Chapter Twenty-Five: The Splendid Estate (Part One)

When Tao Ming and her two companions finally emerged back into the daylight, they found themselves standing at the corner of a long street. Tao Ming looked up at the sky, where two suns shone overhead, and felt a dizzying sense of unreality. The closer one was orange-yellow, like an egg yolk, while the other was so bright its color was indiscernible.

The elderly lady tugged Tao Ming along, peered around the wall's edge, and pointed to a large gate on the left side of the street. “I’ll head back first. Count to a hundred before you go and knock. Just say you’re the daughter of the Twelfth Aunt.” With that, the old woman vanished where she stood.

The two little ones counted reluctantly, “...twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two...” Tao Ming poked her head out to study the street. As far as the eye could see, it stretched on interminably. To the left, only one large gate was close by; to the right, three gates were visible, with more perhaps further away, though she couldn’t make them out clearly.

When the two children reached one hundred, Tao Ming took each of them by the hand and approached the gate the old woman had indicated. There were no stone lions or any such sculptures at the entrance. Looking up, she saw a red plaque above the gate, bearing three large silver characters: “Qiluo Mansion.”

The two vermilion gates were tightly shut, with two small doors flanking each side. She warned the two little ones to speak as little as possible, then stepped forward and knocked on the door ring.

The small door on the left opened, and a doorman in his forties stepped out. “Who’s knocking?” he asked.

Recalling her grandmother’s instructions, Tao Ming replied, “I am the daughter of the Twelfth Aunt, here to visit my grandmother.”

The doorman’s voice rose in surprise, “Twelfth Aunt?” He caught himself as soon as the words escaped him, noting Tao Ming’s resemblance to the old matriarch. Perhaps this time it was real?

Behind her, Tao Ming heard several more doors opening—people might come out to gawk, so she hurried to say, “That’s right, the Twelfth Aunt.”

The doorman quickly ushered them inside, sent someone to notify the steward, and led the three of them past the screen wall, calling a maid to wait with them in a small room.

Tao Ming smiled outwardly but inwardly complained about the endless rules in such a grand household.

Once the steward received word, he rushed to inform Madam Xu, who managed the inner quarters. As soon as Madam Xu heard, she ran straight to Qiluo Courtyard. Catching her breath at the entrance, she said to the head maid Chun Cao, “Go quickly and inform the matriarch—the Twelfth Aunt’s daughter has come home!”

Chun Cao hesitated only a moment before hurrying inside. Soon, the old matriarch’s voice rang out, “Qiu Ye, bring her to me at once.”

Chun Cao and Qiu Ye emerged together. Chun Cao said, “The matriarch instructs that someone be sent to notify each courtyard, and also to inform the married ladies.” Madam Xu acknowledged the order and left with Qiu Ye.

Inside, Li Nanny, who attended the matriarch, whispered, “Are we not sure if this is true? Should we be spreading the word so soon?”

The matriarch’s face was expressionless. “True or not, I want to see for myself.” In her heart, she thought, Of course it’s true—I was the one who did her hair!

Tao Ming didn’t have to wait long before someone outside called, “Where is the young lady from the maternal side?” The maid assigned to watch them stepped out and answered, “In here.” The visitor entered, bowed, and said, “Miss, I am Qiu Ye, who serves beside the matriarch. She asks that I bring you to her at once.”

She scrutinized Tao Ming’s face, thinking this must finally be the real one. Glancing at the soft, timid Su Nuo, she asked tentatively, “And this is...?”

Tao Ming looked at the maid in her maple-red attire and replied, “My daughter.”

Qiu Ye recalled some of the rumors circulating in the mansion, glanced again at the shy child, and said, “Miss, please come with me.” Tao Ming tightened her grip on Su Nuo and followed Qiu Ye out.

Tao Ming glanced around—the corridors on both sides were long and winding, their destinations unknown. Qiu Ye called from ahead, “Stay close, Miss, so you don’t lose your way.”

Tao Ming rolled her eyes inwardly. If not for Su Nuo, who would willingly come to a place as strange and backward as this, where not even a cellphone existed?

They wound through several corridors before finally arriving at a courtyard. Above the entrance hung a small red plaque inscribed “Qiluo Courtyard.”

Tao Ming tried to recall their route—many small courtyards branched off the long corridors, but it was unclear where the division between inner and outer quarters lay.

Qiu Ye instructed the three to wait outside while she went in to announce them. Some maids stood at a distance, whispering quietly among themselves.

Inside, Qiu Ye bowed and reported, “Matriarch, the young lady from the maternal side has arrived, she’s waiting outside.”

The matriarch rose and stepped out quickly. Seeing Tao Ming and her two children, she signaled with her eyes, asking, “Are you Si Si’s daughter?”

Tao Ming did not understand the look but replied, “My mother is Tao Si Si, and I am Tao Ming. These are my daughters, Su Ruan and Su Nuo.”

The maids in attendance burst out laughing, only to fall silent when the matriarch glared at them. Inwardly, they thought, How bluntly she speaks—so lacking in the refinement of a proper lady.

The matriarch came up to Tao Ming and stroked her cheek. “You truly look just like your mother!”

Li Nanny added, “She looks like you too, Matriarch.”

The matriarch looked from side to side, saying, “Good, good, it’s wonderful to have you home.”

Chun Cao interjected, “Matriarch, let’s go inside. The sun is too hot out here.”

“Yes, yes, let’s go in. I was too caught up in my happiness.” The matriarch gave Tao Ming another meaningful glance.

Tao Ming still didn’t get it and began to doubt her own intelligence.

At last, they entered the house. The matriarch took the seat of honor on the left and said, “Come, sit beside me and tell me about these past years.” Qiu Ye led them to the chairs on the right. Tao Ming sat down and lifted each child onto her lap, one on each leg.

They had barely settled when someone reported from outside, “Matriarch, Second Master and Second Mistress have arrived with their son and daughter.”

The matriarch instructed Qiu Ye, “Tell them to let Second Master and his wife in. The young ones can go to the side hall—the room can’t fit everyone. Do the same for the rest who arrive.”

Qiu Ye assented and left. Soon a middle-aged man entered, followed by a middle-aged woman.

Tao Ming regarded them with curiosity. The man appeared to be in his fifties, dressed in a pale blue robe, with a dignified air. The woman looked only in her forties, strikingly beautiful and dressed in a light green gown.

They both bowed to the matriarch and addressed her as “Mother.” The man asked, “Mother, is it true that the niece has finally arrived?”

He had already noticed the girl sitting beside the matriarch, who greatly resembled the Twelfth Sister. But after so many false alarms in recent months, he was wary.

The matriarch looked at Tao Ming. “This is your Twelfth Sister’s daughter.”

“Mother, have you verified her bloodline?” the man asked.

The matriarch was a bit put out. “Is there any need? You can tell at a glance she’s one of us.”

“Have you forgotten those who came before?”

The matriarch thought to herself, Those who came before—weren’t you all the ones who rushed them in? I knew at once they were impostors, which is why I never met any of them! But she said nothing of this aloud.

“We’ll verify her bloodline in front of everyone once all are present!” she declared. The man said no more and found himself a seat. The beautiful woman sat beside him, never uttering a word.

After a short wait, twelve more people arrived one after another. Chun Cao, the last to enter, reported, “Matriarch, aside from Fourth Master and Fourth Mistress who are in seclusion, and Tenth Master who is away on training, the rest of the masters and mistresses are all here.”

Tao Ming felt a bit dizzy surveying the crowded room—the women all seemed to look alike, each one stunningly beautiful, while the men also bore strong family resemblances. She couldn’t tell who was older or younger.

The matriarch acknowledged Chun Cao’s words. “Li Nanny, fetch the family genealogy.”