Chapter 63: The Background of Rong Xue

Mother Yu came from a prestigious and illustrious family, and was well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her clan elders had committed a grave offense, which resulted in the male members of the family being exiled to the northern frontiers, while the women fell into the Ministry of Rites' Music Bureau.

These were bygone events from decades ago, deeply personal sorrows best left unelaborated.

Following the ascension of the new emperor, a general amnesty was declared across the realm. This pardon extended to the elderly women of the Music Bureau who were daughters of convicted officials, granting them release to fend for themselves in their twilight years.

Consequently, the Music Bureau on Chessboard Street relocated to a new site, dispersing older courtesans like Qiushui and retaining only elders such as Mother Yu.

Though she was a convicted criminal, Mother Yu relied on her extraordinary talents to reign as the top courtesan of the rouge world for an entire decade.

The musicians and singers trained under her tutelage invariably became the star attractions in various pleasure houses, making her a breath of pristine fresh air within the demimonde.

Her path was vastly different from that of Mother Qin of the Hundred Blossoms Pavilion, who was passionately devoted to lively, high-energy dances.

Whenever Qiushui brought this up, she could not help but sigh: Fortunately, Mother Qin was at the helm nowadays.

Had it been a few years earlier, An Chunfeng's alluring lingerie would never have caught Mother Yu's eye, nor would it have generated any profit.

To maintain one's lofty and refined demeanor while rolling in the dust of the mortal world—An Chunfeng held a deep sense of admiration for her.

At the same time, she remained utterly baffled as to why Mother Yu had suffered such public humiliation that day, kneeling and begging for medicine.

Holding her teacup, she sat properly.

"When I begged for medicine at the medical hall that day, thanks to Lady An speaking out righteously on my behalf, this old woman wanted to express her gratitude, but Lady An had already departed."

An Chunfeng furrowed her brow and smiled bitterly: "It was merely my own narrow-mindedness.

When arguing openly with Young Master Shen at the clinic, I simply could not stomach his discourtesy. I sincerely hope Mother will not mock me for being rash and unbridled!"

Mother Yu looked solemn: "Lady An is truly a woman of genuine character and deep feeling; this old woman has not misjudged you!"

"Ah?" An Chunfeng was somewhat bewildered, unable to make head or tail of it.

She had always treated others with cool detachment and avoided trouble whenever possible. Her temperament was the polar opposite of a passionate, unrestrained woman of deep feeling. Why would Mother Yu, whom she was meeting for the very first time, offer such an assessment?

Before she could figure out in what way she was a "woman of genuine feeling," she saw Mother Yu stand up, straighten her garments, walk directly toward her... and drop to her knees!

Oh! Oh! Oh!

An Chunfeng considered herself to have a fairly resilient disposition; she had not panicked at the prospect of transmigrating, nor had she been overwhelmed by suddenly acquiring a son. Yet now, brought low by the kneeling of a complete stranger, she was utterly flabbergasted!

"Mother Yu, please get up quickly! Let's talk properly!" Jolted as if by an electric shock, An Chunfeng bounced up from her seat, eager to help Mother Yu to her feet.

Instead of rising, Mother Yu pressed her back down into the chair, bent forward, and performed a deep bow: "Lady An, you are fully worthy of this bow!"

An Chunfeng felt her brain spinning uncontrollably. What on earth was all this about?

She dared not accept this bow lightly. Since Mother Yu refused to rise, she could not well remain standing either, and was forced to kneel down beside Mother Yu: "Mother, please get up and speak!"

Mother Yu shook her head: "It was thanks to your assistance that the Master of Miraculous Hands Shen finally dispensed the second dose of medicine. Yue'e's condition has now improved after taking it; this life was essentially saved by you, and she will come to express her personal gratitude once she has fully recovered!"

The medical skills of Master of Miraculous Hands Shen at the Spring Return Hall were truly supreme, and his medicines exceptionally potent. Her public humiliation and kneeling to beg for the medicine package had not been in vain.

After consuming it just three times, Yue'e's high fever had broken. Though lingering warmth remained and she was not yet able to get out of bed, her life had been snatched back from the brink.

"Yue'e being saved was entirely due to your own devotion, Mother. There is no need to thank me!"

Upon learning that the gratitude was for saving a life, An Chunfeng felt a twinge of guilt.

Her intervention, when all was said and done, had been partly for her own sake. If the Spring Return Hall had stubbornly refused to dispense the medicine, it would all have ended in a futile fuss.

Unearned rewards brought unease, and pies did not fall from the sky. She had no wish to accept this gratitude undeservedly, and she stood up once more, attempting to pull Mother Yu to her feet.

Mother Yu, however, remained on her knees and continued: "This old woman still has something else to thank Lady An for!"

An Chunfeng's mind cleared instantly. The plea for medicine was merely a lead-in, not the true objective.

For Mother Yu to humble herself to such an extent, she must harbor a demanding request.

Abandoning the kneeling posture, she sat cross-legged directly beside Mother Yu: "Mother Yu, what is it you actually wish to say?"

Mother Yu raised her head, a complex expression crossing her face: "Lady An, this old woman thanks you for taking in Xiaolin and giving him honest work!"

"Oh!"

Hearing that it was about this matter, and remembering Xiaolin's mention of previously receiving rice and flour, An Chunfeng's heart instantly relaxed.

It seemed these courtesans did indeed look after orphans and were still keeping watch over them.

Thus she replied: "Xiaolin is steadfast and sensible by nature, and I happened to be in need of an extra pair of hands. Mother Yu need stand on no ceremony!"

"Xiaolin is unregistered. Had Lady An not given him a chance, he would surely have suffered greatly!"

This time, An Chunfeng merely smiled. Unwilling to continue dancing in circles with Mother Yu, she straightened her posture and pressed her hands against her knees.

For a former noble lady and glorious top courtesan to kneel in public and beg for medicine on behalf of a dying sister demonstrated deep sisterly devotion and unwavering loyalty.

Yet no matter how compassionate one might be, it did not follow that one would kneel and plead on behalf of an adopted orphan. There was surely more left unsaid.

It was simply that Mother Yu's stammering and beating around the bush were testing her patience.

Seeing An Chunfeng rise as if refusing to listen any further, Mother Yu knew she had no time left to stall; what needed to be said must be said sooner or later.

A mist of tears welled up in her eyes: "Lady An, this old woman must also thank you for visiting Rongxue and providing her with fabric and sewing needles!"

Rongxue?

By this point, An Chunfeng was completely certain that these courtesans shared a special bond with Xiaolin and the others.

Recalling Rongxue's frosty, snow-like demeanor, she could not help but scrutinize the woman before her with renewed care.

The longer she looked... the more alarmed she became: "Mother Yu, what relation is Rongxue to you?"

Mother Yu lowered her gaze, her eyes flickering slightly, before finally raising them to meet An Chunfeng's direct stare: "She is this humble one's daughter!"

"Ah! Your daughter?"

Even though An Chunfeng had already sensed a hint of the truth, this declaration shocked her so deeply that she stumbled and fell right back onto the floor...

The chief steward entered twice to replenish the tea and once to deliver pastries. Supporting her head with her hand, An Chunfeng felt as though she were listening to a convoluted novel.

Rongxue was indeed Mother Yu's daughter!

Women of the pleasure houses were not permitted to bear children; they were routinely given contraceptive brews. Ruthless madams would even administer potent decoctions to permanently halt their monthly flow and eradicate their fertility altogether.

Though the women of the Music Bureau were singers and musicians—not selling their bodies for mere physical pleasure as common prostitutes did in the eyes of ordinary folk—they were still frequently assigned to entertain high-ranking officials.

In her youth, Mother Yu had been the most celebrated top courtesan in the capital, frequented by cultural elites, princes, and high officials alike. Naturally, many had fallen deeply in love with her, wishing to rescue her from the abyss.

Yet she was the daughter of a convicted criminal, not a common low-class servant; her life and death rested entirely in the hands of the imperial court. Unless the emperor personally issued an edict of pardon, the concept of buying back one's freedom did not exist for her.

Traitors and criminals required the complete eradication of their roots, making childbirth strictly forbidden.

Mother Yu had strictly guarded these rules, never daring to let her heart stray.

It was not until she reached the advanced age of twenty-eight, shedding her glory as the top courtesan and gradually retiring to assume the role of Mother Yu in the Music Bureau—teaching the younger women zither and chess while rarely attending banquets or social gatherings—that things changed.

To fall deeply in love late in life was like an old house catching fire; it raged completely out of control.

The romance and mutual devotion, filled with twists and turns, was enough material to write an entirely separate book.

The child had been an accident—one that left Mother Yu simultaneously astonished, overjoyed, and racked with agonizing torment.