Chapter 10: Sisters

The Marchioness of Dongyang sat there, her eyes lowered as she gazed at the bird’s nest soup in her hands.

Lu Jin bowed to Zhuang Li and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, please, take a seat."

Zhuang Li looked at her.

"This is Miss A-Jin of the Ding'an Earl's household," Mother Xu introduced from the side with a smile. "She is also our Marchioness's foster daughter."

This was an explanation for the "sister-in-law" address.

Zhuang Li returned the bow with a smile: "Greetings, Sister A-Jin."

Lu Jin pursed her lips and smiled, looking Zhuang Li over: "Since we are speaking in terms of Brother Shizi, it is natural to call you sister-in-law, but if I compare our ages, I might actually be a bit older. May I ask how old you are this year, sister-in-law?"

Zhuang Li replied: "I will be sixteen in August."

Lu Jin let out an "Oh": "Indeed, two years younger than me." With that, she stepped forward, took Zhuang Li’s hand, and led her to a seat. Seeing Zhuang Li glance at the side table, which was cluttered with paper, brushes, and ink, she added, "I was just painting floral patterns." She then asked, "What do you like to do in your spare time?"

Zhuang Li said: "Mostly reading and writing."

Lu Jin exclaimed: "You must be very talented! Unlike me—even when I copy Buddhist scriptures, Foster Mother complains that my writing is poor." She laughed again, "In the future, I’ll let you copy the scriptures, and Foster Mother won't complain anymore."

The Marchioness of Dongyang looked up at her and said with a straight face: "All your thoughts are spent on finding ways to be lazy."

Although her face was stern, her eyes were filled with warmth.

Lu Jin let go of Zhuang Li and went to her side: "I'm not being lazy, I'm not! I'll practice my calligraphy diligently when I get home." She smiled again, "With one more person to copy scriptures for Foster Mother, her devotion to the Buddha will be even more sincere."

The Marchioness of Dongyang scoffed: "Are you saying I’m not sincere if there are no scriptures?" She poked Lu Jin’s forehead, "Every single day, you just babble nonsense in front of me without any sense of propriety."

Lu Jin held her forehead and repeatedly said she wouldn't dare, then rolled her eyes playfully and said: "It’s true, now that you have a daughter-in-law, you’re already finding me tiresome."

After saying this, she giggled and dodged away. The Marchioness of Dongyang’s hand, which had reached out to swat her, missed, and she could only point at her: "Do you dare act like this in front of your uncle and aunt?"

Lu Jin shook her head: "I wouldn't dare. I only dare to be unruly in front of Foster Mother."

The Marchioness of Dongyang burst into laughter, and Mother Xu and the other servants and maids laughed along with her.

"There’s no helping it, she’s been spoiled by you, Madam," Mother Xu said with a smile.

The room was filled with laughter once more, and the Marchioness of Dongyang’s previously stern expression softened.

Watching this scene of a harmonious family, Zhuang Li sat and watched with a smile, saying nothing.

Once the Marchioness of Dongyang was in a better mood, she looked at Zhuang Li.

"Since you have entered the household, Jingyun must have told you that the previous young mistress was from the Ding'an Earl's household," she said. "She was A-Jin’s older sister."

Zhuang Li stood up and replied: "I know." She then bowed to Lu Jin once more.

Lu Jin hurriedly returned the bow, the playfulness on her face replaced by a hint of sorrow.

The child was merely putting on a brave face; the fact that her brother-in-law had a new wife meant that her deceased sister had truly become a thing of the past. The Marchioness of Dongyang felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

"As for other relatives and friends, you can meet them together when Jingyun returns," she said. "A-Jin is not an outsider; she is family. You should get to know her and acknowledge your younger sister."

Zhuang Li replied in the affirmative once more.

Lu Jin called her maid over, took a small brocade box, and handed it to Zhuang Li.

"I will give you the wedding gift for you and Brother Shizi when we meet formally," she said with a smile. "This one is just for you—a small token of affection between us sisters."

Zhuang Li reached out and took it: "Thank you, Sister."

She then looked toward the door.

By rights, the head maid should have been Xue Liu, who was qualified to be here with the Marchioness, but since Xue Liu had already arrived earlier, Zhuang Li had brought Chun Yue when she left her quarters.

Chun Yue, standing by the door, was somewhat nervous, and when Zhuang Li looked over, she became even more timid.

Xue Liu, standing beside Lu Jin, couldn't help but curl her lip. What was going on? She had managed these maids before, and they hadn't been this unpresentable. How had they changed so much after following this Zhuang woman?

Zhuang Li reached out to Chun Yue: "I have also prepared a gift for Miss Lu."

A meeting gift? Xue Liu, Mother Xu, and the others looked surprised. Zhuang Li had entered the household almost empty-handed, carrying only a bundle filled with odds and ends. The clothes she was wearing were provided by the household, and when she had met the family members earlier—whether it was the young master, the young ladies, or the concubines—she hadn't produced any gifts.

What could she have possibly dug out of that small bundle?

Mother Xu was anxious and worried; she hoped it wouldn't be something unsightly that would cause the Dongyang Marquis household to lose face.

The Marchioness should have prepared something for Zhuang Li earlier.

She couldn't help but glance at the Marchioness, who was looking down, completely unconcerned.

"Is that so?" Lu Jin asked curiously. "What are you giving me, sister-in-law?"

Seeing Zhuang Li reach out and hearing Lu Jin’s question, Chun Yue could no longer stand still. She took out a long box wrapped in her sleeves and, with a look of resignation, stepped forward and presented it to Lu Jin.

Lu Jin took it and smiled at Zhuang Li: "May I open it and take a look?"

Usually, when gifts were received, they were put away and not opened in front of the giver.

But a close family didn't need to stand on such ceremony.

Zhuang Li nodded with a smile: "It is a preserved flower I made."

Hearing the words "preserved flower" was a novelty. Mother Xu and the other maids couldn't help but look over curiously. Lu Jin opened the box, and inside the long container lay a single lotus bud.

Everyone’s expression froze.

Xue Liu’s eyes widened.

This!

Wasn't this the lotus bud that Zhuang Li had stuck in a vase?

It had been sitting there for three or four days!

She suspected her eyes were playing tricks on her—how could she bring this as a gift?

She couldn't help but look at Chun Yue, only to see Chun Yue with her head buried in her chest, looking as if she couldn't bear to be seen.

Chun Yue truly couldn't bear to be seen. When they were about to leave, Zhuang Li had suddenly said she was preparing a gift and told her to fetch a box, then placed the lotus from the vase inside. Chun Yue had been stunned at the time.

How could this be a gift?

If there really was no gift, she shouldn't have given anything. If she really wanted to give a flower, she could have gone to the lotus pond and picked a fresh one.

"I turned it into a preserved flower," Zhuang Li explained to her. "It will never wither; it is very suitable for display."

When did she make it? She hadn't seen it. She had only seen the young mistress burning incense and writing at the table. Chun Yue had no way to stop her, and Hong Xing was waiting to leave, so she could only clutch the box and follow along, stumbling in her steps.

It was just too embarrassing.

Lu Jin was different from the maids; she didn't know the origin of the lotus bud. However, she was momentarily stunned. She reached out and touched it, thinking it was a silk flower, but found it was real to the touch.

It was the first time in her life she had received such a gift.

However, Lu Jin could handle any situation.

"Ah... the lotus flowers in the Spring Water Pond are about to bloom, aren't they?" With one sentence, she highlighted her familiarity with the Dongyang Marquis household, then looked at Zhuang Li with a beaming smile. "Did you pick this for me yourself, sister-in-law?"

Zhuang Li said: "It is different from the lotus flowers in the pond now. I have treated it with incense. Take it back and display it; it will never wither."

Was it true or not? It sounded strange, but regardless of whether it was a normal lotus or a strange one, since someone dared to give it to her, she certainly dared to accept it.

"Thank you, sister-in-law," Lu Jin said with a smile.

Zhuang Li nodded: "You are welcome."

"You are welcome," indeed. Xue Liu couldn't help but press a hand to her chest. It was only because she had encountered Miss A-Jin, who had a good heart and a kind temperament. If it had been any other young lady in the capital, she would have thrown the flower back.

Lu Jin smiled and put the box away.

Whether it was because everything that needed to be said had been said, or because her patience had been worn thin by the lotus bud, the Marchioness of Dongyang said: "Alright, you may go about your business."

Zhuang Li didn't say anything more, replied in the affirmative, bowed, and retreated.

Chun Yue followed her out. Xue Liu remained in the room, and as the curtain fell, faint sounds of laughter drifted from within.

"Stay for dinner today; we’ve steamed the pigeon you like best."

"I also want to eat snow cabbage and fish."

"Alright, alright, I'll have them make snow cabbage and fish for you."

……

……

Seeing Zhuang Li turn her head slightly, Chun Yue sighed in her heart. A foster daughter is closer than a daughter-in-law; there was no helping that.

"Young Mistress, let's go back," she whispered.

Zhuang Li withdrew her gaze and began to walk, then asked her: "Is snow cabbage and fish delicious?"

Chun Yue was stunned.