Love in Red Dust

The Wen Family Compound was located in Shanlao Alley, with two imposing stone lions guarding its entrance.

Dingyi tilted her head back to look. The plaque bearing the name "Wen Manor" had already been reinstalled above the gate. The Wen family hadn't been subjected to confiscation of property back then—the house had changed hands through several sales, so reclaiming it now wouldn't cause any official commotion.

Sha Tong eagerly ushered her inside, saying, "Watch your step, mistress. This servant came early to check—the house is in good condition, and all the furnishings are ready. There's no need for additional arrangements. As the weather warms up, we can plant roses under the flower trellis. When they bloom, you can sit beneath them, sipping tea and enjoying the view. How lovely that would be!"

She smiled and entered while holding his arm, saying, "Tongzi, thank you for your care all this time. It's unfair to you, having to serve someone like me. I've prepared some things for you—take them later as a token of my gratitude."

Sha Tong flustered and exclaimed, "This is merely this servant's duty! You speak as if we were strangers."

Standing in the central courtyard, she looked around. The flower trellis, fish tank, and trees—everything remained as it was. Yet though the scenery was familiar, the warmth of the past was gone.

She said, "Now that I'm back in the old house, I don't need anyone to wait on me. I can take care of myself. The people from Wine and Vinegar Bureau Alley have all scattered—you should return too. After all, you're the deputy steward of Prince Chun's Residence. Staying here with me would be a waste of your talents."

But Sha Tong replied, "They may leave, but this servant cannot. I was assigned by the Twelfth Master, and until he gives the order to withdraw, I will remain by your side. There are too many ruffians and troublemakers on these streets—it's unsafe for you to live here alone. This servant's martial skills are passable enough to ensure your safety."

She gently touched the nearby trellis of wild roses and murmured, "You're here when I'm alone, but what if I marry someday? Will you stay then? There's no connection between me and the Twelfth Master now—your presence here is inappropriate."

Sha Tong clenched his teeth and said, "Even if you marry, this servant won't leave. I've said it before—only when the Twelfth Master gives the order will my duty be fulfilled."

She glanced at him. "Don't be stubborn. I can't keep you here." Before Sha Tong could respond, she turned away and headed toward the main house without another look.

Once she made a decision, she rarely changed her mind. There was a purpose to dismissing him—having people from Prince Chun's Residence around for too long would be hard to conceal. Beijing was vast, and the mansions and estates weren't like ordinary alleyway households where neighbors dropped by for idle chatter. Even if word got out, no one would come to confront her about it.

She truly kept no one by her side. In that large house, she spent half her days carrying a broom, sweeping from the front courtyard to the back. In the afternoons, she would nap, then wake to read or snack under the eaves. Three or four months passed in the blink of an eye.

As her belly grew day by day, her master came to visit and said this wouldn't do. "A woman with child shouldn't be without a midwife nearby. If the time comes and you're left helpless, crying to heaven and earth with no one to answer, what then?"

Eventually, she hired two midwives, bought two maids from the black market, and assigned someone to the gatehouse. Gradually, the house began to feel like a home again.

She tried hard not to think of him, but in quiet moments, his gaze and smile would drift before her eyes. Khalkha was too far away. Had he been in the capital, she might not have worried so much. Now, she constantly fretted over whether he was well and if he still hated her.

While she could still move about, she visited Red Snail Temple and met Hailan, who was practicing Buddhism while still keeping her hair.Hailan looked at her protruding belly in great surprise, "You're pregnant? Traveling such a long distance, you must take care of yourself."

She said, "I came specifically today to fetch you, sister-in-law. The Twelfth Master has redeemed the Wen Family Compound, and I've moved back to the old residence. You see, with my current condition and no one close to rely on, please take pity on me and come look after me!"

Hailan found it strange, "Have you and the Twelfth Master married? Why move back to the old residence?"

She replied bitterly that they hadn't, "I lied to him that the child was gone. In anger, he led troops to attack Khalkha. So now I'm all alone. If you're willing to come back, sister-in-law, nothing could be better."

Hailan sighed helplessly, "If Rujian were here, he certainly wouldn't approve of what you've done."

Seeing her waver, Dingyi quickly unfolded a bundle to pack her things, smiling, "You do care for me, sister-in-law. I can't handle the child alone—you must help me. Since my third brother is gone, please do this for his sake! You can't stay in the nunnery forever. It's been months since it happened—time to move on. Come back to Beijing. We'll be close and can visit often."

Hailan was kind-hearted. Seeing her heavily pregnant and pleading so earnestly, she finally agreed to return. As Dingyi had said, for Rujian's sake, she ought to help. Life was hard for everyone—better to gather together and keep each other warm.

And so, the two women formed a household. Hailan was considerate. Though the Suo family wasn't highly ranked in officialdom, they were genuinely wealthy. Yet their pampered daughter showed no airs and wasn't afraid of hard work, doing whatever needed to be done. After busy spells, she'd sit alone somewhere, gazing wistfully at the spring scenery outside. Dingyi knew she was thinking of Rujian and handed her a jade pendant.

"This is what he left behind—it traveled north and south with him for some time. Things were so chaotic recently that I didn't have time to remember it, locked away in a high cabinet. Now I entrust it to you. Seeing it will be like seeing my third brother."

It was a piece of green jade, a man's ornament with rugged designs like tigers or leopards. Hailan cradled it in her palm, eyes red as she forced a smile, "True. That man—he never even gave me a token of affection when we met. Now that he's gone, there's nothing to hold onto for remembrance." Clutching the jade tightly, she turned and retreated to her bedroom.

Over half a year had passed since Hongce left. Dingyi asked her master to inquire about his situation—the warfront was reportedly stable. He regularly sent memorials paying respects to the emperor. Life there was undoubtedly harsh, but having lived there for over a decade before, adapting shouldn't be difficult. Relieved by the news, she grew accustomed to the constant thread of worry always tugging at her heart.

Her delivery came in October on a fine day. She and Hailan were sewing little socks by the window when halfway through, a warm gush ran down her calves—she couldn't tell what it was. Looking down, her shoes were soaked. Blushing, she said, "Ah, what's this? Did I wet myself while awake?"

Hailan took one look and panicked, "Has your water broken?"

She hurried to call the midwife, throwing the household into chaos as everyone scrambled about. Finally, a bed was prepared.With no man around, she felt fear but no sense of reliance. Having grown up tough, she could handle hardships and shoulder burdens. Though she had faltered momentarily, her unyielding pride remained intact. The midwife said she had never seen such a woman in labor—not a single tear shed, just biting down on a sweat-soaked cloth until her gums bled, neither crying out nor screaming. The baby had a large head, causing her considerable pain during delivery. She had given instructions herself: if anything went wrong, save the child, not the mother. Who could be so clear-headed in such a moment? Everyone grew even more tense, praying nothing would go wrong. At last, the child was brought into the world.

When she heard the baby’s first wail, she finally broke into loud sobs. Hailan came to see her, and she couldn’t stop crying, gripping Hailan’s hand as she gasped out between sobs, “I was wrong… I think of him every day…”

Hailan comforted her through her own tears, “It’ll get better. He’ll be back soon. You’re weak now—don’t cry, or you’ll ruin your eyes.” She took the baby from the nurse and showed him to her. “It’s a boy, and so handsome!”

She opened her eyes to look. The newborn was like a little mouse, but his features were discernible—he looked just like Hongce. With great effort, she raised her hand and gently stroked his tiny face. “So red.”

The nursemaid said, “He’ll lose the redness in three days. The redder he is now, the fairer his skin will be later. Just wait—our little master will grow up to be a heartthrob, charming all the girls and young wives.”

She smiled faintly, her mind hazy with exhaustion. All those girl fruits she’d eaten had been useless—she’d still ended up with a boy!

Now came the month of confinement, a time for rest and recovery, with stewed chicken and pork knuckle every day. One day, Xiazhi brought a duck, saying he’d traded for it from a poultry vendor—the fattest one in the coop. He asked whether she wanted it steamed or braised.

Hailan came out holding the baby and stood under the eaves. “Eating duck during confinement will make your head shake like a duck’s when you’re old.”

Xiazhi rubbed his nose. “Is that so? Then let the wet nurse have it!” He stepped forward to peek into the swaddling clothes. “Let me see the little one.”

The baby had just been fed and was sleeping peacefully in Hailan’s arms, his fair little face and rosy lips as tender as tofu. Xiazhi clicked his tongue. “He looks just like the chubby baby holding the fish in those ‘surplus every year’ paintings. Xiaoshu’s no beauty—how’d she manage such a fine child? Hailan, what should he call me? Uncle, right?” He lowered his voice and cooed at the baby, “Stop sleeping—aren’t you tired of it? Call me, say ‘Uncle.’”

Hailan chuckled. “Babies need sleep—it helps their brains grow.” With that, she turned and went inside to rock the cradle.

It was time to choose a name. The ones they’d thought of before no longer seemed suitable. The master said, “No rush—pick a milk name first. In a couple of days, I’ll go to Miaofeng Mountain for the pilgrimage gathering. I’ll ask the temple abbot to put some thought into it. He’s learned—a name from him will mean fewer trials for the child, easier to raise.”

Milk names weren’t a big deal—things like “Kitty” or “Puppy” were common. Dingyi was called “Little Date,” and Rujian’s unfortunate name, “Bump,” still made people laugh. After much deliberation, Dingyi finally suggested, “Let’s call him Xian’er—to remind me to stay on my toes.”And so it was settled—two women with a child between them. The child was both hope and trouble, eating and relieving himself all day, keeping them too busy to dwell on their worries.

Hailan was especially envious of her. "Having a child is wonderful," she said. "When the older generation passes, they can carry on living for you. Our Xian'er is so lovely, truly worthy of his imperial lineage. He’s absolutely adorable."

Dingyi handed the child to her. "He’s your child too. We’ll raise him together, and he’ll call you godmother." Then, studying her expression, she ventured, "As for you and Third Brother... what’s past is past. After all, he left you nothing. You’ll still need someone to rely on in the future."

Hailan lifted Xian'er with a laugh. "I have someone to rely on—my godson. My Xian'er will take care of me in my old age."

She was just brushing it off, unwilling to dwell on such matters. For now, she lived day by day, pouring all her attention into the child. Dingyi sighed and turned to see Xiazhi leaning against a pillar, fiddling with his waist token.

The New Year was approaching again. Today marked the start of the twelfth lunar month. They couldn’t hold a proper full-month celebration for the child, so the family gathered discreetly for a meal. The master hadn’t arrived yet, and they were all waiting for him when a servant from the front courtyard came in, bowing as he announced, "Master, the Seventh Prince is here again."

Why "again"? Because she hadn’t received him the last few times—her pregnancy would have been obvious if she had.

The gatekeeper said, "This time, he insists on seeing you. He has urgent matters to discuss."

Hearing this, Dingyi stood and went to the front courtyard.

The Seventh Lord wore a Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Warm Hat, its crown adorned with a large red tassel. As he bowed, the Returning Dragon Whiskers swayed by his ears. Spotting her, he chuckled. "You’ve hidden yourself well. It’s been nearly a year since I last saw you. You’ve put on weight—your face is rounder now."

Her hands tucked beneath her fur-lined jacket, she greeted him with a curtsy and a smile. "Seventh Lord, you’ve come? You look splendid. I couldn’t attend your wedding—please forgive me. Come inside, it’s cold out."

The Seventh Lord agreed amiably and sauntered into the main hall.

Glancing around, he stroked his chin. "The last few times I came, I was turned away at the gate and never got to see the courtyard. This house has seen better days—are you comfortable here?"

Dingyi served him tea, smiling. "Very comfortable. It’s our family’s old residence—there’s no place like home. What brings you here today?"

The Seventh Lord waved a hand. "Nothing much. I was idle and went for a stroll, which led me here. So... you and the Twelfth Master... it’s really over?"

She pushed a plate of fruit toward him. "Would you like an orange?"

"No, thank you."

He opened his mouth to speak, but Dingyi cut in first. "How have you been lately? I heard your Princess Consort is virtuous and has brought order to your household. The Seventh Prince’s residence is much more disciplined now."

The Seventh Lord’s expression twisted between a grimace and a smile. "My Princess Consort... that valiant woman... let’s not talk about her." He waved a hand, propping his head up with a sigh. "Haven’t you seen Najin? The poor fellow’s been listless lately. The Xiaoman Fujin’s first act upon entering the household was to discipline him, claiming that a master’s misbehavior stems from his servants’ influence. She’s made his life miserable—he wets himself at the sound of her cough. Tell me, when has our prince’s residence ever been at someone’s mercy? Now we’ve got a tyrant no one dares to cross."

Dingyi could only grin broadly, her amusement deepening his distress.He was too embarrassed to say that on the night of Xiaoman Fujin's wedding, she didn’t let him stay in the bridal chamber or touch her. What kind of wife was this? De Taifei wanted to verify the "red," so she allowed him to approach. When she pulled his arm over, he was thrilled, thinking there might be a chance. But in the blink of an eye, she pulled out a dagger and slashed his arm, letting his blood drip onto the silk. The pain was excruciating! He asked, "Why don’t you cut yourself?" She just curled her lips and said, "You don’t want to? Or are you afraid your mother will think you’re weak?" Damn it, this life was unbearable.

But there was nothing he could do—he had to make do for now. He was under strict control; Xiaoman Fujin was like a tightening curse on his forehead, and he didn’t dare act out at all. Before he could even get his wife into bed, he was already afraid of her. The Princess Consort ordered him to attend court, go to the Imperial Study, and serve in the yamen, and he obeyed her every word. Still unsatisfied, she scolded him every other day, treating him like a child. She forbade him from visiting other courtyards, and the Secondary Wives and Concubines avoided him like the plague, fearing for their lives.

He glanced at her sheepishly. "Shu'er, I’ve joined the Grand Council now and have gotten close to the Thirteenth Master. Yesterday, I drank at his residence, and we discussed the situation in Khalkha."

Dingyi tensed and leaned forward. "What did he say?"

Seventh Lord shook his head. "It’s not good. When our army first entered Khalkha, they were unstoppable—those barbarians were no match at all. They took Adachag almost effortlessly. But perhaps they grew overconfident. The Chechen Khan launched a surprise attack at night, catching them off guard. Sixty thousand men—nearly forty percent were lost. Then they were pursued, and two major supply camps were burned down, forcing them to retreat to Delun for regrouping. The Emperor intended to conquer Khalkha in one stroke, but this humiliation has stirred up trouble. Some at court are even slandering the Twelfth Master, claiming he’s colluding with the Mongols to rebel against the court... Such rumors should be met with severe punishment, but the Emperor hasn’t acted. What does that mean? The Thirteenth Master also let slip while drunk that the Emperor might suspect Hongce. But I know—the deputy commander of the Uriankhai garrison is sworn brothers with Hongzan’s sibling. Manipulating things behind the scenes would be child’s play."

"What can we do?" Cold sweat trickled down Dingyi’s back, her mind reeling. She grabbed Seventh Lord’s wrist. "Since you know, have you reported it to the Emperor?"

Seventh Lord nodded repeatedly. "I did, but the Emperor said there was no proof. He scolded me harshly for accusing the garrison commander of corruption with mere words and threw me out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Right now, the more we defend Hongce, the angrier the Emperor gets. No one dares speak up."

Her chest ached with anxiety. She pounded the table. "Mere words? He’s also condemning the Twelfth Master with mere words! What did the Thirteenth Master say?"

Seventh Lord swallowed hard. "That’s why I came to see you today. The Thirteenth Master has been ordered to oversee the army and will head north in a couple of days. He’s carrying the Emperor’s handwritten decree and... something else. Can you guess what it is?"

She stared at him blankly, slowly shaking her head.

Seventh Lord took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "Gold Dust. You once served in the Shuntian Prefecture—you know its purpose without me saying."She slumped back into the armchair, feeling as if her very soul had flown out through the top of her head. It took a long while before she could finally catch her breath again. "Yes, I know," she said.