Chapter 36: A Guideline on Improving Living Conditions (3)

Translator: Iris

Proofread by DragonRider

Thinking through this point, Minglan became even sadder and looked at Old Madam Sheng with her tearful eyes. Her face full of wrinkles was as calm as rock. She quietly articulated, “Remember—You don’t have uncles or brothers but a cruel legal mother and outstanding sisters. You have to let it go if you want a comfortable life.”

Minglan never heard Old Madam saying something like this and choked on her words, stunned.

At this time, Fang Mama came in with a basin of hot water and carefully moistened a towel before wringing the water out. Old Madam Sheng took over the warm towel and helped clean Minglan’s face with great care. Her move was gentle and loving but her tone was surprisingly icy, “If you’re Madam’s own child, how would you need to bear with others? You would just lead a patronizing life. If you’re Concubine Lin’s birth child, others wouldn’t dare to mess with you. If you have brothers, you could depend on them...Except for me, an old woman who has few days left, what else do you have? But for being calculative, you have to succumb to others’ bully and stoop down all the time. Are you willing to live like this?”

Minglan, whose mind was in chaos, wasn’t able to speak out a word. Old Madam Sheng handed the towel back to Fang Mama and took over a white jade box, picking pearl power and almond oil to apply to Minglan’s soft tiny face. Attentively polishing the face which got much skinnier, Old Madam felt sorry for the granddaughter and said slowly, “Don’t judging yourself for being calculative as long as you don’t intend to hurt others. This time, except for those girls, no one is hurt. It’s already a good result.”

Fang Mama stood by and looked at Minglan. With pity in her eyes, she told Minglan in a gentle voice, “Listen to your grandma, my young lady. She wishes best for you. You must learn to be clever, figuring out how to discipline servants in the future.” Minglan looked numb as if in sleepwalking and subconsciously asked, “Discipline?... Madam has deterred them today. I guess the servants are frightened. Why do I have to discipline them again?”

Old Madam Sheng was immediately infuriated. Waving off Minglan and standing solemnly at the bedside, she reprimanded, “The one they fear is Madam, not you, their real lady! Unless you are capable to daunt servants, or how can you be a madam and manage domestic affairs after you get married?! Nobody can help you but yourself! Hurry up, dress her up and send her back. Don’t stay here, you hopeless poor thing. I don’t want to see you again. Hurry! Hurry!”

Whiling spouting, Old Madam stormed out the door. In haste, her steps were unsteady, and her body was shaking. Fang Mama quickly followed up to hold her and ordered Cuiping to help Minglan get dressed. Leaving in such a hurry that Old Madam began to pant as soon as she arrived at the prayer hall. At this scene, Fang Mama hastily led her into a chair and caressed her back, “...My madam, you are being too strict. Sixth young lady is just too benevolent, but not a bit stupid. She knows things well.”

Waiting until her breath recovered normal, Old Madam Sheng, a grandmother who was just desperate to see her granddaughter become competent, sighed, “She is clever, indeed, to know at such a young age gains and losses, to take steady measures and to retreat in order to advance. In fact, I can rest my heart for her living alone outside, but her nature is too soft without decisiveness. She wasn’t even angry at the servants’ nasty behaviors!”

Fang Mama laughed and said, “My madam. You only say so because you care about her. Anyone else doing the same thing will become scheming and ruthless in your eyes! Take it easy, madam. Sixth young lady has an honest nature and is wise enough to enjoy her blessing in the future.”

......

Minglan, feeling herself rebuked out of no reason, walked out of the Hall of Peaceful Ages numbly. In fact, she wasn’t too guilty because she was no person unprincipled tolerating others. She knew what she had done was to protect herself, but what she resented about herself was being calculative and scheming, losing the formerly peaceful and careless mind, and worrying about being disgusting from conspiracy.

She stumbled her way back to the House of Clear Dusk. Passing through the yard, the idea came up in her mind, “Go and have a look at Mei’er.”

She turned around, circumvented the corridor house where dwelled the group of servants who all behaved politely today and respectfully stood on the side seeing Minglan walking by. In front of the house placed a small medicine pot, which Qingsang was monitoring with a large palm-leaf fan in her hand. The pot bubbled and steamed out vapors. Danju led Minglan into the right most ear-room. The moment the curtain was lifted, Minglan smelled a strong odor of medicine cream, frowning a bit. Mei’er with a pale face was lying alone on the bed, turned around hearing the noise, and tried to get off the bed when she spotted Minglan who then pulled Danju, gesturing her to stop Mei’er.

Yancao brought Minglan a soft chair to sit on and went to prepare tea. Minglan stopped her, “Don’t bother, I’ll leave in a while. I want to speak a few words with Mei’er alone.” Danju then led other girls out of the room.

In the afternoon sunrays, Minglan gazed at Mei’er, noting her messy hair, black and blue cheeks, bleeding lips and uneasy look. Mei’er didn’t dare to make eye contact with Minglan who, stared at her for a while before speaking in a quietly voice, “Ke’er returned to where she was. If you wish to go back to third elder brother’s place, I can help you...”

“No!” Mei’er screamed all in a sudden, leaning forward to pull Minglan’s sleeve and beg, “My young lady, please show mercy and don’t send me back. I don’t want to! I’m good at needlework. I’ll serve you well in the future and never make any trouble!”

Minglan was surprised and asked, “Why is that?”

Mei’er bit her bleeding lips, her face turning paler. As Minglan waited with patience, she finally uttered in a low voice, “One of my former friends visited me and told me... Ke’er was mercilessly beaten up at Concubine Lin’s command the moment she was back and then driven out to the room of heavy labor. Third young lord...third young lord didn’t shoulder the responsibility even though he used to promise Ke’er numerous times. He was too coward to protect Ke’er from Concubine Lin’s fury. Though Ke’er pretended to be ill, she actually does have a poor health. Now she is...”

Tears dropped off as she muttered. Mei’er took a breath, raised her hand to wipe out the tears, and said, “Ke’er was stupid, trying to depend on third young lord, but I’m not. My mother is a concubine and when my father passed away, the relentless legal wife sold us out. I don’t know if I could find my mother in this life...!”

Minglan knew that her father was a Xiucai failing further exams, but he still bought concubines regardless of his destitution. Mei’er sobbed, “I shall never be a concubine even if I have to lead a poor life as a legal wife. I heard they said the girl servants would all be young lords’ concubines in the future, so I made myself hated by others and excluded! My young lady, my mind was blinded to forget who I am after being favored a few days by third young lord and put on air based on your kindness. Please either punish or beat me as long as you don’t send me away!”

Minglan listened quietly and slowly said, “I heard a saying that it’s good to be tough but not to be arrogant. Now that you wish to stay, just stay here... What’s your original name? Don’t use Mei’er any more. It sounds disrespectful.” Even Minglan herself was a bit astonished by her calm tone and willingness to give Mei’er a new name.

Mei’er remained silent for a while, whispering, “...It was Rumei, a name my father gave me and changed because it’s similar to that of fifth young lady.”

Minglan looked up out of the window and said gently, “Your name will be Ruomei in memory of your father.”

Ruomei replied in a soft voice, “Thank you, young lady, for giving me this new name.”

Minglan got up and turned back before leaving, “I know you can read. I made a set of rules. Help other girls learn them when you get better.”

Shock sprawled up Rumei’s face which then turned to joy. She bowed head to show gratitude.

As Minglan walked out of the wing room, a sudden blow of warm breeze greeted her face. Looking around, she saw tender grass shoots surface out from ground crevices. Minglan stopped for a while to watch the landscape yonder and turned around, blooming a smile to Danju, “Breeze is getting warm. Let’s take Xiaotao to go fishing if lake ice has melted! Being left alone for an entire winter, the fish must be really fat.”

Danju had followed Minglan in and out, knowing clearly she was in a bad mood but too timid to comfort her. Seeing she smile in a second, Danju knew Minglan was fine now, so she answered joyfully, “Yes. I’ll look for a big fish basket for you!”

—Minglan Sheng, formerly Yiyi Yao, a non-native ancient person, time-traveler girl at the physical age of eleven, unmarried, dropping out of school, neither too outstanding nor too underachieved, now endeavored to self-learn surviving skills in an ancient age.