Chapter 255
Chapter 255
After Madam Cui followed Madam Bai out, they walked a considerable distance before she spoke in a low voice. “When we came to pay our respects before, Old Madam and Mother would talk for ages. They laughed together, asked after the various Masters from time to time, and showed concern for the young ladies’ conduct and marriages. Old Madam would even happily hold my Young Master Fu now and then.”
“But ever since Fifth Aunt arrived, Old Madam hardly keeps Mother behind to talk in the mornings. She sends all of us away as well. For several days now, she has kept only Fifth Aunt. Who knows what they discuss in private?”
Madam Bai’s expression had long since darkened. She glanced at Madam Cui and said quietly, “Why do you think Old Madam sent your Fifth Aunt into the palace to learn proper conduct?”
“She did not trust me to teach her household management, so she sent her to learn from Her Majesty the Empress-and to broaden her horizons at court besides.”
“Everyone outside saw her enter the palace and remain at Her Majesty’s side. If the Empress did not favor her, would she have allowed her to live in the palace and attend her every day?”
Madam Bai gave another cold snort. “Old Madam may favor whomever she likes, but such blatant partiality is difficult to stomach.”
Seeing her expression, Madam Cui tried to soothe her. “Fifth Aunt seems quiet and reserved to me. She may not necessarily win Old Madam’s favor.”
“And when it comes to managing a household, she certainly cannot compare with Mother.”
Madam Bai’s face clouded. “What does it matter if she cannot? Old Madam is determined to hoist her into the position. I should like to see whether she has the ability to hold it.”
She took the one-year-old Young Master Fu from Madam Cui’s arms and teased him with a smile before adding coolly, “We shall see.”
Meanwhile, Ji Hanyi had been kept behind by Old Madam Shen. One look at the older woman’s face told her that another difficult encounter awaited.
All the mild warmth Old Madam Shen had shown earlier was gone. Her expression had turned cold.
She set her teacup aside with a sharp, deliberate click that rang through the room where they were alone. Ji Hanyi’s heart tightened slightly.
Old Madam Shen stared coldly at Ji Hanyi, who stood before her, and snorted. “I told you to learn household management from your sister-in-law. Do you object?”
Ji Hanyi was somewhat puzzled by the question. She shook her head. “No, Mother.”
Old Madam Shen raised her eyes without warmth. “Then why did you make excuse after excuse when your sister-in-law assigned you the kitchens? You even sent Ah Si to speak to me.”
“You certainly know how to whisper into your husband’s ear. From now on, I suppose I will not dare ask anything of you. The moment I do, you will run to Ah Si and complain that your mother-in-law has mistreated you. Is that it?”
Her voice rose. “I see that you learned no proper conduct in the palace. Instead, you learned how to drive a wedge between Ah Si and me.”
“Does it please you to have Ah Si defy his own mother in order to defend you?”
Ji Hanyi had no idea what had prompted these accusations. She remained respectfully composed, her voice steady. “Please explain, Mother. I do not understand what you mean.”
Old Madam Shen snorted. “You do not understand?”
“Very well. Answer me this: did you refuse to take charge of the kitchens?”
Ji Hanyi nodded. “I truly have little time at present. I have not yet begun the Hundred Flowers collection His Majesty the Emperor asked me to paint. I intended to complete it before taking over the kitchens.”
Old Madam Shen snorted as soon as she finished. “Even if you must paint, how does that prevent you from overseeing the kitchens?”
“Your sister-in-law manages every affair in this entire residence by herself. How do you think she manages?”
“The Grand Princess said you would be no poor household manager, but I have seen no sign of that.”
“If you cannot handle a small matter like the kitchens now, how will you manage when the entire household is placed in your hands?”
“You even had Ah Si come speak to me about it this morning. What, have you no voice of your own?”
Question after question rained down. Had Ji Hanyi not prepared herself, she might have been overwhelmed.
She had not hurried to take over the kitchens because of the recent trouble there. More people had been punished or sold away from the kitchens than from anywhere else, and those who remained would inevitably harbor resentment toward her. If she waited a few days for their emotions to settle, every arrangement would be easier to make.
But she knew Old Madam Shen was forceful by nature. Arguing her case would likely accomplish nothing, and she had learned what manner of response elders most wished to see.
She lowered her head, adopting a meek and obedient demeanor. Only after Old Madam Shen had vented her anger did she answer softly. “I did not mean to refuse the kitchens. Because it was an order from His Majesty the Emperor, I did not dare neglect it. I merely feared that if I tried to attend to both matters, I would do neither well. That was why I asked my sister-in-law to grant me a few days so I could first complete His Majesty the Emperor’s commission.
“I had no intention of shirking my duty. I know I have only just begun learning the household affairs, and I wish to give them my full attention and do everything to Mother’s satisfaction.
“I also believed that the Marquis should make the decisions in all matters, so I told him what had happened and asked his opinion. I did not know he would speak to Mother about it.”
Ji Hanyi bowed her head still lower, her voice earnest. “The fault was entirely mine for failing to consider the matter thoroughly. Even with His Majesty the Emperor’s commission before me, I should have put the residence’s affairs first.”
“Later today, I will ask my sister-in-law to teach me how to manage the kitchens.”
Old Madam Shen studied her. Ji Hanyi had accepted every reproach in a soft, obedient voice without arguing once. Even if the older woman wished to continue berating her, she no longer knew how.
Ji Hanyi’s reasons were sound. His Majesty the Emperor’s commission was itself a mark of favor, and her concerns were reasonable.
In truth, Shen Si had visited his mother that morning expressly to discuss the matter. Ji Hanyi had only recently recovered from her illness, he said, so she should not be overworked. She should take on one responsibility at a time.
Old Madam Shen was not actually displeased that Ji Hanyi wished to delay taking charge of the kitchens. It was a minor matter. What angered her was how her son had defended Ji Hanyi-as if whatever Ji Hanyi said must be right, while the words of his own mother no longer mattered to him.
There was no other reason. That morning, she had simply seized upon the matter as an excuse to make things difficult for Ji Hanyi and warn her not to complain to her husband whenever anything displeased her.
Now, however, Ji Hanyi stood before her so docile and obedient. The young woman had also earned His Majesty the Emperor’s favor, which was ultimately a good thing. Old Madam Shen forcibly suppressed her displeasure and softened her tone. “Since His Majesty the Emperor has commissioned the Hundred Flowers paintings from you, they naturally take precedence. Finish those paintings first.”
Then she instructed, “His Majesty the Emperor’s regard is a good thing, but you must not be careless.”
Ji Hanyi answered softly.
She thought she would finally be dismissed, but Old Madam Shen kept her for breakfast.
It was Ji Hanyi’s first time attending Old Madam Shen at the morning meal. She stood beside her and first helped her take her seat.
Breakfast was served: four light side dishes and four varieties of pastries.
Old Madam Shen sat upright without touching her chopsticks. She waved away the nanny who was about to attend her, then looked calmly at Ji Hanyi. “Your Fourth Sister-in-law used to serve me at meals. She was thorough in everything she did. I was very satisfied with her.”
Ji Hanyi understood the implication. She rose and began serving Old Madam Shen her breakfast.
Because this was her first time attending the older woman at a meal, Old Madam Shen’s personal nanny came close and quietly explained her preferences.
Ji Hanyi committed each one to memory and served her patiently.
Old Madam Shen silently observed her every movement and gesture. Fortunately, she found nothing to criticize. Ji Hanyi handled even the smallest details well. Exacting though Old Madam Shen was, she could find no fault with the young woman’s conduct.
She had intended to make matters difficult and teach Ji Hanyi a lesson, but now she had no excuse. Her opinion of Ji Hanyi improved a little.
In truth, Ji Hanyi had not left a poor impression on her over the past few days. She was restrained in all things and always dealt with matters appropriately. Even during the recent questioning of the kitchen servants, Old Madam Shen had not expected her to display such ability. She now understood, at least in part, why the Grand Princess had praised her so highly.
Her son’s devotion to Ji Hanyi, however, remained the knot in her heart.
Old Madam Shen’s expression stayed impassive, revealing neither satisfaction nor displeasure.
Only after the meal was finally over did Ji Hanyi breathe a sigh of relief and withdraw.
When she returned to Songhe Courtyard, Nanny Fang, who had accompanied her, knew she could not have eaten her fill in Old Madam’s quarters. She ordered a plate of rouge goose liver so Ji Hanyi could have something more substantial.
Old Madam had always kept elaborate and exacting rules. She had lived in dignity and privilege all her life, raised from childhood as a cherished daughter of nobility, and had long been accustomed to others flattering and attending her.
Moreover, Old Madam Shen was the eldest daughter of Grand Tutor Sun, once the most esteemed scholar-official at court. Hers was an eminent family among the upright scholarly clans, one that valued propriety above all. After Grand Tutor Sun’s death, the Late Emperor had bestowed upon him the posthumous title Wenzheng, an honor countless scholars pursued all their lives.
Even now, the Sun family continued to flourish. It remained one of the great scholarly clans, bound by innumerable rules.
Ji Hanyi had always known this, so she gave little thought to Old Madam Shen’s demands.
She did admire Madam Bai, however. For all these years, Madam Bai had attended the difficult-to-please Old Madam Shen with effortless composure and kept her satisfied. Few ordinary people could have managed the same.
Ji Hanyi ate only a few bites. Her mind was full of other matters: she had not yet begun the paintings, Shen Si had asked her to arrange the study, and there was a banquet in three days. She soon returned to the study to put it in order.
On the way, Nanny Fang gave her a general account of the room. The objects inside were valuable. Shen Si had previously allowed maids to clean it at regular intervals, but they were never permitted to touch anything on his desk.
Ji Hanyi understood her meaning. Shen Si had asked her to clear a place for herself, and she did need a sizable area in which to paint. Yet she dared not disturb anything on his desk. Since the study was spacious, she simply asked Nanny Fang to look in the storeroom for a suitable writing table to place elsewhere in the room.
They did find one. It was a little small, but the height was right. Ji Hanyi deemed it suitable and had it placed on the other side of the room. Remembering Shen Si’s instructions that morning, she also sorted his documents.
She left everything where Shen Si had placed it, afraid he would be unable to find something, and merely arranged it more neatly.
Then she had the golden peony moved onto her new table. After admiring it quietly for a while, her spirits lifted. She asked Rongchun to bring the painting supplies previously sent from the palace and arranged them one by one.
When Shen Si returned that evening, the first thing he saw was Ji Hanyi painting in the study.
He had come home somewhat early, intending to dine with her, but official business had delayed him just as he was leaving. By now, Ji Hanyi had probably already eaten.
She was deeply absorbed in her painting when he entered. She was alone; even Rongchun had not been allowed inside.
Shen Si lifted the curtain and watched her for a while. Then he glanced at his desk, which had clearly been tidied by her, and at the slightly undersized painting table before her. A smile touched his lips.
The study had once been cold and austere. With Ji Hanyi in it now, it seemed somehow softer.
The thought that she had carefully put his desk in order warmed him. Without making a sound, he turned away to change and bathe first.
As he left, he quietly instructed the servants not to disturb her.
He had the next day off. Tonight, he wanted to spend a little longer with Ji Hanyi.
Perhaps they might even…