Chapter 10: Chapter Ten

The Gu mansion was a roar of voices, all of them delicate female guests.

The arriving ladies gathered in groups of three or five, either chatting about gossip from various families or socializing with each other. Someone, seeing Lu Bao'er's unfamiliar face, casually inquired about her background; upon hearing that her accent was not from Jingdu, they guessed roughly that she was perhaps the wife of the recent top scholar, of modest family, raised in the countryside, and therefore of little value to befriend, so they lost interest.

The old matron had long guessed this situation; on one hand she worried that Lu Bao'er, being so young, could not endure being ignored and would wear a sour expression, while on the other hand, seeing her smiling, endearing demeanor despite being ignored, she felt a pang of sympathy, thinking the young lady was overly sensible.

She privately gave Lu Bao'er's hand a gentle pat and said warmly, "Don't take it to heart; today you're being ignored, but one day you'll be welcomed warmly. Human relations are such fickle things; if you're indifferent, neither favor nor disgrace will affect you."

Lu Bao'er saw that the old matron's bearing was far from that of an ordinary servant and that she seemed to know details about both high and low officials; she was actually quite curious about her. At that moment, Lu Bao'er could not hold back and asked, "I've wanted to ask since early morning, what kind of person are you, ma'am? You seem to know everything, your perception and insight are extraordinary. Not only the etiquette of receiving guests, but even Old Lady Su's identity, you are aware of. In a typical official's residence, how could a matron have met dignitaries and be able to distinguish the various ladies?"

Hearing Lu Bao'er's question, the old matron did not try to hide anything. Xie Junling knew the old matron's background, which is why he assigned her to serve Lu Bao'er, to protect and escort her. The old matron looked toward where Old Lady Su stood, sighed wistfully, and said, "I once served under the Late Empress Dowager, worked as a lady‑official in the palace, and in my youth I even had an audience with the Lord of Qingping County."

Lu Bao'er was startled; she had never imagined the old matron had served as a lady‑official attending the royal bloodline! She didn't expect the old matron to have such a lofty background and stammered, "Then how… how did you come to work at Xie Fu?"

The old matron gave a faint smile, as if recalling the Late Empress Dowager, tears welling at the lashes, and said, "The Late Empress Dowager was generous and cherished me. At that time I left the palace to purchase items and caught the eye of Manager Chen Shan. I begged the Late Empress Dowager's favor, and she allowed me to leave the palace to marry. The Empress originally intended to match me with a lesser‑born scion of her own family as a principal wife, but I, not knowing better, insisted on marrying a commoner. She pretended to be furious, brought Manager Chen Shan along, placed him in charge of the official residence, and married me to him as punishment for defying the imperial decree. Though a punishment, it was merely to silence the Empress's family's complaints, and she even personally prepared my dowry. Had I not been unwilling to part with the manager, I would have still hoped to guard the Empress's tomb."

She recalled that when she first married, the Late Empress Dowager did not see her. She then knelt before the hall, bowing repeatedly, pleading for the Empress's forgiveness for being unable to keep her promise, staying by the Empress's side, leaving the Empress alone to endure the palace's solitude.

No matter how she begged to see the Late Empress Dowager, the Empress only sent someone to drive her away, coldly saying she was merely a lowly lady‑official; what could the palace do with one such as her?

Only she understood in her heart that only by the Late Empress Dowager's words could she leave without worry. Royal affairs are so cruel and cold; she had accompanied the Empress to the end, being both master‑servant and close friend. She had received the Empress's grace, and now, for the sake of her children's personal affairs, she abandons the Empress… leaving herself to die alone in the palace.

She feels she has wronged the Late Empress Dowager!

The old matron let out a heavy sigh, having nothing more to say.

"In that case, the Late Empress Dowager is actually a good person," Lu Bao'er whispered.

The old matron nodded, tucked a handkerchief into the corner of her eye, and said, "Let's not speak of this any longer; the ladies have all entered the house, we should follow them as well."

"Very well." Lu Bao'er was ushered by the old matron into the room, where Old Lady Su and Mrs. Gu sat in the main seats.

Although Madam Gu is the host family, the highest‑ranking lady who arrived here is Su, and she is also the ruler of Qingping County, so she must naturally be treated as an honored guest; Su is benevolent and kind, and she didn't require everyone to follow the strict standards for meeting imperial relatives—simply performing the royal‑family rites is already good enough.

Moreover, she is the Lord of Qingping County, so she must be treated as an honored guest.

Her flattery was overly blunt, and the ladies below muttered a few words in their hearts, yet dared not speak it aloud.

Mrs. Gu fetched a young, beautiful girl, brought her up to Su Shi, and affectionately patted Li Jiao's hand, saying, "Jiao Jiao, come quickly, present the gift to the elder lady. This is my granddaughter, a child of the Li family. I think she misses home, so I've brought her back to the Gu household to stay for a while."

Su Shi was considerably older than Mrs. Gu; she smiled, examined Li Jiao twice, saw her head lowered with a coquettish, innocent look, and slipped a jade bracelet with a water‑filled head from her hand to her, saying, "What a lovely, endearing girl; I do love beautiful maidens, here, wear this."

Mrs. Gu originally hoped to draw other compliments from Su Shi, such as decorous and intelligent, but after half a dozen attempts she only heard "pretty." Which lady of the house would judge solely on beauty? She's not a concubine serving for looks!

Mrs. Gu, unwilling to give up, added, "Don't be fooled by Jiao Jiao's youth; she once wrote poetry in Tongzhou that was praised, even by the renowned Zhang Hongliang."

The others gasped in surprise; they couldn't believe she had been praised by the famous poet Zhang Hongliang.

Mrs. Gu thought that now Su Shi would continue praising, at least giving Li Jiao a reputation as a talented woman! Yet Su Shi merely smiled and perfunctorily said, "Very good, very good."

Mrs. Gu, irritated, rolled her eyes, thinking Su Shi was feigning ignorance or too old to catch the nuance. Unwilling to give up, she thought of hinting again.

She, surprised, gestured to the old matron and asked, "Are you… Bi Zhu?"

The old matron hadn't been called by a palace name in ages; when she saw Su Shi still remember her, she didn't know why, she shed tears.

She bowed to Lu Bao'er, took a few steps forward, knelt before Su Shi's knees, and replied, "In response to the Lord of Qingping County, I am indeed Bi Zhu."

She still, as before, followed palace protocol, addressing her as "Lord of Qingping County."

Su Shi remembered her; back then the lady‑official closest to the Late Empress Dowager was her, but unfortunately the Empress passed away early, even before her.

Su Shi sighed and asked, "Where are you serving now?"

"I am now assigned to the Hanlin Academy, editing in Lord Xie's residence; today I am here with Madam Xie for the fragrance appraisal gathering."

Perhaps to save face for Bi Zhu, Su Shi said gently, "Oh? Which lady is it? Come over so I can see."

Lu Bao'er, hearing Su Shi wanted to see her, was startled by the honor. She stepped forward, bowed to Su Shi, and whispered, "Please convey my respects to Old Lady Su."

Su Shi smiled faintly, surveyed her from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on the jade at her waist, and she remained silent for a long while.

Lu Bao'er's heart fluttered with unease; she glanced at the jade hanging at her waist, a gift from her father before his death. Could it be improper? Or something amiss? Otherwise why would Su Shi keep staring at her?