Early the next morning, sunlight filtered through the window lattice, scattering warm patches of light across the room. After last night's "strange" conversation, or perhaps because she had cried herself out, Cui Wan woke to find that the heaviness and hurt in her heart seemed to have eased considerably.
Though the marks on her neck still ached faintly, reminding her of the terror of the night before last, Chu Moqi's final few words, stiff yet carrying the weight of a promise, were like a small pebble dropped into her frozen heart's lake. They stirred a faint ripple, loosening that bone-deep chill a little.
She sat on the stool by the window and quietly picked up her unfinished needlework-a white inner robe made from ordinary fabric she had brought from the Cui Family. Now... all she could do was slowly embroider simple patterns to pass the time. Sunlight fell on her lowered eyes and slender fingers, lending her a quiet softness.
Qiaoju slipped in softly, her face bearing a strange expression tinged with satisfaction. "Madam, there are... a few people outside asking to see you," she said quietly.
Cui Wan looked up, puzzled. "Who?"
"It's... Auntie Chen from the household, and... two young maids." Qiaoju chose her words carefully. "They... say they've come to apologize and beg your forgiveness."
Apologize and beg her forgiveness? Cui Wan was even more confused. She had neither family nor friends in the marquis's household. Who would come to beg her forgiveness?
"Let them in." She set down her needlework, feeling uneasy.
The door curtain lifted, and three people entered. Leading them was none other than Auntie Chen, who had given her careless directions at the fork with that dismissive look in her eyes. The two young maids following her were the very ones who had gossiped behind the rockery yesterday! The moment they entered, all three dropped to their knees before Cui Wan with a thud, without another word, and began knocking their heads against the floor.
"Second Madam! We know we were wrong! We slighted you yesterday and spoke nonsense behind your back. Please punish us severely!" Auntie Chen's voice was frightened, her forehead pressed against the floor. The two young maids trembled all over, sobbing as they joined her pleas for mercy.
Startled by the scene, Cui Wan hurriedly rose from her stool, at a complete loss. "Y-you must get up! Don't... don't do this!"
When had she ever encountered anything like this? In the Cui Family, she had been the least welcome of them all. Others had only ever treated her with cold looks. When had anyone knelt before her and begged her to punish them?
She stepped forward to help them up, but Auntie Chen and the others bowed even lower, repeatedly saying they dared not rise and asking only that she punish them.
"I... I don't blame you, really. Please get up." Cui Wan's little face flushed with distress, her voice taking on a pleading note. "Next... next time... if I lose my way again and want to visit Sister-in-law at Plum Courtyard, could you... could you take me there?"
This was the only "punishment" she could think of-not to leave her lost and alone next time, not to make her endure the humiliation of being ignored again.
Auntie Chen and the others froze at her words, seemingly never having expected this young Second Madam to propose such a punishment. They exchanged glances, then hastily kowtowed again. "Yes, yes! We'll remember! Whatever you ask of us in the future, Madam, we would brave ten thousand deaths to obey!"
Only then did Cui Wan breathe a sigh of relief. "Then... please get up. The floor is cold," she said softly.
Only then did Auntie Chen and the others dare to rise. After thanking her over and over, they withdrew respectfully with lowered heads.
After they left, Cui Wan remained where she stood, bewildered. What on earth was going on? Why had people who had barely acknowledged her and gossiped behind her back yesterday suddenly come to kowtow and admit their wrongs today? And so... respectfully?
She looked at Qiaoju, who appeared just as bewildered.
"Madam, perhaps... their consciences have awakened?" Qiaoju ventured.
Cui Wan shook her head, unable to make any sense of it.
Meanwhile, out of Cui Wan's sight, beneath the eaves on the other side of Orchid Courtyard.
Auntie Chen and the other two, who had just withdrawn from Cui Wan's room, were now kneeling before someone else, trembling with fear.
Chu Moqi sat upright in his wheelchair, a black outer robe draped over him that made his complexion look all the colder and paler. His gaze swept impassively over the three shivering figures on the ground, and his fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest.
"Did you make everything clear?" he asked, his voice level.
"Y-yes, Second Young Master. We... we kowtowed and apologized to Second Madam, just as you instructed." Auntie Chen's voice shook uncontrollably.
"How did she punish you?" Chu Moqi asked, a trace of almost imperceptible curiosity in his tone. That little crybaby only hides away and cries when she's bullied. How would she punish anyone? A few harsh words? Or a beating with the paddle?
He could not imagine it.
Auntie Chen hastily reported the truth. "Second Madam... only said... that if she loses her way again and wants to go to Plum Courtyard, we should take her there..."
As Chu Moqi listened, his brows drew together almost imperceptibly.
What sort of punishment was that?
Showing her the way? That was the only "punishment" she could think of for being slighted and slandered?
Simply... laughably foolish, and yet... so innocent it left one helpless.
He fell silent for a moment, his gaze settling in the direction of the main rooms in the distance, as though he could see through the walls to that bewildered, silly little figure.
The anger that had risen in him over the servants' treatment of her seemed, without his noticing, to have been diluted by her "absurd" way of handling it. All that remained was an indescribable feeling, mingling irritation with the faintest hint of amusement.
"Then do as my wi..." Out of habit, he had been about to say, "Do as my wife said," but the words felt awkward on his tongue, and he forcibly changed them. "...As she said. Show her the way."
He paused, his voice cooling with unquestionable authority. "Also, the three of you will take turns emptying the household's chamber pots for ten days."
Auntie Chen and the two young maids went pale. Emptying chamber pots was the filthiest, most exhausting, and most despised work. Being punished with it was more humiliating than a beating. But how could they dare object? They hastily kowtowed. "Yes! We accept our punishment! Thank you for your mercy, Second Young Master!"
Looking at them, Chu Moqi added one final remark. His voice was quiet, but every word rang clear with an icy warning:
"She is your Second Madam. If you show her the slightest disrespect again, or dare wag your tongues behind her back..." He did not finish, merely giving them a cold look.
The chill in that gaze was more terrifying than any explicit threat.
"We wouldn't dare! Never again!" Scared out of their wits, the three repeatedly kowtowed and gave their assurances.
"Leave." Chu Moqi withdrew his gaze and looked at them no more.
As though granted a great pardon, the three scrambled away. Even after they had gone far, they could still feel that icy gaze against their backs and the fear that would not leave their hearts.
At last, they understood that the seemingly weak and easily bullied Second Madam was not nearly as unwelcome to the Second Young Master as the rumors claimed. They would never again dare regard her with the slightest contempt.
Beneath the eaves, Chu Moqi sat alone in his wheelchair. Autumn sunlight fell across him, yet could not dispel the chill surrounding him. He gazed toward the main rooms for a long time before quietly exhaling, turning his wheelchair, and slowly leaving.
Two more days passed, and autumn seemed to deepen. That afternoon, Cui Wan was doing needlework beside the window as usual when the breeze suddenly carried in an especially rich, sweet fragrance. She could not help lifting her head and looking through the open window-
In just two short days, the osmanthus tree in the courtyard had burst into full bloom!
The entire tree was thick with gold, as though someone had scattered crushed gold among its dark green leaves, or countless tiny, fragrant stars had studded its branches. Sunlight streamed through the gaps between flowers and leaves, gilding that dazzling yellow with a warm halo. The whole of Orchid Courtyard, and seemingly even farther afield, was steeped in that overpowering sweetness.
Cui Wan's eyes lit up. The gloom and caution of the past several days were largely swept away by this flourishing vitality and fragrance. Setting down her work, she almost ran beneath the tree, tilted up her little face, and drew a deep breath. A smile of pure delight blossomed unconsciously across her face.
"Qiaoju! Qiaoju!" she called over her shoulder. "Quick, find two little bamboo baskets! Let's pick osmanthus flowers!"
Seeing her so happy for once, Qiaoju answered with a smile and soon found two clean, dainty bamboo baskets.
Mistress and maid set to work beneath the tree. Cui Wan carefully avoided the branches, gently pinching off clusters of tiny golden flowers with her fingertips, her movements soft for fear of hurting the leaves and twigs. Sunlight filtered through the foliage onto her upturned face, illuminating even its fine down, while a little golden pollen clung to the tip of her nose. As she picked, she began quietly humming an out-of-tune melody, her eyes curved with a smile, as though she had temporarily forgotten all her troubles.
In the shadows behind a corridor pillar, two almost identical figures were peeking out.
Watching Cui Wan seemingly intent on stripping the lower branches bare, Yan Huai looked horrified. He lowered his voice and said to Yan Qin beside him, "Heavens! She's picking so many! She... she's almost stripping the tree bald! Young Master treasures that osmanthus tree. Every year, he spends ages looking at it when it blooms. If he discovers that so many flowers have been picked..." He shuddered. "I won't be able to protect Madam!"
Yan Qin was calmer. His gaze rested on Cui Wan's profile, relaxed and happy for once, and his tone was even. "If you picked those flowers, your head certainly wouldn't be safe. But if Madam picks them..." He paused, the corner of his mouth seeming to lift very slightly. "That's another matter."
"Then... should we do anything?" Yan Huai still felt unnerved.
Yan Qin looked away, raised a hand, and gave Yan Huai a moderate knock on the back of the head. "Have you got so little to do you're getting restless? Do what? What's wrong with Madam picking flowers? Come on, there's still work to do for Young Master." Without allowing an argument, he dragged Yan Huai away, who kept looking back every few steps.
Cui Wan and Qiaoju worked for much of the afternoon and actually gathered two large baskets brimming with golden, fragrant osmanthus. Cui Wan had thoroughly enjoyed herself and had even tucked a tiny osmanthus blossom beside her temple, bringing a livelier color to her cheeks.
"All right! That's plenty!" Cui Wan clapped her hands, looking at their two large baskets of harvest with satisfaction. "Qiaoju, let's go to the kitchen!"
After a moment's thought, she also sent Qiaoju to fetch Auntie Chen. Now exceedingly respectful toward her, Auntie Chen immediately hurried over. Hearing that she wanted to make pastries in the kitchen, she became even more attentive and volunteered to lead the way.
At the kitchen, they found the plump, kindly-looking head cook who had discovered Cui Wan on her wedding night. He clearly still remembered this unusual Second Madam. Seeing her enter with the osmanthus, Qiaoju, and Auntie Chen, he hurriedly set down his work and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Second Madam. Would you like to use the kitchen? I'll clear a space for you right away. Whatever ingredients you need, just say the word!"
Cui Wan smiled a little bashfully. "I'd like to... make some osmanthus cakes. Could I borrow the stove and utensils here?"
"Of course! Of course!" the cook readily agreed. He swiftly cleared a clean, spacious worktop and, following Cui Wan's requests, prepared fine glutinous rice flour, regular rice flour, white sugar, lard, honey, and a clean steamer and cheesecloth.
Qiaoju assisted at her side, while Auntie Chen helped wash the utensils. Cui Wan tied on an apron, washed her hands, and began working earnestly. She already knew how to cook, and back at the Cui Family, she had watched Aunt Yue make osmanthus cakes and tried helping her, so she remembered the steps clearly.
First, she carefully sorted the freshly picked osmanthus, removing debris and flower stems and keeping only the plump golden petals. She gently rinsed them in lightly salted water, then drained them. She reserved some for decoration and lightly pounded the rest in a stone mortar to release their fragrant juice.
Next, she mixed the glutinous and regular rice flours thoroughly and sifted them to ensure a fine texture. She dissolved the sugar in a little hot water, combined it with the osmanthus juice, a little melted lard, and sweet, delicate honey, then slowly poured it into the rice flour, gently stirring with chopsticks until it formed loose, damp crumbs.
"Add the water little by little. It mustn't be too wet or too dry..." Cui Wan quietly recited Aunt Yue's instructions as she worked carefully. Her movements were not yet particularly practiced, but she was exceptionally focused and earnest, her little face solemn and tiny beads of sweat forming on her nose as she worked.
After kneading the mixture, she needed to let it rest so the rice flour could fully absorb the moisture. Meanwhile, Cui Wan lightly tossed the reserved osmanthus petals with honey to make their color brighter.
Next came sifting, the crucial step in giving the osmanthus cakes their delicate texture. With a spoon, Cui Wan pressed the damp mixture through a fine sieve little by little. The sifted rice flour fell as fine as dust, spreading evenly inside the steamer lined with damp cheesecloth. She sifted with great patience: one layer, a sprinkling of honeyed osmanthus, another sifted layer, another sprinkling... seven or eight layers in all, each thin and even.
Finally, she carefully arranged the honey-coated osmanthus petals into simple patterns on the topmost layer.
"There! Ready to steam!" Cui Wan dusted the flour off her hands and breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes shining as she looked at her "creation."
The cook had attentively brought the water to a boil already. Cui Wan carefully set the steamer over the pot and put on its lid. Now came the wait.
After a little under an hour, rich osmanthus fragrance mingled with the sweet scent of rice cakes and drifted through the gaps in the steamer, growing increasingly tempting. Cui Wan waited beside it, nervous and expectant.
When the time was up, the cook helped lift the lid-
Amid billowing steam appeared glistening, moist cakes with distinct layers, dotted with golden osmanthus! Their pale yellow color was translucent, and their fragrance filled the air!
"It worked!" Cui Wan was so happy she nearly jumped. She asked the cook to help take out the osmanthus cakes and set them aside to cool.
Once the first batch had cooled a little, she carefully cut off a small piece to taste herself, then shared some with Qiaoju, Auntie Chen, and the cook.
Soft, tender, and delicately sweet, the cakes perfectly blended the fragrances of rice and osmanthus. Sweet without being cloying, with a fine, silky texture, they tasted even better than the ones she remembered Aunt Yue making!
"Madam, they're delicious!" Qiaoju's eyes lit up.
"Such wonderful skill, Second Madam!" Auntie Chen and the cook offered heartfelt praise as well.
Sweetness filled Cui Wan's heart, giving her even more energy. "Let's make another batch!" There are few masters in the marquis's household now, and not many servants either. I might as well make more so the hardworking servants can have a taste too.
The second batch went even more smoothly and was soon steamed as well. Cui Wan carefully divided up both batches of osmanthus cakes. Apart from a portion she kept aside, she asked the cook to distribute the rest among the kitchen staff and servants working nearby, drawing delighted exclamations and thanks.
She herself carried a delicate little bamboo basket containing the prettiest, most intact osmanthus cakes, covered with a clean, fine cotton cloth.
"Auntie Chen," Cui Wan said to Auntie Chen, who had remained attentively at her side, "sorry for the trouble, but could you take me to Plum Courtyard? I'd like to bring Sister-in-law some to taste."
"Yes, yes. This way, Madam," Auntie Chen promptly replied. Her eyes shifted, and she added solicitously, "Madam, you haven't been here long and aren't familiar with the grounds yet. Why don't... I take you on a little tour along the way, so you can learn the paths and meet the servants on duty in each area, then visit Plum Courtyard last? Would that suit you?"
Cui Wan considered it and thought it sensible. Familiarizing herself with her surroundings would make things easier later. She nodded. "Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Auntie."
Auntie Chen led the way, taking Cui Wan and Qiaoju on a leisurely walk through the marquis's residence. As they went, she explained: this was the reception parlor in the front courtyard; that was the path to the storerooms; over here was the garden where flowers and plants were tended...
The marquis's residence was indeed very large, but compared with the clamoring carriages and clouds of servants Cui Wan imagined in its heyday, it now seemed rather empty and quiet. Many courtyards had their gates shut, with servants quietly sweeping and tidying in only a few places. Every servant Cui Wan encountered along the way bowed respectfully, their attitudes as different from before as heaven and earth.
Finally, Auntie Chen brought her to a relatively secluded courtyard, from which came the burbling of water and the sound of laundry being beaten. "Madam, this is the laundry courtyard."
Cui Wan nodded. Inside, she saw many clean clothes and sheets hanging out to dry, swaying gently in the breeze beneath the autumn sun. Several older women employed for heavy chores were busy beside the well. Cui Wan had Qiaoju take two osmanthus cakes to a woman hanging up laundry. Overwhelmed by the honor, the woman thanked her repeatedly.
Cui Wan's gaze casually passed over the hanging laundry. Suddenly, in the most inconspicuous corner of the courtyard, she noticed a short row of unusual, soft cloths hung out to dry.
The cloths were simply made and looked... like a little baby's diapers?
Cui Wan paused. Was there a baby in the household? In all the days since she had married into the family, she had never heard of one or seen one.
Oh, right... perhaps it was Sister-in-law's child? Eldest Young Master Chu and Sister-in-law had been married for several years. Perhaps they had already had a child, and she simply didn't know.
The thought flashed through her mind, but Cui Wan paid it little heed. After all, this was the Chu Family's business. If Sister-in-law did not mention it, she could hardly pry.
"Madam, this way, please. A little farther ahead, around that bamboo grove, is Plum Courtyard." Auntie Chen's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Cui Wan withdrew her gaze and nodded. Carrying her basket full of osmanthus cakes, she followed Auntie Chen to Plum Courtyard, where Tang Xiang lived.