Chapter 154

Chapter 157: The Invitation (Part 1)

Lady Wen was at a loss for words, so Qin Yi stepped forward with a smile and said, "We came to see if there's anything we can help with for the eldest daughter!"

Eleven Miss understood clearly in her heart that Lady Wen wanted to see her daughter... but there was a clear distinction between their statuses. If she encouraged Zhenjie to interact with Lady Wen as if they were mother and daughter, others might ridicule Zhenjie for lacking proper decorum. This was something she couldn't change. Yet, the bond between mother and daughter is innate, and if Lady Wen simply wanted to see Zhenjie out of maternal longing, she was more than welcome.

"Since the two concubines are here, why not help see what else this room might be lacking?" Eleven Miss said with a smile, though her eyes glanced toward Zhenjie. She noticed Zhenjie looking at Lady Wen with a somewhat confused expression.

After being separated for so many years, meeting so suddenly like this, it was understandable that Zhenjie wouldn't know how to interact with Lady Wen.

Eleven Miss led the two on a tour of the room with a smile, and Zhenjie, not daring to be remiss, followed closely behind.

Lady Wen seemed somewhat absent-minded, while Qin Yi occasionally exclaimed in admiration. Zhenjie kept her head down, occasionally stealing glances at Lady Wen.

After the tour, everyone sat down again, and Eleven Miss had stools brought for the two concubines to sit on. "Time is tight for now, so we'll have to make do with this arrangement." She explained the plans to renovate the second courtyard next spring and to select a separate courtyard for Zhenjie in the back garden after the fifth madam moved out, all to reassure Lady Wen.

"Madam is truly thoughtful," Lady Wen said, her eyes flashing with a peculiar expression as she looked at Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss smiled, "This is my duty, so I wouldn't call it thoughtful. But from now on, the eldest daughter will be living with us, so let's all visit each other more often. A family should be harmonious and warm, that's what makes it a home."

Lady Wen and Qin Yi nodded repeatedly.

Seeing that it was getting late, Eleven Miss invited the two concubines to stay for dinner. "Lady Qiao isn't feeling well, so we won't call her. There are no outsiders today, so let's all eat together."

She didn't want to enforce strict etiquette in front of Zhenjie—after all, Lady Wen was Zhenjie's birth mother, and Zhenjie deserved some respect.

Zhenjie looked at Eleven Miss, her eyes slightly moist.

Lady Wen was also surprised.

Since Eleven Miss had arrived, she had been very cold toward the concubines, only meeting them for morning and evening greetings, and otherwise communicating through maids, let alone inviting them to stay for meals.

This was the first time.

For a moment, she was overwhelmed with emotions.

She hadn't expected Eleven Miss to show her such respect, nor had she expected to appear before her daughter without having to bow and scrape...

Lady Wen curtsied to Eleven Miss, "Thank you, Madam."

Eleven Miss had three tables set up.

She, Zhenjie, and Chun Ge sat at one table.

Madam Du and Madam Tao sat at another table.

The two concubines sat at a third table.

Though it wasn't exactly lively, it was still a joyful occasion.

After the meal, Madam Du and Madam Tao took Chun Ge to rest in Zhenjie's room, while Zhenjie followed Eleven Miss to her room for a nap. The two concubines returned to their own rooms.

Eleven Miss and Zhenjie sat together by the dressing table. Amber helped Eleven Miss remove her hairpins, while Xiao Li helped Zhenjie take off her pearl hairpins. Zhenjie, feeling a bit shy, climbed into Eleven Miss's bed. Eleven Miss smiled at her, "Go to sleep. We'll decide what to eat for dinner later when we wake up."

Zhenjie nodded, closed her eyes with a smile, and waited until Eleven Miss's breathing became steady. Then she opened her eyes and stared quietly at the canopy, thinking about Lady Wen...

So this was the person who gave birth to her...

A delicate figure, fair skin, eyes filled with laughter, wearing long gold earrings with cat's eye stones that swayed like a swing by her ears, very beautiful.

But why does everyone speak of her with such disdain? They all say she would do anything for money...

She felt a bit restless and, remembering her stepmother was lying beside her, carefully turned over.

Before this, she had only seen Lady Wen once.

It was when her birth mother died... the household was in chaos, and she pretended to be lost and ran to the small courtyard in the east. Lady Wen wasn’t in the courtyard, and she didn’t dare linger, so she lowered her head and left. At the gate, she heard someone call "Lady Wen" and looked up to see a figure in a pale moon-colored dress.

She wondered if Lady Wen had secretly come to see her... or, since she had money, whether seeing her was important or not—once when she was asleep, she vaguely heard her wet nurse, Madam Hu, and Sister Wei talking: "The young lady is so pitiful. Qin Yi, Yuge’s mother, is afraid of implicating her son and dares not take a wrong step, but Lady Wen, as long as there’s silver, she would even sell her daughter... What kind of people are the Wang family? Even if the Yongping Marquis Estate now has an empress, even without that prestige, it would be impossible to marry the eldest daughter to a mere merchant. Who knows how much benefit she received from the Wang family!"

But she shut her eyes tightly, afraid that Madam Hu would know she was awake. Yet, for some reason, even with her eyes closed so tightly, tears still streamed down.

Recalling these memories, her eyes stung once more.

Suddenly, gentle hands rested on her shoulders: "Zhenjie, I was also born of a concubine." The voice was calm and steady. "We can’t choose where we come from, but we can choose where we go."

Zhenjie turned over, and through her blurred, tear-filled eyes, she saw a pair of eyes as warm as the gentle sunshine of March.

"Don’t cry!" Eleven Miss took a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "A girl’s tears are like pearls; shed too many, and they lose their value."

Zhenjie managed a tearful laugh.

Eleven Miss stroked her hair: "Zhenjie, you’re only eleven years old, with so much ahead of you. The past is just a very small part of your life. You’ll meet better people and experience better things. You will have a brighter future."

Zhenjie nodded.

She recalled her worries and fears when she heard her father was going to marry her birth mother’s younger sister as his second wife... In the end, things didn’t turn out as she had imagined. Could this mean meeting better people in the future?

Zhenjie hesitated to speak.

Eleven Miss said softly, "Are you struggling with how to interact with Lady Wen?"

Zhenjie remained silent.

"She is a concubine in the estate, and you are the young lady of the estate. When you meet, simply be courteous." Eleven Miss said, "If she needs help with something, as long as it’s not harmful, you can help her. That will honor the bond between mother and daughter."

She couldn’t advise Zhenjie to get closer to Lady Wen.

The elder madam had made it clear that Zhenjie was the eldest daughter of the Yongping Marquis Estate. In the future, she would marry into a family of equal status, and her actions must align with societal expectations. Otherwise, she would feel very painful and be ostracized by society.

Zhenjie smiled.

"Try to rest a bit now." Eleven Miss smiled. "If Madam Du sees you later, it will be troublesome. If she thinks I’ve been secretly hitting you and reports me to grandmother, I’ll be in big trouble!" she joked.

Zhenjie smiled softly and asked Eleven Miss in a low voice, "Mother, are you also in a tough spot?"

Eleven Miss was slightly taken aback.

Zhenjie whispered, "With Yuge, me, Chun Ge, and the concubines, are you also in a tough spot?"

Someone understood her struggles...

Suddenly, tears welled up in Eleven Miss’s eyes.

She shook her head with a smile: "No, Zhenjie is my good helper, Chun Ge is also very well-behaved, and although I have less contact with Yuge, he is studious and smart, and I like him very much. The concubines entered before me, served your father, and gave birth to you all. Even if they haven’t achieved much, they’ve worked hard. I think it’s fine."

Zhenjie looked at the glistening tears in the corner of her eyes, nodded slightly, and leaned her head on Eleven Miss’s shoulder without saying a word.

The room was silent, save for the ticking of the clock, adding to the room’s serenity.

"Buddha's Delight, Kung Pao Rabbit, Coriander Fried Pigeon, Mountain Delicacies and Dragon Sprouts, Jade Bamboo and Ferns, Osmanthus Fish, Fresh Mushrooms and Greens..." Zhenjie looked up at Miss Eleven, her face full of confusion, "This... so many..."

"Today is your housewarming party!" Miss Eleven laughed, "When you complete your mourning next April, we will officially choose a nice spot in the back garden for your courtyard and throw a big celebration. We can also invite Huijie from the Lin family."

Zhenjie felt a bit embarrassed, "It's too extravagant!"

"Occasionally, it's fine," Miss Eleven smiled as she handed the list to Amber, "Please take this to the kitchen."

Amber smiled and retreated.

Miss Eleven then called Binju, "Go to the greenhouse in the back garden and bring some blooming flowers to decorate."

Binju smiled and went to the greenhouse in the back garden.

Miss Eleven asked Lv Yun to call Mrs. Nanyong, "Come and do our hair beautifully."

Lv Yun responded with a smile.

Chun Ge ran up to her, "Mother, mother, what about me? What can I do?"

Miss Eleven laughed, "When the flowers from the greenhouse arrive, you can help set them up."

Chun Ge nodded repeatedly.

Madam Tao anxiously said, "This isn't appropriate, this isn't appropriate!"

Miss Eleven smiled, "With so many of you watching, just let the little one assist with lighter tasks. We're not making him do hard labor. What are you worried about?"

Zhenjie then said, "Should I help him move them?"

Miss Eleven stopped her, "We need to dress up. Chun Ge, you're in charge of arranging the flowers."

But Chun Ge was not satisfied, pulling Zhenjie's sleeve, "I don't want to arrange flowers; I want to dress up beautifully like my sister."

"Alright," Miss Eleven laughed, "We'll do our hair while you watch."

Chun Ge agreed repeatedly, and Madam Tao sighed in relief.

When Mrs. Nanyong arrived, Miss Eleven and Zhenjie held hands and went to the inner room, with Chun Ge following closely behind.

Today's protagonist was Zhenjie, and Miss Eleven didn't want to overshadow her. She seated Zhenjie by the mirror and had Mrs. Nanyong style her hair into a bun and adorned it with pearl flowers. Xiao Li helped her change into a moon-white embroidered bamboo silk jacket, standing as gracefully as a white lotus.

"Sister is so beautiful!" Chun Ge laughed beside her.

Miss Eleven also looked satisfied, took her hand, and went to the east wing.

Red lanterns hung under the eaves, and the tea table in the room was adorned with flowers of the Three Friends of Winter. A large red hibiscus was placed on the long table in the hall, giving the room a festive look.

"It's like New Year," Madam Du smiled as she admired the flowers.

"Thank you, mother!" Zhenjie's eyes sparkled.

Miss Eleven smiled slightly.

But in her heart, she was worried about Lord Xu, who was far away in the Western Hills.

It had been three days, and there was no news from him, nor any updates about the Fifth Prince's illness... The fact that the news was so tightly sealed itself carried an unusual implication.

What path would the Xu family take, and what awaited them... Miss Eleven felt a vague sense of fear. That's why she particularly wanted to bring the children closer through Zhenjie's move.

In critical times, family unity is essential to weather the storm.