Chapter 16

Xie Junling, though newly appointed as top scholar, had countless minor officials seeking his favor. Countless visitation cards were sent to the Xie mansion, all turned away by Lu Bao'er on the pretext of being unaccustomed to the capital's climate. Lately she had been prone to drowsiness and grew weary of dealing with these people.

Seeing Lu Bao'er asleep all day, Liu Xiang was overjoyed and whispered to the old maid: "Madam, could you be pregnant?"

Hearing this, the old maid spat: "What nonsense are you talking?!"

Liu Xiang felt aggrieved and muttered: "I spoke out of turn."

The old maid wore a grim face, knowing this couldn't be blamed on Liu Xiang. Anyone seeing the master and mistress sharing a bed all day would think a happy event was imminent.

Didn't she want Lu Bao'er to conceive and bear a heir? It's just that this maid is disappointing—clearly she and Xie Junling haven't even consummated their marriage!

Lu Bao'er had no idea of the old maid and Liu Xiang's thoughts; she only knew life in the mansion was extremely joyful. No one dared to upset her—if she wanted something to eat or drink, she merely told the kitchen, and the cook would find a way to make it, fearful of offending the person dearest to Xie Junling.

But then a visitation arrived that left Lu Bao'er no escape—it was an invitation from the Fu mansion, sent by Old Lady Su wishing to have her as a guest.

How strange—she, merely the wife of an obscure Hanlin Academy compiler, had caught Old Lady Su's eye. Clearly, fate works in wondrous ways.

Lu Bao'er dared not offend the old lady's dignity, no matter how bold she might be, so she let the old maid prepare her for the visit. After all, she was entering the residence of a Grand Secretary; the three ladies of the Fu mansion were prominent capital elites, so she could not dress shabbily, lest she appear rustic and be looked down upon.

The old maid had served palace ladies and knew every style. She fashioned a copper-wire rabbit-ear hairpin for Lu Bao'er, filling it with moon-pearl blossom pins; compared to her fresh, pretty look when visiting the Gu mansion, this was more splendid and luxurious.

Satisfied, the old maid then picked a gold-woven cyan-bamboo vest for Lu Bao'er, paired it with a tender-green snow-lotus-printed skirt, and draped a fur-lined cape over it; from beneath the hood, Lu Bao'er's made-up face faintly showed.

Beauty lies in the bone, not the skin—needless to say, Lu Bao'er is not only lovely in appearance; even if Xie Junling were to let her grow plump later, her bone structure would still exude a round, jade-like grace, leaving nothing lacking.

Just as she finished dressing, Liu Xiang arrived to report that the carriage was ready, awaiting her boarding.

The old maid supported Lu Bao'er as they headed to the Fu mansion; she thought, as with the Gu mansion, they'd have to wait a while, so she had also prepared a snack box to tide herself over.

But when Lu Bao'er's carriage reached the Fu mansion, no one stopped them; the way was clear. The Fu mansion was far more prestigious than the Gu mansion—clearly someone had given advance notice. Was that person Old Lady Su? Faced with this unexplained kindness, Lu Bao'er felt bewildered.

The old maid also didn't know what scheme Old Lady Su had; she only gripped Lu Bao'er's hand firmly and shook her head: "I'll speak plainly, madam—be careful. Though the Princess of Pingping County is kind-hearted and has shown us favor, don't grow arrogant, thinking yourself of such stature. When out and about, you cannot afford a single mistake."

"Don't worry, granny, I know my limits." Lu Bao'er replied, lowering her eyes and walking toward the waiting Qiuju not far away.

Upon seeing her, Qiuju greeted with a smile: "Madam Xie, you've finally come—the old lady has been waiting for you in the Flower Hall for a while!"

Lu Bao'er answered with a bright smile: "Thank you, Miss Qiuju, for meeting me outside… Just now, coming in from outside, I didn't see any other ladies' carriages—did I arrive early?"

Qiuju knew Old Lady Su had invited only Lu Bao'er today; though she wondered why, she dared not offend and replied respectfully: "The old lady invited only Madam Xie to be her guest."

Lu Bao'er startled: "Only me?"

"Yes." Qiuju led her to the Flower Hall, where Old Lady Su leaned on an arhat couch, eyes closed, nurturing her spirit.

Lu Bao'er saw the room furnished luxuriously everywhere, with two life-size blue-and-white porcelain vases by the door; upon entering, she caught a faint sandalwood scent and realized this was the old lady's usual sitting room. It wasn't a reception hall, but rather a place she liked to linger—this intimate gesture left Lu Bao'er feeling uneasy.

She paid her respects to Old Lady Su, who slowly opened her eyes; seeing Lu Bao'er, she beamed, unable to contain her joy. That day she hadn't had time to study Lu Bao'er closely, but now, seeing her hair adorned with pearl blossoms and her attire, every frown and smile echoed Yao'er's likeness.

Old Lady Su's eyes suddenly welled up, and she choked, unable to speak.

Lu Bao'er hated to see elders cry; at this moment she forgot all rank, rushing to take Old Lady Su's hand and asking: "What's wrong? Have I displeased you in any way?"

Lu Bao'er had long wanted to ask that, but she could never bring herself to say it before.

Old Lady Su wiped her tears with a handkerchief, feeling Lu Bao'er's arm resting on hers, and murmured self-mockingly: "Look at me—I summoned Madam Xie, then kept a sour face all day, frightening you. It's not that Madam Xie displeases me; it's that she pleases me too much!"

"Too pleasing?" Lu Bao'er didn't understand. But as long as she wasn't disliked, she didn't dwell on it.

Old Lady Su instructed Granny Zhao: "Madam Xie came by carriage early this morning; she must have eaten little. Tell the kitchen to bring out the usual jade-consort cakes, flower cakes, egg-yolk pastries and such, to let Madam Xie have something to settle her stomach."

Lu Bao'er feared giving Old Lady Su the impression of greed, and hastily declined.

Old Lady Su laughed, patting her hand affectionately: "At your age, I too feared my mother taking me out to visit. Social obligations consume a whole day; one must rise early, stomach empty, yet dare not lose imperial dignity by begging for food. Only now, old, do I realize that was needless suffering for face. Having you as a guest, I will naturally treat you well—feel free to eat your fill."

"Well then, thank you, Old Lady Su." Lu Bao'er still felt a bit reserved, but Old Lady Su did not press her.

Who becomes affectionate at first sight? Naturally, one must take things slowly.

Elsewhere, at the Ten Fragrance Courtyard, Cheng Lingyan learned from maid Dujuan that a lovely guest had arrived at Old Lady Su's residence.

She pinned her pressed-back jade hairpin and asked: "Which lady's wife is it?"

"They say she's the wife of a Hanlin Academy compiler."

"Oh? How did the old lady invite such an unknown person to her mansion for leisure—does her natal family have any high-ranking official at court?"

Dujuan pondered, then said: "I've heard people say that the Xie lady from that family is from the countryside."

"A countrywoman? Why would the grandmother bring such a person home as a guest?" Cheng Lingyan startled, her hairpin falling to the ground with its pearl blossom shattering; she felt heartbroken.

Dujuan pouted: "Not only that! Before her arrival, the old lady ordered the kitchen to steam the jade-consort cakes ahead of time, even neglecting the young lady's bird's-nest porridge."

No wonder Cheng Lingyan missed her bird's-nest porridge today—the servants weren't diligent enough! Too bad the kitchen belongs solely to Old Lady Su; even if she wanted to lose her temper, she dare not cause trouble in the old matron's quarters.

"What? Those jade-consort cakes take two hours to steam!" Cheng Lingyan fumed for half a moment, then recalled the jade-consort cake: it's made from the finest ground dried fruits mixed with sugar and oil for filling, wrapped in dough, pressed into flower molds, and steamed for two hours to finish.

The procedure is elaborate—even if she wanted to eat, she'd have to wait until afternoon when the kitchen is free to steam the cakes; who would halt the master's morning meal just to steam a cake for a country girl?

She naturally wouldn't dare speak ill of Old Lady Su, so she merely changed her clothes, intending to go to the old lady's courtyard to meet this remarkably prominent countrywoman.

She wanted to see whether this favored lovely guest could compare to her own precious granddaughter!