Wei entered Matron, Prime Minister Xu's mother and Madame Xu's mother-in-law's chambers. When Matron saw Wei approaching, she mocked Wei, "Come in, it took you so long to come and greet your elders," while shaking her head in disbelief.
Wei : "Yes I'm sorry for my tardiness."
Matron : "Despite how things went down on the first day, you should put aside your pride and behave as the bride.
Wei : "I understand, Matron give me guidance as I'm inexperienced."
Matron : "You should greet your elders in the morning everyday." Matron immediately changed, as she was still not ready to accept Wei. "But since you no longer eat with us and you haven't done this formalities since you've been married to Xu family I see no need for you to start now." To Matron, Lu Wei was an illegitimate daughter of the Lu family, this misconception was never corrected. She did not think highly of her, and neither her husband had her respect. To her the pair was despicable.
Wei : "Then I shall follow as matron says."
Matron : "When an elder indicates something you should do it anyway instead of agreeing, you must work hard for approval."
Matron did not expect Wei to agree into not greeting elder just because Matron passed a sarcastic comment. Wei was simply build different. She did not held much regard to peoples comments, and her actions were never to please or dispose anyone. She made her path, based on her comfort, and never did other people's bidding. Wei has always avoided too much public interaction, because they then to control your life. Like how Mei gives too much importance to what the other young girls will thing of her clothing, or how everyone puts a front to avoid being gossiped. Wei just simply did not involve herself in major circles, kept to herself to avoid friction. If her parents were alive maybe Wei would not have been an asocial. She would have grown to be a social butterfly loved by all, but form a very young age she learned to keep to one's self, that help does not come and you are always on your own.
Wei : "Matron my approval is based on your likeness. Indeed my duties were stranded from the first day and that I did not work to mend things. Therefore I ask Matron to accept my forgiveness, if you could accept this."
Wei takes the last box from Lin, and places it on the table for Matron to open. The box was placed vertically on the table, with two doors with knobs. Matron opened the door panel, it was a wooden shrine, and the deity enshrined was Bodhisattva Guan Yin, with several hands, each holding an attribute or in a particular hand posturers (mudra). The deity was seated on a blossoming lotus, the face was made of gold, with such delicacy, and the rest of the body was wood in polychrome.
Matron was instantly pleased with this gift. "You know how to please, you know exactly what to gift others." Said Matron as she continues, "I can see that your a person who understands people and a good judge of character. How do you know what to present with people?
Wei : "I only gift what I would like to receive myself, if the gift does not pleases me, then the other person may not like it as well. I'd be a hypocrite."
Matron : "That is true very well."
There was silence, Matron did not speak, and Wei does not know how to hold a conversation. Matron could see she was awkward and therefore decided to tell her to leave.
Matron : "You should take your leave."
Wei : "Yes, Matron." Seeing Wei do so poorly in a social setting, Matron already made a judgement in her mind. Compared to her, Mei was better, she knew how to speak, please someone with speech, she was likeable. Meanwhile Wei was dull.
"You do not need to come to greet me, from now on." Matron said that to avoid Wei's inability to socialise.
"I see, as Matron says," said Wei. Wei and her servants left.
"This lady was advised by you, to do the opposite to please you yet she did not pay heed," said the maidservant of Matron."
"Maybe the Lady did it on purpose," said another maid.
Matron : "Yes she did. She knows she's not favoured because her husband is also secluded in this mansion. I can understand acting in favour of her husband's status within this household. In a high society setting, among the aristocrats she will not be able to hold her ground."
It was evening, the dinner was set at the main hall of the Xu residence. Prime Minister and Chancellor were back from court. At the dinning table, Matron noticed Xu Jin's hairpin.
Matron : "Jin'er, that is a lovely hairpin."
Xu Jin : "Thank you mother, it was Wei's gift."
Matron : "I see she made her rounds."
Xu Jin ; "What did you receive mother?"
Matron : "A Guan Yin shrine, come to my chambers later on to see it. It is a very divine looking piece."
Xu Jin : "Yes mother. My Lord what did you receive?"
Prime Minister Xu took his time to answer, "Red ceramics cups."
House incharge Yi : "It was red with gold gilded bamboo shoots on it."
broke the silence by bring up the topic of Wei's visit.
Matron At the dinner table of what a beautiful hairpin wei gave it I received a beauty shrine what dis my lord receive
Xu Jin : "My Lord, Isn't it the piece you always wanted? Don't you have the a tea pot with similar design, and could not complete the set without the tea cups. The set is now complete."
"Yes, I was surprised how accurately she present the set i was trying to complete for five years." The tea set was made by Master Lin of the previous dynasty. His works are now antiquity and hold a greater status. The tea cup was procured in a bid by Prime Minister Xu. But without the same motif tea cups, the tea pot was meaningless.
While they were discussing the Master Lin's works, Mei kept thinking how Wei upstaged her. She had presented her father-in-law with a silk calligraphy scroll, calligraphy set, and jade work, Her mother-in-law was given, two gold bangles, three silk caddies, and a pearl coronet, yet nothing was worn by her till date, and she wore Wei's hairpin happily. Matron received jade ruyi sceptre (wish granting sceptre, for decorative purpose, symbolises good fortune), and tea caddies. They never discussed Wei's gifts this enthusiastically. Mei kept silent, at the table.
Xu Da : "Yi was i not given a present?" The question made Mei tense.
House Incharge Yi : "Master, I have placed your present at you study." Later, after the dinner, Xu Da went into his study to look for his present from sister-in-law. The he had earlier arrived here he did not see anything new at the table, so when everyone at the table were discussing their presents, Xu Da was suspicious. Now he was certain, he could not find the present in his study, so he stormed to Wei's chambers.
"My Lord why re you here?" Asked Mei sweetly, thinking she was to serve her husband today.
"Where is it?" Asked Xu Da sternly.
Mei : "What is it my Lord?"
Xu Da : "My present from sister-in-law."
"I do not know house incharge Yi must have misplaced it." Mei stuck to lying through her teeth.
"Mei, I do not like people meddling with my things. I am making myself clear. Hand it over," Xu Da sounded threatening, his gaze was not what Mei saw on their wedding night. She saw his gaze become scary and cold. Mei went towards her bed and from under the pillow she took out a box and gave it to Xu Da.
Immediately Xu Da changed his facade. He held Mei by the waist, with his other hand, and brought Mei close to him.
"Mei, do not enter my study in the future, I do not like people touching my things. There will be no next time. You don't want us to have misunderstanding, right?" Xu Da spoke with husky voice, seducing Mei into submission.
Mei nodded her like a timid sheep, in front of a wolf. And abruptly left Mei. Mei was stunned and stood there transfixed not knowing what caused the sudden change. Xu Da stride to his study, sat at the table to open the present. It was calligraphy set. Unlike most set, it body was wood with decorative and with soft brushes. With inkstone, craved inkstick; ceramic brusher washer, water dropper, and brush stand, all shaped like leaves. It was truly a work of art. Xu Da smile wickedly. He was impressed with his sister-in-law's taste.