Chapter 119 Five breaking news
Seven days later, the servants’ rooms of the northern yard on the East Yard of Luo’s Mansion.
Originally, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. was supposed to be the drowsiest period for the servants in a day. The servants showed little interest and yawned all the time whatever they did. But today was different. It was obvious that today was a day-off, but they refused to have a rest in their rooms. Instead, they gathered as a crowd with eight to ten people and talked excitedly about the breaking news which had happened recently.
First, the current news they cared about the most– Wang Qi’s wife, the administrator of the kitchen, fell from the power and her gambling house were also shut down! The “gambling case” only involved a small group of people who had invested or had managed it, but to those servants, who had used board wages to pay their debts to suffer from hungry, finally could eat the delicious foods. The move was welcomed by most servants of Luo’s Mansion. They all praised Mammy Tang’s tough means like her used to.
Second, the most complicated, confusing and varied family news– First Master and First Younger Mistress Luo had separated! It was said that under Madam Luo’s approval, First Master had moved into Qi Lu Yard with Master Wei and Miss Yan, while First Younger Mistress was grounded in Liu Li Yard with four dower maids. And the rest of servants were all allocated to Qi Lu Yard! Reputedly, Madam Luo hired “the best matchmaker in Yangzhou City”, Guang Xiazhi, to arrange a noble concubine for First Master.
Third, the most fancied news that caused great gossips and fantasies–Second Miss fell into the water! Again! It was said that Second Miss appreciated flowers at Ting Xiang Waterside Pavilion. But she didn’t let her maid-guard protect her by her side for some reasons. And she even fell into the water. Although the depth of the water in that pond was lower than her chest, Second Miss still passed out because of the cold water! It was said that First Master of Peng’s Family, Peng Shi, passed by and saved her! He not only saved her from the water, but also held her to the bedroom at the pavilion to get a treatment!
Fourth, the most unimaginable big news that Madam Luo might acting “abnormally” — At the second day Fourth Miss traveled outside, Madam Luo ordered to renovate the Tao Yao Yard and gave it to Third Miss, the one just reviving from death? Then Madam Luo sent the dying and unconscious Master Zhu to Tao Yao Yard, and said that it was the perfect place for him to recuperate? Second Mistress Luo sent Ding Rong’s wife to Tao Yao Yard for querying, but she was stopped by Pan Jingyang at the gate, and didn’t even step into the yard?
Fifth, the biggest and thrilling news which could prove Madam Luo’s being “abnormal” — Madam Luo... She had rejuvenated? Everyone who saw Madam Luo all said so. Her wrinkles on her face became less than before, her gray hair turned into black, and she was more energetic. Yesterday early morning, an old servant who cleaned Fu Shou Yard had seen Madam Luo who was always sitting still... Doing Tai Chi in the garden? He was so shocked that he almost dropped his broom! Anyway, everyone had praised Madam Luo looked nice and healthy in the past few days. Madam Luo was so pleased.
In the Fu Shou Yard of this time, Mammy Tang grinned from ear to ear and asked Deng Cao, “I heard that Madam Luo ate two bowls of rice at lunch?”
Deng Cao smiled, “Yes, if Miss Ji didn’t extort her, ‘don’t eat too much, or it’s bad for your health’, Madam Luo wanted to eat another bowl. Besides, she tasted every dishes on the table, and wasn’t picky at all! After lunch, she strolled in the yard before she took a nap. It is the rarest thing in the last ten years!”
“Is she awake?” Mammy Tang listened intently to the sound in Madam Luo’s bedroom, “I have an emergency to ask her.”
Speaking of that, a loud voice came through the bedroom, “Hong Jiang, you back? Come in!”
Mammy Tang let Deng Cao leave first, then went inside. Madam Luo was sitting in front of the dresser and playing those holed jade beads. Though these beads were top class jade beads, in Madam Luo’s critical eyes, they were still divided into three grades. Looking at Madam Luo’s healthy and pink cheek and her high moods, Mammy Tang said happily, “Miss, you haven’t been into playing these flowers and beads for many years. Now, you look so much younger after you ate the jujube, so does your mood!”
“In these days, I feel my whole body is relaxed, so I have extra energy to play those things. Ha-ha, that jujube is a treasure.” Madam Luo smiled and said, “Oh, by the way, Hong Jiang. Have you visited Zhu today? Is he awake yet?’
Mammy Tang shook her head and said, “I had a look at him at the side hall when I sent money to Third Miss in the morning. Tut-tut, such a poor kid, he was poisoned by his own mother. And he isn’t awake until now! Now, everything goes well, except his illness.”
Madam Luo stopped playing with those beads and continued to ask, “Isn’t awake? Has he eaten the jujube? It doesn’t work?”
Mammy Tang got closer to Madam Luo and murmured to explain, “Yesterday Third Miss said, although the jujube can cure kinds of diseases, it can’t detoxify any poison. She also asked, ‘Since Mammy knows that it may not work, do you want to give it to Zhu or not?’ I pondered for a little while, finally I decided to give it back, and put it in the jar at our chamber...Madam, I think we can’t use the jujube on Zhu.”
“...Why?” Madam Luo’s tone didn’t tell her attitude, while she started playing those beads, and made the beads sound.
Mammy Tang stepped forward and told Madam Luo her innermost thoughts that she had considered all night, “These jujubes are the rarest precious treasure in the world, also are family heirloom of our Luo’s Family. You only ate one jujube, and you already look much younger. It’s amazing. But now, there are eight jujubes left. It’s very rare. We must use these jujubes on the most emergency events. First of all, Senior Lord Luo is eighty years old now. He is our family’s glory. We can’t lose him. Second, you are in charge of the East Yard of Luo’s Mansion. If you are healthy, the East Yard will be in order. Third, Second Master of Third Branch, Ji, is your only biological grandchild. Expect First Master of First Branch, that concubine’s son, he is the only blood of our family. Besides, there are many functions of the jujubes. No matter which, it is better than using on Zhu!”
Seeing Madam Luo picked a few beads into three boxes in silence, Mammy Tang said hesitantly, “Miss, are you listening?” Madam nodded, “Go ahead.”
“Miss. It’s not our fault. After all, you already sent me to give Zhu a jujube, and I did so,” Mammy Tang used handkerchief to wipe sweat on her face, “but Third Miss said that there is a small chance to save him even if he took the blessed jujube. It’s the Immortal’s will...”
Madam Luo sighed, “What a pity. Are we really gonna lose one of the twins? Is there another chance to save Zhu’s life?”
Madam Luo sounded peaceful, and Mammy Tang learned Madam Luo had agreed that she brought back the jujube. So, she was relieved and answered honestly, “Dr. Wu examines Zhu every day. According to him, since Zhu lives in Tao Yao Yard, his symptoms have lessened. Maybe it is a nice place to recuperate... But he doesn’t know why he can’t wake him up after he tried so many ways. He didn’t know why Zhu is still in a coma under many treatments, but he just said that Zhu’s life was not in danger currently. Except Senior Lord Luo, Dr. Wu is the most capable doctor in Yang Zhou. If he can’t cure Zhu, nobody can.”
“Hong Jiang. Originally, I want Yi to make a jujube blessed and give Zhu jujubes expediently, so we put Zhu into Tao Yao Yard.” Madam raised her head and asked, “Now, Zhu needn’t eat jujubes. Should we move him out of Tao Yao Yard? Yi is a ten years old child after all, and she has no experience to take care of another child.”
Mammy Tang thought about it and suggested, “In my opinion, now that Dr. Wu said that is a suitable place for Zhu, why not let him stay there? Then we can make an agreement with Third Miss. When he is not really curable, we will send him to First Mistress Luo’s place for the last meeting... Anyhow, a few days ago, Zhu’s illness is hopeless, and people of First Branch had prepared mentally during the first time. We had done enough. First Younger Mistress Luo should be the one to be blamed for being heartless. In order to frame Third Miss, she even feed her son poison!”
Madam Luo was picking the jade beads in quality while asking slowly, “What’s the opinion of Yi? Does she want to accept Zhu? All in all... She used to live in the Taoist temple because Zhu pushed her.”
Mammy Tang smiled, “Don’t worry, Madam Luo. Third Miss is the most softhearted person. She said that though she passed out and puked and finally remembered that Zhu pushed her, he is just a three-year-old kid, and she doesn’t care about it. Besides, she is also worried about Zhu’s condition. In her words, she is willing to take care of him.”
“Alas, she is the most obedient kid in our family. I don’t worry about her,” Madam Luo said astonishingly, “I thought Qiong is the most well-educated kid. But I didn’t think that she could do such a shameful thing!”
Mammy Tang persuaded haltingly, “Maybe it is just an accident... and Second Miss is just a twelve-year-old girl. It is not a big deal that she was held by her own cousin... If it doesn’t work, Peng’s Family can match with ours. I heard that Master Peng Shi is very handsome, no wonder that Second Miss...”
“No, no. It’s not gonna work. Her mother, my Second daughter-in-law, in these two years, wants Qiong to attend the imperial audition in recent years. Peng’s Family, she won’t agree!” Madam Luo shook her head, “Forget about it. Take this the end of the topic. They have their fates to practice. Oh, Hong Jiang, did you send those cheques to Yi? And has she picked these patterns of hair clasps which I told you to take to her?”
Mammy Tang nodded, “Besides the 400 liang silver from Wang Qi’s wife. I also drew 1,000 liang silver from the account of your dried food store as an award to her for presenting the heirloom. 1,400 liang silver in total, and I sent to Third Miss in the morning. Then I presented these patterns to let her pick. But she said she doesn’t like wearing these jewelries, not only because these were burdensome, but also she wouldn’t look as graceful as Second Miss even if she wears them. I told her that you promised to give her three head-ornaments and she deserved them. Even if she didn’t wear them now, she can wear them after her marriage. But she still refused to pick these patterns. Seeing her act like that, I thought she can buy her jewelries after she grows up. So, I decided to give her 300 liang silver of the material of the jewelries. So, it is 1,700 liang silver in all.”
“Yeah, Yi is a good girl. She deserves this.” Madam Luo remembered something, and then looked up and asked, “I just heard you told Deng Cao that you have ‘some emergency’ to tell me?”
Mammy Tang padded her forehead and said, “Oh, I almost forgot the important thing. First Lord came here before noon, and he said that he had gotten two test-free chances to attend Chengxu Academy from Vice-President Wei. The new term begins at the first day of October. Now there are two tables to fill in. First Lord said Qiong had already filled that table and gave it to him. And he asked when Shao could come and fill in. What should we do? Should we tell him the truth?”
Madam Luo began to play those beads again, and made the beads sound. Mammy Tang felt that she waited for a long while. Finally, Madam Luo made the decision, “This chance...we give it to Yi. Well, she can’t write, so let her first uncle fill for her.”
Mammy Tang wide-opened her eyes, “Third Miss? You want Third Miss to go to the Chengxu Academy? It is hard to get the two chances. What about Fourth Miss?”
“Alas, why bother? The chance is valuable now. When Shao comes back, we can ask Vice President Wei to get another chance for her.” Madam Luo explained, “I’m thinking that it’s hard for Yi to marry into a nice Family as a wife because of her bad background. It’s a good opportunity for her to marry Shi or Jian of Peng’s Family. Even if she couldn’t be a wife in charge, she could be the Junior Wife given that we are relatives. We can be even closer than before. In the future, if we ask Peng Haoguang to help Qian get an official position, we can make things easier. It is a good thing that has many benefits.”
Mammy Tang admired, “Madam Luo, you are so considerable. This arrangement will please both Third Miss and First Master!”
“Yes, Shi and Jian are both good kids. Out of the reasons I said before, I make them live next to Yi, and also send them three to the same school. I hope Yi can understand my intention, and pick her husband from them later. Although they are still young, we can settle their engagement first. In this way, Qian’s official position could be settled down earlier.” After saying that, Madam Luo had already separated those beads. She hesitated for a second, and then handed the box with top grade jade to Mammy Tang, “Give it to Yi. Tell her, if she didn’t like ornaments, she could string those jade beads as bracelets; and tell her, she needs to prepare to go to the Chengxu Academy with Qiong in four days!”
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om