Madam Xiao silenced her sister-in-law with a single sentence and then stood quietly to the side, saying no more. However, the new bride Dong Lüshi, who had been supporting the sobbing Aunt Dong, quickly glanced up at Madam Xiao. Unexpectedly, Madam Xiao seemed to have eyes on the side of her face—she turned her head and met Dong Lüshi’s gaze directly, giving her a deep, meaningful look.
Dong Lüshi was terrified and immediately lowered her head.
Meanwhile, Cheng Shi remained kneeling as he explained to Cheng Mu:
"...I already wrote to you before, Mother. Uncle’s sticky fingers are nothing new. Luckily, I was always nearby to cover for him—either making up the losses or smoothing things over. But half a year ago, during the Yiyang Battle, General Wan was recuperating in the rear, and I was transferred to serve under General Han to lead troops. I couldn’t possibly bring Uncle along to manage military supplies under General Han’s command, could I? Before I left, I pleaded with him, but who knew he couldn’t even restrain himself for a few months and got caught! What do you expect me to do now? Should I have given up this golden opportunity for wealth and glory just to keep an eye on Uncle?"
Cheng Mu was momentarily speechless. She had long known about her younger brother’s thievery but had turned a blind eye, relying on her son to cover it up. Now that she was being questioned, she stammered for a long time before finally saying, "Then what about your uncle now? Are you just going to let him die? Let our family be confiscated?" At the mention of "confiscation," Aunt Dong wailed even louder, two thick yellow trails of snot dripping from her nose, making Yu Cailing feel nauseated.
Cheng Shi responded with bureaucratic evasiveness: "It’s not that I don’t want to help, but I simply can’t."
Hearing this, Cheng Mu immediately threw a tantrum. Drawing on the robust strength she once used for farming and mountain work, she kicked over the small table that had held Yu Cailing’s soup bowl and dessert plate, smashing the furnishings in the room into chaos. Then, with an iron grip, she seized Cheng Shi’s collar, spraying spittle as she cried and cursed:
"You heartless wretch! How can you just stand by and watch your uncle die?! I—I’ll go report you for filial impiety!"
In those days, if children were unfilial, parents could report them to the authorities for impiety—light punishments included fines or beatings, while severe cases could result in dismissal from office. This terrible idea had been suggested by Ge Shi, and over the years, Cheng Mu had often used it to control her son and daughter-in-law, with excellent results.
Cheng Shi struggled to free his collar, furious. "Go ahead and report me, Mother. The state’s affairs outweigh family matters. Uncle’s theft has already been reported to the authorities. If I refuse to follow your orders and try to get him off the hook, even if this ‘unfilial behavior’ were brought before the Emperor himself, I wouldn’t fear it."
Cheng Mu, a simple village woman, knew nothing of such things. To her, "disobedience" equaled "unfilial," and "unfilial" could always be reported—with guaranteed success. But now she was hearing that there was something even more important than filial piety: the state. Out of options, she could only collapse onto the couch, wailing and rolling around like a wild boar.
Yu Cailing watched with great amusement. Noticing that the medicine in her bowl was cooling, she quickly downed it in one gulp. With such a spectacle to enjoy, the bitterness of the medicine didn’t even register—until she caught Madam Xiao’s cold stare. Qing Cong, who had been watching Madam Xiao, followed her gaze and also saw Yu Cailing’s actions, unsure how to feel about it.
Madam Xiao said sternly, "A Zhu, wrap Niao Niao up warmly and take her to my room to rest." It wasn’t proper for the younger generation to keep watching the drama of grandmother and father fighting.Yu Cailing was greatly disappointed but dared not resist. A Zhu swiftly helped her into an outer robe and wrapped her in a cloak, while Lian Fang and Qiao Guo hurriedly gathered the hidden cushion, pillows, and several boxes of snacks. The three of them quickly ushered Yu Cailing out of the room, bypassed a corridor about ten paces long, and slipped into another chamber.
This room was clearly also hastily arranged, its furnishings even simpler than her own. As Yu Cailing nibbled on candied fruit, she strained her ears to catch the faint sounds of weeping and scolding from the other side, imagining the battle unfolding there. Unfortunately, she never again encountered such a live spectacle as she had that day.
In the following days, Yu Cailing continued her routine of eating, taking medicine, sleeping, and pacing around the room three times. Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao seemed extremely busy, absent from home for most of the day, though no one knew what they were occupied with. Only Madam Qing Cong visited Yu Cailing’s room daily for brief chats, inquiring about her recovery.
Madam Qing Cong’s appearance was ordinary, but her clean and gentle features stood out, with natural laugh lines at the corners of her mouth that made her seem perpetually smiling and approachable. Yu Cailing had initially assumed she was there to enforce rules, but to her surprise, Madam Qing Cong only engaged in cheerful small talk. Sometimes she brought delicious snacks Yu Cailing had never seen before, other times delicate jade hairpins, golden pins, or earrings. Over the days, Yu Cailing gradually let her guard down.
“The master and mistress have brought many gifts for the young lady, all packed in the large carts at the back, still unopened. With so many trivial matters these days, we’ll unpack everything once we’re properly settled,” Madam Qing Cong said with a smile, her hands folded neatly on her lap as she sat upright.
Yu Cailing nodded. “Yes, New Year’s Day is approaching. Father and Mother must be very busy.”
A flicker passed through Madam Qing Cong’s eyes, but she neither confirmed nor denied it.
Through these daily conversations, Yu Cailing learned that her formal name was actually ‘Cheng Shaoshang’ and that she had a twin brother named ‘Cheng Shaogong.’ It was said that their grandfather, Cheng Taigong, had been bedridden for months, hovering on the brink of death. Upon hearing that Madam Xiao had given birth to twins—a boy and a girl—he was overjoyed, coughed up a thick phlegm, and miraculously lived for another half year. Though he eventually passed, those extra months were a great boon for Cheng Shi, who was then embroiled in a critical military campaign.
The world deemed the twins auspicious. Delighted, Cheng Taigong, a musician, quoted a passage: “I never thought I’d live to see these two children. Shennong’s qin had five strings; King Wen added two more, naming them Shaogong and Shaoshang. Let these be their names.”
Unsurprisingly, apart from Cheng San Shu, who was away studying at the time, only Madam Xiao in the entire household understood what Cheng Taigong meant. Consequently, the originally intended name for the newborn girl, ‘Cheng Niao,’ became her childhood name instead.
“When will my elder brothers return home?” Cheng Shaoshang cheerfully accepted her new name, effortlessly discarding the one given by her Yu father.
“Don’t fret, young lady. There are still many carts, the private army, and some… miscellaneous items that require the young masters’ supervision. The master and mistress hurried back ahead of them,” Madam Qing Cong replied.
Cheng Shaoshang smirked at the mention of ‘miscellaneous items,’ understanding the implication. Yet she found it odd that everyone in Cheng Shi’s household referred to her as ‘young lady,’ even though she was the only daughter in their branch. If counting all three Cheng households, Third Aunt had even younger daughters.
...Cheng Shaoshang's health gradually improved, but her days became so dull they were almost unbearable. She couldn't help but ask hopefully every day, "How are things with the Dong family?"
A Zhu didn't hide anything from Shao Shang, but she wasn't much of a gossip. Her answers were limited to either "The master refuses" or "The master still refuses." Occasionally, she might go beyond her usual level with "The master absolutely refuses."
Unlike the honest and taciturn A Zhu, Lian Fang, who served by her side, was quite resourceful. As the daughter of one of Cheng Shi's private army soldiers, she had grown up taking care of a large brood of younger siblings. Seeing the young lady's eyes light up with interest yet chafing at being confined indoors, she had an idea. Over the next few days, Lian Fang would occasionally share some of the "dramas" she had heard or seen outside.
Qiao Guo was puzzled and asked privately, "Madam Qing Cong taught us to speak less, listen more, and do more. How can you keep telling the young lady about outside matters?"
Lian Fang laughed. "The young lady hasn't seen the mistress in ten years—how could she be close to us? The two of us are bound to follow her in the future. If she doesn't trust or grow close to us, wouldn't that waste Madam Qing Cong's teachings? Besides, the things I'm telling her are already common knowledge in the household. I'm just helping the young lady pass the time—what's the harm?"
Qiao Guo quickly thanked Lian Fang for her guidance.
Within a few days, A Zhu noticed Lian Fang's gossiping and intended to scold her. But Lian Fang smiled and defended herself: "Gossip is about making up baseless stories and twisting facts to curry favor with the master. But what I've said isn't the least bit false."
Seeing A Zhu still displeased, she continued, "Madam Qing Cong often praises our female lord for being as reasonable and capable as any man, saying she began managing household affairs at six or seven. Should we keep the young lady sheltered under a quilt forever, never letting her know about the storms outside? If I'm wrong, you can scold or beat me. Shouldn't she learn to distinguish between good and bad by knowing a little of everything?"
A Zhu studied Lian Fang for a long moment, thinking: This isn't wrong, but this maid is far too unsteady.
Still, she considered it might be good for the young lady to learn about the conflicts among the elders, lest she cling to the decade of care she'd received and grow distant from her birth parents. After that, she said nothing more, only keeping a watchful eye.
Lian Fang's storytelling skills were worlds apart from A Zhu's. She narrated rumors with vivid expressions and emotions, making Cheng Shaoshang feel like her days finally had some flavor.
It turned out that after the unpleasant parting between the Cheng mother and son that day, Cheng Mu had grumbled about using her own money to help Uncle Dong smooth things over. Unfortunately, half her coffers were emptied to no avail—instead, she saw Uncle Dong arrive in a prisoner's cart. The siblings wept bitterly in each other's arms. According to the maids who accompanied them, Uncle Dong looked utterly haggard and wretched.
Cheng Mu made several more scenes with her son, but when they proved useless, she resorted to the ultimate tactic: a hunger strike. It was said that several dowager empresses of the previous dynasty had often used this method against their emperor sons. Unfortunately, Cheng Mu had suffered too much from hunger in her hard early years and had since become a devoted meat-lover. After just two meals without food, she couldn't bear it. The kitchen maids reported that her first meal after breaking the fast included a smoked chicken, half a roast goose, two braised pork knuckles, and three large bowls of wheat rice. She even had to call a physician to prescribe medicine for indigestion.While Cheng Mu was making a fuss, the situation in the Dong family took a turn for the worse. Dong Wai Di was also detained, and the Dong family's fields and shops outside were sealed off. However, Dong Lüshi performed admirably. To show she wouldn’t let Cheng Mu "fight alone," she sold over twenty concubines from Dong Wai Di’s household in one go, raising a considerable sum for Cheng Mu to "manage." Cheng Mu immediately felt this was a niece-in-law worth a hundred lifetimes of good karma.
The latest news was that Aunt Dong came crying every day these days. On this particular day, after drinking two cups of wine with her meal, Cheng Mu, emboldened by the alcohol, grabbed a small fabric-cutting knife and went to threaten her son again. She declared that if he refused to help, she would kill herself in front of him and then accuse him of filial impiety—Cheng Shaoshang found the order of these actions rather questionable.
Cheng Shi, utterly exasperated, casually remarked, "There is a way to save Uncle Dong. I could take the blame myself, saying that Uncle Dong’s thefts were all done under my orders. Then I’ll be executed in exchange for Uncle Dong’s life, and our family’s property will be confiscated to save the Dong family. How does that sound, Mother?"
Cheng Mu was immediately speechless. Though she doted on her younger brother, she had never considered trading her son for him. Unexpectedly, Aunt Dong, standing nearby, was inspired by this and blurted out, "My nephew is a high-ranking official. Even if he commits a crime, nothing too severe will happen—at most, he’ll just pay a fine. Why not have him confess to the crime?" The moment these words left her mouth, both mother and son in the Cheng family turned pale with fury.
Others couldn’t help but think: Thankfully, the Dong family was so incompetent they couldn’t even bribe their way into the prison to see Uncle Dong. Otherwise, if they had conspired, Uncle Dong might have falsely implicated the Cheng family.
Cheng Shi flew into a rage, not caring who might hear, and shouted at Cheng Mu standing in the hall, "Fine! Filial piety comes first among all virtues. If you order it, Mother, I’ll go to the Northern Army Prison right now and confess! After that, you can live with Second Brother and Third Brother!"
This outburst was heard by many inside and outside the household. Servants and stewards whispered that their old mistress had truly lost her mind. Only Madam Xiao hid in her room with a faint smile. Harsh words in arguments could ruin even the strongest bonds.
By then, Cheng Mu had sobered up from the shock. She slapped Aunt Dong hard across the face and then retreated into her room, refusing to come out. Even when she later heard Cheng Shi order the servants to never let Aunt Dong set foot in the Cheng household again—with the threat of breaking the legs of anyone who disobeyed—Cheng Mu dared not utter a word. The situation remained deadlocked until Dong Lüshi came to apologize on the third day.
According to Madam Qing Cong (as relayed by Lian Fang), the Dong family men were a disgrace—the elder loved money, the younger loved women, and Aunt Dong was a fool. Dong Lüshi was the only sensible person in the Dong family, though her wisdom had been earned through much suffering.
Originally, both the Dong and Lü families were well-off farming households. The two patriarchs had arranged a marriage for their grandchildren early on. However, Dong Taigong died young, and with the chaos of the times, the family fortunes declined rapidly, while the Lü family managed to hold on. Out of honor, Lü Taigong still married his granddaughter into the impoverished Dong family, where they could barely afford food. In the early years, Uncle Dong and Aunt Dong treated the new bride decently. But then Cheng Shi proved too capable, rising swiftly in status. Seeing the wives Cheng’s brothers married—all either wealthy or noble—the elderly Dong couple began to find fault with their daughter-in-law. Had Dong Lüshi not borne several children and been skilled at flattery, she might have been divorced long ago.It was unclear what Dong Lüshi had said to Cheng Mu, but they talked from dawn until noon, completely dissipating Cheng Mu's temper. By evening, she hesitantly sent someone to summon Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao, signaling her surrender.
When Cheng Mu's summons arrived, Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao were dining with Cheng Shaoshang, hoping to bond with their daughter. Seeing the uneasy expression of the maidservant kneeling by the door, Madam Qing Cong smiled and remarked, "This is earlier than Madam anticipated. It seems Lüshi is quite the persuasive speaker."
Madam Xiao smiled without comment and rose to leave. Before stepping out, Cheng Shi turned to his daughter and said, "Niao Niao, go ahead and eat. Make sure to have plenty of meat!"
Cheng Shaoshang, who had been in the midst of rising and bowing, paused briefly before responding softly, "Yes. Farewell, Father and Mother. May you return soon."
Her voice was tender, like kneading a soft dough, which warmed Cheng Shi's heart. He nodded cheerfully and left.
Cheng Shaoshang knelt back down and silently resumed her meal. A Zhu, standing nearby, found this odd. Noticing her confusion, Madam Qing Cong reassured, "Young Lady, don't be upset. Madam and the master will dine with you more often in the future. Today is just an exception."
Cheng Shaoshang murmured an acknowledgment.
Yet, even the astute Madam Qing Cong had misread her. Cheng Shaoshang wasn't upset about that—she disliked being called 'Niao Niao' because she already had a childhood name, 'Ling Nian,' though the one who used it was long gone.
...
Every time Madam Xiao entered Cheng Mu's chambers, she was dazzled. Cheng Mu's taste was simple: opulence, opulence, and more opulence. Gold threads and fabrics adorned every possible surface—floors, tables, beds, and seating.
At first, Cheng Mu spoke haltingly, but once she warmed up, the words flowed freely. Clutching Cheng Shi's hand, she wept and sniffled, "...Your sister-in-law made a good point. In old age, who can we rely on but our sons? You've fought through blood and fire to earn your merits, giving me this life of meat and wine. How could I ever value others over your well-being...?"
Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao exchanged a glance but remained silent.
Cheng Mu continued tearfully, "Your grandfather, on his deathbed, told me to look after the family. But I failed. Your uncles are gone or scattered, leaving only this one. I felt I'd wronged my departed parents, so I tried to help the Dong family more. If you don’t like it, I won’t interfere anymore..."
Madam Xiao was impressed by Lüshi's influence—she had completely turned Cheng Mu around in just half a day. She glanced at her husband, who took the cue and asked, "Mother, what else did Sister-in-law Lü say?"
Cheng Mu remembered Dong Lüshi's advice well: show weakness, always show weakness. She whimpered, "She said that as long as you rise in rank and achieve merits, the Dong family will naturally benefit. Sending your uncle to the army would only undermine you." Then her tone shifted, and she gritted her teeth. "Turns out, over the years, the Dong family hasn’t saved much money. Either your brother-in-law squandered it on women, or that heartless sister-in-law of yours funneled it to her own family!"Though Cheng Mu herself was fond of supporting her own family, she detested others doing the same. She had berated Madam Xiao for years over her initial support for her natal family. Now, learning that much of the money she had given her brother ended up being funneled back to his wife's family by her sister-in-law, she was furious. She plotted to someday storm over, grab Aunt Dong by the hair, and give her a good beating to vent her anger.
"My son," Cheng Mu patted Cheng Shi's arm repeatedly, "just save your uncle this once. They have land and a house now, they won't starve or freeze. I promise I'll never trouble you again!" She then turned to Madam Xiao and said, "From now on, you'll be in charge of all household matters. I'm old—I should just enjoy my retirement."
Madam Xiao's gaze was as still as a deep pool. After remaining silent since entering, she finally spoke: "It seems Husband's mother has come to understand. Actually, saving Uncle isn't impossible..."
Cheng Mu had been wiping tears while secretly rolling her eyes, but before Madam Xiao could finish, she leapt up in rage, shouting, "Aha! So it was you two heartless ones who framed your uncle! Just to control me! I'm your mother, your mother! How dare you treat me like this! I'll—I'll—"
"What will Husband's mother do to me?" Madam Xiao coldly interrupted. "What can Husband's mother do to me?"
Cheng Mu was momentarily speechless. Cheng Shi remained unmoving, and the room fell silent.
Madam Xiao slowly rose, adjusted the door curtain more securely, and turned back. "At most, you could have me divorced. Surely you've heard the rumors over the years—amidst the cities and battles, I've made some modest contributions. Even if you could force the General to divorce me, what then? I'd still be alive—"
She smiled slightly, her lips curling with a peculiar mockery, enunciating each word: "I'd still be alive, but others might not be so fortunate."
Cheng Mu froze as if doused with ice water.
Madam Xiao studied her calmly for a moment before asking, "Did Madam Lu not mention this?"
Cheng Mu began trembling. Her son was using her brother to control her, and she had considered using his new bride to pressure him in return. But Dong Lüshi's words echoed vividly in her ears:
I've heard outside that Sister-in-law Xiao has been praised for treating the wounded and comforting displaced civilians during the war. Even the court has commended her. Even if you forced the General to divorce her, so what? Would she starve, freeze, or die of shame? People would just say you're foolish and cruel. The General's anger would fall on the Dong family—would your brother and nephew survive? After your passing, he could remarry her, and she'd still enjoy grandchildren and prosperity. But what of the Dong family then...
Facing Madam Xiao's icy composure, Cheng Mu's voice caught in her throat. Trembling, she turned to Cheng Shi. "My son, will you just watch her bully me like this?"
Cheng Shi said gravely, "Mother, you always think I favor Yuan Yi, but have you considered—was I always this way after marriage? Over the past decade, I've witnessed all of Yuan Yi's actions and all of yours." He glanced at his wife before turning back. "Yuan Yi's stance is mine. The Dong family can no longer be indulged. Mother, it's time for you to rest. From now on, stay out of matters that don't concern you."Cheng Mu slumped to the ground, utterly drained, unable to speak or curse. Feeling pity rise in his heart, Cheng Shi glanced up at Madam Xiao, who gave a slight nod in response. "Go back to your room first," he said, "and have the doors securely closed."
Madam Xiao looked at Cheng Shi with a faint smile and replied, "As you wish."
Author's Note:
Thank you all for your support, bowing deeply.
When I mentioned paw prints, I didn't mean literally arranging punctuation marks to resemble them—it's about the words themselves.
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