Chapter 44 Real Silver, Hard Cash

Chapter 44: Real Silver

"Elder sister's life is naturally enviable. Whether before or after your marriage, you make me, your younger sister, envious."

Xi Qianyue inexplicably thought of the phrase "Do you want this blessing?" from the defiant concubine, and couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.

Seeing Xi Qianyue's smile, Xi Jiaojiao thought to herself that her elder sister's life was truly going well, and she couldn't help but think her elder sister was showing off.

"There's no need to envy me. You'll have your own good days."

This was actually Xi Qianyue's sincere words. Although she was a character in a book, if Xi Jiaojiao, as a young woman, could find happiness, then she would offer her blessings.

Xi Jiaojiao only saw it as her elder sister showing off.

"What good days could I have? Unlike you, elder sister, I don't have a legitimate mother, a generous dowry, or a marriage into a noble family..."

Xi Qianyue understood her meaning and her expression turned cold.

For a woman who aimed too high and loved to compare herself to others, she had no sympathy to spare.

"I'm going to take a nap in a moment. Please make yourself at ease, Second Sister."

She was essentially kicking her out.

Xi Jiaojiao was secretly shocked. She had thought that with her taking the initiative to visit, speaking gently to make peace, and lowering herself, her elder sister would remember the time she had hit her and feel guilty...

But she didn't care at all.

It must be her married status that made her so high and mighty now.

Xi Qianyue didn't care what she thought. She walked straight into the inner chamber, leaving Xi Jiaojiao alone in the hall.

Qing Bi escorted Xi Jiaojiao out, but stopped at the hanging flower gate.

Xi Jiaojiao was secretly furious. Lv Zhi said cautiously, "Miss, since we've come, shouldn't we go pay our respects to the Marchioness? It would be improper not to pay respects to an elder."

Xi Jiaojiao thought this made sense, so she found a household servant and asked her to take her to request an audience with the lady.

When Lady Wu heard the servant's report, she was annoyed: "The Xi family's manners are beyond words. When you visit someone's home, don't you know to see the elders first?"

Nanny Wu tried to soothe her: "Coming from a humble family, these things happen."

After Xi Jiaojiao paid her respects to Lady Wu, Lady Wu smiled and said, "The Xi family really knows how to raise daughters. Looking at you and my daughter-in-law, both are beauties."

"I wouldn't dare. Don't tease me, Auntie. I've heard the two young ladies of this household are the real beauties."

"That said, being pretty isn't that important. What matters is knowing proper manners. In this regard, you're just like my daughter-in-law. For instance, she's even skipped the morning and evening greetings. She eats and lives apart from us. I can go ten days or even half a month without seeing her once. Not to mention how she treats her two sisters-in-law..."

Xi Jiaojiao's heart raced with alarm. What was going on?

The Marchioness was actually complaining about her elder sister, saying she had no manners.

Lady Wu glanced at the fidgeting Xi Jiaojiao and smiled again: "Nanny Wu, when we visit other people's homes, we don't go empty-handed, do we?"

Xi Jiaojiao's face turned bright red. She stood up and bobbed a curtsy: "Please forgive me, Auntie. Today I was out strolling around the city with my maid and just happened to drop by to see my elder sister. So... However, I recently acquired a jade Buddha. I heard that Auntie is a devotee of Buddhism, and I meant to give it to you, but since today was so spur-of-the-moment, I didn't bring it. I'll bring it in a couple of days. I'm sure Auntie will like it."

"Do I look like the kind of person who wants things from the younger generation? I just noticed you were a bit short on etiquette, and since I've always valued rules, I thought I'd give you a little advice. These are small matters in my house, but I worry that if you go to other people's homes, you might embarrass yourself."

Lady Wu's smile grew a bit more genuine, and she kept going on about manners and rules.

"Of course I know you value rules, Auntie, and that you're teaching me a lesson. How could I be so ungrateful? My elder sister is so lucky to get to hear your teachings every day..."

Xi Jiaojiao was smooth-tongued and flattering, coaxing Lady Wu into a beaming smile.

"You're quite sensible. Let me be honest—you're far more likable than your elder sister. Your elder sister, heh heh heh, is just... indescribable. By all rights, once she married into the family, shouldn't she be part of the family? But no, she guards against the whole household as if afraid we'd spend a single penny of hers..."

Lady Wu ignored Nanny Wu tugging at her sleeve from behind and kept chatting freely with Xi Jiaojiao.

Xi Jiaojiao was stunned. So there really was a major conflict between her elder sister and Young Master Yang. So much so that Lady Wu would air the family's dirty laundry in front of an outsider like her.

"My elder sister really is... like you said, beyond words. To be honest, Auntie, last time my brother-in-law even said that elder sister only cared about showing off, using that unfinished chess game to get acquainted with Old Master Meng and Great Scholar Yancan. What a wonderful opportunity! But she wasn't willing to let my brother-in-law get any benefit from it at all..."

Lady Wu felt she had found a kindred spirit and clapped her hands together hard: "Isn't that right? This matter has turned my hair gray with worry. Tell me, what kind of daughter-in-law would be so heartless? I can let it go—as a mother-in-law, I naturally step back—but my son, her own husband! And she guards against him like that too."

The two of them chatted away enthusiastically, even drinking two cups of tea together.

When mealtime arrived, Lady Wu naturally invited her to stay for a meal.

"I've imposed on you for so long today. Thank you for not minding, Auntie. If we're not going to eat out, why don't I order a banquet to be delivered?"

Without waiting for Lady Wu's answer, Xi Jiaojiao sent Lv Zhi to order the meal.

"I wonder if Auntie likes the food from Zhenwei Tower?"

"It suits my tastes quite well." Lady Wu smiled delightedly.

The food at Zhenwei Tower wasn't cheap. An ordinary meal cost at least ten taels of silver, and a presentable banquet would cost no less than twenty.

Lady Wu quickly sent Nanny Wu to follow along, as she knew best what she liked to eat.

Just as arrangements were being made, Yang Xingxian and the Yang sisters arrived, all coming to dine with Lady Wu.

They were somewhat surprised to see Xi Jiaojiao. Yang Xingxian naturally recognized her, but the Yang sisters had no impression of her at all.

Xi Jiaojiao was also secretly surprised. Her elder sister truly was an outsider!

Here the whole family was dining together, yet she sat alone in her own courtyard.

She felt even more satisfied and showered the Yang family with flattery.

She was beautiful, her voice was sweet, and she spoke pleasantly, making the whole family laugh with joy.

When the banquet was delivered, Xi Jiaojiao ate with great relish as if she were a member of the Yang family herself.

Lady Wu's gaze at Xi Jiaojiao grew even warmer. This was real silver after all.

Nanny Wu quietly reported to her that this entire table of dishes had cost a full twenty-five taels of silver!

Compared to that miserly iron rooster Xi Qianyue, Xi Jiaojiao was far more endearing.

After the meal, Xi Jiaojiao sat for a while, drank some tea, and seeing no further reason to stay, took her leave.

Yang Xingxian smiled and said, "Little sister-in-law, have you forgotten? That chess manual is still with me. I've been busy with my studies these past few days and forgot about it. Since you're here, why not take it back yourself? That saves me a special trip."