Chapter 9

Ruyi mother entrusted a message to the Daoist from Huaien Temple to pass on to Brother E: the children had come down with chickenpox.

Brother E, after all, had a wife who gave him backing—unlike Jiuzhi, who had to keep working at Yiyuan even if his family was sick or dying. Upon receiving the message, Brother E immediately ran out of Yiyuan and rode a fast horse straight to the Cuiwei Mountain cemetery.

The two children were drinking loofah soup. Ruyi’s rash started on her face, while Jixiang’s began on his chest and back. Both had fevers, but they still seemed mentally alert.

Brother E was slightly relieved. As parents, they had done everything they could and provided the best conditions—now it was up to the children’s fate.

Ruyi mother told Brother E about the black-hearted cotton quilt.
“Where did you buy those quilts from?” she asked. “That shop is making money with no conscience—it’ll end up killing children! Aren’t they afraid of being struck by lightning? You need to report this to the magistrate immediately, before more innocent children get hurt.”

“The mooncakes and quilts I delivered yesterday weren’t bought,” Brother E replied. “They were standard supplies distributed from the Yiyuan construction site.”
This normally mild-mannered man couldn’t help but curse, “Those sons of bitches! Using official funds to hand out lethal trash like this! No wonder this chickenpox outbreak hasn’t gone away—it’s not a natural disaster, it’s man-made!”

Ruyi mother said, “I’ll stay and care for the children. You must go back and warn everyone about the black-hearted cotton. If even one more person can be saved, it’s worth it. Who knows what filth that cotton might contain—smallpox, dysentery—all of them are deadly!”

Upon hearing this, Ruyi fought through her fever and itchy rash and said,
“Uncle E! Don’t just go confront the procurement officers at Yiyuan directly. If you try to reason with them, they might turn around and accuse you instead. Every one of those buyers has someone backing them—just like the monsters in Journey to the West who all have celestial patrons. Even Sun Wukong had to give them face. You’d do better to go see the Buddha first—no, I mean go to Madam Lai Shou’s place…”

She told him how Madam Lai Shou once audited the accounting office, after which the kitchen’s ingredients at the construction site finally returned to normal.
“She’s been sidelined from the Western Estate for ten years—her close aides were probably pushed out long ago. A plum assignment like procurement at Yiyuan is definitely not in her control. If she finds out about the black-hearted cotton, she certainly won’t cover it up. She’ll make a big scene—use it to flex her power and vent her anger.”

Brother E gently patted her head with pity. “Even with a fever, your mind is still this sharp. You’ll definitely pull through this. Good girl—Uncle E will do just as you say.”

So Brother E made a round trip. When he returned to Yiyuan, Madam Lai Shou was overseeing the transplanting of plum trees brought in from outside.

She sat upright in a pavilion, exuding the air of a general commanding an army.
“The ancestors always loved plum blossoms. This whole section will be a plum grove—remove all other trees. And build a few straw huts in the southeast corner of the grove. We’ll raise some cranes there. In winter, when the cranes dance among plum blossoms and snow, the ancestors will be delighted.”

All the maids, matrons, gardeners, and craftsmen agreed loudly.

Seeing Madam Lai Shou’s commanding presence, Brother E realized Ruyi hadn’t exaggerated—this woman really could go a few rounds with the procurement department.

He walked toward the pavilion but was blocked halfway by two older women.
“What are you doing? Can’t you see Madam Lai is inside? Get lost.”

Brother E smiled apologetically.
“I’m a security guard for the Western Estate’s construction site. My wife is the wet nurse to the Western Estate’s Third Young Master. I have an urgent matter to report to Madam Lai—please, ladies, show some mercy.”

As he spoke, he slipped each woman a red envelope, his movements smooth and practiced. In the eleven years since marrying Sister E, he’d gained exposure to the world and become increasingly slick and capable.

The matrons, seeing his connections and respectful tone, accepted the envelopes.
“Don’t walk straight in—you’ll be stopped again. These days, not just anyone can see Madam Lai. Follow us.”

At the pavilion, Brother E bowed with hands clasped and introduced himself.

Madam Lai took a sip of tea.
“Oh, it’s you—the famous henpecked Brother E of the Western Estate. I hear you’ve already worn through several washboards from kneeling. What do you want?”

Brother E’s eyes spun, and he grinned.
“Well… I’d like to speak with Madam Lai in private.”

Madam Lai set down her cup. “Everyone, leave.”

Once the others had gone, Brother E explained about the black-hearted cotton distributed at Yiyuan during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
“I really had no choice. If those heartless bastards are allowed to keep poisoning people, the estate’s household-born servants will all be wiped out. Then who will serve the young masters? Bought slaves from outside can’t compare to household-born ones.”

Then he added,
“When it comes to justice, people talk about a ‘righteous magistrate.’ But to me, you’re the righteous madam!”

Madam Lai slapped the table.
“There’s actually such shameless nonsense happening at Yiyuan? I’ll take care of this personally!”

She summoned her maids and matrons.
“Go to the storeroom and get the roster. Find everyone who picked up quilts yesterday and have them bring the quilts here. Oh—and only summon the third-class servants for now. Leave the overseers for later.”

Seeing how methodical and thorough Madam Lai was, Brother E thought:
Good thing I listened to Ruyi and came to her. Anyone else would be too scared to challenge the powerful.

After all, Madam Lai had once been the head housekeeper. She had not only authority but a sharp mind. The procurement officers dared to treat lower-class servants as disposable and pocket the difference—but they wouldn’t dare tamper with the allotments meant for the managers.

With many hands, the task was quickly done — in no time, the pile of bedding had formed a small mountain.

Madam Lai Shou lightly tapped the lid of her teacup. “Get to work!”

The group picked up scissors and began slicing open the quilts. Sure enough, nine out of ten were stuffed with black-hearted cotton!

The household servants watching were shocked and horrified. Most of them had children at home — many of whom were running fevers, and some had already died.

Under Madam Lai Shou’s lead, the enraged servants pushed carts full of tainted bedding to confront the purchasing agents. The stewards and managers of Yiyuan, upon seeing the horrific rotten cotton in the carts, couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. After all, didn’t everyone have children? To be greedy at a time like this — they deserved whatever consequences came. So none of them tried to intervene, nor did anyone tip off the buyers. They all stood by, watching from a safe distance.

E Brother-in-law didn’t join the crowd. He put on an expression of surprise, as if this had nothing to do with him. “Oh dear, everyone’s gone, no one’s watching the worksite. Guess I’d better go get back to it.”

And so, the one who fanned the flames quietly went back to work.

Meanwhile, the courtyard where the purchasing agents conducted their business was surrounded so tightly that not even a bird could fly out.

The gates were burst open by the furious servants pushing their carts. The agents hid inside the house, refusing to come out. The doors were beaten so hard they thundered.

Soon, the door was taken off its hinges, and the servants stormed inside. The head purchasing agent still tried to maintain his composure and authority.

“If you have a grievance, state it properly! Are you trying to rebel, barging in like this? I am Zhou Fugui, personal aide to the Marchioness of Shouning. If you dare lay a hand on me, you’re disrespecting the Marchioness — disrespecting the Marquis himself!”

Zhou Fugui, the chief purchasing agent, pulled out his powerful backer as a shield, which did indeed intimidate the servants.

The personal aide of the Marchioness from the Eastern Residence — that was far above the reach of lowly household servants.

But while others feared Chief Zhou, Madam Lai Shou did not. In fact, at that very moment, her eyes were shining with excitement — brighter than last night’s full moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The chance to settle an old score had finally arrived!

Dear readers, although the Eastern and Western Residences had long since split into separate households, Madam Lai Shou was from the Western Residence. And yet, not only did she have enemies there — including the current chief steward Lai Xi and his entire family — she also bore hatred toward the Eastern Residence’s Marchioness’ retinue.

Why would she hate even the Eastern Residence’s attendants?

Ah, that’s a long story — as the saying goes, “a child without a mother has a tale that takes forever to tell.” Let me explain from the beginning.

It all starts with the Marchioness of the Eastern Residence’s family background.

This Marchioness Zhou was a second wife — the first wife, Lady Wang, was the daughter of the Grand Princess of Jiashan. She gave birth to a son and daughter before passing away.

The second wife, Lady Zhou, was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Qingyun.

Readers might say: “Wait a minute! That name sounds familiar!”

Indeed — eleven years ago, the Western Residence had a bitter land dispute over five hundred hectares with none other than the Marquis of Qingyun. These two families were in fact related: Lady Zhou was not only from the Marquis of Qingyun’s household, she was also the sister-in-law of the Western Residence. In other words, the land battle was a family feud.

Why would relatives come to hate each other so deeply?

Ah, dear readers, kinship is the most tangled fish head of all! The person who hates you most in this world may not be your enemy — but your relative. Your enemy might just wish for your downfall, but your relative might want you dead.

The tangled feud between the Western Residence and the Qingyun Marquisate could be told in short or long form. In the long form, it was a succession crisis. In the short form, a mother-in-law conflict.

The Marquis of Qingyun was also a powerful in-law of the imperial family. His sister was Queen Mother Zhou — and she had remarkable longevity.

When Empress Zhang dominated the imperial harem, Queen Mother Zhou was her husband’s grandmother!

Emperor Hongzhi had no other concubines and devoted himself to Empress Zhang. They had only one surviving son — the Crown Prince, a lone heir. Was Queen Mother Zhou concerned about the imperial succession?

Of course she was! She didn’t dare pressure the emperor directly, but she placed great pressure on Empress Zhang. Later, Emperor Hongzhi brought his mother-in-law, Madam Jin, into the palace to support Empress Zhang emotionally and politically.

After Lady Wang of the Eastern Residence died, the Eastern Marquis married Lady Zhou — daughter of the Qingyun Marquis — forming an alliance between the Zhang and Zhou clans, two powerful branches of the imperial in-laws. This alliance gave the Queen Mother no grounds for objection.

Such political marriages were clever: they soothed tensions. Once the bedsheets were shared, many grudges got buried — at least for a while. Whether between people, families, or even nations, this was often the way.

When Lady Zhou first entered the Eastern Residence, she was practically worshipped. The Western Residence also treated this elder sister-in-law with the utmost respect. After all, even Empress Zhang had to bow to Queen Mother Zhou’s will.

But once the Queen Mother died, the tables turned. The Zhang family’s resentment boiled over. The younger brother-in-law from the Western Residence no longer cared about saving face for his sister-in-law Lady Zhou. He openly clashed with her maiden family over land. There were even street brawls between house stewards and guards — the entire city heard of it.

Thus, the Western and Eastern Residences — blood relatives — became sworn enemies.

Chief Steward Lai Shou of the Western Residence was exiled to the borderlands and has not returned to this day.

Madam Lai Shou was subsequently pushed out of the Western Residence and spent ten humiliating years in the cold.

She couldn’t hate Lady Zhou, mistress of the Eastern Residence — or at least, she dared not — but taking revenge on Lady Zhou’s dogs was immensely satisfying!

Zhou Fugui was one such dog. Formerly a servant in the Qingyun Marquisate, he married a maid and was promoted to the position of “accompanying retainer.” His master even granted him the family surname “Zhou.”

When Zhou Fugui’s family followed Lady Zhou to the Eastern Residence, he became an important steward. Lady Zhou trusted him deeply, even putting him in charge of procurement for the massive renovation of Yiyuan. It was a lucrative role — he was the chief purchasing agent.

Got yourself a cushy fat job — hope you choke on it! Madam Lai Shou sneered and said,  

“Chief Zhou, others may fear you, but I don’t. I serve the Grand Matron! You purchasing agents used black-hearted cotton and harmed people — how many have fallen ill because of it? Everyone’s panicking, the construction schedule has been delayed, and the Grand Matron can’t move in peacefully to enjoy her old age. All of this is your fault!”