Yan Zigui spoke words that shocked everyone, like thunder on a clear day.
Everyone went completely silent.
Yan Fu shook his head. “Brother, don’t push her. I know my niece—if she says she’ll do something, she really will.”
If she actually took down the plaque, the Yan family’s reputation in the capital would be ruined.
“Madam, do you still want to celebrate your birthday today?” Yan Ci asked Mo Huan. After throwing the cup, he was calmer.
“If Ci can cancel it, I won’t hold it. If not, then it’s fine.” This was useless talk—guests were about to arrive, and it wasn’t practical to cancel at the last minute.
Everyone understood—Mo Huan was trying to use this to control Yan Zigui, but Yan Zigui was unshakable.
“Then Aunt, you can rest first. Wait for the guests to arrive,” Yan Ci said. Rao Xue-niang helped Yan Zhenying escort Mo Huan to the bedroom.
“What Yan Zigui said yesterday wasn’t wrong. The titles used in the house were indeed a bit improper,” Yan Ci said, looking at the younger relatives. “Of course, it’s not anyone’s fault. We were used to this from when the old madam was alive. Father and mother weren’t back yet, so we didn’t change.”
“Father and mother will return in six months. Let’s change the titles in advance.”
“From now on, everyone in the household should call her ‘Aunt,’ not ‘Old Madam.’”
“You can call her Aunt or Grand-Aunt, but not Grandmother.”
“Can we still say it?” asked Yan Shitong from the second branch. His father is her real son.
“You may say it in private, but not in public,” Yan Ci replied. “You’ve all learned proper etiquette—you understand. No need for me to explain further.”
Yan Fu whispered, “It should have been like this long ago.”
Rao Xue-niang twisted her handkerchief, quietly regretting her husband wasn’t here—otherwise, she could have said something at this moment.
It was a total defeat. Both face and authority were gone.
“All right,” Mrs. Song waved, signaling everyone to return to their places. “Wait until the guests arrive before coming out again. Keep your expressions composed. Don’t expose your feelings and make people laugh.”
Yan Ci went to the study to calm himself, thinking about how he could have such a bold and fearless daughter.
Mrs. Song had people prepare for the guest reception.
Bi Yun asked, “Madam, won’t you comfort the eldest daughter? She left crying. She must be very upset.”
“She has completely won. Why should she feel upset?” Mrs. Song shook her head. “Tell her the titles have been changed. If she wants to attend her birthday banquet, she may. If not, she doesn’t have to.”
“Oh, have Bi Tao help her style her hair. The maids she brought with her all know northwest styles. They look awful.”
Bi Tao brought four maids to Yan Zigui’s courtyard. “These are the maids the old madam prepared for you.”
Yan Zigui looked and saw four girls, similar in size and wearing the same clothes. They looked like sisters.
“We are maids specially trained by the old madam for you. She said we are to serve you until death,” Dan Sha immediately said, worried they were being replaced.
Bi Tao smiled. “According to the household rules, every young lady has a nanny, one first-rank maid, two second-rank maids, and four general maids. They are not here to replace you. They will serve both of you so that you are better attended.”
“We are second-rank maids. Who is the first-rank maid?” Gan Cao asked.
“That is up to the young lady to decide,” Bi Tao said. “The first-rank maid earns a little more silver than the second-rank, but otherwise it’s the same.”
“My nanny?” Yan Zigui asked. “Her name is Chun Niang. Where is she now?”
Yan Zigui’s nanny had gone with her to Jia Lan Pass, but missed home. When Yan Zigui was five, she asked the old madam to return to the capital.
“Chun Niang is the senior maid of the eldest madam. Her family is in the Song household. The eldest madam trusted her enough to take her to Jia Lan Pass to serve you. But she returned halfway. The eldest madam sent her back to the Song household,” Bi Tao explained. “Do you want her to return and serve you?”
Yan Zigui shook her head. “Now that I’m back, I just want to see her. Since Mother sent her back, her contract is probably over. The servant-master bond is broken. There’s no need to continue it.”
“When you return, you should visit the Song household. Then you can see her,” Bi Tao suggested.
Yan Zigui nodded.
Bi Tao also brought fashionable clothes and jewelry. “These were prepared by the eldest madam. If you don’t like them, you can ask the shop owner to bring samples so you can choose personally.”
“This is Zi’er. She’s very skilled at hair and makeup. Would you like to try?”
The four maids all had color-based names: Hong’er, Lu’er, Zi’er, and Lan’er. The names were simple, but Yan Zigui didn’t care. Each had a colored ribbon on her belt matching her name, making it easy to recognize them.
Bitao and the maids surrounded Yan Zigui, pushing Dansha and Gancao to the side. Dansha wondered, “Do they think the hairstyle we did for her wasn’t good enough?”
Bitao seemed to have ears behind her head. Hearing this, she laughed, “No, that’s not it. Your style is clearly Northwest fashion—beautiful and unique. But Beijing styles are different. Cousins usually compare clothes and jewelry. I just thought it might be easier to switch to Beijing style so you won’t feel troubled.”
“You’re right. We didn’t think carefully enough.” Gancao joined in and discussed which hairpin would look best.
After finishing the new styling, Yan Zigui stood up. “The guests should be here now. Let’s go to the Luomei Hall and join the crowd.”
She didn’t care if her new hairstyle matched perfectly. For now, she had to play along. Gancao went with her, Dansha stayed home, and Zi’er, who was in charge of hair, went along too.
“We just arrived and don’t know everyone yet. Zi’er, please remind us,” Gancao said to Zi’er.
Yan Shurong had just reached Luomei Hall. Seeing Yan Zigui, she waved. “This is my granddaughter Tang Xunwen, a year younger than you. If I hadn’t heard you were back, she wouldn’t have come today.”
Tang Xunwen stood and smiled at Yan Zigui.
“In the garden, we set up small tables so the sisters can play. They don’t need to stay here listening to us talk,” Yan Shurong said. She knew her granddaughter’s temper. She already gave them face by coming; she wouldn’t demand more.
Yan Zigui presented her birthday gift and said a few polite words. Yan Shurong praised her for being sensible and filial. Mo Huan smiled faintly and waved, “Go play.”
After sitting down, Tang Xunwen said, “I see the servants’ titles in your house have changed. That’s good—they should have been updated long ago.”
Yan Zhenying hadn’t settled yet and looked a little uncomfortable.
Tang Xunwen didn’t notice and continued, “Actually, our family didn’t want grandmother to come to the Yan household often. Your great-uncle and grandmother aren’t at home. If you’re close, younger family members can visit—no need to trouble her.”
“Great-aunt is my great-grandmother’s cousin. She lives nearby. It’s fine for her to visit,” Yan Zhenying said with a smile.
“Even if she’s a cousin, this is the Yan house. She married your great-uncle as a concubine. Being a cousin comes second. Her formal rank is as a concubine,” Tang Xunwen said. “You don’t need to argue with me. She’s your grandmother, so she’s naturally favored. But you’ll marry one day—do you want a concubine in your back courtyard? Do you want to deal with another family’s concubine?”
Yan Zhenying stayed silent.
Before leaving home, the Mo family girls were warned by their mother: a strong girl was in the Yan household. Don’t provoke her or you’ll get embarrassed. Now, seeing her cousin frustrated, she couldn’t resist helping. She said quickly, “Your grandmother was originally set to marry your great-uncle, but he went to war and married her as a concubine instead. The old matriarch knew she was wronged, so she kept her in the house and let that person go with your great-uncle to Jialan Pass.”
“Your grandmother served the elders in the Yan household and cared for the children. She worked very hard. She’s not an ordinary concubine. Even the old matriarch recognized her importance,” the girl added.
Yan Zhenying pulled her aside to stop talking.
Tang Xunwen just smirked and ignored her.
Yan Zigui frowned, “So it’s like this… and I didn’t know?”
“The law and custom clearly distinguish wives and concubines. ‘Equal wives’ is only common among merchants. Your grandfather was a general, your father and uncles were officials. Such improper talk, if reported, could cause official trouble.”
Yan Zigui stood. “I need to ask and clarify to feel at ease. Even if the old matriarch is gone, no one should falsely blame her.”
“Don’t go, big sister!” Yan Zhenying anxiously tried to stop her. “At least let great-aunt enjoy her birthday.”
Yan Zigui wanted to ask at the feast, but that would cause conflict again.
“But I’m worried. This is a serious matter that could ruin the family,” Yan Zigui said seriously. “A younger family member said this—clearly an adult taught her. Do all the guests at the feast think the same?”
“If they think so, then the whole city thinks so. What about the reputation of our grandparents?”
“No outsiders are here today,” Yan Zhenying explained. “Except for the great-aunt, the Mo family, father’s close friends, and mother’s sisters. They are all family.”
Thinking carefully, who else would want to deal with concubines besides family?
“It’s not good if family members speak carelessly,” Yan Zigui sighed. “I have to clarify.”
“The Mo family just said it to save face. Big sister, don’t hold onto it,” Yan Zhenying said, biting her lip. She had to stay calm so Yan Zigui wouldn’t speak out at the feast. “We know great-aunt is a concubine and won’t overstep. Big sister, don’t make everyone unhappy.”
“But she spoke first and upset us. If you don’t say anything, now everyone blames me,” Tang Xunwen scoffed. “The Mo family—what right do they have to come to the Yan household? They’re the late old matriarch’s nephews, far removed. The general’s concubine’s brother is closer, but still not a proper relative. When the general and his wife return, if the Mo family tries to sit as guests again, it’s a dream.”