Chapter 47

Chapter Forty-Eight: Aftertaste (Part 2)

The final act was "The Reunion."

Cai Bojie met with Zhao Wuniang. Zhao Wuniang told him about the affairs at home. Overcome with grief, Cai Bojie promptly submitted his resignation, requesting that Zhao Wuniang and Niu Shi return to their hometown to observe mourning rites. The emperor and his ministers praised Zhao Wuniang for her "virtue and devotion to family" and decided to honor the Cai family.

As soon as the emperor appeared on stage, Eleven Miss’s eyes widened involuntarily—she noticed a minister standing next to the emperor, dressed in a python robe, with a painted face, tall and upright, his demeanor more imposing than the emperor's.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but smile.

It was a shame Elder Madam wasn’t here right now...

She couldn’t help but watch Fifth Young Master Xu’s performance closely.

Though he had just one line, his expression was intensely serious...

Eleven Miss looked at Fifth Lady.

She was smiling at the stage, her eyes filled with joy.

Eleven Miss’s lips lightly curled up.

Fifth Lady appeared deeply invested in Fifth Uncle Xu’s affairs...

She pondered, and then saw a woman wearing a peach-colored beizi and an emerald green floral-patterned silk skirt quietly enter.

Eleven Miss focused her eyes and realized it was Qiao Lianfang, the sixth miss from the Qiao family.

She looked troubled, forced a smile, exchanged a few words with Lady Qiao, then sat on a stool behind her. Lady Qiao turned to speak to her, but Qiao Lianfang seemed distracted, taking a long time to respond, which caused Lady Qiao to frown frequently.

Only then did Eleven Miss’s heart settle completely.

With one key person absent, things were simpler—after all, catching a thief requires proof, and catching an adulterer means catching them together...

She then thought of the white embroidered bamboo, orchid, and plum skirt.

Why was she wearing a silk skirt instead...? For one, silk skirts are typically worn by married women, and secondly, the vibrant silk stood out too much... Given that she was already dressed this way, why hadn’t Elder Madam found her the white skirt instead?

As Eleven Miss pondered, she felt a gaze land on her, unwilling to leave.

She glanced over and saw Qiao Lianfang staring at her blankly.

Eleven Miss forced a bitter smile.

Even the most forgiving person would feel uncomfortable if their worst moment was witnessed!

She had no choice but to pretend she didn’t notice and act as if she was listening to the play attentively.

It wasn’t until much later that the gaze sticking to her disappeared.

Eleven Miss breathed a sigh of relief and then saw Miss Lin and Miss Tang walking in side by side, laughing. Fifth Miss followed behind them, her face looking unwell.

Seeing Qiao Lianfang, all of them were startled.

Qiao Lianfang also saw the three of them and nodded with an awkward smile.

The three of them nodded back to greet Qiao Lianfang. But after the greeting, Miss Tang looked at Qiao Lianfang and whispered something to Miss Lin. Miss Lin listened, her half-smile turning into a glance at Qiao Lianfang, suggesting they were privately discussing her.

Qiao Lianfang’s face immediately flushed red.

Miss Tang said something to Miss Lin, who then looked at Miss Tang with a teasing glance, both of them giggling with their hands over their mouths.

Qiao Lianfang looked pale and was visibly uncomfortable, like she was sitting on pins and needles.

The two of them didn’t look at her again and returned to their respective elders, who each asked their younger generations in low voices.

Fifth Miss returned to the matriarch’s side. The matriarch smiled at her and asked, “Did you meet Second Madam? Why did you come back so soon? You should have stayed there longer.”

“I met Second Madam,” Fifth Miss replied respectfully. “Second Madam even treated us to Qingquan Baishi tea. Later, Du Mama from the elder madam’s side came to fetch us, saying the play was about to end, so we came back.”

Qingquan Baishi tea? What kind of tea is that exactly?

Eleven Miss wondered inwardly, but the matriarch nodded approvingly and smiled. Then she said, “Sit down and take a rest! The play is indeed about to end. I don’t know if it’s just me, but sitting around doing nothing all day feels rather pointless.”

“Mother is used to running the household, so naturally, you’re not used to this kind of idleness. It’ll get better with time!” Fifth Miss said with a smile.

The matriarch smiled and turned her head to listen to the play, and Fifth Miss obediently sat down next to Eleven Miss.

As soon as she sat down, the two misses from the Gan family and Ten Miss returned.

Ten Miss had her arm linked with Seventh Miss Gan, Lan Ting, both chatting and laughing happily. Third Miss Gan, on the other hand, walked behind them with a helpless expression, while two maids following her each carried a handful of wildflowers and grass.

When they saw Qiao Lianfang, their expressions remained calm, unlike Miss Lin, Miss Tang, and Fifth Miss, who had shown surprise. However, their confident entrance caught everyone’s eye.

Madam Huang even laughed and said, “Sit down quickly! You’re blocking our view of the show.”

Third Miss Gan’s face turned slightly red as she murmured a soft “Yes,” while Seventh Miss Gan giggled and ran to Fifth Lady, bowing her head to chat with a smile. Ten Miss curtsied toward Madam Huang and then went forward to curtsy to the matriarch with a smile.

The matriarch nodded at her gently with a warm smile, and she smiled as she sat down next to the matriarch.

Third Miss Gan followed and bowed to Madam Gan, saying, “Mother!”

Mother?

Eleven Miss was quite surprised.

Could it be that Third Miss Gan was born of a concubine?

Then, thinking of Madam Gan’s youthful appearance… or perhaps, Madam Gan was a second wife?

“Have you caused any trouble?” Madam Gan asked with a kind smile.

“How could I?” Third Miss Gan replied, though not entirely respectfully. “Even if we’re not very knowledgeable, we wouldn’t do anything rude at the Xu family’s place.”

Madam Gan didn’t mind and smiled slightly. “Sit down quickly and have some tea—look, there’s sweat on your face!”

Third Miss Gan nodded casually and sat down. Naturally, a maid came forward to pour her some warm tea, and another maid fanned her with her sleeve.

She then greeted Eleven Miss casually, “Is the play good?”

Eleven Miss nodded. “It’s sung very well.”

“If it weren’t for this girl, Lan Ting, I could have enjoyed it properly too,” she grumbled good-naturedly. “Do you usually watch plays at home? What kind of plays do you like?”

“I don’t usually watch plays at home,” Eleven Miss said with a smile. “This is my first time!”

Third Miss Gan opened her eyes wide and then nodded understandingly. “I see. There’s not much entertainment in the countryside.” There was no arrogance or condescension in her tone, just a statement. It didn’t feel offensive; instead, it revealed a kind of innocent naivety.

Eleven Miss’s lips curved slightly upward.

"What's Third Sister talking about now?" Miss Seven of the Gan family suddenly appeared behind Third Miss. "One of the three major opera troupes in Yanjing, 'Jiexiang Society,' sings in Yuhan dialect. Sister Luo's hometown is in Yuhan."

Third Miss of the Gan family was slightly startled and looked at Eleven Miss with a hint of displeasure, as if she felt deceived.

Eleven Miss felt both amused and exasperated.

There was no point in arguing with these young girls.

She had no choice but to explain again, "I used to accompany my father when he was stationed in Fujian. Later, after my grandfather passed away, I returned home to observe mourning and have never listened to any operas."

Third Miss of the Gan family's expression slightly cleared, and she nodded.

Miss Seven of the Gan family smiled with her mouth pursed and then took Eleven Miss's hand, "Please don't blame my third sister. She's always been straightforward in her speech."

It wasn't a big deal, and since the other party had come to apologize, Eleven Miss would naturally accept the goodwill.

She widened her eyes, a playful smirk on her face, "What Miss Seven said is correct! There isn't anything fun there... So why the need to 'not blame' me?"

Miss Seven of the Gan family laughed. "You're quite the character!"

Eleven Miss also smiled.

Madam Huang turned to scold, "Lanting, can't you stay still for a moment? Sit properly. I can't hear the opera on stage."

Miss Seven of the Gan family stuck her tongue out at Eleven Miss and sat beside her, but still couldn't resist whispering in her ear, "Is Lianfang borrowing a skirt from Fourth Madam?"

Eleven Miss's heart stirred, but her face remained expressionless. "How did you know?"

Miss Seven of the Gan family winked at her. "She originally said she would go with us to visit Second Madam after the opera. Halfway there, she suggested flying a kite instead. The main path had a strong wind, perfect for kites. But she encountered a young maid who said the view at Spring Grace Pavilion was better. She insisted on going there. And then, out of nowhere, while standing by the pavilion admiring the view, a maid picking winter jasmine crashed into her, tearing her skirt. So, she had to return... I didn't expect her to borrow a skirt from Fourth Madam."

Eleven Miss felt her heart pounding.

From Spring Grace Pavilion, you could see a crescent-shaped lake with a waterside pavilion... Fifth Miss had once whispered to her, asking if that was the Marquis's study, "Half Moon Pond."

She looked at Miss Seven of the Gan family.

Miss Seven of the Gan family was all smiles, with a glint of cunning in her eyes.

It hit Eleven Miss like a bolt of lightning.

Every word from Miss Seven of the Gan family had deeper meanings.

Eleven Miss decided to play along. "Oh, isn’t Third Lady here? Why would she need to borrow a skirt from her elder sister?"

Miss Seven of the Gan family's eyes lit up, and her smile grew even brighter. "Elder Sister was called away halfway by the kitchen staff. They said the sturgeon personally ordered by the elder madam was missing and asked Elder Sister to go check. So, before she even set foot in the garden, she was called away. Otherwise, why would Lianfang have changed her plans?" She said, clearly implying something.

Eleven Miss couldn't help but smile wryly.

One coincidence piled on top of another until it became inevitable.

But who was the cicada? The mantis? The yellow bird?

The light was gradually dimming, and the older women of the Xu family's residence moved stealthily under the eaves of Dianchun Hall. The large red lanterns were being lit one by one.

The gongs and drums beside the opera stage continued to sound loudly, but the actors on stage had changed from passionate and vigorous to high-pitched and melodious. Cai Bojie was flanked by Zhao Wuniang on the left and Niu Shi on the right, emulating the virtues of Ehuang and Nüying...

The praises of the various madams could be heard.

"Fifth Miss is truly blessed to become the wife of a top scholar!"

"Niu Shi is virtuous and magnanimous!"

Eleven Miss felt a moment of confusion.

It turned out that despite all her hardships, Zhao Wuniang's end was just this.