Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xu Nian’an took the camellia flower and twirled it twice between her fingertips. She looked up, her gaze darting toward Feng Yonglan’s unsightly expression, and said, “Everyone here has eyes. Whether I am merely applying gold leaf to my own face or not, is it not plain to see?”

往自己脸上贴金 (Wǎng zìjǐ liǎnshàng tiējīn): A common idiom that literally means "to stick gold leaf onto one's own face." It is used to describe someone who is bragging, flattering themselves, or claiming credit they don't deserve.

With elegant grace, she raised her hand and pinned the camellia into her hair bun. Resuming her smiling expression, she said with refined poise, “Feng Guniang, you must try your best. You wouldn’t want to end up married to someone even less impressive than what a girl from a ‘lowly household’ like me managed to get!”

Feng Yonglan was so furious at her smug expression that she nearly tore her handkerchief to pieces.

Where could she possibly find someone with a higher status than the legitimate eldest grandson of Jing Guogong to marry? If Zhao Huanxi hadn’t had a reputation for being useless, she wouldn’t have dared to entertain such a thought. In other words, if Xu Nian’an’s marriage into the Jing Guogong Residence was an act of social climbing, and Feng Yonglan dreaming of marrying into the same residence would also be social climbing.

Seeing that she was queit, Xu Nian’an no longer looked at her. Instead, she smiled and said to the Duan Family ladies, “Sorry for the spectacle,” and then continued her conversation with Song Yazhe.

Outside the Flower Hall, the Zhao sisters stood by the door. Zhao Jiazhen said to Zhao Jiaxian, “I told you, our Dimei’s sharp tongue always works to her advantage.”

Zhao Jiaxian, holding her belly, looked at Xu Nian’an’s profile in the hall and sighed, “I really envy our Dimei’s quick thinking. If I were in her shoes, I would never come up with such a comeback. Otherwise, whether avoiding the issue or arguing and quarreling, it would be quite embarrassing.”

“Who said it wasn’t? With Dimei’s methods, if our San Di ever dares to mistreat her, he’ll probably end up with his skin peeled off!” Zhao Jiazhen said.

Zhao Jiaxian laughed and chided, “Can’t you think something nice about him for once?”

The two sisters shared a laugh before being called to take their seats by the Duan Family. They waited for Xu Nian’an and Song Yazhe to join them before going in.

After a brief rest following the meal, Yin Furen instructed Zhao Jiazhen to escort Zhao Jiaxian back to the Wu Residence.

Zhao Huanxi sent someone to inform Yin Furen that he, along with Yin Luoshen, Duan Jun, and a few others, wanted to go to the racetrack.

Jing Guogong Residence had its own racetrack outside the city, which had always been managed by San Laoye (Guogong Yé’s 3rd son), Zhao Mingjun.

If it were any other time, Yin Furen would certainly not feel comfortable allowing Zhao Huanxi to go horseback riding, as it wasn’t safe. However, since they were at the Duan Family’s residence and Yin Luoshen and Duan Jun were also going, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She only instructed them to be extremely careful and then let him go.

After having a cup of tea, Duan Lao Furen felt the urge to play cards again. Unfortunately, the two relatives who played with her in the morning said they had lost all their money and were unwilling to continue. Yin Furen then called Xu Nian’an to join the game, and Duan Lao Furen summoned one of her daughters-in-law to make up the numbers.

After several rounds, Xu Nian’an was all smiles, with silver notes piling up in front of her.

Yin Furen recalled telling Duan Lao Furen before the game started that her daughter-in-law “only knew a little” and asked her to go easy on her, causing her face to burn with embarrassment.

As she watched her daughter-in-law win yet another round, she couldn’t help but clear her throat loudly while shuffling the cards.

Xu Nian’an looked up at her.

Yin Furen glanced subtly towards Duan Lao Furen, as if to say: Didn’t we agree to let Duan Lao Furen win?

Xu Nian’an raised her eyebrows slightly, thinking: Giving away all this silver for nothing is really painful!

Yin Furen glared: I’ll give it back to you when we get back home!

Xu Nian’an lowered her eyes and said softly: Alright then…

After their silent exchange, the mother and daughter-in-law continued playing cards, and Xu Nian’an started losing.

Yin Furen felt a sense of relief as she watched Duan Lao Furen’s furrowed brows finally relax after losing every round.

When the game ended, everyone enjoyed themselves, and Duan Lao Furen won over two hundred taels of silver. She warmly escorted Yin Furen and Xu Nian’an to the door with Zhao Jiashan.

Yin Furen and Xu Nian’an boarded the carriage. As Yin Furen watched her daughter-in-law casually lift the curtain to look outside, she slowly began to ponder why Xu Nian’an had deliberately won and then lost during the card game.

If Xu Nian’an had started by losing, others would have thought she truly only knew a little about playing cards, or that she was being considerate and trying to make Duan Lao Furen happy. However, by winning decisively at first, it revealed her skill in playing Ma Diao cards. When Yin Furen finally cleared her throat to signal Xu Nian’an to start losing, those who understood would see her transform from a considerate daughter-in-law to a respectful daughter-in-law.

As in-laws, maintaining a good relationship with Duan Lao Furen is naturally more useful than being liked by a daughter-in-law.

Duan Lao Furen's strong relationship with Yin Furen is naturally more beneficial than merely being liked by her daughter-in-law. Of course, this is what XNA wanted to show to others, that Yin Furen cares to maintain the relationship with them, even to scold her own daughter-in-law.

Thinking of this, Yin Furen’s heart was extremely happy, unable to help but once again sigh how good the wife that Guogong Yé had found for Huan Xi.

After returning to Jiaxiang House, Yin Furen took five hundred taels of silver from her own box and gave them to Xu Nian’an.

Xu Nian’an said, “I only lost eighty-seven taels.”

“Now where would I find eighty-seven taels for you? Take it,” Yin Furen said, pretending to be stern.

Xu Nian’an laughed, “Then Erxi won’t be polite. Thank you, Mom.”

After she left, Nanny Su approached with a smile and said, “San Nainai is really interesting. Normally so composed, yet getting five hundred taels makes her as happy as a child.”

Yin Furen took a sip of tea and replied, “That’s the best part. If she likes it, she likes it; if not, she doesn’t. I give it to her, she likes it, and that makes me happier. What I dislike most are those who pretend and put on airs. She has struggled in life and it’s understandable she likes money. What’s rare is that despite her liking for it, she doesn’t obsess over it, which is commendable.”

Nanny Su nodded, “Furen speaks wisely.”

Yin Furen raised her eyebrows and continued, “I think she understands too. Since marrying Huanxi, as long as she conducts herself well, she will not lack money for anything in the future.”

✦

In the evening, Zhao Huanxi and Yin Luochen returned from horseback riding. They first went to see Yin Furen before returning to Yifang Garden.

“Dong’er!” Zhao Huanxi, still exhilarated from the horseback riding, rushed directly into the room.

Xu Nian’an was counting the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to take back to her maiden home the next day. When she saw him return, she put down what she was doing and turned around to look at him. Noticing his slightly disheveled hair, sweat-covered forehead, and faintly flushed cheeks, along with his incredibly bright eyes, she knew he was extremely happy.

“Is horseback riding really that fun? Look at how sweaty you are,” she said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

Only then did Zhao Huanxi realise how uncomfortable he was with sweat all over his body, and guessed that he must not look very presentable either. With a slightly crestfallen expression, he asked, “Do I look very improper like this?”

“No,” Xu Nian’an replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Looking up at him with approval, she said, “You look like a spirited young man now, much more impressive than when we first met.”

Zhao Huanxi’s eyes lit up with joy, and he smiled widely. He stretched out his arms to hug her, nuzzling her temple with his cheek like a playful puppy.

The vigorous, youthful scent mixed with a faint hint of sweat hit her face.

Xu Nian’an froze and asked, “What are you doing?”

“I haven’t seen you all day. I missed you,” Zhao Huanxi said, holding her tightly.

“What do you mean, ‘haven’t seen me all day’? We were at the Duan Family’s together this morning…”

“From the time we left the Duan Family until now feels like a whole day to me!” Zhao Huanxi grumbled.

Hearing his soft yet domineering tone, Xu Nian’an felt both amused and exasperated. Before she could respond, a familiar voice and tone rang out from outside the window, “Ahhhh, what are you doing in broad daylight!”

The two in the room were startled.

They then heard Yin Luochen loudly asking in the courtyard, “Dimei, do we have any loofah gourds?”

丝瓜络 (sīguā luò) refers to the dried fibrous part that remains after the flesh of a loofah gourd (丝瓜 or sīguā) has been removed. It is commonly used for scrubbing or cleaning purposes due to its rough texture.

Zhao Huanxi, annoyed, stomped out and said, “Why are you so nosy? If you need something, can’t you ask the servants? Next time you dare to peek through the window, I’ll teach you a lesson!”

“Haiyo, talking as if you could actually beat me.”

“Wanna try?”

“Come!”

The sounds of the two playfully grappling and scuffling could be heard from the courtyard.

Xu Nian’an walked to the window and glanced into the courtyard, where she saw the two of them grappling. Yin Luochen had Zhao Huanxi in a hold and asked, “Want to bathe together? Let this Gege scrub your back.”

Zhao Huanxi tripped Yin Luochen to the ground with a kick and pinned him down, saying, “Who wants to bathe with you? Dream on!”

Xu Nian’an chuckled, then turned back to continue arranging the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts.

The next morning, the young couple bid farewell to Yin Furen and went to the Xu Residence to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, both the court and the academy had a holiday. Xu Moxiu was at home, and Zhao Huanxi had arranged to go see the lanterns with him that evening.

The two did not have lunch at the Xu Residence; after delivering the gifts, they returned home. When they arrived at Jiaxiang House, they happened to see Er Taitai, Ning Shi coming out of Yin Furen’s room. Her expression wasn’t very good, but when she saw Zhao Huanxi and his wife, she managed a smile.

“What’s the matter with Er Shenshen?” Xu Nian’an asked softly while peeling a pomegranate in Yin Furen’s room.

Yin Furen handed some peeled pomegranate seeds to Zhao Huanxi and said, “Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the palace sends gifts. This year, it was eight pots of chrysanthemums, a basket of tribute crabs, a box of mooncakes, and two bolts of brocade fabric with peacock feather patterns. Er Taitai’s youngest daughter, Chengke, will have her coming-of-age ceremony in just over half a month. She wanted to ask for a bolt of brocade to make a new dress for the occasion, but it turns out that Lao Taitai had already sent someone to take both bolts early in the morning. So, I gave her a bolt of this year’s latest brocade design.”

Zhao Huanxi, munching on pomegranate seeds, said, “Zumu is so biased. This favoritism might not be a good thing for Huanxu Tangxiong and Shuxian Tangmei. Competing for these things within the family could ruin their reputation outside.”

Knowing that he was gradually becoming more mature, Yin Furen was no longer surprised by his occasional insights. She just smiled and asked, “Oh? Then tell me, it is obviously Zumu who showed favoritism, why would their reputation suffer?”

“Zumu favours them. If they were well-mannered and sensible, they should show humility and yield, rather than complacently accepting the benefits of this favoritism,” Zhao Huanxi said.

Xu Nian’an also handed him a handful of peeled pomegranate seeds, smiling and praising, “Sanlang said it very well. That’s exactly the point!”

Zhao Huanxi, pleased with the praise, felt quite proud.

Yin Furen chuckled and remarked, “Don’t they know? They are just shortsighted, unable to resist the temptation of these easily obtainable benefits.”

Xu Nian’an thought about it and agreed. Yin Furen was wealthy enough to decline the imperial gift of brocade with peacock feather patterns and still have excellent brocade fabric. Those from the Fifth Branch couldn’t compare in this regard; if they didn’t accept it, they might indeed miss out entirely.

“Mom, can I take Nian’an to see the lanterns on the street after dinner tonight?” Zhao Huanxi suddenly asked.

“Zufu is at home tonight too. Won’t you accompany him?” Yin Furen asked.

“If I stay home with Zufu, he’ll surely drag me to the training grounds again to practice swordsmanship. Do I have to endure another beating on Mid-Autumn Festival night?” Zhao Huanxi replied.

Upon hearing this, Yin Furen couldn’t help but feel a pang of reluctance in her heart. She said, “Then you should accompany Nian’an to see the lanterns. Training in martial arts every day, you deserve a break.”

Xu Nian’an glanced at the smirking Zhao Huanxi and couldn’t shake the feeling that he was becoming more cunning lately, though it might just be her imagination.

“Mom, why don’t you come with us to stroll around and have fun?” she suggested.

“I won’t be going. I’ll be busy in the afternoon, organizing a large family Mid-Autumn banquet. Will I have the energy to go out shopping? You young people go ahead. Bring back a couple of nice lanterns for me to see,” replied Yin Furen.