In the courtyard, the pine and cypress trees were lush and green. The morning mist wove a half - bright and half - dim wrinkled veil among the gnarled branches.
Almost imperceptibly, Li Wanming and Mrs. Kang had already clashed twice.
She didn't know if she had lost, but she was sure that Mrs. Kang hadn't won.
Mrs. Kang reacted quickly. Her fingertips dyed with balsam flower clutched a silk handkerchief. While ordering someone to take the memorial tablets of the Xiao family's ancestors away for proper repair, she turned around and looked at Li Wanming with concern.
"Whether it's great joy or great misfortune, it's ultimately my fault as the second aunt. Such a big thing happened, and I even forgot to ask you. Were you scared just now? Should I invite a royal physician to take a look and prescribe a couple of calming medicines?"
Li Wanming sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she remained extremely respectful.
"What are you saying, second aunt? The ancestors of the Xiao family dote on Wanming and intended to come down to meet me. How could it be something you could control? The ancestors' action is a sign of their affection for me, a junior. How could I be scared?"
Mrs. Kang nodded. "You're right. Let's go and have breakfast first. You must be hungry after standing for so long."
Everyone followed her through the flower - decorated archway and returned to the Jujing Hall, then came to a flower - hall on the east side.
"The eldest and second branches of the Prince Ning's Mansion haven't separated. We have three meals together every day. You can come and have meals with us from now on."
Mrs. Kang smiled, her tone calm, as if nothing had happened just now. Those hidden undercurrents were just Li Wanming's illusion.
On the octagonal table carved with dragon patterns, there was a basket of crystal - clear crab - roe buns, surrounded by all kinds of dim sums and side dishes. There were jujube - paste yam cakes shaped like plum blossoms, quail eggs smoked with pine needles, sliced fermented - rice goose paws, and cute jade - green shrimp dumplings.
A maid in a honey - colored sleeveless jacket walked over with a red - lacquered tray and was placing the steaming green - stemmed rice porridge and milk - stewed bird's nest on the table. The bird's nest gave off a faint medicinal fragrance, obviously a medicinal diet with astragalus added.
Li Wanming hadn't slept all night yesterday and had been busy all morning. By now, she was starving.
But now she was no longer an unmarried girl, but a new bride who had just married into her husband's family. She had to maintain a dignified and respectful demeanor.
So she had to endure her hunger, resignedly lower her head and frown, and quietly stand aside, rolling up her sleeves to serve the dishes.
"I can finally eat. I'm starving!"
As soon as Xiao Jingbai sat down, he couldn't wait to grab a jujube - paste yam cake.
Mrs. Kang gently tapped the back of his hand with her chopsticks and scolded playfully, "No manners. How can a junior start eating before the elders do?"
Xiao Jingbai ignored her at all. He stuffed the whole dim sum into his mouth, then reached out to pick up two crab - roe buns and put them on his plate. He said in a muffled voice, "Rules, rules. It's always about rules... Making a fuss early in the morning. I'm starving..."
"Eat slowly. Don't choke." Mrs. Kang lovingly patted her youngest son on the back and then slightly frowned. "The second young master dislikes the taste of astragalus the most. Why is this on the menu today?"
Nanny Chen beside her quickly replied, "The bird's nest is for the madam to replenish qi and blood. The kitchen has prepared almond tea for the second young master. It's been simmering on the stove for fear of getting cold."
After saying that, she quickly asked someone to bring the almond tea.
"Fine then." Mrs. Kang nodded slightly. Suddenly, she looked up as if she had just noticed Li Wanming standing there. "We're all family now. There's no need to be so polite. Not to mention I'm not your mother - in - law. Even if my elder sister - in - law were here, she wouldn't ask a new daughter - in - law to stand on ceremony. Those rigid rules are just torturous. We don't follow such things in our family."
Hearing this, Li Wanming politely thanked her and sat down. But in her heart, she cursed, "Your son has already eaten three crab - roe buns, and now you remember to let me sit down and eat? You really don't torture people..."
Normally, in a wealthy family, it was a rule for the daughter - in - law to stand and serve the elders during meals, aiming to discipline the new daughter - in - law and establish the mother - in - law's authority.
However, the times had changed. Some so - called open - minded and kind - hearted families deliberately avoided such rules to show their reasonableness.
Mrs. Kang had been in charge of the Prince Ning's Mansion for many years. How could she not understand this?
But this second madam wanted both the substance and the appearance. She wanted the good reputation of being open - minded and kind - hearted, but also wanted to maintain her power and authority. So she couldn't be truly tolerant and peaceful. She tried every means to trip Li Wanming up in small matters.
Within less than an hour of their meeting, Li Wanming understood why Princess Chengping had specifically warned her on the boat. Mrs. Kang was like a slender - tailed pit viper.
It looked only as thick as a finger and coiled there gently. But if you weren't careful, it would leap up and bite you. Maybe it wouldn't be fatal immediately, but it would be enough to make your skin fester and cause you pain for several months.
Look, in a short while, Mrs. Kang was smiling and picking up two slices of fermented - rice goose paws for Li Wanming. "Try it and see if our family's dishes suit your taste. If not, I'll ask them to take them back and cook them again."
Her tone and expression were so intimate and considerate that anyone would say that the second madam of the Xiao family was extremely amiable.
But Li Wanming was already extremely annoyed in her heart.
Mrs. Kang's words were like a needle hidden in cotton.
First, she used "our family's dishes" and "your taste" to set a distance, implying that Li Wanming was not a member of the Xiao family. Then, she used "if not, I'll ask them to take them back and cook them again" to imply that Li Wanming was hard to serve and fussy.
If this got out, people outside would probably immediately say that Li Wanming was an extremely fussy and strange mistress who had overturned the breakfast table and asked the servants to cook again on the first day of marrying into the family!
Li Wanming sighed deeply in her heart. She put down the chopsticks she had just picked up and said softly, "Second aunt, you're being too polite. We're all family. Why should we distinguish between you and me? The dishes on the table are so sumptuous, and even the almond tea is simmered on the stove before being served. It must be because of your good training that the servants are so considerate."
She was really a bit annoyed, so she subtly pricked Mrs. Kang.
Sure enough, Mrs. Kang's face changed slightly, but she quickly recovered and said with a gentle smile, "If so, then let's eat quickly."
Li Wanming finally started to eat. She scooped up the steaming porridge with a spoon, but her mind was on high alert.
In the future, when dealing with this second madam, she might even have to time her breathing carefully. One slip - up and she would fall into her trap.
The Xiao family didn't have a large population, so men and women didn't dine separately.
Sitting at this table now were Li Wanming, Mrs. Kang, Xiao Yuanjie, Xiao Yingchu, and Xiao Jingbai.
While eating, Li Wanming secretly observed them. It was quite interesting to see these people having breakfast together.