Chapter 3

As she spoke, she picked up an egg from the table and placed it into Zhang-ge's mouth.

After breakfast, the two brothers were sent to the family school, and the two sisters were taken away by their old Mama to learn needlework and embroidery.

Xu Zaijing, full and satisfied, was drowsy in his nurse's arms.

His mother was in the room handling the Hou Fu's household affairs when her personal maid, Xiao Ju, came into the room:

"Madam, the female tutor the Master entrusted someone to find has arrived at the manor today."

"Good, have Ping-jie and An-jie come to me."

The distance was not far, and the two girls soon arrived in the room and began to tease their little brother.

Xu Zaijing pretended to be asleep in his nurse's arms, not wanting to deal with these two sisters.

"Madam, the female tutor has arrived."

"Invite her in. You two, go over and sit properly!"

Xu Zaijing opened his eyes and saw his two sisters sitting somewhat uneasily beside Sun Shi.

Soon, a woman of about forty years old arrived in the room, followed by a teenage maid.

The two were not dressed very opulently, but they were clean and tidy, their hair buns neatly combed without being loose or styled in the manner of a brothel, which was very pleasing to the eye.

"Fan Shi pays respects to Madam Sun."

"Madam Fan, you are too polite. Please sit. These two are my own daughters."

"Anmei pays respects to the teacher."

"Pingmei pays respects to the teacher."

Although they were annoying at home, the two girls were not lacking in etiquette.

Xiao Zhu, standing to the side, served hot tea to the table where Madam Fan was sitting.

Through their conversation, Xu Zaijing learned that this Madam Fan was the widow of a capital official; her maiden family was a family of pure scholars. Although they were not generations of high officials, they had produced two top scholars, and the children in the family, whether legitimate or concubine-born, mostly read poetry and books. Madam Fan had even studied at the Hai family's women's clan school.

After some discussion, the location for the classes was decided. Madam Fan had a house in the capital; she would come every morning and leave in the afternoon.

His two sisters now had a teacher, and every day Sun Shi began to check their schoolwork.

After a few months, the two sisters had learned to read and began to copy calligraphy books every day.

During this period, the current Marquis Yongyi, Xu Zaijing's father, also went to the Northwest to take up his post.

The beard he had before he left pricked Xu Zaijing's face, causing him pain.

By the time Xu Zaijing heard from his mother that his first birthday was approaching, his two sisters' lessons were almost finished.

This day, before dinner, Sun Shi began to check their schoolwork.

"Ping'er, in the *Admonitions for Women*, what are the four virtues for women?"

"Women have four virtues: first is womanly virtue, second is womanly speech, third is womanly appearance, and fourth is womanly work; this is what is called virtue, speech, appearance, and work." Xu Pingmei, already nine years old, looked at her mother and said.

"Good. In a few days, it will be your younger brother's first birthday banquet; do not be impolite in front of the guests."

"Yes, Mother."

Inner City

Xingguo Lane

Lady Ningyuan Hou Fu.

Marquis Gu, Gu Yankai, was in his wife Madam Bai's room, holding a boy with bright, piercing eyes and strong limbs in his arms; this was his second legitimate son, Gu Tingye.

Not far away, on the bed in the room, a five or six-year-old boy was frowning at the medicine bowl in front of him.

"Mother, Yu'er doesn't want to drink the medicine; the medicine is so bitter."

Hearing this, Gu Yankai looked over with a stern gaze and was just about to say a few words when his beard was tugged by the child in his arms.

"Hiss, you little brat."

Glancing at her husband, Madam Bai stroked the little boy's head and said gently:

"Yu'er is a man; you cannot be afraid of bitterness."

As she said this, she whispered into the little boy's ear: "After you finish the medicine, I will give Yu'er candied fruit to eat! I won't let your father know."

The little boy's eyes lit up, and he smiled sweetly at Madam Bai's dimples.

Madam Bai was originally from a very wealthy family and had been pampered since childhood; even though she had given birth to a son, her appearance remained beautiful.

"Hmph, you just spoil him."

"Marquis, Yu'er's health is weak, and he is young; you should say less."

At this moment, a voice came from outside the door.

"Madam, the Yongyi Hou Fu has sent an invitation."

"Mama Chang, bring it in."

A Mama in her thirties walked in.

"Marquis, Madam."

Gu Yankai, holding Gu Tingye to the side, said curiously: "Why did the Xu family send an invitation?"

"Replying to the Marquis, the Xu family's third legitimate son is having his first birthday in two days, and they are inviting our Madam to go."

"Oh."

After Gu Yankai finished speaking, Madam Bai looked at Mama Chang with a smile on her lips and said: "Bring it here for me to see."

"Speaking of which, this is the first invitation Madam has received," Mama Chang said, glancing at Gu Yankai.

Gu Yankai's expression became somewhat unnatural upon hearing this.

Fortunately, a report came from outside the room: "Marquis, the eldest master of the Qin family has arrived at the manor and invites the Marquis to go over for a drink."

"Good, I'll go over right now."

Handing Gu Tingye to Mama Chang, Gu Yankai left the courtyard.

Mama Chang held Gu Tingye with eyes full of love and gave the invitation to Madam Bai, but Madam Bai did not take it; instead, she picked up a candied fruit from the table and placed it into Gu Tingyu's mouth.

"Yu'er, is your mouth still bitter?"

Gu Tingyu, who was beautiful but somewhat sallow, shook his head.

After doing this, Madam Bai finally took the invitation.

"Madam, I asked the old servants of the Hou Fu; I heard that this Madam Sun of the Yongyi Hou Fu still has some kinship with the Gu family?"

"How could the Sun family have a relationship with the Hou Fu?"

"Madam, our Hou Fu's ancestral temple is in Qingcheng. Back then, our ancestor, Duke Shande, died protecting the Emperor, leaving behind two sons. The two sons fought through blood and fire for more than twenty years, achieved merit by following the dragon, and were enfeoffed as the Lady Ningyuan Marquis and the Xiangyang Marquis.

The Qingcheng Gu family has flourished ever since."

"I know this," Madam Bai said.

Mama Chang smiled slightly and straightened Gu Tingye's clothes.

"Madam, back then Duke Shande had five uncles and brothers of the 'Yun' generation in the Qingcheng Gu clan, one of whom was a concubine-born son.

This person's bloodline continued, and a girl from this bloodline married into the military Sun family; she is now a grandmother.

And the Madam of the Yongyi Hou Fu is the daughter of this girl.

People from the old home in Yang Zhou also heard some secrets outside, saying that Master Sun saved the third master of the Cao family; not many people know this."

"Oh? There is actually such a relationship! The Cao family—is it the Cao family of the Empress?"

"Yes. The Cao family has deep roots in the Northwest Army and has some procurement business dealings with our family."

"In this Bianjing, most are noble officials' families who look down on my merchant background; this Yongyi Hou Fu is not afraid of these things."

Mama Chang wiped the drool from Gu Tingye's face and said with a smile: "This Xu family, Madam might not know, but the current Yongyi Marquis's father was adopted. The Yongyi Marquis's grandfather only had one daughter, who married that top scholar of the Sheng family in Jiqing Lane."

Coaxing Gu Tingye in her arms, Mama Chang continued:

"I heard that a few years ago, the Sheng family's son passed the imperial examination, and the current Yongyi Marquis's biological mother wanted to marry off a concubine-born daughter from the ancestral home in Daizhou, but she was refused by the Sheng family's mistress—that is, the only daughter of the Yongyi Marquis—and it ended up being an ugly affair.

I heard from the old folks that most of the Yongyi Hou Fu's essence was given away as dowry, and now it looks like it is about to decline."

Madam Bai thought for a while,

"It doesn't matter; we will go there that day. Some relationships are not obtained out of thin air but must be cultivated. Many of the big merchants Father dealt with in Yang Zhou also started from humble beginnings."

"Yes, Madam, then I will go prepare the gifts."

"Prepare them heavily and generously; I want to make the nobles of Bianjing think of me, even if only for the sake of the gifts."

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(End of chapter)