the Wu family comes to make a scene?"
Lady Zhu and Lady Yu exchanged glances and shook their heads. This eldest sister-in-law really knew how to bring up the wrong topics—only things the old lady didn't want to hear.
Old Madam Wen clicked her tongue in annoyance, looking at Lady Sang's dejected expression, growing even more displeased. If not for her grandchildren borne by Lady Sang, she would have given her a thorough scolding.
"The Wu family dares to cause a scene? If anything happened to Yuanyuan today, I would make that Wu Yaozu pay with his life," Duke Xiangguo said. He was deeply attached to his deceased sister and treasured Jiang Xuesui, his niece, more than all his own children.
"A Qiao's lashes were too few. That little Wu brute made Yuanyuan sprain her foot. I think we should find some local thugs to teach that bastard a lesson. Whatever foot Yuanyuan sprained, break that foot," Second Master Wen fumed.
"Elder Sister-in-law, please stop associating with that aunt of yours. What kind of people are the Wu family? They come once and cause so much annoyance," Third Master Wen, who was never gloomy, felt gloomy after hearing the day's events.
Lady Sang quickly apologized on behalf of the Wu family, then said, "Mother, before my sister passed, she said if there's to be a marriage, it should be with my Qiao boy. What do you think of that Wu girl as a match for A Qiao?"
Old Madam Wen, though normally composed, wanted to roll her eyes at Lady Sang.
Before leaving, Imperial Consort Dowager Sang had said to the troubled Lady Sang, "Anyway, my Xiao Lin is set on Yuanyuan. If there's to be a marriage, let your Qiao boy marry."
This was clearly a taunt and a reverse statement, intended to wake up her foolish younger sister and stop treating the ambitious Wu family as relatives. How could her eldest daughter-in-law not understand human speech? Those ears were truly wasted."