Chapter 10: Plum Blossom Viewing
Shen Shi looked down on everyone and never paid any attention to low-ranking maids.
But when Zhi Lan mentioned Pear Moon, she couldn’t help but feel a stir in her heart.
That little girl had fair, delicate skin and refined features; even coarse clothing couldn’t hide her beauty.
At just twelve years old, she was already a budding beauty. If she were to be raised in the study for a few years, it would be hard to prevent the Young Master from taking a liking to her and making her his concubine.
As Shen Shi pondered this, Zhi Lan had already noticed her hesitation and quickly seized the opportunity:
“Autumn Abundance is sharp-tongued and lazy, always finding ways to slack off. Huan Huan is a habitual thief with sticky fingers. And that Xiao Yue is the worst—flaunting herself and utterly improper! Young Mistress, don’t be fooled by their youth. I fear that if they learn from Jade Ink in the Tranquil Study, they’ll only pick up bad habits. In the future, if a group of them tries to charm the Son-in-law, won’t they lead him astray!”
Though there was some truth to her words, the way she said it was truly vulgar.
Shen Shi frowned slightly and cast a sidelong glance at her.
Zhi Lan immediately fell silent, lowering her head and not daring to speak further.
Seeing an opening, Granny He quickly stepped forward to advise:
“The Tranquil Study is where the Son-in-law studies, so we must assign our own trusted people to manage it. The overseer and maids should be carefully chosen for their reliability. The Tranquil Study is already under the control of that seductress Jade Ink. If we send a few more little temptresses over, even if they cause no trouble for a year or two, who’s to say they won’t stir up trouble in three or five years?”
Observing Shen Shi’s expression, Granny He added with an air of self-importance, “Young Mistress, in this old servant’s opinion, why not send Zhi Lan to the study to replace Jade Ink and have Fragrant Grass take over the tea stove? She already tends the tea room in the main courtyard, so she won’t need to learn the duties. If the two of them aren’t enough, we can also send Xiang Hui and Xiang Rui along. They’re all from the Shen family, so with them serving the Young Master, you can rest assured.”
Zhi Lan chimed in eagerly, “My grandmother speaks wisely. The Son-in-law has stayed in the study for two nights in a row—who knows how that seductress Jade Ink has been bewitching him? If I go and replace her, we can keep her under your watchful eye, which would put your mind at ease.”
Shen Shi examined her reflection in the mirror, letting them stir up trouble with their back-and-forth remarks, remaining silent and indifferent.
After a while, the first-rank maid Zhi Qing entered with a bowl of hot floral water.
Only then did Shen Shi wave her hand lightly, dismissing Granny He and Zhi Lan to oversee the preparations for the flower viewing.
Applying floral water to her hands was a habit Shen Shi had cultivated since childhood. She would boil fragrant flowers in water, soak a soft cloth in it, wring it dry, and use it to warm her hands.
She did this twice a day to keep the skin on her hands delicate and free of fine lines.
Resting her fair, jade-like hands on a fragrant handkerchief, Shen Shi waited until the room was empty before letting out a cold laugh. “Ever since your Son-in-law returned to the estate, our Phoenix Ripple Courtyard has become a den of nine-tailed fox spirits, thrown into utter chaos.”
Among the several first-rank maids serving Shen Shi in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, Zhi Qing was the most prominent.
She was tall with a plain, unadorned face, average in appearance and not given to elaborate dressing, unlike the flamboyant Zhi Lan.
Zhi Qing was thoughtful and intelligent, fiercely loyal to Shen Shi, who trusted her enough to discuss matters only with her.
“In this servant’s opinion, the people Aunt Cao assigned from the small kitchen are quite suitable. I’ve observed them quietly—Xiao Yue and the others are young and honest, not the type to stir up trouble. Even Jade Ink isn’t the seductive type. Sending people to the Tranquil Study was originally a minor matter. If you insist on sending dowry maids, Madam Ning might not say anything, but wouldn’t the Son-in-law resent you for being too controlling, as if you’re trying to manage him?”
Zhi Qing carefully wrapped Shen Shi’s delicate hands in a steaming hot cloth and glanced out the window.
“The other day, Zhi Lan sent Xiang Hui and Xiang Rui to keep watch at the Tranquil Study, which upset the Young Master for the whole day, and his displeasure hasn’t subsided even today. Although the young lady meant well, the Young Master is, after all, a man accustomed to his freedom and unwilling to be restrained. It’s hard to avoid misunderstandings. Young lady, in all matters, the Young Master should come first.”
There was some truth to what she said, but Shen Shi still couldn’t rest easy.
The dowry maids were from the Shen family, their contracts were in her hands, and no matter how much they stirred up trouble, they couldn’t escape her grasp.
As for the coarse maids in the small kitchen, they were all born and raised in Ningguo Mansion, and ultimately, their hearts weren’t aligned with hers.
Thinking of this, Shen Shi leaned back on the soft couch and sighed softly.
“Everyone says Ningguo Mansion is illustrious, and the Young Master achieved success at a young age, but who knows the bitterness of my three years of living as a widow? I finally looked forward to my husband’s return, but not only did he not come to consummate the marriage, he gave me cold looks for two days. I truly hoped the dowry maids could help, but then there had to be shameless ones among them. I really am ill-fated!”
Zhi Qing knew she was referring to the sisters Zhi Lan and Xiang Cao and quickly offered a few gentle words of comfort.
Shen Shi frowned, her expression filled with melancholy and resentment for a long while before shaking her head and saying, “I’ve thought it through about the Tranquil Study. Zhi Lan and Xiang Cao are absolutely not allowed to go there. Xiao Yue is extremely pretty, and I fear she won’t be content to stay in her place, so she can’t be sent to the study either. As for the maid Jade Ink, although she grew up following the Young Lord, she’s getting older and a bit troublesome. It would be better to report to Madam Ning and have her sent away. My idea is to send a few clumsy ones over, so the Young Master will have fewer distractions.”
Seeing her mistress so determined and unwilling to listen to advice, Zhi Qing knew it was useless to say more and had no choice but to let it go.
After finishing her makeup in the dressing room, Shen Shi sent Zhi Qing to invite the Young Lord to admire the plum blossoms.
In the main courtyard, chairs had been set up, a wind shelter erected, and incense lit beside two white plum trees in preparation for the master and mistress to enjoy the flowers.
Once everything was arranged, the Young Master followed Zhi Qing over.
Earlier that day, Madam Ning had quietly reminded her son not to be willful and to consummate the marriage soon.
The Young Lord also thought about how he had been away from home for three years, leaving Shen Shi to keep an empty house, so he couldn’t bear to embarrass her.
Shen Shi hurriedly led her maids to the courtyard gate to welcome him, accompanying her husband to sit under the plum blossom tree, personally serving him tea.
The white plum blossoms bloomed a bit late, but they were pure and elegant, looking like spring snow from a distance.
Sitting silently under the white plum tree and admiring them together was quite pleasant and relaxing.
Seeing her husband in good spirits, Shen Shi had a maid bring over some snacks.
Aunt Cao from the kitchen, along with Pear Moon and the others, had long been waiting outside the courtyard with food boxes.
Seeing Zhi Qing beckoning from over there, Aunt Cao nudged Pear Moon.
Pear Moon, carrying the food box, hurried forward to deliver the snacks.
Before she could reach the courtyard, a young maid suddenly rushed out from the side, running frantically with a food box.
If Pear Moon hadn’t stopped in her tracks, she would have nearly been knocked over.
“This servant, Xiang Cao, knowing that the young lady and Young Master were admiring the plum blossoms, prepared the snacks early in the tea room. Please, Young Master, taste carefully and see if you can tell what this is?”
Xiang Cao had deliberately worn a bright red silk jacket, her face heavily powdered with two patches of rouge, and imitating the senior maids, she had drawn long sideburns and adorned her hair with a riot of colorful flowers.
Seeing her like this, Pear Moon knew trouble was brewing. She retreated to the side with her food box, not planning to compete for attention.
Xiang Cao, putting on an affectedly delicate manner, opened the box lid and took out two sweet white-glazed bowls and another fine porcelain lotus leaf dish.
The bowls seemed to contain a porridge-like soup, while the dish held honey-preserved plums.
At the sight of Xiang Cao’s appearance, Shen Shi felt a surge of anger.
Once again, it was this unruly little maid, and the Young Lord couldn’t help but frown.
Ningguo Mansion had strict rules, and the Young Lord had never encountered such a maid since childhood.
Remembering how she had spilled longan soup on him just the other day, his annoyance grew even more.
Seeing the expressions on the faces of the two masters, Zhi Qing hurried over to take the cup, waving her hand and saying, “We’ll take care of it. There’s no need for you to come over unless called.”
Fragrant Grass was young and only cared about showing off, unwilling to let go.
Taking advantage of her youth, she put on a playful act, her face beaming with a smile as she said, “Dear sister, this is an elegant pastry paired with white plum blossoms. I’m afraid you might not know how to serve it properly. Please, let me do it.”
Angelica Orchid, eager to let her showcase her talents, quickly pulled Zhi Qing aside.
“The Young Miss and Son-in-law are admiring the plum blossoms, and I specifically had Fragrant Grass prepare these pastries for their enjoyment. Sister Zhi Qing, let’s not disturb the Young Miss and Son-in-law’s mood.”
While the two of them were pulling and tugging, Fragrant Grass stepped forward with a white porcelain cup in hand, pursing her lips into a smile and saying, “Dear Son-in-law, take a whiff of this fresh aroma and taste it. Do you know what it is?”
After handing it to the Young Lord, she then offered another cup to Shen Shi, smiling as she said, “Would the Young Miss like to try it too?”
If it weren’t for the Young Lord’s presence, Shen Shi would have wanted to smash the bowl right in her face.
Instead, the Young Master took a sip and coldly asked Shen Shi, “Isn’t this just plain rice porridge? Does this maid think I don’t even recognize plain rice?”