Chapter 5

Another month passed in the blink of an eye, and winter snow lay in a thin layer over the ground. The year’s end approached, and with it the day for Laba porridge.

Following custom, I had every sort of bean prepared, along with cured duck and pork, peanuts and nuts, and set the porridge simmering.

Once Laba passed, the New Year was close behind. I grew so busy that my feet scarcely touched the ground.

The porridge was ready early that morning. First, portions had to be sent to the ancestral hall, the Old Madam, and the clan elders; then to Yan Yunqing and the household’s retainers; then to the second and third branches of the family, our neighbors, and other relations. Only at the very end was it distributed to the rear court.

I was exhausted. Just as I finally sat down to rest and drink a bowl, a thought occurred to me, and I asked the matron, “Who delivered the portion to Embroidered Orchid Court?”

Embroidered Orchid Court was Yun Yaoyao’s residence.

The matron kneaded my shoulders. “Be at ease, Madam. Chunzhu supervised it personally. She and that courtyard’s senior maid, Xiaotao, packed it into the food box together and sent it over.”

Chunzhu was a maid from my dowry household who had come with me from Yongzhou.

Relieved, I nodded. One could never be too careful with food.

Despite those precautions, something still happened.

I was having dinner with Qing’er when Chunzhu hurried in, dropped to her knees, and said in alarm, “Madam, something has happened at Embroidered Orchid Court.”

My heart sank. I immediately told the wet nurse to take Qing’er back, then asked, “What happened?”

Chunzhu was shaken, but she had served me for almost twenty years and managed to keep her composure.

“They summoned a physician. I hear the child may not… may not survive.”

I rose, ordered my courtyard guarded, and hurried there with Chunzhu and the matron.

Yan Yunqing had already arrived. The rooms were in chaos, maids rushing in and out with basins of bloody water.

Yan Yunqing sat in the hall, his face dark as an approaching storm.

I went forward and asked, “How is Concubine Yun?”

The physician beside him was drenched in sweat. His voice came out hoarse. “Madam, I fear Concubine Yun’s child… cannot be saved.” His voice dwindled almost to nothing.

Before he finished, a wail sounded from the inner room. Then Xiaotao, Yun Yaoyao’s personal maid, stumbled out and fell to her knees before Yan Yunqing and me.

“My lord, my mistress has lost the child! The little master is gone! Oh, heavens…”

Yan Yunqing’s face turned ashen. He started for the inner room, only to be stopped by a weak voice from within.

“My lord, Yaoyao’s child—our child—is gone… Yaoyao has always been frail. It was difficult enough to conceive this time. I fear I will never bear you another child. We will never have a child together…”

Yan Yunqing flew into a rage. “She was perfectly well yesterday. How can the child be gone today?”

The physician cowered to one side. “The concubine appears to have consumed something that quickens the blood. That is what caused the miscarriage.”

Xiaotao dabbed at her tears and stammered, “The pregnancy was hard on my mistress, and her nausea was severe. Today she drank only one bowl of porridge. She ate nothing else…”

I gave Xiaotao a cool glance, then looked at Chunzhu. Chunzhu shook her head slightly.

Yan Yunqing slammed the table. “The child was perfectly healthy. Find out how this happened! I want the truth, down to the last detail!”

Xiaotao brought out the food box and bowl. It was indeed the Laba porridge distributed that day. She also produced the other cups and dishes Yun Yaoyao had used, along with the dregs of her medicinal decoction.

The physician examined everything carefully. Silence reigned, broken only by an occasional sob from the inner room.

An hour passed while he inspected every item she had eaten or used. At last, the physician’s gaze settled on the food box.