It was the time to visit the maiden house with the grooms after marriage, a tradition. Since Wei's husband is out on the battle field she was to accompany her sister and her husband. Fei had gone to arrange a lavish carriage for Madame Wei to visit her maiden home. Lin had readied the items to take back to maiden house.When Wei asked "Lin have you kept the phoenix hair pin?"
"Yes Madame," Lin replied. The phoenix hairpin was gold jewellery, Wei wore on her wedding day. But her sister Mei had ripped it off her head and stomped it into pieces. This hairpin belonged to her aunt Wei's mother, Lu Hua. Wei had asked Lin to collect all the pieces and the next day send her to have it fixed. Today she will return it back to Madame Lu. Lin had made extra efforts in dressing Wei, she wanted her to look like she was doing well in her in-laws, better than at the time when Wei was at the Lu residence. Wei was dressed in red clothing, under an off white overcoat, embroidered with red camellia flowers. The hair had gold and pearl embellishments along with silk red flower arrangement around the bun. Gold and red jade drop earring, along with similar arrangement necklace and red jade bangles. The shoes were white with beautiful red camellia flowers embroidered on them.
Fei : "Madame the carriage is ready."
Wei : "What about my sister and brother-in-law?"
"They are not yet out but their carriage is ready out front." Replied Fei. Wei along with her entourage left the reflection mansion for Xu mansion to greet her in-laws before leaving for maiden house. Fei went along the carriage to the front gate of Xu residence.
Madame Xu and house incharge Yi were already at the door post and Matron Xu at the pavilion. Wei went to greet Matron Xu first and then headed over to the door pots.
Wei : "Mother-in-law, Wei greets you."
Madame Xu : "Dear, all set to visit your maiden house?"
Wei : "Yes Madame." Wei greets house incharge Yi as well, which he responds with how much Prime Minister Xu was happy with her present.
House incharge Yi : "Young master and his wife are here."
Xu Da and Mei were approaching the door post, Mei looked ravishing in her clothing. She always liked loud clothes, she wore red garments with royal blue overcoat and her hair tied at height decorated with so much gold one could not see her hair. But for some reason she held a bitter facial expression. Xu Da was also brisk walking in front of her, maybe something happened between them, though Wei to herself.
Xu Da : "Greets mother and sister-in-law." A sour faced Mei stands next her husband. "Greetings Mother-in-law." Said Mei, to which Xu Da nudges Mei indicating to greet Wei as well. "And sister-in-law," came out of Mei's mouth unpleasantly.
Madame Xu : "Why the withered face Mei?"
Mei : "I could not complete dressing up."
Xu Da : "If, I were to let you finish, we'd be here until noon."
Madame Xu : "Now, you are going to your bride's maiden house you cannot have her go there with such saddened expression, they would think we bullied her. Get your maid to complete you dressing up in the carriage, on your way to Lu residence."
Mei : "Thank you mother-in-law."
Xu Da : "What's more to dress up? Wei sister-in-law you look lovely, and you are dressed modestly, and in time."
Wei just smiled without a change in expression neither spoke a word regarding this matter.
Madame Xu spoke before Mei could say anything, "Now a women has loads to do, you won't understand. Prepare to leave, abroad the carriage both of you."
The two bickering couple stepped inside their carriage along with Wei's maid with a jewellery and make box in her hand to finish her lady's dress up. Wei bows and takes leave from Madame Xu. With help of Fei, she enters the carriage and they set off to the Lu residence.
At the Lu residence, Madame had everything prepared for her daughter's return. Court Historian Lu took a day off, to receive his son-in-law. The two stood at the door post of the Lu residence with anticipation of the arrival of their guests. Two carriages following an entourage of gifts arrived at the door post of the Lu's. Mei's carriage was followed by Wei's.
Traditionally the visit to maiden house was done the week after the wedding itself, but due to the battle at the Juyong Pass and a they riot happening in the southern regions, the court had been busy therefore Chancellor Xu Da was not free for tis ritual. Today he was able to make time to complete this ritual.
Lu Ke happily greets his son-in-law greedily, while Lu Hua hugs her daughter affectionately. Wei steps down the carriage escorted by her maid Lin, and followed by General's aide Fei. She greets the members of the Lu family formally like a stranger would, "Greetings to aunt and uncle." Xu Da's ears twitched, the entire Xu family was under the impression that Wei was an illegitimate daughter of the Lu family, however this misunderstanding was now cleared. Somehow Xu Da felt he was lied to. While this unfolds in front, Fei couldn't help but feel animosity, and no warmth between Lu family and Wei. He kept his suspicious up the entire visit, carefully being observant of his Madame's life at her maiden home.
The newly weds were guided to the main hall, for tea and snacks. Lu Hua had prepared everything of her daughter's favourite, while she chatted happily with her daughter about her well being. Lu Ke engaged in a political conversation with his chancellor son-in-law. Wei sat there silently sipping her tea. Suddenly Lu Hua suggested Mei to take her husband to her chambers to show around. Lu Ke also followed them around. Wei took this opportunity, in the absence of Mei, Xu Da and her uncle, to give back the hairpin.
Wei : "Madame Lu, here this is your hairpin, I got it fixed, thank you for letting me wear it."
Madame Lu Hua did not expect to see the broken bridal hairpin that she wore for her wedding, to be pieced back together. She was pleased. "How is you stay at the Xu residence?"
Wei : "It is going well, Madame, I got to renovate General's mansion."
Madame Lu: "General trust you with it? Madame Xu did not say anything?"
Wei : "No, she allowed me with any pretences, and yes, General trusts me to handle the household."
Madame Lu : "That is good, been nice to your in-laws," With that Lu Hua gets up and leaves the main hall to check on the lunch arrangements.
"Madame is your relationship with your aunt and uncle not on good terms? And where are your parents?" asked a curious Fei, Lin hit his hand signalling not to question it. But Wei answered anyway, without hiding any details.
"No, uncle and aunt and I do not get along, that well, And my parents are no longer with me, My father died when I was eight, that's how my mother and I ended up staying with my uncle and after that my mother died at twelve." Said Wei with a very hard to ready expression, she had remorse, yet a blank expression, as if she was completely numb towards any pain.
"Sorry Madame for my insensitive questioning," said an apologetic and guilty Fei
"It is alright you would have known sooner or later. I did not wish to hide these details from you," respond a stone cold Wei.
Fei : "Madame since it will be sometime for them to return for lunch, why don't we go vista your chambers?"
Wei froze, she did not know what to say, she thought for a while before responding, "I do not feel like revisiting my old room, Lin why don't you take Fei for a tour. I'll wait here." Lin did not speak anything, she understood that her Madame was clearing living in a void, and that space was just an empty dark room, that she had no intention of reminiscing. Lin guided Fei to Wei's previous quarters. While stayed back drink tea, staring into the abyss. If her parents saw her now they would, shed tears from the sky, flooding lands, for their daughter's pain.
In was time for lunch and everyone returned at the main hall where was already seated. Lu Hua had the maids serve all of Wei's favourite dishes. Wolf berry herbal soup, spicy fried shrimp, assorted greens, seasoned taro, braised lamb, sweet and sour pork, rice, mixed noodles, shredded chicken and bean curd. They had prepared quite a variety, Wei's favourites and also to accommodate her husbands taste. Lu Hua and Lu Ke were both filling up Wei's and Xu Da's bowls, when Lu Hua noticed that Wei's male servant had a displeased expression. So she took a piece of the braised lamb placed in Wei's bowl, "Wei here stake this and also try the shrimp." Wei smiled and accepted it. Fei took the plate of spicy fried shrimp and took few pieces of it on a separated plate. Lin took the plate from him and deskilled the shrimp and placed in front of Wei. Mei seeing this commented, "My sister, cannot eat shrimp? she needs a man to do her work." Fei was about to speak a word before Lin pulled him with a tug to conduct himself.
Wei : "You are right when my sister is here, why should the aide bother, with it." Wei raised her bowl towards Mei, Mei had to bite her tongue to contain herself, she was trying to deskill a shrimp, when Xu Da offered to do it and served Wei. This snapped Mei, "Can't get your husband to do it!?" Said a bitter Mei. Lu Hua with increased decibel in her voice corrected her daughter. "Mei, don't speak like that!" After which everyone ate slowly before, Lu Ke again started talking politics with his son-in-law.
In the late afternoon the newly weds left the Lu residence. As soon they reached Xu residence, Xu Da rushed to his chambers with his wife on he trail. He sat at the table, when Mei served tea, "What is it husband?"
Xu Da speaks furiously, "What is your father trying to achieve? With his credentials he is already working high up." Under his breath his whispers, 'has the audacity to ask me to recommend him to be crown prince tutor.'
Mei : "I do not know what you to talked but surely it may not be so bad, you can surely assist father in the court, could you please."
Xu Da didn't wish to discuss this further, so he changed topic, "I'll see what I can do, that aside, Lu Wei is not your sister?"
Mei : "What has she to do in this conversation!"
Xu Da : "Mei, I do not want you to talk to me like that, your actions were so ill-mannered at the dinning table today, just because I assisted your sister."
Mei : "SHE IS NOT MY SISTER!"
Xu Da : "Do…Not… Raise… Your… Voice, at me! If you will continue to behave this poorly, I will never take you to any socialite and royal events as my wife." This was enough to turn Mei into obedience, She married up so her lifestyle status improved. She could attend events and tea parties with the elite ladies of the influential houses, and could also get to attend royal events, in the palace. Therefore she had to be on her husband's good side.
Meanwhile at the Reflection mansion, Fei was throwing a fit at the well, where Lin was doing laundry.
Fei : "What kind of a household was it!? Not one dish they served was to Madame's liking. I have been with Madame for two months now and even I know Madame does not eat shelled shrimp!"
Lin : "Is that why your so upset? Use your rage to fetch water from the well."
Fei : "Are you listening to what I am saying? Why was Madame living in such a room, it was no better then a storage room. How could they mistreat General's wife like that!"
Lin : "Madame was not General's wife at the time. And you, don't act like this in front of Madame, it will upset her. Whatever you want to know ask me. I'll try to answer as honestly as possible."