Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Xian Yi just glanced at her, and she knew that the woman in front of her was a lady from a noble family. She had the same demeanor as a madam, with the same expression, and the same elegant speech. The ladies from noble families were like they were measured by a ruler, proper on the surface, gentle, and refined in their words, even the curve of their smile seemed to be unchanged. Only those who had been in contact with such education since childhood would know that when looking at these ladies' emotions, one couldn't look at their mouth, only at their eyes and eyebrows, because they would never have any improper expressions outside. They represented the upbringing and status of their natal family.

  In the state of Pei, a commoner's wife is generally called "niangzi", and as she gets older, she is usually referred to as "someone's auntie" or "old lady". However, if her husband has achieved official rank, the way she is addressed will naturally change. When young, she is usually called "xiucai niangzi" (scholar's wife) or "juren niangzi" (government official's wife), but once she has children and her husband becomes a "laoye" (old master), she must be referred to as "taitai". In the state of Pei, only families with official rank or government positions can use the title "taitai", and if they want to further address her as "furen" (madam), they must have a noble title. The noble titles in this time period also start from the ninth rank, but those who actually receive noble titles are mostly high-ranking officials in the capital or above the sixth rank. For example, the great madam of the Jin family was only able to receive imperial recognition and become a noble because her husband was promoted to the fifth rank.

  Although the Heng City Jin family was dormant during the previous emperor's reign, San Lao Taigong still held a military position as a general, and even Zhu Shi's husband had a military post. However, these positions were all nominal, so Zhu Shi was only a lady, not a madam. The first lady of the Heng City Jin family was also the same way. Even if the old master was posthumously awarded a noble title after his death, the next generation could not inherit it. At most, the old mistress could be called a madam, but once she died, the title would disappear as well. It's no wonder that the Jin family wanted to curry favor with the imperial court and win over officials, because if they didn't rise again, in just two generations, the Heng City Jin family would be no different from an ordinary wealthy family.

  "Mrs. Jin is doing well." Although her husband has not returned, and everyone knows that the matter of inheritance is settled, after all, the documents are not in hand, if Xian Yi really called out according to her own family, it would be hard to avoid making people feel that she is eager for quick success and seeking personal gain.

  Madam Zhu nodded secretly and smiled: "Miss Jin is too polite, it's clearly us passing by this place disturbing you, yet you still came to the second door to welcome us."

  "Where is the guest, Second Master is a senior, this should be." Xian Yi smiled with her eyes downcast, this sentence was not wrong whether it was said outside about their age or in a deeper sense that Jin Feng Hua had become someone's nephew, neither distant nor overly flattering.

  Zhu listened with a pleased expression and took Xianyi's hand, saying: "Hua Ge is indeed a lucky person."

  The fairy's clothes were not good at answering, so she had to pretend to be shy and lower her head.

  The host and guest sat down, Xian Yi was junior sitting below, Zhu Shi poured tea a moment, to some unexpected, cup tea leaves sharp, with fluff, tea water clear transparent light green, drink a mouth first astringent then sweet, turned out to be this year's tribute tea one kind, said this tea grows in the south high mountain peaks between, a year can get the number is not much, except for tribute to the imperial city top grade, next level in today's world also value not cheap, she still last time in Beijing relatives home taste over, did not think since in this place re-temperature once, it seems Jin Fenghua also does not like her initial imagination ordinary with some talent illegitimate child.

  "When I was at home, I had heard of Hua Geer, although I hadn't seen him before, but I had heard a lot about his reputation, talented, handsome and good-tempered, even my old grandfather couldn't help but praise him." Zhu Shi started talking first to avoid awkwardness.

  "That's an exaggeration on Old Master's part, but I recall my husband mentioning the loyalty and righteousness of the Jin family from Heng City." Xian Yi hastily replied with courtesy.

  Madam Zhu suddenly had a resonance, and she said: "Isn't that so? When I think about it, my heart is sour, but it's also good. Once the two old masters have children, our family will be lively again."

  This statement is not absolute, even if Jin Fenghua did not adopt the title, the two old masters would still have to adopt a new grandson. This statement is also correct. If Jin Fenghua adopted the title, this statement would be considered as a way of winning over Jin Fenghua's family.

  Xian Yi's words were well-received, and she flattered Lady Zhu with a few more sentences. During her time in the Jin Manor, she had often seen the madam of the house entertain other noblewomen, so with some guidance from Jiang Tai Tai, she spoke smoothly and effortlessly, without any substantial content, yet making the listener feel comfortable and not sensing any sycophancy. This skill of speaking could be learned, but a person's age and experience could influence their way of thinking and speaking. Xian Yi had already lived two lifetimes, so her methods were naturally more mature than those of the young girls here. However, Lady Zhu had seen many clever and sensible girls before, but truly, considering Xian Yi's 15 years of age, it was rare to find someone who could converse and behave as skillfully as she did, perhaps only possible in the palace.

  "I heard that this year's college entrance exam, Hua Ge is going to take action?" Zhu asked seemingly casually.

  "It's not like that, the husband of the book house wants to let the husband try this year, if he passes, it will be a great joy, but if he doesn't pass, it's just a trial, and then prepare for another year." Xian Yi said humbly, still dissatisfied.

  "This is also the case, but as elders, we should remind you that the imperial examination will be held in the provincial capital where your household registration is located. Heng City is indeed the provincial capital. If there's good news in the future, you should prepare early." This sentence was the most straightforward one spoken after Zhu Shi arrived.

  Xian Yi also knew she was kind, and she had been thinking about this matter for the past two days. After all, with the change in household registration, the location of the imperial examination would also have to be changed. If they really had to wait for Jin Fenghua to return before accepting her, they might not make it in time for the June exam.

  Madam Zhu chatted with Xian Yi about their daily lives in the capital, and although they didn't deliberately ask about each other's experiences in the Jin Mansion, they also didn't avoid talking about Xian Yi's past as a maid. This conversation that was neither too close nor too distant made Xian Yi feel very comfortable, as both of them were intelligent people who temporarily had no conflicting interests, and therefore got along well. Later, Xian Yi even had someone bring out Yu Ge, and Madam Zhu, who only had one son and one daughter, with her son still unmarried and without grandchildren, was delighted by the handsome Yu Ge and felt a sense of closeness to him, although she wasn't sure if it was just an illusion. As soon as Madam Zhu held Yu Ge in her arms, she didn't want to let go, and even looking at his face made her feel like they had met before, which made Xian Yi laugh and say several times that they were destined to be together.

  Zhu liked Yu Ge'er and thought Xian Yi's character was good, so she forced a gold hairpin on Xian Yi and gave a specially prepared set of silver ornaments to Yu Ge'er. In the end, it seemed that she still felt it was not enough, and even added a piece of fine jade, saying it was for Yu Ge'er to keep.

  As the sky was getting dark, Madam Zhu still couldn't be considered a close relative of Jin Fenghua's family and couldn't stay overnight. She got up with her maid and nanny to bid farewell. Xianyi saw that Madam Zhu had given generous gifts, so she added a pair of crystal earrings to the original pearl necklace intended for Madam Zhu's daughter. The little girl looked a bit shy, sitting silently beside them as they spoke, only responding softly when Xianyi mentioned her. This made Madam Zhu sigh deeply.

  Madam Zhu got onto the carriage with her daughter, and seeing that her daughter still looked so timid, she couldn't help but frown and say: "In a few years you'll be getting married too. Look at Miss Jin from the Jin family, she's elegant and refined in every move, while you even blush for half a day just to respond to someone. How will you get married? How will you manage a household?"

  The girl's head hung even lower, and her eyelashes were also stained with a layer of tears. As soon as Madam Zhu saw this, she lost heart. In fact, it couldn't all be blamed on the child. When she married into the Jin family, Old Master Jin had been hoping for her to give birth to many sons. Since the eldest son's wife had given birth to two children, one of whom was ill and the other who would stay behind to take over as the pillar of the family, naturally Old Master Jin hoped that Madam Zhu could give birth to another child to be adopted by the second old madam. This way, the child would still be raised by her, but the property of the second old madam would all be inherited by her son. It was just that no one knew whether it was because the Jin family had a lack of descendants, and the men in the household weren't without concubines, but they either couldn't get pregnant or gave birth to children who were weak and couldn't stand up straight. Until now, they had no choice but to seek an outside son for adoption. Madam Zhu's luck wasn't bad, she had given birth to a son as soon as she entered the household, and later gave birth to a daughter. At that time, her heart was set on giving birth to another child, so she neglected her daughter's upbringing. Her son, because he was slightly older and had his father's care, didn't grow up crooked. But it was her daughter who was taken care of by a wet nurse from dawn till dusk, and that wet nurse not only spent all day sighing and complaining, but also didn't have the air of a proper family's servant. By the time she got rid of the wet nurse, her daughter had already become like this.

  "Madam, don't worry, the young lady is still young, she needs to see more of the world before she can be considered mature." The one sitting next to her was Zhu Shi's secondary wife, ten years older than Zhu Shi, and had been serving her since she was a child, and was highly valued by Zhu Shi.

  "Auntie, you don't know, I took a look at that Miss Jin and she's only a few years older than our girls. Her demeanor, her manners... it's completely impossible to tell that she's from a servant background." The matchmaker, Old Lady Qiao, had been tidying up in the guest house earlier and hadn't entered the Jin residence; this time she had come specifically to pick up Madam Zhu and her daughter.

  "That would also be five or six years from now, besides, what's wrong with being a slave girl? The places she goes to and the people she sees, she knows more about things than many young ladies." Old Lady Qiao retorted unhappily, as a servant, she naturally knew that the cunning of servants was often stronger than that of some masters.

  "Look at her demeanor, I've seen many servants become mistresses, and they all have that certain air about them. But she seems like a born lady of the manor. You didn't notice, did you? That girl's behavior doesn't seem like something the Linqing Jin family or even the somewhat aristocratic Chen family could produce..."

  Qiao's expression turned serious as she thought for a moment, saying: "I've heard that after this young lady got married, it was always Madame Jiang from the book hall who took care of her."

  Zhu's eyes widened in surprise, and she muttered to herself: "If it's her, then it's possible, but I suppose the young lady from the Jin family is quite clever too, or else how could she have caught her eye?"

  "That...Madam's side..." Old Lady Qiao said, hesitating.

  "However, if it were an ordinary maid who was getting married, I'm afraid it wouldn't work out. Now that I've seen the person, not only have my own thoughts been scattered, but also on your side, I dare say that this matter won't come to fruition. Does she think that the things of the two old masters are so easily moved?"