Chapter 101: Birth Mother
The next morning, a Ceremonial Court Lady from the palace arrived by imperial carriage.
As the birth mother of the selected maiden, Second Madam personally went to the main gate to welcome her.
Old Madam Ning, Madam Ning, Third Madam, and Shen Shi all gathered in Crane Longevity Courtyard to receive the guest.
Soon, the sound of drums and music was heard at the gate, and Second Madam led the Ceremonial Court Lady through the Drooping Flower Gate.
This court lady, surnamed Liu, was under thirty years old, with a dignified and graceful demeanor and elegant appearance.
Behind her followed four young palace maids, all dressed in identical crimson embroidered gauze palace attire, holding gilded gift boxes in their hands.
Official Liu was a fourth-rank Ceremonial Court Lady in the inner palace, usually serving in Consort He’s palace.
Old Madam Ning led all the women of the household to welcome her, first offering greetings to Consort He and then exchanging pleasantries with Official Liu.
Official Liu modestly returned the courtesy, and everyone entered the main hall to take their seats, with Shen Shi personally serving tea.
Today was the matchmaking for Third Miss Ning, so none of the Ning family’s young ladies were present in the main hall to accompany the guests.
The arrival of a palace court lady for matchmaking was an extremely grand and lively event in the inner household.
Maids and matrons from every courtyard inevitably came to watch the excitement.
Unable to enter the main gate of Crane Longevity Hall, they gathered around the rockery in the garden, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the court lady’s elegance.
Pear Moon and the others also came, standing on the covered walkway to watch from a distance, regretting that they couldn’t squeeze to the front.
Everyone saw that Official Liu was tall and slender, with a calm and dignified appearance.
She wore a purple round-collared, narrow-sleeved palace gown embroidered all over with golden sunflowers, with pearl tassels adorning the hem of her robe and skirt.
Around her waist was a leather and gold belt, and on her feet were embroidered golden palace shoes.
On her head, she wore a gauze cap adorned with gold beads and silk flowers, with pearl floral ornaments pasted on her temples and between her eyebrows.
Though not opulently luxurious, she exuded an air of scholarly refinement that inspired admiration.
Court ladies selected for the palace were typically unmarried young women or young widows, well-educated and each with their own expertise.
Unlike imperial consorts and palace maids who remained in the palace for life, most of them would return to their hometowns to retire in old age.
“The court ladies in the palace truly have the finest appearances. Even the way they walk is like a breeze—so pleasing and beautiful to watch. And that gauze robe she’s wearing, the official cap on her head—how splendid and elegant! This Official Liu’s rank, compared to male officials outside, must be equivalent to a Minister of Rites.”
Granny Fan squeezed next to Pear Moon, clicking her tongue repeatedly in admiration.
Whether this court lady was equivalent to a minister, the maids and matrons didn’t know.
But after this matchmaking, Third Miss Ning would officially become the Fifth Prince’s consort.
Everyone crowded around, unwilling to leave, waiting for Third Miss Ning to appear.
After a long while, they finally saw a group of maids and matrons escorting Third Miss Ning out from the main gate of the Second Branch’s courtyard, walking along the paved path toward Crane Longevity Hall.
Two elderly matrons in blue silk robes led the way, followed by four young maids in green attire, all neat and tidy.
Second Madam Ning, dressed according to her rank as a titled lady, wore a grand robe with a cloud collar and a Pheasant and Phoenix Crown.
Third Miss Ning wore a Stamen-Red Embroidered and Carved Silk Phoenix Gauze Robe and a small Crabapple Flower Golden Crown, holding hands with her birth mother.
On such a joyous day, however, Third Miss Ning’s fair little face was somber, her red lips pouting high.
Pear Moon wondered what was troubling Third Miss Ning when she suddenly heard a woman’s tearful cry calling from afar.
As the group walked ahead, someone chased after them from behind, repeatedly calling out, “My daughter!”
“Is that Concubine Qian behind them?” Autumn Abundance recognized her at a glance.
Everyone followed her pointing finger and looked, stunned by what they saw.
Concubine Qian was dressed with extreme grandeur and allure. She wore a rose-red, gold-sprinkled patterned full-sleeved jacket with a front opening, paired with a turquoise-blue embroidered golden floral eight-panel Xiang skirt. On her head was a Golden Silk Chignon adorned with a Pure Gold Kingfisher Feather Plum Blossom Hairpin, and her full crown and hair ornaments were all Pure Gold Eight Treasures.
Her attire was not that of a concubine but nearly matched that of Madam Ning.
Concubine Qian hurried to catch up with the crowd, blocking their path, her face full of grievance as she pleaded.
“Second Madam, today is Third Miss’s matchmaking. Please, for the sake of her birth mother, give me some face and let me follow along. It won’t lower your status!”
Pear Moon and the others were too far away to hear what Concubine Qian said, but from her gestures, it was clear she wanted to follow.
On such formal occasions, if Concubine Qian had followed quietly, it might not have been a big issue.
Presumably, with so many people in Crane Longevity Hall, she could have blended in among the maids and matrons without drawing attention.
But dressed as she was, Second Madam could not possibly take her along.
If the palace ladies-in-waiting were to inquire, it would be necessary to explain the distinction between Third Miss Ning’s birth mother and legal mother, which would only invite ridicule.
Pear Moon and the other young maids dared not say anything, but a few of the older matrons had no qualms about speaking ill.
“Second Master Ning dotes on his concubine and neglects his wife in the household. In the second branch, it’s always the concubine who holds sway. What good can come from Third Miss being raised by such a birth mother? Once she marries the Fifth Prince, there will surely be endless disputes!”
The matron spoke the truth. In the second branch’s courtyard, only Concubine Qian enjoyed favor, while Second Madam was practically a mere figurehead.
Concubine Qian had given birth to a son and a daughter—Third Miss Ning and Third Young Master Ning—both of whom Second Master Ning doted on.
The legitimate son born to Second Madam, Second Young Master Ning, often went a month or more without seeing his father.
Unless it was in front of Old Madam at Crane Longevity Hall or during weddings, funerals, or ancestral rites, Second Master Ning and Second Madam were like strangers.
With Second Master Ning doting on his concubine and neglecting his wife, Concubine Qian, whether intentionally or not, often slighted Second Madam.
Today’s incident was clearly Concubine Qian flaunting her favored status to assert her position as the birth mother.
Third Miss Ning was her daughter, raised under her care, and this favorable match was something she had fought for.
Now that her daughter was about to secure a royal marriage, how could she let go and allow her daughter to recognize only her legal mother and not herself?
“What are you doing?”
Second Madam, usually mild-tempered, felt a surge of anger at the sight of Concubine Qian.
“On ordinary days, I ignore your presumptuous behavior, but today is a major event for the entire mansion. Have you lost your mind?”
“I beg you, Second Madam, please let me follow. Third Miss is still so young and has never been apart from her birth mother for even a moment. Today, with palace officials coming to assess her, there can be no room for error. Our Ningguo Mansion has young ladies from all three branches—who knows what others might be thinking? If someone tries to cause trouble later, with her birth mother present, I can at least shield Third Miss from harm!”
Concubine Qian spoke incessantly, tears streaming down her face.
Her words were sincere—Third Miss was her lifeblood. She could not allow anything to go wrong with this marriage and had to witness the matchmaking herself.
Second Madam was furious, her eyes blazing. She had no patience to argue further and simply scolded the matrons and maids.
“Are you all dead? The palace ladies-in-waiting are waiting at Crane Longevity Hall. Can we afford to delay? Do you expect me to go over and drag her away myself?”
Seeing Second Madam’s anger, Concubine Qian stumbled forward a few steps, knelt in the middle of the path, pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and began sobbing tearfully.
Concubine Qian’s looks were not considered top-tier, but her figure was slender and graceful, and her phoenix eyes, glistening with tears, held a captivating charm.
Ever since she entered the Second Household of Ningguo Mansion, she always had reddened eyes, as if weeping and pleading.
With just a few tears from her, there was nothing Second Master Ning would not grant her, so her tears flowed at will.
“I have served Second Master for so many years, and at least I have borne him a son and a daughter. Even if I have no merit, I have toiled hard. Second Madam, you cannot take Third Miss away from me—that would be the death of me!”
Normally, Concubine Qian would not dare to make such an open scene, but today was different.
If her daughter were marrying a nobleman’s son, it would be one thing, but she was marrying the Fifth Prince.
He was the future Crown Prince, and even the future Emperor.
How could Concubine Qian willingly surrender the title and fortune of being the mother of the Crown Princess, or even the Empress?
Third Miss was her own flesh and blood, and she would never let anyone take her away!
Concubine Qian knelt, blocking the way, refusing to yield even at the cost of her life.
Second Madam was furious beyond measure, her eyebrows raised as she scolded the maidservants.
“Take this disgraceful creature away! Once the rituals at Crane Longevity Hall are over, summon Second Master to discipline her!”
Two maidservants hurried over to drag Concubine Qian away.
But no one could have imagined that, at this very moment, Third Miss Ning suddenly broke free.
The young girl lifted her skirt and stood before Concubine Qian, kneeling straight before her legal mother.
“Mother! The concubine is my birth mother. I will never abandon the nurturing kindness of my birth mother for the sake of climbing to a higher status. Please, for the sake of Father, allow the concubine to accompany me to meet the distinguished guests!”