Chapter 191

Chapter 191: News from Huai River

Midday was busy for Tang Rong, tense for Auntie Cai, and lively for Xin An.

Young Madam Ou Yang’s Crab Feast did not invite many people. Xin An’s presence owed not only to the dress pattern she had sent but even more to Lin Yao’s connection.

Seeing Lin Yao, Yan Wen Hui, and Qiu Wen Yuan, Xin An smiled. At a glance she knew over seventy percent of those present, and the rest she could soon get to know.

Today Young Madam Ou Yang’s attire differed from when Xin An had seen her at the Moon Inviting Banquet. Her hair was naturally curly. Unless one oiled it heavily, it could not lie as flat as an ordinary girl’s. Today her coiffure was loose; her long hair was braided into a plait and coiled atop her head, fixed with a few pearl hairpins. It had its own special charm.

Noticing Xin An glance twice at her, Young Madam Ou Yang asked with a smile: “Second Young Madam, do you find something amiss?”

Xin An lifted her smile and answered: “I only think you look especially beautiful today. I once saw exotic beauties with gently curling hair in Huai River. Neither the pure and delicate look nor the demure, girl-next-door style suited them, and ordinary hairpins could not subdue their radiance. Only pearls and gemstones set each other off to perfection.”

The pearls in Young Madam Ou Yang’s hair were nothing out of the ordinary, but in her hair they shone brilliantly, lending her a grand and noble air.

Young Madam Ou Yang reflexively touched her coiffure and felt Xin An made excellent sense. Her hair was naturally curly; her mother said that no matter how she dressed, she could not suppress her vivid beauty and did not look sufficiently stately. Today’s style had been born of her aversion to greasy hair oil, yet the effect was better than she had imagined.

Lin Yao also said pearls suited her well, and the others chimed in. Partly it was flattery, and partly it was that the Grand Secretary’s dignity and power were not to be offended.

Young Madam Ou Yang laughed. She already liked the dress pattern Xin An had sent her, and she liked even more the two small trinkets Xin An had gifted. Learning that Xin An had seen women of similar bloodline, she decided she would visit Xin An when she had leisure, to ask how those exotic beauties dressed.

After some small talk, the company turned to crabs. Young Madam Ou Yang said: “This year’s crabs came from the north. They are smaller than those from the south, but they have a different savor. I find them good, so I wished to share them with my sisters. It is a rare honor that you are willing to grace me today.”

Since she was teasing, no one could take it as literal, and everyone laughed that they were fortunate to taste northern crab thanks to her.

Someone said: “Though northern crabs are smaller, their flesh is firmer, and the roe and crab fat are richer and more fragrant. We have never had the chance to taste them; today we are blessed.”

Smiling, Xin An sat with Yan Wen Hui. She said she had not eaten northern crabs either. Someone unfamiliar with Huai River asked whether Huai River had crabs.

She answered: “It does. By the season, Huai River’s crabs must wait a while yet.”

Those around nodded with smiles. There were not many guests today, and those invited were all people of standing and propriety. No one tried to make things difficult for Xin An. When the crabs were served at noon, Young Madam Ou Yang truly let everyone work with their own hands, saying that was where the fun lay. Seeing that Xin An could dismantle a crab like everyone else, someone asked whether people in Huai River ate crab the same way as in the capital.

She replied: “Not the same.”

Xin An laughed and said: “Folk in Huai River are less exacting about eating crab. Do not laugh at me, madams. My crab-dismantling skills were learned only yesterday. I feared I would be laughed at if I came today.”

Seeing her so forthright, the ladies all laughed. Anyone who could poke fun at her own shortcomings clearly did not fuss over such trifles, and their goodwill toward her increased.

Besides, everyone present was from true great clans and long past the stage of seeking superiority in petty matters. Even if Xin An had eaten more casually, none would have criticized her.

The feast did not end until the afternoon. Xin An returned directly to her residence. As she stepped in, Nan Feng came hurrying with a letter and presented it with both hands, saying: “Young madam, a letter has arrived from Huai River.”

“Just now delivered.”

Xin An’s face lit with delight. She took it eagerly, opened it, and read it through, then read it again before tucking it back into the envelope. [Her father truly was a clever man.] [In this life she was no longer a burden; her father and younger brother would surely have different prospects.]

She said to Auntie Wang: “Aunt, my brother’s marriage with the Zhou family’s young lady has been moved up to next year. It is said the Zhou family’s Grand Matron’s health has long been poor, and they wish to hold the joyous event earlier.”

“My brother will only turn sixteen next month. To marry in the first half of next year is a bit early.”

Auntie Wang said that marrying at sixteen was not early: “By nominal age that is seventeen. Among those who wed early, their children are running by that age.”

“Even those not yet married will have two women in the house to instruct them in the bedroom.”

Xin An countered: “But Physician Qin says marrying too early is not good.”

With a life’s extra experience, Xin An felt that sound health was paramount. She said: “The Zhou family’s young lady will only be sixteen at the start of next year. That is too young. I will ask Physician Qin about it again. If it truly will not do, then let them marry first and consummate after a year or so.”

Auntie Wang advised her that this should be for Xin Huan himself to decide: “An out-married elder sister should not be managing her brother’s bedroom matters.”

Xin An laughed and said: “At most I will whisper a word to my mother. I cannot truly manage my sister-in-law’s bridal chamber, can I? If I did that, how many would I offend?”

Auntie Wang was reassured. Xin An then asked her to keep an eye out to purchase some respectable betrothal gifts: “As his elder sister, I want to add a few items to my brother’s betrothal gifts. That is all right, yes?”

Auntie Wang answered: “Then you must let the young lord know.”

Xin An said: “Of course.”

Though it was her own money, Tang Mo ought to be informed.

Auntie Cui Ping had formally moved into the Falling Geese Pavilion. Learning that Xin An would accompany the Grand Matron into the palace tomorrow to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, she came specially to explain palace etiquette and the various mistresses of the palaces, so that Xin An would not fail to salute when meeting them.

Xin An said with relief: “Fortunately Auntie Cui Ping has come. Otherwise, I would not know what to do.”

She added: “I must learn the rules, of course, but tomorrow please accompany me into the palace.”

Cui Ping agreed, then began in earnest to teach Xin An the rules for entering the palace: where to get down from the carriage, where to wait, and first of all the route for paying respects, explaining it all clearly.

She laid out, according to Xin An’s status, what salute to use when meeting which person. She described how to bow before the Empress Dowager, how to pay respects, what to do if the Empress Dowager bestowed a seat, how to sit, what to do when the Empress Dowager offered tea, and so on, covering every detail for more than half an hour.

She concluded: “Tomorrow morning, the young madam should drink a mouthful of tea and eat a single piece of pastry, nothing more. Do not drink much water either. In the palace it is inconvenient to adjust one’s clothing freely, and it is easy to commit a breach of decorum.”

“Tomorrow’s clothing need not be elaborate. Dignified and appropriate will suffice. For the head, favor refinement and lightness. If the Empress Dowager does not grant a soft sedan, the walk from the palace gate to Fengwu Palace will take half an hour. Too many ornaments will leave you in a sorry state.”

Many people entering the palace for the first time chose grand finery, only for their makeup to smear and their hair to come loose in the end, which was both discourteous and embarrassing.

At this, Chun Yang and Chun Lv began to grow nervous and could not help but interject: “Auntie Cui Ping, please trouble yourself to look over the clothing and jewelry the young madam will use tomorrow and help us settle on them. We have no confidence.”

They had thought that entering the palace would be a matter of great glory; how had it turned into such an ordeal?