Chapter 163 – Plum-Blossom Viewing
Gu Xi lightly smiled and didn’t reply – she had said everything she needed, and the rest, it was someone else’s turn.
For instance, this second young lady, who seemed proud and haughty, was in fact nothing more than a little girl spoiled by her family. Her feelings and emotions were written all over her face, easily letting people read her with one glance. Clearly, she was not as intelligent as the eccentric-looking fourth young lady.
Really, all the Pei family’s young ladies were so naive, which surprised her.
Perhaps it was because they were in this small city of Lin’an?
Gu Xi and Second Miss slowly walked towards the area where she lived.
Second young miss, however, bit her lip and frowned.
No, she had to find a way to figure out how Lady Yu entered and left the Pei Mansion so easily.
There were too far many people in Lin’an city who wanted to fawn on and flatter the Pei family, and she didn’t like the idea of someone using the Pei family’s name as a stepping stone to fulfil their own personal interests.
However, Gu Xi was a guest and a first-time acquaintance, so she couldn’t say anything in front of Gu Xi, but as soon as Gu Xi went back to the inner room to change, she couldn’t hold back from ordering the auntie who took care of her since she was a child to check Yu Tang’s background.
The auntie couldn’t help but frown and said: ”Second Miss, that’s a matter for the patriarch house to handle. if you don’t like her, you only have to respond with a few polite words when necessary. Why bother to get yourself involved in such murky waters? Besides, you will soon be married. After marriage, you will be living with the in-laws, and you will need the help of your maiden family to support you. If some unsavoury news were to spread, it will also affect your position with your in-laws. It’s best to forget this matter!”
The second young lady refused to comply and retorted, “I’m simply upset that someone is using our Pei family as a stepping stone! I only want to know the root cause of the matter. Grandmother also taught us, we should not be gossipy women but neither should we be clueless fools. That Lady Yu is not simple. She’s been able to obtain Grandmother’s favour at every opportunity. This is not something that ordinary people can achieve.”
That auntie had no choice but to comply with her instruction, but still repeatedly urged her, “No matter what information I find, you’ll have to keep it to yourself.”
Second Miss impatiently waved her hand, and her serving auntie retreated.
As for Gu Xi who was in the inner room, while adjusting her bodice in front of the mirror, she had He Xiang keep an eye on second young miss’s attendants. She whispered to her, “Act with caution. We are still outsiders, after all.”
It wasn’t the first time for He Xiang to handle such matters. She smiled and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I know what to do. Leaving aside the second young lady’s people, even the fourth young lady’s people, I’ve also sent someone to keep an eye on them, and I wouldn’t let the Pei family discover it.”
Gu Xi nodded with satisfaction before asking, “Do we have enough silver to use?”
This time, she only brought along two or three close attendants. If she wanted to know the happenings around her, she had to use power or bribery to persuade the servants of the Pei residence to do her bidding. However, after living in the Pei Residence over the past few days, they realized that the Pei family seemed to have no one to take charge of the internal domestic affairs as a result of Grand Madam’s widowhood and the loss of the patriarch’s position of the eldest house. However, far from getting chaotic, the Pei family’s domestic household affairs was not the least bit disorganized. They didn’t dare to approach those well-respected serving aunties and maids and could only buy off some lower grade serving aunties and maids and then deduce what exactly was going on in through their observations.
He Xiang grinned. ”Enough. We still have over one hundred and fifty taels of silver left!”
Gu Xi winced in pain over the monetary loss.
Before her elder brother left Hangzhou City, he left her with paper checks amounting to a thousand taels of silver. This time, when she came to Lin’an, she expected that she would need to use some silver, so she had someone exchange some for three hundred taels and brought them with her here. In just a few days, one hundred and fifty taels had already disappeared, and she hadn’t even used them on the right people yet.
But this was also something that can’t be helped; they had no one to help them here!
Gu Xi then asked, “Do you know why Eldest Madam had Mrs. Shen help her deliver a letter?”
Hexiang furtively looked around, after checking that everyone was busy with their own duties, she whispered to Gu Xi, “She said that she had something to request of her mother’s sister-in-law, and she asked Mrs. Shen to deliver the letter in fear of incurring Grand Madam’s displeasure.”
Gu Xi raised an eyebrow.
Could it be that she had some bad blood with her mother-in-law?
No, if it was to complain, it should be complaining about Pei Yan, her youngest brother-in-law.
However, was it Pei Yan who usurped the patriarch position or was it Grand Elder’s favouritism? This matter had to be investigated clearly.
She didn’t want to marry someone who was spoken of badly and couldn’t even sit firmly on his patriarch seat!
Gu Xi said to He Xiang, “Bring some pastries over. I’ll go and greet Mrs. Shen before accompanying Second Miss and have a chat.”
It was unknown why her brother thought of Mrs. Shen. This Mrs. Shen, was an odd one. She didn’t like having a lot of silver or gold, neither did she like socializing, rather, she only liked having a good reputation. As long as she hinted that a matter involved her reputation, she immediately succumbed. It was both pitiful and ridiculous to watch.
I wonder what method Eldest Madam used to convince Mrs. Shen?
Shen Shanyan was also quite pitiful, having married such a wife. Luckily he wasn’t involved in the fighting within officialdom, otherwise what kind of trouble this Mrs. Shen would cause, no one could imagine!
Hexiang complied and left.
Gu Xi looked at the beautiful girl reflected in the mirror who was plainly dressed but had a touch of elegance from the exquisite and delicate jewellery adorned on her and laughed.
The person in the mirror laughed along with her.
Only then was she satisfied to leave the inner room.
Probably for the convenience of viewing the plum-blossoms, the warm pavilion of Pei Family Residence was built in the plum forest at the back of the mountain.
Sitting in the pavilion with the furnace burning, enjoying the refreshing white tea while looking at the starry-red plum-blossoms, and breathing in the faint fragrance of the plum-blossoms, the life of a fairy would be just like this.
Third young lady was the first to raise an objection. ”Roasting meat here is too much of a waste. The plum fragrance would change into the smell of grease. Instead of roasting meat today, why don’t we enjoy viewing the plum-blossoms? It’s just as well that Sister Gu and Sister Yu are both here, and we can even have performances or make poems. Father mentioned that classes will start right after the Lantern Festival this year, and I still have three six-verse poems left to finish!”
She complained, and Yu Tang was secretly surprised, saying, “Has the family hired teachers for the girls?”
Third Miss nodded her head and replied, “Several of us study together.”
Gu Xi, instead glanced at the smiling Grand Madam seated at the head of the table, and said briskly, “I’m perfectly fine with both! As much as I love eating, I too love studying.”
Fourth Lady giggled.
Fifth Miss hesitantly looked over at her mother and Grand Madam, mumbling, “No, isn’t there still more than a month before the New Year’s? There’s no need to be in such a hurry!” After saying that, she looked at Yu Tang again pleadingly.
Of course, Yu Tang knew that making poems, painting and rhymes were Gu Xi’s specialty, so if she was to perform or make poems, Gu Xi would surely excel and take the spotlight. However, she didn’t want to spoil this beautiful scenery either.
She smiled as she asked, “Why don’t we raise our hands? Majority rules.”
Third Miss immediately raised her hand and said, “I’m in favour of plum-blossom viewing!”
Fourth Miss hesitated and did not raise her hand for a long time.
Fifth Miss, on the other hand, looked at Fourth Miss.
At the side, Gu Xi covered her mouth and laughed, as if she was really fine with anything.
Yu Tang sighed in her heart before raising her hand, “I’m in favour of making poems.”
She wouldn’t be able to come up with something exceptionally good, but she would have no problem making an ordinary one.
As she thought of this, she suddenly had a malicious thought to cheat and use Gu Xi’s favourite poem about plum-blossoms in her previous life, which would definitely surprise Gu Xi and even make her feel oddly frustrated, and it would definitely be fun.
But it was only a fleeting thought.
She could use other things to nauseate Gu Xi, but for such talents in poetry and painting, she wouldn’t go so far as to plagiarize someone else’s work just to increase her own prestige and honour.
(TL: This is another point I really love about this novel! I always felt a bit irked when I read reincarnation novels where the MC uses other people’s talents against them. Yutang’s feelings summed up my own perfectly!)
Right after she spoke, Fifth Miss looked at her with a scowl, as if she had done something terribly heinous.
It suddenly dawned on Yu Tang.
Fifth Miss likely viewed her as a good friend, and with her going against Fifth Miss’s wishes like this, she must have felt miffed.
Yu Tang forced herself to hold back her laughter.
Young girls were interesting. Things were all seen as either black or white, and they were straightforward in their approach yet still so cute.
However, she still felt that roasting meat here was a waste of the good scenery, and it would be better if they changed the place.
Fourth young miss, however, piped up at this time and raised her hand, saying “I want to have grilled meat!” After saying that, she glanced at Gu Xi.
Gu Xi’s heart quivered.
She felt that she had made a huge blunder.
Had she known things would turn out like this, she should have gave her opinion earlier just like Lady Yu.
At this time, should she express her agreement or disapproval?
Gu Xi felt a headache coming on.
Fifth Miss, however, did not take notice of any of this as she was overjoyed and followed suit, “I want grilled meat too!” She then looked at Second Miss with bated breath.
It was now two against two. Both Second Miss and Lady Gu’s opinions were important, but she had a hunch that Lady Gu would definitely go along with the crowd, so Second Miss’ vote was more important than Lady Gu’s.
Second Miss said dismissively, ”I’m in favour of viewing the plum-blossoms! As for grilled meat, we should just change the venue.”
At this, Gu Xi sighed with relief and answered, “I’m also in favor of plum-blossom viewing!”
Fifth Miss pouted and pulled on Fourth Miss’s hand.
Fourth Miss smiled cheekily, and with an undaunted expression, replied, “There’s still Grandmother, Mrs. Shen, and Second Aunt here, so we haven’t lost!”
Mrs. Shen looked at fourth young lady in disdain and remained silent, with a look of unwillingness to even meet their gaze.
Second Madam looked a little unhappy, as she smiled and stroked her daughter’s head, and said in a gentle voice, “I’ll vote the same as your third sister.”
This was a significant change in situation.
Fifth young lady stomped her foot and cried out “Mother!”.
Second Madam and Grand Madam both burst out in laughter.
In the end, everyone decided to enjoy the plum-blossoms in the afternoon and have grilled meat for dinner.
Fifth Miss was still a little upset, so fourth miss pulled her aside to the snow pile on the side of the plum-blossom trees, and in a voice that could be heard by everyone, she confided in her, “My mother said that plums can be stored in a jar and buried in the ground, and then taken out in the summer to brew tea.”
“But the plums would have to be picked in the morning, right?!” The fifth young lady said somewhat bewildered.
“Ai!” Fourth Miss nonchalantly replied, “There shouldn’t be much of a difference between morning and afternoon, right? I don’t want to make poems anyway.”
Fifth miss smiled cheekily as she answered, “We can pick plums then! Take it back for grandmother and put the plum-blossoms in a vase, and it would fill the house with the fragrance of plum blossoms.”
Fourth Miss said, “But the flowers should also be picked in the morning, right?”
Fifth Miss froze.
The crowd laughed.
Grand Madam then addressed the two of them: “You two monkeys. Stay here obediently and create two poems for me, so that you can complete your homework as well as show your admiration for the good scenery. Wouldn’t that be more fufilling?”
The two of them dejectedly agreed, causing everyone to have another round of laughs.
Ji Daniang and the others have already brought over the necessary ink, paper and inkstones over, but after placing the four treasures of literature, she reported to Grand Madam saying: “Lady Yu’s family has sent a letter over.”
Everyone was surprised.
Grand Madam said kindly to Yu Tang, “Go and see what’s going on, so that you can put my mind at ease.”
Yu Tang was also curious and curtsied before following Ji Daniang out of the warm pavilion.
Gu Xi, however, did not move and signalled towards He Xiang.
Not long after, He Xiang disappeared.
Chapter 163 – Plum-Blossom Viewing
Gu Xi lightly smiled and didn’t reply – she had said everything she needed, and the rest, it was someone else’s turn.
For instance, this second young lady, who seemed proud and haughty, was in fact nothing more than a little girl spoiled by her family. Her feelings and emotions were written all over her face, easily letting people read her with one glance. Clearly, she was not as intelligent as the eccentric-looking fourth young lady.
Really, all the Pei family’s young ladies were so naive, which surprised her.
Perhaps it was because they were in this small city of Lin’an?
Gu Xi and Second Miss slowly walked towards the area where she lived.
Second young miss, however, bit her lip and frowned.
No, she had to find a way to figure out how Lady Yu entered and left the Pei Mansion so easily.
There were too far many people in Lin’an city who wanted to fawn on and flatter the Pei family, and she didn’t like the idea of someone using the Pei family’s name as a stepping stone to fulfil their own personal interests.
However, Gu Xi was a guest and a first-time acquaintance, so she couldn’t say anything in front of Gu Xi, but as soon as Gu Xi went back to the inner room to change, she couldn’t hold back from ordering the auntie who took care of her since she was a child to check Yu Tang’s background.
The auntie couldn’t help but frown and said: ”Second Miss, that’s a matter for the patriarch house to handle. if you don’t like her, you only have to respond with a few polite words when necessary. Why bother to get yourself involved in such murky waters? Besides, you will soon be married. After marriage, you will be living with the in-laws, and you will need the help of your maiden family to support you. If some unsavoury news were to spread, it will also affect your position with your in-laws. It’s best to forget this matter!”
The second young lady refused to comply and retorted, “I’m simply upset that someone is using our Pei family as a stepping stone! I only want to know the root cause of the matter. Grandmother also taught us, we should not be gossipy women but neither should we be clueless fools. That Lady Yu is not simple. She’s been able to obtain Grandmother’s favour at every opportunity. This is not something that ordinary people can achieve.”
That auntie had no choice but to comply with her instruction, but still repeatedly urged her, “No matter what information I find, you’ll have to keep it to yourself.”
Second Miss impatiently waved her hand, and her serving auntie retreated.
As for Gu Xi who was in the inner room, while adjusting her bodice in front of the mirror, she had He Xiang keep an eye on second young miss’s attendants. She whispered to her, “Act with caution. We are still outsiders, after all.”
It wasn’t the first time for He Xiang to handle such matters. She smiled and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I know what to do. Leaving aside the second young lady’s people, even the fourth young lady’s people, I’ve also sent someone to keep an eye on them, and I wouldn’t let the Pei family discover it.”
Gu Xi nodded with satisfaction before asking, “Do we have enough silver to use?”
This time, she only brought along two or three close attendants. If she wanted to know the happenings around her, she had to use power or bribery to persuade the servants of the Pei residence to do her bidding. However, after living in the Pei Residence over the past few days, they realized that the Pei family seemed to have no one to take charge of the internal domestic affairs as a result of Grand Madam’s widowhood and the loss of the patriarch’s position of the eldest house. However, far from getting chaotic, the Pei family’s domestic household affairs was not the least bit disorganized. They didn’t dare to approach those well-respected serving aunties and maids and could only buy off some lower grade serving aunties and maids and then deduce what exactly was going on in through their observations.
He Xiang grinned. ”Enough. We still have over one hundred and fifty taels of silver left!”
Gu Xi winced in pain over the monetary loss.
Before her elder brother left Hangzhou City, he left her with paper checks amounting to a thousand taels of silver. This time, when she came to Lin’an, she expected that she would need to use some silver, so she had someone exchange some for three hundred taels and brought them with her here. In just a few days, one hundred and fifty taels had already disappeared, and she hadn’t even used them on the right people yet.
But this was also something that can’t be helped; they had no one to help them here!
Gu Xi then asked, “Do you know why Eldest Madam had Mrs. Shen help her deliver a letter?”
Hexiang furtively looked around, after checking that everyone was busy with their own duties, she whispered to Gu Xi, “She said that she had something to request of her mother’s sister-in-law, and she asked Mrs. Shen to deliver the letter in fear of incurring Grand Madam’s displeasure.”
Gu Xi raised an eyebrow.
Could it be that she had some bad blood with her mother-in-law?
No, if it was to complain, it should be complaining about Pei Yan, her youngest brother-in-law.
However, was it Pei Yan who usurped the patriarch position or was it Grand Elder’s favouritism? This matter had to be investigated clearly.
She didn’t want to marry someone who was spoken of badly and couldn’t even sit firmly on his patriarch seat!
Gu Xi said to He Xiang, “Bring some pastries over. I’ll go and greet Mrs. Shen before accompanying Second Miss and have a chat.”
It was unknown why her brother thought of Mrs. Shen. This Mrs. Shen, was an odd one. She didn’t like having a lot of silver or gold, neither did she like socializing, rather, she only liked having a good reputation. As long as she hinted that a matter involved her reputation, she immediately succumbed. It was both pitiful and ridiculous to watch.
I wonder what method Eldest Madam used to convince Mrs. Shen?
Shen Shanyan was also quite pitiful, having married such a wife. Luckily he wasn’t involved in the fighting within officialdom, otherwise what kind of trouble this Mrs. Shen would cause, no one could imagine!
Hexiang complied and left.
Gu Xi looked at the beautiful girl reflected in the mirror who was plainly dressed but had a touch of elegance from the exquisite and delicate jewellery adorned on her and laughed.
The person in the mirror laughed along with her.
Only then was she satisfied to leave the inner room.
Probably for the convenience of viewing the plum-blossoms, the warm pavilion of Pei Family Residence was built in the plum forest at the back of the mountain.
Sitting in the pavilion with the furnace burning, enjoying the refreshing white tea while looking at the starry-red plum-blossoms, and breathing in the faint fragrance of the plum-blossoms, the life of a fairy would be just like this.
Third young lady was the first to raise an objection. ”Roasting meat here is too much of a waste. The plum fragrance would change into the smell of grease. Instead of roasting meat today, why don’t we enjoy viewing the plum-blossoms? It’s just as well that Sister Gu and Sister Yu are both here, and we can even have performances or make poems. Father mentioned that classes will start right after the Lantern Festival this year, and I still have three six-verse poems left to finish!”
She complained, and Yu Tang was secretly surprised, saying, “Has the family hired teachers for the girls?”
Third Miss nodded her head and replied, “Several of us study together.”
Gu Xi, instead glanced at the smiling Grand Madam seated at the head of the table, and said briskly, “I’m perfectly fine with both! As much as I love eating, I too love studying.”
Fourth Lady giggled.
Fifth Miss hesitantly looked over at her mother and Grand Madam, mumbling, “No, isn’t there still more than a month before the New Year’s? There’s no need to be in such a hurry!” After saying that, she looked at Yu Tang again pleadingly.
Of course, Yu Tang knew that making poems, painting and rhymes were Gu Xi’s specialty, so if she was to perform or make poems, Gu Xi would surely excel and take the spotlight. However, she didn’t want to spoil this beautiful scenery either.
She smiled as she asked, “Why don’t we raise our hands? Majority rules.”
Third Miss immediately raised her hand and said, “I’m in favour of plum-blossom viewing!”
Fourth Miss hesitated and did not raise her hand for a long time.
Fifth Miss, on the other hand, looked at Fourth Miss.
At the side, Gu Xi covered her mouth and laughed, as if she was really fine with anything.
Yu Tang sighed in her heart before raising her hand, “I’m in favour of making poems.”
She wouldn’t be able to come up with something exceptionally good, but she would have no problem making an ordinary one.
As she thought of this, she suddenly had a malicious thought to cheat and use Gu Xi’s favourite poem about plum-blossoms in her previous life, which would definitely surprise Gu Xi and even make her feel oddly frustrated, and it would definitely be fun.
But it was only a fleeting thought.
She could use other things to nauseate Gu Xi, but for such talents in poetry and painting, she wouldn’t go so far as to plagiarize someone else’s work just to increase her own prestige and honour.
(TL: This is another point I really love about this novel! I always felt a bit irked when I read reincarnation novels where the MC uses other people’s talents against them. Yutang’s feelings summed up my own perfectly!)
Right after she spoke, Fifth Miss looked at her with a scowl, as if she had done something terribly heinous.
It suddenly dawned on Yu Tang.
Fifth Miss likely viewed her as a good friend, and with her going against Fifth Miss’s wishes like this, she must have felt miffed.
Yu Tang forced herself to hold back her laughter.
Young girls were interesting. Things were all seen as either black or white, and they were straightforward in their approach yet still so cute.
However, she still felt that roasting meat here was a waste of the good scenery, and it would be better if they changed the place.
Fourth young miss, however, piped up at this time and raised her hand, saying “I want to have grilled meat!” After saying that, she glanced at Gu Xi.
Gu Xi’s heart quivered.
She felt that she had made a huge blunder.
Had she known things would turn out like this, she should have gave her opinion earlier just like Lady Yu.
At this time, should she express her agreement or disapproval?
Gu Xi felt a headache coming on.
Fifth Miss, however, did not take notice of any of this as she was overjoyed and followed suit, “I want grilled meat too!” She then looked at Second Miss with bated breath.
It was now two against two. Both Second Miss and Lady Gu’s opinions were important, but she had a hunch that Lady Gu would definitely go along with the crowd, so Second Miss’ vote was more important than Lady Gu’s.
Second Miss said dismissively, ”I’m in favour of viewing the plum-blossoms! As for grilled meat, we should just change the venue.”
At this, Gu Xi sighed with relief and answered, “I’m also in favor of plum-blossom viewing!”
Fifth Miss pouted and pulled on Fourth Miss’s hand.
Fourth Miss smiled cheekily, and with an undaunted expression, replied, “There’s still Grandmother, Mrs. Shen, and Second Aunt here, so we haven’t lost!”
Mrs. Shen looked at fourth young lady in disdain and remained silent, with a look of unwillingness to even meet their gaze.
Second Madam looked a little unhappy, as she smiled and stroked her daughter’s head, and said in a gentle voice, “I’ll vote the same as your third sister.”
This was a significant change in situation.
Fifth young lady stomped her foot and cried out “Mother!”.
Second Madam and Grand Madam both burst out in laughter.
In the end, everyone decided to enjoy the plum-blossoms in the afternoon and have grilled meat for dinner.
Fifth Miss was still a little upset, so fourth miss pulled her aside to the snow pile on the side of the plum-blossom trees, and in a voice that could be heard by everyone, she confided in her, “My mother said that plums can be stored in a jar and buried in the ground, and then taken out in the summer to brew tea.”
“But the plums would have to be picked in the morning, right?!” The fifth young lady said somewhat bewildered.
“Ai!” Fourth Miss nonchalantly replied, “There shouldn’t be much of a difference between morning and afternoon, right? I don’t want to make poems anyway.”
Fifth miss smiled cheekily as she answered, “We can pick plums then! Take it back for grandmother and put the plum-blossoms in a vase, and it would fill the house with the fragrance of plum blossoms.”
Fourth Miss said, “But the flowers should also be picked in the morning, right?”
Fifth Miss froze.
The crowd laughed.
Grand Madam then addressed the two of them: “You two monkeys. Stay here obediently and create two poems for me, so that you can complete your homework as well as show your admiration for the good scenery. Wouldn’t that be more fufilling?”
The two of them dejectedly agreed, causing everyone to have another round of laughs.
Ji Daniang and the others have already brought over the necessary ink, paper and inkstones over, but after placing the four treasures of literature, she reported to Grand Madam saying: “Lady Yu’s family has sent a letter over.”
Everyone was surprised.
Grand Madam said kindly to Yu Tang, “Go and see what’s going on, so that you can put my mind at ease.”
Yu Tang was also curious and curtsied before following Ji Daniang out of the warm pavilion.
Gu Xi, however, did not move and signalled towards He Xiang.
Not long after, He Xiang disappeared.
