[JXSY] Chapter 5: The Painting

March 26, 2021AwkwarDerp

Listening to the 5th Lady’s tone, Wu Xiao was very dissatisfied. She followed with a smile, “Luo Madame knew, but didn’t carefully ask about it like 5th Miss.” 

As spry as usual, however, the 5th Lady immediately changed her expression. She said with a serious expression: “Mother had particularly assigned this job to the three of us. If anything goes wrong, none of us can escape without involving each other. As for me, until then, I can’t promise I could uphold some words.”

Although Wu Xiao is the steward of the Luo family, Wu Xiao does not run errands in the Luo family. She usually just follows Luo Madame around, chats with Luo Madame, or helps with  trivial matters. Luo Madame seems to like having people like her around. Although she is not as authoritative as Nanny Hua, she still has a level of trust; therefore, the Luo family still gives her some respect.

The 11th Lady listened to the 5th Lady’s lecture, she couldn’t help but sigh. 

Everyone usually observes Luo Madame’s expression before doing something, but sometimes, the 5th Lady acts too eagerly.

For example, this matter. Wu Xiao talked about the appearance of the screen but the 5th Lady objected and gave a bunch of difficult reasons. Later, when the 5th Lady asked ‘does Mother know?’ Wu Xiao said ‘Luo Madame didn’t ask carefully’…This is indirectly telling the 5th Lady that Luo Madame is fully aware of the situation.

The 11th Lady looked at Wu Xiao’s stiff little smile; Suddenly, she interrupted both Wu Xia and the 5th Lady: “Stewardess Wu, the size of this screen won’t be changed, right?”

The 11th Lady interrupted the 5th Lady’s lecture, which made Wu Xiao happy and she replied with a smile: “If it’s any bigger, it would look too grand; Smaller, it would look frivolous, so this is the right size.” Her tone was gentle as she replied. 

“Sister, let’s do it, following this size!” She smiled and looked at the 5th Lady, “Now, there are more than three months before the birthday gift is given. Let’s do it first and wait for the right wood to be found. It’s not too late to carve the base of the screen and make the frame of the screen.” 

Wu Xiao could not help sneer in her heart.

Look at the 11th Lady, gentle, polite and generous, talking without offending anyone. Unlike some other people who think that they are big and wise when they talk, but don’t know that they’re not. Those who don’t speak are afraid others would think they’re muted, yet when they do speak, they always say nonsense. It’s similar to an empty bottle will make noise, whereas a full bottle will remain silent….Just because Luo Madame favoured her a little bit, she’s already acting up. 

*[Those who don’t speak….= stands for people who likes to talk but usually they would say something very idiotic, TN]

*[an empty bottle…. = stands for people without brains (empty bottles) will always speak louder than those with brain (full bottle), TN]

“That’s a good idea!” She smiled back at the 11th Lady. “The wood material shops are all in Hangzhou’s most powerful store. There are some stocks left in the warehouse but it just isn’t what we’re looking for. If nothing works, just use the best material, make some adjustments and put them together, it will be the same!”

The 5th Lady then looked at the mocking expression in Wu Xiao’s eyes and was shocked, realizing that she was talking too much.

Then she secretly felt annoyed. 

This evil person is just taking advantage of Luo Madame, she doesn’t put anyone in her eyes. On top of that, it’s because she’s not Luo Madame’s biological daughter… When the 5th Lady was at home, although she was young at the time, there are things that she remembers clearly. 

*[put anyone in her eyes = not respecting anyone, TN]

One time, Yuanning saw the red bean paste in the sticky rice balls was too sweet, so after eating half, she spit them back in the bowl. After that, Wu Xiao picked that bowl up and ate it, she even said: “Thankfully, the Elder Lady doesn’t like to eat this. Then I can finish the rest.” Her expression at that time was like a dog wagging its tail….

Her hands unconsciously clenched tightly. 

A young maid came in and said: “5th Miss, where do you want to have your lunch?”

“We’ve been talking for so long, I’ve forgotten the time.” The 5th Lady took a deep breath and the smile on her face became brighter. She took out her pocket watch and glanced at it, “It’s already late, both of you stay and have lunch!” Then she told the little maid: “Go and tell the kitchen, 11th Lady and Stewardess Wu will have lunch with me. Therefore, make their two favorite dishes.”

Thinking about the situation, the meals might not be prepared at Luo Madame’s place now, moreover and if she goes back to her own place, it will take a lot of time to cook everything. It’s better to eat at the 5th Lady’s place.

Wu Xiao laughed: “Then it’s the 5th Lady’s treat!”

Everyone is charged for meals and every meal has a set number of dishes. If you want to add dishes, you have to pay for it yourself. 

The 5th Lady laughed and said: “Don’t worry, eat as much as you like!”

The 11th Lady hesitated. 

The young maid hadn’t left, she suddenly said, “11th Miss, are you worried that the business in your house has not been settled yet?”

The 11th Lady was surprised.

She is indeed worried about the problem in her house…

But she can’t tell the 5th Lady.

She was afraid that the 5th Lady felt that she valued Amber more than her – although this is true.

After listening, the 5th Lady turned her attention to the 11th Lady.

Just before the 11th Lady could explain, the young maid said, “11th Lady, don’t worry, Binju Sister arrived earlier, seeing you and our lady are talking, I didn’t dare to tell you. According to her, the problem had already been taken care of by Dongqing Sister – the place where Amber Sister will live has been cleaned up, she had also been picked up and brought back to the Luyun Pavilion. The kitchen was asked to prepare some food to welcome Amber Sister, so please rest assured and enjoy your lunch here.”

Her voice was clear, and her speech was organized. Everyone can’t help but unconsciously pay attention to her, including the 5th Lady.

This young maid, who was only eight or nine years old, had not yet fully grown her hair; she had almond-shaped eyes and peach cheeks, she was wearing a light green robe, standing upright like a willow branch. 

Even Wu Xiao had affection for the young maid, she smiled: “This is the servant in whose house? Beautiful and have a clever mouth.”

The young maid smiled, bent her knees to salute and introduced herself: “My name is Zhuo Tao,  because Qiu Ling Sister is sick, Luo Madame told me to send her home to rest. Nanny Xu arranged for me to cover for her. Zhao Sheng is my brother. I followed all the older maid sisters to the 5th Lady’s room to learn the rules from the others. I don’t dare to be praised by my dear Stewardess Wu.”

“Zhuo Tao!” Nanny Wu smiled, “With your looks, you’re not a peach, you’re a willow!”

*[Zhuo Tao = Táo [桃] means peach but like she was trying to say, oh you’re willow cause you’re delicate and beautiful, TN]

Zhuo Tao was very clever, she immediately replied: “Thank you Stewardess Wu. I also think that this name is not suitable for me, how about Stewardess Wu give me a new name, so I can inherit some of Stewardess Wu’s good luck.”

These few words quickly made Wu Xiao smile: “This is not my business. You have to ask your Miss.”

Zhuo Tao knelt in front of the 5th Lady: “Please, Miss, give me a new name.”

“Who did you learn this from?” The 5th Lady looked dumbfounded, “Your life and your body are given by your parents, as well as your name. Therefore, I don’t have the right to change it.” Then she said, “Hurry up and fetch the food from the kitchen!”

Zhuo Tao nodded, turned away and walked to the kitchen. 

Wu Xiao looked at her back and smiled: Like master, like servant. This maid is also very smart with her words.

*[Like master, like servant = learn from what you see, learn from the people you’re with, TN]

***

After eating, the 11th Lady couldn’t help but yawn.

The 5th Lady was a little stunned.

The 11th Lady said in embarrassment, “I am used to sleeping at this time of the day, even in winter and I didn’t think I was gonna have lunch at your place today…..”

The unpleasant thought that the 11th Lady didn’t want to stay, suddenly raised and quickly disappeared in the 5th Lady’s heart. She smiled and said: “If that’s the case, you can go to my bed to rest for a while!”

“It’s better to just let Ziwei make me a cup of strong tea!” The 11th Lady smiled, “The embroidery screen is more important. Otherwise, I can’t sleep well.”

The 5th Lady smiled and nodded. Before she went inside with the 11th Lady and Wu Xiao, she’d asked Ziwei to make them some tea. 

After discussing for a while, Wu Xiao wanted to go back and report to Luo Madame: “I don’t want to keep her waiting.” So they decided on a few drafts that the 5th Lady thought was the best.

The 5th Lady seemed to realize something, she got up and smiled: “Then let’s go together – I will let Mother see my drafts, see which picture she likes, then 11th Sister can embroider the screen based on it.”

The 11th Lady laughed bitterly. 

These two people want to compete with each other, so why suddenly pulled her into it. 

However, it’s only right for her to also come along to report this, so it was hard to dismiss the invite. 

“I also want to know which look Mother likes the most!” The 11th Lady smiled and followed them to Luo Madame’s place.

From afar, behind the lifted curtain, the young maid looked from behind and saluted for them.

***

Entering the door, the first and the second concubines were seen sitting in a chair next to the luohan chair, chatting with Luo Madame. 

The first concubine is from the Duan Family and the second concubine was from the Yuan Family. Initially, they were both Luo Master’s servants, when Luo Madame was married in the house, she decided to make them both concubines. Concubine Duan gave birth to the 2nd Lady and 3rd Lady. While concubine Yuan gave birth to the 2nd Young Master. The 2nd Lady died when she was three years old and the 2nd Master only lived for two days after he was given birth. The 3rd Lady was not in good condition either, she experienced poor health since she was a child, by the time she was fifteen, Luo Madame let her marry the nephew of her mother’s family but then died three years later due to an illness. In the end, they don’t have anymore children, so they have to raise concubines’ daughters to let their children go in peace. 

*[In the past, many people believe whatever you do in your current life can affect your afterlife, so the saying goes the same when a family member died, the living person would tried to do good things so the dead can live in peace, TN]

Since then, Concubine Duan has followed Concubine Yuan to become a vegetarian. Luo Madame also specially invited Master Zhai Cai to cook vegetarian meals for them. These two concubines did not serve Luo Madame a few years ago because they were living in their house like monks. 

Why did they suddenly come here today and chat with Luo Madame?

In her heart, the 11th Lady was feeling strange but she dared not show it at all, with a smile, the 5th Lady and her greeted Luo Madame and the two concubines, then she stood quietly behind the 5th Lady. 

The two concubines are starting to look older, their hairs are turning grey. On the contrary, despite her age, Luo Madame appeared to be youthful and flourish. Concubine Duan is a bit round but has a kind look, while Concubine Yuan is thin and has a stern look but no matter who it is, they both smiled faintly at the 11th Lady. 

Luo Madame looked at them and smiled: “Just because she helped you embroider a Buddhist scripture from Ci’an Temple. Yet, you’re that happy to see her?.”

The two concubines smiled and said: “Moreover, she’s willing to study the sutras with us. How can we not like her!”

*[Sutra = refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a condensed manual or text, TN]

The 11th Lady’s face slightly turned red, she quickly lowered her head.

Luo Madame kindly looked at the 11th Lady and smiled.

The 5th Lady gestured to Wu Xiao to take out the drafts: “We’ve discussed for a while and these are our ideas. Mother, please help us pick!”

One of Luo Madame’s maid, Luo Qiao, took the draft papers from Wu Xiao and handed it to Luo Madame. 

Luo Madame took a look and handed it to Concubine Duan: “You also help to see, which one looks good?”

Concubine Duan smiled and glanced at it, she said: “Luo Madame should know my eyes are getting worse these years. I’d rather let Concubine Yuan take a look!”

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Trans: Tumni

**There will be a lot of characters coming in, so I will remind try to best to keep a reminder to help you guys remember!**