Eight-treasure tofu, braised lion’s head meatballs, fermented bamboo shoot medley, Longjing shrimp, sweet and sour spare ribs, clear fish ball soup… a full table of dishes, all primarily light in flavor, and most were foods Zhou Shaojin enjoyed eating. Especially those braised lion’s head meatballs—each one only as large as a four-happiness meatball, exactly as she had instructed the small kitchen at Wanxiang Residence to make for her.
Was this specially prepared for her?
“Old Madam…” Zhou Shaojin held her chopsticks, not knowing what to say.
Old Madam Guo signaled Zhenzhu, who was serving dishes beside them, to place a braised lion’s head meatball in Zhou Shaojin’s bowl, smiling as she said, “You’ll be living at Hanbi Mountain House for several more years. Whatever you like or don’t like, you must speak up and tell me. Otherwise, the only one who suffers will be yourself. Understand?”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
Old Madam Guo smiled and pointed at her bowl, saying gently, “Eat quickly! I also had the kitchen make crystal cakes. After today, whatever you want to eat, just write a list yourself and take it to the small kitchen. I’m also planning to go with you to Fucui Pavilion later to see how they’ve arranged things!”
“The rooms have been cleaned very thoroughly,” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Chun Wan and the others already set everything out this afternoon. I can accompany you to aid digestion later.”
Old Madam Guo smiled with satisfaction.
She had personally raised three granddaughters. Cheng Zheng was steady—she never had to worry about anything with her. Cheng Xiao was reserved, keeping all her concerns buried in her heart. Cheng Sheng was lively, but too lively sometimes, making her head ache with the commotion. Zhou Shaojin fell somewhere between the three—just right.
No talking during meals or sleep.
After the evening meal, Zhou Shaojin supported Old Madam Guo as they went to Fucui Pavilion.
Black lacquered furniture, floor-length screens hung with oil-green Hangzhou silk curtains, sweet white porcelain flower vases, famille rose teacups, and by the large writing desk near the window was a Ru kiln plum vase holding magnolia flowers.
Old Madam Guo was somewhat surprised.
Both the sweet white porcelain and famille rose had only become fashionable in recent years. The older generation disliked them for lacking substance and being either too simple or too gaudy, but the younger generation liked their light and bright qualities.
Though she had instructed Nanny Lü to treat Zhou Shaojin well, she hadn’t specified how. Given Nanny Lü’s taste, she would most likely have opened the storeroom and brought out the family’s more valuable jade ornamental rocks and cloisonné porcelain to receive guests.
This steady yet bright arrangement could not possibly be Nanny Lü’s doing.
But with Zhou Shaojin present, it wasn’t appropriate to ask too many questions.
After sitting in Fucui Pavilion’s rest chamber for a while, Old Madam Guo rose to take her leave.
Zhou Shaojin escorted Old Madam Guo all the way to the entrance before turning back.
Old Madam Guo returned silently to the upper room all the way.
Nanny Lü, who served at Old Madam Guo’s side, saw that the old madam had been fine just moments ago, but after viewing Zhou Shaojin’s residence, her mood had become somewhat low. She couldn’t help feeling quite anxious. Seeing Zhenzhu help Old Madam Guo sit down on the arhat bed, she quickly took the tea a young maid was holding and personally handed it to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo drank her tea, dismissed Zhenzhu and the others, then asked her, “Did you personally arrange the Second Young Cousin’s residence?”
So it was about this matter.
Nanny Lü breathed a sigh of relief.
She had also thought it somewhat modest at first, but Qin Ziping had said this was Fourth Master’s idea, so she had let them do as they pleased.
“No,” Nanny Lü smiled. “It was the idea of Manager Qin who serves Fourth Master.”
Old Madam Guo frowned slightly, dismissed Nanny Lü, and sat alone in contemplation for a while before calling Zhenzhu in to help her rest.
Zhou Shaojin, however, happily rolled over on the bed.
She also loved this bed very much.
It was a small carved lacquer bed. The headboard had many small drawers where she could store lots of things.
And the mattress was layered very thickly. Lying on it felt soft, like lying on clouds. Not like the bed at Wanxiang Residence, which was hard—they said sleeping on it was good for health, but she just preferred soft beds. In her previous life, after moving to the Daxing estate, she had immediately ordered four cotton mattresses to be made and spread them all on the kang.
Chun Wan watched and laughed behind her hand. “Second Miss, do you want to move those flowers you left at Wanxiang Residence over here?”
Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat troubled.
Originally she had thought that flowers were delicate things. After elder sister married, if she could stay at Jiashu Hall, she wouldn’t bother those flowers. If she had to go with Li Shi to Baoding, taking what she’d left at Jiuru Lane would be perfectly legitimate.
But now things had turned out well—she had moved into Hanbi Mountain House, yet some things remained at Wanxiang Residence. Just now, Maternal Grandmother had told her to stay at Wanxiang Residence for a few days at some point. Before those words had even settled, if she went to Wanxiang Residence to move things… it would inevitably give people an impression of callousness.
If she had known this would happen, she should have moved those potted flowers back to Pingqiao Street from the start.
It was too late to say this now.
“I’ll just have to look for opportunities to move them slowly later,” Zhou Shaojin said helplessly.
Chun Wan smiled in acknowledgment and helped Zhou Shaojin remove her hairpins and jewelry.
Zhou Shaojin slept dreamlessly through the night until daybreak.
There was already activity at Old Madam Guo’s quarters.
She quickly dressed and got up.
Chun Wan smiled. “Second Miss, don’t rush! Before you woke, Miss Zhenzhu came on Old Madam’s orders to deliver a message, saying you don’t need to perform morning and evening attendance. Just accompany her ladyship to the Buddhist hall every day at the hour of si (note: ten in the morning) to recite two volumes of sutras.”
“How can that be acceptable!” Zhou Shaojin still urged Chun Wan to help her wash and groom.
Chun Wan smiled. “I also asked Miss Biyu and Miss Zhenzhu about it. They said when Miss Sheng was here, it was the same way. They also said that in recent years, Old Madam occasionally wakes in the morning and lies in bed lost in thought for quite a while, probably not wanting to be disturbed. I think Second Miss should follow Old Madam’s wishes and accompany her ladyship to recite two volumes of sutras daily.”
Being newly arrived, she didn’t know whether Old Madam Guo’s words were genuine or not, but since both Biyu and Zhenzhu said so, she should obediently comply.
Zhou Shaojin completely relaxed.
Chun Wan then brought her a bright red gold-speckled menu. “Second Miss, look! This was sent from the kitchen early this morning. They said it’s prepared according to custom. We just need to check off whatever we want to eat on this menu. If there’s something special you want that’s not on the menu, just send someone to tell the small kitchen, and they’ll change the menu.”
Zhou Shaojin opened it and saw that her favorite needle-embroidered tofu and crystal cakes were both on the menu.
She couldn’t help examining the menu closely.
Not even a crease—clearly it was new.
This probably wasn’t arranged by Old Madam Guo, was it?
Of course Old Madam Guo would treat her well, but her ladyship was advanced in years and couldn’t possibly be this meticulous.
Could it be Nanny Lü?
But those sweet white porcelain and famille rose pieces should all be newly purchased—she shouldn’t have such authority.
Could it be… Uncle Chi!
That was impossible!
Uncle Chi wasn’t even home—he didn’t even know she had moved in. Moreover, the reason Old Madam Guan had so readily agreed to let her move here was entirely because of that sudden incident with Cheng Yi… She wondered what exactly Cheng Yi had said to Ji Ying to make her so angry. Fortunately, the one who got beaten was Cheng Yi. If it had been someone from the second, third, or fifth branch, even if Ji Ying was Uncle Chi’s maid and even if Ji Ying was in the right, they probably wouldn’t let it go easily.
She would have to remind Ji Ying when she returned.
Zhou Shaojin pondered this in her mind. After breakfast, she went to Old Madam Guo’s quarters.
Old Madam Guo was leaning on the arhat bed, wearing reading glasses and looking at a book.
Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Shall I read for you?”
In her previous life, she had often seen Concubine Mu reading books for Lin Shisheng’s mother. Lin Mother, who had originally disapproved of Lin Shisheng taking Concubine Mu as his concubine, had been won over by Concubine Mu little by little this way.
Old Madam Guo chuckled and handed the book to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin looked and saw it was actually a travel journal. Her own interest piqued, she sat beside Old Madam Guo and began reading vividly.
Her voice was sweet and soft yet melodious—very pleasant to listen to.
The morning sunlight fell upon her, as if gilding her in a layer of gold powder. That serene expression made her appear even more gentle and beautiful than usual.
Truly a beauty!
Who would be fortunate enough to marry her!
Old Madam Guo silently praised her in her heart.
Nanny Lü walked in softly.
Zhou Shaojin quickly stopped, put down the book, and stood up, saying to Old Madam Guo, “Let me brew you a fresh pot of tea.”
“No need. The tea is still warm,” Old Madam Guo said, then asked Nanny Lü, “What is it?”
This meant there was no need to avoid Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was very moved.
Old Madam Guo was not treating her as an outsider.
Nanny Lü, however, felt a chill in her heart. She said, “The Duke of Liangguo’s household has sent over a wedding invitation.”
Duke of Liangguo’s heir Zhu Pengju and Miss Liu’s wedding date had been set for the fifteenth day of the fifth month.
Old Madam Guo thought for a moment. “Then prepare two gifts for me—send one to the Duke of Liangguo’s mansion and one to the Liu family. Twenty taels of silver each will do.”
So little!
When Shi Xiang married, Old Madam Guo had given twenty taels of silver to add to her trousseau.
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
Old Madam Guo then said, “Both the Duke of Liangguo’s mansion and the Liu family have dealings with the Cheng family. Your Uncle Chi also has a good relationship with the Duke of Liangguo’s heir. As the heir is remarrying, your Uncle Chi will certainly send a substantial gift, making my contribution mere decoration. But your Uncle Chi has no particular connection with the Liu family. Moreover, the Liu family is marrying off a daughter, and your Uncle Chi isn’t married himself, so there’s no need to add to Miss Liu’s trousseau. I’ll just make a token gesture.”
Zhou Shaojin learned from this.
Old Madam Guo chuckled and rose to go to the Buddhist hall to recite sutras.
Zhou Shaojin attended to Old Madam Guo while she changed clothes.
Outside, a sudden commotion arose.
Zhou Shaojin was very curious.
Old Madam Guo’s expression darkened. “What is going on?”
Before Old Madam Guo could speak, Zhenzhu had already lifted the curtain and gone out. When Old Madam Guo’s words fell, she hurriedly returned, her face somewhat pale. “Old Madam, it’s Grand Madam Wen from the fifth branch. For some reason, supported by her nanny, she’s crying and forcing her way in.”
Old Madam Guo’s expression grew even worse.
Zhenzhu said hesitantly, “Old Madam, should you perhaps go to the Buddhist hall first? It’s already time for sutra recitation!”
This was suggesting Old Madam Guo avoid the situation.
But before Old Madam Guo could answer, Grand Madam Wen had already rushed in, falling to her knees before Old Madam Guo and clutching her legs while crying, “Elder Aunt, you must uphold justice for me! Your nephew Wen, he… he wants to kill me!”