Volume One, Chapter 12: Provoking You

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If a person does not seek trouble, trouble will seek the person.

Wen Yunmu fiddled with the flower hairpins in her hand, pondering for a moment. This box of flower hairpins had been brought back a few days ago by Wen Xuqing. They were crafted so lifelike, said to be small trinkets gifted to His Highness the Prince of Tang. Ye Chuiyun mentioned that since his family had many sisters, he asked Wen Xuqing to bring some back.

Wen Yunmu kept two for herself and called to Chunrong, “Let Fifth Sister choose first. After she’s done, Third Miss can pick. Take the main path. If anyone asks where you’re going, tell them the truth.”

Chunrong smiled with pursed lips. “Chunrong understands.”

“Be careful yourself, and if anything happens, avoid it.”

“Miss, rest assured.”

Less than an hour after Chunrong left, Nurse Liu hurried in with news: Chunrong had been slapped twice by Wen Yunwan. Not only was she pushed out, but the flower hairpins and the box were smashed to pieces and thrown outside.

“Where is Chunrong?”

“She’s in her room applying medicine. Her face is swollen and red. She said she’ll come back to serve you once she feels better.”

“I’ll go see her.”

By candlelight, Wen Yunmu examined Chunrong’s face. Wen Yunwan’s blows were truly vicious, even scratching the skin with her nails. “Tomorrow, get some ointment from Fifth Sister. Don’t let it scar, or it’ll be hard for you to marry.”

While Xia Wei applied the medicine, she complained, “I don’t understand why Miss is always trying to send us away. What marriage or properties? I think she’s just tired of us.”

Chunrong, being older, held Xia Wei’s hand and scolded gently, “Don’t talk nonsense. Miss cares for us all!” Then she turned to Wen Yunmu with a smile, “Miss was stifled in the courtyard before, and we endured it together. Now that life is better, if Miss wants to see us off, that won’t do. We’re her servants, and we know she’s kind to us and always stands up for us when things are unfair. But this time, it was my fault for speaking wrongly and angering Third Miss. Please pretend it never happened.”

Wen Yunmu only murmured in response, then pinched Chunrong’s chin to inspect her carefully. “You all may go to sleep.”

Qin Shi was meticulous and would not wait for her to set a trap before reacting. Wen Yunwan was a sieve of information; striking through her would provoke Qin Shi to act prematurely. Impulsiveness would create openings.

“Chunrong, Xia Wei, when you go to the family school tomorrow morning, each of you pin a flower hairpin. Go early, don’t enter the building, just stand at the door and greet His Highness the Prince of Tang.”

“But they’re all trampled and ruined!”

“Just do as I say.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Early the next morning, Chunrong, with her right cheek slightly swollen, stood with Xia Wei in the courtyard of Linfeng Pavilion. They were unashamed and made no effort to hide. They greeted anyone who came. Wen Yunwan approached with her entourage and stopped before Chunrong, sneering. The scandal of Wen Yunwan slapping Wen Yunmu’s maid had already spread throughout the Wen household. Now, this shameless girl actually had her maid with a swollen face stand here—what a disgrace.

What, a show of force?

Wen Yunwan disdainfully glanced at Chunrong and Xia Wei and strode inside arrogantly.

“Sis, why did you trouble Second Sister’s maid yesterday?” Wen Xuming followed behind Wen Yunwan and asked softly.

“Why? Big Brother somehow got some flower hairpins and let that wretch—” Wen Xuming’s expression darkened as Wen Yunwan lowered her voice and changed the term, “let Second Sister select first, but Chunrong went to Wen Yunxiu’s room to deliver hers before coming to me. It’s clearly a slight against me.”

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“If Big Brother gave them, naturally Second Sister should control them. You beat her personal maid over such a trivial matter. If this reaches Father, you’ll be the one suffering.” Wen Xuming spoke gently, “Second Sister is not who she used to be. If you can’t hold her faults, then don’t go out of your way to offer her your own.”

Wen Yunwan glared fiercely at Wen Xuming. “Why are you saying the same things Mother says? You’re my brother; shouldn’t you support me?” After speaking, she huffed and went ahead to the school alone.

Chunrong and Xia Wei stood for a long time until even Scholar Han had entered. Xia Wei whispered to Chunrong, “Miss, does she want us to stand here until dismissal?”

“I told you to wait for His Highness the Prince of Tang.”

Xia Wei nodded, then shook her left leg nervously. Suddenly, Chunrong jabbed her in the waist and said, “Stand properly.”

Xia Wei immediately straightened up and saw a guard with a sword approaching—it was Ah Jing, the prince’s bodyguard.

Right, the prince always arrived last before Scholar Han began class.

Ye Chuiyun, as usual, came with Wen Xuqing. Wen Xuqing stopped nearby, curious. “Why are you two standing here?”

Xia Wei forced a smile. “We don’t know either, sir. Miss just told us to stand.”

Wen Xuqing sized them up and noticed the wrinkled, shabby hairpins and Chunrong’s swollen face. He recalled the commotion in the back courtyard last night and chuckled to Ye Chuiyun, “Your Highness, these flowers were your gift, so this is the view you get. Take a good look.”

Ye Chuiyun clicked his tongue impatiently. “This girl has been looking for trouble lately.” He stepped forward, followed closely by Wen Xuqing, both smiling faintly.

Once inside, Scholar Han’s reading filled the school. Xia Wei finally rubbed her aching legs and asked curiously, “From Big Brother’s words, Miss was standing here for whom?”

Chunrong said nothing and led Xia Wei away. Today was the first day they learned the hairpins were gifts from His Highness the Prince of Tang.

It seemed no one in the household except the eldest son and Miss knew.

“Three thousand taels?” Wen Yunwan shouted inside her room. “Big Brother must be mad! How can these hairpins be worth three thousand taels?”

Qin Shi sipped her tea silently.

Last night, after Yunwan hit Wen Yunmu’s maid, Mother Feng summoned her for a scolding. The mother and daughter parted in displeasure. Qin Weishu knew this matter would not end well. She expected her rebellious eldest daughter to cause trouble, but instead, it was about money. Was it really worth risking the prince’s favor over this?

“Third Sister, these were originally palace gifts for the Prince of Tang, who passed them to the household—”

“A royal prince, and you want to take back a gift?” Wen Yunwan was flushed with anger, her grip tightening and loosening on the teacup. Though Wen Xuqing wasn’t Wen Yunmu, he was the legitimate eldest son and heir to the title. Before him, Wen Yunwan had to curb her temper.

“The palace eunuchs mistakenly took the wrong batch. These were meant for Consort Hui, but one box went missing. The eunuch responsible bled from banging his head before the prince because he couldn’t make up for it. The prince couldn’t punish the eunuch over mere hairpins. If anything happened, we’d be implicated.” Wen Xuqing set down his tea and sighed, then looked to Qin Shi. “Mother, maybe you can think of a way. I searched all over the capital and only found one shop owner who secretly sold some extra tribute items to noble ladies. I persuaded him to give me some. If the price is too high, Mother, maybe you can find some other source?”

Wen Xuqing put on a show of regret. “Just seven or eight hairpins cost over three thousand taels. If Third Sister had held back her temper yesterday, she wouldn’t be throwing money away now.”

“But this matter—” Wen Yunwan protested.

“That’s enough.” Qin Weishu waved a hand and told the maid beside her, “Take Third Miss back.”

“Mother!”

“Go back. Your brother and I have things to discuss.” Qin Weishu was displeased. Although her daughter was spoiled, she usually caused no trouble. Since Wen Yunmu had been ill for a few days, she suddenly started picking on Wen Yunwan’s faults relentlessly.

“Xuqing’s right. I’m just a woman with no connections. Since this is Yunwan’s fault, the money shouldn’t come from the public funds. I’ll pay.” Qin Shi gestured for Mother Feng to bring several silver notes. “Though it concerns the prince, it’s a household matter. Our son is the future heir. Being involved in such affairs would make Father think poorly of us and create trouble for you.”

Qin Weishu’s words were soft but cutting, warning Wen Xuqing: if he kept defending Wen Yunmu, who knew how ill the atmosphere at home would become.

So this was how Sister Mu lived?

Wen Xuqing said, “Mother is right. I don’t want to meddle either, but we are family. What affects one affects all; harmony at home is better than anything. If someone insists on causing trouble, Father won’t allow it either.”

Qin Weishu smiled and handed over the silver notes. “Thank you for your trouble, son.”

“Nonsense. It’s what I should do.”

After seeing Wen Xuqing out, Qin Weishu’s expression changed. She raised her hand, smashing the fine tea set onto the floor, feeling stifled inside.

Why had Wen Yunmu changed? She had no clue. She had inquired, questioned everything. Yet after just a few days of illness, the change was sudden. No one in the household suspected, not even her foolish daughter.

But Qin Weishu was the keenest observer in the Spring River. She sensed the water’s temperature change, felt the scales tipping slowly toward Wen Yunmu’s side.

What was Wen Yunmu up to? This family would never belong to her. In a few years, she would marry out. So what was the purpose of all this turmoil?

Qin Weishu hissed, “Where is she? Still not in the capital?”

“The day after tomorrow. Everything is arranged.” Mother Feng bowed. “Madam, rest assured, this time that mother and daughter will be dealt with conclusively.”

“Good. Keep a close watch on the second daughter.”

“Yes.”

Three thousand taels! Wen Yunmu sat in the courtyard counting the silver notes. She casually handed two to Chunrong. Chunrong glanced at them and trembled. “Miss, Miss, you can’t do this. This is too much—”

“I can’t fight Second Miss for you, so I have to make her spend a little to ease the pain. Take this money and recover well.”

“But this is too much.”

“It’s not. Take it. Later you can use it to buy land or a shop for security.” Wen Yunmu forced the silver notes into Chunrong’s sleeve, then handed a handful to Xia Wei. Xia Wei opened her palm and exclaimed, “Miss, why do I only have ten wen?”

“You weren’t beaten. This ten wen is your hardship pay for standing guard.”

“Ah?”

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