Chapter 18

Chen Jiao’s brazen behavior quickly spread throughout the Wang Mansion.

Zhao Wan’er from the Sixth Household and Lady Li from the Second Household couldn’t help but gossip indignantly.

Lady Li, wrapped in a cashmere blanket and leaning weakly against a table, spoke calmly and measuredly, “Ninth Lady is quite the darling of the mansion now. Fifth Lady provoking her is hardly wise.”

Zhao, however, had a different view. “The Pear Fragrance Courtesans are nothing to boast about—just prostitutes from the Baotang. What good upbringing could they possibly offer? She’s only discovered Chen Mustard Pickles, yet she dares to strut around with such arrogance. Such conceit, looking down on others, someone will surely teach her a lesson soon enough.”

Lady Li slowly picked up the tea from the kang table and moistened her throat before delivering a sharp insight: “Zhao sister, you’re mistaken. She’s clever. This act is merely a warning shot. Ostensibly, it’s a slap in the face to the First Household, but in reality, it’s to warn us concubines not to cross those two.”

“But then again,” she continued thoughtfully, “the Xu family has no real power. It’s Chen Jiao who is truly ruthless.”

Zhao was unconvinced. “A mere yellow-haired girl—what’s so great about her? No matter how bold she is, she’s just a woman of the rear quarters. What harm can she truly do?”

Lady Li smiled gently, her tone patient. “The First Household wants to make her a scapegoat, but things have only gotten more complicated now. Our Second Household hasn’t provoked her, so Zhao sister, you’d do well to visit Pear Fragrance Courtyard more often.”

Zhao was about to retort but suddenly came to her senses, slapping her thigh. “Sister is absolutely right—we have done nothing to offend her!”

Lady Li said meaningfully, “For the sake of your Eighth and Ninth Sons, it’s best to make friends.”

Zhao hurriedly admitted, “I was just venting foolishly. You have no daughters, so you must look after the Eldest and Second Sons well.”

Lady Li nodded with a benevolent smile, her face radiating a Buddha-like compassion.

Outwardly, Chen Jiao’s actions were seen as a warning to others; no one suspected she had another purpose in mind—to test the limits of the Prince of Huai’an.

Clearly, the Prince’s tolerance could still be pushed further.

After the Lantern Festival, Chen Xianle was sent to Jiaozhou, accompanied by the Prince’s eldest illegitimate son, Chen Xianshu.

Chen Xianshu, in his early thirties, was born to the Second Household’s Li Chunqin and currently served as a military officer.

On the day of the wedding escort, not only were the local officials present, but the concubines and siblings of the household were also in attendance.

As spring began and temperatures warmed, Chen Xianle wore a bright red bridal gown and held a feather duster fan, her makeup exquisite. Tears welled in her eyes as she bade farewell to the Prince of Huai’an and others.

Lady Zheng’s eyes were red as she wiped away her tears relentlessly.

Among the crowd, Lady Xu tightly held Chen Jiao’s arm. Had the First Household succeeded in controlling her, she herself would be the one weeping today.

Chen Jiao’s feelings were complex; she did not believe she had won this battle over a substitute marriage.

Even now, though her reputation had soared, once confined to the back quarters by the Prince, she would inevitably be sacrificed in a political marriage like Chen Xianle.

Only the stakes were higher.

With a heart full of resentment and unwillingness, Chen Xianle, as she was loaded into the carriage, suddenly turned to look at Chen Jiao, her eyes burning with intense hatred.

Chen Jiao met her gaze, head held high, back straight, showing no fear.

The Prince of Huai’an quietly reminded Chen Xianshu to ensure Chen Xianle’s safe arrival.

While the two spoke, Chen Jiao cast a glance toward the local officials.

Cui Jue stood straight and unwavering, dressed in a dark red official robe with a Jin Xian crown.

The envoys from Jiaozhou looked regretfully that way, but Chen Jiao paid them no mind.

Soon after, the carriage departed, and Lady Zheng’s emotions broke completely. Tearfully, she lamented, “My child, I don’t know when we shall meet again…”

She was truly heartbroken to send off her dearly cherished daughter.

The Prince of Huai’an soothed her impatiently.

***

Once the wedding procession had gone and the crowd dispersed, at Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Lady Xu was deeply troubled.

She couldn’t bear the thought of Chen Jiao leaving her side and said, “Today, Fifth Lady leaves home—it truly weighs on my heart.”

Chen Jiao, understanding her thoughts, replied, “Mother, if you dislike it, I won’t marry in the future.”

Lady Xu said, “That can’t be; a woman must have a place to belong.”

Chen Jiao was silent for a moment, then asked, “Mother, do you think my future will be a good one?”

Lady Xu didn’t answer, clearly having seen much from Chen Xianle’s situation.

Chen Jiao suddenly grasped her hand, her expression serious. “Today’s Fifth Lady may well become tomorrow’s Ninth Lady.”

“Ah Ying…”

“With my current worth, if I had a suitor I liked, do you think Father would allow it?”

Lady Xu remained silent.

Chen Jiao had her plan, and resolutely said, “I want to leave the mansion.”

Lady Xu was shocked and frowned. “Leave the mansion? For what?”

Chen Jiao answered, “To break out and make a future for myself.”

Lady Xu grew anxious. “You’ve just offended the First Household. If you go out alone, how can I rest assured?”

Chen Jiao patiently reassured her, “I’ve thought a lot these past few days. If I don’t venture out, Mother will eventually follow Lady Zheng’s fate of marrying off daughters. I can’t always be by your side, but I want to be there for you for the rest of your life.”

Her words were touching, and Lady Xu’s heart ached.

“Child, I’m scared. You just provoked the First Household, and the Zheng clan won’t let you off easily. If you leave the mansion, they might mistreat you.”

Chen Jiao considered carefully and said, “Mother, please be at ease. I have my ways to handle it.”

Lady Xu nervously asked, “You’re but a frail girl. How will you fight them?”

Chen Jiao suddenly replied, “Xu Zhao. If I bring him here, will you feel better?”

Lady Xu was stunned.

Chen Jiao said, “You know my temper. Once I find a path out, I will also find a fallback.”

Mentioning Xu Zhao calmed Lady Xu somewhat, and she cautiously asked, “Why bring Xu Zhao here?”

“He’s skilled in martial arts. You’ve seen him. With him as protection, the Zheng family won’t find easy openings.”

Lady Xu grew impatient, “What exactly do you want to do by leaving the mansion?”

Chen Jiao naturally did not reveal that she was inspired by Chen Mustard Pickles and had ambitions.

She had to break out and use the influence of Chen Mustard Pickles to rally support.

If she openly sought something substantial from the Prince of Huai’an, it would certainly arouse his suspicion.

“I want to farm.”

Lady Xu blinked in confusion, thinking she had misheard. “Farm?”

Chen Jiao nodded. “Only by cultivating land well can one eat their fill.”

Lady Xu was speechless.

She couldn’t understand why her daughter seemed a bit off—first the strange interest in long green mustard, now farming.

Truly peculiar.

Chen Jiao offered no further explanation, as the more she tried, the less clear it became.

Not long after Chen Xianle’s wedding, Chen Jiao shared her plan with the Prince of Huai’an.

She wanted to try farming—lots of land.

At first, Chen En thought she was joking and snapped, “So the Prince’s mansion still lacks someone to eat?”

Chen Jiao pondered seriously, “But Father, supporting a family is truly difficult.”

Chen En, large-bellied, stood by the window, hands on hips, looking at her. “What on earth are you always thinking about?”

Chen Jiao honestly replied, “I’m afraid of war.”

Chen En said nothing.

Chen Jiao continued, “The chaos in Minzhou left people displaced, and the plague made things worse. It was truly tragic. When I fled from Tongzhou, I suffered terribly along the way, especially fearing days without food.”

“Father supports such a large Huizhou. Hundreds of mouths in the mansion demand food, officials want their share, and the soldiers all stretch out their hands for rations. The harder I think about it, the more I realize how difficult it is for Father.”

Hearing this, Chen En, for once, felt touched. Even if he suspected she was buttering him up, he was willing to listen.

“You’re right, it’s not easy. But don’t worry—I hold the army, so I can just seize what we need.”

“That won’t do. Everyone praises Uncle Chen for his benevolence. If they knew Father was a robber, all his efforts would be for nothing.” He paused. “Even if we have to steal, it must be done secretly.”

Chen En chuckled, increasingly convinced that his daughter, raised outside the mansion, had a bit of a rogue’s spirit.

He beckoned her forward and asked, “What do you want with land?”

Chen Jiao said, “To farm—grow lots of crops so everyone can have enough to eat.”

“You’ve never farmed before.”

“I can learn.” She added, “I discovered the remarkable uses of Chen Mustard Pickles but haven’t asked Father for a reward. Now I want to.”

“Tell me, what do you want?”

Chen Jiao thought briefly and made a bold demand: “I want a whole county to farm.”

Chen En stared at her long and astutely said, “Don’t think I don’t see through your little scheme—using your merit to ask for a fief?”

Chen Jiao quickly waved it off and countered, “I’m a girl and will eventually marry out. Getting a fief would only benefit outsiders.”

Chen En smiled slyly, “Smarter than your mother.”

Chen Jiao probed further, “Father, just consider it. I don’t want anything else. I only want to try farming. It doesn’t matter whose land.”

Chen En doubted her. “A whole county’s land?”

Chen Jiao nodded.

Chen En scoffed, “You can’t carry or lift. Don’t come crying back to me later.”

Chen Jiao confidently promised she wouldn’t.

Chen En turned his back and didn’t press further.

He knew well this daughter was unlike anyone else in the household.

A streetwise girl from Baotang, she saw things differently and couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards.

Still, her ways baffled others.

Wanting a county’s land to farm—was it a request for a fief or just land to cultivate? The implications were worth pondering.

Father and daughter each harbored their own schemes.

Chen Jiao wished to test just how low her father’s limits went, while Chen En sought to gauge the extent of her ambitions.

As if sensing each other’s thoughts, Chen En, who was turning toward the desk, suddenly looked back at Chen Jiao.

Their eyes met, and Chen Jiao laughed softly, “Heh heh.”

Chen En smiled warmly in return, “Heh heh heh.”

Two generations locked in a gaze, their similar faces betraying inscrutable intentions.