Chapter 279: Floral Essence
Upon hearing Consort Wu's words, Lianxin's face flushed and paled alternately. After a long silence, she muttered, "Then... then if something really happens to the First Master outside... we should make preparations early."
"Of course," Consort Wu replied, smoothing the wrinkled hem of her robe where Lianxin had tugged it. "If Consort Fei hadn't agreed, Cai Rong wouldn't have told you any of this. By rights, we should go to the First Mistress's quarters to find out what Cheng Xin said. But as I said before, Consort Fei has the backing of the First Madam, while we have the Wu Family behind us. If we make a mistake, it's the Yu Family's internal affair—the Wu Family can't intervene from afar. But if Consort Fei makes a mistake, the First Madam, as the Wife of the Clan Leader of the Yu Family, has every right to step in. Besides, Consort Fei is more anxious about this than we are. Just follow Cai Rong's lead in this matter. When it's time for us to step forward, Consort Fei will naturally come begging for our help."
Lianxin, seeing that Consort Wu—who usually stayed out of everything—not only spoke with clarity but also made perfect sense, felt reassured. She couldn't help but glance at Consort Wu a few more times.
Consort Wu smiled bitterly. She thought to herself that no one in this world was truly foolish—it was just that circumstances forced people to bow their heads. Then she recalled how her younger sister, though married to a merchant, was valued for her literacy and accounting skills. Her mother-in-law had taken her under her wing immediately, teaching her household management, and she had borne a son soon after marriage, finally tasting the sweetness of life after hardship. The slight discomfort in Consort Wu's heart dissipated, and she turned out of the narrow corridor, calmly settling onto the kang. As she worked on winter clothes for her younger brother, she wondered whether she should also make a set for her nephew—her sister's son, whom she had never met but was only ten months younger than her brother.
Meanwhile, Fei Shi, seeing no movement from Consort Wu, clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves.
After a moment's thought, she asked Cai Rong, "Is Cheng Xin still in the First Mistress's quarters?"
Cai Rong nodded.
Fei Shi sighed. "I had planned to give the First Mistress and Zhen Jie'er each a bottle of floral essence, but I'm not sure if Zhen Jie'er can use it. I wanted to ask the First Mistress, but it seems I'll have to wait a while longer." Then she instructed Cai Rong, "The moment Cheng Xin leaves, come and report to me."
Cai Rong quickly agreed and kept watch outside, observing the movements in the main courtyard.
After about the time it took for two incense sticks to burn, Cai Rong rushed in. "Madam, Cheng Xin has left."
Fei Shi then took the prepared daphne floral essence and went to Fan Shi's quarters.
Cheng Xin had been evasive—when questioned, she claimed ignorance, and when pressed further, she deflected with, "These days, I only handle the First Master's writing and documents. Everything else is handled by Duan Yan." Fan Shi, frustrated and anxious, was in no mood for pleasantries. The servants, sensing her mood, tiptoed around nervously.
When Fei Shi arrived, she immediately noticed the tense atmosphere, with everyone treading carefully. She quietly asked the young maid who lifted the curtain for her, "What's going on?"
The maid trembled and stammered, "I don't know anything! I don't know anything!"
"Look at you! I was just asking casually," Fei Shi said with a laugh. "If it's something you can't talk about, do you think I'd force you to tell me?"
The maid's eyes flashed with gratitude, and she quickly announced through the inner chamber's curtain, "Consort Fei is here."The inner chamber remained silent for a long while, just as Fei Shi thought Fan Shi would refuse to see her, Mo Zhuan's voice suddenly sounded beside her ear: "Please come in, Fei Shi!"
A young maid hurriedly lifted the curtain for Fei Shi.
Fei Shi softly thanked the maid before stepping inside with a smile.
Only Fan Shi and Mo Zhuan were in the room. Fan Shi reclined on the daybed, while Mo Zhuan sat on a brocade stool beside her. The two were very close, seemingly engaged in an intimate conversation, yet their expressions appeared somewhat grave.
When Fei Shi entered, Fan Shi didn’t even lift her eyelids. It was Mo Zhuan who spoke on her behalf: "What brings you here, Fei Shi?"
Fei Shi’s smile remained gentle and composed as she produced a crystal vial of floral water. "With time to spare, I noticed the daphne flowers in the garden were blooming beautifully, so I followed the mistress’s example and gathered some to make floral water. To my surprise, it turned out well. I thought to share some with the young mistress and Zhen Jie’er. But Zhen Jie’er’s health has always been delicate, and she’s still on medication. I wasn’t sure if it would be suitable, so I brought it here for your and Mo Zhuan’s opinion..."
Fan Shi, recalling the clothes Fei Shi had made for Yu Jingxiu, felt a surge of distaste. She cast a cold glance at Fei Shi and was about to dismiss her disdainfully when Fei Shi uncorked the vial. The room instantly filled with the delicate fragrance of daphne flowers. The scent invigorated Fan Shi, easing her headache, and she swallowed her refusal. Still, she replied indifferently, "Take it. Have the physician examine it. If it’s safe, send it to Zhen Jie’er."
Mo Zhuan acknowledged with a "Yes."
Fan Shi then extended her hand, signaling Mo Zhuan to pass her the tea—a subtle hint for Fei Shi to leave.
Unexpectedly, the usually astute Fei Shi pretended not to notice and stood there smiling. "Speaking of which, something happened while I was gathering the daphne flowers." Without waiting to see if Fan Shi was interested, she continued, "Do you recall the old woman Liu who tends the flower garden? When I went to pick the flowers, she was complaining to Housekeeper Li on duty. She said her husband had been complaining of back pain lately, but she was too busy repotting and grafting the garden flowers to accompany him to the physician. So she told him to go alone. He returned saying the physician diagnosed it as an old ailment requiring daily acupuncture, or else he might be bedridden in old age. The old woman was terrified but couldn’t leave her work, so she gave him the key to their savings to seek treatment. Yet when she finally checked after finishing her tasks, she found their savings gone. Panicked, she rushed to the physician to inquire—only to discover her husband hadn’t been seeing the physician at all. Instead, he’d become infatuated with a widow next door..." Before she could finish, she noticed Fan Shi and Mo Zhuan exchanging a glance.A smile quickly flickered across Fei Shi's lips, vanishing as swiftly as a pebble sinking into a lake. "I only heard about it in passing. But today, Cai Rong told me that Old Granny Liu's husband beat her and even threatened to divorce her!" She burst into laughter. "Madam, isn't that ridiculous? At their age, aren't they ashamed? And that husband of hers is so short, skinny, and scrawny—only Old Granny Liu would treasure him. That widow probably just wanted to swindle some money from him..."
Fan Shi's expression darkened instantly. She scolded Fei Shi sharply, "Gossip is the worst habit for a woman. When did you start behaving like those lowly servants, spreading rumors?"
Fei Shi's face flushed with embarrassment, then paled. She muttered, "I thought since everyone was talking about it, I'd share it with you to lighten the mood..." Then she quickly added, "Madam, I won't do it again."
Fan Shi's expression softened slightly, but she dismissed her bluntly, "If there's nothing else, you may return to your quarters."
Fei Shi curtsied and retreated to her room, then instructed Cai Rong, "I couldn't properly thank Mo Zhuan in front of Madam. I still have a bottle of rose-scented dew here—though not as precious as daphne, it's still quite fragrant. Go to the front courtyard and chat with the other maids. Find an opportunity to give this to Mo Zhuan."
Cai Rong, drawn by the allure of beauty, eagerly took the bottle and sniffed it, delighted by the pleasant fragrance. With a bright smile, she agreed and headed to the main courtyard.
Soon, she returned.
"Madam," Cai Rong pouted, "Madam must have sent Mo Zhuan on some errand. The moment I approached, she scolded me harshly..."
"Oh?" Fei Shi raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps Mo Zhuan was in a bad mood today. You know how it is—servants sometimes face hardships. Don't take it to heart. We'll try again when she's free."
Cai Rong nodded cheerfully and tucked the scented dew into her own chest. Over the next few days, she tried several times to deliver it but never found Mo Zhuan. When she asked others, they only knew Madam had sent her on some task—no one knew the details.
Days passed, and rain began to fall. The pattering drops rustled the leaves, and water streamed from the eaves, splattering everywhere.
Everyone stayed indoors, sewing or chatting idly, retiring early for the night.
Then, a commotion erupted from the main house.
In the silent night, the noise seemed even louder.
Those who heard it were startled. Some, eager to curry favor or maintain appearances, hurriedly dressed and rushed over. Others, lazier, pretended not to hear, burrowing deeper into their blankets.
Fei Shi quickly ordered Cai Rong to light a lantern. "Let's go see. Maybe something happened to Zhen Jie'er..."
Cai Rong didn't dare delay. She helped Fei Shi dress, then grabbed an umbrella and escorted her toward the main house.
Along the way, Cai Rong glanced back.
Consort Wu's room was pitch black.
Cai Rong couldn't help but scoff softly, tilting the umbrella further to shield Fei Shi.
The slanting rain soon soaked half of her own body.Cai Rong paid no heed, but as she stepped onto the corridor of the main house, she noticed that although the building was brightly lit, its doors were tightly shut. From inside came Fan Shi's shrill voice, though the words were indistinct.
Several maids and older servants who had arrived earlier stood to the side, their faces filled with dread, not daring to make a sound. Some had even quietly slipped back to their own quarters.
A sense of foreboding rose in Cai Rong’s heart, and she hurriedly tugged at Fei Shi’s sleeve.
But Fei Shi stepped forward and began pounding loudly on the main door. "Master! Madam! What’s happened?" Then she called out, "Mo Zhuan, open the door! It’s Fei Shi!"
Anxious, Cai Rong cried, "Auntie!" Just then, the door creaked open.
Mo Zhuan stood there with a cold expression, blocking both the light from the hall and the entrance. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping...?"
Cai Rong saw a flash of determination cross Fei Shi’s brow as she shoved Mo Zhuan aside and strode inside, calling out, "Master, Madam, what’s going on?"
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The story is nearing its conclusion, and scattered threads must be gathered. Hoping to avoid past shortcomings, the writing has been a bit challenging—truly a bottleneck. Updates may be irregular these next couple of days, but I still hope for everyone’s support with pink votes O(∩_∩)O~.
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(End of Chapter)
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