Chapter Twenty-Two: Hundred Flowers Wine

  After three days of busy work, all the preparations were finally ready. Pang Luoxue and Qi Yaoshang discussed the opening of the business for the next day, which would inevitably bring some trouble. Today, they stole a half-day break and took the girls to Peony Garden for an outing. The April sun was shining brightly, and the mountains behind Peony Garden were also filled with various flowers. Since I took over this garden, I had craftsmen plant half an acre of rose fields, and the flower buds had begun to bloom, with some already open. The flower trellis made by the gardener was covered with wisteria, which would remain lush even in winter. In March, the peach blossoms were fragrant with wine, and the red and white flowers fell to the ground, covering the green grass. Behind the peach blossom forest was a small lake. Lunch was set up by the lake, and some of the best river fish were prepared, and the young maids were busy roasting meat and cooking dishes. The peach blossoms were too fragrant, and the girls all came to the peach blossom forest to take a look.

  It's snowing heavily, and there are many peach trees and apricot trees here. The flowers are in full bloom now, so why not pick some to make some peach blossom wine and apricot blossom wine? When you meet the one you love, you can bring it out to add to your dowry. Although the girls were shy, they all got ready, and I had a few jars of fine wine brought over as a base. I also made a few jars for Father, Mother, Brother, and General Nan Gong who is coming back.

  Lotus and I spent the whole night washing the peach blossoms and apricot flowers that had been picked, draining the water, and putting them into a jar of wine. We buried it under a peach tree. I looked up at Qi Yao, and then ordered the servants to bring over several more jars of wine. I was startled for a moment - this girl is going to get married how many times?! Qi Yao noticed me looking at her and immediately called me over.

  Xue Er, come quickly and take a look. In a moment, let the girls throw in one flower each, this wine is called Hundred Flowers Brew. If you want to drink this wine, it's not possible without at least 100 or 200 taels. Pang Luo Xue finally understood. It makes sense, such good wine can't be paired with just any amount. So she instructed the girls to throw in one flower each and had someone bury the wine underground. This was considered finished, so she invited the girls to go eat by the lake.

  A gentle lake breeze, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the clouds sprinkled down, like a layer of golden hair on the cloud-like head, shallowly sipping a small cup of wine, gazing at the tip of the lotus leaf that has just emerged from the lake, whether there are dragonflies standing on it.

  The sound of the sheng flute spread through the air, its melodious and timely tune was only accompanied by a faint sobbing sound, the sorrow in joy is what hurts people the most. It's also true that women from this place of wind and moon have no one without a painful past.

  The rain patters outside the window.

  Spring is in the air.

  The quilt is not warm enough for the cold of the fifth watch.

  One is unaware of being a guest in one's own dream.

  Indulge in joy for a while.

  Alone leaning on the railing

  Endless rivers and mountains

  It's easy to promise but hard to fulfill.

  The flowers have fallen, and spring is gone.

  Heaven on earth.

  Suddenly thought of this verse, just fit this situation.

  Qī Yáo said, "The sky is already late, hurry back, I heard you all are sour to death."

  Look up at the sky and beckon the girls to return, take a horse-drawn carriage back to Cuimiulou.

  I went back to the Pang Mansion with Qi Yao to fetch clothes. The other girls are now returning to the Cuiwei Building accompanied by the servants.

  As soon as I returned to the Pang Mansion, I saw that Zi Juan was already waiting for me at the back door with an anxious look on her face. Zi Juan usually waits for me in the courtyard and rarely comes to the back door. Could something have happened to Mother? I hastily instructed the servant to lead Qi Yao back to my quarters first, then hurriedly followed Zi Juan.

  All the way, I heard Zi Juan say that I just understood. Today, my mother went to pay respects to Old Madam, and then she heard from the maid in Fourth Aunt's house that Fourth Aunt had taken the fetal calming medicine sent by my mother every day, which had stirred up the fetus. The Old Master and Old Madam were both furious. Fourth Aunt refused to give in, while Second Aunt and Third Aunt added fuel to the fire. They wanted to force Old Master to take action. I was anxious when I heard this: What did the mistress say?

  The lady said that the medicinal herbs she sent every day were all of high quality, and there was nothing else in them. Moreover, the lady suspected that the fourth aunt had not taken any at all. The imperial physician said that the fourth aunt had symptoms of musk invading her body. The lady said that she had never even used musk.

  Logically speaking, Mother had no reason to harm Fourth Aunt, let alone be so foolish as to put medicine in her soup. Hmmph, I don't know what these cheap women are stirring up every day, not letting people live in peace for even half a moment.

  Hurriedly arrived at the Fourth Aunt's courtyard, the Yu Lan Yard was originally for watching plays, and the Fourth Aunt herself came from a theatrical background. Father rewarding her with this place wasn't bad, but this person was never satisfied, having fine clothes and food yet wanting something more. In the main hall, the Old Lady and Master sat on stools beside the bed, Mother knelt to one side. Seeing this, I got angry, quickly walking over to help Mother up. Looking up, I saw Second Aunt and Third Aunt both wore worried expressions, if only ignoring the schadenfreude in their eyes would be better.

  I've seen the old lady, I've seen Father, I held back my breath and bowed.

  What's going on? Although the weather is getting warmer, Mother has always been in poor health. How can she withstand the chill from the ground?

  Where did you go? A good girl like you has become what kind of person? The beam is not straight, the corner is crooked. Your mother wants to harm my grandson.

  She knelt down and couldn't get up again. The old lady said sternly

  I thought to myself, this old woman is quite formidable. Whether or not she's my real grandmother, her own marriage was unhappy and now she can't bear to see others happy, her mind is twisted in a terrible way.

  Second Miss is probably also busy with something, I reckon the lady has made some arrangements and Second Miss can't get away. Recently heard that Second Miss took away a lot of fabric from the warehouse, don't know what she did with it. Second Aunt added fuel to the fire as she spoke.

  I smiled slightly and said: "Grandmother, don't be angry. Recently, I was ordered by my mother to personally pick some fresh flower tea for you, and then had someone send it to my mother's place to check, so I came back late. My mother wasn't at ease with me being careless, so she wanted to inspect it herself before sending it over. Please don't blame Snow (me) for this. It's all because of my mother's fault that Snow's hands are all red and sore."

  The old lady's face relaxed a bit, and she said slowly: The weather is still so cool, be careful not to catch cold. Father also said: Hurry up and bring hot ginger soup for the second miss to drink.

  I looked up at my second aunt, tilted my head, and thought to myself that my sister's body must have recovered by now. In my heart, I silently added another sentence, so this troublemaker is making waves again.

  Thanks to Second Miss's care, Big Sister has recovered a lot. Second Aunt replied:

  It's much better now, but it's still not good. Second Aunt said something, Lu Yu is my elder sister after all, although she was born out of wedlock, Mother had taken care of her for a period of time. The children of the aunts are naturally Mother's children, if Mother wants, I think they must be raised by Mother's side, and the aunts will naturally serve Father, it seems there is no need to see them again. Pang Luoxue said lightly

  It's a joke when the mistress of the house says one sentence, your children can still be raised by their own parents.

  The second aunt and third aunt were frightened out of their wits, hanging their heads in silence.

  Pang Luoxue was just about to scare them when she heard a heart-wrenching cry coming from the inner room...