Chapter 27: Aunt Zhao Takes Charge of the Household

Having been upstaged, the young Miss Wang was displeased. The embroidery of "Butterflies in Flight" that she had previously found exquisite now appeared utterly mediocre in her eyes. She turned to the side, wanting to see exactly what He Lingyi had stitched to earn such high praise from Matron Zong, but she was blocked by the crowd. Everyone around was heaping praises upon He Lingyi, causing her to lose all interest in even looking.

She looked down at the silk fabric in her own hands and grew angrier by the moment, while Chi Guiwan remained struggling at the very first stage.

After a long afternoon of lessons, everyone was exhausted. When He Lingyi rose to find Chi Guiwan, she saw her sitting alone, looking utterly dejected. It was easy to guess why. Seeing He Lingyi approach, Chi Guiwan’s eyes were filled with envy.

"It is better for you; you are good at everything. I am just hopeless, stupid to the core. Look at what I have turned this fine silk into—is it a hodgepodge? Never mind Matron Zong, even I am disgusted by it. Tell me, if I marry into the Qiao family like this, will they look down on me?" She sighed, her face full of helplessness and a touch of self-deprecation.

For so many years, she had lived as if she were in her element. Yet, only now did she slowly realize that her mother’s so-called pampering and indulgence were merely intended to ruin her. By contrast, her younger half-sister excelled at everything. This was the result of years of diligent practice. She was truly a fool; whenever she saw her sister crying from the exhaustion of training, she would sigh at how good their mother was to her. She feared that behind her back, her stepmother and sister were likely laughing at her.

He Lingyi patted the back of her hand and comforted her thoughtfully. "Heaven has created each of us with a purpose. Sister Chi, you need not worry about these things. The Old Madam of the Qiao family is kind and benevolent, and the eldest mistress of the Qiao family is upright and manages the household well. These embroidery skills are not the foundation of the Qiao family’s standing; it does not matter if you know them or not. In fact, I think if you truly wish to learn something, you should start with martial arts."

"What do you mean?"

"The children of a military family are naturally best suited to martial arts. You won’t be managing the household affairs once you marry, so why not set these aside and learn something you enjoy? I saw you practicing with the whip last time, and you were quite good, though it seemed a bit like a mere performance. Why don’t we find a master to teach you some solid fundamentals? Perhaps it will come in handy in the future."

The whip? Chi Guiwan was uncertain. She remembered seeing her mother practice when she was young; she had been excellent at it. Unfortunately, her father had disliked it, so her mother gradually gave up the pursuit, only offering a few pointers when she showed interest as a child. Thus, while she knew the basics, she lacked the proper technique.

If she were to suddenly bring up wanting to train, would her father have other thoughts? She was already held in low regard by him; if this were to spark rumors of discord between father and daughter, it would be a loss that outweighed the gain.

Watching her hesitation, He Lingyi felt that her mother was truly burdened by far too many concerns. She had once seen the smile on her mother’s face when she practiced with the whip—it was so confident and bright. Why sacrifice that just to become a "qualified" noble lady in the eyes of the masses?

She urged her again, "The Qiao family comes from a military background. I have heard that the Old Madam of the Qiao family was quite formidable in the martial arts; she was someone who could ride into battle alongside the Old Master. Sister Chi, why not follow her example? Find an opportunity to ask about it. If the Qiao family approves of such things, you can practice openly, can’t you?" She added, "That would surely be more comfortable than sitting here practicing calligraphy, embroidery, playing the zither, or burning incense."

Her words gave Chi Guiwan motivation. Thinking about it, she realized that at least when she practiced the whip, she did not feel aggrieved, but genuinely happy. That alone was enough. In the long journey of life, if one could have a hobby for which to strive and struggle, it was a blessing.

With her inner knot untied, Chi Guiwan regarded He Lingyi as a true confidante. "I don't know why, but I feel as if I have known you for a very long time. No matter what difficulties I encounter, you are always able to resolve them and guide me. It is wonderful."

He Lingyi felt warmth in her heart upon receiving this recognition from her mother. In her eyes, the chance to be reborn must have been granted by the heavens because they felt her mother had suffered too much and sent her to help. Therefore, even if it meant she might vanish into thin air by not being with her "scum" of a father, she would not regret it! As long as her mother lived well, that was all that mattered.

"Sister Chi, those words are truly sweet. Should I pick a few items from your inventory list to keep as part of my own dowry in the future?" He Lingyi teased. To her surprise, Chi Guiwan took it seriously and spoke righteously, "Fine! Go ahead and pick, pick whatever you like. Even if you take half, I won't utter a word of complaint!"

He Lingyi and the two maids laughed upon hearing this. If she were truly that kind of person, Xianchun would never have let her mistress associate with her so closely. Outside, the warm sun shone down, and the pavilion remained a place of warmth.

With the Qixi Festival only a few days away, the household began preparations in advance. The Qiao family had long since scheduled to send their betrothal gifts on this day, but as fate would have it, the Lu family also sent word that they would arrive on the same day to finalize the auspicious marriage arrangements.

With the future in-laws of both young ladies arriving on the same day, the Assistant Minister's mansion naturally had to pay close attention. Madam Guo had been "ill" for some time, so Chi Yunjing handled most of the matters personally. After the steward reported the tasks to be done, he only needed to approve or reject them, which did not require much effort.

That day, he was taking an afternoon nap in Concubine Zhao’s room. Concubine Zhao was more to his liking than Concubine Bai; not only was she gentle, but she was also exceptionally adept at handling matters. With a mere lift of his hand, warm water was presented; the moment he felt a bit of heat, a handkerchief and a fan would appear. He had not enjoyed such attentive service in a long time.

Consequently, he doted on Concubine Zhao, bestowing upon her many fine gifts, and even the servants in her courtyard gained influence. Though she had been in the mansion for only a few days, there was a faint sign of her competing with Madam Guo. Chi Yunjing was more than happy to see this.

Therefore, when the steward came to report on the preparations for the red silks and the wild goose gifts, Chi Yunjing had not yet spoken when Concubine Zhao eagerly stepped forward. "Master, why not let me handle these trivial matters? Since entering the mansion, I have yet to do anything for the household, and I feel quite uneasy just eating and drinking here all day."

Chi Yunjing glanced at her. Concubine Zhao was not afraid; instead, she acted like a spoiled young woman, clinging to his side. Chi Yunjing found this extremely gratifying. Suppressing his inner impatience, he looked at the trivial list the steward had submitted. Seeing that nothing was of great importance, he delegated the authority. "Very well, let this be a learning experience for you. However, any expense exceeding three hundred taels must be reported to me. Do you understand?"

"Rest assured, Master. I am merely offering a few suggestions; as for the money, you shall always have the final say."

Chi Yunjing enjoyed her service, feeling that the past years spent solely with Madam Guo had been utterly dull. It was far better to hear the sweet, dainty words of a young beauty. As he watched her, lewd thoughts stirred in his eyes. He gave a gentle squeeze to Concubine Zhao’s waist, making her cheeks flush as she coyly collapsed into his arms.

The steward, seeing this, tactfully departed. He had barely walked a dozen steps away when he heard giggles emanating from the room. Old houses, once they catch fire, burn with particular intensity. The steward shrugged; as long as he did his own job, that was all that mattered.