After seeing Zhao Xiuyuan off, Madam Ji’s eyes were filled with worry. Looking back, she saw Ji Yingying walking out of the inner room, pale-faced. Just as she was about to offer words of comfort, Ji Yingying spoke first: “Mother, don’t worry. I have no desire to be Second Young Master Zhao’s secondary wife.”
Thinking of Fifth Lady Niu’s commanding presence and her way of pontificating, Ji Yingying felt truly exhausted. Being unable to let go was one thing, but the thought of serving the same husband alongside Fifth Lady Niu gave her the same horrifying sensation as having a centipede crawling up her arm.
“I want to go to Dye Street with my brother. And then visit the Sheng family’s woodwork shop. I… I want to see Young Master Sheng again,” Ji Yingying’s voice grew increasingly quiet.
Seeing her poor complexion and how quickly she had lost weight these past days, Ji Yaoting felt heartbroken: “Yingying, don’t rush to commit yourself. Those were just words spoken in anger earlier. We’ve made things clear with Second Young Master Zhao, and Young Master Sheng isn’t the only option. Brother still has all those drawings, we can take our time choosing.”
Ji Yingying shook her head, forcing herself to appear strong: “Our family is of modest means. I shouldn’t expect to find someone too outstanding. Someone of matching status who can provide a good life is enough.”
Madam Ji nodded: “Go ahead then. If Young Master Sheng doesn’t suit you, just treat it as an outing in the city.”
After the siblings had left, Madam Ji pulled out her handkerchief to cover her mouth and collapsed into an armchair, crying.
Elderly Maid Li, Elderly Maid Wu, and Elderly Maid Ji, who had followed her as part of her dowry to Yizhou Prefecture, understood something of her feelings. They dismissed the serving girls and gathered around to console Madam Ji.
Between sobs and beating her chest, Madam Ji lamented: “It’s my fault. Thinking that the Ji family was just a small merchant household, I feared she might aim too high, so I never taught her proper etiquette and customs. I raised her with such limited horizons that she treasures even someone like Second Young Master Zhao… And yet she’s so sensible… If I hadn’t been so stubborn back then and cut ties with my parents, we could have found her a match in Chang’an.”
Though born to a concubine, she had come from a noble family and was raised as a precious young lady. Despite Old Master Ji treating her well, he was still just a small dye shop owner. Madam Ji treated her life as a noble lady in Chang’an as merely a dream, increasingly unwilling to touch those memories. Shu was peaceful, with favorable weather. She only wished to live such a simple life for generations to come, wanting nothing more than modest prosperity for her children.
Hearing her daughter repeatedly refer to their family as being of modest means, retreating timidly with each push from others, Madam Ji’s heart felt as though it were being carved with a knife.
As Madam Ji wept in distress, the elderly maids shed tears with her. Chang’an remained only a beautiful dream to them. Elderly Maid Li, who had taken a vow of celibacy, had once admired a young man from the Imperial Guards when she accompanied Madam Ji in hunting and playing polo. The upbringing of high-born servants was no less refined than that of noble young ladies. After coming to Yizhou Prefecture, she would rather remain single with Madam Ji than marry beneath her station.
Elderly Maid Li immediately offered advice: “Third Young Madam has received Madam’s kindness, and at least her husband holds a title. By now she should have reached Chang’an. It’s not too late for Madam to reconsider. We could send Young Miss to Chang’an and ask Third Young Madam to help her pay respects to the Old Master and Old Madam, to reconcile. The family would surely remember this branch of relatives and help find her a match in Chang’an. Though the Sheng family is of matching status, it would still be settling if Young Miss rushed to accept. This would also prevent further entanglement with the Zhao family here.”
Madam Ji shook her head: “My sister just left, and Yingying went looking for her. She might think I’m worried about the money she owes.” However, her mind began to work, and after a moment’s consideration, she said, “Sister said she would come to repay the debt and redeem the deed before year’s end. By then, the eldest son will be married, and we can let Yingying go to Chang’an with the Li family’s people. This way she won’t have to travel alone for hundreds of miles, which would worry me.”
The elderly maids all thought this was a good idea. Elderly Maid Ji patted her chest and smiled: “I’ll accompany Young Miss on the journey then. The old servants in the mansion should still be there, and they’ll surely do me some favors.”
Once the topic was broached, Madam Ji was struck with nostalgia and increasingly felt this plan was feasible. Counting the months ahead, and given Yingying’s intelligence, there would still be time to teach her proper etiquette and customs. The worry between her brows gradually dispersed.
Following Ji’s family rules, Madam Ji had never allowed Ji Yingying to handle dyes or dye items. This was Ji Yingying’s first time accompanying her brother to Dye Street to purchase inventory. Arriving at Jucai Pavilion, and seeing the couplet at the entrance, her love for dyes swept through her like a fresh breeze, blowing away her sorrows.
“Manager Mu sent word that they received Phoenix Blood Cinnabar and specially reserved some for us. Our dye shop is a longtime customer of Jucai Pavilion. They have many dyes here, feel free to look around. But when a brother is discussing business, you mustn’t interrupt.” Seeing the sparkle in his sister’s eyes, Ji Yaoting felt bringing her here for distraction was the right decision.
Phoenix Blood Cinnabar! It was extremely expensive. Huanhua Dye Shop used it sparingly. She had only seen it before, never even touched a single grain. Ji Yingying’s heart pounded with excitement, and she could only nod.
“Young Master Ji has arrived!” Manager Mu’s face lit up with a smile as he emerged from behind the counter upon seeing the mule cart.
After exchanging greetings, Manager Mu invited Ji Yaoting to view the goods and discuss prices in the back courtyard. Ji Yaoting looked back to see his sister’s gaze fixed intently on the dyes, almost unable to pull away. He sighed inwardly, thinking how perfect it would be if his sister had been born a son. With her talent, their mother would surely have passed down all the secret formulas to her without reservation.
Ji Yaoting asked her: “Sister, brother is going to the back courtyard to check the goods. Would you like to look around here, or come with brother?”
Premium dyes like Phoenix Blood Cinnabar would not be displayed out front, so Ji Yingying came to her senses and replied: “I’ll go with brother.”
So this was Second Miss Ji whom the Zhao family was trying to win back through schemes? The Zhao family had made an advantageous match with Vice Commander Niu’s young lady, yet they were unwilling to let her go. Manager Mu observed Ji Yingying with curiosity.
Ji Yingying wore Hu-style clothing, with a palm-width apricot-colored belt accentuating her slender waist, making her tall and graceful figure even more apparent. With almond eyes and cherry lips, she was indeed a beauty. Manager Mu recalled the rumors about Fifth Lady Niu’s appearance and realized the Zhao family’s actions must be meant to comfort Zhao Xiuyuan, so he withdrew his curiosity.
Entering the back courtyard and taking their seats, Manager Mu personally brought out a wooden box. The box was about two inches tall, three feet long, and one and a half feet wide, with copper-bound corners. A snow-white bamboo paper was spread on the table. He opened the box, which contained over twenty porcelain bottles and several precious glass bottles.
The Phoenix Blood Cinnabar was stored in transparent glass bottles, particularly eye-catching.
The box contained various scoops for the dyes made of gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and wood. They were slightly larger than ear picks, with long, delicate handles.
Manager Mu personally took up a small wooden scoop and scooped out a fingernail-sized amount of Phoenix Blood Cinnabar powder onto the bamboo paper. Seeing Ji Yingying’s curiosity, he smiled and asked: “Does Young Miss Ji know why this old one chose a wooden scoop?”
Ji Yingying answered without hesitation: “Wooden scoops don’t discolor.”
Dyes were broadly categorized into three types: mineral, plant-based, and animal-derived materials. Various implements were kept ready to avoid reactions with the dyes. With cinnabar, for instance, a silver scoop would blacken over time. Though it didn’t affect the dye, tarnished implements were unsightly. Professionals would actively avoid using silver scoops for such materials.
Manager Mu was startled: “Young Miss Ji is also knowledgeable about distinguishing dyes?”