Chapter 23: An Unexpected Turn

“Seventh Miss is here!” Turning past the marble screen in the hallway, one reached the main entrance of the Rongshan Hall. Several little maids dressed in light green jackets lifted the curtain and called out cheerfully inside.

Ming Wei noticed the little maids had smiles on their faces and a lighthearted tone. It seemed the Old Madam wasn’t strict with them in daily life, allowing them to be so lively.

If that was the case, then the Old Madam might be easy to get along with.

Affected by the atmosphere, Ming Wei smiled and nodded to them as she walked in.

Inside the room, laughter and lively voices could already be heard.

The two senior maids beside the Old Madam, Dongmei and Dongqing, were each holding a bolt of luxurious fabric—one in jewel blue with silver-threaded peony roundels, the other in stone blue with golden-threaded melon and butterfly patterns—standing before the Old Madam.

Nanny Xu said from the side, “Look, both of these colors are excellent. Even more rare is how delicate the patterns are—not those gaudy oversized flowers that tire the eye. These are just right in embellishment. Try the feel too.”

The Old Madam nodded with a smile and reached out to touch the fabrics.

Seeing Ming Wei come in, the Old Madam waved her over and said with a laugh, “Seventh Girl, come help me decide— which of these is better?”

Huh? Could it be the Old Madam had called her over just to choose some fabric?

Seeing the Old Madam waiting for her answer, Ming Wei pushed down her doubts and walked over with a bright smile. She greeted the Old Madam respectfully before approaching the fabrics. “Grandmother, are you planning to make new clothes?”

The Old Madam chuckled and nodded. “My eyes are dazzled from looking too long. You help me choose!”

Ming Wei examined them carefully, touching the fabric as well. It was smooth and delicate to the touch. Though woven with gold and silver threads, the shine was subtle, suggesting elegance rather than ostentation.

They were both exquisite fabrics. In her previous life, Ming Wei had seen luxury; she could tell at a glance these were expensive. Still… she found it strange. No matter how costly, for someone like the Old Madam, having ten or eight sets made was hardly an issue. Yet she had called Ming Wei over just for this?

Very odd.

“In my opinion, the stone blue one is better,” Ming Wei finally said with a smile, pointing to the bolt with golden-threaded melon and butterfly motifs. “You take such good care of yourself, and your fair skin is especially flattered by this shade.”

“She really knows how to speak!” Nanny Xu laughed from the side. “Saw the reason at a glance—no wonder she can embroider such fine pieces!”

The Old Madam laughed too. “Clearly, this Seventh Girl of mine has a sweet tongue.”

The affectionate tone made Ming Wei pause. But with such a pleasant atmosphere, she naturally didn’t spoil the mood. “I’m only speaking the truth. Ask Sister Dongmei and Sister Dongqing—they’d surely say the same.”

Dongmei and Dongqing, having served the Old Madam for years, saw she was in a good mood today and joined in with smiles. “Exactly what Seventh Miss said!”

“My clever Seventh Girl—barely arrived and already won over everyone in my room!” The Old Madam’s gaze was gentle. “You're all siding with her against me now!”

At her words, laughter rippled through the room.

“Let’s go with your Seventh Miss’s suggestion—have someone cut a jacket from the stone blue fabric.” The Old Madam had Dongmei and Dongqing set the fabrics down, then turned to Ming Wei. “I’m old now and don’t like fussing over clothes anymore. Only when I expect to meet someone important do I pick the fabric myself.”

Ming Wei quickly shook her head with a smile. “You’re not old at all! Someone who doesn’t know might think you’re at most in your forties!”

“This girl says her tongue isn’t sweet?” The Old Madam looked pleased. “Only picking the nicest things to say.” She turned to Nanny Xu and Nanny Fang, chuckling. “Laugh all you want—I do enjoy hearing it!”

Nanny Xu and Nanny Fang responded with laughter, agreeing with Ming Wei and praising her for being filial.

At that moment, a maid brought in tea. The Old Madam had a cushioned stool brought for Ming Wei to sit. While sipping tea, she looked Ming Wei over and said, “This lotus-pink color on you is just so-so. That goose yellow you wore the other day was much better.”

Hearing this, Ming Wei glanced at her outfit—a lotus-pink short jacket with an apricot-white long robe. It was indeed quite plain. She had dressed modestly today, originally intending just to greet Second Madam and hadn’t expected to visit the Old Madam.

Before she could respond, Nanny Xu chimed in, “Seventh Miss picked out good fabric for the Old Madam. Shouldn’t the Old Madam reward her with a few bolts of cloth in return?”

“By your logic, not gifting would make me stingy!” The Old Madam waved it off. She told Dongmei, “You girls go bring out the bolts that Madam Qian sent over recently and let Seventh Girl choose some!”

Ming Wei stood quickly. “Anything from you is naturally fine, Grandmother. Just give me two random bolts—no need to trouble them over it!”

“You really are a considerate one.” The Old Madam gestured for Dongmei and the others to bring them anyway, and motioned Ming Wei to sit again. “If you don’t try them, how would you know what suits you? I don’t care so much anymore, but you young girls should dress nicely!”

It would’ve been rude to decline again. Ming Wei thanked her and sat back down.

Soon, Dongqing and the others came back with bolts of all kinds: rose-purple, bright red, rouge, sky blue, begonia pink, goose yellow, pale moon white… it looked like a silk shop!

Gold-painted, silk-woven, patterned… every style imaginable.

This was over the top!

“Grandmother, this—” Ming Wei was inwardly stunned. What was the Old Madam up to?

The Old Madam gestured for them to show the fabrics to Ming Wei one by one. She smiled warmly. “Pick whichever you like. Don’t hold back—I’ll have someone deliver them to your place.”

“Thank you, Grandmother!” Ming Wei rose to bow, then seriously began choosing.

She remembered the Old Madam saying she looked good in goose yellow, and that bolt didn’t seem too luxurious. So she chose that one with four-happiness and ruyi floral patterns, along with a sky-blue piece patterned with lotus and gold mud, then stopped.

A flicker of approval passed through the Old Madam’s eyes. Though Second Madam was known to be harsh, Ming Wei clearly wasn’t greedy. She chose modestly and stopped at what was appropriate. That was rare.

“Bring her the ones in lake blue, rosy red, palace red, and jade white too.” The Old Madam named a few more bolts—all exceptionally fine.

Ming Wei quickly shook her head. “These two are already more than I deserve. No need to give more! Second Sister is returning soon, and there’s still Third Sister and the others—you should save some for them!”

She only knew Ming Qian was returning because the Old Madam had earlier ordered rooms in the east wing to be prepared for her.

Those four bolts weren’t something she could accept lightly. Taking more would be excessive.

Ming Wei always reminded herself: no matter the situation, never overstep.

But the Old Madam was determined. She instructed Dongqing to pack them up for Ming Wei. “Good girl. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Of course, I’ll give your sisters their share. Seeing you girls dressed brightly makes me happy—that’s your way of being filial too.”

Ming Wei had no choice but to accept and thank her again, returning to her seat.

She hadn’t even settled when the Old Madam glanced at her hair ornaments and frowned.

“These two gold and agate hairpins are too plain. And that coral and turquoise hairpiece looks dated.” The Old Madam shook her head and said, “The red gold and pearl set you wore the other day was better.”

Of course it was. That was one of only two proper sets Second Madam allowed the concubine-born daughters to wear. She guarded them closely and always took them back after a day.

But Ming Wei couldn’t speak ill of her stepmother in front of the Old Madam. She hesitated and said, “That set has ten or so pieces… It’s heavy. Wearing it makes my neck sore.”

She exaggerated, unable to think of a better excuse.

The Old Madam, once a young lady herself, knew such ornaments well. Though heavy, they weren’t unwearable. Even just a few pieces would’ve looked better than what Ming Wei had on now.

Still, she noticed the slight unease in Ming Wei’s eyes. Likely Second Madam was stingy, and Ming Wei had few pieces of her own, so she was reluctant to use them. The truth, however, was worse—Second Madam never even gave her access to the ornaments.

Yet despite this, Ming Wei didn’t take the chance to complain about her. The Old Madam looked at her with even more favor, certain she hadn’t misjudged her.

Just earlier, Ming Luo and Ming Ling had visited, dropping hints that Third Madam was harsh with them. The Old Madam didn’t like Ming Luo—too sly for her age, lacking the innocence a girl should have.

Besides, she knew Third Madam wasn’t cunning, and generally generous. She even treated the concubine-born daughters better than Second Madam. Yet the girls showed no gratitude—only complaints.

A person who doesn’t know their place wouldn’t even know how they ended up dead someday.

Ming Wei didn’t know any of this. She only noticed the Old Madam looking at her more gently, which made her scalp tingle slightly.

“I have some nice hair ornaments lying around. No use keeping them locked away—I might as well give them to you.” The Old Madam called for someone to fetch a red-lacquer box carved with peonies.

Ming Wei felt uneasy. After days of poverty, now the Old Madam was showering her with clothes and jewelry… Still, she couldn’t help secretly grinning in her heart. Did she have to be this thoughtful?

When Dongqing brought the red-lacquer box over and opened it, Ming Wei gasped.

It was extravagant.

Gold filigree hairpins with phoenix mouths holding pearls, ruby-studded peony blossoms, gemstone flowers inlaid with Atlantic pearls, tassel jade hairpins, and more—jewelry of every kind, glittering so brightly it almost blinded her.

Before she could protest, the Old Madam had already ordered the jewelry and fabric to be packed up and delivered to her residence.

Ming Wei’s feelings grew more complicated. Her thanks felt insufficient. The Old Madam had been exceptionally generous today.

“I didn’t call you here just for this.” The Old Madam finally got to the main point.

Ming Wei’s posture subtly stiffened. She listened intently.

“Earlier I said I’m meeting someone important, and I want to bring you along.” The Old Madam smiled kindly, her eyes warm. “You’re older now—you should start going out and seeing the world.”

Ming Wei finally let go of the tension in her chest and even felt a bit excited.

Her hard work had paid off. Maybe soon she’d hear something about her parents and brother from her past life! She didn’t dare show it openly, but her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

No wonder the Old Madam had gifted her so much—she must be worried Ming Wei would embarrass the marquis household in public! Ming Wei was both pleased and amused, her lips curling into a small smile.

The Old Madam smiled as well.

“But this family is a bit different—you’ll need to learn some etiquette first.” She looked into Ming Wei’s eyes and said gently, “The current Consort Chen in the palace was a dear friend of mine before I married.”

Ming Wei froze.

Her mind went blank, save for one thought: The Old Madam was taking her into the palace!