NOVEL WEB Chapter 137 - Mid-Autumn Festival
Chapter 137: Mid-Autumn Festival
It was nighttime, and the Second Mistress repeatedly instructed Yuan’er to check up on news on the outside. However, the servant who came in to deliver meals knew nothing. Instead, she heard that Housekeeper Song had been driven out of the Ji Manor.
The Second Mistress fidgeted more and more upon hearing this. Housekeeper Song was suddenly driven out of the house because Ji Yuxian discovered that he was her internal mole. What else had he found out?
Qiao An had been exposed. The officials who had been mountain bandits themselves would certainly cause an uproar. Why hasn’t there been any movement until now?
Didn’t Ji Ze listen to her instructions and expose Qiao An?
Yuan’er persuaded, “Madam, don’t worry. This matter is highly secretive. Even if the Emperor knows about it, he will certainly investigate it in secret. How can it possibly spread so quickly? Master Ji Ze has always listened to you the most, and never goes against your wishes. We just have to wait patiently!”
The Second Mistress nodded. “Yes, yes, I’m too anxious! Let’s wait for a while!”
“Yes!”
The day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the atmosphere was lively and animated. Qinxiang did not want Lan Zhihui to be alone in the house, so she took her out to the streets.
There were more people on the streets than usual. Lan Zhihui scanned the crowd and she became more and more upset as if she was all alone in this world. This bustling and lively scene had nothing to do with her in any possible way.
Guishunyuan Dim Sum Store was surrounded by many people wanting to buy mooncakes. Qinxiang said, “Miss, let’s go in and take a look!”
Lan Zhihui bobbed her head. They bypassed the main door that was crowded with people and entered from the side door. As soon as they entered the door, they saw a group of people preparing to pack freshly-made hazelnut crisps in a box.
The hazelnut crisps of that day were more radiant and brighter than usual and also seemed to be more fragrant.
Qinxiang rejoiced, “Miss, you like to eat hazelnut crisps the most! Let’s buy some back!”
With that, she marched to the front and said to the young man, “These hazelnut crisps are done well today. Pack two bags for us!”
“Oh, if it isn’t Miss Qinxiang!” The shop assistant looked up and greeted her with a smile.
Qinxiang often came to the store to buy snacks, so they knew each other well.
“I want two big bags. Make sure to fill them up!” Qinxiang added.
With furrowed brows and a pained expression, the shop assistant answered, “I’m sorry miss. These hazelnut crisps are pre-ordered and are scheduled for delivery. No takeaway from here!”
Qinxiang’s face suddenly cooled considerably. “Don’t you know who our lady is? Even if this snack is pre-ordered, you will have to give it to our lady if she wants it!”
The shop assistant flashed a smirk and continued, “We naturally know who Lady Lan is, but today, we really cannot give her these hazelnut crisps! It is for the Ji Manor, and the servants there specifically ordered it. The Young Mistress of the Ji Manor loves to eat hazelnut crisps, so these were specially made for her alone!”
Lan Zhihui and Qinxiang were both stupefied. Qinxiang also choked on herself and could not utter a word.
They knew that he was implying that the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor was of more importance than them. They were mere servants of the Ji family. How dare they compete for the same item with the Mistress?
Lan Zhihui’s complexion turned ghastly pale, as she turned around and strode away.
Qinxiang glared at the shop assistant and hummed. “What a jerk that only follows the powerful. We will never enter your store again!”
With that, she chased after Lan Zhihui. “Miss! Miss!”
The shop assistant brushed his forehead with a white cloth towel on his shoulder and sneered, “You think of yourself as a noble person! Bah!”
Lan Zhihui’s face was visibly upset. She walked back quickly through the crowd. Qinxiang chased after her and only caught up after a long while. She persuaded, “Miss, don’t be angry. Those guys are mere small fry that curry favors with the noble. Please don’t get angry at people like them!”
Lan Zhihui smiled coldly. “I’m not angry. He’s not wrong. Compared with the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor, naturally, I don’t have the same novelty as her!”
“Miss, don’t say that! Then, should the Eldest Young Master say that he would marry you and if you agreed, where else can she be arrogant about things? Now, whoever that meets you must be respectful!” Qinxiang said indignantly.
As Lan Zhihui listened to her words, her footsteps stopped abruptly. Her eyes flashed into a trance as she stood watching the bustling crowd, stunned.
There were more and more people on the street, and a pole almost hit Lan Zhihui. Qinxiang immediately scolded, “Don’t you have eyes? Rampaging around like that… are you courting death?!”
Lan Zhihui took a deep breath and wrapped her cloak tightly, saying, “Qinxiang, let’s go back!”
Qinxiang looked at Lan Zhihui’s face. It was even paler than when she came out. Now, she hated her idea as it only made her Mistress more unhappy.
The two of them went back to Robes Square. Just as they entered, the embroidery maiden came across from the opposite side. She held a piece of embroidered fabric in her hand and smiled. “Proprietress, you finally came back. I’ve been waiting for you for a while now!”
Lan Zhihui asked lightly, “What’s the matter?”
“It’s almost the holidays. Our embroidery maidens are planning to send the Young Mistress a congratulatory gift. In the past, there was no Young Mistress in the Ji Manor, and now there is one. We can’t afford to not know how to act!” The embroidery maiden said.
Lan Zhihui’s face stiffened. “That is right!”
“Proprietress, look at this embroidery pattern. Is it suitable for the Young Mistress?” The embroidery maiden asked the two embroiderers to unfold the material. A translucent embroidered qing yunsha (1), that was two feet long and two feet wide, appeared before their eyes. It was a picture of a beautiful woman with auspicious patterns, such as flowers of the four seasons and rabbits, next to her. The embroidery was exquisite and elegant.
Lan Zhihui was shocked. This picture would not have been possible to be embroidered within a day or two. She didn’t know anything about it at all, and now that it was fully embroidered was it then shown to her.
Lan Zhihui’s eyes were slightly cold, but the corner of her lips curled into a small smile. “Good, frame it, and send it to the Ji Manor!”
“Yes, I will immediately instruct people to do it!” The manager asked the embroidered item to be put away, and then turned and walked away.
Lan Zhihui’s face grew even colder, and she walked out to the back pavilion.
Upon arriving at the back pavilion, Qinxiang rattled off with hate, “Why do we keep on encountering such irritating things today?!”
Lan Zhihui said nothing, maintaining a straight posture.
“Miss, this Housekeeper Li has had some issues with you before. She must have instigated the other embroiderers to sideline you and not pay you any respect. You must teach her a good lesson!” Qinxiang chided.
Lan Zhihui understood that even if some people had opinions on her in the past, they did not dare to disrespect her. Since the incident during the New Year, these people have respected those in high positions and stepped on those below. Seeing that she had lost the affection of Ji Yuxian, they began to blatantly treat her badly and without respect.
Qinxiang still muttered on and scolded those embroidery maidens. Lan Zhihui stopped her and said quietly, “You are right. If I were the Mistress of the Ji Manor, no one would dare to treat me like this!”
“Miss…” Qinxiang was surprised.
Lan Zhihui stopped talking and smiled lightly. Her face returned to its usual shade, and she slowly moved upstairs.
The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Su Jiu agreed to have dinner with Ji Yuxian at night, so she went out to meet with Chang Huan in the morning for a quick gathering.
Hu Dapao also took a day off to return to the city, and with Qiao An resting, the five members of the Dragon Conqueror Gang finally got together again.
Everyone thought that the restaurant would be crowded with people, so this time around they gathered at Hu Dapao’s new General’s Manor.
The General’s Manor bestowed by the Emperor had three entrances. There was a garden between the front yard and the backyard. The house was magnificent, and the air of splendor surrounding the General’s Manor was conspicuous.
Su Jiu knew that Hu Dapao would not know how to take care of a mansion, so she arranged a management team and the servants of the mansion. Everything was prepared for him, one by one.
However, Hu Dapao had not lived in this house for many days.
They heard that Hu Dapao was going to have a feast in the mansion. The servants were busy preparing for a day, lest the new master would be dissatisfied.
Chang Huan asked the people to bring a bottle of plum wine from Yunxi, specially brought for Su Jiu. Su Jiu remembered that she would probably be reprimanded by Ji Yuxian when she goes back, so she didn’t dare to drink too much. However, Ah Shu spotted this behavior and everyone laughed at her for a moment.
Yet, Chang Huan was protecting Su Jiu. After tasting the water in Su Jiu’s glass, he said it was wine. The two of them ended up being punished together.
They sat together and talked about their history in Yuhu Mountain as usual. Things that they had felt bitter about in the past, seemed fun now as they mentioned it.
An example was what happened in last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. They exchanged a basket of edamame (2) with farmers at the bottom of the mountain, using whatever money they had left. The boiled and salted edamame and the half-watered down wine were drunk together, and they were very happy doing so.
However, in the middle of the night, everyone could not sleep, as the smell of fart in the house was too pungent. They all went to the yard to sleep in the end.
There, they smelled the commoners’ cooking of braised meat and couldn’t sleep. The five people drooled throughout the night.
Everyone laughed back and forth as they chatted. It was as if they were re-telling someone else’s joke.
“Speaking of which, I want to give a toast to Master An. It was Master An’s single decision that made our Dragon Conqueror Gang finally able to prosper!” Ah Shu, who was half-drunk, took his wine glass to pay respect to Qiao An.
“Thanks! We should also thank our Chief who sacrificed to be Miss Su!” Qiao An directed the conversation to Su Jiu again.
As soon as those words came out, Hu Dapao chortled first. He seemed to be thinking back to the times when Su Jiu was dressed as Miss Su last year.
“Chief, when you were dressed as a lady, I almost didn’t recognize you!”
“I thought; this little lady was so handsome, where did she come from?”
“Even the real Miss Su is not as handsome as our Chief!”
…
Several people ridiculed Su Jiu, one after another.
Su Jiu sneered as she leaned against Chang Huan. “Yes, all of you are now tough. You dare to talk crap about your chief!”
Everyone hurriedly smiled and toasted Su Jiu. Hu Dapao said without hesitation, “We dare not! Even if we become the Emperor, we must still listen to the Chief!”
Qiao An looked around and coughed a little. “No such nonsense!”
Su Jiu also glared at Hu Dapao. “If these words are heard by your subordinates, they will cut your head off in the middle of the night and seek credit from the Emperor!”
Hu Dapao woke up a little, and hastily replied, “I will change it to another person then, and I will change it to the Jade Emperor. Now no one can care about that!”
“The more you speak, the more ridiculous it gets!” Qiao An laughed at him.
“How are you a cannon? Your mouth is a cannon barrel!”
“So the enemies that are bombed by me will have to beg for mercy!”
Everyone laughed again. As the wine-drinking continued till late at night, Su Jiu noticed that it was getting dark, so she stood up and went back.
Hu Dapao and Ah Shu naturally drank too much. Qiao An saw that Chang Huan was fairly awake, and asked him to send Su Jiu back to the Ji Manor.
Su Jiu shouted that she was fine, but her footsteps were rather feeble.
They soon arrived at the Ji Manor. Chang Huan stopped the carriage and shouted for the Chief a few times, but he did not see Su Jiu respond to him. He pushed the door open, only to see Su Jiu deep in slumber, her body in a crooked position.
Seeing her uncomfortable sleeping position, Chang Huan decided to hug her around and raised her hand to loosen her forehead, while placing her hair behind her ears.
Su Jiu’s fair face was flushed red by the alcohol. The peach color of March was faintly visible on her cheeks. They burned and reflected light, spreading toward the depths of the waves.
Chang Huan’s eyes softened uncontrollably. As he reminisced their conversations whilst drinking that day, he was not all that happy.
He preferred to stay in the mountains. They have lived in poverty and hardships there, but they have also lived simply. There was neither Ji Manor nor Ji Yuxian. Su Jiu was wholly their Chief.
Nowadays, he always felt that half of Su Jiu belonged to the Ji Manor.
Or, soon, she would leave them completely and become a part of the Ji Manor.
The drunk Su Jiu frowned and yelled for water. Chang Huan quickly found a water sac in the compartment, tasted the water to see if it was warm, then fed it to her carefully.
Su Jiu was drunk, and she loved to sleep when so. Chang Huan took a silk handkerchief and wiped the water from the corners of her lips. His eyes were affixed on her pink lips, and his breath abruptly quickened.
The girl breathed steadily, emanating a strong scent of wine. In Chang Huan’s semi-drunken conscious state, he instinctively brought his head close to the woman’s flowery lips.
They grew up together since childhood, and have already become a part of each other’s lives. Compared with the others, he should be the one who she considered.
The two were so close that he could almost smell the light and elegant fragrance on the woman’s body. Chang Huan gulped and slowly closed his eyes. His lips were about to touch her lips, and he felt his heart beating like thunder as if his flesh and blood were about to jump out.
“Slam!”
Suddenly, there was a loud sound. The carriage door was then forcibly pushed open, and Chang Huan raised his head. His eyes saw the corner of a red robe, accompanied by the strange red piercing and icy glare of a man’s silhouette.
Ji Yuxian exuded a compelling chill. His narrow and long phoenix eyes were quiet and cold. He was staring at the young man with squinted eyes.
“Chang Huan, how dare you?!”
Chang Huan raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t seem to be panicking. He was even calmer than ever and smiled lightly. “I’m not your servant. Whatever I choose to do, you, Mr. Ji, cannot speak a single word!”
Ji Yuxian’s eyebrows were raised, glaring coldly at him. One could feel his palpable, murderous intent. Taking a step forward, his long and slim body bent slightly into the carriage, and he reached out to hug Su Jiu.
Chang Huan escaped subconsciously. Looking at Ji Yuxian, who forcefully entered the carriage, he could sense a strong sense of hostility.
“Give her to me!” The man’s voice was deep, seeming to suppress some kind of emotion that was about to erupt.
Chang Huan’s gloomy eyes didn’t show any fear. Whatever he had just said, the woman in Ji Yuxian’s arms woke up, having heard his words. She thought she heard Ji Yuxian’s name. She closed her eyes and called out his name.
“Ji Yuxian… Ji Yuxian…”
“I seemed to have drunk too much…”
“No, please don’t be angry…”
The girl’s voice was soft and sweet, with a touch of coquetry. Chang Huan froze.
It seems that he had never seen Su Jiu like this, and her usual public and cold self had disappeared. Instead, she was now like a young charming girl, swaying gracefully in the autumn winds. She was soft and alluring.
Ji Yuxian raised his eyebrows and once again, reached out to hug Su Jiu.
This time, Chang Huan’s arms were released, and the girl was allowed to be taken by the man. With his arms empty, he felt empty in his heart as well.
Ignoring Chang Huan, Ji Yuxian wrapped Su Jiu in his arms and strode off the carriage.
The man’s indifference made Chang Huan more frightened compared to the murderous hostility from before. That is a kind of arrogance without fear as if knowing that he is not qualified to even become an enemy of his.
When did Su Jiu’s feelings for that person start?
If time was the motivating factor, had they been together for longer…
What is the difference between him and Ji Yuxian? Is it because Ji Yuxian was the first noble master in the world, and he is just a mountain bandit living in Yuhu Mountain?
Chang Huan closed his eyes in pain, his body’s strength sapped away from him. The woman’s fragrance was still lingering in the carriage They were like countless needles poking on him, creating so many holes on him that they destroyed him.
He followed her throughout their childhood. They ate together, slept together, went out to rob together, and spent countless days together, inseparable. His life was saved by her. It seems that everything in his life was closely related to her. If she was gone one day, what meaning would he have to live?
When Su Jiu woke up again, the sky was already dark. There were no lights in the room. Only the shadow of the light outside the window came in, albeit a dim one.
There was a feeling of warmth around her. Su Jiu didn’t open her eyes. She merely leaned against the man and muttered, “Ji Yuxian, why don’t you light up the lights when it’s dark?”
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival. At night, the faint laughter from the outside seeped through the walls.
The man didn’t speak. Su Jiu opened her eyes, buried herself into his arms, and mumbled, “I didn’t want to get drunk.”
That sentence was an explanation.
A low sigh spread through the dark, and the man touched her cheek with a long finger. He said in a deep voice, “If you drink outside like this in the future, I will…”
Su Jiu raised her eyebrows. “…What will you do?”
“I will kill those who drank with you!” The man’s voice was low and faint, but his intent to kill was deafening.
Especially Chang Huan. He looked at Su Jiu very differently; it was abominable!
Su Jiu gasped out loud, seeming to disbelieve him.
Ji Yuxian dragged the woman’s waist towards him and hugged her. Under the dim light, a pair of phoenix eyes looked at her quietly and whispered, “It seems that your husband has spoiled you too much!”
Su Jiu sat on him, reached out, and gently hooked his chin. Her exquisite eyes lingered with the shadow of the red shade, “Then in the future, let me be the one that spoils you!”
Ji Yuxian lowered his head and kissed on her fingertips. “Okay, the girl dominates the guy. I like that too!”
Only then did Su Jiu notice the position of the two. The position was an enticing one. He hurriedly leaned forward, crossed his knees on the couch, and peered out the window.
At that moment, a firework rose into the sky and transformed into a falling meteor. Above the stars, the round, glistening moon hung amongst the trees.
Su Jiu turned back and said, “Let’s go and look at the moon!”
The servants placed moon cakes and seasonal fruits in the pavilion. There was sweet-scented osmanthus outside the pavilion, accompanied by the faint smell of camellia. The insects were quiet, and the chattering sounds of humans ceased.
The two sat leaning against the wooden fence, opposite the full moon that had just risen. The moon was white and bright, floating on the treetops, which was surrounded by a blur of fog.
The garden was completely silent, with a red light winding along the wooden corridor. The shadow of the light illuminated the water. In the water, there was a reflection of the quiet moon, glimmering much brighter than the one in the sky.
It’s just that this moon felt too much like an illusion. Once a stone falls on it, the scenic picture instantly breaks into fragments.
Su Jiu’s eyes also seemed to be shining under the glow of the moon. Her moist pinkish lips were plump. With a smile, she said, “Ji Yuxian, do you think there truly is a woman named Chang’e who raises rabbits on the moon?”
Ji Yuxian took her in his arms, his chin resting on her head. He looked at the sky with a small smile. “Who told you that?”
Su Jiu shook her head. “I forgot. I think someone told me this a long time ago.”
“Maybe she is there then!” The man’s voice was lazy.
He continued, “Su Jiu…”
“Yeah?”
“Last year, when you were in the mountains, how did you spend the Mid-Autumn Festival?” Ji Yuxian asked.
Su Jiu remembered that she had mentioned this to the rest of the gang when she was drinking that day. She told Ji Yuxian all the embarrassing things they did during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year.
She broke into laughter, even before she had finished her story.
Ji Yuxian gently lifted her lips, his phoenix eyes sparkling. With a distressed, soft voice, he said, “Why didn’t I meet my wife earlier?”
Then she would not have suffered so much.
“So what if you had known me earlier? I am a mountain bandit, whilst you are the Eldest Young Master. Would you have recognized me?” Su Jiu asked.
“I most definitely will recognize you!” Ji Yuxian replied softly.
“Ji Yuxian, what would happen if you married the real Miss Su from the Su family?” Su Jiu asked, not knowing why she had suddenly thought of this question.
Ji Yuxian curled up slightly. What would happen if he had married the real Miss Su?
It would probably be the same as before. She would be nothing more than be part of his group of wives and concubines. He would still be alone.
“Su Jiu, I think… except for you in this world, everyone else is the same to me!” Ji Yuxian tickled Su Jiu’s chin. He turned her to face him. The pair of eyes gazing at her were as bright as the stars, accompanied by an exceptionally beautiful, handsome face.
Su Jiu’s breathing became heavier, as she could not resist the man’s charm. She raised her head and kissed the man’s red lips hard, whispering, “Ji Yuxian, you are also different to me!”
Yes, he was not the same as Chang Huan or Hu Dapao who grew up with her. He was also different from her friends like Xiao Lie or Nangong Shu. Although she can’t quite articulate the difference, she understood it.
Ji Yuxian’s eyes were dreamy, and a sense of indescribable joy spread through his lips. It lingered there. He gave her a smile that carried with it the beauty of spring, asking her in a deep and sexy tone, “What’s different?”
The two were very close, and as they talked, their lips touched. Su Jiu felt that she couldn’t think anymore, and she retreated just a little, resting her head on Ji Yuxian’s shoulder. Looking at the moonlight in the sky, she replied with a broad smile, “Anyway, it’s different!”
Ji Yuxian smiled. Rubbing her head, he whispered lovingly, “Fool!”
Su Jiu slept in the afternoon and thus was not sleepy at night. The two of them sat in the same spot till late at night.
The full moon had since risen into the sky. The city had quietened down. The lights were out and even the insects had ceased to make noise. The two snuggled with each other and sat there for a long time as if they had merged into the night and become inseparable.
There was a feast in the palace at night, and the Emperor was very drunk. He left the party early and went to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Xiao.
Empress Dowager Xiao believed in Buddha. On that night, accompanied by Imperial Concubine Rong, they stood veil through the night. She heard that the Emperor was coming, so she got up and walked to the side hall.
The Emperor drank wine, causing his head to be dizzy. As a result, he was half-asleep on a carved wooden chair. When he heard that Empress Dowager Xiao was arriving, he hastily got off the chair and paid his respects. “Greetings to my mother!”
Empress Dowager Xiao’s eyes looked at him lovingly. “Go back and rest when you’re drunk. You don’t need to come here and pay your respects!”
She then looked back at Imperial Concubine Rong. “Help bring the Emperor back to his room to rest!”
Imperial Concubine Rong lowered her gaze and stammered, “But… I agreed to accompany you and stand veil tonight!”
“It is fine for me to stand veil alone. The Emperor is drunk and could be thirsty in the middle of the night, but the palace servants are not attentive. I will be more at ease knowing that it is you taking care of the Emperor!”
Imperial Concubine Rong knew that the Empress Dowager deliberately wanted her to be favored by the Emperor. Not wanting to go against her good intentions, she nodded. “Yes, this concubine obeys the order!”
The Emperor smiled and sat on the chair. “No hurry. Servants! Pour me a cup of hangover tea!”
“Yes!” The servants hurriedly stepped back to make hangover tea.
Empress Dowager Xiao saw that the Emperor had something to say to her. She left her close aid beside her and turned back to sit on the low couch.
“Mother, Imperial Concubine Xian mentioned several times to me that the daughter of the Nangong family, Xu, was given to Jing’er as a concubine. At the palace banquet today, Jing’er also hinted that he liked the girl from the Nangong family. Does Mother think that this marriage is a go-ahead? “Although the Emperor was half drunk, he spoke clearly, soliciting Empress Dowager Xiao’s opinions.
Imperial Concubine Rong’s eyebrows moved. She turned around and went to check on the making of the hangover tea.
When discussing such matters, Imperial Concubine Rong always knew when to retreat away. This was very different from Imperial Concubine Xian, which the Emperor very much appreciated.
Empress Dowager Xiao, upon hearing this, was unmoved. She merely moved the beads in her hands and said quietly, “This mother and son are so anxious, aren’t they? Jing’er said he likes the daughter of the Nangong family. Has he seen Miss Nangong? I know that Miss Nangong rarely enters the palace! ”
The Emperor frowned, maintaining his silence.
“The daughter of the Nangong family can’t marry any prince!” Empress Dowager Xiao said as she sat on the low couch, wrapping the beads around her finger. She then continued, “After the Mid-Autumn Festival, give the daughter of the Nangong family a husband as soon as possible. Do it fast, so she doesn’t linger in Jing’er’s heart. This is so that he will pay less attention to affairs of the heart and focus on upgrading himself!”
“Yes, I understand!” The Emperor lowered his head slightly.
At this time, Imperial Concubine Rong personally brought hangover tea to the Emperor.
As the Emperor took half a sip, he saw that Imperial Concubine Rong had turned around and was preparing to go. He stretched out his hand to hold her wrist. He raised her hand and smiled softly. “I am indeed drunk today. Rong’er, you will accompany me back to my room!”
Imperial Concubine Rong’s ears were as red as stained candlelight. She nodded lightly. “Ok!”
“Okay, it’s late. You all go and rest!” Empress Dowager Xiao got up with a smile and walked to the rear hall.
Imperial Concubine Rong swiftly arranged matters with the servant nearby. “Serve the Empress Dowager well. The second half of the night will be cold. Add a carbon stove, and for refreshment, the hot soup must be available at any time. If she’s sleepy, help her go back to rest!”
“Yes, Imperial Concubine Rong. I have noted these down!”
The Emperor glanced at Imperial Concubine Rong with a chuckle, his eyes softened involuntarily. He held her wrist tightly and they went out.
When Su Jiu went out the next day, she bumped into Mrs. Fan in the courtyard.
Seeing Su Jiu, Mrs. Fan she subconsciously hid behind the osmanthus tree, pretending to be bending down and picking osmanthus.
Su Jiu turned her eyes and called softly, “Mrs. Fan?”
Mrs. Fan shivered and walked with drooping shoulders. She said, “Paying respects to the young lady! I saw that these osmanthuses had fallen to the ground. I wanted to pick them up, dry them, and use them to make osmanthus cakes for the Mistress. I lowered my head and did not see you. Please forgive me! ”
The more anxious she was explaining her actions, the more guilty she felt.
Su Jiu walked to the secluded place beside her, and whispered, “Mrs. Fan, since I came to this manor, you have served by my side. I have always trusted you!”
Mrs. Fan expressed her loyalty, “I am also loyal to the Young Mistress, and I have no further ambitions!”
Su Jiu nodded, her face heavy. “Truth be told, although Nanny was the one who brought me into this manor, you’re the one who has been more loyal to me, Mrs. Fan. In recent days, I always felt that Nanny was hiding something from me. Mrs. Fan, you need to help me lookout for things! I trust you more, and you will be my close confidant in the future!”
Mrs. Fan saw that Su Jiu wanted to treat her as a confidant and allow her to take over the Nanny’s position. Her eyes flashed a hint of excitement. She scanned her surroundings and moved closer to Su Jiu.
“I have something to tell you, young lady!”
“Say it!” Su Jiu raised her eyebrows, looking at her with a solemn look of trust.
“A few days ago, I saw the Nanny secretly following the servant who was delivering meals, and entered the Jinglan Pavilion with her!” Mrs. Fan said mysteriously.
Puzzled, Su Jiu frowned and asked, “What is she doing at Jinglan Pavilion?”
Mrs. Fan said, “It must be about the issue of Qiao An being a mountain bandit!”
Su Jiu’s eyes suddenly froze, and her exquisite face was now one of murderous intent. She narrowed her eyes. “Mrs. Fan, how do you know that the Nanny was going to expose Qiao An?”
Mrs. Fan knew that it was a slip of her tongue. She had revealed too much. All the color drained from her face as she panicked. “I saw the Nanny behaving secretively, so I secretly followed her and listened to what she and the Second Mistress said!”
Before she could finish, Su Jiu suddenly strangled her neck, her eyes bulging. Mrs. Fan stared at Su Jiu in horror. The bamboo basket in her hand fell to the ground, and the yellow osmanthus flowers were scattered all over the place.
“Previously, you provoked Nanny and me with the Stone Flower Powder. Now, you want to dump the issue onto Nanny again. Are you trying to pick on me because you think I’m easy and weak?”
When Xiao Lie and her were talking, she suspected that there was an inner spy in her yard. Sure enough, this spy overheard the words of her and Ji Yuxian and reported it to the Second Mistress. Today, Su Jiu has set her up with a trap.
Su Jiu’s voice carried an eerie tone, causing Mrs. Fan’s face to turn rose-purple. Her breathing gradually became difficult. She whimpered, her eyes glaring at Su Jiu as she struggled continuously.
Su Jiu gradually exerted her strength. Her gaze was icy as she lifted her by the neck. Mrs. Fan began choking, her eyes beginning to whiten.
She kicked around with both feet and broke Su Jiu’s grip with force. Her frightened face slowly turned into a bluish-purple color, as if she was going to suffocate.
Just as her body gradually softened, Su Jiu dropped her hand and pressed it firmly on her neck. Mrs. Fan passed out and landed on the ground without a sound.
“A person like you who loves to play tricks, don’t bother to speak anymore for the rest of your life!”
Su Jiu glanced coldly at the woman, before striding out.
Once she left Cloud Pavilion, she bumped into Old Housekeeper Yu and said, “I don’t like Mrs. Fan. Beat her and then throw her out of the house.”
“Yes!” Although Old Housekeeper Yu was astonished, he didn’t ask much and respectfully did as told.
“Also…” Su Jiu said in a serious tone, hesitating for a moment. “This matter does not need to be mentioned with Ji Yuxian. if Old Housekeeper Yu must report to him, follow my words. Tell him that I don’t like this servant, so I kicked her out!”
Old Housekeeper Yu hurriedly lowered his head. “I dare not do that. If the Young Mistress said she is not to stay, she would not stay. As long as the Eldest Young Master does not ask, I will obey your words and not say anything about it!”
Su Jiu knew Old Housekeeper Yu was loyal to the Ji Manor and also to Ji Yuxian. For him to do this for her was already good enough.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather was getting colder every day. The Second Mistress had been waiting for the news that Qiao An was found by the Emperor to be a mountain bandit. However, as the days passed, there did not seem to be any such news.
Yuan’er tried to meet Ji Ze and asked about it. Ji Ze didn’t dare to say that he didn’t do it. He only told her quickly that the Emperor had been told about it, but perhaps the Emperor did not manage to find out anything. Afterward, the issue was cast aside.
Yuan’er told this to the Second Mistress, who sulked and smashed through several tea sets.
In addition to the Second Mistress, Ji Yuxian was also waiting for news from the palace. He was ready to deal with it, but the palace was getting quieter every day.
It seemed that Ji Ze did not follow the instructions of the Second Mistress. He was secretly disappointed in his heart.
…
The Zhao family under Yuhu Mountain was very busy as a new baby was added to the family. With this bustling and joyful occasion, Zhao Sheng was ever more motivated to cut wood up in the mountain.
The woman gave birth to a boy, named Zhao Shi, which meant ‘strong and safe’.
Now that the full moon period has passed, and both mother and child were healthy, Zhao Sheng had more burdens to shoulder on. He went to Official Liu’s house to work every day before dawn, to take advantage of the autumn harvest to earn more money and work. This was so that there was enough for the family to eat and drink in the winter.
It was frigid in the mountains, and it was already cold before September.
This morning, just after dawn when it was still dark, Zhao Sheng got out of bed, and gently put on his clothes to go out to work.
“Wait a minute!” The woman in the bed woke up, pushed aside the sleeping child in her arms, and sat up.
Zhao Sheng turned back and smiled. “What’s the matter?”
In the dark, the woman’s face was bitter as she asked, “Have you sent a letter to my house?”
Zhao Sheng smiled stiffly, but said, “I’ve been rather busy recently, so I can’t get away from my work. I wanted to ask someone to deliver it, but I am worried something will go wrong. When I am less busy, I will personally go to Fuyang City!”
The woman looked at him coldly.
Zhao Sheng was guilty, afraid that the woman would ask anything else. He quickly drew the curtain and bolted out.
The woman sat in the dark and heard the sound of the door closing. The man’s footsteps were slowly pulling away. A wave of despair surged in her heart. She seemed to finally understand that Zhao Sheng would not help her.
Did she want to stay here all her life and suffer from poverty?
She did not!
Never!
She used to be a coward, but now, after so long, she finally understood that for everything, she still had to rely on herself to get out of this tiger’s den.
The woman plastered a determined look on her face, and her hands were tightly clutching the quilt under her.
Two days later, with things completed in Official Liu’s house and them having to wait for another crop to ripen before harvesting, Zhao Sheng and the other helpers were allowed to take a day off.
At night, Zhao Sheng remarked that he did not want to be idle, and he planned to go up into the mountain to cut some firewood to sell in the city tomorrow.
It’s getting cold, and the big households in the city have already started burning charcoal.
The woman was doing needlework under candlelight that was as small as a bean and said, “I think you should rest for a day. The wood should not be cut in a hurry. The rice at home is gone. I think your wife has been having a terrible complexion these days, and the milk she made is not as good as before. You should go to the city tomorrow to buy some meat and allow her to get stronger!”
Upon mentioning this, Zhao Sheng immediately responded, “Yes, ok! Then I will enter the city tomorrow!”
Separated by a curtain, the woman listened in the Western House, her eyes flashing in the dark.
At night, Zhao Sheng rushed to the yard and sat for a while. After the woman in the house was almost asleep, he got up and went back to the house.
Since she became pregnant, she won’t let him touch again. He suffered every day because he was afraid that he would lose control and touch the woman at night. That would make her scream and wake the kid up. Additionally, that would also make his mum worried.
He was afraid that the woman would ask about going to Fuyang City again, so he simply avoided her, and waited for the woman to fall asleep before entering the house.
The night was dark, and the mountains were pitch-black. The rolling mountains straddled the area like wild animals.
The lights in the room had already been turned off. Zhao Sheng guessed that she was already asleep, so he got up and walked into the room.
Upon entering the house, he carefully took off his clothes and laid down on the bedside. By the moonlight, he gazed at the woman’s beautiful sleeping face. His sullen and dark face could not help but slowly soften up, draining him of all of his resentment. Satisfied, he unfolded the quilt, covered himself with it, and prepared to fall asleep.
Just as his eyes were about to close, the quilt was abruptly lifted, and the woman entered. Leaning against him with her soft body, her hands went under his thin undershirt.
Zhao Sheng froze suddenly, his chest rapidly moving up and down in alarm. He looked at the top of the bed with his eyes open. His stiff body dared not move, only hearing the sound of someone clearing her throat in the dark.
(1) Qing yunsha: depicts a pattern of white clouds and yellow sand
(2) Edamame: Edamame beans are whole, immature soybeans, sometimes referred to as vegetable-type soybeans. The pods are boiled or steamed and may be served with salt or other condiments as appetizers.