Chapter 153

Chapter 153: The Wedding Cui Lingrong had Nanny Qiu look into the relationship between Nanny Zheng and Zhuqing. This was hardly a secret, and Nanny Qiu quickly learned that Nanny Zheng was Zhuqing's aunt by marriage. "Concubine Zhuqing is a born-slave of the Rong Prince Mansion. The Zheng family came as part of the County Mistress's dowry, but Zhuqing's entire family remains at the Rong Prince Mansion," Nanny Qiu said. "So they're relatives. That explains it," Cui Lingrong said. "Indeed. Since Concubine Zhuqing's parents aren't at the Marquis Mansion, it's only natural she'd be close to Nanny Zheng," Nanny Qiu said. "But that Zheng Side is a lecherous man. I heard his first wife passed away, and later he set his sights on a girl from one of the farming households. She refused him, so he forced himself on her. The girl threw herself into the river, and in the end, the matter was simply dropped." Caiyue listened indignantly. "How could it just be dropped?" "Most likely the dog was bullying people with its master's power." Nanny Qiu shook her head with a sigh, then turned to the topic of Caixia's marriage. "The courtyard General Xie had prepared for Xu Baihu is truly lovely. Caixia is very fortunate." Caixia's wedding day was approaching, and Cui Lingrong had already arranged the banquet—just three tables at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, enough for the people of Qiushuang Zhai to celebrate. As they were speaking, servants from both Madame Jiang and Madam Li arrived, saying they had come to add to Caixia's dowry gifts. For a mere maidservant to receive dowry gifts from them—that was done out of respect for Cui Lingrong. A moment later, Mama Xu also arrived with gifts. Old Madame Song cared about face; she couldn't have her daughters-in-law giving gifts while she sat on her hands and gave nothing. But more importantly, it was out of regard for Cui Zeyu that she deigned to honor the maidservant of Cui Lingrong's household. Cui Lingrong had the gifts sent to Caixia's room. On the day of Caixia's wedding, it was Nanny Qiu who combed Caixia's hair. Before she left, Caixia came to kowtow to Cui Lingrong. "Don't you dare cry—Nanny Qiu worked so hard on your makeup. If you cry and ruin it, you'll look like a little tabby cat." Cui Lingrong was delighted to see Caixia married. "You're a steady girl, and I trust you'll make a good life for yourself. Now, get up quickly—the groom's party has arrived." Caixia wiped her tears and looked at the young mistress with gratitude. "I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life. Whenever you have need of me, I will come back to repay you!" Beside her, Caiyue was already sobbing like a fountain. She and Caixia had entered the household together, and since she wasn't as steady as Caixia, she'd often been scolded—but every time, Caixia would share the punishment with her. Now that Caixia was getting married, Caiyue was happy for her, yet also terribly reluctant to let her go, because she knew that once Caixia married, she would have a family of her own. Caiyue had tried to give Caixia silver before, but Caixia refused, telling her to keep it for herself since she wasn't married yet. But Caiyue couldn't see herself with anyone else. She knew she wasn't worthy of Young Master Yu, but she still liked him in her heart—though it was the kind of quiet, silent affection she kept to herself. Even when Caixia and Nanny Qiu asked, she said she'd moved on. Now all she wished for was that Young Master Yu and the young mistress would be happy together. Anyway, she had no intention of marrying. Instead, she had someone exchange the silver for gold peanut-shaped trinkets and quietly tucked them into Caixia's dowry. "If Xu Baihu ever bullies you, you tell me, and I'll come help you!" Caixia was the one Caiyue couldn't bear to part with most. "Caiyue, once I'm no longer serving the young mistress, you must be steadier." Seeing Caiyue cry, Caixia couldn't hold back her own tears. Fortunately, the matchmaker arrived, the red bridal veil was placed, and the sound of flutes and drums filled the air with lively celebration. Cui Lingrong watched Caixia leave through the gates. When she turned back and sat down, she felt a hollow emptiness in her heart. At noon she drank a few extra cups and, upon returning to her room, fell asleep slumped over the table. Nanny Qiu and Caiyue made a shushing gesture to each other. When they saw the Third Young Mistress arriving with a food basket, the two of them quietly withdrew. By the time Cui Lingrong woke, Madam Li was still sketching embroidery patterns with Yu-jie. Madam Li's needlework was excellent, and with a few pointers from her, Yu-jie had already memorized the patterns. Cui Lingrong finished her hangover soup and rubbed her brow. "Forgive me, Third Sister-in-law. I indulged a bit too much today." "It's no trouble. Today was Caixia's happy day—it's only natural for you to feel a little reluctant to let her go." Madam Li set down her brush, and when she looked at Cui Lingrong again, her eyes hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but wasn't sure. Cui Lingrong could tell Madam Li had something on her mind. "Third Sister-in-law, please speak freely." "Just now I heard Yu-jie mention that you're planning to invite a retired palace matron to come and teach. I..." Madam Li looked a little embarrassed. "My niece from my natal family is also getting to that age. Would it be all right if I had her come over and learn alongside? Don't worry, Sister-in-law—the Li family will pay their share of the matron's fee." The Li family's standing wasn't high, and if the girl could receive instruction from a palace matron, it would be something to boast about when arranging her marriage later. "Of course. Back when Zeyu was in prison, it was through your family's connections that I was able to visit him. As for the money, there's no need—we're all family. Whether your niece comes or not, Yu-jie would still cost the same." Cui Lingrong wouldn't accept the money. But Madam Li insisted on paying. After going back and forth, Cui Lingrong still refused. If she accepted the money, word might get out and people would say she was stingy. Madam Li couldn't win the argument, but she thought to herself that when her niece came, she'd have her mother prepare a generous gift for Yu-jie. She couldn't just take advantage of someone for nothing. "That's settled then. Nanny, you'll stay at the mansion for a month or two, and your niece can stay here as well—or if it's not too much trouble, she can come and go each day," Cui Lingrong said. "Though I'd suggest it's better for her to stay here. A young lady going out every day will inevitably draw gossip. Staying here, she'll also have Yu-jie as a companion." Madam Li said she would go back and discuss it with her brother and sister-in-law, then left cheerfully. Cui Lingrong also sent someone to notify Yuan Mingzhu, asking the Jiang family to send Fang-jie over the day after tomorrow. At noon the next day, Nanny Hu arrived at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, and Cui Lingrong personally received her in the front hall. Nanny Hu's hair was half white but combed immaculately, giving her a very particular appearance. "After receiving the letter from the young mistress, I deliberated for a long time. Later, I heard from my good friend that the young mistress is an extremely fine person, and that Yu-jie is clever and well-behaved. So I thought, before returning to my hometown, I'd be bold enough to come and share some amusing tales with the young ladies," Nanny Hu said, having already surveyed everyone in the hall. The young mistress and Yu-jie were both fine-looking, and there was another mistress seated there whose identity she didn't yet know, but whose demeanor was modest and reserved. She thought to herself that the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion had few residents. When she learned that two more young ladies would be sitting in on the lessons, she had no objection—it was the same storytelling either way. And so Nanny Hu took up residence at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. The next day, the Jiang and Li family young ladies both arrived. Yu-jie was socially adept and quickly became fast friends with the Jiang and Li girls. When Old Madame Song heard about this matter, she summoned Cui Lingrong and spoke with a note of reproach: "You manage the household, but now that your wings have grown, you don't even inform me of such things. The Li family are proper relatives, so I won't mention them—but since the Jiang girl could come, why didn't it occur to you to think of the Su family?"