Though it was already early February and spring had begun, an unexpected cold snap descended upon the capital like a glass dome sealing off the sky. Despite the bright midday sun, a biting chill seeped upward from the ground. Madam He stood at the doorway gazing at the sky, stamped her feet to shake off the cold, and ordered the matron to quickly fire up the under-floor heating system. "Add two more braziers to the young masters' and young ladies' rooms," she instructed. "Tell the maids to keep a close watch so they don't catch cold." After a moment's thought, she added, "That side too—don't let them get cold or sick and start making trouble again."
The matron acknowledged with a smile and praised her mistress's benevolence before departing. Just then, a briskly dressed maidservant hurried to the corridor and cheerfully reported toward the room, "Madam, Old Uncle An from the stables has returned ahead of schedule. He says the master has reached the city gate and will return home after unloading several carts of medicinal goods at the shop."
Madam He's face lit up with joy. "He's returned early from this long journey! Go, tell the children their father is coming home. Have them bring out their usual practice calligraphy and paintings to show their father and make him happy."
The clever maidservant promptly acknowledged and left.
With her husband returning from a long trip, Madam He busied herself with preparations: preparing multiple buckets of hot water for an herbal bath to relieve fatigue, laying out clean undergarments and robes, and warming the kang bed. Realizing he likely hadn't eaten lunch yet, she had the kitchen prepare several of his favorite dishes. When the children came bouncing in, she had them wait on the warmed kang in the inner room...
After a flurry of activity that lasted until evening, a sweaty, disheveled matron rushed to the door, her face a mixture of anger and contempt. "Madam," she said, "the master has returned, but that troublemaker is at it again! She had a young maid wait by the gate, and as soon as she saw the master, she started wailing and begging him to come see her, claiming Concubine Cao is dying of illness!"
This wasn't the first time such tricks had been played from that quarter. Madam He would normally ignore it, knowing her husband held no regard for that woman. But seeing her children eagerly awaiting their father's return, anger surged within her.
Coming from a military family, Madam He had grown up surrounded by soldiers and developed a temper as sharp as a blade. Without another word, she turned and strode toward the door, forcefully swinging the thick padded brocade curtain aside. It hit the doorframe with a heavy thud.
The He residence was compact, consisting of only three and a half courtyards. In just a few steps, Madam He reached the western side courtyard. Without waiting for the servants to announce her, she marched straight into the room. As she lifted the inner room curtain halfway, she saw a woman in plain undergarments reclining on the bed, her chest partially exposed, revealing soft, pale curves above a gleaming crimson belly band.
Concubine Cao looked pitiful, her hair disheveled. One hand rested on her chest while the other tightly gripped the man standing by the bed. "Cousin," she wept, "how cruel you are! You haven't come to see me all these days..."
The man, still covered in travel dust, replied wearily, "I've been away on business. How could I have come to see you?"
Tears welled in Concubine Cao's eyes as she gazed at him, her voice growing even more delicate. "And before that? If I hadn't swallowed my pride, you wouldn't have even glanced my way! Had I died, no one would have known!"The man held her wrist absentmindedly and said, "There's nothing wrong with your health—just some stagnation. I'll prescribe some dispersing medicine." Over the years, he had heard too many threats of death and long grown numb to them.
Concubine Cao secretly seethed. Had it been an ordinary man, she might have feigned illness, but he was a highly skilled physician, leaving no room for pretense. Seeing him about to leave, she hastily grabbed his sleeve and wailed, "Cousin, have pity on me!"
She then clung to him, weeping plaintively, "…Since Aunt passed away last year, you’ve avoided me. I know I’m at fault—all these years I’ve been a burden, constantly taking medicine or tonics. No wonder you’ve grown weary of me. Yet I cling to life, hoping to be with you forever, but Sister forbids me from stepping into her quarters…"
Madam He could bear no more. She yanked the curtain aside and stormed in, dragging Concubine Cao off the man and flinging her to the floor. "Shameless wretch!" she scolded. "Have you no decency? With your clothes open and chest exposed—and Mother has been gone for only a few months! Your husband is still in mourning, and you dare seduce him so brazenly? If you’re this desperate, I’ll find some burly men outside to quench your fire! Must you drag your husband into unfilial conduct?"
Concubine Cao had always feared this physically formidable mistress, especially after enduring a beating administered by Madam He herself following her aunt’s death. Her face flushed crimson as she lay sobbing on the floor, "How… how cruel your words are, Madam! I… I don’t want to live anymore…"
Madam He felt no sympathy. She spat on Concubine Cao and sneered, "The sooner you die, the better! But I doubt you’d ever willingly die—lurking like a rat, waiting to harm others! Mother treated you with such kindness, yet you, shameless creature, what did you do while she was gravely ill? How dare you weep and play the victim! You even drugged your husband and let a filthy maid climb into his bed, trying to smuggle a bastard into the family! Mother could have lived another six months, but you drove her to an early grave before the New Year!"
Concubine Cao covered her face, weeping incessantly. "If you despise me, Madam, beat or scold me as you wish, but don’t wrong me! I only thought of the He family—Cousin has only one son and one daughter. Wouldn’t it be better to take more concubines and expand the lineage? Since I’m useless myself, I found a fertile girl. How was I to know she had ill intentions…"
Enraged, Madam He kicked Cao, sending her sprawling. "Don’t you lie to me! If not for Grandmother’s foresight, you would have succeeded! For that alone, I could slice you to pieces, and no one would lift a finger for you! Filth like you defiles the very ground you walk on!"
Stinging from Madam He’s grip, Cao tried to scramble toward the man’s feet, but Madam He kicked her again. Rolling on the floor, Cao cried, "Cousin, will you just stand by and watch me beaten and cursed?"
The man stood by the door, his expression detached, as if the scuffle between the two women had nothing to do with him. "She is the mistress, and you are the concubine. If she wishes to discipline you, accept it. …I’m tired. I’m going back now."
With that, he turned and left the room.Madam He swelled with triumph and loudly summoned the matrons and maidservants outside to enter. Seeing no one to aid her, Cao-shi momentarily panicked. Kneeling beside the mistress, she was about to plead when two matrons dragged in a young maid whose cheeks were swollen and bleeding from repeated slaps. Cao-shi cried out, "Qiu'er! How did they beat you like this?!"
This was Cao-shi's last remaining loyal maid—the very one sent earlier to intercept the man at the gate.
Madam He kicked Cao-shi aside, walked to the window and sat down. Sweeping her gaze over the assembled servants, she said slowly, "Before the New Year, I made it clear—I tolerate no deception. Don't think there are advantages to be seized..." She pointed at Qiu'er, who lay crumpled on the floor, and said coldly, "...Greedy for a few scattered coins, you insist on opposing me! Guards! Since this maid is so close to Concubine Cao, send her contract to the Cao family!"
Qiu'er immediately began trembling violently. Having served Concubine Cao for so long, she knew well the Cao family's circumstances—so destitute that the women had to gather firewood and cook themselves, never having enough to eat or wear. The Cao men were thoroughly depraved. For a pure young woman like herself to go there would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den! Once they grew tired of her, she'd likely be sold to a brothel!
Terrified beyond measure, she tried to beg for mercy but found herself shaking too violently to speak. She was promptly dragged out by two matrons.
The surrounding servants fell deathly silent, not daring even to breathe loudly.
"Drag her over here!" Madam He commanded imperiously. Two serving women seized Cao-shi by the arms and hauled her forward.
Madam He rolled up her sleeves and raised her thick palm high. The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed through the room as she slapped Cao-shi back and forth over a dozen times, until her face was bruised and lips split, reducing her pleas for mercy to incoherent mumbles.
"...I initially thought you were decent—a noble lady fallen on hard times, suffering in that remote backwater. I intended to treat you well, with good food and respect..." Having vented her anger, Madam He slowly smoothed her sleeves and sneered, "...But you're insatiably greedy, utterly shameless! That wretched maid only climbed into bed seven or eight days ago—how could she be diagnosed with two months of pregnancy?"
Intent on humiliating the Cao family before everyone, Madam He grew increasingly blunt: "Don't play the fool. My husband and I have investigated thoroughly. That slut kept going to the Cao residence to deliver messages and items for you, carrying on with your brothers. Regardless of who fathered the bastard in her belly, it'll bear the Cao name. Ha! Your Cao family schemes well, trying to swindle the He family assets this way! Let me tell you—dream on! Old Madam He detected your plot long ago, just waiting for you to bring about your own doom!"
Ever since her daughter-in-law showed signs of failing health, Old Madam He had known the Cao family would grow impatient and cause trouble. She instructed her granddaughter-in-law to wait and watch coldly, to catch them red-handed, while also guarding against unreasonable deathbed requests from her dying daughter-in-law.
In the end, Madame He only had strength enough before dying to plead for her niece—she couldn't say anything else. Remembering her shrewd and perceptive grandmother-in-law, Madam He felt both gratitude and deep respect.After her scheme was exposed, Madam Cao had kept a low profile for quite some time, hiding from others in shame. Unexpectedly, after just a few months, she reverted to her old ways. Madam He had been holding back her anger, waiting for just such an opportunity as today to deal with her!
"Stay put and behave yourself! Before Mother passed away, she entrusted us to take good care of you! My husband and I remember it well—we won’t let you go hungry or cold. But if you dare to scheme again, there are plenty of convents outside the city and strict abbesses to keep you in line. I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"
After this round of threats and scolding, Madam He felt much more at ease. Leaving the weeping Madam Cao on her bed, she reassigned two "capable" maids and several "well-mannered" matrons to watch over her.
Satisfied, Madam He returned to her own quarters to find her husband already bathed and seated on the heated kang, chatting and laughing with their children. Their mischievous young son was proudly holding up a clumsily written large character, insisting that his father praise it, while climbing playfully onto his father’s shoulders. Their elder daughter, gentle and quiet, sat on the edge of the kang with her little feet dangling, discussing the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon she had just finished reading with her father. As He held his squirming son, his eyes shone with pride when he looked at his daughter.
Madam He’s heart swelled with warmth and joy.
"Alright, you two little monkeys, come down now!" Madam He chided affectionately. "Your father hasn’t eaten yet!"
As soon as she approached the kang, her young son scrambled onto her, chirping in a childish voice, "Mother, let Sister and I eat with Father. I’ll serve him dishes and pour his wine."
"Pah! With you around, how could your father eat in peace? ...Alright, Sister Shu, take your little rascal of a brother back now!"
Sister Shu turned away, covering a light laugh, then pinched her brother’s ear and dragged him away, half-pulling and half-tugging.
The couple smiled as they watched their children leave the room. Madam He quickly arranged for the matrons to set up a small table on the kang and serve the meal, while she personally poured a cup of warmed yellow wine for her husband.
"Was your trip smooth this time, Husband?" Madam He, having already eaten some snacks earlier, did not join the meal but sat opposite to keep him company. "Doctor Huang from Bao'an Hall has visited twice, saying he has a prescription he’d like to discuss with you. The Yan Duke’s residence also sent someone—they said the pill you prescribed last time worked very well. The Old Madam and Old Master found it quite beneficial and asked for a few more pills. If it’s convenient for you, they’d like to invite you regularly for pulse readings. Oh, and Doctor Lin from Shuanghua Lane has decided to retire. He asked you to reconsider—are you sure you don’t want him to recommend you for the Imperial Hospital? Although there are many complexities within the Imperial Hospital, it also houses many rare and ancient medical texts and prescriptions. If you’d prefer not to join, you could at least hang a shingle there…"
Madam He was highly capable in managing affairs, handling both household matters and external social engagements with such skill that she practically ran half the household.
Doctor He took a small sip of wine and set the cup down, saying with heartfelt gratitude, "You’ve worked hard these days, managing everything inside and out. You must take care of your own health as well. This time, I’ve brought some donkey-hide gelatin and bird’s nests for you—they’re for you to consume yourself. Don’t give them away to others."
Madam He laughed. "Why thank me? We’re husband and wife. I’m perfectly healthy."
Doctor He smiled faintly and said no more, lowering his head to eat.
Doctor He was just over thirty, with refined and handsome features. His usual calm demeanor meant time had left few marks on his face, but his eyes had aged prematurely, always carrying a weariness and numbness, no matter the occasion.Madam He gazed at her husband for a moment, suddenly recalling events from many years ago. Both she and her husband had been rather old when they married.
Her father had originally been a low-ranking military officer stationed in the capital. After she came of age, he arranged a suitable match for her with a family that was not only their long-time neighbors but also his colleagues—truly close friends.
What happened next was hard to say whether it was fortunate or unfortunate.
Starting from the late years of the benevolent Emperor Renzong, several princes and feudal lords successively rebelled. When the current emperor ascended the throne, there were suppressions of rebellions, followed by more uprisings a few years later, and further pacifications—chaos reigned inside and outside the capital.
During this series of upheavals, Madam He's father and brothers repeatedly distinguished themselves with meritorious service. They not only handled affairs correctly but also aligned with the right factions, rapidly rising through the ranks within a few years. She transformed from the inconspicuous daughter of a minor low-ranking military officer into the respected daughter of the Deputy Commander of the Southern Gate of the Five City Military and Horse Division. Her several brothers also secured promising careers—yet, her fiancé died in the turmoil.
This delay left her unmarried until her twenties, when the He family came with a marriage proposal.
The prospective groom had good character and had mastered excellent medical skills at a young age. The He family could also be considered distinguished. Although it was rumored that Dr. He had a cousin serving as his noble concubine (the Cao family had made several scenes over this), Madam He was already past the age of being picky, so her parents agreed.
Life after marriage wasn't difficult. That Concubine Cao wasn't hard to manage, and most importantly, the matriarch of the He family, He Laofuren, was still spirited and loud-voiced, having long established an iron rule—either her daughter-in-law, the Third Madame He, or Cao must accompany her to live at their ancestral home in White Stone Pool.
Without her mother-in-law around to support her, the formidable Madam He had no trouble dealing with the concubine Cao. And without Cao by her side, her mother-in-law, the Third Madame He, could only sigh helplessly. The only annoyance was during the annual New Year's return to White Stone Pool, when both Cao and her mother-in-law were present. Fortunately, her husband was sensible—mostly dismissing his mother and not as fond of this Cousin Cao as rumors suggested, though he occasionally visited Cao's room out of respect for his mother.
Over time, Madam He even sensed that her husband secretly disliked the Cao family—to drive a wedge between them, Cao had vaguely hinted that her husband had once been engaged in an excellent match.
Cao was mistaken. Madam He didn't care at all; she herself had been engaged before. Knowing this made her even more certain that her husband truly detested Cao, so she dealt with Cao even more ruthlessly.
She scolded and beat as needed. Having grown up in the streets with only two rough servants at home, sometimes accompanying her mother to market, she could spear vulgar insults effortlessly—Cao was no match for her.
Moreover, as long as she had just cause, no matter how she handled the concubine, He Laofuren fully supported her. The Third Madame He could only weep on the sidelines, not daring to say a word.Only then did Mrs. He understand why He Laofuren had chosen her as a granddaughter-in-law. Faced with such a shameless cousin-turned-concubine, such a sticky and parasitic Cao family that came daily to sponge off them, and such an unreliable mother-in-law—if it had been some delicate young lady, whether refined, timid, or dignified, who married into the family, not only would the household be in constant turmoil, but the couple would have long since fallen out.
Only someone like herself—from a respectable family that could offer her husband some support, with a rough and tough temperament—could first deal with the concubine, then handle the mother-in-law, and still turn around and play the loving wife with her husband.
By the end of the year, Mrs. He’s mother-in-law, who had always claimed to be dying but never did, finally passed away.
With the help of onions, she put on a convincing show of filial piety in public, weeping so movingly—though in truth, who would genuinely grieve? If not for such a muddle-headed mother, with Dr. He’s character and talent, he could have married a noble lady long ago and revitalized his family. Would she have ever had a chance?
As for her husband, he didn’t seem particularly grieved by his widowed mother’s death either.
Mrs. He could understand—after so many years of dragging on, any sorrow had long been exhausted. As for that Cao woman... she was now firmly under her thumb. If Cao behaved, she wouldn’t make things difficult; but if she dared to cause trouble, hmph...
Thinking of this, Mrs. He was in high spirits. Smiling, she served her husband dishes while occasionally sharing recent news from the capital.
"...Next month, with the arrival of spring, there will be several joyous events in the capital. The most important, of course, is the marriage of the eldest daughter of the Ningyuan Marquis Household..." Before she could finish, Dr. He suddenly interjected, "Didn’t the eldest daughter of the Gu family marry just a couple of years ago? How is there another eldest daughter?"
Mrs. He found it slightly odd—her husband was usually slow and deliberate, to put it bluntly, rather dawdling, yet he had actually interrupted her.
She laughed and explained, "Husband, you don’t know—the one who married two years ago was Marquis Gu’s own daughter. The one marrying now is the daughter of Marquis Gu’s deceased elder brother. She is also considered a legitimate daughter of the marquis. This Miss Gu is betrothed to the Heir Apparent of the Yongchang Marquis Household—a truly well-matched union, rich and noble!"
Dr. He paused, chopsticks in hand, then nodded.
Mrs. He continued cheerfully, "Our family has long supplied the Liang family with medicines, so we must send a proper gift this time. Ah, one must admire Old Lady Liang’s skill—she personally secured this match with the widowed Lady Gu. Marquis Liang is an honest man, not one for maneuvering, yet the main branch of the Liang family has been thriving more and more. Marchioness Liang is so refined and kind—she nearly cried while telling me her difficulties a few times. Heh, now it’s all settled; they’ve connected with the Gu family..."
She spoke happily, unaware that her husband across from her was growing displeased. He said, "If the Liang family had such intentions, wouldn’t the Gu family be dragged into it?"
Mrs. He was taken aback, then laughed again. "What are you saying, husband? If it weren’t a good match, would Marquis Gu have agreed? It’s because the Liang Heir Apparent is excellent—nothing like his honest parents, he’s quite promising. But..."
She lowered her voice and added, "In my opinion, the marriage of the Gu eldest daughter two years ago was still better."Doctor He looked up and said hesitantly, "One is the Heir Apparent of a hereditary marquis, while the other is a newly appointed imperial scholar. Though the latter is newly prominent, his foundation remains rather shallow." After a pause, he added, "However, since Eldest Miss Gu is born of a concubine, the match is fairly balanced."
Madam He chuckled, "You don't understand this, my dear. Although the Liang family holds a noble title, their finances have been depleted over the years. With a large household, five branches and six sisters-in-law, plus discord among brothers due to disputes between legitimate and illegitimate heirs, there's constant turmoil every few days. Marchioness Liang’s hair has nearly turned white from the strain. Just wait and see—when the Gu young lady enters their household, she’ll have her hands full. The Chang family is different. Madam Chang passed away early, leaving only an elderly grandmother and a married elder sister. Once Eldest Miss Gu enters their home, she’ll be the mistress of the house. Over the years, Lord Chang’s official career has flourished, and in social gatherings, who would dare look down on Eldest Miss Gu, the daughter of Marquis Gu?!... Tsk, tsk, they all say Marchioness Gu dotes immensely on this daughter born of a concubine. I didn’t believe it at first, but now it seems true. Rare, truly rare."
Physician He fell silent for a moment, then picked up his chopsticks again, slowly stirring the dishes in his bowl.
"Marquis Gu is stationed at the border, and Madam Gu is a widow. How will this marriage be arranged?... Two years ago, Marchioness Gu rushed back from the south to personally oversee the wedding preparations."
Seeing that her usually taciturn husband was interested in the matter, Madam He grew more enthusiastic and chattered on, sharing everything she knew.
"This time, Marchioness Gu isn’t coming. Instead, the young Heir Apparent of Gu and his brother will represent their father in sending off their cousin. Tsk, tsk, my dear, you didn’t see it—the young Heir Apparent is impressive enough for his age, but that Gu Er Gongzi, how young he is, yet he looks as if he stepped out of a painting! That day, he didn’t ride in a carriage but passed through Desheng Gate on horseback. Young ladies and married women went wild, tossing sachets, handkerchiefs, and other tokens at him! They say Marchioness Gu was a peerless beauty in her day, and Gu Er Gongzi takes after his mother, which is why he’s so exceptionally handsome and refined. Who knows which young lady will be fortunate enough to marry him? She’d probably wake up laughing in the middle of the night, even in her dreams. I’ve heard that Uncle Shen and the Duke of Ying’s father-in-law both adore the Gu brothers and want to recruit them as sons-in-law, one for each family..."
...
After dinner, over a cup of light tea, Madam He sat by the kang table doing needlework, while Physician He stood quietly by the window. After a while, he suddenly said, "It’s snowing," and pushed the door open to step outside.
In the courtyard stood an old plum tree, its branches trembling gently under clusters of yellow blossoms. Delicate snowflakes drifted down from the sky in a fine, scattered dance. Physician He stood with his back to the door beneath the tree, gazing up at the snow accumulating on the plum petals.
Madam He set aside her sewing basket and slowly moved to the doorway to admire the snow. Under the soft, pale moonlight, the fine snowflakes reflected a silvery glow in the air, hazy and delicate like a thin veil.
She stood there in a daze for a while, her thoughts drifting back to that year, on a night just like this—with fine snow falling and the moon shining brightly—when a handsome, spirited young man had perched on the wall, gazing at her with infatuation. She had stood beneath the very same old plum tree in her family’s courtyard, looking up to meet his eyes.
His eyebrows were so thick and bold, his gaze so intense, his bright, dark eyes holding only her reflection. The cold snowflakes landed on her face, but she didn’t notice. Her heart had been set ablaze by the young man’s fervent gaze, feeling as though it could melt all the snow in the world.
Innocent and carefree, childhood sweethearts—they had finally gained their parents’ blessing to pledge their lives to each other. What blissful days those were...
"...Early tomorrow morning, I’ll set off with Father and my brothers. When I return, we’ll hold our wedding. After that, we... we... will never part. Even when our teeth fall out and our hair turns white, we’ll stay together, always and forever!""Sister, I, I... have only you in my heart... always, only you."
"Don't worry, I will return safe and sound. For you, I must come back safely."
— The words still echoed in her ears, but the man from her spring chamber dreams had become a cold corpse in the grave. Never again would there be such fiery eyes, such hearty laughter, such warm and strong arms...
A sudden warmth welled up in her eyes, and Grandma He quickly lowered her head to wipe them away.
It took her many, many years to slowly emerge from the sorrow. Countless marriage proposals brought by her father and brothers were rejected by her. She missed the prime age for marriage, missed better matches, yet she never regretted it.
Then one day, as she watched her nieces and nephews playing in the courtyard, she suddenly realized she still wanted a family—the happiness of having children around her knees. And for the sake of no longer troubling her parents and siblings, she agreed to marry.
Her husband was a good man, though he didn't love her—this she knew well. Yet he was gentle and considerate to her and their children. The couple treated each other with respect and courtesy, living a life that was affluent, peaceful, and busy. She was already very content.
For a woman to have experienced such sincere affection in this lifetime—she considered it worthwhile, not in vain to have walked this world.
Grandma He focused her gaze slightly, looking at her husband standing under the tree in the courtyard. A trace of guilt and curiosity suddenly arose in her heart—
Had this calm and indifferent man, in his heart, also once had someone whom he would remember for a lifetime?
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