Returning to Jingyuan Studio, Jiang Wensheng was lying on a rocking chair with her eyes closed, listening to a maid beside her recite lines from a Chang Sheng Dian opera script.
Shen Yunying walked over to Jiang Wensheng. “Mother, has the produce from the manor arrived?”
Jiang Wensheng opened her eyes, her voice gentle. “It has. I saved quite a bit for you.”
Jiang Wensheng sat up straight and beckoned Shen Yunying to come sit beside her. The morning sunlight streamed down, making Jiang Wensheng’s smile dazzling. Her fair complexion made her look more like Shen Yunying’s elder sister than a woman nearing forty.
As soon as Shen Yunying sat down, a maid brought over a plate of cherries and green plums.
Shen Yunying picked up a cherry and popped it into her mouth. She loved these, and this plate was surely prepared by her mother specifically for her to taste. While eating, she didn’t forget to instruct the small kitchen to prepare breakfast.
“You haven’t had breakfast yet?” Jiang Wensheng asked in surprise.
“No. Yinping rushed me this morning,” Shen Yunying said, her eyes shifting as she lowered her voice. “Luckily, Cihui Courtyard was lively, so getting up early wasn’t a waste.”
“Don’t get involved in matters at Cihui Courtyard,” Jiang Wensheng gently advised.
Shen Yunying never hid her curiosity for gossip in front of her mother. Clinging to Jiang Wensheng’s arm, she asked, “Mother, do you know what happened with Eldest Sister?”
The third branch had no access to authority in the Rear Courtyard. Whenever Shen Yunying wanted to know about matters there, she would send Yinzheng out to gather information. This time, news about Shen Yunzhi was not easy to come by.
“I actually do know about your eldest sister’s situation.”
Both maids in the pavilion were trusted confidantes, so Jiang Wensheng spoke without reservation. “Before the New Year, Eldest Sister-in-law attended numerous banquets to seek a husband for Shen Yunzhi and finally settled on the Heir of Marquis Yong’an. However, about half a year ago, Shen Yunzhi became acquainted with a young scholar from Boxue Shuzhai. Talented scholar and gifted lady, they connected through poetry. Both in their teens, it was inevitable that affection would blossom.”
“In this year’s Spring Palace Examination, that scholar failed. Meanwhile, the marriage arrangement between the Shen family and Yong’an Marquis Mansion had already exchanged birth charts. The Nazheng is scheduled for the end of this month, and next month, during the Old Madam’s birthday banquet, this happy event will be announced.”
Of the six marriage rites, after Na Cai, Wen Ming, and Na Ji, the next step was Nazheng. If all went smoothly, the two families would formally confirm the betrothal.
Shen Yunying took a sip of tea. “So Eldest Sister eloped with that scholar before the deadline?”
She still found it hard to believe. Shen Yunzhi was a young lady meticulously cultivated by her grandmother and eldest aunt. How could she resort to such drastic action? After all, a properly betrothed woman becomes a wife, while one who elopes becomes a concubine. If that man were to change his mind in the future, Shen Yunzhi’s situation would be extremely precarious.
“Yes. Both of them are now in your grandmother’s hands.” Jiang Wensheng was concerned about this matter because it might affect Shen Yunying’s own marriage prospects.
Shen Yunying looked at her mother with admiration. “Oh, Mother, you truly know everything happening in the mansion without even stepping outside.” To have uncovered such a secret affair.
“Isn’t it all thanks to generous silver?” Jiang Wensheng tapped her daughter’s forehead. “Breakfast is here. Eat it while it’s hot.”
Indeed, the three dishes Shen Yunying had requested were served: fragrant and springy bracken-filled wontons, and crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside leek pockets.
Shen Yunying praised, “The small kitchen’s skills have improved again. Mother is still the best at managing people—much better than the mansion’s main kitchen.”
Just then, a maid returned to report, “Madam, the gifts sent to various places have all been delivered. Cihui Courtyard accepted them without leaving a message. The First Madam and Second Madam returned tea and silk.”
Shen Yunying knew her mother had sent the tribute from the estate to each household. She pursed her lips but said nothing.
Yet how could Jiang Wensheng fail to notice her daughter’s thoughts? She smiled and said, “Are you really bothered by such trivial, worthless things? Since the family provides monthly allowances to support the third branch, we must not be discourteous.”
The third branch had only two masters, but maids, servants, coachmen, and horses all had to be provided for, with every month’s expenses covered by the public accounts of Taishi Mansion. On the surface, the Shen family had not mistreated the orphaned mother and daughter of the third branch.
Knowing her mother-in-law did not wish to see her, Jiang Wensheng simply claimed illness and avoided paying respects at Cihui Courtyard. Her relatives were all in Jiangnan, and she had only a few friends in the capital, living a largely secluded life.
As a junior, Shen Yunying had been required to pay respects at Cihui Courtyard since childhood. This was something Jiang Wensheng could not prevent, nor was it appropriate for her to interfere.
Shen Yunying lowered her head and muttered, “I know. I’ve never neglected the morning and evening greetings.”
Outwardly treated with kindness, yet inwardly scrutinized. The masters regarded the third branch as invisible residents of the mansion, and naturally, the servants followed suit with neglect. Shen Yunying had seen many two-faced servants who would switch their demeanor in her presence to flatter her two elder cousins.
Even though she grew up in Taishi Mansion, in Shen Yunying’s heart, Jiang Wensheng was her only family.
As for today’s preferential treatment from her grandmother, Shen Yunying was already accustomed to it. In her courtyard, there was a second-rank maid specially assigned to handle writing tasks, dealing with the punishment of copying assigned by the old madam.
Fortunately, it was always the same few books—Nü Ze, Nü Jie, and Buddhist scriptures. The maid would copy passages whenever she had time, accumulating quite a few volumes. When needed, Shen Yunying would simply take them out to fulfill the task.
After all, Shen Yunying carried the Shen family’s blood. Though the old madam was biased and cold, Shen Yunying still received festival gifts during holidays. But toward Jiang Wensheng, the old madam completely ignored her. They never met, no rewards were ever sent, and even when Jiang Wensheng offered tributes, not a word of thanks was uttered.
“We live in Taishi Mansion dressed in gold and silver, with no worries about food or clothing. Isn’t it only fair to give a little in return? Such matters aren’t worth your worry. In life, it’s all about eating and drinking,” Jiang Wensheng comforted her daughter. With a generous dowry and skillful management, she could buy anything Taishi Mansion failed to provide. Life was truly comfortable.
Shen Yunying nodded. She had fully embraced her mother’s life philosophy: eat, drink, and enjoy life. Her dissatisfaction stemmed only from feeling her mother was undervalued.
Mother and daughter chatted and laughed again, leaving only Yinzheng standing anxiously to the side. After waiting for a while, she finally found an opportunity to remind her young lady.
“Young lady, have you forgotten? Second Young Lady just said you should strive for the marriage alliance with Yong’an Marquis Mansion!” Yinzheng spoke rapidly, heaving a sigh of relief afterward. She knew her young lady had years of experience in brushing people off and would forget Shen Yunman’s words as soon as she heard them.
Shen Yunying was taken aback. “Oh right, Second Sister did say that. But I won’t compete.”
“The Heir of Marquis Yong’an is accomplished in both literary and martial arts, as handsome as Pan An, and as the heir, he will become the marquis in the future. Are you really not considering it?” Yinzheng felt it was a pity. The Heir of Marquis Yong’an was carefully chosen by the First Madam for Eldest Young Lady’s husband—he must be exceptional in every way. This was a rare opportunity.
Shen Yunying shook her head, uttering only a few words: “Too exhausting.”
She had heard that Yong’an Marquis Mansion had five branches, with over a dozen brothers of the heir’s generation alone. Having witnessed the struggles within the Shen family’s third branch, Shen Yunying felt weary just thinking about it.
Jiang Wensheng smiled and said, “His family is not suitable. The Marchioness comes from the Qinghe Cui Clan, where rules are strict and etiquette is numerous. The wife of the heir is both the eldest daughter-in-law and the matriarch of the clan. With Yunying’s temperament, how could she bear it?”
Shen Yunying wholeheartedly agreed.
Seeing that her daughter hadn’t given it much thought, Jiang Wensheng didn’t mention Shen Yunman’s intentions. Shen Yunman was also scheming for this marriage. Over the years, with Jiang Wensheng retreating to Jingyuan Studio and the strained relationship between the First Madam and Second Madam, how could the First Madam willingly hand over a carefully chosen son-in-law candidate to the daughter of the second branch?
But with Shen Yunzhi’s elopement scandal, the Shen family would only be more eager to finalize this marriage to quickly cover up the disgrace.
If not Shen Yunman, then it would be Shen Yunying.
Only when Shen Yunying was completely out of the picture would Shen Yunman effortlessly secure the match.
“By the way, for your grandmother’s birthday, the Jiang family will come to offer congratulations. Staying at Taishi Mansion would surely be uncomfortable, so I plan to tidy up the residence in the western part of the city. You should also go out shopping to buy a birthday gift for the Old Madam. I’ll leave this matter entirely to you.”
Shen Yunying readily agreed, “Who’s coming?”
The Jiang family was a long line of officials, though for generations they had only held minor positions of the sixth or seventh rank, never producing any exceptionally talented individuals. However, over the years, they had accumulated considerable wealth and fostered a strong scholarly atmosphere.
Shen Yunying’s maternal grandfather, Jiang Yi, was a teacher at Jiangnan Shuyuan, erudite and benevolent, with countless students. Though he never entered officialdom, he was highly respected among scholars. Jiang Yi had two sons and one daughter. Jiang Wensheng had married into the capital, while both sons served as officials elsewhere.
Shen Yunying recalled that her eldest uncle was in Yuyao and her second uncle in Yunxi, both within the Jiangnan region.
“Gao Xin will be studying at Guozijian (Imperial Academy), and his mother is coming along to manage things. Accompanying them are Gao Heng and your little cousin, who’s only five years old. I hear she’s as delicate as porcelain and utterly adorable.”
Jiang Gaoxin had placed first in the provincial examination this year and entered Guozijian to prepare for the Metropolitan Examination. Shen Yunying had heard since childhood about her eldest cousin’s exceptional talent, having achieved first place in both the child and provincial examinations. Now, he only awaited the next Metropolitan Examination, aiming for Lian Zhong San Yuan (triple first in imperial exams).
As for her second cousin, Jiang Gaoheng, Shen Yunying remembered his love for calligraphy, painting, and traveling. After passing the county-level examination, he had never returned home, instead traveling extensively for his studies.
Shen Yunying quickly considered the preferences of these individuals and formed an idea for how to arrange the residence.
After half a month of busy preparations, Shen Yunying finally found some leisure. With the residence decorated and the birthday gift prepared, she finally remembered to inquire about the aftermath of Shen Yunzhi’s incident.
“Third Miss, you’ve finally remembered to ask. I’ve been holding it in for so long.” Yinzheng puffed her cheeks, then looked regretful. “The Eldest Miss was sent back to Tong’an Old Residence five days ago. The First Madam pleaded at Cihui Courtyard every day, but it was useless. The Grand Tutor himself gave the order: the Eldest Miss is seriously ill and must return to her hometown to recuperate, praying for the ancestors’ protection.”
“The Eldest Miss is seventeen this year. If she stays at the old residence for a few years, her future marriage prospects will be difficult.” Yinzheng felt a pang of sympathy, having heard from the old servants that Tong’an was a small county town, thousands of miles from the capital. The Eldest Miss might never even return to the capital in the future.
Shen Yunying remarked, “It’s still better than losing her life.”
She recalled the First Madam’s pleas that day. If her grandparents had been ruthless, they could have forced Shen Yunzhi to take her own life or become a nun—that would have been true suffering.
As long as her grandfather and eldest uncle were around, no one at Tong’an Old Residence would dare mistreat Shen Yunzhi. Moreover, matters at the old residence were managed by her eldest aunt. Even if she secretly cared for her daughter, the Old Madam would know but say nothing.
“Any news about that scholar?” Shen Yunying’s voice was cold, her intuition telling her this man was up to no good.
Yinzheng shook her head, “That, I don’t know. In my opinion, the Grand Preceptor and the First Master won’t let him off.”
The man was audacious, attempting to abduct the eldest daughter of Taishi Mansion.
“Forget it, the commotion at Taishi Mansion has nothing to do with us.” Shen Yunying pulled out a bag of Candied Plums and a small jug of green plum wine.
Both were made under Jiang Wensheng’s guidance. The taste was excellent.