Chapter 31: The Guest (Part 1)

  After leaving Yuan Niang's place, they got back into the same green silk sedan chair and headed west for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Then they turned left onto a narrow alleyway, exited the alleyway and turned left again, stopping in front of a brightly lit gate.

  Grey tile roof, clear water wall, black lacquer gate, outside the gate there is a eight-character wall shadow, on the left side carved with a "rich" character, on the right side carved with a "longevity" character, both as tall as a person. In front of the gate, five-level stone green platform, carved into a pattern of five blessings and longevity flowers. Two little maids without leaving their heads are playing on the platform, seeing the carriage stop, one slips away quickly, the other comes forward to pay respects.

  Fourth Brother shouted at the little maid "Xiao Qi".

  It's clear that he is familiar with everyone in Madame's courtyard.

  Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, and Mrs. Xu took out a few coins from her sleeve to reward the little maid. The little maid thanked her for the reward, and then several maids dressed in dark green jackets escorted a maid dressed in light yellow jacket out.

  "Madam, I am Wei Zi, serving under the mistress." The maid in yellow jacket with white trimming made a curtsy to the madams and then smiled as she curtsied to Rong'er: "Young Master Rong, are you accompanying your grandmother to visit the mistress?"

  Brother smiled shyly.

  Mrs. Xu took out her purse and gave everyone a reward, Wei Zi and others thanked her politely for the reward, and they all entered the house.

  Right in front is a strange and rugged artificial hill, with covered corridors on both sides.

  On the artificial hill, wisteria is entwined or sways like a green ribbon, and at the foot of the hill, the grass and trees are lush, dotted with small yellow, red, or blue flowers. Although it has a wild charm, it is a scene of spring warmth and blooming flowers.

  The eleventh girl was shocked, and upon closer inspection, she discovered that among the grasses and trees, faintly visible were dark red large square ceramic tiles, crisscrossing like a chessboard - it turned out that these grasses and trees weren't growing in the ground, but rather were planted in individual square ceramic pots.

  It should have been cultivated in a greenhouse and then moved over.

  She thought to herself as she followed the mistress with a smile from the right corridor to the hall.

  The hall has three bays, with a four-panel purple sandalwood screen in the center, featuring a painting of pine and crane welcoming guests. Passing by the screen, there are corridors on both sides, and in the center, a small three-bay hall.

  Yao Huang then smiled and said: "You mothers have worked hard, follow me to drink a cup of tea!"

  It's better for people who don't matter to just leave them in the past.

  Mrs. Xu gave a hint to Ziwei, Huopo and others, smiled and said: "Thanks to Miss Yao Huang." Then she took them with Yao Huang from the small hall next to the corner door to the back of the house, Yun Ge was held by the wet nurse, Mrs. Dai, Wu Niang, Shiyi Niang, Wen Yiniang and two maidservants who followed Yun Ge, together with Wei Zi through the small hall, arrived at the main courtyard behind the house.

  The upper house has five rooms, with black lacquered pillars reaching the ground, large glass windows, snow-white silk curtains, and stone-green western-style flower-patterned window screens. On both sides are colorful parrot paintings of birds such as the eyebrow bird. In the center of the courtyard is a path paved with dark green flagstones in the shape of a cross. In the northwest corner stand two giant trees that stretch up to the sky, their branches and leaves forming an umbrella-like canopy over the roof. In the northeast corner stands a tree as tall as a person, without leaves or flowers, its brown branches twisted and knotted. In the southeast corner is a flower rack, covered in green wisteria vines, with stone tables and stools placed below, exuding a refreshing and rustic atmosphere that hits you right in the face.

  The maid who had received the message stood at the front of the steps, saw them coming, some helped to roll up the curtains, and others went inside to report: "Young Master Yun is accompanying his aunt here."

  They entered the house, a large group of women dressed in red and green surrounded a tall and slender woman who walked in.

  "Mother!"

  The eleventh girl knew that this was Yuan Niang's mother-in-law, the lady of Yongping Hou Fu, and couldn't help but take a closer look.

  The elder lady looked two or three years younger than the elder madam, wearing a stone-blue jacket with golden embroidery and a yellow skirt. Her black hair was combed into a bun, with only two coral green agate wax flowers on her temples. Her skin was fair, her figure slightly plump, and her round face had a pair of extremely gentle eyes.

  She smiled at her brother and then took a few steps forward to give the lady a courtesy: "Sister, please move over, I'm really sorry."

  Mrs. Yu bowed to Madame Wang, who also bowed back to her: "Sister, you're embarrassing me by saying so." Then she introduced Fifth Daughter and Eleventh Daughter to Madame Wang: "These are my two useless daughters. The older one is Fifth Daughter, the younger one is Eleventh Daughter."

  The Fifth Daughter and the Eleventh Daughter hurried forward to pay their respects to Madame Zhao.

  The old lady smiled and carefully examined the two: "Like a bright pearl in the morning dew, they are indeed two beautiful young ladies."

  "Too kind of you, madam." The lady replied modestly.

  The old lady then introduced to the madam a woman in her forties wearing a deep purple jacket with embroidered cloud and crane patterns: "This is Madame Qiao of the Duke of Chengguo's estate."

  The two exchanged greetings.

  The old lady pointed to a bright-eyed and white-toothed little girl beside Mrs. Qiao: "This is the sixth miss of the Cheng Guo Gong Fu."

  The big wife smiled and nodded at the little girl, politely calling out "Miss Qiao".

  Miss Qiao curtsied to Madame Wang and also exchanged greetings with Fifth Sister-in-law and Eleventh Sister-in-law.

  "Mrs. Qiao pointed at Wen Niang and said: 'This is...'"

  The old lady smiled and said: "It's Fourth Son's little star."

  The wet nurse hurried forward to pay her respects to Mrs. Qiao, who smiled and nodded in approval, rewarding her with a purse and saying, "The young master is truly blessed. Just look at the wet nurse's appearance - small and delicate, she's really lovable!"

  The old lady smiled and invited Mrs. Lian and Madam Qiao to the western wing for a casual gathering. The old lady and Mrs. Lian sat down on the kang by the window, with a small maid placing a taishi chair at the foot of the old lady for Madam Qiao to sit on, and bringing in embroidered stools for Miss Qiao and Wu Niang, Shi Yi Niang, and Wen Yiniang to sit on.

  Rong'er greeted the two madams. Madam Qiao then took Rong'er in her arms, examined him carefully and praised him lavishly. Not only did she give him a purse of money, but also handed him over to Miss Qiao, telling her to take the child to Madam Wang.

  It's unclear whether it was the purse that Mrs. Qiao gave him or the fact that he would soon be back in his grandmother's arms, but Tongge struggled a bit in Mrs. Qiao's arms, and when Miss Qiao held him, he didn't move at all.

  Mrs. Qiao smiled and said: "It seems that Brother Jun has a predestined relationship with our family's Sixth Sister."

  Old Lady didn't say anything, just smiled and patted Yun Ge's head, instructing Wei Zi: "Take Yun Ge to the warm pavilion to play!"

  Wei Zi responded by hugging Jun Ge, and Wen Niang stood up with a smile: "Madam, I'll go keep Jun Ge company!"

  The old lady smiled and looked at her, saying: "Be careful then, don't bump the child!

  Mrs. Qiao suddenly interrupted, "Why don't you go keep Rong Ge company too, Sixth Sister?" She then said to the old lady, "Our family's Sixth Sister loves children, and whenever our nephews and nieces see her, they make a fuss wanting her to play with them."

  Miss Qiao's face turned slightly red, and she whispered: "Auntie... you're really something..."?

  The old lady smiled and said: "Sixth Miss is a guest! How can we trouble her?"

  "You are the elder, she is younger, just order her around, what's with this 'labor' nonsense!" With an air of insisting that Miss Qiao accompany Brother Yun to the warm pavilion.

  Old Mrs. Tao smiled and said, "Why don't Miss Qiao help me keep the two young ladies company? We older folks can chat together, and it'll be less boring for them!"

  Miss Qiao immediately stood up and responded with a "yes", then moved the quilt to sit together with Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang. The old lady began to chat with Da Tai Tai about their journey, when they set off from Yuhang, when they arrived at certain places, and what time they arrived at Tongzhou...

  She was sitting with Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang, but when the adults were talking, no one could interrupt, and Qiao also just sat next to Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang.

  A maid came in and reported: "Madam, Lin Bo has come to say that the Emperor has kept the Duke for a conversation, and it's likely that he will return late today. Please let the family's madam know, and tomorrow when you are free, go to the mansion to pay your respects."

  "This child doesn't even know what he's busy with!" Madame Tai heard this and sighed, turning to face Madame Dai, "Please don't blame our family's madame."

  Madam Chao smiled and said: "His Excellency is a pillar of the state, he should naturally put state affairs first. How could your aunt blame him?"

  The old lady smiled apologetically at the first wife and said, "The Prince of Cheng's mansion and our family have been friends for generations." It seemed as if she was explaining to the first wife why Mrs. Qiao was so enthusiastic.

  "That's right." Madam Qiao laughed and said, "When our Guo Gongye entered the Imperial Guard Tiger Guards Battalion, Old Marquis was leading the team. Our Guo Gongye was a guard, following behind Old Marquis every day. At that time, we hadn't gotten married yet, and he wouldn't go back home, but instead followed Old Marquis to your sister's place to eat...". She chuckled, "Later when we got married, he always said the smoked venison at your sister's house was delicious, and even sent someone to ask your sister for a piece. Does your sister still remember?"

  "Remember." The old lady smiled faintly, and was not as enthusiastic as Mrs. Qiao.

  "Later, Old Master Hou passed away and our Guo Gongye was dispatched to the northwest. My sister closed her doors to visitors, so we came even less often..."

  The lady however sensed something was amiss.

  As old friends, why would they become less frequent in their visits just because the husband was sent to the northwest? Moreover, a month before Old Master Hou's passing, Xu Lian, the eldest son of the Xu family who had been entrusted with great expectations, also passed away. The Dowager Lady and Xu Lian's widow, Item, were both unable to withstand this blow and fell ill. Suddenly, the daughter took over the household chores, while Third Madam Gan of the Xu family was not only unhelpful but also pregnant at the time, so much so that she couldn't even be relied upon to attend to her mother-in-law's bedside care. She had specifically invited the Dowager Lady's sister to come and keep her company for over half a year.

  She thought of these things and looked at Madame Wang.

  The second lady felt the gaze of the first lady and turned her face towards her with a helpless smile.

  The lady suddenly understood.

  That year, something else happened.

  In the 46th year of Jianwu, the "Wu Zhen case" implicated several adult princes. After the death of the empress and the crown prince, the previous emperor did not establish a new empress or heir. That year, someone submitted a memorial suggesting that the tenth prince, born to Concubine Ye, be established as the heir apparent. The emperor was enraged and ordered Grand Secretary Li Qing to investigate the matter——it was only later discovered that Li Qing had a good relationship with the ninth prince and took the opportunity to attack the other princes. At the time, however, the Xu family, as the in-laws of the seventh prince, were implicated. If not for the protection of their father-in-law, the old marquis would have died, and it's likely that the matter wouldn't have been so easily resolved.

  She was then in Yuhang serving her sick mother-in-law and could not come to Yanjing, the news was blocked, she was anxious in her heart, and she had also complained that her father should not have promised her daughter to the Xu family...

  If Qiao's family and Xue's family were not in contact at that time, it means that Qiao's family was supporting other princes at that time!

  The lady couldn't help but smile coldly in her heart.

  Now I know that I misjudged the person at first and came to fawn on them. Haven't they ever heard of "it's easy to add flowers to brocade, but it's hard to send charcoal in snowy weather"?

  The eleventh girl also saw some problems.

  Mrs. Qiao, although she looks open-minded and generous, but in her actions and words, she is too flattering to the old lady, is there something she wants?

  She had a sudden thought and her eyes fell on Miss Qiao's body.