Duke Yingguo’s estate was one of the four duke estates enfeoffed at the founding of the nation, and also one of the only two duke estates in Great Zhou whose titles still existed today. Therefore, when the legitimate eldest granddaughter of the Duke’s estate was getting married, guests streamed in endlessly, carriages and horses flowed like water before the gate, and the scene was extraordinarily lively.
The Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo’s estate, together with her eldest daughter-in-law, received female guests at the second gate. Upon seeing the Princess Consort of Earl Changning’s estate, her eyes lit up. She quickly left her niece and sister-in-law from her natal family and hurried forward, smiling before speaking: “Oh my, we’ve finally been waiting for you!”
The First Madam was pulled along by her arm. With several noble ladies crowding around to greet her, she also smiled broadly: “With so many guests today, you must be terribly busy. Why specially wait for us?”
Lady Yang, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo’s estate, seeing her mother-in-law’s expression, quickly interjected with a laugh: “Isn’t it because we’re waiting for our little immortal maiden for the bed-sitting ceremony? If we didn’t have her today, where would we find someone?”
“Speaking of this…” The First Madam stopped and glanced at the three young ladies beside her, restraining her smile slightly and speaking in a joking manner: “Others may not know, but you all do. Sixth Miss is after all wearing mourning. In principle, she shouldn’t come. But since the geomancy master said it wouldn’t matter, and considering our family relationship, we brought her along. However, the Old Madam has instructed that if others want to see her, she must not be seen.”
The Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo’s estate glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law and readily agreed: “Of course, of course.” She looked again at Song Chuyi before the First Madam, about to say a few words to her, when she heard someone outside loudly announcing that Princess Zhennan and the wife of Duke Hanguo had arrived. Although Princess Zhennan never liked putting on the airs of a princess, she still couldn’t be treated lightly. The words on her lips, she could only smile and have her eldest daughter-in-law escort them to Jinxiu Pavilion where her daughter currently resided: “Be careful, don’t let anything go wrong.”
Lady Yang quickly bowed in acknowledgment.
Immediately, two maids came forward to guide the First Madam: “All the ladies are at Bishui Residence ahead. Shall we escort Your Ladyship there?”
The First Madam also couldn’t follow to an unmarried young lady’s room to deliver trousseau additions. Hearing this, she nodded, then specially instructed Song Chuyi: “In all things, listen to the nannies. There’s no need to be afraid.”
Lady Yang had already smiled: “Don’t worry, the nannies all understand proper behavior, and we’ll all be nearby looking after things.”
With her interjecting humorously like this, the First Madam couldn’t say much more. She smiled and scolded a few words before heading to Bishui Residence with the maids.
The eldest daughter of Duke Yingguo’s estate had her embroidery tower built in their family garden—a delicate two-story building. Two banana trees large enough to provide shade were planted before the door, now bearing huge yellow-red flowers. Densely packed small flowerpots were arranged at the base, beneath which lay a drowsy peacock, creating an extremely pleasing scene.
Hearing human voices, the peacock shook itself and stood up, walking a few steps haughtily before suddenly spreading its tail. Its brilliant colors startled everyone on the spot.
“This is truly extraordinary!” Lady Yang pulled Song Chuyi with one hand and Song Chumi with the other. After the initial surprise, she quickly smiled: “Since this peacock arrived, it has never spread its tail. Doesn’t this prove what the geomancy master said—that you, little girl, are a lucky star?”
While speaking, they had already entered the courtyard. Inside, only clumps of shrubs were planted in the corners on both sides, with many morning glory vines winding over them, presenting yet another scene compared to outside.
Though maids and servants carrying things constantly went in and out of the courtyard, everything was orderly and not noisy or clamorous.
On the second floor, noble young ladies who were close to Miss Shen had already gathered in small groups. Seeing Lady Yang, they all quickly stood to greet her.
Lady Yang smiled and had them all sit down, then looked at Miss Shen with a smile: “Several young ladies from Earl Changning’s estate have come to add to Yuan Niang’s trousseau.”
Shen Huixin quickly rose to express thanks, then pulled the youngest Song Chuyi by the hand: “Is this Sixth Miss from the Earl’s estate? I must trouble you today.”
Song Chuyi didn’t expect to hear any news from this eldest daughter—in her previous life, she had spent over twenty years at Duke Yingguo’s estate and knew everyone there inside and out. This eldest daughter had always been pampered by Lady He and knew nothing of the sordid affairs in the estate.
Therefore, she only lowered her head with a slight smile. After Song Chumi and Song Chubin had both presented their gifts, she took the box from Ziyun’s hands and handed it to her: “To add to elder sister’s trousseau. May elder sister have all things go smoothly, with peace and good fortune.”
Shen Huixin accepted it and quickly thanked her again. Lady Yang had already taken a heavy purse from a maid’s hands and placed it in Song Chuyi’s hands, then glanced at the nanny behind Shen Huixin.
That nanny respectfully came forward to lead Song Chuyi to lift the pearl curtain, draw back the bed curtains, and watch as the maids changed to new bright red bedding. She then invited Song Chuyi to step on the footstool and sit in the center.
Other maids smilingly invited Ziyun and Lüyi, who had accompanied her, to go downstairs for tea.
“Miss, don’t be afraid.” The nanny guided several maids to tuck red dates, dried longans, peanuts and other items under the bedding while smiling to comfort Song Chuyi: “Just sit for a while.”
In her previous life, before her marriage, she had already been despised by everyone. Because her reputation for throwing herself at men had spread too loudly, the Song family was too ashamed to hold such a trousseau-adding ceremony for her. Therefore, she truly knew nothing about this and could only steady herself and sit without moving.
But she had only sat for less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick when she heard a young maid outside report that Miss Chen and County Princess Yunxiu had arrived. She slightly raised her eyes and indeed saw Miss Chen smiling as she came forward to add to Shen Huixin’s trousseau.
A nanny helped her stand up, holding a tray for her to scatter peanuts and longans on the bed. Finally, she had a young maid place the peanuts, longans and red dates from under the bedding on a gold-painted dish for her to carry to Shen Huixin.
As she approached, Miss Chen, who had been sitting with Shen Huixin, already tactfully stood and moved aside, though her eyes still followed Song Chuyi, and she gently nodded at her.
This Miss Chen had been so unceremoniously driven away by Ye Jingchuan back then, yet seeing her again now could still maintain her composure as if nothing had happened. Song Chuyi couldn’t help but sigh that the inner quarters truly concealed hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
Shen Huixin accepted the items, and immediately a nanny smiled and congratulated her. The young ladies around also crowded forward with auspicious words, making the atmosphere in the room extremely warm for a time.
Miss Chen found an opportunity to withdraw and approach Song Chuyi, smiling: “Originally I said I would personally come to your door to thank you for your kindness, but then your estate had that… it’s really… the dead cannot return to life, don’t be too sad, younger sister. I thought this time I wouldn’t be able to see you, never imagining you would come. What a delightful surprise—younger sister has grown even more lovely.”