The Wronged Second Sister You Is Tricked into Grand View Garden; The Jealous Xifeng Raises a Storm in the Ning Mansion

After Jia Lian set out, it happened that the military commissioner of Ping’an was away inspecting the frontier and did not return for about a month. Jia Lian could get no definite news, so he had to stay at an inn and wait. When the commissioner returned and they met, he finished his business. By the time he started back, nearly two months had passed.

Xifeng, however, had already made her plans. She waited only for Jia Lian to leave. When he was gone, she summoned workmen of all kinds and fitted up three rooms in the eastern wing, decorating and furnishing them exactly like her own principal chambers. On the fourteenth she told the old lady and Lady Wang that on the morning of the fifteenth she was going to a nunnery to offer incense. She took only Patience, Feng’er, Zhou Rui’s wife, and Wang’er’s wife. Before getting into the carriage, she told them her reason. She also ordered the men servants to wear plain clothes and plain covers and to come straight to the place.

Xing’er led the way to Second Sister’s gate and knocked. Bao Er’s wife opened the door. Xing’er said with a smile, “Go in quickly and tell the Second Mistress that the First Mistress has come.” At these words Bao Er’s wife felt her soul fly out through the top of her head. She ran in and reported to Second Sister You. Second Sister was startled, but since the visitor had already come, she had to receive her with propriety. She quickly straightened her clothes and came out to welcome her. When she reached the gate, Xifeng had just got down from the carriage and came in. Second Sister looked at her: Xifeng wore only plain white silver hairpins and ornaments, a moon-white satin jacket, a black satin cape, and a white silk skirt. Her brows were like willow leaves, their tips lifted high; her eyes were like a phoenix’s, the corners slightly upturned; her spirit was concentrated in the three-cornered pupils. She was as pretty as a peach blossom in spring and as pure as a chrysanthemum in autumn. Zhou Rui’s wife and Wang’er’s wife supported her into the courtyard. Second Sister You smiled and hurried forward, made a curtsy, and said, “I did not expect you to condescend to come. I was not able to meet you far off. I beg you to forgive my haste.” She curtsied. Xifeng smiled and returned the greeting again and again. The two went hand in hand into the room.

Xifeng took the seat of honor. Second Sister You ordered a maid to bring a cushion, then made her obeisance and said, “I am young, and since I came here everything has been arranged by my mother and my elder sister. Today I am fortunate to meet you. If you do not despise me for my humble origins, I beg you in all things to instruct and correct me. I will pour out my heart and serve you with all my heart.” She made a deep curtsy. Xifeng quickly left her seat and returned the courtesy, saying, “It is all because of my womanly narrowness. I kept urging my husband to be careful and not to dally with flowers and willows outside, for fear of worrying his parents. That was my foolish devotion. But the Second Master mistook my meaning. If he had hidden such affairs from me, perhaps it would not matter. But the great matter of taking you as a second wife is a solemn family rite, and he did not tell me either. I had urged him to do this earlier, for the sake of offspring. I never expected that he would take me for a jealous woman and secretly do this great thing without telling me. I have a grievance that is hard to tell; only Heaven and Earth can witness it. Ten days ago I heard a rumor, but I feared the Second Master would be displeased, so I did not dare mention it. Now it happens that he is away on a long journey. So I have come in person to pay my respects, and I beg you, Sister, to condescend to my feelings and move into our house. Let us sisters live together, share the same heart, and together admonish the Second Master to be careful in worldly affairs and to take care of his health. That would be the proper thing. If you remain outside and I remain inside, though I am too stupid and humble to keep you company, how could my heart be at ease? Besides, if outsiders hear of it, it will be most unseemly. The Second Master’s reputation matters too. If people talk about me, I will not resent it. So in this life and the next, my good name depends entirely on you. Those servants and petty people, because I have been too strict in managing the household, will add or subtract words behind my back. That is only natural. What sort of person are you, Sister, that you should believe them? If I truly had faults, with three layers of parents-in-law above me and countless sisters and sisters-in-law around me, and with the Jia family being a great house for generations, how could I have lasted until today? Now the Second Master has secretly married you outside. Others would be angry, but I consider it fortunate. It is just that Heaven, Earth, the gods, and the Buddhas could not bear to see me slandered by petty people, and so this happened. I have come today to beg you to come in and live with me in the same place, share the same portion and the same rules, serve the same parents-in-law, and admonish the same husband. In joy we shall rejoice together; in sorrow we shall grieve together. Our affection shall be like that of sisters, our harmony like flesh and blood. Then not only will those petty people see and regret having misjudged me, but when the Second Master comes home and sees it, as a husband he will secretly regret it too. So you, Sister, are my great benefactress, for you will wash away all my former reputation. If you will not come with me, I am willing to stay here and keep you company. I am willing to be your younger sister and serve you every day, combing your hair and washing your face. I only beg you to speak a good word for me before the Second Master and make a place for me to live. Then I would be willing to die.” As she spoke, she began to sob.

When Second Sister You saw this, tears also fell from her eyes.

The two exchanged greetings and sat down in order. Patience quickly came forward to make her obeisance. Second Sister You saw that she was dressed unusually and that her manners and looks were refined. She guessed she was Patience and quickly took her by the hand, saying, “Sister, do not do that. You and I are the same.” Xifeng also rose and said with a smile, “You will be the death of her! Sister, just accept her salute. She is our maid. In future do not be like this.” She told Zhou Rui’s wife to take from the bundle four bolts of fine silk and four pairs of gold and pearl hairpins and earrings as gifts of greeting. Second Sister You quickly bowed and accepted them. The two drank tea and told each other of past matters. Xifeng’s words were all self-reproach: “I cannot blame others. Now I only beg you, Sister, to love me.” When Second Sister You saw this, she took her to be an extremely good person. It was only natural, she thought, that petty people, not getting their way, should slander their mistress. So she opened her heart and told her everything, and actually came to regard Xifeng as a confidante. She also saw Zhou Rui’s wife and the others standing by praising Xifeng’s many good deeds in managing the household, saying only that she suffered because her heart was too devoted and she made people resent her. They also said, “The rooms are already prepared. You will know as soon as you go in, Madam.” Second Sister You had long wanted to go in and live with them. Seeing all this, how could she refuse? She said, “I ought to go with you, Sister, but what about this place?” Xifeng said, “What difficulty is there? Your trunks and fine things can be carried in by the pages. These coarse, clumsy things are of no use. Leave them for someone to watch. Whomever you trust, tell them to stay here.” Second Sister You quickly said, “Since I have met you today, Sister, once I go in, everything will be up to you. I have not been here long, and I have never managed a household. I do not understand worldly affairs. How would I dare make decisions? These few trunks can be taken in. I have nothing much; they are only the Second Master’s.” Xifeng ordered Zhou Rui’s wife to make a clear list, watch them carefully, and have them carried to the eastern wing. Then she urged Second Sister You to dress. The two went hand in hand to the carriage and sat together. Xifeng whispered to her, “Our family has strict rules. The old lady knows nothing of this. If she knew that the Second Master married you during mourning, she would have him beaten to death. For now, do not see the old lady or Lady Wang. We have a very large garden where the sisters live, and few people go there. When you go, stay in the garden for a couple of days, and when I have found a way to explain it, then you may meet them.” Second Sister You said, “I leave it entirely to you, Sister.” The pages who followed the carriage had been told beforehand. They did not go to the main gate but went to the back gate.

They got down from the carriage and sent the people away. Xifeng led Second Sister You through the back gate of Grand View Garden to Li Wan’s quarters, where they met. By then nine out of ten people in Grand View Garden already knew, and now that Xifeng had brought her in, many came to look and ask. Second Sister You greeted each one. Everyone found her pretty and amiable and praised her. Xifeng warned each of them, “Do not let a word of this get outside. If the old lady or Lady Wang hears of it, I will have you killed first.” The old women and maids in the garden had always feared Xifeng. Besides, this was something Jia Lian had done during the state mourning and family mourning, and they knew it was a serious matter. So none of them meddled. Xifeng quietly begged Li Wan to keep her for a few days. “When I have explained it, we will naturally go over.” Li Wan saw that Xifeng had already fitted up rooms on her side, and since they were in mourning, it was not good to make it public. This seemed reasonable, so she had to take her in for the time being. Xifeng then found a way to withdraw all Second Sister’s own maids and gave her one of her own maids to serve her. She secretly told the wives in the garden, “Watch her carefully. If she runs away or disappears, I will settle accounts with you.” Then she went off to do other things in secret. Everyone in the household was secretly amazed and said, “See how virtuous she has become!”

Second Sister You, having found this place and seeing that the sisters in the garden were all friendly, felt at ease and happy, thinking she had found her proper place. But who would have thought that three days later the maid Shanjie began to be unwilling to serve her. Second Sister You said, “I am out of hair oil. Go and ask the First Mistress for some.” Shanjie said, “Second Mistress, how can you be so ungrateful and tactless? Our Mistress has to wait on the old lady every day, and also on Lady Wang here and Lady Wang there. These sisters-in-law and sisters, and hundreds of men and women above and below, all wait for her word every day. In one day she has at least ten or twenty important matters and thirty or fifty small ones. Outside, from the imperial concubine down to the princes, dukes, marquises, and earls, there are countless social obligations. At home there are all these relatives and friends to manage. Thousands and tens of thousands of taels of silver are all handled by her one hand, one heart, and one mouth. How could she be bothered for such a trifle? I advise you to be more sensible. You were not married with proper matchmakers. It is because she is a virtuous woman rarely seen since ancient times that she treats you this way. If she were a little less good, and heard such talk, she would raise a fuss and throw you outside, neither dead nor alive. What would you dare do then?” This speech made Second Sister You lower her head. She felt there was something in it and had to make do. Shanjie gradually became reluctant even to bring her meals. Sometimes it was early, sometimes late, and what she brought was always leftovers. When Second Sister You complained twice, Shanjie shouted at her instead. Second Sister You feared people would laugh at her for being restless, so she had to endure it. Every five or eight days she saw Xifeng, who was always gentle and pleasant, saying “Sister” with every breath. She would say, “If the servants are remiss and you cannot control them, just tell me and I will beat them.” She also scolded the maids and wives: “I know you well. You bully the soft and fear the hard. When my eyes are turned, whom do you fear? If the Second Mistress tells me one word against you, I will take your lives.” Second Sister You saw such kindness and thought, “Since she is like this, why should I make trouble? Servants not knowing their place is common. If I complain, they will be wronged, and people will say I am not virtuous.” So she covered for them instead.

Xifeng sent Wang’er outside to gather detailed information. She already knew all about Second Sister You. It turned out she had been betrothed before. The intended husband was only nineteen, spent his days outside whoring and gambling, neglected his living, squandered the family property, and had been driven out by his father. He now lived in a gambling den. His father had received ten taels from Old Mrs. You and broken the engagement, but the young man did not know. His name was Zhang Hua. Xifeng knew all the details. She sealed twenty taels of silver and gave it to Wang’er, secretly ordering him to find Zhang Hua, support him, and have him write a complaint to the judicial authorities, accusing Jia Lian of “during the state mourning and family mourning, disobeying the imperial decree and deceiving his parents, relying on wealth and power to force the breaking of an engagement, and taking a second wife while his first wife lived.” Zhang Hua knew the danger and did not dare act rashly. Wang’er reported to Xifeng. Xifeng was angry and cursed, “A mangy dog that cannot be helped over a wall! Tell him plainly that even if he accuses our family of rebellion, it will be all right. We only want him to make a scene and make everyone lose face. If the case grows, I can settle it here.” Wang’er had to do as ordered and explained it to Zhang Hua. Xifeng also told Wang’er, “If he accuses you, go and confront him in court.” She gave him detailed instructions: “I have my own plans.” Wang’er, hearing that she would back him, told Zhang Hua to add Wang’er’s own name to the complaint, saying, “Accuse me of acting as go-between and instigating the Second Master in everything.” Zhang Hua got the idea, discussed it with Wang’er, wrote a complaint, and the next day went to the Censorate to cry for justice.

The Censor took his seat in court and read the complaint. Seeing it was against Jia Lian and that it named a servant, Wang’er, he sent someone to the Jia mansion to summon Wang’er to confront the accusation. The runners did not dare enter without authority, so they sent a message. Wang’er was waiting for this. Without waiting for the message, he was already waiting on that street. Seeing the runners, he went up to them and said with a smile, “I have put you to trouble, brothers. It must be that my affair has come to light. There is no help for it. Come, put the chains on me.” The runners did not dare. They only said, “Please come along, old sir. Do not make a scene.” So he came to the court and knelt. The Censor had the complaint shown to him. Wang’er pretended to read it, then knocked his head and said, “This slave knows all about this matter. My master did indeed do this. But Zhang Hua has always had a grudge against me and deliberately dragged me in. There is someone else involved. I beg Your Honor to ask further.” Zhang Hua knocked his head and said, “Though there is someone else, this humble one did not dare accuse him, so I accused only his servant.” Wang’er pretended to be anxious. “Fool! Speak up quickly! This is the court of the imperial government. Even if it is a master, you must speak.” Zhang Hua then named Jia Rong. The Censor had no choice but to summon Jia Rong. Xifeng also sent Qing’er to find out secretly. When the case was filed, she quickly summoned Wang Xin and told him about it. She ordered him to ask the Censor merely to make a show of authority and frighten them, and gave him three hundred taels to use in bribing. That night Wang Xin went to the Censor’s private residence and laid the groundwork. The Censor knew the whole story and accepted the bribe. The next day in court he said only that Zhang Hua was a rascal who, because he owed the Jia family money, had fabricated false charges and falsely accused good people. The Censorate had always been friendly with Wang Ziteng, and Wang Xin had only to mention it at home. Besides, since the Jia family was involved, they were only too glad to let the matter drop. They did not press it, accepted the money, and merely summoned Jia Rong to confront the accusation.

Jia Rong and the others were busy with Jia Zhen’s affairs when someone came to report, “Someone has accused you of such and such. Make plans quickly.” Jia Rong panicked and went to Jia Zhen. Jia Zhen said, “I was on guard against this. He has nerve.” He immediately sealed two hundred taels and sent someone to bribe the Censorate, and ordered servants to go and confront the accusation. While they were discussing, someone announced, “The Second Mistress from the West Mansion has come.” Jia Zhen was startled and wanted to hide with Jia Rong. But Xifeng came in and said, “What a fine elder brother you are, leading the brothers in such fine deeds!” Jia Rong quickly greeted her. Xifeng pulled him in. Jia Zhen still smiled and said, “Serve your aunt well. Tell them to kill an animal and prepare a meal.” Then he quickly ordered his horse and hid elsewhere.

Xifeng led Jia Rong to the main room. Madam You came out to meet her. Seeing Xifeng’s expression was not good, she quickly smiled and said, “What is the hurry?” Xifeng spat full in her face and cursed, “Your You family girl had no one who wanted her, so you secretly sent her to the Jia family! Are all Jia men so good? Has every man in the world died? Even if you wanted to give her, you should have proper matchmakers and witnesses, with everything explained openly and decently. You were muddle-headed, your heart clouded, your eyes blinded by grease. With both state mourning and family mourning upon you, you sent the girl here. Now people have accused us. I am a crab without legs. Even the officials know I am jealous and fierce. Now they name me and want to divorce me. What wrong did I do when I came into your family, that you should ruin me like this? Or did the old lady and Lady Wang say something to you, and you made this trap to squeeze me out? Now let us both go to the court and make it clear. Then we will ask all the clan to meet and explain face to face. Give me a divorce letter, and I will go.” As she spoke, she wept bitterly, pulling Madam You and insisting on going to court. Jia Rong was so alarmed that he knelt and knocked his head, begging, “Aunt, calm your anger.” Xifeng cursed Jia Rong, “You conscienceless seed, may lightning split your skull and five ghosts tear your body apart! You do not know how high heaven is or how thick the earth. All day you stir up trouble and do these shameless, lawless, family-ruining things. Your dead mother’s spirit will not forgive you, nor will your ancestors. And you still dare to urge me!” Weeping and cursing, she raised her hand to strike. Jia Rong quickly knocked his head loudly and said, “Aunt, do not be angry. Be careful of your hand. Let me strike myself. Aunt, do not be angry.” He raised his own hands and slapped himself left and right, then asked himself, “Will you ever again meddle in others’ affairs so recklessly? Will you listen only to Uncle and not to Aunt?” The others tried to urge her, wanting to laugh but not daring.

Xifeng rolled into Madam You’s arms, wailing to heaven and earth, crying loudly, saying, “I am not angry that you married a wife for your brother. Why did you make him disobey the decree and deceive his parents, and put the shameful name on my back? Let us go to court and save the constables the trouble of coming. Besides, let us go and see the old lady, Lady Wang, and all the clan. Let them discuss it publicly. Since I am neither virtuous nor willing to let my husband take a wife or concubine, just give me a divorce letter and I will leave at once. I have brought your sister into the house myself. I was afraid the old lady and Lady Wang would be angry, so I did not dare tell them. She is now living in the garden with three teas and six meals, gold and silver servants. I am hurrying to fix up rooms for her, just like mine, and waiting only for the old lady to know. I said I would bring her over so we could all live peacefully, and I would not mention the past. But then it turned out she was already betrothed. I do not know what you were doing. I knew nothing about it. Now they accuse me. Yesterday I was so frightened that even if I went to court, it would be your Jia family’s face that was lost. I secretly took five hundred taels of Lady Wang’s silver to bribe them. And now my man is still locked up there.” She wept, then cursed, then wailed loudly, calling on her ancestors and parents, and wanted to die and knock her head. Madam You was kneaded into a dough. Her clothes were covered with tears and snot. She had nothing else to say but cursed Jia Rong: “You wicked seed! What fine things you and your father have done! I said it was no good.” Xifeng, hearing this, wept and took Madam You’s face in both hands, pressing close, and asked, “Are you addled? Is your mouth stuffed with eggplant? Or have they put a bit in your mouth? Why did you not tell me? If you had told me, would it have come to this? How did it get to courts and officials and this pass? And now you blame them. As the old saying goes, ‘A virtuous wife brings few disasters to her husband; a strong exterior is not as good as a strong interior.’ If you had been any good, how could they have made such a mess? You have no ability and no tongue—a gourd with its mouth sawed off. All you do is fuss timidly to win a reputation for virtue. They neither fear you nor listen to you.” She spat several times. Madam You also wept. “Was it not so? If you do not believe me, ask the servants. Did I not try to stop them? But they would not listen. What could I do? No wonder you are angry, sister. I can only listen.”

The concubines, maids, and wives were already kneeling in a black crowd, smiling and begging, “The Second Mistress is most wise. Though our mistress was wrong, you have trampled her enough. In front of us servants, you two mistresses used to be so good to each other. We beg you to save her face.” They offered tea. Xifeng threw it down. She stopped crying, fixed her hair, and cursed Jia Rong again, “Go out and ask your elder brother to come. I want to ask him to his face. The mourning for your own father is only in the fifth week, and the nephew takes a wife. I did not know this rule. I want to ask so I can teach my sons and nephews in future.” Jia Rong only knelt and knocked his head, saying, “This matter has nothing to do with my parents. It was all because your son ate dung for a moment and egged Uncle on. My father knew nothing about it. Now my father is about to discuss bringing the old master’s coffin out for burial. If you make a scene, Aunt, your son is as good as dead. I only beg you to punish your son. I will accept it. As for the lawsuit, I beg you to manage it. Your son cannot handle such a great matter. What sort of person are you, Aunt? Do you not know the saying, ‘A broken arm should be hidden in the sleeve’? Your son was muddle-headed to death. Since I did this unworthy thing, I am no better than a cat or dog. Since you have punished me, do not take it out on me as an equal. I must still beg you to take the trouble to suppress the outside matter. It was because you have this unworthy son that trouble came. Since it is done, I must ask you to bear the grievance and still love your son.” He kept knocking his head.

When Xifeng saw mother and son like this, she could no longer press further. She changed her expression and manner and apologized to Madam You instead. “I am young and do not know affairs. When I heard someone tell me, I was frightened out of my wits. I do not know how I offended you just now, Sister-in-law. As Rong’er said, ‘A broken arm should be hidden in the sleeve.’ I must ask you to forgive me. I also beg you to speak to your husband for me, and first suppress this lawsuit.” Madam You and Jia Rong said together, “Do not worry, Aunt. In any case, Uncle will not be involved. You said just now that you used five hundred taels. We mother and son will certainly raise five hundred taels and send it to you to make it up. Otherwise, how could we let you bear the loss and make us even more deserving of death? But there is one more thing. Before the old lady and Lady Wang, you must smooth things over and not mention this.” Xifeng sneered again. “You have done this over my head, and now you coax me to cover for you. I may be a fool, but not that foolish. Your brother is my husband. If you fear he will have no heir, how much more must I fear it? Your sister is like my own sister. When I heard of it, I was so happy I could not sleep. I hurried to have rooms cleaned and wanted to bring her in to live with us. But it was the servants and petty people who said, ‘Madam is too good-natured. If it were our idea, we would first tell the old lady and Lady Wang, see what they think, and then prepare rooms and bring her over.’ When I heard this, I wanted to beat and scold them, and they stopped. But who would have thought it would not go as I wished, and would slap me in the face? Out of nowhere a Zhang Hua appeared and brought a complaint. When I heard, I was so frightened I did not sleep for two nights. I did not dare make it public. I had to ask someone to find out what sort of man this Zhang Hua was, to be so bold. After two days of asking, I found he was a rascally beggar. I am young and did not know affairs, so I laughed and said, ‘What is he accusing?’ But the boys said, ‘She was originally promised to him. Now he is desperate. Freezing or starving to death is still death. Now he has this reason in his grasp. Even if he dies, it is better than freezing or starving. How can you blame him for accusing? This matter was done too hastily by the master. State mourning is one crime; family mourning is another; secretly marrying without telling his parents is another; taking a second wife while his first wife lives is another. As the saying goes, “Risking being sliced to pieces, one dares pull the emperor off his horse.” A man driven crazy by poverty will do anything. Besides, he has the full right. If he does not accuse, is he waiting for an invitation?’ Sister-in-law, even if I were Han Xin or Zhang Liang, hearing this would scare my wisdom away. Your brother is not at home, and I had no one to discuss it with. I had to use money to patch it up. But the more money I used, the more they got a hold on me and the more they extorted. I am like a sore on a mouse’s tail—how much pus and blood can I have? So I was anxious and angry, and had to come to you, Sister-in-law.” Madam You and Jia Rong did not wait for her to finish. They said, “Do not worry. We will certainly manage it.” Jia Rong added, “Zhang Hua is only poor and desperate, so he risked his life to accuse. We can think of a way. We will promise him some silver and make him admit to false accusation. We will settle the lawsuit for him. When he comes out, we will give him more silver and be done.” Xifeng laughed. “Good child, no wonder you do these things without thinking of consequences. You are muddle-headed. If you say that, he will agree for the time being, and after the lawsuit he will get silver. For the moment it will be settled. But these rascals, once the silver is in their hands and spent, will find another excuse to extort. If they stir it up again, though we may not fear, we will still worry. They will say, if there was nothing wrong, why give him silver? In the end it will never be settled.” Jia Rong was originally a clever person. Hearing this, he smiled. “I have another idea. ‘The one who causes trouble is the one to settle it.’ This matter must be settled by me. I will go and ask Zhang Hua what he wants. Either he insists on the woman, or he is willing to settle for money and marry again. If he says he must have the woman, I will persuade my second aunt to come out and marry him. If he wants money, we will give it to him.” Xifeng quickly said, “Even so, I cannot bear to let your aunt go out, and I will never let her go. Good nephew, if you love me, you can only give him more money.” Jia Rong knew well that though Xifeng spoke this way, in her heart she wished only for the woman to come out so she could play the virtuous one. Now whatever she said, he agreed. Xifeng was pleased. She said, “The outside can be settled, but what about the family in the end? You must go with me and explain it.” Madam You panicked again and pulled Xifeng to ask how to lie. Xifeng sneered. “If you did not have the ability, why did you do this? Now you put on this face. I despise it. If I do not think of a plan, I am too soft-hearted and kind. People can twist me around, and I still have a foolish heart. I suppose I must take it on myself. Now you must not show yourselves. I will take your sister to kowtow to the old lady and Lady Wang, and say only that she was originally your sister, and I thought highly of her. Because I have not borne children, I had meant to buy two people to put in the rooms. Now I have seen your sister is very good, and she is a relative, so I am willing to take her as a second wife. Her parents and sisters have all died recently, and her days are hard; she cannot get by. If we waited until after the hundred days, she has no home and no livelihood, and truly cannot wait. It was my idea to bring her in. The eastern wing has been cleaned for her to stay temporarily, and when mourning is over they will formally be married. Relying on my shameless face, I will insist on it. If there is blame, it will not fall on you. Think, mother and son, will this do?” Madam You and Jia Rong smiled together. “After all, Aunt is magnanimous and resourceful. When it is settled, we mother and son will come and thank you.” Madam You quickly told the maids to serve Xifeng in washing and dressing, and set out wine and food. She herself handed her wine and chose dishes for her.

Xifeng did not sit long. She insisted on leaving. She went back into the garden and told Second Sister You about the matter. She also told her how she had worried and inquired, and how she had found a way. It had to be done in such and such a way to save everyone from blame. She must go and break open this fish head so that all would be well. To know the details, read the next chapter.