As the end of the month approached, the atmosphere in First Madam Cheng’s courtyard was tenser than usual.
A loud snap.
The stewardesses kneeling inside the room shivered.
“Is it that I am no longer needed to run this family?” First Madam Cheng shouted with raised eyebrows.
Account books were scattered across the floor.
“Madam, it was Second Madam who personally gave the instructions. We really…” The few stewardesses prostrated themselves on the ground, speaking tremulously.
They didn’t know how to continue, fearing that they might be accused of sowing discord between the two sister-in-laws.
Her again. How did Qing-niang seem to become more immature as she ages?
She refused to speak up, and First Madam Cheng could no longer ignore it. Previously, she had arbitrarily given away clothing, made purchases of decorative items, and now she was randomly adding exotic delicacies. If she were paying for it herself, that would be fine, but it was all being charged to the family account. Who knew what she would do next time?
“Summon Second Madam for me,” First Madam Cheng said. “All of you may leave.”
The stewardesses hurriedly responded and carefully gathered the account books before filing out one by one.
Once outside, they exchanged looks and stuck out their tongues.
Better stay away.
When Second Madam Cheng heard that the First Madam Cheng requested her presence, she smiled.
“What does she want with you?” asked Second Master Cheng casually, who was sitting on the floor leaning against a few pillows, reading a book.
“Perhaps she hasn’t seen me for a few days and misses me,” Second Madam Cheng replied with a smile, standing up.
Second Master Cheng laughed heartily.
“Then you should go quickly and have a good chat,” he said.
Watching Second Madam Cheng walk out, Second Master Cheng, who was flipping through his book, yawned. Hearing women’s laughter outside, the autumn sky was clear and refreshing, making the laughter sound especially enticing.
He put down his book and went out. Before long, the laughter outside stopped, and the maids in the courtyard didn’t see Second Master Cheng return.
“Who was outside?” one maid asked with a smile, pursing her lips.
The maid standing by the door pouted.
“The concubine in the East Wing,” she said softly.
“This concubine has a keen eye,” the previous maid remarked with a laugh.
The two maids exchanged glances and laughed silently.
Second Madam Cheng walked leisurely along the path with her maids, heading towards First Madam Cheng’s place, which required passing by the lotus pond.
“I haven’t seen it in a few days, and now the chrysanthemums have bloomed,” she said, looking at the chrysanthemums by the flower pond.
“Yes, the chrysanthemums bloomed early this year,” one maid replied with a smile.
Second Madam Cheng slowed her pace.
“Hmm, alright, let me take a look,” she said.
The maids behind her exchanged glances, some anxious and some puzzled.
Wasn’t it First Madam who had something urgent to discuss? Why the delay?
But they weren’t foolish enough to remind her aloud; after all, Second Madam Cheng wasn’t a fool!
“Mother.” Cheng Qi-niang’s voice came from the opposite side.
Second Madam Cheng looked over and saw Cheng Qi-niang and a few other girls also admiring the flowers.
“Have fun, but be careful not to fall into the water,” she said.
Cheng Qi-niang cupped her hands and called back, saying she understood, watching her mother and the others walk away.
“So boring,” she said, throwing the flower branch in her hand into the pond.
Cheng Wu-niang and Cheng Si-niang were picking chrysanthemums for Cheng Liu-niang to wear.
“I heard that Lady Dong is hosting a tea party,” Cheng Liu-niang said.
“So what? We can’t go, and if we did, we’d be laughed at,” Cheng Qi-niang said, sitting down on a rock and looking at the chrysanthemums in front of her. “When is that fool leaving?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Where would she go?” Cheng Wu-niang said.
“Our chrysanthemums are blooming so beautifully, unlike Lady Dong’s. She’s hosting a tea party; I could host a chrysanthemum party,” Cheng Liu-niang said, her eyes lighting up.
“If we go out, we’ll be laughed at. Do you want to invite people over to see the fool?” Cheng Qi-niang said, pouting and pulling off a half-bloomed chrysanthemum, crushing it in her hand, and throwing it on the ground.
“You’re right,” Cheng Liu-niang said, disheartened.
“Why haven’t they sent her to the temple yet? My father said the priest mentioned that sending her to the temple would be good for her,” Cheng Qi-niang said angrily, tugging at a chrysanthemum.
Cheng Liu-niang pondered, looking at the courtyard full of splendid chrysanthemums.
“You are admiring the flowers,” a man’s voice came.
The sisters looked over and all smiled with delight.
“Brother!”
It had been a month since they had last seen Cheng Si-lang, and he had lost a lot of weight, but he also looked more spirited, standing by with the help of a maid.
The sisters gathered around to greet him.
“You dare to come into the garden again? Aren’t you afraid of being captured by the wandering spirit again?” Cheng Qi-niang joked.
The other sisters quickly hushed her.
Cheng Si-lang chuckled, unperturbed.
“I’m not afraid. Ghosts fear wicked people. She didn’t take me last time, she won’t dare come again this time,” he said, stroking Cheng Qi-niang’s head.
“Are ghosts scary-looking?” Cheng Qi-niang asked with curiosity, now interested.
“Not scary at all,” Cheng Si-lang laughed.
“Alright, let him stroll and unwind. Let’s go play over there,” Cheng Wu-niang said.
Although Cheng Qi-niang still wanted to ask about the ghost, she reluctantly followed her sisters as they walked away. She didn’t want to be left alone and decided to go along, albeit reluctantly.
“Young Master, are you tired? Shall we go back?” Chun Lan asked.
“Not tired,” Cheng Si-lang replied, looking ahead not far away. “Let’s walk a bit more.”
Chun Lan responded and supported him as they walked slowly together.
They arrived beside a large boulder, and both of them simultaneously stopped.
Cheng Si-lang was about to speak and turned to look at Chun Lan, who was staring blankly at the boulder.
Why was she also looking there?
Cheng Si-lang looked over and, in a moment of trance, saw the young lady seated there, calmly gazing downward, before she vanished with a blink.
“Chun Lan, did you come here looking for the ghost?” he suddenly asked. “Did you see something here?”
Chun Lan shuddered.
“I… encountered someone who gave me advice on how to save you,” she said.
Cheng Si-lang nodded, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Perhaps that lady was just a hallucination he had seen during his illness.
“That maid from the Zhou family,” he said with a slight smile, “I haven’t thanked her properly before she left.”
Chun Lan nodded.
“Yes,” she said, looking again at the boulder. Strangely, she couldn’t quite recall the features of that maid, but the image of the fool in her plain muslin clothes was clear in her mind. She shook her head. “Young Master, you’re feeling better now. Let’s go back; it’s getting chilly.”
Cheng Si-lang agreed and, with her help, turned around and walked slowly back.
At this moment, Second Madam Cheng finally took a seat in front of First Madam Cheng.
“Sister-in-law, the chrysanthemums here are blooming beautifully,” she remarked, gazing at a chrysanthemum displayed in front of the folding screen.
“All the gardens are in full bloom. Feel free to pick more if you like,” First Madam Cheng replied.
Second Madam Cheng took a sip of the tea her maid had brought.
“While our garden is good, it’s not the best. A new gardener has arrived in town, cultivating many rare and precious chrysanthemums,” she continued. “Everyone is clamoring to buy them. Luckily, I managed to secure two. They’ll be delivered in a few days. When they arrive, you must see them. I’m sure you’ll be delighted.”
First Madam Cheng’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the words “rare and precious.”
“How much did it cost?” she blurted out.
She had heard that such rare flowers could be worth a fortune!
“Not expensive at all, only three hundred guan,” Second Madam Cheng replied. “When they arrive, we can display them in the courtyard and host a flower viewing party…”
Before she could finish her sentence, First Madam Cheng raised her voice and said her name.
Second Madam Cheng looked at her and remained silent.
“Return the flowers,” First Madam Cheng took a deep breath and said.
“You haven’t even seen them yet. I’m sure you’ll love them once you do,” Second Madam Cheng replied with a slight smile, touching her fan. It was a new ivory fan she had bought, finely crafted and much admired. “Besides, the deposit has already been paid. You can’t just cancel it now.”
First Madam Cheng gritted her teeth as she looked at her.
“Fine then. Since you like it so much, it’s your own money. Buy whatever you want,” she said.
Second Madam Cheng chuckled, waving her fan. “We’re all family, using family funds. Why shouldn’t I be able to?”
“You!” First Madam Cheng exclaimed angrily.
This was perhaps the first time since Peng Qing-niang had entered the family that she had spoken to her like this!
What was wrong with her? Why was she acting so strangely and unreasonably? Was she possessed?
