Ji Yingying’s new silk thread combination was the Zhao family’s secret. Zhao Xiuyuan hadn’t brought his two attendants when he went to the Ji house. After returning home, he summoned Zhao Ping and Zhao An, and demanded sternly: “Who from our household has been to Huanhua Dyeing Workshop?”
At this point, Zhao Xiuyuan was still wondering if perhaps some steward in charge of silk purchases had offended the Ji family. Before entering the Treasury Hall, he had specifically instructed the two to keep watch over household matters.
Zhao Ping, who had once been kicked into Huanhua Stream by him and thoroughly subdued, saw this as an opportunity to regain his young master’s trust. He spoke up before Zhao An: “Ten days ago, the madam visited the Ji house. Early this morning, Madam Ji came to visit our madam. As for what was said, this humble servant doesn’t know.”
Not to be outdone, Zhao An added: “Shortly after Madam Ji left, someone came from Pine Crane Hall to the Treasury Hall with a message.” He had been stationed outside the Treasury Hall at Zhao Xiuyuan’s disposal. When Old Master Zhao sent someone to summon Zhao Xiuyuan, Zhao An had been present.
So it was Mother! Zhao Xiuyuan maintained his composure: “You’ve both done well in this matter. Your monthly wages will be doubled.”
The two attendants were overjoyed and kowtowed in thanks.
Without even hearing his mother’s explanation, Zhao Xiuyuan could perfectly imagine how she had gone to the Ji house putting on airs, how she had picked faults with Ji Yingying. Anyone else might have been different, but Madam Zhao Shen was his mother, the principal wife of the Zhao family. Regardless of whether his mother was right or wrong, Ji Yingying was the younger generation. To make his mother apologize to her would be like laying the entire Zhao family at her feet to be trampled.
Zhao Xiuyuan was troubled.
He sighed. Since he knew his mother was the cause, he should go to the Ji house himself to smooth things over. If Ji Yingying wanted to hit or scold him, he’d let her. If she slapped one cheek, he’d offer the other. If she wanted to berate him, he’d serve her tea.
No, that wasn’t right. Today when he pretended to leave, Ji Yingying hadn’t called him back. In the past when he acted this way, she would have quickly protested: “I’m just teasing, am I really that petty?”
To be safe, he would still need to ask his mother to visit the Ji’s house.
After sitting in his study for a while and making up his mind, Zhao Xiuyuan noticed the hourglass showed it was half past three. His mother couldn’t possibly rush to the Ji house without a visiting card during their dinner time – that would make the Zhao family appear too eager. Tomorrow morning at the latest. Which meant he wouldn’t be able to get the new silk threads from Ji Yingying until tomorrow afternoon.
A whole day would be wasted! Zhao Xiuyuan angrily slapped his desk. He stood up abruptly, casually telling his two attendants he would have dinner at Moon Brocade Hall, and hurried off.
As usual, after dismissing the servants, Zhao Xiuyuan didn’t beat around the bush and directly instructed his mother: “Please write a visiting card, mother, and have Nurse Gu take eight kinds of gifts to the Ji house now, saying you’ll visit early tomorrow morning.”
Madam Zhao Shen flew into a rage: “What? Is the Ji family putting on airs and refusing to help?”
Yes, they’re not the ones in a hurry – we are! Zhao Xiuyuan cursed inwardly but explained: “She didn’t say she wouldn’t help. If she really wouldn’t, she wouldn’t have specially embroidered that handkerchief and sent it. It’s just that we need Mother to make a visit, to let the Ji family save face.”
“Second Son, I am your mother! Do you want me to go to Ji’s house and apologize? You unfilial child, you won’t even ask why Madam Ji was upset, yet you demand your mother go and apologize.”
If the Ji family saves face, I’ll lose mine! Madam Zhao Shen couldn’t pull rank with her son, but she wasn’t stupid. Understanding her son’s request, she was so angry she beat her chest.
“Is there any need to ask?” Zhao Xiuyuan said contemptuously, frustrated with her stubbornness. “Isn’t it obvious you went there thinking the Ji family was beneath us, showing off your rich clothes and expensive jewelry, wanting to make Madam Ji and her daughter feel intimidated by the Zhao family’s wealth and ashamed in your presence, so you could mold them as you pleased?”
Having her motives exposed by her son, Madam Zhao Shen retorted: “What mother-in-law doesn’t think this way? Should I elevate my daughter-in-law above myself? The engagement isn’t even set yet – how can you be so protective of her?”
“Mother, you just said yourself the engagement isn’t set yet?” Zhao Xiuyuan was half dead with frustration at his mother’s foolishness. “If the two families aren’t even engaged, why did you go putting on airs as a mother-in-law? What do you expect the Ji family to think? You’re already bullying them before engagement, so now they absolutely must make you lower your head! Don’t you understand?”
Madam Zhao Shen grew emotional: “With the Ji family’s status, being able to marry into our Zhao family as a proper son’s wife is their good fortune! Yet they’re the ones putting on airs? On what grounds?”
“Because we need their help right now!” A cold light flashed in Zhao Xiuyuan’s eyes. “Which is more important – mother’s face or the title of Brocade King?”
“Second Son, don’t blame your mother. She only wanted to get closer to Madam Ji. Seeing Second Miss Ji’s lively nature, and thinking of her as a future Zhao family bride, she merely offered some guidance. The Ji mother and daughter didn’t appreciate it, and your mother feels wrong too.” Zhao Binsung finally intervened to smooth things over.
“My lord!” Madam Zhao Shen had finally found someone who understood her and began crying sorrowfully. “For your sake, Mother will go apologize to the Ji family… if I hadn’t considered Second Miss Ji as a future daughter-in-law, why would I have bothered to remind her about proper ladylike behavior?”
Zhao Xiuyuan smiled bitterly. No wonder his mother had offended Ji Yingying. Trying to make Ji Yingying act like a proper lady – wasn’t that just picking a fight? After bringing Ji Yingying into the family, there would be two tigresses fighting over territory. Thinking of this, he felt a bit sorry for his mother and softened his tone: “Mother, I’m not asking you to humble yourself before the Ji family. Madam Ji has maintained the Huanhua Dyeing Workshop as a widow – you can imagine how much she values face. You don’t need to say anything specific, just chat casually with a gentle attitude, have a cup of tea, and take your leave. Your visit alone will give the Ji family a face. Madam Ji will certainly treat you warmly and properly. For her daughter’s sake, she won’t embarrass you.”
Really? Madam Zhao Shen, being vindictive herself, judged others by her standards and feared being humiliated at the Ji house. But now, with Zhao Xiuyuan’s coaxing and persuasion, her attitude gradually softened, though she didn’t forget to remind him of her sacrifice: “Mother is doing this for you.”
“Son is grateful for mother’s consideration!” Zhao Xiuyuan promptly gave her another deep bow.
Seeing an advantage, Madam Zhao Shen finally gave her son a reproachful look and called Nurse Gu to give her instructions for visiting the Ji house.
Tragically, while Zhao Xiuyuan only thought of his mother’s arrogance, he didn’t know about Nurse Gu’s role in adding insult to injury.
Time was tight, and it wouldn’t be proper to deliver a visiting card so late in the day. Nurse Gu hurriedly took people carrying the eight gift boxes and Madam Zhao Shen’s visiting card, without changing out of her date-red brocade robe with its small fortune patterns or removing her elaborate hair ornaments.
Usually, Madam Zhao Shen couldn’t do without Nurse Gu, and in the servants’ eyes, she was practically like a master herself. Hearing that Nurse Gu was going out, servants hoping to curry favor had already brought a sedan chair to the second gate.
The Zhao and Ji families were only separated by one street. Nurse Gu, accustomed to being fawned upon, naturally took her seat in the sedan chair.
As Zhao Xiuyuan had said, if Madam Zhao Shen showed goodwill, Madam Ji would treat her warmly and properly for her daughter’s sake. Madam Ji had anticipated someone would come from the Zhao family and had instructed the gatekeeper Ji Fu to stay alert.
Nurse Gu brought four maids carrying the eight gift boxes. When Ji Fu heard the knock and opened the door, the maid who knocked, trying to please Nurse Gu, announced to Ji Fu that “our old madam” was in the sedan chair.
Ji Fu had witnessed Madam Zhao Shen’s glittering arrival and angry departure that day. Seeing that just hours after his mistress’s instructions, the Zhao family had already sent someone, indicating they still valued the Ji family, he was quite pleased. At his pleasure, Ji Fu missed hearing properly and didn’t notice it was Nurse Gu sitting in the sedan chair. He told a young maid to quickly report to Madam Ji in the back courtyard: “Madam Zhao has arrived.”
Since the Zhao family had responded so quickly with a peace offering, Madam Ji graciously stepped down and led Ji Yingying and their maids to wait at the second gate.
The sedan chair was carried directly to the second gate, and when the maid lifted the curtain, Nurse Gu stepped out with dignified grandeur.
Madam Ji: …
Ji Yingying: !!
The lady of the house and her daughter had come to the second gate to welcome a Zhao family servant – even if she was Madam Zhao Shen’s wet nurse, she was still a servant!
Madam Ji’s face burned – this time, the Zhao family had truly delivered a sharp insult.