At Her Mercy (GL) - Chapter 4

Upon hearing the words “Mistress”, Fourth Aunt’s nerves twitched. She replied in a clipped, passive-aggressive tone, “She naturally wants me to return quickly.”

Alai did not respond. She knew that Fourth Aunt and the Mistress, were always at odds. It was not appropriate for an outsider to comment on the friction between a wife and a concubine.

Especially since the Xie family’s Madam hailed from the direct line of the Yao family of Nanya, whose head was the current Minister of State Affairs.

His position was strategically powerful, and the Yao family was the most influential clan in Nanya. While the direct line of the Xie family in Dongchun might be able to contend with the Yao family, the Xie family of Suichuan was simply no match.

Although Xie Taihang was fond of his concubine’s gentle affection and meekness, he was utterly compliant with his wife, Mistress Yao. After all, his wife had gone against the consensus of the Yao clan and endured immense pressure to travel thousands of miles to marry him. He had promised the Minister of State Affairs face-to-face that he would treat his wife well.

Xie Taihang was submissive to the Mistress, habitually reporting both major and minor affairs to his wife. This side room, Fourth Aunt, naturally lived a life of constant frustration under the Mistress’s authority.

Although Fourth Aunt had a son and a daughter, if she didn’t plan diligently, what kind of future could her two children secure with their status as children of a concubine?

Fourth Aunt had risen early today to go to Taoyuan Temple to pray for Xie Taihang, and also to pray that the Xie family could safely pass through this year of great famine and that they would have smooth sailing.

Though she left the house under the pretense of praying for blessings, she had woken her own daughter, Sixth Daughter, bright and early and asked Alai to help her dress and groom her.

Sixth Lady, yawning constantly, was wrapped in a brilliant, gaudy brocade dress and hadn’t fully woken up. She had sneaked out of her room last night and pressed her ear to the wall outside Young Master Zhong’s room until midnight before returning, and now she asked her mother listlessly why she was bothering her so early.

“We are going to pray for your father,” Fourth Aunt said. “You will also come with me to visit the Wang family and deliver the fine cloth we brought from the capital a few days ago to Madam Wang.”

Sixth Lady whined, “Oh! The Wang family is a wealthy and prominent clan in Suichuan; what fine things haven’t they seen? They won’t care about your few scraps of cloth.”

She had only spoken casually, but Fourth Aunt flew into a rage: “What do you mean ‘scraps of cloth’? This is silk and brocade supplied to the Emperor! When I tell you to go, you go! Why so much nonsense! Your legitimate sister, Ah Xun, is already engaged to the Young Master of the Xun family. If you don’t stay alert, don’t come crying to me when your Mistress randomly marries you off to some Tom, Dick, or Harry! Heaven has no eyes to have let me give birth to such a pair of troublesome children! When I’m dead, who else will care about you! You’re the same as your brother, a good-for-nothing idiot who wanders aimlessly all day long!”

Sixth Lady was inexplicably scolded viciously. She dared not talk back or get angry, unsure who had provoked this burst of ill-temper in her mother.

As it happened, on her way to Sixth Lady’s room, Fourth Aunt ran directly into Mistress Yao, who was accompanied by two personal maids. Mistress Yao asked her where she was going so early. After bowing, Fourth Aunt truthfully said she was going to a temple in the city to pray for Master Xie.

Mistress Yao’s eyes skimmed over the exquisite silks and brocades in the basket in Fourth Aunt’s hand, and she smiled faintly:

“It is freezing cold outside, sister, you really are exerting yourself. By the way, which temple are you going to? I’ll have someone go with you, they can help you carry things. That big basket of silk must be quite heavy.”

Fourth Aunt politely declined. She would indeed go to pray, but her main purpose this time was to deliver the gift to the Wang family, taking Sixth Lady along to make an appearance. If she could quickly finalize the marriage between Sixth Lady and the Wang family’s only son, she would have solved half of her life’s worries.

During the Shenchu era, the customs of Da Yu were liberal. Although women could not enter the civil service, it was common to see them out and about, sharing the labor for their families.

Under the devastation of years of warfare, all able-bodied men were fighting the invading tribes on the front lines. The labor force in the rear was depleted, and vast areas of fertile land lay fallow. The Emperor encouraged farming, urging women to leave their inner quarters and join the labor force, promising that whoever cultivated the land would own it.

Under this huge incentive, young women became the newest labor force in Da Yu. Within two years, countless barren lands were cultivated, the front lines were well-supplied with grain, and several victories were won, recovering half the territory north of the Suidong Mountains.

In this environment, a woman walking on the street was nothing new. Taking one’s daughter to visit the home of a desired groom, while perhaps a bit too eager, was not a major incident that would bring public shame.

Fourth Aunt had only mentioned her intention to marry Sixth Lady into the Wang family to Xie Taihang. Although Xie Taihang generally followed Mistress Yao’s instructions, Fourth Aunt was his favorite concubine, and by persistent nagging, she could always get a slightly satisfactory result from Master Xie. Moreover, the Wang family was considered a prominent household in Suichuan, and the marriage was not a bad alliance. So, Xie Taihang had given his consent.

She had never mentioned this matter in front of Mistress Yao, fearing the Mistress would trip her up and ruin her plans. But even without her saying anything, such a small matter would drift into Mistress Yao’s ears without her actively inquiring.

“I heard that sister has a very good relationship with Madam Wang?” Mistress Yao brought it up casually, as if she had just recalled it.

Fourth Aunt cleared her throat: “It’s just that Madam Wang is hospitable and doesn’t despise my foolishness. I am too ashamed to impose upon her all the time; I dare not claim to have a close friendship.”

Mistress Yao shook her head, sounding concerned: “The Wang family is good, but unfortunately, their only son is an imbecile. If Sixth Lady marries him, it may not be a good thing.”

The muscles on Fourth Aunt’s face stiffened, but she still forced a smile: “What are you talking about, sister? Sixth Lady is still young; there’s no hurry for marriage. Besides, marriage is a big matter; it’s not for me to decide—it’s entirely up to the master and you, sister.”

Mistress Yao held Fourth Aunt’s hand and spoke earnestly: “No wonder the master always says you are simple-minded and naive, sister. Sixth Lady will be fourteen after the New Year; it is time to arrange her marriage. I thought you were running to the Wang family every day because you had set your heart on that idiot. I am relieved that’s not the case; otherwise, I wouldn’t know whether to call you confused. Although Sixth Lady is not my birth daughter, I wouldn’t bear to see her life ruined by a fool, living a lifetime of luxurious widowhood. How could you bear that, sister?”

Fourth Aunt was held firmly by her hand, unable to figure out how to respond. Saying yes or no would both be wrong.

Mistress Yao chatted for a while longer and then left with her servants.

Fourth Aunt was so angry her eyes were red.

This Mistress Yao never spoke a sincere word; every sentence was laced with barbs, yet she insisted on feigning concern. Who couldn’t hear the mocking tone? She was laughing at Fourth Aunt for being an incompetent mother who could only marry her daughter to a fool! If she had a better option, why would she go to such lengths to cling to the Wang family? If she weren’t just a concubine, why would her children’s future be so bleak, forcing her to strive so hard? So what if he was a fool? If Sixth Lady could successfully marry Young Master Qi and give birth to a legitimate son, her future life would certainly be secure, wealthy, and glorious. A little sacrifice could exchange for a lifetime of wealth and peace, and she could forever shed the identity of a concubine’s child! Mistress Yao’s own son and daughter were born a step above her and her children; how could she understand their suffering?

Luxurious widowhood? Pah!

Fourth Aunt was so angry she nearly vomited blood.

Blowing in the cold wind in the back garden for a long time did not dissipate the ill feeling in her chest. She stormed into Sixth Lady’s room, unleashing the anger she couldn’t vent at Mistress Yao onto her disappointing daughter.

Sixth Lady was genuinely wronged, but as soon as she heard they were going to the Wang family, she immediately clutched her stomach and wailed, running to the latrine with her hair flying.

“No, Mother, I have an upset stomach, I really can’t go with you…”

Fourth Aunt was about to explode, but Sixth Lady shouted to Alai, who was standing quietly nearby: “Alai! Alai! You go with Fourth Aunt. It’s cold and snowing outside, so remember to bring Fourth Aunt a hand warmer, do you hear me?”

“Yes,” Alai responded obediently.

Fourth Aunt scolded and tugged at Sixth Lady’s hair for the entire morning but couldn’t get her out of the Xie mansion. Finally, having no choice, and knowing the basket of silks was too heavy for her to carry herself—her arm would surely break on the way—she had to call on Alai to follow and help carry the things.

At Taoyuan Temple, when Fourth Aunt asked Alai to hand the basket to the young novice monk, she looked closely at Alai. If one searched hard enough, one could still find a trace of resemblance to Xie Taihang in her features.

This servant, Alai, was of Xie Taihang’s blood.

Many years ago, Master Xie, in a drunken moment, acted promiscuously and casually favored a maid in the mansion. Unexpectedly, that single night resulted in the maid becoming pregnant, and ten months later, she gave birth to a child. Mistress Yao didn’t say anything when she found out, but Master Xie, with his high-minded nature, couldn’t tolerate that he had favored such a low-born servant. Not only did he refuse to acknowledge the bloodline, but he never even looked at the mother and daughter.

The servants in the mansion were quick to follow the wind, and soon after giving birth, the maid was driven to the most remote part of the mansion to do dirty and exhausting chores.

In the twelfth lunar month, the water froze, the doors and windows warped, and the room was full of drafts. The maid only had a worn piece of cloth to cover herself, but she wrapped the child tightly and tucked her into her bosom for warmth, ensuring the child survived the winter safely.

The maid ruined her legs during her confinement and became disabled, unable to walk long distances afterward.

Later, the gardener in the mansion took pity on the mother and daughter and took them into his humble room to care for them. Over time, the two became husband and wife.

As the child grew old enough to help with chores, people in the Xie mansion would call her, “Alai! Alai! Carry the firewood in,” or “Alai! Scrape out the ashes.” Gradually, she gained an easy-to-say name: Alai.

Fourth Aunt looked at Alai. Though young, her features already held a hint of the Xie family master, but she mostly resembled her mother.

To be honest, her mother was indeed a good-looking woman. The girl’s face shape and eyes were perfectly balanced, neither too dramatic nor too bland.

A pair of long eyebrows would look fierce on another girl’s face, but on Alai, they gave her a hint of spirit and heroism.

Combined with her constantly alert and bright eyes and her increasingly beautiful features, she was clearly a future beauty.

Fourth Aunt couldn’t help but sigh in relief that Alai was merely a servant. If Xie Taihang had acknowledged Alai back then, her Sixth Lady would have been utterly overshadowed.

Perhaps the curling smoke and the majestic bells of Taoyuan Temple had finally calmed Fourth Aunt’s churning emotions this morning. She relaxed her brow and said to Alai:

“The blessing ceremony is long and complicated. Even Sixth Lady is lazy and doesn’t like to come, let alone a child like you. Go back first. Report to Mistress that I will have lunch at Taoyuan Temple and then return.”

Alai replied, “But… let Alai stay with Fourth Aunt. The city is full of refugees now. If we encounter any trouble, Alai can help hold them off. ” She had been brushed off earlier, but she didn’t take it personally and was sincerely concerned for Fourth Aunt’s safety.

When her mother gave birth to her in the twelfth month, Fourth Aunt took pity on the mother and daughter and sent over a small cotton jacket that Liu had outgrown. In the bitter cold, the only things that kept her alive were her mother’s body heat and that little jacket.

Later, when Xie Taihang found out about the jacket, Fourth Aunt was severely reprimanded.

Although Fourth Aunt was usually sharp-tongued, Alai remembered her kindness. Her mother also often said, Fourth Aunt saved your life; you must know how to repay her kindness.

Fourth Aunt was genuinely annoyed by her: “You child! I told you to go back, so go back! Stop with the extra talk!”

Seeing that she was truly angry, Alai had no choice but to obey and head back.

Fourth Aunt watched Alai’s receding figure and breathed a sigh of relief.

Although everyone said the Wang family’s Young Master Qi was an imbecile, she had met him.

He was a bit simple-minded, yes, but not a complete fool.

On the contrary, he was honest and less deceitful, which meant he would be more caring.

Moreover, the Wang family had few descendants; Young Master Wang Qi was the only legitimate son, and the family fortune would certainly be passed to him. If Sixth Lady could successfully marry Young Master Qi and give birth to a legitimate son, her future life would undoubtedly be worry-free, wealthy, and glorious.

Alai was beautiful.

If she caught Young Master Qi’s eye, even if Alai’s background prevented her from being the official wife, Sixth Lady would likely suffer constant conflict later on. It was much safer to send her away now.

Thinking of her disappointing daughter, and how much more worry she would cause, Fourth Aunt stomped her foot angrily and turned toward the temple.