Chapter 706: 297 Troubles Arise
Yueyao was reading in the study when she heard Xi Yu enter and say, “Miss, the Lady of Marquis Jingning has come to visit you.”
Yueyao was somewhat surprised. If the Lady of Marquis Jingning wanted to see her, why didn’t she just send a maid over? Why come in person?
Madam Ping was now the Lady of Marquis Jingning, the foremost figure in the Marquis Jingning’s household. Without her mother-in-law’s oppression and the Bai Family’s interference, her days should have been comfortable. However, Madam Ping had one issue weighing on her mind—her offspring. Although she already had a legitimate eldest son, having more sons was still preferable.
Madam Ping had a favor to ask of Yueyao.
When Yueyao heard that Madam Ping was seeking a Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children, she was greatly troubled, “Madam, I have already promised this year’s three paintings to others. If you wish to have one, you would have to wait until next year.” Yueyao was quite puzzled by Madam Ping’s request for the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children. When she had painted it for her Eldest Cousin-in-law, it was merely to set her mind at ease.
Madam Ping requested the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children from Yueyao because she was deeply moved upon hearing from Zhuang Ruolan, who had mentioned receiving one from Yueyao unintentionally. Having improved her health over the past two years and even living in the mountains with the Marquis for a while, she still had not conceived. Inspired by Zhuang Ruolan’s comment, she naturally wanted to give it a try.
Knowing Yueyao’s rules, Madam Ping had already thought of a plan, “Mingzhu said that you had once promised to paint for her, and I have discussed this matter with Mingzhu. She agreed to let me have this opportunity first. Yueyao, you can paint for Mingzhu next year!”
Yueyao was rather speechless at this and said helplessly, “Madam, if you want the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children, I naturally will not decline. But please, do not mention this to anyone else.” She did not want to end up painting the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children every day, knowing that if her teacher found out, she would certainly be scolded.
Madam Ping smiled beamingly, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone else.”
Half a month later, Yueyao delivered the completed Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children to Madam Ping. When presenting the picture, Yueyao also gave her a copy of the Guanyin Sutra, saying, “Madam, I read in a book that if a couple sincerely recites the Guanyin Sutra one thousand times in front of Lady Guanyin’s image, Lady Guanyin will grant them a child.” In reality, Yueyao felt that if a couple recited the Guanyin Sutra together it would lead to more time spent together, naturally increasing the chances of conception. Of course, these were words she could not voice aloud.
Madam Ping now had a somewhat blind trust in Yueyao. That very evening, she shared the plan with Luo Shao. Madam Ping hoped that Luo Shao would cooperate.
Luo Shao, looking at the “Guanyin Sutra,” twitched the corner of his mouth. But under Madam Ping’s urging, he finally nodded in agreement. Ultimately, Luo Shao too desired more legitimate children. Despite already having a legitimate eldest son, Luo Shao had not stopped his concubines’ medication, as he truly did not want a concubine-born child.
The second day of September was Ma Linlin’s day for hosting a banquet, and on the first day, Ma Linlin’s personal maid informed Yueyao.
Yueyao naturally agreed.
Over the past few years, Ma Linlin had befriended three like-minded friends: Mu Jin, the legitimate daughter of Lord Mu from the Ministry of Central Secretariat, Zhong Lian, the legitimate daughter of Lord Zhong from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and Qiao Qiao, Ma Linlin’s future sister-in-law.
Yueyao also desired to cultivate good relations and answered every question the girls had, even writing in plum blossom script in their presence.
By noon, the three girls found Yueyao approachable and easy to get along with.
After lunch, Xiang Wei, seeing Yueyao getting drowsy, smiled and said, “Miss Linlin, ladies, my mistress has a custom of taking a nap at a set time.”
Ma Linlin, seeing that Yueyao did indeed seem ready for a nap, smiled and said, “Yueyao, go take your afternoon nap!” It was very gracious of Yueyao to spend the morning with her friends.
Upon returning to the Begonia Garden, Yueyao said to Xiang Wei, “In the future, it would be wise to attend such gatherings less often.” Yueyao found interacting with the girls exhausting. It wasn’t that the three girls were difficult to be around; on the contrary, they were quite congenial. However, Yueyao realized she did not fit in. Although she wanted to cultivate relationships with her peers, her mindset had long since diverged from that group, and despite her intentions, she could not truly integrate with them.
Xiang Wei felt Yueyao was overthinking it, “I think all you need to do is maintain a friendly demeanor in your everyday interactions; you don’t need to blend in completely.” Forcing oneself into a circle where one doesn’t belong is uncomfortable in the short term and just as uncomfortable for others in the long run.