A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 73
by Little PandaRinging in the New Year
A New Year’s Gift of False Accusations
Cold departs with the winter snow,
Warmth arrives with the spring breeze.
Compared to the desolation of the previous year, the Shen Manor was exceptionally lively this year. Madam Lin was bubbling with energy as she organized the holiday preparations, dressing in festive attire herself and distributing new clothes to the entire household. The maidservants were clad in bright, vibrant reds, while the pageboys wore striking shades of blue. Even the Eldest Miss, who happened to be visiting home, remarked that the dazzling display made her eyes ache.
Madam Lin, however, insisted that the New Year demanded a festive atmosphere. She had spring couplets and character plaques of good fortune pasted on the doors, replaced the old lanterns with fresh ones, and kept the kitchen busy day and night.
With the shops closed and the workers sent home for the holidays, Jiang Chenyu spent her days helping Madam Lin manage household affairs. In her memory, she had never experienced such a lively New Year’s Eve.
Even back when her mother was alive, their household had never possessed this kind of warmth and vitality.
With decorative ruffled dumplings, exquisite paper-cuts, a sky full of brilliant fireworks, and a sumptuous feast, everything was beautifully lively and bustling.
“Are you youngsters not going out to see the festivities on the streets?” Madam Lin asked with keen interest. “I hear there are tower lanterns, dragon dances, and lion troupes. Just hearing about it makes me want to go myself.”
“Do you want to go?” Shen Hetang tilted her head to ask Jiang Chenyu, who was sitting beside her.
“But shouldn’t we be staying up on New Year’s Eve1?” Jiang Chenyu actually wanted to go, but feeling too shy to say so directly, she offered a gentle hesitation.
“It’s not yet time for the vigil,” Madam Lin urged. “Go out and have some fun. You’ll be back just in time.”
“Let’s go, let’s go take a look,” Shen Hetang said, rising to fetch Jiang Chenyu’s cloak. She turned the striking tiger-skin pattern outward and draped it over her shoulders. The thick, heavy fabric wrapped snugly around her, its massive expanse of snowy-white fur broken only by long, bold black stripes. Jiang Chenyu was completely bundled up, leaving only her flower-like face exposed—a breathtaking, peerless beauty that made others look away out of sheer awe.
“My, this cloak is absolutely stunning and grand!” Madam Lin exclaimed. “Come, let Mother find a hat to match.” With that, she bustled off to fetch something.
A moment later, Madam Lin returned with two tiger head hats2 in hand. The embroidery was incredibly lifelike, featuring adorable, fluffy little ears and various colorful tassels of different lengths. The hats were vivid, charming, and radiating cozy warmth.
“Mother, where on earth did you get these? They are… too perfect!” Shen Hetang exclaimed. Looking at Jiang Chenyu’s large, bright eyes and delicate, fresh face, she secretly wished nobody was around so she could steal a couple of kisses. It was cute beyond measure, instantly softening half of her usual breathtaking elegance—yet it couldn’t have been more fitting.
“Oh, I just bought them on a whim,” Madam Lin replied offhandedly. “A bunch of ladies were buying them for their little ones. We don’t have any small children in our house, so I thought Ah Yu could wear one. I thought it looked quite lovely.”
Standing nearby, Zhang Miaoyi watched them with longing eyes. She wanted to join the excursion to see the festivities, but since no one had invited her, she felt too awkward to speak up. She stood in the corner, thoroughly conflicted.
“And this one is for you, Miaoyi. Go on, run along and play too. I don’t need you youngsters staying behind just to keep me company,” Madam Lin said, handing the second hat to Zhang Miaoyi.
“Biaoge, may I really come along too?” the girl asked, her bright, watery eyes fixed on Shen Hetang with anticipation.
Remembering that she had spent the past half-month telling nightly stories precisely because of this cousin’s presence, Shen Hetang felt a sudden alarm blare in her mind. She quickly said, “The more, the merrier. Biaomei, why don’t you invite Third Brother along too? There will be huge crowds tonight, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to look after you properly on my own.”
“That’s a good idea. Quickly, go fetch the Third Young Master. Everyone should go, run along now!” Madam Lin chimed in, waving them off.
And so, the four of them bundled up, boarded the carriage, and set off.
“Biaosao, is that a sable cloak you are wearing?” Zhang Miaoyi, seated opposite them, spoke up again. “I hear snow sables are exceptionally rare and terribly adorable. If only I could raise one, I would pamper it day and night. It must have taken a great deal of sable pelts to make a cloak like yours, Biaosao?”
Jiang Chenyu stared at her, slightly speechless. This girl must have grown up with a lot of sisters at home—how could she be so fond of putting on a show?
“This isn’t sable,” she replied flatly. There were only the two of them inside the carriage, as the Shen brothers were riding horses alongside them.
“But it’s so stark white, it surely can’t be anything else,” Zhang Miaoyi continued, seemingly talking to herself with an earnest expression. “Though the cotton robe I’m wearing isn’t as luxurious as yours, Biaosao, it was embroidered by my own mother—a testament to her maternal love. Besides, I would never dare to wear the pelt of a living creature. You are far braver than I, Biaosao.”
“This is the skin of a two-meter-long big bug3. It’s not some palm-sized snow sable,” Jiang Chenyu said with a trace of mischief, wanting to see her reaction. Watching Madam Lin engage in daily, high-spirited debates with Concubine Ru, she had begun to wonder if there was indeed endless amusement in teasing others.
“What is a big bug?” Zhang Miaoyi asked, thoroughly confused.
“It’s a tiger. The kind of tiger that eats people,” Jiang Chenyu explained with a sweet, patient smile.
“Ah? A tiger? This… this is a tiger?” Terrified, she instantly shrank back in her seat, her eyes glued to the cloak draped around Jiang Chenyu.
“Mhm!” Jiang Chenyu beamed at her pale-faced cousin, thinking to herself, Since you have such a tiny heart, I might as well scare you to death.
“Biaosao, does Second Biaoge know that you have absolutely no qualms about such things?” Zhang Miaoyi recovered slightly, offering her advice like a prim, proper schoolmistress. “Most men in this world prefer women who are gentle and kind. I don’t mean to meddle, but it might be best to hide this side of yourself, Biaosao, lest your husband grow displeased with you.”
“This was actually a gift from your Second Biaoge,” Jiang Chenyu said, chatting with absolute sincerity. “He said he particularly likes those who are ruthless and cruel. After hearing that, I immediately ordered someone to break the limbs of a disobedient maid and throw her out. He even praised me for doing a beautiful job, saying I have the bearing of the mistress of the house.” She watched as her scholarly cousin’s face drained of color, her romantic illusions shattered into pieces.
With a face full of genuine concern, Jiang Chenyu smiled and asked, “Biaomei, do you feel unwell? Would you like Third Brother to take you back?”
“Ah, no, I’m perfectly fine,” Zhang Miaoyi stammered with a strained laugh. “I’d hate to ruin the mood for everyone. Let’s go see the lion dance.”
“As long as you’re fine.”
Outside the carriage, the two brothers rode in silence, completely unaware of the verbal sparring taking place within. Eventually, it was Shen Hetang who broke the quiet. “Once the New Year passes, Third Brother, you’ll reach the age of twenty4. If there’s any young lady who’s caught your eye, just let me know. So long as your families are of comparable standing and you suit each other, it shouldn’t be too difficult to arrange.”
“Thank you for keeping me in mind, Second Brother,” Shen Yunjie replied indifferently. “I don’t have any thoughts on it. I’ll leave it entirely to the family.”
“Why are you so passive these days?” Shen Hetang remarked. “Though you were somewhat reckless in the past, at least you had the drive to fight for what you wanted and possessed the spirit of youth. You’re the Shen family’s male heir, and you have the duty of continuing our lineage. How can you just drift along like this?”
After all, he was her late father’s only son. Though Concubine Ru had raised him to be somewhat mediocre, his character wasn’t fundamentally rotten. Despite having been foolishly manipulated in the past into doing things he now deeply regretted, Shen Hetang still intended to lend him a hand. In the end, they might have to rely on him to guard the estate.
“I… I know my martial arts are mediocre, and I don’t have a head for scholarship,” Shen Yunjie muttered. “The young masters of the noble houses don’t care to associate with a concubine-born son like me. Even with such an excellent opportunity at the border, I failed to accomplish anything of note—and I even caused Father to be captured. Now, I only wish to stay by my mother’s side, behave myself, and live a quiet life.”
The incident where General Shen had been captured because of him had dealt a severe blow to his confidence. After that, he had lost his father, who had always shielded him. Furthermore, the capital was vastly different from the borderlands; he had no voice or standing here.
Over time, he had sunk into despondency. During Shen Hetang’s disappearance, the shifting attitudes of the outside world toward the Shen Manor had fallen squarely on him, making him truly experience the fickle warmth of the world.
Looking at this young man—who’d once possessed enough spirit to constantly compete with her—Shen Hetang suddenly realized she didn’t find him particularly detestable.
Though he’d monopolized their father’s love, the truth was that even without him, her father wouldn’t have had much time to teach her anyway. Besides, she’d never been a child who needed a father’s protection.
“Take it one step at a time,” she said casually. “Don’t lose heart.”
Shen Yunjie watched her back and remained silent. This brother of his, born in the same year, was far slenderer than he, yet possessed infinitely more strength.
Only when they reached the bustling main street did the atmosphere finally lighten up.
Massive tower lanterns rose tier upon tier, magnificent and radiant, visible from a great distance.
Shen Hetang took Jiang Chenyu by the hand and led her deeper into the crowd, leaving Cousin Miaoyi to be looked after by Shen Yunjie.
As they strolled along, they suddenly found themselves encircled by a long dragon dance approaching from behind. Performers clad in festive red moved to the thunderous roll of drums, making the massive dragon twist and turn as though it were riding through the clouds.
Illuminated by the warm lantern light, the golden dragon shimmered with brilliant splendor. Its head and tail swept in high circles, corralling the two within its golden rings. The flickering glow cast a soft reflection on Jiang Chenyu’s face, lending her a hazy, ethereal beauty that felt like a dream from another lifetime.
A moment later, the golden dragon whipped its long tail and soared forward. Shen Hetang gently pulled her out of the bustling crowd.
“How lively!” Jiang Chenyu exclaimed, her large eyes blinking beneath the fluffy rim of her hat, looking exceptionally bright and playful.
As they wandered, they also spotted several performers wearing oversized papier-mâché heads weaving through the streets.
After enjoying the festivities for about two hours, the group boarded their carriage and returned to the Shen Manor. They arrived back at the perfect time.
Snacking on peanuts and melon seeds, they gathered around the brazier to begin their New Year’s vigil. Madam Lin declared that since the younger generation was here to keep the tradition, she was going to bed.
Zhang Miaoyi looked up and shyly offered to join the vigil as well, which soon turned into a card game among the youngsters. Surrounded by the sharp crackle of firecrackers outside, they waited together for the arrival of the New Year.
Near the end of the night, seeing Jiang Chenyu resting her head in her hands and nodding off, Shen Hetang stood up and carried her back to their bridal chamber on her back.
This left the other duo, who’d been stuffed with dog food all night, staring at each other in awkward silence. Finding no spark whatsoever between them, they quickly retired to their respective quarters.
And so, another new year began…!
When court resumed after the New Year holiday, the atmosphere was thick with tension. For some reason, the events of two years ago had been unearthed once more, and they directly implicated General Shen.
“General Shen, do you plead guilty or not guilty to the accusations brought by Commander5 Feng?” asked Lord Jiang, the Vice-Minister of War6, questioning her with a stern, righteous air.
“Delaying military intelligence and leaking secrets did indeed occur,” Shen Hetang replied. Clad in her scarlet official robes, standing tall and straight, she cast a casually cold gaze directly at Commander Feng, who was kneeling on the floor. “But to claim that this Shen was the one responsible is nothing more than a thief shouting ‘catch the thief.’ I was the one fighting the war; what benefit would I get from tripping myself up?”
Commander Feng kept his head pressed low against the floor, his voice trembling with fear but filled with a stubborn resolve. “Precisely because General Shen has absolute power, it’s all the easier to cover the sky with one hand and conceal the errors committed.”
“If it were merely a tactical error, this lower official would’ve at most felt regret, rather than risking his neck to expose it,” he continued. “But General Shen deliberately released the enemy commander and leaked secrets, leaving our army besieged for days and suffering catastrophic casualties. This lower official has here the correspondence of General Shen colluding with the enemy general.”
As he spoke, Commander Feng drew several letters from his robes and offered them up with both hands.
“Hmph. Commander Feng, who exactly sent you to slander this general?” Shen Hetang scoffed. “For three generations, my Shen family has been fiercely loyal to Great Qian. My grandfather in particular painstakingly followed the late Emperor to conquer the realm. For you to accuse me of colluding with the enemy—doesn’t it strike you as utterly preposterous?”
“With my status, I’m afraid the enemy would be far more interested in my head!” Shen Hetang looked down at her former colleague babbling nonsense on the floor. She was already eighty percent certain he was a traitor; she just didn’t know whose man he was.
Within the grand hall, a pin drop could be heard. Not a single official dared to draw a loud breath; instead, they all quietly watched the Emperor, trying to divine the imperial will.
Footnotes
- Shǒusuì (守岁): The traditional Chinese practice of staying awake through the night of Chinese New Year's Eve to ward off disease and welcome the new year.
- Hǔtóumào (虎头帽): A traditional child's hat embroidered to resemble a realistic tiger with furry ears and colorful tassels, believed to ward off evil and bring warmth.
- Dàchóng (大虫): Literally 'big bug' or 'big insect,' a traditional historical slang term for a tiger in ancient China, popularized in vernacular texts like 'Water Margin'.
- Ruòguàn (弱冠): Literally 'weak-capped,' referring to reaching twenty years of age, representing the traditional capping rite of passage for adult males in ancient China.
- Zhǐhuī (指挥): A military command rank or post, referring to the officer in charge of a specific division or command unit.
- Bīngbù Shíláng (兵部侍郎): A prestigious Rank 3 civil official post in charge of the daily operations and administration of the Ministry of War.
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