A-Jiao watched the clamoring crowd before her with an expressionless face, her head lowered as she sipped the medicine in her hands. It was incredibly bitter.
As soon as the maid saw her wake, she had spread the word throughout the manor. Within moments, everyone from Old Madam Chen to the female relatives of the first and second branches had crowded into her room.
Chen Wan was the legitimate daughter of Chen Ao from the second branch. As such, she had her own small courtyard adjacent to Madam Guo’s. She lived there accompanied by a wet nurse, an instructional matron, two personal maids, and six lower-tier servants.
The loudest voices in the room belonged to Wei Yuan and Jiang Yunji, the wife of Chen Wan’s second elder brother. A-Jiao listened with both ears while observing the expressions of everyone present. The Old Madam was stoic; Madam Yan sat with her head bowed, focused only on her tea; Madam Guo looked ashamed and vexed; Ruan Qing appeared sickly as she leaned weakly against Madam Yan; and Zhang Su, the eldest daughter-in-law of the second branch, kept her head down beside Madam Guo, her expression unreadable. The men were all seated outside the curtain.
After listening for a while, A-Jiao began to understand the situation. It turned out she had been unconscious for five days since she had coughed up blood.
Although Chen Wan had been betrothed years ago, her luck was truly wretched. When Chen A-Jiao had breathed her last in Xuanzi Hall, it had first caused a delay in the wedding dates. Then, the second young master of the Marquis’s household had fallen from his horse during an outing, hit his head, and died. One thing led to another, and the engagement was eventually dissolved.
Furthermore, because of the events back then, not only was the Chen family implicated, but the Wei family had also been treated coldly by Liu Che for two years. Five days ago marked Liu Che’s first visit to the Wei estate in all that time. Somehow, Princess Yangxin, Liu Ying—who loved presenting beauties to Liu Che—had conspired with the second daughter-in-law of the Chen family’s second branch. Together, they had coaxed and deceived the sixth young lady, Chen Wan, into Liu Che’s bed.
What they hadn't expected was that Chen A-Jiao would be transported into Chen Wan’s body, nor did they expect that Chen Wan had actually been poisoned.
A-Jiao finished the last drop of medicine, the bitterness nearly bringing her to tears. Why hadn't they prepared any candied fruit for her?
Liu Che had neglected the Wei family for two years, so the Crown Prince, the Empress, Wei Qing, and Liu Ying must have been terrified. This visit to the Wei estate was likely Liu Che’s way of signaling that they still held the Emperor’s trust. Offering a beauty was the Wei family’s way of showing subservience; Liu Che sleeping with that beauty signified his acceptance of their gesture—no wonder it had been arranged at the Marquis of Changping’s estate.
“Young Mistress Wei, those words of yours wash your hands of this far too cleanly. Did I not do this for the sake of the Chen family?” Jiang Yunji summoned her courage to shout at Wei Yuan. “I only thought that if the Sixth Sister could enter the palace, our family’s life might be a bit easier.” She turned her body slightly, her eyes fixed on the table. “Isn't that exactly how your Wei family’s Empress rose to power?”
A-Jiao’s face darkened.
Wei Yuan was even more incensed. she marched over and delivered a sharp slap to Jiang Yunji’s face, sneering, “Second Sister-in-law, what a fine calculation you made. But did you calculate that Sixth Sister can no longer enter the palace? Did you calculate who administered the poison she carries?”
Jiang Yunji muttered, “How should I know? His Majesty clearly took a liking to Sixth Sister during the banquet.”
Wei Yuan huffed. “You and Princess Pingyang can use whatever schemes you like, but you hid it from me and my father! I was wondering why Second Cousin had to call my father away for some urgent matter in front of His Majesty—it turns out you were just afraid he would find out! If I hadn't run into a gossiping maid from Sixth Sister’s room here at the manor, we would still be in the dark. Now look at what’s happened—the Chen family’s reputation has been utterly dragged through the mud by you!” Fuming, Wei Yuan ignored her etiquette and gulped down a mouthful of water.
A-Jiao sighed. How could they hide such a massive matter from Wei Qing? Then again, given Wei Qing’s character, he likely wouldn't have agreed to offer a relative’s daughter to Liu Che at his own estate. But now that the plan had been botched, she wondered what the fallout was.
Hearing this, Chen Qiao immediately knelt outside the curtain. “Grandmother, your grandson didn't expect this either! But... but it’s not just our family losing face.” He looked up at Wei Yuan. “The Eldest Princess spearheaded this, and it happened at the Marquis of Changping’s estate. They have to help us. They must find a way to send Sixth Sister into the palace regardless.”
Wei Yuan was moved to angry laughter. “So Second Uncle is still pinning his hopes on the Marquis’s estate and the Eldest Princess? Then has Second Uncle or Second Sister-in-law bothered to ask who the palace scribes and the Chief Attendant took from the Marquis’s estate into the palace yesterday?”
“What?” Old Madam Chen was startled. “Who entered the palace?”
Wei Yuan turned to the Old Madam, her anger softening slightly. She replied, “My eldest uncle’s granddaughter, Wei Jin’e.” She then turned back to Jiang Yunji. “That is a girl who truly bears the surname Wei. They didn't even mention Sixth Sister. I suppose Second Uncle and Second Sister-in-law didn't calculate for that either.”
A-Jiao’s heart sank. Well, there it was. Chen Wan had become a discarded pawn.
As for the Wei family, they hadn't lost anything. They had drawn closer to the Emperor and delivered the promised beauty—and this beauty’s identity as a member of the Wei clan was even more advantageous than that of a "relative’s daughter."
Thinking of this, A-Jiao shot a glare at Yun He. Yun He shrank into the corner and remained silent. Having listened for so long, he had also realized that he probably hadn't handled things very well.
Wei Yuan took a few breaths to calm herself and said solemnly, “It happens to be the time for selecting *Jiarenzi* for the palace. Jin’e is entering with the formal status of a *Jiarenzi*. Whether she serves the Emperor or the Crown Prince in the future, or is bestowed upon a vassal king, her status will be legitimate and untainted.” She shot another glare at Jiang Yunji.
Old Madam Chen’s face turned ashen upon hearing this.
Madam Guo clutched her handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Then what about my Wan’er...”
Wei Yuan’s voice was low. “Fortunately, this matter is only known to those within our two households. My father’s intention is for us to send Sixth Sister to a manor outside the city for a while. Publicly, we will say she is recovering from an illness. After some time, His Majesty will forget this affair, and we can find a husband for her then.”
The Old Madam remained silent for a long time. She closed her eyes and sighed, but when she opened them, her gaze was resolute. “Yuan’er, you’ve worked hard these past few days, running between the palace and the Marquis’s estate. You and the second son remember to send gifts to the Marquis’s estate and check on the Lord Marquis often; our family is concerned for his health. As for the second branch... Second Daughter-in-law, pack Wan’er’s things today. Tomorrow morning, at first light, send her out of the city to the manor. Next year or the year after, we will find her a husband. It will just be a matter of paying the poll tax for a few more years.”
Wei Yuan spoke up, “Marriage itself isn't the main issue. If it weren't for the fact that the one Sixth Sister served was His Majesty, we could start looking for a match tomorrow. Grandmother, there is also the matter of Sixth Sister spitting blood.” She sighed. “The Marquis’s estate intends to say that Sixth Sister spat blood due to a sudden heart palpitation brought on by distress. That is how the palace has been informed.”
The people in the room looked at each other.
A-Jiao frowned. The poison had likely been discovered, but the Wei family had chosen to cover it up.
Yun He was puzzled and asked, “Why? It was poison, so why say it was heart palpitations?”
A-Jiao touched her face. “It means the Wei family has chosen to protect the person who poisoned me. I suspect... could it be that Wei Jin’e who entered the palace?”
“I don't know,” Yun He shook his head obediently.
The Old Madam pondered for a moment before speaking. “Listen well, everyone. Wan’er has been in poor health lately and spat blood because of it. That is why she is being sent out of the city tomorrow to recuperate. Do you all understand?”
Everyone voiced their agreement.
The Old Madam stood up. “Qiao’er, go to the ancestral hall and kneel for three days to clear your head. Second Daughter-in-law, stay in your room. I see your spirits haven't been well lately; take a few months to rest. As for the rest of you, disperse. Go about your business and do not speak nonsense.” Having said her piece, she headed out.
Madam Yan, being from the first branch, found it inappropriate to argue over the second branch’s affairs. Seeing the Old Madam leave, she quickly pulled Ruan Qing along and departed. Wei Yuan followed suit.
Only then did Madam Guo burst into tears. After a few sobs, she wiped her eyes and assumed a serious expression. “Zhenzhu, take the Second Daughter-in-law back to her room to rest. Eldest Daughter-in-law, you look after the household these next few days. I will take Wan’er to the manor to get her settled before I return. Everyone, leave.”
Zhang Su rose, complied, and left. Zhenzhu also assisted Jiang Yunji out of the room.
A-Jiao looked at Madam Guo, who seemed ready to cry again, and quickly patted her hand with a smile. “Mother, I am fine. Please don't cry anymore. Didn't Sister-in-law say I’m alright? Don't cry.”
Madam Guo stared blankly at A-Jiao.
A-Jiao felt a pang of worry. Was her behavior so unlike the original Chen Wan that it raised suspicion? She remembered that the old Chen Wan had a rather cheerful personality.
Suddenly, Madam Guo pulled A-Jiao into a hug and wailed, “My Wan’er, why is your life so bitter!”
A-Jiao: “...”
Yun He: “...”
Madam Guo, along with her two senior maids, Zhenzhu and Liuli, began packing A-Jiao’s luggage.
As A-Jiao watched them pack, a thought suddenly occurred to her. She quickly called Madam Guo over. “Mother, go and quietly instruct the kitchen to brew a bowl of contraceptive decoction.”
Her personal maids, Mianfu and Nanke, were baffled. “Why, Young Miss? If you were to conceive an imperial heir, perhaps you could enter the palace after all!”
Seeing everyone staring at her, including a confused Madam Guo, A-Jiao explained patiently, “I have already been home for five or six days. Even if I were pregnant, the palace would not recognize it.”
Madam Guo hesitated. “But...”
A-Jiao interrupted her. “Mother, let me ask you: if a woman you didn't know showed up now with a large belly and claimed she was carrying my... my brother’s child, would you believe her or not?”
Madam Guo sighed. “I certainly wouldn't believe her easily. I understand now. If a family like ours is like this, how much more so for the Imperial House? Liuli, you personally... go to the Eldest Daughter-in-law’s room to get the medicine. Tell her I sent you and that there’s no need to hide anything. Take the medicine, watch it being brewed, and bring it here once it’s ready.”
“Understood,” Liuli curtsied and left.
A-Jiao glanced at Liuli. The Eldest Daughter-in-law? Zhang Su? She remembered that the courtyard of the second branch’s eldest son, Chen Mian, was quite "clean." It was the second son, Chen Qiao, who liked to dally with the maids.
However, A-Jiao had no energy to worry about such things at the moment. She needed to think carefully about a way out for herself and Yun He.
Madam Guo hugged A-Jiao again, her tears falling. “My Wan’er, it breaks my heart that you are so young yet have to be so thorough in your considerations.”
A-Jiao felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn't that she was naturally thorough; it was that she had managed the Inner Palace and knew how much the Imperial House cared about the purity of the bloodline. When it came to children of uncertain origin, the palace would always rather discard them. Liu Che had been on the throne for many years and didn't have many sons, yet no woman had ever entered his palace already carrying a child.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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陈翱 | Chen Ao | Chen Wan's father, head of the Chen family's second branch.
江云寄 | Jiang Yunji | Wife of Chen Qiao (Chen Wan's second brother).
张素 | Zhang Su | Wife of Chen Mian (Chen Wan's eldest brother).
陈乔 | Chen Qiao | Chen Wan's second elder brother.
陈勉 | Chen Mian | Chen Wan's eldest brother.
卫妗娥 | Wei Jin'e | A girl from the Wei family sent to the palace.
家人子 | Jiarenzi | "Palace Candidates" or "Ladies-in-waiting"; a rank for women selected for the palace.
心悸 | Heart Palpitation | The official excuse given for Chen Wan spitting blood.
避子汤 | Contraceptive Decoction | A herbal brew used to prevent pregnancy.
棉凫 | Mianfu | One of Chen Wan's personal maids.
南客 | Nanke | One of Chen Wan's personal maids.
珍珠 | Zhenzhu | One of Madam Guo's senior maids.
琉璃 | Liuli | One of Madam Guo's senior maids.
