In front of the palace gates, people conversed in low voices, exchanging friendly banter and greetings with acquaintances, making plans to visit and drink together during the rare New Year’s holiday.
Madam Chen was among them. Compared to other ladies accompanied by daughters-in-law attending to their needs, her solitary presence with just a young maid made her appear somewhat alone.
“This is good news,” said a lady dressed in an official wife’s court attire, gently taking Madam Chen’s hand and speaking softly, her expression carrying a trace of delight.
Although Madam Chen maintained a dignified demeanor, she couldn’t help but reveal a slight smile at these words.
Her eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant and, naturally, could not accompany her to the palace this time.
The Chen Shao lineage had few descendants. Of four brothers, the eldest and second had passed away in succession, leaving only Chen Shao and Fourth Master Chen.
Chen Shao himself had married late and spent much of his time traveling to different regions. It wasn’t until his later years that he had his eldest son. After taking three concubines, he eventually had a total of three sons and four daughters.
Now, both his eldest daughter-in-law and a concubine were expecting at the same time—particularly at a time when Old Master Chen had just recovered from a serious illness. This filled the entire family with indescribable joy.
However, such personal joy could easily evoke envy in others, so there was no need to share it widely. Apart from a few close friends, the matter remained unspoken to outsiders.
“I heard you’ve asked Doctor Li to help with your daughters-in-law’s health,” a lady whispered in Madam Chen’s ear. “Doctor Li is the physician for Duke Jin’an, so it’s quite appropriate that you invited him.”
She then chuckled softly.
“If only you could invite Duke Jin’an to your home for a visit, who knows, you might…”
Even Madam Chen, usually composed, blushed at this, and gently pushed the lady.
“Don’t, Sister Dong, you’re becoming more and more out of line!” she scolded.
The lady laughed behind her hand, still chuckling.
As they spoke and moved, they soon saw the carriages of various families waiting not far off. Suddenly, there was a moment of quiet ahead, and Madam Chen and Madam Dong paused their conversation, looking in that direction.
They immediately saw a young lady walking towards them in quick steps, and both of their eyes brightened.
Outside the imperial palace on a winter day, the atmosphere was increasingly solemn. The ladies’ ceremonial attire was mostly woven with gold, shining brightly. Among this golden brilliance, the young lady was dressed in a large duck-blue cloak, with a large hood. As she moved, the cloak fluttered open, revealing a similarly dark blue gown underneath, adorned with slanted gold threads along the edges, a wide silk belt at her waist, and flowing wide sleeves that crossed in front of her like a drop of ink spreading through water.
As she walked toward them, all the ladies, regardless of age, fixed their eyes upon her, and even the men in the distance seemed to glance at her quietly, as if by accident.
Whose daughter is this? Amid the solemnity, she exuded elegance and grace, moving like an immortal.
“Mother,” the young lady called, and upon seeing Madam Chen, she quickened her pace and reached out to support her, slightly tilting her head up to reveal half of her face.
“Shi’ba-niang,” Madam Chen Shao paused for a moment, then suddenly recognized her daughter, “You… How come you’re here?”
“Aunt and sister-in-law were worried, so they asked me to come and meet you,” Chen Shi’ba-niang said, handing over a small brazier and taking the one that had already grown cold from Madam Chen’s hand.
As the warm brazier touched her hands, Madam Chen, who had barely slept all night and stood in the cold wind for half the day, immediately felt warmth spread through her, as though it reached her very heart. She seemed to relax and breathe a sigh of relief.
“I see,” she said, gazing at her daughter with a look of tenderness.
“My, Shi’ba-niang, it’s been just a few days, and you’ve grown taller again,” Madam Dong exclaimed as she came to her senses. Letting go of Madam Chen, she took Shi’ba-niang’s hand, looking her over carefully from head to toe.
“It’s just because I’m wearing boots,” Chen Shi’ba-niang replied with a smile.
Madam Dong merely chuckled, her gaze roaming over Shi’ba-niang as if seeing her for the first time.
“Even so, you’ve grown taller. Only fourteen years old, too,” she said with a warm smile.
“Alright, let’s get on the carriage. It’s so cold,” Madam Chen said, breaking off Madam Dong’s scrutiny with a laugh.
The two women walked ahead, while Shi’ba-niang fell a few steps behind, moving with the crowd. Even after she got into the carriage, faint glances from outside lingered, along with whispers that reached her ears.
“Is that the Chen family’s daughter?”
“She’s not so young anymore…”
The carriage went straight through the gates of the family residence, and daughters-in-law and maids flocked around to help with changing clothes and serving hot soup. Madam Chen shed all her weariness.
“Shi’ba-niang, who made this outfit for you?” she asked after dinner, looking at her daughters gathered together, chatting and laughing.
Chen Shi’ba-niang, having taken off her cloak and now wearing only her outer robe, rose with a bright smile.
“I had the tailor make it for me. Mother, what do you think?” she asked.
The young girl, in the bloom of youth, stood out in her simple attire amidst the vivid reds and greens around her, exuding a unique elegance.
“It’s just that, with the New Year approaching, it seems a little too plain,” Madam Chen remarked with a smile, though she didn’t say it was unsuitable.
“Shi’ba-niang, you’re copying Lady Cheng’s outfit!” Dan-niang exclaimed as she entered with the maids, immediately pointing it out.
Everyone present suddenly realized where the sense of familiarity came from.
“Shi’ba-niang, you secretly had it made and didn’t even tell us!”
“Come on, tell us—did you only make one, or are there more?”
The ladies surrounded Shi’ba-niang, and the room instantly filled with lively chatter and laughter, interspersed with Dan-niang’s playful protests.
While the Chen family was full of laughter and merriment, the residence of Cheng Jiao-niang, located near Yudai Bridge, remained quiet.
Since there were no elders in the household and no need to pay New Year’s visits to relatives or neighbors, after the morning’s rituals, Cheng Jiao-niang, Xu Maoxiu, and the others each retired to rest. When they woke up, it was already afternoon.
Xu Maoxiu and the others washed up again, shaved, and changed into fresh clothes. They opened the street-facing door, some chatting and laughing in the courtyard, while others stood by the entrance watching the street scenes.
The sound of footsteps came from behind, and they all turned to look. Cheng Jiao-niang emerged from her room with her maid, also dressed in new clothes.
For a moment, the people in the courtyard were stunned.
“Sister, you’re wearing new clothes—we hardly recognized you!” Xu Bangchui was the first to call out.
His voice brought everyone back to their senses, and even those at the gate turned to look.
Today, Cheng Jiao-niang wore a wide-sleeved, front-clasped robe in rouge red, paired with a simple white silk skirt. The cuffs and hem were adorned with delicate gold trim. Her usually loose and flowing long hair was tied into a low bun, adorned not with ornate hairpins but a small silver comb.
Xu Maoxiu shifted his gaze away from the silver comb.
“Sister, you look much better in this outfit!” Xu Bangchui chimed in from the side. “This is great, much better than your usual black and somber outfits. They always feel so cold and intimidating!”
Fan Jianglin quickly glared at him.
“If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all. She looks good in anything,” he scolded.
The maid smiled as she looked at Cheng Jiao-niang’s outfit.
“This is a new dress sent by Madam Chen,” she said, glancing at Xu Maoxiu. “We ought to thank Third Young Master for bringing it back.”
Xu Maoxiu smiled but didn’t know what to say, so he chose to stay silent.
Cheng Jiao-niang had already seated herself inside the room, while the maid went to fetch the meal.
Xu Maoxiu hesitated for a moment, standing under the corridor.
“Third Brother,” Cheng Jiao-niang called out.
Xu Maoxiu quickly turned around.
“Have you all eaten?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
“We have,” Xu Maoxiu replied with a smile.
“Good. I have something I need Brother’s help with,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Xu Maoxiu’s eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the lady seated inside the room.
Though she was dressed differently from her usual attire, the vibrant clothing seemed to fade in comparison. What caught his attention, as always, was her expressionless face.
Even without the somber black attire, her commanding presence remained unchanged.
