Mi esposa se sube al muro - Capítulo 18
Upon hearing this form of address, Xu Shirong's heart skipped a beat. She glanced back at the man, only to find him staring intently at her without any attempt to avoid suspicion. Her brows furrowed slightly before she turned away. Yang Huan, hearing Xu Shirong being bumped into, paid no attention to anyone else. He immediately grabbed her hand, scrutinizing it from left to right. Finding nothing amiss, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and pointed his finger at the man's face, angrily saying, "My wife is as precious as gold and jade! Who are you to dare to bump into me like that?"
The man was taken aback. He had just witnessed his cousin, unable to rein in his horse in time, knock down the woman with considerable force. He had expected a few tantrums and some money as compensation, but the woman had instead stood up slowly on her own, stopped her maid, and calmly uttered a few words before going inside. He was somewhat surprised. Once inside the hall, although he had heard the commotion, his eyes had been fixed on the woman's retreating figure, and he hadn't noticed the young man beside her. Now, seeing him in his fine clothes, pointing angrily at him, the man wasn't annoyed, but simply smiled and said, "Young master, may I ask your name?"
Yang Huan snorted and was about to introduce himself when Xu Shirong raised her voice, "We're just a small family, it would only make us a laughingstock if we told you. As I just said, it was my own carelessness, it has nothing to do with anyone else. Since you booked those rooms, how could we possibly take them? Thank you for your kindness." After saying that, she didn't look at them any further and just told the innkeeper to lead her to the two empty rooms.
Yang Huan was initially pleased when the man offered to give up his room, but Xu Shirong immediately refused. She had already gone with the innkeeper to look at the rooms, and disregarding the man, she hurriedly caught up with him, saying, "Jiaoniang, there are only two rooms. How can so many of us fit? Since that man is willing to give up his room, we won't stay for free. We'll just pay him extra. One room for the two of us, one for Erbao and the coachman, and one for Xiaoque..."
"There are two rooms. The three of you can share one room, and Xiao Que and I can share the other. We can just make do for one night. Why do we have to owe others a favor?"
Xu Shirong interrupted him in a low voice before he could finish speaking.
Yang Huan was taken aback, then said with a bitter face, "This...isn't this making things difficult for you?"
"There's only one inn in the town. You can stay there if you like, or if you don't, you can sleep in the carriage outside. It's quite spacious there."
Yang Huan glanced at her furtively and saw that she had no expression and didn't even look at him. He knew he couldn't persuade her, so he sighed helplessly. He turned around and was about to call Erbao to bring in the luggage when he suddenly noticed that the man who had said he would give up the room was still looking in their direction. He felt a sudden displeasure and glared at him. The man then smiled and looked away.
The group ate at the inn, and Yang Huan had to share a room with the coachman, Er Bao. Without him saying a word, the two had already rolled onto their makeshift beds on the floor. Exhausted from the journey, their snoring soon filled the room. Yang Huan sighed for a while, then suddenly realized that when they arrived at the Lu residence the next day, Madam Lu would surely insist they stay there. His beloved daughter couldn't possibly insist on separate rooms; they would have to share a room eventually. Thinking this, his mood improved somewhat, and he drifted off to sleep amidst the deafening snores.
The next morning, the group packed up and set off again. They happened to run into the same group called "Third Master" from the previous night, who were also mounting their horses and setting off. They exchanged a glance at them from afar at the gate, and saw that the riders were also heading towards Tongzhou, raising a cloud of yellow dust behind them. Xiao Que, who had been sitting in the carriage with Xu Shirong that day, saw them through the curtain and, still angry, muttered, "A bunch of country bumpkins who don't know anything about manners!" Xu Shirong chuckled and shook her head. Xiao Que continued to mutter a few more curses, but seeing that Xu Shirong didn't care, she finally stopped.
Around noon, they entered Tongzhou City. Although this prefecture was not as prosperous as Dongjing (Kaifeng), it was indeed very bustling, with people coming and going on the streets. Xu Shirong only looked around for a while before closing the curtain and no longer looking, while Yang Huan looked around happily. After asking for directions, they arrived at the Tongpan's residence and asked the gatekeeper to pass on the message. Soon, Madam Lu came out from the main gate to greet them.
Madam Lu, in her forties, was tall and had a very cheerful appearance. Upon seeing Xu Shirong, she immediately took her hand and exchanged pleasantries, then scolded Xu for not sending a message earlier so she could have greeted her outside the city. Xu Shirong smiled and responded to all her questions. Madam Lu then looked at Yang Huan to the side and repeatedly apologized, saying that since Prefect Lu was at the prefectural office and her son was also away on assignment, she had not been able to come and entertain the guest, and asked for his forgiveness.
This time, Yang Huan had learned his lesson. After entering the inner hall and presenting the gifts he had brought, he said in a serious tone, "I received a letter from my wife the other day. She is very eager to see me. I have long admired Lord Lu's official reputation and really wanted to get closer to him, so I came here early. I apologize for troubling you, and as a junior, I dare not trouble you, Lord Lu."
Hearing his words, Xu Shirong, though somewhat unconvinced that he had used her as a shield, was still surprised to hear such tactful words from him. She glanced at him. Madam Lu was also somewhat surprised, recalling the letter she had received from Madam Xu a few days ago, in which she denigrated her son-in-law, calling him a boorish, womanizing man who had almost blinded her daughter. She regretted choosing such a man as her son-in-law and said that if her daughter hadn't refused to divorce, she would have risked everything to break ties with the Yang family, even if it meant ten divorces. She had held her nephew-in-law in contempt. But hearing him speak so politely and respectfully, not at all as bad as Madam Xu had described, she was taken aback. She quickly put on a smile and praised him repeatedly for his handsome appearance and exceptional talent. She then repeatedly instructed the maids to prepare rooms for the two of them.
Xu Shirong hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Aunt, my husband and I are young and naive. We are used to arguing at home. We are afraid that staying at your house will disturb you and Uncle. It would be more convenient to stay at an inn. On the way here, we saw a few places that were not very good."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Lu interrupted her, feigning anger, saying, "You call me 'Auntie,' so you're like my own daughter. How can a daughter stay at home instead of staying at an inn? If your mother finds out, she'll just think I'm being too formal."
Xu Shirong knew she couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to agree. Madam Lu then smiled and happily took her arm, escorting her to her room. Yang Huan, having gotten his wish, naturally followed with a grin.
Chapter Thirty
For several days in a row, Yang Huan was busy attending social events and introductions with Prefect Lu and officials from the prefecture and city. Meanwhile, Madam Lu received invitations daily from various ladies of different households—flower viewing parties, grass-fighting banquets, and so on. Xu Shirong was naturally unable to attend, and although she repeatedly declined, Madam Lu wouldn't let her off the hook. She said that she had never received so many invitations before. The ladies of these various households had heard that she was the daughter of Xu Hanlin from the capital and the wife of Yang Taiwei, and that Yang Huan had been specially sent down by the emperor for training, with the intention of being given important responsibilities in the future. They all wanted to make connections with her, hoping to gain favor with their husbands in the officialdom. That's why they were taking turns organizing these gatherings; seven or eight out of ten were there specifically for her. If she didn't go, she wouldn't be able to explain herself if others asked. Xu Shirong had no choice but to dress up and accompany Madam Lu to the invitations every day. Before she knew it, it was the third day of the month, Prefect Lu's fiftieth birthday.
Although the rank of Tongpan (通判) was lower than that of Zhizhou (知州), it was a position established by Emperor Taizu to strengthen the control over local officials and prevent Zhizhou from abusing his power. It was directly appointed by the emperor. Not only did orders issued by the Zhizhou require the Tongpan's signature to be effective, but the Tongpan also had the authority to report matters directly to the emperor, bypassing his own rank. Tongpan Lu was usually somewhat aloof and didn't like making friends. The other officials were somewhat wary of him, and since it was his birthday, they saw it as a good opportunity to get closer to him. Therefore, although the birthday banquet was in the evening, the entire mansion was bustling with activity from early morning, with guests coming and going, making it very lively.
Madam Lu was a capable woman; she had arranged everything for the arrivals and departures several days in advance, so although today was busy, things were not chaotic at all. By midday, the ladies from various households, accompanied by their maids and servants, had all arrived, gathering in the back flower hall. For a moment, it was a lively scene of beautiful women and powdered faces. Xu Shirong, being somewhat of a mistress, had been specifically instructed by Madam Lu to accompany the guests. Although she wasn't skilled in this, she had to force a smile and greet everyone. Several ladies took turns pouring her drinks, and because she had a low alcohol tolerance, her face flushed, her eyes felt hot, her heart raced, and her chest felt tight. Forgetting Madam Lu's complaints afterward, she seized an opportunity to quietly slip away, intending to rest in her bedroom.
The backyard of the Lu residence was separated from the front hall by a garden. In Dongjing (Kaifeng), due to its high land prices, even the imperial gardens of the capital were considered cramped, let alone the homes of ordinary officials. Tongzhou, however, was different; the land was vast and expansive. While the Lu residence itself wasn't considered particularly luxurious among Tongzhou's official families, its garden still featured artificial hills and rocks, flowing springs, pavilions, and terraces—far larger than the garden of the Grand Commandant's residence. At this moment, the front hall was bustling with guests, while the garden was remarkably quiet; even the maids and servants who usually moved about were nowhere to be seen.
Xu Shirong followed the path towards the back house. Seeing the lush flowers and trees on both sides, she walked through several forks in the road before realizing she was getting lost. Just as she was about to retrace her steps, the sun's heat and the effects of the wine she had drunk suddenly surged up, making her chest pound wildly, and she felt as if she were about to collapse. Suddenly, she noticed a small pavilion hidden among the bamboo groves. She hurried over and saw a small lacquered table with plum blossom patterns inside, and a chaise lounge beside it, with a gold-painted gauze fan lying on it. Since this garden was considered part of the inner courtyard, men rarely entered unless the owner wished to accompany them; this must have been where Madam Lu usually cooled off and rested in the afternoon. Because her eyelids were heavy, she leaned against the chaise lounge, intending to rest for a while until the effects of the wine wore off before returning home. Unexpectedly, a cool breeze blew through the pavilion, and as the wind blew, it felt as if every pore on my body opened up, and I fell asleep instantly.
Xu Shirong was taking a nap in the pavilion when she never dreamed that not far from her, behind a rockery in the corner of the garden, two people were whispering and plotting something. One of them slipped something into the other's hand. After looking around and seeing that no one was around, they immediately split up and disappeared along the path.
The two men, having reached an agreement, hurriedly disappeared into the bushes, thinking they had gotten away unnoticed. Little did they know, a man was lurking behind them, listening intently as they spoke. Though the conspirators kept their voices low, the man eavesdropped on their conversation. Only after the two men had vanished did the man emerge, frowning as he pondered for a moment. A sudden chill flashed in his eyes as he muttered to himself, "That's fine, saves us from future trouble."
The man didn't linger and hurried towards the front hall. As he walked across a path, he saw a grove of green bamboo with a corner of a pavilion peeking out from its end. He didn't pay it any mind and was about to turn away when a gust of wind suddenly blew by, making the bamboo crowns rustle. This made him turn his head again, and there he caught a glimpse of a woman, who was leaning against a smoky-colored chaise lounge, her eyes closed, as if she were fast asleep.
As the wind subsided, the rustling of the bamboo ceased, and silence returned. The man, however, stopped, gazing at the woman's sleeping face from afar. She seemed vaguely familiar, as if he'd seen her somewhere before. Suddenly, he paused, as if remembering something, and hesitated to approach. He took only two steps before stopping, a look of hesitation on his face. He was about to leave when his eyes couldn't help but glance at the woman again. Seeing her sleeping soundly, he finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and moved closer.
Upon closer inspection, the man was absolutely certain that the woman reclining on the chaise longue was indeed the same woman he had encountered a few days prior at the inn in Tongzhou. Last time, she had appeared cold and indifferent, but now she lay there reclining, her face flushed, her lips cherry-red, her eyes slightly closed, revealing only long eyelashes. One hand was supporting her head, while the other loosely held a round fan, her fingertips slender and delicate. Her body was slightly curled, and the hem of her gold-embroidered satin skirt revealed the pointed toes of her lotus-colored hibiscus-embroidered shoes.
What a coincidence that they met again! The man looked at the woman in front of him with some doubt and uncertainty when he suddenly heard the sound of a woman's laughter coming from afar, as if she was coming in this direction. He frowned slightly, looked around, and immediately slipped out of the pavilion and hid behind the bamboo grove.
The visitors were none other than Madam Lu and Xiao Que. It turned out that Madam Lu had been stopped by the wife of a high-ranking official, who wanted to introduce her to her niece, Madam Yang. They had searched the entire flower hall but couldn't find her. When they asked Xiao Que, the girl had only been whispering with the other maids and knew nothing about the matter. Fortunately, a maid standing by the flower hall said she vaguely remembered seeing her go out and head towards the back garden, so the two of them came looking for her. Seeing no one in the house, they assumed she was hiding in the garden. That's why they searched the area.
As soon as Madam Lu turned the corner, she saw Xu Shirong reclining on her usual chaise longue, seemingly asleep. She hurried over and gently patted Xu Shirong's face, waking her with a start. Realizing she had fallen asleep, Xu Shirong quickly sat up, smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, and said apologetically, "The ladies forced me to drink some wine, and I'm a little tipsy. I was thinking of going back to my room to rest, but my aunt's garden is so big that I got lost and ended up here. I was feeling sleepy and just wanted to rest for a bit, but I ended up falling asleep."
Seeing that she was still radiant after waking up, Madam Lu couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, "Jiaonian, 'a beauty lies on a beauty's couch,' isn't that exactly you? Your aunt set up a couch here because she wanted to cool off. Although this is supposed to be the inner quarters, you never know when a man might wander in. It doesn't matter that I'm old and past my prime, but if someone were to see a delicate beauty like you, and your nephew-in-law found out, wouldn't he make a scene in front of me?"
It turned out that the day before yesterday, Xu Shirong got up early and left her room, while Yang Huan was still fast asleep on the bench. Unexpectedly, a maid from Madam Lu's room, sent to summon her for a meeting, barged in and saw what was happening. She must have gone back to Madam Lu and told her what had happened. Madam Lu then learned that although the two were young lovers, they slept in separate beds. She secretly questioned Xu Shirong, who explained that they had only had a temporary argument, which was why she didn't want him to share a bed. Madam Lu, a seasoned woman with experience in the world, was somewhat skeptical of this explanation, but seeing Xu Shirong's reluctance to elaborate, she didn't press further. However, in the past few days, she had frequently teased the two of them.
Hearing her teasing her again, Xu Shirong stood up from the couch and smiled slightly, saying, "There are many guests ahead today, and Aunt is the host, so she must be very busy. I just took a nap and feel much more awake now, so let's go together. It wouldn't be good to keep the guests waiting."
Madam Xu chuckled, took Xu Shirong's hand, and walked out, saying with a smile, "I've seen you when you were little, but you were so chatty and impatient back then. I never imagined you'd be so much more composed now, completely different from how you were as a child. No wonder they say girls change so much as they grow up; not only has your appearance changed, but your personality has too. Looking at you, I really wish you were my own daughter..."
Hearing her praise, Xu Shirong smiled and said a few words of humility. She then took Madam Xu's arm, and Xiao Que followed behind, as they left the pavilion together.
The man waited until the footsteps faded into the distance and all was quiet before emerging from behind the bamboo grove. He glanced at the chaise longue where the woman called Jiaoniang had been lying, and was about to leave when he suddenly paused.
On the inner side of the tatami mat lay a delicate kingfisher feather butterfly hairpin.
~~~~~~
The birthday banquet hosted by Magistrate Lu was extremely lively that evening. The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely until late into the night before the guests gradually dispersed. Those who lived nearby were helped away, tipsy, by their servants and attendants, while those who lived further away and were also quite drunk stayed overnight at Lu's residence.
Yang Huan's alcohol tolerance had grown increasingly high. He drank a great deal of wine and was still able to hold it in when he returned to his room, only managing to linger with Xu Shirong. Lying on the bench, separated from her by the bed curtains, he talked about how the male guests at the banquet outside that night had taken all the beautiful courtesans in Tongzhou City; then he boasted that he was a reincarnation of Liu Xiahui, remaining completely unmoved in the face of such beauty, and insisted that Xu Shirong smell his clothes to see if they smelled of cosmetics. He chattered on and on until nearly four in the morning, when finally, exhausted, they both fell into a deep sleep.
"Oh no! The water's boiling over! The water's boiling over!"
Xu Shirong was fast asleep when she vaguely heard a sharp scream. She was startled awake and saw through the curtains a faint red glow of firelight flickering in through the window.
"Fire! Fire! The south wing is on fire!"
Soon, more noise came from afar, along with the sound of footsteps running back and forth.
The night, which had been peaceful and deep in sleep, was suddenly and completely awakened by this unexpected event.
The author has something to say: For the past few days, Yang Huan has been busy attending social events and introductions with Prefect Lu and officials from the prefecture and city. Meanwhile, Madam Lu receives invitations daily from various ladies of different households—flower viewing parties, grass-fighting banquets, and so on. Xu Shirong is naturally too busy to attend, and although she repeatedly declines, Madam Lu insists, saying that there have never been so many invitations before. The ladies of these various households have heard that she is the daughter of Xu Hanlin from the capital and the wife of Yang Taiwei, and that Yang Huan has been specially sent down by the emperor for training, with the intention of being given important responsibilities in the future. They all want to make connections with her, hoping to gain more favor for their husbands in the officialdom. That's why they've been organizing these gatherings in turn; seven or eight out of ten are there specifically for her. If she doesn't go, she won't be able to explain herself when others ask. Xu Shirong has no choice but to dress up and accompany Madam Lu to the invitations every day. Before they knew it, it was already the third day of the month, Lu Tongpan's fiftieth birthday.
Although the rank of Tongpan (通判) was lower than that of Zhizhou (知州), it was a position established by Emperor Taizu to strengthen the control over local officials and prevent Zhizhou from abusing his power. It was directly appointed by the emperor. Not only did orders issued by the Zhizhou require the Tongpan's signature to be effective, but the Tongpan also had the authority to report matters directly to the emperor, bypassing his own rank. Tongpan Lu was usually somewhat aloof and didn't like making friends. The other officials were somewhat wary of him, and since it was his birthday, they saw it as a good opportunity to get closer to him. Therefore, although the birthday banquet was in the evening, the entire mansion was bustling with activity from early morning, with guests coming and going, making it very lively.
Madam Lu was a capable woman; she had arranged everything for the arrivals and departures several days in advance, so although today was busy, things were not chaotic at all. By midday, the ladies from various households, accompanied by their maids and servants, had all arrived, gathering in the back flower hall. For a moment, it was a lively scene of beautiful women and powdered faces. Xu Shirong, being somewhat of a mistress, had been specifically instructed by Madam Lu to accompany the guests. Although she wasn't skilled in this, she had to force a smile and greet everyone. Several ladies took turns pouring her drinks, and because she had a low alcohol tolerance, her face flushed, her eyes felt hot, her heart raced, and her chest felt tight. Forgetting Madam Lu's complaints afterward, she seized an opportunity to quietly slip away, intending to rest in her bedroom.