Chapter 4, The Blessing of the Elders (Part 1)

Caring for your younger brother is commendable, but be more cautious in the future. Come, sit down quickly

That is, she is already a thirteen-year-old young lady and should be adorned with some gold jewelry

Fortunately, the Chen family of the Marquis of Yangning did not subscribe to the belief that a woman's lack of talent is a virtue. In the past, they had invited a tutor to teach these young ladies, so reading was not an issue. As a result, her bedside gradually accumulated a considerable number of books. However, these were not the poems and verses she had diligently studied before, but rather a collection of miscellaneous works. Some were already present in the study, while others had been gifted to her by Chen Yan, encompassing a wide range of subjects including astronomy, geography, travelogues, and various notes.

Since she said so, Zhu agreed. Thus, Chen Yan and Chen Xi selected a pair in turn. When the box was presented to her, she opened the lid and saw a pair of five-inch Western Passionflower gold hairpins and a pair of three-inch exquisite Cordyceps pearl hairpins inside. She calmly closed the lid and was about to hand it to Qin Fang, who was serving behind her, when Zhu smiled and said, "Don't put them away so quickly. Among the sisters, you have always been simple and elegant. Now that you have just recovered from a serious illness, you should dress up a bit and try on these two for me to see."

Only by surpassing the other sisters in this manner, Chen Lan naturally did not find such a showy act appealing. However, after modestly declining a couple of times, seeing that Zhu insisted, she could only accept graciously. Following this, the selection proceeded according to age, and she ranked second among the four sisters. Chen Bing first chose two long hairpins inlaid with emeralds and adorned with plum blossoms, and at that moment, she was happily admiring the string of beads hanging from them, praising them for something. The girl then brought the box to her. Upon seeing the dazzling gold and jade inside, she merely glanced at it before averting her gaze, and smiled, saying: "Since the old lady and my elder cousin are so kind to me, allowing me to take the lead, it would be better to let the third and fourth sisters choose first."

As soon as Chen Lancai knelt down, she was pulled up by someone. The one who pulled her was a slender girl with an oval face, wearing a honey-colored, large-sleeved, round-collared silk jacket. Her hair was adorned with a green jade hairpin shaped like a lotus, and the jade and gold earrings on her ears were particularly striking. With a slight smile, she forcibly dragged Chen Lan to the front of Madam Zhu, saying with a laugh, "Madam, you said that Third Sister might lose weight, but look, her complexion is much better than before. This is indeed a blessing in disguise!"

Since the passing of the previous generation of Marquis Yangning, Chen Yong, the Zhu family moved away from this place and took residence in the Liao Xiang Courtyard to the east. Although she had no sons, her legitimate eldest daughter married into a noble family. Subsequently, she not only bore two sons and two daughters, but also, six years ago, her eldest daughter stood out among the legitimate daughters of numerous dukes and marquises during the selection of imperial consorts, marrying the second son of the current emperor, Prince Jin, as his primary wife.

After this round of greetings and comfort, the seating arrangement in the room was divided again. Chen Lan sat in the first seat on the right, while the first seat on the left was occupied by her second sister, Chen Bing, and the second seat on the left was taken by her fourth sister, Chen Yan. The two were of different birth statuses, with Chen Yan always following Chen Bing in everything, almost like a responding insect. The second seat on the right was occupied by the eldest daughter of the third branch, Chen Xi. Although she was of illegitimate birth, her mother was a favored concubine, and she had distant connections to the Duke of Wei's household. Thus, she was raised in the capital from a young age, and she was even more proud than Chen Bing and Chen Yan. Throughout, she maintained a faint smile, often holding her tea as if the small Ru kiln teacup attracted her attention more than the people in the room.

The name "Jinxiu Pavilion" is pleasant to hear, yet it is actually the most remote place within the entire Marquis's residence. Whether heading to the main hall or the back hall, one must first navigate a long corridor and then pass through the courtyards of various rooms. Therefore, Chen Lan had to traverse this same route daily at dawn and dusk, and as she heard more cold remarks, she increasingly stayed indoors at Jinxiu Pavilion, merely keeping watch over her younger brother

Due to this reason, no one in the family dared to underestimate this ancestor. Therefore, even though she had risen to the status of Lady Hou, the second wife, Madam Ma, did not mention moving to Qingxi Residence at all. Instead, she expanded the original Zining Residence where she lived. Since she occupied half of the space of the Fangfei Pavilion, she used the excuse that the rooms in Fangfei Pavilion were old to move Chen Lan to the Jinxiu Pavilion at the west end, while Chen Yan was placed not far from there in the Cuizhu Courtyard.

The Yangning Marquis Mansion occupies the entire Yangning Street, featuring numerous multi-story buildings and pavilions. It draws fresh water from Shichahai, referred to as the Little Jade Stream, and its rear garden evokes the charm of the water towns of Jiangnan. This grand residence was originally bestowed by Emperor Taizong, constructed according to the regulations for noble houses. The entrance features three sections and five arches, adorned with gold-painted beast faces and tin rings. The four large characters "Yangning Marquis Mansion" on the plaque were inscribed by the first Grand Secretary, Zhang Daxueshi, who was promoted by Emperor Wuzong.

It has already been a month; how can one be so delicate? The old lady has already sent Mother Zheng to visit, and since I am better, I must go to pay my respects. Choose two people to accompany me to Liao Xiang Courtyard, and have someone go ahead to inform them.

Zhu was taken aback for a moment, then immediately smiled at Chen Bing and said: "You little girl, you are trying to take advantage of the situation to scheme against the people in front of me again. Speak up, who do you want? I will consider it."

Another girl beside her nodded in agreement: "What Second Sister said is true. After all, it was the old lady who personally appointed the physician, and he has healed Third Sister's injuries. Over the course of a month, even Third Sister's longstanding frailty has been nearly remedied."

The main hall of Liao Xiang Yuan consists of five rooms, with a thick cotton curtain in a sky blue color adorned with a pattern of double blessings hanging in the center. After entering the room surrounded by the approaching maids, and passing around the large glazed screen in front, Chen Lan found that the warm alcove at the back was far from the desolation she had anticipated.

The two of them sang in harmony, and the others in the room naturally joined in. Zhu smiled and took Chen Lan's hand to sit beside her, then irritably sent the two away: "Don't compare yourself to your second sister and fourth younger sister. If they were to lie in bed for a month, who knows how much they would complain? Where is your understanding? Nowadays, who in the capital doesn't know about you, the dutiful sister protecting your brother? Everyone says I am fortunate to have such a benevolent and filial granddaughter."

Qinfang, while speaking, draped an old but not entirely worn red woolen cloak over Chen Lan. She was a girl of medium build with a dignified appearance. At this moment, seeing Chen Lan standing still in the cloak, she couldn't help but feel a bit worried. After hesitating for a while, she finally whispered, "Miss, the wind outside is strong. You shouldn't stand in it for too long. Please go inside. The old lady has excused you from the morning and evening rituals for two months. In a few days, it will be the New Year, and you can still go to pay respects to the ancestors in good spirits then."

Chen Lan remained silent, casting a glance at the young maids in the courtyard. Some appeared bewildered and ignorant, some were noncommittal, while one tall maid frowned slightly, seemingly disapproving. A few days ago, when she was able to get out of bed and move around the house, she vaguely remembered seeing this maid in the outer room, who seemed to be responsible for arranging flowers in the courtyard, though she did not know her name. After a brief look, she withdrew her gaze and shook her head.

Upon hearing this, Chen Bing was immediately overjoyed. She hurriedly approached the chair of the Zhu matriarch and performed a graceful bow. Then, with a wink, she said: "Every sister in front of the matriarch is more outstanding than the last; how could I be blamed for being envious? My Ling'er has grown up and is just about ready to be sent out, so I would like to request the matriarch to bestow Sister Zhenlong upon me."

Chen Bingxi was overjoyed and stood up to express his gratitude. However, Zhu only smiled and nodded, then looked at Chen Lan and said: "Lan'er, your injury has just healed, and your elder cousin is very concerned after hearing about it. Therefore, each of them will take two, and you can take the remaining four back. Even if you don't wear them, they will serve well as keepsakes."

Now, this Chen Lan has transformed into that Chen Lan, and she is quite satisfied with this secluded place, having no intention of changing this stagnant way of life for the time being. In the initial days, she merely stayed indoors to recuperate while discreetly gathering information from the maids.

Although it was known that Chen Lan had a tendency to avoid going out as much as possible, her words could not be refuted this time. Qinfang had no choice but to agree. She first sent someone to deliver the message, then left another maid, Yun'er, along with two third-class maids, Huajiao and Sumu, to watch over the house. She instructed the younger maids to work in the courtyard and not to wander about freely, before taking the two of them to attend to Chen Lan as she went out.

As they spoke, Mama Zheng proactively stepped forward, took the box, and upon opening it, she was momentarily taken aback. Soon after, she smiled and inserted the pair of passionflower gold hairpins into Chen Lan's hair, then pulled her in front of Zhu to offer a round of compliments. Chen Lan noticed that Mama Zheng had brought a mirror; she glanced at it and smiled slightly, saying, "It’s not that I didn’t wear them before, it’s just that they felt heavy on my head. Just a moment ago, I thought that pair of pearl hairpins was more convenient, but I didn’t expect that this pair of passionflowers, with Mama Zheng’s skilled hands, would transform the look."

As the days passed, when the pristine Goryeo paper on the window could no longer withstand the wind and sand and was covered with a layer of dust, the royal physician, who had been coming to check her pulse every few days, finally brought good news, stating that her injury had healed. After resting for a few more days, when she was dressed and ready to step out of the room with the help of the maids, standing under the sunlight and breathing in the long-awaited fresh air, Chen Lan felt her long-suppressed emotions suddenly lift.

When the Fourth Young Master returns from school and learns that the young lady has recovered, he will surely be extremely delighted

The elderly woman sitting on the centrally placed warm couch is dressed in a deep blue silk coat adorned with a pattern of five blessings holding longevity. She wears a silver mink cap with a jade ornament at the center and is smiling as she converses with the two young ladies beside her. Upon noticing Chen Lan's entrance, she finally shifts her gaze. This is the esteemed matriarch of the Yangning Marquis, Lady Zhu. Upon seeing someone bow gracefully, she reveals a smile.

This was Chen Lan's first time stepping out of the house after her rebirth, and it was also her first glimpse of the grand entrance of this mansion. The path was lined with deep courtyards, with layers upon layers of courtyards on either side. The servants she encountered varied in age, some retreating to the side to bow respectfully without a word, while others approached with beaming smiles, eager to inquire about her well-being. Although Chen Lan had steeled herself to face the situation, she still felt a slight throbbing in her head as she crossed the threshold of the Liao Xiang Courtyard. She steadied herself by supporting Qin Fang, which helped her regain her composure and calm her emotions.

To onlookers, her face was flushed bright red, and her speech seemed to be incoherent. The others immediately burst into laughter, and even Zhu, with a hint of reproach, lightly tapped her hand.

Chen Xi remained silent, while Chen Bing and Chen Yan engaged in a lively exchange of words. Although Chen Lan was somewhat reserved, she would occasionally interject with a comment or two, often managing to elicit a smile from Zhu. After a while, Zhu suddenly recalled something and quickly instructed the maidservant with a few words. Before long, the maidservant brought out a box, claiming it contained a set of ten newly crafted palace hairpins made by the imperial workshop, which the Princess of Jin had obtained from the palace, and suggested that the sisters share them.

In front of the main hall, which consists of seven rooms and nine bays, there are two small pavilions, traditionally used for receiving ordinary guests, known as the San De Hall. The central hall, named Fu Rui Hall, features a plaque bestowed by Emperor Taizong, which is rarely opened except during festivals or when distinguished guests arrive. The rear hall, Qing Xi Ju, consists of seven rooms and seven bays, and has been the residence of the matriarch, Madam Zhu, for several decades.

Zhu's expression remained unchanged as he waved his hand. Chen Lan returned to her seat, and Mama Zheng handed the box to Qin Fang beside her. At that moment, Chen Bing, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly spoke up: "Mama Zheng is indeed skilled, but who among those before the old lady is not also skilled? Today, taking advantage of the old lady's good mood, I would like to request one person from you!"

The room was filled with the sounds of warblers and swallows, adorned with silks and satins, gold and jade ornaments. At first, Chen Lan was almost dazzled, but when someone pulled her aside and said that misfortune could lead to fortune, and another added further remarks, she immediately became alert. At that moment, upon hearing the Zhu family say that she was sensible, she lowered her head and said: "That is all just hearsay from outsiders. At that time, I did not think much of it; I was solely focused on saving people. However, it caused unrest in the household, with doctors being called and visits being made, and it also troubled the elderly lady..."