Chapter 54: The dim shadow of Qi Niang's candlelight was cast on...
The dim shadow of the candlelight fell on Mrs. Fan's tear-stained face.
Since she was a child, her family taught her that "a woman's main task is to be chaste and quiet. Reading too much will only bring her trouble." So before she married into the Fan family, she spent her days weaving and embroidering with her mother and aunt. To embroider, one must draw the pattern, lay out the paper and draw the pattern. Only with the pattern on the paper can one embroider something unique.
When she picked up the brush to draw the pattern, her aunt exclaimed: "You draw so beautifully." Her mother saved some paper, pens and paints and let her draw for fun when she was bored. Because it was also a sample for needlework, her father occasionally saw it, but he didn't say anything.
When she married into the Fan family, she was only seventeen years old. The groom was not much older than her and was said to be a smart and polite man. Unfortunately, he was a businessman and was often not around. When they were newly married, he had to go out with his father-in-law to do business. When he was about to leave the bedroom, he saw her with tears in her eyes. He sighed and asked, "What do you like? Just treat it as if you were at home and pass the time."
She shook her head. "Nothing I like."
"There must be some, right?"
Mrs. Fan thought for a moment and said softly, "When I was at home, I often drew pictures."
"I remember that."
Two months later, the servant who came to deliver the family letter brought a small box. When it was opened, it turned out to be a box full of painting materials, and some pigments that were only available in the south. The maids who came with the dowry all said that the young master was worried about the young mistress.
She was also happy. But later she became pregnant, and her mother-in-law didn't like her playing with the paints, fearing that it would hurt the fetus, so she stopped painting. Later, she had a child, and the child became the only pearl in her lonely time, and some of the paintbrushes were put into a wooden box and placed in a dusty warehouse.
Thinking of her children who were still in her hometown, Mrs. Fan felt a pain in her heart again. She lost all strength and fell on the chair and cried loudly.
This crying sound reached Fan Yuqi's ears, making him even more irritated.
When Mrs. Fan cried earlier, he did feel a little guilty, but it was quickly overwhelmed by anger.
How dare she accuse me?
This woman who has always been gentle and docile like a lamb actually dared to blame me!
So this guilt was wrapped in a layer of anger and expressed. He roared, "Are you crazy? You are such a shrew! When the child grows up and knows that you missed the opportunity to serve the princess for such a small favor, do you think he will hate you?"
He rushed forward, grabbed Mrs. Fan's chin, and forced her to look at him: "Do you think I was born to like running around outside, not going home to see my relatives? But there is gain and loss! If I don't care about my four brothers, how much of this family business will fall to me? I will be suppressed and unable to make a breakthrough for the rest of my life. Do you think you and your baby will have a good life?"
A tear fell on his hand, cold. Fan Yuqi looked at Mrs. Fan's tearful eyes and suddenly felt it was meaningless.
He loosened his hand, sat down a little further away, and turned his back to her: "Well, if I were you, I would have to stay here no matter what, but you are an ordinary woman after all. If I force you to stay, if you are unwilling, your actions will definitely show it. Don't leave a source of trouble for my Fan family when the time comes."
"Pack your things. I will go to the princess tomorrow to apologize and say that you have a cold and can't get up. You can come back with me in a few days."
The candle was still burning and the room was silent.
After a long while, Mrs. Fan's voice rang softly. "Is it really good for the baby if I stay?"
"Of course!" Hearing the hesitation in her words, Fan Yuqi came over immediately and wiped away a tear on her cheek with a handkerchief. "My dear wife, do you know the Jiangnan Cao family? They were originally from the bannermen, but now Lord Cao Yin is in charge of the lucrative position of Jiangning Weaving Factory! Back then, my Fan family was also an imperial merchant who had served the emperor, but now we are not good enough in front of him. Why? Let me tell you, Lord Cao's mother and father were nannies by the side of the current emperor. The master treats them as his own family."
He lowered his voice and advised: "My dear daughter-in-law, the princess now looks like a promising person. If you can serve her well, maybe one day our child can also earn an official position. It is said that parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run. Why can't you understand this?"
After some lobbying, Mrs. Fan was finally persuaded. She hesitated and said, "If that's the case, then I'll give it a try."
"Good wife, you can do it." Fan Yuqi held her in his arms and explained everything in detail. Finally, he said, "Okay, wash your face carefully, find a copper spoon to apply on your eyes, and do you have rouge and powder?"
Mrs. Fan: “Yes.”
"Dress up nicely tomorrow and meet the princess respectfully."
The next morning, Fan Yuqi went out to make arrangements. He was particularly proud because he had convinced Mrs. Fan and put his mind at ease. He put his hands behind his back and told his servants to feed the camels bean cakes properly. He then went to check on his other livestock and called out the servants' names to confirm that there were no accidents.
The merchants nearby saw him and felt a little uncomfortable. They all came together, so why did the princess pay extra attention to their family?
The businessman deliberately asked, "Master Fan, did you have a quarrel with your wife yesterday? I seemed to hear the sound of quarreling."
"It's not strange for a couple to quarrel a little." Fan Yuqi said cheerfully, "They quarreled at the head of the bed and made up at the foot of the bed. I'm going to look for painting materials. My wife is going to paint for the princess later."
"Oh, that's a happy and proud occasion."
"That's right."
The businessman's face suddenly changed color as he watched Fan Yuqi walk away. Bah, I knew this guy had broken the rules and brought his wife with him. He must have some ulterior motive. So this is his idea.
He was thinking about his eldest wife and felt that she was too stupid. His eldest daughter, on the other hand, had been quite clever since she was young and might be able to come in handy. Anyway, she was cleverer than the wife of the Fan family.
Maybe bring my daughter along next time?
It was dawn. Mrs. Fan moved the rouge and powder she had brought with her to a place with sunlight and put on her makeup in front of a palm-sized bronze mirror.
I came here in a hurry and only brought this portable mirror with me. It has not been polished for a long time, so the reflection is not as clear as it was at the beginning, and it is a little hazy, but it is enough for dressing.
She barely slept last night, and her face looked bad, so she put on a thick layer of powder. When she was newly married, Fan Yuqi left home to do business, and she also cried like this in the middle of the night, then dressed up and went to pay respects to her mother-in-law. Mrs. Fan looked at herself in the bronze mirror and sighed softly, wondering how to serve a noble like the princess. Perhaps, she should use a more respectful attitude than serving her mother-in-law? She used what she saw in her daily life as an analogy, trying to find a reference model.
As she was thinking, the bronze mirror in her hand reflected Fan Yuqi's face. He walked in, pinched her shoulders and said with a smile: "It's good to dress up like this. Come on, I'll take you to the ranch."
The pasture for cattle and sheep was naturally not around the big tent, but a little further outside. Those who worked under him had to arrive before their master and arrange everything so that they would not panic.
Mrs. Fan was led out of the tent by Fan Yuqi. The servants had already prepared the horse-drawn cart. The oxen pulling the cart had bells tied to their horns, which jingled as the cart moved. At first, she vomited a lot when she rode this kind of cart. The team couldn't stop just because she felt uncomfortable, so she had to endure the discomfort on the cart. After enduring all this, she gradually got used to it.
"I will take you to Zheng Yunqi and Zeng Qiuhua first. You should call them aunt and be respectful." Fan Yuqi taught her in a low voice, "Before you leave, I will ask the master to move your tent to the princess's companion camp and ask them to look after it. The leaders of this group are the female doctor Qiuhua and this Yunqi. Princess Yunqi is currently planning to entrust her with the business, so she should go back with us. Aunt Qiuhua knows medicine and often helps people. She is very important in the companions' hearts. She is a good person, you don't have to be afraid."
When they arrived at the ranch, the driver shouted "Le-Le-Le" to stop the cart. A guy from the Fan family who was in charge of staying here came up to greet them: "Hey, the lady is here today too."
"Well, where are Aunt Yunqi and the others?"
"In the tent over there, discussing something."
The waiter led them towards the tent. It was the first time for Mrs. Fan to walk in such a pasture. As she was walking on the green grass, her embroidered shoes suddenly stepped on something soft and black, and she screamed.
It turned out to be a pile of feces. I don't know if it was horse manure or something else.
Fan Yuqi turned around and wanted to get angry, but he was afraid that she would cry, so he held back and said, "Don't make such a fuss. Be careful. You still have to learn to pick up manure and burn the stove in the future."
He also told his servants to clean up the place quickly.
Mrs. Fan wanted to cry but had no tears, so she had to go on as usual. Fortunately, the shoe surface was not stained with much dirt, and the skirt could cover it up a little.
As I approached the tent, I could faintly hear two female voices discussing something: "These herders are smart. They were chosen to herd sheep. They can also take the opportunity to bring one or two of their own sheep to exchange for money, and then come back to bring some things to sell to others."
"It's common sense, but don't bring too much, otherwise you will be distracted."
"Of course I know that."
"My dear aunts, Mr. and Mrs. Fan are here."
"Let them in."
Fan Yuqi pulled Mrs. Fan in, exchanged pleasantries politely, and told her that he wanted her to stay. "Is it convenient to move the tent over there?"
Yunqi glanced at Madam Fan and said, "It depends on what the princess thinks about this matter."
"That's right," Fan Yuqi nodded, "It should be possible. After all, painting requires some effort."
Mrs. Fan was quietly listening to them talking about her going or staying, when suddenly a herdsman ran over in a panic: "The princess is almost here."
Yunqi and Qiuhua stood up together.
"Let's talk later. Let's go and meet the emperor."
Mrs. Fan followed behind everyone in a daze.
On the grassland in the distance, a large yellow flag was fluttering, and a group of people and horses were approaching. It was the ceremonial guard of the Fourth Princess of Heshuo.
Mrs. Fan knelt down with Fan Yuqi and shouted "Long live the princess".
"Everyone, get up."
Mu Xue got off the horse and saw a female face in the crowd. She thought it was Mrs. Fan.
"Mrs. Fan, can you paint?"
Mrs. Fan was gently pushed out of the line by Fan Yuqi. She lowered her head and asked nervously, "I know a little bit?"
"That's fine. Are the paints and materials ready?"
"Everything is ready."
Yunqi dodged and revealed a table at the back. Although there were not many things on it, it had all the common brushes and painting materials.
Mu Xue turned her gaze to Madam Fan and said gently, "By the way, I still don't know your name."
"Princess, my maiden name is Zhou, and everyone in my family calls me Qi Niang."
Mu Xue nodded: "Zhou Qiniang, I'll remember it."
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