By April of the following year, Shen Xiabai returned from court one day to find Cui Yunchu sitting with her back to the door, holding a box of pearls in her arms and counting them one by one.
Shen Xiabai stopped behind her, raising an eyebrow. After listening to her count the last one, he asked in confusion, “Didn’t you give one to Chen Miaohe? How do you still have so many?”
The sudden voice startled Cui Yunchu. She clutched her belly and sprang to her feet, but she held the pearls so tightly that not one of them shifted.
“When did you get back?”
“When you counted down to one.”
“…”
Cui Yunchu swatted him several times. “Are you trying to scare me to death? You nearly frightened the baby right out of me!”
Shen Xiabai hurriedly covered her mouth. “Can you stop saying such nonsense?”
Cui Yunchu snorted. Then, lowering her head to look at the box in her arms, she broke into a smile full of longing for gold and silver.
“These are our token of love. How could I possibly give them to someone else?”
Each pearl was worth a fortune.
“Then the one you gave Chen Miaohe was…”
“I took it off your court robe.”
Shen Xiabai fell silent.
“If you couldn’t bear to part with them, you could have given her something else.”
“Something else would cost money.” Cui Yunchu glared at him. “Do you really think your storeroom is an inexhaustible treasure vault?”
Shen Xiabai immediately stopped speaking. Whenever she mentioned how he had once tricked her into handing over things from his storeroom, he wisely chose to remain silent.
Cui Yunchu said, “I simply thought that with Mother away, I’m the only senior member of the household. If the gift were too modest, it would damage my dignity, but if it were too lavish, I couldn’t bear to part with it either. I agonized over it day and night before coming up with this brilliant solution.”
Shen Xiabai tugged at the corner of his mouth, producing a smile that was not especially sincere.
The luminous pearl was indeed precious—but it was fake.
“If she finds out, I’m afraid that would truly be a loss of face.”
“She won’t.” Cui Yunchu was utterly certain. “Did you forget? I told her it was an imperial gift. Selling it would get her executed. As long as she doesn’t sell it, how would she know it’s fake?”
“…”
Cui Yunchu spoke with such conviction that she had no idea that, not long afterward, Chen Miaohe would be fastening Shen Zilan’s belt onto his court robe when she stared at the pearl set into it and fell into a long silence, confusion filling her entire mind.
“Lord Shen.”
“Mm?”
“Will you perform a handstand while drinking porridge for me tonight?”
“???”
The corner of Shen Xiabai’s mouth twitched. His voice came out strained. “A Chu, actually…”
“Otherwise, I won’t be able to eat.”
Over the past few months, Shen Xiabai had grown accustomed to all sorts of bizarre requests from Cui Yunchu.
“A Chu, if I do that… I’ll be unable to eat too.”
“Just try it.” Cui Yunchu gave him a push. “Good husband.”
“…”
From making him strip off his clothes and exposing his broad, muscular chest, to ordering him to walk around the room bare-chested, she had long since lost every last shred of conscience.
Shen Xiabai said, “I suddenly remembered that there’s official business to deal with at the Judicial Office. I won’t accompany you to dinner. I’ll be back later. Be good.”
He lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and prepared to leave.
He needed to find an imperial physician and ask how long this condition would last before he could return to a normal life.
His A Chu was not to blame. It was certainly the little one in her belly causing all this. Once the child was born, he would teach him a proper lesson.
“No, you can’t leave. I’m coming too. Carry me on your back.”
“…”
Knock, knock, knock—
The door suddenly sounded. Xing’er’s voice came from outside.
“Madam, something terrible has happened. Someone from the Cui residence came to report that Old Madam Cui is gravely ill.”
Cui Yunchu, who had been fooling around moments before, froze. She immediately let go of Shen Xiabai and hurried to open the door.
“A Chu, slow down!” Shen Xiabai called after her.
He had a carriage prepared, and they rushed to the Cui residence at once.
The courtyard of Old Madam Cui’s Songhe Pavilion was crowded with people. Cui Qingyuan and Cui Yunli stood outside while the physician prepared to report on Old Madam Cui’s condition.
Cui Yunchu did not even listen. She rushed straight into the inner room.
Old Madam Cui lay on the bed, her hair completely white and her face withered. Her eyes were open only a sliver, as though all her vitality had been drained away.
The grandmother in Cui Yunchu’s memories—the kind and good-natured woman who loved to joke and was always stroking her head—had become an aged woman in the twilight of her life.
Cui Yunchu’s heart clenched with pain.
“Is that Yunchu?” Old Madam Cui asked.
“Grandmother.” Cui Yunchu immediately rushed forward and seized her hand.
Old Madam Cui seemed finally to have gotten what she had been waiting for. She let out a faint sigh of relief.
“I’ve waited until you came.”
“Grandmother…” Cui Yunchu’s voice choked. “What happened? Where does it hurt? You were fine before. How did you suddenly fall ill? Did you fail to take your medicine properly?”
“Don’t cry.” Old Madam Cui’s breathing was labored as she spoke. “Your grandmother is old, not ill. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the laws of nature. No one can escape them.”
“Grandmother isn’t old.” Cui Yunchu lay against her. “You aren’t old at all. You haven’t even met my baby yet. You said you would watch him grow up.”
Old Madam Cui smiled with relief and struggled to lower her head to look at Cui Yunchu’s belly.
“The one I’ve worried about most is you. Now that I’ve seen you, I can rest easy.”
After saying this, her breathing suddenly weakened.
“I’m not worried about Yunfeng. I only don’t know how Qingwan is doing now.”
Just then, Xing’er hurried into the room. With red-rimmed eyes, she whispered something into Cui Yunchu’s ear.
Cui Yunchu looked up sharply. Shock filled her eyes, along with unbearable grief.
“Madam…”
“Go outside for now,” Cui Yunchu said.
Xing’er glanced at Old Madam Cui, gave a small nod, and withdrew.
Cui Yunchu said, “Grandmother, take care of yourself and get better. After some time, I’ll take you to visit Cousin.”
Old Madam Cui shook her head. “She’s been clever since she was little. She’ll be fine.”
Looking at Yunchu, Old Madam Cui once again revealed a kind smile. With trembling fingers, she reached up to caress her face.
“Yunchu…”
“Grandmother.”
“Take care of yourself. Birth, aging, sickness, and death… your grandmother has simply reached the end of her allotted years. To leave without disaster or pain is already a blessing. It is an auspicious passing. Don’t cry. Don’t grieve. Your grandmother… knows that you are living well, and she is at peace.”
Old Madam Cui’s grip on Cui Yunchu’s hand slowly loosened.
Cui Yunchu continued murmuring to her, her voice breaking with sobs. Old Madam Cui’s gaze gradually scattered, a faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips.
Cui Yunchu knew that she was still listening.
It was not until Nanny Li let out a piercing cry of “Old Madam!” that Cui Yunchu’s choked sobs turned into wails. Clinging to Old Madam Cui’s body, she wept bitterly.
“Eldest Young Miss, Old Madam has already fallen asleep several times today. She must have been holding on because she was worried about you. Now that she has seen you, with no regrets or worries left, she has passed on.” Nanny Li wept as she helped Cui Yunchu up. “You’re carrying a child. You must take care of yourself!”
Cui Yunchu could do nothing but cry.
Yes, birth, aging, sickness, and death were things no one could prevent.
The person in the Cui family who had loved her most of all was gone.
Her heart-rending cries brought everyone outside rushing in. Cui Qingyuan, Cui Yunli, and Shen Xiabai entered the room one after another.
Old Madam Cui lay peacefully, utterly still.
Cui Qingyuan lowered his eyes and wiped away the tears at their corners.
Nearby, Cui Yunli and Shen Xiabai each gathered up their robes and knelt down.
Cui Qingyuan had someone help Cui Yunchu to her feet. “Your grandmother has lived to a ripe old age. Holding on this long was already no easy feat. Let her depart in peace. You’re carrying a child, so return to the residence with Xiabai. Come back on the day of the funeral rites to pay your respects.”
