Chapter 76: Pan-Bai Cooperation and the Gift of Melons to Express Gratitude [Thank You, Readers]

The palace sent nine large black jade watermelons.

Two of the watermelons were kept in wooden barrels filled with ice water, ready to eat—cool, sweet, and refreshing.

The rest were brought in baskets.

The emissary who delivered them was a lady-in-waiting from the Empress’s palace; she did not linger, only telling Sun Shi to attend to household matters.

She whispered to Sun Shi: Do not place too much importance on the imperial gift—eat it as you will.

Sun Shi’s thoughts shifted instantly; she understood the Empress’s meaning.

When Sun Shi went out to greet them, the atmosphere in the main hall had not cooled at all.

Lady Wu was eloquent, sharp, and capable; Lady Bai came from the foremost wealthy family in Zhejiang Road, and naturally had no shortage of topics to discuss with Lady Pan.

The Pan family traded eastward, while the Bai family mostly sailed south—their maritime businesses did not clash, and as they talked, they even struck a cooperative deal.

Both were delighted.

Xie, who accompanied her mother-in-law, was stunned into silence as she heard the business figures the two ladies discussed.

Her dazed expression drew laughter and playful teasing from the three ladies.

When Sun Shi returned, hearing the joyful laughter from the main hall, she felt deeply pleased.

Behind her, a maid carried a tray holding watermelons with red flesh and dark green rinds—visibly sandy and sweet, arranged on exquisite white porcelain blue-and-white platters, pleasing to the eye.

The maids set down the platters; the fresh fragrance of the melons filled the air.

“Sister, sister, these are the black jade watermelons sent by the palace. They’re said to have been grown in the west, carefully bred over several generations to minimize seeds—very delicious,” said Sun Shi.

Lady Bai picked up a slice and said: “Truly beautiful. Sister, let the children in the household come taste them too.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Pan smiled in agreement.

“Go, call those few over to eat the melons.”

Soon, Pingmei, Anmei, Xu Zai Zhang, and Xu Zaijing arrived in the hall.

After bowing and greeting the ladies, they all took their seats.

Lady Pan looked at Pingmei with clear affection and turned to Lady Bai: “I heard the eldest son of your household is betrothed to her?”

Lady Bai nodded happily.

“What a fine girl. Come, let me take a closer look.”

Pingmei stepped forward gracefully and bowed to Lady Pan.

Lady Pan took Pingmei’s hand and examined her from head to toe.

“They say girls from Dengzhou are tall—I was no taller than this at her age. Good girl, this is exactly how a military family’s daughter should be.”

“Thank you, Lady Pan. You are too kind.”

As she spoke, Lady Pan smoothly slipped a jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Pingmei’s.

“Don’t refuse—it’s just my small token of goodwill. This is your Anmei, isn’t it? Come, girl, I’m old now, let me look at you closely.”

Anmei had no idea what the ladies in the room were discussing.

She glanced at her mother and the two aunts she knew well, then hurried forward to stand before Lady Pan.

Lady Pan held Anmei’s hand and studied her: the girl’s skin was like jade, her eyes clear and bright with a gentle smile, her hair as dark as crow feathers, her clothing neat and light, her frame neither frail nor slight.

“Oh my, sister, you’ve raised such a beautiful daughter.”

As she spoke, Lady Pan noticed that although Anmei was not as tall as her sister, her legs were long, and her whole being radiated youth and vitality—a fine child.

Her temperament seemed lively, but that suited her son well.

Without hesitation, Lady Pan slipped another bracelet from her wrist and slid it onto Anmei’s.

“Good child. Truly a good child.”

Lady Bai, watching Anmei—who still had no idea what was happening—exchanged a knowing smile with Lady Wu.

After further observing Xu Zai Zhang and Xu Zaijing, Lady Pan was pleased with both young men: the elder brother, Zhang, shared a similar disposition to Anmei, while the youngest, Zaijing, carried himself with greater composure.

“I heard both boys will take the imperial examinations next year? That’s excellent. My Jiong boy passed the county exam but couldn’t advance further.”

Sun Shi replied: “My Duan boy was stuck at the prefectural exam too. I’m not sure how these two will fare.”

The guests departed in high spirits; Lady Pan boarded her carriage home in the afternoon.

The carriage had been replenished with ice by the Xu household, so it was not overly hot.

A large black jade watermelon was carried by a maid.

She stroked the jade beads on her wrist, pondering.

How could the palace’s gift arrive so coincidentally, just as she visited the Xu household?

Clearly, it was the Empress’s gesture—something no ordinary noble family could command. It was the Empress bestowing honor upon the Xu family.

Lady Bai had also appeared as a sister to Sun Shi, lending her support.

“Not bad at all—not as fallen as outsiders claim.”

Back at the fifth branch courtyard of the Jinghai Marquis’s residence, a maid reported to Lady Pan that her son had lost two matches at the polo field, then sat on the sidelines, and was now back in the mansion.

“Useless boy.”

Lady Pan silently cursed her son in her mind.

She knew the Xu household still had one son, Zhang, who was not yet betrothed—Anmei’s marriage would come after his.

Lady Pan’s earlier reasons for turning down other proposals were genuine: she wasn’t in a hurry, wanted to observe her younger son further, so delaying his marriage a few years was no issue.

She was very pleased with Anmei; the two families were essentially agreed.

But she wondered what kind of match Zhang would find.

“Go, summon the steward returning to Dengzhou—I have instructions for him,” said Lady Pan. The business deal with the Bai family of Yangzhou was still worth pursuing.

This time, Yelu Jiong had learned his lesson.

He came to his mother’s courtyard without immediately speaking, but first inquired after her comfort and well-being.

He had indeed improved.

Setting down his teacup, she looked at Yelu Jiong, who was diligently fanning her, and said: “I’ve seen her. The girl is excellent.”

Yelu Jiong’s face lit up.

“He has an older brother whose marriage is still unsettled—you’ll have to wait a few more years.”

“No problem, no problem at all.”

The energetic Yelu Jiong, who would dominate the polo field the next day, would be left for now.

That night, Sun Shi summoned Anmei to her side.

“Do you know why Lady Yelu came here?”

“Mother, wasn’t she just here to drink tea with you?”

“Tea? She came to inspect you.”

Anmei, who had been half-distracted, froze at the word “inspect,” her eyes wide with sudden panic:

“Inspect? Who? My second brother?”

“You.”

“My brother isn’t even betrothed yet—how could it be me?” Anmei said, slightly displeased.

Sun Shi glanced sideways at Anmei, reading her expression perfectly: “Lady Pan is Jiong’s mother.”

“Then Mother, you decide—I’ll follow your wishes,” Anmei said, blushing.

Sun Shi tapped Anmei’s head.

Clever little thing.

The next day,

At dawn,

While the sun had not yet risen and the air was still cool.

Xu Zaijing rode his horse, Qingyun following behind, accompanying Sun Shi’s carriage as they delivered four of the palace’s gifted watermelons to Sun Shi’s parents and in-laws as a filial offering.

As her cousins grew older, they had all married, their in-laws mostly military officers from the capital.

Thanks to the Xu family’s rising status, they could elevate their sons’ marriage prospects slightly.

Even a daughter born to a concubine in the Sun household could marry a military officer.

After instructing several cousins to save the watermelon seeds for planting, Xu Zaijing continued riding with the carriage toward the palace.

Arriving at the palace’s side gate, he explained their purpose to the gate guards, and soon a lady-in-waiting from the Empress’s palace came to lead Sun Shi and Xu Zaijing to the Empress’s quarters.

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(End of Chapter)