Upon returning home, Madam Zhao Shen was first questioned by her husband. Still nursing her grievances, she couldn’t help but speak bitterly: “Who knows what Second Young Master sees in her! With that fierce temper of hers, you’d think she was going to be my mother-in-law instead…”
“What nonsense are you speaking!”
Zhao Binsung barked, then quickly glanced outside. Seeing only a few trusted servants within earshot, his tone softened, “We’re forming family ties, not making enemies. How could the Ji family, being of modest means, dare show you disrespect?”
Only then did Madam Zhao Shen realize she had spoken ill of her husband’s mother? She wasn’t foolish – she knew that a principal wife’s authority rested on two pillars: her husband and her sons. These two supports gave her the power and dignity she enjoyed. When she gave orders in the inner courtyard, these were the two people she could least afford to offend.
She exchanged a glance with her wet nurse, who understood and led the other servants out, closing the door behind them. Only then did Madam Zhao Shen soften her posture, sliding from her chair to kneeling, covering her face with a handkerchief as she began to sob quietly: “I shouldn’t have shown disrespect to mother-in-law… I was just so angry.”
After decades of marriage as the principal wife of the Zhao family, seeing his wife kneel before him without hesitation greatly satisfied Zhao Binsung’s vanity. Though his mother had been dead for over a decade, and while he respected her memory, he wasn’t about to let his wife continue kneeling in contrition. His main concern was that his wife’s words might reach the ears of his already restless brothers.
“You are the principal wife of this household,” Zhao Binsung said simply as he helped her up.
Understanding that the matter of her mother-in-law was settled, Madam Zhao Shen gave her husband a complete account of her visit to the Ji family.
“I went with good intentions, yet the Ji mother and daughter humiliated me,” Madam Zhao Shen dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief, saying indignantly, “My lord, I know we can’t control Second Young Master’s decisions, but at least we should have an obedient daughter-in-law. If I hadn’t already considered Ji Second Miss as our future daughter-in-law, why would I have bothered to instruct her? How could the Ji family not understand this simple point?”
“Outrageous!” Zhao Binsung’s face darkened.
He agreed with his wife. While they couldn’t control their second son, he was still their son. If they couldn’t control their future daughter-in-law either, they would have even less say in matters going forward.
The problem was that this marriage wasn’t theirs to decide. Their son had already reported to the Old Master first, asking for their consent merely as a formality to show respect to his parents. Thinking of this, Zhao Binsung felt helpless.
“Let’s wait until after the brocade competition to discuss this. What’s most important now isn’t the Second Young Master’s marriage, but that the Old Master has named him as the next family head. Let’s wait until after the ancestral hall ceremonies.”
Madam Zhao Shen understood this too, and having vented to her husband, the anger in her heart had somewhat dissipated.
A few days later, Madam Ji sent a visiting card, announcing her intention to call the next day.
Madam Zhao Shen scoffed, slapping the card on the table. “Now she remembers we’re to be in-laws?”
The Ji family was nothing special, and this made Madam Zhao Shen despise Ji Yingying even more. She thought she should teach Madam Ji a lesson. With just one glance from her, Nurse Gu understood: “We’ll receive Madam Ji in the flower hall for tea.”
“Nurse, change into proper clothes before accompanying me to receive guests. You’re my wet nurse – when you’re properly dressed, it reflects well on me.” While Madam Zhao Shen didn’t bother to redo her high bun or change into more elaborate receiving clothes, she gave this instruction to Nurse Gu.
Nurse Gu understood perfectly. When they visited the Ji family, the madam had deliberately had everyone dress up. That day, Madam Ji had also changed clothes to receive guests, wearing only a lotus-patterned blue brocade robe with a set of jade and gold hair ornaments. When the madam asked her to change clothes, she excused herself and returned shortly wearing a date-red brocade robe with “fortune” patterns that the Zhao family had bestowed upon her. She added a new gold hairpin and wore a jade-inlaid ornament on her forehead, looking even more like a wealthy elderly lady.
Madam Zhao Shen smiled with satisfaction. She unhurriedly dismissed the servants who came to report matters, calculating that Madam Ji had been kept waiting in the flower hall long enough. Only then did she lead her maids and servants to receive her guest.
When she entered the flower hall and saw Madam Ji sitting quietly alone, showing no sign of impatience, she couldn’t help but admire Madam Ji’s composure, feeling increasingly that the Ji family wouldn’t be easy to deal with. Madam Zhao Shen secretly pursed her lips before putting on a bright smile: “Madam Ji, the servants kept coming to report one matter after another this morning, making you wait so long.”
Madam Ji understood perfectly, but she had come prepared. Though concerned about Madam Zhao Shen’s attitude and determined to secure a strong position for Ji Yingying in the Zhao family, she remained completely unruffled by Madam Zhao Shen’s tactics.
After exchanging greetings and taking their seats as host and guest, Madam Zhao Shen expressed concern: “Has Madam Ji come because there was some problem with the premium Shu red silk that Huanhua Dyeing Workshop was commissioned to dye?”
Madam Ji thought to herself that the silk thread order had a ten-day deadline and had already been properly delivered to and signed for by the Zhao family steward. How could Madam Zhao Shen not know this? She replied mildly, “Madam Zhao must be forgetful with all your responsibilities as principal wife. Huanhua Dyeing Workshop has always been reliable – that batch of silk threads was dyed and delivered on time, and your steward has already checked and signed for them.”
“Oh, my memory!” Madam Zhao Shen pressed her fingers to her temples, smiling apologetically. “The Huanhua Dyeing Workshop is now managed by your eldest son, and it’s been many years since you’ve come to discuss business with us, Madam Ji. Perhaps your eldest son is too busy preparing for his wedding at year’s end?”
Madam Zhao Shen had decided that even if Madam Ji came to apologize, she would maintain her aloofness and put on airs. She wouldn’t be satisfied until she had the Ji family firmly under her thumb.
Madam Ji smiled faintly: “I handed over the business matters to my eldest son two years ago. My visit today isn’t about the dyeing workshop’s business.”
“Oh?” Madam Zhao Shen cast her a questioning, dubious look, straightening her back slightly.
If this marriage were to be settled, it would truly be galling. Madam Ji found Madam Zhao Shen’s affected manners deeply distasteful. She took a box from Nurse Li’s hands and placed it on the table: “My second daughter hurried home that day after receiving Madam Zhao’s welcoming gift, and wanted to do some needlework for Madam Zhao to show her gratitude.”
Though the words were pleasant enough, wasn’t this just trying to curry favor for Ji Yingying? Madam Zhao Shen smiled artificially: “It was just a gold hairpin, hardly worth mentioning.”
Nurse Gu added pointedly: “Our madam is known for her generosity. Even someone as lowly as me, who merely nursed her, is remembered and elevated by our madam, who grants me two sets of brocade clothes every season.”
An inch of brocade was worth an inch of gold. Compared to brocade clothes, the gold hairpin given to Ji Yingying was indeed worth little.
Madam Ji lowered her gaze, not wanting Madam Zhao to see the anger in her eyes. As a widow, she dressed simply except for festivals and birthdays. Madam Zhao Shen had brought out her wet nurse to make her look shabby by comparison, comparing Ji Yingying to a rewarded servant. At that moment, Madam Ji became firm in her decision. Ji Yingying was devoted to Second Young Master Zhao. As her mother, she needed to establish her daughter’s position in the Zhao family.
She spoke slowly: “My daughter has never learned dyeing techniques, but she has mastered the art of embroidery since childhood. After Madam Zhao left that day, she worked day and night for ten days to embroider this brocade handkerchief.”
Then she stood up and said calmly: “I had hoped to bring my daughter to express her thanks in person. However, given her age, it wouldn’t be proper for her to appear in public. I hope Madam Zhao understands. Now that I’ve delivered the gift, I shall take my leave.”
Before Madam Zhao Shen could finish putting on airs, Madam Ji was already bidding farewell. It was like building up to release a mighty roar, only to have it catch in one’s throat. After seeing her guest out with tea, she violently smashed her teacup on the ground, finally feeling some relief: “A mere handkerchief, and she’s done?”
What nonsense about being of age – from what she knew, Ji Yingying was hardly a demure young lady who stayed quietly at home. She wouldn’t even come to kowtow and submit to a proper scolding. How could this satisfy Madam Zhao Shen?
“Madam, Madam Ji’s words seemed to have hidden barbs. This old servant suspects there’s more to this brocade handkerchief than meets the eye.” Nurse Gu’s loyalty and sharp wit had earned her Madam Zhao Shen’s trust. She picked up the box and opened the lid, presenting it to Madam Zhao Shen.