Chapter 13
Li Weiyang was confident that once Old Madam had tasted this tea, she would never again be able to drink tea brewed by anyone else. Back then, Tuoba Zhen had been especially fond of tea, and to please him, she had sought out several renowned masters to learn the art of brewing it. After eight whole years of study, she dared say that no one could surpass her in this particular skill! And she had no fear that the First Madam would discover anything amiss. Every young lady in the Li family of Pingcheng knew how to brew tea; since Li Weiyang had lived there for so long, it was only natural that she had picked up the skill by watching and learning.
Madam Meng was clearly pleased with the tea. She looked at Li Weiyang with a much warmer smile than usual. “Your tea is quite distinctive. Who did you study under?”
In her previous life, Li Weiyang had always been cautious with her words and actions because she was a concubine-born daughter born in the second month of the year. At nearly every gathering, she had sat quietly to one side, an unseen spectator, and had never once spoken to Old Madam so intimately. Now, she remained perfectly composed and smiled. “To answer Old Madam, when I was in Pingcheng, that family invited Dong Sanniang to teach the young ladies how to brew tea. I learned a little from her. I’m afraid my skills are too modest to be worthy of such praise.”
The First Madam’s expression darkened. Even Li Changle knitted her brows slightly. She had only learned a little? And yet she could brew tea like this? If she had studied it seriously from the beginning, wouldn’t she be—
Dong Sanniang was a renowned tea-brewing master. Unfortunately, she had trouble walking and had never once ventured beyond Pingcheng. Li Changle had once hoped to invite her as well, but fate had not allowed it. To someone as proud as Li Changle, hearing this was undoubtedly a provocation.
Li Weiyang took in the expressions on the mother and daughter’s faces without letting anything show. Smiling, she said, “Old Madam, may I borrow your teacup?”
Madam Meng gave a slight nod. Li Weiyang stepped forward and lifted the teacup beside her, giving it a gentle swirl before removing the lid. Old Madam looked down and saw a peony blooming brilliantly in the tea she had just sipped. Steam rose from the cup, lending the flower a dreamlike quality.
Second Madam Wen leaned closer, curious. The moment she saw it, she exclaimed in amazement, “It can conjure flowers and plants? What remarkable skill!”
Li Changle’s expression changed. She rose abruptly and came over to see the peony for herself. For a moment, she was speechless.
Li Weiyang smiled. “It’s only a little parlor trick, meant to amuse Old Madam. That Dong Sanniang could conjure entire landscapes—now that was truly breathtaking.”
A little parlor trick? Surely no one in the entire capital could conjure such a scene. Madam Meng watched the tea as the peony gradually faded away, then let out a soft sigh.
Just then, Second Madam Wen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Third Miss, what happened to your sleeve?”
With her arms hanging at her sides, Li Weiyang’s sleeve had been impossible to notice. But when she swirled the teacup, her outer robe shifted, revealing that the sleeve of her inner garment was half-length. This was exactly the question Li Weiyang had been waiting for. She immediately lowered her sleeve and said awkwardly, “It’s nothing.”
“What do you mean, nothing? The sleeve of your inner garment is clearly too short!” Second Madam Wen’s daughter, Second Miss Li Changru, had almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, her gaze bright and dewy. Now she deliberately cried out in surprise, as though she had uncovered some shocking secret.
At this, the First Madam fixed her eyes on Li Weiyang. A smile like a steel knife scraping bone crept across her face as she asked slowly, “Weiyang, what exactly is going on?” She tried her best to hide her feelings, but everyone could hear the stiffness in her voice.
Li Changru blinked excitedly. “Eldest Aunt, can’t you see? Weiyang is wearing clothes that don’t fit! How pitiful. She doesn’t even have a decent outfit!”
Li Weiyang lowered her eyes, looking uneasy and remorseful. Inwardly, she gave a cold laugh. The First Madam cared most about appearances in front of Old Madam and her sisters-in-law. If she was determined to make Li Weiyang’s life difficult, why should Li Weiyang save her face? No matter how much the First Madam disliked her, word that she mistreated a concubine-born daughter would reflect badly on her father, Chancellor Li. Surely Old Madam wouldn’t simply stand by and watch!
Madam Wen suddenly burst out laughing. “Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t tell me you haven’t even had a single outfit made for Weiyang! She’s been back for a whole month!”
Old Madam Meng glanced at the First Madam, her eyes betraying a hint of impatience.
Even the First Madam, for all her composure, now had a face as red as a pig’s liver. Li Changle hurried to her feet. “Mother said long ago that she had four sets of clothes made for Weiyang. Why haven’t they been sent over yet? The servants must have delayed it!” She turned to Weiyang, her tone carrying three parts reproach and seven parts affection, as if she were looking at her most beloved younger sister. Yet her eyes were cold. “Third Sister, you should have told me if you didn’t have enough clothes. Coming out in an outfit like this—doesn’t it make Mother lose face, too?”
Li Weiyang’s lips curved, and she showed not the slightest fear. “Big Sister is right. But Weiyang and Big Sister have such different figures that I couldn’t possibly wear your old clothes. Otherwise, I would have come to bother you long ago.”
A daughter of the Chancellor’s household, even if born to a concubine, was still a young lady. How could she wear her elder sister’s castoffs? Li Weiyang knew perfectly well that Li Changle had not meant for her to wear old clothes, yet she deliberately used those words to shut her up. Her retort left Li Changle’s anger lodged in her chest, making it ache. All the other younger sisters in the household spoke to her with anxious deference. Was Li Weiyang out of her mind?
The First Madam could not lose her temper. No matter how angry she was, she never raised her voice. That was the decorum of an eminent family. Born to a noble house, she had to remain calm and imperious to display her status. Today, Li Weiyang had worn clothes that were far too small, which was no different from slapping her in the face!
The room fell silent. It was so quiet that everyone could hear their own heartbeat.
Li Weiyang knew it was unwise to cross the First Madam now. But then again, in her previous life she had kept her head down and obeyed, and all she had earned was the fate of a pawn. She might as well take a chance and fight back! She was gambling on whether Old Madam would protect the Li family’s good name.
Ziyan, who had come with Li Weiyang, clenched her hands into fists inside her sleeves. Her fingers had gone white as snow with the force of it, and her body trembled uncontrollably. Yet Li Weiyang only smiled, showing not the slightest hint of fear.
Madam Meng looked at the First Madam and said coolly, “Eldest daughter-in-law, you’ve been far too negligent!”
Old Madam had never meddled in the household’s affairs, nor had she ever reprimanded the First Madam. Though it was only one sentence, it amounted to an acknowledgment of Li Weiyang’s grievance. The First Madam’s anger churned through her, her face growing redder and redder as her breathing quickened. She sprang to her feet, furious beyond measure. Though she was the mistress of the Li household, her husband, Chancellor Li, cared deeply about rules and propriety. She could not afford to offend Old Madam, and the Second Branch was always watching her closely. So there were some things she had to swallow.
She was—and had to remain—the Li family’s fair-minded, upright First Madam, a dignified and magnanimous principal wife! Li Weiyang was only a concubine-born daughter. There was no need to deal with her right now or teach her to remember her place; there would be plenty of opportunities later. So the First Madam’s expression darkened, and she suddenly barked at her trusted aide, Nanny Lin, “Kneel!”
Nanny Lin was stunned. Everyone else in the room was, too!