Chapter 20: 020 The Young Madam, Née Lou

Zhao Han finally laid eyes on the legendary Lady Ling.

She was decent-looking, with a passable figure, but she put on airs.

"The Governor will be arriving at Goose Lake in a few days and has expressly requested to visit our Jingxing Court. The Young Madam has instructed us to select a few capable servant boys and maids to attend the Governor personally..."

"What manner of man is the Governor? He is the Star of Literature descended from heaven! For base wretches like you to serve the Governor is a blessing earned by burning incense over many lifetimes! Let me make this clear in advance: if any of you makes a blunder, I will break his legs with my own hands..."

"Fei An, Fei Long — on the day the Governor ascends Goose Lake Mountain, you two will attend him at his side..."

Wine Soul was standing right beside Zhao Han and now whispered, "Fei An was formerly called Ling An — he is Lady Ling's nephew from her maiden family. Fei Long was also the young master's servant boy before, the previous generation's Sword Guts. Once he got too old, he stopped being called Sword Guts and reverted to his original name."

So that was it — Zither Heart, Sword Guts, and Wine Soul were functional job titles, and once you passed a certain age, a new batch took over.

Zhao Han asked curiously, "Since Sword Guts is still here, what happened to the previous generation's Zither Heart and Wine Soul?"

Wine Soul answered in detail: "Zither Heart went to the Hanzhu Academy, where he works as an assistant instructor teaching young children their first lessons — the Hundred Family Surnames, the Three Character Classic, the Children's Primer, and the Elementary Learning. Wine Soul went to Goose Lake Town and became an assistant manager at a merchant shop, drawing six taels of silver a month. I am also a Wine Soul, and in the future I'd like to go to a shop too. First a year as a steward, then a year as a receptionist, a year as a runner, two years in the outer accounts room — if all goes smoothly, I can rise to assistant manager in five years. And if I ever become head manager, the monthly pay would be a full ten taels!"

Zhao Han understood in a flash: as the eldest young master, Fei Yinghuan could place his close attendants outside the household to take over the family enterprises step by step!

While the two of them murmured, Lady Ling had finished making her arrangements.

Those assigned to logistics and purchasing were all her trusted subordinates — clearly there was grease to be skimmed.

Those assigned to attend the Governor at his side were either her confidants or Fei Yinghuan's priority cultivation targets. She had also deliberately left a few slots unannounced for now, waiting for those with ambition to offer silver in exchange for the posts.

The lecture ended, and everyone returned to their quarters.

Zither Heart, Sword Guts, and Wine Soul, still eager to hear more bandit-slaying tales, clustered around Zhao Han and his sister as they walked back to their room.

Zhao Han did not immediately start boasting. Instead, he asked, "I've only just arrived, so it's understandable that I have no assignment. But why did you three brothers — who have long been the young master's trusted men — also come away empty-handed this time?"

Zither Heart's expression was rather proud as he sneered disdainfully, "Is she even worthy of ordering us around?"

Wine Soul explained, "The three of us have our duties assigned directly by the inner compound. We merely eat and sleep here at the Loyal Diligence Court. By the way, brother, who brought you here to stay?"

"Ink Fragrance," Zhao Han replied.

Sword Guts laughed and said, "Brother, you're one of us — our own people. We answer only to the inner compound; there's no need to fear Lady Ling."

Wine Soul added, "But don't go provoking her lightly, either."

"Does she have that powerful a background? A household slave, yet she dares call herself a lady," Zhao Han said, somewhat curious.

Wine Soul glanced back to make sure the door was properly shut, then lowered his voice to gossip: "She was formerly the Old Madam's maidservant, and the Old Madam doted on her greatly — practically raised her as a half-daughter. When the Young Madam was pregnant, the Old Madam sent her to Jingxing Court, intending her to be the eldest young master's concubine and warm his bed. The Young Madam was not pleased and forcibly married her off to Steward Fei — at the time, Steward Fei was still just the young master's page boy."

"The Young Madam did that, and the Old Madam said nothing?" Zhao Han asked.

Sword Guts could not resist joining the gossip: "The Old Madam was naturally furious — she lost face badly. But the Young Madam had a fierce temper too, and actually went back to her maiden home with her big belly! The young master had to travel by boat for a day and a night to chase her back!"

Zhao Han found this utterly fascinating, like watching a period household-drama.

A maidservant, having painstakingly won the Old Madam's favor, got her wish to serve the eldest young master. She even took advantage of the main wife's pregnancy — who knows how she persuaded the Old Madam — and was on the verge of becoming the young master's concubine, only to be married off to a page boy by the main wife!

Her heart soared higher than the heavens, but her fate was thinner than paper.

This Lady Ling was clearly still dreaming her lady-dream. Though it could never come true, she could at least play the part in front of the household slaves and scratch that itch.

……

Two more days passed.

Fei Yinghuan received a summons from the Henglin ancestral residence and hurried off to Hekou Town to accompany the Governor of Jiangxi throughout his visit.

Zhao Han and his sister, for the time being, did nothing at all — just ate well and slept well each day.

The matter of becoming the young master's page boy seemed to have been forgotten, and his little sister likewise had no assignment arranged yet.

However, the tale of Young Master Fei's bloody battle against the rebels — and how, on a whim, he admired the moon on the battlefield — had already spread swiftly from the Loyal Diligence Court to the inner compound.

And with embellishments added, it had spawned all sorts of versions!

That day, the maidservant Ink Fragrance suddenly appeared, her face all smiles: "Brother Han, the Young Madam summons you."

Zhao Han told his little sister not to wander off, then cupped his hands and bowed: "I must trouble you, sister, to lead the way."

Following Ink Fragrance out of the Loyal Diligence Court, they passed through a corridor lined with emerald bamboo, then stepped through an arched gate and entered the inner compound.

Crossing a small courtyard, they wound along a covered walkway with many twists and turns, and soon entered a small reception hall.

Ink Fragrance stopped at the doorway of the small hall and said to another maidservant, "Sister Yingchun, the person is here."

The maidservant Yingchun said, "You may go."

The maidservant Ink Fragrance immediately bowed and took her leave.

Yingchun glanced at Zhao Han and said expressionlessly, "Follow me in."

The Young Madam's personal maidservant was clearly not easy to deal with; Zhao Han kept his mouth shut the whole way and said nothing careless.

Yingchun lifted the door curtain and led Zhao Han into the main hall beyond.

The eldest young mistress, née Lou, was seated at a table leafing through something, occasionally picking up a brush to write or sketch.

"Mother, your daughter has brought him," Yingchun finally revealed a smiling face.

This "Mother" was, of course, not literal — it was the affectionate term the inner-compound servants used for their mistress.

Lady Lou set down her brush, turned around, and instructed, "Pour the young man a cup of tea."

"Yes," Yingchun bowed and withdrew.

Lady Lou's bearing was gentle and dignified, and she treated Zhao Han with great kindness, saying with a smile, "Don't be afraid. Sit and talk."

"Thank you, Madam!" Zhao Han cupped his hands and sat down.

Lady Lou was quite pleased with this and nodded approvingly: "Not shy with strangers, no trace of timidity, composed in manner — truly better than a house-born servant."

Zhao Han said, "Madam flatters me."

Seeing such a young child display such proper speech and conduct, Lady Lou could not help asking, "What trade did your family pursue?"

Zhao Han repeated his earlier fabrication: "In reply to Madam, this humble one comes from a scholar household. My late father was a provincial exam graduate of Wuqing County, Bazhou Prefecture. Upright and incorruptibly honest, though he passed the provincial examination, he refused land commends from the villagers. Our family was so poor we could not survive this year's famine. While the whole family was fleeing, we were set upon by bandits. Only my little sister and I survived, left to cling to each other."

"Your esteemed father was a man of integrity — truly admirable," Lady Lou sighed. "To be cast adrift in a strange land at such a young age — you brother and sister are indeed pitiable."

Zhao Han said, "Every man has his fate; there is no cause to blame Heaven."

A ten-year-old child, comporting himself with such composure — Lady Lou liked him more the longer she looked. She asked, "The matter of the night raid on the rebels at Duliu Town — is it true?"

Zhao Han smiled faintly. "Half true, half false."

"Oh?" Madam Lou was somewhat surprised. "Which parts are true, and which are false?"

Zhao Han said, "This humble one was frail at the time, and my sister was also ill, so I did not follow the young master into battle. I said that because I was new here and feared being bullied by the other servants. As for offering the strategy to defeat the enemy, that too was the young master's doing."

Madam Lou thought briefly, then laughed. "Don't go putting a shine on the young master's face. If he had truly thought up that stratagem, he would have boasted of it himself countless times by now."

"It can be the young master who offered the plan," Zhao Han reminded her. "I hear the Governor will be arriving soon."

Madam Lou could not help laughing even more heartily. "So young, yet so quick-witted — worthy indeed of a family that has produced scholars for generations. If you are this outstanding, your younger sister can hardly be lacking. Tomorrow, have her move into the inner compound."

"Many thanks for your patronage, madam." Zhao Han was overjoyed.

Madam Lou added, "As for you, the young master has other plans. For now, settle yourself comfortably in the Loyal Diligence Courtyard."

Zhao Han said, "This humble one stands ready to answer any summons."

The maidservant Yingchun finally brought the tea. Setting it down, she said, "Please enjoy, young sir."

Zhao Han said, "I am obliged to you, elder sister."

Madam Lou said to Yingchun, "Young Han is newly arrived. Wrap up two taels of silver for him as a welcoming gift."

Two taels of silver?

Yingchun was visibly startled and could not help giving Zhao Han a few extra glances before she went off to prepare the silver packet as ordered.

Madam Lou then resumed making small talk, asking whether Zhao Han was accustomed to the food and lodging, whether he was adapting to the climate of Jiangxi, and so on — as if she had transformed into an elder kinswoman of his own clan.

At last, Yingchun returned with the wrapped packet.

Madam Lou smiled. "This is a welcoming gift. Take it for tea money."

Zhao Han immediately rose and bowed with clasped hands. "Many thanks for your generous gift, madam. This humble one takes his leave."

"Off you go." Madam Lou wore a faint smile.

Yingchun, her earlier expressionless face now replaced by a constant smile, not only saw Zhao Han out of the small reception hall but personally escorted him all the way to the inner compound gate.

"Young Han," Yingchun suddenly cautioned him, "if you ever run into a thorny matter and cannot enter the inner compound or see the young master or young mistress, go find Zhongliang in the Loyal Diligence Courtyard."

Zhao Han cupped his hands. "Many thanks for the guidance, elder sister."

Returning to the Loyal Diligence Courtyard, Zhao Han first sought out Jiupo and obliquely probed for information.

Jiupo opened a window and pointed at an old servant watering a large tree. "There, that's Zhongliang. He's in charge of sweeping and watering for the Loyal Diligence Courtyard and Emerald Bamboo Lane."

"Are you close with him?" Zhao Han asked.

Jiupo laughed. "An old fellow who sweeps and waters — why would I bother getting close to him for no reason?"

Well then — even Jiupo had no idea that this old servant was an informant for the inner compound.

The young mistress, Madam Lou, clearly knew the Loyal Diligence Courtyard like the back of her hand, including the fact that Steward Fei's wife styled herself as a lady.

The reason she had not yet turned hostile came down to two things:

First, Steward Fei had started out as Fei Yinghuan's page boy.

Second, Madam Ling had started out as the old matriarch's maidservant.

The day the Fei clan's old matriarch — Fei Yinghuan's own mother — kicked her legs out and her soul returned to the Western Paradise, the young mistress Madam Lou would tear off all pretense without a doubt!

Zhao Han mulled it over carefully: did he count as the eldest young master's man, or as Madam Lou's man?

(End of chapter)