Early the next morning, Shi’yiniang received guests in the flower hall beside Dianchun Hall.
The first to arrive were the Yongchang Marquis’s wife, Madam Huang, and the Third Young Madam Huang.
Madam Huang winked at Shi’yiniang: “Arrange for me to sit with your mother-in-law.” She gestured toward the Third Young Madam Huang. “Have her help you receive the guests.”
Another person come to help her!
Shi’yiniang hurriedly curtsied in gratitude and escorted Madam Huang to the Old Madam’s rooms.
The Third Young Madam Huang took her hand and studied her carefully: “Like a flower just beginning to open.”
Shi’yiniang said modestly: “It is only because spring has arrived that I am dressed a little more lightly.”
The Third Young Madam Huang sighed: “Ever since I had Third Son, I have never been able to slim down again.”
Perhaps because the garments of ancient times were rather loose and flowing, Shi’yiniang could not see any difference: “Younger Sister sets her standards too high. I think you look perfectly fine as you are.”
Just as they were speaking, Madam Lin arrived, but Lin Da Madam and Hui Jie’er were not with her.
Madam Lin smiled: “Her maternal family has several nephews visiting.”
The Third Young Madam Huang smiled: “Here for the military examinations?”
Madam Lin smiled and nodded: “Seven or eight of them have come in full force. They say they want to broaden their experience.” Her expression was one of proud satisfaction.
“The Shao Family of Cangzhou — passing the military examination would be no difficulty at all.” The Third Young Madam Huang offered a few words of flattery, and then Shi’yiniang accompanied Madam Lin to the Old Madam’s rooms.
By the time she returned, Grand Madam Zheng, Madam Tang, and the Luo family’s First Young Madam had arrived with Mao Ge, the Fourth Young Madam, Shi’erniang, and others, one after another. The room was soon filled with warm and cheerful chatter. The Fifth Madam came too, holding the baby, and everyone gathered around delightedly to amuse the child. A steward mamma came hurrying in to announce that Madam Zhou had arrived with her eldest daughter.
Shi’yiniang went quickly to receive them.
Madam Zhou indicated the clear-eyed, fine-featured young girl at her side: “Our Fang Jie’er — I brought her to broaden her horizons.”
“You and your family are people from a world of wealth and refinement — we are a humble household, and it is only because you condescend to come that our festivities have any face to them,” Shi’yiniang said graciously.
Fang Jie’er had already curtsied to Shi’yiniang.
She had anticipated just such a situation and was prepared. Shi’yiniang drew a jade pendant carved with five bats and a peach from her pocket and gave it to Fang Jie’er as a meeting gift, then escorted Madam Zhou to the flower hall.
They had barely settled when the wife of General Li of Shanxi arrived with her eldest daughter.
Shi’yiniang went to receive them again.
Li Da Miss was thirteen years old this year. She had large eyes, fair skin, and wore twin buns adorned with a solid gold filigree willow-leaf hair band. When she looked at people, her eyes glittered and flashed, with a childlike guilelessness somewhat at odds with her age.
She smiled and curtsied to Shi’yiniang, though her eyes stayed fixed on Shi’yiniang’s face with an expression of open curiosity.
The meeting gift Shi’yiniang gave her was a pair of solid gold jade magnolia hairpins.
With all the guests present, they began exchanging pleasantries, and the room grew livelier still.
Maids and mammas surrounded the Old Madam and escorted her, together with Madam Huang and Madam Lin, over with laughter and conversation.
After another round of cheerful commotion, everyone took their seats by rank.
Maids served tea and refreshments, and mammas brought Xu Siyu, Zhen Jie’er, Zhun Ge, and Xu Sijie in to pay their respects to the assembled guests.
Some pulled Zhun Ge up into their arms, some took Zhen Jie’er’s hand for a close look, others directed questions at Xu Siyu and Xu Sijie — the room was full of laughter and noise. After Shi’yiniang had seen everyone served with tea and refreshments, Nanny Du took Xu Siyu, Zhun Ge, Xu Sijie, and Mao Ge to the Beautiful Scenery Pavilion, while Zhen Jie’er and Shi’erniang, Fang Jie’er, and Li Da Miss went to the Liufang Bower. The ladies and young madams then proceeded to Dianchun Hall.
The troupe master of the Deyin Troupe, Zhou Dehui, came out and said a few witty words, and the performance began.
But Li Da Miss was looking at Shi’erniang: “…Does that not make you an elder generation?”
Shi’erniang gave an awkward “mm.”
Li Da Miss immediately extended her hand toward Shi’erniang to demand a meeting gift: “Yongping Marquis Madam just gave me a pair of jade magnolia gold hairpins.”
Fang Jie’er, walking side by side with Zhen Jie’er, gave an almost imperceptible cool glance from the corners of her eyes, and began speaking to Zhen Jie’er about Hui Jie’er: “…She even wove a tassel for me last time, and said she learned it from the mammas around her. I was quite shocked. What did your mother actually say to her?”
Zhen Jie’er smiled and described how the whole thing had come about.
On the other side, Shi’erniang had already produced a pair of plum-blossom silver pieces with easy grace.
Li Da Miss took them and immediately called out for Fang Jie’er to come and ask for her share as well.
Fang Jie’er wore an expression as though she had not heard anything, listening earnestly to Zhen Jie’er’s story.
Li Da Miss, thinking she truly had not heard, went forward to pull her arm.
Fang Jie’er’s brow furrowed slightly: “Do you mind keeping your voice down?” Then she turned her face back to Zhen Jie’er: “Please continue — I am listening.”
Li Da Miss was understandably embarrassed.
Zhen Jie’er was just about to say something to relieve the tension when Shi’erniang at her side suddenly gave an exclamation, pointing at a stone-carved boat floating across the water ahead: “Is that the Liufang Bower?”
“That is the stone boat in Liufang Bower.” Zhen Jie’er felt a rush of relief and smiled, pointing to the octagonal heated pavilion beside the stone boat: “You can fish from there.” She asked everyone: “The weather is lovely today — shall we go fishing?”
“I would rather sit and talk,” Fang Jie’er objected. “What is the fun in fishing?”
No one contradicted her, but the subject was quietly dropped, and the awkward moment from earlier was glossed over.
Fang Jie’er continued asking about Hui Jie’er.
Li Da Miss fell behind with Shi’erniang, and whispered: “Fang Jie’er and I have only met a few times… She is very proud.”
Shi’erniang thought of the words her Sixth Concubine-Mother had said before she came: “…Some people who seem perfectly courteous to you are actually looking down on you.”
She smiled and changed the subject: “Are you from Yanjing?”
“No.” Li Da Miss lowered her voice. “We are from Dengzhou. Do you know Dengzhou?”
Shi’erniang thought for a moment: “Is it Dengzhou in Shandong?”
Li Da Miss smiled: “Yes, Dengzhou in Shandong. My grandfather once served as Commander of the Dengzhou Guard. But he passed away when my father was fourteen. My father inherited the post.” Then she asked Shi’erniang: “Where are you from?”
Shi’erniang, feeling that Li Da Miss might be a bit reckless but also had her candid side, smiled: “I am from Yuhang in Zhejiang. Do you know Yuhang?”
Li Da Miss nodded: “I know. There are lots of theater performers there.”
She must be referring to the Yuhang style of opera.
Shi’erniang laughed.
Fang Jie’er, who was walking ahead, glanced back.
Li Da Miss was completely unaware, and went on chatting with Shi’erniang: “Why are you called Shi’erniang? Do you have twelve sisters?”
Shi’erniang nodded: “I have six brothers as well!”
Li Da Miss’s eyes went wide: “So many — how do you manage to feed everyone?”
Shi’erniang pressed her lips together to hide her smile.
Li Da Miss seemed to suddenly remember something and exclaimed: “Then does that mean Yongping Marquis Madam is called Shi’yiniang?”
Both Zhen Jie’er and Fang Jie’er turned to look at her.
She could not help smiling in embarrassment and whispered to Shi’erniang: “Let us keep our voices down.”
Shi’erniang nodded.
Li Da Miss asked her: “Are you and she full sisters?”
“No.” Shi’erniang smiled. “My birth mother is ranked sixth among the concubines, and my sister’s birth mother is ranked fifth.”
Li Da Miss nodded, with an air of sudden comprehension: “I thought as much — how could anyone have so many full brothers and sisters.” Then she smiled: “My father has only my mother. I have two elder brothers. We are all full siblings.”
This time it was Shi’erniang who was surprised: “Your household has no concubines?”
“My father says he will only take a concubine if my mother cannot bear children,” Li Da Miss said, her back perfectly straight. “And my father also says our household does not keep chamber maids.”
A flash of envy crossed the depths of Shi’erniang’s eyes.
…
On the other side, Shi’yiniang was standing at the entrance to a small courtyard beside Dianchun Hall, speaking with the Fourth Young Madam of the Luo family.
“…I simply cannot seem to conceive. You know so many people, Eleventh Aunt-in-law — could you perhaps recommend an Imperial Physician who specializes in this area?”
Shi’yiniang agreed readily and comforted her: “You have not been married that long. There is no need to be anxious.”
“I am not anxious!” Luo Fourth Young Madam smiled bitterly. “But Fourth Brother… He says there were women in the household before who had conceived. As if it is entirely my fault.”
Shi’yiniang could not help breaking out in a cold sweat.
Luo Zhensheng truly said the most outrageous things.
“Fourth Brother has a childish temper. Fourth Sister-in-law, do not take it to heart.” She was comforting Luo Fourth Young Madam when she noticed the mamma in charge of receiving guests escorting Madam Qiao into Dianchun Hall.
Though an invitation had been sent, she had not expected her to come.
Luo Fourth Young Madam also saw that guests had arrived, and naturally could not keep Shi’yiniang talking here, so she smiled and they both returned to Dianchun Hall.
Shi’yiniang received Madam Qiao as though nothing had happened.
Madam Qiao likewise behaved as though nothing had happened — chatting pleasantly with Shi’yiniang, paying her respects to the Old Madam, and greeting everyone around her. She did not mention Qiao Lianfang’s name even once.
The Old Madam drew Shi’yiniang over and asked quietly: “Has Madam Gan not yet come?”
“Not yet.” She said quietly. “If she does not come today, I will send a mamma personally to invite her tomorrow.”
The Old Madam nodded.
Shi’yiniang noticed Lvyun standing sideways at the doorway, half concealed.
She walked over without any change in expression: “What is it?”
Lvyun said in a low voice: “A young manservant came from Madam Qian’s household to report that Madam Qian gave birth at the third quarter of the tiger hour this morning — a boy. The young master weighs five jin and eight liang, and both mother and child are well.”
“Fifth Sister has given birth?” Shi’yiniang was quite surprised. “Was it not said to be mid-fourth month?”
She then found a moment to tell the Luo First Young Madam.
The Luo First Young Madam’s brow first furrowed slightly.
The Luo Fourth Young Madam also looked a little worried.
Madam Gan arrived.
And not only she — Gan First Young Madam and Xian Jie’er came as well.
Shi’yiniang went forward smiling to greet them. She escorted Madam Gan to pay her respects to the Old Madam, arranged for Gan First Young Madam to be seated beside the Third Young Madam Huang, and asked Xian Jie’er in a low voice whether she would like to go to the Liufang Bower to play with Zhen Jie’er.
Knowing that Zhou Da Miss was also there, Xian Jie’er blushed and agreed — she had just been betrothed a couple of days prior to the eldest son of the Zhengnan Marquis Wang Family, and Zhou Da Miss and the Wang family’s eldest son were cousins.
Shi’yiniang had Hupo accompany Xian Jie’er to the Liufang Bower, while she herself took the tea offered by a young maid and personally served it to Gan First Young Madam.
One does not strike a smiling face, and besides, Gan First Young Madam was herself a forthright person.
She took the tea cup and smiled: “Fourth Madam need not stand on such ceremony. Children grow up and there is nothing we as parents can do about it.” She also rose and poured a cup of tea for Shi’yiniang. “Let us say no more about past matters.”
Shi’yiniang stood and received it with both hands, taking a small sip: “First Young Madam is truly magnanimous.”
Gan First Young Madam laughed outright: “What can one do about one’s own sister-in-law?”
And so the whole matter was smoothed over.
Shi’yiniang noticed Madam Gan smiling and giving a gentle nod from the side.
Thinking of how Madam Gan had always been protective of her, and of how readily Gan First Young Madam had agreed to let things go today — Shi’yiniang smiled and gave Madam Gan a small nod in return.
—