The March day was clear and breezy, the brilliant sun just beginning to rise. The shadows of the trees outside the window fell into the room, seeming to imprint unique patterns on the floor.
In the inner chamber stood a pearwood canopy bed. Through the hazy, misty cloud bed curtains, a figure could be vaguely discerned.
Shen Yunying’s brows furrowed and she bit her lip, her hands by her sides clenched into fists, still immersed in a vexing dream.
“Third Young Lady, Third Young Lady, it’s time to get up.” Yinping’s voice drew nearer, drifting steadily into the bed curtains.
Shen Yunying groggily opened her eyes just as Yinping lifted the bed curtains. Yinping’s face was anxious, her eyes urging.
Shen Yunying turned to look at Yinping, her eyes still hazy and not yet fully awake. She waved a hand at Yinping. “Good Yinping, let me sleep for another quarter of an hour.”
Yinping was unmoved, standing firmly by the bed and urging, “Third Young Lady, someone from Cihui Courtyard has already called for breakfast. If you don’t get up now, you’ll be late for morning greetings.”
Hearing this, Shen Yunying could only resign herself to getting up. She took the hot towel to wipe her face and wake herself up, muttering, “Grandmother is having her meal so early today?”
Yinping skillfully helped Shen Yunying change and do her hair while reporting, “Yinzheng just went to inquire. The Third Young Lady will know when she returns.”
Shen Yunying was blessed with a flower-like face and a moon-like beauty. Her figure was slightly plump, her snowy skin as white as congealed fat. Her pair of almond eyes were round and clever, revealing a hint of laziness, yet marred by faint dark circles beneath them. Her nose was high and straight, her lips as full and red as cherries.
She wore an autumn-fragrance green shallow cross-collar jacket with a moon-glow skirt, its folds overlapping so that it flowed like moonlight as she walked. It was made from a new bolt of fabric that had arrived in early spring. Once her hair was styled into a cloud-falling hairstyle, pinned with a crabapple white jade hairpin and adorned with a colored glaze bead flower on the side, a touch of loveliness emerged.
Yinping dusted an extra layer of powder under Shen Yunying’s eyes and sighed, “The Young Lady was reading by lamplight again last night. Be careful not to let Madam find out!”
Shen Yunying smiled radiantly. “My mother dotes on me. She won’t nag me for doing it once in a while.”
Shen Yunying shared the story she had finished last night with Yinping. To summarize, a poor scholar, after much hardship, passed the imperial examination to become the top scholar and married a princess. Soon after, his long-lost fiancée found him. The princess was willing to be a co-wife, and the three of them lived happily ever after.
Shen Yunying took a sip of hot tea and snorted coldly. “That princess was actually willing to be a co-wife. The top scholar was delusional, hoping to have a wife on each arm. How lamentable and infuriating.”
In her dream just now, she had seen both the princess and the fiancée in pain and resentment, while only the top scholar was smug and satisfied, which was why she was so angry.
Yinping smiled. “Those are just storybooks written by poor scholars. The Young Lady needn’t take them seriously.”
Shen Yunying naturally knew this and only read them for amusement.
A maid in a bean-green sleeveless jacket rushed in from outside. It was Yinzheng, who had gone out to gather news.
“Young Lady! Big news! The mansion gates are sealed, and no one is allowed in or out. Word from Cihui Courtyard is that a third-rank maid stole the Old Madam’s favorite ruby coral bracelet. The Old Madam is in a foul mood. You had better go over there early.”
“Exactly, or the Old Madam will punish you again,” Yinping immediately added.
Shen Yunying let out a soft laugh and said in a low voice, “Whether I’m late or not, Grandmother can always find a reason to reprimand me.”
Yinping and Yinzheng’s expressions stiffened, and they both sighed inwardly.
In the Taishi Mansion, everyone knew that the Old Madam disliked the mother and daughter of the third branch.
Logically, since the first three masters of the Taishi Mansion were all born of the primary wife, the Old Madam, if not treating them all equally, shouldn’t be so critical. But back then, the Old Madam had intended for the Third Master, Shen Fengcheng, to marry her niece, only to be intercepted by the Third Madam. Two years after the marriage, just as their daughter had turned one month old, the Third Master, who was serving in an official post away from the capital, met with a fatal accident.
Seeing the expressions on her two personal maids’ faces, Shen Yunying smiled nonchalantly. “Let’s go.”
Walking at a leisurely pace, Shen Yunying still arrived at Cihui Courtyard a quarter of an hour earlier than usual. However, many people were already inside the room.
First Uncle and Second Uncle were both present.
Among the female relatives, surprisingly, only Second Cousin Shen Yunman was there.
Seeing this lineup, Shen Yunying quickened her pace into the courtyard and quietly came to stand below Shen Yunman.
Shen Yunman glanced sideways at Shen Yunying, the corners of her lips lifting in a faint smile. Her tone was light as she said, “Third Sister is a step late again. Hurry and stand properly. You won’t escape a punishment from Grandmother today.”
Shen Yunman had inherited her mother’s round face. Her delicate features held a touch of innocence and naivety, making her look naturally young. When she put on the airs of an older sister in front of Shen Yunying, she would put on a stern face, frown, and speak in a cold tone to appear more imposing.
Shen Yunying nodded subconsciously and replied perfunctorily, “Second Sister is right.”
In truth, her mind had already drifted elsewhere. Something was amiss in Cihui Courtyard today. First Uncle and Second Uncle were here, but First Aunt, Second Aunt, and Eldest Cousin were not.
Shen Yunying secretly glanced at the seated figures. First Uncle’s face was tense, his slightly paunchy belly rising and falling noticeably; he was suppressing his anger. Second Uncle, however, was much calmer, even taking a shallow sip of fragrant tea.
Shen Yunying couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. It seemed the theft was a story the Old Madam had put out to distract everyone. But that had nothing to do with her.
Shen Yunying slightly closed her eyes and silently lowered her head. Today was the twentieth of the month. People from her mother’s estate would come to deliver produce. In early spring, there should be some fresh and tender things to eat.
For breakfast, she wanted to have bamboo and fern wontons, shepherd’s purse soup, and chive pockets. For lunch, she would order braised rice with spring bamboo shoots, xian du xian, and di san xian, with an additional clear water shield soup.
As her mind wandered, the sound of beaded curtains rattling suddenly came. Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Yunying saw Mama Li helping the Old Madam in.
The Old Madam was dressed in an agarwood-colored cloud-patterned brocade jacket with bat motifs and a front opening, and she wore a kingfisher feather headdress set. She sat in the seat of honor. Her calm, sharp eyes swept over everyone present, and her brow furrowed slightly when she saw Shen Yunying. Only after her children and grandchildren bowed in greeting did she slightly raise her eyelids and bid them rise in a cold voice.
She didn’t speak, nor did she let them leave.
The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Only Shen Yunying paid it no mind. Her grandfather was the esteemed Grand Preceptor, and her grandmother had accompanied him through his promotions, handling social engagements and managing the household with a strict hand. The Old Madam had her own ways of dealing with matters in the Rear Courtyard. Rather than worrying about the Old Madam, she might as well think about what to have for dinner.
After a short while, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard, along with intermittent sobs?
Shen Yunying immediately straightened up. She recognized the sound; it was her eldest cousin, Shen Yunzhi, crying.
As the eldest legitimate granddaughter of the current Grand Preceptor, Shen Yunzhi was gentle and graceful, skilled in poetry and literature, and had a reputation for her talent among the young ladies of the capital.
The usually pearl-like Shen Yunzhi was now dressed in coarse sackcloth, her hair disheveled. When she wiped her tears, the rough fabric chafed the skin around her eyes red.
Shen Yunying observed without a trace. First Aunt Madam Wen’s expression was grim, yet she still stood composed on the right, her hand tightly clutching a string of Buddhist prayer beads. Second Aunt Madam Wang, who always wore her heart on her sleeve, had a face full of schadenfreude.
“Mother, your daughter-in-law has brought this unfilial daughter to beg for forgiveness.” Madam Wen’s voice was choked with tears as she knelt solemnly before the Old Madam.
Shen Yunzhi followed with a thud, kneeling and pressing her forehead to the ground, not daring to look at the grandmother who had always doted on her.
“Beg for forgiveness?” The Old Madam set down her teacup with a sound that was neither heavy nor light. A flash of disappointment for Shen Yunzhi crossed her eyes as she said coldly, “Since you admit your guilt, does that mean you accept the punishment?”
Madam Wen’s heart leaped. Shen Yunzhi was her own daughter; how could she bear to send her to her death? Madam Wen quickly spoke up, “Mother, for the sake of Yunzhi not having made an irreparable mistake, I implore you to be lenient in her punishment.”
Seizing a moment, Madam Wen glanced at her husband. Shen Fengze immediately stood up and pleaded, “Mother, this matter should not be blown out of proportion. This rebellious daughter associating with an outside man is indeed a grave mistake, but we cannot let it tarnish the reputation of the Shen family’s daughters.”
Hearing this, Shen Yunying couldn’t help but gasp. Shen Yunzhi was actually having a secret affair with a man?
Looking over at Shen Yunman, she saw a smile flash across her face, leaving only a look of disdain.
Shen Yunying was not surprised. In their generation, the Shen family had only three granddaughters, all of similar age and all legitimate. Because their grandmother disliked her, Shen Yunying was naturally ranked behind her two cousins. Shen Yunzhi and Shen Yunman often competed with each other, with wins and losses on both sides. But the title of the eldest granddaughter of the Grand Preceptor’s main branch gave Shen Yunzhi more advantages in social circles.
Her two cousins were rather indifferent towards Shen Yunying. When they met, Shen Yunzhi would loftily remind her not to be lazy and unmotivated, while Shen Yunman acted according to the situation. On a normal day, their maids would never set foot in Shen Yunying’s courtyard.
Thus, Shen Yunying raised her head slightly with curiosity. She really wanted to know, what would the Old Madam do?
However, the Old Madam said, “Take her down for now. We will deal with her when your grandfather returns.” With a look, she signaled Mama Li, who hurriedly directed people to drag Shen Yunzhi away.
Her tone shifted, her eyes like cold arrows fixed on the two remaining legitimate granddaughters. “Yunman, Shen Yunying, you were not asked to avoid this matter today for two reasons. One, you have reached the age for marriage discussions and should be aware of certain things. Two, it is for you to take this as a warning. Remember that you are daughters of the Shen family and must not commit any shameful acts that would damage our family’s honor and reputation.”
Shen Yunman and Shen Yunying replied in unison, “Granddaughter understands.”
“Mm, how about this. You will go back and copy Admonitions for Women and Precepts for Women to properly reflect on yourselves.” The Old Madam’s gaze rested on Shen Yunying. “Yunman, two times. Yunying, you will copy them ten times. Your scholarship is mediocre, so writing it a few more times will help you remember it better.”
Shen Yunman softly agreed.
Shen Yunying gritted her teeth and accepted. Being punished with copying, she still had to say thank you. She sighed. Fortunately, she was used to being targeted by the Old Madam and had long been prepared; she wouldn’t be foolish enough to suffer a loss.
“There are no outsiders here. Do not spread a word of Yunzhi’s matter,” the Old Madam said with a warning tone, her eyes sweeping over everyone present.
Only then did Shen Yunying realize why, apart from the two legitimate granddaughters, only First Uncle and his wife, and Second Uncle and his wife were present.
Having achieved the desired effect, the Old Madam waved her hand, dismissing everyone.
Following the order of seniority, Shen Yunying was the last to leave. She suddenly recalled the look in the Old Madam’s eyes when she first entered the courtyard—it held a trace of annoyance and wariness.
Her grandmother probably didn’t want her to come today.
Shen Yunying let out a derisive laugh. Whether it was the Old Madam’s deliberate difficulty or her eldest cousin’s elopement with an outside man, Shen Yunying paid it no mind. As soon as she left Cihui Courtyard, Shen Yunying headed straight for her mother’s Jingyuan Studio.
Who would have thought that just as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, she would run into Shen Yunman, who was deliberately waiting to block her way.
Shen Yunman hadn’t followed her parents, but had instead lagged behind to wait for Shen Yunying to come out.
“Third Sister, your good fortune has arrived. If you can secure a marriage with the Yong’an Marquis’s family, it would be a great thing for the third branch as well.”
Shen Yunman’s eyes and brows were crinkled with laughter as she lamented, “What a pity for Eldest Sister. Had I known this would happen, I wouldn’t have competed with her for Meng Zhaowen’s rare book yesterday. Now it will be something she pines for her whole life.”
Shen Yunying looked up in surprise. It was common for her second cousin to be sarcastic with her. But what was her purpose in suddenly giving her this hint?
Shen Yunying couldn’t be bothered to get involved in the affairs of the Taishi Mansion. She just nodded slightly, pretending not to understand. “Oh. Your younger sister is hungry and is going to have breakfast. I won’t keep Second Sister company.”
Under Shen Yunman’s gaze of one who despairs of another’s failure to meet expectations, Shen Yunying quickly left with Yinzheng.