A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 71
by Little PandaDaily Life in the Shen Household
The spacious and bright main hall was nearly filled with people.
Today was Jiang Chenyu’s first time meeting the Shen family. She had dressed up with exceptional care, though she was somewhat worried about leaving an overly showy impression. Shen Hetang, however, had told her to wear whatever she pleased and not to fret so much. Hearing her words, Jiang Chenyu stopped hesitating.
She wore a water-red2 long front-buttoned jacket embroidered with gold butterflies dancing among flowers, paired with a white mamian skirt3 patterned with tiny blossoms. Over this, she draped a blue-green printed cloak and stepped into high-soled shoes inlaid with jade.
Clearly a combination of red and green, the outfit nevertheless looked exceptionally elegant.
Her hair was swept up into rounded loops, adorned with a dangling buyao4 hairpin. Gold earrings set with South Sea pearls hung from her lobes. Her delicate, dark eyebrows were meticulously defined, and her watery eyes shone with a tender, expressive light. Though her features were inherently alluring, her perfectly proportioned nose and cherry-red lips softened the intense glamour of her eyes, blending charm with a pristine purity that made people instinctively want to draw close.
Shen Hetang held her newlywed wife’s hand as they walked along the veranda, which was hung with festive red lanterns, heading toward the main hall. A cold wind swirled fine snowflakes around them, but it didn’t feel chilly against their faces.
Madam Shen had been busy for nearly two months, and today she finally got a proper look at her daughter-in-law’s face. It was no exaggeration to say that when the perfect couple stepped inside, the entire room seemed to brighten.
Today, Shen Hetang wore a pale blue jacket embroidered with cloud patterns, beneath a moon-white printed cloak. Standing there like a noble tree5, she looked elegant and distinguished. Madam Shen sometimes even suspected that she had actually given birth to a son.
Looking across the entire capital, those with better posture than her Ah Tang weren’t as good-looking; those who were better-looking weren’t as accomplished; and those who were more accomplished didn’t have her excellent prospects.
As she gazed at her daughter-in-law, a vivid scene immediately flashed through Madam Shen’s mind.
In the future, when the noble madams compared notes, she’d be able to silence them all with a single phrase. For example:
Madam Liu: “My daughter-in-law is thrifty and manages the household well.”
Madam Shen: “My daughter-in-law is as beautiful as a flower.”
Madam Wang: “My daughter-in-law is generous and virtuous.”
Madam Shen: “My daughter-in-law is as beautiful as a flower.”
Madam Zhou: “My daughter-in-law is incredibly wealthy.”
Madam Shen: “My daughter-in-law is as beautiful as a flower.”
“Madam, Madam, the young master is speaking to you,” Nanny Gui said, giving Madam Shen a gentle nudge as the latter drifted off into her daydream.
“Ah? What did the young mistress say?” Madam Shen asked in a hushed voice, snapping back to attention.
“It’s the young master. He wants you to drink your tea,” Nanny Gui whispered.
“Oh! Quickly, bring the tea,” Madam Shen hurriedly commanded a young maidservant.
Jiang Chenyu quietly observed her mother-in-law. Madam Shen’s features were about sixty percent similar to Ah Tang’s, but where Ah Tang’s temperament was gentle yet sharp underneath, Madam Shen appeared entirely casual and cheerful.
She wasn’t at all as strict as Jiang Chenyu had imagined. Though she was nearly fifty years old, her face showed very few signs of hardship; instead, it carried a touch of lively spirit. As Jiang Chenyu gracefully offered her the tea, Madam Shen, worried that this delicate beauty might tire herself out, hurriedly reached out to accept the cup.
She then looked Jiang Chenyu up and down, thinking to herself that this was exactly how a proper young lady ought to be. Looking back at her own two daughters—this one before her notwithstanding, she didn’t even want to mention the eldest—she truly had no idea how they’d grown up so crookedly.
Although she’d never known what it was like to have a sweet little quilted vest6 to dote on, it seemed even the heavens couldn’t bear to watch any longer, which was why they’d sent this exquisite beauty to her. That fair, tender face looked so delicate it might bruise at a mere breath.
“Ah Gui, quickly fetch the things I prepared.” Seeing Madam Shen’s beaming face, Nanny Gui couldn’t help but muse that her mistress had been full of worry only yesterday, yet her mood had completely flipped today. Sure enough, no matter the occasion, she could never rid herself of her habit of favoring beautiful faces.
While Xianggui grumbled inwardly, she moved swiftly, turning around to take a mahogany box from a maid’s hands.
When Concubine Ru saw the bride’s face, wave after wave of jealousy surged in her chest. Her own son didn’t even have a prospect for a wife, yet this Second Young Master had brought home a goddess. Wasn’t this a deliberate attempt to provoke her?
She could already picture Madam Shen walking with her nose in the air for the next few days. She’d competed with the principal wife for so many years, yet who could’ve expected that after the master passed away, she’d be suppressed so miserably? She’d definitely have to light some incense and complain to the late master when she got back.
The Third Young Master took only a single glance before bowing his head, not daring to look any further.
“Mother, what did you prepare?” Seeing that her mother was in high spirits, Shen Hetang asked with interest.
“A good item, of course! You have no use for it, so naturally, it’s for my daughter-in-law to wear.” Madam Shen cheerfully took the brilliant, eye-catching Red Gemstone Headpiece out of the box. At the center of the glittering gold filigree crown, a massive ruby gleamed resplendently. Surrounding it, various other gems—turquoise, amber, pearls, agate, and mother-of-pearl—were scattered like a field of stars, making the piece extraordinarily magnificent.
Standing behind her, the distant cousin’s eyes were filled with envy. Any young woman would feel her entire life was complete if she owned such a headpiece. This cousin-in-law was truly blessed; not only was her husband exceptionally handsome, but her mother-in-law was also incredibly generous. Zhang Miaoyi strove to maintain the proper decorum of a well-bred young lady, determined not to let her burning jealousy show.
“Thank you, Mother,” Jiang Chenyu said in her sweet, smooth voice. She had always been fond of jewelry and fine ornaments.
The headpiece was made of precious materials and crafted with exquisite workmanship. Although it was an antique, the unique craftsmanship prevented it from looking dated, giving it a majestic, peerless grandeur instead.
She carefully handed the box to Chuntao to store away.
In truth, Madam Shen felt that they had wronged the poor girl by trapping her in this arrangement, so she was using this treasure to compensate her. The piece had originally been acquired by the Old General during his military campaigns. It was said to have been the wedding dowry of a princess from the previous dynasty, pristine and never before worn. Since Shen Yao had no sisters, it had eventually come into Madam Shen’s possession, and she herself had only worn it once.
Naturally, Jiang Chenyu had prepared return gifts of her own. To Madam Shen, she presented a pair of translucent, vibrant green jadeite bangles, a pair of gold bracelets inlaid with precious gems, a pearl-embroidered vest, and twenty bolts of premium silk and satin.
As for Concubine Ru’s gifts, they were exactly half of what Madam Shen received: a pair of gold bracelets inlaid with gems and ten bolts of premium fabric.
Glancing at Concubine Ru’s return gift, Madam Shen rolled her eyes in silent disdain. Concubine Ru had been by the late master’s side for so many years and was certainly no pauper, yet she had stingily gifted only a single pair of gold hairpins. Since today was a joyous occasion, Madam Shen refrained from scolding her. But once Concubine Ru’s son got married, Madam Shen would make sure to return an identical pair of cheap hairpins to her. Hmph.
The Third Young Master’s gifts were much more straightforward: two jade hairpins and two sets of ready-made robes.
“Thank you, saosao,” Shen Yunjie said with a shy expression. He was far more subdued now than he had been in the past, though it remained to be seen whether this was genuine or merely an act.
“Just call her saozi,” Shen Hetang said, casting a glance at him. “Hearing ‘saosao’ over and over always makes me think of Wu Song7, which sounds highly unpleasant to my ears.”
The Shen household was quite small, so preparing return gifts had been relatively simple. Only the sudden appearance of the young cousin had caught Jiang Chenyu slightly off guard, but it was easily resolved.
She was wearing a mutton-fat jade bangle and an agate bead bracelet on her wrist. After a brief thought, she slipped off the agate bracelet and placed it into the young cousin’s hands with an apologetic smile. “Your saozi didn’t know my biaomei was here as well. Please don’t look down on this humble token.”
“Thank you, saozi,” Zhang Miaoyi said, bowing her head slightly. A proper smile graced her face, projecting an aura of lofty elegance as pure as the bright moon and a gentle breeze.
After a single round of introductions, Jiang Chenyu had essentially met everyone in the Shen family. Even the servants received silver ingots, bringing smiles to every face. Nanny Gui was especially favored, receiving a pair of gold bracelets and four bolts of fabric. Chuntao, Cuiwan, and her sister kept themselves busy helping coordinate the gifts, filling the air with a warm, harmonious, and festive atmosphere.
After the meal, Shen Hetang led her wife straight back to their bedchamber. Having bustled about for over a month, the wedding affairs had finally settled.
With only half a month left before the New Year, the Shen family’s young cousin remained at the Shen Manor to spend the holidays. On this day, Shen Hetang was away from the manor. Worried that her daughter-in-law might be bored, Madam Shen invited her over to play leaf cards8.
Together with Concubine Ru and Zhang Miaoyi, they made exactly four players. Although Madam Shen looked down on Concubine Ru, now that the late master was gone, she merely used her as an outlet to vent her petty frustrations; their animosity hadn’t reached the point of cutting off all contact.
The four of them sat together to play leaf cards. The room was exceptionally warm, heated by premium charcoal, so Jiang Chenyu took off her outer cloak, handed it to Chuntao, and sat down beside Madam Shen to learn the game.
“Chenyu, just play however you like! If you lose, it’s on my tab,” Madam Shen offered warmly, concerned that she might feel too constrained.
“From what I can see, our Young Mistress doesn’t look like she lacks silver at all. She’s probably dripping with wealth,” Concubine Ru remarked. She was of average appearance, but she loved speaking in a slow, drawling tone.
“You flatter me, Auntie Ru. I cherish everything Mother gives me,” Jiang Chenyu replied. She had never had so many women around in her own household, and she found the lively atmosphere quite pleasant.
“Exactly! How could her own belongings compare to what I gave her?” Madam Shen retorted, jumping from one thought to another. “You’d better focus on finding a wife for Old Third as soon as possible. Don’t drag it out until he’s too old, and then go around claiming that I, his legal mother, have mistreated my husband’s bastard son.”
“Let’s play, let’s play,” Concubine Ru muttered, changing the subject. Following the late master’s death and Ah Tang’s return to the manor, the two women had gradually set aside some of their old grudges—at least enough to sit at the same table and play cards.
“Can our young cousin play leaf cards?” Concubine Ru asked, looking at Zhang Miaoyi. She quite liked this girl’s well-bred, refined demeanor, but her background was simply too low. As the legitimate daughter of the late master’s distant cousin-sister, her father was merely a minor registrar in the Hanlin Academy, a petty official of the standard seventh rank. In the capital, such a position could barely even be considered an official.
“When I was at home, I often played with my grandmother, so I know a little,” Zhang Miaoyi said, her lips curved in a gentle smile.
“A girl who can regularly keep an old lady company is indeed a good child,” Madam Shen praised politely.
“I wonder how old Miaoyi is this year? Are you betrothed?” Concubine Ru could not resist asking.
Zhang Miaoyi blushed instantly and replied shyly, “Your niece will turn seventeen after the New Year, making me two years younger than Second biaoge.”
“Your Third biaoge will also reach his twentieth year after the New Year. He’s the same age as your Second biaoge,” Concubine Ru continued to prattle on. “If you happen to know any suitable young ladies, don’t forget to introduce them to your Third biaoge.”
“How can you ask an unmarried young lady to act as a matchmaker for your son? You’re truly clutching at straws,” Madam Shen scoffed. No wonder she looked down on her; the woman possessed absolutely no sense of propriety.
In truth, Madam Ru was merely testing the waters to see if Miss Zhang had any interest in her son. If she did, she would make a decent backup option.
Jiang Chenyu watched them with great interest. She’d never witnessed such mother-and-concubine skirmishes before, finding it quite novel.
“I was only joking, just teasing,” Madam Ru said, quickly walking back her words.
“Still, seventeen isn’t young anymore. Hasn’t your family arranged a marriage for you?” Madam Ru probed again, refusing to give up.
“Well… there was one our family favored in the past,” Zhang Miaoyi replied with some hesitation. “But a conflict arose between our households later on, so the marriage was called off.”
“Why do you have so much to say? Prying into everything!” Madam Shen chided, frowning at her relentless questioning.
“Miss Zhang is a relative from the late master’s side of the family. It’s only natural for me to show some concern!” Concubine Ru retorted defensively.
“Do you think my temper has grown too mild lately? Are you raising this topic on purpose?” Madam Shen barked. Everyone knew Concubine Ru had spent many years by the late master’s side. Speaking in such a manner was equivalent to placing herself on equal footing with Madam Shen. Otherwise, as a mere concubine, what right did she have to speak of showing concern for the late master’s relatives?
Seeing that her mother-in-law was easily holding her ground, Jiang Chenyu felt no need to intervene, quietly arranging her leaf cards instead.
Zhang Miaoyi was left in an awkward position. With the two madams arguing back and forth over her affairs, she could hardly say a word. Siding with Madam Shen would mean bullying Madam Ru, while siding with Madam Ru would make her appear ungrateful to her host.
Fortunately, the two older women were long accustomed to these squabbles. After a few exchanges, they felt it was unseemly to bicker in front of their juniors and brought their sparring to an end.
Sensing the shift, Zhang Miaoyi tactfully redirected the conversation. “Biaosao, you look so refined and cultured. Do you have any favorite books you like to read?”
Jiang Chenyu thought to herself that her face was hardly the epitome of traditional scholarliness. How on earth had this girl gathered that she was fond of reading?
“I don’t usually read much. At most, I enjoy flipping through illustrated storybooks,” Jiang Chenyu admitted frankly.
“Ah… as the old saying goes, a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue9. Not all young ladies must love reading, and illustrated storybooks can be quite amusing,” Zhang Miaoyi remarked, offering Jiang Chenyu a polite way out when she admitted she did not study.
Jiang Chenyu stared at her young cousin. Though the girl seemed to be making polite small talk with a sincere expression and a warm demeanor, an air of scholarly superiority clung to her every word. To Jiang Chenyu’s ears, the remarks sounded distinctly off-putting.
“I didn’t care much for reading when I was young either,” Zhang Miaoyi reminisced, a gentle expression softening her features. “But I remember during one of my visits to the manor, Second biaoge personally read me a story. Only then did I realize the joys of reading and writing.”
“And who is your Second biaoge?” Jiang Chenyu asked, her rippling eyes rising to meet the girl’s.
“Her Second biaoge is your husband, of course!” Madam Ru chimed in, thoroughly enjoying the show.
Madam Shen didn’t react much. After all, Ah Tang was a woman, and Chenyu was well aware of her secret. How could there possibly be any real reaction over such a trivial childhood matter?
“Oh, is that so? I had no idea he was so fond of playing tutor back then… Heheh…” A radiant, dazzling smile bloomed across Jiang Chenyu’s face, bright and unrestrained.
“Oh, please don’t misunderstand biaoge, biaosao! He usually doesn’t interact much with outsiders,” Zhang Miaoyi quickly added, as though desperate to prevent any misunderstanding.
“Did Yi-biaomei visit the Shen Manor often in the past?” My, how fascinating. He didn’t like interacting with others, yet he had the patience to read her a story.
“Not too often, but I’d stay for a good while during each visit,” Zhang Miaoyi answered honestly.
Today, Jiang Chenyu wore an orange-red lipstick. As she curled her lips into a faint smile, she looked strikingly alluring—and slightly dangerous.
Zhang Miaoyi secretly observed her biaosao’s attire and grooming. Even as she burned with envy, she couldn’t help but find it rather vulgar. Only a natural, unadorned elegance like her own could truly showcase innate intellect and refined detachment.
Yet she still couldn’t control her gaze. The pearl and agate torque necklace around Jiang Chenyu’s neck was simply breathtaking.
Despite her overwhelming jealousy, she carefully managed her facial expressions, only daring to steal quick glances so no one would notice.
Before the card game could finish, Shen Hetang stepped into Madam Shen’s main hall, clad in a fur-collared cloak and bringing the scent of wind and snow with her.
The warmth of the room stood in stark contrast to the freezing weather outside. Her jade-like face looked exceptionally flawless, and the vibrant red of her lips against her dark eyes was particularly striking.
Jiang Chenyu didn’t spare her even a glance. She hadn’t intended to listen to her so-called cousin’s nonsense, but now that the words had entered her ears, they left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Shen Hetang swept her gaze over everyone present before fixing her eyes on her beloved wife—only to realize that her darling wasn’t looking at her at all.
At this moment, she had absolutely no idea of the sheer gravity of the situation…!
Footnotes
- A variation of the popular Chinese proverb 'three women are enough to stage a play,' meaning that when several women gather, drama and gossip will inevitably follow.
- A traditional Chinese shade of light, soft pinkish-red, often associated with youth and celebration.
- A traditional Chinese skirt characterized by its main flat panels (called the 'horse faces') and pleated sides, popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
- An exquisite type of traditional Chinese hairpin featuring hanging ornaments that sway gracefully as the wearer walks.
- A classical Chinese idiom comparing a refined, elegant young scholar to precious plants, signifying noble stature and exceptional grace.
- A traditional Chinese colloquialism meaning a sweet, caring, and loving daughter who brings comfort to her parents.
- A legendary hero from the Chinese classic 'Water Margin' who kills his sister-in-law, Pan Jinlian (addressed as 'saosao'), after she poisons his brother.
- An ancient Chinese card game played with paper cards, widely considered a precursor to modern playing cards and mahjong.
- A traditional moral proverb in ancient China reflecting gender expectations, emphasizing a woman's virtue over her academic or literary achievements.
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