Chapter 10: The Lady of the Marquis (Part 1)
Lady Cai, the wife of the marquis, hails from a renowned noble family. Her ancestors were founding heroes, and they were granted the title of a prince of a different surname due to their military achievements. However, they lost their princely title after making a mistake while supporting the crown prince. In recent years, although the Cai family has not been as prosperous as before, the situation has improved with the recent events: Lady Cai's father died heroically defending the frontier, her second sister entered the palace as a consort and gave birth to a prince, and her third sister was conferred the title of Princess Honghua to serve as a diplomatic bride. Thus, the Cai family has begun to experience a resurgence.
Ronghua is merely a foster child from an external household, and her name has not yet been added to the family genealogy, so the matriarch did not allow her to meet the elder matriarch
Madam said again: "What do you think of Hong Ge's outfit? Is it good-looking?"
The lady of the house and the eldest madam sat comfortably, and then instructed Mama Chen, "There is no need for you to attend to us any longer. It is a rare good day, so you should also enjoy yourselves. Inform the master and the two young ladies that I will keep the lady company, and if they feel tired, they may return to rest."
Over the past three years, Hong Ge has gone through unknown experiences, with no one truly caring for him by his side. He must be cautious in every matter, which inevitably makes Rong Hua feel a bit heartbroken
Hong Ge could not help but furrow his brows
Miss Liu's attire is not merely meticulous; the hairpin atop her head is made of a deep red and blue jade, adorned with the soft luster of tear-shaped pearls. She wears a light red pomegranate flower robe, her brows and eyes exuding charm, her face resembling a peach blossom. From head to toe, she is undoubtedly a product of careful craftsmanship, even the embroidered shoes peeking from beneath her skirt reveal an extraordinary quality.
Hong Ge was dressed in a cyan blue arrow-sleeved garment, layered with a sky blue outer robe adorned with subtle patterns, exuding an air of a refined young master. Standing beside Hong Ge, she resembled the young masters and mistresses of the estate. As for Rong Hua, despite her better looks, her plain attire gave off a sense of modesty that would certainly fail to attract the attention of the marquis and his wife. The remaining young ladies in the household were still quite young and had not been summoned. The matriarch's selection of candidates was essentially between her and Rong Hua. Her plain clothing and modest demeanor would undoubtedly not catch the notice of the marquis's wife, and the other young ladies in the household were still too young to be called forth. The matriarch's choice was ultimately between her and Rong Hua.
Ronghua couldn't help but smile; no matter how much things changed, her playful nature still resembled that of the past
Upon meeting Ronghua's gaze, Hong Ge was momentarily taken aback
Hong Ge was also looking at her, and there was a hint of questioning in his slender, phoenix-like eyes
Yanhua's face immediately revealed a look of disappointment. She had hoped that her meticulous preparation would astonish everyone, but the eldest madam did not respond warmly. Feeling somewhat disheartened, her displeasure vanished without a trace upon seeing Hong Ge and Ronghua beside her, and she unconsciously displayed a proud expression.
Ronghua remembered that when she was in the residence earlier, the old lady's illness was not so severe. Three years ago, the courtyard was merely used for the old lady to occasionally stay in. Who would have thought that once the old lady moved in, she would never be able to move out again
Upon reaching this thought, Yan Hua could not help but smile slightly.
Madam smiled and said, "Come over quickly, your brother is here, and you two should meet."
Madam Chen recounted the words of the eldest lady to Hong Ge, Yan Hua, and Rong Hua, and then instructed someone to set up two tables a little further away. One table was for Hong Ge, Yan Hua, and Rong Hua to sit at, while the other table was for herself, accompanied by the maidservants attending to the young master and young lady, along with the maids brought by the marquis's wife.
This rebellion is not recognized by secular understanding
Among the maids and servants brought by the lady of the house, there is always one who cannot keep her mouth shut
Ronghua stood up and, upon seeing Mama Chen looking over, pretended not to notice
Madam was walking ahead, while Yan Hua hurriedly followed behind with Brother Hong, pushing Rong Hua to the side
The lady of the marquis said: "Speaking of which, I haven't watched a play in a while. I heard that a famous performer has emerged in the capital region."
As they were speaking, someone from the side room lifted the curtain and entered. Ronghua turned around to see a ten-year-old boy whose eyes had already lost much of their childishness. What should have been a carefree face now bore a depth beyond his years, devoid of the pure mischief and brightness that once characterized him. Perhaps it was due to the punishment and the books he had received yesterday, as he walked with a slight peculiarity.
Who knows that the two people will not delve deeper into the conversation from this point onward
The madam and the marquis's wife were engaged in lively conversation, while the old woman and the maidservants were also enjoying themselves. Ronghua glanced around; indeed, this was a good time to leave. Even if no one could overhear the conversation between the madam and the marquis's wife, there were always other ways to glean some insights.
As long as one caters to her preferences, one can hear something from her lips; even the slightest clue can connect the entire matter.
Ronghua nodded and said, "It looks good"
Ronghua glanced at the money brought by the lady of the marquis, while Mama Chen had been sitting with her, chatting and laughing. The glass jade bracelet that Mama Chen had worn on her wrist this morning had vanished in an instant, presumably having found its way into her pocket
The lady of the marquis entered the residence, and the matriarch immediately introduced the family members. When it came to Yan Hua, she stepped forward to pay her respects, offering a slight smile, her face resembling a peach blossom. Instantly, a smile appeared on the wealthy face of the marquis's wife, who remarked, "I have seen many young ladies from prestigious families, yet none compare to your sixth young lady."
Madam smiled and said to Hong Ge: "This is your eighth sister, who originally did not enter the mansion, so you do not recognize her"
Ronghua approached gracefully to pay her respects to the eldest madam
No one compares to her; wherever she goes, she stands out. The mistress has remarked on her, saying she possesses a delicate and exquisite heart, which is unmatched by the other maids in the household
Madam smiled and said, "The residence has invited a theater troupe, but I wonder if the lady will like it"
Think again, the Tao family has hosted numerous joyous events in the past two years, could it be that... Ronghua glanced at Yan Hua beside her, who was dressed in a dazzling manner, seemingly afraid that others would steal her spotlight
Later, after entering the bookstore, I read some miscellaneous works, which subsequently planted the seeds of rebellion in my heart
The lady of the marquis merely raised her hand and smiled, "He is also a good child"
Hong Ge and Rong Hua stopped and looked at the picture book, while Yan Hua wore a worried expression, glancing ahead and saying, "How can it be acceptable for mother to be alone without anyone by her side?" The voices of the lady of the marquis and the eldest madam grew fainter, and gradually she could hear nothing at all.
The lady of the house smiled and chatted with the eldest madam, saying, "I only have one daughter, who married early; unlike you, who have these daughters by your side, it is truly a blessing."
The lady of the marquis would not engage with the Tao family so frequently without reason
After two performances, Hong Ge left with the maid, while Rong Hua sipped tea steadily, thoroughly enjoying the show. However, Yan Hua was already in a bad mood, saying, "The fruits today are not as good as those in the past."
Upon hearing this, Yan Hua's heart raced unusually fast. If Madam Cai were to mention the matter of her elder sister being childless at this moment, it would mean that her situation would be half determined.
Madam laughed: "Isn't that just him"
The lady sighed, "How would you know? My maternal family also has quite a few relatives, but they all live far away and seldom visit. When I have worries, I cannot rely on them. It is my mother-in-law who understands my heart."
After passing through the Month Cave, Ronghua saw a courtyard in the distance with two red maples planted outside, knowing it was the residence of the old lady. A few years ago, the old lady of the Tao family fell ill with a peculiar disease, becoming most fearful of noise and commotion. Thus, she chose the quietest spot in the garden to build this courtyard.
After quite a while, Miss Liu finally arrived late.
Madam said: "Having gone to the Leftist Academy, one must focus even more on academic work"
The young maidens served the tea and arranged the fruits in order, while the maids and matrons of the household stood respectfully by, waiting to attend.
PS: The term "诸内壸近人" originates from "Dream of the Red Chamber". Here, "内壸" (kǔn) originally referred to a wife. The character "壸" extends to mean the inner palace, and generally refers to the inner chambers where women reside. In this context, it refers to all female relatives.
At that moment, a maid entered the room and said, "Outside, they are saying that the lady of the marquis is about to arrive"
Ronghua could not help but smile slightly. Yan Hua may have underestimated the complexity of the situation; a grand entrance does not necessarily guarantee applause from the audience.
The lady looked at her with a loving gaze and said, "Why have you come so early"
Madam glanced at Yan Hua and lightly praised, "Yan Hua is truly beautiful today"
Advantech then realized that the madam had diverted the attention of the lord's wife, not wanting others to know the content of their conversation. However, she was fully aware that what they were discussing was closely related to her own fate, yet she could not find out any details. She couldn't help but clench her fists
Hearing this, Yan Hua felt even more delighted; with the lady of the house praising her like this, the matriarch would surely regard her more favorably.
With a sense of confidence and composure, Yan Hua walked ahead with an unusually light step, while Rong Hua followed behind.
Madam stood up and led the Lady Hou through the east side door towards the eastern courtyard
The old lady did not give birth to any sons or daughters for the Tao family. Her father, Tao Zheng'an, was the eldest son born out of wedlock, living under the old lady's name, and later inherited the family business as the legitimate eldest son. Tao Zheng'an's filial piety towards the old lady was renowned, until three years ago when he was promoted, and the family business grew larger, making it impossible for his two younger brothers to compare with him. Consequently, the bond of maternal kindness and filial piety became less significant, and they occasionally put on a show, merely to avoid gossip from outsiders. This reflects the subtle relationship between the legitimate wife and the adopted son. Tao Zheng'an's filial piety towards the old lady was renowned, until three years ago when he was promoted, and the family business grew larger, making it impossible for his two younger brothers to compare with him. Consequently, the bond of maternal kindness and filial piety became less significant, and they occasionally put on a show, merely to avoid gossip from outsiders. This reflects the subtle relationship between the legitimate wife and the adopted son.
Hong Ge and Rong Hua have met
Two seats have been arranged in the front row of the stage
Yan Hua smiled; she initially thought she would have to put some effort into dealing with Rong Hua. However, it now seems entirely unnecessary. Rong Hua stood there like a piece of wood, dull and unremarkable.
Upon mentioning Ronghua, Ronghua stepped forward to pay her respects
The carriage of Lady Yicheng stopped, and the eldest madam immediately stepped forward. Yan Hua, seeing everyone being so respectful, couldn't help but feel envious. One day in the future, she too must have such a scene, where the entire Tao family would respect her in this way, and she would no longer be a concubine who flatters in front of others and feels desolate behind their backs.
Madam quickly stood up and said, "Hurry, everyone come with me to the door to welcome them."
The elderly lady had long ceased to inquire about family matters, entrusting all affairs of the household, no matter how trivial, to the eldest lady. She would only make an appearance on significant occasions and preferred not to be disturbed on ordinary days, even exempting her juniors from the customary morning and evening greetings.
Yanhua showed no reaction to Ronghua, but took her hand and said thoughtfully, "Since we are not needed here, sister, let me accompany you for a stroll in the garden"
How can she learn more information? Advantech glanced at Ronghua, or perhaps there are other methods.
This cannot be blamed on Hong Ge either; she does not like articles that are overly rigid and formal. If she could find other books to substitute, she would not choose to read them.
Madam said: "If you do not mind, please come over often. You have no idea how many troubles come with having children; I often spend a lot of effort on them myself."
She just inadvertently revealed her true feelings, when did Hong Ge become so clever
Advantech, Hong Ge, and Rong Hua were just about to follow when they were stopped by Chen Mama at the door. Chen Mama smiled and said, "Gentlemen and ladies, there is no need to rush."
Ronghua entered the room of the madam, and Mama Chen greeted her with a beaming smile, "The eighth young lady has arrived"
The outcome of victory and defeat will be immediately apparent
No wonder the madam is so pleased; being able to leverage the connections of the Yicheng Marquisate to attend the Left Wing Academy is an honor that cannot be exchanged for anything. If Hong Ge achieves further success, Rong Hua will surely look at Hong Ge differently
Madam Chen smiled apologetically, "Miss Liu, rest assured, there will be no mistakes."
The matron smiled broadly, "Originally, I intended to have your elder brother-in-law see if it was possible for Hong Ge to attend the ancestral school under the name of the Hou family. I didn't expect it to be settled so quickly. It's fortunate that I made some clothes for Hong Ge a while ago; otherwise, we would have been quite busy at this moment." Looking at Hong Ge, the matron revealed a hint of satisfaction in her expression.