Chapter Eight: The Mischievous Child

Zhang opened her mouth but said nothing.

She sensed, with a kind of foreboding, that even if she refused, her stepmother would still take her along. It was a fate impossible to alter; she might as well not resist.

Old Lady Xie, however, could not hold back and tentatively asked, “A Cui, are you planning to bring Jiu to the Lou family?”

Old Lady Xie didn’t know what Cui intended, but she would wager, based on her decades of experience navigating the family’s inner chambers, that Cui was certainly scheming against Jiu.

Taking a young girl to visit—there were countless ways to manipulate such an outing. The most common, and most brutal, was to have the girl humiliated before everyone.

If one were truly ruthless, they could even orchestrate a scandal, ruining her reputation and forcing her to marry an undesirable man.

But—

Old Lady Xie fingered her prayer beads, casting a sidelong glance at the plump, foolish Zhang. The child was only six years old.

Still just a child. Even if she were embarrassed, people would simply joke, “Children are mischievous,” laugh it off, and the matter would pass.

No matter how strict or proper, no one would hold a child accountable.

Old Lady Xie ran through all the usual tricks employed by women in the household and could not imagine how Cui might frame Jiu.

Of course, there was a method—too malicious, too base—that Cui, despite her arrogance, being a lady from a noble family, would not likely use: she would not take advantage of the outing to make Jiu “disappear.”

Besides, Jiu was being brought out by Cui; should anything happen—if Jiu were kidnapped or harmed—Cui herself would be implicated.

After a month of observation, Old Lady Xie had a rough understanding of this new daughter-in-law: Cui was overbearing, not stupid.

“Madam, indeed I wish to bring Jiu to the Lou family. Since I have married Wang, I am now the mistress of the Wang family.”

“Wang’s daughter is also my daughter.”

As a mother, when visiting for such a family feast, one naturally brings her “daughter.”

Though her words lacked the refinement and grace of the Wang women, it was the best Cui could manage.

If not for her desire to settle “a certain matter” quickly, Cui would not bother wasting so many words with Old Lady Xie.

Old Lady Xie: …Well, there was some sense to it, at least it preserved appearances.

As for Jiu, Old Lady Xie was not particularly fond of her.

But she loved her son, knew he still cherished Jiang, his late wife.

It was only a young girl; keeping her around cost little, and it gave her son something to hold onto.

So long as it did not threaten the family’s interests, Old Lady Xie was willing to be a good grandmother.

Suspecting Cui’s ill intentions, but for the sake of family harmony, she could not openly refuse, so she resolved to quietly send more attendants.

“Sigh! Let’s hope Cui doesn’t act foolishly!”

Old Lady Xie truly did not wish to be caught between dignity and interest on account of a granddaughter.

“A Cui is right! Our family should live in harmony!”

Old Lady Xie gathered her thoughts, her face betraying nothing.

Her gaze even carried satisfaction toward Cui, this new daughter-in-law who seemed both sensible and caring.

After speaking, Old Lady Xie turned to Zhang. “Jiu, tomorrow when you go out, stay close to your mother!”

Zhang blinked, still looking dazed.

It was a long moment before she softly replied, “Yes.”

Since Grandmother had agreed to Cui, she must have made preparations.

With Grandmother’s reassurance, Zhang could safely accompany Cui.

Cui glanced at Zhang, a flicker of something odd in her eyes.

This child was fat and supposed to be ugly.

Yet, despite Cui’s ill will toward Zhang, she had to admit: the child was striking.

Her plumpness did not make her greasy or ugly; instead, it lent her a certain tender charm.

Perhaps she could never rival her mother’s beauty, yet she was by no means unattractive!

If only Zhang were not Wang Lin’s daughter, Cui would find such a child irresistibly likable.

But alas…their relationship was doomed to be adversarial.

“Fat girl, don’t blame me! Blame your own fate, for being born to Jiang!”

“The title of ‘eldest daughter of the Wang family’ belongs only to my child!”

...

The next morning.

Zhang was awakened early by Nurse Fu, who selected a brand-new set of clothes for her.

A pale green narrow-sleeved upper garment paired with a lotus-colored high-waisted skirt.

At her waist hung matching pouches and scented sachets.

“And your little bamboo basket!”

Zhang looked down and reminded Nurse Fu.

She had always liked carrying a small bamboo basket, perfect for snacks, toys, and other little treasures.

With her lofty goal to “eat herself round,” Zhang never went anywhere without her basket.

And as her appetite grew, so did the basket’s size.

Once only the size of an adult’s palm, now it was as large as a winter melon.

Nurse Fu’s brow twitched, her gaze involuntarily drifting over the little girl’s chubby figure.

The skirt was high-waisted, no need for a belt, so her figure was hidden.

But her small face was full of flesh—her chin already had two layers.

Yet the girl still remembered her “food basket.”

“Ninth Miss, you’re going with the mistress as a guest, not out to play. You cannot bring the basket!”

It was fine to indulge at home, but outside, such behavior was improper.

Otherwise, there would be no need for Cui to cause trouble; Old Lady Xie would discipline her.

Greediness was not a good reputation.

Especially for a girl—it was even less acceptable.

“…Alright.” Zhang wanted to protest: Without my basket, I’ll be hungry!

But, as always, decisions made by adults allowed no room for a child’s resistance.

Arguments and requests were useless, so she didn’t bother.

Though still young, Zhang had grown “Zen-like” after her mother’s departure.

She did not dispute, did not insist; she simply behaved, drew no attention, caused no trouble, curling up quietly to live.

Seeing such a docile Ninth Miss, Nurse Fu’s heart ached.

Ever since the mistress—no, since Lady Jiang left, Ninth Miss had become especially obedient.

At first, it was toward Old Lady Xie and Wang Lin; later, even toward those around her, like Nurse Fu and Bai Zhi.

Nurse Fu felt deeply sorry.

A child’s nature was to play and cause mischief; understanding and obedience were not things children chose.

As the saying goes, “spoiled by affection,” without someone to dote on her, Ninth Miss dared not be willful.

Realizing this, Nurse Fu’s heart ached even more for the motherless Zhang.

So, knowing too much food was unhealthy, she still wanted to indulge her.

“…You can’t bring the basket, but Nurse Fu will tuck some dried meat, candied fruit, and little pastries into your pouch. How about that?”

“Yes!”

Zhang lifted her little head, her fair, chubby face breaking into a delighted smile.

Nurse Fu’s heart softened—ah, what a lovely Ninth Miss, if only her fate were kinder!

...

She could only hope her worries were unfounded, that Cui meant no harm, and that Ninth Miss would go happily and return safe and sound!

...

The Lou family’s manor lay to the east of Hedong County, bordered by the Yi River on one side and vast fields on the other.

Lou Jin was stationed in Hedong, and he was no upright civil official.

He was a military man; fencing off land, “borrowing” rations, grabbing spoils—these were his usual methods.

Thus, the Lou manor had originally been a local noble’s estate.

The surrounding fertile fields now all bore the Lou name.

After the Lou women arrived in Hedong, they moved into this manor.

The main buildings were a grand three-courtyard residence, surrounded by houses for servants and tenant farmers.

A small road stretched from the manor gates to the main highway.

Cui’s carriage followed the lane to the front entrance.

The Lou family matron—Cui’s aunt—held Cui in some esteem.

She had sent her stewardess to greet them at the gate early.

The stewardess, a woman in her thirties, was slightly plump but brisk and capable.

Seeing Cui alight, she hurried forward.

“Your humble servant greets Lady Cui!”

There was no help for it; Wang Lin’s official rank was too low, and the court itself was nearly defunct. He could not secure a title for his wife.

Without a decree, Cui could not be called “Madam,” only “Lady Cui.”

If one wished to be respectful, they might address her as “Mistress.”

The Lou matron’s stewardess was brought from the Cui household, a hereditary servant of the family.

Facing a lady like Cui, she naturally showed extra deference.

“Madam, you’re too kind!”

Cui, though domineering in the Wang household, acted courteously even toward servants in the Lou family.

This was also a form of wisdom—knowing whom she could bully and whom she could not offend.

She personally supported the stewardess, conversing warmly.

The stewardess caught sight of a young girl stepping off the carriage behind Cui.

Five or six years old, dressed in fresh, pink attire, a little plump, but utterly adorable.

The stewardess’s eyes flashed; she guessed the child’s identity—Wang Lin’s daughter by his first wife, Jiang, the ninth in the family, Zhang.

Cui was the Lou matron’s own niece; girls of the Cui family never had gentle tempers.

The Lou matron was no loving stepmother, and likely neither was Cui!

Yet, this time, Cui brought her stepdaughter to a gathering at her family’s home… The stewardess, knowing Lou family affairs even better than Old Lady Xie, guessed Cui’s scheme the moment she saw Zhang.

A clever plan! And one played in plain sight.

As a stepmother, bringing her stepdaughter to a visit—everyone would call her loving and sensible.

If the stepdaughter met with trouble at the host’s home, the blame would fall on the girl and the hosts, never on Cui.

The mistress of the house was Cui’s own aunt, but her child… even the stewardess could not bring herself to like.

If one needed to use another’s hand to strike, the stewardess would likely make the same choice as Cui.

There was no help for it; that child was simply too unruly. Not just the servants—even the Lou matron herself was vexed and frustrated…