Chapter 274: Friends
Although the Li Family’s fortune was substantial, they always kept a low profile, living a simple life.
When purchasing the house, Li Wenliang had seen the residences of wealthy families, and the steward from the He Family had also recommended it. While not excessively large, the house featured a garden, a stream, pavilions, and towers, all meticulously crafted.
However, when it came to furnishing the house with daily necessities, Li Wenliang’s knowledge was insufficient. Hong Zhenye, Master Hong, had far more experience than Li Wenliang, but since these furnishings were for Li Xiaonan, he, as an outsider male, couldn’t offer much input.
As for the ten or so individuals invited from Huaici Nunnery, they were all from the palace. The most crucial rule in the palace was not to speak unnecessarily.
Li Xiaonan reviewed the furniture, curtains, draperies, vases, and tea bowls in her small courtyard and was very satisfied.
They were far superior to the best furnishings in Li Family Market. As for the Prince’s Estate villa in Pingjiang Prefecture, and the Wei Family… that would be setting herself up for hardship! She, Li Xiaonan, would never make things difficult for herself.
A Wu and Wang Yuting occupied the East Side Room. From the furniture to the bedding and tea bowls, even the rooms themselves were brand new. What more could they possibly find fault with? The two of them couldn’t have been more satisfied.
Wan Jing positioned herself as Li Xiaonan’s personal head maid. She placed her luggage in the West Wing Room, then carried the bedding from the West Wing Room to the small warm chamber adjacent to the bedroom in the Main House.
Since Li Xiaonan only had her as a maid, and no one else to take shifts, she would often stay in the small warm chamber.
Regarding the various furnishings, Wan Jing had been to Li Family Market. Where in the entire Li Family Market could one find such quality? It was already very difficult to acquire such items!
Li Xiaonan and the other three were all very satisfied with their new home, and Li Wenliang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
They didn’t have much luggage, so packing and resting for half a day was more than enough. The next morning, A Wu rode a horse, Yu Ting drove the cart, and Wan Jing accompanied Li Xiaonan in the cart as they left the city for the nunnery where Miss Shi lived in seclusion.
Miss Shi heard that Li Xiaonan had arrived and met her at the Courtyard Entrance. She looked Li Xiaonan up and down, then stepped aside to let her in, smiling, “Some new tea arrived from the city yesterday. I thought you would definitely be coming these past two days, so I didn’t dare to open it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything good to offer a distinguished guest like you.”
Li Xiaonan turned to Miss Shi, “I received your letter. I spent a day and a night writing a reply, but I still couldn’t express it clearly, so I decided not to write. Rather than sending an unclear letter, it’s better to explain things in person. It won’t be too many days late.”
“Why are you explaining this? Do you think I would be unhappy about it? I’ve long since passed the age where such things matter.” Miss Shi didn’t look at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan tutted, “I truly admire the ability of you nobles to speak nonsense with your eyes wide open.”
Miss Shi abruptly turned to look at Li Xiaonan. Li Xiaonan met Miss Shi’s gaze, smiled, and spread her hands.
Miss Shi sat on a padded seat, pointed to another padded seat opposite the tea table, and gestured for Li Xiaonan to sit.
“I heard the Young Lord didn’t come to the wharf to pick you up?” Miss Shi asked, her eyes downcast as she brewed tea, her words carrying a hidden meaning.
“She said the Princess Consort stated that I must be capable of interacting with various families in the Capital City on my own to be considered capable of managing the Prince’s Estate. The Young Lord cannot help me, nor can he see me.” After a pause, Li Xiaonan smiled, “The Young Lord told me to rest assured, he would arrange it.”
Miss Shi let out a scoff, “The Young Lord has always been like this, always believing he can arrange everything, always thinking things are extremely simple.”
“Yes, I think so too. I heard Prince Wei’s Consort is very shrewd. How could the requirements she set be something the Young Lord could easily arrange?” Li Xiaonan nodded.
Miss Shi glanced sideways at Li Xiaonan, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it towards Li Xiaonan. “Since you came specifically to reply to my letter in person, then speak.”
“When you asked me, I truly hadn’t considered marrying the Young Lord. He was indeed very good to me, and I had thought that perhaps I could use his kindness to stay by his side, or even marry him. But I felt that to stay by his side, I would have to exert all my effort, use every trick, and rack my brains until I was almost burning up. I didn’t want to strive so desperately for a man.”
Li Xiaonan paused, looked at Miss Shi, hesitated for a moment, then smiled, “At that time, seeing you suffering so much, I thought, no matter what, I cannot end up like you.”
Miss Shi heavily placed the tea bowl in her hand on the tea table.
“The Young Lord begged to marry me.” Li Xiaonan glanced at the tea bowl. “A person like him, a family like this, why wouldn’t I marry him? He proposed, and I agreed.”
“Didn’t you consider if we were a suitable match?” Miss Shi poured out the remaining tea and brewed a fresh cup.
“I am worthy of him.” Li Xiaonan said without politeness.
Miss Shi let out a laugh, “Your thick skin is truly admirable.”
“On the way here, Fourth Mistress and I finished listening to the ‘Biography of Marshal Sang’. Have you heard of the ‘Biography of Marshal Sang’?” Li Xiaonan changed the subject.
Upon hearing “Biography of Marshal Sang,” Miss Shi paused slightly, then lowered her eyes. “I have heard of it.” After a moment, Miss Shi continued, “I knew very early on that I would marry into that Prince’s Estate. Everything that should have been known, everything that should have been prepared, I…”
Miss Shi let out a self-deprecating smile. “I not only heard the ‘Biography of Marshal Sang,’ but I also found and read every record in the ancient texts concerning the Foreman Sang.”
“After listening to the ‘Biography of Marshal Sang,’ I can understand why you wanted to marry the Young Lord and enter Prince Rui’s Mansion so badly. When we boarded the ship in Hangcheng, I still felt that the outcome of this trip to Jianle City didn’t matter. If I could marry, I would. If I couldn’t marry into the Prince’s Estate, I would learn from you, pretend to be heartbroken, and return to Pingjiang Prefecture to find a nunnery to pretend in, and focus on my business…”
“What are you saying!” Miss Shi’s eyebrows shot up.
“Listen to me first,” Li Xiaonan waved her hand at Miss Shi, signaling her to calm down. “Now! I am the same as you! I must marry the Young Lord, marry into the Prince’s Estate, and I accept the effort it will take.”
Miss Shi took a deep breath and pointed at Li Xiaonan, “Explain yourself clearly!”
“Because I want to do many things, like Foreman Sang. I want to write a series of books on the Investigation of Things, and I want to reopen the women’s schoolrooms that Foreman Sang established. What about you? What did you want to do back then?” Li Xiaonan looked at Miss Shi.
Miss Shi stared for a long while, then lowered her eyes, picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, put it down, and looked at Li Xiaonan, “First, I was not heartbroken. Second, my spiritual cultivation was not a pretense. Third, I did not rack my brains to marry the Young Lord! Our Shi Family and their Prince’s Estate are a suitable match, I didn’t need to! I went to Jiangnan because my heart was unsettled and I was indignant! Because why should he have humiliated me like that!”
Li Xiaonan was so taken aback by Miss Shi’s string of words that her back leaned back as far as it could go.
“You were so sick…”
“That was from anger, from anger!” Miss Shi slammed her hand on the ground. “It truly makes me furious!”
“Alright, alright, it was my small-mindedness judging a noble heart. I was wrong. Don’t be angry, don’t get sick again. Um, does this count as my reply to your letter?” Li Xiaonan quickly admitted her mistake.
This Miss Shi had a stubborn temper; she wouldn’t provoke her.
“It counts! Did the Young Lord beg to marry you!” Miss Shi said through gritted teeth.
“Then that’s good. I’ll take my leave then.” Li Xiaonan stood up to leave.
“No need to see me out!” Miss Shi remained seated.
Watching Li Xiaonan leave through the Second Gate, Miss Shi’s gaze became vacant and unfocused.
Back then, what did she want to do?
She had thought of many, many things.
How to assist and serve the Young Lord, what to do when he was angry; what to do when he was biased in judging people; what to do if she, like the Princess Consort, gave birth to three daughters in a row…
How would she manage the Prince’s Estate, how would she secure the Princess Consort’s affection, how would she gain the respect of everyone in the household, how would she treat those three Great Aunts, how would she make them ashamed for misjudging her…
Had she ever thought about what she herself wanted to do?
Back then, she thought that these things she was considering were what she herself had to do, what she herself wanted to do. Were these things, being an incomparably virtuous wife, truly what she herself wanted to do?
Back then, when she listened to that “Biography of Marshal Sang,” what did she think?
Miss Shi slowly bent her legs, sitting with her knees hugged to her chest like when she was a child, and slowly recalled the memories of listening to the “Biography of Marshal Sang.” She remembered feeling both excited and thrilled. What had she thought of then?
……………………
Li Xiaonan’s not-so-large Li Residence was surrounded by professional and amateur intelligence operatives. As soon as Li Xiaonan’s cart left, the operatives and informants scattered like startled birds.
Gu Yan received the news first. When A Wu was hitching the cart, he casually mentioned to the cart driver that they were going to see Miss Shi and that he didn’t need to drive. The cart driver quickly went out to report to Shi Gun.
Gu Yan had just emerged from the morning court. Upon hearing Shi Gun’s report, he froze for a moment.
He had thought that A Nan would go to see Miss Shi, but he hadn’t expected that A Nan’s first act in Jianle City would be to visit Miss Shi.
“When they return, have someone check on Wan Jing and find out exactly what was said,” Gu Yan instructed.
Prince Wei’s Consort received the news slightly later than Gu Yan and raised her eyebrows in surprise.
This Miss Li visiting Miss Shi, was this an act of humiliation? It shouldn’t be. Someone her son fancied would at least not be so foolish; there must be some hidden reason.
“Go invite Fourth Mistress. Tell her I miss her and want her to come stay with me for a couple of days and chat.” Prince Wei’s Consort gave the order.
Fourth Sister must know about any past dealings between this Miss Li and Miss Shi. She would have to question Fourth Sister thoroughly and find out Miss Li’s background.
……………………
Young Master Pang and Prince Wei’s Consort received the news almost simultaneously. Like Prince Wei’s Consort, Young Master Pang raised his eyebrows in surprise.
When Miss Shi was in Jiangnan, this Miss Li was already interacting with the Young Lord. Given Miss Shi’s shrewdness and cunning, she must have had some interaction with this Miss Li. But regardless of the nature of their interaction, this Miss Li visiting Miss Shi, who had become a nun after being rejected by the Young Lord…
Young Master Pang tutted and shook his head with a smile.
This was practically going to Miss Shi’s face and slapping it.
How would the Shi Family think of this? What about others?
The more Young Master Pang thought about it, the more interesting he found it.
Everyone said that the Young Lord had changed greatly. He had always been hesitant to believe this “great change.” His father had said that when judging people, one shouldn’t just look at what they say and do, but at whom they employ and whom they associate with.
Now, looking at this Miss Li, whom the Young Lord fancied, it seemed the Young Lord hadn’t changed much from before.
……………………
Madam Ye, Miss Shi’s mother, learned of it late. Upon hearing that Miss Li had gone to the nunnery outside the city to see her eldest daughter, Madam Ye jumped up, “What does she want! What is she trying to do! Prepare the cart, prepare the cart!”
“Mother, don’t rush. If you go, it wouldn’t be appropriate. Mother, please take a breath first.” Her daughter-in-law, First Mistress Zhou, quickly brought her a tea bowl.
“Madam, Madam!” The head maid, Peony, stopped Madam Ye. “Zhao Xi only returned after seeing Miss Li’s cart enter our Mistress’s courtyard. Miss Li must have already left by now. Our Mistress is very capable, isn’t she? Didn’t you say Mistress is much stronger than you?”
“Yes, yes, Peony is right. Mother, take a breath.” First Mistress Zhou quickly chimed in to persuade her.
“This isn’t about capability! This is a blatant show of force and humiliation! How upset must Eldest Sister be! Don’t stop me, I have to go see.” Madam Ye’s breathing became rough.
“Mother, if you go now, it will be like loudly announcing to all the families in the Capital City that our Eldest Mistress is furious, and you are also furious. Our Eldest Mistress will lose even more face.” First Mistress Zhou persuaded her while signaling to Peony.
“Madam, rushing over like this is indeed not appropriate. How about I go instead? I’ll go and see if our Mistress is truly upset. If she is, then say you are feeling unwell and ask our Mistress to come back and stay with you for a few days, and quietly invite a doctor to diagnose and treat her.” Peony suggested.
“That’s fine too.” Madam Ye considered for a moment and reluctantly agreed.
Peony quickly changed her clothes and left. Madam Ye drank a bowl of calming soup but still felt a tightness in her chest. Alas, why was her eldest daughter so ill-fated!
