“She has a very obedient nature, and remarkably, she’s patient despite her young age,” Lingling remarked.
“Yes,” Ji Lan sighed. “Her temperament is like my brother’s. My brother was clever from a young age, and the Ji family’s current prosperity is all thanks to him. I never imagined that someone like Yun Niang could give birth to such an intelligent daughter as Cheng.” Yun Niang was Ji Cheng’s mother, who came from an even humbler background, her father being merely a street vendor selling tofu pudding.
Ji Lan was pleased with Ji Cheng’s intelligence but also somewhat troubled. If Ji Cheng had been like her mother, she would have been perfect as a brainless favored consort, as such a person, even in a high position, would inevitably need support from others. Initially, Ji Lan had planned to send Ji Cheng into the palace.
In recent years, Emperor Jianping had been in poor health and hadn’t had any sons. But in the past two years, with the help of a divine physician to nurture his body, sons began to appear like bamboo shoots after spring rain. In just two or three years, he had fathered two sons, and it was said that three more consorts in the palace were already pregnant.
Ji Lan’s calculation was for Ji Cheng to enter the palace at this time. If she could bear an imperial child, Ji Lan could whisper in the Third Master’s ear, who could then speak to the Old Madam. After all, she was their niece. If her son were to inherit the throne, the Shen family’s fortunes would advance further, and their third branch could finally hold their heads high, no longer inferior to the first and second branches.
But Ji Cheng wasn’t easy to manipulate, and her quick mind made her difficult to deceive. For instance, this time, if Ji Cheng had been a bit more anxious and rushed to the Duke’s mansion without regard for her aunt’s illness, Ji Lan could have cast doubt on Ji Cheng’s character with a few hints to others in the future. But Ji Cheng wholeheartedly tended to her illness, making Ji Lan feel guilty about setting up obstacles for her.
However, Ji Lan wasn’t one to give up easily. Although Ji Cheng didn’t want to enter the palace, who knew how things might change in the future? Even if Ji Cheng refused to enter the palace, arranging a respectable marriage for her should still be possible. That wouldn’t be bad, though it would reduce Ji Cheng’s usefulness to her.
The next day, as Ji Cheng had predicted, Ji Lan fully recovered and took Shen Cui and her to the Old Madam’s room early.
The Old Madam had just finished washing up and was preparing to eat. Seeing Ji Lan enter, she asked, “Has your health improved?”
Ji Lan smiled a bit forcefully and said, “I felt much better yesterday, but I was worried the illness hadn’t fully cleared, so I didn’t dare come on Great-Grandmother’s joyous day. I hope Great-Grandmother doesn’t blame me.”
The Old Madam waved her hand and said, “You’ve all been so busy managing so many things lately. I’d be heartbroken, not angry if you fell ill from exhaustion. Health is the most important thing, as you’ll understand when you’re older. Nothing else matters; what’s crucial is eating well and sleeping soundly. If you don’t take care of your body when you’re young, you’ll pay for it when you’re old.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Madam Su, who was also in the hall, chimed in with a smile.
The Old Madam then called Ji Cheng forward and asked, “Why haven’t I seen you playing with your sisters these past few days? Don’t you like the songs and dances from Changchun Garden? Your eldest uncle’s family even bought more than ten talented singing and dancing girls from the West. Just choose the ones you like to hear. Why stay cooped up in your room at such a young age?”
Ji Cheng didn’t know how to respond. How could such a wise elder as the Old Madam not understand Ji Lan’s intentions? Although she had just magnanimously forgiven her, she was now using Ji Cheng to reprimand Ji Lan.
“Great-Grandmother, Cheng has just arrived in the capital and has been suffering from unfamiliarity with the local conditions these past few days, so I couldn’t come. I’ve heard of Changchun Garden’s reputation even in Jin. As soon as I recovered, I begged my aunt to bring me here,” Ji Cheng said with a sweet smile.
The Old Madam looked at Ji Cheng’s smile and couldn’t help but compare her to Su Yun. Su Yun’s smile was radiant, clearly that of someone pampered from childhood. Ji Cheng’s smile, however, was as gentle as a spring breeze. This girl had a good heart; she didn’t mention tending to her aunt’s illness, which would have made Shen Cui seem unfilial by comparison.
“Go on, sit with your sisters. We’re all family here, with no distinctions. Treat this place as your own home. Didn’t Mencius say something about respecting the elderly?” the Old Madam said with a smile.
“‘Treat the aged of other families as we treat our own aged, and treat the young of other families as we treat our own young,'” Ji Cheng replied with a smile, genuinely fond of this great-grandmother. Her generosity and kindness truly embodied the spirit and conduct of a long-established noble family.
After breakfast, everyone moved to Qing Garden. As the music began to play, even Princess An’he arrived.
The last time, Ji Cheng had only caught a glimpse of this royal princess from afar, not knowing her personality, but Princess An’he’s presence had left a profound impression on the young Ji Cheng.
With Princess An’he’s arrival, everyone naturally had to come forward to pay their respects, including the Old Madam. Usually, Princess An’he rarely made appearances for this reason. She quickly stepped forward to support the Old Madam, smiling gently, “Mother, why bother with such formalities with me? Even in front of my royal brother and sister-in-law, you have a seat of honor.”
Although Princess An’he was gentle and courteous to the Old Madam, she was somewhat indifferent to others. But no one dared criticize her.
Ji Cheng stepped forward to pay her respects along with the others. Princess An’he gave her and Su Yun a few extra glances but said nothing.
Soon, guests began to arrive one after another. The mother of the Second Madam, Lady Huang, the Marchioness of Jing’an, also came today. The Old Madam smiled and said, “Old sister, what wind has blown you here today?”
In the past few days of banquets, it had been the Heir Apparent’s wife, Lady Huang’s eldest daughter-in-law, who had come from the Jing’an Marquis’s household.
“I should have come earlier, but my legs have been troubling me. Today, with such fine weather, I thought I must come to see you,” the Marchioness of Jing’an replied.
The elders had their topics to discuss, while Shen Cui pulled Ji Cheng aside to talk, “Did you see? Su Yun’s only been here a few days, and she’s already cozying up to Fourth Miss Wang.”
Ji Cheng, of course, didn’t know who Fourth Miss Wang was, but following Shen Cui’s gaze, she realized that the Fourth Miss Wang in question was the fourth young lady of the Yongle Earl’s family, also the niece of the Heir Apparent’s wife of the Jing’an Marquis.
Fourth Miss Wang had an unusual appearance. This unusualness wasn’t ugliness; in fact, she was quite beautiful, but it was a beauty different from the ordinary, a peculiar beauty that made her memorable at first glance. Fourth Miss Wang’s eyes were very narrow and long, with slightly upturned corners, charming yet sharp. Her lips were a bit thick, her mouth rather large, and when she smiled, there was a kind of bold charm.
Undeniably, Fourth Miss Wang was a rare and uniquely beautiful woman.
“Who is Fourth Miss Wang?” Ji Cheng feigned ignorance.
“Who else could it be but the highly praised Fourth Miss Wang? Her elder sister, Noble Consort Shu, gave birth to His Majesty’s eldest prince two years ago and is now at the height of her influence. The whole family has risen to prominence. Wang Noble Consort’s father was even granted the title of Earl of Yongle. Those who fawn over Fourth Miss Wang have also risen with the tide,” Shen Cui snorted. “I think she looks quite ordinary. Her mouth is so big she could swallow a fist, yet some people call her the capital’s top beauty.”
Ji Cheng realized that Shen Cui harbored hostility towards any remotely good-looking girl.
The songs and dances from Changchun Garden had been performing since morning, interspersed with acrobatics and comedy acts. Shen Cui and the other young ladies had been watching for several days and were already tired of even the best performances, especially since Madam Guo had only performed on the first day and hadn’t appeared since.
Among the group, only Ji Cheng watched with great interest.
“What’s so fascinating about this?” Shen Cui turned her head to ask Ji Cheng, who was immersed in the performance, implying that Ji Cheng was uncultured and inexperienced.
Ji Cheng smiled slightly. People from the capital always had an unwarranted sense of superiority, as if people from other places were all unsophisticated bumpkins. “In Jin, when families have celebrations, they often invite performers from music houses for entertainment. There’s a famous Madam Cheng in Jin, known to every household. Have you heard of her, Fifth Sister?”
Madam Cheng was indeed a notable figure, and Shen Cui had certainly heard of her.
These so-called Madam Guo and Madam Cheng were like the stars of modern-day song and dance troupes, highly respected and beloved, the kind of people considered a rare fortune to see in person.
Hearing Ji Cheng’s tone, which seemed somewhat defiant, Shen Cui became even more sarcastic, “I almost forgot, your family does have some money.”
Shen Cui’s words were always thorny. Ji Cheng wasn’t sure if it was directed only at her or if she spoke to everyone this way. She wondered if Shen Cui’s aunt was aware of this. Ji Cheng sighed regretfully, feeling sorry for Shen Cui.
“Having money isn’t a bad thing,” Ji Cheng couldn’t help but reply softly. After all, the Third Master Shen’s passion for calligraphy and paintings was entirely supported by the Ji family’s wealth. Not to mention the official positions, substantial posts, and promotions the Third Master had bought – which of these hadn’t been paid for with Ji family money?
But how could Shen Cui understand the complexities in Ji Cheng’s mind?
As they were talking, Shen Qin came over to find Shen Cui, saying, “Fifth Sister, Cousin Cheng, let’s go play at the Yingyue Tower by the South River. If we want to hear music, we can call Wen and the others to sing some fresh tunes. Wouldn’t that be more enjoyable than here?”