Kneeling as punishment (revision)
The old steward never expected that Lin Xu, who looked like a weak woman, could get straight to the point with just a few words and analyze things so logically. He couldn't help but admire her more and carefully wrote down everything Lin Xu said.
Lin Xu lingered at Muchunlou for a long time, drinking tea and checking accounts, until the sun began to set before taking a carriage back to his residence.
After a few more peaceful days, she would often look at the account books in the mansion during her free time, and sometimes eat some nourishing soups prepared by the kitchen. Before she knew it, the end of the year was approaching.
As the year draws to a close, Mujing is decorated with colorful lanterns and bustling with activity. The entire Dou family is also busy preparing for the New Year.
On this rare day, Dou Yanzhou was free at home, so he invited several young men from prominent families in the capital to come for tea. He also invited Dou Yanxun to join them. After playing cards for a while, they chatted in the pavilion in the back garden.
Since none of them had much free time and they were acquaintances who often got together, they quickly relaxed and chatted.
After a few drinks, Zhao Hong, then the Deputy Prefect of Mujing, felt increasingly comfortable and at ease. His face slightly flushed, he fiddled with the red agate beaded string in his hand, and chuckled, stroking his knee:
"It's fortunate that you two gentlemen have some free time today, so we can keep each other company and have a chat. Usually, as the end of the year approaches, all the government offices are too busy to spare any time, and the inner city is under curfew one after another, so we can't go anywhere, which is quite boring."
Zheng Cheng of the Imperial Guards Temple casually put down the teacup in his hand, leaned back in his recliner, and smiled with half-closed eyes:
"Brother Zhao is all alone. He usually enjoys a leisurely life apart from political affairs, which we are all envious of. You, on the other hand, are so boring."
Zheng Hao's wife had just given birth to a healthy baby boy a few days ago, and as the eldest son in Zheng Hao's family, he was naturally overjoyed. The group even gathered together for a full-month celebration. Now, after finishing his daily chores, he was in a hurry to go home, never having a moment's rest, and couldn't help but feel quite envious of Zhao Hong, who was still unmarried.
Zhao Hong shook his head and sighed:
“Brother Zheng, you are living in bliss without realizing it. We used to be happy together, but now you have all gotten married and started your own families, as if you had conspired together, leaving me all alone. Now, even if I go to visit Bihua Tower, there is no one to accompany me. I am truly miserable and helpless.”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Hao couldn't help but pick up a few golden-fried peanuts and throw them at Zhao Hong, laughing and scolding:
"...Brother Zhao, you must be drunk and confused. Weren't you the one who was lingering and having fun at Bihua Tower the other day? Besides, do you think we don't know that Brother Dou still keeps you company after his marriage? On odd-numbered days, he always goes to Yao Niang to listen to music, and on even-numbered days, he always chooses those new girls. I think no one in Mujing City doesn't envy Brother Zhao's carefree life!"
The group was close and often joked around, so Zhao Hong just shook his head and smiled without saying a word.
Amidst their laughter and chatter, a series of light footsteps suddenly came from behind the pavilion, sounding quite steady. The group quickly turned around and saw Feng Daizhu walking slowly towards them, supported by her maid.
Dou Yanzhou, who had been idly sipping tea, immediately sat up straight. Zheng Hao and the others exchanged glances, stopped laughing, coughed lightly, and lowered their heads to continue drinking their tea.
When Feng Daizhu approached, her pace slowed. She smiled and nodded to Zhao Hong and the others before sitting down next to Dou Yanzhou.
"...It looks like the wind is about to pick up. Should we set up a stove in the courtyard later? It's cold in winter, and the embers are so weak. Please be careful not to catch a cold."
Dou Yanzhou reached out and put his arm around Feng Daizhu, and said with a smile:
"It's alright. They're all in great health. It would be a joke if they couldn't even withstand this little breeze."
Feng Daizhu straightened her cloak, her eyes smiling tenderly:
"My lord is joking. These gentlemen are certainly carefree and unrestrained, chatting and drinking tea in the gentle breeze, thoroughly enjoying themselves. I've also heard that Bihua Tower has several musicians with superb musical skills, who often set up a few seats in the open-air snow scene to drink wine and admire the moon—truly a unique and ingenious idea. However, I am ignorant and do not know which musicians in Bihua Tower are currently the most skilled. Brother Zhao has refined tastes; I wonder which musicians you usually patronize?"
Feng Daizhu looked at Zheng Hao with a smile, seemingly quite interested in waiting for his answer.
Zheng Hao already knew he had misspoke. He had been drinking tea with his head down ever since Feng Daizhu approached, but now that he realized she had overheard him, he was startled and quickly gave Zhao Hong a meaningful look.
Zhao Hong coughed lightly a few times and said hurriedly:
“Sister-in-law’s words have made me feel uneasy. But I am usually all alone and inevitably feel lonely, so I just casually find a few courtesans to play music for my amusement. That’s all. I don’t know any of them well. Nowadays, there are quite a few courtesans in Bihua Tower. They are all from poor families who make a living by performing. We just want to listen to a few songs to amuse ourselves. That’s all.”
Feng Daizhu covered her lips with a handkerchief, her laughter clear and crisp:
"I was just asking casually, Brother Zhao, why are you suddenly being so modest? I heard that you are not yet married, and you must be lonely sometimes, so it's understandable that you need to find some entertainment. Unlike my husband and my second brother, who are now married one after another, they should learn from Brother Zheng and be more considerate and attentive to each other."
Dou Yanzhou sat up straight and smiled:
"Brother Zhao and Brother Zheng are usually very close to me, always joking around and being silly. They were probably just drunk and talking nonsense after a few drinks. Everyone knows that Brother Zhao is rough on the outside but gentle on the inside. He just likes to listen to some folk songs and compose a few poems, that's all. Speaking of which, my second brother has been doing quite well lately. Since he entered the government office, he hasn't slacked off for a single day. He goes straight home after finishing his duties. I suppose it's all thanks to our new sister-in-law. Why would she go to Bihua Tower to keep Brother Zhao company?"
Zheng Hao and the others realized they had misspoke, so they didn't say anything more, just nodded repeatedly and raised their glasses to apologize.
Feng Daizhu chuckled softly, her brows and eyes gradually relaxing. "My husband is just joking. These officials are all learned and important ministers in the court, with exceptional memories. How could they possibly make a mistake?"
She smiled as she got up, picked up a cup of tea, and casually glanced to the side.
Dou Yanxun sat not far from the group, having remained silent since the beginning. He lay lazily on the soft couch, leaning against the cushions, holding a teacup that had long since cooled. He casually toyed with the lid of the teacup, seemingly lost in thought, as if his surroundings were irrelevant to him.
Zheng Hao looked embarrassed. He hadn't expected Madam Feng to be so sharp-tongued, and he noticed that although Dou Yanzhou remained casual on the surface, his expression had become somewhat unnatural. He knew things were going badly, and not wanting to upset the couple with a few words, he quickly cupped his hands and said:
"Sister-in-law, I... I really did lose my sense of direction after a few drinks and uttered some nonsense, which is probably not believable. It's all my fault for being so abrupt today, and I hope you won't take offense."
.
As dusk settled, Madam Bai sat upright in the main hall, turning the prayer beads in her hand and murmuring Buddhist scriptures with her eyes closed.
Mr. Bai has been a Buddhist for half his life. He recites scriptures daily and goes to the temple to offer incense every ten days, all with great devotion.
She always hated being disturbed while she was chanting scriptures, so she raised her eyebrows with an impatient look.
The old woman standing below the hall, bowing deeply, looked uneasy. She knew she had offended the mistress of the house, but the matter was of great importance, and she dared not delay.
Bai Shi's face was full of displeasure, but after she patiently listened to the whole story, she immediately opened her eyes and her expression changed. Her previously amiable face was now filled with rage. Bai Shi stood up abruptly, losing all appetite for dinner, and hurriedly summoned several stewards from the manor to inquire about the details.
Fu Lian stood to the side and couldn't help but gently advise:
"Madam, please don't be angry. The Second Young Master is not someone who doesn't know his place. These days, everyone in the manor has seen him leaving before dawn. How could he have time to frequent brothels with that Magistrate Zhao? It must be that the gentlemen had too much to drink and were just making a joke."
Bai slammed his hand on the table, sneering repeatedly.
"I think it was just a slip of the tongue, just a casual remark about the truth! Who is that Zhao Hong? So young yet so incompetent, his performance has been at the bottom for years, he's bound to be impeached sooner or later! How can he not degenerate by hanging out with people like that all the time? ... He's a married man now, living in a brothel, how can he not control himself! How can he do such a shameful thing!"
Bai was so angry that she couldn't help but cough a few times, which startled Fu Lian, who hurriedly went to comfort her.
Bai took a sip of tea. The thought that Dou Yanxun dared not go to the yamen during the day, but instead used the excuse of being busy with government affairs to spend his days in brothels with Zhao Hong made Bai's anger rise even higher, and his head began to ache.
That damned illegitimate son!
Everyone in the household knows that Dou Huaisheng is about to be promoted and transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, a crucial moment in his career. If such a scandal were to spread, it could easily be used against him, at best ruining the Dou family's reputation for disciplining their children and implicating Dalang and Yuse; at worst, it could hinder the entire family's careers, with unimaginable consequences!
Thinking of this, she grew even angrier, almost throwing the teacup to the ground in a fit of rage.
"What a reckless scoundrel! He has no sense of propriety or shame! Since he is so shameless, then don't blame me for disciplining him according to the family rules!"
After saying this, she turned her head and gave the order:
"Fu Lian, go and summon that good-for-nothing brat to me. Order him to kneel in the ancestral hall immediately! Also, send men to guard him closely, and have all the maids and servants who serve him kneel before me! He must reflect on what he has done today. He is not to leave without my order!"
Fu Lian knew that Madam Bai was truly furious, so he dared not say anything more and could only bow his head and retreat hastily.
.
The night was as dark as ink, and the candlelight inside the ancestral hall flickered faintly, making the ancestral tablets on the altar appear and disappear. The surroundings were solemn, exuding a chilling atmosphere.
Dou Yanxun lowered his eyes and knelt on the cold bluestone bricks.
His already slender figure appeared even longer in the candlelight, and his soft, smoky blue silk robe made him look quite thin, yet his back remained ramrod straight.
Having knelt for so long, his knees were numb. For some reason, the ancestral hall felt unusually cold today; the cold, hard stone bricks seemed to seep into his bones, and the pain gradually spread throughout his body.
He looked up at the ancestral tablets of the Dou family, his deep brows showing no warmth in the flickering flames, but rather appearing even colder.
A chilly night wind occasionally swept through the ancestral hall, its whistling sound causing the doors to rattle softly. Kneeling outside were a dark mass of figures, all servants who usually attended to him in the other courtyard.
He himself, the culprit who had enraged the mistress of the house, had been kneeling there for three whole hours.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but a chilling coldness crept up his knees, until he felt nothing below his chest. Dou Yanxu narrowed his eyes, and in a daze, he heard what sounded like very light footsteps coming from outside the door, gradually approaching.
Mingming was clearly following Bai's orders: no one was allowed to plead for mercy tonight, and no one was allowed to take another step near the ancestral hall.
He couldn't help but look back.
I opened my eyes and saw a slender figure standing at the door.
The newcomer was slender, with a fair face and a pair of bright, dark eyes that stood out against the darkness. Those eyes, like a pool of icy spring water, gazed at him with a slightly furrowed brow and a face full of worry.
Lin Xu was also carrying a small lantern in her hand. The flickering light made her seem even more gentle than usual.
She stepped forward slowly and brought the lantern closer:
"My lord... I'm sorry I'm late. How is your knee?"
Dou Yanxun hadn't expected her to come. His previously tense expression instantly relaxed, and meeting her worried gaze, he calmly curved his lips into a smile:
"Why did you come here all of a sudden? On such a quiet and cold night, Madam is dressed so thinly, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."
As always, he was lazy and unrestrained, and as always, nonchalant.
It's as if the person currently being punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, the one who has alarmed the entire Dou family tonight, is someone else entirely.
Lin Xu couldn't help but sigh softly, placing the small lamp beside him and gently leaning down. Her voice, carried on the night breeze, possessed a gentleness that was equally unmatched:
“My husband has been punished. How can I, as his wife, sit idly by? Although I cannot share his burden, I cannot let him suffer the cold of this winter night alone.”
Dou Yanxun's gaze softened slightly as he looked at her.
“Xuxu went to plead with her mother, but her mother was probably still angry and was unwilling to listen to what she had to say.”
She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, feeling its warmth and faint fragrance. "...Perhaps we should wait until dawn and then I will go and plead with Mother. I'm sure that by then, when Mother has calmed down, she will forgive my husband."
Upon hearing this, a hint of self-mockery flashed in Dou Yanxun's eyes, but the smile on his lips remained unchanged:
“She has always been strict in managing the household and will not forgive such a disgraceful act to the family.”
A deep weariness washed over him, yet he merely raised an eyebrow and glanced at her again. As if something was on the tip of his tongue, after much hesitation, Dou Yanxun finally spoke it aloud.
Why did you come?
Dou Yanxun closed his eyes briefly, and before Lin Xu could answer, he continued, his voice filled with mockery and weariness:
"Everyone has always condemned me for being dissolute and frivolous, abandoning my beloved wife to frequent brothels day and night. Aren't you angry, my lady? Why did you brave the cold wind to come see me in the middle of the night?"
Lin Xu suddenly understood the loneliness between his brows.
He was asking her if it was all worth it.
A strange emotion welled up in Lin Xu's heart. She slowly squatted down to look him in the eye, her gaze as gentle as moonlight, which softened the cold face of the man before her.
"What others think is of no importance to Xuxu. All Xuxu cares about is her husband's safety, nothing more."
Dou Yanxun's expression was desolate. He listened quietly to the unwavering words of the person in front of him, his long, dark eyelashes casting a trembling shadow on his face.
The candlelight on the offering table flickered in the wind, its flames struggling to emit their last bit of light and warmth in the cold night. For some reason, he suddenly felt that it wasn't so cold anymore.
.
The night was still, the moon hung like a hook, and Lingbo Garden was completely silent.
Feng Daizhu leaned against the embroidered pillow, the medicine cup in her hand was warm, and the rich aroma of medicine lingered in the entire hall for a long time.
The fertility-enhancing medicine is nourishing and mild, and also has the effect of calming the nerves and aiding sleep. Ever since she became pregnant again, Granny Zhao has diligently prepared it for her every day so that she could take it daily.
However, she didn't want to drink any of it right now. The smell of medicine made her feel unwell, and she had no appetite at all.
During the day, the jokes of Zhao Hong and his friends still lingered in her ears.
She had only overheard a few people talking and became suspicious, which is why she asked them so many questions. She never expected the matter to escalate so much, reaching Bai Shi's ears before nightfall. She was even more furious upon learning of it, alarming the entire Dou family. Even her beloved eldest son, Dou Yanzhou, going to plead for her was to no avail.
When the truth came out, Dou Yanxun was forced to kneel in the ancestral hall all night by Bai Shi, and even some of the servants who served him in the other courtyard were implicated.
It has been a long time since anything has caused such a commotion in the manor.
This matter arose because of her, and Feng Daizhu was extremely annoyed. Even when the two were alone later, Dou Yanzhou began to blame her for meddling.
But can she be entirely blamed? If Zhao Hong hadn't spoken so vaguely, making her suspicious... "Brother Dou"... there are two Dou brothers, who knows who he was referring to!
Seeing that Feng Daizhu still looked deep in thought and that the medicine in her hand had long since gone cold, Zhao Mama knew that Feng Daizhu was filled with sorrow and naturally dared not neglect her. She quickly whispered, "It's late at night. Madam, please take your medicine and rest early."
A thoughtful look appeared in Feng Daizhu's eyes:
"Speaking of which, a few days ago, around noon, my husband said he was going to the yamen to meet with my second brother to discuss some important matters. Do you remember exactly which day it was, Granny?"
Granny Zhao always had an excellent memory; she never misremembered even small things from many years ago. After a moment's thought, she said with certainty:
"Reporting to Madam, it should be... the day before yesterday. This old servant remembers that the master did say he was going to the yamen that day, but he returned to the manor not long after evening."
Feng Daizhu gazed at the moonlight outside the window, a lingering gloom settling between her brows.
The dark brown medicinal soup in her hand swayed, creating ripples.
"...The day before yesterday? That must have been the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month."
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