When Zhan Feiyu arrived at Madam Chang's Shou'an Courtyard, accompanied by Qu Shi, the main room was already packed with female guests, likely curious to see Zhan Feiyu's true appearance.
"May the Yaochi spring be ever youthful, and the domain of longevity greet the dawn. I wish Madam a long life, as bright as the sun and moon, and as enduring as the pine and crane." Zhan Feiyu knelt on the prayer mat and kowtowed. Her round face already held a festive look, and today, for her birthday celebration, she wore a red cross-collared jacket and skirt, with matching red ruby hair accessories. She appeared like a little fairy beneath the Bodhisattva, delighting Madam Chang, whose face crinkled into a smile. She quickly asked Qu Shi to help her up.
"Good child, rise quickly." Madam Chang's expression was affectionate. At her age, she paid no mind to the affairs of the outside world; seeing Zhan Feiyu's rosy complexion and bright teeth brought her joy.
Moreover, Zhan Feiyu's eyes were clear and pure. Madam Chang, having lived for so many years, had met all sorts of people and favored those with a pure heart, like this innocent girl.
Madam Chang held Zhan Feiyu's hand, smiling as she spoke to her husband's sister-in-law seated below. "Looking at her, she is truly our family's girl. Her eyes and brows are so much like mine when I was young."
"You old rascal, you never had such beauty in your youth," her old friend of several decades retorted with a laugh.
It had to be said that compared to the slender and graceful young ladies of noble families nowadays, Zhan Feiyu's cheeks, still retaining a baby's plumpness, were more pleasing to the older generation. "This is a piece of jade I obtained years ago. I'll have it made into a hairpin for you to wear and play with."
Madam Chang personally slipped the mutton-fat jade bracelet from her wrist onto Zhan Feiyu's, chiding her with feigned anger, "Today, I am the birthday star. You must accept this bracelet, whether you want it or not."
Zhan Feiyu was, after all, a junior. Regardless of the attitudes of the ladies present, the customary gifts were naturally indispensable. After this round of greetings, Zhan Feiyu found herself adorned with several hairpins, and jade pendants and bracelets were handed over to He Nuan for safekeeping.
"Oh, have the pearls and gems you bought from the Duobao Pavilion run out, and you've come here to extort again?" A sarcastic voice rang out from the doorway. Zhe Jing glared fiercely at Zhan Feiyu.
"Jing'er, do not be rude." Madam Zhe frowned and reprimanded her daughter. Seeing her youngest daughter's stern face and furious eyes, Madam Zhe suddenly regretted her indulgence of Zhe Jing over the years, which had left her with no manners at all.
Upon seeing the newcomers, Madam Chang quickly asked her niece's wife to help her up and walked forward to greet them with a smile. "So it's sister Zhe. Please, have a seat. Today is a joyous occasion; no scolding the children."
"This girl has been spoiled by me." Madam Zhe did not stand on ceremony. Although Minister Chang was only a third-rank official, and General Zhe was a first-rank general, the Zhe family even possessed a death-exemption plaque bestowed by the founding emperor.
However, in reality, Minister Chang was an official in the capital, and the Chang family had many relatives and friends serving in the court, all of whom were civil officials. The Zhe family were merely military commanders. Currently, General Zhe, his son, and grandsons were all at the border. If they were to offend officials in the court, any mishap would leave them without anyone to speak up for them.
Madam Zhe's eldest and second daughters-in-law, who had arrived with her, cast apologetic glances at Zhan Feiyu. They were accustomed to their sister-in-law's temperament, and this was not the first time she had caused embarrassment. With their mother-in-law present, it was not their place as sisters-in-law to intervene. "Good child, if my Jing'er were half as sensible as you, I would wake up smiling in my dreams." Madam Zhe's words prompted Madam Chang and a few other elderly ladies to laugh along.
Regardless of whether the Zhe family intended to spoil Zhe Jing and Zhe Sanlang, even spoiling had its limits. Zhe Jing had already come of age, yet she still chased after the Ning family's young man all over the capital, not only disgracing the Zhe family but also making it crucial that if this marriage did not materialize, who would be willing to take Zhe Jing in later? This was akin to placing a cuckold's hat on her son's head before even entering the household.
"You flatter me, Madam." Zhan Feiyu smiled and thanked Madam Zhe for the gift. As for Zhe Jing's angry and distorted expression, Zhan Feiyu pretended not to see it.
Zhe Jing was extremely annoyed, but this was the inner quarters of the back courtyard. Her limited skills were insufficient to deal with Zhan Feiyu, and she might even be dealt with by He Nuan instead. At this moment, she could only suppress her anger, her gaze fixed intently on Zhan Feiyu.
A moment later, Qu Shi seized the opportunity to pour tea for Madam Chang and quietly said, "Madam Bai has arrived. Sister-in-law is entertaining her."
Madam Chang maintained her smiling, affectionate demeanor. Her gaze swept over Zhan Feiyu and the others seated below. "There are some flowers and plants set up in the front. You young ladies can go and look, lest you stay here to accompany us old folks and find it boring."
Zhan Feiyu and the three other girls stood up. As for Zhe Jing, she glared fiercely at Zhan Feiyu, as if she had encountered her mortal enemy and intended to tear a piece of flesh from her.
Unfortunately, as they reached the doorway, they bumped into Madam Bai, who was entering.
"Madam, this is Miss Zhan," the head maid beside Madam Bai reminded her in a low voice. Previously, the Bai family had prepared a gift to thank Zhan Feiyu for saving Bai Zhaohui's life. Lan Yu had accompanied her to Yufeng Tower and met Zhan Feiyu once.
Enemies meeting, their eyes burn with hatred! Madam Bai's discerning gaze arrogantly appraised the four young ladies before her. She had seen the other three on different occasions.
She slightly nodded in acknowledgment of their greetings but deliberately avoided Zhan Feiyu's bow. "Miss Zhan is my Zhaohui's savior. I dare not accept this bow."
Madam Bai raised her eyebrows, her gaze sweeping over the hairpins on Zhan Feiyu's head, and sneered coldly. "I heard Miss Zhan is short of funds. My husband moved an entire cartload of items to Yufeng Tower, yet Miss Zhan is still not satisfied and extorted ten thousand taels of silver from Miss Wen of Duobao Pavilion."
Madam Bai's tone shifted, feigning helpless lament. "Miss Zhan has the kindness of saving my Zhaohui's life. Even if we were to provide a third round of gifts, my Bai residence would agree. However, I hope Miss Zhan will be merciful and spare the young ladies of the capital. After all, they are confined to their homes and cannot compare to Miss Zhan's scheming and shrewdness. Not every young lady can produce ten thousand taels of silver."
The noble ladies seated in the room exchanged glances. Magistrate Bai was upright and incorruptible, yet his wife was arrogant. Since Miss Zhan had saved Bai Zhaohui's life, let alone not demanding a reward, even if she had demanded one, was Bai Zhaohui's life worth less than those inanimate objects in the treasury?
Madam Bai chose to bring this matter up. Even if the outside world accused Zhan Feiyu of being greedy, they would also consider the Bai residence ungrateful. Bai Zhaohui, a scholar about to participate in the spring examinations, would suffer reputational damage. If the presiding official was upright and inflexible, Madam Bai might even cause Bai Zhaohui to fail the examinations.
Zhe Jing, seizing the opportunity, chimed in with Madam Bai's mockery. "Madam is right. I don't know how the Zhan family raised their daughter! They may be rich when traveling, but they must prepare enough money when they go out, lest they embarrass themselves."
If anyone else had said this, it might have held some truth. After all, it was indeed against the rules for a young lady like Zhan Feiyu to be out alone without an elder accompanying her.
However, Zhe Jing had discarded the dignity and pride of a noble young lady by chasing Ning Chen'an all over the capital. For her to speak of etiquette and rules to Zhan Feiyu was truly like a crow landing on a pig: only seeing the blackness of others, not its own.
Zhan Feiyu looked at Madam Bai and Zhe Jing, who were speaking in unison. Just as everyone expected a confrontation, and Qu Shi and Madam Chang were about to intervene and mediate, Zhan Feiyu turned her head and walked past them towards the door. Her dismissive attitude clearly showed she held them in contempt.
Uh...
There was a moment of silence in the room. Everyone watched Zhan Feiyu leave, then looked at the flushed faces of Madam Bai and Zhe Jing. In comparison, the disparity was evident.
"Stop! Is this how your elders taught you?" Madam Bai shouted angrily, raising her hand to grab Zhan Feiyu's arm. If she left like this, what would become of her reputation?
"Madam, please mind yourself!" Zhan Feiyu stopped, turned to face the furious Madam Bai, and smiled coldly. "As the saying goes, 'the one who provokes first is the one who is cheap.' Madam, are you intending to argue with me face-to-face, or do you want to fight?"
Seeing Madam Bai's extreme anger, Lan Yu couldn't help but reprimand her. "Presumptuous! Who do you think you are to be rude to my Madam!"
Zhan Feiyu smiled. "For Magistrate Bai's sake, I won't be rude to your Madam. However, I can be rude to you."
Without Zhan Feiyu's command, He Nuan raised her hand and swiftly slapped Lan Yu.
With a crack, the ladies in the room were startled. The girl from Yufeng Tower was indeed fierce, acting decisively and resorting to violence, which explained why she had clashed with Zhe Jing before.
"When it comes to fighting, we, mistress and servant, are not afraid of anyone. Madam, think twice before acting," Zhan Feiyu said slowly, smiling at Zhe Jing. "I believe Miss Zhe is aware of this."
"Don't be arrogant!" Zhe Jing gritted out the words through clenched teeth, her face ashen. If she could defeat He Nuan, she would have already taken action, allowing Zhan Feiyu to provoke her like this.
Madam Bai was already furious, and seeing her personal maid slapped, she was even more speechless, consumed by rage. If looks could kill, Zhan Feiyu would have been dismembered countless times.
Zhan Feiyu bowed apologetically to Madam Chang on the main seat. "I apologize for my rudeness just now. Please forgive me, Old Madam. I will go to the front to admire the flowers first."
Even among women in the back courtyard, animosity was usually expressed through verbal sparring and secret schemes. No one had ever seen Zhan Feiyu act so "unscrupulously," resorting to violence so readily. Her actions seemed to disregard the consequences.
The ladies in the room awkwardly picked up their teacups to hide their expressions. Madam Bai had lost all face today. Not only did she try to make things difficult for a young girl, but she was also slapped in the face. Tsk, tsk.
Madam Zhe, however, remained composed. Despite her doting on her youngest daughter Zhe Jing, Madam Zhe knew that Zhe Jing had met her match. Zhe Jing was overbearing and always resorted to violence when displeased. This time, she had kicked an iron plate. She couldn't win in an argument, nor could she win in a fight. If she didn't admit defeat, she could only accept her lesson.
"You..." Madam Bai trembled with anger, pointing a finger at the departing Zhan Feiyu. However, this was Madam Chang's residence, and Madam Bai couldn't find anyone to deal with even if she wanted to.
...
In less than half an hour, the female guests attending Madam Chang's birthday banquet knew about what had just happened. Madam Bai had already left Madam Chang's residence, citing illness, but everyone knew that the humiliated Madam Bai would not let the matter rest.
Together with Wen Ruyi, the four young ladies present could be considered the most outstanding. Regardless of their appearance or demeanor, including their backgrounds, all four surpassed the other young ladies present. Wen Ruyi, in particular, was the cream of the crop, hailed as the foremost talented woman in the capital.
"Sister Wen, isn't she afraid of Madam Bai's retaliation for being so arrogant and presumptuous?" The speaking Miss Chen had a sweet appearance, with a round face and round eyes. Her slightly surprised expression looked playful and cute.
Wen Ruyi could only smile and shake her head. "Miss Zhan's actions are different from ours. I heard that the guards by her side are all top-notch experts, which is why she is so fearless."
"This is the capital, and it doesn't tolerate a wild girl from outside acting so presumptuously!" The tall woman sitting beside her sneered, her expression cold, showing no concealment of her disdain and contempt for Zhan Feiyu.
"That's why she comes from a humble background," the young lady in the white jacket and skirt said with a gentle smile, seemingly unwilling to waste time on an outsider like Zhan Feiyu.
As the saying goes, "a single move affects the whole situation." No matter how powerful her guards were, even a tiger sometimes dozed off. Today, she had offended not only Madam Bai but also Madam Bai's maternal family, the Li family, as well as the relatives and friends of the Bai and Li families. If they couldn't even deal with a young girl, how could their families maintain their dignity? How could they establish themselves in the capital in the future?
Miss Chen nodded in agreement. "And Zhe Jing. She was also humiliated before..."
Her words stopped midway. Miss Chen awkwardly remembered that Wen Ruyi was also humiliated, after all, she had been extorted for ten thousand taels of silver by Zhan Feiyu at Duobao Pavilion.