Chapter 115
Chapter 115
Sun Baoqiong wore a poised smile. The bearing she had cultivated from growing up in an aristocratic household made even Madam Zhang, a woman of her age and experience, feel faintly intimidated.
Sun Baoqiong spoke in a gentle, pleasant voice. “I heard from Aunt that Madam Gu and the Third Young Lady would be visiting today, so I specially made some Sweet Dew Cake, a specialty of Xuanzhou, for you and Aunt to try. I didn’t expect you to leave so soon. What unfortunate timing.”
Her use of “Aunt” left Madam Zhang thoroughly confused. No matter how she tried to puzzle it out, she could not determine Sun Baoqiong’s identity.
Sun Baoqiong continued with a warm smile, “My maternal grandmother is County Princess Rongxian, and I am technically a distant niece of Her Majesty the Empress. I call Her Majesty the Empress ‘Aunt’ to show our closeness.”
Realization finally dawned on Madam Zhang. Was County Princess Rongxian not the younger sister of the current Empress Dowager? The young woman before her was clearly no ordinary noble lady.
She hurriedly greeted her with a broad smile and said, “Thank you for your kind thought, Lady of the Commandery. Unfortunately, we cannot stay long today, so I’m afraid we won’t have a chance to try the Sweet Dew Cake you made especially for us. If there is a next time, we certainly must taste it.”
Sun Baoqiong’s gaze settled on Gu Wanyun, who stood beside Madam Zhang. She studied Gu Wanyun a little more closely. Although the young woman was quite lovely, she was not breathtakingly beautiful. With her head slightly lowered, it was also difficult to discern anything about her temperament.
She seemed no different from any other noble young lady.
Sun Baoqiong smiled faintly. “It doesn’t matter. There will always be another opportunity.”
After speaking, her gaze swept over Ji Hanyi. The first glimpse made her pause, and she took a second look.
She soon looked away, however, without taking it too much to heart. She courteously let Madam Zhang and her party depart first, then sent someone in to announce her arrival before going to see the Empress.
When the Empress saw that Sun Baoqiong had come bearing pastries, she could not help smiling. “You were raised amid wealth and privilege. I never knew you could make such things.”
Smiling, Sun Baoqiong picked up the platter. She bent down and used bamboo chopsticks to place a small piece onto a crackle-glazed celadon saucer, then presented it to the Empress with both hands.
“My mother is very fond of the pastries I make, and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager likes them as well. I rarely have anything important to occupy my time. If I can make those around me happy, then I am happy too.
“This Sweet Dew Cake is a specialty of Xuanzhou. Please try it, Aunt, and see if it suits your taste.”
The Empress watched Sun Baoqiong’s unhurried movements, then looked at the small saucer presented before her. The saucer was exquisite, while the rings and bracelets adorning Sun Baoqiong’s fingers and wrists were even more precious. Every gesture she made displayed the refinement of a noble lady.
The Empress could not help thinking that her younger brother ought to have a woman like this by his side.
Even if it was not Sun Baoqiong, it could not be someone like Ji Hanyi, a woman who had already been married once.
Sun Baoqiong had often visited to keep her company these days. Well-read from an early age, she knew a little about everything. No matter what the Empress spoke of, Sun Baoqiong could always carry on the conversation. Even when there was nothing to say, she could introduce a new topic and ensure there was never an awkward silence.
That was a genuine talent, one that quietly endeared her to others. At first, the Empress had been somewhat wary because she believed Sun Baoqiong belonged to the Empress Dowager’s faction. Now, however, she felt it might not be a bad thing for Shen Si to marry her.
Moreover, if Shen Si married Sun Baoqiong, it would bring him closer to the Empress Dowager’s side.
The Empress knew Sun Baoqiong’s frequent visits were also intended to suggest precisely that.
The young woman called her “Aunt” at every turn, each address warm and intimate. Unless one had a heart of stone, how could anyone fail to like her?
The Empress smiled and ate a piece with a spoon. Unsurprisingly, the flavor was exquisite. Looking at Sun Baoqiong, she asked with another smile, “Did you happen to run into anyone from the Gu Family on your way here?”
Sun Baoqiong knew Her Majesty the Empress was studying her, but she maintained her poised smile. “We happened to run into each other. Third Young Lady Gu struck me as an intelligent and refined young woman. I would have liked to speak with her a little longer.”
She turned to the Empress again. “The next time they come, Aunt, have me join you in receiving them. Perhaps Third Young Lady Gu and I might even become as close as sisters. We could chat and joke together and liven things up.”
The Empress smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep that in mind.”
– – –
Meanwhile, Ji Hanyi followed Madam Zhang out of the palace and boarded the carriage. Gu Wanyun immediately leaned closer and asked, “Who summoned you just now?”
Ji Hanyi replied, “Her Majesty the Empress asked me over for a talk. She asked a few questions about my time with the Xie Family.”
Gu Wanyun looked at Ji Hanyi in surprise. “Why would Her Majesty the Empress need to ask you those questions in private?”
Ji Hanyi shook her head. “I don’t know either.”
Madam Zhang cast Ji Hanyi a cool glance, then reproached Gu Wanyun, “Marquis Shen was there today too. Why didn’t you make an effort to say a few more words to him?”
Gu Wanyun’s face paled. She recalled the fearsomely stern expression Marquis Shen had worn today. She had wanted to speak with him, but she had not dared to utter a word.
Gu Wanyun lowered her head without answering, clutching her embroidered handkerchief so tightly that her fingertips tensed. Her thoughts were in turmoil.
Seeing her like this, Madam Zhang did not press the matter. Instead, she thought of how Her Majesty the Empress had seemed somewhat distant today. She could not help wondering whether something had gone wrong, and unease crept into her heart.
When the carriage returned to the Gu Residence, Madam Zhang led Gu Wanyun ahead while Ji Hanyi followed behind. One of the gate servants spotted Ji Hanyi and hurried over, pulling a letter from inside his robe and handing it to her.
Ji Hanyi glanced at the envelope and saw that it had come from the manager of her shop. She promptly opened it.
The letter had clearly been written in haste. By the time Ji Hanyi reached the end, her heart was trembling with anger.
She turned and told Rongchun to fetch the painting she had finished. Since they were heading out, they could deliver it to Baoshan Tower along the way.
Seeing that Ji Hanyi’s expression was troubled, Rongchun hurried to retrieve it.
Once Rongchun returned with the painting, mistress and maid boarded a carriage and headed straight for Chongwen Gate Inner Street.
Chongwen Gate Inner Street connected the Southern City to the Imperial City and was lined with countless merchants. Ji Hanyi’s shop was tucked away in an inconspicuous alley off the street.
Its location was hardly ideal, but a painting-mounting shop did not need to occupy prime real estate. As long as its craftsmen were skilled, customers would naturally seek it out.
Ji Hanyi’s father had been obsessed with painting and had insisted on mounting every painting himself. Ji Hanyi had loved painting from an early age, so she had followed him and learned his craft.
The shop her maternal grandmother had initially given her had sold shoes and hats. Since it was located in an out-of-the-way place, business had been poor, bringing in only around ten taels a month. Ji Hanyi had therefore converted it into a painting-mounting shop.
When she first took over, she visited constantly. After three years of effort, the shop had gone from having virtually no business to building a substantial base of loyal customers. Even after paying wages, it now brought in a steady profit of around a hundred taels of silver each month, making it the most profitable of Ji Hanyi’s shops.
Had she not been leaving for Wei County, Ji Hanyi would never have been willing to sell it.
Unfortunately, some people could not stand to see her prosper. Last night, they had actually sent someone to splash excrement all over her shop.