Chapter 4

Tangxiu tossed and turned for half the night before falling asleep again.

Even then, she didn’t sleep deeply. The slightest noise would wake her up, and she would repeat the cycle of tossing and turning. By dawn, when the birds were chirping, Tangxiu opened her eyes and sadly realized that she couldn’t sleep anymore. She couldn’t sleep, no matter how hard she tried.

She lay there for a while, her expression heavy, before deciding to get up and go to Jingxin Courtyard to greet Feng Jingrong and grab some breakfast.

Feng Jingrong was already awake at that hour.

Not only was she awake, but she had already finished her usual meditation and was sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and listening to Qingdai recite the profits and losses of various shops and estates in the capital from the previous season.

As for Tang Dongqi, he had left before dawn to go to the Left Military Governor’s Mansion for duty. Unless something unexpected happened, he would be back in the evening, just like yesterday.

Entering Jingxin Courtyard, Tangxiu knelt and performed a deep bow, saying, “Daughter greets Mother.” After standing up, she also greeted Qingdai, calling her “Aunt Qingdai.”

Liucai also bowed to Qingdai, calling her “Aunt.”

Although they were both female officials from the palace, Qingdai was older than Liucai and had more experience. After entering the Tang Mansion, Qingdai quickly became Feng Jingrong’s confidante, managing various matters big and small in the mansion. Liucai always respected Qingdai.

Qingdai returned the salute and asked with a smile, “Miss, have you had breakfast?”

Tangxiu said, “Not yet. I was thinking about Aunt Qingdai’s cooking, so I came here specially.”

When Qingdai was in the palace, she had apprenticed under a eunuch in the Shangshan Supervisorate and had diligently learned for many years. Her cooking skills were comparable to those of the chefs hired by Feng Jingrong. Tangxiu often came to Jingxin Courtyard under various pretexts, both before and after her marriage, just to eat Qingdai’s cooking. Now that she was back, she couldn’t miss out on this opportunity.

Feng Jingrong glanced at Tangxiu and said, “You glutton.”

Then she told Qingdai to go to the kitchen and show off her skills, lest this restless daughter keep nagging.

Qingdai complied, put down the ledger, made Tangxiu a cup of tea, and went to the kitchen. Liucai also quickly asked Tangxiu’s permission to follow her and observe.

Tangxiu agreed, holding the teacup and sitting beside Feng Jingrong.

It was fine until she sat down. As soon as she did, she felt as if she had a case of laziness. Her bones suddenly became soft and weak, and Tangxiu couldn’t control herself from leaning against Feng Jingrong.

Perhaps the incense her mother used was too fragrant, and maybe it had a hypnotic effect, Tangxiu thought sleepily, smelling it. She was so sleepy.

Feng Jingrong turned her head and saw that her restless daughter’s eyelids were almost stuck together. She asked, “Have you been away for too long? Are you having trouble sleeping in a different bed?”

Tangxiu mumbled a muffled “yes.”Jingrong didn’t know about her daughter’s dreams.

Previously, whether she was looking for masters or doctors, she had kept it a secret, only a few close-serving maids knew, and even they were kept silent by Liucai, who kept a close watch. No one outside of the maids knew, and neither did Chen Yue’s people.

Even if Jinyiwei didn’t know, and naturally Feng Jingrong didn’t know either.

Seeing Tangxiu’s listless appearance, looking like she had stayed up all night, Feng Jingrong thought she was having trouble sleeping in a different bed. She took the teacup from her daughter’s hand, which was tilting precariously, lest the tea spill on her robe. “Wait, have something to eat first.”

Fearing that she wouldn’t be able to wait, she added, “Your Aunt Qingdai is making ghee pancakes. Aren’t you fond of those?”

Hearing this, Tangxiu immediately forced herself to sit up straight.

She managed to stay awake until the ghee pancakes were baked. Qingdai cut them into bite-sized pieces and brought them over. The golden oil shimmered, and the steam rose, making people’s mouths water. Then, she served a bowl of fragrant, soft, and glutinous rice porridge, along with several plates of colorful seasonal dishes. Although she was still so sleepy that her eyelids felt heavy, it didn’t stop Tangxiu from praising Aunt Qingdai’s cooking skills, saying they had improved again.

Qingdai’s eyes crinkled at the corners, almost turning into two lines.

Feng Jingrong urged, “Hurry up and eat.”

After finishing their meal, Feng Jingrong took Tangxiu into the room and let her sleep on the meditation couch where she usually sat.

Tangxiu stopped just one step away from the couch.

She cautiously said, “Father hasn’t slept on this couch, has he?”

Apart from anything else, the incense her father usually used wasn’t as fragrant as her mother’s, and she was afraid that she would smell it and not be able to sleep.

Feng Jingrong said, “Nonsense. Of course not.”

Only then did Tangxiu relax and let Liucai take off her shoes and clothes for her. She lay down on the couch.

Feng Jingrong also sat down beside the couch.

She casually pulled out the wooden hairpin from Tangxiu’s hair and used a jade comb to brush her hair.

One stroke after another, gentle and soothing.

Perhaps her mother’s presence was too familiar, and her actions were too gentle, Tangxiu lay down for a while and her drowsiness grew, and she actually fell asleep.

It wasn’t until Feng Jingrong woke her up that Tangxiu realized she hadn’t dreamed this time, which was why she had slept so soundly.

She yawned and tidied herself up, following Feng Jingrong to the main hall.

When they arrived, the third branch of the family was already there.

Tangxiu greeted her third sister, Tang Ruo. Tang Ruo said, “Sister,” then asked with a hint of concern if her sister hadn’t rested well last night, as her spirit didn’t seem as high as yesterday.

As soon as she finished speaking, a laugh came from across the room.

Looking up, she saw Yu San Ye smiling, a strange smile. “Don’t tell me you were thinking about someone. What is it, lovesickness?”

Before Tangxiu could react, Yun Fu Ren slammed her elbow hard into his side.

Yu San Ye immediately let out a yelp.

That wasn’t the end of it. Yun Fu Ren then glared at Yu San Ye with a look that could kill. “Lovesickness, my foot! You’re the one who talks too much, aren’t you? If anyone’s lovesick, it’s you!”

Yun Fu Ren was about to hate Yu San Ye’s mouth to death.

He just babbled and talked nonsense all the time, never minding his words, not afraid of offending people. That damn mouth of his would be torn off sooner or later.

Noticing Yun Fu Ren’s gaze, Yu San Ye, who was still rubbing his chest with a frown, instinctively flinched and quickly shut his mouth.

It’s not that I’m afraid of her.

Yu San Ye thought, not quite honestly, I’m giving her face. After all, she’s my wife.

Seeing that Yu San Ye had some sense, Yun Fu Ren finally gave him a warning glare before turning to Tangxiu apologetically and saying, “Don’t mind your third uncle, Tangtang. He’s still drunk from this morning.”

Yu San Ye was about to retort that who drinks in the morning, but he saw Yun Fu Ren looking at him with a knowing gaze. He immediately shrank his neck and became a quiet chicken.

Yun Fu Ren’s eyes flicked over his mouth before returning to Tangxiu. “Don’t listen to your third uncle.”

Tangxiu smiled and nodded.

Actually, her third aunt wasn’t like this before.

In Tangxiu’s memory, Yun Fu Ren and Yu San Ye had just gotten married, and they were in the honeymoon phase, inseparable. Yun Fu Ren always had a smile on her face, and she was very kind to everyone. Occasionally, Yu San Ye would say sweet nothings to her in front of others, and she would just blush and tell him to stop. Their relationship was very good.

Later, something unexpected happened. Yu San Ye was injured, and the doctor diagnosed him with a possible inability to have children. From then on, Yu San Ye’s personality changed drastically. He resigned from his official position and began to indulge in women and wine. Yun Fu Ren also gradually became irritable, even daring to fight with Yu San Ye, refusing to let him enter the house.

Now, besides Yun Fu Ren, the official wife, Yu San Ye had a bunch of concubines in his courtyard, and he had mistresses in the alleys outside. He even had a few lovers in the brothel. Fortunately, Yun Fu Ren had long treated Yu San Ye as air, living her own life with her adopted daughter, Tang Ruo. As long as Yu San Ye didn’t speak out of line, Yun Fu Ren was relatively peaceful towards him. But once he opened his mouth, it was like the situation now. If he really angered her, Yun Fu Ren would kick him in front of the children.

Tangxiu asked Feng Jingrong, “Third Uncle treats Third Aunt so badly, why hasn’t she given up on him? Is it because she hasn’t been disappointed enough?” Feng Jingrong replied, “That’s not disappointment, it’s helplessness.”

Feng Jingrong didn’t explain what she meant by helplessness. Tangxiu thought there must be some hidden reason she didn’t know about, otherwise, Third Aunt would have left long ago, taking Little Ruo with her. Why would she stay in the Tang Mansion until now?

As the saying goes, every family has its own troubles. Not to mention Yun Fu Ren and Yu San Ye, even Tangxiu’s own affairs were still unclear. She collected her thoughts, her fingertips tracing the surface of her paper fan, wondering what to do tonight.

Should she stay up all night and wait until dawn to go to Jingxin Courtyard to find her mother?

After all, Liucai had also brushed her hair before, but she still couldn’t sleep. This was the first time she had.

But she couldn’t do this every night, could she?

She had to think about finding…

“…Should we talk about Ruo’s marriage?”

As soon as Feng Jingrong said this, Tang Ruo, whose name had been mentioned, looked up nervously. Tangxiu also looked over.

Yu San Ye, who was pretending to be a quail, also looked at Tang Ruo.

What? His daughter was only so young, why was she suddenly getting married?

Yu San Ye was shocked. Was he going to have a second son-in-law so soon?

Yun Fu Ren said, “Yes, Little Ruo is turning thirteen this year. It’s about time for her to get married.”

Thirteen years old seemed a bit young, but noble girls in the capital usually started getting married around this age, so it wasn’t really too young.

Feng Jingrong said, “Have you talked to Little Ruo about it?”

Yun Fu Ren nodded. “I mentioned it last month.”

Feng Jingrong said, “That’s good. The other day, a few ladies asked me about Little Ruo. I told them…”

Hearing her aunt and adoptive mother decide her marriage in a few words, Tang Ruo’s fair face turned crimson.

She wanted to lower her head, but she heard her aunt speak again.

“Tangtang,” luckily, this time it wasn’t directed at her, but at her sister. “Tomorrow, go to my place and pick out a few invitations. Take Little Ruo out to play. You’ve seen a lot, so help her choose carefully.”

This meant that Tangxiu was to take Tang Ruo to meet potential suitors.

Hearing Tangxiu agree, Tang Ruo’s head almost disappeared into her collar.

Tangxiu found it funny. Why wait until tomorrow? She pulled Tang Ruo and went to Jingxin Courtyard. The two sisters sat together, looking at the invitations the Tang Mansion had recently received.

It was the beginning of spring, the weather was gradually warming up, a good time for outings and entertainment. Therefore, even though the Tang Mansion only had one girl who was barely of marriageable age, Tang Ruo, they still received a lot of invitations. Tea parties, incense-appreciation gatherings, poetry gatherings, writing gatherings, just glancing at them made Tang Ruo’s eyes dizzy. She couldn’t choose, so she had to swallow her shyness and quietly ask her sister to choose for her.

Tangxiu casually flipped through the various invitations, saying casually, “Don’t blame me if I choose poorly. You’ll be dressed up beautifully, but when you get there, all you’ll see are greasy, powdered, dissolute young men. What will you do then?”

“No, that won’t happen.”

Tang Ruo shook her head.

Her eyes were filled with affection and admiration for Tangxiu, almost like a daughter looking up to her mother. Her tone was firm. “I trust your judgment, Sister.”

Being trusted so much by her sister, Tangxiu suddenly felt a sense of responsibility. She stopped teasing her and quickly went through all the invitations, picking out suitable ones and telling Tang Ruo about the general process of a matchmaking banquet.

Tang Ruo listened, asking questions from time to time.

When she asked if her sister had also attended matchmaking banquets before, Tangxiu stopped talking and thought for a moment.

Suddenly, she clapped her hands and smiled, a bright smile.

“Good sister, you reminded me.”

“What?”

“Since it’s a matchmaking event, I can go too.”

…Huh?