Xing Pingchun was soaked from head to toe. His hair hung over his eyes, and only his two rows of white teeth showed as he grinned foolishly, quite pleased with himself. On his slanted cloth schoolbag, two lotus leaves were stuck like decorations.
Dingxi Marquis was startled awake. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at Jiaoniang.
“Silly child, with rain that heavy, couldn’t you have waited a little before coming back?” Qingya said helplessly.
“He just loves playing in the rain like a little maniac,” Qian Jiaoniang sat motionless, glancing at her son. “Aren’t you going to take off your wet clothes? Go take a bath!”
Qingya stood up to prepare hot water. Xing Pingchun quickly stripped off his clothes and, in no time, was stark naked, standing in front of Jiaoniang. He pulled out a lotus stalk, ran around the house bare-bottomed, and shouted, “Giddy-up! Giddy-up!”
Dingxi Marquis chuckled foolishly.
Qian Jiaoniang covered her forehead, unable to bear the sight. What kind of sin had she committed in her past life to be stuck caring for two fools, one big and one small?
“Mom, mom, look! I’m walking my bird!”
Of course, Qian Jiaoniang knew exactly what her silly son meant by “bird.” She perfunctorily gave a couple of responses, her eyes never leaving the puzzle box in her hands.
“Mom, you said only boys have birds. Does dad have a bird too?”
“Eh? Ah… oh… oh…”
Xing Muzheng noticed that Jiaoniang’s ears turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“Then is his bigger than mine?” Xing Pingchun continued curiously.
“H-how would I—you—how would I know!” Qian Jiaoniang’s pretty face flushed crimson. She stammered, tucked her hair behind her ears twice, and looked like a young maiden who hadn’t yet come of age.
Xing Muzheng’s heart stirred—She doesn’t know? Lies.
But Xing Pingchun believed his mother’s lie. “Then can I compare with dad and see?”
Qian Jiaoniang slammed the table and unleashed the full authority of the “mother tiger” he had once called her. “Compare what compare! You’re soaking wet and still fooling around! Go take a bath now! Do you want Sister Qingya to draw water for you? Move it, take your dirty clothes, and get out!”
Frightened, Xing Pingchun dropped the lotus stalk, grabbed his clothes, and dashed off.
As soon as he was gone, Qian Jiaoniang, who had been sitting ramrod straight, slumped. She pressed her burning cheeks with both hands, then found them too hot and grabbed the fan Qingya had left on the table, fanning her face furiously. She paced around the round table muttering to herself, “Qian Jiaoniang, what nonsense are you thinking? Stop it, just stop it. Whether it’s big or not has nothing to do with you!”
Dingxi Marquis giggled foolishly.
Qian Jiaoniang snapped at him, “What are you laughing at!”
The Marquis only laughed louder.
Just then, the kitchen staff came by with the marquis’s dinner. Qian Jiaoniang gave her face a few more vigorous fans before letting them in. But unexpectedly, a maid named Shi’er from Feng Yuyan’s courtyard followed in after them.
“Madam, our young lady requests your presence. She said there’s something she needs to discuss with you.”
Qian Jiaoniang glanced outside at the pouring rain. “What could be so urgent that she must summon me in this d*mned weather?”
“I don’t know, Madam. My lady just told me to invite you.”
“Then go back and tell your lady that I’m not available right now. I’ll go see her tomorrow when I have time.” Qian Jiaoniang directed the servants to set out the dishes.
Shi’er hesitated, glancing at the dazed Dingxi Marquis, and added, “Madam, my lady said it’s something very important, and she must discuss it with you and Deputy Commander Li right away. Lord Li is already in her courtyard and asks that you come at once.”
“I said I’m not going.” Qian Jiaoniang picked up a bowl of soup and walked over to feed the marquis.
“But—”
“But what? Is the madam of the marquis household you or her?” Qingya came in from outside. “The madam said she’s not going, and you, a maid, just need to take that answer back to your mistress. Why are you still talking? And besides, Feng Yuyan is just temporarily staying in the marquis manor. What right does she have to summon our madam?”
Qingya’s sharp tongue left Shi’er’s face alternating between pale and flushed. She bowed and left hurriedly.
“What did that girl want?” Qingya asked after they’d left.
Qian Jiaoniang handed the soup to the marquis to hold himself, then went to dish out rice. “She said Miss Feng had something urgent to discuss and even brought Lord Li into it.”
Qingya snorted. “I knew she’d pull some low tricks. I bet she’s going to claim she’s fallen ill and expects us to serve her like royalty.”
Qian Jiaoniang nodded. “I think so too.”
Qingya added, “Ignore her. I went to the accounting office just now, and that old accountant nearly talked me to death. Finally, he admitted it was Feng Yuyan who took the ledger. He said ever since the marquis fell ill, she’s been spending silver, jewelry, and fine fabrics like water. He can’t even keep track of it all. Feng Yuyan claimed it was to prepare for her wedding, and recently she said she needed even more and got the marquis to approve an advance payment. She even signed off on two thousand taels in silver notes, supposedly to lend her cousin money to buy land. But the signed receipt—somehow that’s gone missing too.”
Qian Jiaoniang frowned slightly. “Isn’t this a little too coincidental?”
“Too coincidental!” Qingya sneered.
“Did the accountant seem like he was lying?”
“He didn’t look like he was making it up.”
“Call Zhou Mu over tomorrow. We’ll question him carefully. If what the accountant says is true, we’ll need to take this seriously.”
“Alright.”
***
That night, after dinner, Qian Jiaoniang had someone move the rocking chair outside so the marquis could get some air. But Feng Yuyan barged in with a whole group of people—Li Qingquan included.
“General, Madam.” Li Qingquan cupped his fists toward Xing Muzheng in the chair and saluted Qian Jiaoniang.
“Marquis.” Feng Yuyan’s eyes reddened at the sight of Xing Muzheng, her voice choked as she called out. She took two steps forward, stopping about ten feet away from him. Though the man in front of her looked dazed, his appearance was clean and composed. He didn’t cry, make a fuss, or act insane. If you didn’t look too closely, he seemed almost like his old self.
“Lord Li,” Qian Jiaoniang was watering the garden when they arrived. She set down the dipper and wiped her hands with a towel. “What brings you here today? Any updates on that matter?”
Li Qingquan looked slightly uneasy. “Madam, I’ve sent men out, but there’s been no news yet. Today I came for something else—an urgent matter.”
“Oh? What is it?” Qian Jiaoniang asked readily.
Qingya, hearing the commotion, stepped out and stood by the doorway to listen.
Wet Nurse Ye stepped out from behind Feng Yuyan and, braving her fear, rushed in front of Xing Muzheng and knelt down, her voice trembling with emotion as she cried out, “Marquis! Marquis! Our young lady is carrying your child—it’s joyous news, my lord!”
Feng Yuyan covered her face with a handkerchief, saying coyly, “Oh my, how embarrassing.”
Qian Jiaoniang stood there watching the still-dazed marquis. She tilted her head slightly, and Qingya walked up to her and tugged at her sleeve.
What nonsense was this old crone spouting? He had never touched Feng Yuyan—where would a child have come from?
