Nanny Chen lifted the mule cart curtain and spoke with the Song family’s servant. In the mule cart behind, Chen Shi quietly lifted a gap in the curtain to peek outside. When she turned her head back, she couldn’t help but say to Yu Tang, “The Song family’s carriages are truly luxurious!”
Yu Tang was somewhat surprised.
Although her mother was merely the daughter of a poor scholar, she had studied with her maternal grandfather since childhood and didn’t particularly value money. Why would she suddenly have such sentiments today?
Yu Tang also curiously lifted a gap in the curtain to look outside.
The Song family’s carriages were indeed too luxurious.
Brand new blue silk padded cotton curtains, the four corners of the carriages wrapped in gilt auspicious cloud-patterned corner guards, hanging paper-thin oxhide palace lanterns adorned with long tassels. The horses pulling the carts were uniformly jujube-red horses, and the escorting attendants all wore parrot-green silk short robes. Over thirty carriages lined up in a row, blocking the entire road.
Not only that, Yu Tang also discovered that two of the carriages were particularly distinctive. One was simply larger and more spacious than the other carriages, while another carriage had white crane and auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on both the curtains and windows, with the patterns studded with various gemstones that glittered brilliantly in the sunlight.
Looking at the Pei family by comparison, everything was understated bright blue. Aside from the mule cart frames appearing relatively sturdy, they were no different from the cart frames of ordinary households in Lin’an.
The Song family was indeed wealthy and imposing!
The Song family’s household culture also tended more toward indulgence.
No wonder the Song family would decline in her previous life.
Yu Tang thought to herself, closed the window, and said to her mother, “After we settle into our room later, we should ask Nanny Ji what time would be good to pay respects to the Old Madam.”
Although Old Madam Pei looked young, she was actually not young anymore. After this tiring journey, if the Song family people immediately went to visit Old Madam Pei, should they wait until Old Madam Pei had rested well before going to pay their respects?
Chen Shi nodded and smilingly instructed Chen Pozi, “When the time comes, you bring some pastries over.”
Chen Pozi had also seen the Song family’s grandeur and felt intimidated, saying, “Better to have Shuang Tao go instead! Shuang Tao often accompanies the young miss to the Pei manor and knows the rules. If I make a mistake, wouldn’t that embarrass the young miss!”
Chen Shi thought this made sense. After instructing Shuang Tao, she couldn’t help teasing Chen Pozi, “So there are times when you’re afraid?!”
Chen Pozi chuckled and said, “Isn’t it because I’m not well-traveled?”
Fifth Miss beside them covered her mouth and laughed.
Before long, the mule carts stopped in the courtyard.
Chen Pozi got off the mule cart first and looked around for quite a while before quietly saying to Chen Shi, Yu Tang and the others who had gotten off the cart, “The Song family let the Pei family go first—I saw the Song family’s carriages still waiting at the mountain gate!”
This showed that what Pei Yan said about the Song family having matters requiring the Pei family’s help, and therefore showing them much courtesy, was reasonable.
Yu Tang smiled.
Nanny Jin from Second Madam’s entourage quickly walked over. After greeting Chen Shi and Yu Tang, she said with a smile, “Second Madam sent me to fetch Fifth Miss over and told her to stay in her room and not run about. People from the Peng family of Fu’an also came along with the Song family. The Peng family has many young men, and the Old Madam fears that some thoughtless one might offend the misses and madams. Even if their family came to apologize, the person would have already been frightened—it’s not worth it.”
Chen Shi was greatly startled.
Was the Old Madam’s implication criticizing the Peng family people for lacking manners?
She responded repeatedly in agreement.
Fifth Miss could only reluctantly bid farewell to Yu Tang.
After the Yu family entered their chambers, Chen Pozi and the others began arranging the room while Chen Shi took Yu Tang’s hand and said, “That Peng family—are they very domineering?”
Yu Tang thought of the Li family’s obsequious behavior toward the Peng family in her previous life and told Chen Shi about the Peng family’s background, adding, “In any case, it’s best to avoid contact with this family as much as possible.”
Chen Shi nodded, momentarily wondering whether following the Pei family to Zhaoming Temple to attend the sutra lecture meeting was right or wrong.
However, before they could go find Nanny Ji, Nanny Ji came over first. Behind her followed several young maids carrying either fruit plates or boxes. She said with a smile while taking Chen Shi’s hand, “Madam, please don’t take offense. That Song family’s Grand Madam and the Peng family’s Grand Madam went together to pay respects to the Old Madam. The Old Madam feared you would wait anxiously and specially instructed me to bring some melons, fruits, and pastries for Madam and Miss to pass the time. Today everyone should rest separately. Tomorrow after breakfast, everyone can sit together and talk, and also hear what the masters of Zhaoming Temple say about the arrangements for these days. Perhaps we can meet the eminent monks from South Shaolin Temple in advance to pray for blessings for the young misses.”
Chen Shi was overjoyed to hear this.
She felt that Yu Tang’s marriage prospects had never been very smooth. If she could receive blessings from an eminent monk, Yu Tang would surely soon have a change in fortune.
“Please thank the Old Madam for me,” Chen Shi said sincerely. “I still know a few characters, and the sutra lecture meeting hasn’t started yet. I’ll take this opportunity to copy a few pages of Buddhist scriptures for the Old Madam.”
This was Chen Shi’s sincere intention. Nanny Ji had no right to comment. She said, “How thoughtful of you. I’ll go tell the Old Madam.” Then she asked Yu Tang, “Didn’t you say you would send over two boxes for storing scriptures? When can those boxes be delivered?”
Yu Tang said somewhat embarrassedly, “They must first be shown to Third Master!”
Nanny Ji laughed, “I see. I was wondering why the boxes from your family haven’t arrived yet! With this matter in our Third Master’s hands, there’s probably still some fussing to be done. However, our Third Master’s eye is truly excellent—whatever catches his fancy, no one else can say isn’t good.”
“Exactly so,” Yu Tang said with a smile. “In this matter, we can’t rush it even if we wanted to.”
Only then did Chen Shi learn that Old Madam Pei had ordered two boxes from the Yu family shop.
After seeing off Nanny Ji, she carefully inquired about this matter.
Yu Tang picked out the important points to tell her mother, and Chen Pozi’s side had also finished tidying up.
Mother and daughter washed up, ate the vegetarian meal sent by the temple, and took an afternoon nap.
When they woke again, the chamber with one bright room, two dark rooms, and a retiring room had all been arranged. Chen Shi occupied the eastern room, Yu Tang the western room, and Chen Pozi and Shuang Tao the retiring room at the back. Hanging on the wall was the center scroll Yu Tang was familiar with, on the table were tea cups they had brought from home, and even the flowers in the vase on the side table were seasonal fiery red pomegranate blossoms.
Chen Pozi also pointed at those pomegranate flowers with a smile and said, “Second Madam just had them sent over.”
Chen Shi smiled with satisfaction and took Yu Tang’s hand, saying, “No wonder you could stay at the Pei manor for so many days. The Pei family truly makes guests feel at home.”
Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips.
After having dinner with her mother, they walked together in the small courtyard behind the chambers.
They encountered the Yang family womenfolk who had also come to walk there.
The Yang family member who came was said to be Young Master Yang’s third aunt, whom everyone called Third Madam. She appeared to be in her early thirties, with proper features, beautiful appearance, and simple clothing yet extraordinary bearing. Miss Xu supported Third Madam deferentially, her words unspeakably respectful.
Chen Shi and Yu Tang inevitably had to exchange pleasantries with them.
Miss Xu kept her eyes lowered the entire time, completely different from when Yu Tang first saw her.
Yu Tang couldn’t help but observe Miss Xu a few more times.
Miss Xu took the opportunity to shoot Yu Tang a flirtatious glance.
This girl was truly lively!
What could be so special about Yang family’s Third Madam that she could suppress this Miss Xu?
Yu Tang carefully observed Third Madam Yang.
Third Madam Yang spoke unhurriedly and with some humor and wit. Not only could she respond to whatever Chen Shi said, she was also quite good at attending to Chen Shi’s emotions, always conversing around topics that interested Chen Shi.
Yu Tang also perked up, listening to the two elders talk.
The young novices from the temple came to light the lanterns.
Everyone then returned to their respective chambers.
As Yu Tang soaked her feet with her mother, she considered whether to remind her mother of a few things, but then felt that the Pei family’s situation was complex, and sometimes remaining unaware was actually better. She changed her mind and only chatted with her mother about recent anecdotes from the neighborhood and home.
Mother and daughter talked and laughed. They had just dried their feet and were preparing to go to sleep when Shuang Tao walked in carrying two boxes, saying, “A’Ming sent them over, saying they’re for Old Madam Pei. Miss, what should we do?”
Old Madam Pei was waiting for boxes to store scriptures. Shuang Tao was asking Yu Tang for instructions on whether to send them over overnight or make other arrangements.
Yu Tang thought briefly and said, “Since A’Ming sent them over, it’s clear that Third Master also thinks these two boxes can be used. Yet he had someone send them here to us, obviously wanting us to take them to Old Madam Pei. It’s too late today. Tomorrow when we go to pay our respects to the Old Madam, we’ll bring them along.” Then she had Shuang Tao show her the two boxes.
One box had a green bamboo pattern, the other a plum blossom pattern. Both had clear, distinct lines and layers, appearing magnificent and splendid like a brocade of flowers. Under the lamplight, they were even more dazzling.
Yu Tang was amazed.
After her initial surprise, Chen Shi stepped forward to carefully stroke the two boxes and asked in astonishment, “These were really made by our family?”
Shuang Tao didn’t know and said hesitantly, “A’Ming said they were made by our family.”
“Truly excellent! Truly excellent!” Chen Shi praised, her eyes slightly moist.
Even someone like her who didn’t understand such things could see how well these two boxes were made.
“Is A’Ming still outside?” Chen Shi asked. “The person came running over in the middle of the night. A’Tang, you should reward him with a few silver ingots.”
For this trip to attend the Zhaoming Temple sutra lecture meeting, Yu Wen had minted a small pouch of silver ingots modeled after those Yu Tang had received from the Pei manor.
Yu Tang thought about it—she truly had never rewarded A’Ming before.
“Then you take a few silver ingots for him,” she said to Shuang Tao. “Just say they’re from Madam.”
Shuang Tao responded and left.
Chen Shi chided her, “This is giving you face—why are you deflecting?”
Yu Tang chuckled and said, “I’ve already said it this way, so just don’t worry about it.” Then she changed the subject to talk about the boxes.
Only then did Chen Shi learn that the family being able to make such boxes was all thanks to Pei Yan’s contributions.
She repeatedly instructed Yu Tang, “Then you should be more filial to the Old Madam. She doesn’t expect anything from you, and there’s nothing she could expect from you anyway. She simply wants you to please the Old Madam and make her smile.”
Yu Tang kept responding affirmatively. She had just managed to urge Chen Shi to go rest when Shuang Tao came in again carrying a bowl of bird’s nest soup with rock sugar.
Yu Tang asked curiously, “Who sent this?”
The bird’s nest was in a sacrificial red porcelain stewing pot. Sacrificial red porcelain had always been tribute goods—it couldn’t possibly have been stewed by Chen Pozi, and besides, they hadn’t brought bird’s nest with them.
Shuang Tao said with a grin, “A’Ming just sent it over again. He said Third Master knew you and Madam hadn’t rested yet and specially had him deliver it.”