Chapter 36: The Lip Rouge That Shocked Everyone

After bringing the mother and daughter back to the county yamen, Tian Shi took Zhao Lan around the backyard, familiarizing her with the layout and introducing her to the tasks she would be responsible for.

Zhao Lan’s daughter, Chen Xiao, stood timidly to the side with her head lowered.

Xu Nian noticed her, beckoned her over, and placed a piece of pastry into her hands.

“Eat it. From now on, you and your mother can stay here and live a good life. I can’t promise much, but I guarantee that no one will hit you, and you’ll never go hungry.”

Chen Xiao clutched the pastry and nodded firmly. She believed the young lady’s words.

There was still a vacant side room in the courtyard, just the right place for the mother and daughter to settle in.

Xu Nian was still thinking about how Tian Shi didn’t have much jewelry, so the next day, she pulled her mother out for another trip.

They visited a silver jewelry shop. Xu Nian originally wanted to have something custom-made, but the shopkeeper said it would take at least three days. In the end, she simply bought a silk-wrapped Qionghua hairpin. When they returned home, Tian Shi kept touching the hairpin in her hair, a smile never leaving her face.

—

Soon, it was time for Old Madam Mei’s birthday celebration. Since Madam Shen had arranged for the three of them to go together, Xu Nian met the county magistrate’s wife and the county vice magistrate’s wife that day, along with their daughters.

Standing beside Madam Shen were two young ladies—her legitimate daughter, Wu Ziqing, and her concubine-born daughter, Wu Zichi.

Madam Rong had only brought her legitimate daughter, Liu Ping.

Xu Nian greeted both ladies with proper courtesies.

“No wonder Madam Tian keeps her daughter hidden away so tightly,” the county magistrate’s wife joked. “If I had such a celestial-looking daughter, I’d hide her away too, haha.”

Hearing the county magistrate’s wife praise her daughter so highly, Tian Shi was naturally delighted, but she still responded humbly, “My daughter is rather mischievous, unlike your daughters, who are all elegant and well-mannered.”

Madam Rong felt somewhat awkward as she watched them exchange compliments. After all, her own daughter was neither particularly outstanding in appearance nor had a particularly good temperament.

Madam Shen knew they couldn’t waste too much time, so after a few polite exchanges, they each boarded their carriages.

Luckily, the Fan family residence was only two streets away from the yamen. Otherwise, given that Xu Nian wasn’t wearing particularly thick clothing today and that the yamen’s carriage wasn’t well-insulated, she feared she might embarrass herself by having her nose run from the cold.

Upon arriving at the Fan residence, an elderly maid was already at the entrance, welcoming female guests. As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, the maid approached. Xu Nian noticed that when the maid greeted Madam Shen, the latter subtly avoided receiving her full bow, which made Xu Nian realize that this must be the etiquette-teaching maid her mother had mentioned.

Tian Shi led Xu Nian in, following the others into Qingsong Hall, where Old Madam Mei was receiving guests.

Several noblewomen were already seated inside the hall.

After greeting them alongside the others, Xu Nian learned that the guests included Old Madam Mei’s niece, Madam Mei, as well as the wives of the circuit judge and the county school officials. Among them, the highest-ranking in status was the circuit judge’s wife, Madam Rong.

Xu Nian sat quietly with her mother, positioned just below Madam Rong, listening as the noblewomen socialized.

Besides Madam Shen and Madam Rong, Tian Shi knew no one in the room. Madam Rong, despite sitting beside her, never once looked her way after taking a seat and instead engaged in lively conversation with Madam Mei, who sat on her other side.

Noticing her mother’s lowered head and somewhat downcast demeanor, Xu Nian gently tugged at her sleeve and whispered softly,

“Mother, we’re here to celebrate a birthday—let’s be cheerful.”

Realizing her lapse, Tian Shi quickly adjusted her expression, adopting a listening posture.

Old Madam Mei, observing how Tian Shi remained composed despite being somewhat ignored, nodded to herself in approval.

“This must be the county registrar’s wife?” Old Madam Mei asked. “And the young lady beside you is your daughter?”

Hearing the Old Madam speak, Tian Shi quickly rose and responded, “I am Tian Shi, wife of the registrar. This is my daughter.”

Xu Nian also stood up gracefully, saying, “Grandmother Mei, I wish you boundless blessings and longevity as enduring as the southern mountains.”

Old Madam Mei chuckled. “This little girl’s words are as sweet as honey.”

Xu Nian feigned surprise. “Grandmother Mei, how did you know?”

Not only Old Madam Mei but all the women in the room were momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter.

Holding her stomach from laughing, Old Madam Mei playfully chided, “Madam Tian, you’ve raised quite the delightful daughter—so pure-hearted.”

Before Tian Shi could modestly decline the praise, Xu Nian continued with innocent sincerity, “Grandmother Mei, I was speaking the truth. Look, I even brought some for you.”

Everyone turned their gaze to Xu Nian’s hands, where she held a small porcelain box.

Curious, Old Madam Mei leaned in for a closer look.

“This is a lip balm I made,” Xu Nian explained. “It has effects similar to floral-infused rouge. I applied some today myself.”

Pointing to her lips as she spoke, Xu Nian revealed her own lips, which indeed looked rosy and glossy.

“I added honey to the formula, which is why I was so surprised when Grandmother Mei seemed to know.”

She then handed the porcelain box to a maid, who passed it to Old Madam Mei. Examining it carefully, Old Madam Mei was deeply impressed.

Who would have thought that the daughter of Assistant Registrar Xu was so clever? With such a secret formula in hand, how could she ever worry about lacking wealth?

Sitting below, the circuit judge’s wife, Madam Rong, was intrigued. She had been born into a merchant family and owned numerous shops as part of her dowry, including two cosmetic stores. If she could buy this secret formula, she could not only make a fortune but also use it to expand her husband’s connections in official circles.

At that moment, the etiquette-teaching maid who had brought them in whispered a few words to Old Madam Mei. The old lady’s face lit up with joy as she said,

“Quick, bring it in—I want to see!”

When the maid entered carrying a bowl of cherry tomatoes, Xu Nian realized it had something to do with her.

Old Madam Mei beckoned Xu Nian over, took her hand, and asked,

“My dear child, tell Grandmother Mei, what is this flower called?”

Xu Nian smiled shyly. “Grandmother Mei, this isn’t a flower—it’s a type of vegetable, though it can also be considered a fruit.”

She then picked one of the cherry tomatoes and popped it into her mouth. After swallowing, she continued,

“This is called a ‘small persimmon’—it symbolizes good fortune and prosperity.”

Old Madam Mei repeatedly praised her, delighted. As she had grown older, she had developed a fondness for things with auspicious meanings. Xu Nian’s gift had truly won her over.

Without hesitation, she instructed the maid to fetch a set of pearl-studded hair ornaments from the “Butterfly in Love with Flowers” collection.

“I wore this when I was a young girl. It’s perfect for someone your age.”

Seeing the ornaments adorned with tiny pearls, Xu Nian realized their value and hesitated, glancing at her mother for guidance, unsure whether she should accept such a precious gift.

Old Madam Mei playfully chided, “When an elder bestows a gift, one must not refuse. Take it quickly.”

Only then did Xu Nian accept the gift with a bright smile. “Thank you, Grandmother Mei.”

The more Old Madam Mei looked at Xu Nian, the more she liked her. It was a pity that she didn’t have a grandson of the right age to match with this delightful girl.

Since there was still some time before the banquet, the young ladies were led by maids to the Xunfang Pavilion, where the Fan family’s young mistress had prepared tea and pastries to welcome them. The maid mentioned that all of these refreshments had been personally made by Miss Fan herself.

Meanwhile, to Xu Nian’s surprise, her mother, Tian Shi, who she had worried about being left out, now found herself surrounded by several noblewomen engaging her in friendly conversation. Even more puzzling was that Madam Rong had invited her to visit Lingshan Temple together for incense offerings. Xu Nian couldn’t quite understand why.