Chapter 2: Stuffing People In

The bridal chamber was located in the west corner of the Prince’s Mansion, a great distance from the main hall where the wedding ceremony had taken place. The Princess Consort, feeling for her son and new daughter-in-law, had specifically ordered a soft sedan chair to be brought over, and it took several winding turns to finally arrive.

The two descended from the sedan. Gu Ci sat back in his wheelchair, holding a red silk ribbon in his hand to lead his bride to the bridal bed.

The wedding matron presented the wedding scale that had been prepared in advance. "Please, young master, lift the bridal veil."

Gu Ci took the scale and raised his hand; the bridal veil drifted down like a fallen leaf.

Tang Zhao’s vision suddenly brightened, and she looked up instinctively.

The woman’s features were clear under the candlelight.

Her face was like white jade, her eyes held the clarity of autumn waters, her brows were like willow leaves, and her lips were red and teeth white—she was like Chang'e from the moon descending into the mortal world.

A ripple flashed through the depths of Gu Ci’s eyes, but it returned to calm in an instant.

The two sat opposite each other, eating a bowl of half-cooked dumplings and listening to an endless stream of auspicious words, until the room full of people finally departed.

"The hour is late; let us wash and rest early," the young man said, leaving behind this sentence before rising to sit in his wheelchair and pushing himself out.

Tang Zhao was also finding it hard to breathe under the weight of the cumbersome wedding dress and heavy head ornaments. "Chunfeng, Qiuyu, come in quickly and help me change."

Chunfeng, Qiuyu, Xiamuo, and Dongmei were the maidservants who had grown up with the original owner. Chunfeng and Qiuyu were responsible for Tang Zhao’s daily needs and had followed the wedding procession into the Prince’s Mansion today.

The two entered the inner chamber. Chunfeng nimbly removed her mistress’s hairpins and jewelry and changed her into casual clothes, while Qiuyu laid out the food from the meal box. The three of them ate a hearty meal together.

After eating and drinking their fill, Tang Zhao took a comfortable hot bath, changed into new sleepwear, crawled into the quilt, rolled around happily, and drifted off into a hazy sleep.

Chunfeng lowered the bed curtains and stepped out of the room before whispering, "Is it not against the rules for the young lady to go to sleep without waiting for the young master to return?"

Qiuyu rolled her eyes. "Have you forgotten what the nanny said? The young lady’s happiness is what matters most."

"But after all, this is the Prince’s Mansion..."

"So what if it’s the Prince’s Mansion? Our young lady is someone the State Preceptor himself declared to have deep blessings! Plus, she is the young master’s savior; can she not rest early after being tired all day?"

Chunfeng was convinced.

Zhaohui stood in the shadows of the corner, head bowed low as she listened to their fading conversation.

"Return to the room," Gu Ci said, rubbing his temples. After bathing, he did not go to bed, but instead rested for the night on a soft couch in the side chamber.

The next morning, the servants of Bidan Courtyard were already busy early on. Several young servants were sweeping the fallen leaves from the steps.

A gust of wind blew by, and a servant shivered, his face falling as he watched the leaves rustle down.

"You brat, today is the young master’s first day of marriage; who gave you permission to pull such a long face!"

Bai Cheng jumped in fright, hurriedly putting on a smiling face and sweeping vigorously with his broom. "Nanny is right to scold me; this one won't dare again."

Nanny Li, who managed the affairs of Bidan Courtyard, gave a cold snort. She inspected the courtyard and, seeing that everything was in perfect order, felt satisfied.

Inside the main hall of Bidan Courtyard, Chunfeng, Qiuyu, Zhaohui, and Zhaoyi finished serving their respective masters as they washed and dressed. The newlyweds sat at the dining table eating breakfast.

Gu Ci did not have the rule of "no talking while eating," so he introduced the situation in the Prince’s Mansion one by one. "Currently, only Mother, Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, and you and I are in the mansion. Everyone else is with Father in the Northwest fief and cannot easily return."

"Mother is tolerant and Sister-in-law is gentle; you need not be afraid. Just get along well with them."

Tang Zhao nodded. "Understood, husband."

Gu Ci paused, wanting to correct her, but finding no reason to do so, he continued, "The return-visit gifts have been prepared. If you see anything missing or unsuitable, just tell Mother directly."

Tang Zhao wanted to say she didn't want to give them, but thinking that the Prince’s Mansion was paying for it anyway, she kept her mouth shut and ate.

After breakfast, Tang Zhao went to Minghui Hall to pay her respects to the family, successfully receiving two large red envelopes from the Princess Consort of Xuan and the Crown Princess.

Tang Zhao sat on the chaise longue by the window, counting the money with a beaming smile.

This good mood lasted until the return visit was over.

Tang Zhao looked at the red envelopes she had received from the Duke of Wei’s mansion in her hand, then looked at the three people standing below the hall. "Are you all people from the side of the Madam?"

Nanny An, relying on her age and status, spoke first. "This old servant is the managing nanny by the Madam’s side, responsible for auditing the storehouse. The Madam is worried that the Eldest Young Lady grew up on a farm and doesn't know how to manage household affairs, so she specifically sent this old servant to help share the burden."

She then pointed to two beautiful and soft-looking maidservants behind her. "This is Shanhu, and this is Feicui. They are both second-rank maidservants by the Madam’s side."

Shanhu and Feicui stepped forward to pay their respects.

Chunfeng and Qiuyu saw their graceful and delicate appearance and wished they could slap their fair faces. Qiuyu, who had a fiery temper, immediately flared up. "The Nanny is here to manage the house and accounts, so what are they here for?"

"Young lady, that is a redundant question. Naturally, they are here to serve the Eldest Young Lady and the Young Master!"

Nanny An emphasized the words "Young Master."

"Is the Nanny’s eyesight failing with age? There are over twenty maids, nannies, servants, and guards in this Bidan Courtyard; do you mean to say they can't serve the Young Lady and Young Master well?" Qiuyu said with a dark face.

"The people of the Prince’s Mansion are naturally good, but they aren't as thoughtful as one's own family," Nanny An said with a look of disapproval. "In the future, when the Young Master takes concubines or housemaids, it’s better to have our own people to control them."

Shanhu and Feicui’s jade-like faces flushed red.

"If the two young ladies are so repulsed by Shanhu and Feicui, could it be that you feel they are blocking your path or are an eyesore?"

"You!" Qiuyu was so angry she was about to step forward, but Chunfeng grabbed her and whispered in her ear, "Listen to the Young Lady."

Nanny An looked up at the Eldest Young Lady sitting in the main seat without a word and reminded her, "The Duke and the Old Madam are also aware of this matter."

Great Yu educated its people with propriety, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom, and faith. Filial piety was the first of all virtues and an important standard for evaluation.

The laws of Great Yu stipulated: those who are unfilial shall be punished according to the severity of the case—lightly with caning, and heavily with exile.

The word "filial" was a crushing weight. Tang Zhao had to bow her head. "Since they were bestowed by my elders, they must be kept. Chunfeng, from now on, these two are handed over to you. Let them be second-rank maids."

Nanny An looked displeased. "Eldest Young Lady, is second-rank a bit too low? They were already second-rank maids in the Madam’s courtyard."

According to the rules, when maids from an elder’s courtyard were transferred to a junior’s courtyard, they were supposed to be promoted by one rank.

"It is indeed a grievance for them, but only the Crown Princess has six first-rank maids. I am only the young mistress of the Prince’s Mansion; I must not have more than the Crown Princess. Four first-rank maids is just right."

"If they were to become first-rank maids, what would happen to Chunfeng and the others?"

Nanny An wanted to say something, but swallowed it back under the Eldest Young Lady’s half-smiling gaze. "When I was on the farm, I relied on Nanny Song and the four of them to take care of me. If they aren't qualified to be first-rank maids, I truly don't know who is."

Nanny An gave a dry laugh, not daring to argue further. "The Eldest Young Lady is right."

"Alright, I am tired today. Chunfeng, go tell Nanny Li. Qiuyu, you take Nanny An and the others to get settled."

"Yes," everyone retreated.

Qiuyu led Nanny An and the two others to the west corner of Bidan Courtyard. "I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with this, Nanny and young ladies."

"Pah!" Nanny An spat fiercely as she looked at the living quarters, which were even more crude than those of third-rank maids in the Duke’s mansion.

Shanhu and Feicui were frightened by Nanny An’s sinister glare and dared not complain again.

(End of chapter)