“You’re a grown girl now, still acting spoiled. Come and meet your cousin Cheng. You came back too late yesterday and missed her,” Ji Lan said as she pulled Shen Cui, who was clinging to her, away.
Shen Cui finally turned her eyes to Ji Cheng. In truth, she had noticed Ji Cheng the moment she entered the room but had no desire to speak to her. The last time Ji Cheng visited, she only stayed for a few days, and they barely spoke. Shen Cui remembered Ji Cheng as a pretty girl, but seeing her now, she realized her cousin had grown into a stunning beauty.
Shen Cui had always considered herself the most beautiful among her family and relatives. Yet, standing next to Ji Cheng, she felt like a mere backdrop.
“Fifth Sister,” Ji Cheng addressed Shen Cui, using the Shen family’s way of calling her.
“Cousin Cheng,” Shen Cui replied.
The conversation ended there. Shen Cui didn’t want to engage, and Ji Cheng didn’t want to force a conversation. Shen Cui was accustomed to being proud; if you tried too hard to please her, she would look down on you. Ji Cheng had noticed this trait during her last visit. There would be plenty of opportunities to win her favor, and there was no need to rush. Being too eager could expose one’s weaknesses to be exploited.
“Your cousin will be staying with us for a while. You two sisters haven’t seen each other in years, so it’s a good chance to get acquainted. After the Old Madam’s birthday, when school starts, your cousin will attend school with you,” Ji Lan said.
Hearing this, Shen Cui felt even more uncomfortable. Where did this cousin come from, and why would she attend school with her? She had her sisters and cousins to bond with; she didn’t need another one.
Ji Lan could do nothing about her daughter’s transparent temperament and could only offer Ji Cheng an apologetic smile.
The three of them ate together. After the meal, Ji Lan stood up and said, “I took a day off yesterday because you and your brother were coming. Today, I must go to the Eastern Residence to serve the Old Madam and help entertain the visiting ladies.”
The Eastern Residence Ji Lan referred to was the Duke of Qi’s mansion, named so because it was located on the east side of Tongque Street. The Earl of Zhongyi’s mansion was called the Western Residence, while Shen’s third uncle’s place was known as “the one in Iron Hat Alley.”
“You should come with me to pay your respects to the Old Madam,” Ji Lan said to Ji Cheng.
Ji Cheng had come with her brother Ji Yuan under the pretense of celebrating the Old Madam’s birthday, so naturally, she should pay her respects.
Ji Cheng nodded in agreement, went back to her room, and changed into a pink short jacket with dark rose patterns, paired with a long skirt of light purple with butterflies playing among roses. The outfit was festive yet understated. She styled her hair in a simple bun, adorned with a white jade hairpin carved with butterflies and flowers, highlighting her youthful elegance. She truly embodied the saying, “a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally unadorned.”
In contrast, Shen Cui’s attire seemed utterly mundane. Ji Lan sighed inwardly, thinking that Shen Cui, now fourteen, should have been engaged by now. Yet, after much consideration, no suitable match had been found. With Ji Cheng standing beside her, the comparison might not favor Shen Cui’s prospects. Ji Lan resolved to limit Ji Cheng’s interactions with the families she had in mind for Shen Cui.
Ruiying Hall was where the Old Madam of the Shen family resided. It was the main house of the Duke of Qi’s mansion, the largest in the Eastern Residence, with three bright and two dark rooms, five bays, side rooms, and three rear chambers.
After the current Shen elder inherited the title, the Old Madam should have moved elsewhere to enjoy her retirement. However, both the elder and Princess Anhe were very filial and insisted that the Old Madam remain in her accustomed residence.
The current Duke of Qi’s residence was to the west of Ruiying Hall. When Princess Anhe married, the emperor did not grant her a separate princess residence, indicating that she was to marry into the Duke of Qi’s family as a wife and daughter-in-law. However, the emperor did not neglect Princess Anhe, granting her a piece of land with living water on the west side of the Duke of Qi’s mansion for a garden. After more than twenty years of construction, the garden had merged with the original garden of the Duke of Qi’s mansion, making it one of the four most famous gardens in the capital, and the largest among them.
When Ji Lan led Shen Cui and Ji Cheng to Ruiying Hall, the curtain maid on the stone steps had already lifted the curtain and announced their arrival. Shortly after, a senior maid from the Old Madam’s side came out to greet them.
“I’ve brought my niece to pay respects to the Old Madam,” Ji Lan said to the maid, Chun Chan.
Chun Chan glanced at Ji Cheng, marveling at her beauty, but kept her expression neutral. “The Old Madam has a guest right now, someone from Suzhou in the south. The Third Madam knows our Old Madam grew up in the south, and this guest is the Old Madam’s cousin from Jiangnan, here to celebrate her birthday.”
“Oh, how rare! That lady must be quite old to travel such a distance. She must have a special bond with our Old Madam,” Ji Lan remarked with a smile.
“Indeed, they are holding hands and reminiscing. They even cried a little while ago,” Chun Chan said.
“Then I’ll take Cui to meet the Old Madam and this lady. Cheng, you can wait in the side hall with Sister Chun Chan until the Old Madam is free,” Ji Lan instructed Ji Cheng.
“Yes,” Ji Cheng replied, following Chun Chan to the side hall to wait.
The side hall was empty, except for a young maid responsible for serving tea, who was dozing off against a pillar. She jolted awake as her head drooped, and upon seeing Chun Chan, she hurriedly came forward. “Sister Chun Chan.”
“This is Miss Ji, the Third Madam’s niece. Serve her well. I’ll be with the Old Madam,” Chun Chan instructed, then turned to Ji Cheng. “Please wait here, Miss. I’ll come for you when the Old Madam is free.”
“Thank you, Sister,” Ji Cheng nodded.
The young maid serving tea was initially stunned by Ji Cheng’s beauty, then remembered to serve her tea. Despite her young age, she was bold and approached Ji Cheng. “Miss Ji, we have fresh almond milk with cow’s milk. It’s delicious. Would you like a cup?”
Ji Cheng was about to decline but saw the maid’s eager eyes and smiled. “Sure, thank you, little sister.”
Juan’er grinned, turned, and went to the tea room.
“Ah, you’re sneaking almond milk again. We didn’t make much today, and it has to serve many guests. I’ll tell Sister Xiuchun, and see how she deals with you,” Duan’er said, giving Juan’er a heavy pat on the shoulder.
Juan’er was startled, but upon seeing it was Duan’er, she relaxed and patted her chest. “Which eye saw me sneaking a drink? Miss Ji wants some, and I’m getting it for her.”
“Who’s this Miss Ji? Don’t try to fool me,” Duan’er said, taking the small cup of almond milk from Juan’er and drinking it in one go, then quickly wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Sister Chun Chan said she’s the Third Madam’s niece,” Juan’er replied.
“Bah, another poor relative here to mooch. Never even had almond milk before, coming here to beg,” Duan’er sneered.
“Don’t look down on people. I think Miss Ji is nice and not some poor relative. The Third Madam’s family is a well-known merchant family in Jin. Miss Ji seems to be her real niece,” Juan’er paused, covering her mouth with her hand, and whispered to Duan’er, “You should have seen her. She’s as beautiful as a fairy.”
“Bah, you little thing with no experience,” Duan’er pushed Juan’er’s forehead with a finger. “What fairy? She’d be lucky to be half as pretty as Miss Su in the Old Madam’s room. Now that’s a real beauty, like the ones in the operas.”
Juan’er was at a loss, having never seen Miss Su, and could only argue, “I haven’t seen Miss Su, but I’m sure Miss Ji is just as beautiful.”
Duan’er, curious and only thirteen, just half a year older than Juan’er, said, “I’ll go with you to deliver the almond milk and see if this Miss Ji is that pretty. I’ve heard the northwest is all yellow earth. What kind of beauty could come from there?” She doubted Juan’er’s words.
Thus, the beauty of Su Yun and Ji Cheng became a point of contention between the two young maids, like a game of comparing flowers. One claimed her proud snow plum was prettier, while the other insisted her twin lotus was more beautiful.
Juan’er and Duan’er entered the side hall, the former carrying almond milk, the latter holding a lacquered box with gold inlay, placing it quietly on the marble-inlaid black lacquer table beside Ji Cheng without making a sound, demonstrating excellent manners.
Duan’er opened the box, revealing seven small peach-shaped dishes containing snacks like dried apricots, almonds, persimmons, and walnuts. One dish held a hibiscus cake, pink as a hibiscus flower, shaped like one too. Only a skilled cook from a refined household would have the patience to craft such delicacies.
Even the peach-shaped box was unique and rare, something ordinary craftsmen couldn’t make, and not easily bought even with money. The lid was painted with gold inlay, depicting immortal mountains and flying cranes, symbolizing longevity, very fitting for the occasion. Ji Cheng thought to herself that these noble families might not have tens of thousands of taels of silver, but their wealth was evident in their food, clothing, and daily use. No wonder they could maintain their dignity for years even after falling on hard times.
After placing the items, Juan’er and Duan’er quietly left, and once out of sight, they playfully pushed each other onto a bench in the corridor.
“Well, did you see?” Juan’er couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked Duan’er.
Duan’er smiled, “I think Miss Ji and Miss Su should switch places. Miss Ji is graceful and delicate, with fair and tender skin, more like a girl from the water towns of Jiangnan. If not for her tall stature, you wouldn’t guess she’s from the north. And Miss Su, she’s bright and bold, with the charm of northern rouge, though a bit short.”
Juan’er, having never seen Miss Su, had no concept and only pressed, “So, who’s prettier, Miss Ji or your Miss Su?”
Duan’er rubbed her chin, “It’s hard to say. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think Miss Ji is like… well, I can’t describe it, but Miss Su is like a peony.”
“Why can’t you describe Miss Ji?” Juan’er pressed.