Just past the hour of You (5-7pm), the inside and outside of the Xu residence were lit up with bright red lanterns.
The footsteps of the maids and mamas rang out in an endless stream; they were setting up the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Zhihe placed her half-read book on the edge of the desk. At this moment, the door to the west wing was pushed open from the outside with a creak—Fang Li, having busied herself in the main kitchen for the whole day, had finally returned.
Seeing that upon entering she was too exhausted to even have the strength to greet her, Xu Zhihe proactively supported her to sit on the cushion. Then, dampening a handkerchief with water, she wiped the fire-tending soot off her face bit by bit.
“You must have been exhausted today.”
“It’s alright,” Fang Li closed her eyes, allowing Xu Zhihe to clean her face. She said obediently, “I’m not exactly tired, just that the smoke and ash were choking… Once Liu Mama gets busy, she forgets about eating. It was only later, when Tian Mama sent someone to instruct on Concubine Yao’s food, that everyone was able to rest for a moment.”
Hearing this, Xu Zhihe rubbed her cheeks.
Fang Li’s face was squeezed slightly out of shape. Tugging the corner of Xu Zhihe’s sleeve, she said coaxingly, “Miss, I saw Liu Mama make honey steamed cakes.”
She was craving food.
Xu Zhihe looked at her and laughingly scraped the tip of her nose. “Okay, I will remember to save a piece for you.”
The recipe for honey steamed cakes was simple, and in a banquet like the New Year’s Eve dinner, it could only be considered a minor snack. However, to make an everyday dish like honey steamed cake with such ingenuity—the dough soft and fluffy, making one’s mouth water with a single bite—was Liu Mama’s true skill.
Receiving Xu Zhihe’s promise, Fang Li was immediately satisfied and content.
Sometimes, Xu Zhihe felt Fang Li was truly easy to coax; a piece of food or a bit of sweet water could make her forget a day’s sorrows, leaving only the joy of anticipating her desires being met.
Xu Zhihe lowered her eyes and smiled.
Fang Li leaned against Xu Zhihe’s body. Upon leaning in, she only then noticed in surprise that Xu Zhihe was wearing the maple-red dress sent by Lady Tang.
Xu Zhihe’s skin was pale and fair, akin to congealed fat. Under the warm candlelight, she looked like a crabapple blossom blooming in the night, bright and vividly beautiful.
“Beautiful. The Miss looks truly beautiful wearing this dress!” Fang Li immediately sat up straight. As if terrified the dust on her own body would soil Xu Zhihe, she retreated a full two feet back before relaxing slightly.
Praised to the point of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Xu Zhihe reached out and tapped her forehead.
“However, the color is too vibrant.”
Wearing red for the New Year was certainly festive, but being festive and celebratory also meant being eye-catching.
When she woke up this morning to pay respects to Madame Lü, she had still dressed in her usual plain and elegant manner. Later, after returning to the west wing in the afternoon, she remembered that she had once promised Fang Li to wear this dress for the New Year, so she took it out to try it on.
The fabric was soft and the cut was fitting; it fit perfectly on her body.
Fang Li looked at Xu Zhihe vigilantly. “Miss, you aren’t planning on not wearing this dress, are you?”
Xu Zhihe smiled at her silently. Before putting it on, Xu Zhihe had still held the thought of just giving it a try, but the moment the clothes were on her body, that little thought dissipated without a trace.
“This dress is too conspicuous,” Xu Zhihe said while reaching out to untie the ribbons of the dress. “Once back in the west wing, I’ll change into it. People come and go in the main hall; if it gets dirty, it won’t look pretty anymore.”
Fang Li knew the latter sentence was just the Miss speaking to coax her.
She also knew that although her heart favored the Miss dressing in a festive and auspicious manner, such vivid brightness was dangerous for the Miss.
Thinking of this, Fang Li gazed eagerly at Xu Zhihe and said obediently, “Miss is right. With so many people in the main hall, it would be terrible if the dress got dirty.” Pausing, she added, “Once we leave the Xu residence, the Miss can wear whatever she wants.”
Xu Zhihe smiled along. “Yes. In the future, when we have established our own household, we can wear whatever we want.”
Tying the silk ribbons, she saw Fang Li covered in ash and reminded her, “You were helping out in the main kitchen today, so you inevitably caught some ash. Hurry up and change your clothes… Da-niangzi will send someone to hurry us soon.”
Fang Li nodded repeatedly.
While Xu Zhihe waited, someone from the main courtyard coincidentally arrived, knocking on the door of the west wing.
“Third Miss, Da-niangzi wants this servant to pass on a message that the banquet is fully prepared.”
Through the door, Xu Zhihe raised her voice and replied, “Understood. Go tell Da-niangzi that I will be right over.”
The person outside the door gave an acknowledgment and left.
Fang Li had just finished changing her clothes and came out. Seeing Xu Zhihe already standing at the door, she hurriedly took two steps forward to her side. “Miss, I’m ready, let’s go quickly.”
In the main hall, Madame Lü had already taken the seat of honor. Concubine Du on the right hand had also sat down. Xu Yingsong was being held by his wet nurse behind them, his round eyes curiously surveying everything.
Xu Yingzhang was currently paying his respects to Madame Lü. As soon as Xu Zhihe entered the room, everyone’s gaze immediately turned toward her.
Having no time to observe the dynamics in the room, she hurriedly stepped forward, bowing deeply to Madame Lü. “I hope Mother is well. The new year has arrived; I wish Mother good health and for everything to go according to your heart’s desires.”
Madame Lü lowered her eyes to look at the concubine-born son and daughter bowing before her; these two had always been the most trouble-free.
Unlike the one from the courtyard next door…
Madame Lü waved her hand, signaling the two to rise. “Take your seats.”
Xu Zhihe silently assessed the situation in the hall from the corner of her eye. Magistrate Xu and Madame Lü were seated at the head. Was the first seat on the left reserved by Da-niangzi for Concubine Yao, or was it left for Eldest Brother Xu Yingdi?
If it was for Eldest Brother, it would be easy; she would just take the next available seat down the line. She was only afraid it was a seat left for Concubine Yao.
If Concubine Yao sat on this side, Xu Zhihe would have Concubine Yao on her left and Xu Yuyan on her right. She wouldn’t even need to use her brain to know how blood-soaked that scene would be.
She absolutely couldn’t handle that.
While Xu Zhihe was spacing out, Madame Lü at the head shot a look at the maid beside her.
The serving maid behind them poured a cup of tea in front of the fourth seat on the left and said, “Miss, please take your seat.”
Xu Zhihe: “…”
She truly thought too much for nothing.
Her seat turned out to be hiding all the way back here.
Xu Zhihe smoothly went with the flow, walked to the maid’s side, and sat down.
This seat was quite clever; it was right by the door on the left. With just a turn of her head, she could see the bright red lanterns hung high outside the courtyard.
Trailing a step behind, Xu Yingzhang couldn’t help but freeze upon seeing the seat Xu Zhihe had taken.
Last year, when Eldest Brother traveled far to Bianjing for the exams, Third Sister had sat opposite Second Miss Xu Yijin. Her seat at that time was exactly the second one down.
He hadn’t expected that in just one year, she would be seated at the very end.
Seeing him daze out, Concubine Du reached out and gave him a push. “Hurry up and sit down across from Third Girl… Third Miss.”
Watching Xu Yingzhang being pushed over looking completely befuddled, Xu Zhihe found it somewhat amusing in her heart.
After wandering around in circles, the two seats at the very back were still contracted out to the two of them.
Seeing the two seated, Madame Lü cleared her throat and said, “Around dusk, Yao-shi’s side sent someone with a message, saying the Sixth Miss wanted to sit together with her… Yingzhang, you have been wronged.”
The implied meaning was that it was all Concubine Yao’s idea for the two of them to end up in these seats.
Every grievance has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor; if they felt dissatisfied in their hearts, they shouldn’t look for the wrong person.
Being singled out by Madame Lü, Xu Yingzhang immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said, “Mother’s words are too serious. The Sixth Sister is still young; it is only proper to yield to her.”
Seeing his peaceful expression, it was unclear whether he believed her or not, but Madame Lü’s mouth twitched silently.
To the onlookers beside her, she still maintained her dignified and majestic appearance, her lips pursed, her expression cold and detached.
While waiting, Xu Zhihe secretly counted the seats at the banquet in her heart. The Seventh Brother, Xu Yingsong, was still young and stayed by Concubine Du’s side, so there was no seat for him.
Magistrate Xu and Madame Lü naturally sat at the head. Five seats remained below. Counting the absent Eldest Brother, Xu Yuyan, Concubine Yao, and Xu Lanshu…
The numbers didn’t match up.
Could it be that someone else was coming?
Xu Zhihe found it slightly strange in her heart, but finding no one to ask, she could only ponder it secretly to herself.
The entire Lü family was serving in posts in Huzhou and couldn’t spare the time… Furthermore, if someone from the Lü family really came, it shouldn’t be Concubine Du sitting in the first seat on the right.
It seemed this “guest” had a status lower than the Eldest Brother of the Xu family, yet at the same time, higher than them juniors.
Combining the two, it wasn’t hard to guess.
Recently, the only person frequently associating with the Xu residence was that “Young Master Deng.”
Xu Zhihe turned her head to ask Fang Li for a handkerchief. The latter lowered her voice and said, “Miss, the person standing beside Da-niangzi today is not Sun Mama.”
“…” Clutching the handkerchief in her hand, Xu Zhihe didn’t dare to look directly at Madame Lü, only silently committing this point to memory in her heart.
As Madame Lü’s dowry maid, Sun Mama had served by Madame Lü’s side for over twenty years and was the managing mama of the Xu residence.
Even young maids like Fang Li and Dangui had to respectfully call her “Sun Mama” when they saw her.
At the New Year banquets in previous years, Sun Mama always stood by Madame Lü’s side without ever being absent. Moreover, when she went to pay her morning respects to Da-niangzi today, Sun Mama was clearly still perfectly fine.
It seemed that after she left, quite a few things had happened in the main courtyard.
Xu Zhihe felt somewhat fortunate that she hadn’t worn that maple-red dress.
Being inconspicuous like this was better.
Eldest Brother Xu, Xu Yuyan, and Deng Liangyu entered one after another. When Xu Yingzhang saw Deng Liangyu, a flash of astonishment clearly surfaced in his expression.
However, he covered it up very quickly. Using the opportunity of standing up to greet Eldest Brother, he swiftly lowered his head. “Eldest Brother.”
Turning a deaf ear, Eldest Brother Xu walked over and sat in the first seat on the left, nodding slightly to Madame Lü. “I hope Mother is well.”
Seeing Eldest Brother Xu, a rosy smile immediately surfaced on Madame Lü’s previously listless face. “My son has come… Look at you, studying so bitterly recently, you have lost quite a bit of weight.”
Just as Xu Yingdi was about to answer, the sound of footsteps rang out from outside.
Supported by Magistrate Xu, Concubine Yao walked in, her left hand holding onto Xu Lanshu.
Looking from afar, they truly looked like a sweet and beautiful family.
When Yao-shi saw Concubine Du sitting in the first seat on the right, her gaze flickered. Stared at by her, Concubine Du felt uncomfortable all over. She wanted to stand up several times, yet could feel the silent suppression from Madame Lü above.
Magistrate Xu clearly noticed this as well. His face immediately sank, and he was just about to lash out. Madame Lü spoke up a step ahead of him: “Du-shi has given birth to and raised two sons for the Xu family. In terms of ranking, she should be placed ahead of Yao-shi.”
Xu Zhihe couldn’t help but look up toward Yao-shi’s direction. In just that single instant, the faint smile on Yao-shi’s face immediately transformed into a trace of light sorrow.
With tears welling in her eyes, she looked as if she wanted to speak but held back.
If this hadn’t been a family banquet, Xu Zhihe wouldn’t have been able to stop herself from marveling—it turned out there truly were people who could turn their faces faster than flipping a book!
Choking back a sob, Yao-shi looked at Magistrate Xu and said softly, “It is no matter, Master need not worry about this concubine.”
As she spoke, she took a handkerchief from her bosom and dabbed the corners of her eyes, as if trying to wipe away that single crystal-clear tear clinging to her eyelashes. “Master, please go up and take your seat.”
Although Magistrate Xu was angry, Yao-shi personally pleading for leniency had the desired effect.
He marched furiously to the head seat and sat down with a loud clatter.
Just listening to the sound, Xu Zhihe felt it must have hurt terribly.
Everyone rose in unison to bow and greet Magistrate Xu and Madame Lü, including Deng Liangyu.
After sitting down, the atmosphere only eased slightly once Magistrate Xu moved his chopsticks.
Xu Zhihe reached out with her chopsticks and picked up a piece of ‘Mountain Family Three Crisps,’ placing it into her small bowl. There weren’t many fresh mountain delicacies in the winter, and winter bamboo shoots were considered outstanding among them. After blanching, they held not the slightest hint of earthy fishiness, leaving only the most original, fresh flavor. Paired with small mushrooms and wolfberry shoots, a single bite filled the mouth with fragrance.
Xu Lanshu stared fixedly at Deng Liangyu diagonally in front of her. From confusion at the beginning, it morphed into anger as if she had recalled something later on.
She couldn’t hide the slightest bit of her thoughts.
“How could you come here?” Xu Lanshu endured for a moment, couldn’t hold back, stood up, and glared fiercely at Xu Yuyan. “That day, I clearly saw you having a secret rendezvous with a man! Leaving aside how you turned around and framed me, you actually dare to bring him right in front of me?”
Xu Yuyan froze for a moment. Seeing Deng Liangyu sitting beside her had no other reaction, she immediately stood up and said, “When did I frame you?!”
Eldest Brother Xu frowned.
Although he hadn’t known Deng Liangyu for long, Deng Liangyu was ultimately an outsider. Having the sisters in the family fight in front of an outsider brought absolutely zero benefit to the Xu family’s reputation.
Thus, he spoke up: “Yuyan, Lanshu, sit down and eat.”
Concubine Yao also tugged on Xu Lanshu’s sleeve.
“Shu-jie’er, sit down.”
Xu Lanshu still couldn’t wrap her head around it. She looked at Concubine Yao’s face… and slowly sat down.
Her mother would certainly not harm her.
Her mother had said she would take action to punish these two.
With a breath of anger blocked in her heart, Xu Lanshu couldn’t help but look up at Magistrate Xu: Father, does Father know about this?
Has Father been deceived as well?
Harboring hope, Xu Lanshu looked up, only to see Magistrate Xu’s gaze dodging away. Clearly, he had known about this matter early on.
Xu Yuyan’s hands were trembling. It was true she had met with Deng-lang… but, but that was just the natural culmination of their affections; how was it a secret rendezvous?
Mother and Father both knew!
During her daze, a hand suddenly reached over from her left side and grasped her wrist. Like a startled rabbit, Xu Yuyan raised her eyes and saw the smile on Deng Liangyu’s face: “Yanyan, don’t be afraid.”
Xu Yuyan gradually settled down.
That’s right, now that this had been brought out into the open in front of Father and Mother, even if Xu Lanshu wanted to use this matter to gossip, she could no longer do so.
She had nothing to fear.
Xu Yingdi proactively raised his cup toward Deng Liangyu. If he and Xu Yuyan succeeded, the two of them would be related by marriage, and Deng Liangyu would have to recognize him as his brother-in-law.
After three rounds of wine, the minor interlude from just now was already forgotten. With several cups of wine in his stomach, Magistrate Xu’s originally stiff face also carried a bit of drunken flush, pulling Eldest Brother and Deng Liangyu to accompany him.
Eldest Brother Xu’s alcohol tolerance was average, but Deng Liangyu, on the contrary, drank cup after cup.
It was visible to the naked eye that Magistrate Xu was growing increasingly satisfied with Deng Liangyu.
Originally observing the situation in the hall, Xu Zhihe saw the few of them chatting about everything under the sun after getting drunk. She immediately withdrew her attention and focused entirely on enjoying the delicious food in front of her.
The ingredients for the Three-Delicacy Tofu Skin were simple, but fresh and savory. The rich broth soaked into the soft, tender tofu skin; Fang Li would likely love it.
The heat control for this Golden Thread Tripe Soup was spot on; it was just a pity there were no small bowls to take some back.
The Honey Steamed Cake was the sweetest and stickiest. This was something she had promised, and she kept it firmly in her mind.
Xu Zhihe tasted every single dish from her allocated portion. First, she divided them into ‘delicious’ and ‘average’, and then further subdivided the delicious ones into: ‘can be taken back for Fang Li to eat’ and ‘can only be eaten by myself right here.’
Watching her Miss’s actions, Fang Li curved the corners of her eyes.
The banquet gradually neared its end.
Just as Xu Zhihe felt that although the opening had been a bit frightening, the process had been reasonably peaceful and smooth, Concubine Du, sitting in the front row drinking rice wine from her cup, said to Deng Liangyu as if in passing: “Why is Deng Liangyu in such a hurry? Could you not even wait out the New Year’s Eve banquet? For those who don’t know, they might think you two had some sort of…”
As her voice fell, the previously clinking sounds of bowls and chopsticks dissipated entirely, leaving the crowd completely silent.
Xu Zhihe silently raised her eyes. Deng Liangyu was separated from her by Xu Yuyan, so she couldn’t clearly see his reaction, only able to see Xu Yuyan’s shocked, angry, and embarrassed face.
Xu Lanshu had found the entire meal dull and uninteresting. Hearing these words, she instantly wore an expression of watching a good show, looking left and right.
Concubine Du’s face was already flushed with wine, speaking without passing through her brain. Only when the hall fell silent did she realize those words were highly inappropriate.
Although she wasn’t the only one in the hall brimming with curiosity.
Without turning her head, Concubine Du could feel the gloomy, heavy gazes from Magistrate Xu and Madame Lü above. Her drunkenness instantly dissipated by more than half, and she stammered to cover it up: “This wine is strong. I drank too much wine and spoke nonsense. Young Master Deng, Fourth Miss, please absolutely do not take offense.”
Even Concubine Yao, who usually had a poor relationship with Concubine Du, took the initiative to smooth things over, saying: “Yes, I suppose Older Sister has become drunk on wine. Where is there any rushing? It is merely that the two of them share mutual affection, and their feelings reached a natural culmination.”
Concubine Du was somewhat surprised that Concubine Yao, who normally never saw eye to eye with her, was actually willing to proactively speak up for her. Although she found it suspicious in her heart, she still nodded along in agreement on the surface. “Exactly so. I do not know how to speak; I should punish myself with a cup.”
As she spoke, she picked up the wine on the table.
Sitting above, Madame Lü watched the two of them echoing each other like actors on a stage. She said coldly, “You have drunk enough today. Forget about this cup.”
Concubine Du had no choice but to put down the wine cup in her hand, wearing an awkward smile.
From Xu Zhihe’s perspective, she happened to catch a momentary, hesitant pause from Xu Yuyan, before she returned to normal after Madame Lü spoke up, acting as if nothing happened.
She was the main character of the discussion. Was it Concubine Du’s words that woke her up, or Concubine Yao’s?
There was no way to know.
After proactively smoothing things over, Concubine Yao raised her sleeve to cover half of her lotus-like face. Using her handkerchief to wipe away non-existent water droplets, she silently calmed her mood.
It was dangerously close just now; she almost ruined this good thing.
From the corner of her eye, she glanced at her biological Sixth Miss, and her previously pounding heart slowly settled down.
Right, once Shu-jie’er’s marriage was settled and the gengtie[1]A card containing the eight characters (year, month, day, and time) of a person’s birth, exchanged between families as a formal step in arranging a marriage. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3026739_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3026739_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); were exchanged with the Huangchi County Magistrate’s wife, there would be no need to worry about unexpected complications arising.
Thinking of this, she looked toward Magistrate Xu sitting at the head.
These past few days, she had constantly brought up Shu-jie’er’s marriage in front of Magistrate Xu—she was naive and straightforward, her ten fingers never touching spring water[2]A Chinese idiom used to describe a pampered woman who has never had to do any manual labor or household chores. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3026739_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3026739_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. She could not survive the days of commoners struggling for a living; if she were to be matched, she must be matched with an official’s son.
Magistrate Xu had always held Concubine Yao in the palm of his hand. Knowing that Concubine Yao couldn’t sleep at night because of Xu Lanshu’s matters, he immediately ran around making arrangements behind Madame Lü’s back.
Madame Lü had originally also taken a fancy to the legitimate second son of the Huangchi County Magistrate’s wife, it was just that Xu Yuyan had met Deng Liangyu first. He was unwilling to come back and wrangle with Madame Lü… If Madame Lü knew, even if she couldn’t secure this marriage for herself, she would absolutely not let anyone else in the residence benefit from it.
The Huangchi County Magistrate’s wife originally hadn’t looked favorably upon a concubine-born daughter. Although Huangchi County was not as wealthy as Eqiao County, both were magistrates of middle-tier counties; their official ranks were exactly the same size. On what grounds should her legitimate son marry a concubine-born daughter? Word spreading out wouldn’t sound good. It was only later, when Magistrate Xu proactively offered two shops yielding an annual income of six hundred taels from his private treasury, and also permitted their family to place serving concubines in the son’s room beforehand… that he finally got the Huangchi County Magistrate to nod in agreement.
Although Magistrate Xu cherished Xu Lanshu, he never thought the legitimate second son of the Huangchi County Magistrate would remain without concubines for his entire life.
Since he would take concubines sooner or later anyway, what did it matter if it was early or late?
Thus, he readily agreed. Aside from officially having people come to the door, the matter was already eight or nine parts settled.
He handled these matters secretively. Facing Concubine Yao, he only mentioned the progress to set her heart at ease; as for the rest, he didn’t utter a single extra word.
T/n: The New chapter is up! Enjoy the ride and do join us on this adventure 😍🎉🎊. If you want to support me, do check my other novels on my Translator’s Page🫶. You can support the original author here. Please vote on NU here. If you’re interested, you can also buy me a Ko-Fi. Happy Reading 🤓 💅.
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