Chapter 307: Trouble Brews
Li Xiaonan first went to see the Princess Consort Wei.
This was propriety; even someone like Gu Yan, upon returning from outside, had to first see his mother and inform her before doing anything else.
Li Xiaonan, with her mind full of thoughts, respectfully paid her respects to the Princess Consort Wei. Seeing that the Princess Consort Wei neither asked nor said anything, she hesitated, wondering if it would be appropriate to say she was returning to her own courtyard, when the Princess Consort Wei spoke.
“If you are tired, then go back and rest.”
“Yes.” Li Xiaonan responded respectfully and took two steps back before leaving.
“The Young Lord’s Consort is truly a child.” Nanny Zhao, observing the Princess Consort Wei’s expression, smiled and offered a comforting remark.
“Alas!” The Princess Consort Wei let out a long sigh. “Look, this is why I was so particular about her not having a family background. Look at her, she made such a fuss, and she doesn’t even realize it’s a big deal!”
“Then you should guide her,” Nanny Zhao said with a hint of deference.
“Let’s see for now.” The Princess Consort Wei pressed her temples forcefully.
When Li Xiaonan entered the Prince’s Estate, A Wu, considering himself a man, stopped at the second gate. Yu Ting waited at the courtyard gate of the Princess Consort Wei’s main courtyard. Wan Jing followed Li Xiaonan inside and waited by the main house.
As Li Xiaonan exited the main courtyard gate, Yu Ting followed. Wan Jing looked around, then stepped forward, drawing closer to Li Xiaonan, and whispered, “I heard what the Princess Consort said; it didn’t sound like she genuinely wanted you to go back.”
“Is the Princess Consort angry?” Yu Ting craned his neck to ask.
“Shut up!” Wan Jing pushed Yu Ting away.
“I am indeed tired.” Li Xiaonan said listlessly.
The Investigation of Things book she wrote didn’t even interest Gu Yan much.
“…I’m talking to you!” Wan Jing pulled Li Xiaonan’s scattered thoughts back.
“Hmm? What did you say?” Li Xiaonan asked casually.
“I said you can’t be like this. I told you, before you got married, you just needed to hold onto the Young Lord. After getting married, you can’t just focus on the Young Lord; the Princess Consort is much more important than the Young Lord!” Wan Jing was almost exasperated.
“I’m not focusing on the Young Lord,” Li Xiaonan replied casually.
“Hey, you!”
“We’ll talk later; I’m thinking about important matters.” Li Xiaonan raised her hand to signal Wan Jing to be quiet.
Her Investigation of Things was the true path of the world, but Investigation of Things seemed to be of little use. Even if one excelled at Investigation of Things, at best, they would become a Hanlin Scholar of Investigation of Things, taking up a task at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Tasks at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau were non-transferable; once you entered, you were there for life. If there were other options, perhaps no one would choose the path of Investigation of Things to go to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
What to do?
………………
Spring brought back green trees and red flowers, and also the liveliness of days past. The wealthy families within Jianle City busied themselves with invitations and banquets once more.
The Du Family, one of the founding aristocratic families, had an old madam who had long since passed away and was exceptionally skilled at cultivating peonies. She cultivated peonies her entire life, leaving behind a garden full of prize-winning peonies, none of which any other family in Jianle City could match even a tenth of. Thus, the Du Family’s Peony Flower Festival became a renowned event in Jianle City.
The Princess Consort Wei attended the Du Family’s peony appreciation every year, and this year was no exception.
Li Xiaonan naturally had to accompany the Princess Consort Wei to appreciate the flowers.
The Du Family’s peonies were too famous, and A Wu also wanted to see them. However, she didn’t want to wear a skirt and preferred her usual male attire, which was truly unsuitable. Wan Jing racked her brains and put together an outfit for A Wu: a short jacket and trousers in the style of a servant, but made of much better fabric. She also removed A Wu’s headscarf and styled her hair into a Taoist nun’s bun. Dressed like this, she didn’t look like a woman, nor did she look entirely like a man.
The Princess Consort Wei glanced sideways at A Wu following closely behind as she entered the second gate, then immediately looked away, pretending not to see.
It was just that her attire was neither here nor there, and it was hard to say what rule she had broken. Indulging the servants’ wishes on matters that caused no harm was a way of managing subordinates that this daughter-in-law, compared to her foolish son, knew how to use much better.
Not long after they walked out, Du Wuniangzi, followed by several young ladies, came running towards them.
“Greetings, Cousin Aunt.”
“Greetings, Great Aunt.”
“Greetings, Cousin Aunt.”
…
A group of young ladies greeted the Princess Consort Wei in a flurry of voices.
The major founding aristocratic families were all related to each other, their marital ties connecting them, so they could all address each other by a title.
“Cousin Aunt, may Sister-in-law play with us?” Du Wuniangzi said with a smile to the Princess Consort Wei.
“Although they are adults once married, the Young Lord’s Consort is still young. Fifth Sister is a year older than the Young Lord’s Consort, so let the Young Lord’s Consort play with them,” said Madam Ren, the mistress of the Du Family, with a smile.
Li Xiaonan, by staying by the Princess Consort Wei’s side, was learning proper etiquette. By playing with young ladies like Du Wuniangzi, she could freely appreciate flowers and have fun.
“Go ahead, go ahead.” The Princess Consort Wei smiled and gestured for Li Xiaonan to go.
A group of young ladies surrounded Li Xiaonan and walked down another path.
Du Wuniangzi walked beside Li Xiaonan and said with a smile, “Sister-in-law, Li Family’s Third Sister has already arrived. She said she hasn’t seen you in months.”
Li Xiaonan’s heart skipped a beat. “Which Third Sister?”
“Sister-in-law, why are you still asking which Third Sister? You don’t have any relatives in Jianle City, so who else could it be?” Du Wuniangzi said with a cheerful, lilting tone.
“How do Fifth Madam and my Third Sister know each other?” Li Xiaonan asked with a smile, her voice soft.
“The Young Lord’s Consort speaks so nicely,” a young lady next to Du Wuniangzi chimed in with a smile.
“My Third Brother said the Young Lord always praises the women from Jiangnan for their pleasant speech, and it’s true,” another young lady behind them said with a smile.
“The little actresses in the Pang Residence all speak like that. Go ask for one, and have her speak to you every day,” another young lady said with a smile.
“How do Fifth Madam and my Third Sister know each other?” Li Xiaonan ignored the surrounding young ladies and asked Du Wuniangzi again.
“There’s no need to know each other; everyone knows she’s your Third Sister,” Du Wuniangzi said evasively.
“Since Fifth Madam doesn’t know my Third Sister, then who invited my Third Sister?” Li Xiaonan pressed Du Wuniangzi, her gaze fixed on her.
“It doesn’t require anyone. Sister-in-law, look at that peony. This year marks sixty years since it was planted, and only sixty flowers were left,” Du Wuniangzi changed the subject.
“Who invited my Third Sister? Was it you, Fifth Madam?” Li Xiaonan asked, her voice slightly raised, her eyes fixed on Du Wuniangzi, not looking at the peony.
“Everyone says…” Du Wuniangzi, annoyed by Li Xiaonan’s persistent questioning, was about to retort, but halfway through, she realized something was wrong and swallowed hard. “I mean, everyone knows she’s the Young Lord’s Consort’s sister.”
“I’m asking you who invited my Third Sister, who went to invite her? Was it you?” Li Xiaonan stopped and asked Du Wuniangzi.
The young ladies around them formed a semicircle, looking at Du Wuniangzi, then at Li Xiaonan. The young lady closest to Du Wuniangzi smiled and tried to smooth things over, “We also heard that Third Madam hasn’t seen the Young Lord’s Consort in a long time…”
“Who invited my Third Sister?” Li Xiaonan stared at Du Wuniangzi, interrupting the attempt to smooth things over.
Du Wuniangzi, flustered and annoyed, her face flushed red, said, “No one needed to invite her; a simple invitation was sent.”
Before Du Wuniangzi finished speaking, Li Xiaonan immediately asked, “Who instructed that invitation to be sent? Was it you?”
Du Wuniangzi glared at Li Xiaonan, her lips pressed tightly together, and did not answer.
“It seems it wasn’t you, so it must have been your mother. I’ll go see your mother first to thank her for being so thoughtful and caring towards me.” Li Xiaonan turned to leave.
“It was me!” Du Wuniangzi called out urgently.
She had secretly written this invitation and sent a servant from her own courtyard to deliver it. Her sister-in-law might know, but her mother definitely wouldn’t.
“Then thank you, Fifth Madam, for being so thoughtful and caring towards my Third Sister.” Li Xiaonan stopped and bowed formally.
“Sister-in-law, you are too kind. Let’s go.” Du Wuniangzi forced a polite remark and walked forward, her mind unsettled.
