"Madam, the master has sent someone to ask whether lunch will be served in the front hall or the back courtyard."
Wang Ma stood to the side, her head bowed and her attitude as respectful as could be.
Ji Meiniang ignored them, focusing only on Xiang Wan: "Wan'er, how are you feeling? After you take your medicine, get a good night's sleep. Don't go anywhere today. I'll take care of everything. Don't worry about those irrelevant people."
Ji Meiniang's voice wasn't quiet, and Xiao Liu, the servant waiting outside for a reply, heard it and his face fell. He had been certain he would bring the madam over. Now, the madam seemed still angry; how was he going to explain himself when he returned?
Just as they were struggling with this dilemma, they heard the voice from inside again, "Mother, I'm not made of tofu. I've been lying here all morning and I'm much better now. Father specially sent someone to invite me over, how can we put him in a difficult position? I'll change my clothes now and go to the front hall with you, Mother."
Ji Meiniang couldn't refuse Xiang Wan, so she nodded to Wang Ma and went out to report back.
At fifteen, she was in the prime of her youth, and even without much makeup or dressing up, her bright jade-green shirt over her pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) was still a sight to behold.
It's springtime, and the weather is still chilly despite the warming trend. The flowers and trees in the south are already bursting with spring's vitality. Along the gravel path, peach blossoms are in full bloom, but not a single patch of green is visible; it's as if all the spring's essence has been given to the flower buds, while the tender branches have been forgotten.
Xiang Wan wore thick-soled, warm embroidered shoes, held a hand warmer in her hands, her delicate chin wrapped in a snow-white mink collar, and her clear eyes looked around as if she couldn't get enough of the peach blossoms in the courtyard.
The girl's loose hair was tied in a bun on one side, secured only by a single delicate white jade hairpin, which only accentuated the fact that her hair was as black as ink, giving her a serene and peaceful appearance.
Ji Meiniang walked to one side and saw a peach blossom in full bloom. Without saying a word, she reached out and broke off a branch, then tucked it into Xiang Wan's hair.
"Mother, what are you doing?" Xiang Wan asked reproachfully.
She disliked all these fancy things. If it weren't for her status, she wouldn't even bother with her hair up; a simple ponytail would suffice. Why waste time on these useless things?
“My daughter naturally deserves the most beautiful things in the world.” Ji Meiniang said, looking Xiang Wan up and down with satisfaction. “The peach blossoms are in full bloom, and Wan’er has grown up. I wonder if there will be another chance for your mother to arrange flowers for you personally in the future.”
"Mother is still young, let me help you pick a flower too. Pluck flowers while they bloom, don't waste your precious youth."
"Forget it, Mother is the head of the household. What would it look like if she wore peach blossoms? Hurry up and go, or the flowers will wither."
The mother and daughter chatted and joked their way to the front hall, where they immediately saw Yuan Xiqing, dressed in a stunningly beautiful manner, leading Cao Ruwan to sit on a chair to the side. Cao Xinqian sat at the head of the table, holding Yuan Xiqing's hand and looking at Cao Ruwan with a loving expression. No matter how you looked at them, they seemed like a real family, while Xiang Wan and Ji Meiniang were merely outsiders.
Upon reaching the door, Ji Meiniang did not step inside immediately. She gestured with her eyes, and Wang Ma, standing to the side, called out towards the front hall, "Madam, Miss has arrived!"
Cao Xinqian casually withdrew his hand, turned his head and saw Ji Meiniang. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Why is it so late? The auspicious time is almost over."
"What's wrong? Are you worried about your little flower waiting?" Ji Meiniang said.
"Ji Meiniang!"
Cao Xinqian was somewhat annoyed. His wife, who was known for her good manners and etiquette, was showing him no respect. How could he save face like this?
Seeing Xiang Wan standing silently to one side, head bowed, not even offering any words of comfort to her mother, Cao Xinqian was filled with rage. Then, looking at Xiang Wan's dazzling girlish attire, compared to his own Ruwan, they were worlds apart, and Cao Xinqian felt even more guilty towards Ruwan. They were both his daughters, yet the difference was so vast. He vowed to make it up to his second daughter from now on.
"Xiang Wan, you're feeling better now, you should have come sooner. As the eldest daughter of the Cao family, you should be reasonable and know how to behave. We've all been waiting for you for so long, and you haven't even apologized. Where has your manners gone?"
Very well, to start attacking her daughter, who just fell into the water and hasn't fully recovered, right after walking in the door is what a father should do?
Just as Ji Meiniang was about to speak, Xiang Wan tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to calm down. Then, she stood before the hall and said loudly, “Father, I have been taught since childhood and naturally know propriety, righteousness, integrity, and filial piety. Therefore, even if I am too sick to get out of bed, I will not use that as an excuse to refuse your summons. But, who are you referring to when you say ‘we’? In my heart, our family consists of Father, Mother, and me, as well as the uncles and elders in our clan, and my maternal grandparents who protect me. I truly do not know what I have done wrong to deserve such a reprimand from Father.”
News of her falling into the water might not have spread immediately. But the servants in the manor all knew that she was bedridden from the shock and needed a doctor. Her father, knowing his daughter was ill, didn't try to visit and comfort her; instead, he immediately berated her for her lack of manners. Whom was she supposed to be polite to? A concubine who wasn't even listed in the family register? Even the head mistress hadn't acknowledged her—she was an outsider. Only someone like Cao Xinqian would scold his own daughter for an outsider.
Cao Xinqian's face was rather unpleasant. Being publicly accused by his own daughter of disregarding propriety and shame by bringing a mistress into the mansion, and then being reprimanded by her despite her illness, instantly caused any trace of remorse he had for Xiang Wan to vanish, and he even felt disgusted with her.
Ji Meiniang's eyes were full of smiles. Her daughter was naturally on her side, and she was so good at talking. How could she not be happy?
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