Jin Fengju laughed and said, "Indeed! If it were not for you, I would be happier than anyone else when it comes to adding to their suffering. Qiuning, ah, you are too good a person, and I am grateful now that they married you into our family. But what were their intentions back then? Everyone within the estate was very clear that they intended to do harm. If not for my great hatred, I would never have thrown you into Night Breeze Pavilion for six years. However, now that I have you, enough, enough, let's not talk about that anymore. After all, it is all in the past now. If I happen to have the opportunity, I shall plead their case before the Emperor. I shall do my best to try anyway. After all, now that they have fallen to dire traits, they are no longer a threat to us. Just one thing to keep in mind, man proposes, and heaven disposes. If I cannot save them, do not blame me either."
Fu Qiuning nodded serenely, "It would appear that the Young Marquis has now learned to put clauses into his promises. Indeed, one can never be too careful about such things."
"Qiuning, ah…"
Fu Qiuning turned away from the despicable man in front of her. In truth, she had very little feelings for King Zhenjiang and his son. She only felt that they were rather foolish and entitled. Clearly, some people only grow older, but not wiser. Let Jin Fengju think whatever he liked about her remark. [a]
"You also need not to worry too much. No matter what, as a daughter, you have contributed greatly to the nation's prosperity now. The Emperor will not ignore that. The Emperor may strip them of their title at best and demote them to commoner status. Even then, their fate is unclear," said Jin Fengju comfortingly. He thought: My Qiuning is such a wonderful, kind-hearted and benevolent person that she must be feeling sad for her unworthy elders.
He smiled and said, "Right, let us throw all this trouble aside for now. Look, we have arrived at Elegant Mansion. Let us go in and enjoy some crabs. You just need to not reveal anything, lest your mother suffers for it."
Fu Qiuning rolled her eyes, thinking: In that case, you had better stop talking about it right now.
When Jian Feng and Yu Jie spotted their masters, the maids immediately hurried over to get the servants to set the tables and serve the food. [b] Maids were also sent to call Concubine Yu and Concubine Luo as well as the children to dinner. The family of eight sat down at the dining table, all eyes were on the plate piled high with freshly steamed crab, each one of them round and plump. Even Fu Qiuning couldn't help but salivate.
Fu Qiuning picked out four large female crabs stuffed full of roe and placed them on a plate. Then, she handed the plate to Jian Feng and Yu Jie and said, "Go and eat, these things are best eaten when still warm. We shall shell the crabs ourselves."
Jian Feng and Yu Jie cast a glance at Jin Fengju, who generously waved his hand and said, "This is Elegant Mansion, so naturally, what Second Madam says, goes. Go, go."
Fu Qiuning easily shelled a crab with deft hands, placing the meat and roe onto a small plate before handing it to Yu'shi. Yu'shi replied to the gesture with a smile, saying, "My body has always been weak, and I dare not eat this. You should all enjoy it. Seeing you eat them so happily really comforts my heart."
Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "Though Mother needs to be careful with your food due to poor health, there is no need to be overly cautious. Surely it is fine to have just a little? There is no need to completely avoid certain food since Mother is not really ill, you only suffer from a weak constitution."
Yu'shi was moved by her daughter's persuasion and looked at the little plate of crab meat and roe with some anticipation. She accepted the plate and said, "You are right, there is no need for me to avoid every kind of food. I already have so many food taboos. I shall eat this one crab. Ah, there's no need to shell anymore crab for me, you should enjoy some yourself."
Fu Qiuning smiled and picked up another crab, intending to shell it for Luo'shi. Luo'shi quickly took one for herself, saying, "No need to shell one for me, Young Miss. As mentioned before, it is so much fun to shell our own crabs. Even so, though crabs are delicious, children should not eat too many. Young Miss and the Young Marquis should pay attention to this."
Fu Qiuning raised an eyebrow as she thought: Was this woman trying to assert her authority or just being a grandmotherly figure?
Still, it was good advice. This was also an opportunity to enforce her authority with the children. [c] Let's start with the cute but most unruly one first, "Brother Yi, you heard what Madam Concubine said, right? Don't eat too many crabs or you will suffer from stomachaches tonight."
Jin Zhenyi made a face and was about to retort, but from the side of his eye, he caught a glimpse of his father's gaze shifting in their direction. He immediately shrank back, finished eating the crab roe, and reached for another crab. However, Fu Qiuning's chopsticks were already on the crab, preventing him from taking it. She said flatly, "Eat the crab meat too. Do you know how expensive these crabs are? Ordinary families would find it difficult to have a single meal with them, let alone waste them like you do."
Jin Zhenyi mumbled, "You said we are not allowed to eat too much. If I just eat the crab roe, isn't that fine?"
Fu Qiuning [c] raised an eyebrow, "And who is going to eat the rest of the crab for you? As for the crab roe, it is still part of the crab. What is the difference? Eat your food properly and don't only pick the parts that you like."
[c1] "But, you pinched off the corners of the Rice Dumplings I had last time! Isn't this the same?"
[c1] Fu Qiuning narrowed her eyes at this smart-mouthed little brat. "You are right," she said finally.
Jin Zhenyi's little face brightened.
"Next time, I should only allow you to eat only one Rice Dumpling in the future. It was an oversight of mine."
Jin Zhenyi gave a little wail of despair, causing everyone to laugh. On the side, Jin Fengju coughed. He thought: Look at how wonderful my wife is! She even knows how to handle a hard-headed little gangster-like Zhenyi.
After making everyone laugh, Jin Zhenyi defiantly picked up his crab and crunched into the soft body, chewing at the softer inner shell along with the meat.
Fu Qiuning observed his defiant attitude and said, "This way of eating is not bad either. The shells are good for strengthening your bones."
"Is there such a thing?" Jin Fengju also looked up.
Fu Qiuning shrugged. Knowing that the ancients probably had no concept of 'calcium supplements', she casually said, "I have heard that people eat shrimp skin to strengthen their bones. So, it is probably the same with crab shells. However, there is no need to force anyone to eat them if there is no need. The shells can be made into a broth or fried until crispy before consuming. However, if Brother Yi likes to eat them like this, that's fine too."
Jin Zhenyi almost vomited blood, realising that he could not get the better of Fu Qiuning and gave up beating his drums of war.
Fu Qiuning and Concubine Luo made sure the children did not eat more than two each. "The crabs are quite large, so two is already a lot."
After everyone was done with their crabs, they had a little rice and some suitable side dishes to make it a proper meal. When the table was cleared, Jin Fengju [d] made eye contact with Fu Qiuning before announcing, "I shall check the children's homework now."
[d] He looked very proud of himself, thinking: Qiuning must think of me as a wonderful and responsible father and husband, right?
[c] Fu Qiuning eyed him for a moment, then nodded at the children, "Right, do your best."
[c2] The children, with the exception of Jin Zhenyi, nodded back calmly. Jin Zhenyi merely rolled his eyes. Naturally, he did it with his face turned away from Jin Fengju.
Once the children left with Jin Fengju for the study, Fu Qiuning spent some time chatting with Yu'shi and Luo'shi. Whe it got close to seven o'clock in the evening, they each retired for the night.
The All Nations Cultural Festival was fast approaching, and Fu Qiuning did not bother teaching any new songs or music. She had the musicians and performers rehearse Celestial Couple over and over again, making minute changes and perfecting their steps. Between rehearsals, the troupe also put on performances for the Empress Dowager's pleasure. The Empress Dowager was enamoured by the dancing and singing, saying that she was very pleased with the troupe even though the costume design and dancing were still not quite perfect.
Mid-Autumn Festival passed by in a flash.
Jin Pengzhan was unable to return due to his official duties, but Jin Luanfeng was able to rush home for the family reunion. Prince Hong had sent a memorial to beg for an audience with the Emperor. He pleaded for an opportunity to confess his sins, wanting to spend Mid-Autumn at the capital. However, the Emperor had steeled his heart and refused permission till the end. Prince Hong, whose glory once soared to the clouds, had no choice but to leave the capital miserably before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"The Emperor naturally knows what he is up to. Prince Hong was hoping to shed some tears and maybe perform some poems and songs he memorised earlier during the family gathering on the Mid-Autumn Festival, in an attempt to move the Emperor. But since the Emperor does not want to forgive him, and also does not want to ruin the mood during the family gathering, he naturally would not allow him to stay," Jin Fengju mentioned this matter to Fu Qiuning during a leisurely moment to 'clear up her confusion', whatever that means. After receiving a blank stare and a slow nod, he never brought it up again.
In the blink of another eye, the Mid-Autumn Festival was over and it was time for the All Nations Cultural Festival, which was held with great fanfare.
The All Nations Cultural Festival took place every three years. As it concerned politics and national prestige, the Great Ning Empire and other countries considered it the top priority yearly event. The Lingji Palace, specifically reserved for the festival, opened its doors a day before the event. Those three days were the only days in those three years when Lingji Palace served a purpose and the only time it allowed the common people to spectate.
For the past few days, Jin Zhenyi had been pestering Fu Qiuning, hoping to join in the festivities at Lingji Palace on the day it opened. Of course, he could not say that directly and went round and round the topic, talking out loud at Fu Qiuning's direction, going on and on about 'finding a good seat for Old Madam, Elder Madam and his aunt' [e].
Finally, Fu Qiuning lowered her embroidery to glare at him, [a1] "If you wish to go, ask for the Duke's permission. If he is happy to have you join the common people in pushing yourself into the hall, I shall have nothing to say."
"But…"
[a1] "Mother, what is the Lingji Palace like?" Jin Xiunan blinked large curious eyes at her.
[a1] "There are four floors to Lingji Palace," she said. "The fourth floor is for dignitaries and officials, the third floor is reserved for the female relatives of various noble families. However, given our family status, it is likely that we shall accompany the Empress Dowager on the second floor."
[a1] "We will be sitting with the Empress Dowager?" Jin Zhenyi gasped. The other three children coughed but said nothing.
[a1] Fu Qiuning looked at him with amusement, "Why do you think that you will be going?"
Jin Zhenyi's face fell.
[c3] Three years ago, he was only four years old and missed the grand occasion. He had heard from older relatives who had attended the previous All Nations Cultural Festival just how exciting and lively it was and was looking forward to it. After hearing Fu Qiuning's direct rejection, and knowing that there was no way his father would ever go against this woman's decision, he was even more devastated.
[c3] Even so, plans to secretly run off and join in the fun were already brewing in his mind. He had already angered his father multiple times and was not afraid of things like family discipline. However, there was no way he could pull anything off with the servants watching, he would have to be careful and-
[c4] Someone grabbed him by the arm. It was Jin Changfeng.
[c3] [c4]
"Hey, what-"
"Don't."
"Don't what?" Jin Zhenyi tried to play dumb as he widened his eyes at this annoying 'elder brother'.
"Don't do it, whatever plan is going on in your head, don't."
Jin Zhenyi attempted to shake Jin Changfeng's hand off, "What? Are you afraid of being implicated? Don't worry, I don't care about punishments. So what if they spank me black and blue? I'm going."
"Do you think that spanking is the worst thing that could happen to you? Wealthy young boys are targets for kidnappers. Once you are taken, who will you cry to then? If you really want to go, it's not like Mother will never let us."
Jin Zhenyi was immediately deflated by this argument. He had thought that Jin Changfeng, this elder brother of his, whom he had traded weapons of war for jade and silk with, [1] would also be itching to enjoy the Festival and was hoping to rope him into The Plan. Who would have thought that this good brother of his would be such a spoilsport?
He grumbled, "Our father has travelled extensively and seen so much of the world, why are you so timid? Forget it, forget it, since you are not going, I will not go either."
Looking at his shifty eyes, Jin Changfeng knew that this fellow still had plans to sneak out. Right then, he had to make a decision. Should he keep quiet and try to monitor Zhenyi on his own or…
"Bai Yu, come here. Find a few reliable servants to watch over Zhenyi. He plans to sneak into Lingji Palace to watch the festivities after Mother has decided to not bring him. Take care not to lose him. If something happens, your people are the ones who will have to wash your necks and wait for death."
Bai Lu was startled by Jin Changfeng's words. How could she not be familiar with her young master's reckless, daredevil character? Jin Zhenyi's mutinous little face was all she needed for her to be on high alert. [a] He might as well be jumping up and down in place and shouting 'traitor' at the top of his voice from the way he was glaring at Jin Changfeng. Bai Lu quietly made up her mind to have a few more servants follow Jin Zhenyi around and swore never to allow him out of the house.
Unable to do anything about Jin Changfeng exposing his plans, Jin Zhenyi could only run back to his room, [a] fuming and muttering under his breath in frustration. Jin Xiunan was seated in a chair, practising her embroidery when her brother came in. She looked up once and immediately knew what happened, [a] "I take it that your plans have been exposed?"
Jin Zhenyi retorted irritably, "What do you know? Today is the day when the palace is opened to commoners. This day is when the best excitement happens! Stalls for all kinds of food and toys would be set up, but with the Emperor and Empress Dowager having declared their intention to come on the third day, the stalls would only last two days. Today and tomorrow! Today is already too late, but tomorrow…"
[b] "Why are you so interested in the stalls anyway? Isn't the main attraction Mother's opera?" Jin Xiunan said idly.
[b] "What would a girl like you know?" he flopped to the chair, kicking his legs in the air and grumbling, "As for that Jin Changfeng, why is he such a downer? Isn't he a man at all?"
[b] "From what I can see, you are the abnormal one," said Jin Xiunan as she trimmed off her thread and checked her embroidery. "You should be spending your energy on your studies, or your martial arts at least. That way, if you ever get kidnapped, you will have a better chance of escaping."
[b] "Why would I be kidnapped?" Jin Zhenyi looked puzzled.
[b] "… …" Jin Xiunan had no words.
Bai Lu must have been really frightened by the thought that Jin Zhenyi would get himself kidnapped because she set a bunch of young attendants to shadow him. They watched him doing everything, including his business with the chamber pot.
He was still muttering to himself, trying to think of a way to shake his watchers, when a junior maid appeared and announced, "Young Master Yi, Third Young Miss, Young Marquis has sent someone to call you over to the small garden pavilion."
Jin Zhenyi paused in his muttering. [a] He thought: What could Father want with us? Surely Jin Changfeng couldn't have informed him of my plans?
However, there was no use speculating. He could only trail after the maids along with Jin Xiunan, wondering just what [b1] his cheap father was going to say to them.
Finally, they reached the small garden pavilion. [b1] Jin Fengju was seated in a chair next to Fu Qiuning, who looked as impassive as usual. Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao were seated to the right of Fu Qiuning.
[b1]
The first thing Jin Fengju said was, [c] "Zhenyi, have you caused trouble again at school? Take the chance to make your confessions now. Otherwise, if I personally investigate, you will suffer for it."
Although Jin Zhenyi had harboured thoughts of escape, he had not done anything yet. However, he knew that [b2] this cheap father of his would probably try to find fault with him no matter what. Therefore, it was best to go on the offence right away. Thus, he quickly threw himself onto his knees and loudly declared, "Father, I absolutely have not caused any trouble. Although I have not completely memorised the Four Books, I have already memorised hundreds of poems. If Father does not believe me, Father may test me."
Jin Fengju frowned and asked, "If you have not caused trouble at school, why are you behaving so suspiciously?" Turning to look at Jin Changfeng, he asked, "Did your younger brother really not cause any trouble? You are not allowed to cover for him, otherwise, you will be implicated as well."
Jin Changfeng smoothly stood up and answered, "Replying to Father, Younger Brother truly has not caused any trouble. Teacher even praised him for his talent in poetry."
Jin Fengju glanced again at Jin Zhenyi. He snorted and said, "If that is the case, why act so guilt-ridden? What is the use of being talented in poetry? You should focus on mastering the Four Books and Five Classics. Then, when you can excel in the Eight-legged essays, that is when you can be considered to possess the true studying spirit." [1]
Fu Qiuning sighed audibly. [a] "I see, so it turns out the Young Marquis is rather narrow-minded," she murmured. [a1] For a moment, everyone within the pavilion tensed. The one who was the most anxious was Jin Fengju. He laughed out loud and added, "Naturally, that is true for those who pursue the path of a scholar! Everyone has their own strength and not everyone can be the same. I see that Zhenyi is very boisterous and cheerful. Perhaps a more martial path would be more appropriate? Speaking of which, if Brother Xuan and Brother Feng choose an academic path, then the next generation of our Jing Dukedom can be considered to be complete in both academical and martial arts."
Fu Qiuning lifted her teacup and took a sip of her tea.
Jin Zhenyi [b]… was impressed! How could Mother be so amazing?! Indeed, there was not a moment in his life when he did not yearn for the day he could ride a noble steed, galloping on the battlefield and slaying enemies by the hundreds. It was even more impressive because she made this cheap father of his say all those things with barely a move on her side! As someone who had grown up witnessing the scheme of others within the noble house, he had to admit that Fu Qiuning's ability was far too outstanding.
While he pondered, Fu Qiuning nodded at him and Jin Xiunan, gesturing for the two to sit down next to Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao. Of course, he went willingly.
Jin Fengju coughed, clearing his throat pointedly to draw everyone's attention. "I have summoned all of you here for something. I have received an order to assist Lingji Palace in making preparations tomorrow. As you all rarely leave the estate, I thought it would be a good idea to take a few of you to enjoy the festivity tomorrow."
Silence fell as all four of the children stared at Jin Fengju. Naturally, Jin Zhenyi was the first to jump up and scream out his happiness. [b] "Is it true, Father? Oh, my heavens, this is too great, this is too great!"
As he continued to shout, he noticed Jin Fengju's expression darken until it resembled the bottom of a pot. Fu Qiuning coughed into her hand. Feeling oddly chastised, he settled down in his chair and pretended that he had not been jumping up and down, screaming his head off earlier.
[d] Fu Qiuning smiled and said simply, "Zhenyi being so overjoyed that he lost his composure is only natural."
The moment he heard that, Jin Fengju's pitched black expression reduced a little and he immediately agreed with his dear, wonderful beloved wife about these naughty little children. Fu Qiuning continued to tolerate the situation, but Jin Zhenyi noticed the minute flicker of eyes that landed on him before she took another sip of tea.
How could Jin Zhenyi not realise that he had narrowly escaped a disaster? He was naturally full of gratitude towards Fu Qiuning. He wished he could run up and hug her thigh, calling her his dearest mother.
Seeing the children all staring at him fawning over Fu Qiuning, Jin Fengju felt a mixture of anger and amusement. He scolded, "Now that you know, aren't you going to hurry up and prepare? I, your father, still have so many things to attend to. Do you expect me to go pack your clothes and money?"
Of course, Jin Zhenyi was the first to hastily jump up and kowtow to Jin Fengju before joyfully running out.
"It looks like Brother Yi is delirious with joy," said Fu Qiuning as the other three children bowed and gave their thanks in a more sedate manner. She turned to Bai Lu, who was still waiting for Jin Xiunan and said, "Go and help prepare clothes for Brother Yi and Third Young Miss. Be sure to assign a few more junior servants with them tomorrow."
Bai Lu acknowledged the order and left. Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao had also returned to their rooms to instruct their maids, Jin Zhuan, Lu Hua and the senior maids to pack their belongings.
When all the children had left, Jin Fengju looked around and, after making sure that there was no one else around, said, "The Gengtie cards [2] have been exchanged, and we have also consulted an astrologer to match up their Eight Characters, [3] and it turns out that they matched each other very well. Ling Yun's mother will likely come with the offer of marriage tomorrow. Even though she's a maid, Yu Jie has been with you for many years and bears the merit of caring for Feng'er and Jiao'er. Not even Third Brother Zhang can compare."
Fu Qiuning resisted the urge to fold her arms, if only because it would wrinkle the long flowing sleeves. However, her steady stare told him to hurry up and speak his mind.
"Wh-what I am saying is that you should bring them to Old Madam's place and have the Ling family know that our Yu Jie is not an ordinary servant. Elder Madam does not concern herself with matters like this and, well, she is not as sociable or personable as the Old Madam. Anyway, what do you think?"
Fu Qiuning replied, "Of course, I would be happy to do it. However, it is best to inform Old Madam's side in advance."
Jin Fengju laughed, "Have you not noticed that we often have less well-to-do relatives visiting us on the faintest bit of connection? This is because Old Madam enjoys such gatherings and loves helping others. I have told her once that while it is good to help others, she cannot be indiscriminately helpful to everyone. Some of these people take the money and use it to go feasting, drinking or gambling, so, what is the point of us helping them? After that, the number of people trying to pull at her purse strings decreased somewhat. Otherwise, our threshold would already be been broken by their footsteps."
Fu Qiuning had vaguely noticed some [e] poorly dressed sycophants flattering the Old Madam now and then. These must be the 'unfortunate relatives' who came to beg favours from the richer side of the family. She could not help but be reminded of Grandmother Jia in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. [4] Yet, so far, she hadn't encountered any impoverished relatives who were as straightforward and somewhat shrewd as Granny Liu. She also hadn't experienced the lively scene of "Granny Liu's Second Visit To Rongguo Mansion."
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After dinner, Fu Qiuning called the four children to her room and handed each of them a heavy purse. "These four purses are identical. Each contains two taels of silver fragments and two hundred copper coins. Tomorrow, your father will be on official business. Buy what you need for yourself and experience what life is like on the outside. If you come across some genuinely unfortunate, old, weak and disabled beggars, do not hesitate to give them a few coins. This is also a way to accumulate some good karma for yourself."
After that, she turned to the four junior servants, each sixteen or seventeen-year-old, who had accompanied them and said, "Each of you will also have ten taels of silver. Tomorrow, the Lingji Palace will be filled with tens of thousands of people. When you accompany your young masters and young misses, make sure to always stay within an inch of them. If they run out of money, take it from your funds. I will reward you when you return. Understand?"
The young servants eagerly acknowledged the order in unison. After a few more instructions, Fu Qiuning dismissed them. She thought: tomorrow, I shall go and see the performers one last time. As professionals, they should know not to overdo their training, but I should still be there for moral support.
TL Notes:
[1] Eight-Legged Essay: The eight-legged essay was needed for those candidates in these civil service tests to show their merits for government service, often focusing on Confucian thought and knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics, in relation to governmental ideals.
[2] 庚帖 These are not wedding invitations!
Marriage negotiation involves sending the woman's birth stats (including the date and hour of birth) written on a piece of paper known as "Gengtie (庚帖)" to the man's house. The man then puts the Gengtie on his
home's altar honoring gods and ancestors.
[3] 八字 The Four Pillars of Destiny, also known as
"Ba-Zi", which means "eight characters" or "eight words/characters" in Chinese, is a Chinese astrological concept that a person's destiny or fate can be divined by the two sexagenary cycle characters assigned to their birth year, month, day, and hour. This type of cosmological astrology is also widely used in South Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
[4] 贾母
Baoyu and Daiyu's grandmother and the oldest and most respected authority of the Jia Clan. Grandmother Jia is at heart a fun-loving
elder who greatly enjoys conversation and the company of her many
grandchildren. A Chinese opera fan, despite her great wealth and prestige she is mindful of the rustic poor like Granny Liu, and is pious and enerous in alms giving.
Early the next morning, even before the sun had risen, sounds of chirping and cackling could be heard in the courtyard. Jin Fengju rolled over, still half asleep. He said, "When did you move your ducks and chickens here? Their chattering is so noisy, are they not afraid of disturbing their masters to death?"
Fu Qiuning rolled away, murmuring, [1] "If you hate them, you can move somewhere quieter."
Jin Fengju coughed. He immediately stretched and carefully hugged Fu Qiuning from behind and said, "No, no, you're right. That can't be the sound of our birds chattering. There is no way that our birds would be so boorish."
Fu Qiuning could not be bothered to entertain his nonsensical ramblings and remained silent.
Suddenly, he fiercely cried out, "It's that group of bear children! Why are they so noisy so early in the morning? You listen carefully, isn't this noise made by those children?"
Fu Qiuning opened her eyes reluctantly. [1] It was clear that the man had no intention of letting her sleep in peace. She sighed and sat up, "If you have woken up, go and get ready for court."
Evading his groping hands, she slipped out of bed to call for the maids to bring in hot water and other grooming items. Jian Feng beamed and said, "Was Madam woken up by the young masters' and young misses' voices? Even before the sky had brightened, this maid saw them getting up. They had been relatively quiet until a knock at the door and in came Young Master Xuan, Second Young Miss, Fourth Young Miss and Fifth Young Miss. After getting together, the children started laughing and chattering together."
"Brother Xuan and other young misses are here?" Fu Qiuning asked in surprise.
Jiang Feng nodded, but before she could say anything else, Jin Fengju snorted, "What is this nonsense? Brother Xuan's presence is still excusable, but what are the girls doing here? They may be young enough to avoid scandalous entrapment, but no matter what, they are still young girls from a noble family. Not to mention, even if we bring them out, I cannot look after them."
Fu Qiuning raised an eyebrow, [1] "Look after them? You?" she allowed the pause to lengthen, but when it was clear that he was only bewildered by her sudden frosty demeanour with no understanding of his own misogynistic words, she sighed and said, "Just have their maids look after them. There is no need for you to exert yourself in any way."
[1a] For a moment, Jin Fengju felt as though he had misstepped somehow, but for the life of him, he could not put his finger on what he had done. Now and then, Fu Qiuning would sometimes look at him with cool eyes that seemed to expect nothing from him. It made him long to get her to smile more and look at him with approval, but the best he could do thus far was a look of vague indifference.
Hesitantly, he asked, "Do you… want the girls to come with us?"
[2] "… …" It was one thing for young masters to go out. They would be cared for and watched by the servants for fear that their masters would take their lives if they lost the 'boy of the family'. However, could the same be said for girls? Not to mention, they would be seated with the Emperor and Empress Dowager. It was one thing to bring the boys and the minimal number of attendants, but if Jin Fengju were to bring the girls with him along with their attendants and take up more than their share of seats… who knows what the people would say? Not that she really cared one way or another, but it would certainly be more trouble than it's worth.
"Jiao'er is already making noise about coming with us, so, maybe…"
There was a troubled look on Fu Qiuning's face. If she were to push it, she could probably get his daughters' seats, but that would take effort. Not to mention, if he couched it as something she had 'requested', she would be required to pay for that 'favour' one day.
No, it would not do to owe this man's favours.
"No need, I expect there will be shops and stalls set up within the Lingji Palace to make the place even more lively. The sisters can get their brothers to bring something back for them."
Jin Fengju was wiping his face and hands with a white, mulberry silk towel with a smile of relief. "That's right, as good brothers, they should bring little souvenirs home for their sisters. What's more, aside from these little brats, there's also Brother Yun from Eldest Brother's side as well as Brother Yue from Second Sister's side. Hehe, with so many monkeys around, if something were to happen, do you think I could ever atone for it even with death?"
Brother Yun was Jin Zhenyun, Jin Pengzhan's son. Since they all stayed at the main estate, Old Madam Jin had been looking out for them. With such an exciting thing happening, Jin Fengju could not just take care of his own many sons and neglect the nephews around the same age, lest he be accused of showing favours.
By the time he was done washing up, Jian Feng had arrived with bowls of congee as well as a selection of side dishes. Jin Fengju elegantly ate his breakfast in a hurry before saying, "I will go to court now. Send someone for Brother Yun and Brother Yue later. Once I am done with court, I shall send a representative to escort everyone."
Fu Qiuning nodded as she helped him into an autumn-coloured velvet cloak. After he left, she had Jian Feng prepare extra congee for the children since they had more children over.
[2a] Once breakfast was over, it was time to break the news. For a moment, Fu Qiuning cursed Jin Fengju in her mind for misleading the girls like that and leaving her to break the news to these poor girls.
[2a] "Mother? Is something the matter?" asked the ever-sensitive Jin Changfeng.
[2a] "There is… a small matter," said Fu Qiuning. The children all tensed. Jin Zhenyi had that stubborn mutinous look on his face again.
[2a] "Are we still going?" Jin Changjiao asked anxiously. She had been very excited the night before and was awake even before her brother.
[2a] "It has been decided that some of you will go, while some of you will stay back," said Fu Qiuning. She allowed the children (Jiao'er and Zhenyi mainly) to wail and cry out for a moment. Jin Zhenxuan's slightly animated little face took on its usual gloomy countenance again.
[2a] "Now, now," said Fu Qiuning. "I worked hard to negotiate this with your father over this, but with so many strangers at the location, there is no way to guarantee everyone's safety. Therefore… only the boys will go."
[2a] Even as Jin Zhenyi's hearty cheer echoed through the room, Jin Changjiao's wail of despair shook the rafters. The other girls were… there was this dumb look of apathetic resignation on their faces that made Fu Qiuning very uncomfortable. Girls in this patriarchal era must have suffered a lot, having to give way to their brothers on everything.
[2a] When the cheering and wailing subsided a little, Fu Qiuning said, "However, since your sisters have to stay back for your sake, as brothers, you must compensate them."
[2a] The children looked at each other in bewilderment. Compensate? Compensate what?
[2a] Jin Changfeng stepped forward. Instead of speaking to his mother, he said to Jin Changjiao, "Sister, I know that you must be looking forward to this, how about I exchange places with you…"
[2a] "No! You must be looking forward to this too!" Jin Changjiao cried. "No, it's, it's fine. Didn't Mother say that there will be lots of stalls at the palace? Buy something nice for me."
[2a] "Of course," said Jin Changfeng, "I'll buy you something nice with my own money."
[2a] "Me, me too!" Jin Zhenyi said loudly. "I'll buy you something, Sister!"
[2a] Jin Xiunan, whose expression had stiffened earlier, relaxed into a small smile.
[2a] Jin Zhenxuan said nothing, but he grasped Jin Xiuzhen's hand tightly.
[2a] The other two girls who had no brothers with them, held each other's hand and kept their eyes down. Fu Qiuning swept her gaze over the children twice before saying, "This is a rare and special occasion for all of you. Young masters, all the young misses here are your sisters, yes? As proper brothers, shouldn't you bring souvenirs for all your sisters?"
[2a] "This…" Jin Zhenxuan started.
[2a] However, he was interrupted by Jin Zhenyi's enthusiastic, "Yes! Of course! Mother is right!" Jin Zhenyi then beamed at Jin Changjiao, "I'll buy you something good to eat!"
[2a] Jin Changjiao exchanged a quick glance with Jin Xiunan before quickly declaring, "What? Am I your only sister?"
[2a] "Of course, I'll buy something for my other sisters too!"
Soon, the noise devolved into happy chatter as the sisters got together to talk about what they wanted their brothers to buy for them.
Seeing the slightly chaotic scene, Fu Qiuning sighed a private sigh of relief.
Before she could fully relax, a maid called from the outside, "Eldest Madam is here." Fu Qiuning got to her feet and saw He'shi enter with Jin Zhenyue.
He'shi smiled and said, "When Second Master informed us yesterday that he would be taking Brother Yue to Lingji Palace today, the boy was so excited that he could hardly sleep a wink all night. Yo, everyone's here. Looks like they have all gathered here thanks to Second Master's announcement. Yi? Let me see, looks like nearly everyone is here. Tsk, tsk, and Brother Feng is now taking charge of everyone like the serious leader he is, how admirable."
Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "The boys are taking some souvenir orders from their sisters. Since the girls could not go, as brothers, they should bring something back for their sisters. How about asking your girl if she would like something for later?"
He'shi laughed and said, "No need, no need, I believe your boy has collected quite the comprehensive list." She turned to Jin Zhenyue and said, "You take a look at Brother Feng'er's list and pick out some things that your brother and sister may like. They are still young and easily pleased, so you should have an easy time of it."
[3] Fu Qiuning was not quite sure what to make of this He'shi's dismissive behaviour and weird insinuations. Was she trying to imply something? Who knows? However, Fu Qiuning could not be bothered to allocate too many brain cells to this matter. If she grew paranoid at every weird insinuation, life would become very difficult.
Later, Concubine Han from Jin Pengzhan's household also arrived with Jin Zhenyun. Fu Qiuning barely saw all these random sisters-in-law except at Old Madam Jin's place. Even then, they mostly just exchanged greetings and sat around to laugh together at Old Madam Jin's jokes. Aside from the odd jab or two, there were no serious harem intrigue actions from them. Not to mention, since she usually avoids giving her salutations whenever she could help it, it was rare for her to meet with them.
Concubine Han smiled and said, "Look how thin your face is. You must have worked so hard. That Fengju really doesn't know how to properly take care of you."
Naturally, Fu Qiuning gave an obligatory trill of laughter at this joke before inquiring whether Han'shi and He'shi had breakfast yet. When they answered in the affirmative, she had the kitchen send in several plates of light snacks, ostensibly for the ladies, but they were mostly eaten by the children.
A short while later, Jin Ming called, "Madam, the Master has reached the gate. This servant is here to escort the young masters to the carriage."
"The carriage? Can't we all ride our horses there?" Jin Zhenyi muttered.
Fu Qiuning resisted the urge to knock the child on the head, "And what of your servants and attendants? You can ride a horse wherever you want once you've reached thirteen years old. Take the carriage or stay home."
Naturally, Jin Zhenyi chose to take the carriage. He properly got into a carriage with his other brothers. Once the children left, Concubine Han and [4] He'shi stayed a little longer to chat. He'shi laughed and said, "Brother Yi has become a lot more sensible after coming to sister-in-law's place. Otherwise, who knows what kind of tantrum he would have thrown just to have his way."
Fu Qiuning smiled politely back and said, "A mother's love is depthless. Otherwise, the saying that a mother spoils their child would not exist."
At this time, Yu'shi and Luo'shi also appeared to chat with the other ladies for a while. After a lively chatter with light jabs scattered through the laughter, He'shi and Concubine Han finally left. After a while, Fu Qiuning accompanied her mother to Health & Longevity Court for a little chat to remind Elder Madam of Yu'shi's existence before leaving for the Jin Estate next door where the performers were working on some final preparations for the Celestial Couple.
Official Lin enthusiastically said, "Madam, the preparations are all done. We are only waiting to perform this much anticipated Celestial Couple. This opera will definitely be a great favourite and beat all the competition!"
On the makeshift stage in the garden, dancers and musicians swayed and fluttered according to the music in their practice costumes. Fu Qiuning watched them for a while and said, "I have done my best. Official Lin has done your best as well, along with all the dancers, singers and costume makers involved in this opera. [5]"
[5] Indeed, as the saying goes, '10 years of hard work just to perform 10 minutes on stage' proves to be true here as well. She had taught them her skills, and guided them whenever she could, but had mostly allowed them to grow the opera on their own terms. The protagonist of the Celestial Couple was a rare talent. Fu Qiuning had enough talent to know that this girl surpassed her in terms of singing, dancing and performance. If she had existed in the modern world, she would probably be known as a great star. [5a] Fu Qiuning had no idea how singers and dancers were treated there, but if possible, she would like to be the patron of these promising girls and support them in their art.
Official Lin was very pleased and proud to hear Fu Qiuning praise the performers and musicians. She nodded and said, "The girls on this stage are all carefully chosen by the Imperial Cultural Studies Department. All of them have top-notch singing and dancing skills. However, I think those musicians are even more amazing! To think that they could compose such complex music based on Madam's singing alone is too incredible!"
"Isn't it so? They must be commended for their skills," Fu Qiuning agreed. The musicians to the left and right of the stage had reconstructed the music based on the melody of her singing and managed to create something that was similar to Huangmei Opera, yet wholly theirs. It was at once a thrilling, yet humbling experience for her to be a part of this opera.
"Madam is such a great genius. What a pity that we can no longer get along with Madam day and night once the All Nations Cultural Festival is over," sighed Official Lin. She coughed and forced a smile, "Look at what I'm saying! How could such depressing words pass through my lips at such a time? Who knows, maybe the Emperor and Empress Dowager would ask us to perform again, with Madam as the guest of honour. Who can say for sure, right?"
Official Lin looked like she was genuinely disappointed about not being able to see Fu Qiuning again. She thought for a moment and smiled, "I fear that Official Lin may one day be sick and tired of seeing my face. The Empress Dowager had expressly ordered me to create more of these operas and I have foolishly complied. In the future, I shall have to trouble Official Lin again. We may have no choice but to work together for a long time."
Official Lin looked stunned.
It took her a few moments to digest the news, and when that finally happened, she sprang to her feet to grab Fu Qiuning's hands, having completely forgotten all about status and propriety. "Truly? Is this true? Madam will continue to guide us in the future? Heavens, ah. This… this is too excellent! I, but of course, how could I be so foolish? If Madam is a genius who could craft one excellent opera, of course, she could craft even more! Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is such a great lover of operas that she would of course wish to hear more of it! Goodness, Madam, ah… this… this is so very excellent!"
Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "Don't be too happy just yet. We still have to get through the All Nations Cultural Festival. Not to mention, this place belongs to the Second Old Master's family. It is not like we could just stay here and not let them move in, right? When the time comes, who knows where we shall practise?"
Official Lin smiled and said, "Once the All Nations Cultural Festival is over, Huangmei Opera will become very popular all over the country, which means we no longer have to practice in secret. I believe the Emperor will grant us a special location just for the development of the opera. However, if it is situated within the palace, it does not seem right to make Madam rush back and forth all the time."
Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "This can all be discussed later. There is no need to overthink it now."
Even so, Official Lin was already incredibly ecstatic at being in charge of this first Huangmei Opera project, which would not only be popular with the masses, but also launch her career and solidify her position within the palace. To hear that this beloved Madam would have even more operas hidden away, she became almost dazed with ecstasy. For a moment, she stood in place, staring at her own bright future before hastily smiling and changing the topic for everyone's sake.
Let us speak of Jin Fengju's side.
He had just entered Lingji Palace with his sons and nephews. The Lingji Palace was once a Taoist temple built solely for the imperial family. Later, when it was struck by lightning, the Emperor ordered the temple to be moved elsewhere. Still, since the location was left open, he had builders and craftsmen construct a building which now housed the main hall for the All Nations Cultural Festival. To show off the majesty of his great nation, the building was resplendent with intricate murals and gorgeously carved beams and pillars.
[1] The actual structure was a four-storey tall, circular building with three sides meant for the audience facing the stage. From the second floor onwards, there were no installed seats. Instead, there were tables and chairs meant noble clans to sit with their families in small groups. Only the first floor had installed chairs meant for rich merchants. Below the installed chairs were plain steps that led down to the pit of the building. Ordinary commoners were expected to sit on the steps if they were lucky enough, but most would just sit on the floor and crane their necks to watch the show. The floor and steps alone could accommodate a thousand people.
Depending on their abilities, some might even cling to walls and rafters for a better view. However, since the Emperor would be present, order had to be strictly kept. At every All Nations Cultural Festival, screening the commoners alone required great effort.
Jin Fengju glanced around the Lingji Palace once. The place had been swept clean. It was currently fairly quiet since the excitement was all happening outside. He turned to the guards next to him and said, "Yang Ming, take a few guards with you and take the children around for a bit. Let them have a little fun and buy whatever they want, so long as it is not too excessive. Make sure to keep an eye on them and not let anyone be separated."
Although it was a tough job, how could Yang Ming complain? He saluted with cupped hands and said, "Please be at ease, Young Marquis. This subordinate shall protect the young masters with my life."
As soon as he was done speaking, Jin Fengju shook his head, saying, "No need to be so serious. What 'to the death'? In this land of great peace and prosperity, I don't believe that a reckless scoundrel like that would actually appear. If they did, it must be heaven's way of allowing all of you to gain merit."
Yang Ming and the rest of the guards laughed heartily at their superior's joke. Once they were done laughing, the guards split themselves up, leaving a few with Jin Fengju while the rest of the dozen-plus guards left Lingji Palace with Jin Changfeng, Jin Zhenyi and the others.
The guards led the young masters to the [2] side of the Lingji building to an area that was so flat that a horse could gallop across it without problem. Only, it could not have done so today because the flat land was now covered in booths of all kinds. There were booths selling food, toys, jewellery, rouge and more. There were even booths with artists painting a sitter's likeness and booths with scholars telling stories situated next to booths where musicians strummed their instruments.
In short, it was all very vibrant and exciting. The children had never really been out of the estate before. When faced with such a great variety of wonderful things to see, they did not know where to start looking first. Suddenly, Jin Zhenyi spotted a booth where pieces of fried dough were turning golden brown in a large vat of oil, and he said, "I've tried these before, it's made from glutinous rice! It has sesame seeds on the outside and a sweet filling, very sweet and fragrant, different from the ones we have at home." After that, he ran off. Two guards hurried after him. Not long after that, [1a] Jin Zhenyi returned to their group with two large paper bags.
After handing out the fried dough to his brothers, Jin Zhenyi took a large bite of his Sesame Dough Ball and hissed from the heat. He exclaimed, "This is really good, eat them quickly. If we all like it, let's get some for our sisters."
Naturally, the ingredients used for the food outside of their mansion could never be compared, but the atmosphere of festivity made whatever they were eating even more delicious. Not to mention, although it was the same type of food, dishes cooked by different people rarely tasted the same. Therefore, these pampered young masters enjoyed themselves a lot as they squeezed over to buy more from the fried dough stall and bought two paper bags of Sesame Dough Balls for their younger siblings. These were handed over to the servants to hold while the young masters continued to explore the fair.
There were all kinds of food stalls along the way selling things like Fried Stinky Tofu, Fried Meatballs, Fried Dough Twist, Pan-fried Buns [3], Hand-pulled Noodles, Red Bean Cakes and more. As the boys explored the stalls, their little bellies bulged from having eaten too much, regretting that they had eaten too well that morning and could not eat more. Jin Ming and the rest of the junior servants worked hard to advise their little masters, trying their best to persuade them not to eat more, but subtly.
To avoid missing out, the boys begin buying whatever food they would have liked to try, but could not eat at the moment, causing the servants trailing after them to juggle more and more packages. It wasn't until Jin Ming hurriedly returned with more spare coins for the boys to keep shopping that he produced some large cloth bags from his person with a smile, saying, [2a] "Goodness, I have forgotten that Second Madam Ning gave these to me before leaving. Here, let us place the shopping here." The junior servants quickly coordinated the items in their arms to place the heavier stuff at the bottom of the bags and carefully arranged the fried dough items at the top. In fact, two servants were designated to carry the delicate, but not quite valuable things while the rest lug their goods after the young masters.
The boys eventually reached the area where rouge and powder stalls were manned by fragrant and dolled-up women who smiled from behind the stalls. The boys knew enough about rouge and powders to realise that the ones sold at the stalls were vastly inferior to the ones their sisters had, even the concubine-born sisters had better powders and things, so they ended up not buying anything. Instead, they headed towards stalls selling craft items: Baskets in different shapes and sizes, tree root carvings of Buddha, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea as well as brush holders with novel and interestingly carved patterns, hand-stoves made from clay, clay figurines, candy figurines and more. When the young masters finally stopped shopping, it was getting dark and they headed towards Lingji Palace with great satisfaction.
[2a] Luckily, Jin Ming was savvy enough to have some servants move the heavier items to the carriage quickly, or the junior servants would have been even more overburdened. As it was, when the boys finally met with Jin Fengju, the servants were still carrying all kinds of items in their arms behind their young masters. The snacks in particular were not moved to the carriage in case the young masters wanted to eat them.
Jin Fengju was startled by the amount of things carried by the servants as well as the boys. [4] Jin Zhenyi looked fatter for one thing, clearly having stuffed his pockets full of unknown treasures while Jin Changfeng had a small cloth bag in hand. At the sight of them, Jin Fengju laughed and half-cursed, "This is all Qiuning's doing. She is too soft-hearted and must have given you money seeing that this is your first trip outside. Otherwise, where would you find the money for all of these?"
[4a] Jin Changfeng and Jin Zhenyi exchanged a look. Then, they glanced at their cousins and brothers. Mother only gave the two of them money, not the rest. So why is this cheap dad going on and on about Mother giving 'all of us' money?
Finally, Jin Zhenyi said, "We bought some things for our sisters since they couldn't come."
[4b] Jin Fengju beamed and said, "Qiuning is such a kind-hearted person, to think of your sisters in their absence."
[4b] All the boys smiled reflexively at that. It would not do to offend the person who brought them out for this trip, so they should just smile and nod. Just then, Jin Ming spoke up, "The young masters also gave copper coins to the beggars they encountered."
[4b] "Oh?" said Jin Fengju with a slight frown, [2b] wondering how on earth beggars got into the palace in the first place and his sons being near those dirty people.
[4b] "… Mother said it is good for accumulating good karma," said Jin Changfeng.
"I see!" all thoughts of how dirty beggars happened to be inside the palace disappeared at the mention of Fu Qiuning. "To think that Qiuning even considered this. Well, you may give your things to the servants. They will send them back to the estate for you first."
Jin Zhenyi clutched at the things he had hidden in his chest, looking a little panicked. This amused Jin Fengju so much that he aimed a kick at the boy and said, "Don't bother crying. If you are well-behaved, I shall take you for the Autumn Hunt."
This obviously cheered Jin Zhenyi up.
[5] Jin Fengju felt very proud of himself. He thought: I may employ a thousand tricks before Fu Qiuning, but in front of my sons, I am a strict and just father. Otherwise, that in Zhenyi would not be so afraid of me.
Jin Changfeng watched their antics from the side, not feeling much of anything. No matter what happened, Mother was his true benefactor, and his actions reflected her will. As for the other children, they all felt that this father/uncle of theirs was a little different that day and were unsure what to make of it.
After the day's excitement, the boys returned home to find that Fu Qiuning was not at Elegant Mansion. The children adjourned to Old Madam's place, reuniting with their sisters and chattered about their experience during the day. The servant boys brought in their merchandise and the siblings and cousins shared out the goods they had bought. The girls happily accepted cloth bags filled with things their brothers and cousins bought for them.
It had been a long time since Old Madam Jin experienced such liveliness in her halls. She was so happy that her lips stretched from ear to ear. Jiang Wanying, Huo'shi and the rest of the ladies kept making jokes and clever remarks, causing the entire hall to fairly shimmer with delighted cheers.
In the midst of this sparkling atmosphere, a servant called, "Second Madam Ning has arrived!"
The door curtain parted and Fu Qiuning walked in. [1b] Old Madam Jin laughed and said, "You must have hurried over, even forgoing taking your customary nap. Are you here to see what good things your sons bought for their sisters?"
Everyone laughed.
Encouraged by the reaction, Old Madam Jin continued, "The children came here just to make me happy. I trust that you won't fault them for it? That's right, tomorrow is the All Nations Cultural Festival, so everyone should go back quickly and get themselves ready. This is a once-every-three-year treat, a rare and special event. Our family must look their best for the Festival. No need to come here for dinner, I still need to have Luo Cui help me tidy up here."
With the Old Madam's permission, everyone left. Naturally, Old Madam Jin had Fu Qiuning stay back so that she could question her more about the Huangmei Opera. She smiled and said, "I intended to enter the palace last time, but was thwarted by a stomachache. How my heart had flown out to be there, ah. After that, I could only suppress my wishes and wait to watch the whole show with others."
Fu Qiuning nodded with a sympathetic look on her face and some basic pleasantries. Old Madam chattered on a bit more before finally sending Fu Qiuning and the four children away.
On the way to Elegant Mansion, Jin Zhenyi hopped forward to say with a smile, "Mother, we all bought something for our sisters and female cousins. I even bought something for you, but they were snatched away by the girls. I swear, they are all so excited…"
Jin Changfeng coughed pointedly, hinting for Jin Zhenyi to shut up, but the child did not get the hint. Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "That's fine, so long as you bought things for your sisters and other siblings. Oh, and if you happen to buy something for Concubine Xu, be sure to set it aside. We can have someone send it over to the farmstead later. [6]"
[6] Jin Zhenyi ducked his head. He felt like… he had been kicked in the legs by Fu Qiuning's words. It hurt, but at the same time, felt good as well. Unlike that time when Jin Fengju had kicked him, he felt oddly subdued but grateful at the same time. He tried to think of something smart to say, but all that came out of his mouth was:
"Yes, Mother."
"Concubine Xu has a good eye for people," said Fu Qiuning as she handed the account books back to Bai Lu. [a] "You have managed these properties very well. However, I noticed have some trouble with the people?"
Bai Lu smiled and replied, "It is just some petty greed. Madam Concubine indulged them a little too much in the past. This maid made used Madam Concubine's current situation as an excuse to knock them around a bit. It is best for everyone if the property shows a little more profit."
"I see that you know your way around words. Continue to manage these properties. [a] As for the rest of you, go and bath and change your clothes. It should be dinner time soon."
"Wait!" Jin Zhenyi hopped up. "Mother, I- we bought something for you! Look, I, er, just forgot earlier."
He blushed, scuffing his foot on the floor as his brother and sisters laughed behind their hands.
Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "Well now, I'm glad to hear it. What did you buy for me?"
[b] "That's right, show us! I want to see it too!" said Jin Changjiao. Jin Xiunan nodded beside her.
Jin Zhenyi and Jin Changfeng ran outside and soon, a few of the junior male servants entered carrying all kinds of exquisitely crafted porcelain flower pots. Every one of them was not large at all. Some were fan-shaped, some round, and others oval. All were adorned with intricate depictions of flowers, birds, and landscapes, making them exceptionally beautiful.
"When I saw these, I thought of Mother," said Jin Changfeng.
"I don't know why you think Mother would like them, but he insisted," Jin Zhenyi sniffed. "I guess some of them are pretty enough even though we can't plant anything in them."
Fu Qiuning was genuinely surprised and delighted. These little flower pots were similar to those she had seen at flower, bird and fish markets [c] from her previous life. Although they were small, the exquisite craftsmanship set them apart. Just by planting a single cactus or some small leafy plant and placing these on a table would turn them into charming additions. Though these porcelain were fired in common kilns, they were nevertheless more exquisite than their modern-day counterparts.
The look of joy on Fu Qiuning's face was enough to make Jin Changfeng and Jin Zhenyi happy. [a] She smiled at them and said, "Who told you we cannot plant things in them? These little pots are already pretty enough by themselves, but when planted with simple little plants, their true charm would be brought out. Naturally, plants like Chrysanthemums cannot live in shallow pots like these, but tiny fragrant herbs would make themselves right at home here."
It was at that moment that Jin Fengju entered the room with a laugh to say, "I heard voices from the courtyard. What is making you so happy?" When he noticed the various small flowerpots, and more importantly, Fu Qiuning's joyful expression, he nodded at the children and sighed dramatically, "At least your mother did not waste her worries over you. To be filial to your mother is the right thing to do. When you grow up, you will realise just how much she has done for you."
[b1] The children exchanged a look with each other before saluting their father respectfully. Privately, they thought: We don't have to wait until we grow up to know how much Mother had done for us, we also know how much you have done for us.
[b1] Having done his duty in showing care for his offspring, Jin Fengju waved for the children to leave. He wanted to spend more time with Fu Qiuning and the little brats were just in the way. Once the children had filed out of the room, he quickly sat next to Fu Qiuning and beamed at her, asking all kinds of questions about the preparations for the Huangmei opera.
Fu Qiuning truthfully answered that everything was in order and received a wide beam as Jin Fengju said, "Tomorrow, I shall go to the palace and escort the Emperor and Empress Dowager to Lingji Palace. Eldest Brother is expected to return tonight and he shall arrange matters for Old Madam and the rest of the ladies."
'Eldest Brother' here was Jin Luanfeng, his cousin and the son of Jin Shi. He referred to his own older brother, Jin Luanfeng, as 'Elder Brother'.
The rest of the night passed without anything new to be added.
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Early the next morning, Jin Fengju set off for the palace. Jin Luanfeng, who had rushed home just the night before, had no time to rest. A busy morning later, the Duke of Jing's estate saw 20 to 30 carriages lining up in a single file just outside the gates. The sight was truly spectacular.
Various maids and matrons came out first with bundles in their arms as they got onto the carriages in the back. Later, the masters came out in a procession, with Old Madam Jin, Madam Jiang and Madam Fang being carried out ceremoniously on palanquins to the largest and grandest carriage right at the very front.
Since the day was expected to be exciting, the streets were already packed with people. However, when the commoners saw [a2] the glittering line of carriages coming through, who on earth would dare obstruct their way? Not everyone knew who was in those carriages, but from the grand procession, it was clearly not someone ordinary folk could offend. The people scattered in the wake of the long line of carriages, they whispered excitedly at each other, and wondered just which household would be so ostentatious.
The procession arrived at Lingji Palace to find that many people had already gathered there. This time, thanks to Fu Qiuning's [a3] contribution, women were allowed to sit closer to the Empress Dowager, while the men accompanied the Emperor and sat according to their respective statuses and ranks. Around 9 o'clock in the morning, the performance began with the sounds of gongs and drums, and the curtains of the All Nations Cultural Festival slowly parted.
As the host country, the Great Ning's Celestial Couple was scheduled as the final act. The opening act, as well as all subsequent performances from various countries, were chosen by the Great Ning Dynasty. Naturally, the acts were all very dazzling and awe-inspiring, leaving the audience spellbound.
There were remarkable horseback stunts from the grassland countries, rudimentary magic tricks from overseas nations, astonishing acrobatics from a small southern state, and a variety of peculiar opera and dance performances. The overwhelming variety of performances left the audience bewildered and captivated.
The performances continued all the way until dusk, and the day's program concluded with a total of seventy-six countries participating. On the way back, the streets were filled with excited crowds and loud discussions. The atmosphere could be said to be nothing short of bustling.
After finally escorting Old Madam Jin back to her courtyard, Fu Qiuning had to stay with her and participate in the chatter on the day's happenings before everyone was finally allowed to return to their own courtyards. Fu Qiuning reached the gate of Elegant Mansion with the children, Yu'shi, Luo'shi and Jin Yanfang as well as a few others.
She turned to Jin Yanfang with a smile and said, "Will Younger Sister come and sit for a while? I will have the junior maids prepare some snacks for you. I believe dinner will also not be served this early since there are many servants who asked for leave to enjoy the festivities."
Jin Yanfang smiled and exclaimed, "No, no, no. I simply do not have your energy, sister-in-law. Right now, my waist and back are aching, especially after sitting for so long. Let me return to Pillow Moon Pavilion to relax." As she led the Feng sisters and her two children to bid farewell, Fu Qiuning watched them leave, thinking: Waist and back aching after sitting for too long? Aren't you ancient ladies champions at sitting around doing embroidery, scheming and looking pretty? Whatever, ever since Jin Fengju had messed with the Feng Sisters a few weeks before, Jin Yanfang has suddenly become a lot less sociable. Before this, she would find every reason to sit at my place, yet nowadays, it is the opposite. Whatever, not my problem, let's consider this a blessing.
Fu Qiuning led her entourage into the Elegant Mansion with many thoughts occupying her mind. Yu'shi, Luo'shi and the rest of the ladies, including Jian Feng and Yu Jie, excused themselves to rest. As for the children, all four of them ran to Jin Changfeng's room to chatter with each other on the kang bed about the day's adventure. [a4] Fu Qiuning walked past the room to smile at the warm atmosphere within before heading to the back garden to sit and reflect on life.
As dusk approached, right as Jian Feng had just received a message that dinner would be served soon, Jin Fengju entered and, upon seeing Fu Qiuning's maid, he smiled and asked, "Where is your Madam? Is she too tired to get up?"
Jian Feng smiled and replied, "Master underestimates our Madam. At this moment, she is more excited than anyone else. Luo'shi and Yu'shi are utterly exhausted, and the young masters and young mistresses have all gone for a nap. She does not have a single person to talk to as we maids are still ever so busy. She is probably relishing the experience on her own right now. Madam said the All Nations Cultural Festival is incredibly fascinating and that she wants to attend again tomorrow."
"She wants to go tomorrow as well?" Jin Fengju exclaimed, then shook his head and smiled, "She is really full of energy. I kept saying how exhausted she must be after this whole day, but who knew that she would still be so spirited? If you do not believe me, just keep watching, the people going to the Festival tomorrow will be less than half."
"How could that be? With such wonderful performances, surely the seats would be full every day?" [d] said Jian Feng.
Jin Fengju laughed and shook his head, saying, "I just came from Health & Longevity Court. The Old Madam, the Elder Madam, Second Elder Madam, Aunt and the others said that they would not be going tomorrow, and would only go the day after tomorrow to watch Celestial Couple. They are all too exhausted to move. Only some of the young maids might still want to go. If your Madam does not mind being tired, she can take them with her tomorrow." [a5]
Jian Feng laughed and said, "If Madam still wants to go tomorrow, I shall ask her to bring all the young maids from the courtyard. Yu Jie and I will not be going. Our legs have turned into jelly from standing all day. If the young maids enjoy standing around, then let them stand there."
Jin Fengju laughed and replied, "Pei, you still have the face to say that your legs turned to jelly after standing for a day. If others heard this, they would think that you have been living as a Young Miss at Elegant Mansion. It was just standing around for a few hours."
Jian Feng laughed in reply, "Master, don't rush to rebuke me. If you don't believe me, just watch, how many maids will be able to endure it tomorrow? Most of them will probably be young maids, only looking forward to watching the day's excitement."
After listening to their playful banter for a while, [e] Fu Qiuning removed herself from the bench where she had tucked herself in to decompress from the day's event. She smiled mockingly to herself: no wonder the esteemed Young Master of the Jin Clan was so popular. He probably flirts on reflex with all women just like that. Well, none of my business who the Young Marquis flirts with. Maybe Jian Feng can do me a favour and capture his attention a little.
Leaving the two to chatter enthusiastically together, she made her way to Jin Changfeng's room and found that the children had slept in a pile on one kang bed. She smiled and shook them awake, noting that Jin Zhenyi had a trail of drool creeping down one side of his chin. It was almost time for the evening meal by then, they could all sleep after eating and changing their clothes.
The next day, as Jin Fengju predicted, there were significantly fewer people at the Festival. Fu Qiuning collected the children who turned up at Elegant Mansion along with the four staying with her and made their way in several carriages to Lingji Palace. Nearly all of Jin Fengju's children were there, aside from Jin Xiuru who sent word that her stomach was not feeling well. Jiang Wanying, Huo'shi and all the mothers claimed fatigue and entrusted their children to her.
"In my past life, they used to call me King of Children [f]. As a teacher of traditional arts, people would naturally associate me with the teacher who had been unexpectedly yanked from his fields to teach in a classroom. Well, I have been yanked from my comfortable, if hard life tiling fields at Night Breeze Pavilion into taking care of my husband's children born from other women… goodness, I'm basically a teacher leading a field trip again…