Family play

The head of the Ming Family is Ming Peizi, the current Minister of Justice. He rose into this position because of his main wife's family the Li, which is one of the three general families in the empire. The Ming Family is composed of the Old Lady Ming the main family and three branch families.

The main family has a main wife who birthed a boy and a girl, and 3 concubines. The most favoured concubine is Lady Ye who has a girl, followed by Lady Xiao that has a boy and Lady Ling who is pregnant.

Ming Peizi is an ambitious man who always put the benefits he can gain for the family before everything else. That is why, although Ming Shu did not have too much affection for her father, she respected him as the head of the family. In the past, because she could not understand her father, she often argued which lead to a strained relationship that they would only maintain basic courtesy so that others could not pick any mistakes.

Later on, when she was one of Zhao Song advisors she understood that her father was a good head but a bad father, but their relationship was bad for so many years that it couldn't be fixed anymore.

'So this time lets try to have a friendly relationship with father'

Walking towards her grandmother courtyard, Ming Shu tried to think about her relationship with her father when she was ten and what she could do to make it better.

'Hm, let me see... I was really obsessed with martial arts and horse riding. Because our family is focused on the scholar route, Father likes girls who are virtuous and well versed on the four arts - the opposite of me. That is not a problem anymore though'

Thinking so, Ming Shu noticed she had already arrived at the Old Lady's courtyard. Inside the reception room sitting in the most prominent seat was a woman who looks like she has 45 years old, with deep blue robes and some pearl ornaments in her bun she had the 4 main wives of the Ming Family seat at both her sides, followed by some young masters, misses and concubines.

Bowing towards the Old Lady that had a sharp aura around her, Ming Shu prepared for the play that she had to do in the following minutes.

"Ming Shu greets Grandmother, Mother and Aunts, and hopes that Grandmother, Mother and Aunts are well"

"Well"

*thud*

Instead of going to her place, Ming Shu kneeled and kowtowed towards the Old Lady.

"Grandmother, Ming Shu is sorry for the incident that happened in your birthday but also hopes that Grandmother investigates what happened that day. This granddaughter was trying to pick the Lotus flower that grows in the lake for garnish the present for Grandmother but was pushed into the lake. If Grandmother still allows I would like to give you the present that I could not"

Old Lady Ming motioned to the servants to go to Ming Shu.

"Help the First Miss to get up. Come here Shu'er"

Taking Ming Shu hands, the Old Lady was pleased of how her first granddaughter was well behaved today opposed to how unruly she was in the past.

Nodding to herself the Old Lady couldn't help but think, 'This is how a lady of the Ming Family should conduct herself'

"Well, Shu'er a Grandmother will see that you have justice for the incident. What is the present that you prepared for me this year?"

"Luyu bring Grandmother's gift. Grandmother, I hope you like the present that I prepared for you"

Taking the present that was adorned with small lotus flowers, Old Lady Ming had low expectations towards this granddaughter of hers since she was known to be a tomboy with little lady-like talents, but was surprised when she saw what was inside the box.

A dark blue piece of double-side embroidery with a lifelike picture of a white crane in a lotus pond in one side and the character 'shou' in silver on the other,

"Shu'er, what a beautiful present!"

"Mother in law, please show to us what Shu'er prepared for you"

"Yes Grandmother, show us the 'incredible' present that cousin gave you"

Most of the family present only had one thought in mind: What could a rude girl prepare that was so amazing? Surely the Old Lady was just trying to save her face.

'*sigh* thank god I could prepare this in the two days I was recovering otherwise I would probably be scorned as always'

Taking out the embroidery so that the others could have a closer look, the Old Lady notice that although made with a very difficult technique the embroidery seemed to be made by an amateur.

"Shu'er tell Grandmother who made this?"