Chapter 52: Nurse Kong Enters the Sheng Manor

After leaving the Sheng family residence, Zhao Han plunged once more into the stacks of official documents at the Imperial Academy, busy to the point of losing track of time, his feet barely touching the ground.

Mother Hu and the retinue of servants finally arrived in Bianjing, weary from travel, as more than ten carriages lined up outside the estate.

The young manservants hurried to unload the trunks one by one, moving them into the storehouse.

The maidservants were put in charge of sweeping the courtyards and laying out beds and curtains, quickly putting every residence into neat and orderly condition.

Looking around this luxurious and imposing five-courtyard mansion, Mother Hu was naturally more than satisfied.

She repeatedly sighed that the heavens had finally opened their eyes, allowing her young master to purchase this estate in land-for-gold Bianjing for a mere thirty thousand taels.

At three in the afternoon, Zhao Han returned from the Imperial Academy.

Seeing the familiar faces of the manservants and maidservants before him, he finally felt a touch of domestic warmth.

In the main hall, candles blazed brightly, illuminating all four walls.

Mother Hu pulled Zhao Han toward her with a beaming smile, looking him up and down. "This official robe truly suits the young master, a feast for the eyes."

Before Zhao Han could reply, she eagerly continued, "The young master is now an official; social calls and all manner of trivial matters require someone to look after them."

"I see the servants in the estate are still a bit too few. Tomorrow I shall go find a slave dealer and purchase a few more clever maidservants and manservants for the mansion."

"Before coming to Bianjing, I made sure Uncle Tan thoroughly inventoried the silver from our shops and estates."

"The remaining cash on hand is more than enough for us to make a splendid display of betrothal gifts and welcome the Sheng family's daughter into our household."

Over the years, Mother Hu had been responsible for managing the household affairs.

The business matters outside had always been handled by Uncle Tan, both of them being deeply trusted, veteran servants.

As she spoke, Mother Hu produced the betrothal goose list she had already prepared.

Zhao Han took it and glanced over it, seeing that the list was extremely detailed: gold, silver, currency, silk, fabrics, jewelry, precious delicacies from mountains and seas—everything was complete.

In addition, there were a hundred mu of fertile farmland outside Yangzhou city and several commercial shops within the city, all of them top-tier properties.

And of course, most importantly, a pair of live wild geese.

According to Zhou ritual traditions, geese were used as betrothal gifts.

Wild geese are migratory birds that travel with the seasons, symbolizing that a husband and wife maintain order, achieving harmony between the yin and the yang.

Furthermore, wild geese mate for life, representing unwavering loyalty.

If the season was wrong and wild geese truly could not be caught, geese could be used as substitutes.

"I could tell the young master holds the Sheng family's daughter in high regard, so I took the liberty of adding a few extra items."

"We must ensure both our family and the Sheng family retain their dignity, so as not to let down this fine match."

"Is the young master satisfied with this betrothal gift list?" Mother Hu asked, smiling with wrinkles gathering at the corners of her eyes.

---

Several days passed as spring blossomed in its full glory.

Over at the Sheng household, Consort Wei's proactive approach felt quite novel to Sheng Hong, causing him to spend two or three consecutive days in her courtyard.

In the Linxi Pavilion, all the maidservants and manservants did not even dare to breathe heavily in front of Lin Qinshuang, fearing they might provoke her wrath.

At the earnest invitation of the Old Madam, Matriarch Kong finally entered the estate to begin instructing the four young ladies in etiquette and decorum.

Flower arranging, tea appreciation, and incense making—not a single skill was omitted.

Hualan was naturally gifted and understood things at the slightest hint.

Minglan knew that Consort Wei had begun to rival Lin Qinshuang; if she herself were to stand out and draw attention, it was hard to guarantee it wouldn't displease Wang Ruofu.

She feigned a lack of interest in these matters, though in truth, she was just like Hualan, grasping everything instantly.

Only Molan and Rulan kept competing in secret, constantly bickering over the tiniest matters, sometimes even to the point where Hualan, as the eldest sister, could not suppress them.

Today, in the western side chamber of the backyard, morning light filtered through the carved window lattice, casting mottled floral shadows on the bluestone floor.

The young ladies sat upright before sandalwood desks, handling various seasonal flowers.

Molan continuously pestered Matriarch Kong to teach her the art of flower arranging.

Rulan tried several times to speak up and ask for guidance, only to be deliberately drowned out by Molan's raised voice.

Even before Matriarch Kong's arrival, the Old Madam had explained the situation of the Sheng family tactfully in a letter.

Matriarch Kong was naturally sharp-eyed, and after just a few days of contact, she had already thoroughly figured out the dispositions of the young ladies.

She had been waiting for a suitable opportunity to establish proper discipline among them.

Molan's behavior today played right into Matriarch Kong's hands.

She deliberately responded only to Molan's questions, turning a blind eye to Rulan's pleading gaze, until Rulan's face gradually flushed red and the peony branch in her hand was squeezed until its sap oozed out.

Matriarch Kong deliberately found an excuse and slipped away, sitting back to wait for them to kick up a fuss in the study.

Rulan slumped over her desk, her eyes filled with resentment as she said, "Fourth Sister, you really are trying hard!"

"You don't apply yourself to needlework and weaving, but instead put your heart into burning incense and arranging flowers—things only noble marquise households care about—as if you'll definitely have use for them in the future."

Molan glanced at her indifferently and said carelessly, "Father specifically instructed us to study diligently under the Matriarch. We would rather learn it and not use it than not know it and become a laughingstock."

"We are both daughters of Father. Fifth Younger Sister was merely born in the Matriarch's womb; does that make her inherently nobler than me?"

"Is it just because of this that I am not even allowed to seek guidance from the Matriarch?"

Rulan sat up straight with a start, gritting her teeth. "Since you know you are born of a concubine, you should know your place!"

"Don't think that learning these things will allow you to marry into a prominent family. Daydreaming all day long—why don't you look in a mirror to see what you're really worth!"

"As for you people in Linxi Pavilion, from top to bottom, you learn nothing proper, only resorting to base tricks!"

The moment those words fell, the rims of Molan's eyes turned red instantly, and she trembled as she said, "I merely asked the Matriarch a few more questions; why must Fifth Younger Sister humiliate me so? Sob, sob... I am going to tell Father..."

"If you have the ability, go right now! Who's afraid of you!"

"Crying, crying, crying! All you know how to do all day is cry!"

"You just want the Matriarch to see this and think I'm bullying you, so Father will come and lecture me!"

"I've experienced this trick of yours many times over!"

Rulan akimbo, sparks practically shooting from her apricot-shaped eyes.

Seeing that Rulan remained arrogant, Molan began making a scene, threatening to dash her head against the wall of the study.

Hualan slammed the silver scissors in her hand onto the desk with a sharp *clack*.

Her usually dignified and gentle brows were etched with a measure of sternness and anger.

"Just when are you two going to stop making a fuss?!"

"If you don't wish to study under Matriarch Kong, I will tell Grandmother right now and have the two of you sent back to the regular schoolroom!"

Molan lifted her tear-filled eyes and trembled, "Eldest Sister, today it was clearly Fifth Younger Sister who spoke rudely first."

"Why are you lecturing me along with her? Could it be that you, too, look down on me for being born of a concubine?"

Naturally, Hualan would not be as impulsive and reckless as Rulan. She merely gave a light huff and said calmly, "When has our family ever made distinctions between the嫡 (primary wife's children) and the 庶 (concubine-born children)? Fourth Sister, do your daily food, clothing, and expenses look like those of a concubine's daughter?"

Hearing this, Molan instantly fell silent. Matriarch Kong, who had been lingering quietly outside the room, lifted the door curtain and entered without a sound.

Although this nearly sixty-year-old matriarch had slightly frosted temples, her every movement still exuded the dignity and solemnity of a palace court official.

She said nothing further, only ordering all four young ladies to stay right there and copy the *Xiangyue* fifty times.

As soon as Sheng Hong returned to the estate, Matriarch Kong sent someone to summon him, along with Wang Ruofu and Lin Qinshuang.

Along the way, a maidservant had already recounted the events of the study in meticulous detail to him.

Sheng Hong cared most about family reputation, and Matriarch Kong was a matriarch whom prominent capital households fought over to invite into their estates.

With a gloomy expression and teeth clenched, he walked all the way to the western side chamber.

Seeing that Hualan was also kneeling on the mat, he twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Matriarch, this matter has nothing to do with Hua'er. She is a young lady about to be married off; please let her stand up."