It had been raining for two days, and the weather had turned cold. As soon as the overcast and rainy days set in, An Gui's old trouble of knee pain started again.
According to An Gui, this was an old ailment from kneeling, a punishment he suffered in the palace during a bitter winter in his early years. This worried A Mei terribly. She dug out the hot water bottle, lit fine charcoal, and warmed her godfather's knees over and over again.
"Alright, I feel much more comfortable now. No need to serve anymore, you can go and rest."
A Mei shook her head, her attitude firm. "No, Godfather. The physician said it needs to be warmed for at least two hours to dispel the cold dampness."
An Gui reclined on the lounge chair, looking extremely content. "Good child. Heaven has not treated me poorly. In all my years, I've only done two things right. One was taking An Sheng as my godson, and the other was finding a good wife for my godson before I die."
"Tut, tut, tut!" A Mei glared, her eyes wide. "Godfather, what are you saying! Nothing about dying. Your good days are still ahead. Don't worry, Godfather, A Mei will take good care of you on behalf of my husband in the future."
An Gui chuckled softly, his voice hoarse and sharp. An outsider hearing it would surely find it eerie, but A Mei didn't. She was used to it. She knew that both her husband and her godfather had voices different from normal people.
"Alright, it's time for lunch. Go prepare the meal. Your father and your brother must be hungry too."
Yes, there had been some changes in the An household recently. To be precise, A Mei's father and younger brother had moved in.
Ever since the incident in the palace, the entire capital was under strict curfew, and a census was being conducted of all people without registered residency in the capital. The family renting the place where A Mei's father and brother had been staying, afraid of getting into trouble, had driven them out, refusing to rent to them any longer.
A Mei's father couldn't even set up his vegetable stall; he was nearly arrested by the constables for lacking capital residency. In the end, it was A Mei who asked her godfather to intervene and bring them back.
Initially, A Mei's father was unwilling to stay at the An residence. It wasn't just because his daughter had married a eunuch; more so, it was because he had sold his daughter back then and now felt utterly ashamed to live in this so-called 'in-law's' home.
It was An Gui's earnest persuasion that finally dispelled his concerns. This is what An Gui said:
"A Mei calls me Godfather, and you are A Mei's birth father. So I will boldly call you my kinsman. I believe you understand the situation of the An family. Your son-in-law and I are eunuchs who make our living in the palace. I know very well that eunuchs outside the palace are despised and scorned. I don't care what you think of our An family. But I must tell you, kinsman, A Mei is a good child and a good daughter-in-law to our An family. She will absolutely not suffer the slightest grievance here. Please rest assured on that point."
A Mei's father's face alternated between pale and flushed for a long moment. He decided to speak frankly: "I can see that A Mei is doing well, and I am grateful that you treat her kindly. It's just... it's just... back then, we sold A Mei because the family had nothing to eat. Now I really have no right to trouble you any further."
An Gui, however, brushed it off. "What selling? It was clearly our family proposing marriage to A Mei. Kinsman, please don't say such things that hurt the bond between father and daughter anymore."
A Mei's father suddenly widened his eyes, his spirit shaken. After a long moment, he nodded heavily. "Yes... you are right, kinsman."
Now, with no way to leave the capital, no place to live, and constables arresting people everywhere, A Mei's father didn't persist. In the end, he led his son to stay at the An residence.
The happiest about this were undoubtedly A Mei and her younger brother, Little Ah Dou.
A Mei was in the kitchen making steamed pork with rice flour for her brother. Little Ah Dou swallowed his saliva, utterly salivating.
"Sister, it smells so good." Little Ah Dou would turn six after the New Year, but he was as thin and small as a four-year-old.
These past couple of days, A Mei had been finding all sorts of ways to make delicious food for her brother, hoping he would gain some weight.
When the steamed pork was ready, Little Ah Dou ate while asking in his childish voice, "Sister, when will Brother-in-law come back? Will Brother-in-law like Ah Dou?"
Actually, regarding the matter of bringing her father and brother into the residence, although it was her godfather's decision, A Mei herself wasn't entirely confident. She had some hidden worries, also afraid her husband might be unhappy.
"Ah Dou is so adorable, your brother-in-law will definitely like you." That's what she said, but A Mei felt a bit apprehensive inside.
An Gui naturally saw her worry but didn't point it out. He just had her run an errand to deliver a letter.
With changes in the An household staff, it was naturally necessary to inform the head of the household, An Sheng. An Gui wrote this letter and had A Mei take the token that An Sheng had given her to the palace gate to have the letter sent inside.
In less than two hours, the letter appeared in An Sheng's hands.
An Sheng read the letter back and forth twice. Regarding the matter of his father-in-law and brother-in-law moving into the An residence, he fell into deep thought for a while.
A few more days passed. It happened to be the second day of the lunar month. A Mei got up early in the morning, busy preparing several kinds of food, packed a bundle, and hurried on foot to the palace gate.
A Mei thought she had arrived early enough, but when she got there a long line for family visits had already formed at the side gate. Carrying her bundle, A Mei dutifully queued at the back.
It was A Mei's first time entering the palace for a family visit. She was both nervous and excited. She waited and waited, and finally it was her turn. She handed the token to the eunuch on duty. Just as she thought she would be led into the waiting area like everyone else, the previously haughty eunuch on duty suddenly changed. He stared intently at A Mei, then put on an ingratiating smile. "Oh! So it's Eunuch An's token! Miss, please come this way. Come in and rest. I will immediately send someone to notify Eunuch An."
Before A Mei knew what was happening, she was ushered into the resting room nearest the palace gate. As soon as she entered, a young eunuch hurried in with hot tea and pastries. The flattery and obsequiousness in his words left A Mei at a loss. She had never been treated with such respect and waited on like this before. For a moment she nervously clutched her bundle, her heart uneasy, suddenly unsure what to do.
Fortunately, in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, a familiar face walked through the door.
A Mei finally found her anchor. She immediately stood up from the stool and called out to An Sheng, "Husband!"
An Sheng hadn't come alone; several other eunuchs followed him. He had kept a cold expression the whole time, so no one could tell what he was feeling. In truth he was quite excited inside, especially when he saw the genuine, unfeigned surprise in A Mei's eyes at the sight of him and when she called him "husband" without any hesitation.
A strange, never-before-felt sense of vanity rose in An Sheng's heart.
Eunuch An was actually married! The eunuch standing behind An Sheng stared at the woman with wide, shocked eyes. These days Eunuch An was a favorite of the Emperor—who wouldn't want to curry favor with him? Immediately one eunuch spoke up, "So this is the Madam! She is truly naturally beautiful, a perfect match for Eunuch An in both talent and beauty. At a single glance you can tell their affection is extraordinary. We servants are deeply envious!"
These words exactly hit the spot in An Sheng's heart. An Sheng glanced at the eunuch who had spoken and gave a noncommittal "Hmph" in response.
Nowadays, he was considered a figure both inside and outside the palace whom people vied to flatter and curry favor with. Naturally, he had a few attendants following him. These eunuchs were all chosen by Ansheng himself, hailing from various palaces. Presumably, the news of his marriage would spread in no time. Whether this was Ansheng's deliberate doing was something no one knew.
Ansheng composed his expression, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and nodded at A Mei. "You're here."
A Mei nodded vigorously. Feeling somewhat embarrassed seeing the people following behind Ansheng, she handed the bundle in her arms to him and said softly, "These are some snacks I made. And also, I... I made another pair of shoe insoles for my husband."
Perhaps feeling nervous with so many people around, A Mei spoke timidly, her face slightly flushed. To outsiders, she appeared completely like a bashful young wife.
This sight stirred a deep envy in the group of men who were not quite men—the eunuchs. As eunuchs, who among them didn't yearn for a family...
Suddenly, Ansheng turned his head and barked at the eunuchs behind him, his expression vicious. "Why are you still following me? Have you no duties? Get lost, now!"
Although the eunuchs didn't understand why Eunuch An was so furious, they wisely fawned, "You are right to scold us, sir. We deserve to die. We'll get lost right away!"
Once they were gone, Ansheng reined in his temper. Turning back, he saw A Mei looking utterly frightened, her expression pitiful as she stole timid glances at him.
"Why is your courage shrinking? Scared like this!" Ansheng would not admit that it was his possessiveness acting up, not wanting others to see A Mei in such a state.
"Husband, you were so fierce just now." With only her husband and herself left in the room, A Mei relaxed considerably and couldn't help muttering.
Ansheng snorted coldly, disdainfully. "Fierce? That was nothing. If I were to smile at them, that's when they'd truly be afraid."
A Mei didn't understand such things. She took two steps forward, drawing close to Ansheng, reached out to clutch his sleeve, and asked cautiously, "Husband, did you receive the letter from Godfather?"
The maiden's delicate fragrance wafted into his senses. Ansheng's face remained impassive, but his heart skipped a few beats. Keeping a stern expression, he looked down at A Mei, who was biting her lip and gazing at him timidly. After a long moment, he finally opened his mouth. "I did."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw A Mei's eyes light up, only for her to then lower her lashes. The fabric of his sleeve was crumpled where she gripped it. "Then... does husband blame A Mei?" she asked softly.
Ansheng lifted his eyelids slightly, the corners of his mouth curling up a little. His tone held a note of mockery, a rare playful intent stirring within him.
"Oh? What matter are you referring to?"
A Mei blinked. "It's... it's about my father and my brother..." A Mei looked up at Ansheng with a pitiful gaze, pressing her lips together.
"Ah, you mean the matter of my father-in-law and brother-in-law moving into the An residence?"
A Mei hummed in affirmation and explained in a small voice, "Husband wasn't home, A Mei didn't dare make the decision. Godfather took pity on A Mei, so he decided to let Father and younger brother stay. Husband, if you are angry, please blame A Mei."
After speaking, seeing her husband's cold, silent face, A Mei's heart sank with a thud. Then, with trembling lips, she called out, "Husband..."
Ansheng looked at A Mei with a half-smile. "Originally, Godfather preferred quiet and didn't want to show wealth to avoid unnecessary trouble, so he chose a small house."
A Mei's heart sank to the depths. Since her husband put it this way, she understood. She could only say, against her true feelings, "In a few days, A Mei will send Father and brother away."
Ansheng raised an eyebrow, looking at A Mei, whose every thought and grievance were plainly written on her face. He continued, "When did I ever say to send them away?"
A Mei looked at Ansheng, bewildered, and mumbled, "Husband, you just said our house is small."
Ansheng shot her an exasperated glare. "Then we'll change to a different house. Do you really think I can't afford to support my father-in-law and brother-in-law?"
Change houses? A Mei gasped in surprise. It took her a long moment to find her voice again.
"But, but... Godfather said a house costs a lot of silver."
Ansheng scoffed. "It puzzles me. How did you get the idea that I couldn't come up with the silver?"
A Mei shook her head, about to explain, but Ansheng cut her off. He took out a letter and handed it to A Mei.
"Enough. I have matters to attend to. You should leave the palace. Give this letter to Godfather. He will handle the rest."
