Chapter 2 The Morning After
Wang Qingyao was woken the next day by voices in the courtyard. She hadn't slept well, and her body ached, so she was in a foul mood. Closing her eyes, she grumbled, "Who is it, disturbing my slumber so early in the morning?"
Xiao Yun was also woken. He propped himself up on his arm and listened for a moment. It was the voice of an old woman, trying to enter their room to wake them. Yin Zhu and the others refused, and a dispute arose.
The old woman's voice was not suppressed at all; she even deliberately shouted towards the room. Yin Zhu and the others, concerned for Wang Qingyao, lowered their voices.
Wang Qingyao listened for a while and then opened her eyes.
"Who is that?" Xiao Yun asked.
Wang Qingyao let out a scoff, disdainfully saying, "The head steward嬷嬷 my grandmother gave us. She's not very capable, but she puts on airs."
Seeing her attitude, Xiao Yun understood.
He got out of bed, put on a robe, and opened the door, immediately confronting the old woman, Hua Mama, with a barrage of scolding. "What kind of insolent servant is this, so lacking in manners? The Princess is still asleep, and you're shouting like a shrew. Are you doing this on purpose?"
Hua Mama was stunned by the reprimand.
Although Xiao Yun had a reputation as a dandy on the outside, it was mostly about his extravagant spending, not about bullying others or having a bad temper.
On the contrary, he was usually very easygoing and treated his servants with no airs, especially those in Wang Qingyao's courtyard.
Hua Mama had heard that he had even specially arranged carriages and horses for the maids and taken good care of them.
Why was she being treated so differently? It was like night and day!
Especially in front of all the servants in the courtyard, she was the head steward嬷嬷 by the Princess's side. How could she establish her authority in the future?
"Replying to Your Highness," Hua Mama said, her old face flushing red, "It's already the first quarter of the Mao hour. It's time to pay respects to the Grand Consort and the Old Grand Consort."
The logic was sound, but the Old Grand Consort had already instructed that they didn't need to be so early. Nian Mama hadn't even come to call them, so what right did she have to barge into their room?
Xiao Yun's face turned cold. "Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"
Most of the time, Xiao Yun was a gentle and refined young man, but when he lost his temper, he could be quite intimidating.
Hua Mama's legs went weak, and she knelt down. "Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant dares not."
The others also lowered their heads.
Xiao Yun snorted coldly and did not ask Hua Mama to rise. He simply returned to the room.
Since the masters had not spoken, Hua Mama naturally dared not get up. She remained kneeling under the curious gazes of everyone, her face burning with shame.
Wang Qingyao, having been disturbed, had long since lost any desire to sleep. She called for her things to wash up, then had her hair styled as a married woman. Her clothes were still bright red.
She glanced at herself in the mirror and said, "This hairstyle makes me look old."
Xiao Yun leaned over. "Let me see." He cupped her chin and examined her from side to side. "Where does it make you look old? I think you look even younger."
"Smooth talker," Wang Qingyao chided, her shy expression perfectly portrayed.
Yin Zhu pursed her lips and smiled. Wang Qingyao, following protocol, had her and Zhi Zi come forward to kowtow to Xiao Yun. "You've met my maids, but you still need to pay your respects."
Yin Zhu and Zhi Zi kowtowed to Xiao Yun, officially becoming maids of the Ding'an Prince's manor.
Nian Mama, being older, was not required to kowtow by Xiao Yun; she only offered a greeting. He then had the four head maids, Zhen Zhu, Fei Cui, Ma Nao, and Shan Hu, pay their respects to Wang Qingyao. They had met before, so it was just a formality.
Xiao Yun's courtyard originally did not have so many servants. After the marriage, they were assigned to his courtyard, along with eight second-rank maids and eight third-rank maids. Wang Qingyao briefly met them and then handed them over to Nian Mama for management.
The servants set up a table for breakfast. Although Wang Qingyao hadn't slept well, it didn't affect her appetite at all.
She ate a bowl of millet porridge, two steamed buns, four dumplings, and a cup of milk.
The steamed buns, in particular, had thin skins, were steamed to a translucent sheen, and burst open with a gentle bite. The soup flowed along her tongue and into her mouth, so delicious that her eyebrows almost fell off.
Wang Qingyao praised them several times.
Xiao Yun then said, "If you like them, I'll have the kitchen make them again tomorrow."
"Mm, I want to eat four tomorrow."
Xiao Yun ate less than she did. He was a health enthusiast, aiming for seven-tenths fullness at every meal, and he liked variety, tasting only a little of each dish.
Zhen Zhu and the others were used to it, but Yin Zhu and Zhi Zi were somewhat dumbfounded.
Ah, the Prince is indeed the Prince, so particular.
After breakfast, they were to go to the Grand Consort's courtyard to pay respects to elders and meet relatives.
When they were leaving, Hua Mama was still kneeling. Wang Qingyao, in her magnanimity, allowed her to rise. She had been kneeling for a long time, her legs were numb, and she stood up with a wobbly gait, nearly falling, but no one went to help her.
With red eyes, she thanked them.
The Xiao family was sparsely populated. Other families' new brides would have a room full of people, young and old, male and female, for the welcoming ceremony, making it quite lively.
For Wang Qingyao, it was only the Old Grand Consort, Consort Fang, and Xiao Mo.
Consort Fang and Xiao Mo had arrived early. Consort Fang, who had been rather ostentatious yesterday, was dressed plainly today.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun performed the kowtow ritual to the Old Grand Consort and Consort Fang, offering them tea.
The Old Grand Consort accepted it with a smile. A maid nearby presented the pre-prepared colorful silk, while Wang Qingyao offered a set of four-color needlework.
Consort Fang's lips twitched slightly, a semblance of a smile. She also presented colorful silk, on which lay a Buddhist scripture.
When it came to Xiao Mo, they only needed to bow. "Younger Uncle."
Xiao Mo returned the bow. "Sister-in-law."
She presented Xiao Mo with a set of writing implements. Xiao Mo was of the same generation, so he wasn't obligated to reciprocate, but he gave her a box. She felt too embarrassed to open it directly in front of everyone, so she merely scanned it with her clairvoyant eyes.
Well, well, what a surprise! The box was packed full of gold ingots.
Compared to Xiao Yun, Xiao Mo seemed even more ostentatiously wealthy.
Wang Qingyao looked at Xiao Mo with even greater affection.
Consort Fang had no particular instructions for Wang Qingyao. After sitting for a while, she left.
The Old Grand Consort, fearing she might be upset, gently patted her hand and explained, "Your mother has been a widow for many years and has a cold disposition. She treats everyone this way; don't take it to heart."
Wang Qingyao nodded. She truly didn't take it to heart.