Chapter 453 — Autumn Wind

Ji Hong begged Qixia, "Good sister, I don't know a single soul over there. Please, I'm asking you to go! I'll remember your kindness!"

Qixia cursed inwardly. She thought to herself, "And who do you think you are, that I'd want you to remember my kindness?"

But her face betrayed nothing. She smiled and said, "You don't know, sister—the Second Lord gave orders long ago that those of us who serve in the study are forbidden to wander about. If we're caught breaking the rules, we're to be dragged out to the outer courtyard at once for twenty strokes of the plank and handed over to the broker to be taken away. I wouldn't dare defy the Second Lord's word."

Ji Hong had no choice. Frantic, she paced the room in circles, until at last she hit upon a good idea—she went to the kitchen and wheedled some fine Jinhua wine out of them, then presented it at Miao Anping's banquet as though it were the imperial gift, Pear Blossom White.

Miao Anping drank some and could not help but feel a little doubtful.

Ji Hong insisted stubbornly that it was the imperial gift, Pear Blossom White: "This slave does not drink, and does not know what wine ought to taste like. The people in the wine-and-tea office said this was the imperial gift, Pear Blossom White, so this slave carried it over. For this very matter, this slave had to beg all the way up to the Mistress herself. Drawing up the chit and signing for the wine took the better part of an hour."

Miao Anping had never drunk imperial wine either, and his cousin added, "Perhaps this is simply what the imperial gift, Pear Blossom White, tastes like—who can say."

"That's so!" said Miao Anping. "This wine is certainly richer than what one drinks in the market—only it's very thin and mild."

"His Majesty must look after the imperial person, so naturally he has the imperial physicians see to it that he is not given strong spirits." Miao Zhi's sixth cousin tore into a joint of pork with great gusto; the more he drank, the more delicious the wine seemed.

Miao Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

After seeing the Miao Anping brothers off, she quietly asked Ji Hong, "Where did the wine come from?"

She was afraid Ji Hong had truly gone and disturbed Dou Yan over a jar of wine.

That would have been a loss of face beyond all remedy!

Ji Hong hastily recounted the whole affair from beginning to end.

Miao Zhi was so angry she flung the rouge box in her hand to the floor.

But she soon had an idea.

She asked Ji Hong, "Tell me. What if I have the Second Master take Qixia into his chamber?"

Ji Hong's face flushed red, and she mumbled, "Such matters are naturally for you to decide, madam. Why ask this slave?"

Miao Zhi sighed. She took Ji Hong's hand and said with earnest weight, "No one knows my situation better than you. This is no time for jealousies. Look at Lady Dou—she runs Yizhi Hall so tightly that water cannot seep in nor oil soak through. That is true capability. Once we have our footing secure, would I not raise you up rather than Qixia?"

Ji Hong lowered her head and said, "This slave obeys whatever you command."

Miao Zhi smiled in satisfaction.

Seeing that it was growing late, she went to Song Han's study.

The Miao family might treat her shabbily, but if she could secure an official post for her elder brother, it would not only add weight to her standing in the Miao household, but bring honor to her son's face as well—it might even make the Miao family serve her purposes. Only then would she be able to face Song Han.

Song Han was not in the study.

Qixia smiled and said, "The Lord Defender of the Realm has summoned the Second Master."

Miao Zhi's face burned.

She did not know where her own husband had gone, and had to be told by the maid in his chamber. What could strike her face harder than that?

Looking at the smile on Qixia's face, she longed to tear that face to shreds.

Miao Zhi could not help saying to herself, "Laugh while you can! Once Song Han has taken you into his chamber, we shall see how I deal with you."

To avoid the name of a jealous wife and so keep her freedom to deal with her husband's maid, did that mean she could not deal with the woman in her husband's chamber?

Miao Zhi went to the Osmanthus Fragrance Court.

The people of the Osmanthus Fragrance Court had not yet taken the measure of this new Second Madam who had just entered the household, and so were still very courteous to her.

They respectfully ushered her into the small reception hall to drink tea, and told her warmly, "The Lord Defender of the Realm is speaking with the Second Master in the study. At such times he does not allow anyone to disturb him. Second Madam, sit here a while; we will keep watch at the door, and the moment the study door opens we will come and report to you."

Miao Zhi smiled and tipped the maid with a red packet, shot Ji Hong a look, and fell to chatting with the little maid.

Ji Hong slipped out of the small reception hall.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, she came back, her face pale.

Miao Zhi at once dismissed the servants attending her, and asked Ji Hong, "What has happened?"

Ji Hong said, "The Heir is going to set the Second Master up in a separate household. The Lord Defender of the Realm is discussing the matter with the Second Master right now!"

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's bonus update; the new chapter will be posted around ten tonight.

o(∩_∩)o~

ps: It is the last day of November—please give me pink tickets to hold my ranking!

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