That’s what she said, but when going to pay respects to Old Madam Chen in the evening, the resentment and jealousy in Third Madam Chen’s heart couldn’t help but surge up uncontrollably. When she arrived, Chen Mingyu was discussing with Old Madam Chen what clothes to wear on the day they went to Qingxu Temple.
“That cloud brocade jacket stuffed with duck down is too ornate,” Chen Mingyu said, pulling on Old Madam Chen’s arm and acting coquettishly. “When you walk in the sunlight, it shimmers with flowing light—it attracts too much attention. We’re going to observe a ritual ceremony. Why don’t I wear that apricot-colored long robe embroidered with peonies, and over it that white fox fur cloak Her Majesty bestowed last time? That combination would definitely be both striking and beautiful.”
She was deliberating over what kind of clothes Song Chuyi would wear, so she refused to dress too ostentatiously. She wasn’t unaware of the news that the Empress had summoned Song Chuyi. Consort Liang in the palace had also revealed information to them, saying that day the Empress had held Song Chuyi’s hand and talked with her for a long time. From the looks of it, she had probably taken a liking to this young lady from the Song family.
Her sense of vigilance grew even heavier. Song Chuyi already had a good relationship with the Grand Prince. If she also had the Empress’s favor, wouldn’t that make things even more difficult for her?
Old Madam Chen’s heart was clear as a mirror about her thoughts. Hearing this, she smiled and glanced at her, reaching out to tap her forehead with a finger: “Fine, fine, fine. Everything as you wish. Since you’re matching it that way, your hair ornaments can’t be too plain. I still have a set of ruby jewelry. Later, have Rushuang collect it for you. You can wear it that day.”
Third Madam Chen knew about that set of gold-set ruby jewelry—it was part of Old Madam Chen’s dowry. When it was brought out back then, it dazzled people’s eyes. The flowers formed the base, with pristine rubies adorning the top. Altogether there were two pairs of hairpins, one walking stick ornament, plus one necklace and three pairs of earrings. The whole set would cost at least a thousand taels of silver. Old Madam Chen so lightly gave such precious jewelry to Chen Mingyu.
Third Madam Chen glanced at her daughter standing quietly to the side with a faint smile. The bitterness in her heart surged uncontrollably.
She forced a smile and spoke up before First Madam and Second Madam could: “That’s truly extraordinary. Just hearing about it, I can already imagine our Mingyu standing gracefully, dazzling enough to blind people.”
Chen Mingyu’s eyes sparkled like rippling water. With her snowy skin and flower-like appearance, she pressed her lips together and revealed a shy smile.
Third Madam Chen immediately followed up: “It’s just that our Qing’er doesn’t have such good fortune. Never mind cloud brocade or Shu brocade—even finding a proper outer garment for going out to receive guests requires racking one’s brains.” She seemed not to notice Old Madam Chen’s face had already darkened. She sighed and shook her head, disregarding her daughter’s pleading looks: “I’m afraid she’ll embarrass our Mingyu. When others see them, who could tell they’re sisters?”
These words were improper—she was practically pointing at Old Madam Chen’s nose and scolding her for being partial. First Madam was somewhat impatient. Ever since her husband died, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to accumulating wealth. She couldn’t touch Chen Mingyu’s share, but when Old Madam died, most of the family wealth would be hers. Right now, Third Madam Chen’s posture of a destitute person reaching out for money was truly unseemly. She let out a cold laugh and glanced at the uneasy Chen Mingqing, her words becoming rather unpleasant: “The manor has set allocations for seasonal clothing, and I haven’t heard that Qing’er’s was missing. Third Sister-in-law saying such things—those who don’t know would think our Chen manor has somehow mistreated you.”
First Madam actually wasn’t favored by Old Madam Chen. Among these daughters-in-law, she wasn’t satisfied with a single one. In truth, the wives her two sons married weren’t chosen by her. At that time, Elder Chen wasn’t yet an Elder, but merely an Eastern Palace lecturer. To rise up required money for connections. Silver flowed out like water—how could the Chen family’s modest foundation be enough? They could only scheme through their children’s marriages. Both First Madam and Second Madam’s families were rolling in wealth.
But this was also the point Old Master Chen and Old Madam Chen regretted most. The daughters-in-law married from merchant families had no insight, not to mention they reeked of copper. Merchants valued profit. When the eldest son died, the eldest daughter-in-law still clutched her dowry and refused to let go.
But now, hearing First Madam’s words, Old Madam Chen didn’t speak out to rebuke her. Compared to her eldest and second daughters-in-law, she detested her third daughter-in-law even more. By the time it was the concubine-born son’s turn to marry, Old Master Chen’s official career was prosperous and money was no longer lacking. Naturally, they couldn’t seek out another merchant’s daughter. She had painstakingly selected several candidates for Third Master Chen, all of whom were rejected. In the end, Old Master Chen made the decision and settled on a Hanlin scholar’s daughter—the current Third Madam Chen.
Since ancient times, Hanlin scholars were noble and respected. Yet this Hanlin Long’s family was generous, as if afraid their daughter would suffer grievances. Not only did they assemble sixty-six palanquins of dowry, they also gave ten thousand taels of silver as trunk money.
Yet a concubine-born son married the best wife. She couldn’t swallow this bitter pill. She had always been somewhat harsh toward the third household. Now, watching the once well-read, refined, and gentle third daughter-in-law step by step become this calculating and mercenary figure, she couldn’t help but feel pleased. With a playful smile at the corner of her mouth, she made a sound of acknowledgment and said: “What are you saying? What outsiders seeing or not seeing? The day after tomorrow when you go to Qingxu Temple, you’re going to the Tong family’s ritual ceremony. The Tong family is holding the ceremony for the late Miss Tong. How can Qing’er dress so ostentatiously? As for Mingyu, she’s going to the ritual ceremony that Empress Mother is holding at Qingxu Temple on behalf of the people of Linjiang and Pingxiang to pray for the common people. How can these be compared? How can this be connected to Qing’er?”
Third Madam Chen’s face flushed crimson in an instant. Her eyes fixed tightly on Old Madam Chen, and curses almost burst from her lips. She turned back to see her daughter’s already lowered eyes and slightly trembling shoulders. Her own hands also clenched into fists, gripped tightly. Her face felt as if someone had viciously slapped it.
She had thought the Chen family wanted to cultivate good relations with the Tong family, so they had the womenfolk all go to the ceremony. But looking at it now, Old Madam Chen didn’t take Chen Mingqing’s marriage to the Tong family seriously at all. Even for such an occasion, she only planned to have them go on their own.
That would have been one thing, but Chen Mingyu was actually going to the ritual ceremony that Empress Mother specially requested Qingxu Temple to hold. Both bearing the surname Chen, one in heaven and one on earth—as if afraid others couldn’t see the distinction between high and low.
She only felt her heart was dripping blood from the suppression. Coming out the door, she faced the sun and unconsciously raised her hand to shield her eyes. Thinking of what Old Madam Chen and First Madam had just said, she felt heartbroken and wronged on her daughter’s behalf. Tears came out all at once. What had she said? If she relied on Old Madam Chen, who knew if Chen Mingqing’s dowry could even reach thirty palanquins.