The sound of water moved by the oars mixed with the loud noise of people on both sides of the river. Inside the boat cabin, however, it was very quiet. A young woman dressed as a Taoist priest held a cup of tea and took care of two pale women lying weakly on a couch.
“It is all my fault,” one of them said. “I am useless and still need Miss to take care of me.”
“Who knew you would get seasick?” Yan Zigui said with a smile. “This is also my first time on a boat, yet I am not sick. Maybe it is because I have southern blood in me, so I can endure it a little better.”
“If we had ridden horses, we would have arrived by now. Why suffer like this?” Dansha said angrily. She had been unhappy for a while. They were riding horses just fine, but halfway through, people from the Yan family came to meet them and made them travel the rest by water. It made them suffer greatly.
Gancao glanced at her, because people from the Yan family were sitting just outside the cabin.
“We are already entering the city. We will arrive very soon,” Yan Zigui comforted them.
Sure enough, before long, the boat reached the shore. Yan Zigui got off the boat. Before she could look carefully at the scenery along the river, someone hurried her into a carriage, saying that the main wife of the household was already waiting.
Yan Zigui turned back. Her maids were being helped off the boat, along with their luggage.
“Someone will take care of them,” the woman who came to receive her said kindly. “Miss, please get in the carriage quickly and return home to reunite with your family.”
Yan Zigui did not argue and got into the carriage.
The carriage traveled through the busy market streets for about fifteen minutes. Outside the window, the noise slowly faded into silence. The carriage stopped.
“Miss, we have arrived home.”
Yan Zigui stepped down. She looked up at the black gate. There was no signboard and no decoration.
“If you enter through this gate, it is the closest way to the Old Madam’s courtyard,” the woman quickly explained when she saw Yan Zigui’s expression. “Originally, since Miss left home at two years old and is returning for the first time in more than ten years, you should enter through the main gate.”
“But the main wife misses her daughter very much and does not want to waste even a little time.”
Yan Zigui swallowed her questions. If her mother wanted to see her sooner, what did that have to do with the Old Madam’s courtyard? Her grandmother was at Jialan Pass. They could not possibly meet in her empty courtyard.
The woman only escorted Yan Zigui to the second gate. Another clever maid came forward to lead her to Luomei Hall. Along the way were carved beams and painted pillars. The courtyard was full of flowers and green leaves. The maids wore bright red and green clothes, their sleeves flowing in the wind. It was a scene of wealth and luxury.
Yan Zigui, however, wore a simple Taoist robe with a patchwork pattern. Her hair was wrapped in cloth, and her face still showed the tiredness of long travel. She did not quite fit the surroundings.
Before she reached the main hall, she heard lively voices. Yan Zigui wondered how many relatives must have gathered to make such noise. When the curtain was lifted, everyone inside turned to look. After seeing her dusty and travel-worn appearance, they suddenly fell silent.
Yan Zigui immediately understood. There were guests in the house today.
They had hurried her, someone who had just returned from far away, into the hall to meet guests without even giving her time to wash or change clothes. They were waiting for her to embarrass herself.
Yan Zigui laughed coldly in her heart. She waved her whisk lightly and bowed in Taoist greeting to everyone.
“I came from far away and did not know there were guests in the house. If I have been rude, please forgive me.”
Mrs. Song stood up. She also seemed surprised that Yan Zigui appeared like this, but she quickly said, “This is my daughter, Zigui. She has just returned from Jialan Pass.”
Yan Zigui looked at her. The woman wore a long light-purple robe. Her hair was arranged beautifully, and her skin was smooth and soft. Except for her sharp eyes, it was hard to tell her age.
This was her mother.
“Is this Zigui?” An elderly woman sitting in the main seat on the right spoke excitedly. “You have grown so much! Come here and let me look at you carefully. You look a little like your grandfather when he was young.”
Yan Zigui looked at her carefully and stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “Zigui greets Great-Aunt Grandmother.”
“You recognize me?” The old woman became even more excited. “Since you were born, I have only seen you three times. Yet you know I am your great-aunt grandmother?”
“Grandmother once said that among Grandfather’s brothers and sisters, only Great-Aunt Grandmother looks most like him. She said I would recognize you at first sight,” Yan Zigui explained.
When Yan Shurong heard this, she pulled Yan Zigui into her arms and gently stroked her. Tears filled her eyes.
“My dear sister-in-law, we have not met for twenty years, and she still remembers me.”
The guests present had thought the host family had invited a Taoist priest to say some lucky words. Only now did they realize she was the Yan family’s eldest daughter—the one who had been sent to Jialan Pass at two years old. They looked at one another in surprise.
“My good aunt, why are you crying?” Rao Xueniang stepped forward to comfort Yan Shurong. “Zigui has just returned home today and is meeting everyone for the first time. At least let her get to know people first.”
This was her second uncle’s wife.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier that Zigui was coming back today?” Yan Shurong complained. “If I had known, I would have brought all the girls from my family so the sisters could become familiar with each other.”
“You all live together, but she alone stayed at Jialan Pass to show filial respect, keeping your grandparents company,” Yan Shurong said, sniffing. “She has finally come home, yet you treat her carelessly. You should hold a proper welcome banquet for her.”
“Aunt, you are joking,” Mrs. Song said with a soft laugh. “She is still young and cannot bear such importance. Since we have guests today, and she is of the younger generation, we simply let her come in to greet everyone.”
The daughter she had missed day and night was standing right in front of her. But the look in her mother’s eyes was less loving and more like careful inspection.
Yan Zigui nodded slightly. Her mother was right.
“I will personally visit Great-Aunt Grandmother’s home later. It will not be too late to meet the sisters there.”
Yan Shurong patted her hand. “Good, good. I will wait for you at my home. It would be best if you stay with me for a few days.”
“Jialan Pass is not a place for religious practice. Why is the eldest young lady dressed like this?” someone in the crowd asked.
Yan Zigui looked over but could not tell who spoke.
“This is your cousin-aunt from the Mo family,” Yan Shurong told her.
Yan Zigui glanced at the elderly woman sitting on the left. She looked noble and graceful, smiling kindly at her.
This was Grandfather’s cousin from the Mo family—the concubine?
Yan Zigui showed nothing on her face and calmly answered the question.
“Last year, as usual, Grandmother went to burn the first incense for Grandfather and asked for a fortune reading. The fortune said the year would be unlucky and that a blood relative must practice in his name to remove the bad luck. So I took his name and practiced for him.”
“You must be sincere in your practice. Your filial heart is admirable,” Yan Shurong nodded. “Last year passed safely. This year, the Emperor has allowed him to return to the capital. After guarding Jialan Pass for twenty years, he can finally come home and reunite with the family.”
“This is because of the Emperor’s kindness and Grandfather’s twenty years of loyal service. I do not dare to take credit,” Yan Zigui replied.
Everyone present was a stranger to Yan Zigui. She could slowly figure out her own family’s relationships later. As for the outside guests, they were mainly relatives by marriage. The Mo family counted as guests.
She then learned that tomorrow was the Old Madam’s birthday. The relatives had come today to celebrate in advance.
“I wonder which family’s Old Madam is celebrating her birthday?” Yan Zigui asked as if she did not know. “Even though time is short, I should still prepare a small gift to show my respect.”
“Miss, are you confused?” Aunt Mo laughed. “Since we are gathered here, whose Old Madam could it be? Of course, it is your family’s Old Madam.”
Yan Zigui also smiled.
“My grandmother is at Jialan Pass. I truly did not know that the Yan family had another Old Madam.”
The lively room suddenly became completely silent again.
The main wife was still alive. How could a mere concubine act as the true Old Madam?