Chapter 25
At just sixteen, Cao Xun left Beijing, entrusting the design of the Duke's Mansion gardens to his father and stepmother. By the time he returned at thirty, his priorities had shifted to navigating official circles and preparing for marriage, leaving no space in his life for the gardens.
Busy days and late nights kept him away from the estate's greenery, freeing him from any attachment. In contrast, Yunzhu, the mistress of the estate, adored the natural world. She loved flowers, plants, and serene walks in pleasant weather, which sparked her interest in taking charge of the garden's transformation, tailored precisely to her tastes.
As plans for renovations moved forward, they decided to tackle all changes in one decisive effort.
One warm summer evening, after dinner, Cao Xun took a stroll through the garden. Initially eager to have Yunzhu join him, he found her too weary. Instead, she asked someone to fetch the map of Dingguo Duke's Mansion and stayed indoors, thoughtfully refining her ideas for the renovations.
Cao Xun roamed the grounds with purpose, his swift movements reflecting his determination. By nightfall, he returned to Yunzhu with fresh ideas, implementing her suggestions and even renaming two pavilions.
Pointing to the "Little Ya Pavilion" on the map, Yunzhu observed, "Your stepmother loves this spot. She often hosts noblewomen here. If you rename it now or during the renovation, they'll think I was behind it and single me out. But they'll let you off the hook."
Cao Xun laughed, "I hadn't thought about it. If it bothers you, just forget I mentioned it."
He hadn't visited the Little Ya Pavilion since his return to Beijing.
Yunzhu smiled. "It doesn't bother me. But since changes are happening anyway, why not take credit for it this time?"
Cao Xun agreed but then asked, "Are you still worried about her?"
"I'm not scared," Yunzhu replied, "but I'd rather avoid starting our marriage with accusations from my mother-in-law."
Cao Xun considered her words. "Even if I take the lead, people will assume it was your idea."
Yunzhu's eyes gleamed. "That's your call. If the head of the family doesnât approve, how could I possibly make a wrong move?"
Remembering an earlier confrontation, Cao Xun smirked. "If she dared to call me shameless to my face, why not?"
*
As evening fell the next day, Cao Xun finished his duties and headed straight home. He wasted no time contacting Zhang Tai, the manager, to discuss the garden renovation.
He laid out his vision clearly on the map, specifying where the white and pink lotuses should be planted in the different ponds.
Zhang Tai eagerly took on the task, saying, "I'll get started today."
Replacing the pavilion plaque was straightforward, but finding rare flowers and trees was another challengeâit required tracking down an expert in the specific plants. Thankfully, the Duke Dingguoâs estate was well-known and well-off, so word spread quickly, and the right people were recommended.
Five days later, Zhang Tai brought a lotus expert to meet the Dukeâs wife, carrying ten prized white and red lotusesâhighly sought after at the time.
In the peak of summer, Yunzhuâs spirits lifted at the sight of these beautiful flowers. She immediately sent a young maid to fetch the lady, saying, âHurry, ask her to join us in choosing the flowers.â
As the officer in plain robes observed the smiling beauty admiring the flowers, he couldnât help but admire the grace of the new lady of Dingguoâs mansion. He silently wondered if the Elder Madam had regretted her actions.
Meanwhile, Pan Shi had spent the heat of the day indoors, trying on a variety of new outfits.
When she heard the request to choose lotus flowers for the main courtyard, she was confused and asked the maid who delivered the message. The response was vague.
With nothing else to do, Pan Shi leisurely walked over, with Nanny Fang in tow.
Seeing her, Yunzhu smiled and said, âMother, come see which of these lotuses you like.â
Pan Shi glanced at the two-tone lotuses in the barrels and asked, âWhatâs going on here?â
Yunzhu, surprised, replied, âDidnât the Duke tell you? He mentioned the water lilies in the pond seemed dull, and he wanted to replace them with lotuses. He asked us to choose.â
Pan Shi hesitated, replying, âIâve been tending those water lilies for seven or eight years. Why replace them when theyâre thriving?â
Yunzhu calmly explained, âThe Duke said he grew up with lotuses at home. When he returned to Beijing, he found the water lilies instead, and they felt odd to him.â
Pan Shi suppressed her annoyance.
In her early marriage, the Cao family's pond was filled with lotus flowers. While Pan Shi had always loved them, her late husband's obsession with the bloomsâplanted by Cao Xun's mother's ordersâleft a bitter mark.
Wanting to be a good wife, Pan Shi had left the flowers untouched while her husband was alive. But after his death, she removed them, seeing them as a reminder of another woman.
Now, to her frustration, Yunzhu was poking into her past and using Cao Xun as her excuse!
It was absurd that Cao Xun, who had shown no interest in the lilies since returning to Beijing, would suddenly care about them now.
Yet, Yunzhuâs reasoning was solid, and it would be disrespectful to ignore her legitimate son's feelings. Publicly, Pan Shi kept her cool and agreed, saying, "Itâs only natural. After staring at water lilies for so long, a change would be refreshing."
Pan Shi then chose four types of lotus flowers she liked.
Yunzhu commented, "What a coincidence. These are my favorites too. Iâll have the Duke inspect them when he returns."
Pan Shi sighed inwardly, knowing that once Cao Xun "evaluated" them, her choices would probably be rejected.
Sure enough, he didn't even get involved in the selection, and Yunzhu made all the decisions herself.
*
During the June holiday, Cao Shao, curious about the noise in the garden, decided to check it out.
As he strolled through the flowers and trees, his gaze landed on the bridge. There stood his eldest brother in azure brocade, holding an umbrella, while Yunzhu stood close under it, watching several craftsmen pull water lilies from the pond.
Just as he was about to quietly admire Yunzhu from a distance, Cao Shao was caught off guard when Cao Xun looked over at him.
With no choice, he smiled and walked over to the bridge.
Yunzhu briefly glanced his way, offering no more than a polite acknowledgment, then returned her focus to the pond.
Cao Shao awkwardly moved to the other side of Cao Xun, standing in the sun, and casually explained, "I was reading in the study and heard there was something happening here."
Cao Xun simply replied, "Yes, I plan to replant lotus flowers here."
Cao Shao lowered his eyes, distracted by the sight of Yunzhuâs elegant skirt nearby, as memories rushed back.
He remembered when Yunzhu was thirteen, standing on this same bridge, dismissing a water lily with disdain: "Why did your family switch to this plant? It looks terrible."
Heâd teased her then, knowing the maids werenât listening: "When you get married, I'll accompany you to plant lotus flowers."
Now, Yunzhu was married into the Cao family and had the power to change the flowers in the pond, but the one by her side was no longer Cao Shaoâit was his eldest brother.
A craftsman tossed a water lily onto the shore, the roots covered in brown mud, and Cao Shao couldnât help but feel like that discarded flowerâleft behind by Yunzhu.
"Brother, please continue keeping an eye on things with your wife. Iâm going back to my room to read," Cao Shao said, forcing a smile.
Cao Xun nodded, looking concerned. "Take care. Remember to rest, donât overdo it."
Cao Shao nodded and walked away, heading off the bridge.
Yunzhu watched him leave.
If he hadnât appeared, she would have likely forgotten that old memory. But with him back, it resurfaced.
Those childhood years together had been real.
Suddenly uninterested in the scene, Yunzhu lingered for another fifteen minutes before turning to Cao Xun. "Letâs go. Itâs getting hot."
Cao Xun looked at her, his expression unchanged.
*
The next morning, Cao Xun had an early court session and got up at dawn.
Yunzhu, upon waking, learned that Cao Shao was unwell. Pan Shi had already sent for a doctor, who would arrive soon.
With Pan Shi present, Yunzhu, as his sister-in-law, didnât think it was right to visit Cao Shao, so she sent a second-class maid in her place.
Cao Shao was staying in the east courtyard of Duke Dingguo's mansion. His fever left him too dizzy to even speak, even if his mother was right there.
Pan Shi was beside herself with worry, tears streaming down her face. "You were fine yesterday! How did you fall so sick all of a sudden?"
Cao Shao could only offer a bitter smile.
The night before, he had a strange dream. His legs turned into roots, sinking deep into the mud at the pond's bottom, while his upper body bloomed into a water lily. At first, the dream was beautiful. Yunzhu stood by the stone bridge, smiling at him, talking to him. But then, everything shifted. Yunzhu coldly ordered someone to chase him away.
Cao Shao was filled with unbearable sadness, tears welling up as the root that connected him was severed and blood poured from it. But Yunzhu didnât care, indifferent as she abandoned him.
A single tear slipped from his eye.
Pan Shi soon realized that her son must have witnessed Cao Xun and the woman together the day before, and the emotional toll it took on him left him heartbroken.
When the doctor arrived, he diagnosed Cao Shao with depression.
Pan Shi was furious and frantic. If only she had known her son would suffer like this, she wouldâve stopped Yunzhu from marrying him!
Nanny Fang spoke up, "Regret is pointless now. You should act fast and send someone to Changxing Marquis Mansion to propose marriage. With Miss Wenyingâs beauty, the second master will have a gentle wife. No matter how deep the old love is, heâll get over it."
Pan Shi nodded, "As soon as Shaoâer is well, Iâll find a matchmaker!"
*
When Cao Xun got home that evening, he heard Cao Shao was ill and had left without even changing out of his official uniform.
Cao Shao, knowing his brother would come by, didnât want to seem weak. He took three doses of medicine in a row and felt much better. He had someone bring a wicker chair into the courtyard, then played chess with Chang Sui while enjoying the cool air, looking quite relaxed and content.
"Donât worry, brother, Iâll be at the Hanlin Academy first thing tomorrow morning."
Cao Xun asked for the prescription, then said, "Chess takes a lot of energy. Youâd be better off getting some rest tonight."
Cao Shao agreed and had the chessboard cleared away.
After watching the servants leave, Cao Xun turned to Cao Shao and asked quietly, "Yesterday, I accompanied Yunzhu to see the craftsmen digging lotus seeds. Are you�"
Before he could finish, Cao Shao quickly cut him off, saying, "Brother, youâre overthinking. I just stayed up late reading and strained myself. Itâs really nothing like you think."
Cao Xun looked at him seriously. "As your older brother, itâs my job to look out for you. If this is something youâre uncomfortable with, Iâll be more careful in the future."
Cao Shao shook his head, his face turning red. "It really has nothing to do with you. If you keep saying things like that, I wonât know how to face you or my sister-in-law."
Cao Xun patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Good. Yunzhuâs got a childish temper, so I canât afford to be careless with her."
âââTN:
Poor Shao'er... your big brother is a scheming veteran.