Chapter 237: Tripping Over Words

Hong Feng and Summer helped Chen Feng change into the new clothes. It was a set of bright red jacquard silk jacket and a long skirt in imperial color. Chen Feng also wore the jade hairpin given by Madam Jiang the day before.

Dressed up like this, Chen Feng looked even more stunning. She thought that Madam Jiang’s choice of the bright red outfit conveyed a certain attitude. She truly was a clever woman. No wonder, despite her average appearance and being two years older than Chen Shiying, she was held in such high regard. Chen Feng wondered whether it was a matter of face or if she genuinely possessed that level of tolerance.

Hong Feng smiled, “Miss is naturally beautiful, and this outfit makes you even more so.” She then took out a makeup box from the dressing table, preparing to apply makeup on Chen Feng.

Chen Feng smiled, “A little scented powder is enough, I never wear makeup.”

After getting ready, Chen Feng went to the main room. In the east wing, Chen Shiying and Madam Jiang were already seated on the heated brick bed, and the table was filled with breakfast.

There was also a boy of about ten years old sitting there. He looked better than Chen Yuhui and Chen Yuqing, bearing a strong resemblance to Chen Shiying. He was Chen Shiying’s only son, and the legitimate son, Chen Yulan. He bore a closer resemblance to Chen Feng than his own sisters, Chen Yuqing and Chen Yuhui. Compared to Chen Lu, they looked more like siblings.

Chen Feng curtsied to Chen Shiying and Madam Jiang and greeted, “Father, mother, good morning.”

Chen Feng’s appearance truly caught Chen Shiying’s eye, and he glanced at Madam Jiang, nodding in satisfaction. It was unclear whether he was pleased with Chen Feng’s appearance or with Madam Jiang’s conduct.

Upon seeing her, Chen Yulan quickly got up, saluted Chen Feng, and said, “Sister, Yulan pays his respects.”

Chen Feng returned the gesture and said, “Brother.” Then she added, “I arrived in haste today, I’ll make it up to you with a proper greeting next time.”

Chen Yulan smiled and replied, “Okay, I’ll be waiting, Sister.”

His words amused both Chen Shiying and Madam Jiang.

Chen Shiying chuckled, “You siblings should respect and love each other from now on.”

Madam Jiang waved for Chen Feng to sit on the heated brick bed, saying, “Such an affectionate child.” She then smiled at Chen Shiying, “Among our three daughters, Feng carries off bright red the best.”

Chen Shiying nodded in agreement.

After a silent meal, Chen Shiying had to go to the yamen, and Chen Yulan needed to head to school. Before they left, Chen Shiying worriedly told Madam Jiang, “I entrust Feng to your care.”

Madam Jiang smiled, “Please rest assured. I will take good care of Feng.”

After sending off Chen Shiying and his son, a lacquered and gilded small table had been placed on the heated brick bed. Madam Jiang pulled Chen Feng to sit with her and quietly discussed household matters, “In a while, the three young ladies and two aunts will come here to pay their respects. You should get along well with your three sisters. As for the aunts and the like, just give them a polite smile if you’re happy and ignore them if you’re not. The old lady’s health is not good, and she dislikes disturbances. Shiying has instructed the children to pay their respects on the fifth and tenth day of every month. However, today is special, the entire family will visit the Old Lady’s Longevity Pavilion tonight, where you will bow and serve tea to her and where your seniority among your sisters will be re-established.”

Chen Feng felt extremely indignant, the thought of bowing and serving tea to that old troublemaker was simply unreasonable.

Madam Jiang seemed to notice Chen Feng’s displeasure and patted her hand, saying, “Feng, I’ve heard Shiying mention your mother before. In my heart, I respect her just as much as Shiying does and regard her as an elder sister. I’m especially grateful to her, she raised Shiying to be so outstanding, bringing warmth and happiness to his younger years. Over the years, she and you have suffered a lot… Let me speak from the heart, some things are best kept inside. Don’t let them out, or else the gossip will drown you…”

As she spoke, they heard a young maid’s voice from outside, “Second Miss has arrived.”

Following the voice, a girl in a lilac short jacket and a watermelon red skirt walked in. She was Chen Feng’s stepsister, Chen Yuqing, whom Chen Feng had encountered at the Jade Qilin Jewelry Store the previous year.

Chen Yuqing was fourteen years old, bearing a closer resemblance to Madam Jiang. Her smiling eyes added a touch of warmth to her ordinary face, making her quite endearing.

She must have already heard about Chen Feng’s presence and paid her respects to Madam Jiang, but her eyes kept glancing at Chen Feng.

Madam Jiang smiled, “Qing, come and greet your sister.”

Chen Feng quickly got up and the two exchanged greetings. Chen Feng explained once again that she had arrived in haste and would offer her proper greetings another day.

Shortly after, a beautiful woman in her twenties and a young girl arrived. The woman was Mrs. Lu, and the young girl was eight-year-old Chen Yuxia, Madam Jiang’s illegitimate daughter. Chen Yuxia bore a closer resemblance to Mrs. Lu and was a charming young girl.

Both of them were dressed in a restrained manner. Mrs. Lu wore a slightly worn bean-green embroidered jacket, while Chen Yuxia wore a sakura-colored short jacket and skirt.

Chen Feng and Chen Yuxia exchanged greetings.

Next, Mrs. Tang and Chen Yuhui arrived. Chen Yuhui was particularly flashily dressed today, wearing a pomegranate-red embroidered peony jacket, a silver-red pleated long skirt, adorned with precious jewels, and her makeup was quite elaborate. Perhaps, having been scolded by Chen Feng for being ugly had made her particularly conscious about her appearance.

Seeing this annoying girl, Chen Feng felt enraged. If she hadn’t caused trouble yesterday, she wouldn’t have attracted the attention of the Seventh Prince, and all subsequent events wouldn’t have occurred.

Madam Jiang then said, “Hui, come and greet your sister, Feng.”

Chen Feng sat still in the armchair, waiting for Chen Yuhui to pay her respects.

Chen Yuhui, though reluctant, had no choice but to come forward. She had already gone to bed last night, and her father had sent a servant to wake her up specifically to inform her about Chen Feng’s return to acknowledge her lineage at the residence. Moreover, he warned that if she and Tang dared to cause trouble, they would be sent to the temple to transcribe Buddhist scriptures for half a year.

However, when she saw Chen Feng in her dazzling red outfit, her heart was filled with a hundred grievances. She perfunctorily curtsied and said, “Greetings, sister”, and then teasingly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, “Wearing this outfit, Sister looks just like a noble lady from the palace.”

Chen Feng laughed, “Hello, sister. Mother picked this outfit for me, and I love it. Do you like it too? Although it wouldn’t suit you, and you wouldn’t look like a noble lady from the palace.”

Chen Yuhui retorted, “Unlike some people who had to rely on fancy clothes after spending over a decade in the countryside, I was born in the residence. Even if I don’t wear this outfit, I’m still a noble lady from the palace.”

Chen Feng chuckled, “Yes, Miss Chen was born into nobility. But in this outfit, you don’t look like a noble lady from the palace, more like a sweet potato flower from our countryside.”

Chen Yuqing couldn’t help but burst into laughter, while Chen Yuxia blushed and dared not join in.

Chen Yuhui turned red with anger and was about to say more, but seeing Madam Jiang’s stern expression, she reluctantly fell silent.

Mrs. Tang signaled Chen Yuhui not to cause any trouble in public. Chen Yuhui, feeling indignant, reluctantly took a seat.