Wan Mansion

There were very few people left in the mansion. Li Yun had dismissed the maids and servants, leaving only two young servants. After Wan Fu’s funeral, these two would also be let go.

Wan Mingji knelt in front of the coffin in the main hall, with his mother, Li Yun, beside him.

Li Yun came from a wealthy family and gave birth to Wan Mingji, the legitimate eldest son, and Wan Xiuyue after marrying Wan Laoye. The Wan Mansion also had three concubines, mostly young and beautiful. Upon hearing of the Wan family’s downfall, they begged Li Yun to release them, and now they had all left.

Only one, Concubine Yun, had given birth to Wan Xiubai, an illegitimate son. She was heartless and sold her own son into slavery before leaving, taking the money with her.

Li Yun was almost driven to illness by anger. She spent more money to redeem Wan Xiubai. Selling an illegitimate son into slavery would bring shame to her as the head mistress and tarnish the reputations of Wan Mingji and Wan Xiuyue, so Li Yun had no choice but to bring Wan Xiubai back.

The main hall was silent and solemn. Wan Mingji had been kneeling for two hours when Li Yun lightly coughed, “Get up and have dinner.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Wan Mingji followed Li Yun, with Wan Xiuyue walking alongside him, his eyes still slightly red. Wan Laoye had doted on Wan Mingji and Wan Xiuyue during his lifetime, and Wan Xiuyue had deep feelings for him.

The three sat down to a meal of thin porridge and a dish of pickled cabbage. Wan Mingji, a strong young man, quickly finished the porridge.

“In four days, we’ll finish the funeral arrangements. I’ve already mortgaged the house. Laoye’s hometown is in Linshui Village, where we have twenty acres of land and a tile-roofed house. We’ll live there,” Li Yun said.

“Mingji, it might be inconvenient for you to study at Dongtian Academy, so rent a small courtyard and make plans after the mourning period,” Li Yun said, her eyes tearing up as she thought of her son, gritting her teeth at Wan Laoye.

It was just when Wan Mingji was about to take the provincial exam, delaying him for three years! Li Yun was more upset about this than the huge debts revealed after Wan Laoye’s death, as it had hindered her son’s future!

“Mother, we don’t have much money. I thought about it on the way back. I plan to study at home and save money. I’ve learned a lot while studying abroad, and if I focus, I might pass the scholar exam within three years.”

“We’ll discuss this later. I can’t let your future be delayed,” Li Yun said, having noticed changes in her son through their letters. She attributed it to his experiences studying abroad, feeling somewhat comforted.

Wan Xiuyue, wiping his tears, said, “Mother, why don’t we go to Grandmother’s house?” He didn’t want to go to the countryside and become a country boy. Grandmother doted on them the most.

“After all, the Wan family still has land and a house. Going to Grandmother’s would be a burden,” Li Yun replied.

She didn’t want her sons to experience the bitterness of living under someone else’s roof. At home, her mother wasn’t in charge; she had two brothers living with her mother, along with two sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. The family was large enough, and adding them would complicate things further.

Wan Xiuyue still longed to go to Grandmother’s house to continue enjoying wealth and luxury, but he didn’t dare speak up again. He could only suppress his feelings and cry again.

He was just a young boy, moving from the county town to Linshui Village, from a pampered boy to a country boy. The family was impoverished, and Wan Xiuyue wasn’t prepared, feeling anxious and fearful.

“Don’t be afraid, big brother is here,” Wan Mingji placed a steady hand on Wan Xiuyue’s shoulder.

Wan Xiuyue felt his brother had changed. He nodded, and his fear subsided a bit. With Wan Laoye gone, his brother was the only man left in the family. No matter how foolish his brother had been before, having a man to rely on was still good.

“Tomorrow, sell all the jewelry and clothes, and buy a few coarse linen garments. Save the remaining money for furniture,” Li Yun instructed.

Wan Xiuyue nodded, accepting his fate, “Understood, Mother.”

“I still have fifty taels of silver from my travels. Here’s the silver note,” Wan Mingji handed the note to Li Yun, letting her decide what furniture to buy and what to add, as he wasn’t knowledgeable about these things.

Wan Mingji smiled, “Mother, one bowl of porridge wasn’t enough for me.”

“There’s more in the kitchen,” Li Yun felt relieved that Wan Mingji wasn’t resentful. Her biggest fear was her sons harboring resentment, which would make life even harder. Now that Mingji was sensible, life would gradually improve.

“Madam, something terrible happened! The third young master jumped into the pond!” a young servant shouted in panic.

“What kind of misfortune is this? Did you rescue him?”

“Madam, I didn’t dare to fish the third young master out,” the servant stammered.

There were strict rules about men and boys, and Li Yun was furious. These two brothers were really causing her trouble. Wan Mingji had already left the kitchen when the servant spoke, heading towards the pond where someone was sinking.

“Third young master, don’t do anything rash,” another servant extended a long bamboo pole for Wan Xiubai to grab.

Wan Xiubai thought of how his own mother sold him to a human trafficker, who planned to sell him to a brothel. Tears streamed down his face. Now that his mother didn’t want him and he was sold, he thought it better to die and spare the madam any trouble. He refused to grab the pole, letting himself sink.

“Young master, you’re finally here! Please save the third young master!” the servant shouted, seeing a tall figure in white approaching.

Wan Mingji jumped into the pond, swimming towards Wan Xiubai.

“What a sin, why end your life like this? It’s truly a curse!” Li Yun’s anger hadn’t subsided, and seeing Wan Mingji jump in to save Wan Xiubai made her even angrier.

The Wan family was in chaos.

A doctor came to check Wan Xiubai’s pulse, “The third young master is weak, but luckily he was saved early. The water isn’t as cold as in winter, and a few doses of medicine will do.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Li Yun was afraid something would happen to Wan Xiubai. The Wan family couldn’t afford any more trouble.

*

Xie Qiaoyu returned home and hid in his room, crying his heart out. He sobbed into his pillow, “Damn Wei Bowen, does he think I really care about him? His family looks good on the surface, but they’re also short on money. If it weren’t for Wei Bowen’s decent studies, I wouldn’t have bothered with him. He’s just a scoundrel!”

“Young master, have some soup to warm your stomach,” Yao He brought over chicken soup.

“What soup? I’m already full of anger!” Xie Qiaoyu, seeing someone paying attention to him, grew even angrier, “I even spent my secret savings on him. Look how thick-skinned he is, saying we should go our separate ways. Does he deserve it? Yao He, tell me, is it easy for me to save money? I finally found someone I liked, and it turns out I’m blind.”

With that, Xie Qiaoyu started crying again, pounding his pillow out of shape.

Yao He: “…”

“Young master, Wei Bowen doesn’t know your worth. It’s better to leave him for someone else. It’s good that you see him clearly now,” Yao He thought it was best not to get involved with Wei Bowen.

“Where else can I find a good scholar?” Xie Qiaoyu sniffled, “Wei Bowen not only deceived my feelings but also wasted my time and money. My heart is broken.”

Yao He comforted, “Young master, there are many talented young men in Ningjiang County.”

“Are you talking about Xie Jiuling from the Xie family?” Xie Qiaoyu quickly responded, as if he had already thought about it.

Yao He was pained, no, he hadn’t said that.

“The Xie family is noble, and Xie Gongzi is handsome, but it’s difficult,” Xie Qiaoyu muttered, “But Xie Gongzi is a good match. If he were willing to marry me, I wouldn’t need to look for Wei Bowen.”

Yao He sighed in relief.

“But I have to try,” Xie Qiaoyu smiled sweetly, “We even share the same surname, it’s fate.”

Xie Qiaoyu quickly found his next target. Actually, Xie Jiuling was his first choice, but the Xie family’s status was too high. The prefect’s son studying at Dongtian Academy was out of his reach. Now, he wanted to find a husband who could trample Wei Bowen, and Xie Jiuling was the best choice.

Saying discouraging words would only upset the young master, so Yao He didn’t say anything. He handed the chicken soup to Xie Qiaoyu.

“Young master, Feng Liangfu wants you to visit his courtyard.”

Feng Liangfu was his biological father. Xie Qiaoyu hadn’t drunk much of the chicken soup before getting out of bed to find his father.

*

Feng Su’s courtyard was small, and as soon as he entered, there was a strong smell of medicine. Feng Su, seeing Xie Qiaoyu, barely opened his eyes to speak, “Why are you in low spirits?”

“It’s nothing, Father, just the weather is bad, and I’m feeling down,” Xie Qiaoyu decided not to mention Xie Furen making him kneel or the issue with Wei Bowen. He didn’t want to worry his father, wanting to live a good life with him.

“You, you’re just too delicate,” Feng Su smiled, “Which guye would be able to handle you?” Speaking of marriage, Feng Su had someone bring out his jewelry box. He coughed continuously, his face pale, and Xie Qiaoyu quickly poured him water.

“Father, be careful.”

“My health isn’t what it used to be. These are my dowry and the jewelry given by Laoye. Keep some for yourself, and give the rest to Furen. Make her happy, and she’ll think well of you, and find you a good match.”

“You’ll have to marry eventually. The intrigues in this big house are heavy, and evaluating people takes a lot of effort. Some people look dignified on the surface but can’t achieve anything, and their fu lang and children can’t be protected. If Furen marries you to such a family, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Tears welled up in Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes, “Father, you’ll get better. I want you to send me off, and take you with me.”

“Silly, which husband would let you take me? As long as you’re well, I’ll be fine,” Feng Su lovingly patted Xie Qiaoyu’s head, his heart softening.

“Father is tired, you should rest,” Feng Su said, feeling weary, his face gaunt and skeletal.

Knowing his father had no appetite and ate less and less, Xie Qiaoyu wiped his face, a sudden anger rising in his heart. Looking at the jewelry box in his hand, his anger deflated, and he just wanted to cry.

He left the courtyard and handed the jewelry box to Yao He. He wanted to ask his father’s doctor why the medicine wasn’t helping, and why he was getting weaker by the day. Xie Qiaoyu feared he might be wrong, delaying his father’s treatment and alerting others.

Xie Qiaoyu instructed Yao He, “When you go to the kitchen, quietly find some of my father’s leftover medicine dregs.”

Yao He immediately understood, solemnly saying, “Don’t worry, young master.”

*

Three days later, guests were to pay their respects to Wan Laoye at the Wan Mansion.

Xie Yuan, who valued face, had previously been on good terms with Wan Laoye. Now, he couldn’t avoid going, fearing he’d be seen as opportunistic. So he took his family to the Wan Mansion to show their faces and quickly return.

“Weixia, Qiaoyu, don’t wander off. We’ll leave shortly,” Xie Yuan sipped his tea, still thinking about Xie Zhi’s studies.

“Understood, Father,” Xie Weixia didn’t want to stay long at the Wan Mansion either.

Xie Qiaoyu also softly agreed, and Yao He finally found an opportunity to get his father’s medicine dregs, already entrusted to an outside doctor, hoping for news the next day.

“Laoye, we’ve arrived at the Wan Mansion.”

Xie Yuan got off the carriage, the Wan Mansion desolate, “Who would’ve thought the Wan family would fall so quickly? Old Wan died…” too quickly, Xie Yuan stopped himself, fearing a beating.

Li Yun, wearing mourning clothes, was speaking with some women.

“It’s such a pity, Mingji has to wait three years to take the exam. It’s truly fate playing tricks,” one woman sighed.

“It’s all fate, bad luck. You should go to the Buddhist Temple to pray.”

“Maybe it’s the family’s bad feng shui. Wan Laoye died so suddenly, Wan Furen, you must accept it.”

“I say, even if Wan Shaoye took the exam, he might not pass,” Yang Furen said sarcastically, “Not everyone can pass the imperial examination. Wan Shaoye is known for his poor studies, so don’t get your hopes up. If he honestly farms, he can still support a family, and marry a country wife, and life will pass.”

Laughter echoed around, as some came to the Wan Mansion to sympathize, while others came to kick them when they were down.

“I’m just straightforward, speaking the truth might not sound good, Li Meimei, don’t blame me,” Yang Furen covered her mouth, laughing.

Li Yun wanted to tear Yang Furen’s mouth apart, but she smiled, “Meimei knows it’s unpleasant, so say less. Otherwise, Meimei can go to the stage and say it.”

“Are you comparing me to an actress?!” Yang Furen felt it was a great insult, almost fainting from anger.

“I speak like this, Meimei, don’t blame me. I’m praising your eloquence, even scholars can’t match it,” Li Yun cautiously said, “Did I say something wrong? Meimei, don’t hold it against a widow like me.”

Li Yun used a handkerchief to wipe nonexistent tears, “Meimei, I was wrong, I misspoke, please forgive me, or I’ll feel guilty.”

Yang Furen pointed at Li Yun, trembling with anger, “You’re twisting the truth…”

Li Yun cried loudly.

Xie Qiaoyu glanced at Li Yun, then at Yang Furen, surprised that Wan Furen was like this. Xie Qiaoyu thought such a person was formidable. If he were a fu lang under her, he’d suffer, as the mother-in-law was too strong and cunning.

Li Yun saw Xie Yuan’s group and approached, “Xie Laoye, please come inside.”

Xie Yuan: “Alright.”

Xie Yuan entered the main hall, where a few laoyes were talking. Compared to the Wan family’s prosperous days, it was sparse. Xie Yuan went to offer incense.

Xie Yuan noticed a young man, about eighteen or nineteen, wearing mourning clothes. His features were clear, his manners impeccable, and his presence like a pine tree. Even in white mourning clothes, he stood out, elegant and charming.

Xie Qiaoyu recognized him as Wan Mingji.

Oh my, Wan Mingji looks so good in mourning clothes. He’s got the face, the waist, tall and graceful, neither humble nor arrogant. The sunlight outlined half of his face, and between light and shadow, he smiled gently, exuding a carefree charm as he spoke to those around him.

Xie Qiaoyu’s heart raced.

So handsome.

So charming, oh heavens, how can there be such a handsome man, instantly striking Xie Qiaoyu’s heart.

Xie Yuan hesitated, “Wan Furen, whose child is this?”