After the family introductions, the Second and Third Branch families left. Madam Yang Shi kept the three daughters-in-law behind.
Knowing Ji Yingying had brought only one servant and two maids, Madam Yang Shi instructed First Young Madam Yang: “Following household custom, assign two second-rank and four third-rank servants to Mingyue Residence. No need for a housekeeper since Third Mistress has her accompanying nurse.”
“Madam, Mingyue Residence already has eight servant women for cleaning and heavy work. My two maids are sufficient,” Ji Yingying didn’t want to be constantly surrounded by a crowd.
First Young Madam Yang smiled, “Sister-in-law shouldn’t decline. You’re now the Third Mistress of the Yang family’s First Branch. Having only two little maids serving you would invite ridicule. Besides the menial servants, my Second Sister-in-law and I each have two nurses and twelve servants. Mingyue Residence already has half the usual staff.”
Better to tell Ji Yingying now than have her discover later that Mingyue Residence had half the usual servants and become upset. Yang Chen Shi hadn’t yet figured out Ji Yingying’s temperament. During the family introductions, Ji Yingying didn’t make any mistakes and appeared generous. But coming from a merchant family, who knew if she might prove shallow later and cause trouble? Marrying her during the mourning period was already unfair to her. Yang Chen Shi didn’t want to gain a reputation for mistreating her sister-in-law.
Most importantly, she didn’t want her mother-in-law to think her arrangements were inappropriate and take back the authority over household management.
First Young Madam had been doing extremely well lately. Madam Yang Shi had no intention of taking back the household authority. She remained silent, waiting for First Young Madam and Ji Yingying to work it out.
For some reason, Ji Yingying felt Second Young Madam was quite peaceful toward her, while First Young Madam’s gaze and tone carried an inexplicable quality. Could it be that Yang Jingyuan and Yang Jingshan didn’t get along?
During the three-year mourning period, she had no interest in the Yang family’s social obligations. Helping the Yang family weave Champion Brocade was repayment for Madam Yang Shi’s kindness. Waiting for Yang Jingyuan’s return was Ji Yingying’s greatest wish. She didn’t care about how many servants she had or whether people ridiculed her.
Moreover, if she was to match colors for Champion Brocade, she preferred Mingyue Residence to be quiet and secure. Her mother and nurses had always said that large households bred gossip. Fewer people meant fewer problems. Ji Yingying stood firm: “Thank you for First Young Madam’s kindness. Mingyue Residence originally had only Xiangyou as a servant boy, with no personal attendants. There were only a few servants for cleaning and heavy work. Third Young Master and I both prefer tranquility.”
Calling her “Madam” instead of “Mother,” addressing First Sister-in-law as “First Young Madam”—Madam Yang Shi’s heart grew increasingly distant: “If you need more help, ask First Young Madam for more people.”
Ji Yingying looked toward Xueqing and said softly, “This daughter-in-law would like to request Xueqing from Madam to help at Mingyue Residence for a few days. Once my nurse and maids are settled in, I’ll send Xueqing back.”
With Madam Yang Shi’s trusted senior maid at Mingyue Residence, whatever was needed could be arranged through her.
Madam Yang Shi was somewhat surprised by Ji Yingying’s cleverness. Xueqing was her person, and placing her at Mingyue Residence would also keep her informed of Ji Yingying’s activities. She nodded her approval.
First Young Madam’s smile faded slightly. Declining servants was one thing, but what did it mean to request Xueqing’s service? Did she not trust her? She wasn’t so petty as to withhold resources from Mingyue Residence.
“How is First Son’s condition today?”
Hearing her mother-in-law’s question, First Young Madam quickly set aside her thoughts and replied, “Since yesterday, my lord has been able to eat porridge. This morning he even spoke, and had the servants prop up his pillows so he could sit for a while.”
Madam Yang Shi brightened: “That’s good. Go back and tell First Son that I’ll bring Ji shi to pay respects to him this afternoon.”
Mother only kept Ji Yingying for lunch. First Young Madam vaguely knew that half the reason for marrying Ji Yingying was for the Champion Brocade weaving. Remembering the silk handkerchief her husband treasured, she thought sourly, could Second Miss Ji be that talented? She acquiesced obediently and left with Second Young Madam.
Madam Yang Shi stood up: “White Heron Hall is too large; with fewer people, even speaking echoes. Let’s return to the inner hall.”
Ji Yingying was somewhat surprised by the loneliness in Madam Yang Shi’s tone. She silently followed behind her out of White Heron Hall.
Following the corridor back, passing through a connecting hall, they reached Madam Yang Shi’s rear courtyard.
While White Heron Hall was grand and dignified, the rear courtyard was like discovering an unexpected village beyond willow shadows and flowers. Flowers and plants grew in every corner. In the southwest corner stood a honeysuckle trellis, its trunk as thick as a child’s arm, clearly quite old. Three peach trees stood in the northwest corner, their narrow leaves spread wide, pink buds covering the branches like soft pink gauze. A pond was built in the southeast corner, where young lotus leaves were just showing their tips. In the northeast corner near the east wing of the main house was a flower bed. Roses climbed the low fence, ready to bloom red and white in early summer. Two large blue stone vats stood along the middle path, water storage for fire prevention, and growing water lilies. A long row of birdcages hung under the corridor. Various birds chirped, adding vitality to the scene.
Seeing her amazement, Madam Yang Shi remarked casually, “Just some things to pass the time when idle. If you like these, order the estate’s gardeners to Mingyue Residence and arrange as you wish.”
Could the Yang family’s principal mistress be idle? Ji Yingying noticed Madam Yang Shi’s somewhat distant expression and suddenly understood. After Master Yang began favoring Concubine Liu, he rarely came here. Back then, Madam was in her prime… She lowered her head to thank Madam Yang Shi, hiding her sympathetic gaze. Without Third Young Master Yang, how terrifying it must be to pass the long years alone in this great mansion.
The main hall of the rear quarters had no chairs or tables but was laid with slightly yellowed reed mats and furnished with low curved stools and long narrow tables. Ji Yingying found it familiar.
She knelt at Madam Yang Shi’s lower seat. The meal was served individually: four vegetarian dishes and one soup.
Eating vegetarian during mourning was quite normal. Madam Yang Shi hesitated before saying, “Yingying, it’s unfair to bring you into the Yang family like this. After Master’s hundred days, you need not maintain a vegetarian diet.”
Ji Yingying was startled. Remembering that Yang Jingyuan hadn’t touched meat since eating her vegetable soup with rice, she quickly said, “I’ll wait until the full year before eating meat.”
Such a sensible, well-mannered child. If only Third Son were home. Yang Jingyuan had left in anger. After he left, Madam Yang Shi realized that the joy brought to her in her later years hadn’t come from her two adult sons, but from him. Regret grew in her heart. Every time she touched upon it, the bitterness was overwhelming. How had she lost her head then, finding fault with everything Third Son did?
She put down her chopsticks after eating just a little, saying quietly, “You’re still young, eat more to keep up your strength. Don’t be so reserved.”
Ji Yingying had no choice but to pick up her bamboo chopsticks and eat another half bowl of rice.
After the meal, Xueqing brewed and served tea.
Madam Yang Shi sipped her tea slowly and said softly, “Master passed away on the nineteenth of the first month. The Yang family will hold the hundred-day memorial service on the twentieth of the fourth month. Third Son might return then. I hope you can keep him here.”