The Crown Prince in the Jade Pendant

Chapter 2: Dove Occupying a Magpie's Nest (Part 1)

Meaning of chapter title: to reap where one has not sown

"Zhang Mama?"

Zhang Mama recovered herself quickly. She realised she was once again thinking about the matter of when Fifth Young Lady returned to the residence and was lost in it. Zhang Mama concealed her thoughts and with a smile on her face, spoke to the young lady in front of her carefully, "Fourth Young Lady, you have arrived!"

"Yes. I could not sleep at night and thus woke up earlier to greet Mother."

"Fourth Young Lady is really filial." Zhang Mama smiled and voices in the room praised Chu Jin Miao for her filial piety repeatedly. Zhang Mama smiled as she listened to the audience complimenting but her heart was thinking, if one were to compare coming early, who would be able to beat Fifth Young Lady? She had already gone in for quite a while. However, Zhang Mama would not say such words out.

With the maids' help, Chu Jin Yao took off her cloak. Her cloak was specially ordered by Madam Zhao as it used golden brocade on the outside and had the best cotton in it. It was made very wide, covering basically everything but the calf, like a large jacket. On the top, the collar was made to stand-up, with a pair of gold inlaid rubies as buttons while the cuffs and neckline were lined with rabbit fur. Chu Jin Miao was originally slender and thin and with this dressing, she looked even more fragile, like the frail beauty that was in vogue now.

Chu Jin Miao's brows were very light, and lips very thin. She looked a little dull and not as good looking as the other sisters. Ever since Chu Jin Miao realised that she looked inferior to her sisters, even the Shu-born daughters, she had lashed out secretly. And from then onwards, worked hard on dressing herself and headed towards the direction of looking thin and weak. Now, with the wave of Imperial examinations, literary scholars admired beauties who were restrained, graceful and so delicate that they are scarcely strong enough to even bear the trifling weight of the clothes. Many females also dressed up to look particularly weak and even wear makeup that seemed teary. Even though Chu Jin Miao did not have facial features as good as the rest of the sisters, in terms of temperament and dressing, she was popular with the brothers.

Currently, in the Marquis Residence, it was Marquis Chang Xing, Chu Jing, that was the head of the household. Old Furen was still alive and held the overall power of managing the household. With the presence of Old Furen, the brothers naturally could not divide the family properties and live apart. There were three households in the Marquis Residence. The Eldest Household was Marquis Chang Xing's and his Furen was Madam Zhao. The Second Household was Second Master Chu Duan's, and Second Furen was Madam Yan. The Third Household was Third Master Chu Zhang's, and Third Furen was Madam Qian. Marquis Chang Xing and Second Master were Di-born, while the Third Household was from a Shu line and was not liked by Old Furen. The Eldest Household had inherited the title and was naturally the most outstanding one among the brothers. Even the female members of the Eldest Household had higher expenses than other households, only second to Old Furen.

Marquis Chang Xing had a total of four sons and five daughters. Among them, only Eldest Young Lady, Second Young Master, and Fourth Young Lady were Di-born. This was considered few. In the beginning, when Marquis Chang Xing brought a young lady back and said that she was his daughter, everyone in the residence jumped in shock. A sobbing Madam Zhao refused to admit to it and clung to Chu Jin Miao, not allowing anyone to send her away. Old Furen later came over and also felt difficult to accept it when she saw the dark, thin and uncouth Chu Jin Yao. Old Furen spoke with Marquis Chang Xing behind closed doors for a long time and upon coming out, Old Furen said, "Those years ago, due to the chaos, there were some mistakes in the family lineage. Since the lost young lady was brought back, then we will raise her. It is not like our family is unable to raise a young lady. Jin Miao can just continue to stay at home. For the one that just returned, she will be ranked behind Jin Miao and become our Fifth Young Lady."