Chapter 133 - Tea Ceremony

The next morning, Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao restored to the previous intimacy after getting up. Jinxun and other servants who came in the room for service saw their interaction and all felt happy to realize that they had made peace.

They cleaned up through talking and laughing. After breakfast, they arrived at Jinguo Grand Princess’s mansion by carriage together.

“Yixiao’s eyebrows are nicely penciled today!” When they arrived at the back hall, Jinguo Grand Princess and her husband were not there yet. Neither were Earl Shouchun and his wife. Only Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Nie Wuying were chatting at the back hall.

Seeing that Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao walked into the hall with their hands held together, Commandery Princess Qingjiang stopped chatting with Nie Wuying and teased them instead, “Yet, somehow I find the way of penciling very familiar.”

“I penciled the eyebrows for her.” Jian Xubai acknowledged, “Actually, I used to pencil your eyebrows and mother’s before. How can you not find it familiar?”

Commandery Princess Qingjiang said laughingly, “Humph. You were reluctant to do it for us before. Now you must thank us for making you do that?”

Then she turned to Song Yixiao, “You should thank me and Mother, or how can you have a husband who is so good at penciling the eyebrows?”

Jian Xubai nodded his head delightedly while Song Yixiao flushed and pinched him in secret to show her embarrassment. Yet, her hand was held by Jian Xubai instead.

Amidst chatting and laughing, the couple sat down together. After the servants served the tea, Commandery Princess Qingjiang mentioned the imperial entitlement of Song Yixiao. Although she had sent Song Yixiao a present, she still congratulated her face to face.

Song Yixiao exchanged pleasantries and asked her about the recent situation about her, Zhuo Ping’an and Nie Wuying.

Commandery Princess Qingjiang said, “We are fine, but you’ve just been recovered. You attended a feast yesterday and today you arrived so early, but you shouldn’t get yourself too exhausted. You must ask the servants to cook some nutrient soup and drink it when you go back home!”

“Thank you for your concern!” Song Yixiao said, “Recently I have been tired of eating stewed chicken with ginseng. I want to eat something else but I am told that it is the most nutrient!”

Jian Xubai said, “Why don’t you eat the Fragrant Green Liquid? It is very nutrient too.”

They discussed about the nourishing food for a while. Song Yixiao sensed that Nie Wuying was silent while Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Jian Xubai were talking happily. She volunteered to ask Nie Wuying, “You told me that you wanted to learn how to dance before. I was not feeling well before so it got held back. When is it convenient to you then?”

Nie Wuying was listening aside obediently when she was surprised to hear Song Yixiao’s question. Then she said bashfully, “It is approaching the end of the year, so you must be busy recently. Moreover, you are just recovered. How about after the Spring Festival?”

“I can make some time for you anyway.” Song Yixiao said gently, “Besides, you also know that I am alone in the backyard of Duke of Yan’s mansion. I don’t have anyone to keep me company when I want to hang out. If you can come to my home frequently, I will be very happy to have your company!”

Song Yixiao was pondering over her mother-in-law’s intention these days. Since Nie Wuying was asked to let Song Yixiao teach her dancing, it was not only to enhance their connections. Most importantly, it was hoped that Song Yixiao could take Nie Wuying out more.

Nie Wuying was a bit like Song Yixiao in the yore.

Although she had an honorable mother as her reliance, due to her embarrassing origin of birth, it was not easy for her to marry well and fit into the circle of aristocrat women.

At that time, it was due to the great favor of Yuan Xue’e and her own socially activeness that Song Yixiao gained the qualification and opportunities to make friends with Jiang Muting and other noble ladies.

However, Nie Wuying was obviously not socially active. Jinguo Grand Princess, Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Earl Shouchun’s wife all treated her well, but they were old anyway. Due to Nie Wuying’s temperament, she could fit in the circle of aristocratic women.

Among the children and daughters-in-law, only Song Yixiao, who was two years old than Nie Wuying, was suitable to be Nie Wuying’s guide.

Now that Song Yixiao said so, Nie Wuying’s maid kept winking at her, hoping her not to refuse anymore.

“What are you talking about? How lively!” Nie Wuying was about to nod her head when Jinguo Grand Princess finally arrived, coming with a smile and saying, “The minute I walked through the moon gate, I heard people chatting loudly in the room so I thought Anjin and Anyi had arrived!”

Pointing at Jian Xubai, Commandery Princess Qingjiang answered smilingly, “Mother, I am not being gossipy. As Yixiao was injured by an assassin before, Xubai keeps asking me about how to nourish her body out of love for her!”

“Mother, don’t listen to Sister!” Jian Xubai stood up and advanced to hold the arm of Jinguo Grand Princess, saying with a grin, “It’s also for the sake of showing filial piety to you!”

“Look at you. How can I get jealous for your wife?” Jinguo Grand Princess beat her son with a smile and sat down on the seat of honor escorted by him. Then, she waived the formalities and let everyone take a seat. Afterwards, she asked Song Yixiao with concern, “I heard your injury was recovered. I thought that it would be no big deal if you couldn’t get through the noisy scene yesterday. After all, we are a family. Yiyou and his wife would never fuss about it.”

Song Yixiao caught the key point of her mother-in-law’s words. That was, “family”. If not, why did she say that Song Yixiao could have not attended the feast? After all, Song Yixiao went to the feast indeed. Of course she would not contradict her mother, so she immediately chimed in with a smile, “Mother, don’t worry. I have been fully recovered!”

Then she added, “Moreover, how can I not attend Yiyou’s wedding ceremony?”

Jinguo Grand Princess never expected to make the two daughters-in-law bury the hatchet with a hint only. Now she was satisfied with Song Yixiao’s obedience. “After all, you’ve lost some blood. You had better take some supplements. Go to my treasury and take some lucid ganoderma. It can enrich the blood and tonify Qi, which is rather good for women.”

Song Yixiao hastily got up and expressed her gratitude.

Then the Grand Princess also showed concern for other children. When she was talking with Jian Xubai, Earl Shouchun and his family arrived.

Earl Shouchun disliked talking so he only bowed silently. Upon entering the back hall, Madam Bai kept apologizing for arriving late. The Grand Princess said casually, “You’ve got children to look after. It’s okay that you arrive late. Moreover, Prince Consort, Yiyou and his wife are not here yet!”

Then she waved her hand and said with a smile, “Anjin, Anyi, come here. Let me have a look and see if you two have grown taller.”

Madam Bai heard that and stopped apologizing. With a smile, she raised the tea bowl and started to exchange pleasantries with the others.

Very soon, Jian Likuang arrived. People all put down the tea bowl and rose to receive him.

“Everyone, take your seat.” Maybe it was his favorite son who had the tea ceremony today, so Jian Likuang, who was always stern, surprisingly gave a benign smile, “Anjin and Anyi are well dressed today!”

Dou Anjin and Dou Anyi were not raised by their grandmother, thus not familiar with this step-grandfather. Now that they were complimented by him, neither of them knew how to reply. For the moment, they looked each other in the eye.

After temporary silence, Dou Anyi reacted faster and said, “Thank you, Grandfather!”

Jian Likuang grabbed some dessert from the tray on the table for her and then touched her head.

With her mouth twitched, Song Yixiao thought that her father-in-law did love his son indeed. However, he had gone too far. Even though Jian Yiyou was on bad terms with his brothers and sisters, his wife was a princess. No one would disgrace them at the tea ceremony.

After a while, the servants reported that Princess Changxing and Jian Yiyou had arrived at the mansion.

As Jinguo Grand Princess slightly nodded her head, Madam Bai hastened to say, “Anjin, Anyi, go somewhere else. Your Uncle and Auntie are coming. Remember to behave yourselves!”

They were extremely obedient. After saying, “Yes, Mother”, they bowed to Jinguo Grand Princess and Jian Likuang, and then left.

After a while, Xue Shiren, the Aide, conducted Princess Changxing and Jian Yiyou into the back hall. The couple were both good-looking, who were well dressed today. Undoubtedly, they were a perfect match. However, they were all smiles but they just didn’t look happy.

“I wonder how Jian Yiyou felt last night.” Song Yixiao didn’t find it strange. This April, regardless of her honored identity, Princess Changxing went to Prince of Hengshan’s mansion to make trouble for Song Yixiao because of Jian Xubai. Yet, she married Jian Yiyou two or three months later. Everyone at present knew about it. How could she feel happy about the situation?

While she was pondering, Princess Changxing and Jian Yiyou finished serving the tea to Jinguo Grand Princess. The Grand Princess gave Princess Changxing a pair of jade dangling ornaments, which should be more valuable than the pair of wire bracelets given to Song Yixiao in September. Since Princess Changxing was the only legitimate daughter of Emperor Xianjia and her husband was even Jian Xubai’s elder brother, the Grand Princess’s choice of presents was fair enough.

On the contrary, Jian Likuang did something unreasonable. After having the tea served by Princess Changxing, he asked the servant to take out a golden lacquer tray, on which there was a piece of brocade. Above the brocade was a pair of Jade Ruyi inlayed with gold, which looked priceless with brilliant jewels and pearls!

“They are the Jade Ruyi stored in the national treasury since the Wei Dynasty.” Jian Likuang introduced with a benign countenance, “It is said that they used to be a betrothal present of the crown prince. I wish you two can live a happy life in future!”

Seemingly, the set of writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper that Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao received could be bought in any shop in the market.

Song Yixiao didn’t care about this kind of thing but after seeing such a huge difference, she couldn’t help feeling angry.

She glimpsed at Jian Xubai sneakingly. As expected, she saw that Jian Xubai looked at the Jade Ruyi with a cold and stern face.

“Wish you two lead a harmonious life and live together till old age!” Luckily, Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Earl Shouchun’s couple didn’t show any bias for the brothers, regardless of the gifts or words.

Song Yixiao felt better somehow.

However, afterwards, Jian Yiyou and Princess Changxing sat down, waiting for her and Jian Xubai to pay respects and serve tea!

“Brother, Sister-in-law, please have some tea!” Song Yixiao had only met with Jian Yiyou twice. In her eyes, stern as this man was, he didn’t look like a man of no sense of propriety. However, Princess Changxing was different. Therefore, when Song Yixiao advanced with a tray, she was ready to hide behind Jian Xubai once Princess Changxing took any action.

Nevertheless, to her surprise, Princess Changxing fetched the tea bowl calmly and took a sip of the tea. Then she asked the maid to show a set of pink-gold head ornaments and uttered some pleasantries. The whole process went normally, as if they didn’t harbor any grudge before.

She was so calm while Jian Yiyou was even colder and more silent.

After Song Yixiao and Jian Xubai returned their seats, they were both confused.

The next one to serve tea was naturally Nie Wuying, who got a set of pearl head ornaments.

Next were Dou Anjin and Dou Anyi. Princess Changxing gave them a pair of necklaces carved with tree peony and coiling dragon.

“It’s still early. You may as well go to meet your uncle!” Jinguo Grand Princess saw the grandchildren return to their parents, and then put down the tea bowl, saying with a smile, “I hear that he has bought several more good items. It is a good time to greet him!”

After Princess Changxing and Jian Yiyou left, Jian Likuang immediately left then.

Jinguo Grand Princess didn’t keep them. After making sure others had nothing to say, she told them to leave then.

After leaving the main hall, Song Yixiao had a chat with Nie Wuying for a while and reached an agreement that Nie Wuying would come to Duke of Yan’s mansion for learning dancing every day after three days from now. Then she exchanged pleasantries with Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Madam Bai before going back home by carriage.

As the carriage left the Grand Princess’s mansion, Song Yixiao noticed that her husband still didn’t look happy, saying, “After all, you’ve taken a day off for the tea ceremony. Now that we have nothing to do after going back home, how about going to the Yuan Family’s mansion?”

Jian Xubai glanced at her and said, “Didn’t you just meet Xuepei’s sister the other day? Why do you want to meet her again?”

“It’s because you don’t look happy and I am too stupid to think of a way to comfort you. As Marquis Boling grows up with you, maybe he knows how to comfort you.” Song Yixiao rolled her eyes at him and slightly puckered her lips.

“You used to comfort me before.” Jian Xubai heard her and took a look at her pink lips with a faint smile, saying, “Why don’t you know how to do it now?”

Song Yixiao was about to answer when a guard reported in a low voice from outside the carriage, “Your Highness, the servant from the Linghu Family stopped us and said that the Elder Lady of the Linghu Family just passed away!”