Xue Dongting learned from Song Yuming that her big sister, Wanqing, had come to the village manor, but she was not in a hurry to go visit. Something had been on her mind the past couple of days that made her uneasy. In her previous life, three years after she had left Cloudgem Lodge, Mama Qiao had suddenly fallen ill and died. But she knew that Mama Qiao had always been healthy so something must have happened within those three years to weaken her.
But what could it have been? Back then, Xue Dongting had been in the capital acting as Third Prince's advisor and so could not communicate with outsiders without permission. So she rarely got in touch with Mama Qiao. She only remembered receiving a few letters from her that mentioned Wanqing and Yuansheng.
She vaguely remembered that Wanqing had become pregnant with Squire Zhang's child, but had miscarried. Afterward she gave birth to a daughter who died before the age of two. And Yuansheng had met a sickly traveling scholar and had wanted to marry him, but Mama Qiao had forbidden it. In the end she simply ran off and eloped with him!
It was still a long time before Yuansheng's elopement, but Wanqing's miscarriage ought to be coming up soon. There was much scheming and fighting for position within wealthy families and Wanqing was a meticulous person. Xue Dongting didn't believe her miscarriage had been an accident. She decided to visit Wanqing in the upcoming days and then come up with some furtive plan.
She got up early and carried a basket of eggs to the Zhang manor on the seafront. Wanqing was in Mother Zhang's room transcribing a classical text when she heard a maidservant call out that a woman was here to visit and she knew it was Dongting. She was delighted, but since Mother Zhang and the principal wife, Lady Yu, were present, she didn't dare go out to greet her immediately. She had to think about how to tell Mother Zhang.
But Lady Yu spoke first. "Is that your Second Sister?"
"Responding to Madame, yes, it's my younger sister."
"I heard your Second Sister is quite the beauty. And she married a fisherman named Song in the village? Yet is still a proud and haughty girl."
How could Wanqing mistake the scathing tone of her words? She fell silent.
Mother Zhang was a kindhearted old lady. She heard this and hastened, "A fisherman named Song? You mean that young man Song Yuming?"
Lady Yu laughed. "Mother Zhang, that Song Yuming is already in his thirties, how can you call him a young man?"
Mother Zhang laughed. "In this old thing's eyes, aren't you all young people? I've seen this Song Yuming. He sent over a jar of whale oil. I used a spoonful at night and it's better than those candles your lord buys. It's bright and pleasant. I think when I run out I will ask Fisherman Song to get some more."
Lady Yu looked at Wanqing, laughing. "Look, Mother Zhang is won over with a jar of whale oil!"
Mother Zhang laughed and shook her head. "What do you know. That Song Yuming is big and strong and speaks very properly. He's a sensible person! Since that girl out there is Wanqing's second sister, then she's family, hurry and invite her in for a chat."
Wanqing got up quickly. "Mother Zhang, I'll go receive her."
"Go, go."
Wanqing withdrew from the room. She had been missing Dongting and hurried out to the front hall without even bringing a maidservant with her.
She saw a frail girl standing before the hall. Was that Dongting? This was th first time she had seen her younger sister since she had married. Her eyes welled up in spite of herself. Xue Dongting saw Wanqing. She had already been through ten years of trials and tribulations and was no longer the young girl who liked to bicker and squabble with her big sister. Her eyes welled up as well when she saw Wanqing, and she hurried forward and took her by the arm, holding back tears. "Big Sis, your so skinny!"
Tears streamed down Wanqing's face. She quickly dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, but she could not dry her tear-stricken face.
Xue Dongting held Wanqing's hand and three fingers slipped to feel the pulse on her wrist, checking. She could tell Wanqing was already three or so months pregnant. She forced a smile. "Big Sis, don't be upset, careful not to cry on New Years, it's not good for your health."
Wanqing smiled sadly. "I'm nothing more than a prop in this manor, what do I have to look forward to? My health has been bad for a while."
Xue Dongting knit her brows. She already knew that Wanqing was currently unaware that she was pregnant. "Big Sis, don't talk like that. Now we live so close together, I can see you more often. Don't worry… As your little sister, I'll never just stand by and watch you be mistreated!"
Wanqing stared blankly, feeling that these words from Xue Dongting's mouth were rather strange. She just smiled and sighed. "Look at me, dawdling like this. Mother Zhang has invited you over."
"Matron Zhang?"
"Yes, the matron is so kind, don't be scared. She's met your husband before… By the way she talks, she seems to like him."
Xue Dongting smilled. "Then, lead the way, Big Sis, don't keep the matron waiting."
Wanqing hesitated. "You'll see Madame in a moment. She has a sharp tongue. Try to bear it a bit and not put her in a predicament."
Xue Dongting squeezed Wanqing's hand and nodded. "I know, relax, Sis."
Wanqing led Xue Dongting down the covered breezeway to the matron's quarters. She parted the heavy brocade door curtain to the outer room and the warm scent of sandalwood wafted out. They passed a large marble screen with the character for longevity on it (壽) and entered the inner room. Xue Dongting looked up and saw Mother Zhang inclined on a long, narrow brocaded couch. She had a thin jacket of Suzhou embroidery in drifting cloud patterns draped over her, and a thin marten-fur blanket spread over her lap. She looked graceful and poised, her face covered with wrinkles, though one could still tell that she had been a beautiful young woman once. A woman in her thirties sat on a sandalwood drum stool beside the lounge. She was lavishly dressed and wore a severe look on her face. She no doubt was the primary wife, Lady Yu.
The matron smiled ingratiatingly. "This must be Lady Song?"
Xue Dongting promptly stepped forward. "I am Wanqing's second sister, Matron addresses me too politely."
Lady Yu smiled. "You're the legal wife of that Fisherman Song, so that would make you Lady Song, right?"
The matron smiled at Xue Dongting and beckoned her over. "Come over and let's chat, don't be so reserved."
Xue Dongting took mincing steps forward and was taken by the hand by the matron and sat down at the edge of the couch. The matron squinted at Xue Dongting, scrutinizing her. She clicked her tongue and sighed. "What a model young wife! Such a fair-faced, charming lady. That Fisherman Song is lucky to marry you!"
Xue Dongting blushed bashfully, being held by the hand and studied like this. She pursed her lips in a smile and said, "Matron jests, how could Dongting be so worthy?"
The matron looked over at Lady Yu, smiling. "I never misjudge a person. This is a blessed child!"
Lady Yu still wore her smile as before. "Matron, you like her so much, perhaps you regret initially resisting the lord in marrying Wanqing? If only you had known, the three beauties of Cloudgem Lodge could have been married altogether and brought here!"
Xue Dongting pretended she hadn't heard, turning and glancing at Wanqing, who had her head down, not arguing, and she couldn't help but feel bad for her. She thought that since this Lady Yu was so willing to mock others to their face, who knows what she said about Wanqing when no one else was around!
The matron shook her head. "Wanqing is gentle and good-natured. I was mistaken about her before… I see this here is a wonderful girl. Although she can't be my daughter-in-law, I can take her as an adopted daughter…"
Lady Yu said nothing else, but Xue Dongting was startled by what the matron had said.
The matron looked at her and smiled. "I wonder if you would dislike and old thing like me?"
Xue Dongting quickly smiled. "Listen to you, Mother Zhang! I only fear I couldn't be so fortunate! I've heard Yuming say you are a good, kind person, and I've been wanting to come pay a visit. I only feared I would bore Matron."
The matron was delighted at this. "Bore me? I couldn't be happier to have a girl like you coming to see me all the time! Then it's settled then, today I recognize you as my foster daughter!" She waved her hand at Lady Yu. "Go prepare some lavish gifts, and tell the kitchen to set a sumptuous table."
Hesitation flashed through Lady Yu's eyes and was gone. She smiled at Xue Dongting. "You see how excited Matron is, obtaining a daughter for no reason. She's afraid you'll run off… I'm only good for running errands here and there. Alright then. You keep Matron company while I tend to this."
The matron was elated. She laughingly scolded Lady Yu, "You little monkey, such a sharp tongue on you! Go on with you now!"