Chapter 40: Palace Banquet

Inside Aoxue Courtyard, sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows; a gentle breeze brushed the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard, bringing waves of fresh fragrance.

Jun Jun Zijin instructed the kitchen to add several more dishes for everyone today and announced that this month's allowance would be doubled for all, with each person receiving an additional reward. Instantly, Aoxue Courtyard was filled with laughter and joy, bustling with activity as everyone congratulated Jun Jun Zijin on being titled County Lady.

Nanny Dong, accompanied by Xiao He, was counting the treasures bestowed by the palace. Jun Jun Zijin, having been busy all day, felt a bit weary and intended to take a short nap. Just as she lay down, she saw someone enter the room with a smile, approached her side, and spoke softly:

"Second Young Lady, Zhou Zhou Yiniang from the manor has arrived with the Fourth Young Lady."

When Jun Jun Zijin came out to welcome them, Zhou Zhou Yiniang and Jun Jun Shuyan had already been ushered into the tea hall by Nanny Zhou.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin enter the room, Zhou Zhou Yiniang, accompanied by Jun Jun Shuyan, quickly rose. Uttering "County Lady," she bowed deeply to Jun Jun Zijin. Jun Jun Shuyan did not forget to wink at Jun Jun Zijin.

Amused by Jun Jun Shuyan, Jun Jun Zijin hurriedly supported Zhou Zhou Yiniang and smiled gently, saying, "Auntie, do not do this. Auntie and Fourth Sister, please take your seats."

Zhou Zhou Yiniang said:

"The Second Young Lady is now a County Lady, of noble status. I am a concubine; propriety cannot be discarded. In theory, before the Second Young Lady, I should refer to myself as a servant."

Jun Jun Zijin also knew deeply how much people valued etiquette in this era, so she did not press the matter further, saying only, "We are all family; with no outsiders present, there is no need for such formality."

Zhou Zhou Yiniang looked at Jun Jun Zijin gratefully and pulled Jun Jun Shuyan to sit down. Jun Jun Shuyan, beaming, leaned close to Jun Jun Zijin and said:

"Second Sister has now become a County Lady; in the future, you must surely protect your little sister."

Jun Jun Zijin smiled and nodded:

"The palace is hosting a banquet the day after tomorrow. Would it be alright if Sister took you?"

Jun Jun Shuyan had never witnessed a palace banquet before. Hearing she could go play tomorrow, she laughed with pure joy.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang also said gratefully, "Thank you, Second Young Lady."

Jun Shuyan is now just over ten years old; at such an age, a young lady must be considered for marriage. Yet Jun Shuyan is merely a daughter of a concubine; she surely cannot marry into a good family. Those attending the palace banquet are young masters from high-ranking households. If the Second Young Lady can bring Jun Shuyan along, it will greatly benefit her future marriage prospects.

Jun Jun Zijin held the same thought. Although she complained that people in this era married too early, this was reality. In her own time, ten-year-olds were merely ignorant children, but here, once a girl passed the coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen, she could marry; a young lady unmarried by seventeen would be labeled an old maid and subjected to gossip.

At that moment, Nanny Zhou entered carrying freshly brewed tea, and the scent of tea filled the air.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang took a sip of tea and spoke softly:

"Second Young Lady, I have heard that the manor has not been at peace lately. After this bestowal of title, there may still be some twists and turns. Since the Second Young Lady has only recently returned to the manor, you must be even more cautious in the future."

Jun Jun Zijin knew Zhou Zhou Yiniang truly meant well for her, so she nodded and thanked her.

Jun Jun Zijin rose and returned to the inner room. Earlier, she had mentioned using brocade to make a wedding dress for Jun Jun Shuyan, but Jun Shuyan is only ten; her wedding is still five years away. It is uncertain what her size will be then, so it would be better to simply gift the brocade directly. After thinking it over, she also selected a pink pearl.

When Jun Jun Zijin returned to the tea hall, she was seen holding an exquisite box. Jun Jun Zijin pressed the box into Jun Jun Shuyan's hands:

"Second Sister said she would use brocade to make you a wedding dress, but I cannot be certain of your future size, so I am gifting you Cloud Brocade instead."

Speaking thus, she also pressed the thumb-sized pink pearl into Jun Jun Shuyan's hand:

"I originally had not a single good thing on my person, but fortunately the Emperor and the Prince bestowed some brocade and Eastern pearls. This pink pearl shall serve as a meeting gift for Fourth Sister!"

Jun Jun Shuyan was stunned. She had originally thought Jun Jun Zijin was teasing her. This was Cloud Brocade; even Jun Jun Yiyi, who was accustomed to fine things, probably had never worn clothing made of Cloud Brocade. Jun Jun Yiyi possessed a colorful pearl hairpin, which she treasured as if it were the most precious thing.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang was also shocked. She unconsciously reached out to touch the Cloud Brocade inside the box, then pulled her hand back, as if afraid to damage the brocade within. Before Jun Jun Shuyan could come to her senses, Zhou Zhou Yiniang exclaimed excitedly:

"Second Young Lady!"

Even the most composed person would not know what to say at this moment. If Jun Jun Shuyan could wear a wedding dress made of Cloud Brocade when she married, regardless of the family she married into, her husband's family would regard her with higher esteem. As for this thumb-sized pink pearl, even ordinary Eastern pearls are extremely difficult to collect; let alone such a large pink pearl.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang was the first to regain her composure:

"Foolish girl, why are you still staring? Why do you not thank your Second Sister!"

Jun Jun Shuyan finally came to her senses. With red-rimmed eyes, she carefully hugged the box tight with one hand and clutched the pink pearl tightly with the other. Her voice carried a hint of choking sobs:

"Thank you, Second Sister..."

"Auntie and Fourth Sister need not be like this," Jun Jun Zijin said with a faint smile:

"Although I have been away from the manor for many years, I still remember the events of my childhood. Thanks to Auntie protecting me, I suffered far fewer hidden slights within the manor."

"Furthermore, Jun Shuyan and I are naturally compatible; looking after a younger sister is only right."

Zhou Zhou Yiniang felt a surge of emotion. In truth, she had not been able to do much back then; she only saw that the Second Young Lady was young, had no one to rely on, and suffered hidden slights everywhere. She was merely a concubine herself, so she could only watch over her quietly. She never expected that her act of kindness from those days would be repaid through her daughter. Zhou Zhou Yiniang thanked her again.

"Auntie, rest assured. As long as I am here, no one will bully Fourth Sister," Jun Jun Zijin said. She truly liked this child. For Zhou Zhou Yiniang, the greatest hope of her life was simply for Jun Shuyan to be well.

On a bright, sunny morning, a gentle breeze brushed the leaves, producing a rustling sound. Today was the first Mid-Autumn Festival Jun Jun Zijin spent in this time and space; the palace was hosting a banquet. All four sisters of the Jun family attended in full regalia.

After Wu Shi was elevated to the position of principal wife, there was a palace banquet she attended with Jun Jun Yiyi and Jun Jun Zijin. Jun Jun Zijin had just lost her mother; the First Lady appeared to show great care for the six-year-old Jun Jun Zijin, and soon, Jun Jun Zijin placed complete trust in the First Lady.

At that palace banquet, the First Lady wore an expression of grievance and restraint at the table. Seeing the First Lady unhappy, Jun Jun Zijin tried to amuse and comfort her. The First Lady gave a glance to Jun Jun Yiyi beside her, and Jun Jun Yiyi whispered to Jun Jun Zijin:

"Second Sister, do you see that lady in purple robes over there? She is the one who made Mother unhappy. If you truly care for Mother, pour the tea on her to vent Mother's anger."

Jun Jun Zijin, not understanding the situation, only thought about how to make Mother happy. She stood up, held a cup of tea, walked straight toward the lady in purple, and splashed the entire cup of tea onto that lady.

The lady in purple was shocked and terrified; everyone around turned their heads to look. Jun Jun Zijin then realized she had done something wrong and stood there, utterly at a loss.

At that moment, the First Lady pretended to scold:

"Jun Zijin, your rudeness at home is not your fault, but how can you be so reckless and impolite in public? Why do you not quickly apologize to this lady!"

Everyone understood the implication of the First Lady's words: the Second Young Lady of the Jun family was uneducated and ill-mannered at home.

A six-year-old child had no such twisted thoughts and did not detect the impropriety in those words. Although she obediently apologized, her actions in front of everyone, combined with the First Lady's speech, spread throughout Jingcheng that the Second Young Lady of the Jun manor was an uncultured wild child.

From then on, fearing that Jun Jun Zijin's uncultured and impolite behavior would offend dignitaries, the First Lady only took Jun Jun Yiyi alone to palace banquets. Jun Jun Zijin could hardly attend palace banquets, let alone ordinary official banquets. Even when she did attend, she was pointed at and criticized, and no one liked her.

Looking back now, Jun Jun Yiyi was only seven years old at the time. Children of that age should be innocent and pure, yet Jun Jun Yiyi possessed such deep and complex thoughts. Jun Jun Zijin could not help but feel a tightness in her heart.

Today, Jun Jun Yiyi still wore an exquisite white robe and rode in a Jun family carriage together with Jun Jun Zhidie.

Jun Jun Zijin wore a pale blue pleated skirt reaching her ankles, resembling a blooming orchid, fresh and ethereal. Every pleat was meticulously crafted; the silk sash at her waist fluttered, as if flowing with poetry and vitality. This skirt was the very set she had personally designed a few days prior.

Beside her was the excited Jun Jun Shuyan. The two sisters boarded the magnificent carriage bestowed by the Emperor specifically for the County Lady. Even if Jun Jun Yiyi and Jun Jun Zhidie were unwilling, they could only let them go first.

This carriage was decorated magnificently; its body was carved with exquisite patterns and inlaid with dazzling gems, emitting a brilliant light. The interior was arranged comfortably and luxuriously, with soft cushions, exquisite curtains, and a small, delicate incense burner; everything displayed the nobility and grandeur of the imperial family.

With a crisp crack of the coachman's whip, the horses' hooves clattered, and the carriage wheels slowly began to turn. The carriage moved slowly along the wide street, causing passersby to turn and look, discussing among themselves:

"Look, the one inside that carriage is the useless Second Young Lady of the Jun family."

"What nonsense you speak! That is the Lady Qingping County Lady personally titled by the Emperor!"

"Exactly, exactly. If she were truly useless, could she become a County Lady?"

"I just think it was nothing more than good luck."

…

Jun Jun Shuyan couldn't stand hearing anyone speak ill of Jun Jun Zijin, and was about to push aside the gauze curtain to scold them, but Jun Jun Zijin stopped her, smiling indifferently. Who could control what others say? If they came knocking on her door, though, it wouldn't be so pleasant.