Chapter 55: Fifteen Years Old

Wei Jiewu followed his brother and sister-in-law back to Yearning Hall. No sooner had they entered the room and before the maids could even serve tea, Wei Jiewu had already thrust both paws forward, grabbing his Second Brother’s arm and shouting, “Why are you trying to play matchmaker for the Second Young Miss!”

“Huh?…” Wei Qingchen was utterly speechless. This kid was making her sound like one of those Matchmakers & Busybodies!

It was Chu Mingxi who understood a few things, weighing her words carefully: “Third Brother, could it be… you have feelings for my second sister?”

Wei Jiewu and Wei Qingchen, the two brothers, both turned to look at her.

Wei Qingchen thought to herself: So that’s it!

But Wei Jiewu’s face slowly began to redden, getting redder and redder, until he looked just like a boiled crab. He hemmed and hawed, unable to speak for a long while.

Wei Qingchen, used to seeing him act indifferent to everything, had never imagined this. She blurted out, “You’re only fifteen…”

Wei Jiewu stiffened his neck: “What about fifteen? When you were fifteen, didn’t you beg me to take you to the Imperial Medicine Hall to secretly watch your wife! Oh, she wasn’t your wife back then!”

“I did no such thing!!” Wei Qingchen immediately jumped up!

Chu Mingxi raised an eyebrow, looking at her with deep meaning.

Heat crept to her eyes, and Wei Qingchen’s cheeks also gradually flushed. Truly, karma comes back fast!

Wei Jiewu said: “How could there not be! That day you… Mmmph!!!”

Before he could finish, Wei Qingchen clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him bodily out the door. “Go on, go on! It’s so late and you’re still lingering in your brother and sister-in-law’s room. People will say you have no manners.”

“Mmmph… no, but I… mmmph…”

After sending Wei Jiewu away, Wei Qingchen returned to the room herself. Chu Mingxi was still standing where she had been, and seeing her come back, she looked at her with a faint, amused smile. Wei Qingchen’s face went red, and she shuffled over hesitantly, wanting to explain, but then remembered that it did seem like something like that had happened: “I… um…”

Chu Mingxi pursed her lips, extended a finger, and with her lotus-tip-like nail lightly grazed her own cheek. Her smile grew even more pronounced. Wei Qingchen wanted to take her hand, but she turned around and went back to the inner chamber.

The summer days were long, the season sweltering, yet Chu Mingxi often spent entire days in the wing-room turned dispensary, deducing and rededucing many kinds of medicinal herbs over and over again.

From the trip to Peaceful Ease Prefecture, it was an obvious fact that the moldy corn kernels possessed toxicity. But as for how to neutralize the toxicity, she had tried many methods, none yielding a satisfactory result.

Wei Qingchen, fearing she’d stifle herself and fall ill, set up several ice cauldrons in the wing-room and had the maids replenish the ice blocks regularly, which both calmed the mind and alleviated the heat. Chu Mingxi, however, said that too much ice would also affect the medicinal properties, and would often have them removed.

One rare day, Chu Mingxi came out of the dispensary. The parrot under the eaves flapped its wings and loudly cried: “The Mistress is coming! The Mistress is coming!”

“Ah, this bird can recognize people!” Qingdai, who had been assigned to the main hall of the Imperial Medicine Hall for a few days and had just returned yesterday, found this bird especially extraordinary.

Jingyun smiled from the side and said, “The Heir trained it. It was originally bought to amuse the Young Mistress, but who knew he’d teach it to talk every day instead?”

A little maid lifted the fine bamboo screen for them at the main room door. Chu Mingxi looked around but didn’t see Wei Qingchen. “At this hour, the Training Hall hasn’t dismissed yet?”

“It has. The Heir came back. He must have gone to the Armillary Tower again.” Jingyun answered, pouring a cup of heat-relieving cool tea for the Young Mistress.

The Armillary Tower was an old book pavilion of the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion. It was about fifty or sixty paces from the moon gate of Yearning Hall, though it was more troublesome to reach from other courtyards. Before Chu Mingxi married in, the mansion had already built a more spacious library, so this old book pavilion gradually fell into disuse.

Chu Mingxi took a sip of tea, set the cup down, and stood up. “Let’s go take a look.”

Several maids then all accompanied her out the door.

Just as they reached the moon gate, they saw Wei Qingchen indeed coming from the other side, clearly having also seen their group. Wei Qingchen quickened her pace, and Chu Mingxi simply stood still to wait for her.

“What brings you here?” Wei Qingchen arrived before her, looking very pleased.

The weather was blazing hot, and a thin layer of sweat beaded her forehead.

Chu Mingxi noticed, pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve. Wei Qingchen took it, about to wipe her face, but as it neared her nose, she caught a cold fragrance of medicinal herbs.

She couldn’t help but inhale deeply. Chu Mingxi saw this, pursed her lips, and gave her a reproachful glance. Wei Qingchen smiled, raised the handkerchief, wiped her forehead, and casually tucked the handkerchief into her own sleeve pocket.

Not far away, a clamor of voices came from the Armillary Tower. Chu Mingxi looked up and saw a long screen-curtain had been drawn around the loft, clearly with outsiders busy working inside.

“The Armillary Tower is being renovated?” Chu Mingxi said, turning her steps to walk back together with Wei Qingchen. “What is it for?”

“Mm. Renovating first. We’ll know when it’s done.” Wei Qingchen said, “Aunt Qi came by earlier.”

Chu Mingxi lifted her eyes to look at her. The change of topic was too obvious, as if she was hiding something.

Wei Qingchen guiltily rubbed the back of her head.

Chu Mingxi smiled slightly and didn’t press further, going along with her words: “Oh? Why didn’t you call me out?”

Wei Qingchen smiled and said, “She went to the Armillary Tower. She knew I was there. Mother said she had prepared some festive gifts and wants me to accompany you back home in a few days.”

“For the Ullambana Festival?”

“Mm.”

The two of them talked as they arrived at the main house. Qiaoqiao came out from inside, curtsied slightly, and lifted the fine bamboo curtain for her masters.

The weather was too hot, so during the day the doors were left open, and the curtains were replaced with fine bamboo leaf styles. A gentle breeze came, bringing a faint, subtle fragrance.

A few days later, the festive gifts were all arranged properly, and Wei Qingchen accompanied Chu Mingxi back to her maiden home. Qi Xiaolong hadn’t had a good, long talk with her eldest daughter in a while, so she held her hand and looked her over again and again.

That day, Chu Mingxi wore a light yellow embroidered gold-thread pleated gown that didn’t touch the ground, her hair done up in the slightly intricate Hibiscus Bun, fastened with a Gold Hairpin with Jade inlay on a Gold Branch Base—both dignified and beautiful.

Her daughter was already exceptionally beautiful. Originally, Qi Xiaolong had always worried that her eldest daughter’s detached and aloof nature would make it hard to win favor in her husband’s family after marriage. But now, seeing her daughter and son-in-law return together, with light smiles gracing her eyes and brow, and when she occasionally spoke with the Heir, there was a flirtatious charm between her glances that was even more alluring than before, it was clear she was living well in her husband’s household.

Qi Xiaolong set her heart at ease, and found Wei Qingchen, this son-in-law, even more pleasing to the eye.

That day’s midday meal was eaten at the Chu residence. Qi Xiaolong had the kitchen prepare a large table of dishes, and wine was even served during the meal. Chu Mingyu teased, saying this jar of Orange Red Wine was personally brewed by elder sister years ago, and that brother-in-law should have a good taste. Wei Qingchen accepted it with a smile, and the family happily ate their meal.

Because she had drunk a few cups of wine, after the meal, Chu Mingxi had Wei Qingchen rest in the inner room for a nap.

This was Wei Qingchen’s first time entering the sleeping quarters of Chu Mingxi’s boudoir.

The bedchamber was furnished entirely in Yellow Rosewood, all made to measure the space: carved canopy bed, dressing table, side tables and stools, every piece exquisite and delicate. Between the Flower Hall and the sleeping quarters was a partition formed by a Four-Panel Screen. The screen was inlaid with double-sided embroidery patterns, but it wasn’t the Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum commonly favored by young ladies.

“Is this… medicinal herbs?” Wei Qingchen pointed at the embroidery on the screen.

Chu Mingxi smiled and nodded. “Yes. The Heir has a good eye.”

Wei Qingchen’s lips curled up with a bit of pride.

Chu Mingxi let her look around for a while, and seeing her cover her mouth for a thin, light yawn, she finally led her to her own bed.

“A humble dwelling. I must trouble the Heir to rest here for a while.”

“It’s no trouble at all. It’s very nice here.” Wei Qingchen let herself be supported by her to lie down on the pillow. “Won’t you join me?”

The maids serving outside had all withdrawn. Chu Mingxi half-propped herself up and said, “I’m going to talk to Mother for a bit.”

Wei Qingchen said, “I’ll go with you.”

Chu Mingxi had no choice but to lean closer to her. “I’m going to talk to Mother about Mingyu’s matter. You rest first. I’ll be back soon.”

Wei Qingchen didn’t speak, only pressed her hand. Her eyes were hazy with the scent of wine, the look she gave her tender and gentle.

Sunlight streamed through the pierced window lattice, casting a hazy light across the room. Wei Qingchen hooked Chu Mingxi’s arm and tilted her chin up slightly. Chu Mingxi read the amorous thought in her eyes, and her heart couldn’t help but pound wildly. Wei Qingchen pulled her arm down a little more, and Chu Mingxi yielded to her heart, closed her eyes, and softly gave her a light kiss at the corner of her lips.

Madam Chu was taking her midday rest in her own room when the maids announced at the door that the Eldest Young Miss had arrived. She had them lift the bed curtains again, and sure enough, she saw her daughter step inside.

Qi Xiaolong wanted to rise, but Chu Mingxi walked straight to the bedside and smiled faintly. “Mother can just lie down. I’ll just talk with you.”

The maids brought a large backrest pillow. Chu Mingxi took it and helped her mother place it behind her lower back for more comfortable leaning. Being close, Qi Xiaolong caught a glimpse of her complexion and said curiously, “Why is your face so red? Your ear tips here are completely red, too.”

Chu Mingxi sat back down on the edge of the bed and replied calmly, “The weather is hot, and I drank some wine just now.”

“Oh. Our family’s Orange Red Wine does have a strong delayed effect.” Qi Xiaolong nodded. “And how is your husband?”

“He’s fine. He’s sleeping in my room.”

Qi Xiaolong looked at her daughter. She didn’t know why, but she felt that her eldest daughter, usually so cold and indifferent, seemed especially precious and delicate today—like a flower gradually blooming in full, both enchanting and magnificent.

Her daughter’s marriage was to her liking. Qi Xiaolong was very satisfied. She took her daughter’s hand and stroked it for a while, then said with a smile, “And you? Does your husband treat you well?”

Chu Mingxi’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and a thin layer of red surfaced on her face again. “Very well.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Qi Xiaolong was even happier.

The mother and daughter talked for a while, sharing intimate words, before Chu Mingxi finally told her mother about the matter of the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion’s Third Young Master having feelings for her own second sister.

Qi Xiaolong was somewhat surprised to hear it, and even more so when she heard the boy was of common birth. Her mind began to weigh things.

Chu Mingxi said, “Although he is of common birth, he has Military Merit. The Third Young Master earned an official position by his own ability at a young age. And in the Northern Pacification Army, with his father and brothers present, his future prospects should be limitless.”

“Our family is not like those official households; we aren’t so particular about legitimate versus common birth. It’s just that…”

Chu Mingxi said, “Is Mother afraid that younger sister will think too much about it?”

“Your sister’s heart is as vast as the sea; how could she even think of such things.” Qi Xiaolong considered for a moment, speaking with a weighted tone: “It’s just that you married the Heir. If your sister were to marry a common-born younger brother, I’m afraid others would say you’ve overshadowed her.”

Chu Mingxi had not expected that her mother, after all that circling, was worried most about her. For a moment, her heart felt heavy. It was a long while before she said, “Mingyu is broad-minded, but she always has her own principles regarding people and matters. Perhaps let her decide for herself.”

In other families, it was all about the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word. But here in the Chu family…

Qi Xiaolong glanced at her daughter and said, amused, “That’s right. After all, the elder sister’s marriage was decided by herself. The younger sister should have a choice too, shouldn’t she?”

“Mother~~~” Chu Mingxi bit her lip, her lovely face once again suffused with rosy clouds.