Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Xiu Luan was sullen and had no appetite. She ate two or three steamed dumplings haphazardly and drank a few sips of walnut soy milk—Huang had given her a secret recipe, saying that soy milk was the best way to increase milk production! So Rui Hong went out and bought a small hand-cranked mill. Liu Lian happened to love soy milk, so she installed the mill in her small kitchen and made all sorts of different kinds of soy milk.

She glanced at the absent-minded Xiu Luan and lingered without saying much—she had already said what needed to be said and what needed to be advised, and any more nagging would only annoy her.

After seeing off all the guests, Master Liu instructed his third son and his wife to pack up the belongings before heading to his study. Aunt Rong, heavily pregnant, brought up a pot of tea, but Master Liu waved his hand, saying, "Let me have some peace and quiet. You may leave now. Don't let anyone disturb us!" Aunt Rong responded, lowered the curtain to the kang (heated brick bed), and left with her servants.

Old Master Liu stared intently at the roof, deep in thought and contemplation...

"Rong'er, come here." Master Liu was having a headache from thinking about it, so he decided to put it aside for now and stop thinking about it.

Aunt Rong smiled and lifted the curtain, offering a hot towel. "Master, are you awake? Would you like a bowl of licorice and mung bean soup?"

Old Master Liu covered his face with a hot towel; the warmth was pleasant and comforting. After wiping his face thoroughly, he picked up the mung bean soup on the kang table and drank it all in one gulp. Sweat poured down his face like a floodgate opening, so he wiped it again, threw down the towel, lay down, and felt his body go limp. He couldn't help but sigh, "Comfortable!"

Aunt Rong ordered Yan Yan to take away the washbasin and towel, then poured herself a cup of tea and drank it down. She sat down beside him and said, “Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master! Another generation has been added. The family has blossomed before bearing fruit, a sign of prosperity for the family! No wonder you are so happy!”

Master Liu glanced at her sideways, "You know about this?"

“Look at what you’re saying, sir! My family may be poor, and we don’t need to know these things! But I’ve heard this before, haven’t I? Even if we can’t afford pork, can’t I at least watch pigs walk?” Aunt Rong said coquettishly, and then burst out laughing.

"Oh? Tell me about it!" Master Liu looked at her with great interest.

"Hmph! I'm ignoring you!" Aunt Rong pouted. "Are you just teasing me like a child again?" A blush crept onto her face. Master Liu had no time to think of anything else and reached out to pull Aunt Rong into his arms.

Aunt Rong placed Master Liu's restless hand on her stomach and leaned against him. "Master, the eldest young mistress has finished her confinement period. I'd like to go see her, is that alright?"

"Let's see, do you think she can kick you out?"

Seeing that Master Liu hadn't understood her meaning, Aunt Rong was slightly embarrassed. She bit her lip, feeling both ashamed and annoyed, and said reproachfully, "Am I supposed to go empty-handed?"

Master Liu chuckled, "Tomorrow I'll go with you to the storeroom to pick something out, something that will make you look good, and I'll also pick out a few rulers for you, okay?"

"Oh, sir! The young mistress has been managing the household for so many years, doesn't she know what the treasury has to offer? She doesn't need such empty flattery! She won't appreciate it!"

Master Liu said sternly, "No matter what, she is still a junior. Do you expect me to fawn over her?"

“Master!” Aunt Rong was on the verge of tears. “In this family, only the eldest young mistress is willing to talk to me. The second young mistress is always at odds with me and only grunts when she has no other choice. The third young mistress is from an official family… Master can’t always stay at home. I have to find someone I can talk to! Besides, the eldest young mistress is well-educated and well-mannered. If our daughters could get closer to her after they are born, they would also benefit from it!”

Master Liu nodded. "Tomorrow I'll give you one hundred taels of silver and five taels of gold. Make two sets of bracelets, one as a gift and one for the baby in your belly. You can also make a few rings with the rest, but don't make them too flashy! Come on, let's go pick out some shoes for our child!" As he spoke, Master Liu got up and got off the kang (a heated brick bed), and Aunt Rong hurriedly helped him put on his shoes.

Master Liu looked at Consort Rong with puzzlement as she picked out a bolt of white silk, a bolt of light gray linen, a bolt of honey-colored gauze with silver stripes, and a piece of light green summer cloth. He asked, "Why did you choose such bright colors? How can you wear such plain colors?" Consort Rong lowered her head sheepishly. "Master, I still have a few bright pieces. This white silk will be used for a shirt and lining. This linen will be for a summer outfit for you, Master. This gauze will be for my trousers, and this summer cloth will be for two summer outfits for Yan Yan." Master Liu looked at her thoughtfully, then reached for a bright red satin and a piece of cherry-pink silk. Consort Rong hesitated, stammering, "Master, I am just a concubine; I cannot wear this red..."

"Then make a small blanket or a cape for the child! Children can always use them!"

Consort Rong blushed as she accepted the cloth, then lowered her head and remained silent. Master Liu summoned someone to deliver the bolts of cloth to his study, and then, holding Consort Rong's hand, slowly walked back.

The next day, Master Liu brought twenty taels of gold and two hundred taels of silver, along with several pieces of cloth. He said, "Keep the silver to make ends meet. Buy whatever you want. Our fabrics don't have many colors or patterns, so you can buy the same thing elsewhere. These pieces of cloth are the newest this year; make a few jackets to wear in rotation. Silly girl, if you're afraid to tell others what you need, why can't you tell me?" Aunt Rong didn't speak, only burying her head in Master Liu's arms.

Master Liu gently patted her back.

"Rong'er, let me ask you, do you think it's better to be a poor boy's wife or a concubine?"

Aunt Rong looked up at Master Liu in surprise and asked, puzzled, "What does this poor boy have to compare with you?"

"I want to hear the truth! Don't try to coax me!"

Aunt Rong pondered for a while, "Master, if I marry a poor boy, I'll have to worry about everything myself. All I'll get is the title of your principal wife! If I become your concubine, I won't have to worry about anything. All I have to do is serve you well! Being able to stay by your side is my blessing! Since I can't have it all, I'll at least get some real benefits. I'm not going to be an official, so what's the point of that empty title?"

"But being a concubine is so miserable!" Master Liu said indifferently.

“Even if I suffer mistreatment, it’s better than being sold to a brothel! I’ll have enough to eat and wear, and it won’t even be considered mistreatment!” Aunt Rong’s eyes reddened.

Master Liu reached out and patted her, "Being a concubine is ultimately about suffering!"

Aunt Rong smiled faintly, "To have fame, fortune, and peace of mind all at once, one needs great fortune! I am unlucky and short-lived; I am content with just enough to eat and wear! A man like you, sir, is someone I can rely on with peace of mind! Meeting you is my blessing! Sir, I only wished to give birth to a girl, someone who would never have to worry about food or clothing, someone who would grow up happily. It's just a pity that she was born into the womb of a concubine..." Aunt Rong lowered her head, and large tears fell from her eyes.

Master Liu patted her shoulder, "Rong'er, please bear with it. Once I've settled things at home, I'll take you away so the child won't suffer any injustice, okay?" Aunt Rong didn't speak, but buried her head in Master Liu's arms.