CHAPTER 417: CHAPTER 419: SECOND MADAM (PART 1)

Fourth Master Xiao pondered for a moment without speaking, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "I notice that others wear new jewelry for the New Year. Why haven’t I seen you wearing new jewelry?" Xiqiu laughed, "Since when did Fourth Master start paying attention to such things? I’m newly married, and there are many pieces I haven’t had the chance to wear yet. Moreover, Mother gave me many pieces some time ago. I looked them over, and they are all of the latest styles. I plan to save them for the New Year."

"What Mother gave is Mother’s." Fourth Master Xiao said with a thoughtful expression.

Xiqiu raised her eyebrows without thinking much about it and continued to lower her head to embroider.

After lunch, Fourth Master Xiao left the mansion alone, and after Xiqiu took a nap, she went with Chunliu and Bihuai to visit the Second Madam.

"Second Sister-in-law."

When Xiqiu entered, the Second Madam was in the large hall in front of the courtyard, with a row of more than a dozen women standing below, seemingly reporting on matters. Seeing Xiqiu enter, the Second Madam smiled and waved her over, "Here comes my Fourth Sister-in-law."

The Second Madam was wearing a crimson wide-sleeved overcoat with silver-edged embroidery today, with a Red Jade Bead Phoenix Head Gold Hairpin and a gold filigree with red gemstone double phoenix hairpin adorning her head. She sat elegantly and dignifiedly at the top, and Xiqiu paid her respects, smiling, "I meant to come earlier, but the upstairs matters delayed me a bit in the morning. I hope Second Sister-in-law won’t mind."

The Second Madam dismissed it with a wave and had a maid bring a Rose chair to her side, smiling as she said, "It’s natural that my Fourth Sister-in-law handles her affairs well. No need for formalities between sister-in-laws."

Xiqiu sat down next to the Second Madam, and a maid came up with tea. Xiqiu smiled as she accepted it, her gaze sweeping over the women standing below. The first few were quite elderly with dignified attire, likely stewards of various parts of the inner courtyard. The ones in the back varied in age, with a few looking young, likely wives within the mansion.

She turned her gaze back to her tea, and the Second Madam softly said, "My Fourth Sister-in-law, please sit for a while."

Xiqiu nodded with a smile.

The Second Madam conducted affairs with efficiency, her instructions to the women were clear and focused. Watching her, Xiqiu suddenly thought of Wang Xifeng from the "Dream of the Red Chamber," a stark contrast to the usual gentle demeanor she presented to others.

Xiqiu sat for about half an hour. By then, the Second Madam had organized all activities for the day in the mansion, both inside and out. Each woman received her task and departed. The Second Madam then turned back to Xiqiu, apologizing, "Sorry to have kept you waiting, Sister-in-law!"

Xiqiu shook her head with a smile, "I didn’t have any pressing matters. It’s fine to sit for a while."

The Second Madam nodded with a smile, stood up, and took Xiqiu’s hand, "Let’s go to the room to talk." Xiqiu did not refuse and followed the Second Madam back to the main chamber.

The courtyard was planted with some crabapple and apricot trees, with large red lanterns hanging under the eaves. On both sides of the courtyard were side rooms, and behind were a few courtyard houses where Xiao Yanyi’s sole concubine, Teng Qiuniang, currently lived.

The Second Madam led Xiqiu inside, turning into the left side of the Warm Pavilion, where Xiqiu saw a variety of ornamental stones displayed on a treasure cabinet in the corner. She was taken aback, thinking that Tong Xihua’s things had been left intact elsewhere, but instead found that only the stones, beloved by Xiao Yanyi, had been moved here, while the rest were newly acquired.

The furniture was uniformly black lacquer, and on the windowsill by the bed was a Zitan wood carving of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and a jade carving of King Wen’s tripod. The bed was covered with a scarlet rabbit fur rug, and there was an intricately partitioned enamel fruit tray with an assortment of dried fruits and candies on the small table by the bed.

"Please, sit, Fourth Sister-in-law." The Second Madam smiled, taking the main seat on the bed and smiling at Xiqiu.

Xiqiu moved her gaze from the treasure cabinet and sat down on the Second Madam’s right side. The Second Madam said, "It’s only a few days until the New Year. It’s a burden to have you getting involved so soon after joining the family. I truly feel guilty."

"You’re too kind, Second Sister-in-law," Xiqiu said with a smile, "I don’t have much skill, and I’m not sure I can be of help to you." Her words were sincere, without any hint of artifice, and the Second Madam’s gaze flickered as she smiled, "There’s not much to it. The mansion has been in mourning these past two years, so we haven’t done anything grand. However, it’s both mother’s fiftieth birthday and your first New Year as a married couple next year. I thought that even if we don’t celebrate loudly, it shouldn’t be too quiet either."

She paused before continuing, "I’ve had several dozen silver trees purchased for decorating the courtyard. I can’t spare time to do it myself and don’t trust others to do it, so I wanted to ask you, Fourth Sister-in-law..."

Silver trees, Xiqiu had heard of them. In recent years, it had become popular to use them as festival decorations. They were called trees but were not entirely so; made from bamboo strips into hollow trunks, layered inside, and covered with papers or silk in different colors. At night, candles were lit in the layers to display a dazzling array of colors, like enormous lanterns or streetlights, creating a brilliant spectacle when viewed from afar.

"What a thoughtful idea, Second Sister-in-law. Using silver trees to decorate will make the courtyard sparkle beautifully," Xiqiu smiled, "but if not arranged properly, they might just be a waste of effort if they don’t enhance the decoration..." She appeared somewhat unsure.

"Just do as you see fit, Fourth Sister-in-law," the Second Madam replied reassuringly, "It’s not such a big deal. It’s just for the New Year, after all."

After saying this, the maid beside her brought tea. The Second Madam glanced at the tea cups on the tray and frowned with displeasure, "Why have you brought these cups? Quickly, change them for my set with the colored glass."

"Yes!" The maid nodded quickly and left to exchange them.

The Second Madam turned back to Xiqiu with a smile, "I heard that you like Dragon Well tea, and it pairs best with colored glass cups for the ideal taste."

Xiqiu was taken aback!

She smiled back, "Although I do enjoy Dragon Well, I’m not as particular as you, Second Sister-in-law." The Second Madam laughed, covering her mouth, "The Empress Dowager loves tea very much, and I’ve been influenced by her since childhood, so I pay special attention to such things..."

Xiqiu nodded in agreement but felt that the Second Madam’s attention to detail was almost excessively perfect.

After a few more exchanges, Xiqiu stood up, smiling as she said, "I should head back. I’ll have Chunliu come over later for the materials..." The Second Madam also stood smiling, "Let me see you out, Sister-in-law."

"No need." Xiqiu waved a hand, "You have lots to do, Second Sister-in-law. I can find my way out." With that, she and Biwu and Bihuai exited.

The Second Madam stood smiling at the doorway, "Walk safely, Sister-in-law!" After speaking, she returned inside.

After leaving the courtyard, Bihuai asked Xiqiu, "Madam, how should we arrange the silver trees? Is it troublesome?" Xiqiu nodded slightly, frowning, "It will take some thought." Otherwise, the Second Madam wouldn’t have asked her to help with it.

Bihuai sighed and was about to speak when they encountered a woman coming towards them. Dressed in a peach-colored vest with a double-gold brocade, a spring green jacket underneath, with several dotted-jade hairpins on her head, she looked fresh and elegant. Her petite and delicate frame was softly vulnerable and deeply attractive. As Bihuai’s eyes lit up with silent praise for such a beauty in the Marquis Mansion, she saw the woman bow to Xiqiu and greet her, "Greetings to the Fourth Madam."