A Good Deed

Mao Jin spluttered--something he normally would never have done, except that he was completely taken by surprise. Wanwan seized the fact that he was unable to talk, and continued. "Wanwan isn't stupid. Don't worry, I wish to help you. I know that Madame is beautiful, and intelligent, and kind. And she is quiet and contented with a simple life, just like Gongzi. I believe Madame will be happy with you, and I would be happy to continue to serve the two of you. Wouldn't that be perfect? But Gongzi, you need to win her heart first."

She paused for breath, bright-eyed. "Mao Gongzi is an educated man and much wiser than me, but sometimes Wanwan can't understand you. Do you realize that when you're trying to win a woman's heart, you must speak gently to her, and treat her graciously?"

"Are you implying that I don't treat Madame graciously?" he said haughtily.

Wanwan shook her head firmly. "Wanwan hasn't had much experience with highborn people's romances, but from everything I've heard the man never laughs at his lady or calls her stubborn, or says she walks as slowly as a snail, or refuses to let her eat--"

"That was because the physician said she must avoid spicy foods!" interjected Mao Jin so violently that he induced another coughing fit.

Folding her arms, the little maid looked unimpressed. "All the same, you needn't have been so strict and long-faced about it. You should have coaxed and petted her and told her you would get something else she liked for her to eat. And of all things, the other day you even cast her age up to her!"

She glared at him, scandalized. Mao Jin noted it, grimly. "There. That's the exact glare you've been giving me the past few days," he muttered to himself.

"So, Mao Gongzi, I decided that I must do my best to help you, for you've been a good master to me, and I believe that your heart is sincere even if you don't seem as intelligent as you are supposed to be," she continued earnestly. "Now that I've told you, you will try and change, won't you? And I'll tell you what Madame's responses are like, if she says anything good about you--"

Mao Jin coughed painfully, managing to recover some of his voice. "Wanwan, it would take me an entire night to explain how wrong you are. First of all, do you know why Madame always has this plaintive and preoccupied expression in her eyes? She is thinking about her husband, probably loves him deeply, whatever might have happened in the past. And she has said that once the child is born, she will leave to search for him."

Wanwan shook her head energetically with a little piteous sound, unwilling to have her rosy dreams dashed so quickly.

"Secondly, I am not in love with Madame. She is an unusual and special woman, no doubt, and--" he hesitated, "has become a friend I did not expect to cherish. But--"

Wanwan's finger was in his face. "Not true," she said defiantly. "You're in denial, Gongzi. Why, the way you looked at Madame just this afternoon when you saw her in danger was enough evidence."

Mao Jin uttered a short, incredulous laugh. "I was alarmed, and then relieved to see she was fine, that's all. Do you know me better than myself, then, Wanwan?"

"Then why didn't you say that as your first reason?" she retorted triumphantly. "You're resigned that Madame loves another so you're burying your love, aren't you, Gongzi?"

He held out his hands hopelessly. "Am I not allowed to understand myself?"

"You needn't hide it from Wanwan. I won't tell anyone." she said reassuringly. "Or perhaps you haven't even realized it yet," she added, meditatively.

Getting up, Wanwan bowed politely. "That's all Wanwan wanted to say, Mao Gongzi. It's a relief that I could finally tell you this. Don't worry, I will definitely try to help you win Madame's heart!"

Dazed, Mao Jin watched her back out of the room. "Hide it? Haven't realized it yet? What is the child talking about?" he murmured helplessly.

Wanwan skipped lightly out of his chamber, a wide smile on her face, and her heart feeling warm and full with the happiness of having done a good deed. She returned to Madame's chamber, and peeked noiselessly at where the dark head lay against the pillow block.

Madame's face looked restful; she had drifted into a light slumber. Wanwan observed the fineness of the eyelashes resting against the smooth cheek, and the graceful curve of the throat. Mao Gongzi was just a man, after all, she reasoned. How was it possible that he could be unmoved by Madame's beauty and sweet temperament. She was quiet and plaintive, yes, but that only added to the sense of mystery and charm surrounding her.

Wanwan rubbed her thumb against her chin thoughtfully. For some reason a memory from that afternoon flashed across her mind. She recalled how Madame had been so calm and level-headed earlier on. The way she had struck that beggar man so that he coughed up blood.

And she remembered that often she would come across Madame meditating, or at least so it seemed--her eyes would be closed and she would not hear when Wanwan spoke to her. Wanwan found it strange at first, but since Madame always seemed refreshed after it she did not mention it, but only shut the door softly and left her to herself.

Now, she couldn't help wondering if Madame's past was perhaps more colorful than it seemed. Could it be possible that Madame was from some powerful family, or had gotten entangled in some conflicts in the jianghu? Perhaps that explained why she was so careful to veil herself, and kept such a low profile...

For the first time it struck her that Madame Bai might have more abilities than she allowed them to see.

A trifle uneasy, Wanwan noiselessly shut the door, trying to brush the thoughts from her mind.