Chapter Sixty-Three: The Young Master Is Actually a Lady

The carriage carried everyone directly into the manor and did not stop until it reached a large courtyard. This was the main courtyard of the estate, naturally the residence of the old matron. The old matron beckoned to Li Qin, called her over, and instructed Cui Liu to move the young lady’s belongings into this courtyard as well. Though Li Qin was quite unwilling, she knew she could not defy her mother and so obediently followed inside.

Cai Xinlan and Chao Ge’er took up residence in a nearby courtyard, which was also spacious enough to accommodate all the people they had brought with them. As for Hai Ge’er, Jiang Li, and Xiao Wu, each found lodgings further away—Fang Nuo shared a room with Jiang Li, while Hai Ge’er and Xiao Wu each stayed alone in separate quarters.

Everyone returned to their own rooms to freshen up and rest a while, waiting for the meal to be served.

The old matron, jostled for half an hour by the carriage ride, felt quite unwell. So upon returning to her main chambers, she washed her face and reclined on the couch, closing her eyes in feigned sleep. Age had made true rest elusive, and though she was often weary, she could not easily drift off. In this half-awake, half-drowsy state, the sounds within her room became all the clearer: the soft footsteps of the maids, whispered conversations barely above a murmur, the gentle rustle of a fan beside her—all these were amplified, merging into a river of sound that washed over her ears.

The old matron frowned but could not be bothered to open her eyes. Suddenly, she recalled something and said, “You needn’t keep watch over me any longer. You haven’t seen your son in all this time—go and visit him.”

The sudden voice startled everyone in the quiet room. It took Madam Liu quite a while to realize the old matron was addressing her. Steeling herself, she replied, “What is there to see in such an unfilial son? Madam, it is kind of you to remember him, but it is I who am at fault for raising such a wretched child, bringing shame upon the Feng family and troubling you as well.” Though she said this, her eyes stung inexplicably. Lowering her head, Madam Liu furtively wiped away a tear.

“Don’t be so stubborn,” the old matron replied. “After carrying him for ten months and raising him with so much hardship, what mother does not love her own child? I hear from Yougui that he’s been behaving himself lately. Speak to him kindly. If he can settle down and live a steady life, that would be your blessing.”

Hearing these words, Madam Liu finally took her leave to go see her son, Feng Da.

As for Li Qin, she had grown restless and was already wandering about the estate.

Though the courtyards were all nestled amid flowers and trees, there was a distinct difference between the estate and the Li residence. At the Li residence, every flower and blade of grass, every brick and tile, bore the touch of careful design, arranged with deliberate artistry. The estate, in contrast, felt wholly natural, as if every scene had formed by the hand of nature rather than man. For example, while the Li residence favored rare and ornamental trees for their beauty, the estate was planted mostly with fruit trees, chosen for their usefulness.

At that moment, a cherry tree heavy with ripe, crimson fruit stood by the roadside. Li Qin cried out in delight and, with Cui Yu in tow, rushed over. She was not particularly eager to eat the cherries—rather, it was the pleasure of picking the fruit herself that she enjoyed.

Cui Yu jumped up to grab a low-hanging branch, pulling it down and calling out, “Miss, hurry! Pick them!”

Li Qin had just happily picked two cherries and had yet to taste them when a woman’s voice was heard from afar: “Hey, who’s over there? Don’t you know the rules? These fruits aren’t for you to pick at will! The master and mistress haven’t even tried them yet—put them down at once!”

Cui Yu rolled her eyes and ignored her. The woman grew even angrier and came running over, but before she could speak, a child’s clear voice called out, “Aunt Zou.”

The woman, addressed as Aunt Zou, paused and turned toward the sound, spotting a finely dressed young boy who looked somewhat familiar. He was not the legitimate grandson of the Li family—perhaps a relative’s child? Seeing it was a young gentleman, she dared not scold further. Rubbing her hands, she smiled and said, “If young master wants cherries, I’ll pick a basket for you later and bring them over. Best not to stand here, young master, or you’ll soil your hands and clothes.”

Cui Yu giggled, and Li Qin laughed as well. “Aunt Zou, don’t you recognize me? I’m Qin’er!”

“Young lady?” Aunt Zou looked at Li Qin doubtfully, studying her for a long time before finally recognizing traces of the girl she’d once known. “Why are you dressed like this, young lady?”

Cui Yu laughed, “Aunt Zou, you’re so forgetful. I’ve seen you twice already with our young lady, and you still don’t remember me. Our young lady prefers to dress this way—don’t mistake her again.”

Aunt Zou slapped her thigh in realization and laughed. “Ah, my eyes must be failing me—I couldn’t even recognize the young lady. You’d best head back now; it’s nearly mealtime. The master has asked me to gather some of the young ones to go pay respects to the madam.”

As they spoke, Cui Liu arrived as well, sent to fetch Li Qin, for the old matron had risen and gone to the dining hall and was having people search for her.

When Li Qin arrived, everyone had already gathered in the dining hall, seated at two tables. Li Qin skipped over to the old matron and sat beside her, then called out to the two men standing below, “Uncle Cheng, Brother Yougui!”

Uncle Cheng’s full name was Zou Mancheng, the son of the old matron’s wet nurse, and about the same age as Old Master Li. He was the steward of the Li family estate. The Aunt Zou they’d just encountered was his wife. Now advanced in years, Uncle Cheng had handed over the actual management to his eldest son, Zou Yougui. Because it was the old matron herself visiting, Uncle Cheng feared his son might not serve properly and so had personally overseen everything, from accommodation to the meals and supplies, ensuring all was in order.

Like Fu Bo, Uncle Cheng was very fond of the Li family’s only young lady, Li Qin. Each time he delivered produce from the estate to the city residence, he would always prepare a special gift for her. Thus, upon seeing her now, he was overjoyed and said, “The young lady has grown even taller—I almost didn’t recognize you! Did you like the birthday gifts we prepared for you recently from the estate?”

“Yes, I liked them very much. Thank you, Uncle Cheng.” The gifts he had sent were mostly fresh produce from the estate. For her birthday, he had even had his son cut several bamboo stalks for him, from which he personally crafted a set of bamboo toys and utensils as a present. Though not expensive, they were exquisitely made and heartfelt, which greatly delighted Li Qin.

While waiting for the dishes to be served, Aunt Zou arrived with her family and several of the estate’s stewards, all coming to pay their respects to the old matron, the first madam, the young lady, and the young master. The old matron excused Uncle Cheng and Aunt Zou from the formalities, and after the others had finished their greetings, three more people entered—Bai Rong’er, her grandmother, and her younger brother. Aunt Zou explained, smiling at the old matron, “The young lady sent these children over. When they heard that you, the first madam, and the young lady had arrived, they insisted on coming to pay their respects and express their gratitude. I tried to stop them, but to no avail. I thought, since the madam is so kind-hearted, such good deeds are bound to bring blessings, so I let them come and fulfill their wish.”

The old matron, recalling Bai Rong’er’s story, smiled as well. “So it’s this child—I heard about her situation from Qin’er, and she does seem pitiful. Since she wishes to pay her respects, I shall accept. But the old woman is already aged—please help her sit nearby on my behalf. Let the two children perform the formal bows; that will suffice.”

Bai Rong’er and her grandmother and younger brother had already knelt on the ground. Hearing the old matron’s words, Aunt Zou hurried to help the grandmother up. After some effort, the old woman rose, trembling. Bai Rong’er and her brother, Bai Lingfeng, then kowtowed three times respectfully to the old matron’s table before standing aside.