Chapter 052
Chapter 52: It’s Hard to Say No When You’ve Taken Someone’s Kindness
Mo Zhao Zhao’s voice drew Madam Yun back. She tucked away her heavy thoughts and shaped a mild smile as she said: “Princess, that will not do. Tribute from Nanzhou is for the royal family. If you give it to Little Fourth, people might gossip.”
“It does not matter,” Mo Zhao Zhao answered at once, her chin lifting as she declared: “It is mine, and I can give it to whom I please. If anyone dares talk behind my back, then I will make them regret it.”
Jiang Zi Tang’s laugh was soft as she added in a gentle tone: “The Princess means well. Auntie Ye, please accept it. I also brought a gift for Little Sister. It is in A’Yao’s room.”
With all said, Madam Yun could not refuse. She thanked them and accepted. Yun Wan Ning beamed and chimed in with bright thanks: “Yee,” [Thank you, Princess. Thank you, Elder Sister Zi Tang.]
Her joy soon folded into worry as she thought: [It is hard to say no after taking kindness. Is it wrong to take gifts and not return them? Sigh. I will wait until my spiritual power grows enough for dream-entering. Then I will repay them. I will tell the Princess the truth about Lu Huai Jin and hope she wakes from her illusion before it is too late and she ends in water. I will also tell Sister Zi Tang that Xie Xuan Yong truly loves her, that he never loved anyone else. He missed Qiqiao because her maid meddled, sending false messages so they both waited all night and each believed the other broke the promise. That maid had already become a concubine of He Wen Yuan, Zi Tang’s cousin. He Wen Yuan coveted her beauty, and the He clan wanted the Jiang clan’s power. They did not want Jiang and Xie to unite, so they used the maid to sow chaos. Because she was the maid Zi Tang trusted most, she succeeded. They were like two gourds sealed shut, full of misunderstanding, never speaking, never asking, always assuming. Xie Xuan Yong believed Zi Tang had accepted He Wen Yuan, and Zi Tang believed Xie Xuan Yong had fallen for my elder sister. Not wishing to harm sisterhood over a man, she married He Wen Yuan. Xie Xuan Yong was wronged. He helped my sister only because she was close to Zi Tang and he wished to support what Zi Tang cared for. That kindness deepened Zi Tang’s misunderstanding. She lost her title as First Talented Lady, clashed with the female lead again and again, and married the most heartless libertine. In the end, that same concubine maid tormented her and murdered her. Zi Tang was six months with child. Driven by jealousy, the woman cut her open and stole the baby. Both mother and child died. After A’Tang’s death, Xie Xuan Yong went mad with grief, destroyed the He family, and vanished. No one knows where he went.]
Hearing this, Yun Wan Yao trembled. Guilt pricked her eyes with sudden heat. She had not imagined that A’Tang and Young Master Xie would end so miserably, or that she herself would play a part in their ruin. No, this time she would not let them drift apart. For A’Tang’s sake, the only man who would destroy a house was Xie Xuan Yong. He could not be lost. She clenched her fists and set her resolve. Madam Yun saw her daughter’s look and knew the choice was made. She offered no more advice. Too many hands would tangle the thread.
Sleep washed over Yun Wan Ning like a soft tide. She yawned and rubbed her eyes with tiny fists. Seeing it, Madam Yun told the two girls, then lifted the child and took her away.
As they left, Yun Wan Yao turned back and asked with quiet intent: “A’Tang, why have you not mentioned Young Master Xie lately?”
Mo Zhao Zhao’s eyes lit as she leaned in and added with lively curiosity: “That is true. I have not heard Elder Cousin speak of him at all.”
Caught off guard, Jiang Zi Tang stilled. A small sorrow flashed through her gaze, then she said at last in a low voice: “I have not seen him for a long time.”
“Why is that?” Yun Wan Yao asked, though she already knew the answer, and could not stop herself.
Jiang Zi Tang’s mouth pressed tight. She did not seem to know where to begin. The silence made Mo Zhao Zhao anxious. The Princess leaned forward and burst out, her voice fierce with loyalty as she said: “Did Xie Xuan Yong bully you? Tell us. If he dared wrong you, I will not let him off.”
“Princess,” Yun Wan Yao sighed, cutting her a mild look before she said: “Young Master Xie is not that sort. We have spent so long with A’Tang. If others do not know, do we not know? To him, A’Tang is precious. There must be some misunderstanding.”
A faint bitterness rose in her chest. A’Tang had not mentioned Young Master Xie for so long. How had she missed it. If not for Little Sister’s voice today, she might have overlooked it still, and A’Tang, with no one to counsel her, would have sunk along the old road.
Mo Zhao Zhao rubbed her neck and admitted with a sheepish grin: “I was only worried she would be hurt.”
“A’Yao is right,” she said, rallying fast. “Young Master Xie is not that kind. There must be a knot. Elder Cousin, tell us everything so A’Yao and I can help.”
Jiang Zi Tang looked at their earnest eyes and slowly began as she said: “Before Qiqiao, we agreed to meet at the Temple of Matchmaking. I waited there all night, and he never came. He broke his word. I waited days more, hoping he would explain, but he never came.”
Her voice cracked, and she hid her face.
“What a scoundrel,” Mo Zhao Zhao cried, springing up as she declared: “How dare he miss such a promise and not apologize. I will take my people and demand an answer.”
“Princess, calm down,” Yun Wan Yao said at once, catching her arm and sinking her back onto the jade stool.
“A’Yao, what are you doing?” Mo Zhao Zhao protested, her brows flying. “You heard Elder Cousin. There is no misunderstanding. He clearly did wrong.”
Yun Wan Yao’s head throbbed, and she coaxed softly: “Princess, I truly think there is a misunderstanding. Can you wait a little. Young Master Xie is not going anywhere. If the truth shows he is at fault, you can confront him then.”
“Hmph, fine, I will wait,” Mo Zhao Zhao muttered.
Yun Wan Yao turned to Jiang Zi Tang and asked, her tone turning very careful: “A’Tang, are you certain the meeting place was in front of the Temple of Affinities, and did you confirm it with him face to face?”
The weight in her voice made both girls pause. After a long moment, Jiang Zi Tang shook her head and said with a soft flush: “A’Yao, do not tease me. I am the legitimate daughter of the Jiang house. Besides the Qiqiao Festival or large public gatherings, how could I ever meet a man in private. If word spread, would it not disgrace the Jiang name.”
Yun Wan Yao had expected this. The Jiang clan was the late Empress’s family, and their rules were iron. Even betrothed couples were rarely allowed private talks. Her own parents were more open, which was why she had seen Prince Qi before and suffered whispers for it. The Jiang household was not like hers.
“Then how did you set the place?” Yun Wan Yao asked, voice gentle.
“Through my personal maid,” Jiang Zi Tang answered.
“Have you considered that your maid might have erred,” Yun Wan Yao followed at once, her tone still soft as she added: “That she gave him the wrong place, and that is why you missed each other.”
Jiang Zi Tang shook her head at once and said: “Impossible. Ling’er is clever and careful. She has served me for years and rarely errs. She would not mix up such a thing.”
Yun Wan Yao sighed. A’Tang was swift of mind, yet she had not caught the deeper thread. Clearly, she trusted that maid too much. She eased her tone even more as she said: “No one is perfect. Even the sharpest maid can slip. It is possible she misspoke and never knew it. A’Tang, this is not a small matter. I truly think you should ask Young Master Xie face to face. Whatever the truth, you should speak before you decide. If you let one incident turn your heart cold, is that not too hasty.”
“Yes, yes, A’Yao is absolutely right,” Mo Zhao Zhao said, nodding hard. “Elder Cousin, you should ask him yourself. If the Jiang name or your strict uncle makes it hard, then let me go for you. I will get a clear answer.”
Jiang Zi Tang still gripped her handkerchief and whispered, wounded: “If it was a misunderstanding, why has he not explained.”
Before Yun Wan Yao could answer, Mo Zhao Zhao leaned forward, counting on her fingers as she said: “If it was like A’Yao said, and your maid told him a wrong place, then there are two guesses. One, he waited the whole night like you, never saw you, and now thinks you stood him up, so he is sulking and waiting for you to explain. Two, he came to look for you, and a servant of your house drove him off and never told you. I do not think your servants would dare, so the first guess makes more sense.”
Yun Wan Yao lifted a brow in surprise and glanced at her with faint amusement. The Princess’s logic was clean today. According to Little Sister’s inner voice, the Princess was supposed to be a second-rate villainess, a noble girl with status and no sense, always making a scene to be slapped down by the heroine. Yet now she was clear and steady. Ah, and she herself had been written the same way, a useless foil turned into a top villainess so the true phoenix could blaze. That life was too foolish. She must step carefully and never return to that path.
She drew a breath and said to Jiang Zi Tang with warmth: “A’Tang, I think the Princess has a point. Perhaps Young Master Xie feels exactly as you do now. Instead of hurting in silence, ask him. At worst, you will learn your fears were empty.”
Jiang Zi Tang hesitated, then straightened and said: “Fine. I will ask him. I want to hear it from his mouth.”
Mo Zhao Zhao propped her chin on her hand and teased with bright eyes: “Oh, Elder Cousin is not afraid of staining the Jiang name anymore.”
Jiang Zi Tang flushed and could not answer. Mo Zhao Zhao laughed and lifted a hand as she said: “All right, I will stop teasing. But you truly should go. Elder Cousin, you hold your reputation too tightly. That uncle of yours is an old fossil who crushes you with virtue and rites. Look what that has done to you. It is only a meeting. You are not stealing or breaking law. Why must it be about reputation. When a lifetime of joy hangs in the balance, what does reputation matter anyway.”
Raised in imperial ease, Princess Hua Yang had never lived under the fetters that bound noble daughters, and because of that, she could not truly understand.