Chapter 11 — The Stepmother
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 4 of 4
Mother said nothing. She pulled the scarlet sweat-kerchief from her waist and flung it to the ground, then asked with a smile, "Is it long enough?"
Wang Shuying looked at Mother with unwavering resolve, rose slowly to her feet, and walked up to her with a faint smile on her lips. Bending her knees, she picked up the red kerchief and said lightly, "Thank you, Elder Sister," then turned and walked toward the flower hall.
Snowflakes fell upon her raven-black hair and vanished in an instant.
This was the estate that had come to the First Aunt as part of her dowry; if a death occurred here, her reputation would be ruined beyond repair.
The First Aunt took fright and said hurriedly, "Seventh Sister-in-law, who is this woman? How do you come to know her?"
Mother stared at the flower hall, its doors slammed shut with a bang, and murmured in a trance, "She is Wang Yousheng's daughter. She lives at Nanwa... He and my father were fellow students, and our two families were often in each other's company... She is two years my junior... When I married, she gave me two handkerchiefs she had embroidered herself with twin lotus blossoms on a single stem... I never thought... never in my wildest dreams did I think... no wonder Wanyuan would not say who it was... They set a trap and duped me into it..."
The First Aunt and the Third Aunt were badly startled. "Wang Yousheng—is that the Wang Yixing who was exiled for offending Chen Dong?"
Mother nodded slightly, and two clear streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"How could Seventh Uncle be so foolish? Her father was a jinshi in the jichou year, of the same examination as your Fifth Uncle." The First Aunt paced in frantic circles. "No—I must go speak to my brother-in-law at once..." Then she ordered the Third Aunt, "Quick, you go stop Miss Wang. I will fetch help!"
Since taking a concubine in one's youth was no honorable affair, the First Aunt had long since dismissed the maids and serving women from within and around the flower hall.
The Third Aunt too realized the gravity of the situation.
The Dou family did not fear offending the powerful and noble, but they did fear the charge of driving to her death the daughter of a fallen fellow examinee.
She answered in a fluster, gathered her skirts, and ran toward the flower hall.
Mother stood quietly upon the bluestone bridge, letting the snowflakes drift down and settle upon her until she became a snowman.
Only little Dou Yan remained to keep her company.
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Today I am still in fifth place on the rankings!
O(∩_∩)O~
Thank you all for your support.
PS: Regarding the publication of "The Concubine's Daughter's Stratagem," I am inquiring with the relevant editor and will give everyone definite news tomorrow.
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