CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: VISITING AS A GUEST (4)

Fortunately, Chengzong was on the throne for only ten years. After his death, his younger brother triggered the "Qian Palace Revolt," during which Chengzong’s Crown Prince and princes were either killed or exiled. That brother smoothly ascended to the throne, and he is the current Emperor Dezong. During the Qian Palace Revolt, twelve families with meritorious service were dethroned, but six families were lucky enough to bet on the right side, restoring their titles and returning to their estates. However, among them, the Wujin Bo Mansion did not include the Marquis Huaining...

The old Count was a smooth operator, and it is said that at the time, he was receiving subsidy silver at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Sensing something amiss, he inexplicably set fire at the city gate, blocking the Eighth Prince’s path from the West Mountain Camp to the palace, thereby buying precious time for Dezong. Now, it’s impossible to verify the Count’s true intentions, but his luck prevailed, and he was remembered as one of the meritorious officials by Dezong, successfully restoring his title.

The Marquis Huaining had always been related by marriage to the Count Wujin. Uncertain about what Count Wujin said to Dezong, but Dezong reinstated the Marquis Huaining’s title with a stroke of the pen, although he didn’t return the original mansion to them. However, this was already a fortunate turn of events, so the current Marquis Huaining merely holds an empty title. Compared to the Tong Mansion, which has been a scholarly family for generations and has competent officials in the imperial court along with shops and fields outside, he is considerably lacking.

As for the Second Young Madam, the Yuan Family had no nobility and had long declined; only Madam Chen’s branch was doing decently. Whether marrying the concubine-born Second Young Master makes the Second Young Madam a greater camel than a horse is truly hard to say.

Yet none of these concerns her, and she obediently said: "I will remember, mother."

Lady did not know Xiqiu’s thoughts, still worriedly instructing: "The Countess is amiable but doesn’t talk much. If she asks you questions, just answer honestly. There’s no need to go out of your way to speak with her."

Was she afraid of Xiqiu talking too much and displeasing the Countess? Why such nervous caution?

Lady added: "Don’t run around during the opera in the garden to avoid encountering people you shouldn’t."

"Yes! I will remember it well," Xiqiu took a teapot out from the hidden compartment of the carriage and poured a cup of tea for Lady. Lady accepted the tea and paused her gaze on the lush green of Xiqiu’s clothes, her eyebrows barely perceptibly furrowed.

Xiqiu pretended not to notice, sitting quietly with her head bowed.

Soon, the carriage made a turn, and outside the window, the voice of the accompanying matron could be heard: "Ma’am, we’ve arrived at Nanyi Square." Lady nodded and turned her gaze, saying: "At Nanyi Square, turn left and pass through Yangjiao Alley. When you arrive at Yangjiao Alley, call me."

"Yes!" the matron responded. The carriage then made another turn and entered an alley wide enough for two carriages to pass. Gradually, the alley narrowed until only one carriage could pass.

Xiqiu didn’t understand why there had been such a turn...

It was later discovered that the Jiang Family lived in Yangjiao Alley, where Tong Shen Zhi’s betrothed was...

Lady was truly anxious, as even the Jiang Family suggested that Tong Shen Zhi should first take a concubine. Lady also had this intention, but the young master was firmly opposed, saying how could a concubine enter before the main wife was married!

Yet, upon arriving at the Jiang Family’s entrance, Lady merely lifted the curtain to take a glance and then abruptly let it down, saying: "Let’s go!" Her tone was not pleasant.

In that brief opening and closing of the curtain, Xiqiu saw a somewhat dilapidated courtyard with peeling paint...

Afterward, the carriage exited Yangjiao Alley, made several more turns, and stopped. Outside the carriage, a matron removed the threshold, and the carriage entered the Ren Mansion courtyard through a side gate. The Tong Mansion’s accompanying matron held back at the gate while a matron from Ren Mansion drove the carriage further in, taking about half a cup of tea before stopping again. A stranger matron lifted the curtain and smiled at Lady, saying: "Madam, Madam Chen asked me to inform you that she is waiting inside." She then smiled and extended her hand: "Slave will assist you in alighting."

They had reached the second gate.

Lady smiled as she handed her arm over, stepping on the stool to get off the carriage. Xiqiu was assisted down as well by Sixing, who had hurried over, while Nanny Fang stepped forward and took out a fixed blue pocket, rewarding it to the matron and several carriage-driving matrons. Then, Tong Xiyang and Tong Xiyu also alighted and walked over, standing in a line at the entrance. A woman dressed in a honey-colored overcoat came over from the second gate, her round face filled with smiles: "Madam Tong!" She curtsied to Lady as a junior, apologetically saying: "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Lady lifted her arm, and smiled broadly as well: "This must be First Young Madam Ren. I’ve only just arrived as well, so don’t be courteous."

First Young Madam Ren looked just over twenty, with very thin lips and very pale skin touched with light rouge, looking very petite. She Half-assisted Lady: "Mother-in-law had planned to come in person, but several ladies have arrived inside, and she couldn’t leave, so she dispatched me instead. I hope Madam doesn’t mind." As she spoke, her gaze moved toward behind Lady, her eyes quickly showing a hint of amazement, and she praised: "These three must be Miss Tong. Each one is more beautiful than the next."

Lady replied courteously: "They do not deserve such praise from First Young Madam Ren." She gestured toward this area where Xiqiu was: "This is Number Three, this is Number Six, and this is Number Eight!"

The three young ladies then curtseyed to First Young Madam Ren.

Being of the same generation, but with Young Madam Ren a bit older, she leaned sideways to accept the salute, her gaze briefly sweeping over Tong Xiyang and Xiqiu before turning to half-assist Lady: "Please transfer to soft sedan chair, as there is still some distance to walk from here."

Xiqiu’s eyebrows raised slightly. They had walked a short distance from the outer courtyard upon entering, and if it required a soft sedan chair to get from the second gate to the inner courtyard, the Wujin Bo Mansion was truly three times larger than the Tong Mansion?

As her thoughts turned, a sedan chair had already arrived in front of them, and Xiqiu boarded the sedan chair following Tong Xiyang. Siliu and Sixing guarded on either side, and after about a cup of tea’s time, the sedan finally stopped, and the ears clearly caught the sparse sound of gongs and drums, like a warm-up before the opera started.

Xiqiu got off the sedan, and Lady had already entered the path with First Young Madam Ren. Xiqiu followed closely, entering a spacious courtyard with red lacquer and glass tiles, with sloping eaves on both sides. Into the Hanging Flower Gate came the overwhelming scent of fragrance, and three or four neatly lined-up unshaven young maids were flanking them, saluting them with great composure. Nanny Fang trailed behind, handing out pockets as gifts; then they mounted two flight of stairs, where the maids following from Tong Mansion went to rest nearby with a matron. The three young ladies followed Lady into the main house.

Inside the hall were seven to eight chairs, with six or seven ladies already seated. Madam Chen was half-seated on a stitched stool next to a rosewood armchair, her face plastered with smiles as she spoke with an elder lady. Upon seeing Lady entering, Madam Chen came forward to greet her and smiled at First Young Madam Ren: "Thank you, sister, for your hard work." She took Lady’s hand.

Xiqiu observed First Young Madam Ren’s eyes flash with a trace of contempt, yet she smoothly let go of Lady’s hand: "There’s no hard work in it; haven’t you also helped care for Mother?" She then looked at Lady: "We’re all family. It was only right for me to come and greet Madam Tong."

Madam Chen’s expression stiffened for a moment, then Lady’s laughter was heard: "Standing here is truly tiring!" First Young Madam Ren and Madam Chen both laughed as well, with that little bit of awkwardness melting away. Madam Chen chuckled behind her sleeve: "You’re quite the esteemed guest. If I were negligent, the elder lady would certainly reprimand me."