The Hexagram of Stripping (剥卦) - Lower Middle Hexagram
Chapter 23, Hexagram 23 (Stripping) - Lower Middle Hexagram - Summoning to the Palace
At this moment, the white plum blossoms in Qu Shen Courtyard were in full bloom. Du Shi and Rong Yan laid out a mat under the plum tree, and had several layers of licorice-woven mats placed on top of the mat.
The mother and daughter were enjoying the beautiful scenery and chatting.
Madam Du said with a double meaning, "Your eldest sister was taught a lesson by the princess this time. I've noticed that the courtyard has been unusually quiet these past few days. I think you should pay more attention. I see that Madam Wang has changed her opinion of you a lot. You should fight for things when necessary. Look at your eldest sister, she's been vying for control of the household affairs. Your mother-in-law has never liked her. I think you have a great chance."
Rong Yan raised an eyebrow, then listened as Madam Du continued, "Originally, Xie Zhezhi didn't plan to marry so soon, after all, it's only been a year since his wife passed away. I only heard from the nanny in your mother-in-law's room that your eldest sister's younger brother-in-law saw her naked while she was wet, so he had no choice but to marry her. Your mother-in-law even went to investigate and found out that she was the most talented woman in Wu County before she reluctantly agreed. In my opinion, if you show off your talents in front of her, wouldn't you outshine your eldest sister in no time?"
Rong Yan shook his head. "What others think is their business. Living for other people's opinions is exhausting. Besides, what's the point of comparing? I showed off my skills not to gain my mother-in-law's favor. Managing the household is not as good as living comfortably."
She dislikes trouble and being busy because of what others think. All she wants in life is to be a carefree, laid-back person.
Just as Madam Du was about to continue speaking, Granny Li came running hurriedly into the courtyard from afar.
She rushed in, glanced at Madam Du, and tried to find an excuse to leave, but Rong Yan stopped her.
“Granny Li? Madam Du is an important elder of mine, so there’s no need to hide anything from her.”
After hearing her words, she seemed somewhat surprised that the two of them had come together.
“Young Madam, your mother has arrived. I was listening in. She intends to arrange a concubine for the eldest son, although the Lady of the Marquis turned it down. However, because she knows some medicine, the Lady of the Marquis is staying at the Marquis's residence and will be going to Qu Shen Courtyard tonight. I think that since the young madam has just become a wife and is well-versed in Taoist temples, there are some things we should be wary of.”
Du Chunhong was somewhat surprised. Granny Li was an old servant in the mansion and, moreover, a person of the Marquis's wife. Her daughter had only been married into the family for a short time, yet she had already won over Granny Li!
Hearing that Duan was so inhumane, she was so angry that her cheeks burned.
Rong Yan: ?
Duan is ostensibly Rong Yan's adoptive mother. Although she is an illegitimate daughter, she was in a hurry to choose a concubine for her only a few days after her marriage. Even if she was in a hurry, she shouldn't have acted so irrationally.
Her actions will likely draw gossip from the wealthy women.
"What trick is she up to now?"
"I don't know what tricks they're playing, but it's obvious they're trying to make you unhappy." Du Chunhong was a little angry, and her face was not good either.
Granny Li pondered for a moment, "Such an obvious method, could it be just to warn the young mistress?"
Rong Yan glanced at Granny Li and smiled, "I think Granny is absolutely right. Then let's just accept those two maids who know about pharmacology."
"What?!"
Du Chunhong and Granny Li were both taken aback. Granny Li had come specifically to inform her, hoping she would quickly come up with a solution and not just sit and wait for her fate.
And then, she actually welcomed us in quite openly!
“No, if she can get two maids in this time, she can give you four concubines next time.” Du Chunhong frowned and shook her head.
“Yes, young mistress, shouldn’t you reconsider? This is clearly an attempt to establish your authority. Even the common people on the street know that you didn’t go home on your return day. Madam Duan may be using this to put you in a bad light. If you back down, there might be more trouble in the future.”
Rong Yan lowered his head and took a sip of fragrant tea, smiling brightly and confidently, "Not at all. If I refuse this time, I will definitely find a way to get it in later. It's better to keep it under my nose; that would give me peace of mind."
Duan thought she would mind, thought she would be disgusted.
However, she overestimated her feelings for her eldest son and her obsession with the position of the eldest daughter-in-law.
What does it matter to her what the eldest son is like?
As long as no one disturbs her peaceful life, she will let her be.
The reason Madam Duan was so eager to send two maids in was probably because she was afraid that the Lady of the Marquis would allow the princess to enter the mansion. In that case, Rong Shu would have no place in the inner quarters of the household in the future.
Du Chunhong: "I think you still need to keep an eye on those two maids and make sure they don't cause any 'life' to be lost."
Rong Yan chuckled dryly, "Auntie, with his health like that, what are you thinking?"
Du Chunhong looked at her with an expression that suggested she completely misunderstood men, but Rong Yan pretended not to notice.
That was not her concern.
Once the vegetarian restaurant opens for business, it will need to obtain a personal identification card. The local street office has been slow to respond, so it's unlikely that the card will be issued easily.
These obstacles all involve interpersonal relationships and social niceties, which require some skill and diplomacy.
It's understandable that she, a young lady from a humble background, lacked a distinguished business reputation, which made things difficult for others. It was better not to discuss this trouble with Madam Du.
The two drank tea for a while longer before she escorted them back to their courtyard.
When she returned to the courtyard, the Marquis of Runan's mansion was so large that she took a wrong turn and had to go around to the other side to get back.
Just a wall away from where they had been drinking tea, she saw Xie Chengzhi leaning against the same white plum tree, his expression indifferent, stroking a zither, but not playing any music.
Rong Yan blushed. Just now, when they were talking about concubines, was she mocking him for being "impotent"?
He probably didn't hear it, right? Otherwise, given his vindictive nature, he would have jumped over the wall right then and there to embarrass himself, wouldn't he?
Rong Yan stood under the eaves for a while, and seeing that he hadn't noticed her, she quietly returned to the courtyard.
"Young Madam."
Rong Yan had just sat down to rest when Chunlan, the head maid under her mother-in-law, arrived.
She bowed to her respectfully, and Rong Yan was not surprised to see her.
"Young Madam, Consort Rong has sent a letter from the palace, requesting that you come to the palace tomorrow."
Rong Yan: ?!
Chunlan, as expected of the head maid of the mansion, was well-mannered and quick-witted. Without Rongyan asking, she took the initiative to say, "Consort Rong is a good friend of the late Empress Wang. She said she wants to meet you. Since the palace is going to hold a Hundred Flowers Banquet, she sent someone to summon you to the palace tomorrow. The Lady of the Marquis said that she was afraid you would not know the rules of the palace, so Mama Fang will come over to teach you later."
The summons came both quickly and at the perfect time. Rong Yan thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
Chunlan seemed to think Rong Yan was too calm, so she whispered, "Consort Rong has another identity; she is the birth mother of Princess Yongqing."
Rong Yan: ...
It seems they've come looking for trouble.
Aunt Fang arrived early; Chunlan had just left when she came right after.
After giving her a proper bow, Madam Fang said with a smile, "Young Madam, this old servant has come on the orders of the Lady of the Marquis to teach you the etiquette for entering the palace. This old servant is not very talented, but I once served Consort Derong in the palace, so only this old servant is suitable to teach you. If there is anything improper, please forgive me."
"Once you enter the palace, do not chat idly with anyone. This is a capital offense, and I hope you will keep it in mind, young mistress. Also, when you see noble people in the palace, you must bow. When you see Consort Rong’s palace, you must kneel first. If you encounter the Emperor, do not look up at him."
She listened attentively to what Madam Fang said, and finally got up, took off a thin jade bracelet from her wrist, and handed it to Granny Li.
“Mother Fang, thank you for your guidance since I came to live with you. This is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it.”
Rong Yan sat upright at the table, her clothes not fancy, but her words were spoken with composure and manners, revealing a hint of the aura of a matriarch, which startled Madam Fang for a long time.
Although she was only polite to Rong Yan on the surface, after all, there was only one mistress in a mansion, and she only respected the Lady of the Marquis. She still remembered the things Rong Yan had taught her.
However, entering the palace is a big deal. If she doesn't teach her properly, she might be the one sold off.
She could clearly distinguish which was more important and which was less important.
"This...this won't do. This old servant is only doing his duty and cannot accept the young mistress's reward."
Seeing that Madam Fang was somewhat wary of her, Rong Yan didn't say anything more and took back the bracelet.
After Mrs. Fang left, he was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.
"That was close. I almost fell for this young mistress's trap. If I had taken it, I wouldn't have been able to explain it to the Lady of the Marquis. It would have been really inappropriate to do this for such a petty gain."
Madam Fang was overthinking things. Rong Yan only wanted to reward her because she told him the truth, but she was mistaken for bait to lure her into a trap.
Instead, they were judging others by their own standards.
At the appointed time, around 3 PM, Rong Yan's mother came to invite her to the banquet.
Today is another grand feast, and it seems it's been a long time since we've dined together. As the new bride, I have no choice but to attend. Rong Yan changed into the pale yellow jacket that Hua Li handed her. This jacket had a copper coin sewn onto the back as a button, a custom for new brides.
She washed her hair in the afternoon, and left it loose while it was still wet. By sheer coincidence, it got caught on something.
She tried to pull it out several times but couldn't. "Huali, can you help me get my hair out?"
After a long while, Huali finally put her things down from the chaise lounge and came over to help her.
"Ouch, your hands are so cold."
As Huali's fingertips held her hair, they touched her neck, making her shiver from the cold.
Huali didn't speak either. She had been eating too many roasted longans these past few days, and her voice was even rougher than the servants in the mansion. After being laughed at a few times by the foreign envoys in the courtyard, she stopped speaking.
Because Rong Yan disliked the coldness of her fingers, the person behind her obviously became more cautious in their movements.
She tried to untangle it a few times but couldn't; it was clearly tangled. After trying to untangle it for a while without success, Rong Yan got a little tired of standing and, worried that everyone would be waiting too long, said, "Bring some scissors and cut the hair off."
Huali was quite unusual; with a burst of brute force, she snapped the rope holding the copper coins. Her hair came loose, and the copper coins on her body rolled to the ground with a crisp sound.
She turned her head in surprise and said, "How do you have such strength...?"
When she turned around, the person she faced was not Huali, but Xie Chengzhi, the one who should have been holding a zither under the white plum tree.
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