Chapter 24: Persuasion
Knowing full well that the young couple had not consummated their marriage the previous night, Madam Ning still sent someone over to distribute rewards—this was a direct affront to Shen Shi’s dignity.
The words spoken while distributing the silver and cloth further explicitly accused Phoenix Ripple Courtyard of mistreating the hereditary servants of Ningguo Mansion.
Madam Ning’s actions were no different from publicly slapping Shen Shi in the face.
Having endured grievances all night and now humiliated by her mother-in-law, Shen Shi could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs.
That morning, she had only drunk half a bowl of bird’s nest soup. After this heart-wrenching, gut-twisting cry, she even vomited the soup, spilling it all over the floor.
Originally feigning illness, she truly fell ill after this commotion.
Upon hearing the news, Granny Zhao set aside her anger and hurried over.
Seeing Shen Shi’s sallow complexion, she couldn’t help but feel both anxious and furious.
“My dear young mistress, it’s only been half a day since I last saw you, and you’ve cried yourself sick again? Why must you worry me so!”
Seeing that there were no outsiders in the Warm Pavilion, Zhi Qing quickly recounted Steward Sun Cai’s wife’s words and also began crying anxiously.
“Granny, don’t blame the young mistress for crying. It’s all because of Mama Sun, sent by Madam Ning—she’s a madwoman who doesn’t know how to speak properly! Her words, both explicit and implicit, accused the young mistress of mistreating the servants, and what she said was hurtful! The young mistress was already aggrieved—how could she not be heartbroken?”
Granny Zhao stamped her foot and said, “I always thought you, Zhi Qing, were a steady girl, but it turns out you’re just as muddle-headed! That Steward Sun Cai’s wife is the head stewardess of Brocade Prosperity Hall. She has accompanied Madam Ning in and out of noble households and is an experienced woman in handling affairs. Would she be the kind of woman to speak carelessly and hurt others? The words from her mouth are Madam Ning’s own intentions—are you still dreaming?”
Zhi Qing understood as well that Shen Shi’s recent affectations had angered Madam Ning, but she dared not say it aloud.
These words needed to come from Granny Zhao’s mouth; perhaps Shen Shi would be more willing to listen.
“Dear Granny, don’t scold me. The important thing is to come up with a plan for the young mistress. The young mistress has been married into Ningguo Mansion for three years without consummating the marriage, and today she has even displeased Madam Ning. What should we do? You nursed the young mistress yourself—you can’t just stand by and do nothing!”
Seeing Zhi Qing hopping with anxiety and Shen Shi looking pitifully weak and ill, Granny Zhao could only sigh and say, “If you had listened to even half of what I said a few days ago, would you be in such a desperate state now? Young mistress, please, for now, heed my advice. Lower that air of a noble young lady from a prestigious family a little, and stop being so affected and stubborn with the Son-in-law.”
“Now that you are so weak and ill, this old servant will swallow her pride and try to bring the Son-in-law over. Could you humble yourself, apologize to him, and say a few words to please him? Then send those two troublemaking temptresses, Angelica Orchid and Fragrant Grass, far away to give the Young Master some relief. If you follow these two suggestions of mine, what grievances could remain between you two?”
Granny Zhao’s words still urged Shen Shi to humble herself before her husband.
Shen Shi, already pushed to her limit with grievances, still could not let go of that bit of pride. No matter what was said, she refused to yield.
“Granny, there’s no need to persuade me further! Ever since I stepped through the gates of Ningguo Mansion, I knew my fate was bitter. I have studied ‘Admonitions for Women’ and ‘Precepts for Women’ since childhood and have never strayed from the principles of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. Above, I have been worthy of my parents-in-law and ancestors; below, I have been worthy of my husband. Even if I made some minor mistakes, they were for the sake of my husband’s reputation. I have poured out my heart and soul, yet my husband still listens to outsiders and distances himself from me, and my mother-in-law disregards all propriety to torment me…”
The more she spoke, the more she choked with sobs and coughed, collapsing onto the pillow, her voice hoarse and strained.
Zhi Qing hurriedly leaned over to pat her back, anxiously trying to soothe her with words, but how could Shen Shi possibly listen?
“Fortunately, I lost my father-in-law right after entering this household. At least I’ve observed mourning for my in-laws as a daughter-in-law. No matter how despicable the Ning family is, they cannot divorce me and cast me out. From now on, you need not persuade me, nor urge me to yield to your Son-in-law. Just consider my husband already dead, and me a widow living alone here!”
“What kind of talk is this? Has the young lady lost her mind from anger?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhi Qing panicked and hurriedly shooed the maids out of the Warm Pavilion and Dressing Room, fearing Shen Shi would utter more rebellious words that these maids might spread.
Granny Zhao, who had been weeping alongside her, nearly fainted from anger upon hearing these words.
“How foolish you are, young lady! You learned to read at three, studied at five, and by seven or eight, you were reading and writing essays alongside your brothers. For sixteen years in your maiden home, the Madam personally educated you, with eight instructing matrons teaching you etiquette. Which book or person ever taught you to curse your own husband? The Son-in-law is your closest husband; speaking a few gentle words wouldn’t lower your noble status! In your husband’s home, unlike your maiden home, this is no place for a young lady to act spoiled!”
Seeing that Granny Zhao still treated her like a child, Shen Shi grew even more resistant and annoyed.
“Granny, don’t try to deceive me either. Heir Ning humiliates me only for the sake of the deceased Yu Zhu—do you think I don’t know? A lowly Chamber Maid, yet he holds her dear, listening to Jade Ink’s instigations and treating me like a jealous wife. Since he likes such base and wanton creatures, I’ll gladly let him have them. I am a dignified daughter of the Shen family, not some lowly person. I won’t stoop to entangle with those adulterous scoundrels! From now on, he is not allowed to step over the threshold of the Main Chamber!”
After Shen Shi finished this tirade, Granny Zhao was left speechless. Without even bowing to take her leave, she stood up and stormed out angrily.
Zhi Qing anxiously rushed after her but was sharply called back by Shen Shi.
“We maids only know how to serve the young lady; we don’t understand the etiquette between husband and wife or mother-in-law and daughter-in-law! Only Granny Zhao is the young lady’s wet nurse, sent by the Madam from your maiden home to manage affairs for you. If the young lady won’t listen to her advice, what else can be done?”
“Let that old wretch go! Just because she nursed me for a few days, she dares speak to me like this, forgetting her lowly servant status! Though I am young, I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shen family, the dignified daughter of the Grand Secretariat’s Chief Minister. Her lowly tricks are nothing but the methods of base concubines and courtesans. I am the legitimate wife and primary consort—how could I act that way toward my husband?”
Granny Zhao’s ideas all revolved around yielding and submitting to the husband. Shen Shi, young and spirited, prided herself on her noble birth and absolutely could not accept such notions.
Zhi Qing was an unmarried girl who naturally didn’t understand these matters, only hopping anxiously in frustration, unable to help.
Just then, with no one else in the Main Chamber, Angelica Orchid stood under the eaves hiding, having overheard everything said inside.
Knowing she was the source of last night’s trouble, she had naturally come to listen for any repercussions.
Hearing Granny Zhao advise Shen Shi to dismiss her and Fragrant Grass, she instantly grew resentful.
Waiting until Granny Zhao lifted the curtain and left, Angelica Orchid hatched a plan.
She hurried to the Small Tea Room, had Fragrant Grass brew a pot of bitterly strong clear tea, then carried it with both hands into the Warm Pavilion. Kneeling before Shen Shi’s bed, she kowtowed several times in an improper manner, weeping and sniffling as she said:
“The young lady’s suffering in the Ning family is all this servant’s fault. This servant has a few words to say to the young lady, but feared your blame and dared not speak until now!”
Zhi Qing found her utterly annoying and wanted to drive her out immediately.
Shen Shi, reclining on her pillow, glanced at her indifferently. “You are my close attendant. If you have something to say, speak.”