Chapter 96 Night Talk (2) The Story of Side B, A-Cai's Rant...

Upon hearing Ah Cai say that she was angry, Guo Niang curiously moved closer to her, as if she had found someone who could sympathize with her, someone who had been wronged during the day and had nowhere to vent.

"Oh, how angry are you?" Guoniang was wide awake. She groped around in the dark for a while, then patted Acai's shoulder. "Why don't you tell me?"

“Alright, I was just looking for someone to vent to. You have a sharp tongue. After I finish, you can curse the witch I encountered for me a few times, and then I can fall asleep.” A-Cai leaned against the edge of the couch, wrapped in her robe, and answered readily.

For a moment, she forgot about the half-finished dragonfly embroidery and just wanted someone to listen to her.

"Which blind hag has angered our kind and gentle Lady Cai?" Guo Niang sat up straight with great interest, and pushed the quilt more towards Lady Cai.

The cold wind of the spring night swept through the cramped courtyard of the small house, the torches trembled slightly, and suddenly became bright. It was as if a few drops of clear water had seeped into the pitch-black room, turning the originally thick and impenetrable black into a grayish-black tone.

Guoniang seemed to see Acai's taut jawline. She rubbed her eyes, and the brief gray was replaced by deep black again; that unusually angry jawline only existed in her delusions and memories.

"Guo Niang, I feel really bad today. The deeper the night, the more the events of the day flash before my eyes like He Sheng... Guo Niang?"

"Go ahead and say it, I'm awake." Guoniang could hear the grievances in Acai's voice. This usually impulsive and outspoken girl treated her new "family" with the utmost kindness and gentleness.

"Oh, so it really is her again!" Guoniang perked up immediately. Although she wanted to pour out her grievances, she still suppressed the urge to vent. "Acai, tell me."

"This afternoon, after bidding farewell to Zhang Liang, Fan Niang, and the elders, Erlang returned to his villa from Luoxingyu. We passed by a painted carriage. Erlang was chatting and laughing with Changsun Langjun on horseback and didn't pay much attention to whose carriage it was. However, when we were about a hundred paces away from the carriage, some of the caravan's attendants caught up from behind and asked Erlang to stop. When Erlang came closer, he realized that it was Lady Yang of Chen State..."

“Judging from your tone, there’s nothing to celebrate,” Guoniang interjected. “Why is this old woman so pretentious? If she wants to talk to a junior, she can just tell him to stop. Does she have to wait for the junior to recognize her unique First-Rank Lady’s carriage?”

"It wasn't just a lack of joyous occasions; it was a double whammy. It wasn't that Erlang (Second Son) had a dispute with his elders from the start. After paying his respects to his aunt, he introduced his eldest grandson to the lady, and then respectfully invited Lady Chen to her villa for a gathering..."

"Ah?! Then she must have refused." Guoniang thought to herself that this petty woman must have given Changsun Qingjing a thorough dressing-down. She silently thought, "You don't know..."

Guoniang's reply was not without sarcasm: "Acai, you are new to Luoyang and do not know what kind of person this hypocritical Lady Chen is in the eyes of the Li family. Lady Tang disliked this sister-in-law who used her status as a member of the imperial clan to boss people around. However, the two sides did not lose face because Lady Dou was hypocritical and accommodating."

Even in the pitch black, Guoniang seemed to see Acai pouting in the shadows, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy: "You're right, that's what Madam Dou meant when she was alive. However, considering that sometimes it was necessary for Duke Chen to mediate between the Emperor and Duke Tang, it was inconvenient to break ties with Madam Chen. So Madam Dou flattered her like she was coaxing a child, and for many years they lived in peace..."

"Erlang naturally remembered that the so-called 'scout technique' was a pre-arranged code with Lady Changsun to deal with unexpected visits from relatives and friends, so he replied smoothly: 'I was confused, I didn't even recognize my aunt's carriage, please forgive me. I suppose my aunt has already seen Qingjing at the villa, but because of all the busy things after my mother's passing, I haven't been able to personally introduce her to my aunt. I don't know if she treated her well. It was she who sent someone to ask me to return to the villa to visit my aunt, but I didn't expect my aunt to come and go in such a hurry, without even waiting for me.' When I saw the demeanor of this Lady, I felt that she was not easy to get along with, and Erlang's respect for this aunt was not genuine." Acai's tone was full of praise, "Your young master is still worthy of my lady."

It's not easy for two young girls to encounter a mistress they both respect, but it's equally difficult for them to encounter a noblewoman they both despise. So they chirped incessantly like two sparrows.

Guoniang pursed her lips and continued, "Today, Lady Chen went to the villa to visit Erlang and Lady Changsun, but I didn't see her showing the slightest emotion over Lady Dou's passing. On the contrary, she was more interested in welcoming the Empress to the Ziwei Palace and attending the grand court assembly in the first month, unlike other women who shared Lady Dou's temperament who traveled long distances and braved the snow to pay their respects. Her concern for her aunt and nephew was just empty words."

“Yes, that makes sense,” A-Cai said indignantly. “When Lady Chen heard that Erlang said it was Lady Changsun who had sent someone to find him, she was furious. She snorted and said, ‘I’ve heard that since you married Lady Changsun and brought her to Luoyang, you’ve been living a secluded life in your villa in Mangshan, just like a farmer. This is so unlike your usual self.’”

"Don't listen to her nonsense. The young master's temperament has never changed since he was a child. That's what Lady Liu said. Doesn't his wet nurse know what kind of person Erlang is?" Guo Niang suddenly felt that she was better off without a relative like Lady Chen.

A-Cai said, "Young Master was taken aback, and also felt that Lady Chen's comments were frivolous and extremely rude, but since it concerned Lady Changsun, he patiently explained the situation: 'I was merely following the rules and regulations, and was also ordered by my father to inspect the villas and estates, so I dared not slack off in riding and archery. After my mother passed away, I became unwell and frail, and fortunately, Lady Changsun took care of me, which helped me recover...'"

She then said in a sharp voice, "My wife must have offended some deity this morning to be talked about like this behind her back. Lady Chen really can't stand the words 'Lady Changsun.' As soon as she hears them, she acts like a child, rebuking Young Master Bai: 'Your new wife is truly eloquent, shrewd, and adept at handling matters. Even I, as an elder, am ashamed of my own inferiority.'"

Erlang, of course, understood the rebuke from Lady Chen, but still politely and respectfully defended Lady Changsun: "I'm afraid Aunt has some misunderstandings about Qingjing. May we dismiss the servants and speak? The scenery in the Mangshan countryside is quite nice; would it be alright if I accompanied Aunt for a walk, to relax and chat? I wonder if Aunt would do me the honor?"

Author's Note: Erfeng: Calm down, calm down. I need to make a good impression on my wife in front of the elders first. Let's see if I can salvage the situation with some clever words. Anyway, my aunt doesn't seem very bright. I'll just coax her like my mom does...

However, the old witch was really shameless; the young couple offered her a way out several times, but she wouldn't budge. Fine, then tomorrow's chapter will be about her taking the blame head-on. [Thumbs up]

Guoniang, upon hearing that Li Shimin had actually invited Lady Chen to go for a stroll in order to clear up the so-called "misunderstanding," couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "This is probably the most patient Erlang has ever been with Lady Chen. When facing uncles and aunts, if there is a disagreement, he usually refutes them mercilessly and with reason; when facing women, regardless of age, he often makes an excuse and slips away at the slightest disagreement, and Lady Dou didn't stop him when she was alive, but instead covered for him. Now, for the sake of Lady Changsun's reputation, he is actually suppressing his anger and dealing with this wicked woman..."

"Oh, you wicked old hag," Guoniang spat softly, "she even pretended to be magnanimous and said she wouldn't hold it against Lady Changsun when she was at the Li family's villa!"

"Ah Cai, you sound like a falcon reciting a military opera!" Guo Niang laughed. "I secretly chuckle whenever I hear that Lady Chen can't get a single good word out of the young master..."

"Are you done laughing? If you are, let me continue the story," A-Cai teased. "The young master said slowly, 'How could I dare to favor my wife in front of my elders? I simply answered my aunt's questions truthfully.' Lady Chen's childish temper flared up again: 'Fine, even if you answered truthfully and didn't show favoritism, does your virtuous wife, who is praised by everyone, have no objections to what you've done?' The young master frowned and said, 'Qingjing and I are of one mind! Not only does she not mind me personally experiencing the harvest, but she also repairs silkworm rearing equipment with the silkworm nurses and compares the advantages and disadvantages of various looms with the weavers. We share joys and sorrows and advance and retreat together.' The young master's tone showed no sign of backing down, but was instead full of pride."

"My Erlang's response was excellent!" Guoniang clapped her hands and said, "Acai also spoke well."

"How dare she?" Guoniang said with a sneer. "You are from the Changsun Madam's family. Which member of the Li family would dare to offend you?"

"Ah, who's really humiliating whom?" Guoniang sneered. "If she were a man, she'd probably be the one getting punched and kicked by the young master..."

The sound of the roof tiles loosening startled the two women, who burrowed under the covers. Ah Cai and Guo Niang held their breath for a long time before suddenly hearing a "meow" and the roof tiles above their heads creaking underfoot. Only then did they peek out from under the covers.

"Luckily it was just a cat," A-Cai said, sticking out her tongue. "It scared me to death. I thought Lady Liu had come back to kill us."

“She’s sleeping like a log, don’t worry. Let’s continue talking about that wicked woman surnamed Yang.” Guoniang threw off the covers and sat up. “Tell us quickly! I love it when you imitate her speech.”

Guoniang pounded the bed indignantly, saying, "I won't allow her to talk about Erlang like that, and I certainly won't allow her to slander the teacher who loves and protects Buddha. Erlang and his wife have both given this wicked woman too much face."

Author's Note: Although Aunt Yang was furious, she unintentionally revealed all of A-Jing's defense of Er-Feng. To Er-Feng, wasn't that a declaration of love? Looking forward to the next chapter with Aunt Yang's support! [laughing and crying emoji]