Chapter 320

Chapter 321: Winning Over Auntie Cui Ping

When Xin An received the news, she found it exceedingly amusing. As the saying goes, it takes a villain to grind down a villain, and even Madam Zhang was not entirely without her uses.

Tang Rong had thought his helper had arrived, only to find she had come to make trouble for him.

With such a fine opportunity, Xin An naturally had to add another log to the fire next door.

She said to Nan Feng: “Take the two pairs of velvet flowers we brought back today and deliver them to the two Wei young ladies. Tell them that once the fabrics they chose today are made into garments, with a ring of fur edging at the collar, matching these velvet flowers will be exquisite. Say it in front of Madam Wei. As for why we are delivering them only now, you know what to say, don’t you?”

Nan Feng’s eyes turned and she understood, thinking that the Second Young Madam must pity the two young ladies and had wanted to send them earlier, but feared the people next door would take issue. She said with confidence: “Please be at ease, Second Madam, this maid will make sure Madam Wei hears every word clearly.”

Nan Feng went quickly. Xin An’s lips curved in a faint smile: [Tang Rong should be out of money by now, shouldn’t he?]

Auntie Cai would soon be of use as well. After pondering a moment, Xin An turned and brought up with Cui Ping the matter of sending gifts to Prince Jin Manor. She said: “One of Prince Jin Manor’s estates was in my hands earlier. When I learned that the Princess Consort Jin loved jasmine, I had people tend to it specially. Now the jasmine is in bloom and the lady has returned. I want the Princess Consort Jin to know my intention. Aunt, what do you think?”

Auntie Cui Ping smiled faintly, unable to tell whether Xin An had known early on that Prince Jin could return or had simply been lucky, but this was indeed an opportunity. She said: “Prince Jin originally enjoyed undiminished imperial favor. Outsiders cannot know the inner details of what happened before. Now that he has returned, His Majesty the Emperor holds him in high regard and has rewarded him several times. Many households have gone to deliver gifts recently. If Second Young Madam sends something along with the crowd, it will not stand out. Better that I go in person.”

Xin An said: “That is exactly what I intended.”

Xin An continued: “The Marquisate’s New Year gifts were sent over this morning, so it will be perfect if ours go tomorrow.”

“At that time I will have Chun Lv accompany you, Aunt. First go to the Xin residence to pick up the flowers, and then take some fresh produce over. As for other items, do you have suggestions?”

Auntie Cui Ping said that the Princess Consort Jin once loved embroidery most in the capital, especially bicolor double-sided embroidery, and added: “I once went to the storeroom with Second Young Madam and saw a small yet exquisite bicolor double-sided embroidery piece with a koi motif. It is a craft rarely seen.”

Xin An nodded and said: “Then take it along as well. Thank you, Aunt, for making this trip for me.”

Auntie Cui Ping curtsied. Having been around her for long, she could guess a thing or two of Xin An’s intentions; she likely was not content to remain only a Second Young Madam.

Just as she went to make preparations, Xin An suddenly called her back and said: “Aunt, would you like to find a companion?”

The words left Auntie Cui Ping stunned for a moment, then she laughed: “Second Young Madam is teasing me. At my age, what companion would I be looking for? I am quite fine as I am.” [I lack nothing; what would I want with a man? Moreover, a man of this age who has not married is either widowed or has some problem. I have served others all my life; I do not wish, in old age, to serve a man, nor to see a lifetime of savings end up supporting some man’s children and grandchildren.]

Xin An said: “I will support whatever you choose, Aunt. If you do not want a companion, perhaps you could adopt a child. That would give you an emotional anchor and someone to attend to you with warmth when you need it.”

“If you raise a little girl, let her grow up by your side with a written agreement so you can give her a monthly allowance without signing a deed of sale; later she can marry into a good family.”

“If it is a boy, and if I have a son, he can be a companion reader to my child; and if I am not so blessed, you can have him pursue his studies and later sit the examinations for honors.”

The proposal moved Cui Ping greatly. She had a nephew who counted as filial, but his filial piety was laced with self-interest; in the half month since she had left the palace, her nephew’s wife had already come to her twice to cry poverty. [If even one’s own father and son may be unreliable, how much less a nephew?]

She said: “I will consider Young Madam’s proposal carefully. Thank you for thinking for my sake.”

Even though she knew Xin An wished to keep her close and have her serve well, she did not reject it in her heart. [She has offered so much.]

Cui Ping turned and busied herself, her heart inexplicably excited. Xin An reclined on the beauty couch and, all at once, found herself missing Tang Mo.

At that moment Chun Yang came in and said: “Young Madam, the New Year gifts from Huai River have arrived.”

She added: “The gifts are in two parts: one delivered into Madam’s hands, and one sent by Master to Young Madam.”

Great joy lit Xin An’s eyes as she said: “Bring them in.”

Very soon two large chests were set before her, along with a family letter. In it her father wrote that the household had been very busy of late, with more banquets than in previous years. Once it became known that the Xin Family had the Xu Family behind them, and that Xin An herself was on good terms with the Liao Family, even more people had come to curry favor.

Therefore, with the clan’s consent, the Xin Family had allotted Xin An a portion of this year’s profits, and he explained that some items in the New Year gifts were from the Xu Family and that she should deliver them in person. He concluded by saying that, when spring opened, he would come up to the capital together with others.

As always, she read the family letter twice, her heart brimming with joy. In her previous life it had always been the family sending her good things, and she had rarely been able to repay them, as if born to collect debts.

She had even thought, in those final moments, that if her parents had not given birth to her it would have been better, so they would not have been implicated by her.

Now that she could repay a little and bring joy and honor to her parents, her heart overflowed with happiness, and she only wanted to do even better. She said: “Take everything out for me to see.”

The two chests were packed full. Many items were Huai River local specialties chosen to her taste, and there were also several delicate weapons that should be for Tang Mo.

According to the list she picked out the New Year gifts for the Xu Family and had Chun Yang check them carefully. She said: “Send a visiting card to the Xu Family. I will go over tomorrow morning.”

“Prepare the New Year gifts for the Second Prince’s residence as well. I will go there directly after leaving the Xu Family.”

Thinking that they all had to be sent, she decided to do them together and said: “Auntie Cui Ping, please work a little harder and prepare all the New Year gifts for each household. Let them all be delivered tomorrow.”

In the past few days Auntie Cui Ping had already prepared most of the gifts for each household; now that the Huai River specialties had arrived, adding one or two items to each would suffice. She at once set to work with Chun Yang and Chun Lv. Xin An also roused her spirits; once the gifts were sent out, she would have to start on matters within the estate, and there would be no idleness ahead.

Toward evening Nan Feng came quickly to report that the Grand Matron’s nephew from her maiden family had arrived to deliver New Year gifts to her. She said: “Only two came, the eldest son of the Zhou Family and his son. They have already paid respects to the Grand Matron. The Marquis personally took them to arrange quarters. Madam says there will be a welcome banquet tonight, and asks that Young Madam come then.”

Xin An was not surprised. The Marquisate’s relatives all lived far away; unlike relatives in the capital, they could not come in the morning and leave by evening. It was normal for several guests to stay.

There were no womenfolk this time, though, because the Grand Matron’s maiden family had produced no girls for two generations, so there was no way to bring any even if they wished.

Madam Zhang was irritated. She had originally planned to go out in the next two days to spread ill words about Xin An, but she was also afraid that while she was out, Madam Wang would arrange something and leave her with no advantage. Thinking again of what the girl who delivered the velvet flowers had said today, her dissatisfaction with Tao Yi Ran reached a peak and she felt unwell all over. She grumbled: “They are all so exalted, and only our Wei family are nothing. Can they not stay a few more days before leaving? Leaving on the third day, so early; how am I to choose sons-in-law?”