Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Jing Yi pushed aside the maid standing at the door and hurriedly entered. Seeing that her mother was unharmed, she immediately realized that she had been tricked by Baoqin. The ladies inside the room stopped their conversation and looked at Jing Yi, who was covered in sweat, with surprise and confusion. The old lady twirled a Buddhist bead on her wrist, and Yun Wei stepped forward lightly, supporting Jing Yi, who seemed ready to confront Baoqin.

“You’re worried about Aunt, aren’t you, Jing Yi? Although Aunt is a bit tired, she is fine.”

“Jing Yi is such a filial child, always afraid I might catch a cold or have a headache.”

Aunt replied, following Yun Wei’s words. She placed her hand on her forehead, feigning weakness to cover up Jing Yi’s rudeness. The lady from the third household, Madam Guo Luoluo, rolled her eyes and chuckled, “Madam, you may not know, but when it comes to filial piety, no one compares to Jing Yi. She has been by Madam’s side since she was little, never leaving her for a moment.”

Fucha responded casually, “All daughters are attached to their mothers. They grow up, and it gets better. Jing Yi is doing much better now than before.”

Fucha knew Yun Wei’s temperament well. She wasn’t the type to talk much and always kept a low profile in front of guests. This time, however, she spoke up to support Jing Yi, which surely had a reason. Especially after sending the two maids, Amber, to bring the vase, Yun Wei hadn’t returned for half an hour. Although her face remained calm as usual, there was worry in her brows. Occasionally, she glanced toward Fucha, seeking help. Fucha, of course, understood that something unexpected had happened.

The Prince’s side Concubine, wearing a silver-red embroidered peony qipao with gold-threaded trim on the hem and sleeves, her hair adorned with golden hairpins and pearl earrings, looked elegant and noble. She sighed softly, “The girls of the Tong family are all wonderful.”

She glanced at Yun Wei and smiled. Yun Wei lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet her eyes. Her cheeks flushed slightly, making her look even more beautiful. The Prince’s side concubine found herself liking Yun Wei even more.

The maid serving the Prince’s side consort approached and whispered, “The Prince is waiting.”

Though the voice was soft, everyone in the room heard it clearly. Yun Wei quickly stepped aside and stood behind Fucha, her posture proper. She became stiff, like a wooden figure, no longer the lively and charming girl she had been earlier.

The old lady raised her tea cup, hiding the smile at the corner of her eyes. Yun Wei had successfully concealed her feelings, though not yet completely free from her emotions. With time, Yun Wei would surely improve, and her future looked promising.

Seeing that the old lady remained calm as a deep well, the Prince’s side concubine, knowing that this situation couldn’t be hurried, instructed the eldest maid, “Bring the box over.”

She smiled and added, “These are new style hairpins from the palace. I got a few of them. I thought I’d give them to the girls to enjoy.”

The old lady glanced at the red sandalwood box in front of her and said, “You’ve gone to great lengths.”

“The girls of the Tong family are like water caltrops, and I love them. Such beautiful, jade-like granddaughters, Madam, you are truly blessed.”

The Prince’s side concubine said a few more words before rising to leave. The old lady escorted her to the door, and the ladies and young girls from the third household followed behind to see her off. Just before she got into the carriage, she smiled kindly at Yun Wei. “Miss Tong, that plum blossom branch hairpin looks beautiful on you. It matches your temperament, like the proud winter plum. The two sets of hairpins would suit you perfectly.”

Several strong maids hurried the carriage used by the Prince’s side concubine out through the second gate, where the young servants took over. Soon after leaving the Tong family estate, the Prince’s side concubine lifted the curtain and said, “Qing’e, come up and keep your mother company for a while.”

Qing’e dismounted and climbed into the carriage. The spacious carriage was surrounded by seats on three sides, with a small table holding warm tea and snacks. Soft cushions were spread over the seats. The side concubine sat upright, gazing at her son beside her, and asked, “Have you made up your mind about her?”

Qing’e nodded firmly. Just thinking about Yun Wei’s way of playing chess—graceful and serene, yet sharp—he solemnly said, “Please support me, mother.”

“That girl seems fine to me as well. Her family background and talent are both suitable, but it’s still too early to talk about this. We will discuss it when she participates in the selection.”

“Mother, I’m worried…” Qing’e said, not fully confident. The side concubine smiled confidently, “Who could compare to our Prince’s household? While the Tong family may not expect much from their daughters, who wouldn’t want an alliance with a royal family? Besides, I have a bit of influence at the palace. When the time comes, I’ll go there and request a match for her.”

Qing’e felt reassured. The side concubine’s eyes glimmered with hope as she softly advised, “Son, you must do well. The title of heir’s consort is even more prestigious than the prince’s consort.”

Qing’e parted his lips, knowing in his heart that Yun Wei wouldn’t care, but he couldn’t bring it up with his mother. He simply nodded in agreement, as he had never cared much for the title of heir.

“Now, tell me, what exactly happened?”

The old lady sat on the kang, tapping the redwood kang table, and asked, “Jing Yi, why did you push Sixth Miss? Was it over the hairpins, or something else?”

“Grandmother, I am wronged,” Jing Yi replied tearfully, kneeling in front of the old lady. She sobbed, “How could I have pushed her over those two hairpins? Sixth Sister ordered Baoqin to tell me that mother had fainted, and I… I didn’t know what to do when I heard that. I was afraid my mother… oh…” Jing Yi wiped her tears, crying bitterly.

The old lady’s gaze shifted to Yun Wei, who was calm and collected. “What do you say?”

Yun Wei knelt down with a soft thud. Just after the side concubine left, Jing Yi suddenly confronted her and nearly pushed her over, which was very unlike the usual weak and delicate Jing Yi.

Yun Wei lifted her eyes, and in her gaze there was no sign of panic. She was as calm as still water. “Grandmother, everything is my fault. I should not have spoken carelessly, nor should I have instructed Baoqin to lie.”

After admitting her mistake, Yun Wei turned to her aunt and pleaded, “Please forgive me, Aunt.”

Before Jing Yi could speak, Aunt gently helped Yun Wei to her feet and patted her hand. “I understand your heart. It’s my fault for not educating Jing Yi properly.”

“Mother,” Jing Yi called out in grievance, but Aunt spoke sternly. “Jing Yi, be quiet. If it weren’t for Yun Wei, do you know how this would affect your reputation? If it’s worse… worse, it could lead to… to a tragic end. The Tong family’s reputation cannot afford to be tarnished by you.”

Aunt, still angry, raised her hand and slapped Jing Yi twice. The madams from the first household, Lady Jueluo and Lady Guo Luoluo, stepped forward to stop her and advised, “Jing Yi is still young. She can be taught to understand with time.”

“I should beat this shameless girl to death,” Aunt grew even angrier. Though her two sisters-in-law held her arms, she cursed with teary eyes, “What crime have I committed? I became a widow so young and endured hardships to raise this daughter, only for her to turn out this way. Heaven, why… why…”

Aunt cried intermittently, her lips trembling as she sobbed, turning to the old lady. “Mother, I… I should just kill this girl. I don’t care about her anymore, and I will clear my name.”

“Aunt, Jing Yi didn’t deserve to die.”

Yun Lan was shocked by what she had just witnessed. She had known about it, but seeing it with her own eyes was something else entirely. She never imagined it could be so serious. If Jing Yi were to die, Yun Lan, as the one who had first suggested it, wouldn’t be spared either. Seeing the family head, the old lady, remain silent, Yun Lan felt a deep sense of panic. Would she be sent away to the country estate and never allowed to return to the capital? Grabbing the old lady’s sleeve, she tearfully begged, “Grandmother, although Jing Yi made a mistake, she… she…”

Fucha gently pulled Yun Wei aside and shook her head slightly. In a voice only Yun Wei could hear, she whispered, “Your aunt was the first to act. She would never actually kill Jing Yi.”

Yun Wei stood beside Fucha, neither appearing indifferent to Aunt’s well-being nor getting too close, quietly watching the farce unfold.