Chapter 54: Parry
Encountering Zhou Fuyun here was embarrassing enough for Han Shujing, but then Zhou Ruosu loudly called out “Mother” and rushed over. Liu Chuyan and Lin Jinhuan stepped aside, and Liu Guanji took a big step back, leaving Zhou Ruosu to throw herself unabashedly into Han Shujing’s arms.
Fortunately, Han Shujing was seated, or else such a large glutinous rice ball would have knocked her off her feet. Though unharmed, she was startled enough to cry out, “Ruosu, be careful.”
Zhou Ruosu looked up with wide, blinking eyes and giggled, “Mother.”
“Ruosu, I am not—”
“Mother, when are you coming home? I miss you, and Father misses you too.” Zhou Ruosu, even less discreet than Liu Guanji and younger still, left Han Shujing unable to refuse her enthusiasm, her attempts to speak cut off again and again.
“Mother, we haven’t seen you for so long. Please come home with Father soon, won’t you?”
“Mother, Father is here too. He also said—”
“Ruosu, come here.” Zhou Fuyun had intended to visit Han Shujing and let Zhou Ruosu go ahead to scout the situation, but he hadn’t expected Zhou Ruosu to have learned such words somewhere, each “Mother” louder than the last, leaving Han Shujing mortified, her cheeks flushed brighter than the coral beads in her hair. If she weren’t holding Zhou Ruosu, she’d surely have wanted to slip away and hide.
Hearing her father’s stern call, Zhou Ruosu refused to leave, instead hugging Han Shujing tighter, pouting as she glanced back and grumbled, “Father, I want Mother.”
“Ruosu, she—she isn’t yet—” Zhou Fuyun, awkward of tongue, stammered, “Ruosu, come over to Father. Don’t ruin Third Miss’s reputation.”
“Father, you’re going to marry her anyway. She’s my mother,” Zhou Ruosu persisted, squinting and smiling up at Han Shujing, “Mother, isn’t that so?”
“Ruosu, be good. Let’s go pay our respects to Old General Liu and Madam Han,” Zhou Fuyun, seeing Ruosu unmoved, called for the accompanying nursemaid to come take her, and apologized to Liu Chuyan and the other ladies, “My daughter’s behavior is brash, and I beg your forgiveness.”
“No harm done. Ruosu is so adorable, I can’t help but like her,” Liu Chuyan reached out and smoothed her soft hair.
Even with the nursemaid reaching for her, Zhou Ruosu was unwilling to leave, instead wrapping one arm around Han Shujing’s neck and grasping Liu Chuyan’s fingertips, shouting, “Mother, Auntie, help!”
“Pfft—” Liu Chuyan nearly laughed aloud at the scene, and Liu Guanji was already doubled over, unable to contain herself.
Han Shujing, being climbed and clung to like a tree, was at a loss, fearing Ruosu might fall, so she held her tightly, while the nursemaid awkwardly withdrew her hand.
Zhou Fuyun, helpless, scratched the back of his head in frustration.
“Mother, why don’t you come back with me today? At our house, I’ll sleep with you, so you won’t be lonely like in Hongjue Temple,” Zhou Ruosu’s words, soft and comforting, though somewhat ill-timed, warmed the heart.
Han Shujing rose, holding her, “Aunt Shujing will take you to see Old General Liu, all right?”
Hearing “Aunt Shujing,” Zhou Ruosu pouted, on the verge of tears, “You want me to call you Aunt? Don’t you like Ruosu? I’m so cute, and you don’t like me?”
Han Shujing hadn’t expected Ruosu to start crying so suddenly, tears flowing like a flood, soaking her clothes in an instant. Flustered, she wiped Ruosu’s tears, “I do like you. Aunt Shujing likes you very much. Don’t cry, Ruosu, don’t cry.”
“You want me to call you Aunt… I don’t want to…”
“All right, all right, you don’t have to call me Aunt.” Ruosu’s tears left Han Shujing completely at a loss, so she relented.
“Then I’ll call you Mother, and you must answer me.”
“Ruosu!” Zhou Fuyun worried Ruosu’s uninhibited words might upset Han Shujing, which would be more trouble than it was worth. But he underestimated a woman’s maternal instinct, for Han Shujing agreed without hesitation.
“Very well, I promise. Don’t cry, hmm?”
“Really?” Zhou Ruosu stopped crying in an instant, faster than summer rain.
“Really.” Only then did Han Shujing realize she had fallen into Ruosu’s trap, but it was already too late.
“Oh, I have a mother now, I have a mother…” Ruosu cheered, wriggling in her arms and nuzzling her face, “Mother, you must keep your word. If you trick me, I’ll sleep with you every night and won’t let you sleep with Father.”
At first, Liu Chuyan and the others thought it was just amusing. After all, Han Shujing and Zhou Fuyun’s marriage was already settled, and Ruosu calling her “Mother” ahead of time was no great matter, so long as it wasn’t spread indiscriminately. But none expected Ruosu to be so clever, using such words to threaten Han Shujing, nearly infuriating Zhou Fuyun.
Han Shujing glanced at the dumbfounded Liu Chuyan and the others, her smile growing more embarrassed.
Sensing the suppressed anger behind her, Ruosu suddenly quieted, clutching Han Shujing’s shoulders tightly, “Mother, Father’s going to hit me.”
Han Shujing glanced quickly at Zhou Fuyun. He looked as though he might devour someone. With such a daughter, she could barely cope—truly, it was hard on him.
Zhou Fuyun, exposed by his daughter and stared at by Han Shujing, felt utterly embarrassed and turned away, “Miss Han, let’s go pay our respects to Old General Liu and Madam Han.”
Han Shujing said nothing, already stepping forward.
Liu Chuyan pulled Liu Guanji and Lin Jinhuan along, while Zhou Fuyun brought up the rear.
Old General Liu and the others were less than ten paces away, separated only by a row of phoenix trees, so Ruosu’s antics were witnessed by all, her mischievous words clearly heard.
Madam Han was clearly displeased with Ruosu’s behavior, tugging at Second Lady Han and darkening her face.
Second Lady Han, seeing her future son-in-law, was pleased that he valued her daughter, but not so happy to see the daughter of his former wife, and her expression grew as long as Madam Han’s.
Arriving before the elders, Han Shujing set Ruosu down, and Ruosu, understanding the situation, stepped forward and respectfully greeted Old General Liu, “Greetings, Old General Liu. Ruosu wishes you good health and happiness.”
“Good, good, what a clever child. Rise,” Old General Liu was not overly strict about decorum. Though he found Ruosu’s behavior improper, he was neither pleased nor displeased. Noticing Madam Han’s sour expression, he patted her hand, “Lü’e, look at this child—how pretty, smart, and well-behaved.”
Madam Han, hearing this, forced an awkward smile, “Yes.”
Ruosu also noticed Madam Han’s poor impression of her, pouted, but then smiled sweetly, kneeling in salute, “Greetings, Great-Grandmother. May you enjoy health and longevity.”
No matter her mood, Madam Han could not reject such warmth from a little girl, and helped her up, “Your name is Ruosu?”
“Yes, Ruosu from ‘Be calm as Ruosu.’ My father gave me the name,” Ruosu pointed to Zhou Fuyun, who stood quietly nearby.
Zhou Fuyun stepped forward to greet them, and Old General Liu responded warmly, while Madam Han remained aloof.
“Great-Grandmother, I am six years old. I can read, paint, play chess, and plant trees,” Ruosu’s voice was clear and expectant, hoping for Madam Han’s praise.
Madam Han recognized this, thinking: This girl is truly clever—she knows how to read faces and win favor, but isn’t annoying. She smiled, touching Ruosu’s cheek, “Little Ruosu can plant trees? What kind?”
“Ginkgo trees. My grandmother said if I plant them now, when I have grandchildren, I’ll eat the fruit. But I wonder, will I have to wait so long to taste them?”
Her words, roundabout and childlike, made Madam Han reflect—she, so old, was taking a child’s words to heart. She laughed, truly delighted, “Our little Ruosu is as bright as snow, and so articulate. When you visit Great-Grandmother’s manor, there are several ginkgo trees at the gate—you may pick as you like.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then may I visit your manor tomorrow?” Ruosu climbed right up the pole, blinking her big eyes.
Though there were no fruits to pick, Madam Han couldn’t bear to disappoint her, and smiled kindly, “Yes, tomorrow you may come to Great-Grandmother’s manor.”
Ruosu, having received approval, turned and made a face at Zhou Fuyun. See, I’m better than you. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see Mother.
Zhou Fuyun touched his nose, unable to hide his smile. Tomorrow, he could see her again.
Han Shujing noticed the father and daughter’s reactions, realizing they must have planned it together. Zhou Fuyun’s awkwardness had Ruosu do all the talking. She was only six—even if she said the wrong thing, no one would blame her, but would find her clever and sensible. This father and daughter were both equally sly.
The group chatted happily, when suddenly a young servant hurried over to report to Liu Songxian, “General, Second Master Xue and Young Master Jin have started fighting.”
Liu Songxian was unconcerned, merely responding, “Oh.”
Madam Jin sprang up, stepping forward anxiously, “They’re fighting?”
“Yes.”
Madam Xue also stood, “Is Young Master Jin injured?”
The servant quickly shook his head, “No.”
“Then it’s just cousins roughhousing. No need to mind them,” Madam Xue waved dismissively.
Madam Jin, however, couldn’t sit still. Her son was no match for Xue Ao. Clenching her fists, she turned to Liu Songxian, “Songxian, I must go see.”
“Fine, let’s all go have a look,” Liu Songxian hadn’t spoken, but Old General Liu was already up, leaning on her cane, laughing, “I want to see whether Zisheng or Juncheng is the stronger.”
Juncheng? Liu Chuyan’s steps halted abruptly, her smile freezing. Was Juncheng Jin Ling’s courtesy name? But he wasn’t yet twenty—shouldn’t have a courtesy name.
Author’s note: Thank you, kiki, for the thunderbolt. Wishing you a quick raise~
kikiathena threw a thunderbolt at 13:21:49 on 2014-02-13
kikiathena threw another at 13:24:06 on 2014-02-13
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