Chapter 011

Chapter 11: The son wakes up and tells his father to take a concubine

Old Madam’s line—“It’s you who can’t bear children”—stabbed into Madam Wang’s heart like a poisoned blade. The pain went down to the bone. She went numb; her ears rang; her vision dimmed. [Can’t bear children?] Those words were the darkest nightmare of her twenty years in the Heir Apparent Manor.

Each word from her mother-in-law felt like a hard slap burning across her face. Yes, she was anxious. How old was Qing Xuan now? Already at his coming-of-age. In his rooms there wasn’t even a chamber maid to bring warmth, not even a simple maid. As his mother, how could she not be frantic?

But class and status pressed on her like a mountain. To make a girl of low birth the legal wife would shame the whole clan. Madam Wang could not afford that disgrace. As for the hint in her mother-in-law’s words—that the Heir Apparent should take another concubine to have more sons—she was even more unwilling. [Why should I agree to that?] She had managed this household for twenty years, graying her hair and wrinkling her eyes. In the end, because she had no second son, must she hand her husband to someone else? Never.

She clenched her palms until her nails dug into flesh. The sharp pain cleared her head. She would not be trapped by her mother-in-law’s words. Drawing a deep breath, she swallowed the copper taste rising in her throat and forced out a smile uglier than a cry, saying: “Mother, how could I not be anxious? Qing Xuan is the apple of my eye. I want him to marry and have children more than anyone. It’s just that this came too suddenly, didn’t it?”

Softening her tone and leaning forward, she said quietly: “Think about it. Since he was small, Qing Xuan acted like a little old man, all about Buddha and Dao. None of us expected him to open his heart so quickly. Please give us a little time to think this through.”

Lifting her eyes to meet Old Madam’s, she pleaded: “Mother, how about this? When the Heir Apparent comes back tonight, I’ll talk with him first and see what he thinks. Tomorrow, I will give you a definite answer. Please don’t let this upset your health. It isn’t worth it.”

Turning, Madam Wang called toward the door: “Xiu He, hurry to the small kitchen and have them stew a cup of snow pear with bird’s nest to clear and cool Old Madam’s temper.”

Receiving the order, Xiu He bent her knees in a quick curtsy and left.

Old Madam kept a cold face and stared at First Madam without a word. The air in the room grew heavy and hard to breathe. After a long moment, she finally gave a short, grudging snort through her nose, which counted as consent.

Freed as if by a pardon, Madam Wang grabbed the table for support and stood. Her legs felt like noodles. She bowed and said: “Then please rest, Mother. Your daughter-in-law will take her leave.” She turned to go, almost tripping over the tall threshold in her panic.

“Madam!” A maid outside cried out and rushed to steady her. Madam Wang’s face went pale again. Forgetting all poise, she fled from Green Briar Court. When the cold wind hit her, she realized the back of her gown was soaked with sweat.

The next half day, Madam Wang could neither sit nor stand. She shut herself in her room and saw no one, pacing back and forth until the floorboards squeaked. At last dusk came, and the Heir Apparent returned to the manor. Hearing the familiar footsteps draw near, Madam Wang’s heart leaped into her throat.

The door opened, and a tall, straight figure walked in. The Heir Apparent, Lin De Fang, seemed in a very good mood. He held a delicate brocade pouch embroidered with twin lotuses, and, like showing off a treasure, he offered it to Madam Wang, saying with a smile in his eyes: “Madam, look! I saw this on the street today. The work is so fine. The moment I saw it, I thought of buying it for you. Well? Doesn’t this prove I’m always thinking of you?”

On any other day, Madam Wang would have felt sweet warmth and teased him back. Today she could not smile. Staring at her husband’s pleased face only made the pressure in her chest worse. She did not take the pouch. Lifting her head, she said one careful word at a time: “Heir Apparent, your Buddha’s Chosen son has opened up.”

Lin De Fang’s smile froze. He clearly did not follow. He asked: “Huh? What?”

Seeing his blank look, Madam Wang’s bottled-up anger flared and sharpened her voice: “I said, your precious son isn’t chanting or praying anymore! He has his eye on the Master’s little Miss! He’s opened up!”

The words rattled out like a string of firecrackers. Lin De Fang was stunned. The fine brocade pouch slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a soft thud. The room went silent.

Suddenly he slapped his thigh. Instead of shock or anger, his face showed a strange mix of surprise, understanding, and a bit of excitement. He cried out, his tone even changing: “Love Tribulation! It’s the Love Tribulation! It’s the Love Trial and Karmic Tribulation the Great Master spoke of. I knew it! I knew Great Master Shi Neng’s calculation would be right!”