Chapter 411
“Can I not come back?!” Madam Xiao shook her head disapprovingly.
Qin Jiu blinkingly locked eyes with Gu Zezhi who was outside the carriage.
A line of carriages and horses quickly returned to the Xiao Mansion, and Gu Zezhi personally assisted Madam Xiao and Qin Jiu out of the carriage.
He originally wanted to persuade Madam Xiao to rest early after arriving at their residence, but Madam Xiao was worried. Pointing at the dozen or so carriages she brought back, she ordered the accompanying servants. “Be careful when you move those porcelains, don’t drop them, this will be used as a bridal gift!”
Wang momo hurriedly said. “Don’t worry madam, this servant will watch them! And make sure they handle it gently so it won’t break or fall.”
Gu Zezhi suddenly understood. It turned out that his mother returned from Jiangnan in such a hurry because of his marriage.
His lips curled slightly and a faint smile appeared on his face, revealing a rare hint of shyness and impatience.
Qin Jiu likewise understood, and this made her eyes shine brightly like flowing water while her ears felt hot.
The autumn breeze slowly blew up the purple ribbon of Gu Zezhi’s hair, gently caressing Qin Jiu’s cheek. The girl’s pure white skin exuded a charming pink color.
The clouds stayed still but the wind rose, scattering the petals all over the ground.
After Madam Xiao spent her time in Jiangnan, her spirit improved significantly, as if she had completely recovered from the divorce.
Not only did Gu Zezhi and Qin Jiu think so, but Empress Wei also did. The following day, Madam Xiao handed over the paizi* to enter the palace. Madam Xiao brought tea leaves back from Jiangnan as a gift to the empress.
(*a signed card to enter the emperor’s palace)
“Empress.” Madam Xiao came to the palace this time with hidden agenda, “Xiao Jiu has reached her hairpin ceremony, so I was thinking of holding a wedding for them in two months.”
Originally, the matter about the wedding date should be discussed with Old Madam Qin, but since this marriage was bestowed by the emperor, and Empress Wei was Qin Jiu’s biological aunt, so Madam Xiao went to the palace to discuss this with Empress Wei instead.
Madam Xiao was anxious, after all, Gu Zezhi would turn 21 years old by the end of the year. In contrast, Empress Wei was a little hesitant; as she said, “Two months seems to be a little hasty. It’s already September, so why don’t we set it for next year?”
For Empress Wei, Qin Jiu was only 15 years old and had just returned to the capital for less than a year. Being a daughter-in-law cannot be compared to being at ease with her boudoir, and it would be great if she could spend more time there.
Furthermore, when discussing the date of marriage, she should not easily settle on the wedding date, after all, the bride’s side should appear reserved.
After being refuted by Empress Wei, Madam Xiao was not worried and instead smiled, as she added. “Empress, there is a saying goes, people should go home for New Year, it’s good to have a daughter-in-law in the new year. Two months is indeed too rushed, so how about setting it for the twelfth lunar month?”
Madam Xiao maintained her posture low and smiled all over her face.
In marriage, the woman must carry the marriage, while the man demands*. Therefore, if a woman initially refuses and the man asks again, this only means that the man begs for the woman, which represents the man’s courtesy and etiquette.
(*wedding customs and etiquette)
The Empress acted as if she were pondering before she finally said. “I remember that there are several auspicious days in the twelfth lunar month.”
The two negotiated and set the wedding date on the twelfth lunar month of this year, so it was about three months left, which was neither too long nor too short.
However, for a specific wedding date, Madam Xiao still needs to visit the Marquis Residence to discuss it with Old Madam Qin after leaving the palace.
After discussing this big event, Madam Xiao and Empress Wei were in good moods.
Empress Wei chatted with Madam Xiao, “This empress hasn’t been to Jiangnan for many years now, did you go to Lingyin Temple to pay your respect?” Empress Wei knew that Madam Xiao believed in Buddhism, so she mentioned Lingyin Temple.
“Yes, and I also stayed there for three days to worship Buddha.” Madam Xiao was very excited when she mentioned the Lingyin Temple. “I haven’t been back to Jiangnan for more than 30 years, and it has changed a lot, but Lingyin Temple hasn’t changed that much, it was as if time has stopped there.”
Empress Wei had also been to Lingyin Temple, so she asked about the presiding master, and as the two of them were talking, a palace maid came in and curtsied, “Empress, County Princess Duan Rou and Miss Tang are seeking an audience.”
Empress Wei didn’t even raise her gaze and just faintly said, “This empress has a guest, so I won’t be seeing them.”
The palace maid took the order, but not a moment after she went out; she returned and said tremblingly. “Empress, the county princess said that wangfei once took good care of Miss Tang at the border, so she came here to pay respect to the wangfei.”
Empress Wei’s eyes flashed; this pair of sisters were overly thoughtful. Usually, these kinds of people say one sentence and hide three sentences; in short, they often have several layers of meaning in their sentences.
She turned her head to look at Madam Xiao, who calmly locked eyes with Empress Wei, and the two of them smiled at each other.
“Let them come in.” Empress Wei said.
A moment later, County Princess Duan Rou and Miss Tang came in behind the palace maid. One was dressed in purple, while the other was dressed in green; the former looked noble, while the latter looked graceful, each with its unique characteristics.
The two cousins bowed to Empress Wei before bowing and greeting Madam Xiao.
“Thanking the madam for taking care of me five years ago in the western frontier,” Miss Tang smiled warmly and gently, “My grandmother was from the Ren family in Jiangnan. Five years ago, I went to the western border and wasn’t aware, but when I went back to talk to my mother, I realized that my grandmother was an old acquaintance with the madam. My grandmother’s maiden name was ‘Xuan’, I don’t know if the madam still remembers her?”
“Ren Xuan!” Madam Xiao couldn’t help but be moved and asked, “Your maternal grandmother was from Lin’an and the second child in her family?”
Ren Xuan was Madam Xiao’s good friend, who was two years older than her and married to the Yang family in Sichuan back then. However, they have not seen each other for over thirty years since the other party got married, so she also did not know that Ren Xuan had a daughter who had married the Tang family.
Miss Tang nodded in response, “When I went to Sichuan the year before last, my grandmother also mentioned you, madam, she also showed me a picture of the West Lake in March that the madam painted it has a profound artistic conception which made me sigh in admiration.”
Madam Xiao seemed to recall some past events, and her expressions became softer.
***
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