Matron Gu was shocked to see Madam Ji and her daughter standing at the second gate’s screen wall. For the lady of the house to personally escort her young miss to welcome Madam Zhao’s wet nurse—how desperately must the Ji family want to form marriage ties with the Zhao family to do something so shameless! Matron Gu’s face reddened—on behalf of the Ji family.
However, Matron Gu’s shock lasted only a moment. After all, the Zhao family was wealthy, and following Madam Zhao meant she received plenty of flattery. Though she despised the behavior of the Ji mother and daughter, she was delighted for Madam Zhao. Finally, they could get a handle on the young master’s future wife.
Matron Gu smiled and bowed to Madam Ji: “This old servant is overwhelmed by Madam Ji’s courtesy!”
Though her words spoke of humility, her aged face was already covered with an expression of self-importance, satisfaction, and contempt.
Who would show such courtesy to a mere servant?! Madam Ji wanted to cover her face and run away crying. To leave now would make her seem petty, but to stay—should she escort this old woman to the main hall and serve her tea? Madam Ji couldn’t bear such humiliation. She stood frozen, at a loss for words.
Seeing the festive brocade clothes on Matron Gu’s body, Young Miss Ji Yingying’s heart ached even more—was this the reward for all her hard work weaving the brocade for the Zhao family? Seeing her mother trembling with anger, she stepped forward to shield Madam Ji, her sleeve-clutching fingers white as scallions as she pointed forward: “You crafty old woman, how dare you impersonate Madam Zhao!”
Matron Gu: “Oh?”
What did she mean? Who was impersonating the madam?
“Someone come, bind these insolent servants!”
At Yingying’s angry shout, Matron Li, who had been standing beside Madam Ji, flashed to Matron Gu’s side and skillfully stuffed a handkerchief into her gaping mouth.
“Mmph mmph mmph…” Matron Gu made several muffled sounds before she could react, reaching to pull out the cloth in her mouth.
The light before her dimmed as the broad-shouldered Matron Ji looked down at her, twisting her arms behind her back.
Matron Ji looked enviously at the dried-date-thin Matron Gu, feeling bitter on behalf of Madam Ji: They were both old servants, but this one wore fine brocade while she had fewer wrinkles! Her rough voice rose another octave: “Bind them all tightly!”
The Ji family’s servant women, who worked in the dye house, were stronger than ordinary women. They responded in unison and, and the blink of an eye had tied up the Zhao family’s gift-bearing maids like meat dumplings.
Matron Ji lifted Matron Gu and threw her back into the sedan chair, dusting off her hands as she asked Yingying: “Young Miss, it’s all taken care of.”
“Yingying, what are you…” From Yingying’s order to the Ji family servants binding people, it all happened in minutes. Madam Ji’s tongue was tied; she didn’t know what to say.
“Mother, we heard Madam Zhao was coming personally, so we came to the second gate to welcome her properly. Who knew that Matron Gu would emerge from the sedan chair instead? Could it be that Madam Zhao deliberately sent this old woman to shame the Ji family?” Yingying’s voice was clear and quite loud.
Among the bound maids kneeling on the ground, a quick-witted one cried out: “Young Miss misunderstands! We were led by the matron to deliver gifts and calling cards. How would we dare deliberately embarrass the Ji family?”
This was exactly what Yingying wanted to hear. She smiled coldly: “Oh, so it wasn’t Madam Zhao’s idea, but this crafty old servant acting on her own?”
Stuffed in the sedan chair, Matron Gu heard everything clearly but couldn’t speak to defend herself. She made frantic muffled sounds, and when she couldn’t catch her breath, fainted from anxiety.
Yingying ordered someone to fetch Ji Fu for questioning.
Ji Fu was an honest man. Though he had misheard part of the conversation, he clearly remembered being told “Madam” was in the sedan chair. He pointed at one of the maids and said: “You clearly said Madam was sitting in the chair.”
At the time, the maid had been eager to please, saying the Old Madam had come. But wasn’t an Old Madam still a Madam?
Matron Ji’s thick arm swung before her face, and the frightened maid burst into tears, pushing all blame onto Matron Gu: “Yes, yes, Matron Gu likes us to call her Old Madam.”
A wet nurse to Madam Zhao, wanting to be called the Zhao family’s Old Madam? Tsk tsk, she was digging her own grave.
Yingying was extremely satisfied: “It’s all this crafty old servant’s fault, not yours. Matron Li, prepare dinner and tea. Once they write and sign their confessions, send them back to the Zhao family.”
Matron Li understood perfectly and led the servant women away with the four maids.
Good, now they had the confessions. They would wait for the Zhao family’s explanation before releasing the people. Yingying turned to Madam Ji and said: “Mother, don’t make yourself sick with anger. This matter needs Madam Zhao’s handling.”
Madam Ji had also caught on and said coldly: “How outrageous, a mere servant daring to impersonate Madam Zhao to humiliate me. Matron Ji, carry the sedan chair and follow me to the Zhao residence! This is a matter between women’s quarters; no need to call for the eldest son.”
So the Ji family set out with one small sedan chair and one mule cart. Madam Ji took Yingying along, escorting the captive Matron Gu directly to the Zhao residence.
The sedan bearers were still from the Zhao family. Though they hadn’t seen Matron Gu and the others emerge, a group of burly servant women had come instead. Hearing they were returning to the Zhao residence, they relaxed and silently carried the chair away.
The two families were separated by just one street; it took only a few steps to arrive.
Zhao Xiuyuan had planned to have dinner with his parents in Yuejin Hall while waiting to hear back from Matron Gu. After just half an hour, word came from the second gate that the Ji mother and daughter had come to visit the madam.
Ji Yaoting hadn’t come. Zhao Xiuyuan figured Madam Ji was using the excuse of women’s social calls and instructed Madam Zhao: “Mother if anything happens, have someone come tell me.”
Master Zhao Binsong also advised: “Madam, the brocade competition is important. Make sure to keep the Ji mother and daughter happy.”
“What, should I worship them?” Madam Zhao said reproachfully.
She had deliberately changed out of her brocade clothes and chosen a plain silk outfit. She had also undone her high bun and redone it in a low style, wearing just two gold hairpins and a few gold ornaments. She took her chambermaids to the flower hall.
The Zhao family’s flower hall was where Madam Zhao usually received guests and handled household affairs. The main room, supported by eight corridor pillars, was spacious and bright. It was furnished with modern-style tables and chairs for sitting, with no couches.
Madam Ji sat in a lower chair, with Yingying standing at her side. Matron Ji led eight strong servant women standing in a row. Compared to the last time when Madam Ji had brought only Matron Li, their presence was many times more imposing.
Madam Zhao raised an eyebrow, secretly amused—they had come on their own, so why put on such airs? Well, Madam Ji cared about her, so she wouldn’t quarrel with her. Oh? Why had they brought the sedan chair in? Madam Zhao noticed the bamboo-screened small sedan chair placed in the middle of the hall. She recognized it as belonging to the Zhao family and was puzzled.
Her head maid quietly whispered in her ear: “Madam Ji insisted on having the sedan chair carried in.”
Madam Zhao’s eyes lit up. It was almost dinner time, and the Ji mother and daughter had hurriedly come over, even having the sedan chair carried into the flower hall—surely it contained the silk for the brocade? With this thought, Madam Zhao became even more enthusiastic, breaking into a smile as she stepped over the foot-high threshold and curtseyed to Madam Ji: “Madam Ji, I was planning to visit you tomorrow. I didn’t expect you to come now.”
Madam Ji rose to return the courtesy: “I apologize for disturbing you.”
“Our families have been neighbors for decades. As they say, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative—neighbors should visit often.” As Madam Zhao spoke these pleasantries, her gaze fell on Yingying’s face. Thinking Yingying had come to explain how to match the silk colors, she took her hand and began praising her: “I haven’t seen you for a few days, and the second miss has grown even more radiant. They say a daughter is her mother’s closest companion. It’s a pity I don’t have a daughter; I’d love to have her stay for a few days to keep me company.”
It would be most convenient to have Yingying stay in the mansion to explain how to match the silk for the brocade. Madam Zhao casually came up with a reason to keep Yingying.
Soon you’ll want to chase me out with a stick, thought Yingying as she smiled without responding.
Madam Zhao sat in the main seat and smiled: “Madam Ji, I felt quite bad about not accompanying you the other day. I was planning to visit tomorrow to apologize, but I didn’t expect you to come personally.”
She wanted to apologize for the poor hospitality that day. I won’t feel that scolding Yingying was wrong. Madam Zhao couldn’t help her pettiness and found another excuse for writing the calling card.
“Madam Zhao, this matter indeed requires my visit to clear things up.” Madam Ji said with an ambiguous smile.
The matter of matching colors and silk for the brocade competition did require a personal explanation. Madam Zhao nodded and smiled: “You’re quite right!”
At this time, Matron Gu was still unconscious in the sedan chair.
Madam Ji continued: “The Zhao and Ji families have been neighbors for many years. When the doorman said Madam Zhao had come, I brought my daughter to personally welcome you at the second gate, but who would have thought Matron Gu would emerge from the sedan chair?”
Madam Zhao hadn’t caught on yet and maintained her good mood: “I asked Matron Gu to deliver the calling card.”
“Oh, so Madam Zhao only instructed Matron Gu to deliver the calling card.” Madam Ji dramatically patted her chest in relief: “That’s what I thought—after Madam Zhao advised my daughter to study the ‘Female Precepts’ and ‘Female Analects’ seriously last time, you wouldn’t do something so improper. So it was Matron Gu acting on her own!”
“What do you mean, acting on her own?” Having been the lady of the house for many years, Madam Zhao instinctively became alert. Looking around, she couldn’t help but ask, “Where is Matron Gu?”
Madam Ji raised her hand slightly, and Matron Ji walked to the sedan chair, yanked open the curtain, and sharply pressed her fingers against Matron Gu’s philtrum.
The pain immediately woke Matron Gu. Opening her eyes to see Madam Zhao before her, tears burst forth as she began crying “mmph mmph” through her gag.