Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Although it was already the beginning of spring, the chill lingered. Yao Niang wore a long cotton robe with a large red background and golden branch and leaf patterns. On her head, she wore a gold-inlaid precious flower hairpin, and a gold-inlaid phoenix-through-peony hair ornament held her hair in place, complemented by matching hair coverings on both sides. Although Yao Niang usually did not like to wear such jewelry, she always dressed appropriately when guests came or for important occasions, which was the elegance expected of someone from a prominent family.

Today, Shen Linfeng had to go to the office and would return in the evening. He rarely asked Yao Niang to help him dress because she usually woke up later, and besides, he could spend half a day choosing his clothes when he wasn't wearing his official attire.

Lady Shen had already prepared the banquet, and everyone was gathered there, as she was the matriarch of the household.

Lady Shen Er was chatting animatedly, discussing matters of the eldest aunt's family with Lady Shen: "Isn't her son's wife, Chen, quite capable? I heard that her daughter, who is only four or five years old, is learning to write and play the zither. She is truly diligent."

"Indeed," Lady Shen marveled.

Lady Shen Er said, "That's how things are nowadays."

"Our Feng is six years old before he started school, and now he has passed the imperial examination. I think it's too much for children to start school too early," Lady Shen leaned back.

Yao Niang also agreed with Lady Shen. She started learning the zither around eight and reading at six. Starting too early meant that many things taught by the tutors were hard to understand. After eight, even when the tutor didn't come, she could understand things well on her own.

Moreover, talent in reading and playing the zither varies. Qian Niang once studied under Mr. Yu and played quite well at the time, but later became just another ordinary person.

As for Ying Niang, she was a year younger than Yao Niang. Despite being made to learn everything together with them by Lady Zhen, Ying Niang's limited aptitude led to poor sleep and made her the shortest among the sisters.

Regarding Shen Linfeng, before interacting with him, Yao Niang thought he was very diligent. Indeed, he was diligent in his studies and often boasted about it. However, Yao Niang found that he loved sleeping and was not as diligent as Yan Jingzhao.

Pulling up seedlings to help them grow is not necessarily a good thing.

Yao Niang had observed the eldest aunt's daughter-in-law. She was very friendly to the main branch of the Shen family but ignored those who were less fortunate, sometimes not even acknowledging them.

Lady Shen Er, however, said, "Children these days are all like this. I have a relative whose child started school at three and could write."

"I remember your Yan started school at four, and he was smarter than Feng when he was young," Lady Shen remarked.

A hint of embarrassment crossed Lady Shen Er's face, but she quickly recovered: "Elder Sister, our Bangyan fits the saying, 'precocious in youth, mediocre in adulthood.'"

Lady Shen hurriedly said, "Don't say that."

Yao Niang heard everything clearly. Seeing Lady Shen's awkwardness, she naturally wouldn't help her out.

"Ladies, Second Lady, and the other madams, Third Lady has arrived," Zhou Mama announced again.

Amidst this, Yao Niang quietly observed everyone's emotions. Lady Shen remained the most composed; as the eldest lady, she was content to be a good elder sister no matter whom Lord Shen married. Lady Shen Er, however, seemed somewhat indifferent. In her view, a young girl marrying an older man was likely motivated by wealth and power, and she looked down on such people.

Seeing Lady Shen make such a grand effort, Lady Shen Er considered her foolish. If she had put so much effort into her own daughter-in-law, her son might not have become estranged.

As for Qing's mother and Jiang's second mother, they hoped for someone easier to deal with. A young, favored, and meddlesome mother-in-law would indeed be a disaster. After Zhang, Shen Kuo's second wife, entered the household, she demanded that Shen Kuo's son from his first marriage be expelled and forbidden from receiving any support. Though they didn't get along well normally, their positions were now aligned.

Wang Shi was the most relaxed, as this matter had nothing to do with her, and she didn't take it seriously. Shen Mo was playing with the coral bracelet given by Empress Chang, feeling particularly unlucky after her engagement to the Hu family fell through, and lacked enthusiasm for anything.

Not to mention Uncle and Aunt Three.

At such a family banquet, Lady Shen naturally did not invite Han Ruohua, who was merely a cousin.

Yao Niang watched coldly, determined to see what Lu Shaner was like.

This was Lu Shaner's first visit to the Shen family residence in the capital. Although she grew up in the capital, she was more familiar with it than Kaifeng. The candied haws from Wang Huizi, the lamb soup from Qing Puzi, and the fish broth from Feng Dajia were all delicious. She often went out to sell flowers and used the money to eat at various places, trying to figure out what she liked.

Now, if she wanted to eat those things, she would likely be criticized for lacking refinement.

Just like herself, her so-called novel ideas, if not elegant, would interest Lord Shen superficially, but he would probably only taste a little or let her eat alone.

The Shen family residence was indeed much more splendid and even unusually large compared to the official residence of Governor Shen in Kaifeng. It was hard for her to imagine needing to travel by sedan chair within someone’s home.

She sat upright in the sedan chair, holding her breath and restraining herself from moving.

As soon as she stepped out of the sedan chair, several women came forward to greet her. They wore new white jackets with green trim, matching skirts, and adorned their heads with hairpins or wore several rings on their hands. She wondered if these were the madams of the Shen household?

Then she heard one of them introduce herself: "Third Madam, I have been sent by First Madam to escort you. We will assist you."

Fortunately, it was just a servant, Lu Shaner thought to herself, feeling quite embarrassed. She smiled faintly and allowed them to guide her along, passing through two covered walkways and then through a moon gate. In front of her stood the main hall. The flowers and plants outside the main hall were enclosed by intricate fences, and there were two white cranes and two peacocks displaying their magnificent tails, which left her speechless.

She had known that the Shen family was wealthy, but she hadn’t expected such opulence. The imperial palace could hardly be more grandiose than this.

Meanwhile, Auntie Zhou was also appraising Lu Shaner. Seeing her striking beauty, the bright red jacket made her look even more radiant, with a touch of rouge on her lips, making her appear incomparably beautiful. No wonder Third Master was so captivated. Just like her own master, who originally had no particular fondness for the Yan family, but after meeting Miss Yan San once, he was utterly smitten, eager to send gifts to the Yan family every day, and treated his wife with great kindness.

Lost in thought, they had already arrived at the main entrance. Auntie Zhou said to Lu Shaner, "Third Madam, we have arrived."