Meeting Her Eldest Uncle

Once Xu Xi had sat down, the first madam said to her, "The young ladies in this household are each assigned a matron, a Daya, two junior maids, and an old servant woman for rough work."

As she spoke, she beckoned, and five servants came forward one after another.

"This is Matron Yuan, and this is Qingfeng. They'll be the matron in charge and the Daya in your rooms. Yicui and Dianjiang will be your junior maids. This is Old Woman Yu, who'll do the rough work in your courtyard."

Each person the first madam named stepped forward and paid her respects to Xu Xi.

At the sight of these servants, the people in the room once again wore varying expressions.

Matron Yuan was one thing; she had been a minor supervisor in the sewing room. But Qingfeng had been a second-rank maid in the old madam's rooms. Though only second-rank, she was someone the old madam found useful and quite capable besides. As soon as one of the four Daya married, she could have been promoted to first rank.

Yet now the old madam had given her to Xu Xi. It showed how highly she regarded her.

Seeing that the first madam had assigned servants to Xu Xi, the old madam said, "Everyone else may leave. Brother Li and Brother An, accompany your sister and take her to the front courtyard to pay her respects to her eldest and third uncles."

Everyone stood up.

Lady Zhu, however, spoke up. "Second sister-in-law, when Miss Xi comes back from the front courtyard, you'll have to take her back. Wait for her a while." Then she said to Zhao Rurui and Zhao Ruyu, "Rurui, Ruyu, stay with your mother."

"Your eldest sister-in-law is right. Wait and go back with her," the old madam said as well.

Xu Xi belonged to the second branch and was Lady Wei's own daughter. Lady Zhu had gone to so much trouble to bring her back from the countryside; surely she couldn't be expected to take her to the second branch later as well, while Lady Wei, her own mother, did nothing?

Besides, the second master, Zhao Yuanliang, lived in the second branch. Whether he was there or not, it would have been improper for Lady Zhu to set foot there.

As for sending only Matron Ruan to escort her, that would not do either. It would be far too slighting.

In any case, whether by sentiment or propriety, Lady Wei ought to be the one to take her back.

Lady Wei, who had been about to leave, stopped, glanced at Xu Xi, then turned to the old madam and replied, "Yes, Old Madam."

Zhao Jingli and the other children all stood where they were. Only after their elders had left the main room did they bid the old madam farewell one by one and leave in order of seniority and status.

Zhao Jingli had a steady temperament, but Zhao Jing'an was lively. He was probably full of curiosity about his twin sister, for he chattered nonstop all the way to the front courtyard. "Sister, what was your life like before? Were they good to you? Did you ever go hungry or cold?"

Xu Xi felt a warmth in her heart. This brother was nice.

She smiled. "No, they were very good to me. My adoptive parents had only one child, me, and they doted on me. We managed well enough. Food and clothing were no problem."

Zhao Jing'an breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "I heard the women's academy is very hard to get into. So many people fight tooth and nail for a place and still can't get in. How did you pass the entrance exam?"

Xu Xi blinked. "I just took the exam casually and got in. It was very easy."

Zhao Jing'an, the study slacker: "..." If you'd stop showing off, we could still have a proper conversation.

Someone had probably gone ahead to announce them, for when they entered the main hall of the front courtyard, the three Zhao brothers were already seated.

As soon as Zhao Yuanliang saw Xu Xi enter, he stood up and smiled. "Miss Xi is back? Come, Father will introduce you to your uncles."

He gestured to the middle-aged man seated at the head of the room. "This is your eldest uncle."

Because Lady Zhu had once said that Xu Xi looked like Zhao Yuanxun, Xu Xi took the opportunity to give him a couple of curious glances as she paid her respects. Sure enough, she found that their faces and eyes were very alike. Their eyes in particular were dark and bright, full of spirit in a way no one else's were. Moreover, though Zhao Yuanxun was lean, he was tall and upright, and her body's tall, upright figure was somewhat like his as well.

"I heard you were admitted to the women's academy?" Zhao Yuanxun's voice was somewhat low and husky, but his gaze as he looked at Xu Xi was kindly, and his expression was gentle.

"I was only lucky," Xu Xi said, lowering her head.

Beside her, Zhao Jing'an curled his lip. That wasn't what his sister had said just now.

"Clearly, you're a clever child." Zhao Yuanxun raised a hand.

A maid beside him brought forward a box. When it was opened, it revealed a set of the four treasures of the study. Xu Xi knew nothing about such things, but from their exquisite craftsmanship, she could tell that the set seemed quite valuable.

"I won this set of the four treasures of the study with a poem at a literary gathering. Though it isn't particularly precious, it has special significance. I'm giving it to you in the hope that you'll succeed in your studies at the academy and make progress with each passing day."

"Thank you, Eldest Uncle." Xu Xi bowed.

Qingfeng hurried forward and took the box from the maid. After stepping back, she handed it to Dianjiang.

Without waiting for Zhao Yuanliang to say anything else, Xu Xi bowed directly to him. "Xi'er pays her respects to Father."

Zhao Yuanliang did not have a servant do it for him. He took a brocade box from a servant behind him and handed it to Xu Xi. "Father doesn't have much to give you. This is a jade ornament. Take it and play with it."

Since he had not opened it, Xu Xi could hardly inspect it in front of him. She accepted the box, handed it to Qingfeng, then bowed again and thanked him.

"This is your third uncle," Zhao Yuanliang said, pointing to Zhao Yuankun.