With the date of the coming-of-age ceremony now nearly upon them, the Anyuan Earl’s residence finally sent someone to deliver a full set of ceremonial garments.
And exactly as Lin Shi had feared — the garments sent over reeked of perfunctory effort. At a glance, the styles all seemed fine enough, but wherever real gold or silver should have been used, they had been scrimped on and skipped. For instance, the wide-sleeved long gown should rightfully have been made from the finest gold-woven satin; yet the Ning family had replaced the gold thread with plain yellow thread.
Such a cheap substitution — would that not be an open invitation for mockery by the principal attendants at the ceremony?
Afterward, the Ning family could easily brush it off by blaming a careless servant, but Lian Jie’er would face the pointed looks and comments of the other noble young ladies for a long time to come.
Lin Shi brought the garments to show the Old Madam. The Old Madam was both furious and distressed, and lamented: “Truly, once a person is gone, so too goes all warmth. That Anyuan Earl does not regard Lian’er as his niece at all.”
Then she said: “Then use the set you had made. It is a good thing your daughter-in-law prepared in advance.” She felt grateful that her daughter-in-law had been so foresighted.
Lin Shi asked: “And the garments sent by the Ning family — how should they be handled?”
The Old Madam was not one to shrink from a confrontation. Her tone cooled by half a degree: “Put them out on display alongside the other gifts sent by the guests — let everyone see them.” There was nothing more to say.
“Your daughter-in-law understands.”
……
To understand the source of this grievance — the reason the Anyuan Earl’s residence treated Pei Ruolian this way — one had to know that the person now in charge of that household was not Ning Shi’s own brother by blood. Ning Shi had passed away early and had left behind no brothers of her own. Later, Pei Ruolian’s maternal grandmother had also passed. Under such circumstances, who in the Ning family would still keep Lian Jie’er and Lan Jie’er, these two sisters, in their thoughts?
Most likely they had long since wanted to be rid of them, like a hot potato, praying that the Pei family would not come looking to them for anything.
In any case, every noble household had its own tangle of family affairs stretching back three generations — impossible to speak of in full.
……
On the ninth day of the month, the day arrived for Lian Jie’er’s coming-of-age ceremony.
The remaining young ladies of the Pei family — Pei Ruolan, Pei Ruozhu, and Pei Ruoying — were all called up early, dressed and arranged, and positioned behind their grandmother and Lin Shi to welcome the female guests from the various households attending the ceremony.
The principal Madam of the Ning family, Lady Huang, also came — most likely in the spirit of wanting to witness the spectacle, in a cheerful mood, her face wreathed in smiles.
Yet no sooner had Lady Huang of the Ning family stepped into the main hall than her eyes fell at once on the Eight Immortals table where the gifts were displayed — and there, most conspicuously, was the very set of ceremonial garments her own household had sent. The old fox paused to think and instantly understood that she had been outmaneuvered — this Pei family had done it on purpose.
Her pleasant expression vanished at once.
When the Old Madam saw this, her own face showed not the slightest change. She took advantage of the moment when the senior madams of the Duke of Yong’s household, the Duke of Shun’s household, and the Marquis of Shengchang’s household were all present, and stepped half a pace to one side, placing herself in front of Lady Huang of the Ning family. With a cheerful smile, she said: “Lian’er’s aunt by marriage — how kind of you to go to the trouble of sending such a fine set of ceremonial garments. Every piece is made of the most excellent materials… Something so fine as this, I simply could not keep it hidden away.”
The principal attendants needed only to look at the satin with its yellow thread and they would understand immediately why the Pei family had not used the garments sent by the Anyuan Earl’s residence.
Lady Huang of the Ning family knew full well that the Old Madam’s words concealed a trap. With so many people present, and having no basis on which to argue, she could only respond: “It is only fitting.” Then, making some excuse, she slipped away to the side in embarrassment.
……
The ceremony began.
The master of ceremonies intoned: “The Pei family has a daughter who now comes of age. She receives today the first ritual garment; putting aside the ways of childhood, she takes on virtue and moral worth.”
The distinguished female guests who had been appointed as principal attendants then stepped forward one by one in proper sequence to add each layer of Pei Ruolian’s ceremonial dress.
The first addition: plain white silk garments. The second: the curved-hem deep robe. The third: the wide-sleeved long gown — a satin garment in deep azure woven with gold cloud-and-crane patterns draped across the shoulders.
Finally, the Old Madam herself pinned up the eldest legitimate granddaughter’s hair and placed the gold headdress upon it. When all was properly arranged, she led Lian Jie’er out to perform the ceremonial bows before the assembled elders.
The rites were complete.
The garments, the headdress — anyone could see at a glance that everything had been commissioned with meticulous care. And Lian Jie’er carried herself with grace and elegance, her appearance more than ordinarily distinguished, her natural poise adding its own splendor to the whole — which drew considerable praise from the women observing the ceremony. They all complimented the Jingchuan Earl’s residence’s eldest legitimate granddaughter as a woman of exceptional character and beauty.
Lady Huang of the Ning family sat through it all in her seat as though on a bed of needles, counting the moments until it would be over. She had not anticipated that this Jingchuan Earl’s residence, already in its decline, could still manage to see a granddaughter through a coming-of-age ceremony in such grand and splendid fashion.
The principal attendants — once they had cast their eyes over that set of garments on the Eight Immortals table and then looked back at Lady Huang of the Ning family — wore expressions that left no doubt about their feelings, and this vexed her deeply.
Pei Ruolian’s future mother-in-law, Madam Xu, had also come to observe the ceremony. Seeing how the Pei family held Pei Ruolian in such regard, and what a solemn and grand ceremony they had arranged for her, Madam Xu felt her own face brighten considerably.
A nearby noblewoman leaned over and murmured to Madam Xu: “This eldest legitimate granddaughter of the Pei family — she has been promised to the second son of your household, has she not?”
Madam Xu was pleased at heart but did not show it outwardly, and replied in a low voice: “Only if the Pei family gives their assent can it truly be counted as a blessing for our son.” The meaning was that the formal engagement would only be considered complete once the coming-of-age ceremony concluded and the Xu family formally presented their betrothal gifts — and the Pei family accepted.
There was also another layer to her words — that it was their son Xu Zhan who was seeking the hand of the Pei family’s eldest legitimate granddaughter. This gave Pei Ruolian full honor and standing.
The noblewoman said admiringly: “Madam Xu has an excellent eye.”
The guests dispersed. Madam Xu, however, did not hurry to leave. She went to find Pei Ruolian and took her by the hand, smiling warmly as she offered a few words of congratulation: “Today you have come of age, and what a splendid occasion it has been. Here in this household your parents cherish you, your younger brother holds you in esteem — you are a girl with true blessings, and in the days ahead, everything will surely go smoothly for you. Not a moment of hardship will find you.”
There was deeper meaning in her words.
Lian Jie’er dipped into a graceful bow and replied: “This girl thanks you for your kind words, Aunt.”
……
Little Pei Shaohuai happened to witness this exchange and heard these words, and thought to himself: at times, these elaborate and burdensome formalities have their own reason for existing.
The month of hard work Lin Shi had poured into organizing this ceremony was, in the end, a way of saying to the world: the Earl’s residence cherishes and values Pei Ruolian — she is a precious treasure of this household.
When her own family held her in high regard, a daughter who went to marry would stand on more solid ground. And when that was so, her future mother-in-law would naturally extend her greater respect as well.
Consider the reverse: if even one’s own family did not prize her, how could one expect a mother-in-law — bound by no blood — to treat her with any greater esteem?
But then, nothing is ever fixed or certain. Each matter must be looked at on its own terms, and nothing more.
……
And then there was Lian Jie’er’s own maternal aunt — the younger sister of Ning Shi — who had made the long journey from Baoding Prefecture especially for this occasion.
Back in the inner courtyard, the aunt held Lian Jie’er and Lan Jie’er in her arms and wept until she was drenched in tears. Seeing Lian Jie’er grown into a young woman, dressed so magnificently for the ceremony, her heart was full of gratification, and she said: “Your mother’s life was short and her blessings thin. If only she could have seen Lian’er’s grace and elegance today — she would have been able to rest in peace.”
She then offered heartfelt and sincere gratitude to Lin Shi, saying repeatedly: “You have gone to such great trouble,” and “These two girls are blessed to have a mother like you — their own birth mother could have done no more,” and other such words besides.
“It is simply what I am here to do.” Lin Shi replied, then added: “It is the two girls who are well-behaved and sensible, and who have the Old Matriarch’s deep affection.”
……
……
Pei Ruolian had already come of age and reached the proper time. In accordance with what had been agreed upon long before, the Xu family chose an auspicious date and came formally to present their betrothal gifts.
The two families discussed the matter in good spirits and with great joy.
What followed — the inquiry of name, the confirmation of the match — need not be recounted in detail.
When the formal betrothal gifts were sent, the Xu family dispatched eighty-eight palanquins of gifts, the procession making its way through the streets, each palanquin swaying and jolting — plainly not a single one was empty or for show — drawing the gaze of passersby who crowded to watch from all sides.
The two families discussed and agreed: once Xu Zhan had sat for the upcoming autumn examinations and returned, they would then proceed with the formal wedding ceremony.
……
With the wedding date settled and the betrothal gifts delivered by the Xu family, it now fell to the Pei family to consider what dowry Lian Jie’er should take with her.
The whole family of the Earl’s residence gathered together.
The Old Madam first praised Lin Shi for how well she had managed the coming-of-age ceremony, and for how ably she had handled subsequent negotiations with Madam Xu regarding the wedding arrangements. She then said: “You have managed the affairs of this household for these past several months, and I have been thoroughly at ease and at peace of mind. Now, it is time to consider Lian Jie’er’s dowry, and I feel it is most fitting for you, as her mother, to take charge of this as well.”
This had been entirely foreseeable. Lin Shi was not at all surprised, and replied: “Just as before — your daughter-in-law will manage the arrangements, and I ask only that Mother continue to guide and advise me from behind.”
Lian Jie’er rose from her seat and came before Lin Shi, performing a ceremonial bow: “Mother has worked hard on my behalf.”
“We are all one family.”
Lin Shi continued: “Then your daughter-in-law will begin drawing up a list over the next few days. If anything is not right, we can go through it item by item and add to it.”
The Old Madam agreed with a nod: “Do it as you see fit.”
Since Lin Shi had known all along that this task would fall to her, she had already thought it through in advance. She had considered many things beforehand, and so when it came time to draw up the list, it did not take much time at all.
That evening, while lulling Ying Jie’er and Huai Ge’er to sleep, Lin Shi liked to speak softly to her two children as she sat with them, thinking aloud to herself: “Although Mother has spent quite a bit of silver these past few months, running about and working tirelessly… if I had not put in all that hard work, I would not have gained so much in return.”
“Before, your grandmother kept all the family’s holdings firmly in her own hands. I did not even know how many shops and how many plots of land this Earl’s residence had. But now, at the very least, I have come to understand the extent of this household’s assets.”
“All those shops in such excellent locations — and yet somehow unable to turn a profit. When I have time, I must go back and ask your elder uncle to offer some advice.”
“In all the six years I have been married into this Earl’s residence, I had never once received a single invitation card before. Yet last month alone, I received two — does that not strike you as remarkable, Huai’er? Though they were only invitations to tea, I met quite a number of noble madams.”
“Lian Jie’er has gone off to marry in such splendid fashion. The reputation of the Pei family’s daughters is now good — and when the time comes to find a match for Ying’er in the future, we will have more leverage and more choices.”
Lin Shi went on speaking, one phrase after another in no particular order, but Pei Shaohuai heard within her words a far greater ambition — she intended to build up the Earl’s residence’s assets, and to expand her circle of connections among the capital’s noblewomen.
After all, Pei Shaohuai was still a child’s body, and deeply prone to drowsiness. As he listened, he drifted off without noticing, his little mouth making small sounds as he murmured responses to his mother’s words: “Mm-mm, mm-mm…”
……
Several days later, Lin Shi drew up a few lists and placed them in the hands of the Old Master, the Old Madam, and Pei Bingyuan.
Once everyone had briefly looked them over, Lin Shi stood and laid out her thinking: “Our Earl’s residence is sending off an eldest legitimate granddaughter. The betrothal gifts the Xu family has sent — naturally, these are to be loaded up and sent back with Lian Jie’er when she goes. That is the first portion.”
“As for what Lian Jie’er’s birth mother left behind for their two daughters — the shops and the paddy fields — this is not a matter your daughter-in-law feels it appropriate to decide. I leave it to the Old Matriarch to make that determination personally.”
“I have two shops in the southern part of the city — one selling cloth, and one selling medicinal herbs. They are not large shops, but the business is steady… Consider these a gift from Huai Ge’er to his elder sister, to be added to the dowry. And since Lian Jie’er calls me Mother, I must be worthy of that name — I will also add two thousand taels of silver to the dowry. That is the third portion.”
These two contributions were not in the least smaller than what Ning Shi had left behind for Lian Jie’er.
Everyone in the hall raised their eyes at once.
Pei Shaohuai, seated to one side, understood clearly — the Earl’s residence truly had nothing more to spare. Maintaining even the most basic outward respectability across the whole household left no room to put forward anything more for Pei Ruolian’s dowry.
His mother had just resolved the Earl’s residence’s most pressing need.
The Old Madam nodded repeatedly, saying with heartfelt praise: “You are generous and forthright. I am very much at ease in leaving this household in your hands to manage.”
The atmosphere in the hall was warm and cheerful.
When everyone had said their piece, Concubine Shen, seated at the far end, finally spoke. She gestured for a servant to bring forward a few items, and said: “These were things our mistress left to this servant when she was alive — let Lian Jie’er take them as well, just a small token, to express my feelings.”
By “mistress,” she meant the late Ning Shi.
The women beside Concubine Shen brought in two square wooden trays. One held a scattering of jewelry and ornaments. On the other was silver — roughly two hundred taels, by the look of it.
On a concubine’s monthly allowance, this could only have been saved up bit by bit over a long period of careful frugality.