Chapter 58: Warm and Loving (Part 1)

Tantai Jing composed her emotions and entered the main courtyard of the Dong residence. Upon seeing her, Lady Dong stood up from the arhat bed and walked straight out to welcome her. Daring not to let Lady Dong greet her in such a manner, Tantai Jing quickly hurried forward a few steps and knelt before Lady Dong.

Lady Dong pulled Tantai Jing to her feet, patted her hand, and with slightly moist eyes, said, "Good child, you have suffered. Your grandmother has prepared quite a few things for you. Just settle down and stay comfortably in the Dong residence for a while."

Tantai Jing nodded. Lady Ye and the twins had torn off all pretense with her, so they would not dare to make any moves for the time being. She could finally catch her breath here at the Dong residence.

Seeing Tantai Jing nod, two young maidens nearby cheerfully came forward and said with teasing smiles, "Wonderful! The three of us sisters can live together again!"

The two speakers were Song Jiali, the fifteen-year-old daughter of Tantai Jing's eldest aunt, and Ouyang Miaozhen, the daughter of her second aunt, who was one year older than Tantai Jing at thirteen!

Ouyang Miaozhen had a round face and thick eyebrows, giving her a wholesome and adorable appearance. She bounced on her heels and said, "No matter what, you must stay longer this time. My mother said that once elder sister Jiali gets married next year, the three of us will never be able to play together in one place again!"

Tantai Jing looked at Song Jiali with some surprise. It was true that Song Jiali had reached the age of capping, but she had never heard of her being betrothed to any family before. Feeling Tantai Jing's gaze, Song Jiali blushed with embarrassment, lowered her head, and twisted her handkerchief in silence.

Ouyang Miaozhen giggled and nudged Song Jiali, saying, "Oh, marriages are matters of course, what is there to be shy about? Everyone goes through this time. Besides, I heard from my mother that the brother-in-law you are betrothed to this time is the second legitimate son of the Junior Steward of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and they say he is as handsome as Pan An! When my little nephew is born, he will surely be exceptionally beautiful as well!"

Hearing Ouyang Miaozhen's words, everyone burst into helpless laughter, gasping for breath.

Tantai Jing also covered her mouth with a light smile. Ouyang Miaozhen's personality truly never changed; a moment ago she was talking about a little nephew, and the next she was describing him as exceptionally beautiful—how could a little baby boy be described with such delicate beauty!

The second aunt wore a dignified wine-red crossed-collar tunic, shook her head helplessly, and smiled at Tantai Jing's eldest aunt, saying, "I don't know how I ended up raising such a mischievous monkey who can't even speak properly! Jiali is far more dignified and steady."

The eldest aunt called Ouyang Miaozhen to her side, took her hand, and said, "I actually wish I had such a clever daughter. Look at Jiali—she speaks less in ten days than Miaozhen does in a single day!"

Ouyang Miaozhen smiled playfully and protested, "Is eldest aunt praising Zhen'er, or is she praising elder sister Jiali?"

Amused by their banter, Lady Dong pulled Tantai Jing to sit beside her and said with a smile, "Today is Jing'er's birthday, so let go of formal courtesies. Let us set the meal in the inner parlor, and our entire family will stay to dine together to celebrate Jing'er's birthday lively!"

Tantai Jing smiled and bowed to everyone, her demeanor gentle, compliant, humble, and courteous, making everyone's hearts ache with affection for her.

Tantai Jing's eldest aunt produced a small box and handed it to Tantai Jing, saying, "I prepared this for you early this morning. Have a look and see if you like it."

Tantai Jing nestled beside Lady Dong and opened the box to find a pure gold hair hairpin. The head of the pin was adorned with a thumb-sized, lustrous, and glowing pearl, from which dangled delicate glass beads that swayed all the way down to her earlobes.

Knowing that the hairpin was immensely valuable, Tantai Jing waved her hands repeatedly, not daring to accept such a generous gift. Song Jiali rarely took the initiative, pressing down on Tantai Jing's hand and saying, "Do not refuse. This hairpin is a pair with mine; I have another one listed in my dowry. Even after I am married, we will still be cousins. If you encounter any trouble, you are not allowed to hide it from us and endure it alone!"

As she spoke, Song Jiali opened her palm to reveal a pair of earrings styled similarly to the hairpin, saying, "I made these myself to match the hairpin. Although they are not worth much, they represent my sincere affection."

Tantai Jing was so moved she could not speak.

Ouyang Miaozhen stepped forward, tugged at Song Jiali's hand, and said, "Elder sister Jiali is too partial! You prepared something for younger sister Jing, but not for me."

"There is one for you, how could I leave you out? I have already prepared yours, just waiting for your birthday!" Song Jiali tapped Ouyang Miaozhen on the tip of her nose and said with a smile.

"That's more like it!" Ouyang Miaozhen giggled and went over to Tantai Jing, snatching a square box from her mother's hands as she said, "I'm not as crafty-handed as elder sister Jiali, so I can only use silver!"

Ouyang Miaozhen opened the box to reveal a moon-shadow gauze pale blue palace fan resting inside. The fan featured double-sided embroidery—one side displaying graceful and luxurious white peonies, and the other butterflies in love. The embroidery was exquisitely crafted, and the handle was made of mutton-fat white jade that felt warm to the touch. The perimeter was bound with silver wire in an oval shape, revealing the extraordinary value of the fan in every detail.

Song Jiali stepped forward for a look, then gazed at Ouyang Miaozhen and said, "Younger sister Zhen is being lazy, giving the same gift as second aunt."

"Nonsense! I contributed silver to this. I put in ten taels of silver myself!" Ouyang Miaozhen thrust the box into Tantai Jing's hands, stretched all ten fingers out in front of Song Jiali, and protested loudly.

The second aunt smiled and said, "Indeed, indeed. This palace fan is a new style from the palace, costing fifty taels of silver in total. This girl chipped in ten taels, which can be considered a major bleeding of her wallet!"

"Exactly! My monthly allowance is only three taels," Ouyang Miaozhen pouted and said.

Lady Dong presented Tantai Jing with a pair of old-mine dark green jade bracelets, and several male cousins from the outer courtyard came over to dine together, bringing gifts of the Four Treasures of the Study, calligraphy, and paintings for Tantai Jing.

Tantai Jing felt a surge of warmth in her heart, feeling as though all the stifling oppression of the Tantai residence had completely dissipated!

When it was time to sit down for the meal together, her eldest cousin Song Xianwen, accompanied by his wife and Dong Junhao, entered the inner parlor. Tantai Jing greeted the two of them with some timidity. Without a word, Dong Junhao unclasped a circular jade pendant directly from his belt and said, "If you ever have the opportunity to go to the capital and need help with something, just show this jade pendant to the people of our household."

Tantai Jing was startled, not understanding what Dong Junhao meant. There was no reason to give away one's personal jade pendant so casually. Besides, she had already inquired clearly through Mama Jiang just moments before that this Dong Junhao could also be considered her cousin!

Song Xianwen stepped forward and shoved the jade pendant directly into Tantai Jing's hand, smiling as he said, "Everything just now was a misunderstanding. I have already explained it clearly for younger sister Jing. Junhao felt rather embarrassed, so the gift he is giving you is a bit more valuable. Just accept it with peace of mind. Everyone present here is of the Dong family, and no one dares to go outside and wag their tongues idly. Besides, aren't your grandmother and eldest uncle both in the capital? You will surely have a chance to use it in the future!"