Rain had fallen in the evening, and by nightfall, a cool breeze had picked up. Seeing the Young Madam and the Eldest Young Master leaning close together in conversation, with Qiu Ju and Dong Mei attending them, Chun Lan led Xia Zhu out of the room.
"Sigh, Sister Chun Lan, it’s such a pity our Mistress didn't manage to bear a son in one go. Did you see that Huo’er today? She was trying to worm her way inside even while Qiu Ju and Dong Mei were still serving in the room," Xia Zhu remarked. Seeing a brilliant peony blooming under the veranda, she reached out and plucked it.
"Keep your voice down. Huo’er was sent by the Madam, after all; don't let anyone overhear you. Only the two of us were brought along as part of the Mistress’s dowry. If someone hears such talk, they might think the Mistress instigated it." Chun Lan covered Xia Zhu’s mouth and shook her head gently.
"Humph!" Xia Zhu huffed, a bit displeased. "Fine, fine. Let’s go see the Little Lady. Nanny Li said the Little Lady is small and likes bright things. Look at this flower."
The two girls linked arms, laughing as they walked toward the small side room.
Nanny Li was pacing the room with the infant in her arms. She looked surprised to see them. "Why have you two come out? Isn't the Eldest Young Master over there? Why aren't you inside serving?"
Chun Lan replied softly, "Qiu Ju and the other are attending them. Has the Little Lady fallen asleep?"
Nanny Li gave Xia Zhu a pointed look. "You silly girl, why aren't you inside serving? Why follow Chun Lan out here? You’re just letting others take the credit in front of the masters."
"Should I go back now?" Xia Zhu asked anxiously.
"What would it look like if you just barged back in now..." As she spoke, the child in her arms woke up. Nanny Li’s eyes darted around. "Xia Zhu, go call the wet nurse."
"Right away!" Xia Zhu hurried out.
A Jiao opened her eyes dizzily, her vision still a blurred haze. She had initially feared she was born with some eye ailment, but fortunately, Lord Yuan Deng had explained that all newborns were like this. However, her ears could now clearly distinguish the voices of others.
A Jiao smacked her lips, only to hear Nanny Li sigh. "That girl Xia Zhu is far too simple-minded. It’s a good thing she’s exceptionally pretty."
"Being simple isn't necessarily bad. Oh, look, the Little Lady must be hungry after waking up. See how her little mouth is moving!"
A Jiao recognized this youthful voice as Chun Lan, the personal maid of her reincarnated mother.
"Speaking of which, the Little Lady is perfect in every way, except she refuses to nurse!" Nanny Li fretted again. "I don't know why. Even after changing the wet nurse, she still won't take it. Her little belly is flat with hunger, yet she just cries."
At the mention of "nursing," A Jiao’s tiny face flushed. Though her body was that of an infant, her mind was not. The mere thought of breastfeeding filled her with unbearable shame.
"Nanny, I’ve brought the wet nurse." A Jiao identified the voice in her mind: Xia Zhu, another of her mother’s personal maids.
The wet nurse took A Jiao and sat down, unfastening her bodice. All A Jiao could see was a sudden expanse of white, followed by a hand guiding a soft warmth toward her mouth.
Thinking of the several people in the room watching her, A Jiao refused to eat no matter what. She used her meager strength to stubbornly turn her head away.
The wet nurse looked at Nanny Li imploringly. Nanny Li hurried forward to hold A Jiao’s head in place.
A Jiao’s face turned bright red from the struggle.
"Oh, Nanny, why is the Little Lady’s face so red? Could she be sick?" Xia Zhu, seeing this for the first time, was startled.
Nanny Li had nursed several children before following the Young Madam into the Chen household, but she had never seen one like this. For a moment, her heart began to race with worry.
"Nanny, the Young Master wants to see the Little Lady! Eh? Why is she crying while nursing?"
She was choking! A Jiao simply couldn't help herself.
After a frantic scramble to clean her up, the group finally carried A Jiao to the master bedroom.
Seeing Nanny Li enter with A Jiao, Chen Yang hurried forward to meet them, taking the child into his arms. "My little darling Jiao Jiao, let Daddy hold you." He was so afraid of using too much strength that his entire body went stiff.
Nanny Li smiled. "Young Master, please sit down first. This old servant will show you how."
Once Chen Yang was seated on the edge of the bed, Nanny Li placed A Jiao in his arms and adjusted his posture.
Chen Yang felt somewhat at a loss. "Qing’er, our child is so small! Feel her!"
Ruan Qing watched her husband holding their daughter, a blissful smile on her face. She reached out to touch the baby’s cheek. "Hmm? Why is the baby’s face so hot? Is she sick?" She became tense in an instant.
"She just finished crying and choked a bit on the milk. It’s no longer an issue, please rest easy, Madam."
Hearing this, A Jiao couldn't help but nod.
"Husband! Look! The baby nodded. It’s as if she understood!"
"Oh, then our baby must be very clever. Qing’er, you hold her."
Ruan Qing carefully took the child.
"By the way, Qing’er, where did you put the neck collar that Uncle-in-law sent yesterday? Tomorrow is the baby’s Third-Day Bath; we must put it on her."
"I had Chun Lan put it in the chest. Chun Lan, go fetch it."
"Speaking of which, Uncle-in-law is truly thoughtful. It’s just a pity Aunt is no longer with us. I wonder how many more years he will remain close to our family."
"Don't worry, Husband. There are still the three cousins, after all. Even if Uncle-in-law remarries in the future, the bond won't fade that easily."
Chen Yang shook his head and lowered his voice. "You don't understand. It’s not that I’m being paranoid, but I feel those cousins aren't particularly close to our family. The gap between our houses is just too wide. Who could have imagined it? When Aunt married him, Uncle-in-law was merely a Jianzhang Guard. I heard Grandfather and Grandmother were worried she would suffer. Who knew that now their family would boast an Empress, a Crown Prince, and a Great General... Sigh... and then there’s us..."
A Jiao was suddenly jolted wide awake!
Though this "cheap father" of hers hadn't mentioned names, with "Empress," "Great General," and "Crown Prince," did she even need to guess?
It turned out this family was Wei Qing’s in-laws!
Ruan Qing offered gentle comfort. "Perhaps you are overthinking, Husband. The cousins have only recently finished their maternal mourning; perhaps it’s just inconvenient for them to socialize. They surely remember their mother’s family in their hearts. Look, isn't this the collar and jewelry Uncle-in-law sent? See how exquisite it is. If the Wei family didn't want to associate with us, why would he send such fine things so promptly? These couldn't have been made in a day or two."
A Jiao suddenly lost all desire to move. Fine, she had certainly picked a "good" reincarnation. By seniority, she would have to call Wei Qing "Grand-Uncle"!
*Lord Yuan Deng, I want to go back and reincarnate again!* A Jiao screamed in her mind.
A shadow slowly appeared on the wall, visible to no one but A Jiao.
"No. You must obediently live out this life. And you cannot seek a shortcut to the end, or your sins will be doubled when you return to the Underworld."
Yuan Deng’s tone softened slightly. "At the very least, consider Lord Shen. He bent many rules for your sake. You mustn't act recklessly." Though those "favors" weren't of great consequence, they were still breaches of protocol.
"But..."
"No 'buts.' What matters now is that you both undergo your reincarnations to atone for your sins!" Yuan Deng advised earnestly.
This time, A Jiao truly wanted to cry.
***
Today was A Jiao’s Third-Day Bath, and the Chen family had invited many relatives and friends to witness the ceremony.
A Jiao was wrapped in a brand-new, beautiful swaddle. She was held by Chen Yang’s mother, Madam Yan, who displayed her to the guests.
Having only realized her background the day before, A Jiao remained somewhat listless.
The Old Madam of the Chen family laughed. "This child is a bit shy!"
The relatives all chimed in with pleasantries.
A Jiao had no heart for it and intended to sleep for a while.
Suddenly, an announcement came from the door: "The Young Master from the Great General’s Manor has arrived."
A Jiao flinched but kept her eyes shut! *It’s just Wei Qing’s son. I’ve never met him anyway, what is there to fear?*
*No, even if Wei Qing himself came, I wouldn't be afraid. Even if Liu Che came, I wouldn't be afraid.*
She was a legitimate reincarnated soul, not some mountain spirit or malevolent ghost.
Thinking this, A Jiao felt much more at ease.
The Old Madam was overjoyed and called out to Madam Yan, "Quick, have Yang’er go receive him."
Madam Yan complied and hurried out.
The guests in the hall had varying expressions, but all began to offer flatteries, each more honeyed than the last.
The Old Madam’s expression grew increasingly warm, her heart swelling with pride.
Before long, the sound of conversation drifted in from outside.
"Cousin is busy with official duties, yet he took the time to attend my daughter’s Third-Day Bath. It is truly this child’s good fortune."
Wei Kang gave a slight smile. "It’s family business; I had to come and see."
He entered the room and unhurriedly bowed to the Old Madam. "Greetings to Grandmother."
The Old Madam beamed, unable to close her mouth from smiling. "Oh, my dear boy, come here to Grandmother."
Wei Kang stepped forward, and the Old Madam pulled him close, inspecting him carefully. "Good child, you’ve grown thin. Have you been too busy lately?"
Being held by his grandmother, Wei Kang was also pleased. "No, not too busy. It’s just that His Majesty occasionally assigns me some tasks." A hint of pride inevitably colored Wei Kang’s eyes.
...A Jiao slept on peacefully.
"Where is my little niece? Grandmother, have someone bring her for me to see." Wei Kang looked around.
Jin Mo-mo immediately brought A Jiao forward, bowing low.
Seeing the child asleep, Wei Kang reached out and pinched her cheek. "This child looks a bit thin!"
A Jiao felt the pain and let out a cry.
Wei Kang poked A Jiao’s face again with a finger. "Father instructed me to bring many things for my little niece today, so she can be well-nourished."
An infant’s skin is delicate; the spot turned red almost instantly.
Seeing Wei Kang continuing to pinch and poke A Jiao’s face, Chen Yang felt a pang of distress for his daughter and was about to speak up.
Madam Yan quickly tapped Chen Yang on the back.
Chen Yang turned, looking confused.
Madam Yan signaled for him to remain silent. Chen Yang was reluctant, but he understood it was best not to offend this cousin.
A Jiao was miserable from the poking, yet she held back her cries. She felt a breath catch in her throat, and after a moment of gagging, she spat up a mouthful of milk—right onto Wei Kang’s hand.
Wei Kang jerked his hand away violently.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
洗三 | Third-Day Bath | A traditional ritual performed three days after a baby's birth involving washing and gift-giving.
女公子 | Little Lady | A respectful term for the daughter of a noble or official family.
建章卫 | Jianzhang Guard | A member of the imperial guard at Jianzhang Palace.
卫伉 | Wei Kang | The eldest son of the Great General Wei Qing.
母孝 | Maternal Mourning | The ritual mourning period following the death of one's mother.
项圈 | Neck collar | A decorative ring or collar worn by children for protection and luck.
严夫人 | Madam Yan | Chen Yang's mother and A Jiao's grandmother.
大将军府 | Great General’s Manor | The residence of Wei Qing.
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