Chapter 10: The Prophecy

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By evening, Su Qing, the current head of the Su family, had returned home. Upon arriving, his legs felt weak. When the matriarch inquired about what had happened, Su Qing replied, "Another suicide last night, and not only did the person take their own life, but their entire family was annihilated!"

The old matriarch trembled upon hearing this. "What exactly happened?"

Su Qing took a sip of tea to steady himself before continuing, "It is said that the newly appointed censor is even more ruthless than Zhou Xing. Under the fabricated charges imposed by these two, no one can withstand their invented tortures like the 'Hundred Throats' punishment. Before these cruel officials, even the highest-ranking ministers become nothing but fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of their tormentors. Even a chancellor, once in the hands of the prison guards, loses all dignity."

"Then who was it this time?"

"Minister Le!"

This marked the fortieth chancellor to die since the Empress Dowager began personally overseeing court affairs. And with the persecution from these brutal officials, this number might continue to rise.

"So, as long as our Su family stays out of the spotlight, even if we remain in the position of attendants to the imperial carriage, forsaking fame, wealth, and honor, as long as we secure the Su family's peace and safety for generations, that will be enough."

"Yes, Mother!"

"Ah, the higher the position, the colder the wind," the matriarch sighed deeply.

At that moment, Third Madam Qiu knocked and entered, reporting to the matriarch, "Ah Jia, the child has already gone to sleep. She must have been exhausted from rushing all the way here to the Su residence."

"Have you taken care of the things she brought?" the matriarch asked.

Qiu shook her head. "Not yet. The child is extremely cautious. Even a single jade pendant was only shown to the daughter-in-law briefly before being taken back immediately. No one dares to touch her luggage, and even her maid is exceedingly arrogant. Today, Third, Fourth, Eighth, and Ninth Madams all curiously went to her courtyard but were quickly driven out by that maid."

"This is intolerable. A lowly maid causing a stir in the Su household! If she won’t listen, then sell her off and find a more obedient servant for her courtyard!"

"Ah Jia, I'm afraid we can't just sell her off. She was brought here by Second Madam herself."

Only then did the matriarch relax.

"Then have you found out anything? How have they survived on that estate? Did you ask?"

Qiu’s face was a bit embarrassed. After hesitating, she answered, "According to the little maid, her family has good relations. The uncles, aunts, and villagers in Taoyuan Village all like her and often send them food. Also, A Shu knows some needlework to earn money. They even farm the land, so they can sustain themselves—they won’t starve."

There was one sentence Qiu did not say: "We have hands, feet, and hearts—we are far stronger than those who have limbs but no compassion!"

"Good relations? A young unmarried girl befriending a group of wild peasants and commoners? What kind of appearance does that make? It’s a disgrace to the Su family! Truly, she’s ill, just like her mysterious mother!"

Qiu and the matriarch exchanged words back and forth, leaving Su Qing, standing nearby, utterly bewildered.

After holding back for a long time, he finally found a chance to intervene, asking, "What exactly are you two talking about?"

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The matriarch replied, "Second Young Master’s daughter has returned. Do you remember? That daughter who wasn’t quite right in the head? What was her name?"

Qiu quickly answered, "According to the maid, her name is Murong Huan, a name given by Second Young Master himself."

Murong—not Su?

Murong was the surname of that mysterious woman.

"The maid also asked when we would hold her coming-of-age ceremony and register her in the Su family genealogy."

"She already bears the Murong surname. And she wants to be recorded in the Su family genealogy? What audacity!"

Hearing this, Su Qing finally understood the matter and felt turmoil rise within him.

Is that his second brother’s daughter who has returned?

Back then, when their mother sent her away to the estate without provisions or care, he had felt deeply guilty. Before their father left for the northern frontier, he repeatedly urged him to treat Second Young Master’s daughter well, as she was the sole bloodline of the second brother.

Later, he instructed several villagers in Taoyuan Village to occasionally look after her but became so busy with official duties that he gradually forgot about it.

Recalling all this, Su Qing continued, "Mother, it was you who refused to let Second Young Master’s daughter bear the Su surname, so Second Young Master named her Murong."

The matriarch’s face darkened immediately. The reason she forbade the girl to take the Su name was that a fortune-teller had declared the girl’s fate clashed with the Su family’s. Thus, she could not have any connection with the Su family. The second brother was stubborn and let the child take her mother’s surname. After that woman and the second brother both left, the matriarch never considered changing the girl’s name or adding her to the genealogy.

"Mother, since she’s back, let’s add her to the genealogy. It will preserve the second brother’s bloodline."

"What good would that do? She’s a girl and can’t carry on the Su family’s line."

"As for the coming-of-age ceremony, there’s no need for a grand event. Just have the kitchen prepare some delicious snacks to send over. Let her enjoy a happy meal."

After giving these instructions, the matriarch showed a weary expression and said to Qiu, "Enough for now. It’s late; you all should rest. I am tired as well."

"Yes, Ah Jia. The daughter-in-law will take her leave."

Just as Qiu was about to leave, the matriarch called her back. "By the way, with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, have you prepared gifts to send over?"

Qiu came from a prestigious lineage, tracing back to Qiu Shou, the Eastern Guard General of the Western Wei dynasty. Her father was Qiu Shenji, the Grand General of the Golden Guard, favored by the Empress. Like Zhou Xing, he was known as a ruthless official.

If it were not for Qiu being chosen by the second brother, the Su family might have suffered the cruelty of these hard men. Though the matter with Murong remained problematic, fortunately, this third daughter-in-law was broad-minded and kind. Fearing her father might target the Su family, she remarried into the third son’s household and bore a legitimate son, Su Sixth Young Master, in her first year there.

Originally, the internal affairs of the Su household were to be entrusted to Third Madam Qiu, but she refused, saying that with the matriarch of the main branch still present, she did not want to cause strife among the daughters-in-law.

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Just listen—what a good daughter-in-law. The second brother was reluctant at the time, but the third son benefited.

Thinking of the third son caused the matriarch to wince; he was a good-for-nothing rake, handsome but useless. It was a blessing that Qiu tolerated him.

To this day, she did not know whether Qiu’s marriage to the third son was a moment of anger or if she was truly taken by his looks.

As the matriarch pondered the past, Qiu smiled and replied, "The gifts have already been sent, Ah Jia. Rest assured, my father still looks out for us and occasionally speaks well of us before the Sovereign."

"That’s good, that’s good!"

As long as they did not arouse the Sovereign’s suspicion, the Su family would survive this storm of fear and danger.

The matriarch felt a deep sense of relief and satisfaction, took the hand of an elderly maid beside her, and went to rest. Qiu returned to her room.

But Su Qing was uneasy. He went to the courtyard where Murong Huan stayed and saw smoke curling up from the chimney. A young maid was bustling about, busy preparing something.

Thinking there might be a fire, Su Qing hurriedly summoned servants to help extinguish it. But upon arriving at the smoky spot, they saw a pot over the fire, sizzling with something fragrant.

"What are you doing?"

"I’m making food for my lady. Just brought some eggs and leftover dough from the kitchen. Now I’m making her a stuffed pancake."

At this, Su Qing looked up and was startled.

A Shu exclaimed, "You... You are the eldest young master? The current head of the Su family?"

...

At that moment, Murong Huan stepped out. Seeing Su Qing dressed in a pale blue official robe, she respectfully bowed and said, "Uncle!"

Su Qing stared at her, a bit dazed, as if marveling at how this girl had grown into such a graceful young lady, her appearance radiant. After a long moment, he forced a smile and nodded, "Ah, you’re... back?"

"Yes!"

"Good, good! From now on, consider me your father. If you need anything, just tell me."

Murong Huan nodded again, still somewhat dazed, gazing at Su Qing for quite a while before finally saying, "Alright!"

Seeing there was nothing more to say, Su Qing told her to rest early and began to leave the courtyard. Just then, Murong Huan called after him, "Tell Uncle this: don’t get too close to the Qiu or Zhou families. It will bring undeserved disaster!"