Chapter 29: Third Mistress Shen
When Shen Shi saw her third sister-in-law from her maiden family had arrived, she hurriedly had the maidservant lead her to the Side Hall to serve tea.
She herself re-did her hair and lightly touched up her makeup before coming out to meet her.
Third Mistress Shen, seeing her haggard appearance, quickly took her hand and said, “My dear sister, how have you fallen so ill? We finally looked forward to your husband’s return, and now you’ve fallen sick again. Is it serious or not?”
Shen Shi had been holed up in the Warm Pavilion these past days, without even a single person to talk to. Finally seeing a relative from her maiden family, she could no longer hold back her sorrow, and her eyes reddened.
“Why mention that heartless, faithless man? Third sister-in-law doesn’t know, but I’m an eyesore in this household. They all wish I were dead!”
When Third Mistress Shen entered the courtyard, she had already heard Angelica Orchid muttering a few words.
Being several years older, having experienced the trials among mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and sisters-in-law, and knowing Shen Shi’s temperament, she had guessed about seventy to eighty percent of the situation. She quickly pulled Shen Shi to sit on the chaise lounge.
“Sister, don’t speak in anger. A young couple who haven’t seen each other for years should be in a honeymoon phase, so why talk of life and death? Your husband is young and doesn’t understand things. With Madam Ning to guide her, sister, don’t be troubled.”
When Shen Shi heard her third sister-in-law mention her mother-in-law, her tears flowed even more uncontrollably.
“That faithless scoundrel is Madam’s own flesh and blood. How could Madam ever speak ill of her? All the faults lie with me. She too wants to wear me down to death, then marry her son to someone better!”
Seeing her complain about her mother-in-law, Third Mistress Shen quickly waved her hand to stop her from speaking.
She thought to herself that this younger sister-in-law was becoming increasingly arrogant and haughty. The airs of a noble mansion’s young lady were a bit too much.
Having married into Ningguo Mansion for three years, she was no longer a new bride. Who in her husband’s family would still yield to her?
Quarreling and bickering with her husband was one thing, but how could she start complaining about her mother-in-law?
Didn’t she consider that by offending both her husband and mother-in-law, how would she establish herself and live securely in the future?
Though Third Mistress Shen thought this, she couldn’t say it aloud and could only softly coax and comfort her.
Third Mistress Shen, born into a merchant family, was most skilled at reading expressions, using subtle gestures to win people over.
Among the three younger sisters-in-law, she saw that Shen Shi’s marriage was the best, so she devoted both money and effort to her.
After finally persuading Shen Shi to stop crying, Third Mistress Shen had people bring in the gifts.
She was extremely wealthy and casual with money. Every time she visited Shen Shi, she brought rare and luxurious gifts.
Twenty-four bolts of the latest patterned Embroidered Satin from Jiangnan. In crimson, plantain green, sapphire blue, and goose yellow backgrounds, woven with gold thread as the base, the gold base featured sixteen-colored floral patterns, all in lotus makeup, peony and butterfly, clustered plum blossom, and crabapple interlocking branches—styles no one in the capital had seen before.
Twelve pairs of gold and jadeite pearl hairpins, in the style of gold wire inlaid with pearls. The gold wires were shaped like fresh flowers, insects, and grasses, all lifelike. The inlaid pearls were as large as thumbs, and all had light pink, powder blue, and bluish-white hues, making them immensely valuable.
Additionally, there were Jiangnan face powders, rouge pastes, hair oils, and inkstones, all stored in exquisite mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes, shiny silver pearl shell boxes, and glazed jade bottles, with delicate goose yellow labels attached.
Even the rewards distributed to the maidservants and elderly servants were soft satins and silks, colorful stone flower hairpins, high-quality woolen thread, silk thread, and wool needles—nothing of low quality.
Shen Shi glanced at them indifferently, thanked her third sister-in-law, and then had them carried away.
Third Mistress Shen stopped her with a smile, “You called me over, but I didn’t know what it was about. I thought that with your husband returning to the mansion, there must be many social engagements to attend to. And now you’ve fallen ill—I was afraid you might neglect proper etiquette. These things aren’t worth much, but take them and send a few items to Old Madam, Madam Ning, and the aunts from the second and third branches, to show your husband’s filial piety on his behalf. As for the four young ladies, give each a pair of hairpins, along with some scented powder and rouge—it’s a gesture of affection from you, their elder sister-in-law.”
Third Mistress Shen’s intention was for Shen Shi to spend money to ward off misfortune, using wealth to pave the way to please her husband and earn goodwill for herself.
In this world, when it comes to winning people over, nothing works better than money.
However, in the households of high-ranking families, giving money directly is considered too vulgar. In the eyes of noblewomen, precious jewelry, fine fabrics, and cosmetics are the true currency that moves hearts.
Third Mistress Shen was a shrewd woman. Hearing that Shen Shi was unwell and hoping for her family to visit and talk, she knew Shen Shi was not faring well in her marital home. She deliberately brought some valuable gifts for Shen Shi to use for social maneuvering.
Of course, Third Mistress Shen also had her own motives. Her husband was a concubine-born son of the Shen family, not favored by Master Shen, and held no status in the family. Moreover, he had not passed the imperial examinations and had only purchased an official position in the Ministry of Rites, with little prospect for advancement in his career.
Relying on her generous dowry, Third Mistress Shen moved among the noblewomen of the capital, doing everything she could to pave the way for her husband.
Shen Shi, as the future Lady of the Ningguo Duke, naturally cared little about spending money or giving away gifts. Her only worry was that Shen Shi might refuse to accept them.
But Shen Shi did not see it that way. She was proud and aloof, carrying herself with the air of an official’s daughter, unwilling to speak softly even to her mother-in-law or husband. How could she be willing to use gifts to curry favor?
A few days earlier, Angelica Orchid’s foolish idea had struck a chord with Shen Shi.
If she could block the imperial decree for the Young Lord to inherit the title and force the Ning family to come begging to her, only then could she swallow this bitter resentment.
These past few days, Shen Shi had stayed indoors, pondering this matter.
To obstruct the imperial decree for the Young Lord’s inheritance, she would have to focus her efforts on the Ministry of Rites.
The Ministry of Rites was a strong ally of the Shen family. Even without Master Shen’s orders, a letter from Madam Shen could settle the matter.
Shen Shi thought it over but dared not let her mother know. Instead, she sent a message summoning her third sister-in-law to discuss the matter.
First, because Third Mistress Shen was closest to her, and second, because Third Brother worked in the Ministry of Rites, allowing them to act discreetly.
Shen Shi stopped her third sister-in-law and ordered the gifts to be taken away.
“The Ningguo Mansion is so wealthy—how could they possibly care for the Shen family’s trinkets? There’s no need for us to fawn over them!”
Third Mistress Shen knew she was putting on airs and refusing to yield, so she refrained from further persuasion.
Shen Shi ordered fragrant tea to be served and subtly asked if Third Mistress Shen knew about the imperial decree for the Young Lord’s inheritance.
Thinking Shen Shi was concerned about the matter, Third Mistress Shen quickly smiled and said, “I know you, dear sister—you speak harshly but have a soft heart. You say you’re angry with your husband, but deep down, you’re worried about his inheritance. I asked your Third Brother a few days ago, and the imperial decree has already been stamped by the Directorate of Ceremonial. It will be sent to the Ministry of Rites today. After it’s registered and transcribed tomorrow, it will likely be issued the day after. Dear sister, you should recover quickly from your illness so you can receive the title of First Rank Lady of Honor and become the Lady of the Duke!”
Shen Shi lowered her head, calculating the days, then moved closer to Third Mistress Shen and spoke of delaying the decree for a few days.
“The Young Lord’s inheritance is a major event. The mansion will surely host a grand banquet and invite all relatives and guests. With me, the future Lady of the Ningguo Duke, being ill, I fear our Old Madam and Madam Ning won’t be able to manage it properly.”
Third Mistress Shen found this reasoning plausible. Her eyes flickered a few times before she composed herself and said seriously, “What you say makes sense, dear sister, but I don’t understand the court’s procedures. Let me discuss it with your Third Brother and see what he says.”
The sisters-in-law were speaking softly when a second-rank maid came in to report: “I saw tables being set up in the garden. Perhaps Madam Ning has learned of Third Mistress Shen’s arrival and ordered a banquet prepared. Shall we go to Brocade Prosperity Hall to pay our respects?”
In the past, whenever female relatives from the Shen family visited, Madam Ning would host a feast.
Shen Shi sneered coldly: “I’m not feeling well. Let Madam Ning dine alone!”
Third Mistress Shen quickly stopped the maid, stood up, and said with a smile: “You’ve grown even more delicate, sister. Since I’ve come to see you, wouldn’t it be improper if I didn’t pay respects to the lady of the house? People might laugh at the Shen family for lacking manners. Enough now, don’t lie around being lazy—the flowers in your estate are in bloom. Let’s go admire them!”
She insisted on helping Shen Shi change clothes and freshen up, then the two sisters-in-law walked hand in hand out of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard.