Chapter 009: Celebration of Longevity

The song and dance performances at Changchun Garden began in the morning, interspersed with acts of juggling and comedic performances. Shen Cui and the other young ladies have been watching for several days now; even the finest things can become tiresome after a while. Moreover, Guo Dajia only performed on the first day and has not appeared since.

"A rather obedient disposition, what is rare is that at such a young age, one is neither hasty nor impatient," Linglong remarked

"Respect the elderly as well as others' elderly, and care for the young as well as others' young." Ji Cheng smiled and said, truly fond of this ancestor, who was generous and kind; this is the demeanor and conduct of a prestigious family with profound heritage

Who else could it be but Wang Si Niang, who has been elevated to the heavens by others? Her sister, Consort Shu, gave birth to His Majesty's firstborn prince two years ago, and now they are in the limelight, with the whole family enjoying great fortune. Wang Shu Fei's father has even been granted the title of Earl of Yongle, and those who flatter Wang Si Niang are also rising with the tide. Shen Cui scoffed, "I find her appearance quite ordinary; her mouth is so large it could swallow a fist, yet some insist she is the most beautiful woman in the capital."

However, Shen Cui could not possibly understand the intricate thoughts and feelings in Ji Cheng's heart

Ji Cheng certainly did not know who Wang Si Niang was, but following Shen Cui's gaze, he understood that the Wang Si Niang she mentioned was the Fourth Young Lady of the Yongle Marquis family, who was also the niece of the heir apparent of the Jing'an Marquis.

Shen Cui always speaks in a sharp manner, and it is unclear whether it is directed solely at herself or if she treats everyone this way. One wonders if her aunt is aware of this. Ji Cheng sighed in regret, as if feeling pity for Shen Cui.

Among the group of people, only Ji Cheng was watching with great interest

It was about time to come over; after all, isn't it a bit inconvenient for you to move? Today the weather is pleasant and sunny, so I thought I must come to see you.

Ji Cheng stepped forward to pay her respects, and Princess Anhe glanced at her and Su Jun a few times, but did not say a word

Ji Lan was both pleased with Ji Cheng's intelligence and somewhat irritated. If Ji Cheng had a temperament like her mother's, being a mindless favored concubine would be quite suitable; such a person, even when elevated to a high position, would still be expected to support herself. Initially, Ji Lan's plan was to send Ji Cheng into the palace.

Last time, Ji Cheng had only seen this royal princess from a distance and did not know her character, but the demeanor of Princess Anhe had a profound impact on the young Ji Cheng.

After breakfast, everyone moved to the Qingyuan Garden. When the sheng and xiao began to play, both Lian An and the princess arrived.

Shen Cui seemed to sense that Ji Cheng was somewhat unconvinced, and could not help but mockingly say: "I almost forgot, your family does have some silver."

However, although An and the princess were gentle and reasonable towards the old lady, they were somewhat indifferent to others, yet no one dared to speak ill of them

In recent days, the banquets at the Jing'an Marquis's residence have been attended by the Young Master's wife, who is also known as Lady Huang, the elder sister-in-law.

The next day, Ji Lan indeed recovered remarkably as Ji Cheng had anticipated, and she took Shen Cui and her to the old lady's room early in the morning

Ji Lan's plan is that at this moment, Ji Cheng enters the palace. If she can conceive a dragon's offspring, she will whisper sweet nothings to the third master, who will then speak to the old lady. After all, she is his own niece, and if her son were to inherit the throne in the future, the wealth and status of the Shen family would rise to a new level, allowing their branch to hold their heads high and no longer be overshadowed by the first and second branches.

Princess Anhe has arrived, and naturally, everyone must step forward to pay their respects, including the old lady, who cannot be exempted. Therefore, under normal circumstances, Princess Anhe rarely makes public appearances. At this moment, she steps forward a couple of paces and quickly supports the old lady, smiling gently as she says: "Mother, why must we engage in such formalities? Even when we are before my elder brother and sister-in-law, you are still a person of status."

Isn't that the case? Old Madam Su also interjected with a smile from within the hall

The old lady called Ji Cheng over and asked, "Why haven't I seen you and your sisters playing together these past few days? Don't you enjoy the songs and dances at Changchun Garden? Your uncle's family has also brought in about ten talented girls from the west who can sing and dance. You can choose whichever you like to listen to. What are you doing cooped up in the house at such a young age?"

Ji Cheng smiled faintly, as the people of the capital possessed an inexplicable sense of superiority, as if those from other places were merely unsophisticated bumpkins who had never seen the world. "When in Jin, it was common for families to invite musicians from the music garden to celebrate joyous occasions. In Jin, there was a well-known family, the Cheng family. Have you heard of the Fifth Miss?"

Returning to the ancestral home, Ah Cheng has just arrived in the capital and has been struggling with the local climate these past few days, making it difficult for him to come over. I have heard of the name Changchun Garden while in Jin, so I hurriedly took care of myself and asked my aunt to bring me here

"What is there to see in this?" Shen Cui asked Ji Cheng, who was immersed in the singing and dancing, with a sense that Ji Cheng was rather unsophisticated and had not seen much of the world.

The so-called Guo and Cheng are akin to the leading figures of later generations' song and dance troupes, highly esteemed and beloved, and it is indeed a rare fortune to have the opportunity to meet such individuals.

Ji Lan smiled somewhat forcefully and said: "I felt much better yesterday, but I was afraid that the illness had not completely passed, so I did not dare to come on the day of our ancestor's great joy. I hope the ancestor will not blame the daughter-in-law."

Go on, sit with your sisters. We are all family, no need to distinguish between us. Just treat this place as your own home. Didn't Confucius say, "Respect the elderly as if they were your own?" the old lady said with a smile.

However, Ji Cheng is not an easy person to manipulate; his mind is sharp, and he cannot be easily deceived. For instance, if Ji Cheng were to act a bit hastily this time and rush to the Duke's residence without considering his aunt's illness, then in the future, as long as Ji Lan hints at something to others, Ji Cheng's character would be called into question. Yet, Ji Cheng is wholeheartedly devoted to caring for his sick aunt, which makes Ji Lan feel embarrassed to set any traps for him.

Having money is not a bad thing. Ji Cheng could not help but softly reply, the calligraphy and paintings that Old Master Shen San loves are all supported by the financial strength of the Ji family. Moreover, whether it is buying official positions, purchasing vacancies, or securing promotions, which of these does not involve the money of the Ji family

Who is Wang Si Niang?" Ji Cheng feigned ignorance

In no time, guests arrived one after another. Today, the mother of Second Madam Huang, Lady Jing'an, also came over. The old lady smiled and said, "Old sister, what wind has blown you here today"

Ji Cheng had figured out that Shen Cui harbored hostility towards any girl who appeared to be somewhat neat and tidy

Ji Cheng did not even know how to begin. How could the old lady, such a long-lived elder, not be aware of Ji Lan's concerns? Although she had just generously shown understanding, she immediately turned around and used it as an opportunity to criticize Ji Lan.

The elderly were engaged in their own conversations, while Shen Cui pulled Ji Cheng aside to speak, "Did you see that? Su Jun has only been here for a few days and has already ingratiated herself with Wang Si Niang."

The elderly lady had just finished washing up and was about to prepare a meal when she saw Ji Lan come in and asked, "Have you recovered well?"

The old lady looked at Ji Cheng's smile and couldn't help but compare her to Su Jun. Su Jun's smile was radiant and dazzling, clearly someone who had been pampered since childhood. In contrast, Ji Cheng's smile was like a gentle spring breeze; this girl had a good heart. She didn't mention taking care of her aunt during her illness, otherwise it would have made Shen Cui seem unfilial.

Wang Si-niang possesses a somewhat peculiar beauty; this peculiarity is not unattractive, in fact, she is quite beautiful, but her beauty is distinct from that of ordinary people, presenting a somewhat unique charm that makes her memorable at first glance. Wang Si-niang's eyes are long and narrow, with slightly upturned outer corners, exuding a seductive yet sharp allure. Her lips are somewhat full, and her mouth is relatively large, giving her a charmingly bold smile.

In recent years, Emperor Jianping's health has not been good, and he has not had any sons born. However, in the past two years, with the help of a divine physician to nurture his health, sons have begun to emerge like bamboo shoots after a rain. In just these two or three years, he has surprisingly fathered two sons, and it is said that there are three consorts in the palace who are already pregnant.

Indeed. Ji Lan sighed and said, "Her temperament is like my brother's. My brother has been intelligent since childhood, and the current development of the Ji family relies entirely on him. I never expected that someone like Yun Niang could give birth to such a wise daughter as A Cheng." Yun Niang is Ji Cheng's mother, who comes from an even humbler background; her father was merely a street vendor selling tofu pudding.

However, Ji Lan is not one to give up easily. Although Ji Cheng has made it clear that she does not wish to enter the palace, who knows how things may change in the future. Even if Ji Cheng is reluctant to enter the palace, it should still be possible to find her a respectable husband, which would not be a bad thing. The only downside is that Ji Cheng's usefulness to herself would be significantly diminished.

The elderly lady waved her hand and said: "During this period, having to manage so many matters is truly hard on you all. I feel distressed that you are worn out and ill; how could I blame you? The body is the most important thing for a person, and one realizes this when they grow old. Nothing else matters; what is most crucial is to eat well and sleep soundly. If one does not cherish their health when young, they will have to pay the price when they are old."

However, it must be said that Wang Si Niang is also a rare and extraordinary beauty

As they were speaking, Shen Qian approached Shen Cui and said: "Fifth Sister, Cousin Cheng, let us go to the Yingyue Tower by the South River to have some fun. If we want to listen to music, we can invite Wen and the others to join us, and select a few fresh tunes to sing. Wouldn't that be more enjoyable than staying here?"

That esteemed figure, Cheng, is indeed a remarkable person, and Shen Cui has naturally heard of him