Chapter 6

Barely five days passed before Mother began to lose patience.

Since morning and evening visits were no longer required, I hadn’t been to her courtyard.

One day, pretending to take a stroll after her meal, she wandered into mine as if quite by chance.

She praised my flowering crabapple.

Then, “casually,” she asked,

“That painter who came before—has he finished your portrait?”

I smiled, with a touch of wounded feeling.

“Not yet. Perhaps after seeing Mother’s beauty, Master Han has no patience left for painting so ordinary a woman as me.”

“I’ve sent for him several times. He says he has paintings to finish for important clients, and can’t come until they’re done.”

Mother nodded calmly. Before she had finished a cup of tea, she rose.

“Well, I’m going back to bed.”

“You should sleep early too. With my boy away, don’t keep all your lamps blazing. Someone might see and think you couldn’t bear the loneliness of your nights.”

Once she was gone, Xiaocui spat viciously.

“There she goes again, that spiteful old witch. Taking little swipes at you, Miss.”

“She’s the one who can’t bear it, I’ll wager.”

Another half month passed.

Mother was noticeably less lively than when I’d first returned.

I made a special visit to pay my respects. She lay slumped on her couch, speaking listlessly.

The bird’s-nest porridge on her table had gone cold, barely touched.

I laughed to myself, but my face was full of concern. Tenderly, I asked,

“Is the food not to your liking, Mother?”

She sighed.

“I’m old. I’ve no appetite, can’t eat much. At least it saves you some silver.”

I knew perfectly well what was wrong. Judging by the bluish shadows under her eyes, she hadn’t been sleeping well.

Probably turning over all night like a flatbread on a griddle.

I grew still more solicitous.

“Mother, how can you say that? My husband and I both hope you’ll live to a hundred.”

“If you’re unwell, I’ll send for a physician at once.”

She waved a weary hand.

“An old complaint. A couple of days’ rest will set it right. I can’t abide those bitter medicines.”

“But that won’t do!” I exclaimed anxiously.

“You must have worn yourself out working for this family.”

I paused, then changed tack.

“As it happens, I heard about a physician in the next county a few days ago. He used to treat noblewomen in the capital, but his uncompromising honesty offended someone powerful, so he came home.”

“They say he knows a set of health exercises especially good for women with imbalances of blood and qi, or low spirits.”

“Since you don’t want medicine, why not have him stay here for a few days and teach you?”

Mother looked uninterested.

“Exercises? These old arms and legs aren’t up to that.”

“Don’t underestimate them, Mother,” I said with a smile.

“I’ve heard that quite a few ladies in the capital, well into their thirties, look barely twenty after practicing for a few years.”

At last her eyelids lifted.

I knew she was tempted.

Master Han hadn’t come for so long.

She probably suspected her fading looks could no longer keep a man.

That as soon as I returned, he had hurried to distance himself from her, lest I gain something to hold over him.

With such an accomplished physician available, why not give it a try?