At the mansion near Chaoyangmen, things were lively and bustling.
Everyone was gathered around the table drinking Laba porridge.
Following the principle of silence while eating and sleeping.
After Yuan Shi finished her Laba porridge, she set down her spoon and praised it repeatedly with a smile. “No wonder Mother is so reluctant to leave. Fourth Sister-in-law’s Laba porridge is truly delicious—not only sweet and glutinous, but sweet without being cloying. I wonder how Fourth Sister-in-law made it. Someday you should instruct the kitchen matrons at Xinglin Alley.”
Zhou Shaojin also set down her bowl and said gently, “This isn’t anything difficult. Elder Sister-in-law can have that matron come find Biyu anytime—Biyu is managing the kitchen affairs now!”
She wasn’t a kitchen matron herself—why should she deal with the kitchen matrons from Xinglin Alley?
Zhou Shaojin deflected the request with subtle firmness.
Old Madam Guo’s eyes flickered briefly, but she said nothing.
Qiu Shi lowered her head in silence.
Yuan Shi was secretly astonished.
She hadn’t expected that Zhou Shaojin, who appeared so gentle and weak, actually had a needle hidden in silk wadding. Originally intending to suppress her somewhat, she had ultimately been outmaneuvered instead.
They really had interacted too little in the past!
Yuan Shi reflected, putting away her casual disdain. Knowing her words and actions today had been inferior, she tried to salvage the situation with a smile. “That’s even better. I’ll have the kitchen matron from Xinglin Alley come find Biyu, come here to learn some skills secretly, and make a few dishes Mother enjoys.”
As she spoke, her gaze fell on Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo smiled without speaking.
She knew what Yuan Shi had come for.
With the New Year approaching, she had come to take her back to Xinglin Alley.
Otherwise, when relatives and friends came to pay New Year visits, where would her face be?
Old Madam Guo slowly took another sip of porridge before saying, “At my age, I’m reluctant to change. The dishes I like, back and forth, are just those few. There’s no need for such trouble.”
The implication being: you’re the eldest daughter-in-law, married into the Cheng family for so many years, yet you don’t even know what your mother-in-law likes to eat—how have you been showing filial piety?
Yuan Shi’s face paled slightly.
Qiu Shi couldn’t bear to watch. After thinking for a moment, she tried to smooth things over with a laugh. “Mother, hasn’t A’Sheng’s Laba porridge arrived yet? That girl knows how to sweet-talk people. She said the other day she would personally make Laba porridge and send it over, but there’s still no sign of her…”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t like Yuan Shi, but she didn’t want to make things difficult for Qiu Shi, who had always been kind to her. She smiled and responded, “I’ll have Chun Wan go check. Perhaps someone has already arrived and is still at the gate.”
Before her words had finished, a little maid came running in, breathing heavily.
“Old Madam, Fourth Madam.” She looked so anxious she was nearly in tears. “A eunuch from the palace has come to deliver an edict, saying the palace will be bestowing Laba porridge shortly, and that the Empress specifically named Old Madam to receive it…”
Old Madam Guo’s expression darkened.
This was the problem with a newly established household—the maids and matrons had all seen nothing of the world. Even the smallest matter could send them into a panic.
Zhou Shaojin felt it too.
Before Old Madam Guo could speak, she said sternly, “Old Madam and I are both at home—what are you panicking about? Stand properly, catch your breath, and speak clearly!”
Seeing that the people seated in the room remained perfectly still, the maid’s anxious heart finally settled. She took several deep breaths and clearly recounted the entire matter again.
Yuan Shi’s heart surged with shock and turmoil.
Every Laba Festival, the Emperor would send eunuchs to deliver Laba porridge to important ministers at court.
Cheng Jing of the Cheng family was a Grand Secretariat minister living at Xinglin Alley, so the porridge was sent to Xinglin Alley.
Now the Inner Palace had specially sent down an edict to deliver Laba porridge to Old Madam Guo… which meant Old Madam Guo was receiving her own special honor.
But when had the old lady registered with the Empress?
In the early years when she had married in, the old lady had never entered the palace except for the grand court assembly on the first day of the month. Even when she did enter the palace, she would go and return quickly, never lingering in the inner quarters. How was it that now… after not entering the capital for over a decade, just a few months after arriving she could be remembered by the Empress… Most critically, she worried that with this special honor, Old Madam Guo would be even more demanding of her, and might even affect Cheng Jing’s opinion of her through her influence on him!
Yuan Shi’s heart filled with anxiety and unease, but her face remained impassive as she stood and smiled, instructing Nanny Shi who was attending nearby, “Quickly prepare the incense table and red envelopes to receive the edict.”
The incense table was used for receiving edicts, while the red envelopes were for rewarding the eunuchs delivering the Laba porridge.
But no one in the room moved.
Old Madam Guo lowered her eyelids.
The maids looked at Zhou Shaojin.
Qiu Shi anxiously tugged at Yuan Shi’s sleeve.
This was Chaoyangmen, not Xinglin Alley.
Yuan Shi belatedly realized.
Then she was submerged by a tide of anger.
She was the eldest daughter-in-law of this family, the principal wife of the Cheng household. Did she not even have the right to speak on such matters?
What did Zhou Shaojin understand?
She was helping Zhou Shaojin!
How could her mother-in-law accuse her of overstepping!
The more Yuan Shi thought about it, the angrier she became, until even her fingertips began trembling.