Love like the Galaxy - V1C3

Characters List

Author and Editor's Notes 1- Transmigration, Sickness and Recovery 2- Survival 3- Sick again, Gossips and Jealousy 4- Family Reunion 5- Awkward Meeting 6- Drama Spirit 7- Crocodile tears 8- Mother and Son 9- Family Banquet 10- Good News! 11- Mother and Daughter 12- Enough is Enough 13- Madam Xiao's unfairness 14- Siblings' reunion and a moment of reflection 15- Third Uncle and Madam Sang

Edits in progress

Edits in progress

Chapter 3

Sick Again, Gossips and Jealousy

 

Li Zhui gazed at the dimly glowing charcoal fire, silent and contemplative. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the reckless and commanding Fourth Miss had returned. This was her typical behavior when she lost her temper and struck servants. However, she had never dared to confront her this way before. Was her serious illness making her more fearless?

Yu Cailing looked at her for a moment before sneering and setting down the hand warmer. She reached back to fix her hairpin and said coldly, "If you speak one more disrespectful word to me, I’ll jump off this carriage. Whether I live or die, I won’t return with you." 

Li Zhui was stunned. While servants being scolded by their masters was common, Fourth Miss had always been deferential to her. Just as she was about to retort, she remembered the current situation and held her tongue.

In truth, she already felt guilty upon hearing that she had 'fallen gravely ill and nearly died." Initially, this was her fault, because the madam had never instructed her to harm Fourth Miss. The initial plan was to torment the girl gradually over several months: first inflicting suffering, then gradually winning her over with kindness and care, so she would be fully obedient when her parents returned. Who would have guessed the rivals' cunning? Their letter claimed they wouldn’t return for months, yet yesterday, a sudden message said they would come back in a few days. They were caught off guard. What could they do now? Li Zhui was at a loss.

Looking at Yu Cailing’s stubborn face, she could only swallow her anger, silently vowing to let the madam deal with her once they returned.

Yu Cailing paid her no mind, resting on a cushion while pretending to sleep. Her thoughts drifted to a story she had heard from the village: long ago, a man was mistreated by a local bully. The bully, knowing the man had no sons or nephews and that his daughter was already married with children, secretly cheered. But unexpectedly, the daughter sought revenge; she drew a blade and murdered the bully in a pavilion, then turned herself in. The local governor and prefect jointly appealed to the court, lauding her as brave and righteous. She was granted a pardon, and a stone monument was erected in her honor.

This was completely different from what she had imagined in ancient times.

In her view, feudal etiquette enforced rigid, stifling rules on women, covering important virtues like chastity and demeanor, as well as minor details such as the exact step length and the maximum height at which to lift their heads while speaking. Women were so controlled that they seemed like lifeless wooden puppets.

Here, people’s thoughts and hearts seemed lively and authentic, creating an impression that anything was possible. In this vast world, nothing truly seemed forbidden. While modest and virtuous women were praised, those who were brave and daring were also celebrated.

Consider the Qiu family as an example. Although Eldest Miss Qiu married several times, her strong-willed and courageous nature meant she always took the lead in defending her family whenever they were wronged—whether her brothers were at war or disabled upon their return. It's no surprise that Old Master and Madam Qiu adored their daughter, and the children looked up to their formidable aunt. Besides playful jokes at weddings, the villagers never voiced the usual grim sayings about "a good horse not bearing two saddles.[1]" The takeaway is that while gentle and kind women might have better marriage prospects, being fierce and commanding didn’t provoke the same criticism and bias that it would later.

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To confirm that Yu Cailing’s earlier illness was genuine, she developed a fever midway through the journey. The carriage's movement made her vomit up her recent lunch, and she eventually cast up bile too. Alarmed, Li Zhui told the driver to accelerate, so by the time they arrived at the estate, her fever had risen sharply. Her head throbbed intensely, and she was too confused to see the mansion clearly, only feeling the carriage continue deeper into the estate.

Eager to free herself of this burden, Li Zhui didn’t wait for the maids to help when they arrived at the courtyard entrance. She leapt down herself and quickly pulled Yu Cailing toward the main house. Luckily, the girl’s small frame made it easy to carry her.

Half-dragged and half-carried to the main house entrance, she faintly saw a dozen elegantly dressed women on the steps. Her vision blurred, but she suspected the woman in the center, wearing purple brocade and fur with a heavily powdered face, was her ‘dear Aunt.’ The sight almost made her laugh—if Li Zhui was as thin as a chopstick, this ‘dear Aunt’ was considerably thicker, and together they could resemble a pair of tongs.

'Dear Aunt'[2] quickly inquired about what had occurred. Li Zhui, flustered, explained, “Madam Ge, this is problematic. The Fourth Young Lady is seriously ill! I’ve been exhausted and frantic throughout the journey, worried I’d fail to follow your instructions!”

Madam Ge eyed Yu Cailing’s flushed, plump cheeks—nourished by Fu Zhu’s care—and still put on airs, drawling skeptically, “Surely she’s faking. Children don’t fall ill so easily.” The onlookers in the courtyard thought privately: How odd. Children are precisely the ones who fall ill most often.

Suddenly, a calloused hand landed on Yu Cailing’s forehead. An elderly voice warned gravely, “This is serious—the fever is high. Madam, this could cause trouble.” Then, she shouted louder, “Someone, fetch the physician!... The one surnamed Zhang from the southern district!”

“Mother Fu,” Madam Ge said, displeased, before reaching out to feel Yu Cailing’s forehead herself. The heat surprised her. “Heavens, she’s burning up! Quickly, send for someone!”

Using her final strength, Yu Cailing lifted her gaze to see a white-haired old woman standing beside Madam Ge—then darkness enveloped her vision, and she knew no more.

The familiar ordeal of forced soups and medicines followed. Yu Cailing wasn’t sure how long she slept, only that she had taken countless doses during her haze. This time, though, the treatment was much better, the bedding was softer and more fragrant than in the small courtyard, and the room was evenly warm and well-ventilated. The hands that undressed and wiped her down were many, though none as gentle as Fu Zhu’s. Once she regained some strength, Yu Cailing was lifted to take medicine again, which she hated for its bitter, nauseating taste. Frustrated that she had almost recovered before and was now made ill again by these so-called "doctors" who seemed clueless, she felt a surge of anger. She swung her arm, knocking over bowls and cups, spilling the brown medicinal liquid. Madam Ge, furious, wanted to scold her, but understood she needed Yu Cailing to recover quickly, so she suppressed her anger. 

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Unexpectedly, after several days of doctors coming and going and taking medicine, the fever still hadn’t subsided. Seeing the girl’s plump cheeks and body rapidly wasting away, Madam Ge’s anger turned to worry. She dismissed the servants and often sat alone by Yu Cailing’s bedside, fretting over how to find an excuse if the girl really didn’t make it. Coincidentally, on this day, after taking her medicine, Yu Cailing was half-asleep when she overheard the old woman she had seen before and her "dear aunt" talking.

“Madam, why do you have to torment such a young child? I know you can’t stand Madam Xiao, but…”

Madam Ge said bitterly, "I can’t stand her! A fallen noble and a twice-married woman, yet she dares to act arrogantly in front of me! My Ge family is wealthier and has a purer background than hers. Why should I put up with her?"

The old woman sighed and said, "The Xiao family was once renowned as well. Who could have foreseen the chaos in the world, with refugees and bandits everywhere, causing their decline? In our hometown, she was a respected Female Lord, and the Cheng family was much lower in status. Ultimately, why do you insist on competing with the First Wife? There’s no real conflict between you."

Yu Cailing was nearly asleep when she suddenly perked up at this news. Thank Buddha, she thought, not everyone is as reticent as Zhu—there are always gossipers who reveal secrets. She feigned falling asleep further, listening carefully, and unexpectedly, her fever seemed to decrease.

"No enmity?!" Madam Ge unconsciously raised her voice, only to be shushed—likely by the old woman signaling her to lower it. Madam Ge indeed lowered her voice and said, "It should have been me marrying the eldest husband’s brother! I should have been the titled ‘Lady’, the one receiving honors!"

That’s not quite accurate. I have seen you grow up, but when did you ever develop affection for the Cheng family? About Madam Xiao, her first husband paid her little attention when they married, moving from woman to woman, singing and reciting poems. The head of her first husband's family was over the moon to marry this good-for-nothing son. This was well-known in the village. Later, amid the upheaval, Madam Xiao quickly severed ties with her first husband’s family within a few years. Even before her divorce was finalized, the family head was already helping her substantially. To clarify, even if our Ge family had offered marriage to the family head, he wouldn’t have accepted.

Madam Ge became even angrier. "It’s entirely Father and Mother’s fault for marrying me into the Cheng family!"

Yu Cailing quickly deduced that her family’s surname was Cheng and that the family had at least two brothers. The eldest brother’s household consisted of her birth parents, and everything seemed fine there. She could hear the sound of patting, probably the old woman patting Madam Ge’s shoulder while saying, “You’re talking nonsense again. How the Xiao family fell is well known, just a county away. Wasn’t it because Madam Xiao’s father and brothers all died at the hands of bandits? Back then, the Xiao family wasn’t just rich; Grand Duke Xiao was also one of the village’s three elders. To defend against the bandits plundering the countryside, he led his servants into battle and wounded many. However, the bandit leader held a grudge. They pretended to retreat, waited until everyone lowered their guard, then sneaked in at night and killed the entire Xiao family. Luckily, the bandits didn’t know that wealthy families in this area often built underground cellars, so some women and children managed to hide, but all the adult men and their wealth were lost.”

The old woman paused to take a sip of water before saying, “Back then, it was chaos. Any brute who gathered a few bandits could claim to be a king, attacking the wealthy and committing robberies. Women faced even greater hardship. Our Ge family was such a large target—it was extremely dangerous. Although the Cheng family was poor, their head held influence in the village. He was not only capable but also led a group of strong followers. At that time, our old master mentioned he didn’t dare follow Lü Taigong’s gamble on the Red Emperor’s son—he didn’t want to end up like the Xiao family. Around then, the head of the household had just married Madam Xiao, and the Cheng family’s third son was still young. If you didn’t marry the son-in-law, who else was there?"

“You're always going on about persuading me to submit to her!” Madam Ge looked furious. "Did you forget? We married into this family at roughly the same time. In talent and wealth, I outshine her in every aspect. Yet look at my life! I used my dowry to support the Cheng family, while she used the family’s money to support her own. Yet she walks around arrogantly every day—how can I endure this!"

Then I ask, madam, has your dowry stayed the same over the years? 

Madam Ge fell silent.

Seizing the moment, the old woman pressed on, “In the early years of your marriage, you used your dowry to support the Cheng family. However, it wasn’t long before the general gained power. After each battle, he sent chests of money and silk home. Your dowry has been replenished long ago—likely with extra. So, what if Madam Xiao took some to support her family?” 

Madam Ge sneered, saying, “As long as the parents are alive, private property should not be accumulated. The family hasn’t split yet — his parents should handle the elder brother’s money, and all three brothers’ households should share it!”

The old woman sighed once more. “That’s the principle, yes. However, Master Cheng earned the money on the battlefield, and Madam Xiao was always with him, so it went through her hands first. Amid the chaos outside and ongoing wars, who still adheres to these rules? Even now, beyond the prefectures under our Emperor’s rule, the outside world remains in turmoil.”

The room grew quiet, as if both had nothing left to say. Yu Cailing waited patiently, contemplating the ongoing wars outside and wondering about the current situation. Meanwhile, she silently encouraged them: Keep talking, don’t pause now.

“So, madam, you’re intending to kill Fourth Miss just to spite Madam Xiao?” the old woman inquired suspiciously. 

Madam Ge scoffed sharply, saying, “I initially wanted to spare that miserable woman. But I didn’t expect her to be so cold-hearted, leaving her child behind to follow her husband! Naturally, he supported her. She’s quite cunning. She hired a powerful shaman to interpret omens and managed to take all her sons except this daughter, Fourth Miss. Yes, I aimed to use her daughter by corrupting her and keeping her illiterate, but I never planned to kill her!”

Hearing this, Yu Cailing thought bitterly that it seemed she was destined to be parentless. In her past life, her parents divorced, and in this life, although they stayed married, they still abandoned her.

Yu Cailing's mother was a young, educated woman sent to the countryside in her youth. Many local men, including those with tougher fists and brighter prospects, wanted to marry her, but she chose only Yu Cailing's father. She understood that substance matters more than appearances. While other men spent their days leading gangs and causing chaos, their families had little stored food. Yu Cailing's father, in contrast, was sharp and clever, with a kind old mother.

Yu Cailing's mother refused to settle for being a small-town accountant. Once the college entrance exams were reinstated, she started studying immediately, persisted for years, and finally passed. She was then appointed to a good position in a large city, where she "coincidentally" met her childhood sweetheart from an equally well-connected family, who "just happened" to be divorced. Naturally, what happened next was inevitable. The only possible mistake might have been giving birth to her.

While Yu Cailing's mind drifted far away, Madam Ge's resentment grew, and she said bitterly, "Aside from neglecting her daughter, what else was I supposed to do? Don’t you realize, Mother Fu, that whenever there was any fuss all these years, the old woman Wan next door would send her maids to investigate? Could I have beaten Fourth Miss to death or starved her as punishment?"

The old woman let out a soft sigh. "Madam, please listen. The Cheng family isn’t what it once was, but our Ge family stays the same. Things have changed now, don’t resist it. I only wanted to see you before New Year’s. In a few days, I’ll head to Qingzhou with my children and grandchildren. After His Majesty’s conquest, it took years to eliminate the bandits. Now, there’s extensive wasteland suitable for farming, and the government is issuing notices to encourage settlement. The taxes are low, and after a few years of farming, the land can be yours." 

Madam Ge was taken aback. "So soon? It’s just past the winter solstice. Why not stay until after New Year’s?" Although she had known for a while that Mother Fu’s family was planning to move to Qingzhou, she still found it hard to accept her departure.

The elderly woman chuckled. "Your brother Bao has been saving some money from his small business over the past few years and is eager to leave. He even consulted a shaman, who advised that when relocating to set up a new household, we should invite our ancestors to bless the family. So, we're planning to celebrate New Year's Day in Qingzhou, where the family can conduct a proper ceremony to pray for prosperity and descendants." 

Madam Ge paused quietly, then began to cry softly. "Mother Fu, although you’ve mainly been away these past two years, I could still see you whenever I wished. Now that you’re heading to Qingzhou, what am I supposed to do? Didn’t I promise to carve out a future for your son?"

The old woman smiled warmly. "Qingzhou is a wonderful place. Several of my nephews are bringing their entire families there, too. With so many of us traveling together, we won’t have to worry about being bullied. Moreover..." She hesitated. "Madam, consider this: has any of our Ge family’s younger generation managed to build a stable future lately? They couldn’t even gain entry into the Imperial Academy. What chance does an old woman like me have?" 

Madam Ge said bitterly, "It’s all because of that vile Xiao woman. Her husband follows her lead."

The old woman said no more.

Despite her fever and dizziness, Yu Cailing's sharp mind stayed sharp. Even without the old woman explicitly explaining, she understood the situation clearly. This clueless aunt only knows how to come up with poor plans. If you keep challenging Madam Xiao, how can you expect her husband to help your family? Yu Cailing thought that even her ten-year-old self would be more intelligent than this. Slapping someone on the left cheek and then expecting them to lick your fingers? Madam Xiao isn't a masochist. You might as well drink two bottles of toilet cleaner to cool down. Now, the only wise person left is about to leave, probably fed up with your foolishness.

“What are Madam's plans now? Given Fourth Miss’s illness, she probably won’t recover in the coming days,” the old matron said. 

Madam Ge pleaded, “Mother Fu, could you help me craft a plausible excuse? Fourth Miss is unwell, but her behavior is terrible—she argues, curses at other young ladies, and she even hit someone during the garden party. I wish she had committed a serious offense. I was negligent. When she was younger, she caused little trouble, but now she’s grown, and I didn’t plan carefully, assuming we had plenty of time. Madam Xiao confidently said she’d return in a few months, but now she’s arriving any day!”

The old matron sighed again. “Let me think. Ah, I’ve got it. We’ll play it down. Didn’t Second Miss recently come back crying about your mother-in-law’s mistreatment? You can say that now the young ladies are all growing up and should act with dignity and virtue, especially as they are soon to be considered for marriage. But Fourth Miss remains so unruly, so you've decided to discipline her strictly. Then, shift the blame onto the servants for neglecting their duties — like that greedy old woman under Li Zhui’s command, for example. If needed, pin everything on her." 

Madam Ge's face brightened. “Excellent idea, Mother Fu. We’ll proceed with that plan. If that Xiao woman begins to bother me, I’ll remind her of all the outrageous actions Fourth Miss has taken over the years. Let’s see if she still thinks the child requires no discipline!” Feeling triumphant, she huffed once more. “What’s there to fear? She can’t actually devour me!”

Almost immediately after she spoke, shouting erupted outside. A young maid’s clear voice rang out: “Second Mistress, it’s urgent! The master and his group have returned! About twelve large carriages are already at the main gate! The Old Mistress is summoning us immediately.” A rush of quick footsteps and overlapping calls followed. 

Madam Ge gasped. “So soon?” She paused, then asked, “Wait, that’s strange. Why is there no activity at General Wan’s residence next door? I’ve had people watching it! My elder brother always stays with General Wan.” Raising her voice, she called out, “Someone, bring my husband here immediately!”

The old matron hurriedly assisted Madam Ge. “Second Mistress, you’re not thinking clearly. How could your husband be home now? Never mind that, go out and greet them properly. We mustn’t break etiquette... No, no, better yet, go to your husband’s mother first and accompany her!” 

Madam Ge angrily stomped her foot. “Look at the marriage my father arranged for me! My husband spends all his time immersed in Confucian classics, while his much younger brother already holds an official rank worth several hundred bushels. Years of study, and what do they amount to? Meanwhile, their mother—my mother-in-law—acts foolishly, only concerned with her own comfort...”  

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Their voices faded as they left. Yu Cailing struggled to turn around and change her sleeping position, touching her burning forehead. Her body ached, feverish, with cold sweat pouring out. Right now, she thought sleep was the best cure; otherwise, she’d be wasting effort on the extremely bitter broth she had ingested these days! 

 

That old hag surnamed Ge, too afraid to face her enemies directly, yet bold enough to bully a child. No wonder her husband's such a wimp. With her pointed face, thin frame, and complexion greener than broccoli[3], she seems hormonally imbalanced at night and full of rage during the day. If she's so eager to vent, why not find a lover to unwind? She could have three young gigolos—one to feed her grapes, one to massage her feet, and one to dance with her. Would that not be more enjoyable? How does bothering her sister-in-law and niece help her skin or balance her hormones?! What a foolish fool from eighteen generations of bad upbringing!

 

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[1] The phrase "a good horse not bearing two saddles" is a variation of a common saying that means a person cannot effectively serve two masters or responsibilities at the same time. It is about the principle of singular focus and the avoidance of conflicting commitments. 

The analogy implies:

• A "good horse" is a capable and willing individual. 
• "Two saddles" represent two distinct, potentially conflicting, demands or obligations.
• The horse cannot perform its best when burdened unevenly or asked to move in two different directions at once. The weight and pressure of an ill-fitting or double saddle causes pain and poor performance in a real horse, and the same applies to people

[2] New characters

• Mother Fu | Nanny: An elderly woman with white hair who cared for the Ge family children, including Madam Ge, but resides with Madam Ge’s brother Bao.
• Li Zhui: Servant-in-charge or attendant of Old Madam Ge
• Madam Ge | 'Dear Aunt' | Second Aunt (Shaoshang’s Aunt who married the second son of the Cheng Family). Her family maiden name is Ge. Shi is an address form
• Old Madam Cheng | Old Madam (Shaoshang’s grandmother and Mother of Cheng Shi)
• Madam Xiao | Yuan Yi | Madam | Female Lord | First Wife (Shaohang’s mother). She remarried Cheng Shi, first son of the Cheng family.
• Cheng Shi (official name, firstname)| Master (used by servants)| General Cheng (used by nobles) | Shi’er (affectionate first name – see address forms on top menu)| | Eldest Son of the Cheng family (Shaoshang’s father). He married Yuan Yi, Madam Xiao.
• General Wan: Sworn brother of General Cheng, with a slightly higher noble status. General Wan allocated several courtyards from his main estate to house General Cheng and his family nearby. He is the father of 13 daughters and has no sons. The youngest daughter, Qi Qi, will play an important role later in the story.

[3] Jealousy. Sarcastic and venting comment.