Chapter 19: Fainting
To frame Jade Ink by smashing the jade cup, the act had to be completed swiftly and in secret.
With the four of them scrambling chaotically and Shen Shi watching from behind, how could the frame-up possibly succeed?
Angelica Orchid was somewhat clever and quickly retreated two steps, shouting loudly while clearly taking sides.
But Fragrant Grass was not quick-witted. In her panic, she actually swung the carved lacquer fruit box and hurled it straight at Pear Moon’s face.
The crisp, loud impact startled not only Angelica Orchid and Jade Ink but also made Shen Shi tremble all over.
Even worse, the Young Master chose this exact moment to emerge from behind the screen—neither earlier nor later.
As soon as he stepped into the room, he saw the little maid lying before him, clutching half a jade cup, her face covered in blood.
Red dates, peanuts, and longans were scattered all over the floor, and the Carved Lacquer Box lay shattered into pieces.
Jade Ink, unsure whether Pear Moon was alive or dead, saw the Young Master as her pillar of support and hurried forward to greet him.
Fragrant Grass had swung the box in a moment of desperation. Now, realizing the enormity of her mistake, she collapsed to the floor.
Angelica Orchid, still unwilling to give up and emboldened by Shen Shi’s favor, hastily knelt and cried out, “Young Master doesn’t know—just now, Jade Ink argued with the young lady for no reason. I was afraid she’d cause trouble in the bridal chamber, so I tried to drag her out. But Xiao Yue went mad, trying to snatch the white jade gourd cup for the wedding ceremony. She accidentally bumped into…”
The Young Master coldly surveyed the chaotic scene, his brow furrowed with unspoken anger.
He bent down, picked up Pear Moon, and quickly carried her to the outer room, laying her on a soft couch.
Jade Ink wanted to explain, but the Young Master shook his head to silence her. He looked up and called for Granny Zhou, instructing her to summon the Manor Physician.
Angelica Orchid, feeling guilty yet eager to show diligence, followed with an awkward smile. “Xiao Yue broke the wedding jade cup. According to the rules, she should be beaten to death. Yet the Young Master is tending to her injuries—such a benevolent nature. The auspicious hour for the wedding ceremony is approaching. Please hurry back to the chamber, Young Master. Leave this little wretch to me—I’ll deal with her properly and teach her a lesson!”
The Young Master glanced at her, then sat down beside Pear Moon, his robes sweeping aside. He only offered a cold smile without speaking.
Seeing his expression, Angelica Orchid broke into a cold sweat and dared not say another word.
Amidst the chaos, Shen Shi could no longer remain seated in the bridal chamber and gracefully made her way over.
She had already felt wronged tonight, and now the maids had caused this commotion, adding frustration upon frustration.
The Young Master had not even glanced at her when he entered the room. Instead, he had carried the little maid out, deepening her bitterness.
Shen Shi walked to the beaded curtain in the outer room and saw her husband sitting by Pear Moon, instructing Jade Ink to wipe the little maid’s face. Growing increasingly impatient, she frowned and said displeasedly, “When maids quarrel and scuffle, it’s inevitable they’ll get a few scratches. I always said Jade Ink had a bad temper, but I never expected Xiao Yue to be such a strange child. Over a mere disagreement, she snatched the jade cup without the slightest care or restraint. Husband, don’t take it to heart. Tomorrow, we’ll have Granny Zhao give her a few lashes to teach her a lesson.”
Shen Shi defended her dowry maid, blaming only Jade Ink and Pear Moon, fearing her husband would hold her accountable.
After all, she did not want this incident to ruin tonight’s wedding ceremony.
Seeing their young lady defend them, Angelica Orchid and Fragrant Grass quickly chimed in, insisting that Jade Ink and Pear Moon had caused the trouble, trying to disrupt their masters’ wedding ceremony, and deserved to be beaten to death on the spot.
The three of them—mistress and maids—went back and forth, chattering for a long while, but the Young Master remained silent.
By the light of the candles, he carefully examined Pear Moon’s injuries, confirming they were not serious. He instructed Jade Ink to wait at the door for the Manor Physician, then finally looked up at Shen Shi with a faint, mocking smile. “No need to explain. I saw everything from behind the screen.”
With just that one calm remark, Shen Shi froze all over, and Angelica Orchid and Fragrant Grass fell deathly silent.
Shen Shi’s face flushed and paled alternately as she forced a strained smile.
“What does my husband mean by this? I truly do not understand!”
Though she feigned ignorance with her words, deep down she understood all too well. Shen Shi’s face grew increasingly pale.
She recalled that day when she had ordered Pear Moon to stew red date soup, and the Young Master had pointed at Xiao Yue’s swollen face, accusing her of mistreating the servants.
Now, for the sake of this little maid, he was scolding her again. Could it be that he had taken a fancy to Xiao Yue?
Xiao Yue’s looks were indeed exceptional, but she was still too young—far from the age to be taken as a concubine or favored.
Was he really going to disregard the Nuptial Wine Ceremony of husband and wife for the sake of a lowly servant girl?
The more Shen Shi thought about it, the more aggrieved and stifled she felt. Her eyes reddened again, and she began to sob and weep.
Just then, Jade Ink entered with the Manor Physician. Granny Zhao, Granny Zhou, and several senior maids like Zhi Qing, having heard that something had happened in the bridal chamber, followed them in.
Both grannies were experienced old women. As soon as they entered and saw the mess on the floor, they guessed three or four parts of the situation.
Granny Zhou deliberately joked, “I was afraid of trouble during tonight’s Nuptial Wine Ceremony, so I didn’t arrange for any bridal chamber teasing. Who knew these little hooves would play on their own and cause such a commotion? Which lass is so capable, beating someone until their head is bleeding? She shouldn’t waste her time as a maid in our mansion—she should follow the Young Master to war instead!”
Though she spoke in jest, not a single maid in the room dared to laugh.
Seeing this scene, Granny Zhao felt so distressed that her hair seemed about to turn white.
First, she resented Zhi Lan and Xiang Cao for being troublemaking fools. Second, she resented Shen Shi for her foolishness.
The maids in the bridal chamber could have all been from the Shen family’s dowry. According to Granny Zhao’s plan, Zhi Lan would have been in charge of Xiang Cao, and Zhi Qing would have overseen Xiang Hui. Outside, second- and third-class dowry maids would have served the dishes.
But Granny Zhou insisted on following the old customs: half the maids inside and outside the bridal chamber would be from Ningguo Mansion, and the other half from the dowry. That was why Jade Ink was allowed to bring Pear Moon inside to serve, and why lowly servants like Huan Huan and Autumn Abundance were added outside.
The maids from both sides had long-standing grievances, and Zhi Lan and Xiang Cao were troublemakers by nature. Granny Zhao had feared something would go wrong.
But Granny Zhou had come to help on Madam Ning’s orders, so Granny Zhao could not oppose her and had no choice but to agree.
Granny Zhao had only hoped that Shen Shi would keep things under control, at least until the consummation tonight.
Yet not only did Shen Shi fail to calm the situation, she even allowed her dowry maids to cause trouble, turning the joyous Nuptial Wine Ceremony into a complete mess.
Granny Zhao was a wet nurse and had spent her entire life in noble households. She saw things more clearly than her own young mistress.
Shen Shi, relying on her family’s high status—her father was the current Chief Grand Secretary—had carried herself with an air of superiority since marrying into her husband’s family. Everyone in Ningguo Mansion had indulged her, maintaining her dignity as a noble young lady.
But Granny Zhao knew well that Old Madam and Madam Ning doted on Shen Shi not just because of her family’s influence.
Did the Shen family hold power in the court? Did Ningguo Mansion lack influence?
In the past, when the Duke of Ningguo was alive, the two families stood on equal footing—one prominent in civil affairs, the other in military matters—and the Ning family even held an additional hereditary title.
The Ning family pitied Shen Shi for being separated from her husband and felt guilty toward her, which was why they could not bear to discipline her.
Over these three years, Shen Shi had not followed the rules set by her mother-in-law or grandmother-in-law, had not cared for her younger brothers- and sisters-in-law, and had not met with the elders and relatives of the family. She had lived a pampered life in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, no different from when she was a young lady in her own home.
But now that the Young Master had returned and husband and wife were reunited, how could she continue as before?
A new bride is treated as a guest for the first three days after entering the household, but Shen Shi had been married for a full three years.
The most urgent matter now was for the young couple to consummate their marriage and bear children as soon as possible. Once the Young Lord inherited the title, husband and wife would share honor and status, and she would become the mistress of the ducal mansion, managing the household affairs. That was the proper way—everything else was empty talk.
Granny Zhao was so anxious she felt as if fire were burning the roof, yet she saw Shen Shi only crying, with no intention of winning over her husband.
Seeing the auspicious hour was about to pass, she hurriedly signaled Shen Shi with her eyes, urging her to invite the Young Lord into the room.
“During the Nuptial Wine Ceremony, there’s no need to dwell too much on the maids’ minor squabbles. The auspicious hour has arrived. Please have the young lady and the Son-in-law sit on the bed and drink the nuptial wine. It’s important to let the bridesmaid spread the bed curtains.”
Shen Shi also understood Granny Zhao’s meaning and, holding back tears and shame, took two steps forward.
Yet the Young Lord showed no urgency at all, remaining steady and unmoving. Seeing the Manor Physician enter, he beckoned him over to take a pulse.
The Manor Physician felt the pulse, checked the eyelids, and shook his head with a smile. “The young lady’s nose is broken, and she took a hit on the forehead, but it’s nothing serious.”
With that, he took a piece of incense, lit it, and waved it under her nose a couple of times.
The strange, pungent scent made Pear Moon sneeze twice.
Dazedly opening her eyes, she met the Young Lord’s cold, frosty gaze and couldn’t help but tremble all over.
In truth, she hadn’t fainted—she had only felt dizzy for a moment.
Pear Moon just wanted to see whether there was affection or resentment between the newlyweds.