Chapter 9: The Visitor

The maids in the courtyard of the Marchioness of Dongyang stood with their heads bowed, holding their breath in silence.

After a quick wash and changing into casual attire, the Marchioness walked into the east side room. Mama Xu hurried to serve tea, but a young girl in a green silk dress standing to the side took it from her first.

"Mama Xu, let me do it," she said.

Mama Xu looked at the girl’s bright, pleasant face and stepped aside with a smile.

The Marchioness had already seated herself on the *luohan* bed by the window. The girl bowed slightly.

"Please don't be angry; Uncle didn't mean to avoid seeing you," she said softly.

The Marchioness gave a bitter smile. She hadn't been turned away from the Ding'an Earl's mansion today, but once inside, she had only been received by the Earl's third daughter-in-law.

"The Grand Marchioness ate something that disagreed with her yesterday, and the Imperial physicians ordered her to rest and see no one. The old Earl has gone to Lingquan Temple in the western suburbs, and my sister-in-law went to visit her father, who just returned from his post, early this morning." The third daughter-in-law of the Ding'an Earl's mansion, a concubine's wife, had been timid and hesitant. "Please don't take offense, Madam, but I am the only one available to host you."

The third daughter-in-law had always been muddled and lacked the stature for such duties; she was never tasked with hosting guests in the Earl's mansion. In the past, the Marchioness would have merely greeted her with a polite smile, but now, she couldn't afford to be picky. She was already grateful that someone in the Ding'an Earl's mansion was willing to receive her.

When she brought up the matter of Zhou Jingyun, the third daughter-in-law panicked, saying, "I don't understand what you're talking about, Madam," and then added, "The Heir is a good boy, it’s just a pity our Third Miss lacked the fortune," before bursting into tears.

The conversation could not continue.

The Marchioness had no choice but to take her leave.

However, just as she was leaving, Lu Jin, the eighth daughter of the Ding'an Earl's mansion, chased after her and climbed into her carriage.

"Godmother." Lu Jin handed the tea over again, kneeling slightly before the Marchioness. "Ever since Uncle received the Heir's letter, he went to Lingquan Temple in the western suburbs. If he were truly angry, he would have come to find you and Godfather immediately."

Lu Jin was the youngest daughter of the second master of the Ding'an Earl's mansion. Since the second master could not inherit the title, he had moved out after marriage and served as an official in the provinces. The second wife was in poor health and bedridden year-round, unable to manage the children. The Grand Marchioness of the Ding'an Earl's mansion, missing her, had specifically brought her back to live with them to find her a good match. After much searching, they felt that strengthening the ties with the Dongyang Marquis was best, but Zhou Jingyun had always avoided it.

Two years ago, during the New Year, the Grand Marchioness had pressed the issue in front of guests at a banquet. Zhou Jingyun had flared up and refused on the spot, making for a very awkward scene. It was then that Lu Jin had come forward and knelt before the Marchioness of Dongyang.

"Grandmother wants to keep the bond between our families unbroken. Why not let me be your goddaughter?"

Becoming a goddaughter meant they were family; the Ding'an Earl's mansion saved face, and Zhou Jingyun no longer had to resist. The Marchioness had agreed on the spot.

Thinking of how Lu Jin had smoothed over the near-estrangement between the two families back then, and how she had followed her now to offer comfort, the Marchioness’s expression softened, and she took Lu Jin’s hand.

"The adults' affairs have nothing to do with you," she said.

Lu Jin sat beside the Marchioness, gently kneading her shoulders. "The adults do everything for the sake of their children. It is because of us children that you are all so troubled."

That was true. Ever since she had married and become a wife and mother, all her joys and sorrows revolved around her children. The Marchioness let out a long sigh.

"Children are nothing but debts," she said. "I suppose I deserve to pay them."

Lu Jin said softly, "Being able to pay those debts is a blessing in itself."

Some people didn't even have that blessing—like the Ding'an Earl, whose third daughter had passed away and was no longer there...

The Marchioness sighed again.

"Third Sister is gone, and Uncle cannot bear to let her go, which is why he is so entangled with the Marquis, you, and the Heir. In Uncle's heart, it is as if Third Sister is still here," Lu Jin whispered. "Now that the Heir has finally remarried, Uncle isn't angry; he is just lost and doesn't know how to face it, so he avoided you."

Putting herself in his shoes, if she were in the Ding'an Earl's position, she would feel the same. The Marchioness squeezed Lu Jin's hand. "I know. Don't say the Earl is lost—I am at a loss myself."

A trace of a smile flickered across Lu Jin's lips, and the next moment, her expression turned playful. "I knew it, Godmother was frightened too."

The Marchioness didn't hide it from her. "The Ding'an Earl and I received the news at almost the same time. We truly knew nothing beforehand." At this, she couldn't hide her annoyance. "Jingyun is truly absurd!"

Lu Jin laughed, "Was the Heir pushed too hard by you, Godmother? Is that why he married so suddenly?"

"I didn't push him! Who could force him to do anything?" the Marchioness said indignantly, then quickly added, "Actually, the late Emperor proposed several matches for him, and he only agreed when your sister was mentioned."

So, the marriage between Zhou Jingyun and the Ding'an Earl's family hadn't been forced by an Imperial decree, but by mutual affection.

Lu Jin understood the Marchioness's meaning. She pursed her lips in a smile, then sighed softly. "It's been so many years; it's good that the Heir can let go. Otherwise, if Third Sister knew in the afterlife, she wouldn't be at peace."

The Marchioness felt a mix of bitterness, sorrow, and relief. "My child, thank you for thinking that way."

Lu Jin leaned against the Marchioness's shoulder. "The Heir was the person my sister loved deeply. The better the Heir lives, the happier my sister will be. Don't worry, Godmother, I will comfort Uncle."

The Marchioness gripped her hand tightly. "Jin'er, having you is a blessing I have cultivated."

Lu Jin looked up and smiled. "Then, Godmother, let me meet the new sister-in-law."

The Marchioness was slightly taken aback.

"Godmother, you haven't brought her to visit. Third Aunt is telling people she suspects it's a fake—that there is no such daughter-in-law, and that you are just making excuses because you're afraid we'll force you to marry again," Lu Jin said with a laugh.

That Third Aunt—she knew she was a muddled fool. What nonsense was she spouting? The Marchioness was both anxious and annoyed. "I didn't bring her because I couldn't bear the embarrassment. When Jingyun returns, he can take her to see the Earl himself."

Lu Jin smiled and said, "Then let me see her, Godmother. I am a junior."

The Marchioness hesitated. "She is so unpresentable..."

"Godmother, you shouldn't say that," Lu Jin chided. "She is the Heir's wife; in my heart, she is the same as my sister."

*Shouldn't she be a sister-in-law?* A thought flashed through the Marchioness's mind, but "sister" made sense too. None of that mattered.

"You..." She hesitated, then sighed. "Fine, see her if you must. She has to come out and meet people eventually."

She called for Hongxing.

"Invite the Young Mistress over."

...

...

The quiet room was a bit chaotic.

Chunyue draped a set of clothes over the rack and watched as two other maids helped Zhuang Li comb her hair.

Because they had previously said the Marchioness was not home and there was no need for morning greetings, Zhuang Li had only simply pinned up her hair. Now that they were suddenly told to receive a guest, even without jewelry or hairpins, her hair had to be properly styled.

"Miss Jin has recognized the Marchioness as her godmother," Chunyue whispered to Zhuang Li. "She is also the cousin of the late Young Mistress."

Zhuang Li said, "Oh," adding, "That really is a family becoming even closer."

It was originally meant to be the kind of family that becomes closer through marriage, but in front of the new Young Mistress, it wasn't appropriate to mention that. Chunyue coughed lightly and asked, "Young Mistress, which outfit would you like to wear?"

Before Zhuang Li could answer, Chunyue looked nervous.

"The Young Mistress hasn't tried these clothes on yet. I don't know if they will fit."

The needlework room had sent over a few sets of clothes, but no one had ever come to take her measurements. No matter how new the clothes were, they wouldn't do if they didn't fit.

"Xueliu?" Chunyue said, looking around.

She wanted to send her to the needlework room to call someone over; if they didn't fit, they could at least make some quick adjustments.

Hongxing, who was waiting nearby, looked a bit awkward. "Xueliu went to the Marchioness's side first," she said, explaining, "To see Miss Jin. After all, she is a young lady from her family."

Chunyue couldn't help but twitch her lips. In terms of background, Xueliu was indeed from the Lu family, but since she had come to the Dongyang Marquis's mansion with the Third Miss Lu, she was a servant of the Marquis's mansion. What was this "her young lady" business...

Besides, when Xueliu was at the Lu house, this Miss Jin was still living away. The two didn't even know each other, yet now they acted as if they had grown up together with deep servant-mistress affection.

But Xueliu was, after all, a maid left behind by the late Young Mistress. The Marchioness and the Heir, out of pity for the late Young Mistress's early death and respect for the Ding'an Earl's mansion, were tolerant and valued Xueliu. Whenever the Heir was away, she acted as the mistress of the courtyard, and even Concubine Mei was respectful toward her.

Accusing Xueliu was not only useless, but one would also be driven out by her.

Although there was a new Young Mistress now, in the hearts of the Marchioness and the Heir, the new Young Mistress probably didn't compare to Xueliu.

Chunyue bit her lip and swallowed her words. "Chunhong, help the Young Mistress change. I'll go call someone from the needlework room."

Chunhong, who was combing her hair, hurriedly agreed.

Zhuang Li had already turned away from the vanity. "No need to change."

She stood up and looked at her dress.

"We are family, no need to be so formal. Besides, this young lady isn't here to look at clothes."

She was here to look at her.

...

...

When Zhuang Li arrived at the Marchioness's side, the courtyard lacked the tense atmosphere she had imagined—the one where the Marchioness had been slighted at the Ding'an Earl's mansion. The maids were coming and going, chatting and laughing.

Stepping into the room, she saw the Marchioness reclining on the *luohan* bed in the east side room, eyes slightly closed in rest, her expression soft. On the other side sat a young girl, holding a brush and drawing something on the table, while Xueliu stood by, pointing things out.

"Just one more stroke here."

"So that's how it is."

"My young lady told me before; this is how the embroiderers in the house did it at the very beginning."

"I was wondering why it felt different from what the embroiderers in the house do now."

The two were intimate. The girl called out to her godmother, "I'll make you a pair of socks and embroider this flower on them."

The Marchioness said with her eyes closed, "I'm old. Embroidering flowers on socks—what would that look like? Too gaudy."

"Godmother, listen to me," the girl said coquettishly. "If you don't wear them, it means you don't like me."

The Marchioness opened her eyes and said helplessly, "How are you blackmailing me now?"

The servants and maids standing by all laughed. "It's because you spoil her, Madam."

The room was filled with laughter and harmony.

"Madam, the Young Mistress is here," Hongxing said, head bowed.

The laughter vanished instantly.