Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sisters

The carriage wheels began to turn slowly. Inside, Meng Zhenyue sat in the middle, flanked by her two younger sisters. The Marquis’s carriage was spacious enough that they were not crowded, yet the two girls seemed to be vying for space, both pressing close to Meng Zhenyue. None of the three spoke, leaving the carriage filled only with the rhythmic rumble of the wheels and the distant clamor of the city streets.

After a long silence that felt as though the air had frozen, Meng Yanyue broke the stillness with a very deliberate sigh. She muttered, "We finally made it after rushing so hard. I’ve never been to the capital before. Our brother is so dull; no sooner had he returned to Xiao Zhou than he left again for business, and even though he said he would come to fetch me, he didn't travel with me." She then hugged Meng Zhenyue’s arm playfully and shook it, adding, "Sister, you’ve been here for days, so you must know all the fun places! Tell me, quickly, tell me all about them."

Nearby, Zhao Zhizhi, hearing this display of affection, pretended to wipe perspiration from her brow with a handkerchief while stealing glances at the two sisters. Her eldest sister had told her that Yanyue was quirky and the most boisterous of them all. At first, she had been skeptical and worried about how they would get along, but now it seemed she was truly lively and adorable. Yanyue was so spirited, like a little ray of sunshine; surely, their eldest sister must love her dearly. It made sense—they had lived together for years, while she had only known the eldest sister for a few short days.

Before Zhao Zhizhi could observe anything further, she heard the eldest sister give a dry cough. Startled, she loosened her grip, and her handkerchief slipped ignominiously onto the eldest sister’s lap.

"You two," Meng Zhenyue said, looking from one to the other. She picked up the handkerchief and held it out to Zhao Zhizhi, asking with a feigned sternness, "Is it not hot? Are you two not concerned about your rouge melting?"

At this question, even the usually vivacious Meng Yanyue stammered. By some strange coincidence, her response was perfectly synchronized with Zhao Zhizhi’s.

"N-no, it is not hot."

Meng Zhenyue swept her gaze over them both, stood up, and moved to the opposite seat. "Well, I am."

The space between Meng Yanyue and Zhao Zhizhi suddenly became empty. Feeling a chill, the two girls exchanged an awkward glance, their toes curling tightly inside their embroidered shoes in their nervousness. Meng Zhenyue crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Meng Yanyue. "Tell me, you’ve been studying me and your sister Zhizhi for quite some time now—what have you gathered?"

Meng Yanyue hesitated, twisting her fingers as she stole a glance at her sister’s expression. "Both sisters share similar features; you truly are a pair of celestial beauties."

Meng Zhenyue shot her a look of disappointment and turned to Zhao Zhizhi. "And you?" She had not missed how the two of them had been scanning each other like searchlights during the earlier silence.

"I... I wasn't studying anyone..." Zhao Zhizhi hung her head, trying to avoid the question. But when she saw the eldest sister’s brow furrow in displeasure, she stirred her handkerchief and spoke weakly, "Uh, the eldest sister and Yanyue seem to get along so well. Perhaps... perhaps Yanyue could come to live with me at Huaxi Courtyard."

Meng Zhenyue’s expression flickered with suspicion. Was this a ploy to separate Yanyue because she wanted to be close to the eldest sister herself, but was too shy to compete? She glanced at Meng Yanyue again, sighing inwardly. They each had their own hidden thoughts, and if left unsaid, they would easily be provoked by others.

"Like calls to like," Meng Zhenyue said. "After living together for a long time, certain temperaments grow similar. Blood is thicker than water—that is something that cannot change." She spread her hands toward them. "See? Now that I’ve said that, have your little worries vanished?"

"Yuehua Courtyard is too large for me to occupy alone. Why don't you both stay there until the Masquerade Lantern Festival? Zhizhi, you can tell Yanyue about all the interesting things here—she always did love excitement."

Hearing this, both girls felt an immediate sense of relief, followed by shame for having harbored such childish jealousy. Upon hearing the proposal, they were both eager to accept—it was not just a graceful way to step down from their awkward position, but an exciting prospect! Finally, Meng Yanyue hopped over the empty seat to sit beside Zhao Zhizhi, saying playfully, "Then I shall trouble you, Sister Zhizhi! From now on, I will make rouge for you first."

Zhao Zhizhi blushed for a moment, then smiled. "Then I shall tell you all about the fun things here."

Seeing that everyone was happy, Meng Zhenyue closed her eyes to rest. She had another purpose in mind for having the three of them live together in Yuehua Courtyard.

After arriving at the Marquis’s estate, the three paid their respects to the Marchioness before eating together. In the afternoon, Meng Yanyue followed them to Boya Court for Lady Yan’s lessons. She grew so sleepy during the session that she lost count of how many times she was reprimanded. Seeing this, Zhao Zhizhi felt a wave of gratitude for Yanyue’s arrival; she was no longer the one causing Lady Yan the most headaches!

Because the Masquerade Lantern Festival was two days away, and Lady Yan had family matters to attend to, she granted the three a two-day break. Meng Yanyue exclaimed that the heavens were watching over her, as she had arrived just in time for a holiday! Consequently, at the crack of dawn the next day, the sound of grinding echoed through Yuehua Courtyard. Meng Zhenyue and Zhao Zhizhi, still in their dreams, merely opened their windows, took a look, and went right back to sleep.

At breakfast, Meng Yanyue happily placed a box of rouge before Zhao Zhizhi. "Here, Sister Zhizhi, try this."

"This... so quickly?" Zhao Zhizhi asked, looking surprised.

Meng Yanyue sat down, beaming with self-satisfaction. "I had the materials ready; I just made a few adjustments based on your preferences."

Meng Zhenyue, sitting nearby, gave the rouge box a meaningful look, then reached out and took it. "Let's put it away and eat first," she said, handing it off to her maid.

Zhao Zhizhi was busy eating, and Meng Yanyue was lost in her own pride, so neither noticed Meng Zhenyue’s action. Meng Zhenyue served Meng Yanyue a bowl of porridge. "Have you sent the items to our eldest brother? And do you have all the things I asked you to buy for me?"

The Masquerade Lantern Festival of the Great Zhou involved using rouge to paint various designs on one's face before heading out to play. Thus, a great deal of rouge was required, and it was customary to exchange it as gifts. The reason she had asked for the rouge was, in part, to send a portion to her cousin.

"Don't worry, Sister, I have everything. I’ve marked the boxes, and I’ll bring them to you from the room in a moment," Yanyue said, nodding while accepting the porridge.

Meng Zhenyue turned to her maid, Manzhi. "Go and see. When our brother’s servants come to deliver things to our cousin, have them take these along as well."

As Manzhi went to comply, Meng Zhenyue added, "And take the things Zhizhi prepared for our brother, too."

Meng Yanyue gave her a sweet smile in gratitude. Meng Zhenyue then turned back to Yanyue’s hands and spoke sternly, "Look at your hands! There is no need for you to do everything yourself, and rising before dawn at that! You must apply medicine later."

After breakfast, Meng Zhenyue brought out a small medicine kit and, with a serious face, applied the ointment. Zhao Zhizhi sat nearby, comforting Yanyue as she was being scolded. After finishing the application, Meng Zhenyue blew gently on the area before closing the kit. Just then, a square package wrapped in yellow paper tumbled out from the lid of the box.

All six eyes of the three girls fell upon it, and they were all stunned. Meng Zhenyue took in the expressions of her two sisters, then, as if struggling to steady her emotions, she blocked the package with a nonchalant air.