Chapter 45: Eldest Miss, Little Lady [Heartfelt Thanks to Readers for Your Support! Again]

Sheng Hong was still at the yamen handling Yang Zhou's official affairs and was not in the residence.

Led by a Sheng family servant, Sheng Wei arrived at the inner courtyard.

Outside Shou'an Hall,

the young attendant beside him helped Sheng Wei remove the heavy cloak draped over his shoulders and stood solemnly by the door.

Mama Fang at the entrance lifted the door curtain for Sheng Wei, and a rush of warm air surged out from within the room.

Sheng Wei walked inside.

Because it was snowing, the sky was somewhat dim,

making the room even darker, though it was indeed very warm.

At a glance, inside the room, his Second Aunt, the Old Lady Sheng, sat in the place of honor, looking at him with gentle eyes.

Beside the Old Lady was a girl in the bloom of youth; Sheng Wei knew this was Sheng Hualan, the eldest daughter of his cousin.

As Sheng Hong's first child, Sheng Hualan had inherited Lady Wang's complexion and temperament, yet in terms of features, she had inherited Sheng Hong's advantages.

She lacked neither beauty nor grace.

Furthermore, under the guidance of her aunt, the only daughter of the Hou Fu, the young girl possessed the bearing of a noble lady at first glance, and her eyes were full of joy as she looked at Sheng Wei.

Sheng Changbai, the nephew who was eager to learn, was not present here; he should be in the school.

Sheng Hong's principal wife, Lady Wang Wang Ruofu, sat below the Old Lady Sheng, holding a little girl of five or six named Hearing Rulan in her arms, whose eyes were bright and spirited,

looking at Sheng Wei with an expression full of eager anticipation.

Since Hearing Rulan was still young, one could not yet tell how her features would develop.

However, a little girl beside Sheng Hualan had bright and clear features, and her clothes and jewelry were no less splendid than Sheng Hualan's.

Perhaps due to her young age, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Sheng Wei held a hope similar to Hearing Rulan's.

The only boy in the hall, Sheng Changfeng, like Hearing Rulan, also had light shining in his eyes.

The shortest and youngest was a little girl of two or three.

Although the light in the room was somewhat dim, Sheng Wei noticed this little girl immediately because her complexion seemed even fairer by a degree than Sheng Hualan's, who had been raised in luxury.

The little girl looked bewildered, standing respectfully to the side.

"This nephew pays his respects to Aunt and sister-in-law."

Lady Wang rose slightly, effectively returning Sheng Wei's bow.

The Old Lady Sheng beside her glanced at the Eldest Lady Wang with an unreadable expression.

Then, starting with Sheng Hualan, several children bowed or curtsied to Sheng Wei one after another.

"We pay our respects to Eldest Uncle."

"Good, good children."

The Old Lady Sheng smiled and said to Sheng Wei:

"Wei-ge'er, you have worked hard on this journey; sit down quickly. Sister Suqin!"

Mama Fang from the side presented a cup of hot tea to Sheng Wei, who had taken his seat.

"Is your mother in good health?"

"Replying to Aunt, Mother has always been quite well; it is just that upon the arrival of winter, the injuries she sustained in her youth cause her some discomfort."

"Your mother has suffered greatly; she will be reluctant to use good things for herself. When you return to Youyang, take an old ginseng root back for her to nourish her body."

"Yes, only Aunt truly understands Mother."

"Regarding old friends and relatives, we must not only maintain ties when we need to ask for favors," the Old Lady Sheng said.

"Yes."

There were some specific matters that Sheng Wei could not possibly report to the Old Lady Sheng one by one in letters; that was not the conduct of someone capable of handling affairs independently.

The Old Lady glanced at the bundle before Sheng Wei,

"Eldest Lady, Wei-ge'er has brought gifts for the children of the household; take the children and go see them," the Old Lady Sheng instructed.

The Eldest Lady Wang rose and bowed:

"Yes, Mother."

"Hua'er, you stay."

"Yes, Grandmother."

Seeing Mo Lan, Sheng Changfeng, Hearing Rulan, and the others, being young, excitedly rushed out of Shou'an Hall,

eager to see what gifts this uncle had brought them this time.

The girl at the very back walked a few steps before being picked up by a maid from the Old Lady's room and followed along.

"Wei-ge'er, forgive the impropriety; my daughter-in-law also has matters weighing on her heart."

Sheng Wei bowed and said,

"It is nothing, it is nothing; the children are still young."

Although this sister-in-law of his came from a family of generations of high-ranking officials in the clear stream, and her father was a giant of the official world who, after death, was granted the honor of having his tablet enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple,

she was raised in the countryside for over ten years during her childhood, not by her parents' side,

so she did not learn her parents' scheming and conduct; her nature was naturally somewhat straightforward, causing her to fall into the traps set by her husband's concubines and lose the authority to manage the household.

Coupled with her husband's favoritism toward his concubine, this sister-in-law had become a laughingstock among the noble ladies of Yang Zhou's official circles.

Because of the Old Lady, Sheng Wei had always aligned his attitude toward the Sheng children with the Old Lady's own.

In previous years, because the Old Lady disliked Lin Lin Qinshuang, Sheng Wei had not prepared gifts for Lin Lin Qinshuang's two children.

In such cases, the Eldest Lady was very happy, wearing a face full of smiles whenever she saw Sheng Wei.

It was only in the last year or two, as Sheng Hong's official career prospered and the Old Lady Sheng gradually retreated behind the scenes, that the Sheng family subtly completed the transfer of power within the household.

It was only after the Old Lady said a word that Sheng Wei began preparing them.

As Sheng Wei conversed with the Old Lady, Sheng Hualan beside them did not listen blankly; from time to time, she helped Nurse Fang pour tea for Sheng Wei.

Although her eyes did not wander, as she listened to the words of her two elders, her expression showed she was thinking, precisely drawing wisdom from their speech.

After speaking for a while about progress in business, Sheng Wei paused slightly.

"Aunt, this is a rare item that the Da Da Niangzi of Hou Fu entrusted me to bring you."

Speaking thus, Sheng Wei opened the bundle wrapped in beast hide.

Sheng Hualan looked and saw a tuft of snow-white, cotton-like fluff; it resembled the catkins of a poplar tree, yet was far denser and cleaner.

Old Lady Sheng's expression remained plain, showing neither surprise nor disgust.

"According to the Da Da Niangzi of Hou Fu, this was obtained from a ship of the Bai family; in ancient times it was called 'bai die.' The Third Young Master of the Xu family favors it greatly and has planted much of it within Hou Fu."

"The Bai family? In recent days, this Bai family of Yang Zhou has indeed provided your cousin no small assistance; it was the Sun family who arranged the introduction to visit the master of the Bai household."

Having spoken, the Old Lady lowered her head to sip some tea, her eyes bearing an expression of contemplation, perhaps recalling her own maiden days.

"Yes, the First Madam of the Marquis's Mansion said that after processing, the fluff of this cotton flower becomes warm yet light. As you, Aunt, are advancing in years, she specifically asked me to bring you ten pounds of it, suitable for making a jacket or similar garments to ward off the cold."

"Good, good; it would be wrong to disappoint such kind intentions from others. Hua'er, put this away for your grandmother."

Sheng Hualan walked to the table and lifted up this tuft of fluff she had never seen before.

Sheng Wei and the Old Lady conversed for a while longer.

As dusk approached, Sheng Hong returned to the residence, and the two cousins naturally spent some time catching up on old times.

Several days passed.

Early in the morning, Sheng Wei set out to return to Youyang, taking with him the New Year gifts Old Lady Sheng had prepared for his own sisters-in-law.

The side courtyard of the Sheng residence.

The room was somewhat cold,

where a woman dressed as a matron was meticulously embroidering a picture beneath the window,

and with every breath, white vapor formed at her lips.

Beside her stood a maid of twelve or thirteen.

"Wei Xiaoniang, your embroidery skill is truly remarkable; I have never seen anyone with better skill than yours."

Wei Wei Shuyi, the Wei Wei Xiaoniang and concubine of Sheng Hong, smiled and looked at her maid, saying:

"That is only because you have never seen my mother's needlework. In those years when my father was studying, our family relied entirely on my mother's embroidery to survive."

As she spoke, Wei Wei Xiaoniang's smile faded; she glanced at her daughter sleeping soundly on the bed, her mind seemingly lost in thought.

Turning her head, Wei Wei Xiaoniang said, "Sister Sister Xiaodie, go to the shop again and buy some costly silk threads; I will need them for this embroidery piece."

"Yes, Wei Xiaoniang."

Before departing, Sister Sister Xiaodie secretly placed a large chunk of charcoal into the charcoal brazier.

Wei Wei Xiaoniang, deeply focused on her embroidery, seemed not to notice.

When Sister Sister Xiaodie reached the gate of the Sheng residence, a Sheng family carriage was just entering; she stood respectfully to one side.

Only the masters of this household could make use of a carriage.

It was either the Da Da Niangzi Wang Shi, or that favored concubine who managed the household affairs.

Seeing Sister Sister Cuichan beside the carriage, Sister Sister Xiaodie knew this was most likely Sheng Hualan, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Sheng family, returning home.

It was unclear whether it was a gathering of fragrant robes and elegant assemblies for the noble daughters of Yang Zhou, or a poetry meeting to admire the snow.

Once the carriage had passed, Sister Sister Xiaodie registered her reason for leaving at the gatehouse, then proceeded toward the shop selling silk threads.

Shou'an Hall.

Old Lady Sheng looked at Sheng Hualan with a smile,

"Hua'er, were you happy at this poetry meeting and elegant gathering?"

If there are any typographical errors, respected readers are requested to point them out; if anything reads awkwardly, please indicate it.

Apologies; early this morning, I mistakenly set the scheduled release time for two chapters, but I have just corrected it.

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(End of Chapter)