Chapter 11: Inner Thoughts (Part 2)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

The next day, Seventh niangzi woke up very early. She indeed ground the ink and practiced one-hundred large characters before going to pay respects to Eldest Madam. Her timing was just right: Eldest Madam had just finished washing up. Her brows were gently curved, and her expression showed no sign that anything was amiss. 

After the siblings all took breakfast together, Ninth ge went to the clan school for lessons—only then did Seventh niangzi learn that the three sons of the Second Branch were all in the capital with their father and that Ninth ge was the only person studying in the clan school.

Then why was Ninth ge sent off to school when Second Madam came yesterday? Seventh niangzi thought for only a bit before understanding: Eldest Madam wanted Ninth ge where she could see him. Only by putting him in her own bedchambers could she be at ease.

Fifth niangzi’s attitude towards Seventh niangzi had improved considerably. The frequent verbal attacks and open disdain had slowly transformed into treating Seventh niangzi as though she were invisible. Her eyelids were swollen and dark. During breakfast, Ninth ge even complained that Fifth niangzi only cared about practicing calligraphy, and he was left playing only with the maids.

Seventh niangzi felt a surge of respect towards Fifth niangzi. Everyone had times when they were jealous of another’s strengths, but very few could turn that jealousy into motivation to better themselves.

Sixth niangzi was still as carefree and innocent as before, speaking to any sister in a bright and bubbly manner. Third niangzi also showed a cheerful expression, but Seventh niangzi knew that beneath that jollity was a belly full of schemes.

After lunch and the noon-time nap, Seventh niangzi got up to attend the embroidery class.

Embroidery classes had always been held at Zhuyingtai. Fifth niangzi and Seventh niangzi both had to pass through the festoon gate ^[1]垂花门 (chuí huā mén), literally ‘hanging flower gate’, is a distinctive architectural feature in traditional siheyuan. See: Chinese Quadrangle | China & Asia Cultural Travel, which mentions this feature. behind the main courtyard and walk along the long corridor of Baifangyuan to get there.

But the two of them bumped into one another unexpectedly. They walked at a slow pace, with one in the front and one in the back. Third niangzi, Fourth niangzi, and Sixth niangzi all lived within Baifangyuan, but along this long corridor walked only Fifth niangzi and Second niangzi.

At first, no one spoke. Seventh niangzi could not resist in the end and asked Bailu, “Was I a bit late finishing the large-character practice this morning?”

Fifth niangzi’s ears perked up.

“Not late at all. It is enough to begin the day at the middle of Mao shi.” ^[2]~6 AM. 时 (shí) here refers to shichen. Bailu fully understood her intentions. “Did Seventh niangzi sleep well last night?”

“The beginning of Hai ^[3]~9 PM is early enough to get to sleep.” Seventh niangzi replied noncommittally. “Practicing after dark strains the eyes. It is better to sleep early and wake early—after practicing characters, I can even embroider for a while.”

The mistress and maid chatted and laughed as they walked, gradually moving ahead of Fifth niangzi. Fifth niangzi stood still, her expression unclear. 

Zhuyingtai was right by the small warehouse beside Baifangyuan. Chrysanthemums were planted all around it, but it was not yet the season for them to bloom, and everywhere the eye fell was withered and desolate. Inside, Embroideress Huang sat, her needle moving swiftly, showing no reaction at all to Seventh niangzi and Fifth niangzi arriving one after another.

Neither Fifth niangzi nor Seventh niangzi dared show the slightest bit of disrespect. In the Yang Clan, honoring one’s teachers was an important tradition.

“Greetings to Master Huang,” they said in unison, bending at the waist in salute.

Embroideress Huang paused in her movements and showed the faintest hint of a smile, though she still seemed very stiff and strict. “Another day of practice wasted.”

Bailu had followed along, but her only task was to set up Seventh niangzi’s embroidery frame and arrange her belongings. When the Yang family daughters took their lessons, their maids all returned to their own rooms, only coming back at the end of the lesson to escort them back.

While Bailu was arranging her things, Seventh niangzi stood and swept her gaze around.

Large embroidery frames were scattered throughout the room, each fixed with Jiangnan tribute satin. Threads of every color shimmered across the surfaces, forming clusters of bright, blooming patterns. Fifth niangzi had already taken her seat before one of the frames and begun threading her needle.

She was working on a floral motif. Though she had only just begun, it was clear to the naked eye that her stitches were fine and dense. The color choices, however, were a bit unimaginative, and the flowers’ postures looked somewhat lifeless.

On the embroidery frame beside Fifth niangzi was a pattern of a cat playing with butterflies. The workmanship was exquisite, the colors lively yet steady. The owner had clearly put much thought into it. But the cat‑and‑butterfly motif was an auspicious motif that was usually given as a gift to elders. Seventh niangzi’s paternal grandparents had passed away many years ago. Seventh niangzi could not help but raise an eyebrow.

Fifth niangzi opened her mouth. “This is Third Elder Sister’s embroidery screen.” Her tone was stiff and cold, but her voice remained steady and calm.

Seventh niangzi suddenly understood.

Fourth yiniang’s father was still alive, and he was Master Yang’s maternal uncle. Seventh niangzi was unclear about the related details, but it was clear for whom Third niangzi was making the embroidery screen.

Although Fifth niangzi did not hold much affection for her, they were both people of the main courtyard. When it came to matters relating to Fourth yiniang, they ought to stand on the same side of the battlefield.

It seemed that, although Fifth niangzi might not have had a very good temper, she was by no means stupid.

Seventh niangzi gave a faint smile but did not reply, and then walked to the third embroidery frame.

This embroidery screen was almost complete. It was a vivid and lifelike scene of goldfish playing in water. The fish were strikingly red, with protruding eyes, and there were even a few bubbles beside their half-open, half-closed mouths. In Seventh niangzi’s eyes, it could be considered a masterpiece.

“Sixth niangzi’s embroidery of goldfish playing in water can be considered to be quite well done,” Embroideress Huang opened her mouth, her tone containing a trace of pride.

It seemed that although Sixth niangzi had once spilled the four treasures of the study upon her person, Embroideress Huang was still very fond of this student.

Seventh niangzi praised, “Sixth Elder Sister is truly talented.”

It was just that Sixth niangzi was hopeless when it came to studying and reading. She had already reached such an age, yet when she was called by the Teacher to recite the text in the morning, she managed to read it wrong. The Teacher was angered so that he could not stop shaking his head, saying that Sixth niangzi had no talent for studying.

Clearly, Fifth niangzi had also remembered the Teacher’s words this morning, and a flash of amusement passed through her eyes. She exchanged a knowing glance with Seventh niangzi.

To develop a relationship with a person, it is not always necessary to lower oneself or to curry favor. Sometimes, all it takes to close the gap is one or two inside jokes or small secrets.

Seventh niangzi had not yet had the time to examine Fourth niangzi’s embroidery screen when Third niangzi and Fourth niangzi entered the room. Sixth niangzi also came in soon after, panting—the Xiaoxiangxue that she lived in was the furthest from Zhuyingtai.

“Teacher.” The three daughters of the Yang clan made their greetings in an orderly fashion. 

Embroideress Huang nodded. Everyone took their seats and began to thread their needles and adjust their embroidery frames.

Seventh niangzi sat, perplexed, in front of her embroidery frame, at a loss as to what she should be doing. She looked at Embroideress Huang, but Embroideress Huang did not show the slightest bit of acknowledgement, only continuing on with her own work.

All that Seventh niangzi could do was to begin stitching upon the blue-gray colored tribute satin in front of her.

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