Chapter 28

**Chapter 28**

Master Zhou's plan to snag a son-in-law from the list of successful candidates had failed. It was said that most of these scholars had already arranged marriages during the preliminary exams. However, the Zhou family still had another joyous event to celebrate—Second Young Madam was about to join the household.

Look, the dowry’s already here!

Jin Niang and the others hurried to the front courtyard to see the excitement. The people delivering the dowry from the Zhang family were dressed in royal-blue short jackets paired with gray trousers, each with a red waist sash tied around their waist. The front rows carried gilded camphorwood chests, some adorned with peony patterns, others with peach motifs—all looking lavish.

Not to mention the furniture brought in afterward, all of which were complete sets. What fascinated Jin Niang the most were the rattan incense tables and the root-carved incense tables, simple yet elegant. Fang Qiaolian nudged her: "Look, that screen is inlaid with mother-of-pearl. I like this kind."

"No, I prefer that plum blossom painted screen," Jin Niang replied with a smile.

The dowry wasn’t limited to furniture and wedding quilts—even chamber pots were stocked up. Moreover, since the Zhang family was a scholarly household, they included several chests of ancient books and calligraphy as part of the dowry, leaving everyone stunned.

Qin Shuanger listened to the continuous exclamations of admiration around her and glanced at Cui Xian, who was bustling about not far away. She sneered. The new madam was making a grand entrance, and the old maids might not last.

Nearby, Jin Niang noticed Qin Shuanger’s expression. She thought to herself that Qin Shuanger and Cui Xian had no past grudges or recent conflicts. Even if Second Young Madam disliked Cui Xian, the senior maid, it had nothing to do with Qin Shuanger. Why act like this?

After watching the spectacle, Jin Niang headed back first. Having finished embroidering the Buddhist scriptures, she received a reward from Second Master—a pound of mixed incense, a bolt of purple gauze, and two strings of cash. This year, she could bring more gifts to her parents and younger brother than last year. She prepared a bolt of silk, three feet of gauze, and a pair of candle holders, having Shu Embroidery Studio deliver them.

No matter what, she needed to save up for her future.

Especially while young, one must accumulate experience. In her past life, she was adrift after graduation, lacking any plan for the future. It took her over a year to get her bearings, but by then, she had missed many good opportunities.

Lost in thought, she saw Lan Xue enter. "Jin Niang, Second Young Madam will arrive tomorrow. There will be many guests outside—will you come and help?"

"Of course. I’m free tomorrow, and who else would I help if not you?" Jin Niang wrapped her arm around Lan Xue’s and sat down, sharing some pastries with her.

Lan Xue watched as Jin Niang devoured four pieces in one go and tapped her lightly. "Weren’t you trying to lose weight?"

Jin Niang grinned sheepishly. Though she was disciplined in earning money, she lacked the same determination when it came to dieting.

Since she often stayed up late doing embroidery, skipping meals made her sluggish. After eating, she still had to sketch a new floral pattern—today’s sketch was *Bean Blossoms and Dragonflies*.

Lan Xue sat down and said, "Tomorrow, relatives, friends, and Master Zhou’s colleagues will all come. Our little tea room will be swamped."

"Don’t even mention tomorrow—with Second Young Madam’s dowry arriving today, you’ll likely have to prepare refreshments already," Jin Niang teased.

Lan Xue sighed and resignedly stood up. "You’re right. I’ll head back now."

Jin Niang smiled and shook her head, only to see Qin Shuanger enter. The moment she stepped inside, she announced, "Second Young Miss has taken a shine to Qiaolian and just called her over to make shoes."

"That’s Qiaolian’s skill," Jin Niang replied indifferently. She had no fondness for Second Young Miss—spoiled, hot-headed, and mean—and was glad the girl never sought her out.

So much for Qin Shuanger’s attempt to stir the pot.

Instead, Jin Niang asked, "How are Cui Xian and Bi’e? I heard the Zhang family sent matrons and maids."

At this, Qin Shuanger said, "I don’t know about those two maids, but Second Young Madam’s attendants are impeccably disciplined. Three or four matrons all wore faint smiles and stood as straight as our measuring rulers."

"Second Master’s quarters must be packed now with all those attendants," Jin Niang mused. Originally, Zhou Cunzhi had six maids. With Second Young Madam’s arrival, another dozen or so would likely be added to serve them personally.

Juggling so many people would be tough. Jin Niang thought how difficult it must be for a bride—entering an unfamiliar environment where her husband was already accustomed to his own servants and surroundings, while she had to adapt to so many new faces. And the Zhou family’s main branch was already flourishing.

The next morning, on the day of Second Master’s wedding, Jiang Shi’s sisters-in-law, Wu Shi and Xi Shi, came to help. With limited space in the main household, the second branch even set up additional seating along their corridor. The three matriarchs of the Zhou family had always gotten along well. Jiang Shi knew why—Wu Shi was a second wife who had only borne one child in her thirties and had no interest in power struggles, while Xi Shi came from an even humbler background. Neither dared overshadow her.

Jiang Shi had always prided herself on her distinguished family background and her accomplished children. But now, her daughter-in-law’s status surpassed her son’s, and her son was not one to yield gracefully. She feared this marriage might turn into a resentful union.

As she pondered, Green Tassel entered and announced, "Madam, the ladies from the Han family have arrived."

Lady Jiang urged, “Quickly, get someone to bring tea.”

Green Tassel hurried off to give the orders.

Jin Niang and the others from the needlework room had locked their doors today and were helping out everywhere. Qin Shuanger had long gone to assist in the second young master’s courtyard—being nearby meant getting first dibs, after all, since the bride’s arrival would bring lucky money. Meanwhile, Fang Qiaolian and Jin Niang were both helping in the tea room, while younger maidservants like Si Er and Xiao He were scurrying about delivering messages.

Lan Xue had Jianzhan tea bowls here—wide at the rim and narrow at the base, some shaped like funnels. Jin Niang and the others often came by to help, so even though she had initially known nothing about tea ceremonies, she gradually picked up some skills.

She first scooped in one and a half spoonfuls of tea powder, added an appropriate amount of water, and then whisked it with a tea whisk—beating the tea powder into a thick, creamy froth to give the tea a smooth, velvety texture. Then she handed it to Lan Xue, who used a tea spoon to dip water and create patterns, completing the tea preparation—much like coffee latte art.

This final step was a technical skill Jin Niang couldn’t yet manage, so she could only work like a factory hand, vigorously whisking foam. She was sturdy and strong, with a knack for it, and the foam she produced earned rave reviews from Lan Xue and the others.

“A few more rounds like this, and you’ll be a pro,” Lan Xue laughed.

“All my years of strength training, just for your tea!” Jin Niang waved her hand.

One bowl of whisked tea could fill four cups. Lan Xue, who had been carefully ladling earlier, now just started pouring straight in.

Cai Juan from the First Madam’s quarters came over and asked, “Lan Xue, is it ready yet?”

“Done, done! These are for the Han family—all prepared.” Lan Xue was nearly frazzled from the hurry.

Once they left, Jin Niang spread her hands. “Let’s keep going. This is just the first round. We’ll keep whisking—guests will be streaming in nonstop.”

Lan Xue, however, said, “No need to kill ourselves. The First Madam has hired the Four Bureaus and Six Offices—they’re leagues ahead of us.”

The Four Bureaus and Six Offices? Jin Niang recalled how, back in her village, hosting guests meant relying on neighbors for help. No matter the era, money smoothed everything over.

With that, she relaxed a little—but then someone immediately urged them, saying Lady Jiang and her party had arrived. Jin Niang had no choice but to pick up the tea whisk again and resume whisking foam.

The front courtyard was also bustling. The fourth young lady was now dressed up—this year, she no longer styled herself as before but instead followed the fashion of young maidens, her hair tied in double loops with a bridge hairpin in the center.

On such occasions, Concubine Miao and the like couldn’t enter the main courtyard. The fourth young lady had once thought Concubine Miao’s treatment wasn’t bad, but now she understood how painful it was to be ignored. In modern times, people claimed they’d happily laze around as long as they had good food and didn’t have to work—criticism didn’t matter. But in ancient times, she realized that others’ respect meant everything.

Entering the side room, she saw the other young ladies had already arrived and were sipping tea. The fourth young lady noticed her three elder sisters were all dressed grandly, especially the third sister, who was naturally beautiful and now even more striking. Unbeknownst to her, while she observed others, they were also observing her—the fourth young lady’s delicate beauty was also remarkable, though she wasn’t yet accustomed to it. In her past life, she had merely been plain, but now, in this ancient world, she had been reborn with a stunning appearance.

The third sister, like her, was a concubine-born daughter. Usually competitive, she was now striving even harder—though the marriages of the eldest and second sisters took precedence, so her turn was still far off.

Just as she sat down, the maids summoned them to the main hall. The fourth young lady stepped inside and nearly gagged from the heavy perfume of hair oil. Inside sat the in-laws of the Han and Jiang families. The Han family still stood strong—this was the old madam’s reliance—while the Jiang family, though their descendants were weak, remained influential.

Lady Jiang visited often, but Madam Han rarely came. Today, she wore a white-horned headdress with tassels draping to her shoulders, adorned with a flower as large as a bowl, and a peony-patterned damask robe with wide sleeves—a sight to behold. Madam Han gave them all gifts upon meeting. On such grand occasions, no one distinguished between legitimate and illegitimate daughters—the gifts were the same. However, Madam Han clearly praised the eldest and second young ladies more, while the third sister and the fourth received far fewer compliments.

At this moment, they couldn’t argue—doing so would only reflect poorly on them.

“So this is your fourth daughter?” Madam Han said. “My, what a pretty thing.”

And with that single remark, it was over.

The fourth young lady lowered her gaze. She dared not steal her sisters’ spotlight now. Yet, while she had the mind of a twenty-something, the third sister was truly an eleven-year-old at heart—she jumped in to show off, which inadvertently ruffled Jiang Shi’s feathers.

……

The scheming among the ladies and young misses was something Jin Niang knew nothing about. She was simply counting down to the feast.

Today, the Four Bureaus and Six Offices had prepared many dishes the Zhou family had never seen before. Aunt Hu had saved a portion for her, and Jin Niang went to a secluded corridor to eat.

Lifting the lid of the food box, Jin Niang’s mood brightened instantly. “So many delicious things…”

Inside were several small dishes—crispy yellow croaker that shattered with each bite, braised pork knuckle so tender it melted in the mouth, paired with glistening rice—it was downright mouthwatering.

She was eating on the outer corridor, thinking no one had noticed her, but little did she know that a young man inside the pavilion by the water was watching her. Since childhood, he had rarely eaten rice, let alone meat—just the thought of it made him nauseous. Yet she seemed to relish every bite so much that it made his stomach rumble with hunger.

"I'd like a serving of meat too," the young man said.

He wanted to eat with such enjoyment as well.

But seeing someone approach, Jin Niang, afraid of being caught, hastily took a few more bites before leaving. Unbeknownst to her, after she left, the young man actually ate a full meal.

The young man’s surname was Han. His status was special—although both his parents had died, he was a direct descendant of the Han family, raised under the care of the eldest master of the Han household. The elder brother, grieving over the deaths of his younger sibling and sister-in-law, doted excessively on his nephew. Despite trying countless methods to address the boy's aversion to food, none had worked.

That day, he had finished an entire meal—a rare occurrence that someone hurriedly reported to the Han matriarch, who responded in astonishment: "The Bodhisattva must have smiled upon us."

"If this girl is a good fit, bring her directly into our household. The Jiangs won’t mind. Do we know who she is?" the Han matriarch asked casually.

The maidservant shook her head: "No one saw her clearly. By the time anyone stepped out, the girl had already run off."

The Han matriarch smiled faintly: "No matter. Just find a girl to dine with him regularly from now on."

The maidservant replied, "How generous of you, Madam."

"Hush, no more talking. The bride is arriving," the Han matriarch said.

As the bride entered, Jin Niang received a handful of wedding sweets. She unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth: "Mmm, sweet."

Si Er giggled: "Sister Jin Niang, is the Second Young Master going to bow with the Second Young Madam now?"

"Yes, they’ll perform the ceremony. After that, they’ll greet the elders, and then it’s off to the bridal chamber. Come on, it’s chilly—let’s go back to the needlework room. We’ll meet our Second Young Madam tomorrow," Jin Niang said.

Si Er, who often ran errands and was well-informed, added: "I heard Sister Bi E was married off to a servant. Who would’ve thought?"

At the mention of Bi E, Jin Niang recalled a lovely and spirited maid, sighing: "I always thought she’d become a minor mistress someday."

Back then, girls like Bi E and Cui Xian carried themselves with pride, almost like secondary wives. Now, their fates were no different from any others. Truthfully, Bi E had done nothing wrong—her beauty was her downfall. That’s why Jin Niang, once her work at the Zhou family was done, vowed never to remain a servant after saving enough capital.

It was three days later when she finally met the eldest madam. At the time, they had been called to Lady Jiang’s chambers along with Madam Chen.

After paying their respects, Lady Jiang announced: "Our eldest daughter is betrothed, with the wedding set two years from now. You must begin preparing the dowry. Later, I’ll open the storeroom and take you there. Cun’er’s wife may also offer suggestions."

Though young, the Second Young Madam—who had appeared shy when they entered, standing quietly with lowered head beside Lady Jiang—spoke up: "Madam trusts this daughter-in-law, and perhaps your needlework team could also inspect mine. Mine may not be perfect, but it could serve as a reference."

Jin Niang thought to herself that this Second Young Madam had a frank and open manner, not shy or hesitant, yet even such slight boldness gave the impression of remarkable strength.

Madam Chen smoothly added: "The Second Young Madam’s wedding gown is a masterpiece of craftsmanship."

The Second Young Madam, Zhang Shi, blushed again with shyness.

Lady Jiang continued: "Originally, I was the only one managing the household, always overwhelmed. Now that you’re here, you can assist me. After all, this household will eventually be passed to you young ones."

"You flatter me, Madam," the Second Young Madam replied. "This daughter-in-law knows nothing and only hopes to learn a thing or two at your side, lest I make a fool of myself." Freshly married, with a dashing husband, she was in newlywed bliss—even standing formally was sweet, and her words were laced with happiness.

While the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law appeared harmonious, Jin Niang’s mind was on their real task finally beginning. Over the past year, they had been learning miscellaneous skills, but now it was time to put their real skills to use. Shu embroidery was often used for weddings, and Jin Niang had most wanted to learn this from Madam Chen. Only grand weddings required large quantities of clothing, bedding, and curtains—these were the big orders; nothing else compared.

But Jin Niang had seen too little and had no idea what else noblewomen required for weddings beyond bridal gowns and quilts. If she could master this, she’d become a lead embroiderer, fully versed in all matters of weddings and funerals.

If she could return to the Shu Embroidery Studio as a lead embroiderer after coming of age, her monthly earnings could reach around three guan of coins. Even after marriage, she’d have her own craft. She yearned for the Embroidery Academy and the embroidery alley, yet she knew how unlikely it was to stay—land prices in the capital were far beyond ordinary means.

Soon, they followed Lady Jiang to the storeroom to inspect the dowry she had prepared. It was a dazzling display. First to catch the eye was a six-pillar nanmu bed with endless-swastika inlays. Further in stood a huanghuali bed with twin moon-gate carvings, flanked by a beechwood carved canopy bed and a black-lacquer mother-of-pearl floral butterfly canopy bed.

The beds alone were extraordinarily lavish, not to mention the lantern chairs, luohan daybeds, bookcases, side tables, chess tables, curved-leg tables, and flower stands—an overwhelming array of furnishings.

Nanny Lin gasped in shock: "Madam, I’ve never seen such work before. In the past, embroidery pieces half this size would take two or three years to complete. Now we really can’t afford any delays."

Second Madam Zhang added, "Indeed, Madam, we must act without delay. With Younger Sister marrying into Prime Minister Wang’s family, there mustn’t be the slightest mishap."

Prime Minister Wang’s family? Jin Niang realized—so it’s the Prime Minister’s household! No wonder this marriage had been kept so tightly under wraps. Last time, they even specially brought a box of pearls for pearl-encrusted robes. The dowry appeared even more lavish than Zhang Shi’s—now it all made sense.

This turn of events left Qin Shuanger kicking herself. She had originally planned to serve the eldest young lady, but Jin Niang had beaten her to it. Then she tried currying favor with Nanny Lin, even recognizing her as a foster mother and spending quite a bit of money, only for Second Madam Zhang to prove too formidable. Now the eldest young lady was marrying up, leaving Qin Shuanger left out in the cold.

After inspecting the storeroom, Jiang Shi said to Nanny Lin, "If you need measurements taken, find Green Tassel. I’ll instruct her."

"If possible, we should start as soon as we can," Nanny Lin said, urgency creeping into her voice. Rushing breeds mistakes, and any errors would only damage her own reputation.

This was often how things went—those doing the work learned the inside details first because preparations had to begin early.

Once they were all informed, Jiang Shi finally announced the news to the household. The eldest young lady accepted everyone's congratulations with blushing modesty. Remembering she had previously offended her, Jin Niang immediately brought over a spare embroidered pouch she had made during her free time as a gift.

The eldest young lady, who had once strived to become an official’s wife, was now about to marry the Prime Minister’s son. Moreover, she had met the Prime Minister’s youngest son, Wang Sanlang, and found him exceptionally refined. Thus, she was all the more determined to present herself as gracious and virtuous.

When she saw Jin Niang, she dropped her earlier sharp tone and said, "Don’t say that, Eldest Young Lady. The embroidery workshop must be so busy—you shouldn't have gone out of your way to bring me this."

"You flatter me, Eldest Young Lady. You've always treated me well, and whenever I have free time, I make sure to show my gratitude. Though, from today onward, our workshop will likely be working around the clock," Jin Niang teased.

The eldest young lady pointed at her playfully. "You cheeky thing, now you're even mocking me!"

After exchanging a few more lighthearted remarks, Jin Niang finally relaxed. She had guessed correctly—with such a stellar match and the lavish dowry prepared by the Madam, the eldest young lady now only wished for the whole world to sing her praises.

Indeed, apart from someone like the unwed Aunt Zhou who cared little for appearances, those in higher positions often displayed extra kindness and tolerance—because such behavior earned them even more admiration.

During the day, the eldest young lady received congratulations from everyone. At night, Jiang Shi brought over a wooden case, dismissed the servants, and opened it to reveal deeds to land and a house. "When I married, my family gave me two shops as dowry—one silk and velvet shop with a capital of five thousand taels, and one yarn shop with sixty-five hundred taels. You and your younger sister will each have one. Your marriage was arranged after much effort by your father and me. Your sister is betrothed to your maternal aunt's third cousin—though a step down socially. So, I’m giving her the shop with more capital to make up for it. I hope you don’t mind."

The eldest young lady quickly shook her head. "Mother, how could you say such a thing? Younger Sister... is it really Cousin He San?"

"Yes," Jiang Shi admitted frankly to her eldest daughter.

She wouldn’t be managing the household much longer anyway—once her daughter-in-law settled in, she would eventually have to hand over authority, just as her mother-in-law had done when she first married in.

Now that both daughters' marriages were settled, she could finally rest easy.

The eldest young lady pressed her lips together before saying, "Mother, don’t worry. Not only do I not mind, but I also hope you’ll give Younger Sister more dowry. She has thin skin, and though Aunt’s family isn’t outsiders, having her own assets will give her more security."

She also feared her sister might resent their mother for unfairness, creating a rift between them.

Jiang Shi let out a relieved breath after hearing her eldest daughter’s words. "My child, this truly shows your generosity. With such magnanimity, you’ll surely thrive in the Wang household. The shops are my private gift to you. The family coffers will contribute a thousand strings of cash, your grandmother gave me two thousand today, your uncle added another thousand, and even your third uncle’s family gave two hundred. Your father’s private savings handed me five thousand strings. I plan to buy some farmland for you soon—those are long-term assets. Business can be risky, so I’ll add over ten thousand strings from my own funds to make it twenty thousand strings for your dowry chest."

"Mother, that’s too much..." the eldest young lady protested.

Jiang Shi insisted, "If I don’t give it to you, should I let those concubines’ daughters get their hands on it instead? Your father may rise further in his career, and your half-sisters might marry even better matches, but without substantial dowries, who would want them?"

This was her mother’s way of securing their status. If Third Sister and Fourth Sister later married well, their father would surely pressure Jiang Shi to share her private savings with them. Though the Zhou family had produced officials for generations, they weren’t an extravagantly wealthy aristocratic clan—money didn’t grow on trees.

But what about her parents’ relationship...?

The eldest young lady worried, "Aren’t you afraid Father will resent you?"

Jiang Shi clenched her teeth. "I’ve waited all these years—for your brother to finally marry, for your betrothal to be settled. I’ve endured enough. Once you and your sister are married off, I won’t have to dance to his tune anymore."