The Xie residence had quieted down, and a few snowflakes still drifted down from the sky. Chu Tong followed a winding path and unknowingly arrived at a magnificent mansion. She looked closely and saw a tall, ornate house with carved beams and painted rafters. The glazed tiles on the roof were a translucent green, and auspicious beasts perched on the corners, their imposing forms reaching towards the sky. A cobblestone path led to the main gate, at the end of which stood a bronze tripod on a lotus pedestal. Looking up, a plaque hung above the gate, bearing the three large characters "Changchun Hall," solemn and elegant, the calligraphy vigorous and graceful.
Chu Tong clicked her tongue in amazement, thinking to herself: This place is really grand. Look at the words on that plaque, they're shining with gold. Tsk tsk, could they really be inlaid with gold? As Chu Tong thought this, she walked forward and looked up at the plaque. At this moment, she heard faint voices coming from inside the room. She looked around but didn't see anyone nearby, so she slipped to the base of the wall, dipped her finger in saliva, poked a hole in the window paper, and squinted to look inside.
Seated at the head of the hall was a middle-aged man of about thirty-seven or thirty-eight. He was tall and robust, with a long, rectangular face, a pale complexion, and a short beard. His features were lean and powerful, and his eyes held a sharp glint, exuding a decisive and assertive air. He wore a dark green satin cloak and blue court boots, sitting upright in a grand chair, his brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought. Xie Linghui and another young man of about seventeen or eighteen stood with their hands at their sides on either side of the man. The young man was slender, with fair skin, delicate eyebrows, and large eyes. He possessed a refined and elegant air, and wore a light gold-trimmed, ginger-yellow satin round-necked robe with scattered flowers, and a five-colored floral belt inlaid with jade around his waist. His expression was respectful. To the right of the man sat a woman in her early thirties. She had delicate and pretty features, a slender figure, and wore a tea-colored dress with forsythia blossoms. She wore a kingfisher feather hairpin with a phoenix tail and a bougainvillea hair ornament, and a pair of kingfisher feather earrings. Her eyelids were slightly lowered, and she held a lotus-colored silk handkerchief in her hand.
Chu Tong clicked her tongue, thinking to herself: This woman is quite beautiful, but she's still far inferior to that vixen, the Second Madam.
The middle-aged man was Xie Chunrong, the master of the Xie family and a high-ranking official. This morning, on his way home from court, he heard that an old nanny in his household had been stabbed to death, his beloved concubine had suddenly gone mad, and his youngest daughter had been frightened by the thief and was crying incessantly. Xie Chunrong was troubled, and when he returned and saw his second wife acting incoherently, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing, he felt even more anxious and pained, adding three more points to his troubles. Then he thought of his second wife, a heroine among women, who not only managed the affairs of the Xie family in an orderly manner, but also offered advice on some matters of the court. He wondered when his second wife would recover from her madness, which was like losing an arm for him. Thinking of this, his troubles increased three more points. When he recalled how affectionate, considerate, and understanding his second wife was, a quality that ordinary women could hardly match, and now that she had become like this, his troubles reached their peak, and his brows furrowed even more.
After a long silence, Xie Chunrong sighed, looked up at the First Madam Du Xiangping sitting to his right, then at Xie Lingxuan and Xie Linghui, and coughed lightly, saying, "I have already ordered that what happened today must not be publicized. The Second Madam is ill, and the manor will naturally invite renowned doctors to treat her. In the meantime, the affairs of the Xie manor will be temporarily managed by the First Branch."
The moment these words left his mouth, Xie Linghui's body stiffened, and he quickly glanced at Xie Chunrong and the First Madam. Xie Chunrong nodded slightly to the First Madam and said, "Please take good care of the Xie family's affairs from now on."
Although the First Madam tried her best to suppress it, she couldn't hide the joy on her face. She leaned out halfway and said with a fawning smile, "Don't worry, Master, I will do my best!"
Xie Chunrong continued, "Recently, there have been frequent incidents in the manor. You should all be more vigilant and keep your servants in check. Xuan'er and Hui'er, you should also work harder on your studies and stop being naughty and causing trouble."
Xie Linghui clenched his fists, but his face remained expressionless. He lowered his head and said in unison with Xie Chenhui, "Yes, Father."
Finding the place uninteresting, Chu Tong left Changchun Hall and headed towards the grove behind it. She wandered around the Xie residence for a while without finding a way out. Finally, turning a corner of a courtyard, an archway came into view. Looking up, Chu Tong saw the words "Admiring Plum Blossoms" inscribed above the archway. Dozens of plum trees grew inside, their blossoms in full bloom. Chu Tong exclaimed in admiration and stepped inside to admire the flowers. After taking a few steps, she suddenly saw two figures entangled and walking towards her, with faint sounds of arguing drifting from them. She looked around, then ducked behind a strange rock against the wall.
The figure approached, and a man's voice said, "Lüqiao, my dear sister, don't ignore me. You know how I feel about you. I've died for you a thousand times over. My soul isn't even mine anymore. You..."
Before the man could finish speaking, the woman named Lüqiao coldly interrupted, "Sir, I cannot accept your kindness. I am just a lowly maid who sweeps the floor and pours tea. I have served my master for so many years and have never thought of climbing the social ladder to become someone's concubine. Sir, you should find a better maid!"
Hearing this, Chu Tong understood a bit and thought to herself, "This girl does have some backbone." She couldn't help but peek through the small hole in the strange rock and saw Xie Lingxuan, the eldest son of the Xie family, pulling at a young girl's robe. The girl wore a jade-green cotton-padded jacket, a willow-green long skirt, and lake-blue cotton boots, with a bright green handkerchief tied around her waist. She had a charming figure, an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and almond-shaped eyes that were as clear as spring water, carrying a hint of allure—truly a beautiful and charming young woman. Perhaps because of the cold wind, the girl's pretty face was slightly flushed, adding to her beauty.
Chu Tong was immediately struck by the girl's stunning beauty. She stuck out her tongue and thought to herself, "What a clean and pretty young lady! No wonder the charming young man has taken a liking to her!"
Xie Lingxuan smiled and said, "Good sister, Lüqiao, don't be angry. I don't expect you to be my concubine. I just want you to come to my place so I can see you every day. If you come, I guarantee I will treat you a thousand times, ten thousand times better than my second brother. Someone like you shouldn't be doing servant's work in the first place."
After hearing Xie Lingxuan's words, Lü Qiao's expression softened a bit. She snorted and said, "What kind of person am I? I've been in this mansion since I was a child to serve the masters and mistresses." With that, she turned and walked away.
In his haste, Xie Lingxuan grabbed Lü Qiao's small hand and said urgently, "Good sister, don't go! Do you know that the second branch of the family is dying? Just now at Changchun Hall, my father ordered my mother to take charge of the Xie family from now on!"
Lu Qiao was still struggling angrily, but she was stunned when she heard his words. Her big, watery eyes stared at Xie Lingxuan's face in surprise: "What did you say?"
Seeing that the beauty was finally looking at him, Xie Lingxuan was overjoyed, a hint of smugness on his face. He lowered his voice and said, "The Second Madam has gone mad, and who knows when she'll be cured? The Second Branch of the family is no longer reliable. Besides, my second brother is still young; and he has Juan Cui and Zi Yuan by his side, so he has no intention of making you his concubine. I am the eldest son of the Xie family, and you are a smart woman, knowing that a wise bird chooses its tree. You know how I feel about you..." As he spoke, Xie Lingxuan's voice grew softer and softer, and he moved closer and closer to Lü Qiao. When he smelled the sweet fragrance of Lü Qiao's hair, his heart fluttered, and in a daze, he leaned down to kiss the beauty's face. Just then, a scream rang out. Xie Lingxuan, feeling guilty, immediately released Lü Qiao and turned to run away. Lü Qiao was also startled. She lifted her skirt and ran two steps in the opposite direction, looked back, and then hurriedly ran through the archway into the distance.
The scream originated from Chu Tong. She had been hiding behind a strange rock, engrossed in watching the lovers' tryst, when the poison took effect. A sudden pain shot through her chest, followed by excruciating pain throughout her limbs, causing her to scream. She was drenched in sweat from the pain, and with trembling hands, she pulled out the small porcelain bottle Yun Yinghuai had given her, took a pill, and swallowed it. After a while, the pain subsided, and Chu Tong let out a long sigh of relief. She cursed under her breath, touched her nose, and walked out of Mu Mei Garden, her small hands tucked into her sleeves as she slowly made her way out of the mansion.
After walking for a while, Chu Tong arrived at a stone bridge. Looking up, she saw Xie Linghui approaching with his servant from a distance. She muttered curses under her breath, but there was no way to avoid him, so she could only stand meekly to the side. Xie Linghui's handsome face was furrowed with worry, his expression extremely serious. He paused slightly when he saw Chu Tong, then nodded slightly and said, "Come with me."
Helpless, Chu Tong could only follow Xie Linghui closely. After navigating through layers of corridors and paths, Xie Linghui led her to a mansion. Chu Tong looked up and saw a plaque above the vermilion gate bearing the three large characters "Tanwu Garden," written in a clear and elegant style. The courtyard was extremely spacious, with vines densely covering the walls. Several rocks in the corners were either exquisitely shaped or ruggedly shaped. Various plants grew within the courtyard, but since it was deep winter, most had withered, except for a few plum trees blooming fiercely in the wind, some red, some white—the red as vibrant as rosy clouds, the white as pure as frost and snow. A thrush hung from the courtyard's corridor, chirping incessantly. Behind the corridor were rows of carved beams and painted rafters, with a main house in the center and three side rooms on each side.
Seeing Xie Linghui and the others enter, several maids who were sweeping in the courtyard hurriedly put down their work and ran to lift the curtain, calling out, "Second Master is back!" As soon as they finished speaking, a charming and graceful young girl lifted the curtain. Upon seeing Xie Linghui, she immediately smiled and personally raised the felt curtain high, saying, "Second Master is back? Come in and warm yourself up with a bowl of ginseng chicken soup."
Chu Tong was stunned for a moment. This girl was none other than Lü Qiao, who had been struggling and entangled with Xie Lingxuan in Mu Mei Garden.
As they were talking, Xie Linghui entered the room, followed closely by Chu Tong. As soon as they entered, Lü Qiao skillfully removed Xie Linghui's cloak and ornaments, and then bent down to help him change his boots.
Seeing this, Chu Tong chuckled inwardly: So it wasn't that this girl had backbone, but that she had high standards; she'd probably already set her sights on Second Master Xie. No wonder, prostitutes love money, and girls love pretty faces. Second Master Xie is naturally more handsome than the eldest master of the Xie family! She just said she "didn't want to climb the social ladder and become a concubine," pshaw! Just look at how attentive she is to Second Master Xie, how alluring her eyes are—I know exactly what kind of vixen she is! Thinking this, Chu Tong curled her lip, quite disapproving of Lü Qiao.
At this moment, another young girl emerged from the inner room. She had an oval face, delicate eyebrows, calm and gentle eyes, fair skin, a graceful figure, and a tall stature. She wore a lotus-root-colored cotton undergarment, paired with a light purple jacket and a handkerchief. This was Zi Yuan, who had led Chu Tong to change and bathe. Zi Yuan held a bowl of hot soup in her hand and smiled, "Second Master, have some soup to dispel the chill." Xie Linghui took it and drank a sip. Just then, another maid came over carrying a steaming copper basin. She placed the basin on the basin stand, soaked a towel, wrung it out, and handed it to him, saying, "Second Master, wipe your face." Chu Tong looked closely and recognized the maid who handed him the towel as Juan Cui.
Chu Tong clicked her tongue in amazement, thinking: "Oh my little darlings! This kind of behavior, this kind of enjoyment, even if you called all the prostitutes in the brothel out for a drinking party, it probably wouldn't compare! These young maids are all as tender as onions, as delicate as spring flowers. If Madam Lin had these girls, she'd be overjoyed!"
At this moment, Juan Cui noticed Chu Tong and was slightly taken aback, then smiled kindly. Chu Tong snapped out of her daze, smiled back at Juan Cui, and began to look around. In the central hall of the outer room, tables and chairs were set up for receiving guests. On the wall behind the main seat hung a large calligraphy scroll bearing the eight characters "正德厚生，臻于至善" (Upholding Virtue and Promoting Benevolence, Reaching Perfection), the brushstrokes vigorous and continuous, like spring clouds floating in the sky and water flowing on the ground. The inner room was a study, containing a large rosewood table with writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and several books. Beside the brush holder was a dragon-patterned tripod, from which wisps of smoke rose. In the upper left corner of the table sat a pink chrysanthemum and magpie vases with gold-embroidered flowers, and a daffodil with lush green leaves and newly blooming white flowers, graceful and charming. In the upper right corner was a small gilded screen with magnolias and parrots. Bookshelves lined the walls to the left and right of the table, piled high with books. Looking up at Wang Shen's "Layered Peaks and Misty Rivers," one sees towering peaks, billowing clouds, and cascading waterfalls. Behind the long table, several calligraphy scrolls hang beside the painting. The floor is covered with uniform apricot-yellow patterned bricks. Although this room is not as lavish as the second mistress's room, it is fresh, bright, and full of charm.
Chu Tong looked around, and Xie Linghui sniffed and asked, "What's that smell in this room?"
Lü Qiao hurriedly said, "I burned the heart-shaped jasmine incense that I made myself last year in the dragon-patterned cauldron."
Xie Linghui shook his head repeatedly: "The daffodils in this room already have a natural fragrance, why would you add jasmine to overpower their scent? It's making the daffodils the main attraction."
Lü Qiao wanted to say something more, but seeing Xie Linghui's unhappy expression, she didn't dare to say anything more. However, she looked a little resentful and walked to the table to extinguish the jasmine tea.
Xie Linghui turned to Chu Tong and said, "Come with me." He then led her inside. As they walked, a huge embroidered screen depicting a cat chasing a butterfly came into view. The screen was authentic double-sided Suzhou embroidery, featuring a snow-white Persian cat with one blue and one green eye, its expression focused, as it bent down to pounce on a large, silver-red butterfly, lifelike in its depiction. Beside it were several large peonies, their petals layered, vibrant in color. Around the screen were embroidered a dozen or so butterflies of various sizes, in shades of crimson, pale yellow, peach, ochre, pea green, and purple-red, hovering high and low. The patterns on their wings were exquisitely detailed, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The screen had spiral knobs at the top and bottom, allowing it to rotate.
Beyond the embroidered screen lay Xie Linghui's bedroom. To the left of the room hung heavy gauze curtains, behind which sat a large sandalwood bed with carved floral patterns and dripping water. Beneath the bed was an antique footstool, upon which rested a pair of shoes with cloud-patterned designs. Beside it was a colorful, ink-wash landscape-themed embroidered stool with a drum design. Next to the bed was a Xiangfei chair, draped with a leopard skin, above which hung a sword. On a sandalwood table beside the chair were various longswords, indicating that the owner was a martial arts enthusiast.
Xie Linghui sat down at the round table in the center of the room. The maid in purple hurriedly brought a cup to pour tea. Xie Linghui picked up the teacup and said, "Ziyuan, you've always been the most efficient. This little girl is called Chutong. Originally, I planned for her to stay with my mother, but that's probably not possible now. She'll stay with me from now on. Go and carefully prepare her living quarters. She'll be treated the same as you." After saying that, he glanced at Chutong again and then instructed, "You three, see if you have any clothes that are a little smaller. Give them to her to wear for now, and think about making her a few sets for spring, summer, autumn, and winter later."
Zi Yuan nodded and said, "Second Master, let her sleep in the west wing, which is close to me." Then she turned and left.
Xie Linghui then told Chu Tong not to be reserved while staying there, and Chu Tong nodded obsequiously. After giving his instructions, Xie Linghui waved for Chu Tong to leave. Chu Tong didn't pay attention to what Xie Linghui had said; she had only thought that the young man before her was calm, elegant, and strikingly handsome. She thought to herself: Yesterday, when I saw Yun Yinghuai, I thought he was more handsome than Second Master; today, seeing Second Master, I think he's more handsome than Yun Yinghuai. It seems only when the two of them stand together can you compare who is more handsome. Then, thinking of how Yun Yinghuai had abandoned her so disregarding "marital affection," she couldn't help but grit her teeth again, thinking: I said I would make him wear a bunch of green hats, and now this Second Young Master Xie is quite good-looking; I'm definitely going to have an affair with him and make that heartless man furious! Thinking of this, Chu Tong couldn't help but admire her own cleverness. She turned around and gave Xie Linghui a sly glance before retreating triumphantly.
That night, Chu Tong went to bed early. Xie Linghui, however, summoned the head housekeeper, Hong, to his bedroom and talked for two hours. The news of the eldest son's family taking power spread throughout the Xie mansion overnight.
The next day, after breakfast, Xie Linghui first went to visit the Second Madam. Returning home dejected, he laid out Xuan paper at his desk and began to write. Lüqiao rolled up her sleeves and ground ink, while Juancui and Ziyuan brewed tea and embroidered, respectively. Chutong, having nothing to do, quietly took a book from the shelf and lazily leaned against the window, reading and basking in the sun. Just then, the curtain was lifted, and the First Madam entered with two maids. Xie Linghui hurriedly went to greet her, a smile spreading across his handsome face, saying, "Mother is here! Please sit down." He then led the First Madam to the soft couch by the window, ordering Lüqiao and the others to quickly pour tea, and instructing Chutong to move the brazier closer. The First Madam, radiant, holding a hand warmer in her arms, smiled at Xie Linghui and said, "Don't bother, my good child. I just came to see you and say a few words; I'll be leaving soon."
Xie Linghui sat on the embroidered stool beside the soft couch and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your concern." He then personally served tea.
The First Madam looked at Xie Linghui, sighed, and said in a low voice, "You mustn't take what happened yesterday to heart. You're young, and I'm afraid you might do something rash if you see your aunt's condition..." She then added with emotion, "How could such a clever and insightful person like my aunt suddenly become like this? I just visited her, and seeing her sallow face, my heart..." At this point, Du Xiangping choked up and lowered her head to gently wipe the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Xie Linghui lowered his head and remained silent, and the room fell silent. The First Madam raised her head, took Xie Linghui's hand, and said, "Look how upset I've made you. Don't worry, the manor has already sent a royal physician to treat her, and I will also recite scriptures every day to pray for her speedy recovery."
Xie Linghui's eyes reddened slightly, and a grateful expression appeared on his face as he said, "Thank you for your trouble, Mother!"
The First Madam did not respond. She took a sip of tea, smoothed her temples, and said, "Yesterday, Master announced that I would temporarily manage the Xie family's household. I have been chanting scriptures in the Buddhist hall for the past few years and originally had no interest in these matters. However, since Master has been appointed to this position in a time of crisis, I have no choice but to come out and take charge. I am not as capable and insightful as your aunt, and I am still worried that this will give others something to say about me."
Xie Linghui stared at Du Xiangping's face with her bright phoenix eyes and said slowly, "Mother, what are you saying? When Aunt was in charge of the household, you were always there to offer advice and guidance. Aunt often praised you as a capable person."
The First Madam chuckled softly, paused for a moment, and said, "Hui'er, I spent all night checking the accounts last night and found that your expenses at Tanwu Garden are a bit too high. Besides the monthly allowance, there are extra costs for books, paper, and special supplies, not to mention other things like food, clothing, toys, and other necessities." As she said this, Du Xiangping glanced at Xie Linghui, picked up her cup, took a sip of hot tea, and said, "Don't take what I'm about to say to heart, but the expenses at your Tanwu Garden are enough to support Xuan'er for two and a half Taozhai."
Xie Linghui raised his dark eyebrows slightly, but his face remained expressionless as he said, "What Mother means is..."
Chu Tong glanced at the First Madam, thinking to herself: This First Madam has the same face as a brothel madam. Back when Lin Mama forced my mother to take customers, she had the same arrogant attitude, saying that I was too expensive, too naughty and troublesome, and that the brothel couldn't afford to support me. My mother only managed to shut her up by giving her an agate hairpin given to her by a customer.
The First Madam said, "There aren't many people in your Tanwu Garden, so I think we should continue to pay the monthly allowance, but waive the other miscellaneous expenses. In the future, if you need money, just draw it directly from the account. Although our Xie family is wealthier than ordinary people, we must not forget to be thrifty."
Xie Linghui nodded, his handsome face showing obedience, and said, "Mother is right, let's do as you say."
Chu Tong wondered to herself: This second young master doesn't seem like a pushover. How come he didn't even utter a word when the madam wanted to deduct his money?
The First Madam placed the teacup on the small table beside her, glanced at Lü Qiao a few times, and then smiled, "A few days ago, a distant cousin of mine came to visit me in the capital and brought me an ancient painting, saying it was an authentic work by Gu Kaizhi. Your brother knows you like this, so he specially asked me to bring it over." With that, she beckoned to a maid to hand over a scroll.
Chu Tong blinked her round eyes, thinking to herself: As the saying goes, a weasel pays New Year's greetings to a chicken. This First Madam must be asking Second Master for a favor by sending an ancient painting! At this moment, Chu Tong already regarded the First Madam as a madam of a brothel, and a feeling of disgust arose in her heart.
Xie Linghui's phoenix eyes lit up, and he took the ancient painting with both hands. He opened it and saw that it depicted a beautiful woman holding a fan, with delicate features and an ethereal demeanor. Xie Linghui held it in his hands and praised it repeatedly.
The First Madam coughed lightly and said, "Hui'er, your brother wants to make a deal with you using an ancient painting." Then she pointed at Lü Qiao and said, "Your brother wants to exchange the beauty in the painting for the beauty beside you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lü Qiao's expression changed drastically. Xie Linghui's phoenix eyes flashed as he glanced at Lü Qiao and then turned his gaze to the First Madam.
Chu Tong perked up, craning her neck to watch the show: "Oh dear, the madam really did set a price! It seems Green Qiao won't be able to climb up to Second Master's high branch!" But then she thought about how she intended to have an affair with Xie Linghui, and the beautiful Green Qiao would definitely be a formidable "rival." If she could eliminate an obstacle, it wouldn't be a bad thing. So she couldn't help but feel a little smug.
The First Madam continued, "Your brother is just missing a clever and quick-witted maid, and who would have thought that he would take a fancy to Lü Qiao. He knows that Lü Qiao is your personal maid and is afraid that you would be reluctant to part with her, so he spent a lot of money to ask for an ancient painting in exchange. Hui'er, you should grant him his wish."
As Chu Tong looked at Lü Qiao's pale face, she nodded vigorously in her heart: "Yes, yes, then grant his wish!"
Xie Linghui hesitated for a moment, holding the painting and gazing absently at the ceiling. After a long while, as if he had made up his mind, he glanced at Lü Qiao with his shimmering phoenix eyes, and then said, "Mother, I..."
Just then, Lüqiao suddenly screamed, "Madam!" Then she knelt down with a thud and said, "Lüqiao used to serve Second Madam and was her most favored maid. Second Madam trusted me, which is why she let me serve Second Master and take good care of him. Now that Second Madam is ill, Lüqiao should naturally stay by Second Master's side, fulfill her duties as a maid, and serve Second Master well, so as not to let Second Madam's kindness go to waste! Please, Madam, grant my request." As Lüqiao spoke, tears rolled down her face. "Lüqiao has not yet repaid Second Madam's kindness. If you force me to leave now, I would rather kill myself here!"
The First Madam's face immediately darkened, but she forced a smile and said, "You're quite filial, girl." Then she turned her gaze to Xie Linghui.
Xie Linghui frowned slightly, looking quite troubled. He glanced at Lü Qiao, who was kneeling on the ground sobbing, and then at the First Madam, whose face was gloomy. He was undecided for a moment.
The atmosphere instantly froze. The First Madam sneered, "You manage your subordinates well; your maids are all very loyal. I heard that you brought back a maid of unknown origin from outside a couple of days ago. Hui'er, you know the rules of the Xie family. You'd better send her away as soon as possible, lest you make things difficult for me!"
Chu Tong was furious: "Bah! That old madam clearly didn't get what she wanted, so she started this trouble, dragging me into it now!" She thought that being easily kicked out of the Xie mansion would be ideal, but the thought of losing the Xie family's wealth and luxury filled her with a pang of regret. Just then, she turned her head and saw Xie Linghui standing tall by the window, handsome and dashing, his features captivating. She thought again, "If I'm kicked out, I'll never see this handsome and imposing young master again!"
Thinking of this, Chu Tong stood up as if possessed and said, "Madam, please allow me to say a few words. The Second Madam is currently ill, and it is indeed difficult for her to leave like this. How about this, let Lu Qiao serve the Second Master for another two or three years, so that she can fulfill her filial duty and have no regrets, and then we can make a decision later."
Everyone was stunned by these words and looked in surprise in the direction of the voice. The First Madam saw a very pretty young maid standing in the corner, who spoke eloquently with a clear voice and a pair of bright, intelligent eyes. She couldn't help but ask in confusion, "You..."
Xie Linghui quickly stepped forward and said, “Mother, this is the little girl I brought back. She is quite clever and is also my benefactor. I brought her back because I saw that she had lost both her parents and was in a pitiful situation. Mother is a Buddhist and is naturally kind and generous. She is so pitiful, so let’s take her in.”
The First Madam's expression softened slightly. Lü Qiao's words had made her lose face unnecessarily, leaving her both anxious and angry. Chu Tong's intervention seemed to smooth things over, making her look a little better. She said, "Alright." Then, she glanced at Lü Qiao, who was kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down her face, and slowly said, "As the saying goes, forced love is never sweet. Let's wait two or three years." With that, she stood up.
Xie Linghui hurriedly followed behind the First Madam, saying, "This painting is a rare item, Mother, please keep it safe. I will personally apologize to my elder brother!"
The First Madam's face remained gloomy. She waved her hand, ordering a maid to take the ancient painting. A young maid at the door lifted the felt curtain, and the First Madam, accompanied by her maids, quickly went out. Xie Linghui stood at the door, eagerly saying, "Mother, take care!"
After the First Madam had walked away, Xie Linghui's handsome face, which had been smiling, instantly turned gloomy. He narrowed his eyes as he watched the First Madam's retreating figure, then turned and walked into the bedroom.
At this moment, Ziyuan gritted her teeth and whispered, "Pah! Old witch!" Seeing Chutong's puzzled expression, she lowered her head and whispered in her ear, "You don't know anything about our Xie family. Master originally had a first wife, a woman from a prestigious family. She died of illness not long after giving birth to the Empress. There was a minor official named Du from Master's hometown. Hearing that Master had died, he sent his daughter to marry Master as a concubine. A year later, Master had a son, so he made the minor official's daughter his first wife, the one who just left. The first wife was quite clever and wanted to make a name for herself in the Xie family. Unfortunately, she was unlucky. A few years later, our second wife came to the Xie family. Not to mention her looks, how could the first wife's methods be even a tenth of the second wife's? So she was soon defeated by the second wife's squeezing out. In addition, Master was idle all day long, so the first wife simply stopped caring about anything, big or small, and locked herself in her room to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist prayers all day long."
At this point, Zi Yuan gritted her teeth and said, "Now look what's happened! This villain has been bullying us even more now that he's in power. He just took office yesterday, and today he's come to Tanwu Garden to extort money and demand people. It's infuriating!"
Chu Tong nodded in agreement, "That's right! She's an old witch!" She thought to herself, "The Second Madam is an old witch; the two of them, one a witch and the other a demon, are quite a match."
Chu Tong tiptoed to Xie Linghui's bedroom and peeked in. She saw Xie Linghui sitting at the table in a daze, with half a cup of tea already drunk. Chu Tong had been training in the brothel since childhood and had developed a keen eye for beauty. Moreover, she harbored the ambition to "get involved" with Xie Linghui. So she quickly picked up the enamel teapot, filled a black lacquer covered bowl inlaid with mother-of-pearl and cloud patterns that Xie Linghui used, and then stood aside with her head bowed.
But Chu Tong's pouring of tea snapped Xie Linghui out of his reverie. He was secretly astonished. Chu Tong's quick wit in the hall had already impressed him, but now the young girl's tea-pouring technique was the standard "Phoenix Three Nods" from the tea ceremony. In this era, women who understood tea ceremony were either ladies of noble families, famous courtesans, or tea masters in teahouses. Xie Linghui asked calmly, "Chu Tong, do you know what kind of tea this is?"
Chu Tong looked at the color of the tea, tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Smelling this, it might be Biluochun tea."
Xie Linghui nodded and said, "Yes." He then poured a bowl for Chu Tong as well and beckoned to her, "Come, sit here."
Chu Tong sat down next to Xie Linghui, raised her teacup with both hands, and took a small sip. She found it refreshing and delightful, and exclaimed, "What wonderful tea!" She had never tasted such fine tea in her life.
Xie Linghui's eyes held a meaningful look as he rested his chin on his hand and asked, "Oh? What's so good about it?" His eyes were so captivating that Chu Tong's ears burned slightly.
Chu Tong composed herself and said, “Drinking tea, sipping tea, eating tea—the key is in the word 'appreciating.' The ancients commented that when drinking tea, ‘One bowl moistens the throat and lips; two bowls dispel loneliness; three bowls cleanse the intestines; four bowls bring forth a light sweat. All the injustices of a lifetime dissipate through the pores; five bowls cleanse the muscles and bones; six bowls connect with the divine; seven bowls are too much to drink, only a gentle breeze arises under the armpits.’” As Chu Tong spoke, she became increasingly energetic, her eyes sparkling with brilliance: “An ancient poem says, ‘A gentle breeze rises under my armpits, I wish to ascend to Penglai.’ The highest realm of tea is not merely quenching thirst, nor is it a source of hunger. This tea, when drunk, makes one feel refreshed and invigorated; naturally, it is a rare and excellent tea.” Chu Tong had secretly memorized this principle while watching her mother, Yao Qinglian, drink tea with others. At that time, Chu Tong felt that every movement, smile, and frown of her mother as she poured tea was elegant and radiant, and she was greatly impressed, remembering Yao Qinglian's words clearly.
Xie Linghui was even more astonished after hearing Chu Tong's words and asked, "How do you know all this?"
Chu Tong said somewhat proudly, "My mother said so." But then she realized what she had said and quickly added, "My mother was originally a young lady from a scholarly family, but after the family fell into decline, she married my father."
Xie Linghui nodded and said, "I suppose your mother is also a tea lover. There's a poem that says, 'Azure clouds are drawn by the wind but cannot be blown away, white flowers float and shimmer on the surface of the bowl,' which describes the appearance of fine tea after it's been brewed." He then asked, "Do you know anything about tea ceremony?"
Chu Tong cleverly replied, "I know a little."
Xie Linghui shouted outside, "Find that set of purple clay teaware with auspicious cloud and mandarin duck patterns."
Soon, Lü Qiao entered carrying a large wooden tray. She had washed and dressed again, her eyes still a little red and swollen. She placed the tray on the table, which was filled with various tea sets. Xie Linghui smiled slightly at Chu Tong and said, "Show me what you know how to perform."
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "The brewing method for tea varies depending on the type of tea. I only know how to brew Tieguanyin, not Biluochun."
Lü Qiao said, "There's some Tieguanyin tea left in the tea box." She then took it and handed it to Chu Tong.
Chu Tong said, "The art of Tieguanyin tea consists of twelve steps. The first step is burning incense to dispel distracting thoughts; the second step is purifying the heart to cleanse the mind of worldly dust; the third step is nurturing harmony in the jade pot; the fourth step is welcoming the beauty in the pure palace; the fifth step is nourishing the lotus heart with sweet dew; the sixth step is the phoenix nodding three times; the seventh step is jade sinking into the clear river; the eighth step is Guanyin holding a jade vase; the ninth step is spring waves unfurling flags and spears; the tenth step is understanding the fragrance of tea with a wise heart; the eleventh step is savoring the subtle flavor; the twelfth step is endless joy in self-pouring." She then demonstrated the steps. Yao Qinglian had taught her the art of tea before, but she had only half-learned it because she was focused on going out to play. Now, she secretly regretted not taking it more seriously, otherwise she could have shown off to Xie Linghui.
Lü Qiao said, "It's just a cup of tea, why make it so complicated, burning incense and scalding the cups? It's really a hassle."
Xie Linghui shook his head and said, "Good tea is meant to be savored. Such a complicated process is necessary to avoid disgracing it; otherwise, it would just be guzzled down." With that, he picked up the teacup and took a small sip.
Green Qiao was already feeling wronged, and thinking that Xie Linghui might have traded her for the antique painting in the hall just now, she sneered, "Yes, Second Master. We maids and servants are uncultured, illiterate, and don't understand such flowery language. We drink tea like cattle, of course."
Xie Linghui frowned and said, "It was just a joke, why are you taking it so seriously?" Then he waved his hand and said, "You can go out now."
Lü Qiao's expression changed again, and tears welled up in her eyes, but seeing Xie Linghui's gloomy face, she couldn't afford to lash out anymore. She had no choice but to hold back and leave with the plate in her arms.
Seeing Xie Linghui's displeasure, Chu Tong rolled her eyes, picked up the white jade teapot and poured half a cup of tea for Xie Linghui, saying ingratiatingly, "Is Second Master in a bad mood?"
Xie Linghui raised his dark eyebrows slightly, his phoenix eyes fixed on her small face. Chu Tong said, "Second Master, if you have any anger, just let it out. Don't hold back." Then she puffed out her chest and said, "Just vent your anger on me, give me a good scolding, and your anger will naturally subside."