Chapter 8: Time to Go Out

TL:247reader

TLC: Tygris

As spring began, everyone in the mansion gradually changed into spring clothes.

Lady Yan’s health had not been very good over the past two years. She couldn’t stand the cold, so she was still wearing a padded jacket that she had brought out with her.

Though she had seen that Chu Xin had changed her clothes over the past few days, they had still looked the same as last year’s. Lady Yan had originally thought that her clothes weren’t ready yet.

Just now, Chu Xin had worn a twisted expression, and upon seeing Chu Yi wearing a color she had never worn before, Lady Yan began to understand.

Lady Yan watched and listened as everyone greeted her in unison. With a wave of her hand, she said, “Everyone, please be seated.”

Maids brought tea and snacks, but this early in the morning, no one had an appetite for sweet or greasy bites. They only took a couple sips of tea.

Lady Yan looked down at the concubines and children of Duke Chu and said, “The weather has warmed up in the past few days. The charcoal for fires will no longer be sent. But be careful, it gets colder in the mornings and evenings, so make sure to not catch a chill.”

After she finished speaking, she looked at Lady Lin and said, “Wanqing, Ying’er is still young, so the servants who take care of her need to be more careful. Concubine Xu, the same goes for the Fifth Young Master. It’s only spring now, and he’s probably eager to go out and have fun. But we have to wait until the sun comes out and it’s warm.”

Wanqing was Lady Lin’s given name. She only had this one daughter, so naturally she was vigilant. However, her mother-in-law’s words were an expression of her concern. Lady Lin smiled and replied, “Thank you, Mother, for your consideration. I’ll instruct the servants when I get back.”

Concubine Xu stood up. With lowered brows and eyes, she said, “This servant will definitely take good care of the Fifth Young Master.” ^[1]Concubine Xu refers to herself as Núbì (奴婢), “this servant,” as concubines, while privileged, were still servants of their husband and the primary wife.

While Chu Yi was dressed nicely, she was not conspicuous among the crowd because she had never been vocal during the greetings. Most of the time, she kept her head slightly lowered.

Lady Yan also spoke whatever came to her mind. At the moment, there was nothing important on her mind. She waved her hand and asked Concubine Xu to sit down. “All right, does anyone have anything to say? If not, please go back.”

Chu Xin, who had sported an awkward expression since her arrival, didn’t say much, merely shaking her head. She followed the crowd in saying that there were no further concerns.

Lady Yan said, “Then you all may leave. Third Miss.”

The first few times had been “Third Miss will stay for breakfast”, and when Duke Chu was around she would say a little more to explain herself. But after having eaten together many times, when Lady Yan said “Third Miss,” Chu Yi understood what she meant.

This time, Nanny Li didn’t need to be told; she knew to go light incense and hang up the clothes.

Chu Yi read for a while. When she felt that the sky had calmed a little, she put down the book and went to the main courtyard to pay her respects.

Unlike the morning greetings, evening greetings were not set at a specific time. It wasn’t necessary to wait until everyone had arrived before entering. Anyone who arrived or returned from the outside went to the main courtyard to announce themselves/their arrival.

In the past, greetings had only consisted of a few sentences, and now, there still weren’t many words exchanged. Most of the time, people asked what one had eaten or what one had done during the day. Presumably, this was because there was little real affection involved.

As Chu Yi arrived at the main courtyard, Lady Lin was just emerging from it. Lady Lin praised her beautiful amber dress and then returned to her own courtyard.

As usual, Chu Yi waited for the maid to announce her before entering.

Walking in, Chu Yi saw Lady Yan sitting on the daybed in front of the window. The sunlight shone on her, creating an inexplicable aura of tenderness

Chu Yi took only a single glance before bowing her head in greeting. “This daughter greets Mother.”

Lady Yan gestured towards Chu Yi. “Come sit here.”

Chu Yi was very obedient and sat next to Lady Yan, half a person’s width between them.

Smiling, Lady Yan said, “Your Eldest Sister-in-law just came over. She went to enjoy the flowers today and said the scenery outside is beautiful. It’s spring now, when the flowers are in bloom. You’re only ten or so, yet you live a quieter life than people my age.”

Perhaps because she had never asked or cared about this before, Chu Yi understood Lady Yan’s meaning better. The weather was warming up, and it was time to go out. The Duke Chu Mansion couldn’t have Lady Lin, the Eldest Lady, alone, maintaining relationships with others; she had to go too.

During the period when Chu Ying claimed to be sick and hadn’t gone out, Chu Yi had been too young to do so.

Nowadays, claiming illness wouldn’t work.

Chu Yi answered, “Mother is right. I should venture out more often.”

Lady Yan said, “Here are some invitations. Take your pick and see which one you’d like to accept/where you’d like to go. You can go alone or with your Eldest Sister-in-law.”

Chu Yi thought that, since Lady Yan had mentioned her Eldest Sister-in-law, then she must have mentioned this idea before. Her di mother wanted to see how she performed. Although there were maids, it would not be appropriate for a di mother to blatantly call the maids around a shu daughter in for questioning.

The first birthday banquet had been held at the Yong’an Marquis Mansion, which was Lady Lin’s maternal home. Going to the Yong’an Marquis Mansion could not be considered maintaining connections and socializing.

And with Lady Lin advising from the side, there would surely be benefits.

She would be both an informant and an aid. Chu Yi said, “I’ll go with Eldest Sister-in-law; she’ll be someone to talk to along the way. It’s only that Ying’er is still young. If Eldest Sister-in-law comes with me, will…”

Lady Yan patted Chu Yi’s hand. “Don’t worry. Ying’er has servants to take care of her.”

Chu Yi said, “That’s good. Mother, let me take a look at the invitations first.”

There were five invitations in total, one of which concerned an apricot blossom banquet.

It was the time when apricot blossoms were in bloom. There were several apricot trees in the Duke’s Mansion garden as well, pink and white and beautiful. Chu Yi could always see them when going to pay respects.

The banquet would be held in a villa, and the host was the wife of Duke Ying’s heir.

There was also a poetry gathering hosted by the wife of the Yongyi Marquis, a flower-appreciation banquet hosted by Princess Zhaoyang, a flower-appreciation banquet hosted by the Second Madam of the Dingyuan Marquis’ mansion, and a flower-appreciation banquet hosted by Prince Chen’s wife.

Appreciating flowers, appreciating flowers… It’s always a flower-appreciation banquet.

Yet, at this time, the spring flowers were in bloom. What was there to do but appreciate the flowers?

Lady Yan, seeing that Chu Yi had been looking for a while, said, “Yi’er, which one would you like to attend? These banquets don’t conflict with each other. You could also choose to go to all of them.”

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