Chapter 9: Confinement

“Nanny Zhou, my ninth daughter is just a rough girl. I noticed that auntie seems upset. Please, you must help me explain more to her.”

As Nanny Zhou escorted the elderly Mrs. Hua and her party out, Mrs. Hua repeatedly expressed her apologies.

Nanny Zhou chuckled softly. “You worry too much. She’s just a young miss; there’s no reason for the madam to be angry.”

Neither Mrs. Hua nor the three Yao sisters-in-law took this lightly. If Madam Zhou truly weren’t upset, it would already be noon, and surely they would have been invited to stay for a meal. Yet, not a single polite word was exchanged.

As they reached the back gate, Nanny Zhou smiled and withdrew her hand from Mrs. Hua’s grasp. “Well, I’ll see you off here.” She paused briefly, then added, “I know you’re all very busy, but if you have time and hold our household in regard, do bring a few young ladies over to visit more often.”

Mrs. Hua’s face changed at once, and she hurriedly smiled in response. “Nanny Zhou, that’s not true. We look forward day and night to coming to pay our respects to auntie.”

Nanny Zhou nodded with a smile. “I know your intentions, but intentions require action, don’t they?” Before Mrs. Hua could reply, she waved her hand. “Take care on your way.”

Seeing this, Mrs. Hua could only lead her daughter-in-law and granddaughters away.

Once they turned the corner and climbed into the carriage waiting by the street, Mrs. Hua’s expression darkened instantly, her eyes blazing as she glared fiercely at Hua Changxi.

Her clenched teeth and furious demeanor silenced everyone else in the carriage.

Hua Changxi frowned and averted her gaze, turning her head aside.

Had she done wrong?

She didn’t think so.

If she had stooped to endure the scrutinizing gaze of the great matriarch as if being inspected like merchandise and crouched humbly at her feet, she would despise herself. Her dignity would never allow such behavior.

The carriage remained silent all the way back to the Hua residence.

As soon as they entered the house, Mrs. Hua exploded, “Yao Shi, lock Hua Jiuniang in the side chamber. She shall not be fed for the next few days.”

Hua Changxi broke free from her mother’s grasp and shouted, “On what grounds are you locking me up?”

Mrs. Hua’s anger intensified as she pointed a finger at Hua Changxi. “And you dare ask? We were visiting today, and you offended the hostess. You truly have a talent for causing trouble.”

“I warn you, if you jeopardize Fifth Miss’s prospects, see how I deal with you!”

Hua Changxi sneered sarcastically, “Grandmother, I advise you not to hold too high hopes for the clan. I believe today’s so-called prospecting is most likely bad news.”

Madam Zhou’s apparent inspection was really a selection — seeking young ladies who could bow low, who pleased others.

Is this a proper way to assess a respectable young lady?

And it was done with several families together.

Who would believe there was no trickery involved?

Seeing her dare to talk back, Mrs. Hua glanced around then strode to the eaves, grabbed a broom, and hurled it at Hua Changxi.

“Jiuniang, you’re truly rebellious!”

Hua Changxi swiftly dodged.

“What’s all this noise?”

Master Hua emerged from the main hall with a stern face. The clan’s sudden visit unsettled him. Having stayed home all day hoping for news, he was met with his wife’s outburst.

“What’s going on?”

Mrs. Hua quickly recounted the events at the great clan’s residence, pointing accusingly at Hua Changxi. “This girl has gone beyond control.”

Upon hearing that Hua Changxi had offended the great clan’s matriarch, Master Hua’s anger flared. He glared at Yao Shi with a sharp tone, “What, your mother-in-law can’t command you anymore? Is this how you behave as a daughter-in-law?”

Seeing Master Hua scold her mother, Hua Changxi was about to argue, but Yao Shi immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.

“The daughter-in-law will take Jiuniang to the side chamber now.”

Without further words, she dragged Hua Changxi toward the side room.

Hua Changxi knew if she resisted, Master Hua and Mrs. Hua would vent their anger on Yao Shi, so she obediently entered the chamber, watching as Mrs. Hua locked the door with a key.

“Grandmother, just wait and see. Offering unsolicited kindness means foul play. The clan’s sudden prospecting of Fifth Miss is definitely ill-intentioned.”

“You and grandfather try so hard to befriend the clan, but they only see us as pawns.”

Mrs. Hua, having vented much of her frustration, responded lightly, “What do you know, young miss?”

“You think you know everything just because you read a few books. Pawns, you say? If the clan truly treated us as pawns, it would be our blessing.”

With that, she tossed the key aside and left.

Hua Changxi was angry but didn’t dwell on it; she knew this was a matter of perspective. She turned and sat on the only straw cushion in the room.

She was no stranger to this side chamber — she had lost count of how many times she’d been locked in here.

The Hua household was large, but the inner courtyard did not have enough rooms for everyone to have one each. Even so, this side chamber was kept vacant, purposely reserved for punishing wayward family members.

Sitting quietly on the cushion, Hua Changxi calmed herself, then closed her eyes and began practicing the small bird breathing method.

...

Under the eaves of the upper house, Second Aunt Hua, Fourth Aunt Hua, and Fifth, Seventh, Twelfth, and Fourteenth Misses all watched as Hua Changxi was locked in the side chamber.

Twelfth Miss chuckled, “Thank heaven our eldest uncle wasn’t here today, otherwise Jiuniang wouldn’t have been locked up.”

Second Aunt Hua said, “Even if your eldest uncle had been here, since Jiuniang offended the great clan’s matriarch, the punishment would have been certain. You all know how much grandfather values the clan; your eldest uncle knows that better than anyone.”

Seventh Miss looked puzzled, “Jiuniang didn’t do anything that excessive.”

Second Aunt glanced at Fourth Aunt. “Today, the great clan’s matriarch was prospecting young ladies from the clan. Jiuniang’s outburst surely soured their impression of our family’s girls. They might not even consider Fifth Miss anymore.”

Fourth Aunt made no protest.

There was no denying that Hua Changxi’s behavior at the great clan’s home caused some resentment in Fourth Aunt and Fifth Miss’s hearts.

Seventh Miss saw her mother and elder sister’s troubled expressions and dared not speak further.

“Let’s go, back to our rooms.”

Watching Fourth Aunt lead Fifth, Seventh, and Fourteenth Misses away, Second Aunt smirked with a hint of schadenfreude.

The three daughters-in-law of the Hua family usually kept to themselves, with the Fourth Younger Sister-in-law preferring to stay with the eldest sister-in-law, leaving others isolated. Now, if Jiuniang truly jeopardized Fifth Miss’s prospects, how would they get along in the future?

In the main hall, Master Hua kept glancing at his tobacco pipe, displeased as he looked at Mrs. Hua. “What happened? How could you let Jiuniang slip at the great clan’s home?”

Mrs. Hua frowned, “Could I stop her? Jiuniang is rebellious to the core; she dares disobey even you, let alone me.”

Master Hua’s face darkened. “This time, we must discipline that girl properly. Keep a watch on the side chamber and do not allow anyone from the main house to bring Jiuniang food.”

He rose and paced the room.

“I will go to the great clan’s home tomorrow and personally apologize to auntie.”

Mrs. Hua hesitated, “I’ve already apologized once. You don’t need to go. I think auntie likes Fifth Miss and will help with the prospecting.”

Master Hua shook his head. “Fifth Miss’s matter is secondary. I’m worried about the eldest son and the others.”

“Though Minghe and the others all work at the government office, their ranks are low. Now that the grandsons are grown, if they cannot rely on clan support, what good futures can they hope for?”

“Our family is already estranged from the clan; we cannot afford more grudges over this.”

Mrs. Hua asked, “When will you go? I want to prepare some gifts.”

Master Hua glanced at the sky. “Tomorrow, then.”

...

At the great clan’s residence, the eldest son Hua Tai, thinking about the prospecting of young ladies today, went straight to Madam Zhou’s room after work. “Mother, how did today’s prospecting go?”

Hua Tai’s wife, Mrs. Zhong, was also present and said, “Mother worked hard today, so tired she barely ate at noon.”

Madam Zhou waved her hand. “Not tired, just had no appetite.”

Hua Tai quickly said, “Mother, please take good care of yourself. I have some medicinal herbs gifted by the Bo family; I’ll have the maid bring them to you shortly. Your health is what your son worries about most.”

Madam Zhou was pleased by her eldest son’s concern.

Mrs. Zhong smiled, presenting a freshly brewed cup of tea. “I think it’s because Mother is too kind to the clan members that she got upset by one young miss.”

Hua Tai’s expression changed immediately. “Who dares upset my mother?”

Madam Zhou glanced coolly at Mrs. Zhong, shaking her head. “She’s just a young miss; she can’t really anger me.”

“It’s just that seeing those young ladies, each like a blooming flower, about to blossom, but destined to be given away as concubines—it pains my heart.”

Hua Tai rose quickly and bowed deeply to Madam Zhou. “Thank you for worrying about me, mother.”

Madam Zhou sighed. “Alas, this sinful business of selecting clan young ladies as concubines falls to an old woman like me. If the clan wants to curse, let them curse me.”

Hua Tai and Mrs. Zhong exchanged a glance and hurried to say, “How can this be a sin? Being chosen by you to enter a noble household as a concubine is a great fortune for the clan’s young ladies.”

Madam Zhou remained silent.

Hua Tai cautiously asked, “Mother, which young lady have you chosen?”

Madam Zhou looked at her son. “Chosen? I merely selected according to the standards you set.”

“She must be fertile, have a good appearance, and a gentle temperament—no jealousy with the main wife. After careful selection, only one or two truly fit.”

Seeing her son’s eager gaze, Madam Zhou revealed the chosen one. “Fifth Miss from Hua Bin’s family is the most suitable; she’s of age.”

Hua Tai thought of Hua Bin’s family and smiled. “As expected, when mother takes charge, nothing is impossible.”

Madam Zhou looked at her son. “They gave up a young lady; don’t be stingy on your side.”

Hua Tai laughed, “Mother, rest assured, with so many clan members watching, I won’t lose sight of the bigger picture and disappoint the clan. Doesn’t Hua Bin have many grandsons? All of them want to train in martial arts. I will send them an admission ticket to the martial arts academy.”

“Trading one young lady to get a grandson into the academy to practice martial arts is not a loss!”

Madam Zhou nodded. “Be polite too; Hua Bin’s branch still has some backbone.” She couldn’t help but think of the young miss who dared meet her gaze — Hua Jiuniang.

Suddenly smiling, Madam Zhou said, “Speaking of which, the young ladies from Hua Bin’s family all have quite good looks. When they mature in a couple of years, they will be top beauties.”

Hua Tai laughed along, “To catch mother’s eye, those young ladies are indeed fortunate. When they come of age, mother can help select suitable families for them.”

Mother and son exchanged a knowing smile.