In the town of Fuchu, something was afoot. The Shi family usually had dinner around the hour of You (5 to 7 PM). As the time approached Shen (close to 5 PM), Jin Gui stood by the bedside and softly woke up Shi Fuxin, also known as Li Wu'ya.
Shi Fuxin took the handkerchief from Jin Gui and wiped her face. Then she asked, "What is my sister doing?"
Jin Gui smiled and replied, "It seems the Third Miss also took a short nap. The Eldest Miss woke up about a quarter of an hour ago. Miss, we are about to have dinner with the Old Madam. Shall I help you with your hair?"
Shi Fuxin nodded and walked over to the dressing table, sitting down and looking at herself in the bronze mirror. She asked, "What hairstyle do you think would look good on me?"
Jin Gui tilted her head, observed Shi Fuxin for a moment, and then said with a smile, "Miss has eyes like apricots and a face like a silver basin."
"Wait a moment."
Shi Fuxin interrupted Jin Gui, "A face like a silver basin, are you saying my face is large?"
Jin Gui chuckled, "Miss's face is not large, it's just that the contours are rounded and soft, complemented by apricot eyes and the dimples at the corner of your mouth. Whenever you smile, your sweet expression is irresistible."
A smile immediately lit up Shi Fuxin's lips. "Is that true?" she asked, then covered her face with her hands and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. "I quite like this face of mine, it's rather cute, isn't it?"
Jin Gui: ...
Encountering a mistress who praised herself was a bit challenging for Jin Gui in terms of responding.
She had initially assumed that the Fourth Master's family, living on the border, would have a somewhat humble and austere demeanor in the face of the wealth and grandeur of the main household. However, watching this young lady immerse herself so deeply in her own beauty, she realized she had been mistaken. Mistaken to an absurd degree!
Having received specialized training in hairstyling, Jin Gui quickly fashioned a single twist bun for Shi Fuxin.
At just eleven years old, Shi Fuxin was still quite young and didn't need to wear too many accessories. Jin Gui used a light blue silk ribbon that matched her dress for adornment.
The ribbon had white pearls dangling from its end, and as Shi Fuxin gently moved her head, the ribbon danced with it.
It was cute and elegant.
Shi Fuxin shook her head, looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror, and sighed, "Everything's good, except that I'm a bit too dark."
Jin Gui: ...
Should she say that her young mistress was overly confident, or should she say that she had remarkable self-awareness?
"Miss, would you like to apply some powder and rouge?" Jin Gui finally managed to speak.
Only then did Shi Fuxin turn her attention to the dressing table.
Her great aunt had thought ahead; the dressing table was equipped with a whole box filled with hairbands, floral ornaments, and beaded flowers. Rouge, powder, and eyebrow pencils were also present in a well-prepared arrangement.
"Do the other young ladies in the mansion also have these items?" Shi Fuxin inquired.
Jin Gui nodded, "Every quarter, the mansion provides the young ladies with new supplies of rouge and powder, along with four sets of new dresses."
"If someone doesn't like these items or they aren't suitable, what happens?" Shi Fuxin asked.
Jin Gui: ...
She pondered whether to say her young mistress was overly confident or just well-aware of herself.
"Miss, you'll have to purchase those items with your own money," Jin Gui replied.
Shi Fuxin picked up a hibiscus flower from the box, "For jewelry, are new pieces made for every young lady each quarter as well?"
Jin Gui shook her head, "For jewelry, only during the New Year. The mansion prepares a set for each young lady."
Shi Fuxin looked surprised, "Only one set? Isn't that too few? We can't possibly wear the same jewelry throughout the year." After all, this was a noble family.
Jin Gui laughed, "The young ladies of the mansion never lack for jewelry. While the mansion's provisions might be limited, the noble ladies usually help each other out."
Speaking of which, thinking about Jin Yue'e's situation, Jin Gui abruptly stopped speaking.
The other madams all brought their dowries into the family, except for Fourth Madam, who seemed not to have any.
"Well, during festivals and special occasions, the Old Madam also provides rewards. And if other families send invitations for the young ladies to visit, the mansion will provide suitable outfits based on the circumstances."
Shi Fuxin nodded in understanding. She grasped the situation: the mansion provided some necessities for the young ladies, but if they wanted something better, they had to purchase it themselves.
The young ladies had no income and mostly relied on their mothers' support.
Shi Fuxin stared at the hairbands and floral ornaments in the makeup box, her eyes sparkling.
For her, growing up on the border, these items were already quite exquisite.
However, exquisite as they were, they didn't hold much value.
A box full of beaded flowers, just one or two pieces of gold and silver jewelry, and as for gemstones, there were none to be seen.
This mansion didn't seem as wealthy and grand as she had imagined. Was it because the Shi family was frugal, or... perhaps the financial situation of the mansion wasn't that good?
Seeing Shi Fuxin's silence, Jin Gui quickly opened the box of powder.
As soon as the box was opened, a strong fragrance wafted out.
"Would you like to try it, Miss?"
When it came to jewelry, Shi Fuxin didn't know much. At most, she could discern what looked good and what didn't. However, when it came to things applied to the skin, that was her expertise.
The scent of this powder was not appealing at all.
"Do the other young ladies in the mansion use this kind of powder and rouge too?" Shi Fuxin asked.
Jin Gui considered for a moment before replying, "This powder and rouge are purchased collectively by the mansion. They are distributed to the young ladies every quarter. As for whether the young ladies use them... the maidservants are not sure."
Shi Fuxin glanced at Jin Gui. From her reaction and words, it was clear that the other young ladies in the mansion didn't use this kind of powder and rouge. Or, to be more precise, the young ladies who didn't lack money and had their mothers' support wouldn't use it.
With that in mind, things became interesting.
What did it imply if the young ladies didn't want to use this powder and rouge?
It meant the quality wasn't good!
If the quality wasn't good, then why did the mansion keep ordering it?
Suddenly, Shi Fuxin felt a sense of unease. Wu Chang Manor was definitely not as glamorous as it appeared on the surface.
"I won't use this powder and rouge. You can deal with them as you see fit," Shi Fuxin said.
Jin Gui was taken aback, surprised by Shi Fuxin's reaction.
Indeed, the rouge and powder provided by the mansion might not be top-notch, but they weren't bad either. The powder shop that the mansion frequently patronized was considered upper-middle class in the capital.
Regardless, the young ladies were esteemed guests of the mansion. The Old Madam and the other senior ladies wouldn't neglect them in terms of their necessities.
Aside from the legitimate daughters who had their mothers' support, almost all the illegitimate daughters in the mansion used the same distributed powder and rouge.
Jin Gui observed Shi Fuxin's expression. It seemed like she was quite disdainful.
This reaction was completely unexpected to Jin Gui.
Logically, a young lady growing up on the border should have considered this kind of rouge and powder to be of the highest quality and should have gladly accepted using it.
Suppressing her confusion, Jin Gui smiled and said, "Miss, with your bright eyes and beautiful teeth, you're radiant even without any cosmetics."
Shi Fuxin smiled, "You have quite a sweet tongue." With that, she stood up and headed for the inner chambers.
Jin Gui signaled for Yuan Bao to tidy up the dressing table and quickly followed.
"Sister!"
As soon as Shi Fuxin entered the room, she spotted Shi Fuyin (formerly known as Li Erlang), who had already finished her makeup.
Compared to Shi Fuxin's childish face, Shi Fuyin's features were more dignified.
Between the two sisters, she bore a greater resemblance to Shi Zhenghe (formerly known as Li Changsen).
At the age of fourteen, Shi Fuyin's body had started to develop. She had her hair styled in a Lily Bun and was wearing an elegant emerald green dress that highlighted her grace and beauty.
"Sister, you look really beautiful!"
Shi Fuxin circled around Shi Fuyin, nodding as she looked and commenting, "Truly worthy of being my sister. Other than being a bit tanned, everything else is top-notch."
Shi Fuyin chuckled at her teasing and grabbed Shi Fuxin's hand, stopping her. "You should calm down. Come, let's see if our parents are ready."
Shi Fuxin nodded and the two sisters walked hand in hand towards the second courtyard.
Jin Gui and the two maidservants of Shi Fuyin quickly followed.
Compared to before, the attitude of the three was significantly more positive.
Wearing a silk dress was the best way to test a young lady's figure and demeanor. Both sisters stood straight, with no hunching or slouching. Once in their dresses, they showed no discomfort or unease, exuding a poised and elegant demeanor.
Indeed, besides their slightly darker skin, both sisters were quite impressive in appearance and demeanor. Most notably, they carried themselves with a grace that surpassed many of the young ladies in the mansion.
Neither sister was as unimpressive as they had imagined. They both had something to look forward to, which naturally made them more proactive.
"Sister, have you named your maidservants? I named mine Jin Gui and Yuan Bao. How about that? Aren't they pleasant and easy to remember?"
Shi Fuyin nodded. "It suits your money-loving temperament."
Shi Fuxin asked, "What are your maidservants named?"
Shi Fuyin replied, "Fu Man and Fu Ying."
Shi Fuxin quipped, "Sister, it seems like you're falling into the 'Fu' trap, just like our big brother."
The sisters both burst into laughter. After all, who could avoid being a little bit excited in their hearts?
In the second courtyard...
Jin Yue'e was still getting ready. Shi Fuxin explored the room and noticed that the mansion had assigned a mother named Zhang to her mother, along with four maidservants who were around seventeen or eighteen years old.
"Mother Zhang used to serve in the Old Madam's residence."
Without waiting for Shi Fuxin to ask, Jin Gui proactively introduced Zhang's background.
"In addition to us serving inside, Yigui Courtyard also has two gatekeepers and two cleaning maids."
"According to the mansion's rules, each main wife should have two mothers, four top-ranked maidservants, four second-ranked maidservants, and four third-ranked maidservants. As for the young ladies, they should have one mother, two top-ranked maidservants, and four second-ranked maidservants."
"However, the Grand Madam considered that if they assigned so many people initially, the young ladies' family might not get used to it. So, they only sent us, and they said they would gradually add more later."
Shi Fuxin nodded. "Aunt-in-law's consideration is really thoughtful." She then turned to Jin Yue'e and asked, "Mother, what about the pouches we sewed earlier?"
Jin Yue'e sat at the dressing table while Zhang was adorning her with headpieces. "Ask your father. The steward from the Shi family came to send a farewell gift, and he took care of it."
Shi Zhenghe (formerly known as Li Changsen) snapped out of his thoughts and took out a bundle from the cabinet. "Here it is."
Shi Fuxin took the bundle and sat down beside Shi Fuyin, opening it up.
Inside were two herbal pillows and several pouches of different sizes.
Jin Yue'e and Shi Fuyin had meticulously sewn these herbal pillows and pouches throughout the journey from the border city to the capital.
The herbs inside the pillows and pouches were provided by Shi Fuxin.
This was their welcoming gift for the Shi family.
The sisters organized the pouches and placed them on a tray, intending to give them to their family members during dinner at Yixiang Hall later.
Meanwhile, the head of the Shi family returned to the estate with a somber expression.
At Yixiang Hall...
Seeing their eldest son return before dinner, the Old Madam Shi displayed a pleased smile.
It was only right that the whole family was gathered for the first meal upon the second son's return.
Observing the troubled look on her eldest son's face, Old Madam Shi inquired, "Governor Huaiyuan went to the Ministry of War. They must be keeping him very busy, right?"
Shi Zhenghe shook his head. "Governor Huaiyuan did go to the Ministry of War, but he left without even drinking a cup of tea or seeing me."
Old Madam Shi looked surprised. "How could that be? Even if he was in a hurry to visit the palace, he should have given face to the Minister of War and had a cup of tea before leaving."
Shi Zhenghe explained, "Governor Huaiyuan was detained on the way by officials from the Court of Judicial Review. It took him a considerable amount of time to report to the Ministry of War, and then he hurried into the palace."
Old Madam Shi's surprise deepened. Even Elder Master Shi looked over. "Officials from the Court of Judicial Review detained Governor Huaiyuan?"
Shi Zhengmao nodded slightly, looking surprised. "Yes, it was indeed the Chief of the Dali Temple who personally came out."
Shi Patriarch furrowed his brows. "Has something happened?"
Shi Zhengmao replied, "I heard that it seems the young master of the Governor of Huaiyuan helped the Dali Temple catch three criminals, so the Chief of the Dali Temple personally went to thank him."
He chuckled sarcastically. "I think the gratitude is fake; it's all about currying favor."
Shi Patriarch scolded his eldest son with a stern look. "Stop saying useless bitter words here. If you had a chance like that, would you miss it?"
This made Shi Zhengmao feel a bit embarrassed, and he fell silent with a somber expression.
Shi Matriarch intervened, "Alright, don't overthink it. If we didn't meet the Governor of Huaiyuan this time, there will be another chance. After all, he's already back in the capital. Are we worried about missing opportunities?"
Shi Zhengmao's expression improved. "Yes, mother."
Shi Matriarch smiled and said, "Later, have a good talk with your fourth sibling. From what I see, you two share similar temperaments."
Shi Zhengmao immediately responded, "It's my fault for not personally welcoming our fourth sibling home. I will apologize to him later."
Shi Matriarch smiled and smoothed things over, "They're all siblings. What's the need for apologies? Just make sure to take care of your fourth sibling. He's new to the capital, and I'm sure he'll need your support."
Shi Zhengmao agreed with a smile.
As mealtime approached, the members of the Shi family began to gather at the Yixiang Hall. The adults engaged in conversation in the main hall, while the children huddled in a corner and chatted.
The discussions on both sides revolved around Shi Zheng and the family of Li Changsen.
"Did you hear? The new sixth sister named her maidservants Jin Gui and Yuan Bao. Hahaha, Jin Yuan Bao. She's really into money, isn't she? It's so tacky."
"The names chosen by the third sister are slightly better—Fu Man and Fu Ying. They're still common, but somewhat more acceptable."
"I hope the four new siblings in our family don't make any big blunders, or we'll be embarrassed as well."
"That's wishful thinking. What kind of big blunders could they even make?"
While they were talking, Shi Zheng arrived with his wife and four children.
Upon entering, Shi Zhengmao approached and engaged in a lengthy conversation with Shi Zheng.
Before the meal was served, Shi Dingxuan saw that the adults and children were seated separately. He took his siblings to another room.
During this time, only the Shi Patriarch took the initiative to talk to them a few times. The others mostly ignored them.
Shi Dingxuan and his siblings remained unfazed, calmly finding their seats. Shi Dingxuan whispered to Shi Fuyin, "Father seems a bit down, doesn't he? Mother is trying to keep up appearances."
"I noticed that too. It's just unavoidable. The gap between our family and the noble family is too vast. Our parents are struggling to adapt."
"Mother might just be struggling, but for Father, this was his home. Now he feels out of place here. He must be feeling awful."
"Thankfully, that son from the Li family didn't come. Otherwise, I'd feel awful too."
"Ah."
Shi Dingxuan and Shi Fuyin continued their hushed conversation, while Shi Fuxin and Shi Dinghao roamed freely around.
"Hey, don't touch or move things randomly. That's an imported glass crystal ball, quite expensive, and we only have one at home."
A chubby boy, about the same age as Shi Fuxin and Shi Dinghao, suddenly stood up and loudly stopped Shi Dinghao from touching.
Shi Dinghao hadn't intended to touch it, but upon hearing this, he felt provoked. He looked at the others' disapproving gazes and his anger flared, "I'm going to touch it."
Seeing Shi Dinghao pick up the crystal ball the size of a small orange, the chubby boy widened his eyes, anxiously saying, "Put it down quickly."
Shi Dinghao retorted, "I won't." With that, he tossed the crystal ball into the air, using his index finger to make it spin.
"You..."
The chubby boy was both angry and anxious, fearing Shi Dinghao might break the crystal ball.
There was no screen between the main hall and the side hall, so when the chubby boy spoke up, the adults noticed the commotion.
Seeing Shi Dinghao confidently spinning the crystal ball and switching hands fluidly, some were angry, while others were surprised.
Shi Patriarch's wife, the Seventh Lady of the Shi family, was angry. The elder Shi Patriarch and the old Shi Master, however, both skilled in martial arts, noticed how precisely Shi Dinghao controlled the force.
Just as the Seventh Lady was about to speak up, Shi Dingxuan stood up and swiftly walked over, grabbing the crystal ball from his brother's hand.
After returning the crystal ball, Shi Fuxin was seen with a folding fan, expertly twirling it. Shi Dingxuan reached out, grasped the handle skillfully, and took the fan from his sister.
"Find a seat and sit down. Don't mess around."
Shi Fuxin and Shi Dinghao rolled their eyes, not saying anything, and went to sit down at the lower end of the table.
Observing this scene, the elder Shi Patriarch's eyes gleamed. He was pleasantly surprised to find that Wulang and Jiulang seemed to possess genuine martial skills.