Chapter 51: Sitting on the Mountain to Watch the Tigers Fight

Seeing Xiaodie lost in thought, Young Mistress Wei smiled and patted the back of her hand, saying softly, "Hurry and help me dress. It is getting late, and we must go to Shou'an Hall to offer birthday greetings to the Old Madame."

"Yes, Mistress."

Xiaodie reined in her wandering thoughts and replied, her hands moving deftly to smooth out her hair.

Years ago, when Wang Ruofu selected Young Mistress Wei, she had chosen her precisely for the peerless beauty that could not be concealed even by common thorn-hairpins and cloth skirts.

Even now, having given birth to two children and languished in the deep courtyards for so long, her brows and eyes remained limpid and refined, retaining a natural, effortless charm.

Before long, Young Mistress Wei led Xiaodie and little Liu slowly out of the small courtyard.

As she passed the Linshi Pavilion, her expression remained unchanged, though a flash of hard-to-read complexity flitted through the depths of her eyes.

Inside Shou'an Hall, the sounds of laughter and joy continued without cease.

Zhao Han, Changbai, and the others were conversing pleasantly in the outer room, while Hualan led her younger sisters in taking turns to wish the Old Madame a long life.

Nanny Cui bypassed the folding screen, walked in, and announced, "Old Madame, Young Mistress Wei has arrived."

The Old Madame raised her eyebrows slightly, a smile playing on her lips. "Let her in. She has always been a thoughtful one."

Sitting upright to one side, Molan’s fingertips trembled slightly. She instinctively raised her eyes to look at Sheng Hong, only to see her father gazing toward the doorway with a smile, evidently quite expectant of Young Mistress Wei's arrival.

On the Old Madame’s birthday, the concubines of the household were naturally expected to come and offer congratulations, whereas Lin Qingshuang wanted to come but could not.

Whenever she so much as approached Shou'an Hall, senior matrons would dismiss her—a rule the Old Madame had established long ago.

Wang Ruofu cast a cool sideways glance at Molan, the corners of her mouth curling upward. She had looked forward to watching tigers fight from a safe distance for quite some time.

Since both were concubines, the more fiercely they fought, the easier it would be for her, the First Mistress, to reap the spoils.

Young Mistress Wei walked into the inner chamber, her brows lowered and eyes cast down. She bowed respectfully, her voice clear and melodious, "This concubine wishes the Old Madame a long and joyous birthday."

"May the Old Madame’s longevity match the Southern Mountains, enduring and unyielding, flourishing like the pines and cypresses, with blessings passed down through generations."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong, who had been leaning casually against his chair, unconsciously leaned forward, a look of mild astonishment in his eyes.

He knew Young Mistress Wei had read some books, but hearing such words spoken in her voice possessed a truly unique charm.

"This concubine feared ordinary trinkets would fail to catch the Old Madame's eye."

"Therefore, I spent several days personally copying this scroll of the Diamond Sutra to celebrate the Old Madame's birthday."

The words had barely faded when Xiaodie presented the scroll before the Old Madame, who looked upon it with a gaze full of eager anticipation.

Upon the scroll, the small regular-script characters, written in the style of *Zanhua* (hairpin-flower), were as neat as an array of deployed soldiers, accompanied by a faint mixture of ink and sandalwood fragrance drifting through the air.

She nodded with considerable satisfaction and said, "What a good child, you have put thought into this. Sit down and speak."

Wang Ruofu observed Molan’s complexion and could not help smiling, "Younger Sister Wei’s filial piety is truly commendable. Mother果然 didn't dote on Ming'er in vain; one is more considerate than the next."

While ostensibly praising Young Mistress Wei and Minglan, these words were a covert mockery of Lin Qingshuang and Molan.

Sure enough, Molan’s pretty face tightened instantly, the handkerchief in her hand nearly twisting into a hempen rope.

Rulan nudged Minglan with her elbow, holding back a giggle as she whispered, "Little Six, look at Molan’s face. It’s truly uglier than swallowing a fly."

Minglan pressed her lips together. "Fourth Sister she..."

Before she could finish, Molan interjected impatiently, "Grandmother, my mother also prepared a gift quite early on, just waiting to come and wish you a long life."

The Old Madame’s expression darkened slightly, though she did not show it on the surface, keeping her kind smile intact.

Wang Ruofu’s chest heaved slightly, and she could not help rolling her eyes in Molan’s direction.

Noticing the delicate shift in the atmosphere, Sheng Hong hurriedly smoothed things over. "Tomorrow I shall go over myself and bring the gift to the Old Madame, so there is no need to trouble your mother to make the trip."

"Father..." Molan cast a pleading look toward Sheng Hong.

The Old Madame kept her gaze fixed solely on Young Mistress Wei, asking softly, "Where is little Liu? You didn't bring him along?"

Young Mistress Wei smiled faintly, her eyes brimming with gentleness. "Replying to the Old Madame, he is with Young Master Zhao."

"As soon as we entered the room, little Liu kept smiling at him, waving his hands wanting Young Master Zhao to hold him."

"Though the child is usually quite shy with strangers, he seems exceptionally fated with Young Master Zhao."

The Old Madame’s gaze deepened as she smiled meaningfully. "Children are the most spiritual creatures; they know who will treat them well."

"Indeed, if not for our good son-in-law, where would little Liu be today?"

Wang Ruofu waved her round fan, speaking with pointed implication.

Uncomfortable at heart, Sheng Hong gave a light cough and said, "Why bring up such past events out of the blue? It is getting late; someone, instruct the servants to serve the dishes."

Wang Ruofu gave a soft hmph.

Before long, separate banquet tables for men and women had been set up in the side hall of Shou'an Hall.

At the banquet, after the wine had gone around three times, Sheng Wei raised his cup and said, "Brother Hong, Brother Han."

"Now that Changwu’s official prospects have been secured, and our shops in the capital are running smoothly, I plan to set off back to Youyang in a couple of days."

"Song'er is still young after all, and with him managing the storefronts alone in Youyang, I remain somewhat uneasy."

"When I come to Bianjing next time, it will surely be for the joyous occasion of Hualan girl’s wedding."

He smiled as he looked at Sheng Hong. "As her paternal uncle, I must at the very least outfit her with several dozen dowry chests."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong immediately put on a troubled yet helpless expression, waving his hands repeatedly. "Oh dear, oh dear, how could I let Elder Brother Wei go to such great expense once more..."

Despite these words, the joy in his eyes could not be concealed.

Zhao Han thought to himself: This god of wealth is sending silver into the Sheng family once again.

Having suffered a snub earlier before the Old Madame and Sheng Hong, Molan felt thoroughly depressed. After poking at her food for just a couple of bites, she claimed she was feeling unwell and hurried away from the banquet accompanied by Yunzai.

Watching her leave, Rulan felt immensely gratified and pulled Minglan over to help her finish two extra bowls of rice.

Linshi Pavilion.

When Lin Qingshuang learned what had happened, her lovely face instantly flushed crimson, and her usually soft, seductive eyes now flashed with a malicious light.

Molan wiped away her tears, sobbing intermittently, "Mother, I spoke out of turn today because I was anxious for a moment. Will Father be angry and stop loving me in the future?"

Lin Qingshuang sighed softly, stroking Molan’s head, and said gently, "How could that be? Tomorrow you will go and apologize to him, use sweet words, and your father will still hold you in the palm of his hand."

"What grievance is this that you suffered today? To be so lacking in composure—how will you ever marry into a prestigious family as a primary wife? Hurry and let Yunzai take you to wash your face; don't make yourself a laughingstock for others to see."

Molan had always trusted Lin Qingshuang’s words implicitly. Once she departed, Lin Qingshuang’s expression shifted entirely. In her fury, she nearly bit through her pearly whites. "That wretched Wei woman!"

"Having miraculously crawled back from the gates of hell, it seems she intends to fight me to the bitter end."

"It was one thing to send Minglan off to that old hag, but now she even wants to curry favor with her."

Nanny Zhou stood to the side and said softly, "The Old Madame is not the master’s birth mother after all. How much interference can she manage in the inner courtyard?"

"As long as Mistress firmly holds onto the master’s heart, this servant doubts Young Mistress Wei can stir up any great waves."