The place where they alighted from the sedan was a modest courtyard with blue stone brick pavement. A moon gate with white walls and gray tiles stood before them, while magnolias, pomegranates, oleanders, and cannas bloomed in vibrant competition. Maidservants wearing blue vests bustled in and out, and in the nearby wing room with its red-lacquered double doors thrown wide open, ladies either stood in groups of three or five beneath the covered corridors or sat around circular tables chatting and laughing. The sound of their laughter filled the air, creating a scene of prosperity and liveliness.

The woman who received them was about thirty years old. With a beaming smile, she courteously led them toward the moon gate: “Madam Yuan, this way please!”

In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had needed to enter the palace every New Year’s Day to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress. She had once specially invited palace ladies who had left service to teach her proper etiquette. She knew that as a newcomer, the most taboo things were to look around everywhere—either making people think you were frivolous, or making them think you had never seen the world.

She kept her eyes on her nose, her nose on her heart, following behind her sister.

Seeing this, Mian Grand Madam felt relieved.

After passing through the moon gate, they walked along a blue stone path lined on both sides with pomegranate trees, arriving at a three-bay reception hall directly ahead.

Unlike the previous courtyard, though the reception hall also had its double doors wide open, only seven or eight ladies were seated inside. Everyone conversed in soft, refined tones. The golden ornaments on their heads and the brocade on their bodies occasionally flashed with bright glints in the morning sunlight streaming into the hall, dazzling enough to make one’s eyes squint.

“Auntie has arrived.” A young woman with lovely features came out smiling to greet Madam Yuan.

“Seventh Young Madam.” Madam Yuan smiled as she exchanged courtesies with her, then made introductions between Mian Grand Madam and this woman: “This is the Grand Madam of our Fourth Branch… This is the wife of Seventh Master Gu Jincheng from the Gu Mansion’s main branch—Miss Yu from Pukou. She helps the Old Madam manage the household affairs and is the most forthright, generous, and tactful person imaginable. The Gu family’s Sixteenth Miss who is having her betrothal today is her younger sister.”

“I dare not accept such praise. I dare not accept such praise. Every time you come, you flatter me so…” Seventh Young Madam Gu smiled as brilliantly as spring flowers, made some modest remarks, then bent her knees and curtsied to Mian Grand Madam.

Mian Grand Madam returned the courtesy and smiled subtly: “So Seventh Young Madam’s natal family is in Pukou—my natal family is also in Pukou. The He family of Sanyan Bridge, I wonder if Seventh Young Madam has heard of them?”

“Oh my! So your maiden name is He!” Seventh Young Madam Gu exclaimed with surprised delight, warmly taking Mian Grand Madam’s hand. “How could I not have heard of them? The He family of Sanyan Bridge, the Zhuangyuan Scholar’s residence—that’s one of Pukou’s most renowned families. I never imagined I would meet you… I have a younger cousin who married into the He family, the Fifth Master of the He family’s third branch…”

“I know, I know.” Mian Grand Madam smiled. “That’s my nephew from a collateral branch…”

The two women exchanged pleasantries and quickly became familiar with each other.

Madam Yuan laughed on the side.

Seventh Young Madam Gu teased: “Auntie, you’re still laughing. You clearly knew that the Grand Madam’s natal family and mine are both from Pukou, yet you didn’t introduce me to the Grand Madam earlier. This is all your fault. When I toast you later, you mustn’t refuse!”

“You’re just looking for an excuse to make me drink, aren’t you?” Madam Yuan laughed. After the three women exchanged pleasantries for a moment, Seventh Young Madam Gu’s gaze fell upon Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin.

Her eyes revealed an amazed expression as she asked: “And these are?”

“The two young misses from the Fourth Branch’s maternal family. Young ladies from the Zhou family of Pingqiao Street.” Madam Yuan smiled. “Master Zhou is serving as an official away from home, so the two young misses are temporarily residing at the Cheng family.”

Every three years a new class of scholars was selected, three hundred per examination. How many families in Jinling City had produced successful jinshi graduates could be counted on one’s fingers.

The Gu family were scholars, so once Madam Yuan mentioned this, Seventh Young Madam Gu knew who they were.

She smiled warmly and took Zhou Chujin’s hand, saying: “I wondered whose daughters could be so beautiful—it turns out to be Master Zhou’s two young ladies. What truly distinguished guests.” As she spoke, she instructed a maidservant nearby: “Go invite Seventeenth Miss over and tell her that the two young misses from the Zhou family of Pingqiao Street have arrived. Have her come keep them company.”

“No need to be so courteous.” Madam Yuan smiled. “How is the Old Madam’s health? I came to pay my respects to her during the New Year.”

“Look at my memory!” Seventh Young Madam Gu heard this and patted her forehead, laughing: “This morning when the Old Madam got up, she was still asking about you, Auntie… I’ll accompany you over right now.”

As she spoke, she called over a woman who looked like a supervising mama and gave her quiet instructions.

Madam Yuan thought for a moment, then said to Mian Grand Madam and the Zhou sisters: “Come with me—the old lady is the mother of Gu Meizhen, the current head of the Gu household. By generation, she’s even one generation senior to our Old Madam. When you see me address her later, you should follow Dalang’s example and call her ‘Great-Grandmother.'”

This last sentence was specifically instructing Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin.

Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin softly responded “Yes.”

Seventh Young Madam Gu came over, smiling: “Let’s go!”

Madam Yuan nodded with a smile, and the group proceeded along a path to the west.

Passing by a lake and through a pavilion, they arrived at a secluded small courtyard.

The people in the courtyard had obviously already received word, and a nanny was waiting for them at the entrance.

The nanny greeted Madam Yuan familiarly, and Madam Yuan told them: “…This is the person closest to the Old Madam. Her husband’s surname is Miao.”

Mian Grand Madam, Zhou Shaojin, and Zhou Chujin smiled and greeted her.

“You flatter this old servant!” Nanny Miao stepped aside to avoid their courtesy, spoke modestly with them for a few sentences, then led them into the courtyard.

The courtyard was not large but exquisitely designed, and all those serving were middle-aged.

The Old Madam had a full head of white hair but was in vigorous spirits, with a kind smile. She sat happily on a luohan bed receiving their courtesies, then had someone bring over stools for them to sit.

Madam Yuan conveyed Old Madam Guo’s regards to the Old Madam.

The old lady was somewhat displeased: “Why didn’t she come herself? Why did she have you pass on her message?”

Old Madam Guo was a widow, and today was the betrothal of the Gu family’s Sixteenth Miss, so naturally she had to avoid such occasions.

But this couldn’t be said so directly to the old lady—old people, like small children, become unreasonable. Saying it this way would only make the old lady unhappy.

“She originally intended to come.” Madam Yuan smiled. “But two days ago, the pavilion at Fourth Uncle’s Zao Garden suddenly collapsed. Our Old Madam was extremely worried and went to Zao Garden early this morning. As for Sixteenth Miss’s side, we can only trouble you. When she gets married, both our Old Madam and I will come earlier to add to Sixteenth Miss’s trousseau.”

Zhou Shaojin was astonished.

Was this how one made excuses?

Saying that someone’s pavilion had collapsed!

But wait, what was this Zao Garden about?

According to the rules of great families, wasn’t private property forbidden?

How did everyone seem to know about this and think nothing of it?

She muttered to herself, but saw that the Old Madam not only accepted this explanation but also looked as if it were perfectly natural. She repeatedly said: “Then she should certainly go see. She should certainly go see.” Then she asked with concern: “Nothing happened to Silang, did it?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Madam Yuan quickly said. “Fourth Uncle was at the mansion at the time!”

“That’s good. That’s good!” The Old Madam looked thoroughly relieved upon hearing this, and sighed emotionally: “None of you are as filial as Silang. Silang came to visit me just two days ago! He even brought me lotus seed cakes. He said they were tribute items from the palace. Absolutely delicious!”

Uncle Chi would actually buy things to show filial respect to Old Madam Gu!

Thinking of Cheng Chi’s appearance, Zhou Shaojin found this somewhat hard to believe.

So Uncle Chi’s relationship with the Gu family was this good?

Why didn’t Gu Jiuchen save the Cheng family in her previous life?

Perhaps Gu Jiuchen had tried to help the Cheng family but hadn’t succeeded.

She pondered this in her heart.

The Old Madam had already pointed to Nanny Miao, her lips moving, and after a long moment said: “That someone. Go wrap up a few pieces of the lotus seed cake that Silang gave me for them to taste.”

It was as if she momentarily couldn’t remember how to address Nanny Miao.

Nanny Miao didn’t mind, smiled and acknowledged the order, then turned toward the adjacent tea room.

The Old Madam said: “Ever since I was small, I loved eating lotus seed cake. But back then my wet nurse was strict and wouldn’t let me eat much, saying if I ate too much I’d get fat, and if I got fat it would be hard to marry. After I married into the Gu family, I was a great-grandson’s wife and feared others would laugh at me for being greedy, so I still didn’t dare eat much… Later, when I became a madam and everyone was watching me, I dared even less to eat it…”

Everyone smiled and listened to the old lady ramble on.

Nanny Miao brought in the pastries.

The snow-white lotus seed paste was shaped like lotus flowers with a red dot in the center. The appearance was very ordinary.

The Old Madam urged them: “Hurry and taste it, see if it’s better than Qifang Studio’s—I think it’s better than Qifang Studio’s!”

Nanny Miao made eye contact with everyone and had a young maid bring in water.

After they had washed their hands, each person took a piece of lotus seed cake. Before they had even tasted it, the Old Madam already said impatiently: “Isn’t it very delicious? Better than Qifang Studio’s!”

Everyone chimed in saying it was better than Qifang Studio’s.

The Old Madam laughed heartily.

Everyone ate the lotus seed cakes.

It truly was better than Qifang Studio’s—sweet but not cloying, fragrant but not heavy.

Zhou Shaojin finished the pastry and indicated for a maid to bring over a handkerchief to clean her hands.

The Old Madam suddenly pointed at her and said: “Who is this? Why do I find her so familiar-looking?”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Madam Yuan was already smiling as she introduced her: “…The Second Miss of the Zhou family from Pingqiao Street.”

“No, no!” The Old Madam shook her head, her expression confused. She beckoned to Zhou Shaojin: “Come here. Let me have a look at you.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly. She took a deep breath before smiling and walking over.

The Old Madam took her hand.

The pale hand was full of wrinkles but warm and dry.

She looked Zhou Shaojin up and down, muttering: “This isn’t right… Why is she so small… Her height should be even taller than Nineteenth Maiden…”

Nanny Miao quickly explained to them in a low voice: “Nineteenth Maiden was our old master’s youngest daughter… She passed away ten years ago. The Old Ancestress must have mistaken her for someone else…”

Zhou Shaojin was rarely beautiful, so even if she were mistaken for someone, that person would also have to possess considerable beauty… Could the Gu family’s Nineteenth Maiden have been very beautiful?

But why had they never heard of her?

Both Madam Yuan and Mian Grand Madam pondered this silently.

But Zhou Shaojin understood somewhat in her heart.

Many people said she resembled her mother.

Nine times out of ten, Old Madam Gu had mistaken her for her mother.

She glanced at Mian Grand Madam.

Mian Grand Madam looked somewhat bewildered.

She glanced at her sister again.

Zhou Chujin was looking at her nervously.

Zhou Shaojin’s somewhat anxious heart then settled down.

She smiled and said: “Great-Grandmother must have mistaken me for my mother—my maternal grandfather and the Gu Mansion’s Twelfth Master were close friends. I heard that before my mother married, my maternal grandfather brought her to stay at the Gu family for some time, and she likely came to pay respects to Great-Grandmother…”

Seventh Young Madam Gu, Madam Yuan, and the others were still quite confused.

But Nanny Miao exclaimed softly in a low voice and smiled: “I was wondering why she looked so familiar! I thought to myself that all beauties look alike, but it turns out Second Miss is the granddaughter of Old Master Zhuang! Miss Zhuang was also a woman of stunning talent and beauty. We momentarily didn’t think of it.”