Zhou Shaojin suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and followed Nanny Shi forward. A young maid dressed in a crimson vest with pale green piping came over with a smile. “Nanny Shi, you’re back!”
She curtsied to Old Madam Guan and Zhou Shaojin. “Old Madam! Second Young Miss!”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t recognize her. Seeing that she was only fourteen or fifteen years old, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, her eyes sparkling with laughter, fresh and charming, quite outstanding, she couldn’t help but take a few extra looks.
Old Madam Guan was clearly familiar with this young girl and smiled. “Zhenzhu, we haven’t seen each other for some time. You’ve become even more beautiful.”
“I dare not accept Old Madam’s praise,” the maid called Zhenzhu said with a smile. “The Old Madam is waiting for Second Young Miss. I didn’t expect that you would come as well, Old Madam…”
Before she could finish her sentence, another maid walked over.
She wore a light blue plain Hangzhou silk vest, was seventeen or eighteen years old, with an oval face and willow-leaf eyebrows. Her jet-black hair was styled in a coiled bun, adorned with a gold-inlaid hibiscus stone apricot flower hairpin. Her smile was gentle and her manner dignified, completely different from Zhenzhu in every way.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but wonder silently.
What did the other maids in Old Madam Guo’s quarters look like?
“Old Madam!” She performed a curtsy to Old Madam Guan and said, “Our Old Madam didn’t expect you to come in person. If there were any lapses in courtesy, please be forgiving, Old Madam.”
“So it’s Biyu!” Old Madam Guan laughed a few times and said, “I came uninvited, so what does it have to do with your Old Madam? Quickly get up, no need for excessive courtesy.”
The maid called Biyu stood up with a smile and said, “Old Madam, our Old Madam requests that you first go to the hall for tea.”
Old Madam Guan nodded and said to Zhou Shaojin, “This is Biyu, a maid by the Old Madam’s side. You’ll inevitably need to trouble her in the future.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and addressed her as “Miss Biyu.”
A flash of surprise crossed Biyu’s eyes. She quickly curtsied and said, “Second Young Miss honors this servant too much.”
Her tone was very modest, making Zhou Shaojin feel favorably disposed toward her.
The group continued forward.
At the end of the covered walkway was a two-story building with five bays. The walls were pure white, the window frames and door panels were vermilion red, covered with tender yellow gauze. In front of the door was a grape trellis, with blue and white porcelain large vats placed on either side—one cultivating water lilies, the other raising ornamental carp. It was very imposing yet refined.
A maid wearing a lilac-colored vest with bean-green piping appeared to lift the curtain for them.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin notice that Old Madam Guo’s quarters had already changed to bamboo curtains.
The slightly yellowed bamboo curtain had purple spots—clearly a Xiangfei bamboo curtain of some age. And the corner ornaments were actually two emerald jadeite lions playing with embroidered balls, each the size of an infant’s fist!
The bright green jadeite was of excellent quality, the exquisite carving lifelike. Not only were the lions’ playful expressions clearly visible, but even the auspicious flower patterns on the embroidered balls they held could be seen distinctly.
Zhou Shaojin was shocked.
In her previous life, during the first year after she married into the Lin family, for her mother-in-law’s birthday, she had specially gone to the capital’s largest silver shop, Yongfusheng, wanting to order a decorative piece for her mother-in-law. After picking and choosing for half the day, she had finally selected a piece of jadeite about the size of these lion-and-ball ornaments, with water quality not as good as these, and it had cost nearly two hundred taels of silver…
Everyone said the Third Branch was wealthy, but she had never seen such extravagance as the First Branch.
No wonder when people spoke in front of Old Madam Guo, they would consciously or unconsciously lower their voices.
Zhenzhu lifted the curtain ahead. Zhou Shaojin followed Old Madam Guan into the hall.
But before everyone had steadied themselves, Old Madam Guo, supported by a maid wearing a lilac-colored plain vest with multicolored piping, walked in from behind the central hall.
Zhou Shaojin saw that this maid was about the same age as Biyu, but had long eyebrows and delicate features, skin as white as snow, and a gentle temperament—another kind of beauty. She couldn’t help but silently praise in her heart.
This Old Madam Guo was truly interesting.
She was stern as a person, and her residence was solemn, yet the maids around her were each charming in their own way, like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with their own merits worth praising.
Over there, Old Madam Yuan had already begun exchanging pleasantries with Old Madam Zhuang: “…I didn’t expect you would come. Don’t leave at noon, stay here for the midday meal.”
“Wonderful!” Old Madam Guan said with a smile, appearing very familiar with Old Madam Guo. “Last time I had honey-glazed squab at your place, I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Today I can taste it again.”
“Don’t worry!” Old Madam Guo said with a smile. “Today there’s not only honey-glazed squab, but also the crispy lamb ribs you love, and hot-and-sour soup.”
Upon hearing this, Biyu seemed about to speak but stopped herself.
Old Madam Guan smiled at her and said, “We two have finally met, so don’t worry about all that. If the Jing First Madam blames you later, just say it was I who wanted to eat it!”
It was nearly summer now. Honey-glazed squab was a sweet dish, lamb ribs had a strong flavor, and hot-and-sour soup had too pungent a taste. Even the Fourth Branch wouldn’t easily make these three dishes for Old Madam Guan, let alone the First Branch.
Being able to manage Old Madam Guo’s diet, she must be one of the most senior maids at Cold Jade Retreat.
Biyu smiled with pursed lips and served them as they sat down.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was worried about the midday meal.
She wondered if she would encounter Yuan Shi, who might come to serve her mother-in-law during the meal.
A maid wearing a deep purple plain vest led several younger maids to serve them tea and refreshments.
This maid had thick eyebrows and large eyes, smiling before speaking, appearing lively and quick-witted—also an outstanding figure.
Having already seen Zhenzhu, Biyu, and the maid in lilac clothing, Zhou Shaojin was no longer surprised and was less curious.
After the two elderly ladies finished talking, she stepped forward to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo looked her over and revealed a kind smile.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know where she had gained Old Madam Guo’s approval. She could only stand there with a reserved smile.
Old Madam Guo asked her, “What sutras do you usually read?”
People who didn’t understand Buddhist teachings would typically choose to read the “Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sutra,” after which they would follow their trusted Chan masters and choose to read either the “Infinite Life Sutra” or the “Amitabha Sutra,” the “Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Vows and Practices,” and other sutras. Only when one’s understanding of Buddhist principles had advanced considerably would one read the “Shurangama Sutra,” and only after understanding the “Shurangama Sutra” could one read the “Lotus Sutra” and the “Diamond Sutra.”
Considering her actual situation, Zhou Shaojin cautiously said, “I usually enjoy reading the ‘Amitabha Sutra.'”