Chapter 128

Chapter 128: The Second Prince’s Consort Invites Again

The weather was sweltering, so Xin An followed Tang Mo’s advice and stayed home, curling up in Qiu Shi Courtyard to enjoy a comfortable day.

Nan Feng returned from outside and reported: “Young Madam, the female shopkeeper from Qianji Gold Shop in the city has brought the newest jewelry.”

At the gate she had run into the shopkeeper; Xin An had her shown in. She had thought well of Qianji’s pieces earlier and had left word that any new arrivals should be sent over for her to see.

As the marquis’s Second Young Madam, she could not very well be going out herself every time she needed a hairpin or bracelet.

The shopkeeper soon arrived with her cases. Qing Yang had already had a table carried out. After the formal greetings, the shopkeeper and two female clerks laid out everything they had brought and said respectfully: “Second Young Madam, these are our gold shop’s latest pieces. Please see if anything catches your eye.”

Hairpins, rings, earrings, bracelets: there were three to five choices of each. In the shopkeeper’s eyes, everything delivered today was a boutique item that ordinary patrons would not even get to see. Observing that Xin An showed neither delight nor surprise, she realized this was a lady used to fine things and suddenly lost confidence.

Xin An said mildly: “These are ordinary designs, much the same as before.”

Having seen the Grand Matron’s collection of treasures, Xin An’s standards had risen. The shopkeeper forced a smile and began pointing out what was special about today’s pieces; after all her talk, the only difference came down to materials.

With the designs largely the same, Xin An’s interest waned. The shopkeeper understood she had misjudged. Thinking only that this Second Young Madam came from Huaijiang, and ignorant of Huaijiang’s wealth, she had not brought the truly best things.

Sharp-eyed Qing Yang thought of how, back in Huaijiang, every shop selling cosmetics and jewelry would send out their very finest. What lay before them was good, but her Young Madam had no need of such things. She said coolly: “The items you brought today are indeed somewhat ordinary. If you bring pieces like these again next time, then Qianji need not come through the marquis’s gate again.”

The shopkeeper apologized again and again, hurriedly packing up to leave. [So my reputation still needs careful cultivation, otherwise even a jeweler dares to look down on me,] Xin An thought.

She murmured, “It is too hot,” then considered: [Otherwise it would be lovely to ask Madam Liao to tea and a bit of opera.]

Just then Auntie Wang arrived with an invitation, saying that the Second Prince’s Consort had invited Xin An to take tea at her residence tomorrow morning.

A little nervous, Auntie Wang suggested: “Young Madam, why not open the storeroom and select two fine pieces to bring along?”

Xin An said to pick a few of the regional gifts that Uncle Fang Shuda had sent and take those, adding: “There is no need for anything too valuable. Sincerity is what matters.”

[Even I, a merchant’s daughter, looked down on the so-called good things that shopkeeper just brought. The prince’s consort may well look down on what I consider good too. Better to step back and send something uncommon instead,] she reasoned; [at least it might strike her as a little novel.]

Auntie Wang hurried off to make arrangements. After mulling it over for a moment, Xin An still went to consult her mother-in-law. Madam Wang was a little surprised and asked: “Do you know the reason for the invitation?”

Xin An shook her head and said: “She only said to take tea.”

Even more anxious than Xin An, Madam Wang said: “Then you must adapt to the situation. Once you are at the prince’s residence, be cautious in word and deed. If you can gain the Second Prince’s Consort’s favor, then in the future, even if it does not give you the wings of a tiger among the inner courtyards, at least others will not dare to slight you.”

She did not say aloud that in making connections with ladies outside, she might well be inferior to Xin An. Her natal family’s low status was one thing; her own limited ability was the core issue, otherwise she would not have failed to hear even that little affair of the Tao family, with no one telling her anything.

Xin An nodded. Leaving Madam Wang, she went to the Grand Matron’s quarters. In the heat the Grand Matron disliked going out. Her skin had returned to a fairer shade than before, but her complexion was not so good.

Xin An asked: “Grandmother, why is your color not as good as usual?”

Bored, the Grand Matron replied: “It is too hot. I neither eat nor sleep well. There is still too little ice.”

The marquis’s household received only a limited allotment of ice, and they saved it all for the Grand Matron. Yet on such hot days, the blocks melted not long after being set out. Unless one did as the Duke En residence did and lined rooms with ice, it was of little use.

Xin An asked: “Were not yesterday’s cold dishes all right?”

Gan Lu answered: “Cold dishes are good, and Grand Matron ate a bit more yesterday, but her stomach was upset. Best to cut back.”

The Grand Matron sighed and said she was old; greedily eating a few extra bites of cold food had given her stomach pains until midnight: “Fortunately summer has only a few days left. Endure it a while and it will pass.”

Xin An suddenly remembered what Madam Wang of the Wang family had said: the Wangs oversaw many retired soldiers, and many of their dwellings were poor, crowded, noisy, and damp. In such heat they must be suffering even more. After thinking a moment, she said that people should be sent to buy extra mung beans and distribute them, so each household could cook mung bean soup to dispel heat and minor toxins.

“Even with people attending me everywhere I feel unwell; they will only feel worse. Sorry to trouble you, but go arrange it now,” said the Grand Matron.

Xin An rose and said: “Grandmother, please rest well. I will arrange it at once.”

The Grand Matron hummed assent. Xin An turned to leave. Returning to Qiu Shi Courtyard, she instructed Auntie Wang to go find help. It was only when she needed hands that she realized she still had very few of her own people in the marquis’s household. She had no choice but to have Auntie Wang take silver and go again to Madam Wang. After Xin An’s purpose was explained, Madam Wang called in a steward and said: “This man’s surname is Liu, a longtime retainer who came with me when I married. He oversees half of the household’s procurement. Give the task to him.”

Madam Wang added: “Until you find someone suitable of your own, you may command him.”

The saying that a new sovereign brings new court officials applies well to the inner courtyards of every household. The marquis’s servants were divided into two camps: old retainers of the house and Madam Wang’s people. Whether Xin An could place her own depended on whether this mother-in-law would give her the chance.

At present, it seemed she was willing.

Steward Liu took the silver and led people out at once. Nan Feng followed throughout. She was responsible for delivering the purchased mung beans to the Wang residence and placing them in Madam Wang of the Wang family’s hands, then overseeing that those beans went where they should.

When Tang Mo returned in the evening and heard of it, Xin An’s meaning was that he should find time to go meet those people personally: “Since we spent the money, people ought to know it was us.” [Doing good in silence while letting others enjoy the reputation must not be done.]

She added: “Also look in on those who have never received aid from the marquis’s household. In short, we must have people of our own. And I am short a steward at my side; arrange someone for me.”

The Xin family’s stewards had other responsibilities, and Xin An did not intend to trouble them with errands: “I never seem to have anyone to use. It makes everything inconvenient and very limited. Think of a way.”

Tang Mo said he would make arrangements as soon as possible and added: “You have worked hard.”

She said: “Pack up. We will go out later.”

He asked, “So early?”

The sun had slanted westward but the heat still burned. Xin An did not want to go out so early and said: “Wait a little longer.”

Tang Mo said that students from Wang Ping Academy had their day of rest today and that most of them would be at Zhuang Yuan Tower discussing past and present: “Luo Qi Wen will be out as well. Let us ‘happen to meet’ him.”

Xin An asked with interest: “How will we ‘happen to meet’?” Tang Mo said he already had arrangements: “I guarantee we will have every reason to step forward and speak to him, and even do him a favor.”