Jiao Sheng relaxed. He thought it would be something huge, like causing some merchant to lose money by some unimaginable mischief and wanting him to pay them back.
It was just an extra head, the Jiao Mansion could comfortably accommodate one more person for the banquet.
"Aye, does my daughter think that her father is so poor that he can't feed an extra person?"
Jiao Qingxiao heaved a sigh of relief. While in her mind, she still wondered how her father would react had he known this extra person was none other than the infamous third prince.
"I will leave then father." Jiao Qingxiao hurriedly ran away. She would have surely blurted out something and gave away the truth if she stayed a while longer facing her father.
She squinted up at the sky, then held her hand out to measure the sun's height like Old Uncle Ming always did — two fingers above the roof tiles meant it was still early in chén-shi.
Her tutor won't arrive until at least before early wu shi. She walked towards grandmother's courtyard. She would really like to pay Xiao Cui a visit and if possible take her away to her own chamber.
Jiao Mei hurriedly walked towards the young miss. She couldn't help but worry about this new change in her miss's temperament. The usual troublemaking miss of hers all of a sudden is now much more filial, visiting the old madam right away in the morning, and yet much less cautious about outsiders.
"Eldest daughter in law greets you mother" The eldest wife spoke calmly maintaining her usual elegant mannerisms handing over the polished wooden tray, each item on it precisely arranged — a small bowl of millet congee steamed gently beside a side dish of pickled plums, while a lidded porcelain cup held warm lotus seed soup.
"Today, let Second Brother's wife attend to Mother." Madam Hua spoke calmly, much to the third madam's annoyance.
Who doesn't know the Xi Family has influence, but to let the second one ride over her head all for this? Does she even know shame? She stomped her feet in her mind.
The old madam looked satisfied with the three young daughter-in-laws fighting among themselves to appease her. She slowly had her food as the first wife of his second son served her.
She turned her face sideways to look at the new concubine standing at the side her youngest had recently married. Not bad, her face was good. The third son was the only one yet to have any heir. She didn't know if it was because he turned unlucky with his choice of wives or because her son had some faults.
"Namo Amitava Buddha" She recited quietly in her heart. Her fingers lightly pressed against the sleeve of her robe, almost as if to steady herself. With a lowered gaze, she forced herself to look at the table instead, her expression remaining placid, though the worry in her chest continued to grow.
When Jiao Qingxiao arrived, she felt a bit awkward looking at her mother standing at a corner elegantly with her aunts having complicated expressions on their face as they served her grandmother.
In her last life, how many times had she witnessed this same scene? She couldn't help but shake her head at their inner shrewish calculations, and was satisfied with her mother not being alike.
It was only when she had married, standing in front of the empress dowager serving tea, the thinly veiled sharp words made her calculative. Not like the calculations helped her a whole lot in the end. But to survive in the palace even for the short span of time that she did one had to lose all their sense of internal values and morals.
Standing right now, she felt nothing but pity for the womenfolk having to act in that manner to curry her grandmother's favor. At the same time she felt great reverence for her mother who managed to keep her position intact for years, regardless of grandmother trying to push father to marry in another concubine.
She wondered if it was even the right time to ask grandmother for Xiao Cui, especially since she couldn't spot the clingy creature anywhere in the scene.
"Aye xiao Qing, quick, quick, come greet your new aunty." Third uncle's main wife called her, hoping for the new pretty face to not be noticed by the old madam.
Has she not seen this before? Anytime a new younger pretty one arrives, this meddling old lady always sends her son to that vixen's bedchamber every night. The last year has been relatively peaceful.
He was also getting older, she thought by now, he would finally be more restful, instead of being so impulsive. Did he think the money to keep his long list of concubines came out of nowhere? The treasury was running empty. First brother didn't even accept any gifts from the princes or noble households. At the end of the day she would be the one getting blamed by this old madam.
The old lady finally looked up. This granddaughter of hers had always been her favourite. With the second one's both daughters married away this was the only one of the youngest generation in this residence except the ones born from the concubines and handmaidens.
"Come come." She quickly gestured with her hand.
Jiao Qingxiao walked towards grandma, with just the right posture, and steps not too anxious , not too slow. Half-kneeling in front of her she spoke, "This granddaughter greets grandma. May you live long and feel no chill in your bones today. Forgive this granddaughter for having been disobedient before."
"Rise, rise." Old madam held her up quickly with her hands supporting her.
Great, great, amitava has finally listened to her prayers. This child finally had the air of a noble born child. If not now, she was afraid she won't be able to find a good groom for her anytime soon.
Even the second noble lady had to pause her train of thoughts and have a look at Jiao Qingxiao.