Тhe sedan сhаir was set dоwn in a small соurtуаrd раved with bluestоne bricks. A moon gatе frаmed bу whitewаshеd wаlls аnd graу tilеs lеd inwаrd, whеre mаgnolias, pоmеgranаtes, oleаnders, and сanna liliеs blооmеd in vibrаnt соmpetitiоn. Мaidsеrvаnts in dаrk blue vеsts bustled in аnd оut. Not far аwаy, in а side room with widе-open vеrmiliоn-lаcquеred doors, wоmеn gаtherеd in smаll сlustеrs—sоmе standing bеnеath thе cоvered сorridоr, оthеrs seаtеd аrоund round tables, сhatting and laughing. The аir was filled with chеerful noisе, a sсеne оf bustling prosperity.
A woman around thirty years old received them, beaming with hospitality as she led them through the moon gate. "Madam Yuan, this way, please!"
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had to enter the palace every New Year's Day to pay respects to the empress dowager and the empress. She had once hired a former palace maid to teach her etiquette. She knew that upon arriving in a new place, it was most improper to gaze around aimlessly, as it could either make one appear frivolous or give the impression of being inexperienced.
With her eyes fixed downward, she followed closely behind her sister.
Madam Mian breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
Passing through the moon gate, they walked along a bluestone path flanked by pomegranate trees, arriving at a three-bay-wide reception hall.
Unlike the previous courtyard, although the hall's doors were also wide open, only seven or eight women were seated inside. They spoke in soft, gentle tones, their golden hair ornaments and brocade robes occasionally catching the morning sunlight streaming into the hall, glinting so brightly it was almost blinding.
"Auntie, you've arrived," a young woman of striking beauty greeted Madam Yuan with a warm smile.
"Seventh Young Madam," Madam Yuan returned the greeting with a smile and introduced Madam Mian to the woman. "This is the eldest madam of the fourth branch... This is the wife of the seventh master, Gu Jincheng, from the eldest branch of the Gu family. She is a daughter of the Yu family from Pukou. She assists the elderly lady in managing the household affairs and is known for her cheerful, generous, and tactful nature. The sixteenth young lady of the Gu family, who is to be betrothed, is her younger sister."
"You flatter me, you flatter me. Every time you visit, you speak so highly of me..." Gu Seventh Young Madam smiled brightly like spring flowers, modestly demurring before curtsying to greet Madam Mian.
After returning the courtesy, Madam Mian replied with a reserved smile, "So Seventh Young Madam's maiden family is from Pukou. My maiden family is also from Pukou—the He family of Three-Eyed Bridge. I wonder if Seventh Young Madam has heard of them?"
"Oh! So your maiden name is He!" Gu Seventh Young Madam exclaimed with surprise and delight, warmly taking Madam Mian's hand. "How could I not have heard of them? The He family of Three-Eyed Bridge, the residence of a top scholar, is one of the most renowned families in Pukou. I never expected to meet you... I have a cousin who married into the He family—the fifth master of the third branch..."
"I know, I know," Madam Mian replied with a smile. "He is a nephew from a distant branch..."
The two exchanged pleasantries and quickly grew familiar.
Madam Yuan stood by, smiling.
Gu Seventh Young Madam playfully chided, "Auntie, you're still laughing! You knew my maiden family and Madam Mian's are both from Pukou, yet you didn't introduce us earlier. This is all your fault. When your niece offers you a toast later, you must not refuse!"
"Is this your way of trying to get me drunk?" Madam Yuan laughed. After the three exchanged a few more pleasantries, Gu Seventh Young Madam's gaze fell upon Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin.
Her eyes lit up with admiration as she asked, "And these are?"
"These are the two young ladies from the fourth branch, daughters of the Zhou family from Flat Bridge Street," Madam Yuan explained with a smile. "Lord Zhou is serving as an official elsewhere, so the two young ladies are temporarily staying with the Cheng family."The imperial examinations were held every three years, selecting three hundred scholars each session. In Jinling City, there were only a handful of households that had produced successful candidates, and they could be counted on one's fingers.
The Gu family were scholars, so as soon as Madam Yuan mentioned them, Seventh Madam Gu knew exactly who she was referring to.
With a warm smile, she took Zhou Chujin's hand and said, "I was wondering which family had such beautiful young ladies. So you are Lord Zhou's two daughters—what rare guests indeed!" As she spoke, she instructed the maidservant beside her, "Go and invite the Seventeenth Young Miss. Tell her the two young ladies from the Zhou family on Flat Bridge Street have come, and ask her to come keep them company."
"There's no need for such formality," Madam Yuan said with a smile. "How is Old Madam An's health? I last came to pay my respects to her during the New Year."
"Look at my memory!" Seventh Madam Gu exclaimed, patting her forehead with a laugh. "Old Madam An asked about you just this morning, Auntie... Let me accompany you over right away."
As she spoke, she beckoned a stewardess-like woman and gave her some quiet instructions.
After a moment's thought, Madam Yuan said to Madam Mian and the Zhou sisters, "You should come with me—she is the mother of Gu Meizhen, the current head of the Gu household. In terms of seniority, she is a generation above our own Old Madam. When you meet her later, just follow Eldest Young Master's lead and address her as 'Great-Grandmother'."
This last remark was specifically directed at Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin.
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin softly acknowledged with a "Yes."
Seventh Madam Gu returned and said cheerfully, "Shall we go?"
Madam Yuan nodded with a smile, and the group proceeded along a pathway to the west.
Passing through gardens and pavilions, they arrived at a secluded courtyard.
The people inside had clearly been informed in advance, as a matron was waiting for them at the entrance.
The matron greeted Madam Yuan familiarly, and Madam Yuan introduced her to the others: "...This is Old Madam An's most trusted attendant. Her husband's surname is Miao."
Madam Mian, Zhou Shaojin, and Zhou Chujin greeted her with smiles.
"You honor this old servant too much!" Matron Miao sidestepped modestly, exchanged a few polite words with them, and then led them into the courtyard.
The courtyard was not large but was exquisitely designed, with only middle-aged servants in attendance.
Old Madam An, her hair entirely white, sat spiritedly and affectionately on a luohan bed, happily accepting their greetings before having stools brought for them to sit.
Madam Yuan conveyed Old Madam Guo's regards on her behalf.
The old lady seemed somewhat displeased and said, "Why didn't she come herself? Sending you to pass on her words?"
Old Madam Guo was a widow, and since today was the engagement day of the Gu family's Sixteenth Young Miss, it was only natural for her to avoid attending.
But such a reason could not be stated outright to the old lady—when people grow old, they become like children, no longer bound by logic. Explaining it that way would only upset her.
"She had intended to come," Madam Yuan replied with a smile. "But just two days ago, the pavilion in Fourth Uncle's Algae Garden suddenly collapsed. Our Old Madam was terribly worried and went to Algae Garden first thing in the morning. As for the Sixteenth Young Miss's occasion, she had no choice but to miss it. When the Sixteenth Young Miss marries, our Old Madam and I will come early to add to her trousseau."
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback.
Was this really an appropriate excuse?
To say someone's pavilion had collapsed!
But what was this Algae Garden about anyway?
In great families, weren't there rules against owning private property?
Why did it seem like everyone knew about it and treated it as nothing out of the ordinary?She muttered to herself, but saw that the old lady not only looked relieved, but also appeared to take it for granted, repeatedly saying, "Then we must go see, we must go see." Then she asked with concern, "Is Si Lang alright?"
"He's fine, he's fine," Madam Yuan said repeatedly. "Fourth Uncle was in the mansion at the time!"
"That's good, that's good!" The old lady looked relieved upon hearing this and sighed, "None of you are as filial as Si Lang. He came to see me just a couple of days ago! He even brought me lotus seed cakes. Said they were tribute from the palace. They were delicious!"
Uncle Chi actually bought something to honor Old Lady Gu!
Zhou Shaojin thought of Cheng Chi's appearance and found it hard to believe.
So Uncle Chi and the Gu family were this close?
Why didn’t Gu Jiuniao save the Cheng family in her past life?
Perhaps Gu Jiuniao had tried to help the Cheng family, but just didn’t succeed.
She pondered this in her heart.
The old lady had already pointed at Mama Miao. Her lips moved for a long moment before she finally said, "That person, go pack a few pieces of the lotus seed cakes Si Lang gave me for them to taste."
It seemed she couldn’t remember how to address Mama Miao for a moment.
Mama Miao didn’t mind, smiling and agreeing before turning to go to the adjacent tea room.
The old lady said, "I’ve loved lotus seed cakes since I was little. But back then, my wet nurse was strict and wouldn’t let me eat too many. She said eating too much would make me fat, and being fat would make it hard to marry. After I married into the Gu family, as a great-granddaughter-in-law, I was afraid others would laugh at me for being greedy, so I still didn’t dare eat them... Later, when I became the mistress, everyone watched me, and I dared even less..."
Everyone listened to the old lady’s ramblings with smiles.
Mama Miao brought in the cakes.
Snow-white lotus seed paste was shaped like lotus flowers, with a red dot in the center. They looked quite ordinary.
The old lady urged them, "Quick, try them and see if they’re better than Qifangzhai’s—I think they’re better than Qifangzhai’s!"
Mama Miao signaled to the others and had a young maid bring in water.
They had just washed their hands and each taken a lotus seed cake. Before they could even taste them, the old lady eagerly asked, "Aren’t they delicious? Better than Qifangzhai’s!"
Everyone chimed in, saying they were better than Qifangzhai’s.
The old lady chuckled happily.
Everyone ate the lotus seed cakes.
They were indeed better than Qifangzhai’s—sweet but not cloying, fragrant but not overpowering.
After finishing her cake, Zhou Shaojin signaled for a maid to bring a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
The old lady suddenly pointed at her and said, "Who is this? She looks so familiar to me."
Zhou Shaojin’s heart skipped a beat.
Madam Yuan introduced her with a smile, "...the second young lady of the Zhou family from Flat Bridge Street."
"No, no!" The old lady shook her head, looking puzzled, and beckoned to Zhou Shaojin. "Come here, let me take a closer look."
Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly. She took a deep breath before walking over with a smile.
The old lady took her hand.
Her pale hand was full of wrinkles, yet warm and dry.
She looked Zhou Shaojin up and down, muttering, "That’s not right... why is she so young... she should be taller than Nineteenth Lady..."
Mama Miao hurriedly whispered to explain, "Nineteenth Lady was our old master’s youngest daughter... she passed away ten years ago. The old ancestor must have mistaken her for someone else..."
Zhou Shaojin was exceptionally beautiful—even if she were mistaken for someone else, that person must have been quite beautiful too... Was the Gu family’s Nineteenth Lady very pretty?
But why hadn’t she heard of her?Madam Yuan and Madam Mian were both silently pondering in their hearts.
Zhou Shaojin, however, had some understanding.
Many people said she resembled her mother.
Old Lady Gu had most likely mistaken her for her mother.
She glanced at Madam Mian.
Madam Mian looked somewhat confused.
She then glanced at her sister.
Zhou Chujin was watching her nervously.
Zhou Shaojin’s uneasy heart settled down.
She smiled and said, "Great-grandmother probably mistook me for my mother—my maternal grandfather and the twelfth master of the Gu family were close friends. It is said that before my mother married, my grandfather brought her to stay at the Gu residence for some time. She must have come to pay her respects to Great-grandmother then..."
Madam Gu the Seventh and Madam Yuan, among others, still looked bewildered.
But Mama Miao exclaimed softly and laughed, "I was just thinking she looked so familiar! At first, I thought all beauties look alike, but I never imagined Second Miss is the granddaughter of Old Master Zhuang! The eldest daughter of the Zhuang family was also a woman of extraordinary talent and beauty. We simply didn’t think of it."
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o(n_n)o haha
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