She had Qiuju buy yellow silk satin, and she skillfully cut it out. Nanny Xia said with considerable pride, "Our young lady is truly clever and deft—I only taught you once and you remembered."
Sheniang felt somewhat guilty and said, "That's because you taught so well."
Needlework could, of course, only be done after lessons ended. Apart from the personal maidservants attending her in her room, even the rough maidservants serving outside did not know what she was making.
Matters succeed through secrecy; words fail through leakage.
Although she had been reborn, she could not completely rely on the experiences and events of her previous life. Some matters, she knew, were interconnected—tug one thread and the whole web moves. So she could not assume that just because Old Master Pei did not have long to live, she could afford to disregard him.
This kind of opportunity to shine was taken very seriously by the entire household. The young ladies would present various needlework, but the adults could not merely offer such things.
Sixth Master Pei was discussing the matter with his wife: "Last year for the old master's sixtieth birthday, we gave a folding screen. This year isn't a milestone birthday, so there's no need for anything too elaborate."
Madam Yu said, "I do have a pair of celadon jade crane-handled cups in my dowry. If you like, we could take those out and just put them in a box."
In the Pei family, Madam Yu had always been generous, especially toward Sixth Master Pei—truly devoted to him heart and soul.
Sixth Master Pei waved his hand: "Keep your dowry put away; there's no need to bring everything out. If we give something too valuable, those with sharp eyes might think us too wealthy. I recall the old master has always favored scriptures—why don't I personally copy two sutras to present as our gift?"
"Better to add something else as well," said Madam Yu.
Only then did Sixth Master Pei say, "Then we'll give a set of lacquerware."
The couple settled the matter, and Madam Yu rose, saying, "I still need to go to the eldest sister-in-law's place."
"What for?" Sixth Master Pei asked, puzzled.
"Third Aunt of the Meng Family has come—I'm going to make up a table for mahjong." Madam Yu smiled.
Sixth Master Pei pointed outside: "I'll go to the study as well."
As it happened, when Madam Yu came out of the courtyard, she happened to see Third Miss Yiniang passing by. Yiniang had naturally been busy with important matters these days, and her thinking differed from everyone else's. Others felt that flattering Old Master Pei was useful, but Old Master Pei did not manage the inner quarters—that was Old Madam Pei's responsibility. Hence, she had recently been visiting the old madam frequently. Especially after learning that Old Madam Pei harbored deep grief over her son's death, she had even specially copied a Blood Scripture to present to her.
Thus, when Madam Yu saw how pale her face was, she asked with concern, "Third girl, what's wrong with you? If you're tired, hurry back and rest."
"Thank you for your concern, Sixth Aunt. I just caught a bit of a chill these past few days." Yiniang forced a smile, barely having the strength to speak.
But she had no choice but to do this. Although her circumstances were pitiable, many voiced sympathy while few truly stood by her side.
Seeing her swaying as if about to collapse, Madam Yu did not want to detain her in conversation and quickly instructed Nanny Chang: "Help your young lady back to her room."
Nanny Chang hurried forward to support her. She too had not expected this Miss He to be so ruthless with herself. The original Third Miss had gone with the flow in everything, never so driven by purpose.
But precisely because of this, Nanny Chang and Suisui now had hope—at least they would no longer be sent off to the temple as before.
Sometimes, if you don't fight for yourself, even those beneath you will bully you and spread rumors about you, leaving you utterly unable to defend yourself.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Pei looked at the Blood Scripture in her hands, her feelings complicated. Nanny Xiang, who had served her into old age, said, "Old Madam, Third Miss truly has a thoughtful heart."
"I've heard that those who are ruthless to themselves are even more ruthless to others. I've done her no particular kindness, yet she uses her own blood to show filial piety. I wonder what she seeks?" said Old Madam Pei.
After a moment of deliberation, Old Madam Pei looked at Nanny Xiang again: "Regarding the marriage of Third Daughter-in-law's niece—has that Fang family I mentioned agreed?"
Nanny Xiang smiled: "The Fang family is merely a merchant clan. Since you personally spoke the words, they've already sent people to call."
"That's good. Lu, a widow without means, probably can't produce much. Pick some things from my storeroom and send them to Song Girl, then have Madam Cao help with the arrangements, and Madam Yu serve as matchmaker." Old Madam Pei gave her instructions.
Nanny Xiang sighed: "You are truly good to Third Madam."
With that, she accepted the order and left.
Madam Cao smiled cheerfully on the surface, but once Nanny Xiang had gone, she spat: "What nonsense. We're all daughters-in-law of the Pei family—are we simply destined to run ourselves ragged? Are we all just superfluous characters?"
Shun'er, Madam Cao's confidante, said, "You're not the only one—Sixth Madam also has to go serve as matchmaker."
"Usually I see her old ladyship treating Sixth Sister-in-law so-so, but now that there's errand-running work, she can't bear to have her own people do it and makes others run." Madam Cao complained.
She would never have dared say such things before, but now that she managed the household, she had confidence, and naturally her temper was different.
When Nanny Xiang arrived at the Sixth Branch, she found that Madam Yu had gone to the First Branch. In the courtyard, she saw Sheniang jumping rope and smiled. "Fifth Young Lady, why are you playing here all alone? Why not go find Sixth Young Lady to play? Sisters should be close with one another."
Sheniang thought to herself that Shunniang was younger than her yet carried such airs—why should she be the one to go find her? Why couldn't Shunniang come to her instead?
It had been the same in her previous life. Though they were sisters, Shunniang always seemed to hold herself above the rest.
But saying any of this in front of a servant like Nanny Xiang was pointless. She smiled and said, "Very well. Another day, you call Shunniang over, and we'll jump rope together."
Nanny Xiang smiled and acknowledged the request.
After finishing her rope-jumping, Sheniang washed up and changed into her everyday clothes. There was no helping it—once November arrived and the weather turned cold, she wouldn't be able to stay outdoors at all, for the wind would be too biting and snow would begin to fall.
It wasn't until Madam Yu returned that Sheniang learned Song Xianhui's marriage had been settled. The whole family was seated at the dinner table when Liniang, chewing on a piece of bamboo shoot, felt her eyes redden. "Is Sister Song going to leave us then?"
"You silly child, what are you crying for? There's still plenty of time before she marries—at least a year or two yet." Madam Yu had a maid pass a handkerchief to Liniang.
Though Liniang ordinarily associated with Shunniang as well, Shunniang was younger than her, so Liniang always had to humor her. Her closest bonds were with Meng Jilan and Song Xianhui. Meng Jilan got along well with everyone, though she sometimes had a prickly edge toward Liniang. Song Xianhui, however, was genuinely kind, and so Liniang truly hated to see her go.
Noticing Sheniang's indifferent expression, Liniang couldn't help asking, "Aren't you sad?"
Sheniang looked at her. "I've noticed that every time you do something, you insist everyone else feel the same way—sharing your joys as their joys, your sorrows as their sorrows. If I say I'm afraid of dogs, you insist I must love them. Now that your own friend is getting married and you're sad, you want to drag me into being sad with you. You're not the emperor, so why do you always demand everyone do as you say?"
Before Liniang could respond, Nanny Chen hastily interjected, "Fifth Young Lady, your Fourth Sister didn't mean it that way."
"Then stop forcing others to be like you, all right? I've never once demanded that she do whatever I do. We've attended school together all these years—has she ever once waited for me? Even a clay figurine has a temper."
Sheniang's words were clear and logically ordered, falling like large and small pearls onto a jade plate—not an emotional outburst, but a steady, layered progression.
Hearing this, Liniang's lips moved a few times before she spoke. "If you want me to do something, just say so. It's not like I wouldn't help you. Why do you have to talk to me like this? If I'm wrong, I'll apologize to you."
As the sisters clashed, Sixth Master Pei and Madam Yu pretended not to hear—taking either side would only cause trouble.
When Nanny Chen heard Liniang's reply, she nearly applauded inwardly. By showing such weakness, Fourth Young Lady was sure to win sympathy.
Unexpectedly, Sheniang smiled. "I never ask others to do anything. I respect everyone's freedom to do as they please. I only hope you'll respect others the same way."
"Enough, enough. Everyone say no more—let's eat." Madam Yu stepped in to smooth things over.
Sheniang ate most of her bowl of rice without changing expression, then returned to her room as if nothing had happened to do her needlework. Liniang, on the other hand, went back and inevitably had a good cry. Nanny Chen consoled her, "Fifth Young Lady is just jealous of your popularity, Fourth Young Lady. Sixth Master and Madam are both watching—I suspect in their hearts they think she doesn't show you proper respect as her elder sister."
Liniang was furious. Huffing with anger, she said, "In the future, I won't acknowledge her as my sister."
"Yes, yes, whatever you say." Nanny Chen humored her.
Sixth Master Pei and Madam Yu, however, found the sisters' relationship a great headache. Sixth Master Pei remarked, "Look at Sheniang's tongue—sharp as tweezers. Liniang's mouth is far more clumsy."
Such a personality was actually prone to suffering losses, because it came across as overbearing and aggressive.
Madam Yu hastily apologized. "It's all my fault for not teaching them well, always failing to keep the sisters harmonious."
"Don't say that. It's not your fault. You nearly died giving birth to Sheniang." Sixth Master Pei thought to himself that he'd always harbored some reservations about Sheniang—perhaps because when she was born, his feelings for his wife had been at their peak, yet she'd almost died because of their daughter.
Madam Yu, in truth, felt deeply guilty. She had once nearly abandoned her youngest daughter, especially now that she'd noticed her youngest no longer clung to her as she once had.
Sheniang, having experienced in her previous life the humiliation of living under others' roofs, the turning of family against her, and the intricate intrigues of palace life, had grown utterly cold toward familial bonds. After all, even fathers and sons in the imperial family could become enemies, sisters who were fellow consorts would scheme against each other, and sometimes merely standing in someone's path was enough to get you ruthlessly eliminated.
Thus, she had already been quite courteous to Liniang—she simply couldn't be bothered with her. When Liniang provoked her, tossing back a few retorts was already an extraordinary act of mercy.
By early winter, Sheniang had finally finished the Amber Rain-Coat for Old Master Pei. When the time came to present the gift, she brought it to Madam Yu's quarters, and even attached a signed slip to it, lest anyone claim credit for the work.
Even Sixth Master Pei praised it upon seeing it: "What clever craftsmanship."
He, being no needleworker, knew nothing of such things, but Madam Yu remarked, "You're only nine years old—how is it your embroidery is so fine? These stitches are truly even, and the patterns are beautifully worked."
"I've been at it for several months, and with Nanny Xia's guidance, it's passable enough. I only hope I haven't shamed my parents," Sheniang replied modestly.
Liniang secretly wondered who had actually helped Sheniang with the work—why didn't she herself have a maid skilled in needlework?
Sixth Master Pei personally delivered the Sixth Branch's congratulatory gifts. Before long, a servant attending Old Master Pei brought a set of jewelry to Sheniang, saying the old master was very pleased with her "Amber Rain-Coat."
Sheniang opened the box and glanced inside, unable to suppress a gasp. It was a complete set meant to adorn a woman's topknot—eight pieces in all: a gold hairpin set with rubies and sapphires in a flame pattern, a gold filigree phoenix hairpin inlaid with gems, two hair ornaments of filigree-set jewels for the temples, a pair of floral hairpins, and a pair of small peony pins.
The number of pieces was not excessive, but the gemstones were exquisitely cut and of superior quality.
Liniang's eyes turned red with envy as she muttered, "Why did Grandfather only send you something? No one else got anything."
Sheniang replied, "When the Old Madam and Madam of Marquis Dingbei sent you so many gifts last time, did I complain? If you want some, go ask Grandfather yourself."
Liniang turned to Madam Yu: "Mother, I'm so envious. I want some too…"
Harassed beyond endurance, Madam Yu echoed Sheniang: "Why don't you go ask your grandfather yourself?"
Liniang fell silent, but Nanny Chen sensed something unusual in all this.