Chapter 39: The Second House

Mother Qiao left Zi Yun Hall, lowering her head and not looking around at the people. In a flustered hurry, she turned out of the courtyard gate, weaving left and right, walking through the small garden, the rock garden, and the winding bridge, before finally entering the long, winding corridor. Only then did she look around and head straight toward the Hui Fang Courtyard, where Bai Jing Yu resided.

In the main room of Hui Fang Courtyard, Bai Jing Yu leaned against a couch, wearing a red soft satin robe embroidered with peony flowers. Despite the lavishness of her attire, her pale, cyan-tinged face could not be concealed. A plush, gem-encrusted rabbit fur band circled half her forehead, twisted into her hair, which only accentuated her frailty. If not for the sharp, killing gaze in her dark eyes, betraying her strength, her appearance would be no different from the frail, sickly Qin Meinang from before.

Several of her maids were standing by, with Xiang Yun attempting to bring her some porridge, only to be shoved away. Bai Jing Yu stretched out her white fingers, pointing at the maid, Xiang Rui, standing far behind. With a sharp voice, she commanded, “Let her come here! I want to see how capable this slut really is! She’s been with me for over ten years, and I never knew she was so good at serving people. Even now, after everything, she can still captivate my husband. Last night, he stayed with her again, and even dismissed Xiang Xue!”

Xiang Lian glared at the suddenly changed Xiang Rui, “Didn’t you hear the mistress? Come here now!”

Tears welled up in Xiang Rui’s eyes as she placed one hand on her swollen belly and staggered forward. Before she could steady herself, Bai Jing Yu grabbed her hand, pulled out a golden hairpin from her head, and started stabbing her aiming at her hand and stomach cursing as she did so:
“Ungrateful bitch! After all I’ve done for you, making you serve my husband, and you dare to secretly skip your medicine? You’re pregnant and didn’t tell me, then ran to Madam to brag! Madam said you’re good at making hairpins, and took you for herself. And I was kept in the dark! You think you’re something? You really think you’re clever? Madam has protected you, but look at you now, back in my hands! Madam went to the Gui Mansion in the morning, and won’t be back before dinner. Shout! Scream! I’ll kill you, you slut, and the bastard in your belly!”

Xiang Rui protected her stomach, and blood quickly appeared on the delicate back of her hand where she was stabbed. The pain caused her to scream out. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried out, “Please spare me, Mistress! I didn’t refuse to take the medicine. I accidentally spilled it. I didn’t think it would happen… I didn’t dare say anything because I was afraid of a miscarriage. Last year, Chun’er died because of this!”

“Afraid of dying?” Bai Jing Yu tossed aside the hairpin and pointed at the frightened Xiang Xue, who was shrinking in the corner:
“Give her a slap! Slap her a few times, then tie her stomach with a cloth. She’s a worthless life, she should have died long ago!”

Xiang Xue hesitated, but Bai Jing Yu’s cold glare made her act quickly: “Why aren’t you moving? What are you waiting for?”

Bai Jing Yu’s nurse, Huang Mama, entered holding a bowl of steaming medicinal soup and was taken aback by the scene: “What is this? Xiang Rui is clearly about to give birth, and if something happens now, Madam and the Second Master will surely…”

Bai Jing Yu glared at Huang Mama: “What are you afraid of? This slut is my dowry maid, not one bought by the Xu family. I don’t need their approval on how to handle her. Be smart, just tell Madam that Xiang Rui was thinking of the people in this courtyard, and she accidentally fell into the goldfish pond. Let her drown!”

Xiang Rui collapsed to the floor, holding her belly and crying in despair.

Huang Mama handed over the soup: “Mistress, drink your medicine first, and then deal with her later.”

Bai Jing Yu turned away, irritated: “Take it away! I don’t want to drink this foul-smelling, bitter medicine anymore.”

Suddenly, Xiang Rui stopped crying, lifted her head, and spoke with hope in her eyes: “Mistress, you should still drink the medicine. If you feel better, Madam won’t have much to say… If you don’t want to drink the bitter medicine, there is another way to restore your health!”

Bai Jing Yu stared at her: “Slut, what do you know?”

Xiang Rui knelt and kowtowed before trembling: “Please, Mistress, have mercy! I am not worthy of even the dust beneath your shoes! I just want to give birth to this child, whatever happens after, I leave it up to you!”

Bai Jing Yu sneered: “You dare bargain with me? Fine, let’s hear it. Is it worth your life?”

Xiang Rui lowered her head, remaining silent. Bai Jing Yu, furious, grabbed a teacup from the table and was about to throw it, but Xiang Lian quickly caught it and urged:
“Mistress, don’t let this little bitch anger you. That cup is the master’s favorite let’s hear what she has to say!”

Bai Jing Yu sighed: “Fine, I’ll spare you today. Later, Huang Mama will take you back to Madam’s courtyard. Speak!”

Xiang Rui kowtowed again and then slowly spoke: “Yesterday, I accidentally overheard some gossip from Madam’s attendants, Zhen Zhu and Yu Dui. They said… Madam has found a good family for the Third Master, a woman from a scholarly family, although their status has fallen in recent years. Madam personally checked her background, and the match was arranged. The Third Master agreed to marry her, but for some reason, before dinner last night, he went to Madam and said: ‘Third Madam has found a good method, and in one or two months, there will be news. I no longer want a concubine!’ Despite Madam trying to persuade him, the Third Master stood firm. Madam was so angry she broke a teacup. Later, she told Zhao Mama that she couldn’t bear to lose such a good girl and didn’t want to say who would marry her. Since the Third Master is so stubborn, Madam thought it would be better to give the girl to the Second Master…”

Bai Jing Yu’s chest rose and fell, her face flushed with anger, but she remained silent. Huang Mama and Xiang Xue quickly began massaging her chest, gently comforting her as they scolded Xiang Rui:
“Vile thing, if you dare to spread such rumors, I’ll cut out your tongue!”

Xiang Rui lowered her head: “I am also a maid in this house. The mama has taught me to listen carefully to anything concerning the Mistress, and I didn’t lie!”

Bai Jing Yu pointed at Xiang Rui: “I keep my word. I’ll send you back to Madam’s courtyard. Don’t forget, you’re my servant. Don’t forget that your worthless life is in my hands. Stay alert, and if you hear any more rumors, let me know immediately! Get up, go!”

Xiang Rui kowtowed again, struggled to rise, supporting herself with one hand on the ground and the other on her belly.

Huang Mama exchanged a look with Xiang Xue, who moved to the door and lifted the curtain. As Xiang Rui lowered her head and prepared to leave, Bai Jing Yu called out to her:
“Tell me, if you don’t need medicine, what way do you have to restore your health?”

Xiang Rui paused and timidly replied: “Mistress, you could ask Third Madame. She really has a good remedy. She’s much better now, and helps Madam handle things in Zi Yun Hall every day!”

Bai Jing Yu nodded, her eyes narrowing as she studied Xiang Rui: “Good girl, you…”

Just then, the maid announced: “Mother Qiao is here to report to the Mistress!”

Bai Jing yu quickly said to Huang Mama: “I’ve been waiting for her, let her in!”

She straightened herself with Xiang Yun’s help and had Xiang Lian adjust a cushion behind her. As Xiang Yun peered at the doorway, she noticed Xiang Rui was no longer there and snorted:
“That little slut got off easy, running away so quickly! Mistress, you’re too soft-hearted, letting her go so easily!”

Bai Jing Yu flicked off a speck of dust from her sleeve and sighed lightly: “I was only scaring her. Would I really strangle her? If I wanted her dead, it wouldn’t happen here and dirty the place. I can’t let Madam and the master blame me. Madam never liked Concubine Yan, and Concubine Yan’s son, Fifth Master, already has a grandson. The master loves his grandson, so he’s always running to Concubine Yan’s courtyard, treating Shen Ge’er as his own eldest grandson. Madam’s illness these past two years is because of this! She’s been praying and fasting, dreaming of the master and the Third Master having a legitimate grandson. But I, my body’s useless, after