That afternoon, Minglan's married aunt, Sheng Yun, and her cousin Shulan also returned to their maternal home to pay respects to Old Mrs. Sheng. Li Shi hurriedly instructed the maids to summon the two girls who were playing in Pinlan's room. Pinlan's elder sister had married early, her elder brother had married young, and her second brother Changwu had gone to the capital, leaving her with no one to play with on ordinary days. She could only devote herself to studying the Nine Interlocking Rings. Minglan had never practiced this before and, finding herself outmatched, gracefully admitted defeat. Pinlan was extremely proud, chattering incessantly about the tricks to solving the Nine Interlocking Rings while having her maid adjust her skirt, hairpins, and accessories.
Danju took out a large gold-wire pearl hairpin shaped like a phoenix holding a ruby from the mother-of-pearl jewelry box. Minglan gritted her teeth and endured it, feeling as if her neck had shortened by three inches. Meanwhile, a senior maid was hurriedly inserting a gem-inlaid butterfly and flower hairpin with heavy pearls into Pinlan's hair. Pinlan stiffened her face and pushed it away, exclaiming, "I won't wear that thing! Last time I wore it for just half a morning, my neck hurt for three days!"
The maid coaxed her gently, "My dear young lady, please wear it properly. If it were only the aunt and eldest sister visiting, we wouldn't force you. But Miss Hui and Third Madam are also coming. Look, Miss Ming is wearing hers, and hers looks even heavier than ours."
Pinlan looked up at Minglan's slightly trembling large pearl hairpin and felt somewhat balanced. Pouting, she allowed the maid to put it on.
Walking slowly toward the main room, they turned a corner along the covered corridor. A maid waiting by the door lifted the curtain and announced, "Second Young Lady and Miss Ming have arrived." Minglan followed Pinlan into the room. Seated in the center were Old Mrs. Sheng and Da Lao Taitai. Madam Li Shi sat on a stool, while Wen Shi stood arranging tea and snacks. They were all chatting and laughing with several elegantly dressed women.
A woman in her forties, with slightly dark skin but lively eyes that belied her age, had been leaning close to Old Mrs. Sheng, whispering jokes. When she saw an unfamiliar girl accompanying Pinlan, she immediately stood up, took Minglan's hand, and examined her closely from head to toe. The girl's skin was like frozen snow, her gaze clear and serene, with faint, grain-sized dimples appearing at the corners of her rosy lips. The woman's eyes lit up, and she turned back with a laugh, saying, "Aunt, this must be my niece Minglan! Oh my, look at this little face—prettier than a painting! They say nieces take after their aunts, and indeed, she's the spitting image of me!"
Da Lao Taitai pointed at her and laughed, "You shameless thing! Are you praising Minglan or patting yourself on the back? With your looks, even if you were reborn ten times, you wouldn't get such fine skin!" The woman actually stamped her foot coquettishly and said, "Mother! I'm trying to bring you honor. Since I look like you, praising myself means praising you too! And here you are, undermining me!"
Da Lao Taitai shook her head helplessly, and Old Mrs. Sheng was also amused, nodding as she said, "Yun girl is truly filial!" Everyone in the room burst into laughter, and the maids and wives covered their mouths to hide their smiles.
Da Lao Taitai pointed to the woman and said to Minglan, "This is your Aunt Yun." Then she pointed to a sharp-browed, slender-eyed woman sitting on a lower stool and said, "This is your aunt from San Lao Taiye's family." Finally, she indicated a young woman standing nearby and a girl with her head bowed, saying, "This is your elder sister Shulan, and this is your cousin Huilan from the third branch."Minglan immediately stepped forward gracefully, curtsying and greeting each in turn. Everyone in the room noticed how precise and proper her gestures were—from her shoulders to her waist, knees, and the arch of her feet—all executed with a gentle elegance and natural poise. When Da Lao Taitai took her hand to chat briefly, they observed her dignified composure, respectful yet warm demeanor, and found her quite endearing.
Sheng Yun, being the most straightforward, pulled Minglan close for a detailed conversation, asking about her food preferences and whether she was settling in comfortably. As they spoke, she retrieved a weighty crimson purse embroidered with gold thread from her bosom and handed it to Minglan: "Our Minglan is so lovely! Later, your aunt will send you some fine cloud-patterned brocade and Japanese satin to make new dresses!"
Pinlan, cheerful by nature, showed no jealousy at Minglan’s popularity and only feigned annoyance: "Aunt, you’re so biased! Now that you’ve found a better sister than me, you’ve forgotten all about me." Sheng Yun tapped Pinlan’s forehead playfully and scolded with a laugh: "You ungrateful girl! Haven’t you taken plenty from your aunt over the years?"
While the room buzzed with conversation, Third Madam sat ignored, sipping tea alone. Suddenly, she interjected: "Niece Pinlan, you should be content. Though both are nieces, your sister Huilan hasn’t received a single thing."
Minglan glanced discreetly at Huilan, who flushed red and kept her head lowered. Observing Third Madam, her clothes appeared luxurious at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the cuffs and edges showed signs of wear and repair.
Sheng Yun ignored her, remarking lightly: "Aunt treated us siblings with great kindness, so Minglan is naturally special." Snubbed, Third Madam shot a fierce glare at Huilan and vented indirectly: "You useless girl! If you had half the charm of your cousin Minglan, you’d have received some valuables from your aunt by now! After calling her ‘aunt’ all these years, you haven’t gained a single coin!"
Sheng Yun retorted immediately: "Sister-in-law Zhou, I don’t understand your meaning. Are you suggesting your children only call me ‘aunt’ to scheme for my belongings?"
Third Madam raised her eyebrows sharply: "Oh, I wouldn’t dare! It’s just that people outside say the Sheng family’s main and second branches have mountains of gold and silver to spare, yet they watch their own brothers and uncles sink into poverty without lifting a finger! They donate rice and porridge to strangers daily, all for a false reputation of generosity—what a hollow performance!"
Hearing her father insulted, Pinlan exclaimed loudly: "My father sent several cartloads of firewood and rice to Third Aunt’s household just the other day, and silver is provided monthly without fail. Is that just for show?"
Madam Li, the eldest lady, spoke sternly: "Pinlan, mind your manners! Step back at once!"
The room tensed with unspoken conflict.
Minglan inwardly gasped, keeping her head bowed to hide her astonishment: In the past, arguments among her sisters or the veiled clashes between Madam Wang and Consort Lin had occurred, but never had things escalated to such open hostility. Sneaking a glance around, she noticed everyone—including Old Madam Sheng—remained composed, as if this were commonplace.
Da Lao Taitai snorted coldly: "Daughter-in-law Zhou, are you here to pay respects to your second aunt or to pick a fight? Carrying on like this before your elders—aren’t you afraid the younger generation will laugh at you?"
Third Madam’s face flushed crimson. She sat down without another word, gulping tea and devouring snacks aggressively.Minglan turned her head to see Pinlan looking smug and challenging Huilan, while Shulan seemed rather sympathetic and pulled Huilan away to talk, easing the awkwardness in the room. Just then, a maid entered and announced, "Madam Li, the maternal aunt, has arrived."
Da Lao Taitai promptly said, "Quickly invite her in." The maid lifted the curtain, and in came a plump woman adorned with pearls and jade, who respectfully bowed to Da Lao Taitai and Old Mrs. Sheng upon seeing them. She smiled and said, "I've come to impose, Old Madam, please don't mind. I often hear my sister-in-law speak of your kindness and affection, so today I've mustered the courage to pay my respects."
Old Mrs. Sheng replied with a smile, "Madam, you're too modest. We're all family here, no need for formalities. At my age, I enjoy liveliness, and I'm delighted you could visit... Minglan, come greet Madam."
Minglan stepped forward and bowed respectfully, hesitating over how to address her. Madam Zhu quickly interjected, "You may call me 'Aunt' like Pinlan does." Minglan glanced at Old Mrs. Sheng, who gave a slight nod, so she obediently said, "Greetings, Aunt."
Madam Zhu's eyes crinkled into slits as she smiled. "What a lovely girl. Old Madam, you are truly blessed." She then took a lotus-colored pouch from her maid and pressed it into Minglan's hand. Minglan looked down and saw that the pouch was exquisitely embroidered with pearls and adorned with jewels, dazzlingly splendid. Even without considering its contents, the pouch itself was clearly of great value.
Everyone sat down to chat. Madam Zhu, as usual, paid no attention to Third Madam, speaking only with Old Mrs. Sheng and the others. They talked about everything from Jinling to the capital, from household matters to their children. Minglan never underestimated such idle gossip and flattery among the women of the inner household, listening carefully. She learned that in the early years, Old Master Li had built his fortune alongside Old Master Sheng. Initially, the Li family was not as prosperous as the Sheng family, but their sons were raised well (without introducing outside genes and sticking with the rural wife from his youth). Through three generations of diligent management, the family had thrived and become one of the top households in Youyang County.
Third Madam tried several times to interject but failed. After a while, Da Lao Taitai suddenly said to Sheng Yun, "Where is Taisheng? Didn't he come with you today?" Sheng Yun smiled and replied, "Wu Ge'er has returned from the capital, a rare occasion, and my silly boy just wouldn't stop talking. Oh, Madam, did you come alone today?" Madam Zhu answered with a smile, "Yu Ge'er and Du Ge'er came with me, they're outside."
Da Lao Taitai laughed. "They're all family, quickly invite them in."
She then instructed the maid to summon them. The curtain was lifted, and three boys of similar age entered, bowing in unison to Old Mrs. Sheng. Da Lao Taitai pointed to the first boy, who had smiling eyes, red lips, and white teeth, and said, "This is Madam's second son, Yu Ge'er." Then she pointed to the shy boy on the left and said, "This is the Li family's third son, Du Ge'er." Finally, she indicated a boy with slightly dark skin, sturdy and robust, and said, "This is my daughter's son, Taisheng."
The three boys each had their own charm, filling the room with vibrant energy. Except for Minglan, everyone else was already acquainted, so Minglan had to step forward and bow to each, addressing them all as 'cousin' following Pinlan's example.
Madam Zhu said to Minglan with a smile, "You also have an eldest cousin who is away on business. Your eldest cousin's wife is an excellent person—you must come visit our home sometime."Old Mrs. Sheng praised: "Madam Zhu, you are truly blessed. Both your sons are so handsome and scholarly, truly fine young talents." Madam Zhu smiled: "These two little troublemakers are quite unruly. You flatter them too much, Old Madam."
Old Mrs. Sheng took the two Li family boys by the hand and inquired in detail about their studies. Learning that the elder had already passed the imperial examination at the county level and the younger was also a stipendiary scholar, she was even more pleased: "Excellent, excellent. Diligence and progress are what truly matter." Madam Zhu smiled: "They are nothing special. I've heard that your eldest grandson passed all three levels of imperial examinations - county, provincial, and palace - on his first attempt each time. Now he's been appointed as a Hanlin Academy bachelor. That's truly the destiny of a literary star descended from heaven!"
Old Mrs. Sheng turned and glared at Da Lao Taitai: "It must be you, old sister-in-law, spreading this everywhere. Such praise might spoil the child." Da Lao Taitai laughed: "When there's something good, it should be praised. When these two boys go to the capital for examinations later, you just look after them properly."
Old Mrs. Sheng said: "That goes without saying. Sister-in-law Wei's nephews are like our own children. Madam Zhu, when your sons come to the capital, they shall stay with me. There are two other young men preparing for examinations in my household - they can keep each other company."
Madam Zhu had been waiting for these very words and immediately smiled: "Then we truly thank you, Old Madam. Yu'er, Du'er, why haven't you kowtowed to express your gratitude?"
Li Yu and Li Du immediately bowed again, while Madam Zhu thanked her repeatedly.
Pinlan leaned close to Minglan's ear and whispered: "It's just staying with relatives. Why all this gratitude?"
Minglan smiled wryly - this young lady certainly dared to speak her mind - and only replied: "Our family has many books.The truth was that succeeding in imperial examinations required much more than just hard work. There were numerous intricacies involved: first, one needed to understand the chief and deputy examiners' preferences in writing style, political views, even favored calligraphy styles. Then there were current court political trends to consider - avoiding taboo subjects and factional conflicts. Finally, one needed to make friends and pay respects to teachers, becoming familiar among scholarly circles.
Although examination papers were anonymized, chief examiners could generally recognize their familiar candidates' writing styles and composition patterns. This wasn't for cheating purposes, but unless the performance was particularly poor, it could lead to slightly higher evaluations. With an official family like the Sheng's providing introductions and connections, Li Yu and Li Du could achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Minglan thought to herself... a candidate who doesn't want to pass isn't a good candidate, but an examination hall without connections is the ideal examination hall.
Just then, Pinlan went over to speak with Hu Taisheng. Their laughter grew somewhat loud. Sheng Yun turned to look and frowned slightly before nestling close to Old Mrs. Sheng with a smile: "My Taisheng isn't cut out for scholarly pursuits. Does Auntie disapprove?"
Old Mrs. Sheng seemed quite fond of this mischievous niece and scolded affectionately: "You little rascal! How many times did I try to teach you reading and writing when you were young? You studied fitfully, skipping more days than you attended, and couldn't even memorize the Three Character Classic! And you dare speak of this? Taisheng takes after you! Taisheng, come here." She took Taisheng's hand and smiled: "Good child, there are paths to success in every profession for men. I often hear your uncle praise you, saying you're diligent and honest, sincere in your work, and very capable in managing family affairs. Hearing this makes me so happy for your mother!"
Hu Taisheng only smiled with simple honesty. Pinlan came over and laughed: "Cousin, my Ming sister is new here. Did you bring anything special?" Taisheng answered honestly: "Some Western pastries from across the sea, for the sisters to try something novel."Third Wife, unable to bear the silence any longer, finally spoke up after holding back for a long time: "I've never tasted Western pastries in my life, and I hear they're extremely sweet. Bring some back for your Third Uncle to try as well; nephew, don't learn from those who look down on your Third Uncle's family!" Huilan also laughed and said, "Look at what Mother is saying. Cousin Taisheng is the most kind-hearted—how could he favor one over the other and look down on our family?" Huilan's tone was intimate, her dewy eyes turning toward Taisheng, whose ears flushed bright red as he stood with his head bowed, refusing to speak no matter what.
The rest of the people in the room pretended not to notice, but Pinlan was furious and wanted to charge over again. Minglan sighed inwardly. She had intended to grab Pinlan's sleeve, but after estimating the difference in strength between her cousin and herself, she decided to change tactics.
With a nimble turn, Minglan unobtrusively positioned herself in front of Pinlan. She hadn't yet thought of an excuse, but with the situation urgent, she said what she thought was a clever line: "Pinlan sister, could you explain to me again how to solve the Nine Interlocking Rings? It's been stuck in my mind, and it's itching at my heart."
Pinlan was indeed stopped, turning her head in surprise: "Huh? Didn't I just explain it to you step by step? How come you've forgotten already in such a short time?" Her voice was a bit loud, and several boys standing nearby glanced over, especially the youngest Li Yu, whose expression faintly spelled out "she's so dumb." Minglan's face burned with embarrassment, and she cursed inwardly.
Li Yu chuckled softly, glanced at Minglan with a smile, and said, "Something as profound as the Nine Interlocking Rings can only be grasped quickly by someone as clever as Sister Pinlan. For us slower ones, it naturally takes more explanations." Hu Taisheng, being the most honest, chimed in repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I still can't figure it out either."
Pinlan was quite pleased by this: "Cousin is right." She turned back and patiently explained the trick to solving the Nine Interlocking Rings to Minglan once more.
Minglan felt rather rueful: Profound, my foot! But at least the goal was achieved, wasn't it?
Minglan listened with a smile, nodding in agreement repeatedly. As she casually turned her head, she suddenly caught sight of Old Mrs. Sheng seated at the head of the room. She was chatting with the other women, smiling continuously. Minglan was slightly stunned, feeling that her grandmother's smile seemed somewhat familiar at that moment... Ah, that's right—it was the same smile her grandmother had worn when coaxing her to pierce her ears with a hard-boiled egg back in her childhood.
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