The next day, Cheng Yujin went to pay respect to Old Madam Cheng early in the morning.
A servant girl greeted Cheng Yujin and opened the door for her. The earth dragon' s heat burst into her face. The servant girl helped Cheng Yujin took off her cloak and said, "Last night, the Old Madam let second young master Xu and several young misses stay overnight in the main wing. Now they were still sleeping inside the green gauze cabinet. The Old Madam was afraid that second young master Xu might feel cold, and ordered the earth dragon to be ignited. Eldest miss has just arrived from outside and may still not accustomed to the heat. Please wait for a while."
Cheng Yujin nodded. "I understand. Except for biao elder brother, who else stayed? There is only one bed inside the green gauze cabinet, can they sleep well?"
"Yes. Second miss and fourth biao miss were sleeping on the same bed, and another person could sleep on the kang bed inside the warmth chamber. The second young master almost went into the green gauze cabinet and was laughed by us. Now he was sleeping in the warmth chamber."
Cheng Yujin was surprised. Male and female cousins of different surnames actually sleeping together in the same room. Although the main wing was under the Old Madam's watch, they were improperly too close. She rolled her eyes, withdrew her look, and nodded to the servant girl with a smile: "Sister has worked hard. Has grandmother woke up?"
"The Old Madam has woke up. It's just that second young master Xu slept late yesterday and hasn't got up yet."
Cheng Yujin's steps stopped abruptly: "Second biao elder brother is still asleep?"
The warmth chamber was a small separated room outside the Old Madam's bedroom. The surrounding walls were hollowed out, and during the winter, the heat was being circulated day and night. It was as warm as spring, and thus was called the warmth chamber. If Cheng Yujin wanted to enter the inner rooms to pay respect to Old Madam Cheng, she would inevitably have to pass through the warmth chamber where Xu Zhixian was now still sleeping.
If it was Cheng Yumo, she would already run in and even wake Xu Zhixian up with her still-cold hands. But Cheng Yujin wouldn't. Her method was to stop outside the door and said, "Since second biao elder brother is inconvenient now, then I will wait."
The servant girl inside saw the eldest miss coming and quickly hurried Xu Zhixian to get up. Xu Zhixian originally didn't want to wake up. Half-asleep and half-awoke, he heard the servant girl said, "Eldest miss is waiting outside." Xu Zhixian was scared out of his pants and jumped out. He hurriedly grabbed his robe from the bedside and put it on.
Xu Zhixian has always been careless and informal, but for an unknown reason, in front of Cheng Yujin, he was very disciplined, and always had to be dressed well. As if he couldn't be calm if Cheng Yujin saw himself in a disorderly attire.
Xu Zhixian hastily tidied up his clothes, then came out to greet Cheng Yujin: "Elder sister Jin...ah, no, younger biao sister, good morning."
Several servant girls laughed at this scene and quipped: "Second young master, it clearly that eldest young miss is the young girl, why are you the one who blushes? Like a boudoir girl who just walked out from her marriage sedan."
Being made fun of, Xu Zhixian blushed even more. Seeing Cheng Yujin also pursed her lips and smiled, somehow he felt even more embarrassed. Xu Zhixian hurriedly said: "I'll go outside to cool my face. You go in first to pay respect to the elders."
The movement outside has long been reported to Old Madam Cheng. She walked out of her canopied bed that was wide enough to be a small bedroom. When Cheng Yujin entered, she quickly went to help Old Madam Cheng.
Old Madam's personal servant girl has prepared the water long ago. Cheng Yujin reached out and tested the water. The temperature was just right, obviously has been kept warm on the stove. Cheng Yujin handed over a handkerchief, and from time to time did some light and conspicuous work to help the Old Madam with her morning ablutions.
Zhang Mama, who came together with the Old Madam as her dowry maid, praised Cheng Yujin: "Eldest miss is really filial. Other family's daughters-in-law who have been married for more than ten years aren't as meticulous and considerate as our eldest miss."
Cheng Yujin smiled: "Serving elders is my blessing."
Zhang Mama smiled brighter when she heard Cheng Yujin's words. The two other young misses were still sleeping in the green gauzed cabinet. They were staying in the main wing, only three to four steps away from the Old Madam's bedroom. But Zhang Mama didn't find their figure standing by the Old Madam side to serve. Obviously, they didn't have the intention to do so. Not to mention the young misses, Old Madam's own two daughters-in-law also haven't yet arrived.
People really needed a comparison to know who was truly better.
Last night, Cheng Yumo spent the night in the Old Madam's courtyard, and Ruan-shi quickly hurried over early in the morning to check on her daughter's situation. Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the door, she saw Cheng Yujin was already there. Looking at her posture, it seemed that the girl had been serving the Old Madam for some time.
Ruan-shi expression suddenly turned a bit ugly.
Old Madam Cheng glanced at Ruan Shi and said indifferently: "Come in."
Ruan-shi's expression was awful. Being compared with others has never been a good thing. What did it mean when a daughter-in-law wasn't as good as the granddaughter? Ruan-shi couldn't wait to see her daughter in the west green gauzed cabinet. She quickly pulled up her sleeves and to serve Old Madam Cheng.
The place was only so big. When Ruan-shi crowded over, many people were blocked. Cheng Yujin stepped back in time and gave the space to Ruan-shi.
Zhang Mama once again praised Cheng Yujin's thoughtfulness secretly.
Cheng Yujin watched Ruan-shi busily moved her hands and feet, giving Old Madam Cheng a handkerchief, helping her gargling. Still, Ruan-shi wasn't as experienced as the Old Madam's personal servants who were used to this task. The water either too cold or too hot, and she was scolded by the Old Madam several times. There were so many servants around. Old Madam Cheng was not happy, and Ruan-shi also did not have a good expression.
Cheng Yujin shook her head secretly. How muddle-headed. When serving the elders for the name of 'filial piety', did one really had to do menial works like carrying the teapot and fetching water? To put it bluntly, it was merely a show. The impression of the performance was much important than the actual work.
Therefore, Cheng Yujin never went to wring the handkerchief or hold the spittoon. It was dirty and tiring. Just let whoever willing to do it. Cheng Yujin only had to wait until the servant wrung the handkerchief, and then naturally reached out to hand it to the Old Madam. Later, just let the servant girls did the rest. In this way, although Cheng Yujin did nothing, her role seemed to be very important and indispensable.
To really pulled up one's sleeves and took upon the actual jobs like Ruan-shi, that was too sincere.
Earth dragon: Traditional floor heating system. A hole was dug on the ground outside to burn fire, and the heat was transmitted into the rooms via underground passages called earth dragon.
The complicated family environment taught Cheng Yujin how to get the best result at the least expense. What other girls only learned after three or four years of marriage, she knew it when she was ten years old. Not only that, she also became smooth and slick in everything, and extremely egoistic. When licking other people's boots, she didn't care about her own face. She also didn't crave the love of her parents, nor did she care about love.
Cheng Yujin only loved herself.
When the Old Madam Cheng finished her simple ablutions, Ruan-shi had been exhausted physically and mentally. She saw Cheng Yujin, who was standing on the side with arms folded and graceful posture. The scene somehow lit up an evil fire in Ruan-shi's heart. She smiled and asked, "Why eldest sister-in-law still hasn't come?"
Ruan-shi also couldn't tell why she asked such a thing. When Cheng Yujin was very young, Ruan-shi clearly understood that the girl didn't know which mother treated her the best. But the inexplicable maliciousness in Ruan-shi's heart made her speak again and again, provoking Cheng Yujin's relationship with Qingfu Junzhu. If Cheng Yujin had a bad life, Ruan-shi would be distressed. However, seeing Cheng Yujin having a good life and treated Qingfu Junzhu like a real mother also made her heart burned with jealousy.
Lian Qiao's expression was not very good. Inwardly she cursed Ruan-shi: Second madam is truly disgusting. She can't see the eldest miss being good! While her servant girl was filled with indignation, Cheng Yujin herself was very calm. Her heart had long turned indifferent. Instead, she smiled at Ruan-shi: "Mother needs to take care of father, and also look after my younger brother. So mother asked me to do the filial piety in her share and serve grandmother."
Just look at Cheng Yujin's words. She didn't answer why Qingfu Junzhu didn't come, only that Qingfu had to take care of Cheng Yuanxian and Cheng Enbao, and just in one sentence had saved Qingfu. Old Madam Cheng was happy. In her eyes, of course son and grandson were the most important. Her daughter-in-law was serving her son, this made Old Madam Cheng felt comfortable.
Old Madam Cheng smiled with satisfaction. When she got up, she shot a glance at her other daughter-in-law. Ruan-shi suddenly felt scared, and did not dare to breathe under the Old Madam's suppression.
Old Madam Cheng walked out to the eastern chamber and asked, "How are the other children?"
"Replying to Old Madam, the second miss and second young master Xu are washing their faces in the green gauzed cabinet. Miss Nian says there is no face powder she usually uses here, and went to the lady's courtyard to dress up."
Not to mention the outsiders, even Cheng Yumo's biological mother Ruan-shi also wanted to shake her head. Being the same age as Cheng Yujin, Cheng Yumo and Xu Nianchun were still childish. Their elder has woke up for so long and did not come to pay respect. Instead, they went out and dressed up. In contrast, Cheng Yujin's sensibility wasn't like a typical young girl.
Ruan-shi couldn't stand it and secretly sent a servant girl to the green gauzed cabinet to call Cheng Yumo over. Cheng Yumo and Xu Zhixian walked in with a loose hairdo and greeted the elders in unison: "We pay respect to grandmother."
Old Madam Cheng nodded and said: "The three of you grew up together. I have enough help here and don't need your serving. Go and play outside."
Xu Zhixian replied happily. Cheng Yujin noticed that Old Madam Cheng was deliberately creating opportunities for them. As for which kind of opportunity, it was hard to say. It stood to reason that such an opportunity was rare and between, but Cheng Yujin contemplated a bit before giving it up: "Grandmother, I'm afraid I can't."
Old Madam Cheng felt strange: "Why?"
Cheng Yujin said: "Grandfather told me yesterday to learn calligraphy with the ninth uncle."
Old Madam Cheng felt even more strange: "Why do you need to do that?"
"Soon will be his majesty's longevity feast. Grandfather wants to send an embroidered screen of calligraphy to celebrate the emperor's longevity and let this granddaughter embroider it. I'm afraid that I'll be busy these days. After paying respect to grandmother in the morning, I have to learn calligraphy with ninth uncle."
An even heavier silence fell in the main room. Preparing a gift for emperor's longevity feast, how honorable was it? Such a chance was actually given to Cheng Yujin. This was an honor that the daughter-in-laws Qingfu Junzhu and Ruan-shi didn't have, and even Old Madam Cheng, the Marquis' legal wife, also never had. Both Ruan-shi and the Old Madam had a mixed feeling. Xu Zhixian and Cheng Yumo exchanged a glanced and dared not to speak.
Even if they were not sensible, they knew that Cheng Yujin's task wasn't trivial and even more important than what their own mother had.
Finally, Old Madam Cheng said: "Since the Marquis has spoken, you have to go. If you don't have enough time, you don't have to come to pay respect to me in the future."
"How can I do this." Cheng Yujin sternly refused, and then gave a proper curtsy before retired, "Grandmother, second aunt, I will take my leave first."
After she came out, Lian Qiao jumped and whispered, "Miss, you didn't see the face of the second Madam and the Old Madam just now. Our miss has a great honor, are they comparable? No need to say others, I'm afraid that the second Madam never even dared to imagine getting this kind of honor."
"Enough." Cheng Yujin warned Lian Qiao lightly. "Hold your tongue. It's not too early anymore. We should hurry, lest we are late."
Lian Qiao responded briefly, but the corners of her mouth were still raised. This was just the beginning; when the embroidery was presented, their eyes would be red with envy!
Cheng Yujin got up early today. Although there was some delay at Old Madam Cheng's courtyard, she was still very early. Unexpectedly, when she arrived at the Chenming Courtyard, Cheng Yuanjing had already tidied up. It seemed that he had already finished many routines.
Cheng Yujin was very surprised: "Ninth uncle woke up so early?"
Cheng Yuanjing glanced at her lightly, too lazy to answer a useless question. He pointed to the ink and said, "Can you write calligraphy?"
The smile on Cheng Yujin's face was very bright. Between her clenched teeth, she asked back. "What does ninth uncle think?"
Cheng Yuanjing did not deliberately look down on Cheng Yujin. But in his eyes, to write was equal with writing well. After all, writing documents was the most basic job of an official. Whether it was the Grand Secretary, Grand Tutor, the eunuch serving the emperor, or Cheng Yuanjing's teacher, all had excellent penmanship.
Cheng Yuanjing didn't care about Cheng Yujin's being offended and just took a glance, "Write one word first."
Cheng Yujin inwardly scolded, who did he look down to? The eldest miss Cheng has a good reputation. She mastered the four arts of chess, zither, calligraphy, and painting. Her womanly arts such as embroidery were also exceptional. However, the skill she actually best at was calligraphy.
Cheng Yujin walked to the table, picked up the brush, and, after a short contemplation, started to write.
Cheng Yuanjing's gaze involuntarily fell on Cheng Yujin's injured left hand.