Chapter 38: Chapter 38

The voice that suddenly appeared at the doorway startled the two young ladies on the bed. Ming Rou never expected Ye Qiuniang to return so early today. Although earlier she and Xu Qionghua were just playing around, for some reason, a sense of guilt washed over her, as if she had been caught doing something shameful.

“If I hadn’t returned early, I wouldn’t have known Miss Xu was visiting our home.”

“Cough, Huazi visits often. It’s not a rare occurrence.” Flustered, Ming Rou stood up, neatened her clothes, and cautiously trotted over to Ye Qiuniang’s side, gently taking her arm. She was as docile as always, as if she had completely forgotten the period of awkward distance between them recently.

Xu Qionghua chimed in from the side: “Yes, Sister Qiu, Rou’er and I are so close. Please don’t treat me like a guest.”

This unintentionally blurted comment seemed to add another layer of frost to Ye Qiuniang’s face. She calmly removed Ming Rou’s hand from her arm: “Miss Xu is certainly not an outsider. It’s just that every time you come, the stove is cold and the kitchen empty. Letting you go home on an empty stomach truly makes one feel remiss.”

Even though Xu Qionghua was carefree by nature, she could vaguely sense Ye Qiuniang’s current coldness. In childhood, when they first met, she had truly treated her as Ming Rou’s Head Maid. But gradually, she realized it wasn’t quite so. Ming Rou was extremely dependent on this person, even telling her and Ming Hongxuan many times that Ye Qiuniang was the Little Bride the Old Patriarch had arranged for her.

Back then, she didn’t take those words seriously. But now that she was older, especially after moving to Paulownia Village, she found Ming Rou’s dependence and possessiveness towards Ye Qiuniang had intensified. Moreover, after years of not seeing her, the aura of strength emanating from beneath Ye Qiuniang’s gentle exterior was impossible to ignore.

Now, as Ye Qiuniang spoke, the imposing coldness about her felt overwhelmingly oppressive. Xu Qionghua didn’t dare quibble. Hesitating, she said: “Rou’er, I just remembered there’s something at home I need to attend to, so I should head back soon. Just pack up the lip rouge and load it onto the carriage later. I’ll take it all with me.”

Ye Qiuniang hadn’t meant to chase her away. She could mostly tell the two girls were just playing. It was just that the image from earlier made her uncomfortable.

After all, she was several years older. When Ye Qiuniang looked up again, her expression was as warm as usual. She smiled and said: “It’s still early. There’s nothing urgent at home anyway. Rou’er hasn’t seen you for several days; stay and chat with her a while longer.”

Turning to Fu Shuiyao, she added: “Our humble home lacks a proper place to receive guests. You can sit in the courtyard if you like, or take a look around the workshop. You’ve met Rou’er last time. The young lady beside her is the second daughter of Master Xu. She grew up with our Rou’er and came to pick up goods today. You all can chat. I’ll go prepare a meal. We can talk more when eating.”

Fu Shuiyao didn’t mind. She said to her: “Go ahead and busy yourself. I’ll just wander around casually.”

Once Ye Qiuniang left the room, Xu Qionghua let out a huge sigh of relief. She turned to Ming Rou: “Rourou, your family’s Sister Qiu is getting fiercer and fiercer. I can barely look her in the eye anymore. Isn’t she your Head Maid? How come it seems like your roles have swapped now? You’re the little handmaiden being completely dominated.”

Ming Rou, however, was entirely fixated on how Ye Qiuniang had pried her hand off earlier. She felt a wave of grievance and couldn’t hear a word Xu Qionghua was saying.

Beside them, Fu Shuiyao looked the two girls up and down, smiling coyly: “Not very old, but quite good at playing.”

Ming Rou didn’t hear, but Xu Qionghua caught it clearly. Finding this person good-looking but unpleasant in speech, she retorted testily: “Now that you’re older, you can’t even play if you wanted to.”

Fu Shuiyao gave a soft snort: “Sharp-tongued. The Xu family’s upbringing seems lacking.”

Xu Qionghua was annoyed. Criticize me, fine, but why drag my family’s upbringing into it? The young girl bared her teeth: “What else is a young girl supposed to do in her free time but mess around? Not like you, with your advanced age—surely you have many things to attend to. We won’t keep you from your business.”

“What a glib little mouth. If your parents won’t discipline you, I shall manage it for them.”

Seeing Fu Shuiyao put on superior airs, constantly using her age to oppress her, Xu Qionghua fumed: “Big sister, do you have nothing better to do than be full of lectures? If you have children at home needing discipline, go back quickly. Don’t keep trying to manage me. I have people to discipline me; no need for an old person like you to trouble yourself.”

Though Fu Shuiyao valued seniority, being constantly contradicted by a young girl who kept subtly calling her old—when she was still an Innocent Maiden herself—made her anger twist into a smile: “That little mouth of yours is truly unlikable.”

“Doesn’t need to be liked by you. Others will like it just fine.”

Fu Shuiyao was about to retort, but looking up at the other girl’s puffed-up, angry cheeks and her chest heaving with indignation, she swallowed the sharp words already at her lips.

“Your big sister here is magnanimous and won’t stoop to your level.”

Xu Qionghua only found this Old Woman utterly annoying. Even when the other initiated a truce, she didn’t appreciate it, huffing angrily.

Ye Qiuniang quickly finished preparing the meal. On the surface, the meal seemed harmonious, but underneath, some were fuming, unable to swallow their food. Fu Shuiyao and Ye Qiuniang, being adults, could chat and laugh easily. The two younger ones huddled together, sulking and whispering, barely eating a few bites.

After the meal, the sky had darkened. Xu Qionghua had only brought a coachman. A young lady and a male coachman, alone together—Ye Qiuniang, eyeing the gloomy sky outside, said: “Miss Fu and Miss Xu are both headed to the county town. It’s late now. I hope Miss Fu can accompany her on the journey and ensure she’s safely delivered home.”

Fu Shuiyao naturally understood the reasoning behind this. She nodded and agreed. Turning to Xu Qionghua, she said: “In a moment, you’ll ride with me. Let your coachman follow behind with an empty carriage. I’ll take you to your doorstep.”

Xu Qionghua didn’t want to be stuck with this annoying Old Woman, but she understood Ye Qiuniang’s concerns. Reluctantly, she climbed into Fu Shuiyao’s carriage.

After the two left, Ming Rou was still angry. She perfunctorily washed up and climbed into bed, turning on her side to face the wall, not sparing a single glance for Ye Qiuniang.

Ye Qiuniang had finally calmed down by now. Recollecting her own behavior earlier that day, she felt a slight pang of regret. But remembering the sight she had walked in on, another surge of frustration rose. She couldn’t help sulking too, refusing to coax her.

After her bath, Ye Qiuniang’s anger had mostly dissipated. Ultimately, she was the elder one. Looking back, she felt ridiculous—why was she bickering with a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl? Truly immature.

But Ming Rou was still ignoring her. Even when Ye Qiuniang softened her attitude, the girl still paid her no mind.

Ye Qiuniang sighed. After a few unsuccessful attempts to pacify her, she could only let her continue being angry.

But in the middle of the night, she was awakened by movements beside her. She found Ming Rou curled up on one side, eyes closed, weeping softly—seemingly half-asleep.

Ye Qiuniang immediately became highly alert. She quickly got up to feel her forehead. Finding no fever, she gently shook her awake.

“Jiujiu, it hurts…”

Hearing her say it hurt, Ye Qiuniang’s eyes instinctively went to the girl’s chest. She didn’t understand why Ming Rou’s body was so unusually sensitive, how it could hurt this severely.

Remembering her tearful pleading the night before, and recalling Xu Qionghua’s hand upon her chest that day, her mind heated. Her dry, hoarse voice rasped out: “Then… let me rub it for you…”

But she was instantly bewildered by Ming Rou’s next words.

“Jiujiu, my tummy hurts… my tummy hurts…”

Ye Qiuniang quickly reeled in her thoughts and retracted her hand, which had been headed towards Ming Rou’s chest. She moved it downwards, over her flat belly.

“Here?”

“Hmm, it’s uncomfortable—”

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll rub it for you. Did you eat something bad?”

“No, I didn’t eat anything random during the day. It’s not a sharp pain, just uncomfortable… bloated… and hurting too. Wuwu… Jiujiu, am I going to die? It hurts up here and down there too… wuwu…”

Looking at her crying so pitifully, Ye Qiuniang felt a surge of unbearable tenderness. Even the chaotic thoughts from the day were completely thrown to the back of her mind. She only wanted to find a way to make her stop hurting so much.

But hearing Ming Rou’s description, Ye Qiuniang belatedly realized what was happening. She stopped her rubbing hand: “Rou’er, your Monthly Cycle might have arrived. Let me check your underpants, okay?”

In her groggy state, Ming Rou had no thought of refusing. The only person she trusted in her heart was Ye Qiuniang. In such a helpless and miserable state, naturally, whatever Ye Qiuniang said, she did. When Ye Qiuniang got up to light the lamp and returned to the bed, sensing her intention, Ming Rou slightly lifted her waist, cooperating as Ye Qiuniang pulled her undergarments down.

Under the dim yellow lamplight, everything appeared hazy, but on close inspection, still visible.

Ye Qiuniang quickly controlled her flickering gaze, focusing it on the removed undergarment. Sure enough, in the center, there were traces of blood.

Realizing Ming Rou’s Monthly Cycle had begun, Ye Qiuniang immediately set aside all other errant thoughts. She touched Ming Rou’s head: “Your Monthly Cycle has come. I’ll go get you a fresh pair of pants. Wait for me on the bed.”

Ming Rou was still groggy. Sensing Ye Qiuniang about to leave her side, panic seized her. She reached out and grabbed her arm, refusing to let go.

Ye Qiuniang had no choice but to gently pry her hand off: “I’ll be right here in the room, not going anywhere. Just going to get you a new pair of pants.”

Ming Rou had been sulking with her all day, already feeling insecure. Now, with the sudden onset of her Monthly Cycle in the middle of the night, she felt entirely miserable. Receiving Ye Qiuniang’s gentle reassurance felt like grasping a life-saving straw. At this moment, she couldn’t bear to let her leave her side. Relying on Ye Qiuniang’s usual affection for her, she fussed recklessly, grabbing her hand and refusing to let go.

Left with no alternative, Ye Qiuniang could only pull her pants back up, kneel on the bed, and help her sit up on the edge.

“Sit right here and wait. I’m just taking two steps to the cabinet to get you pants, okay?”

Ming Rou clutched tightly at the hem of Ye Qiuniang’s clothes, lips pressed together, shaking her head.

Ye Qiuniang looked at the pale, tear-streaked little face under the lamplight and sighed helplessly. She got off the bed, bent down to slip wooden clogs onto Ming Rou’s feet, and pulled her up: “Then just follow me.”

Only then did Ming Rou nod, standing up and hugging her arm. Wherever Ye Qiuniang went, she followed step by step. Even the two-step distance to the cabinet, she clung tightly.

While Ye Qiuniang rummaged in the cabinet for pants and a Menstrual Belt, Ming Rou leaned against her back, hugging her waist, her cheek pressed close, refusing to separate for even a moment.

After finding the items, Ye Qiuniang led her back to the bedside: “Your pants are soiled. Let’s change into clean ones. Do you want to do it yourself or…”

“You do it for me.” Ming Rou interrupted before she could finish.

Ye Qiuniang inwardly knew this Little Ancestor would say that. Resigned, she bent down and pulled Ming Rou’s pants down. Ming Rou was like a giant doll, lifting and lowering her feet according to her instructions. Seeing Ming Rou was no longer as groggy as before, Ye Qiuniang slowly taught her how to use the Menstrual Belt.

She had thought to fetch some water to wipe her clean, but Ming Rou absolutely refused to let go. She could only find a dry cloth to help her clean up, then helped her pull her pants back on.

Once her body was clean and comfortable, Ming Rou finally relaxed significantly.

Ye Qiuniang didn’t bother to deal with the soiled pants on the floor. She guided Ming Rou to the bed, reached out to extinguish the lamp, and said: “It’s not yet dawn. Rest a bit more.”

Only then did Ming Rou snuggle close, finding a comfortable position in her arms, sinking into a deep sleep.

But Ye Qiuniang lay on the bed, wide awake.

Thinking back to her near-loss of control during the day, then to her complete compliance with Ming Rou’s every whim tonight, for a moment, her heart was tangled in a thousand knots.

And looking at Ming Rou’s state—now that her Monthly Cycle had begun, she was no longer a child. Yet she still clung to her like this. Did she truly see her as a mother, or was it something else? In three more months, she would undergo the Hairpin Ceremony. After that, matchmakers would surely come knocking. Then, what path should be taken?

Previously, when Du Xian drove them out, aside from momentarily being instigated by He Xiang, his main goal was to show Ming Rou who was boss, to make her life unbearable outside so she would obediently go beg him.

Once Ming Rou came of age, that man would definitely come knocking to take her back. And such a grown, beautiful daughter would be of no small use to Du Xian.

Thinking of this, Ye Qiuniang’s eyes filled with cold intent.

Beside her, Ming Rou seemed to sleep restlessly, tossing and turning. Her small brows were tightly furrowed, occasionally murmuring a few sleep-talk words.

Ye Qiuniang turned on her side, her gaze locking onto the girl’s face. She recalled how Ming Rou had bossed her around earlier—still as spoiled and willful as ever. It seemed unreasonable, but in truth, it was dependence more than anything else. The way she unfolded her soft, helpless, most genuine self, bit by bit, before her eyes.

Had she truly come to see her as a mother?

After all, when she was little, Ming Yulan hadn’t been constantly by her side, doting on her like other mothers. She had just happened to fill that void, and so the girl had clung to her like this.

Ye Qiuniang suddenly felt a suffocating sensation. Yet her mind flashed back to the words Ming Rou had spoken as a child…

When she was eight, on the day Ye Qiuniang had her own Monthly Cycle, Ming Rou got lost with Xu Qionghua and Ming Hongxuan. The Old Patriarch took a whip to punish her, and Ming Rou threw herself forward, using her delicate body to block that heavy lash. Afterward, she said that when she got her Monthly Cycle too, she would be an adult, and then the two of them could get married.

Now, she had gotten her Monthly Cycle too, but did she still remember the words she had spoken so many years ago?

Her father had tried to force himself on Ye Qiuniang, and Ming Rou had wept her heart out, unable to sleep at night.

Even later, when the Old Patriarch schemed to send Ye Qiuniang away to the Manor and Ming Rou was kept in the dark, she had knelt on the ground, begging to take the punishment in her place, even wanting to publicly expose her own biological father’s true nature.

Until the day they were cast out, when Du Xian told her to change her surname and stay, to offer Ye Qiuniang to him as a concubine… Ming Rou’s eyes had turned red, and baring her teeth ferociously, she had snarled: Don’t even think about it. Jiujiu is mine.

She even bit her father.

…

All of this, scene after scene, played out. Ye Qiuniang felt her blood surge. This tiny person—what was she supposed to do with her!