Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Nanny Qi parted Fucha’s hair at the back of her head, the soft strands slipping through her fingers. Nanny Qi secretly admired her. Fucha opened a drawer of the vanity, took out an exquisite wooden box, and a hint of spring warmth appeared in her calm eyes. She opened the delicate box to reveal a small glass bottle filled with rose-colored perfume.

“Madam, in the past six months, the master has only visited the concubine’s quarters twice. When not at the Fengtai camp, he usually rests alone in his room.”

“Mind your own business,” Fucha replied with a flick of her hand, as the evening glow touched her cheek. She poured some perfume into her palm and applied it to her neck and behind her ears while looking in the mirror.

Nanny Qi sighed softly, “I was worried that the old lady might send two maids to serve the master, given that the master only has the concubine by his side. But to my surprise, the old lady didn’t even mention it.”

“The old lady would never do anything to deliberately upset me. She knows more clearly than anyone the intricacies of the situation. My agreement to let the concubine come to the capital with the master was not to guard against the old lady, but rather… the master’s superiors and colleagues.”

Fucha softened her tone, put the perfume back into the box, and removed the jade bracelet from her wrist. She said lightly: “Without the main wife in charge, even if the master were to take in a few more women, it would be normal. According to the rules, they would be considered lowly concubines, easily managed. Furthermore, since the concubine sacrificed her health to bear Miss Yi, I have nothing to worry about. Helping the master handle matters in Fuzhou is the duty of a wife.”

“You think so far ahead, madam. I could never compare,” Nanny Qi said with admiration, feeling a deep respect for her meticulous and insightful mistress, and she made sure not to be careless or neglectful.

Fucha lost her father at a young age and, with her widowed mother, lived under the care of her uncle. At that time, Nanny Qi was always by her side. She watched Fucha progress step by step, and although she was not very conspicuous in the Fucha residence, no one dared to underestimate her. Fucha’s kindness and good relations were well known, and now, even the most accomplished Mr. Ma Qi from the Fucha clan treated her like a sister. They often exchanged letters and had not grown distant despite Fucha being away from the capital for over ten years.

After removing her makeup, Fucha changed into a comfortable robe and reclined on the couch. Thinking of Rong Xuan’s gaze from earlier in the carriage, she felt a ripple of emotion and asked softly, “Has the master not returned yet?”

“Madam, the master is currently checking the boy’s homework. He should be back soon.”

Nanny Qi was massaging Fucha’s legs when Fucha shot her a sideways glance, her eyes showing a hint of irritation, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

She closed her eyes and asked, “Are the same old servants still attending to Cheng Wu?”

“Yes, madam, they are the same old servants. The boy is doing well. Nanny Qi’s skills are much better than those of the young masters from the capital. The old lady is very fond of him and often says he has inherited the old master’s virtues. She even praises you for your good upbringing.”

Fu Cha Shi smiled with a hint of satisfaction and said lightly, “That is due to Cheng Wu’s own abilities; the master is strict with him.”

Fucha pondered for a moment and then said, “Returning to the main residence in the capital, it cannot always be about the boy. Calling him ‘the boy’ is not appropriate; we should refer to him as ‘Second Master’ to avoid making others think we are lacking in manners.”

Nanny Qi bowed her head in agreement. Seeing Fucha’s troubled expression, she asked, “Are you worried about something?”

“I’m not concerned about Cheng Wu. Although he doesn’t particularly enjoy studying, his skills are much stronger than his peers. The Fucha family has always been distinguished, and Cheng Wu is better off this way. He takes after the master in his character—outwardly loyal and honest, but with his own ideas and a deep mind. He is proper and upright and avoids offending others, so others cannot easily calculate against him.”

“Madam, what are you thinking?”

Fucha sighed and said, “Today I saw the fourth young lady of the third branch, Yun Lan. That girl is quite impressive—thoughtful, clever, and intelligent, and she has grown up beautifully. It seems the old lady is quite proud of her, and the younger siblings dote on Yun Lan a lot. Although I was prepared, I didn’t expect Yun Lan to be so mature at such a young age. Despite not being born with a golden spoon, as the legitimate daughter of the third branch, who in the Tong family could possibly give her a hard time? How could she be so perceptive and skilled in reading people? It’s truly remarkable.”

Nanny Qi paused in her leg massaging and reported, “Nanny Chen from the old lady’s side mentioned that the fourth young lady has helped the household earn quite a bit of money by offering advice. There are some other matters as well, but Nanny Chen didn’t explain them clearly.”

Fucha sat up abruptly and asked anxiously, “Do outsiders know about this?”

“Not at all. It was Nanny Chen who mentioned it privately to me. The fourth young lady doesn’t want to attract attention. The old lady is fond of her and has issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from talking about it.”

“Yun Lan, Yun Lan is indeed remarkable,” Fucha murmured, squinting her eyes and sighing softly. “When a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will surely blow it down. Being known for making money might not be a good thing for a young lady from the Eight Banners.”

“Madam, do you mean that the fourth young lady might harm our daughter?”

“From what I’ve seen today, she does treat Yun Wei well. But how can a flower not have leaves? I would rather Yun Wei not compete with her for attention, but as they learn and play together, she will always be overshadowed, even if unintentionally. Yun Wei might…”

Fucha lifted her eyes resolutely and said, “Yun Wei is my own daughter. Although I cannot give her luxury and grandeur, she has been cherished and raised by me from a young age. Before I was married, I decided that if I had a daughter, I would love her dearly. Now… now…”

“Why not have the young lady not be with the fourth young lady?”

Nanny Qi’s words were cut off by the sharpness in Fucha’s eyes. She quickly silenced herself. Fucha shook her head and said softly, “Yun Wei mustn’t be arrogant. By learning from others’ strengths and avoiding their weaknesses, she will certainly not be worse off than Yun Lan. Please find the books I brought as dowry; Yun Wei will need them in the future.”

“The master is here.” The voices of greetings from outside became faintly audible. Fucha blinked away her worry, her gaze becoming calm and carrying a hint of affection. Nanny Qi, understanding the cue, began discussing other trivial matters.

When Rong Xuan entered, he saw his gentle and virtuous wife responding to the servants’ words under the candlelight. The room was filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance, and it was peaceful and gentle. Rong Xuan cleared his throat twice, and Fucha gracefully stood up, lowering her eyes and bowing, calling softly, “Master.”

Her light, airy voice kindled Rong Xuan’s feelings. Emotions he had previously ignored surged forth. He took a few steps forward, holding Fucha’s arm. The softness beneath his hand and the subtle fragrance at his nose captivated him, and he called in a deep voice, “Madam… Zhenhua.”

Nanny Qi, understanding her place, exited the room. At the door, she glanced back and saw Fucha, blushing and trying to withdraw her hand, but Rong Xuan held it firmly. Nanny Qi bowed her head and closed the door, deeply admiring the way her mistress managed such matters.

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. With passion rekindled, the storm of emotions subsided. Rong Xuan, embracing Fucha, expressed his contentment and pleasure. In a hoarse voice, he said, “Zhenhua, I… I… still prefer you.”

Fucha licked her lips, her fingers tracing lightly over her husband’s chest. Her voice, barely audible, reached Rong Xuan’s ears: “Master, I… I’ve always been thinking… of you…”

With her cheeks flushed and her body slightly trembling, Fucha’s delicate feet unknowingly brushed against Rong Xuan’s calves, heightening his senses. He turned her over and pressed her beneath him once more, as the bed curtains could hardly conceal the enchanting scene.