Chapter 2, The Later Account

Madam Bouf glanced coldly at her husband: "As long as Nuan'er is well, I would willingly descend into the Abyss! Unlike the Lord, who values reputation more than life itself"

As she walked along, she muttered: "I was merely speaking offhand, yet you brought a truckload of bricks and tiles. You should be more restrained in front of my daughter; is it appropriate to speak so disrespectfully?"

The daughter diligently remembers her father's teachings

The daughter understands her father's words: if the Xia family comes to pick her up, she will go.

At this moment, the butler entered to receive orders, and Mrs. Buff instructed him one by one according to her thoughts, then asked: "Can it be found?"

Being overly cautious makes it difficult to achieve great things! Rest assured, if anything happens, we will part ways as husband and wife, and I will take on all the blame, leaving you completely uninvolved. Mrs. Bu glared at him, feeling resentful in her heart. Such a bookworm, living in constant fear throughout his life; relying on him to stir up a storm is as unlikely as the sun rising from the west

Bu Ruyin raised her eyes and sighed, "Have I not suffered? Once I entered the gates of the Xia residence, my life was in their hands. Do you think I wished to see such an ending? But Nuan'er has promised herself to their family; whether she passes through the door or not, she is still a member of the Xia family. It is only natural for the Xia residence to send someone to fetch her."

Bu Nuan and her two uncles had not seen each other for many years, and she was worried there would be a gap between them. She hesitantly said, "Mother, I do not want to leave Dongdu"

Madam Bu's eyes were as deep as a cold pool, and she slowly said: "Let Chen Zhong go among those refugees to pick one, preferably a young widow of similar age to you, ideally with a child. Clean her up, let her take your name, and send her to the Hall of Chaste Women."

"The perspective of women! The perspective of women!"

Under the shade of the cloth, Hu Ta took two steps, his footsteps somewhat heavy, the soles of his Feiyun shoes dragging despondently on the tiled bricks. As he walked, he said: "I will write a letter to Rongyu to clarify the matter, first to apologize. If he is willing to accept Nuan'er, we can leave later. After all, a niece is not the same as a direct niece; there is a layer of separation. If we go rashly and he is displeased, wouldn't that cause resentment?"

Bu Ruoyin's attention was not on his brother-in-law; instead, he recalled the entire process of paying respects at the Xia family from entering the mourning hall to stepping out the door, trying to find evidence that the Xia family did not intend to invite Bu Nuan to their residence, but to no avail. He sighed softly, realizing that there was no other way out of this situation, and simply instructed Bu Nuan: "You are to go to your uncle; your father is also at ease with this. However, you must remember—do not sit at the same table with men; brothers and uncles are to be avoided. This is a teaching from the 'Daughters' Classic,' which you have been familiar with since you were three years old, and you must keep it in mind at all times. We have encountered difficulties, and we must not belittle ourselves, do you understand?"

The fabric draped like shade, leaving the lady's intentions unclear, as he simply stared at her in a daze. Bu Nuan moved closer to Madam Bu and, in a state of confusion, asked: "Mother, are you going to make a donation?"

Madam Bu did not engage with him, waving her hand and saying: "Hurry up, you must take advantage of the fact that the Xia family is currently preoccupied and handle the matter properly; otherwise, it may lead to unforeseen complications."

"This is indeed true, you should also visit Aunt and Uncle Rong on behalf of your mother." Lady Bu, missing her brother, remarked, "We siblings have been close since childhood, but unfortunately, after I married, our interactions have decreased, and it has been over ten years since we last met."

Madam Bu's forehead adorned with gold leaf flowers dazzled Lord Bu, making him feel dizzy. He glanced again at his daughter, whose face was ashen, and suddenly felt a deep sense of helplessness, as if he were a deflated balloon. He waved his hand and repeatedly said "enough": "You take charge, you take charge, I won't interfere anymore, I can only hope that nothing goes wrong."

The fabric warmed her legs as she sat properly, and Madame Bu took the prayer beads from her hand and placed them on her. She murmured, "My child, these beads were consecrated by a high monk from Yongning Temple. May the Buddha bless you, and after this journey, may you turn misfortune into fortune and enjoy endless blessings in the future"

I want to go to Chang'an to see the Daming Palace. Bu Nuan forced a smile and said, "Even if I am to be exiled, I should go to a place filled with flowers and splendor. Besides, my grandmother is in Chang'an; even if she is not my biological grandmother, for the sake of my uncle, she would not treat me poorly."

The room was shrouded in silence, and my gaze was fixed on the low table before me. After a long while, I let out a deep sigh: "Nuan'er, your father told you when you were young that a person cannot stand without trust. Since you have already changed the calendar post, this matter is as solid as a nail, with no room for negotiation..."

Bu Ruoyin responded to the lady with a choked gasp, slumping her shoulders and sitting there at an angle, unable to utter another word

Madam Bou shed tears for a while and then calmed down, counting the prayer beads and pondering. After a long moment, she finally said: "Have the disaster victims at the street corner dispersed yet?"

Bu Ruoyin felt ashamed by her words. Upon further reflection, he still thought she was being too reckless, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, raising his voice slightly: "What nonsense are you talking about! The Bu family's century-old legacy, destroyed in my hands, how can I bear such a blame!"

Bu Ru Yin looked at Madam Bu like a stranger, a severe frost appearing on her face: "You are too bold; if the matter comes to light, I wonder how you will end up!"

Madam Bu lowered her eyes and said: "It is merely a matter of mutual benefit. Rather than dragging children along to endure hunger, wouldn't it be better to go to the respectful hall to eat and drink without worry? Her children are raised in the Bu residence, and we treat them as our own. When the children grow up and achieve success, we can take her out and continue her good life as before. As a mother, one is willing to risk their life for their children, so it is necessary to seek a means of survival. With such ties, one keeps their mouth tightly shut."

Last year was marked by poor conditions, with floods and snow disasters in Huguang occurring one after another, resulting in a complete failure of the crops. Despite the court's efforts to alleviate the situation, there are still people who cannot afford enough food or clothing. Bu Ruoyin nodded slightly and said, "There are dozens of them under the archway, over a hundred have taken refuge in the observation hall outside the city, and in the abandoned mansion of the former Sui Dynasty's Ge Gongfu, there are probably too many to count!"

Madam Bu recited, "Amitabha": "These people are impoverished, wandering outside, and even if they return to their hometown, they still suffer from hunger and poverty. The minister has thousands of guests, yet he is unwilling to spare even a bowl of porridge or rice, a long-standing cruelty of the wealthy!" She turned her face and instructed the maid, "Call Steward Chen here."

Standing there with her hands hanging down, she could only feel helpless. Summer's Ninth Son did not live past the age of twenty, indeed a pitiful person. Perhaps her fate is destined to be this way, though unwilling, she is powerless to change it

Madam Bu brushed her hair at the temples and noticed her husband was suspicious of her brother, which made her expression sour: "You are being overly meticulous. Is Rongyu really that kind of person? Do you think he is like your Bu family brothers? He is so meticulous that he wouldn't even let a grain of rice slip through! If only the uncles were good, how could Nuan'er rely on her maternal relatives!"

It is only natural for prosperity to decline. The Sui Dynasty has been gone for several decades; why do you still cling to the title of the former great clan!

Madam Bu, undeterred, said: "What trouble could there be? Let us make a gentleman's agreement; even if we end up in the yamen later, we need not fear." After speaking, she reached out to embrace her daughter's slender figure, examining her from head to toe with care. Bu Nuan had always been her pride, bright and straightforward, and her beauty was endearing. In this extravagant and restless world, she was truly a miraculous existence. Others were immensely pleased to have sons, but she never felt envious; having a daughter like Nuan was worth more than trading for ten boys. Unfortunately, beauty often encounters misfortune; just as life was beginning, such a hurdle appeared. If parents do not take care, who else would feel heartache?

I am going to Chang'an," she said, "I am going to visit my uncle Rongyu.

"That won't do. You should stay in the city; if you accidentally reveal something, all your previous efforts will be in vain." Madame Bu adjusted the palace ribbon around her waist, "In my opinion, it is better to go to Jizhou. Uncle Rong has always cared for you; although you haven't gathered for over ten years, he inquires about you in every letter and even sends you rouge and powder through others. Aunt is also a good person, gentle and courteous, coming from a respectable family; you should not be treated poorly there. As for Uncle Rong..." She furrowed her brow, "Although it is good, I fear it may not be convenient. He is unmarried and busy with official duties, so he might not be able to take care of you." Aunt is also a good person, gentle and courteous, coming from a respectable family; you should not be treated poorly there. As for Uncle Rong..." She furrowed her brow, "Although it is good, I fear it may not be convenient. He is unmarried and busy with official duties, so he might not be able to take care of you."

The man beside, stroking his beard, said: "The old lady is of secondary importance; Nuan'er has already reached the age of marriage, and Rongyu is still quite young. It would not be convenient for the two of them, the uncle and nephew."

Bu Ruoyin sighed as she went downstairs. Madame Bu turned to instruct Yulu to return to the warm boudoir to tidy up the delicate garments. She then said: "Luoyang is not far from Chang'an. As soon as I have some free time, I will come to see you. When you arrive in Chang'an, you must listen to your uncle's words and absolutely must not be willful. Your uncle is strict with rules, so you must reflect on yourself and not cause him any trouble"

Bu Ruoyin saw that his wife had made up her mind, feeling both angry and helpless. He was a scholar, with principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame hanging over him. He had only married one wife, Madam Shen, and they had lived harmoniously for over a decade, raising their beloved daughter, Bu Nuan, whom he cherished deeply at all times. The thought of their daughter entering the Xia family to live in widowhood was something he and his wife were utterly unwilling to accept from a personal standpoint. However, in the world, one must base their existence on integrity; if any improper actions were to be taken and spread, it would lead to public condemnation. Not only would it tarnish his reputation in the officialdom, but it would also render him unworthy in society.

Mother just mentioned that Uncle has been promoted to the Grand General of the Town Army. I think that Uncle, being a second-rank official, should not be suppressed by a fourth-rank Deputy Minister of the Secretariat

Bu Nuan has some memories of her uncle, recalling that he was a very humble person, though not fond of speaking. That year, he brought her two crape myrtle saplings from Dongdu, which have now grown into trees

Warm child, mother’s idea is foolproof. The women in the Respect and Modesty Hall rarely see outsiders, so there is no need to worry about being exposed. However..." She paused, her eyes gradually reddening, "You can no longer stay in Luoyang. The uncles and aunts had domestic disputes in the past, and most likely they will not care about this matter. Going to the aunts' place means you have to watch your uncle's expression, and the cousins at home have grown up, which is also inconvenient. It is better to go to the uncles. Uncle Rongya is an inspector in Jizhou, and Uncle Rongyu has just been promoted to General of the Town Army in Chang'an this year. Think carefully for yourself, should you go to Jizhou or to Chang'an?

Madam Bu was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, and cried out: "Are you trying to take my life, child! My lord, reading too many books can turn one into a bookworm! You are still young, yet you are so foolish! Even resigning from your official position and returning home is better than ruining a lifetime for Nuan'er. Is not your daughter your own flesh and blood? To cut her alive and throw her into a pot of oil to fry, do you not feel pain?"

"Mother," Bu Nuan hesitated as she tugged at Madame Bu's sleeve, "my own karmic burdens should not implicate others; this is no trivial matter, spanning decades, a lifetime's worth of troubles accumulated in that courtyard"

The Respect for Chastity Hall is a known institution specifically established to support widows in maintaining their chastity. The threshold for entry is quite high, only accepting the wives and daughters of affluent families, and they must be those who have experienced child marriage and widowhood. A guarantor must be provided, and a security deposit must be paid; generally, ordinary individuals are not admitted. The doors of the Respect for Chastity Hall are locked year-round; once one enters there, it is akin to entering a tomb, never to see the light of day again

Chen Zhong bowed and replied: "Madam, rest assured, it is difficult to find unmarried girls, but widows with children are everywhere. Leave everything to the underlings, and they will surely handle it for you meticulously." After saying this, he bowed and withdrew.

Madam Bu was somewhat surprised: "Aren't you going to Jizhou? Your aunt is there to take care of you, and there are many trivial matters for a girl; it would be nice to have someone to talk to."

Bu Ruyin was taken aback and scolded, "Have you lost your mind? How could you come up with such a thing that damages one's moral integrity!"