Chapter 11: Show of Strength
In Li Xiang Courtyard, Ru Yi took out Xue Sui’s prized autumn-colored padded jacket from the bottom of her chest.
This was the most vibrant and best-made piece of clothing in her trunks. Most of her other clothes were plain, and she didn’t look as radiant as the maids in the Xue Mansion.
Ru Yi snorted, “That day, the First Madam promised the First Master so readily that she would get new clothes and accessories for our Young Lady, but there’s been no movement for so long. I think she’s going to swallow back the spit she threw.”
Xiao Zhao chuckled, “You have such a wicked tongue.”
After speaking, she carefully examined the elegant face in the bronze mirror and asked, “Young Lady, would you like a touch of rouge to enhance your appearance?”
Xue Sui shook her head, “It’s better to appear humble.”
As they were chatting, the door was pushed open.
Xue Ji entered from outside, her face pale from the frosty wind, wrapped in a blue cloth headscarf. Her gray-white padded jacket had two inconspicuous patches, and on her feet were cloud-embroidered slippers, the crabapple flowers on the shoe uppers long washed to a faded color.
Fearing she might disturb them, she clasped her hands in front of her, her back slightly hunched, and asked cautiously, “Excuse me, two Young Ladies, I’d like to have a private word with Sixth Sister…”
She was very nervous, even bowing her head and lowering her gaze to the maids and old women in Li Xiang Courtyard.
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi withdrew.
Xue Sui asked, “Do you need something?”
Since childhood, Xue Ji had forbidden her to call her “Mother.” Addressing Xue Ji directly felt too distant, and Xue Sui was not accustomed to being overly affectionate.
After ten years apart, it seemed difficult for them to be close.
Xue Ji’s gaze flickered as she looked at her, then she took out a worn coin purse from her bosom and awkwardly stuffed it towards her.
“Take this, Sixth Sister, and buy some clothes…”
Xue Sui squeezed the coin purse and took out its contents.
It was a collection of scattered copper coins, a small piece of silver fragments, and a silver hairpin of unknown origin, already bent, showing its age.
These years in the Xue Mansion, Xue Ji had toiled like a servant but received no servant’s wages. This money was not easily earned for her.
Xue Sui gazed at her quietly.
Xue Ji felt flustered, her palms breaking out in a cold sweat.
“This is clean money. The hairpin was a gift from your father years ago, and the money has been saved over the years. These few coins were earned by doing laundry and mending for the nannies and maids in the servant’s quarters. The rest is wedding money given out when Second Young Lady got married…”
She pursed her dry lips and forced a smile, “From now on, when you go to the Prince’s Mansion, you’ll have to rely on your Eldest Sister for care. Dress yourself properly and try to please her more…”
Seeing Xue Sui remain silent, she spoke haltingly and nervously.
“This money might not be enough. I’ll think of another way, I’ll think of another way.”
Xue Sui’s eyes felt a little hot, “Where will you find another way?”
Xue Ji was at a loss, not daring to meet her eyes.
“I… I’ll go ask Second Young Lady. Second Young Lady has a cold exterior but a warm heart; she’s a kind person. I’m sure she’d be willing to lend you some clothes…”
Ashamed of her helplessness, she turned to wipe away tears and was about to leave when Xue Sui grabbed her.
“Mother…”
Xue Ji’s body stiffened, and she looked at her in surprise.
“Sixth Sister, you, what did you call me?”
“Mother,” Xue Sui pulled her back, made her sit on a stool by the stove, and looked into her eyes, saying, “I don’t need fine clothes or accessories.”
“But, but Eldest Young Lady is returning home. If you go like this, you’ll be bullied again…”
“Don’t mind them,” Xue Sui smiled gently, “From now on, I will bully others; no one can bully me.”
“Sixth Sister…”
“Don’t be afraid,” Xue Sui embraced her frail body. Her palm felt only bones, and a wave of sadness washed over her, “Mother, I’m here. I’m back, don’t be afraid.”
Xue Ji could no longer suppress her grief.
Tears came before her voice.
“Sixth Sister…”
She remembered a winter day, when Sixth Sister, about five years old, had found a pine nut candy from somewhere and excitedly brought it to her.
The small child, frail from birth, was skin and bones, with unusually large and bright eyes.
She softly called “Mother,” her voice sweet, and stood on tiptoe to put the pine nut candy into her mouth.
Xue Ji instinctively wanted to respond, but then she saw a maid from the First Madam’s courtyard approaching, and she panicked, fleeing without thought.
“Don’t call me Mother, I’m not your mother. Hurry, go hide, I’m not your mother…”
Sixth Sister stood in the cold wind and snow, holding the pine nut candy, looking at her blankly. She didn’t cry, but her expression broke her heart.
From that day on, she never called her Mother again.
–
In Shou An Courtyard, all the Young Ladies had arrived.
Xue Yuechen had the nannies distribute the gifts she brought back.
From the Old Madam, First Madam, and Third Madam, to the sisters in each branch, everyone received a share. The brocades, silks, cosmetics, gold ornaments, jade ware, and writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all laid out, giving a glimpse of the wealth of Prince Duan’s Mansion.
Eldest Young Lady was dignified and beautiful, the most outstanding in appearance among the Xue sisters.
She had also married the best.
Back then, Consort Xiao had chosen her from among many young ladies, not only due to political connections between the court and the harem but also because Xue Yuechen’s reputation was widespread.
The First Madam watched, unable to contain her pride.
“Why are you being so picky? Aren’t all the things your Eldest Sister brought back good? You’re all so shallow, only caring about those inanimate objects, and not saying that Eldest Sister has returned to her maternal home after a long time, so spend more time talking with her…”
Xue Yuechen smiled faintly, “Mother, why scold them? The younger sisters are still young; they’re just curious about the new things from the palace.”
The sisters all burst into laughter, “Eldest Sister is the best.”
Xue Yuechen listened to her sisters’ flattery and smiles without speaking.
Only at times like these could she compensate for the loneliness of being the Princess Consort of Prince Duan, living in a secluded chamber with a distant marital relationship.
As they were laughing and chatting, a maid came to report from outside.
“Sixth Young Lady has arrived.”
The sisters exchanged glances, and their laughter ceased.
A woman walked in gracefully and bowed.
“Greetings to the Princess Consort, Old Madam, First Madam, Third Madam…”
Xue Yuechen looked at her in astonishment, unable to recognize her.
In the eyes before her, there was no youthful longing or pleading, but a strange calmness, the kind possessed by those in positions of power.
“And who is this…”
Xue Sui’s expression remained unchanged as she appraised the peerless beauty before her.
Xue Yuechen was twenty-five this year. Compared to when she was a young lady in the Xue Mansion, her appearance had become even more noble.
It was a pity that even the ethereal fairy of Shangjing lost some of her charm after marrying. Although her clothes were luxurious and her beauty remained, her face showed a hint of weariness.
Madam Fu wore a scornful smile and did not greet her.
The ladies in the room watched this scene, neither responding nor acknowledging her, and continued their conversations, leaving Xue Sui ignored as if she weren’t there.
Xue Sui smiled slightly and stood quietly, observing.
A long wait was a test of patience, and even more so, a test of strength.
Old Madam Cui, seeing her neither humble nor arrogant, felt a slight pang in her heart. She then cheerfully said to Xue Yuechen:
“This is your Sixth Sister. You sisters haven’t seen each other for ten years, no wonder you didn’t recognize her. Let alone you, I was quite startled the first time I saw her. Sixth Girl was lost for so many years, and she’s grown up so well…”
What Old Madam Cui said was true.
The day Xue Sui came to pay her respects, she was surprised.
What kind of place was Old Mausoleum Swamp? Others might not know, but she was aware.
Wandering in such a dirty place for ten years, without schooling or guidance, unable to read a single character, what difference was there from a wild child?
Even if her appearance was proper, how good could her demeanor be? She had prepared herself for the worst, wishing not to see it… unexpectedly, her speech and manners were very proper. She was a bit distant, but there was nothing to fault.
Xue Yuechen quickly regained her composure and smiled.
“Is it really Sixth Sister? A girl changes greatly as she grows.”
Xue Yueying also covered her mouth and smiled, “Eldest Sister is also stunned, isn’t she? Our Sixth Sister here is much more generous and dignified than Cousin Xiang Sui from Aunt Zhang’s family.”
The Aunt Zhang she mentioned was a poor relative who often came to the Xue Mansion to freeload.
That Cousin Xiang Sui was also a crude and ill-mannered country girl.
Upon hearing this, the other young ladies all laughed.
Ninth Miss Xue Yue E said, “Is it that Cousin Xiang Sui who dislikes bathing and has a strange odor?”
Eighth Miss Xue Yue Man quickly added, “She even wanted my Tumi fragrance, saying Tumi smelled like the camphor trees in their village. She even secretly used my rouge; her skin was dark and rough, and she painted her face like a clown on stage.”
The young ladies spoke one after another, completely disregarding how Xue Sui might feel hearing this…
Xue Sui lightly pursed her lips, a half-smile on her face.
Dressed in a simple hairpin and plain clothes, she should have been in a sorry state. Yet, standing amidst the scrutiny and mockery of her sisters, she remained unfazed, as proud as a lone wolf, uncrushable.
Xue Yuechen felt an involuntary discomfort.
Someone who should have been humble and begging for survival under her protection could now meet her gaze as an equal.
She felt awkward, but her face maintained a proper smile.
“Hurry up and shut your mouths, you’re always talking nonsense. Sixth Sister has just returned, and you’re making such a fuss, aren’t you ashamed? Why don’t you invite Sixth Sister to sit, and the sisters can get closer? Once you’re all married, it will be hard to gather like this again…”
The mention of marriage made the young ladies shy.
First Master Xue Qingzhi had only two sons, one legitimate and one illegitimate, but he had six daughters.
One was the eldest, one second, one fourth, one sixth, one eighth, and the youngest was the ninth.
The two daughters of the Second Master Xue Qinglian were already married and not living in the mansion.
The remaining one was the youngest daughter of the Third Master Xue Qingxiu and Madam Qian, Tenth Young Lady Xue Yuezhen, who was only seven years old and not yet of marriageable age.
The Eighth and Ninth Misses were both looking to the First Madam to arrange good marriages for them, not daring to tarnish their maiden reputation in any way. When Xue Yuechen spoke, they obediently fell silent.
Xue Yueying, however, was different.
Her engagement to Gu Jie had been delayed for years, a fact known to everyone in Shangjing.
It was also no secret that the Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion had initially proposed marriage to Xue Liu.
With so many troubles, she glanced at the sisters in the room and then smiled.
“Speaking of which, Eldest Sister, it reminds me of what the Jiaos said. In their village, there’s a custom where unmarried sisters embroider a pair of mandarin ducks on their wedding quilt, ensuring a harmonious marriage for life…”
She then cast a sidelong glance at Xue Sui.
“I’d like to ask Sixth Sister to embroider a pair for me, to wish me and Young Master Gu a loving and lifelong marriage. I wonder if Sixth Sister would be willing?”
Xue Sui: So noisy in this room!
Xiao Zhao: Should I kill them?
Xue Sui: …
