Chapter Nine: Offering Incense

Lu Yalan paused, realizing for the first time that these thoughts had been hidden within her. Speaking to Hongxing, ideas she had barely acknowledged herself flowed out naturally.

Hongxing quietly held her mistress’s hand, waiting for her to confide.

The early spring weather was hardly warmer than winter, yet today was a rare day of brilliant sunshine. The afternoon light streamed through the window, bathing both women in gentle warmth.

After a long silence, Lu Yalan regained her composure and smiled radiantly, like the first rays of spring sunlight shining into Hongxing’s heart. “Hongxing, if I were forced to shave my head and become a nun, would you follow me?”

“Yes, wherever you go, I will go!” Hongxing replied.

They exchanged a smile, a silent understanding spreading through the air.

After a while, Hongxing spoke. “I don’t think things are as bad as you imagine. It’s your first offense; there will be punishment, but the old madam should give you a chance to redeem yourself.”

Seeing her mistress exhale in relief, Hongxing continued, “But next time, it may not be so forgiving.”

Lu Yalan felt a bit embarrassed. She knew this incident was an unexpected outburst. She scratched her cheek. “They have a barrage of grand arguments that leave my mind blank—how could I possibly rebut them logically? I can’t win a war of words, nor do I want to endure it, so I resorted to action.”

“What shall we do? Once Second Madam regains her composure, she’ll likely come after us again, and then the old madam really will send you to a convent to become a nun.”

Both sighed in unison. If life could be better, who would willingly spend their remaining years in the company of incense and Buddha?

While Lu Yalan pondered strategies, Second Madam entered the Fortune Hall, shielding her face with a fan.

Second Madam had intended not to show herself until her wounds healed, but a telegram forced her to seek out the old madam, despite the scratches marring her face.

She crossed the flower corridor, preparing to enter. Behind her, two maids whispered eagerly beneath the eaves. Second Madam paused, turned, and shot them a fierce glare. Only when the maids bowed their heads in silence did she snort and enter the hall.

She could not discipline the old madam’s maids, which only deepened her resentment toward the true culprit of all this.

The old madam had just finished a few pastries. Seeing Second Madam enter, she lost her appetite and waved for the refreshments to be cleared away.

“Why are you here so early today?” The old madam prevented her from paying respects, and instead offered her a seat.

“It’s been several days since I paid my respects. Now that my wounds have healed a little, I naturally must come to honor you.” Second Madam smiled charmingly, though inwardly she thought, “This old witch never once exempted me from etiquette, and now she’s pulling this—clearly things won’t go my way.”

The old madam did not respond to her words, only saying, “You’re a good one, still remembering this old woman. Don’t blame me for being sentimental; when you’re old, your greatest wish is for a harmonious family, where everyone supports one another.”

“How could I? All the young ladies are dutiful. If you miss them, just summon them to keep you company. Especially Second Miss—you really should see her. She’s changed so much from before, looking younger by the day.”

Second Madam understood that the old madam wished for her to let go, to let matters pass. But how could she swallow her pride? Ever since she took charge of the household, everyone treated her with respect; never had she been so humiliated. Moreover, she had come today specifically for Lu Yalan.

The old madam sighed, for the first time since Second Madam entered, asking about her injury. “How is the wound on your face? Qin Ma, bring me the Jade Skin Ointment from my dowry. Apply it morning and night, and it won’t leave a scar.”

“How can I accept this? It’s from your dowry!” Second Madam was overjoyed. The scars on her face had become a constant worry, sending people searching for remedies all day. Every time she saw her reflection, her resentment toward Lu Yalan deepened.

She understood clearly: since the old madam was willing to make such an offering, it meant she wanted her to endure the grievance. No matter how fierce she usually was, she dared not cross the old madam. But this suited her perfectly; she never truly intended to do anything drastic to Lu Yalan.

“Thank you for your trouble, madam. It’s only because we juniors are unfilial that you must worry so.” Second Madam dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. “Honestly, I’ve felt unlucky lately. The servants say I must have caught bad luck. Half-believing, I’ve been copying Buddhist scriptures, hoping the Bodhisattva will bless my face. And today, it seems to have worked.”

“You’re a good child. The Bodhisattva will protect you.”

The old madam felt relieved that Second Madam would not pursue the matter further. It was, after all, Second Miss’s fault, but if she investigated deeply, why did Second Miss scratch Madam Ma’s face? Was it not because they forced her too far?

If left unchecked, everyone would follow suit and rules would dissolve. Yet if she intervened, she felt sorry for Second Miss. Neither lenient nor harsh was appropriate. She had pondered this for days without finding a solution, but just now, Madam Ma’s words gave her an idea.

The old madam considered further. The household had suffered one incident after another before summer had even arrived; it was fitting to go to the temple and offer incense to dispel bad luck. Moreover, Second Miss’s nature, though seemingly calm, was actually impatient—reading more Buddhist scriptures might temper her.

After a moment’s deliberation, the old madam spoke. “The household has been turbulent lately. Let Second Miss go to Qianyun Temple to offer incense for everyone, to dispel ill fortune.”

Second Madam hid her smile behind her handkerchief. It was settled.

In her view, there was no way Lu Yalan would get off so lightly, but she had been instructed to send Lu Yalan to Qianyun Temple, and the sooner the better. She did not understand the reasoning, but could only comply for now, leaving her grievances with Lu Yalan to be settled in the future.

The conversation between the old madam and Second Madam was not concealed, and word spread quickly.

Hongxing, though not popular among the servants of Yilan Garden, got along well with those from other quarters of the Lu household. Since the old madam had not stated her position, she remained anxious, going out daily to gather news.

Lu Yalan held a newspaper, recalling its content and comparing characters, recognizing them one by one. Though she was literate, her knowledge was limited to what was in the Four Books for Women; many characters in the newspaper were unfamiliar, so she could only guess and piece together meaning.

Hongxing burst in, panting. “Miss, the old madam has spoken.”

Lu Yalan poured her a glass of water, signaling her to catch her breath before speaking.

Hongxing gulped it down and took a few more breaths, showing how quickly she had rushed upon hearing the news. “Second Madam went to see the old madam, and after she left, word spread that with all the recent misfortune, you are to go to Qianyun Temple and offer incense.”

Lu Yalan breathed a sigh of relief. Though she claimed not to care, hearing that the punishment was so mild finally put her mind at ease.

“Isn’t this a good thing? Far better than we expected. Why are you so anxious?”

“The key is that Second Madam didn’t object.” With no one else in the room, Hongxing leaned in close and whispered, “You know, I’m close friends with Chunmiao from the old madam’s quarters. She told me it was Second Madam who first suggested dispelling bad luck. Think about it—she suffered such a loss, how could she suddenly be so forgiving?”

Hongxing declared, “I suspect she has a plot.” Her gaze grew distant. “For example, she might arrange for someone to soil your clothes on the way to the temple, and while you’re changing, sneak a man inside, then burst in with witnesses to accuse you of impropriety. Or, she might collaborate with bandits to stage a roadside robbery, demand ransom, then kill the hostage…”

Lu Yalan rolled up the newspaper and tapped Hongxing’s head. “You’ve been reading too many stories—collaborating with bandits? She’s just a woman of the inner household, where would she find such means? I don’t understand—how did you have so much time to gossip when you used to be so busy?”

Hongxing rubbed her head and giggled. She knew her worries were somewhat exaggerated, but seeing that her mistress did not take it seriously, she insisted, “Second Master always said that stories come from… from daily life, or something. So you must be careful. You know how cunning Second Madam can be when dealing with the other wives. It’s enough to make someone suffer in silence.”

“It’s ‘art comes from life and rises above it.’” Lu Yalan acknowledged that Hongxing was right. Second Madam was not one to let grievances go unaddressed. She wouldn’t dare make a big scene, for fear of angering the old madam and the master, but subtle trickery was her specialty.

Lu Yalan pondered for a while and sighed helplessly. “Second Madam has managed the household for years and has resources at her disposal. We can’t stop whatever she plans; we can only stay alert and respond as needed. We must stick together.”

Hongxing nodded, feeling reassured, and finally had the spirit to joke, “Miss, that phrase about art and life sounded so cultured—much better than Second Master’s version!”

Lu Yalan scratched her face, bashfully accepting Hongxing’s praise. It wasn’t her own, but something she’d heard from her elder sister in memory, and she had used it unconsciously.

The term “elder sister” also came from that person, used to describe beautiful and charming women. Lu Yalan felt no one fit it better than her, not even her stepmother, the renowned beauty and current Second Madam of Yancheng.

Lu Yalan had never seen her elder sister’s face, but somehow she knew she was beautiful, brave, and free-spirited. There was a warmth about her that drew others in. Whenever she examined her memories, she couldn’t help but want to get closer. Lu Yalan often regretted that if she hadn’t fainted from exhaustion, perhaps the memory would be more complete, and she could see her elder sister’s face clearly.

Lu Yalan was intelligent, but limited by her perspective, she chose the simplest method to protect herself. Her experiences had taught her to seek advantage and avoid harm, cautious and sensitive, like a little white rabbit retreating at the slightest sign of danger.

She herself was unaware that the strange memories that had appeared in her mind were not met with suspicion or rejection. Instead, she was drawn to them, longing to meet their owner, to see the details, and to become as courageous and unrestrained as she was.

It was precisely this longing that, upon awakening, made her abandon the beliefs and behaviors she’d held for over a decade, expressing her dissatisfaction in the most dramatic way, astonishing everyone.

Otherwise, a young lady raised on the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, after being rejected in marriage, should have turned inward and blamed herself. How could she, disregarding propriety, scratch an elder’s face in front of everyone?