Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Everyone chimed in, trying to smooth things over and comfort Fengxian. Fengxian inwardly sneered, but outwardly appeared aggrieved. "I won't take the blame for this. I know Second Master was just too heartbroken and spoke without thinking. How about this, with the whole family here, let's clear things up face to face, shall we?" As she spoke, she glanced around the room. Seeing that Master Liu had nodded, she called in a maid, ordered someone to invite Consort Rong, summoned Chunyan to the front, and also called several of the day's rough-and-ready women.

Everyone arrived quickly.

Chunyan'er spoke first: "My master suddenly had abdominal pain, and there was a discharge like urine. Granny Qian said it was bad, the uterus had ruptured, and you had to hurry and call someone to fetch a midwife. The gatekeeper wouldn't let me leave, saying he'd sent someone to fetch her. I said I wanted to ask the Second Master to come, but the gatekeeper just sneered and wouldn't even pass on the message. After waiting for ages and the midwife still hadn't arrived, I got impatient and urged the gatekeeper, who then started arguing with me and refused to open the door. I had no choice but to go find the eldest young mistress..."

Those who went to fetch help, those who went to assist, and those who guarded the gate all gave replies. The matter was laid out clearly on the table. The eldest young mistress and Consort Rong were doing their utmost to help. Even Xiu Luan, who usually didn't care about anything else, was running around doing errands. The only one who tried to shirk responsibility was the gatekeeper, who was the maidservant of the second young mistress, Du Liang. Rui Cai glared angrily at Liang.

"Second Master, why are you looking at me? What does this have to do with me? I wasn't even home. I went to the storeroom to pick out fabric. It's time to make spring clothes, isn't it? I need to prepare the materials first."

"Just pick out some fabric, why take everyone with you? What are you up to? Both my sister-in-law and Aunt Rong are pregnant, what if something happens and there's no one to relay the message!"

"Second Master, your sister-in-law and Aunt Rong are both fine, don't be so foul-mouthed! Who knew she would give birth so suddenly! She was perfectly fine when I left!"

"Whose man is that good doorman? Even with my sister-in-law's help, he won't open the door. Whose power does he rely on? Second young mistress, you have quite the nerve. Your maid even dared to take off her pants to scare the eldest young mistress! My sister-in-law asked him to open the door and invite the midwife, not to go and have an affair! You're looking at others and wondering what your intentions are!" Rui Cai said viciously.

"Explain yourself! What were my intentions? That wretched woman was just unlucky and had a short life. How could the eldest grandson of the Liu family have crawled out of her womb! Three or four midwives couldn't even take care of her. What else could it be but a lowly fate! If she had any sense of shame, she wouldn't have ended up like this! Second Master, if she had been well-behaved, she wouldn't have died in childbirth!" Liang Jie'er's words were vicious. Rui Cai trembled with anger. "Fine, fine, I killed her. I'll pay for it with my life!" He glared fiercely at Liang Jie'er. "She never got anything good out of you while she was alive. You better watch out and don't go out at night. You can't expect her to be afraid of you even as a ghost!" With that, he turned and left.

An awkward silence fell over the room. Everyone lowered their heads and remained silent. Liang Jie was sobbing softly when suddenly Aunt Rong called out, "Has the Second Young Master done something foolish? He's in a bad mood right now, don't let him do anything stupid!" Feng Xian quickly nudged Rui Hong, and Rui Hong and Rui Qian hurried away. Feng Xian clutched her stomach, gasped a few times, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Ouch!" The old lady was anxious. "Look at you! It's true, the Second Young Master was just venting his anger, why did you take it to heart! Alright, go back and rest! We'll have him apologize to you another day! Xiuluan, you go back too! Everyone disperse! Old Zhao, bring the sedan chair and take the Eldest Young Mistress back!"

"Grandmother," Fengxian said cautiously after everyone had left, "I promised those old women a reward. Although the child didn't come of age, they all went through a lot of trouble, so it wouldn't be right..."

"Alright, I understand. Reward them! We can't let their hard work go to waste. Young Master Liang has been a great help. Tomorrow, prepare a top-notch feast to invite him! Li-ge'er, Aunt Rong is also a good person. Go and reward her yourself!"

"Thank you so much, Madam!" Aunt Rong hurriedly stood up and bowed. "None of the household managers were around, and the eldest young mistress is not in good health, so I took the liberty of overstepping my bounds. Actually, this is none of my business, but I'm married now, so if I don't go, should I let the young lady go? That's why I went. I don't know anything about these things. It's all thanks to Mama Qian. I just sat in the courtyard and told her a few lies to put her mind at ease! Madam, you flatter me. I don't deserve such praise."

"What old lady, old lady? I'm your mother-in-law! Call me Mother! Come here!" Aunt Rong hurried over, and the old lady took off a snow-white mutton fat jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on her.

"Grandma, this is too much, it's too precious. Let's keep it for Miss Xiuluan!" The old lady ignored her, grasped her hand and examined it closely, nodding, "I told you to call me Mother, why don't you listen! Do you think I'm talking nonsense?"

Aunt Rong hesitated before saying, "Thank you, Mother!"

"That's more like it! You're young, so it looks good on you! Unlike me, I'm just wasting something! If the bracelet had any interest, it would like your wrist too."

"Then I thank you on behalf of my daughter, Mother. She hasn't even been born yet, and Grandmother has already bestowed upon her a treasure!"

"Why do you all say it's a girl? Fengxian, did you all plan this together?" the old lady laughed. "Our family is lacking a son! I'm waiting to hold my great-grandson!"

"Mother, even if I give birth to a boy, he'll still be a grandson. It's the eldest young mistress who's carrying a great-grandson." Aunt Rong covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Ah?..." The old lady was stunned. Master Liu and Fengxian both lowered their heads and smiled. Liang'er gave a stiff, dry laugh, but only Madam Xu's face turned pale. After all, a concubine is still a servant. How could she have the right to call her mother-in-law "mother"? The old lady was clearly slapping herself in the face.

Aunt Qian rushed in, flustered. "Something terrible has happened! The second young master hanged himself in his study! He's been rescued and is alright! The eldest young master asked the old lady to go and talk to him, and said that the master and mistress shouldn't go and scold him yet. He just did something foolish because he was too heartbroken! The master can discipline him after he recovers! Also, the eldest young master has sprained his back and is in a lot of pain. Should we call a doctor?"

"No need! He'll be fine after a few days of bed rest if he hurts his back! Don't make a fuss over it! Grandmother, don't panic. Second brother is just temporarily blinded by love and confused by heartache! Go and persuade him. Zhao Mama, has the sedan chair arrived? Carry the old lady over there."

"Please, Mother, try to persuade this wretched child. If he has any opinions about Hongxing'er's funeral arrangements, Mother will handle it accordingly. As long as it's not too outrageous, just let him be! Sigh! Sigh!" Master Liu was seething with anger. "Rong'er, Fengxian, you two go back first. If you feel unwell, quickly send someone to fetch a doctor!"

“Master, she’s not that delicate. Even women in the village who are close to giving birth are still working! But the eldest young mistress, she’s quite far along in her pregnancy, she needs to be careful!” Saying this, she helped Fengxian out. Fengxian quickly declined, calling for Yulan to help him. At the fork in the road, Aunt Rong smiled and said, “I heard that the eldest young mistress’s younger sister has received the true teachings of Physician Huo and is quite knowledgeable about the diet of pregnant women. Would you mind going over to ask her for some advice?”

"It's just everyone's favoritism! She's about the same age as Xiu Luan, what does she know? She just won't let me eat or drink well. My aunt doesn't know, but I'm so envious, my mouth is watering. Maybe I'm just unlucky, living a simple life with coarse tea and plain rice!"

"Young Madam is joking!"