The next day was the day for paying respects.
Early in the morning, Jiang Lingyuan rose, washed up, and had breakfast first. Afterward, she sat on the rosewood chair before the dressing table.
The maid who styled her hair was no longer Michun, but Furong, who specialized in doing Jiang Lingyuan’s hair.
Each of the maids around her now had their own duties. Since everyone had arrived, there was naturally no need for Michun to handle hairstyling anymore.
Furong asked,”My lady, would you like something simple or elaborate?”
Jiang Lingyuan replied,”Keep it simple.”
Furong thought for a moment, then selected four pearls the size of longan fruits from the jewelry box, an apricot-yellow peony velvet flower, a jadeite vine hairpin, a gold peony hair ornament decorated with rice-sized pearls, and a pair of jade-carved eight-treasure earrings inlaid with pearls.
She arranged Jiang Lingyuan’s hair into a suiyun bun (a flowing cloud-style hairstyle). Her ink-black hair was twisted to one side, resembling drifting clouds. The style originally carried a slightly lazy elegance, but the added pearls, the teacup-sized peony velvet flower, and the pearl tassel hanging from the bun made it appear exquisite and delicate.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Jiang Lingyuan couldn’t help praising her.
“You truly have a pair of skillful hands.”
Furong smiled shyly.
“Thank you for your praise, My lady.”
Indeed, she had talented hands, but without constantly studying and practicing, she would never have reached this level. There were simply too many capable people around their young mistress.
After finishing her preparations, it was almost time.
Jiang Lingyuan brought Nanny Rong and Xunxia with her as she left.
Following the covered walkway, they arrived at Songhe Courtyard.
Although their pace was not slow, it still took nearly fifteen minutes to get there.
Duke Yu Manor was truly enormous.
Jiang Lingyuan was not the first to arrive.
When she entered, five or six other household members were already present.
Third Young Madam Lu was five months pregnant, and her belly was already showing. Yet she had arrived very early, which surprised Jiang Lingyuan slightly.
Nanny Cui was also polite toward Jiang Lingyuan.
“Fourth Young Madam has arrived. Old Madam is still dressing. May I ask what kind of tea Fourth Young Madam prefers? This morning we specially prepared ginger and jujube tea.”
Jiang Lingyuan smiled.
“I’ve never really been accustomed to the taste of ginger, so I must disappoint Nanny’s kindness. Please just choose whatever is convenient and bring me a cup.”
They would be living together for a long time. Jiang Lingyuan had no intention of making life difficult for herself over small matters.
A flicker passed through Nanny Cui’s eyes before she replied,”Then how about rose tea, Fourth Young Madam?”
“Thank you for the trouble.”
Third Young Madam Lu slightly curled her lips, thinking Jiang Lingyuan was being too demanding.
Nanny Cui had shown such goodwill, yet Jiang Lingyuan was acting arrogant and would surely offend her.
The other young ladies had various reactions.
Some were surprised, some disdainful, and some even showed a hint of admiration.
But none of them spoke.
Jiang Lingyuan wasn’t embarrassed. She simply sat there smiling as she listened to several young ladies discuss the latest fashionable clothing and jewelry.
After another fifteen minutes or so, all the female members of the household had arrived.
Old Madam Lu finally came out.
Looking at the hall filled with people, she smiled.
“Our family is becoming more and more prosperous. Quickly, bring the children onto my heated couch.”
She was referring to Eldest Young Madam Lu’s children, Jing-ge’er and Xuan-jie’er, as well as Second Young Madam Lu’s Min-ge’er.
Jiang Lingyuan knew that Eldest Master Lu also had an illegitimate son, but he had not come. Apparently, he had always been weak in health and had fallen ill again when the weather turned cold a few days ago.
No one wanted to offend Eldest Young Madam Lu, so nobody asked about him.
The three children each had their own wet nurses caring for them, so the adults didn’t need to worry.
Second Madam suddenly spoke.
“Now that A-Yun has also taken a wife, perhaps we’ll soon hear some good news as well.”
For newlyweds, “good news” naturally meant pregnancy.
Jiang Lingyuan refused to believe Second Madam didn’t know that she and Lu Yun had not consummated their marriage yet.
Clearly, this remark was meant maliciously.
Speaking of which, Jiang Lingyuan herself had not expected that Nanny Jin would spread the news about her and Lu Yun not having shared a marital bed on the day she returned to her family home.
By now, everyone in the manor probably knew.
But Jiang Lingyuan simply lowered her head and pretended to be shy.
Second Madam was using her as a weapon to criticize Eldest Madam.
After all, if the husband was unwilling to consummate the marriage, what could the wife do?
At most, people could say she didn’t know how to win her husband’s favor.
But even if they had already consummated the marriage, would anyone in the manor truly believe she could win over Lu Yun?
Sure enough, Eldest Madam spoke.
“Matters between husband and wife should naturally be left to the husband and wife. Our household is not the kind of place that mistreats people.”
After learning that her son had not consummated the marriage, Eldest Madam had been both shocked and frustrated.
And now, in front of Jiang Lingyuan, she couldn’t act superior anymore.
After all, her son’s actions had indeed been improper.
Old Madam Lu gave Second Madam a faint glance, then smiled warmly.
“Besides, such a young girl would naturally feel embarrassed. Ah Shu, have the spring clothes been arranged? In another month it will be time to wear them. We cannot let the women of our household have nothing suitable to wear.”
She was asking Eldest Young Madam Lu.
Eldest Young Madam Lu immediately smiled.
“Grandmother, please rest assured. Aside from Fourth Sister-in-law, all the other ladies of the household have already selected their fabrics and the clothes are being made. This afternoon, I’ll send the seamstresses to Fourth Sister-in-law’s courtyard to take her measurements.”
Jiang Lingyuan immediately said,”Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Eldest Young Madam Lu smiled.
“Fourth Sister-in-law is too polite.”
Old Madam Lu nodded.
“I know you’ve always been capable and clever. There are many happy occasions in our family this year, so you’ve had to work hard.”
Eldest Young Madam Lu quickly replied,”What is Grandmother saying? I actually hope we have happy events every day. We all enjoy celebrating together.”
Her words successfully made Old Madam Lu smile brightly.
Second Madam curled her lips in disdain, but because of Old Madam Lu’s earlier warning glance, she did not dare say anything unpleasant.
Eldest Madam, meanwhile, looked pleased and proud.
As for Third Madam and Fourth Madam, neither was particularly talkative. They simply sat quietly, their eyes showing a trace of envy.
Seeing that Old Madam Lu clearly wished to discuss household matters, Eldest Madam brought up another topic.
“Next month, the Zhang family household will come to deliver the betrothal gifts. At that time, Mother will have to help keep an eye on things.”
Third Miss Lu, Lu Xiaoyi, was an illegitimate daughter, but she was engaged to the legitimate eldest son of Zhang family, a fourth-rank military official. The wedding would take place in autumn.
Old Madam Lu smiled.
“Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have helped oversee it. Has the dowry been prepared?”
Eldest Madam answered,”According to the household custom, we provided three thousand taels of silver. I added another thousand taels of my own. Yue Yiniang is currently helping arrange the purchases, and I have also asked my personal maid Hong Niangzi to assist her.”
Since Lu Xiaoyi was an illegitimate daughter, Eldest Madam did not involve herself too deeply.
She had plenty of personal wealth, so she didn’t care about the amount of silver. Nor had she ever considered taking any of the household money meant for the dowry.
Old Madam Lu nodded.
“I’ll add more to her dowry when the time comes.”
Lu Xiaoyi’s face flushed red with embarrassment, but happiness was visible in her eyes.
After all, who wouldn’t want a richer dowry?
When the topic of dowries came up, everyone inevitably remembered the commotion at Yilan Courtyard the previous day.
They had heard that the dowry prepared by the Shen family had been carried in with many loads.
No one knew whether it was truly as abundant as rumored or whether Jiang Lingyuan had deliberately created a grand display to impress outsiders.
Some people wanted to ask, but after seeing Second Madam suffer a subtle rebuke moments earlier, no one took the initiative.
More importantly, most people did not really believe Jiang Lingyuan possessed such a large dowry.
After all, the Shen family had once been glorious.
But that was in the past.
Now, the Shen family no longer had anyone left.