The young woman in a smoky-pink flowing gown stepped forward with graceful, unhurried strides. Slender and lovely by nature, she was a delight to behold.
Mingyi approached Old Madam Zong[1]A respectful household title for the senior female family elder or matriarch, often the mother of the household’s adult masters. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733109_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733109_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and paid her respects. “Good health to you, Old Madam. Good health to you, First Madam[2]A household form of address for the wife of the senior son or principal master of a family branch. It denotes her position within the household hierarchy. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733109_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733109_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
As she spoke, her gaze lightly passed over Zong Xian. She lowered her eyes slightly and said in a gentle voice, “Good health to you, My Lord.”
Zong Xian’s gaze settled on her, dark and unfathomable.
Madam Liu smiled and said, “We’re all family here. Calling him My Lord sounds so formal. He’s a generation above you, so just call him Second Uncle.”
Mingyi corrected herself and addressed the man as Second Uncle.
Zong Xian did not respond.
Zong Ying, standing nearby, objected. Pouting at Mingyi, she chided her, “You’ve greeted everyone one by one, saying ‘good health’ to this one and that one. How could you leave me out? Am I not worthy of a greeting?”
Though she sounded put out, her eyes curved like little crescent moons, making her look lively and endearing.
Mingyi smiled too, and asked, “Then should I call you Miss Zong Ying, or Madam Wang?”
Zong Ying lifted her chin, full of confidence. “I’d never take my husband’s surname!”
…
Laughter and conversation filled the hall. Zong Ying’s arrival brought a sudden burst of life and cheer to the usually quiet, solemn Zong Residence.
Madam Liu’s gaze drifted between Zong Xian and Mingyi. Mingyi had been talking with Zong Ying the whole time and had not even exchanged a glance with Zong Xian.
Madam Liu could hardly read anything from Zong Xian’s inscrutable face, either.
Her eyes shifted slightly, and she turned to Mingyi. “By the way, today is your first proper meeting with Second Master[3]A household title identifying a male master by his position in the family’s birth order, rather than by his personal name. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733109_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733109_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. You should offer him a cup of tea.”
Mingyi paused, but didn’t think much of it. When she had first entered the residence, she had offered tea to Old Madam as well, so she readily agreed.
Qinghe brought over a fresh teacup.
After pouring the tea, Mingyi walked up to Zong Xian in front of everyone and offered him the cup with both hands. “Second Uncle, please have some tea.”
Zong Xian reached out.
Mingyi lowered her eyes, assuming he had taken the cup, and naturally let go.
But the cup slipped downward and, with a crash, fell straight to the floor!
The dark tea splashed onto the hem of Zong Xian’s robe.
Mingyi froze for a moment, then quickly reacted. She hurriedly pulled out her handkerchief to wipe Zong Xian’s clothes and apologized, embarrassed.
Madam Liu smoothed things over with a smile. “The poor Lass is so timid that Second Master’s imposing presence has made her too nervous to hold a cup.”
Zong Ying thought Mingyi had really been frightened. She glared at the man. “Second Brother, why do you always look so stern? You’ve scared Mingyi.”
Then she turned to Mingyi. “It’s all right, it’s all right. My second brother’s a man, tough as leather. He won’t be scalded by a little tea.”
Mingyi could have kicked herself. She hadn’t seen exactly what happened and assumed she had simply been careless. She was mortified.
The maids hurried to crouch down and clean up the mess.
Amid the confusion, Zong Xian suddenly reached out, took the handkerchief from Mingyi, and casually wiped himself. “It’s nothing. Don’t blame yourself.”
With that, he rose from his chair and said to Old Madam Zong, “Mother, I’ll go change.”
“Go ahead.” Old Madam Zong waved him away.
Zong Xian nodded and left the hall.
No one noticed Zong Xian quietly slipping the handkerchief into his sleeve, his fingers slowly closing around it.
Standing behind them, Yuegui watched the man leave with a strange expression and bit her lip.
She had been standing closest to her mistress, and from there she had seen everything clearly.
She had distinctly seen Zong Xian catch the teacup, then suddenly let go a moment later!
But it was so strange. Why would Second Master do that?
For the rest of the meal, Yuegui kept turning the question over in her mind, nearly driving herself in circles.
Mingyi noticed that the Lass was distracted and gently nudged her shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
Yuegui hurriedly came back to herself, composed her expression, and murmured, “Nothing. I was just thinking how grand the family banquet at the Zong Residence is…”
Mingyi’s gaze returned to the lavish table, and she said nothing.
They said Zong Xian had specially invited imperial chefs from the palace to cook for this family banquet. Most noble households could not enjoy such treatment; today, they were benefiting from Zong Ying’s presence.
By the time Zong Xian returned, he had changed his clothes. No one mentioned offering him tea again.
Only one of the two concubines[4]A secondary partner with lower status than a principal wife in a traditional household. The standing of concubines and bedchamber servants could differ by period and household. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733109_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733109_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); from the first branch had come: Madam Yu.
Though Madam Yu’s birth was not as distinguished as the principal wife[5]The formally recognized primary wife, whose position and household authority were generally above those of concubines in traditional elite households. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3733109_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3733109_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });’s, she was Old Madam Zong’s natal relative and naturally closer to the Old Madam. For that reason, as a concubine, she was not especially intimidated by Madam Liu.
Madam Yu had no sons, only a young daughter, and Madam Liu did not think much of her either. Still, the two maintained a show of harmony when they spoke.
Compared with the other great and powerful households in the capital, the inner household of the Zong Residence was relatively peaceful and harmonious, with few sordid affairs.
The main reason was that Zong Xian had not taken a wife, so there were few women in the household; and, above all, Old Madam Zong kept order from the top.
The Zong household had no rigid rule against talking at meals. Zong Ying was the most talkative and could even chat with Madam Yu.
The Zong Residence sat together in cheerful harmony, and with Zong Ying there to keep everyone in good spirits, the atmosphere was lively.
Madam Liu discreetly watched Zong Xian. His expression was as usual, and his gaze did not shift in the slightest. He seemed to have little interest in Mingyi.
Madam Liu lowered her eyes and couldn’t help wondering: Had Second Master learned Mingyi’s identity and, out of regard for the Xie family, decided to give up his feelings for her?
That was for the best. Then she would not have to separate two people in love.
Zong Xian left the table early. He had official business to attend to, and Old Madam Zong did not insist that he stay. Only Zong Ying murmured a complaint.
Mingyi paid no mind to whether Zong Xian stayed or left.
It was only after dinner, when she instinctively reached for her handkerchief to wipe her mouth and could not find it, that she suddenly remembered.
Zong Xian seemed not to have returned her handkerchief!
Mingyi’s heart gave a sudden thump, but soon settled again.
She thought Zong Xian must have taken it absentmindedly and forgotten to return it. He hadn’t done it on purpose.
Besides, what would he want with her handkerchief?
Yuegui, behind her, noticed her expression change and quietly asked, “What is it, Miss?”
With members of the Zong family still nearby, Mingyi couldn’t say it outright. She shook her head gently. “Nothing.”
Yuegui did not ask further.
Still, Mingyi could not quite put her mind at ease. Her delicate brows drew together slightly.
A handkerchief was a woman’s personal possession. Losing it would not matter, but she worried someone might use it to make a scandal of her.
She trusted that Zong Xian was not that sort of petty man, but she knew all too well how easy it was in this era to spread vicious rumors about a woman.
If he had casually left it somewhere and someone else picked it up, she, Ji Mingyi, would be the one to suffer.
References[+]