Chapter Sixty-Seven: Laying All the Cards on the Table

It was only then that Madam Xing remembered to examine the gift inside the wooden box. Moments ago, her mind had been occupied with how best to put Zhen Qian in his place, forgetting to first see what the gift looked like. Now, after Zhen Qian’s remarks, Madam Xing found herself at a loss, unable to react as she wished, and could only glance at the Xing steward from the corner of her eye.

The steward instantly understood; such matters were not appropriate for Madam Xing to address directly, lest others think the second house’s mistress petty and harsh. It was his cue to step forward. He reached into the wooden box and took out the brocade-feathered fan, intending to open it for inspection, but something seemed to jam it. He dared not force it open, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Thinking quickly, the steward blurted, “What sort of worthless thing is this? How can they be so shameless as to present it as a birthday gift?”

“Oh? Is that so?” Zhen Qian saw no need to show courtesy to a mere servant. A cold smile played at his lips. “Since the steward does not recognize this item, perhaps someone else does. If anyone here knows what it is, I will say nothing further. But if—” He abruptly pointed at the steward. “—if not, then I may well consider you to be sowing discord between mother and son. You call it worthless—have you any proof?”

The two young maids standing at the door nearly burst out laughing. When Zhen Qian had first offered the fan to Madam Xing, they’d worried for some time. But having grown accustomed to his strange inventions, they’d paid little mind to the fan. Now, their curiosity was piqued: why couldn’t the steward open it?

Those seated nearer the front stood up, equally curious about the gift Zhen Qian had brought Madam Xing today. All had heard him say it was a brocade-feathered fan, but it looked nothing like any fan they knew. Was there some hidden mystery?

The brocade-feathered fan made its way around the room, finally returning to Zhen Qian. He took it in hand and gave it a gentle shake. Instantly, a semicircular fan unfolded, its dozen or so brilliantly colored feathers arranged closely together, dazzling under the sunlight. The crowd gasped in amazement.

Ordinary feather fans were common in the Tang Dynasty. It was said that Zhuge Liang of Shu and Gu Rong of Jin wielded white feather fans to command their armies, and Lu Ji of Jin even wrote a “Rhapsody on the Feather Fan.” Wealthy families all possessed beautiful feather fans with long handles. But a foldable feather fan—this was a first, eliciting a chorus of admiration.

Zhen Qian handed the opened brocade-feathered fan to Madam Xing, his gaze never leaving the steward’s face. As Madam Xing accepted the fan, Zhen Qian spoke in a voice low enough for only those nearby to hear: “Today is Mother’s birthday, a day that should be filled with joy. Yet the steward has maliciously tried to damage the bond between us, harboring ill intent that cannot be tolerated. I am not afraid to expose the truth in front of everyone: this steward keeps a mistress outside, takes bribes under the guise of household purchases, and deceives the mistress with honeyed words. Such a person has no place in the Zhen family. Mother, I ask you to drive this scoundrel out, lest he tarnish our family’s reputation!”

Madam Xing was pondering how to use the steward to embarrass Zhen Qian when she suddenly heard his retort, not loud but thunderous in her ears. She was thrown into confusion, her face changing dramatically, nearly screaming that Zhen Qian was speaking nonsense.

But just then, from the corner of her eye, Madam Xing caught the steward’s face, which had paled with shock. Her heart skipped a beat. She realized that Zhen Qian’s sudden outburst, spoken so quietly that few had heard, was a warning: if she didn’t want today’s celebration to become a scandal, she would have to swallow her anger.

Round one: Zhen Qian triumphs!

Madam Xing snorted coldly, her dissatisfaction with the steward matched only by her deepening hatred for Zhen Qian.

The steward’s heart raced, his face shifting between fear and composure. Zhen Qian’s words were like a dagger piercing his chest. He had never imagined Zhen Qian would cause such a scene on a day like this. But what was even more unsettling was how Zhen Qian knew of his private dealings. The steward believed himself cautious: bribes were never taken openly, not even near the Zhen residence, lest someone see. He always took detours when outside to check for followers, and as for his mistress, he never stayed overnight. He thought himself flawless, and this was not his first time. He could not fathom why Zhen Qian chose today to expose him.

Of course, the steward could never admit to such things. Bribery, keeping a mistress, deceiving his mistress—any one offense could ruin him. Being expelled from the Zhen household would be the least of it; if the family were enraged enough to hand him over to the authorities, exile and forced labor would be inevitable.

Fear gnawed at him, but he forced himself to appear calm, his voice subdued: “Mistress, please do not heed his nonsense. I have always been deeply grateful to the Zhen family. Since taking charge of the inner quarters, I have been diligent and cautious, never daring to slacken for a moment. As for the young master’s accusations, I fear it is because I offended him before and now suffer his verbal attacks. I beg Mistress to clear my name!”

A crystal-clear pond holds no fish. As for the steward’s habit of pocketing a little money from household purchases, Madam Xing did not care. She came from a distinguished family and had sat as mistress for many years; she understood such things.

But keeping a mistress was different. The Zhen family’s standards were strict, and such behavior, if exposed, would severely damage their reputation. They prided themselves on scholarly refinement and virtuous lineage—not mere words, but a way of life. Even if the steward were unmarried and the woman outside was his wife and children, it would be a different matter. Alas, that was not the case.

Madam Xing did not believe this was mere slander. Instead, she worried that if the matter grew, it would harm both the Zhen family and her own reputation as mistress. The second master was currently serving as an official elsewhere; all affairs of the second house were managed by Madam Xing alone. If anything disgraceful happened now, it would bring shame on the family. Her resentment towards the steward deepened.

Madam Xing slowly rose, nodded apologetically to those in the room, and said, “Please remain here for a while. I must step inside.”

She did not specify the reason, and the guests assumed she needed to attend to a private matter, so none inquired.

As Madam Xing prepared to leave, she swept her gaze over Zhen Qian and the steward. “You two, come with me.”