The Young Lady of the General’s House

Shen Zi took a sip of the rose dew tea and wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, “Although relatives, we still have to avoid taints. Zheng family is a literary family, we are upright and honorable, and very meticulous on rules.”

Shen Qi laughed and laughed but didn’t speak.

Shen Zi said to Shen Jin, “Third Sister tell us, Count Yongning’s looks is shocking, isn’t it. We are family so when we see him….. It’s not good if we lose balance. It is fine for me, but I heard Count Yongning is very violent….” Shen Zi’s expression suddenly turned frightened, “Third Sister, does he hit you?”

After thinking for a while, Shen Jin said, “Second Sister, it is better if you don’t listen to rumours too much.”

Shen Zi thought she had hit a sore spot of Shen Jin’s, she smiled even brighter. She was the best looking of the sisters, the smile was as bright as the sun, “Third Sister, now that you are back in the Capital, you naturally have Father …… but since you are already married to him, don’t be too upset, just take it easy.”

Shen Jin said, “En, my life is good, in fact Fujun is really very kind.”

Shen Zi gave a snicker.

Shen Qi said, “If it wasn’t because Second Sister declined it, Third Sister wouldn’t have had such a good marriage, so Third Sister should thank Second Sister.”

“Oh.” Shen Jin always listened to Shen Qi so she really stood up and bowed, “Thank you, Second Sister.”

There was some suspicion in Shen Zi’s eyes as she looked at Shen Qi who was pulling Shen Jin to sit back on her side.

Shen Qi gave Shen Zi a glance and smiled, “I just hope that Second Sister won’t regret later.”

Shen Jin leaned on Shen Qi’s side, she whispered, “Why would Second Sister regret?”

“Actually no need for later.” Shen Qi held Shen Jin’s hand, frowned slightly as the hand was not as delicate as before, “You will know in a moment.”

Shen Jin responded and didn’t ask again. Shen Qi looked at the two of them, her eyes narrowed a little in annoyance. Could it be that they knew about Zheng family? No way! Zheng family was an honorable family, much better than a place like the border town. And Count Yongning couldn’t be better than Zheng Jiaqu.

“Big Sister, I have just got some good bird’s nest, it is most nourishing, I will bring you some tomorrow.” Her eyes swept towards Shen Qi’s stomach as she spoke, “Actually Big Sister is still young so there is no need to be in a hurry.”

Shen Qi’s expression unchanged, she smiled, “No need for bird’s nest, I have plenty in the residence and I don’t like those stuff. If Second Sister really wants to give, how about giving some of Second Brother-in-law’s poetry book? I heard even the Crown Prince bought it.”

“What poetry book?” Shen Jin really didn’t know and was inevitably a little curious, “And why would everyone know that the Crown Prince wanted to buy it?”

Shen Qi laughed lightly and looked at Shen Zi whose face had turned ugly, “It is called <<Reciting Flowers>>, it has several parts: Meeting Flowers, Appreciating Flowers, Cherishing Flowers, Pitying Flowers, Loving Flowers, Lamenting Flowers and Sighing Flowers. They said that the wording is excellent and it’s widely sung.”

T/N – Have a guess what sort of book is that?

“How come I’ve never heard of it?” Shen Jin said with some doubt, “But I have just returned to the capital, so maybe I don’t know, then Second Sister should send me a copy too.”

Shen Zi still had her senses otherwise she would have swiped everything off the table.

When Shen Jing and Shen Rong arrived, they saw their birth sister sitting with an ugly face, while Shen Qi was pampering Shen Jin with questions. They looked at each other and bowed before sitting beside Shen Zi.

Shen Zi took a deep breath and exhaled to calm down, her expression changed and asked her two sisters, “Have you met Third Brother-in-law?”

“Not yet.” The one who answered was Shen Rong, who said in a small voice, “Mother Consort sent someone to call me and Fourth Sister here to talk with sisters.”

Shen Zi couldn’t let go of her anger. She knew that in terms of power Zheng family was no match for Marquis of Yongle and Count Yongning. All she could use to comfort herself was the rumours on Count Yongning.

She purposely said, “When you see Third Brother-in-law later, please do not make a fuss, it will be embarrassing for our Prince Mansion.”

Shen Rong trembled inside but she said with slightly confused face, “Second Sister don’t worry. Eldest and Second Brother-in-law we have all met, Third Brother-in-law…..” She turned to Shen Jin, her words half spoken half held.

Unfortunately Shen Jin did not notice Shen Rong’s look, she wasn’t even aware of her presence.

Shen Jin was telling Shen Qi in low voice about the Old Qiao’s shaobing. Shen Qi angrily lectured her, “I’ve told you many times do not eat outside things, how if it is not clean? If you really want to eat, let the servants learn how to make it, or have the seller come over. And you even had sweet and spicy sauce in it?”

When Shen Qi asked her what she ate at the border city, she had spoken too much, at this moment she almost cried under Shen Qi’s lecture, “Sister, I dare not, I did not eat that much ……”

Shen Rong had to hold her irritation, she looked at Shen Zi whose face looked even uglier now.

Shen Jing hurriedly said, “Third Sister, lately there are a lot of rumours regarding Third Brother-in-law, which ones are true and which are false? If there is any difficulty just tell us sisters, we are all family and here is always Third Sister’s home too.”

Shen Qi stopped her lecture for a moment and looked at Shen Rong. Shen Jin also looked over, but then turned back at Shen Qi and asked, “Eldest sister, are the nurturing momo’s that Mother Consort invited that time still here?”

T/N – One of a nurturing momo’s 教养嬷嬷 responsibities is educating young ladies on manners (教养 = nurture, education, upbringing). Shen Jin was implying that Shen Jing lacked manner.

“When Mother hired them she said that she would let them stay until retirement, so they are all still in the Mansion.” Shen Qi smiled as she looked at Shen Jing.

Shen Jin nodded as if she had only asked that in passing, she continued talking to Shen Qi, “Apart from Old Qiao’s shaobing, the pastries made by Zhao-momo taste very good too.”

“Then one day I’ll go to Yongning residence and I’ll definitely try them.” Shen Qi didn’t look at the sisters anymore, she pulled Shen Jin and said, “Do you have enough people in your house? I know some good servant agencies.”

“Have enough.” Shen Jin continued to chat with Shen Qi intimately. Shen Qi also told Shen Jin a lot of things in the capital.

Shen Zi, Shen Jing and Shen Rong felt the three of them obviously won in number but they seemed to be quite …… non-existent in front of these two people? They even felt they were redundant.

A smile flashed in Cuixi’s eyes as she came and saw Shen Jin was still close to Shen Qi just like before they married. Cuixi said in a respectful voice, “Misses, Wangfei invites you over.”

“Alright.” Shen Qi smiled, “Let’s go.” She got up and waited for Shen Jin to stand then the two walked out together. Shen Zi and her two sisters followed behind without speaking, after all Cuixi was Rui-wangfei’s closest person.

After the greetings Rui-wangfei smiled and said, “All sit down.”

“Yes.” Shen Qi pulled Shen Jin to sit beside Rui-wangfei, and the remaining three sat down in turn.

Rui-wangfei smiled, “Wangye is taking the two sons and three sons-in-law to for a tryout. I call you all here to see if you want to watch?”

Shen Zi’s face turned white, “This is not good, my husband is not good at martial arts, what if Third Brother-in-law …… forgot himself in the fight?”

“He won’t.” Shen Jin reassured, “Second Sister don’t worry. Fujun knows the limit, and unless it’s an equal match, Fujun will not use full strength.”

Was that really a comfort? Shen Qi didn’t care much, it was good if Yongle Shizi was taught a lesson. “How does Father suddenly want to have a competition? Whose idea it is?”

Rui-wangfei smiled and gave Cuixi a look, Cuixi said, “This Slave heard Second Guye suggested it. He said something like a gentleman should be proficient in six arts.”

T/N – Guye  姑爷 = Son-in-law, used by the wife’s family. It’s Shen Zi’s husband the poem.

T/N – Confucian Six Arts 六艺 = rites or etiquettes, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy/literacy, mathematics/reckoning.

The corners of Shen Zi’s eyes twitched. Shen Jing said, “Second Brother-in-law is really too much. Third Sister’s husband is always guarding the border, how can he bring up the Six Arts of a Gentleman.”

Shen Jin nodded in agreement, “Yes, Second Brother-in-law is really……” Shaking her head, she said, “Fujun’s martial art is for killing.”

Seeing Shen Zi’s pale face, she turned to assure Shen Qi , “Don’t worry, Fujun knows the limit.”

Shen Qi smiled, “I am at ease.”

Shen Jin could not say she understood Chu Xiuming in and out but she knew he would not let anyone had a hold over himself. Injuring Rui-wang and his two son-in-laws on his first visit was definitely not his style.

Shen Jin smiled, “En, Fujun won’t use his full strength, so he can be unconstrained.”

Then Shen Jin looked at Rui-wangfei, “Mother Consort, I should not have asked since I am already married, but…… are there still momo’s teaching Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister?”

Rui-wangfei raised her eyebrows at Shen Jin, then swept a glance at Shen Jing and Shen Rong, “Not long after you married, Xu-cefei had asked Wangye, so although the momo’s are still here, but they no longer taught Fourth Girl and Fifth Girl.”

Shen Jin awkwardly moved her lips but said nothing in the end.

Shen Qi did not have so much scruples, “Mother, it is better to let the momo’s teach sisters again. And the people around them also need to be sorted, how can they tell nonsense rumours from outside? They are not small anymore.”

Shen Jing and Shen Rong now knew why Shen Jin asked that question, they looked at Shen Zi with pale faces. Those around her sisters were her mother’s people, Shen Zi was anxious but didn’t know what to say.

Rui-wangfei didn’t ask further, she nodded, “Fine. We are all family, we soon have meal together.”

“Yes.” Several people answered.

As Shen Jin said Chu Xiuming had held himself, at least noone had external injuries apart for some messy clothes. People like them always had two replacement clothes when they went out in case of accident.

Chu Xiuming had also changed into a brocade robe and his hair was tied up with a jade crown. Noone could associate him with the murderous Count Yongning.

When the banquet was ready, Rui-wangfei took the five daughters to the dining room.

Shen Zi looked at Shen Jin who was walking beside Rui-wangfei, and smiled coldly inside. She had decided to make Count Yongning lose face, and with his brutal temperament Shen Jin would bear the brunt later.

Shen Zi glanced at her two sisters, Shen Jing’s eyes slightly lowered, Shen Rong bit her lip and gave a slight nod.

In the dining room Rui-wang was talking to Chu Xiuming with a joyous expression, Shen Xi’s face was full of admiration, while Shen Xuan was standing by the side entertaining Yongle Shizi and Eldest Childe Zheng.

When he heard the message brought by the maid, Rui-wang smiled and said, “It’s Xiuming’s first time here, so you must have a few more drinks later.”

“Father-in-law is right.” Chu Xiuming looked refined, gentle and smooth like jade, the painting-like eyebrows slightly carried a cold and noble air, “I had heard from Furen that the sisters are very close. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law had guided them with great care, it is indeed extraordinary….”

“Ah …… ghost ……”

Before Chu Xiuming could finish his words, a woman’s scream came from the entrance, followed by a delicate cry, “So scary ……”

Rui-wangfei at the front was startled, Shen Jin and Shen Qi were both frozen. They turned around to see Shen Rong hiding in Shen Jing’s arms, Shen Zi’s one hand was covering her mouth with the expression of seeing something shocking, she was embracing the other two with sisterly affection, her head lowered as if she didn’t dare to look inside the room. Shen Jing was opening her eyes widely towards the room with a pale and bloodless face.

Shen Jin was bewildered, she looked at people in the room then at Shen Zi and her two sisters, finally at the sun up there. Her almond eyes were confused, ghosts didn’t come out in daylight, did they?

Rui-wangfei understood, a trace of mockery appeared in her eyes. Shen Qi smiled coldly but didn’t speak.