Eight Treasure Trousseaus

Chapter 21: Illusion

She remembered the regret she had felt when she returned home. She had also felt discomforted at having such thoughts. It was only a few months later when the Emperor decreed marriage for Hua Xi Wan that she put down the regret she felt. At least, Tang Mei was not living poorly due to the rumors outside, and was able to marry Xian Junwang, someone many females liked. This was a matter that countless girls yearned for and could not obtain.

Originally, she had been happy, but when she saw her proud mother bowing and scraping in order to beg Hua Xi Wan to do something, and pulling her down as well, the happiness inside changed into mixed feelings and caused her pain.

Just as Hua Yi Liu was dazing, the sound of the servant girls voicing greetings passed through. She raised her head and saw several beautiful servant girls ushering Hua Xi Wan in. She seemed to be the center of attention and extremely noble.

Zhang shi saw Hua Xi Wan enter and stood up from the chair after tensing for a moment. Before she could curtsey, Bai Xia supported her.

堂姐 tang jie: father's brother's (older) daughter
"Second Aunt, Tang Jie.[2]" Hua Xi Wan smiled at the two and indicated for the servant girls to support them to their seats. "I went to Princess Rui He's estate today and did not know of your arrival. I made you wait for a long time."

"No, it is us who came without an invitation. That has nothing to do with Junwang Fei," Zhang shi said, and forced a smile. "I heard my mother mention what happened today. It has shocked Junwang Fei."

"This is a great criminal matter-no one wants it to occur. Second Aunt, please restrain your grief and accept fate," Hua Xi Wan said. "How is Official Zhang and Zhang Furen?"

太医 taiyi: imperial physician. It is an official position.
Zhang shi used her handkerchief to wipe her red eyes. Her voice was slightly hoarse but did not tremble. "My mother has fallen ill immediately after returning to the fu. The taiyi[3] who was requested came and said it was an illness of the heart. My brother is the only son of the family, and my parents love him greatly. Now that they have encountered this matter, the two old people are unable to accept it. I have come today to ask Junwang Fei to say a few words for my paternal family to Junwang Ye. We are not asking for anything else, just that my brother's killer is found."

"We are one family-we should not say such courteous things. I heard that the Emperor has already sent out a decree for Sheng Junwang to help the Judicial Office carry out the investigation. Our family's junwang is not in charge of this matter, but it is fine for him to help ask a few things," Hua Xi Wan said with a slight crease of the bow. "Sheng Junwang is usually just and fair. I believe he will get to the bottom of this matter."

Zhang shi knew that the Emperor had sent a decree for Sheng Junwang to take charge of this matter. It would not be very good for Xian Junwang to pay too much attention. But their Zhang Clan had never been close to the members of the Imperial Family, and Sheng Junwang had a cold personality, so they had no one to come to for help. They could only turn and go to Xian Junwang.

She had originally wanted to ask Hua Xi Wan to agree to help them learn the process of the investigation, but she knew that even if Hua Xi Wan agreed, Xian Junwang would not do this, and could not do this. So after wavering for a while, she could only voice her gratefulness a few times.

"The day is dark. Second Aunt, Tang Mei, stay and have a meal." Hua Xi Wan looked at the sky outside. "This crude house does not have many rare items, but there are seasonal fruits and vegetables."

Zhang shi wanted to agree immediately, but she understood if she really did this, regardless of whether Xian Junwang helped or not, he would have a low opinion of them.

"We should not refuse Junwang Fei's good intentions," Zhang shi said with a smile on her pale face, "but our fu has already prepared food for us. We will not disturb Junwang Fei and Junwang Ye."

"Since that is the case, I will not force Second Aunt and Tang Jie to stay." Hua Xi Wan used Bai Xia's hand as help to stand up. "The day is late. I will not send you off."

"Junwang Fei, please stay." Zhang shi stood as well. She curtsied towards Hua Xi Wan. "I will trouble you for this matter."

Hua Xi Wan returned half a curtsey and sent Zhang shi and Hua Yi Liu out of the side hall. She stopped and watched as the two walked off before she said coolly, "Return to the main yard."

On the carriage after leaving the junwang fu, Zhang shi finally showed a grimace. Hua Xi Wan's attitude had been polite, and she had said beautiful words, but in reality, she had not agreed to anything. But Zhang shi could not find a reason to speak again, and she did not have the face to continue. In the beginning, she had looked down on Dasao's birth, and now she was begging the other's daughter-this was a joke.

Hua Xi Wan really had a great upbringing to not have left her outside the door. She would not be able to do such a thing.

舅舅 jiujiu: mother's brother
"Mother, Xi Wan has agreed to help. Do not worry," Hua Yi Liu comforted her in a warm voice. "It is hard to accept Jiujiu's[4] death, but you need to take care of your body.

Zhang shi patted her hand and looked at her uncomprehending eyes. She could not openly say that while Hua Xi Wan's words were good to hear on the surface, in reality, they were of no help at all. In the end, she only sighed.

In the past, she had felt that while her daughter's beauty was not as good as Hua Xi Wan's, and her talents not as good as Hua Chu Yu's, she was at least a warm and considerate person. Now when she compared her daughter to Hua Xi Wan, she found that she had raised her daughter to be too naïve. She didn't know what to do when her daughter married.

In the main yard, after Hua Xi Wan and Yan Jin Qiu used the evening meal, they sat at the stone table outside to admire the moon as they chatted.

Hua Xi Wan did not like how uncomfortable it was to sit on the stone bench, so she had Bai Xia add a soft cushion. She propped her chin up on one hand as she looked at the clean moon. She lazily listened and did not speak.

"In my childhood, I fought with my younger shu brother and almost fell into the pool in the fu." Yan Jin Qiu poured a cup of tea for himself. After blowing, he took a light sip. "After Father-Wang passed, and the shu brother and I split our households, I had them fill up the pool."

In other fu, while the shu sons did not quail in front of the di sons, it was almost that. It really was interesting that the di and shu sons of Xian Wang Fu had managed to fight.

As though he knew what Hua Xi Wan was thinking, Yan Jin Qiu idly rubbed the teacup in his hand. "My mother passed away early, and I was raised at Imperial Grandmother's place, so I am not close to my sister. After I returned to the fu, because I was the only di son, the servants liked to flatter me. This caused my shu brother and my sister to feel discontent, and after a while, there was a ruckus."

"And then?" Hua Xi Wan looked at the smile hanging on Yan Jin Qiu's lips and asked, "Did Father-in-law know this?"

"He did not attend to the matters of the inner compound, but he knew of this matter." When he mentioned Xian Wang, Yan Jin Qiu's tone was very calm. "Later, my shu brother and my sister were scolded. Father-Wang also started to dislike the shu brother's birth mother. In order to prevent a state where di and shu are mixed up, Father-Wang started to distance himself from the shu brother. Before death, he only said to give the shu brother one-tenth of the property."

This matter seemed easy to say, as though it had nothing to do with Yan Jin Qiu, but Hua Xi Wan looked at this man who was smiling warmly and felt an indescribable wave of cold.