Ch. 29: Reunion

It could be said that in the entire Duke of Gao Mansion, Old Madam Ning was one of the most powerful women. Originally from an undistinguished family, thanks to a stroke of luck of the then Master Ning owing her father a debt of life, she married quietly into the famous household. She was not a great beauty, possessing a discreet appearance in her youth that could at most be described as 'virtuous'. And virtuous she was. She had successfully given birth to the eldest di son and did not monopolize her late husband's affections to other women, allowing them all the give birth as well.

Her husband eventually inherited the title of Duke of Gao with minimal struggle and her prestige only increased when her husband's sister, who had been sent to the palace as a concubine during a palace draft, was promoted to become the empress after the first one passed away. Now many years later, as the sister-in-law of Empress Dowager Ning, a first-rank titled noblewoman, and the mother of the current Duke of Gao, those who wouldn't give her face could only be counted one hand at best.

The vicissitudes of spending decades in the rear yard were very much like a stone sitting in a river, its rougher ridges smoothing out over time. She was a calm woman who had doted heavily on her daughter and grandchildren, her serene disposition hiding her thoughts masterfully.

"Madam Shen and Young Miss Shen are here!" a maid standing outside the reception hall yelled cheerfully inside, as Lady Ning internally winced at still being referred to as a madam of a family that had long thrown her away. After the lack of pomp when Lady Ning had first arrived, it seemed her mother was trying to make up for it in spades at this moment.

Shen Meifeng, Lady Ning, and Lin Xiao found themselves escorted into the luxurious courtyard. Facing the north and composed of several rooms, a garden, a kitchen, and her own embroidery room, Yixin Pavilion was easily one of the nicest courtyards in the Duke of Gao Mansion. Seated comfortably in the reception hall and dressed sumptuously in a brocade jacket of maroon with gold buttons, Old Madam Ning's eyes teared up as Lady Ning walked in.

Lady Ning was similarly overcome with emotion, quickly kneeling at her mother's feet. "Mother, this daughter was not filial."

"Quickly rise, my daughter," Old Madam Ning said, beckoning for her maids to help Lady Ning from the carpeted floor.

The cloisonne enamel incense burner inlaid with precious gems was the same, the decorations of rare landscape paintings remained the same. It was as if Lady Ning were transported back almost two decades to the carefree days before she exited her boudoir. Only a stone wouldn't be moved to sincere emotion, the heartfelt reunion between mother and daughter after so many years bringing tears to the servants who stood around their vicinity.

Shen Meifeng watched the scene carefully and played her part, dabbing at her eye with a plain handkerchief as she surveyed her surroundings. Indeed just looking at the wealth of this home, she knew that their connections with the palace could not be few. She had made a wonderful choice.

"This unfilial granddaughter greets Grandmother," Shen Meifeng choked out, falling to the floor and kneeling as Lady Ning had done before. Lin Xiao had been a diligent learner, falling to her knees as well the moment Shen Meifeng had descended. Old Madam Ning's eyes squinted at the floor in disbelief, her hand patting Lady Ning's as she shook her head with great sorrow.

"A'Ling, you've suffered," the old woman said to her daughter. Lady Ning's boudoir name, Ning Zhiling, had not been uttered in so long, the striking similarity to Ning Cailing's name bringing the slightest of frowns to the young girl's face. But it was not time for her to enter the stage just yet.

"Old Madam, you see Young Miss Shen is just as beautiful as her mother was in her youth," Old Madam's loyal maid who had been with her for several decades reported. Lin Xiao picked up Shen Meifeng from the floor and Shen Meifeng rose in a fluid motion her face visible to all.

Was there a resemblance to Lady Ning? Not quite. But simply being beautiful was enough. Which of the old servants in the room didn't remember how famous Lady Ning had been in the social circles? But Shen Meifeng was dressed in what could only be called rags in their eyes as even the cheapest rough maid was garbed better than her. A hint of disdain lay in the corner of their gaze, viewing the touching moment to be little more than poor relatives coming to play the autumn wind and get some good things from the Ning family.

Their thoughts, of course, were simply because of the lack of proper welcome when Lady Ning had arrived. Already throughout the mansion, it was known the previous generation's eldest di daughter had been forced to wait outside like a poor relative. However, as it was the Old Madam's own beloved daughter who had been forced to exile with a ruined family, no one would ever dare breathe a word of their thoughts.

Lady Ning was not stingy in her performance, a gentle look appearing on her face as she looked towards Meifeng. "Mother, this is my daughter, Shen Meifeng. If it weren't for her," Lady Ning paused to dab her eyes softly, "I wouldn't dare return."

Naturally, Lady Ning was grateful to Shen Meifeng who had given her an excuse to return after years of crafting the tiresome image of an illustrious nun. Typically, married daughters were like water poured out, unable to return to their natal families.

"Don't say such things. No matter what, the Ning family will have a place for you," Old Madam softly scolded with a doting look. And Old Madam's word was law.

"Look, all these years away from me and your hands are so cold. Daughter, you have truly suffered," she sighed.

The tears that stung Lady Ning's eyes were very much real as she blinked up at the only person she felt she could trust in the entire mansion, "Mother, your daughter is alright. I shall remain by your side and be filial to you for the rest of my life."

The years had been hard on Lady Ning's spirit, but her appearance, although obviously aged was as lovely as before and carried remnants of her mother's brows and smile. Old Madam's heart was unavoidably softened when she saw her sole daughter, her eyes turning red once more.

But when Old Madam Ning turned to face her outer granddaughter with a warm smile, Shen Meifeng could spy something untoward and unfriendly. It was to be expected of a woman who had crawled to the highest position with nary a scratch.

"Grandmother!" Shen Meifeng cried again as if her emotions were simply too much to bear, her handkerchief held close so that her lack of genuine tears wasn't apparent. Her lovely fox eyes, which could appear clever in one moment and innocent the next, rounded themselves out so she looked even younger than her approximate 14 years of age. Like a lovable doll, she struck distress into the hearts of those who watched, even Lady Ning who knew that this was an act.

"Come. This is a meeting gift to signify the reunion between grandmother and granddaughter," Old Madam beckoned. From underneath a silk embroidered sleeve, a brilliant white jade was placed into Shen Meifeng's hand, the light color only future highlighting the paleness of Shen Meifeng's skin.

As Shen Meifeng made a humble display of initially declining before properly receiving the gift, Old Madam Ning said nothing else as she beckoned to Ning Cailing who had been seated on the side.

"Cailing, come briefly greet your aunt and paternal cousin," Old Madam Ning called out instead, causing two people in the room to instantly stiffen.

Cailing, because she was accustomed to her grandmother's sweet pet name of "A'Ling".

Lady Ning, because she knew that this niece she had never before seen was most likely called "A'Ling" once she had married out.

Shen Meifeng watched the confusion and sudden alienation between aunt and niece, working hard to suppress the sudden grin that wished to make its way onto her face. Old Madam Ning was almost more of a fox than she herself was.

Dressed in muted colors that highlighted the delicateness of her figure, Ning Cailing indeed upheld the mantle of a di daughter at first glance. Recovering from her surprise with haste, Ning Cailing saluted her paternal aunt, a curious looking women with graceful features and still donning the cap female nuns who had shaved their heads wore.

The scene was most peculiar and not what she had expected when she had come to keep company with her grandmother. The tranquil of the morning had been disrupted with the arrival of her aunt, whose presence, while expected, had not been forewarned throughout the mansion. Ning Cailing was a smart girl herself and had been studying housekeeping from her mother for a few years, she could deduce what it meant.

Someone in her home did not place great importance or respect upon her aunt, a thought that perplexed the young, sheltered girl.

Although Cailing knew that married daughters were like spilled water, the Duke of Gao Mansion already raised several idle mouths to feed and a daughter could easily be counted as one of them. Yet, until her paternal aunt had written a letter home requesting to return on behalf of her daughter, she had never heard any mention of Madam Shen.

"This niece greets her paternal aunt," Ning Cailing said prettily to Lady Ning, who was now seated in one of the rosewood side chairs that the morning greeting was typically conducted in.

Lady Ning accepted it carefully, her etiquette from the past very much still present. Only Old Madam's closest maid, Ruan momo, noticed how Old Madam Ning's face lightened a tad at her daughter's good conduct. As someone who knew the heart of many sordid and secret manors hidden behind the prestigious family name, her heart was naturally chilled by the things Old Madam Ning had done to maintain the Ning family at the cost of her own daughter's wellbeing. She could only hope that with the former Madam Shen's sudden return, Old Madam Ning might begin to treat her with more sincerity than she had in the past.

"Younger Cousin, if you have any questions or problems don't be afraid to seek me out," Ning Cailing greeted gently, looking at her outer cousin with a smile. She felt a little pity for her younger cousin who should've grown up in the capital like herself, but was forced out due to her family's mistakes.

"That's true," Old Madam Ning echoed, looking over at Ning Cailing with approval. "Cailing is your older cousin and the eldest daughter of her generation. She will be married soon so do not take too long to ask!"

Ning Cailing's doe eyes curled up as a faint and lovely blush rose to her cheeks as if they were just pinched. "Grandmother!" she murmured in a cute manner, acting appropriately like an unmarried woman too afraid to speak of her own marriage before elders. In the midst of the happy scene between grandmother and granddaughter, how could Shen Meifeng not chime in?

"Older Cousin," Shen Meifeng replied sweetly. "Then I will rely on you, alright? Just don't get tired of me!"

Lin Xiao marveled at how her mistress smiled like a declawed kitten, a brief sense of pity rising in her heart in case Shen Meifeng truly did ever decide to "rely" on Ning Cailing. But she was not a foolish girl who dithered in unnecessary emotions.

Pity was an emotion for those who had something to lose. And between herself and Shen Meifeng who would otherwise be worth less than dirt to the people before them if it weren't for a stroke of luck, there was only the world blooming before them like a flower begging to be plucked.