Jin Si spoke politely and courteously, but to Mo Zi’s ears it sounded as if she herself had lowered her own status. She immediately smiled and said, “Si Niang need not demean yourself. The礼etiquette of first meeting doesn’t distinguish between high and low. You are a guest, I represent the host—naturally I should observe the proper etiquette for receiving guests.”
When Mo Zi opened her mouth, it was with the language of a thousand years hence. The richness of her vocabulary and swiftness of her retorts were things Jin Si, who had only absorbed a bit of culture from drinking ink with Xiao San, simply couldn’t handle.
Sure enough, once Mo Zi finished speaking, the golden canary didn’t know how to respond.
It was Mo Zi who spoke again. “It’s just unfortunate timing for Si Niang’s visit—Mistress has gone to pay respects to the Princess. These past two days she’s only returned after the noon meal, and today we don’t know when she’ll be back. This May weather gets increasingly unbearably hot as noon approaches—I fear neglecting a guest and having Mistress blame me. Si Niang, why don’t you return first? I’ll inform Mistress, then invite Si Niang over for a proper visit. Would that be acceptable?”
These words were flawless. The facts were facts, the courtesy was genuine, well-reasoned and evidenced, advancing through retreat. Clearly turning her away at the gate, yet so considerate, even worried about her getting overheated. Jin Si had just heard from Zhen’er that this was a second-rank maid. If a second-rank maid had such a silver tongue, what about the new Mistress’s other three senior maids?
Naturally Jin Si didn’t know the subtleties involved—actually she was just unlucky, opening the door today only to encounter the most formidable one.
“Miss Mo Zi, I’m sure you know I came two days ago but returned because Mistress wasn’t home. Today I thought that no matter what, I should serve Mistress tea, otherwise I fear Mistress will think I don’t understand propriety.” Though Mo Zi’s words were comprehensive, when meeting someone with a fixed determination, they went in one ear and out the other. “Si Niang can wait in the side room without troubling Miss Mo Zi.”
Mo Zi thought to herself: if you don’t trouble me, Qiu Sanniang will trouble me.
Qiu Sanniang had no intention of dealing with this golden canary in the first place, adhering to the self-deceptive philosophy of “out of sight, out of mind.” This cup of tea—whether the person pouring was sincere, whether the person drinking was willing—was hard to say. Better not to drink if it couldn’t be drunk properly.
“That won’t do.” Mo Zi had been bored these past few days—rarely did someone deliver themselves to give her something to do. “Just now I heard Zhen’er say Si Niang is the flesh on Master’s heart. Even if I don’t fully understand, I can’t let you wait in a side room.”
Hearing this, Jin Si shot a quick glance at Zhen’er beside Mo Zi—a flash of “authentic” severity.
Mo Zi’s sharp eyes caught it—just as she thought.
“Miss Mo Zi, don’t listen to a newly entered little maid’s nonsense. Si Niang knows her status is humble and only wholeheartedly wishes to serve Third Master and Third Mistress, absolutely without improper thoughts.” Fearing her spy would be detected, in her urgency she revealed a flaw. If not guilty, why the hasty defense?
“Si Niang, you don’t need to tell me this.” From beginning to end, Mo Zi’s expression remained calm. “With Si Niang’s status, I should properly invite you into the inner courtyard, serve you fine tea, and let you wait comfortably for Mistress’s return. It’s just that Mistress instructed that when she’s not here, people cannot randomly enter the inner courtyard. I cannot disobey Mistress’s instructions.”
Jin Si was about to say something when suddenly a clear female voice fell from behind her.
“Since Third Mistress has her rules, Si Niang had better return.”
Jin Si spun around, her expression changing slightly. “Miss Hong Mei.”
Miss Hong Mei? Who?
Just as Mo Zi was about to turn her head to look, she saw Jin Si step aside.
A young woman, wearing a high-waisted skirt in powder blue with butterfly-chasing patterns, a wide middle-sleeved four-panel cloud silk shirt, her hair in a maid’s high bun, adorned with kingfisher blue porcelain butterfly hairpins dangling sapphire blue beads, one on each side.
Mo Zi had seen this style of skirt on Qiu Sanniang’s wedding day—among the many maids, only those attending the female masters wore them. It should be the uniform skirt of senior maids.
Prince Jing’s mansion was nobility after all—even the maids dressed remarkably well.
Though the clothes were beautiful, the woman’s appearance was ordinary. Flat features, conventional makeup. Only her brow carried an arrogance unlike ordinary maids—probably brought out from serving a formidable mistress.
Hong Mei carried a very large bundle. Walking past Jin Si, she neither nodded nor bowed, as if Jin Si were just an ordinary maid.
Mo Zi had her eyes opened—in this Prince’s mansion, did senior maids rank even higher than a young master’s favored concubine?
“Are you Third Mistress’s dowry maid?” When looking at Mo Zi, Hong Mei at least gave her a proper glance.
“Yes.” Mo Zi answered.
“Second-rank?” Examining Mo Zi’s old cloth skirt, she wanted to say “menial maid” but the age seemed a bit too old.
“Yes.” Mo Zi answered with one word again.
“What’s your name?” Hong Mei frowned. “Why are you wearing a cloth skirt?” Second-rank was actually quite a good level among maids.
“I’m called Mo Zi. This skirt is for wearing while working.” This Miss Hong Mei’s manner of speaking in superior-subordinate fashion reminded her of something. “Has Miss Hong Mei come to serve Mistress?” Didn’t the old Princess Dowager say she’d send a senior maid? Most likely it was her.
Hong Mei—placed together with the names Bai He and Lu Ju, it actually seemed quite fitting.
“The old Madam said Third Mistress is newly married and might not be familiar with mansion affairs, so she specially transferred me over to help Third Mistress.” Hong Mei called the old Princess Dowager “old Madam” because once a Prince’s title was inherited, the so-called old Prince and old Princess were just empty titles. Family members found them awkward to say, so they used old Master and old Madam instead.
“Mistress mentioned it to us—we were just thinking Sister Hong Mei should arrive these days, and here you are now. Mo Zi pays her respects to Sister.” Excessive courtesy does no harm. Mo Zi slightly bent her knees and lowered her head gently.
Hong Mei accepted this courtesy and handed her large bundle to the young maid Zhen’er nearby. Seeing her standing stupidly motionless, she frowned and scolded, “What kind of manners were you taught? Not a bit of perceptiveness. In the future when Mistress hands you something, do you need her to tell you before you move?”
Zhen’er pouted as she took it.
Mo Zi saw that Qiu Sanniang would finally have a truly proper model maid. Unlike their four—even the most well-behaved Bai He had a very individualistic side. Hong Mei was very strict, very conscious of hierarchy, very clear about advantages. Having served the mistress of the Prince’s mansion, she inevitably carried certain habits of how her mistress conducted herself—perhaps this would help Qiu Sanniang, or perhaps it would drag her down.
Just as Mo Zi was evaluating Hong Mei, Hong Mei had already stepped in front of Mo Zi and was speaking to Jin Si.
“Mo Zi just said that when Mistress isn’t here, the maids cannot presume to receive guests. Si Niang, you should return.” For a moment Mo Zi thought Hong Mei had a personal grudge against Si Niang, but this sounded relatively polite.
“Miss Hong Mei—” Probably because Hong Mei was a senior maid from the old Madam’s side, Jin Si didn’t dare insist on staying.
“How about this—I’ll be bold and teach you a method. Tomorrow come kowtow and serve tea before Mistress goes to pay respects.” Hong Mei said this in front of Mo Zi, essentially telling her to come early tomorrow morning.
What Mo Zi had said was: inform Mistress, then invite Jin Si over.
The two statements seemed similar but were fundamentally different.
Where was the difference?
One left the matter for Qiu Sanniang to decide; one made the decision for Qiu Sanniang.
Mo Zi thought to herself, this was the bearing of a senior maid. Her own timid, evasive abilities—in front of Hong Mei, she clearly looked like a second-rank maid who couldn’t make decisions. However, with a bit of malicious glee, she secretly hoped Qiu Sanniang liked others making decisions for her.
“Miss Hong Mei, I’ll come at the hour of the rabbit tomorrow.” Jin Si’s purpose essentially achieved, she was calm and peaceful, smiled at Hong Mei and Mo Zi, turned and left.
“Hong Mei, at the hour of the rabbit Mistress won’t have risen yet.” Mo Zi thought of Qiu Sanniang’s morning temper—she herself was on duty tomorrow morning. That person loved to trouble her when in a bad mood.
“Mo Zi, you’re Mistress’s dowry maid, so I really shouldn’t say anything. However, what you said to Si Niang at the gate just now—I heard most of it. The etiquette was sufficient, but Mistress’s authority was gone.” Hong Mei had the gatekeeper close the door and instructed Zhen’er to follow as she walked into Mozhi Residence’s courtyard.
But Mo Zi said to Zhen’er: “Take Sister Hong Mei’s luggage to the second room on the east side.” Dispatching this little needle.
Hong Mei didn’t understand but continued earnestly instructing Mo Zi as they walked. “What is Third Mistress’s status? She’s Third Young Master’s primary legitimate wife. Though Jin Si is favored before the young master, her deed of servitude is in the Princess’s hands. A room maid elevated to concubine who bore the eldest son by a concubine—yet they won’t let her surname enter the genealogy, because the old Madam won’t tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes. With such origins laid out, what use is bearing a hundred sons? Forget serving one cup of tea—Jin Si should come three times daily to attend to Third Mistress’s daily living and meals. This is the Prince’s mansion’s unchanging rule generation after generation. Even Wei Shi, the Prince’s most favored, whom the Princess treats like a sister—she served the Princess at meals until the eldest young master brought in a wife. If Third Mistress doesn’t establish rules for Jin Si from the start, she’ll inevitably become arrogant relying on the Master’s favor and Mistress’s weakness. When you try to talk about rules then, it’ll be too late.”
Mo Zi naturally said yes, and seeing Hong Mei had no guard against her, took the opportunity to ask, “Were the previous two mistresses soft-natured?”
“The first one was.” Hong Mei said this without thinking, then felt somewhat annoyed and hesitated, unwilling to continue.
“Sister Hong Mei is someone from the old Princess’s side, you must know some inside information. Even if Sister doesn’t say, won’t Mistress learn of it eventually? It’s just a matter of time. Let me tell you, the rumors circulating outside are quite ugly. Saying things like adultery, poisoning the young master.” Mo Zi deliberately provoked Hong Mei.
Hong Mei froze, surprisingly didn’t immediately refute, then later as if to cover the slip, said, “Don’t listen to outsiders’ nonsense—there’s no such thing.” Stammering, she wouldn’t discuss the matter further. “Anyway, since the old Madam transferred me here, I’ll wholeheartedly help Third Mistress. The old Madam said the rules of Yonggu Studio should all be established, and it can’t continue as before following Third Young Master’s wishes. The inner quarters and female family members are for Third Mistress to manage—say what should be said, scold what should be scolded, punish what should be punished, beat what should be beaten.”
“The old Madam said this personally?” Hearing this, Mo Zi thought—wasn’t this like holding an imperial sword?
“Of course.” Hong Mei’s eyes widened. “Would I lie to you?”
Mo Zi quickly said no no, then added, “Sister just arrived and must want to organize your luggage. Mistress thoughtfully allocated a single room for Sister’s use. Sister rest a bit—when Mistress returns, you can kowtow to her then.”
Hong Mei found this reasonable. Hearing she’d have a room to herself, her expression brightened. She walked to the east wing and lifted the door curtain to enter.
Mo Zi watched the swaying blue floral cloth curtain, interest rich in her eyes. This red plum blossom blooming—was it winter or spring? If handled poorly, could it be Qiu Sanniang’s winter and her own spring?
Just wait—
Just watch—