Chapter 52 - Lantern Festival

Day by day, as spring began, the weather became better and better. And, just like the weather, a person’s mood would also seem to become better too. Jiang Su Su and Xia Yan’s treatment towards Jiang Ruan had become extremely courteous. Ever since she had been confined in her courtyard, there were no longer any sightings of Jiang Li anymore. Apart from the occasional encounters with 2nd yiniang and her frigid irony and scorching satire, the rest of her days were actually passed ordinarily and peacefully. It seemed like it should have always been this steady and calm.

Lu Zhu poured a cup of red jujube and lotus seeds tea[1]. And in the tea, was some of Sophora japonica[2] (Chinese scholar tree) nectar that had just been delivered to the kitchen; its glistening colour was extremely appealing. Propping up her chin with a hand, Jiang Ruan carelessly flipped through the book in her hand.

[1] Hóng zǎo lián zǐ chá ( 红枣莲子茶 ) – Part of Chinese life is enjoying and drinking tea, and it is an integral part of life where it is believed that tea drinking promotes health. Hence, tea is a common ingredient used in folk remedies and often times, to aid in alleviating problems such as gastric distention and fatigue. Lotus seeds are believed to be beneficial to dry throats, eliminate fatigue, increase mentality, improve brain health and tranquilise the mind while Chinese red jujubes (or commonly known as red dates) are believed to replenish and nourish blood, thereby improving blood circulation and lead to better liver, digestive function, balance of inner body energy and improved immunity.

[2] Huái huā ( 槐花 ) – The Chinese scholar tree or commonly known as the Japanese pagoda tree, it is said to have antibacterial properties, moreover, is able to clear internal heat and numerous other healing efficacies.

“Miss should stop and take a break as our young lady has already read for half a morning already.” Lu Zhu smiled, “those who aren’t aware would have thought that our Miss was planning to become the top scorer in the palace examination.”

Bai Zhi laughingly scolded, “you can even tease our young Miss, too. You’re becoming more and more unruly.”

Lu Zhu looked at Jiang Ruan and merely laughed, “but it is actually true, Miss, did nubi[3] clearly say something wrong?”

[3] Nú bì ( 奴婢 ) – This term is often used as a deferential term of address for one’s self as a slave servant. This term is also similar to the status of serfdom in the feudal times wherein many peasants were under a condition of debt bondage to their masters. Often, these servants were considered property or chattel that could be bought, sold or gifted with their contracts. Becoming a nubi is also a legal punishment for committing a crime or failing to pay a debt, however, in some cases, some people become slave servants in order to escape crushing poverty during poor harvests and famines as a way to help their families. More information about this can be found here, as the medieval Korean, Japanese and Chinese societies had similar social caste systems and cultures in certain ways.

Jiang Ruan looked upon her two quibbling servant girls before her and was about to say a few words but just then, she saw Lian Qiao walk in with a cold expression on her face. On a usual day, Lian Qiao would also be smiling without exception. To see this expression of hers, she definitely had encountered some problems. As expected, without waiting for Jiang Ruan to speak up, Lian Qiao had already started to speak. “Just now, nubi was walking by Yan Hua Yuan but was then called to a stop by furen’s trusted servant, Li momo. She said that our Ruan Ju was understaffed and furen had personally selected a few yatou, and after a short delay, they would be sent over. Bah! To even say that she had been content with her own position over these past few days, and sure enough, she has been uneasy instead and is harbouring bad intentions. So, she has decided to plant some staff in our courtyard.”

“You, could you speak a little softer.” Bai Zhi promptly urged, “the walls have ears.”

Lu Zhu frowned too, “this is truly too excessive then.”

Jiang Ruan chuckled and slowly picked up her cup. To borne such a banner of having ‘good intentions and thoughtfulness’ for her, to slant such false pretences towards her, as of yet, she could not refuse such advances. One could not always brazenly harbour suspicions of the madam who managed the household; Xia Yan had always been like this. Wrapped around her presumptuous requests were, unfortunately, a shiny and bright ‘packaged’ exterior, who truly knew what kind of vile and despicable intentions that she had underneath all of that?

All of a sudden, as if it was whispered in her ears, she seemed to recall what Zhou momo had said, “Eldest young lady, this old slave has something that must be said, even if one has to brave through death. At that time of furen’s death, it wasn’t at all by chance and was definitely related to that woman from Yan Hua Yuan. This old slave wanted to stay in the fu to continue to find some evidence but who could have known that I would have now fallen to such a state. These words of mine, perhaps the eldest young lady may not believe but this old slave has been with furen for so many years. What furen’s body condition was like, this old slave was extremely clear. At that time, the way that illness of hers appeared was fishy and the master neither cared nor questioned either. Eldest young lady, furen was definitely harmed by someone!”

With fingers unconsciously gripping the handle of the fine porcelain cup tightly, Jiang Ruan’s gaze had turned chilly. Xia Yan had something to do with Zhao Mei’s death, these words of Zhou momo’s, she did not believe to be false. If Jiang Quan also knew of this matter and yet, had been excessively tolerant about it until now, then in the days ahead, he could hardly blame her for being merciless.

As she thought of this, she then heard someone announce from outside, “Young Lady, Du Juan jiejie from Gui Lan Yuan has come.”

Du Juan smilingly walked in, “the old Madame has asked nubi to invite the eldest young lady to come over, there are some matters to settle.”

Jiang Ruan stood up and asked with a warm tone, “I have troubled Du Juan jiejie to make a trip here, we will now leave at once. Does Du Juan jiejie know of what the matter could be?”

Du Juan laughed, “Eldest Miss, please don’t address nubi as such, nubi couldn’t possibly be held in such regard. As to what the matter could possibly be, nubi is unclear too but can only notice that in these days ahead, the Lantern Festival should be taking place soon.”

The Lantern Festival. Jiang Ruan’s pupils abruptly contracted as her expression suddenly turned rigid. Her hands seemed to have stiffened up and she was unable to relax as if she were a stone that had been planted in an upright position in the spot where she currently stood.

Bai Zhi worriedly looked on, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

At this, Jiang Ruan then recovered her senses and laughed, “nothing’s wrong.” Yet, her nails that had been secretly clasped in her sleeves were tightly fisted in her palm.

Lantern Festival! Lantern Festival! In her past life, what had caused her to have a bad reputation back then occurred during that Spring Festival she had attended a few years after returning to the fu. From that day, everyone’s sneering and ridiculing gazes, the worry of Xia Yan and her daughter, Jiang Quan’s indifference, all of that was vividly etched into her mind. Although now that she could start her life once more, the days when she had returned to the Jiang fu had been a few years in advance of the present time. Thus she was unsure if those vile, repulsive days of despair that had begun with that festival would repeat themselves again once more. No matter, if they did or didn’t, there was one thing that was already different now and that was how she could no longer be trampled upon nor taken advantage of like an idiot. For anyone who dares to cause trouble to her, she would then return it in a thousand, no ten thousand folds back to them instead!

Du Juan had originally gazed upon Jiang Ruan smilingly and yet at that moment, in her heart, she could not help but be shocked. She had just felt that Jiang Ruan’s gaze seemed to be extremely oppressive and was actually similar to the mural that had been drawn on the wall of the temple; a semblance to one of the devils that was in the eighteenth level of hell. She even gave off a ghastly and terrible air. Yet in the next second, she saw that Jiang Ruan looked at her with a smile and her pupils were as bright and limpid as streams by the mountains. In a supple voice, she remarked, “we will go to zumu’s courtyard then.”

In Gui Lan Yuan, Jiang Su Su and Xia Yan had long since arrived. Seeing Jiang Ruan coming in with Du Juan, Jiang Su Su took the lead and hopped off the old Jiang madame’s divan. Her tone seemed to be irrepressibly excited as she spoke, “Da Jiejie, in three days, it’ll be the Lantern Festival. Zumu has consented to us sisters in the fu going together to have fun on Ling Long Fang[4]. Da Jiejie has not gone there before, right, it’s pretty amusing.”

[4] Líng lóng fǎng ( 玲珑舫 ) – This is likely the name of a large boat or an establishment in the story that has a business in this large boat. Líng lóng refers to the onomatopoeic sound of the clinking of jewels or it can refer to the clever, or nimble. Thus, the name likely means Clever/Nimble Large Boat and conversely, this is why we’ve elected not to use its translated name.

Xia Yan tenderly continued, “Ruan niang has just returned to the capital and the Lantern Festival is rather lively- why not go together to have a look. It would be good to be infected by the cheerful atmosphere as well.”

Jiang Ruan’s eyebrow rose and in her heart, she coldly laughed. As expected, regardless of her past or her present life, that mother and daughter pair’s wants and desire to frame her would never change.

At Da Jin Chao, the Lantern Festival was an extremely special holiday, as for lovers, it was even more so. For those that had reached marriageable age, both men and women would go have fun on this day, and so many beautiful and romantic tales had been composed during the Lantern Festival. And on this day, the aristocratic sons and daughters in the capital would respectively have their own amusement. There were two large vessels[5]– both were carved with layers of stone, one was carved with a dragon, while the other had a phoenix- and both of the ships were decorated extremely gorgeously. The youthful, upper-class young ladies, aristocratic daughters and princesses would be seated on Ling Long Fang. The youthful, upper-class sons, wangye[6] and huangzi[7] would then board Qing Song Fang[8]. These two decorated vessels would then tour the lake, side by side, thereby ensuring close proximity between both ships without compromising the etiquette of the distance needed between men and women.

[5] Dà huā chuán ( 大花船 ) – This refers to, in literal terms, a large and brightly decorated boat. However, to call this a simple boat would be an ill-used term, in feudal times, these extremely large vessels were often part of the crowning achievement of their time and often times, a colossal architecture made by the brains of the country. It was deeply entrenched in the feudal Chinese culture wherein only the upper crust would have these boats as part of their yearly celebrations for the Lantern Festival to wish for happiness, longevity and good health for their families. Otherwise, similar to a modern parade, these flower ships would also be a culminating part of the Lantern Festival festivities for the populace and nobilities alike wherein these ships would have beautiful courtesans to entertain guests and be part of entertaining the people down the lakes or rivers along the capital.

[6] Wáng ye ( 王爷 ) – A common term used in these ancient Chinese novels, in the feudal times, this is an honorific title granted to someone with a noble title such as Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount and Baron. Ordinarily, this term of address is used for all these noblemen who are only second in power to the nation’s monarch. But also, commoners, that have made great contributions, will be conferred such a term of address. It usually means that this wangye is a large landowner and is able to receive tribute from their land. However, this can also be referred to the current emperor’s brothers who are conferred with this title too.

[7] Huáng zǐ ( 皇子) – Another common term used in ancient Chinese novels, this refers to the princes of the current Emperor, his sons.

[8] Qīng sōng ( 青松 ) – This means pine tree, therefore, Pine Tree Boat. Pine trees have great symbolism in Chinese culture and are also seen in Chinese literature. With its evergreen and verdant nature, the pine tree symbolises the moral ideal and integrity of being firm, loyal and steadfastness.

The Lantern Festival vessels were, truthfully, just the upper-class and aristocracy’s venue for matchmaking. The young ladies would largely display their own talents in front of these gentlemen and if they were truly extremely talented, they would have many a noble admirer. After the evening has passed, by the next morn, their name would then be widely spread throughout the capital. Therefore, this day was also a competition to affirm one’s status as these well-bred young ladies from prestigious houses would secretly compete against each other in hopes that they themselves would be able to gain good future prospects and a good future husband.

Jiang Su Su had the title of the top lady in the capital and this was precisely due to the limelight she had gained annually at the Lantern Festival. It was a pity that in her past life, Jiang Ruan was completely unaware of the know-how for this event and was tricked by Jiang Su Su, resulting in her not only making a social gaffe on Ling Long Fang but also, having that sort of matter happening too. On the second morning, Jiang Su Su was no longer the most talked-about person from the Lantern Festival among the people as that position had been taken over by Jiang Ruan. After that day’s Lantern Festival, the gossip and rumours had spread all over the capital and Jiang Ruan’s reputation had taken a devastating dive, becoming the biggest laughing stock in the capital.

If it was just all of this, this matter could be considered nothing. However, in her mind, there was one scene that was deeply engraved into her memories. That day, everyone had completely filled with jeers and sneers for her. Then, only the Eighth Prince, he was the only one who had gently spoken up in Jiang Ruan’s aid. At that time, she was merely blinded; to have stubbornly mistaken the mockery in those pair of eyes of his as care and concern for her.

In this life, if she saw this old friend of hers once more, although things had remained the same, people had changed; she now knew of the mercenary designs of his under that gentlemanly exterior. The Lantern Festival that would happen in three days time, what sort of large present should she proffer up that would definitely be befitting for this new life of hers?