Before the seventh-week memorial ceremony, Jin Niang delivered five handwritten volumes of the "Ksitigarbha Sutra" to the second household. Madam Wu, being well-versed in literature, had initially intended to commission scholars outside the household to transcribe the scriptures. However, with so many matters demanding her attention at the time, she agreed when the girl volunteered.
To her surprise, Jin Niang's calligraphy was remarkably neat and even carried a certain elegance. "Did you study Liu Gongquan's style?" Madam Wu asked.
Jin Niang nodded. "Yes, as a child, I practiced from Liu Gongquan's copybooks for a while and grew fond of it. I've written this way ever since. Please forgive my poor attempt, Madam."
Madam Wu smiled and shook her head. "I think your writing is excellent. It's admirable how diligently you study. I have a few calligraphy books and texts here that you may borrow."
Jin Niang was overjoyed. "Thank you, Madam Wu! I’m deeply grateful. I’ll return them as soon as I finish practicing."
In the Song Dynasty, the advent of printing had made books more affordable for commoners than in previous dynasties. Still, even with lower prices, Jin Niang had never had spare money to purchase any before. She was thrilled.
She longed to ask Madam Wu if she had any illustrated albums of flowers and birds but restrained herself. Knowing one's limits ensured one wouldn’t become a nuisance.
Madam Wu, however, was fond of such studious and ambitious young women. She inquired further, "I see you’re quite literate. Why did you later take up needlework?"
Jin Niang sighed. "When I first studied, my family was still well-off, and I cherished the opportunity to learn. But after my grandfather and uncle met misfortune, my father exhausted our savings to help relatives, leaving us in dire straits. I resolved to earn money to support the household. Strangely, I had no particular talent for anything else, but needlework came naturally to me. I practiced embroidery by day and spent my earnings on learning tailoring by night. When others rested, I dipped my brush in water to practice writing. This way, I could both earn a living and continue learning."
Her words were a mix of truth and fabrication, but Jin Niang knew exactly how to appeal to a female superior—emphasizing diligence, hardship, simplicity, intelligence, and pure ambition.
"Good, good. You’ve come a long way indeed." Madam Wu was genuinely impressed. "Nanny Sun, fetch a set of the Four Treasures of the Study for this girl. From now on, ensure she has what she needs for writing."
Jin Niang was beside herself with joy and knelt to kowtow in gratitude.
Madam Wu added, "Next time there’s scripture to be transcribed, I’ll call for you first."
"I truly don’t know how to express my happiness," Jin Niang replied, glancing at Madam Wu. She resolved to make a pomegranate-patterned bellyband for Madam Wu’s unborn child as a token of her gratitude.
On her way back from Madam Wu’s quarters, Jin Niang encountered Fourth Miss Zhou near the old matriarch’s residence. The young mistress eyed her and asked, "What were you doing in the second household?"
Jin Niang answered respectfully, "Madam Wu had me transcribe some scriptures. She was pleased with my work and rewarded me with paper, brushes, and copybooks."
Fourth Miss Zhou inwardly scoffed. Madam Wu was both stingy and oblivious—someone like Jin Niang, who worked as a servant, needed silver, not books. Even in Dream of the Red Chamber, Lady Wang had given Granny Liu a hundred taels of silver!
But she couldn’t voice such thoughts to Jin Niang. In her imagination, she aspired to be a commanding, sharp-tongued heroine, but in reality, she was rather reserved. Moreover, she believed lineage shouldn’t matter—what counted was one’s father, not mother.
Yet, subtle distinctions persisted. Madam Jiang treated all the girls equally in terms of allowances, maids, clothing, and cosmetics, yet something intangible set them apart. Fourth Miss Zhou couldn’t pinpoint it, but the difference was palpable.
She didn’t understand—since daughters didn’t affect inheritance and would eventually marry into other families to bring them prosperity, shouldn’t the primary wife act as a mother to all children? Why was Madam Jiang so unkind?
Like now, for instance. While Fourth Miss Zhou returned to her quarters, Madam Jiang took Eldest Miss and Second Miss Zhou to a celebratory banquet at the Vice Grand Councilor’s residence.
To outsiders, it made sense—the elder daughters were of age to attend such events. But Fourth Miss Zhou had read The Survival Guide for a Second Wife. She knew Madam Jiang hadn’t left a single coin to her stepchildren, even dividing her own dowry between her two biological daughters.
This was the final push that drove Miao Xiaoniang to her dark fate.
Worse still, Madam Jiang, despite her noble upbringing, despised concubines. Fourth Miss Zhou wondered—weren’t concubines meant to share the burden of childbirth, given how painful it was?
Lost in thought, she walked away. Meanwhile, Jin Niang couldn’t shake the feeling that Fourth Miss Zhou wasn’t as meek as rumors suggested. There was a sharpness in her gaze at times, as if she were playing the fool to outwit others.
Today was Madam Chen’s birthday. Jin Niang quickened her steps—she and the other embroiderers had pooled money to prepare a feast.
She’d had a spat with Qin Shuang’er recently, but they made up the next day. After all, they still had to work together.
With three mace of silver, they arranged eighteen dishes and a bottle of fine wine. Borrowing a table and chairs from the tea attendant Lan Xue, they set up the celebration. Madam Chen sat at the head, flanked by Qin Shuang’er and Fang Qiaolian. Jin Niang sat beside Fang Qiaolian, facing Si’er and Little He.
Madam Chen gazed at the lavish spread. "You’ve gone to too much trouble."
"You’re our teacher. Without you, we’d never have come to Bianjing," Jin Niang said warmly.
The others echoed her. Only the three of them had contributed—Si’er and Little He were simply guests, delighted to join the feast.
Madam Chen smiled. "As the saying goes, ‘A teacher opens the door, but the student must walk through it.’ I’ve never been one to hoard knowledge. You’re all young—this is the time to hone your skills. Never hesitate to ask me anything."
She had worked hard to reach her current standing. Embroidery was a craft for the young; once eyesight failed, it became impossible. So she urged them to learn all they could—even if they didn’t remain embroiderers, such skills would earn them praise as deft and clever wives.
Qin Shuang’er chimed in, "Don’t worry, we’ll ask whenever we’re unsure."
"Exactly! Just don’t find us bothersome, Madam Chen," Jin Niang teased, though she couldn’t help lamenting that Sister Shan couldn’t return for the occasion.
After a few more cups of wine, Madam Chen grew tipsy. "Never bothersome. You left your homes to follow me here. We came together, and we’ll leave together." She knew the Zhou family was wealthy and seemingly kind, but experience had taught her that such "kindness" was often just a facade for maintaining their official reputation.
Jin Niang immediately responded, "Of course we’ll leave together!"
Only then did Qin Shuang’er and Fang Qiaolian murmur their agreement.
After Madam Chen’s birthday came Yan Hong’s. Jin Niang got along well with her, so she asked Auntie Hu from the kitchen to prepare a box of longevity peaches and bought pastries from Lan Xue, presenting them in a decorative case.
This cost nearly three hundred copper coins—such were the expenses of maintaining social ties.
After copying scriptures for a while, the money vanished in a flash after these two birthdays.
Yan Hong had already pinned up her crimson hair, dressed more vibrantly than usual today. The dishes on the table surpassed even those at Madam Chen’s place the other day, and with the maidservants like Lv Ying bustling around, there was hardly any room left to sit.
Jin Niang smiled and said, "Sister Yan Hong, I must return to finish my work, so I won’t disturb you all further."
"Take some fruits back with you. I also have something to tell you," Yan Hong, ever thoughtful, had a good relationship with Jin Niang. Though not as close as with Lv Ying, whom she’d grown up with, she knew Jin Niang was reliable—tight-lipped, diligent, and well-versed in social graces, never taking undue advantage.
As Jin Niang approached, Yan Hong whispered in her ear, "I’ve just acquired a bolt of satin and would like to ask you to make me a dress for the Dragon Boat Festival."
So that was it. Jin Niang, having had some free time after completing the scripture copying, replied with a smile, "That’s easy. I already have your measurements and can start cutting right away. It’ll be ready in two or three days."
Yan Hong’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Make sure it fits snugly."
Jin Niang, sharp as ever, understood that Yan Hong, now a chamber maid, aspired to become a concubine. To secure her position, she needed to win favor. Since Jin Niang had always been on good terms with her, she was happy to help. "If you trust me, I’ll make sure it turns out beautifully."
Yan Hong discreetly handed her two strings of coins. Jin Niang tried to decline, but Yan Hong insisted, "Dear sister, if you ever join Brocade Pavilion, even the clothes for servants cost a hundred strings per set. If you don’t plan to stay in the manor, securing a place there would be far better than anywhere else."
"You flatter me, sister. Brocade Pavilion is the finest embroidery workshop in all of Bianjing—their standards are exceedingly high," Jin Niang shook her head.
Before Yan Hong could say more, she was pulled away to drink.
Meanwhile, Jin Niang pondered how to best showcase the fabric’s charm. Yan Hong, with her voluptuous beauty, would shine in a design suited to the Grain Rain season. While peonies would be fitting, they might draw too much attention. Peach blossoms, however, would be perfect.
"Peach blossoms delicate, radiant in their glory."
A single branch of peach blossoms would trail from the bodice down to the waist, its tender flowers and leaves hinting at secrets beneath, more alluring in its subtlety than any bold display.
With this vision, Jin Niang worked late into the night sketching. Nearby, Fang Qiaolian yawned as she hurried to finish Miao Xiaoniang’s dress. Both women labored until midnight before retiring.
The dress took nearly four days to complete. The creamy-white bodice bore a slanting embroidery of peach blossoms, paired with a silver satin skirt veiled in gauze, adorned with peach-colored tassels on either side. Over it, a moon-white overdress completed the ensemble. When Yan Hong tried it on, the curves of her figure were hinted at—half-revealed, half-concealed, like a lute half-hidden behind silk. The effect made her appear more mature.
Yan Hong turned before the mirror, marveling at her reflection.
"Jin Niang, thank you for making it so exquisite."
Jin Niang blinked. "I wish you success in all your endeavors, sister."
Previously, Lord Zhou had found Yan Hong too inexperienced, so even after taking her as a chamber maid, he seldom visited. But today, when he stopped by Madam Jiang’s quarters, his gaze lingered on Yan Hong, unable to look away.
If Jin Niang had been somewhat known before, her reputation in the Zhou manor now soared.
