Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 101 - 1: Yang Liu Leaves the Residence

Entering November, the temperature in the Capital dropped suddenly, but fortunately, the household had already prepared winter clothes.

However, once it got cold, Princess Consort Xi bestowed some clothes and jewelry again, saying it was to add a piece of clothing for her nieces and nephews’ wives.

On this day, the Old Madam gave the young ladies a half-day off, invited the Heir’s wife, and asked them to choose what they liked. Besides the gifts from the Lady, there were also items drawn by Susu from the storeroom on the Old Madam’s orders. The table in the parlor was covered with dozens of bolts of fabric.

The Heir’s wife entered with her maid and saw a room full of young ladies, vibrant like flowers. After greeting the Old Madam, she laughed and said, "I almost thought I walked into the fabled Turquoise Pool, surrounded by fairies everywhere. My eyes were nearly dazzled."

Fourth Miss pulled the Heir’s wife to sit down and said, "As the saying goes, if you’re not family, you don’t enter the same house. By calling us fairies, Sister-in-law is praising herself."

The Old Madam, seeing the harmonious relationship between the sisters-in-law, was naturally pleased and said to Third Miss, "Quick, see if they drank honey water? How can their words be so sweet!"

Third Miss really went up exaggeratedly to sniff and wondered, "How did Grandmother know? There really is a scent of osmanthus honey!" This made everyone in the room burst into laughter.

The Heir’s wife laughed and said, "In the future, I dare not sneak a taste, otherwise Third Miss will detect it with just a sniff. This morning, I drank a cup of osmanthus nectar given by Grandmother."

Since the clothes were to be made for the young ladies and this new bride, the fabrics were naturally in various bright colors.

As the guests, Miss Sun and Miss Zhao were allowed to choose first. After much courtesy, Miss Sun chose a peach-pink Shu brocade and a sapphire blue embroidered satin; Miss Zhao chose a lotus-colored cloud brocade and a bright pink glittering satin.

Then, according to seniority, the Heir’s wife chose first. She selected a bolt of crimson Kesi and a cherry-red feather silk.

Next were the six young ladies of the household, with the youngest, Seventh Miss, selecting first.

Even though Seventh Miss had been trained by a governess for two months, she was still raised by the First Madam for five years, who was very frugal. Although for reputation’s sake, she wasn’t treated as harshly as Fourth Miss, she wasn’t much better off, which made her rather short-sighted—liking everything she saw as good, unable to decide.

The Heir’s wife laughed and said, "Little Sister Seven looks best in red. I think that crimson ’carp playing with lotus’ gold brocade and this scarlet Shu brocade are excellent. I also have some furs; later, I’ll have someone send them over to make a fine cloak with this Shu brocade!"

Seventh Miss, thrilled to hear she could get some furs for free, quickly nodded, "Sister-in-law chose well, then I’ll have these two! Thank you, Big Sister-in-law." The Eldest Young Madam smiled, saying nothing.

Then Sixth Miss and the other five young ladies also chose what they liked, with Fifth Miss typically picking the plainest moon-white and light purple colors, which the Old Madam pretended not to notice.

Seeing everything was chosen, a few bolts remained. The Old Madam said, "Don’t put them away yet. Give that bolt of crimson feather silk to Yang Liu. As for the rest, Susu, you cut them into pieces enough to make a jacket or a skirt and reward them to the first-class maids in the house, just like the Lady in the palace has rewarded them."

Ning Cui, the most mischievous, noticing Yang Liu’s slightly flushed face, tugged on the Old Madam’s sleeve and said, "Old Madam plays favorites with Yang Liu but not with us." The Old Madam laughed, "You’ll get one too once you settle your marriage." This embarrassed Yang Liu, who wanted to tear Ning Cui’s mouth.

The Heir’s wife and the young ladies then learned that Yang Liu would be going home to prepare for her wedding in a few days.

The Old Madam naturally gave Yang Liu more than a single bolt of satin as a dowry. Ning Cui’s revelation was for Yang Liu’s honor, not out of greed, but because having gifts from the masters was a sign of dignity.

The Heir’s wife laughed, "All those around Grandmother are excellent. I haven’t even gotten enough time with Yang Liu, and now she’s leaving! I must also add to her dowry." Yang Liu, face red, thanked the Heir’s wife.

Several young ladies also instructed their maids to prepare a few items as part of Yang Liu’s dowry.

Sixth Miss remarked, "No wonder my mother came this time with a large box for Sister Yang Liu, saying that the gifts from Sister Bisi are inside, too. So, Sister Yang Liu is getting married." Then she sighed, "Another pearl turning into a fish’s eye." This remark was both amusing and bewildering to others.

The Eldest Young Madam, having witnessed some of this young sister-in-law’s peculiarities recently, could only sigh that were she a boy, she’d surely be a charming and passionate type, but alas, she was a girl, which was both laughable and vexing.

The Old Madam also felt that this granddaughter had been born into the wrong role, scolding with a smile, "I think you want to copy books again! All this talk of pearls and fish’s eyes, say any more nonsense, and see if I don’t punish you."

Sixth Miss giggled, "Pearls are pretty, fish eyes are tasty, both are good, both are good!"

After having lunch together, everyone dispersed, leaving only four senior maids and Nanny Qin with the Old Madam in the main room of Sui’an Hall.

Moving to the East Warm Pavilion, the Old Madam said, "The day after tomorrow, Yang Liu goes home. Although it’s just on the back street, having settled her marriage, and with embroidery for her dowry yet to be done, it’s not good for her to leave home again. Tomorrow, I’ll give the money and you prepare two tables of food at your place, inviting some close people. Consider it a farewell."

Yang Liu, hearing this, teared up. The Old Madam sighed at the sight, "You’ve all been with me since you were little. Bisi didn’t join us from Yangzhou, but hearing from your Third Madam, she’s doing quite well, so I’m relieved! Yang Liu marries to Tongzhou, just twenty miles from the Capital, come back if you miss us, and do not bottle up any grievances. Though your groom’s family has only one son, there are plenty of uncles and brothers, and a mother-in-law and grandma-in-law as well. Be mindful of everything."

Yang Liu nodded, choking up, "Don’t worry, Old Madam, I surely won’t bring you disgrace."

The Old Madam patted her, "Dry those tears; I don’t like gloomy feelings."

Susu quickly added, "Sister, don’t worry, when you come back, I won’t deny you entry. Just don’t be like water thrown away, forgetting which side the doors of Sui’an Hall open to."

Yang Liu laughed through her tears, "You little rascal, I’ll have my turn to tease you."

Crying and laughing, it was soon the day for Yang Liu to leave the manor. Each household master sent something to add to her dowry; even the First and Second Madams, for appearance’s sake, gifted a hundred taels of silver and two golden hairpins. Gifts from the Cousins were plenty too, and coupled with those from familiar maids and old women, the Old Madam’s preparations and Yang Liu’s own possessions, there were two to three dozen large redwood chests.

What the Old Madam openly gave was identical to what she gave Bisi, but in private was a silver note for three thousand taels, and she also started overseeing marriage talks for Ning Cui’s parents, simply giving her three thousand taels beforehand, knowing it wouldn’t be long before she left as well.

Susu, Ning Cui, and Yun Duo added to Yang Liu’s dowry; Yun Duo couldn’t compare in wealth to Susu and Ning Cui, but with support from Nanny Qin, it was still proper.

As Yang Liu’s home was on the back street, Susu and the others could visit freely during breaks, unlike Bisi’s, which was far emotional.

Once Yang Liu returned home, Sui’an Hall promoted the second-class maid Ming Xiang to first-class, filling the vacancies in the second and third class. Except for the Old Madam occasionally calling for Yang Liu and then remembering she had gone home, everything was largely unchanged.