Love Like the Galaxy

"Mother, what are you saying? Niao Niao caused those young girls to fall into the water?!"

The banquet had ended, and all the distinguished guests had departed. Wan Songbai, still slightly drunk, was summoned by Old Madam Wan. At that moment, half of his drunkenness evaporated in fright, thinking his mother intended to beat him again. But when Old Madam Wan dismissed the attendants and explained her meaning, the remaining half of his intoxication also disappeared.

"How could that be possible!... I remember, Yin Zhi's daughter suddenly had a stomachache. Not wanting to disturb the elders, Niao Niao accompanied Miss Yin back first. Qiqi even complained to me, saying Niao Niao treated Miss Yin better than her. That is to say, when those young girls fell into the water, Niao Niao wasn’t even here!"

Old Madam Wan snorted, "If Niao Niao had a brain like yours, of course, it wouldn’t be possible."

The filial son Wan dared not argue and merely chuckled foolishly.

As it turned out, a minor incident had occurred during the banquet.

The Wan residence’s rear garden had an elegant two-story pavilion named 'Changchun.' The young men attending the banquet had decided to hold their planned arrow-throwing and poetry competition there. Upon hearing the news, the young girls, too shy to barge in yet eager to catch a glimpse of the handsome young men, crowded onto a small wooden bridge opposite the Changchun Pavilion, standing on tiptoe to peer inside.

The steward had repeatedly warned the girls that the small bridge was unstable and couldn’t support so many people. But the lovestruck maidens paid no heed. Not long after they crowded onto it, the bridge collapsed. Fortunately, the bridge wasn’t high, and the stream beneath was shallow. Aside from some scrapes and bruises, none of the girls were seriously injured—though they were covered in icy mud, looking rather undignified.

—Only Wang Ling, who had been at the center of the bridge and surrounded by the crowd, ended up at the bottom when they fell. When she was fished out, she was the most disheveled and miserable, covered in mud and even with a few rotten grass blades stuck in her nose and mouth.

When the news reached the banquet, the fathers exchanged knowing smiles.

Upon learning the details, those whose daughters weren’t involved couldn’t help but feel a bit smug, boasting about how well-behaved their daughters were. Those whose daughters were involved either laughed it off with self-deprecating remarks, shook their heads with a smile, saying, "Ah, young love," or even apologized to Wan Songbai for damaging the bridge.

Fueled by alcohol, Wan Songbai took the lead in boasting about how handsome he had been in his youth, claiming that the girls who sneaked peeks at him had nearly broken down the Wan residence’s gates—far more daring than today’s bunch. Then, a group of drunken uncles and elders began loudly competing over who had been the most dashing in their younger days.

One claimed his family never needed to hunt because geese flying overhead would automatically land at their doorstep. Another said his family never fished because the fish in the pond would sink to the bottom, waiting for him to scoop them up.

One boasted that on his wedding day, half the girls in the county fainted from grief, while the other half insisted on barging into his bridal chamber. Another declared that in his youth, every girl in his village had sworn to marry no one but him, threatening to drown themselves or starve if refused. He claimed he couldn’t even gather pigweed without encountering three or four admirers, forcing him to leave home and join the army to escape the chaos.

General Han’s tale was the most outlandish of all.

He claimed that in his youth, he was so exceptionally talented and handsome that two village elders fought to make him their son-in-law, leading their clansmen into scheduled armed fights. The battles were so bloody and brutal, he said, they rivaled full-scale military conflicts. To spare the lives of his fellow villagers, he had no choice but to leave home in sorrow—this exaggeration was too much, and General Han was promptly dragged down by the laughing crowd and forced to drink!In this incident, Wan Qiqi handled the situation with remarkable grace, earning unanimous praise from all the ladies present.

Not only did she efficiently direct the maids to assist the young ladies with washing, tidying up, and treating their injuries, but she also swiftly retrieved new clothes and hair ornaments left behind by her dozen or so elder sisters for the girls to change into. At the same time, she earnestly requested the sisters who hadn’t fallen from the bridge to refrain from mentioning the embarrassing incident, then calmly invited Wang Ling and the others to continue the festivities as if nothing had happened.

Madam Yin listened to endless compliments and praise, though she kept a composed expression, her heart swelled with silent pride and joy. She ended up drinking a few too many cups and was now passed out in a drunken stupor.

"...The falling into the water wasn’t our fault," Wan Songbai shook his head. "No—actually, no one blamed us. The steward said he even set up wooden signs at both ends of the bridge, warning that it was unstable and shaky. If they insisted on crossing, what could I do?"

Old Madam Wan snorted lightly. "Did you tell the steward to put up those signs?"

Wan Songbai paused. "Wasn’t it you, Mother, who ordered it?"

Seeing his mother’s expression as if she were looking at an idiot, he realized his question was foolish and chuckled awkwardly. "Mother, just tell me. Your son is slow-witted—how could I guess?"

Old Madam Wan said, "I’ll tell you three things. First, before Niao Niao returned home, Steward Zhang, who tends to the gardens, once told me that Young Lady Cheng was particularly fond of that wooden bridge. He often saw her inspecting it with great interest during her leisure time."

Though she was advanced in years and her eyesight was failing, having long presided over the affairs of the Capital City residence and managed all matters great and small on her own, she maintained the habit of listening to the stewards’ daily reports on household matters.

Wan Songbai was baffled. "So what?"

Old Madam Wan continued, "Second, Steward Li, who oversees banquets, said Niao Niao suggested he hold the archery and poetry competition at the Changchun Pavilion instead of the side courtyard as originally planned, as it would be more elegant and refined."

"Third, Steward Wang from the inner courtyard mentioned that Niao Niao pointed out the wooden bridge was rather unstable. She said it wouldn’t do if unsuspecting young ladies fell in later, so she told him to set up warning signs at both ends."

Wan Songbai finally understood his mother’s meaning—Shao Shang had stayed at the Wan residence for many days and was highly regarded by everyone from Old Madam Wan to Qiqi. The stewards often followed her suggestions. Still, he couldn’t quite believe it. "Maybe it was just a coincidence? Though the bridge was shaky, the steward told me it wasn’t on the verge of collapse. How could Niao Niao know exactly when it would give way?"

Old Madam Wan said, "None of you knew this, but that wooden bridge actually has a special mechanism. It was originally designed by Master Gongshu Ban to aid the King of Chu. Its technical name is the 'Folding Bone Bridge,' though few know of it now. At first glance, it appears to be a light yet sturdy little bridge, but if a few key beams are removed, the entire structure will collapse the moment someone steps on it."

"That’s quite a clever trick. After crossing the river, remove a few beams, and the pursuing soldiers will fall right in..." Wan Songbai’s expression gradually darkened. "Mother, are you saying Niao Niao figured out its secret and used it to lure those girls into a trap?"

Old Madam Wan nodded. "This way, whether she was present or not, whether she stayed or left, she could still execute her scheme."

Wan Songbai drew a sharp breath and after a long pause, muttered, "If Brother Cheng is so thoroughly managed by Lady Xiao, it’s not entirely a loss. Marrying a clever woman does have its advantages! That mind of Niao Niao’s—tsk, tsk, tsk..."Old Madam Wan said, "If you'd married a woman like Yuan Yi, you'd probably have had your head bashed in to see your father within the first year of marriage. Hmm, in that case, I could've remarried while still young."

Mother and son stared at each other in silence, blind eyes meeting bulging ones, before bursting into laughter simultaneously.

Wan Songbai wiped tears of mirth and spoke first: "Your son thought you were angry with Niao Niao and was wondering how to plead her case before you, to ask you not to blame her."

Old Madam Wan shook her head with a smile: "Today, Lady Wang spoke harshly and bullied Niao Niao quite severely. Her reaction was understandable. Had it been me in my youth, I might have done worse."

Wan Songbai chuckled: "I'm glad you don't blame Niao Niao for setting this up in our household. That poor child. My worthy brother always speaks of her with both guilt and pity."

"Why should I blame her?" Old Madam Wan said. "If she'd been completely thoughtless, she wouldn't have had the steward erect those two signs. Clearly she wanted to keep the Wan family out of it. First persuasion, then warning signs—no one could possibly blame our household. Moreover, I observe that child has a fearless nature. I suspect if Madam Yin hadn't had stomach pains, Niao Niao would have stayed behind to explain everything to us afterward and properly ask for punishment."

Wan Songbai nodded repeatedly: "Exactly! Qiqi told me Niao Niao never does things covertly—even her underhanded tactics are executed openly. It's quite amusing." Though he didn't know how his daughter had reached this conclusion.

"Yes, that child is truly unique," Old Madam Wan murmured. "Had I met such a little sister in my youth, I would have liked her too."

Wan Songbai thought privately: How could you have met such a girl—you were that girl yourself! In your day, anyone who offended you wouldn't make it to nightfall before you took revenge, complete with interest calculated by the hour!

Relieved by her words, he relaxed—until Old Madam Wan added: "Earlier, I wrote a letter informing Yuan Yi and her husband about this matter."

"What!" Wan Songbai nearly choked in shock. "Mother, didn't you... didn't you say you didn't blame Niao Niao...!"

"No need to shout—I'm blind, not deaf!" Old Madam Wan remained unmoved. "I don't blame Niao Niao, but I won't conceal things for her either. She has parents and elders—the Cheng family should decide how to handle this."

"But... but if Madam Xiao learns of this, my worthy brother's household will be in turmoil again..."

Old Madam Wan said, "Let there be turmoil. No destruction, no construction. It's time Yuan Yi learned what kind of person her daughter truly is!"

Wan Songbai gaped: "Mother...?"

After a pause, Old Madam Wan continued: "Our families have been close for decades—closer than ordinary relatives. I've observed Yuan Yi: though exceptionally intelligent, capable and prudent in all matters, she has two flaws—she's both overly confident in her cleverness and stubborn in her opinions, refusing to admit mistakes."

"Absolutely!" Wan Songbai immediately perked up at the mention of Madam Xiao's faults, eager to expound for days with midnight snacks included. "That woman Xiao—"

"Silence! It's not your place to criticize Yuan Yi's faults," Old Madam Wan rapped the table sharply, forcing Wan Songbai to hold his tongue."Yuan Yi raised her sons very well. The new bride told me that when they were outside, ordinary young men would often frequent brothels out of pride, drink, and gamble on cockfights. But the Cheng family's sons are both ambitious and upright. All the ladies who interact with them have nothing but praise. Whether it was arranging their studies, finding them masters, or training them in martial arts, Yuan Yi made all the decisions, and A Yong and the others never disobeyed. After returning to the Capital City, Yuan Yi naturally took charge of Niao Niao's affairs as well—who would have guessed she'd hit a wall! Hmph, these days, mother and daughter have had several quarrels. How they quarreled, my son recounted to me in great detail."

Wan Songbai knew his mother was mocking him and kept his mouth shut even tighter.

"Yuan Yi had already decided to expel Ge Shi before returning to the Capital City, but she felt guilty toward Grandfather Ge and the Lady of the Ge Family. Yet now, the Ge family has no need for the Cheng family's help, so all that affection had to be poured onto Cheng Yang instead. Yuan Yi thought she was being both righteous and fair, and that her husband and children should understand. But after all the fuss, no one in the family agreed with her. Yuan Yi never stopped to consider why—she only knew how to suppress. When an iron chisel meets solid ice, how could they not clash?"

Wan Songbai privately agreed with his mother but worried about Cheng Shi's predicament. He couldn't help saying, "But Mother, this means Niao Niao will definitely be punished!"

Old Madam Wan said coolly, "In this world, if one cannot take responsibility for their actions, they might as well give up early and live quietly. Since Niao Niao did it, she must face the risk of being exposed. You can't just enjoy the benefits without suffering the consequences. Take it slowly. Once she overcomes each hurdle, she'll know which path to take."

Wan Songbai stared blankly at his mother's scarred face—was she talking about their own family? Because she refused to bow her head even slightly while his father was alive, she made too many enemies in the county. When his father died suddenly, they were left isolated and besieged.

...

The Wan mother and son were not mistaken. The Cheng family was clearly headed for another big quarrel.

After learning the news, Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao remained silent for a long time, sitting across from each other for a full half-hour. Madam Xiao had originally planned to say, "I told you so—she was bound to cause a disaster sooner or later," and flaunt her foresight in front of her husband. For some reason, the words stuck in her throat, and she couldn't bring herself to say them.

Eventually, Cheng Shi silently stood up, went out to give some orders, and then had Qing Cong summon Cheng Zhi and Sang Shi to explain the incident of falling from the bridge in detail. Cheng Zhi and Sang Shi were shocked and exchanged glances, each understanding the other's thoughts.

Cheng Zhi steeled himself and said, "Actually, this matter isn't so terrible. Those little girls were just a bit embarrassed, and I don’t think the officials took it to heart." The latter half of today's banquet had practically been a contest of tall tales, growing more outrageous by the minute. As a genuinely handsome youth in his day, Cheng Zhi couldn't help but marvel at the thickness of those officials' skins.

Sang Shi added, "When I was young, I read about 'Duke Ban building a layered-bone bridge to aid the King of Chu,' but I never saw what such a bridge actually looked like. Only someone like Old Madam Wan, with her vast experience and meticulous mind, would know. How could those little girls have guessed?"

Lowering his voice, Cheng Zhi continued, "Speaking of which, that Wang Chun isn’t a good man either. If not for him, why would Brother Wan have had to feign a leg injury during the Yiyang Battle? Today, his daughter publicly humiliated Niao Niao—it was clearly deliberate!"Sang Shi continued, "From start to finish, Niao Niao arranged this matter flawlessly. Even if outsiders have heard of the 'Bone Stacking Bridge,' they would never guess the reason behind it. No matter how you look at it, it was entirely their own fault. Brother and sister-in-law, you can rest assured! Later, we’ll sincerely apologize to the Wan family—because of Shao Shang’s recklessness, they were nearly implicated."

The couple took turns speaking, each word an attempt to exonerate Shao Shang. Madam Xiao was no fool and could clearly discern their intentions, yet she remained silent, only casting a glance at her husband.

Cheng Shi let out a long sigh before saying, "This matter cannot be let go. This time, I must punish her. Severely!"

Sang Shi anxiously interjected, "Brother—"

Cheng Shi raised his hand to stop her and spoke deliberately, "You love Niao Niao so much, care for her, and teach her. You don’t know how grateful I am in my heart."

Sang Shi’s eyes grew slightly moist as she lowered her head. "Brother, please don’t say such things. I just feel a deep connection with Niao Niao."

Cheng Zhi quickly looked at Madam Xiao, but she remained seated in silence.

"I know Niao Niao suffered grievances outside, but I must still punish her," Cheng Shi said solemnly. "Today, it was fortunate that Old Madam Wan saw through it, and the Wan and Cheng families are close. But what if it had been someone else who saw through it?"

He then turned to his wife. "You once told me that Niao Niao is 'clever enough to reject advice and eloquent enough to justify wrongdoing.' Now, it seems only half of that is true. It’s not that she doesn’t know what she did was improper—she simply doesn’t care. Because she relies on her intelligence, fearing nothing, believing she can talk her way out of anything! This will indeed lead to disaster!"

Hearing this, even Sang Shi fell silent.

Cheng Shi continued, "What’s there to fear about causing trouble? When I was Shao Shang’s age, I wasn’t exactly gentle and virtuous either. But I resorted to desperate measures only when forced. She, on the other hand, acted purely out of spite. Today, I must temper her extreme temperament!"

"—What do you intend to do?" Madam Xiao finally spoke.

Cheng Shi did not answer. Instead, he loudly called for Cheng Shun, who had been waiting outside the hall. Cheng Shun then led in an elderly soldier with a scarred face, neatly dressed, his hair streaked with white. The old soldier carried a long disciplinary rod.

Cheng Zhi and Sang Shi did not recognize the man, but Madam Xiao did. She exclaimed in surprise, "Qian Zeng?"

"Elder Sister, who is this?" Cheng Zhi asked.

Madam Xiao replied slowly, "This is the one in charge of disciplinary rods under your brother’s command." She already understood what her husband intended to do.

Cheng Zhi paled in shock and cried out, "Brother, surely not! Niao Niao is just a slip of a girl—one slap from you could knock her out! And yet you want to use... use... this rod?" He pointed at the thick, pitch-black wooden staff in the old soldier’s hands, as tall as a man and as thick as a bowl, solid and heavy, exuding an aura that sent chills down the spine.

Sang Shi’s mouth fell open slightly, too stunned to speak.

Ignoring them, Cheng Shi addressed the old soldier sternly, "Today, this marquis wishes to employ your expertise. It’s been years since you’ve carried out punishments in the army, only occasionally interrogating a spy or two. Have your skills with the rod dulled?"

The old soldier, Qian Zeng, grinned, revealing sharp teeth. "General, rest assured. Whatever way the General commands me to strike, I shall strike. Whether it’s pain for days, wounds that linger, or how much blood is drawn—this servant guarantees it will be executed without the slightest error."

The old soldier’s voice was shrill and thin. Observing his demeanor, Sang Shi immediately realized this man was likely an old eunuch from a previous dynasty’s palace, now fallen into obscurity."In the end, I just want to scare the Young Lady a little—you must not make any mistakes!" Cheng Shi said sternly with a threatening tone. "Otherwise, I'll skin you alive!"

Qian Zeng lowered her head and replied, "General, you pulled me from a pile of corpses, found my lost mother and nephew, and settled my entire family. If I were to harm the Young Lady, I wouldn’t wait for you to act—I’d end myself first."

Cheng Shi nodded and waved for Cheng Shun to take her away.

Cheng Zhi finally understood and stammered, "Elder brother, you... you’re..."

"Niao Niao is bold and sharp-witted—ordinary scare tactics won’t work on her!" Cheng Shi declared. "We must take drastic measures. I plan to make her suffer a bit, draw some blood, and teach her a lesson—but not actually injure her."

Cheng Zhi glanced at his wife, Sang Shi, who gave a bitter smile.

Madam Xiao snorted. "So you’ve finally mustered the resolve? Aren’t you afraid Niao Niao will hate you for it?"

To everyone’s surprise, Cheng Shi nodded. "You’re right, my lady. That’s why I shouldn’t be the one to punish her—you should."

The moment these words left his mouth, the other three in Nine Dapple Hall gaped at him.

"How can you say such a thing!" Madam Xiao finally lost her temper—not over her daughter’s audacity, but her husband’s shamelessness. He wanted to play the benevolent father while leaving her to be the villain! Utterly disgraceful!

Cheng Shi quickly patted his wife’s back, speaking softly. "This is all for Niao Niao’s sake. Think about it—to tame a headstrong child like her, we must alternate kindness with severity. After the punishment, she’ll need comforting. Between the two of us, one must be gentle while the other is firm."

Madam Xiao yanked her hand free and snapped, "Then let me be the kind one while you play the tyrant! Why must I be the villain?"

"If it were before..." Cheng Shi chuckled, "of course you’d be the gentle one, sharing heartfelt words with our daughter. But now Niao Niao holds a grudge against you. If even her doting father turns on her with a rod, she might harden her heart in grief and defiance, refusing to yield!"

"You...!?" The logic was persuasive, leaving Madam Xiao speechless and trembling with rage.

"My plan is this: I’ll leave the estate shortly to avoid softening or being dragged into mediating by Yong Er and the others. Once Niao Niao returns from the Yin Family, you’ll fly into a rage—no, not at me, at Niao Niao!"

Cheng Shi dodged his wife’s swinging fists, grinning apologetically. "Then you’ll loudly reprimand her for all her faults, quoting sages and teachers until she’s thoroughly shamed—make it as terrifying as possible to overwhelm her. Then summon Qian Zeng to administer the punishment—no stripping clothes, young girls have their dignity—and strike hard—but not too hard, I’ll instruct Qian Zeng beforehand..."

Madam Xiao struggled to free her hand from her husband’s grip, too furious to mind propriety as she kicked at him.

"Then Third Brother and his wife will pretend to rush in—remember to enter through the main gate! Don’t cut corners by hiding in the side rooms to watch; Niao Niao is sharp-eyed, don’t give it away—then plead for her with tears, until Yuan Yi reluctantly relents, making it seem like her life is spared. Two days later, you’ll take Niao Niao with you to your new post..."Madam Xiao mustered all her strength and finally managed to push her husband off the platform, collapsing exhausted where she stood.

"And then..." Cheng Shi shamelessly stood up, brushing the wrinkles from his clothes. "Oh, there's no 'and then'."

Madam Xiao was both furious and exhausted, panting heavily. Sang Shi, who had never experienced such a great fright in her life, remained in a state of stunned disbelief. Only Cheng Zhi buried his face in his hands, unwilling to speak.

Cheng Shi stood at the center of Nine Dapple Hall, his towering figure exuding an imposing aura, his eyes sharp and resolute. Raising his arm as if commanding thousands of troops, his voice boomed like a battle cry charging through blood and fire.

He declared, "Today's lesson is to teach Niao Niao that there are always greater heights and stronger people. She must not act recklessly or take bold risks just because she thinks someone will cover for her! It's settled. Once Yuan Yi has given her enough of a beating, Third Brother and his wife will step in to rescue her. We'll signal with the shattering of a cup!"

The overly shocked Sang Shi slowly turned her head, silently questioning her husband with her eyes.

Cheng Zhi responded with his gaze: Yes, my elder brother has always been like this. But don’t feel bad—you’re not the first, and likely not the last, to mistakenly believe he’s just a simple, dull man who relies entirely on his wife’s schemes.

Sang Shi: Their punches and kicks seem quite practiced. Have they done this before?

Cheng Zhi: They fought more fiercely right after their marriage. Second brother and I knew all about it. After giving birth to Yong Er and the others, they started putting on airs. To be honest, I kind of miss those days.

Author's Note:

This chapter is still quite hefty, but it was really, really exhausting to write.

Madam Xiao wasn’t exactly a good mother to Shao Shang, but she and Cheng Shi truly are a loving couple—no conspiracy theories here.

Just a heads-up: After this volume ends, I’ll be taking a break for two or three days to outline the next volume. Don’t come after me!