Spring Message in the Snow – CH 003

Chapter 3

The mansion suddenly became lively. Servants inside the gate led the way, escorting Surou towards the Grand Madam’s Suihua Garden. The garden remained largely unchanged, the only difference being the camphor tree beside the moon gate, now towering high. She vividly remembered it being about the same height as her when she left home.

Looking into the garden, she saw Nanny Feng, the old lady’s attendant, standing under the eaves, listening to the news. Seeing her enter, she hurried forward, offering a curtsy and saying with a smile, “Young Lady has finally returned! The old lady has been waiting for so long, constantly urging someone to check at the gate.” She then helped her across the threshold.

Surou’s steps slowed slightly as she looked around. The furnishings of the main room were unchanged; a half-drawn gold-threaded bamboo curtain separated the front hall from the flower hall, allowing glimpses of figures within.

It seemed the news of her return had alerted everyone; all the women of the family had come. Hearing Nanny Feng’s words, they all turned to look.

Surou dared not delay any longer and went straight into the flower hall. At a glance, she saw the Grand Madam, who was sitting at the head of the table, stand up and call out in a trembling voice, “My child, it’s been ten years since I last saw you. You’ve grown so much in the blink of an eye!”

The reunion of close relatives after a long separation was inevitably filled with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow. Surou helped Grand Madam Zhang to sit down, then stepped back to the footstool, knelt, and kowtowed to her, saying, “Your granddaughter is unfilial; I have been unable to serve Grandmother all these years. I beg your forgiveness.”

Grand Madam Zhang, wiping away tears, said, “Very well.” She had a maid help Surou up, then reached out and took her hand, saying sadly, “Good child, I know you are filial. Entering the palace to serve was beyond your control; how could Grandmother blame you?” She then looked Surou up and down carefully, gently cupping her face and sighing, “When you left home, you were so small, and now you’ve grown into a young woman. I was worried that the rules in the palace were strict, and you would suffer, returning pale and thin… Now it seems I was overthinking it.”

The women around them exchanged smiles. Zhang Ju’s wife, Lady Yuan, chimed in, “The old lady dotes on her granddaughter, fearing the young lady is suffering in the palace. But the young lady is a proper lady-in-waiting, not just an ordinary palace attendant. Working in the palace, if she looks pale and thin, it would not look good on Consort Xiuyuan either.”

The Grand Madam then smiled. “I was foolish; I worried so much about this that I could not sleep last night.” She then embraced Surou, murmuring, “This time we are not going anywhere. Even if our family is struggling, we can still raise a girl. We originally agreed she would be the Empress Dowager’s adopted daughter, but after the Empress Dowager passed away, she was not sent back. Ten years! A perfectly good noble young lady, reduced to serving others…” Her voice grew more and more sorrowful, and tears welled up again.

Surou also felt a pang of sadness. Her grandmother’s hands were dry and warm, softly touching her cheek, the faint scent of osmanthus wafting from her sleeves, filling her with an overwhelming sense of longing.

The Zhang family was a large clan; the father and two brothers had a total of nine children. Only Surou was motherless and therefore received special favor from her grandmother. She spent her first eight years at Suihua Garden. Her grandmother would have delicious drinks and snacks prepared, and in the summer, a large bamboo couch would be placed in the side hall. Surou would sleep on the couch, and her grandmother would fan her.

If there was anyone she missed most when she left home as a child, it would undoubtedly be her grandmother. For a long time, she would secretly cry under the covers, and even now, thinking back, she still felt a pang of sadness. Fortunately, it was all over now. She held a handkerchief to wipe away her grandmother’s tears, trying her best to comfort her: “Grandmother, please do not cry. I’ve returned at just the right time. I am not that old, and Grandmother is in good health. From now on, I will serve you and never leave you again.”

Grandmother repeatedly agreed. After the initial sadness, only the joy of reunion remained. Grandmother still treated her like a child, instructing her to greet the elders. Surou greeted her aunt, Lady Yuan, and her other aunt, Lady Ling, with a deep bow. Next, she addressed her stepmother, Lady Pan.

Lady Pan’s given name was Pan Zongyue. She was the illegitimate daughter of a prince from Shouchang County. Her marriage to her father as his second wife caused quite a stir at home, but because her stepmother controlled the household affairs, she reluctantly married into the Zhang family.

While she did have some foresight, she only enjoyed four years of peace before her husband died for his country. Titles and prestige were all external things. She raised two children alone, the hardships of which she could not easily share with outsiders. Coupled with her quiet nature, she often appeared somewhat aloof.

As a child, Surou was afraid of her and, having been raised by her grandmother, she did not have a deep emotional connection to her stepmother. However, as she grew older and learned to be more tactful during her years in the palace, she now adopted a more respectful posture, bowing deeply and addressing Lady Pan respectfully as “Mother.” Lady Pan remained unchanged, offering little comment, simply nodding slightly. “It’s good that you are back.”

At this moment, her cousins ​​gathered around, calling her “Second Sister” in turn.

Surou had six sisters in her generation, and Surou was the second oldest, so everyone called her Second Sister. Above her was her married cousin Shangrou, betrothed to the eldest son of the Marquis of Xingyang. Below her were, in order, Third Sister Qingrou, Fourth Sister Zhirou, Fifth Sister Jirou, and Sixth Sister Yingrou.

However, after so many years apart, the cousins ​​did not share the natural closeness of Zhirou; they were awkward and shy upon meeting. Lady Ling laughed. “The young ladies are all grown up now, yet they are still shy around their elder sister. When their elder sister was not around, they always missed her, but now that she is actually back, they are so tongue-tied they do not know what to say.”

But this did not hinder their friendship; the young ladies quickly formed bonds, becoming warm and familiar within the time it took to drink a cup of tea or eat a meal.

Among the group of girls, there was one she did not know before. The girl had a rosy complexion and was smiling sweetly at her. After the other girls had exchanged greetings, Grandmother introduced her to Surou, saying that this was her aunt’s daughter, named Mianmian.

“Your uncle has always done business in Jiangling Prefecture, and your aunt is also tied up, unable to return to the capital. So she sent Mianmian here to help me recuperate for a while. If she finds a good family in the future, she can stay in the capital, avoiding having to go to another place. Your return is timely; from now on, sisters can help each other and have company.”

Surou agreed, but before she could speak, her cousin stepped forward to greet her, smiling, and said, “Sister, I’ve heard so much about you. Grandmother said you are a lady-in-waiting in the palace, and the whole family is proud of you. I’ve just arrived in the capital, and I am not very familiar with anything here. I have not learned the rules and etiquette well either. I will have to rely on you to guide me. You come from the inner palace; your conduct must be impeccably composed. Having you constantly reminding me is much better than having the nannies nagging me.”

In just a few words, she painted a picture of a clever and obsequious woman.

Having spent many years in the Forbidden City, Surou had met all sorts of people and exchanged a few polite words. Then she saw Jirou purse her lips, twirling her fan, and say, “My cousin is already the most well-dressed and presentable among us. I do not think my second sister can teach you anything…”

She was immediately tugged at by her mother, Lady Yuan, who said in a low voice, “Be careful. Your older sister just returned; do not upset her.”

Jirou muttered a couple of things and fell silent, but Surou could tell that Mianmian did not seem to be popular among the sisters.

The story of their fathers had to be told from the beginning. Her grandfather had three sons and one daughter. Except for his third uncle, Zhang Zhi, who was born of a concubine, the other three were her grandmother’s legitimate children. At that time, her grandfather held the official position of Director of the Imperial Academy’s Shugu Hall, and his children’s in-laws were all prominent figures in the capital. Only her aunt, Zhang Chenjin, married a merchant.

Merchant families had always been considered low-class in the eyes of the elite. Her aunt turned against her parents to marry Shen Kezheng, and she eventually got her wish. However, as time went on, the disparity between the two classes became completely apparent. Her aunt was no longer the fearless young girl she once was. When her daughter reached marriageable age, she had no choice but to send her to her maternal grandparents’ home to gain some prestige, hoping that she could eventually join the circle of noble ladies in the capital and avoid marrying into the merchant class generation after generation.

It seemed the sisters looked down on Mianmian somewhat because of her social standing. Surou, having met many daughters from commoner families in the palace, did not care much about social class and therefore treated Mianmian warmly.

Noon arrived in the blink of an eye. The maids busied themselves setting up the table. The Grand Madam smiled and said, “Your two uncles are busy at the yamen and could not make it back for lunch, but they know you are coming back today and said they would definitely cancel their engagements this evening so we could all have a reunion dinner together.”

Lady Yuan invited everyone to sit down. Surou, having just returned, naturally sat next to her grandmother. Without waiting for anyone to assign her a seat, Mianmian also sat down, diligently serving the Grand Madam, “Grandmother, this roasted lamb is delicious…and try this pine flower kidney.”

The sisters exchanged disdainful glances. Zhirou then turned to Surou, smiling, and said, “Grandmother said that when you were little, you loved apricot milk and honey ginger with fermented black beans, so she specially ordered the kitchen to prepare them. Try some, sister.”

Mianmian overheard this and blinked her innocent big eyes, saying, “The Imperial Household Department selects the best chefs from restaurants all over the country to serve in the palace. The head chef from Pan Tower, who was very popular before, was chosen. You’ve tasted all sorts of delicacies in the palace these past few years, sister. Why would you even look at these common snacks?”

Surou sensed the sarcasm in her words and thought to herself, “Indeed, there’s no such thing as a bad word without a reason. This Mianmian may seem innocent and naive, but she’s actually quite sharp and not at all endearing.”

Of course, there was no need for a confrontation. She smiled, pursing her lips. “I’ve seen plenty of wealth and luxury while serving as a lady-in-waiting in the Forbidden City, but it’s just a passing fancy. Fine food and delicacies cannot compare to the simple meals at home, especially since Grandmother specially prepared this. I am more than happy with it; how could I possibly look down on it?”

Mianmian could not help but feel embarrassed, laughing, “Even the Forbidden City cannot compare to home.”

The girls chatted back and forth, treating it like children bickering. Lady Ling, along with her daughters, arranged for the dishes to be served, while she beckoned to Surou, “We’ve changed chefs at home; the cooking is more refined than before. Second Young Lady, why do you not try it? Your second brother had several red plum-patterned boxes sent back this morning, filled with fragrant candies from the Fang family garden. After dinner, you sisters can enjoy them with some boiled water.”

Surou nodded and said gently, “Auntie and sisters, please sit down too. Do not trouble yourselves.”

Lady Ling agreed and gestured for her daughter to sit down. Looking at the table full of her children and grandchildren, the Grand Madam had no more worries.

She had previously missed this granddaughter, and even though everything at home was going smoothly, she always felt a sense of incompleteness. Now that the child was back by her side, what more could she ask for? The most pressing matter was to properly arrange Surou’s food, lodging, and expenses. Turning to Lady Pan, she said, “Let’s return the courtyard Surou used to live in to her. As for Mianmian, we should arrange another place; I think Qinxiang Garden is quite nice. We do not have enough servants left at Qiandui Xue Courtyard. I will send two first-class maids from here to help get the courtyard running again.”

Lady Pan agreed, “Grand Madam, do not worry. I will arrange the head maid and the lower-ranking servants properly.”

Surou, hearing their arrangements, realized that Mianmian had been living in her former courtyard. Indeed, no one had expected her to return. The courtyard had been vacant for a long time, and now that this cousin had arrived, letting her move in was a win-win situation.

However, upon hearing Lady Pan’s words, Mianmian seemed somewhat hesitant, but she could not say anything in front of her grandmother, so she had to suppress her feelings for the time being.

After the banquet, Surou returned to familiarize herself with the courtyard. The girl hesitantly said to Surou, “Sister, I quite like this courtyard of yours. I’ve lived here for a while now, but things are scattered everywhere, making it inconvenient to tidy up. Why not move to Qinxiang Garden? You will have to start from scratch anyway, saving me the trouble of cleaning here. What do you think, Sister?”

Surou turned to look at her cousin again. The initial goodwill she felt upon first meeting vanished instantly.

There were indeed such people in the world, wearing the most innocent and naive face while engaging in the most sophisticated and selfish calculations.

“But this was originally my courtyard,” she said with a smile.

“I know,” Mianmian nodded, her voice sweet. “Sister, I came here to live with my maternal grandmother after leaving my parents, and I am very attached to her. This place is close to Suihua Garden, so if anything happens, it will be easier to get word.”

Surou did not appreciate her self-deprecating attitude. While she was ruthless when managing the palace attendants, she always gave her family some face. She hesitated, about to agree, when she saw Lady Pan already standing in the porch, casually tossing a wreath of calamus and hollyhock flowers left over from the Dragon Boat Festival onto the steps.

Everyone was stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

Lady Pan maintained her cold, indifferent expression, saying coldly, “Did you not hear what the Grand Madam said, young lady?” She then glanced at the maids around her. “What are you all standing there for? Go inside and help Young Lady Shen move her things to Qinxiang Garden.”