Chapter 27: Miss Ning
Steward Sun Cai’s wife was about to speak further when Hong Rong, standing beneath the corridor, smiled and said, “The young misses have arrived! Please come inside and take a seat!”
The maids at the door lifted the curtain, and the four young ladies of the Ning family entered with cheerful laughter, their jade pendants tinkling and their sleeves fluttering gracefully.
Though of different ages, each was fair and slender, as if celestial beings descended to earth.
All four young misses were accompanied by maids and matrons, and together they entered the room to pay their respects to Madam Ning.
For a moment, the air was filled with lively calls of “Mother,” “Aunt,” and “Madam,” creating a scene of bustling, melodious chatter.
Madam Ning quickly replaced her stern expression with a smile, motioning for Steward Sun Cai’s wife to leave, and then said warmly, “I’ve just finished dealing with the stewardesses. What mischief have you sisters come to stir up?”
Though her words sounded annoyed, her face was full of affectionate amusement. She ordered the maids to add seats and serve tea, pastries, and candies to entertain these delicate guests.
Seated in the foremost position was Miss Ning, who stood tall and graceful like a crane, with striking features and a lively gaze. She bore some resemblance to Madam Ning.
The Duke of Ningguo had two daughters. The eldest, Miss Ning, was born to Madam Ning and was now seventeen years old.
The second daughter, Second Miss Ning, was born to a concubine and had just turned fifteen.
The third and fourth young misses were daughters of the second and third branches of the family, still young and not yet fully grown.
The four girls of Ningguo Mansion often studied and played together, and none were yet betrothed.
Miss Ning gestured for her younger sisters to sit, then picked up a teacup with a smile and walked gracefully, like a willow swaying in the breeze, to her mother’s side.
“With Young Lord’s return to the mansion, Mother has been increasingly busy. We sisters have come especially to pay our respects.”
Madam Ning, who cherished this beloved daughter above all, playfully poked her and said, “You mischievous girls must have some trick up your sleeves, pretending to be filial just to flatter me. But since you’re here, I’ll take the chance to relax.”
All four young misses laughed and gathered around Madam Ning, clinging to her and acting coquettishly.
Madam Ning had been preoccupied with her quarrel with Shen Shi earlier and had no idea what they wanted.
It was only when Hong Rong whispered a reminder in her ear that she remembered the Qingming Festival was approaching, and the young misses wanted to host the Spring Day Banquet.
In the capital, unmarried young ladies from noble families often gathered with friends in spring to host small banquets for enjoying the season.
The tradition had been suspended for three years after the Duke of Ningguo’s passing, but now the mourning period was over. With the joyous occasion of the Young Lord’s return, the Spring Day Banquet ought to be revived.
Madam Ning suddenly understood and chided herself for forgetting.
“My memory is getting worse—I completely forgot about the Spring Day Banquet. Eldest and Second Miss, you both have good ideas. Go ahead and plan it. If you need money or supplies, tell Hong Rong, and she’ll handle everything for you. Don’t go barging into the steward’s office and bother the stewards.”
By entrusting Hong Rong with the expenses, Madam Ning implied that a bit of extravagance was permissible. Miss Ning was delighted and exchanged a secret smile with her younger sisters.
After chatting for a while longer, Miss Ning asked about her sister-in-law, Shen Shi.
“Why hasn’t Sister-in-law come to pay her respects? I had thought we wouldn’t trouble Mother with the Spring Day Banquet and could ask Sister-in-law to accompany us. But I haven’t seen her for days. Could it be that now that Brother is back, she no longer cares for her sisters-in-law?”
She spoke teasingly, making her younger sisters cover their mouths and giggle.
Madam Ning replied calmly, “Your sister-in-law has fallen ill again, and I’m quite worried about it. You girls should enjoy yourselves, but don’t disturb her these next few days. I fear she’s not in good spirits and might find your antics tiresome.”
Shen Shi was often frail and sickly, so Miss Ning didn’t think much of it and quickly nodded in agreement.
The mothers chatted and laughed for half the day until it was time for lunch. The sisters were supposed to accompany Madam Ning for the meal, but Madam Ning refused to keep them. “I’m eating vegetarian today, so there’s nothing good to serve. You should go and have a proper meal,” she urged them.
Only then did the sisters bid farewell with a curtsy, and everyone left Brocade Prosperity Hall.
After walking a few steps outside, Miss Ning said to her younger sister, “I wonder how sister-in-law’s illness is. Let’s go and see.”
Second Miss Ning was two years younger than her elder sister, but her thoughts were more burdened than her elder sister’s. Having just seen the expression on her stepmother’s face, she knew Shen Shi’s illness was not as it had been before and had no intention of going over. She pretended to be serious.
“Elder Sister is right, we should go to Phoenix Ripple Courtyard to see. But let’s first send Third Sister and Fourth Sister back before going. Those two little ones are weak; we shouldn’t let them catch the illness.”
Miss Ning quickly patted her forehead and laughed. “You’re so thoughtful. I’ll trouble you to send the two little sisters back. I’ll just go over for appearances’ sake, take a look myself, and bring back their regards.”
Here, Second Miss Ning took Third Miss Ning and Fourth Miss Ning, leading the maids and old women back to their courtyard.
Only Miss Ning, supported by her personal maid, went to Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, one mistress and one servant.
Usually, when Miss Ning came to Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, she felt it was full of luxury and liveliness. But today, as soon as she entered the courtyard gate, it was eerily silent.
Granny Zhao was sulking with Shen Shi and hiding in the servants’ quarters, refusing to come out. The second- and third-rank maids, without any restraint, were either idling in the servants’ quarters or chatting and cracking melon seeds in the Small Tea Room.
Supported by her maid, Miss Ning lifted the curtain herself and entered, walking straight into the Side Hall. There, she saw Zhi Qing guarding the incense burner and doing needlework, with no one else in sight.
Zhi Qing hurriedly stood up to offer a seat, personally moving a chair and laying out a soft cushion. She called several times for someone to serve tea, but no one answered.
Afraid of disturbing Shen Shi’s rest, Miss Ning quickly said she didn’t want tea and asked a few questions about her sister-in-law’s health.
Zhi Qing couldn’t tell the truth, so she said it was a seasonal ailment, with some fever and coughing.
Shen Shi was hiding in the Warm Pavilion. She hadn’t done her hair all day, just draped in a small jacket and covered with a satin quilt, her hair a tangled mess, her eyes swollen like rotten peaches—completely unfit to be seen. So she sent Angelica Orchid to dismiss her sister-in-law.
Angelica Orchid lifted the curtain and stepped out of the Warm Pavilion. Relying on her favored status, she didn’t curtsy to Miss Ning, just put on a wide smile and said, “My lady says she’s unwell and can’t see anyone. She appreciates your concern and asks you to return.”
Miss Ning recognized Angelica Orchid but had never seen her acting so ostentatiously. She didn’t say anything else, sat for a moment, and then left.
As soon as they stepped out of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard’s main gate, the maid Miaotong, seeing no one around, secretly tugged at Miss Ning’s sleeve.
“Miss, look at Angelica Orchid—dressed like a lesser concubine, and she didn’t even show you proper respect. So unruly, and the mistress still keeps her close. And those maids outside—they really have no sense of law or order.”
Earlier, when Zhi Qing had called for someone repeatedly with no response, Miaotong had gone to the Small Tea Room herself to fetch tea.
There, she saw Fragrant Grass and a group of maids throwing dice and gambling with melon seeds for fun.
When they heard the request for tea, Fragrant Grass didn’t even look up, just spat out, “We only handle tea for the Son-in-law and the mistress. Outsiders should go to the large stove in the kitchen for theirs!”
This burst of cold, sharp words left Miaotong stunned.
She was a second-rank maid in Miss Ning’s courtyard and had never heard of the Small Tea Room refusing to serve tea to the mistress.
She said nothing, turned on her heel, and went to the small kitchen.
There, she found Pear Moon, Autumn Abundance, and Huan Huan tending the stove. They hurriedly brewed two cups of clear tea and brought them over.
Miaotong, being the maid who attended the young lady, was extremely sharp-witted. She struck up a casual conversation with Pear Moon.
Pear Moon was already worried that no one knew about this matter, so why would she need to be coaxed into talking?
She revealed half and concealed half, telling everything to her.
Miaotong leaned in and whispered a few words about what had happened in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
“With the way the eldest young madam is behaving, not to mention the Young Master, I’m afraid even Madam Ning is annoyed. The eldest young lady is still so earnest—we really shouldn’t have come.”
Miss Ning, as a young lady of the inner chambers, felt it improper to comment too much on her elder brother and his wife’s affairs. She shook her head and sighed, “This isn’t something I should say. Usually, everyone praises my sister-in-law’s talent and grace, saying she stands out among the noble daughters of prominent families. But seeing her today, she’s also a foolish person. My brother neglects her for a day or two, and she starts with tears and tantrums—how is that any different from an ignorant woman from the streets? And to think I once looked up to her as a role model—it’s truly laughable.”
Miaotong said disdainfully, “The Duke of Ningguo’s residence is second to none in the capital, and you, eldest young lady, are outstanding among them. The Shen family has only risen to prominence for a few years, coming from a poor and humble scholar background. You treated her with genuine respect, but who would have thought she’d put on airs in front of you?”
Miss Ning, with her lofty nature, felt a surge of displeasure as she noticed Shen Shi’s casual attitude toward her.
“She’s seriously ill, so don’t invite her to the Spring Day Banquet, and don’t invite any of the Shen family’s womenfolk either. If the younger sisters ask, just say our household has just ended mourning, so the Spring Day Banquet is only for close relatives to enjoy among ourselves—it won’t be considered impolite.”
Miaotong quickly agreed and helped Miss Ning back to her courtyard.