Chapter 37

Chapter 38: The Banquet (Part II)

The Sixth Miss of the Qiao family was slightly stunned.

She hadn’t expected that someone else would also personally craft tea, just like her.

The Second Wife of the Xu family, Madam Xiang, came from a scholarly family. Her father was the top scholar of the thirtieth year of Jianwen and had served as an Academician of the Hanlin Academy and Chief Librarian of the Imperial Academy. She had been renowned for her virtue since childhood, and the Xu family had tried three times to arrange a marriage through a matchmaker but to no avail. Later, after her father met Xu Ling'an, who was handsome and clever in his youth, and with the guarantee of Senior Imperial Concubine Bai, the marriage was finally agreed upon.

However, just three years after Madam Xiang married into the Xu family, Xu Ling'an passed away from illness.

“How is the Second Wife doing?” the matriarch asked, her expression softening with concern.

The elder madam could no longer mask her grief. “Ever since An’er passed away, her heart has been as pale as mourning silk, and she rarely comes out to socialize.”

The Sixth Miss of the Qiao family showed a look of compassion.

Madam Qiao shifted her gaze and smiled. “You should encourage her to go out more often. She is an intelligent woman, but without someone to look after her, it’s natural for her to feel melancholy during the spring. If not for Third Lady bringing out this cup of osmanthus tea, I wouldn’t have thought of it. Our Sixth Miss also loves doing such things. Why don’t we take this opportunity to visit the Second Wife? It will liven up her place, and it will be a chance for our Sixth Miss to meet her. They are sure to get along. Having someone around will lift her spirits.”

The elder madam was moved. “This is a good idea.” She immediately stood up, abandoning her tea. “Let’s go sit at her place for a while.” She then called a maid named Dongxiu by her side. “Go tell the Second Wife that the mother-in-law has come to visit. We’ll be sitting at her place.”

Dongxiu left in response.

The Third Lady, meanwhile, instructed a maid named Jinrui by her side, “Arrange for a few green-curtained carriages to come.”

The elder madam waved her hand with a smile. “It’s a rare good weather day today. Let’s walk, and we’ll have the carriages come to fetch us on the way back.”

The Third Lady agreed. The group headed north back to the previously visited Guangliang Gate.

The gatekeeper woman hurriedly came forward to welcome the elder madam inside.

Ahead stood a rockery made of white Taihu stones, with several towering ancient trees planted beside it. After rounding the rockery, there was a large mountain covered in green trees on the left and a winding, secluded forest on the right.

The Third Lady assisted the elder madam as they led them into the forest, walking along a small path paved with stones. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they saw a verdant bamboo forest ahead, with a small courtyard nestled within it.

In front of the courtyard, there were seven or eight stone steps. A woman dressed in a plain embroidered jacket, accompanied by Dongxiu and an unfamiliar maid, was standing on the steps, looking out.

Seeing them, Dongxiu and the unfamiliar maid helped the woman down the steps.

This woman must be the second wife of the Xu family…

Thinking this, Eleven Miss couldn’t help but observe the woman more closely.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, slender with fair skin and delicate features, her beauty understated yet striking. Her gaze was calm and serene, and she walked with a composed and unhurried demeanor.

“Yizhen!” The elder madam’s face was already full of smiles.

“Mother!” The second wife greeted the elder madam with a smile. The elder madam quickly took her hand and helped her up. The matriarch, Madam Qiao, and others greeted her in turn, and then introduced the visitors to her.

The second wife was very polite and smiled. “I don’t have anything good to offer, but here are a few strings of sandalwood beads for you to enjoy.” The unfamiliar maid handed out several small red lacquer boxes to them.

After receiving the gifts with thanks, the second wife helped the elder madam up the steps. “Please take care! It’s not easy to walk here. If you need anything, just send someone to call me.”

The Third Lady also hurried over to assist from the other side.

“We don’t have anything important to do,” the elder madam said, carefully watching her footing. “The mother-in-law has come to Yanjing, so we’re just visiting you for a sit.”

Behind them, the maids assisted their mistresses up the steps.

Eleven Miss noticed that the steps were made of Taihu stones with water patterns, and occasionally, a few grass blades sprouted from the gaps between the stones. At the top of the steps, a door plaque bearing the word “Shaohua” greeted them. Upon entering the courtyard gate, bamboo lined the path, and the moss was thick and lush. A gentle breeze occasionally stirred the leaves, lending the place an air of quiet serenity, as if hidden deep within a mountain retreat.

Upon entering, the room was modest, with three interconnected chambers, black lacquered columns, and a floor paved with white stone. In the central hall, a painting of Guanyin holding a flower hung on the wall, alongside a couplet written on purple-black mud gold cloud dragon paper: "May the sweet dew from the vase be sprinkled far and wide, and may the willow in hand know no bounds of time." On the long black lacquered table, only a few citrons were placed on sweet white porcelain plates. In front, a square black lacquered table stood with two throne chairs on either side.

The second wife seated the elder madam and the matriarch in the throne chairs. A young maid brought a black lacquered rosewood chair from the inner room for Miss Qiao to sit on, and another maid brought black lacquered stools for the others. For a moment, the small hall was filled with people.

The elder madam called Sixth Miss from the Qiao family to her side and said to the second wife, "She heard about your osmanthus tea and was eager to meet you, so I thought I'd bring her along."

Sixth Miss from the Qiao family hurriedly stepped forward to greet the second wife. "At home, I wrap tea leaves in gauze and place them in unopened lotus flowers, but the fragrance is always a bit faint. Your osmanthus tea is much more fragrant." She appeared eager to learn, her innocence and curiosity on full display.

The elder madam's eyes sparkled as she looked at the second wife.

"Making lotus tea," the second wife said with a faint smile, "is best done with white lotus flowers, unopened in the early morning. Secure them gently with hemp string, pick the flowers the next morning, and dry the tea leaves. Repeat this three or four times, and the tea will retain its flavor while gaining the fragrance of the lotus."

Sixth Miss from the Qiao family's eyes widened in amazement, and she covered her mouth with her hand. "We need to use white lotus flowers?"

The second wife nodded. "White lotus flowers have a clearer and more fragrant scent than red ones."

As they chatted, a maid quietly brought in the tea.

The tea had the fresh scent of plum blossoms.

Sixth Miss from the Qiao family was full of surprise. "You also use plum blossoms to scent the tea?"

The second wife smiled. "Anything with a fragrance can be used," she said, glancing out the window. "The garden blooms year-round, so it's easy to scent the tea with whatever flower I choose. There's no rush, just enjoyment."

Eleven Miss found herself thinking about the steep steps leading to the second wife's courtyard. They were quite steep, like climbing a mountain. Ordinary people wouldn't come up often.

Sixth Miss from the Qiao family continued to ask the second wife about tips for making flower-scented tea, pastries, and porridge. Eleven Miss felt that some of the advice was exaggerated and a bit affected, but some of it made sense.

The second wife's smile remained polite, but there was a faint distance in her eyes, as if she were keeping everyone at arm's length. The elder madam noticed this and felt a hint of disappointment.

Seeing this, Miss Qiao suggested taking a walk in the garden. "The winter jasmine by Spring Grace Pavilion should be in bloom!"

The second wife smiled and said, "It just bloomed yesterday!" She then accompanied them to see the winter jasmine.

The elder madam took the second wife's hand, and they left Shaohua Courtyard, walking through the path in the woods and onto a wide stone path. They headed north, where a winding river, like a dragon, stretched before them. Crossing the pavilion called Biyi, they continued on a winding east-west stone path. As they walked, the clear water rippled gently on one side, while steep hills and dense forests loomed on the other. The soft breeze carried the scent of flowers, lifting their spirits and filling them with a sense of peace.

Eleven Miss's pace slowed, and she gradually fell behind.

A maid came over and asked, "Miss, are you tired? Would you like to rest for a while?"

"No, I'm not tired," Eleven Miss hurriedly said, though her steps slowed even more.

Dongqing and Amber were anxious to go and support her, but she declined, saying, "...in case my mother asks."

The maid lowered her head and followed her without urging. It seemed she was from Third Lady's room, but she was a kind-hearted one.

Eleven Miss gave Amber a knowing look and then asked with a smile, "What is your name, sister?"

"My name is Qiu Ling," the maid replied with a smile.

"Ah, I have an older sister with the same 'Qiu' character in her name," Amber exclaimed.

Qiu Ling smiled faintly as Eleven Miss moved ahead with Dongqing.

Amber and Qiu Ling began to chat quietly. "This garden is really beautiful! I heard that next door lives the Duke of Ding and the Marquis of Wei Bei."

Qiu Ling nodded and smiled, "The Zheng family, who are the Dukes of Dingguo, live in front of us, and the Lin family, who are the Dukes of Weibei, live to our west."

Amber looked envious, "So, all the families that come and go are from prominent and noble backgrounds?"

Qiu Ling smiled and nodded.

"Do they also drop by each other's places like we do?" Amber asked curiously.

"Of course," Qiu Ling smiled, "The matriarch of the Lin family is very close with our Fourth Madam. She visits the Fourth Madam every few days."

Amber's eyes shifted slightly, "Does the Duke of Mao often come too?"

Eleven Miss smirked and led Dongqing to catch up with Fifth Miss.

There, Qiu Ling was taken aback, "Why are you asking about that family?"

Amber quickly explained, "I've heard people talk about the prominent families in Yanjing. They mentioned your estate and also the Duke of Mao's estate..."

"How can they compare to our family?" Before Amber could finish, Qiu Ling had already shown disdain, "Although our family also relies on the legacy of our ancestors to get by, our late Marquis once served as the Deputy Minister of Rites. As for their Duke, he struggled to get a position as a clerk at the Imperial Stud through his in-laws, but he couldn't even figure out the number of foals under his care and was dismissed..."

Amber looked surprised, "He got the job through his in-laws? Who is the in-law of the Duke of Mao?"

"The late Grand Scholar Jiang Jie, who served in the Wenyuan Pavilion," Qiu Ling smiled.

"Jiang Jie?" Amber's eyes flickered, "I've never heard of him."

"No wonder you haven’t," Qiu Ling covered her mouth and laughed, "Mr. Jiang passed away more than ten years ago."

Amber gave a dry laugh, "Tell me more, sister... I've only done needlework at home and never heard of these things before." She then looked admiringly, "Sister, you know so much!"

Qiu Ling smiled, "I only know a little because our Madam likes to ask the Master about these things."

Amber reached out and gently took Qiu Ling’s arm, "Good sister, tell me more. I'll go back and tell my Miss, so she can know too."

Qiu Ling just smiled.

"Good sister..." Amber pleaded.

"It's not a secret," Qiu Ling smiled, "Have you heard of the Le'an Jiang family?"

Amber shook her head.

"They once had two imperial tutors..." Qiu Ling's voice gradually lowered, and their pace slowed down.

The two paused beneath a large tree, their voices lowering as they delved into the details.