It All Adds Up

The second son of the Tan Family had married a woman who had grown up in the same circle as Qi Tongjun. But beside Qi Tongjun, whose beauty was famous throughout Zhaojing, she had been like a firefly beneath the moon, her light utterly eclipsed. She had resented Qi Tongjun since before either of them married.

Later, one married the Tan Family's eldest son, while the other married the second son. Once again, she had come in second, and her resentment deepened. Last year, she had been the first to give birth, bearing the family a son. With a grandson in the family, her standing and her husband's had shot up. Only then had she begun flaunting her good fortune in front of the childless Qi Tongjun.

Shen Lantang didn't know the history, but she had seen enough of how these households worked. After hearing the woman's words, she could guess the rest.

And she didn't like it one bit. She was fiercely protective of her own. She could pick on them, but no one else could!

Shen Lantang lifted her chin and said coolly, "Second Madam, how rude of you. You saw me and didn't even pay your respects. Is this how the Tan Family raised you?"

Second Madam Tan looked as though she had only just noticed Shen Lantang. After a moment's pause, she asked, "And you are?"

"I am Shen, General Xie's grandson's wife, of the Duke's Residence."

The wedding in March had been only a short while ago. Of course the woman knew who stood before her. Everyone knew the Xie Family had a new daughter-in-law, but they also knew she was merely the daughter of a petty Sixth Rank official. Before her marriage, she wouldn't even have qualified for their gatherings. Second Madam Tan had never thought her worth noticing.

Did Shen Lantang know that?

Of course she did.

But in the Jing Dynasty—or, really, throughout the ancient world—a woman's standing came chiefly from her husband's family. Even the parents of an imperial consort had to bow when they met their daughter. So what if I'm the daughter of a petty Sixth Rank official? What business is that of yours? Now I'm the Duke's Residence's eldest grandson's wife! I'm married to the son of the emperor's cousin! What does that make me again?

Never mind. It didn't matter.

At 170 centimeters tall, Shen Lantang had height on her side. She looked down at the woman with open arrogance. "My grandfather is Duke Dingguo, appointed by His Majesty himself. My husband is a commander in the Capital Guard, appointed by the emperor. The Tan Family's second son holds some minor post under your father, with neither achievements nor official rank to speak of. How dare you stand before me without bowing?"

"You—" Second Madam Tan gritted her teeth. She was nothing but a petty Sixth Rank official's daughter. How dared she act so haughty?

Shen Lantang knew exactly what she was thinking. She just didn't care!

"Won't you bow? Must I ask Madam Tan to come here and make you?"

Second Madam Tan clenched her teeth until her face flushed red. At last, she bent her knees in a perfunctory curtsy and said stiffly, "Greetings, Madam Xie."

Shen Lantang rolled her eyes with lofty disdain. "You may rise."

With that, Shen Lantang stopped looking at her and turned to Qi Tongjun. "Sister, shall we go?"

"Yes."

Once they had walked some distance, Shen Lantang dropped her swanlike hauteur. "Sister Qi, I didn't cause trouble for you just now, did I?"

"No." Qi Tongjun shook her head and smiled. "She only acts superior because she has a son. I'm the elder daughter-in-law, and she's the younger. She wouldn't dare bully me."

"That's good."

"..."

Qi Tongjun hesitated, then said slowly, "Shaoyuan and I... It isn't that we can't have children. We just don't want them so soon. We've only been married a year."

"I understand."

Shen Lantang nodded calmly. Once you had a child, you couldn't stuff him back in, so it made sense to wait until you were ready. She herself had no plans to have one anytime soon. Speaking of which... She reached out and gave Xie Hongwen's bottom a squeeze.

"Mother pinched me!"

"Mother's hand got itchy. Sorry!"

Xie Hongwen: "..."

Thanks, kid.

It All Adds Up

Shen Lantang enjoyed her two-day "weekend." When she got home, she flopped down and resumed her life of idleness.

Two days later, Xie Madam summoned her.

"Jin'er's aunt is hosting a small gathering at her home and has invited us. Bring Hongwen and come with us tomorrow morning."

"Yes. Mother, should I prepare a gift?"

"We're all family. There's no need to prepare anything special. Third Aunt has always liked curious little treasures; just bring her some jewelry from your rooms."

"I understand."

After returning to her rooms, Shen Lantang had Lan Xin prepare a gift. The next day, she left with her mother-in-law and aunts.

Xie Jin's grandmother was the reigning emperor's own aunt, so his aunt, as the emperor's cousin, naturally held an exalted position. The founding emperor had fought his way from a peasant's life to the throne, but three illustrious clans had still remained in the land, each an ancient family with centuries of history.

Not long after the new emperor took the throne, he married a daughter of the Chen Family, who became Consort Chen. That same year, Xie Jin's aunt married the eldest son of the Chen Family's second branch—Consort Chen's own brother. She and Consort Chen were therefore sisters-in-law as well as cousins through the imperial family. With those two ties, her status towered over that of Zhaojing's many nobles. Even an imperial princess had to treat her with courtesy.

Though the Chen Family's second branch lived separately, their home was still part of the family's old estate. White walls, dark tiles, sweeping eaves, and upturned roof corners gave the centuries-old clan residence a stately, solemn air.

The matriarch of the second branch was elderly, so Xie Jin's aunt managed the household. That meant the Xie Family were hardly outsiders. Their carriages were promptly taken care of, and the steward personally escorted everyone toward the main house.

"Mind your step, ladies. Madam is waiting inside."

Qin Yan and Ling Jia rarely had a chance to leave home, and their eyes widened with curiosity. But they had been raised under strict rules and dared not turn their heads to gawk.

They had only just reached the courtyard gate when several servants accompanied two beautiful women out of the house.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, you're here."

Shen Lantang and Madam Qian bowed. "Aunt."

Xie Madam took a couple of steps forward. "Why did you come out to greet us? We're hardly strangers."

The older woman bore some resemblance to Xie Jin. One look at her was enough to see she had known privilege all her life. She smiled. "A few steps won't hurt me. Come in, Sister-in-law. I've brewed the white tea you like."

They entered the house, where maids helped remove their veiled hats and the shawls they wore against the sun. With those cumbersome layers gone, everyone soon felt refreshed.

Ranking List

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Laid-Back Life