Chapter Twenty-Eight: Confinement

Jiang Li had just carried Liu Qin into the house and hadn’t even had time to set her down when he was startled by the scene before him. The old matriarch was sitting stiffly in the center of the outer room on a sandalwood chair, her face dark with fury. Sister-in-law Cai Xinlan sat beside her, and when she saw the two arrive, she gave a subtle signal but dared not utter a word. The room was filled with maids, all holding their breath, their eyes lowered, silent and tense. Though the house was crowded, not a single sound could be heard; no wonder Jiang Li and Liu Qin hadn’t heard anything from outside.

Liu Qin slipped off Jiang Li’s back, preparing to put on a cheerful face and playfully nestle into her mother’s arms to sidestep the matter. But before she could react, her mother’s voice thundered, “Liu Qin, kneel before me.”

Oh no, Mother was truly angry. Liu Qin dared not act as she usually did; instead, she obediently walked before the old matriarch and knelt, remembering to look pitiful and teary-eyed in hopes her mother might be moved to mercy and spare her this time.

Jiang Li quietly knelt beside Liu Qin before the old matriarch, and behind him, Changxing, Changsheng, and Cuiyu, already terrified, fell to their knees at the doorway, not daring to even breathe.

“You, you—” the old matriarch pointed at Liu Qin, so angry she could barely speak. “You’ve always been mischievous, and I’ve let you be, since you were at least in the house. Now look at you, running wild outside. Do you know what’s happening out there? Your father and older brother haven’t returned for over ten days. We shouldn’t be making trouble, not now—we should be helping, not causing chaos. And your second brother... You, child, you’ve let me down.”

“Mother,” Cai Xinlan’s eyes reddened as she looked at her sister-in-law, her heart aching. She was about to speak on her behalf when the old matriarch interrupted, “Xinlan, you mustn’t indulge her any longer. It’s my fault for spoiling her, for making her so reckless and unaware. Today, no matter what, I cannot forgive her. Caixia, bring the family discipline.”

“Mother, little sister is still young, punish her lightly. She’s frail, how can she endure it?” Cai Xinlan hurried forward, supporting the old matriarch and signaling Caixia, who, clever as she was, only verbally complied while dragging her feet, not leaving the room.

“Aunt,” Jiang Li shuffled forward on his knees, bowing low to plead, “Aunt, it’s all my fault. I took my sister out. If you must punish someone, punish me.”

“Don’t take the blame for your sister. I know her well enough. If it weren’t her idea, if she hadn’t urged you, you wouldn’t have acted so carelessly. But you, Jiang Li, are also at fault. Your sister is young and reckless, but as her brother, you shouldn’t just spoil her and let her do as she pleases. I know you’re close, but you must understand that indulging her isn’t truly good for her. All right, you may stand now. Remember, if this happens again, I’ll punish you as well.”

Jiang Li remained kneeling, still pleading for Liu Qin, “Aunt, please forgive her this once. I promise, there won’t be a next time.”

“Mother, I was wrong. I won’t do it again,” Liu Qin quickly promised, seizing the moment.

Cai Xinlan and the maids joined in pleading for mercy, and the old matriarch finally sighed deeply, “Enough, enough. I know you’ll all try to stop me if I punish her, so I won’t. She’s confined to her room for a month, not allowed out. Jiang Li, you’re not allowed to visit her. Cuiliu—”

Cuiliu, already kneeling beside Cuiyu, quickly agreed, and the old matriarch continued, “If Liu Qin sneaks out during this month, I’ll hold you responsible. As for this incident, you, Cuiyu, Changxing, Changsheng, failed in your duties—you’re each fined a month’s wages, and if it happens again, the penalty will double. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Madam,” they replied.

The four relaxed once they heard it was only a fine, but Liu Qin’s face fell; a month’s confinement! She imagined the boring days ahead, stuck in her tiny room, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating—was she to become a little pig? She almost wished her mother would just whip her and vent her anger; it would be better than this. Liu Qin wanted to throw herself before the old matriarch and cry, “Mother, please punish me instead!”

From that day on, Liu Qin began her month-long confinement. At first, she was somewhat pleased—at least she could sleep as late as she wanted, with no one to bother her. But after a couple of days, she grew restless, rolling around the bed, bored out of her mind. She couldn’t go out, no one came to visit, there was nothing to see, and certainly no handsome young men to admire. All she could do was shout to herself.

No matter how she pleaded with Cuiliu, the maid only smiled gently and refused to yield. As for Cuiyu, she simply pursed her lips and replied, “Miss, don’t get me in trouble. This time it’s only a fine, but if it happens again, the old matriarch will flay me alive. Stop calling. Jiang Li left this for you—his handwriting. You’re to copy two pages daily; he said he’ll check them himself.”

This Jiang Li—did he think he was her teacher? Well, she supposed it would pass the time. Still, thinking of the days when she had handsome company, compared to now when she sat alone by a lamp, the difference was stark.

One day, Master Liu finally returned home and, hearing Liu Qin was being punished, made time amid his busy schedule to visit his precious daughter in Plum Courtyard.

“Father!” After days of boredom and grievance, the moment Liu Qin saw her father, she rushed into his arms, overwhelmed.

Master Liu picked her up, weighing her in his arms with a smile, “Our girl has grown heavier.” Liu Qin rolled her eyes—how could she not, living the life of a pig?

Cuiliu served tea and, together with Cuiyu, kept watch outside. Inside, father and daughter talked. Master Liu, smiling, finally asked, “Qin’er, tell me, what did you go out for?”

Looking at her father’s kindly face, Liu Qin didn’t want to lie. In truth, she hadn’t lied to her mother either, since her mother hadn’t asked. “Father, I wanted to find out news about Second Brother.”

“And did you learn anything?”

“Yes, we met Sister Bai. She said she’d escaped from Xing County in Yunzhou, and mentioned something—yes, the flood diversion. Brother Jiang Li said that by diverting the flood through Xing County, Yunzhou was saved. Maybe you should ask him; he understands.”

“I already know about it. Good child, I know you worry for your brother and trust you won’t act recklessly. But you’re still young—you don’t need to worry about these things yet. Trust your father, your eldest brother, and your second brother. We will take care of ourselves, do you understand? As for your mother, I’ll speak to her. She’s been in a poor mood lately; don’t provoke her. Stay quietly in your room for now. When news of your second brother arrives, it’ll all be fine.”

“Yes, I’ll listen to you, Father.”

Nestled in her father’s arms, Liu Qin felt a deep sense of peace. If there was anything she was grateful for in this life, it was this family—parents who loved her dearly, especially her father, who not only cherished her but also trusted and supported her unconditionally. Leaning against him was like leaning against a towering mountain, giving her boundless security. No matter the storms outside, with her father there, she feared nothing.