Mists And Fogs

Story 10

She gazed at the treasure in her arms tenderly.

All of the pain and suffering and humiliation that she endured, in this tormenting inner courtyards of this most prestigious of all noble household, flew away.

The gurgles of her child, every flail of his chubby tiny hands, his blinking eyes, gummy smiles and myriad expressions, wiped away all of her sorrows.

She could spend days with just his company and be utterly content.

"1st Young Madame is completely enamoured with 1st Little Young Master!"

"All young mothers are like that! Wait 'till you have one of your own, see if you could let go any easier!"

Laughter breaks amongst the busy female servants and the elderly momo supervising them.

A first-ranked servant girl sighed after the laughter ebbs away.

'I'm thanking all the Watching Benevolence, that they blessed our lady's courtyard. After this, who knows if our lady would ever be favoured again,' she sighed to herself.

"Aiyoo, what are you sighing for, ah, LiuYa?" The eagle-eyed momo caught her turned mood.

"Wah! Wang momo is so sharp! Caught LiuYa-jiejie!" a few of the younger girls exclaimed.

Seeing the old lady's raised eyebrows, LiuYa hurriedly calmed the waters, not wanting any dirt splashed onto her lady. Servants that came along as the wedding dowry were always kept under strict observations.

"Nothing! I'm just wondering when will the 'full moon' banquet be held for our courtyard's little young master. I've been hearing so many praises for Zhong family's head cook, really looking forward if we'll be fortunate enough to taste his talents!"

"Ah!! That's right!" a chorus of agreement breaks out. Every young girls will always be interested in pastries and sweetmeats. To be greedy in this small matter would be viewed with much amusement and spoiling by elders.

At the new topic, enthusiastic chatter broke out about past feasting that some were fortunate to witnessed. Several were debating over the possible menus that the famous cook might offer. Arguing about this dish or that desserts.

The old woman had a conflicted look upon her face as she was presented with LiuYa's guileless expression.

And soon Wang momo was also dragged into the discussion, and forgot about LiuYa.

She sighed with relief. As expected, all of them, master and servant alike, were under constant scrutiny and guarded until even water wasn't able to seep through.

Hiding her grievance under a smiling face, she cajoled the others over the matters and the topic continued until they were dismissed from duties.

Repressing her disgust towards this family's actions, she thought to herself, 'If you are so frightened with my Young Miss' maiden family, why did you allow the disrespect to continue?'

How outsiders will laugh once the news broke.

Zhong family, instead of holding a 'full moon' banquet to celebrate their youngest heir, had a concubine welcoming ceremony even before the child reached his 100th day!

And the female was actually the cousin of the Young Master!

It shows the truth about the relationship between these two shameless people!

How pitiful their own young lady! Forced to enter a household of a man that she doesn't know, swallowing back her objections for the sake of the elders' face. And for this filiality, she was rewarded with an unfaithful husband!

Thinking back about her Young Miss' cautious hope that perhaps they could slowly develop feelings and regards for each other, LiuYa really wished that her precious  young miss was a bit more willful and misbehaved, throwing tantrums or picking fights, when this calamity of a marriage was arranged for her...