A Secret Meeting

"Nanny Yan, the Heir Apparent is looking for you."

Nanny Yan had only just finished attending to the old madam as she went to bed when a maid came to pass on the message.

Puzzled, she asked, "What does he want with me?"

The maid said, "I don't know either."

"All right, you may go."

Nanny Yan straightened her clothes and went out to see Lu Zhengliu, wondering to herself, What could he not conveniently come into the Hall of Longevity to say? Why send a maid to fetch me?

Could something have happened with Ge Bao'er?

Then she decided it was impossible. Four matrons were guarding her; even with wings, she would have trouble escaping. What waves could she possibly stir up?

"Heir Apparent?"

Standing outside the courtyard wall, Lu Zhengliu turned and asked, "Nanny Yan, has Grandmother gone to bed?"

Nanny Yan nodded. "She has. What is the matter, Heir Apparent? Relatives came to the house today and asked after you. Why didn't you come and see them? Eldest Aunt Jia has been thinking of you!"

"I know. I'll go and apologize to Eldest Sister tomorrow. Right now, there's something I need to trouble you with..."

Nanny Yan smiled. "What is it, Heir Apparent? Please tell me. Why stand on ceremony with this old servant?"

Lu Zhengliu lowered his voice. "I want to see Bao'er. Sorry for the trouble, but please help me send the matrons guarding the side courtyard away."

As a man, it would not do for him to simply barge in at night.

Now that relatives were staying at the residence, if he dared go there tonight, everyone would know by tomorrow.

Nanny Yan grew uneasy at once. She walked a few steps to the side with Lu Zhengliu, afraid the maids in the courtyard would overhear them.

"Heir Apparent, this... What do you need to see Cousin Miss about at this hour? Can it not wait until this period has passed?"

Lu Zhengliu pressed his lips together and said helplessly, "Qing wants to see his mother. He already sneaked over there himself today and cried himself hoarse. He said his mother wanted to see me too. I have to go."

Nanny Yan's face darkened.

That Ge Bao'er! Even under confinement, her reach is still so long!

I really underestimated her.

Nanny Yan could hardly say anything against her now. Wringing her handkerchief, she said, "Heir Apparent, I can send the matrons on guard away for you. But only this once. There must not be a next time."

Lu Zhengliu said gratefully, "Grandmother hasn't looked well these past few days. Please don't tell her yet."

Nanny Yan sighed. "I know."

They walked to the side courtyard together, and she took particular care to add, "Please forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn, but Cousin Miss is no simple woman. When you see her, give her a good warning. Don't end up falling into her trap instead."

"All right."

Of course, Lu Zhengliu did not believe Ge Bao'er had any "trap" set for him. She did not have the means for that yet.

But her behavior now did indeed leave him somewhat irritated.

Nanny Yan went to the side courtyard and sent the matrons and the maid Wu'er away. Then she told Lu Zhengliu, "You may go in. The matrons won't come back tonight, but Wu'er will. You must come out within half an hour."

"Thank you."

Nanny Yan was afraid something might go wrong, so she personally kept watch outside.

When Lu Zhengliu went in, Ge Bao'er was slumped over the table, looking listless. She showed no excitement at seeing him.

"I heard from Qing that you're ill?"

He walked over and asked.

Ge Bao'er raised her head. Her eyes were red as she looked at him, wanting to speak but hesitating. At last, she began to sob quietly.

"Brother Azhen, I want to get out. I want to be able to see Qing whenever I wish."

"It's peaceful here. Grandmother is doing this for your own good too."

Seeing that she would not listen to reason, Lu Zhengliu could only frown and say, "Now is not the time. Wait a little longer."

Ge Bao'er grabbed his sleeve and asked, "But Brother Azhen, I don't want to wait anymore. I... I don't want to be a principal wife anymore. I..."

"You what?"

Lu Zhengliu looked at her, bewildered.

Ge Bao'er bit her lip. "I can't go on like this, unable to see Qing or you! I can't bear it!"

"Do you mean you want to be a concubine?"

Lu Zhengliu's face turned icy, and he immediately rejected the idea. "No!"

He flung her sleeve away, almost angry, and said, "I promised I wouldn't let you become a concubine."

"Bao'er, you told me yourself, when you were little... and so you would never be a concubine in this lifetime."

Lu Zhengliu tried to find a trace of struggle in her eyes, but there was none. Ge Bao'er hung her head in deep dejection, tears streaming down like rain. "But now I'm not even as well off as a concubine." She looked as though she would rather die than go on living.

"Bao'er, it's my fault."

She was, after all, the woman he had grown up with, and she had borne him a child. Lu Zhengliu could not bear to see her like this and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't cry. I've promised you."

Ge Bao'er pulled out of his embrace and tipped her head up, pressing him. "When?"

"This is the Marquis's Residence, not the countryside in Liyang. A marquis's household has its reputation and rules. My Elder Sister is visiting her family, and it would hardly do to handle this matter in front of her husband's family. Once the Xia family leaves, I'll speak to Grandmother and... Lin Yunwan about it immediately."

Ge Bao'er could only nod.

Lu Zhengliu was about to leave. Before he did, he instructed her, "For the time being, don't see Qing again. Even if he comes to the door, don't show yourself."

"Why?"

"He's still young and doesn't know what is proper to say or do. If people find out now... it won't be good."

"I'll go back now. Get some rest early."

With a bang, the wooden door closed, and she was left alone in the room.

Ge Bao'er watched the faint candlelight flicker, her heart growing cold little by little, like a snow-covered mountain melting away.

"Would it be bad for people to find out? Or would it be bad for Lin Yunwan to find out?"

She snatched up a teacup and smashed it against the floor, her face pale.

"No, I can't wait until the relatives leave..."

She knew all too well that once the Xia family left, she would have even less of a chance.

"Wu'er, Wu'er."

Ge Bao'er called out several times.

Wu'er had returned. Hearing her, she came in and exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, how did the cup break?" Then she looked at Ge Bao'er's face and was even more puzzled. "Miss, why have you cried so much?"

Ge Bao'er took her hand and said, "I... Wu'er, you're all I have left now."

Wu'er said cautiously, "There's still Young Master Qing. He... isn't he close to you too? He's still been thinking of you since you moved here."

When Cousin Miss had first told her to fetch Young Master Qing, she had found it strange.

How could two people who had nothing whatsoever to do with each other be connected?

She had gone to fetch Young Master Qing simply to try her luck. To her surprise, he had actually come and seemed very close to Cousin Miss.

Perhaps they grew close while spending time together at the Hall of Longevity...

That was what she had guessed at the time, standing guard outside the door.

But she still felt there was something strange about it.

Ge Bao'er said with a miserable expression, "He's only a child, after all. Although he remembers how well I treated him before, our bond isn't as deep as yours and mine."

Wu'er was a little uncomfortable. "Please don't say that, Miss. Serving you is what this servant ought to do."

"I can't tell you how happy I am to hear you say that. Oh, Wu'er, please help me with one more thing..."

Wu'er was somewhat reluctant. "W-what is it?"

As soon as Ge Bao'er told her, she wanted to refuse, but Ge Bao'er kept pleading until she could resist no longer. "Wu'er, there's no one who can help me but you."

Wu'er agreed with a show of reluctance.

Ge Bao'er smiled. "Good Wu'er, thank goodness I have you. Let's clean up the porcelain shards together, so we don't cut ourselves."

"Miss, it's late. Go and rest. I can do it."

"Wu'er, why are you still so formal with me..."

Ge Bao'er picked up the porcelain shards with her.

It was a clear, bright day.

Lin Yunwan was tending chrysanthemums in the courtyard. The flowering season was nearly upon them, and she had already ordered several pots placed outside her room.

"Madam, are you tending these flowers yourself?"

Ping Ye handed her a pair of scissors.

Lin Yunwan took the scissors and, recalling her days as an unmarried girl, said with a smile, "Before I married, my days were filled with music, chess, calligraphy and painting, poetry, wine, tea and flowers. It wasn't like now. I haven't properly tended even a single pot of flowers in a long time."

Speaking of flowers, she asked Ping Ye, "Have the flowers in the Garden's flower hall all been arranged?"

"They were nearly finished yesterday. Nanny Yuan will be coming to report shortly. You can ask her."

Lin Yunwan nodded. "Tomorrow is the formal banquet to welcome the Xia family and wash away the dust of their journey. All the men and women, young and old, of both our families will be there. Nothing can go wrong."

"I understand."

Ping Ye looked out through the courtyard gate and said with a smile, "The Eldest Young Master has come to pay his respects."

"I've already given him time off. Why has he come again? This child..."

Though Lin Yunwan said this, she was already putting down the scissors.

Lu Chang'gong came over and bowed in greeting. Looking at the flowers beneath the veranda, he said, "Mother, when did you start growing so many hydrangeas?"

Ping Ye pursed her lips. "Eldest Young Master, what's wrong with your eyes? Those are chrysanthemums."

"Although they're only seedlings, a few flowers have already bloomed. How could you mistake even those?"

Lu Chang'gong blinked and took a closer look. Only then did he say sheepishly, "I was mistaken." He added in a low voice, "It's nearly the eighth month, the season for admiring chrysanthemums." He was annoyed with himself for being so foolish in front of his mother that he had not even thought of that.

"Come inside and talk."

Lin Yunwan put down the scissors and asked him, "Did you tie your hair to the roof beam again last night? How late did you practice before going to bed?"

Lu Chang'gong pressed his lips together. "...It wasn't very late. I went to bed before the hour of the rat."

Ping Ye drew a sharp breath.

"The hour of the rat! Eldest Young Master, why didn't you just wait until dawn?"

Lin Yunwan sighed. "That's very bad for your eyes." She mentioned her father. "Before your maternal grandfather was fifty, his eyes were already dim with age. Do you want to be like him, unable to recognize your own family even a zhang away?"

Lu Chang'gong hurriedly said, "I don't."

"I can recognize you, Mother. I can recognize you anytime," he protested quietly.

Lin Yunwan fell silent.

Lu Chang'gong admitted his mistake in all seriousness. "I won't practice so late again."

Lin Yunwan's expression softened somewhat. "Sit down." She instructed a maid to bring breakfast.

Lu Chang'gong sat down and explained, "Mother, it's not that I didn't take your words to heart. It's just that whenever I'm writing, I lose track of time."

Lin Yunwan smiled. "I know."

He was a born scholar, able to become absorbed even in practicing his handwriting.

Concubine Zhu Qing arrived. Seeing Lu Chang'gong, she paid her respects to Lin Yunwan and said, "Madam, I'll say a few words and then leave."

Lu Chang'gong lowered his head of his own accord, not listening to their conversation.

Zhu Qing whispered in Lin Yunwan's ear, "Last night, Nanny Yan sent all the matrons away from the side courtyard. The Heir Apparent didn't show himself before anyone all day. Young Master Qing's throat is hoarse today too."

Lin Yunwan smiled at her.

This Zhu Qing was quite the executioner, every stroke of her blade striking a vital spot.

"All right, go back for now. Come again when I have some free time."

"I'll take my leave."

Zhu Qing left smiling. Ge Bao'er wanted to hook the Heir Apparent and become a concubine of the Wuding Marquis Residence? No chance.

She did not even have a proper status yet, and she had dared incite the Heir Apparent to make Zhu Qing drink Contraceptive Decoction. If she really became a concubine of the Marquis's Residence, there was no telling how far she would push her luck!