As the first ray of dawn streamed into White Heron Hall, Ji Yingying entered accompanied by Xueqing and Xiang’er.
Yesterday in her haste, she hadn’t had time to collect her thoughts and properly examine this most important hall of the Yang family.
The grand hall, with its seven-bay, five-room layout, featured white walls and black pillars. Twelve tall carved wooden doors stood wide open, revealing two neat rows of armchairs flanking a square table with two master chairs at the far end. Above the screen behind hung the plaque reading “White Heron Hall.” Sunlight fell on the warm, yellowed furniture, and these time-worn furnishings exuded both solemnity and elegance.
Yesterday she had only noticed how startlingly large the room was. Today, Ji Yingying truly felt the century-old dignity of the silk-weaving Yang family.
“Third Mistress.”
A row of thick pillars at the front of the hall supported a veranda two zhang wide. The wooden floor gleamed faintly, with two rows of blue-clad maids kneeling upon it.
Madam Yang Shi sat in the chair on the upper right. Second Master Yang and his wife, along with Third Master Yang and his wife, sat on the left and right of the lower section. Those of the same generation and the grandchildren’s generation all stood. Including the serving maids around them, the hall was filled with people. With Master Yang’s hundred days of mourning not yet passed, everyone wore white clothes, and the blue and white colors transformed what should have been a joyous family gathering into a solemn occasion.
“Third Mistress, mind the steps.” Xueqing offered Ji Yingying light support, guiding her onto the veranda and over the foot-high threshold.
She was taller than local Yizhou ladies, standing half a head above even Xueqing. Her plain silk dress with its flowing sleeves gave her the appearance of a graceful wild swan. Though her feet couldn’t be seen, her skirts moved like flowing water, the hem rippling beautifully.
The Yang family didn’t lack for beauty. Second Madam Zou with her sharp tongue, Third Madam Yu who spoke little, and the First Branch’s First and Second Young Mistresses were all close in age and still retained their charm, having been beautiful in their youth. Seeing Ji Yingying’s beauty, they all privately thought it no wonder Yang Jingyuan would be attracted to her. The Yang family’s Fifth and Seventh Young Ladies, who were around Ji Yingying’s age, couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
Ji Yingying recalled her mother’s and nurse’s teachings. She kept her eyes slightly lowered, but as she entered the hall, she appeared to casually glance around, noting the most striking gazes. One probing look came from Second Master Yang on the left, whose curiosity was clouded with suspicion. Another burning gaze came from behind Second Master Yang, from a man about Yang Jingyuan’s age who must be Fourth Young Master Yang. His gaze unconsciously reminded Ji Yingying of Zhao Xiuyuan.
She patiently listened as Xueqing quietly introduced everyone, stepping forward to pay her respects to each in turn.
However unwilling she might be, she had married into the Yang family. Whether to repay Madam Yang Shi’s earlier help or for Yang Jingyuan’s sake as a member of the First Branch, she couldn’t lose face in front of the Second and Third Branches.
Second Master Yang watched her silently, his mind full of questions.
Bringing Ji Yingying in as Yang Jingyuan’s wife before the hundred days of deep mourning had passed—made Second Master Yang, who knew nothing about Ji Yingying, wary. His thoughts quickly turned to the Huanhua Dyehouse; could it be that the Ji family had included their secret formulas as part of the dowry?
After Ji Yingying paid her respects, Second Master Yang used the pretext of instruction to probe: “Now that you’ve entered the Yang family’s door as a Yang family bride, you’re no longer a daughter of the Ji family. You must think of your husband’s family first. The Ji family is famous for their Shu red silk and Huanhua silk. Surely our niece-in-law can dye such top-quality silk thread for the Yang family, contributing to our silk business.”
Having become enemies with the Zhao family, the Huanhua Dyehouse would never again sell these two types of silk to them. This year, to win the title of King of Brocade, the Ji family had already agreed to dye silk exclusively for the Yang family. But this was just a temporary measure. If Ji Yingying could dye top-quality silk like the Ji family’s, the Yang family wouldn’t need to rely on the Ji family anymore. Madam Yang Shi was also curious whether Ji Yingying had learned the Ji family’s secret dyeing formulas.
“The Ji family secrets are passed only to sons, never daughters, generation after generation. This niece-in-law cannot dye Shu red silk or Huanhua silk. Since childhood, my Mother never allowed me to learn dyeing techniques. Though we had a dyehouse, I only watched from the outside and remained an outsider to the craft.”
Helping the Yang family with brocade color matching was enough—why should she give the Ji family secrets to the Yangs? Ji Yingying simply claimed ignorance.
Madam Yang Shi only knew of Ji Yingying’s exceptional talent for color matching, not her advanced dyeing skills. Though somewhat disappointed to hear she hadn’t learned the Ji family’s dyeing secrets, she harbored no suspicions.
Second Master Yang’s doubts grew stronger. If not for the Ji family secrets, why had Shi shi rushed to bring her into the Yang family? Was it really to bind Third Young Master Yang to home? No, Second Master Yang shook his head internally. He couldn’t believe that Shi shi, who had been unyielding all her life, would bring Ji Yingying in for that reason.
The Champion Brocade competition. Just what could Ji Yingying do for their brocade weaving? It seemed he would need to make careful inquiries.
Ji Yingying quietly observed the Yang family members. There were some things she might not fully understand now but would surely come to understand in time. She maintained her composure as she followed Xueqing’s lead to pay respects to Third Master Yang and his wife.
Next came those of her generation. Yang Jinyan and his wife wouldn’t make things difficult for her. While she didn’t need to pay respects to the cousins, Fourth Young Master Yang was the first to step forward and cup his hands in greeting.
Last year in Jinli, when Ji Yingying was kidnapped by Zhou Seventh Young Master’s horse, Yang Jingting hadn’t met her. But he had seen her then. He had thought her charming and beautiful. Today in plain clothes, with skin white as snow and bright, expressive eyes, she was like an immortal maiden stepped from a painting. Fourth Young Master Yang swallowed hard. Taking the fan case she offered, his fingers caressed the chrysanthemum pattern on it as unsavory thoughts arose. What expression would Third Brother Yang wear if this flower were plucked before his return? The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, saying enthusiastically, “Third Sister-in-law, if you need anything, just ask Fourth Brother.”
Fourth Young Master Yang resembled Second Master Yang, sharing the same sword-like eyebrows characteristic of the Yang family, like Yang Jingyuan. His overly familiar words made Ji Yingying feel strange. Xueqing’s supporting hand pressed slightly harder, seeming both nervous and warning her to keep her distance from Fourth Young Master Yang. Ji Yingying gave a slight smile in response.
Fifth and Seventh Young Ladies, being of similar age, shared a girlish charm. Wearing plain white mourning clothes for their elder uncle, their skirts revealed green-edged hems. Their headpieces were silver inlaid with turquoise, making them stand like graceful narcissus flowers. Though they spoke little, their eyes darted about curiously. One had a melon seed-shaped face, the other oval. Compared to the Second and Third Madams, Ji Yingying could easily tell them apart.
Compared to her peers, she preferred Yang Jingyuan’s nieces and nephews. Yang Jingshan had two sons and a daughter. Yang Jinyan had one son and one daughter. They were of the “Cheng” generation, with the girls’ names omitting the generation character and using single characters instead.
Perhaps because she was facing children, Ji Yingying felt more relaxed. Seeing the eldest, Yang Chengyu, acting so grown-up, she remembered playing with children at Three Dikes when she was young. She teased him, “If Chengyu wants to show respect to Third Aunt when the locust flowers bloom, why not pick some fresh ones for Aunt to make steamed buns?”
The young masters raised in the Yang family probably didn’t even know locust flowers were edible.
“There are locust trees in the back garden. Chengyu will personally pick flowers for Third Aunt.”
Ji Yingying grew curious: “How do you know locust flowers are edible?”
Chengyu finally showed a proud smile: “Third Uncle took me picking them before.”
What was Yang Jingyuan like as a child? Had he climbed trees to pick locust flowers, and waded in rivers to catch fish and crabs? Ji Yingying suddenly felt life in the Yang family had gained a bit more meaning. She wanted to know everything about Yang Jingyuan.