Next day, Madame Wei was dressed to greet her in-laws. Lin dressed her in yellow with silver brocade clothing. Tied her hair and pinned red silk flowers around the hair bun, along with gold dangling hairpins and pearl embellishments on the hair. Gold long earring with rectangular shaped red jade, dropping from the earring. And red jade small tear drops on a gold chain and two gold bangles. She looked rich and like the Madame of the General.
The three left for the main mansion from reflection mansion. Fei and Lin, both carried boxes in their hands. Gifts for each member of the Xu family. Wei first went to Prime Minister Xu's study, where they encountered house In-charge Yi on the deck outside the study.
House In-charge Yi : "Madame what brings you here?"
"House In-charge Yi, I wasn't able to give gifts to the members of the family on the first day as a bride. Well…You are aware of the events of that day. So let's not concern with it, I just wished to give my gifts now, not knowing if its alright for me to come by?" Wei inclined a suggestion
Wei's speech may sound confusing but the indication was clear. On their first day as bride after the tea ceremony, there being one seat less at the breakfast table, and her sister orchestrating the idea of Wei not being present. The elders of the family neither protested nor asked Wei to stay, they just went back to reflection mansion and never stepped out since that day. House In-charge Yi understood, that Madame Wei felt that her presence was unwanted, therefore never came by the house since that incident.
House In-charge Yi : "My lady you are always welcome to come to the main house. There is no restrictions in your movement within the house. I apologise for the turn of events. If it has made my lady thing she is not welcomed here, I am due an apologise, most sincerely."
House In-charge Yi, does know how to talk upright and well, a pure gentlemen and at his work. "Its alright now, I'm here to adhere to formalities despite the tardiness," said Madame Wei.
House In-charge Yi : "Not at all my lady, but I'm afraid sir isn't here right now he is in court."
Wei was aware about Prime Minister Xu was at court. She purposely came by the house at this time to avoid him. She wasn't very fond of the man and somehow he felt like a troublesome figure to deal with, best to avoid him.
Madame Wei : "Then I shall hand over the gift to you."
Wei took one of the boxes from Fei and opened to reveal a set of two red ceramics cups with lid and saucer. Exquisite pieces with gold gilded bamboo shoot designs on them. Yi could tell the value of this piece, he knew that his master will appreciate this good piece of ceramics.
House In-charge Yi : "Thank you Madame Wei, sir will really appreciate these beautiful tea cups." Wei smiles in acknowledgement. That is when House In-charge Yi said something that made Wei realise the reason behind her mistreatment. "Has the lady received your allowance?" Said House In-charge Yi. Wei's right eyebrow raised subtlety. Madame Wei : "House In-charge Yi, how much allowance was I allotted?"
House In-charge Yi : "Madame is it laking, then I'll inform Madame Xu to raise it."
Madame Wei : "No there is no need but how much was it?"
House In-charge Yi : "Replying to Madame, it is was 300 silver coins and 2 silk caddies every month. When the season changes animal fur clothing for the winters and firewood. And a part of any gifts that come to Xu residence. Madame, is there anything more you wish to have?"
Madame Wei : "No House Incharge Yi that will be all
I thank you for your work.
House In-charge Yi : "It's my duty. I shall take my leave then." House In-charge Yi left the three on the deck, carrying the gift box into Prime Minister Xu's study.
Fu Lin : "Madame, we haven't received the allowance."
Madame Wei : "This subornation is happening without the knowledge of Madame Xu and House In-charge Yi. Let's go see those two eager queens that are taking our allowance." They left for the main kitchen to see kitchen duties incharge and the store room incharge. The first one to react abnormally was indeed incharge of kitchen duties. "Madame what are you doing here?" She asked with authority.
Madame Wei : "I'm here to look for the chef."
Incharge of kitchen duties : "Madame there is no need."
Fu Lin : "Who are you to stop Madame. Are you restricting her? Strange I don't remember Madame not allowed to enter the kitchen!"
Incharge of kitchen duties : "No Madame I did no such thing. I…"
A maid had rushed in to bring the chef, he steps in "I am the chef madame you called?"
Madame Wei : "Yes. I am here to thank you for preparing my meals. They have been delicious. May I know what was I served last night for dinner?" It was a strange question, no one understood why Madame would ask a question like that. If she had the dinner then why would she ask what was the menu, this question was to stupefy everyone present there.
Chef : "Madame?… That... There was wild vegetable soup, crab dumpling, sweet and sour carp, assorted bamboo shoot, fish porridge and chestnut cake for dessert and fruit tea. We were informed that Madame likes sweet food therefore fruit tea was served. Was there anything that was not to your liking Madame?"
Madame Wei : "You did wonderful chef, it all sounds so delicious, no wonder it never reached the reflection mansion and was emptied in between."
Madame it is an accusation.
Madame Wei : "Oh but its a mere speculation?"
Your servants took the boxes they must have ate it.
Madame Wei : "Did you see my servants taking the boxes chef?
No madame they haven't come to the kitchen in two days
Madame Wei : "Then how do you claim that they came to fetch my meals?"
Madame I handed them the food boxes.
Madame Wei : "Is it now hmm alright I believe."
After a while Wei spoke "But chef last night's dinner was poorly done, crab dumpling were not stuffed fully, crap fish did not have good flavouring, porridge was too clumpy, and the chestnut cake was to drying."
Incharge of kitchen duties : "No Madame, the carb dumpling was soupy and fleshy, crap had refreshing flavours. Porridge was not clumpy and the chestnut cake was sweet and moist! It is a waste to let you have good food."
Aide Fei : "How would you know what the meal tasted like?"
Fu Lin : "Were you given the food to taste or you stole it?"
Incharge of kitchen duties : "Madame are you blaming the Xu house of stealing, your servants of reflection mansion must have stolen the food!"
Madame Wei : "I'm blaming the servant of stealing."
Incharge of kitchen duties : "No Madame you are creating a rift between the Xu family! You are upset about your treatment, your sister is loved here while you are rotting in that deserted mansion."
Fei raged and went for his sword, when Lin stopped him by placing her hand firmly on his hand that was ready to unsheathe the sword.
Madame Wei : "You. I need to make one thing clear.
I AM the bride of the Xu family. There was never a distinction between me and the Xu family yet you divide, under whose authority?"
Incharge of kitchen duties : "I misspoke."
Incharge of the store room rushed in the scene, so We took this opportunity to drill into their minds against their corrupt ways.
Madame Wei : "Now, the two of you are here I wanted to inform you both. Subornation is bad especially when you two do things under your master's nose. I am aware that the allowance for the reflection mansion, two silk caddies and the meals, you both looted it."
Incharge of the store room : "Madame…!"
Madame Wei : "I did not give you permission to speak."
"You can steal all you want, you will face it's consequences. I'll leave you at it. And chef, all the dishes you had mentioned sounded delicious sadly I never got to eat them. I extend my gratitude to the kitchen for your service. From now own do not prepare any meals for the reflection mansion, I have informed this now to everyone here. I'll take my leave." Everyone was stunned they did not speak a word. Except for one muddlehead, "Madame do not act so high and mighty, I am the nanny of the young master! Even if this was informed to them they will not fire me." Said Incharge of the store room.
Madame Wei : "You've worked here long enough, then i do not need to make you understand this situation. Yet you have indeed become old and disoriented. If you haven't noticed nanny, your young master has grown into an adult. You cannot milk them in that sentiments. Think. Between tarnishing the Xu family reputation and ensuring your safety which will they choose?" And Wei left, with that thought for the nanny to ponder upon.
From the main kitchen Wei's next stop was at the Madame's chambers. Her chambers was spaces with an open deck to receive guest. Wei entered the structure greeted Madame Xu
Madame Xu : "My maid informed me about your trip today. I've asked them to prepare tea and some pastries. Come sit, I hope these are to your liking." There were five assortments of pastry, different flavours and different colours. The maid poured tea fro Wei and Madame Xu.
Wei : "Thank you Madame. My visit here is to give presents that I was unable to give earlier. Here Madame, I hope this is to your liking." Wei takes the box from Fu Lin and opened it to show her gift for Madame Xu. It was a pure white jade hairpin craved to shape like an orchid flower. It looked so lifelike that once wore it would look like a white orchid is been placed in the hair. Madame Xu had a hobby of cultivating orchids she had an orchid garden filled with several varieties of it. This was a befitting present.
The scene that unfold at the kitchen premises, reached House incharge Yi's hears and he was on his way to inform Madame Xu. At a distance, he saw Madame Xu and Lady Wei, already at the table having tea. So he just stood at the side without interrupting. Wei had a feeling Madame was already aware of the situation. She had prepared pastry for tea, that means her maid was present at the time when Wei visited the kitchen. Therefore Wei spoke clearing the matter with Madame Xu.
Wei : "Madame I have something to discuss with you."
Madame Xu : "Go ahead."
Wei : "I wish to not receive meals from the main kitchen."
Madame Xu : "Why is that!?"
Indeed this remark was not suspected. Madame thought that Wei was here to inform her about the mistreatment demand justice for herself, and compensate this affair. But she never would have imagined that Wei would not want to punish the maids but also not want meals from the kitchen.
Wei : "I'll like to have a kitchen of my own. I do have a very peculiar taste therefore it is better to have a fully functional kitchen at the reflection mansion."
Madame Xu : "Why didn't you say about the kitchen duties incharge?"
Wei : "How much does Madame know about it?
of a say I have in it?
Madame Xu : "All."
Wei : "Do I dominance over this situation?"
Madame Xu : "Yes."
Wei : "Since the Madame is well informed. This situation happened behind your back. I do not to wish to engage directly in this. If Madame can so permit, I wish to no longer continue the allowance."
Madame Xu : "You do not want the allowance!?"
Wei : "No Madame, reflection mansion can sustain itself. I have understood that reflection mansion was never under your care, and it's sole responsibility was of the general's. Therefore I wish to continue that, reflection mansion being independent. If madame allows."
Madame thought for a while, she was begging to wrap her head around Wei's thought process. Madame Xu agreed, "As you wish… I was truly, taken aback by your response to be independent. Does that mean you won't have anything to do with the Xu family and will not fulfil your duties as the bride of the Xu family?" Asked Madame Xu.
Wei : "Madame I am married into the Xu family, I will adhere to my responsibility as the bride of the Xu family, while actively making reflection mansion function independently."
Madame Xu : "Alright since there was lack of proper administration on my end, let me correct it. Take these for yourself." Madame gave two silk caddies with orchid brocade over it. It was a wonder in its weave and colours. One was little pink with lavender shade orchid flowers and silver branches and the other was royal blue with silver orchid flowers and branches."
Wei : "Thank you Madame I appreciate this present. I shall take my leave."
Madame Xu : "House incharge Yi please escort General's wife."
House in charge Yi escorts Wei, they are in the courtyard walking, when Wei halted to give Yi another box for delivery. "House incharge Yi, please give this to my brother-in-law," said Wei.
House in charge Yi : "My Lady, why don't you visit your sister's mansion and give this to yourself?"
Wei : "That won't be necessary, given her personality we will have a bittersweet conservation and the gift will suffer. It is better I entrust this with you."
House in charge Yi : "Sure, my Lady." Yi escorted Wei all the way to Matron Xu's chambers and left from there back to Madame Xu.
House in charge Yi : "Madame Xu, what you think of Lady Wei?"
Madame Xu : "Sophisticated, elegant and knows how to be in power and avoid unnecessary brawl. I initially thought she was being a coward but then I realised that to her the allowance and the silk was nothing of value. She values her dignity over others therefore she did not ask for her share. She simply did not give them the means to steal from her anymore. Very dignified, worthy of praise. If she were married into the palace she would have raised in ranks to empress. Yi punish the offenders."
House in charge Yi : "Yes Madame."
Madame Xu : "I do not want to hear a single noise about the matter, make it go away as quietly as possible."
House in charge Yi : "Yes Madame… Madame, do you think she will be able to look after the house?"
Madame Xu : "Yes off course, she wouldn't have made that decision otherwise. In this house I handle the management but, if the reflection mansion becomes independent then she becomes the one incharge of management. As a newly wed bride gaining the management of the household from in-laws is as difficult as war itself. She's lucky in that sense, while her sister has to prove herself worthy of taking over the Xu mansion."