“You’re a maid serving by a master’s side, aren’t you?” This steward had probably just entered the mansion recently and couldn’t distinguish who was who yet, but he had memorized the unified skirt colors of the maids. Subconsciously, he took the second-rank maid appearing in the outer garden to be one brought out from their rooms by Qiu Si or Qiu Wu.
“No…” She had only said half a word when a tray appeared before her eyes with two elegant high-necked teapots on it.
“Hurry and take it into Yan Tower, Fourth Master is waiting.” Really, he had clearly called for a maid to wait outside Yan Tower, but just now when he looked, there was no one. Fourth Master was elegant and romantic, preferring beautiful wine and food to be handled by women. If he delivered it himself, he’d be asking for a scolding. Moreover, he wasn’t someone who served tea and water. Fortunately, one left and another came.
What? A phrase popped into Mo Zi’s head: walk the night road often enough and you’ll eventually meet a ghost. For her, it was walk the outer garden often enough and you’ll eventually meet misfortune. Furthermore, she had nearly encountered this family’s younger brother earlier, thought she’d luckily avoided it, only to be sent to encounter this family’s older brother?
Mo Zi had entered the Qiu mansion half a year ago. In this half year, Third Miss Qiu had stayed secluded at home. For ordinary occasions she brought Bai He, Xiao Yi, or Lu Ju, rarely bringing her. Out of consideration for external assignments, Third Miss Qiu didn’t want people to memorize her face, and she herself didn’t like joining in the excitement.
Female relatives were one thing—Mo Zi had only seen Qiu Si and Qiu Wu a few times, and each time she was drab and gray, firmly acting as Third Miss Qiu’s shadow.
“What are you standing there for? Why don’t you take it? If Fourth Master loses his temper, can you bear the responsibility?” How stupid and slow. The steward was very impatient, “I also have urgent matters to handle.”
“I’m not Fourth Master’s maid.” Mo Zi should have just taken it.
The steward’s status was higher than hers. The outer garden was where the stewards ruled. Without a master present, even idle first-rank maids had to follow their orders. But in her bones, she had no servile nature. As for the maid’s title dangling over her head, she only gave it half-hearted superficial compliance.
“You’re not a master, are you?” The steward was somewhat angry, “When I tell you to go, you go.” Which household’s maid doesn’t understand any rules!
Seeing the steward had spoken to this extent, Mo Zi couldn’t refuse to go. She could only reluctantly take it.
The steward walked away huffily.
Mo Zi had an impulse to put the tray on the ground and leave. But this was a society with strict hierarchy. Third Miss Qiu was different from others, but Zhang Shi, Qiu Si, Qiu Wu and the like put on the faces of high and mighty masters. When under someone’s roof, one must bow one’s head. Moreover, she was currently a maidservant.
With a sharp blade hanging in her heart, she swallowed her anger and walked into Yan Tower.
Yan Tower was the Qiu mansion’s showpiece, recently redecorated in magnificent splendor. With her limited remembered experience, she found it vulgar and unbearable. Famous calligraphy and paintings (authenticity unknown) were each framed in glittering gold, as if afraid people wouldn’t know they were valuable items.
A large round table was set up in the main hall with six or seven people seated around it. Apart from Qiu Si, Mo Zi hadn’t seen any of them before.
Qiu Si’s appearance was much more upright than Qiu Wu’s. Two thick eyebrows, a pair of sword-like eyes, high forehead and square face—imposing bearing. Wearing a white cloud and green pine brocade robe that made his chest broad and shoulders wide, arms thick and waist round—precisely the Great Zhou’s standard handsome man. Like Qiu Wu, he possessed the perfect conditions for romantic pursuits. This era, similar to the transition from Great Tang to Great Song in human culture, being romantically involved outside was considered elegant.
Looking again, the others were all middle-aged men of advanced years, which made Qiu Si in the guest seat appear even more extraordinary in bearing, drawing several amorous glances stealing looks continuously.
It turned out that nearby were three or four singing girls. Wearing plain-colored silk and powder-blue gauze, their rouge and powder also light, and indeed there was no musical instrument beside them. Among them, the one with the most outstanding appearance had longing dimples and passionate eyes. She was using a clear and crisp golden voice to sing a little southern tune, truly creating an atmosphere of longing for an old friend.
Mo Zi thought this was perfect—she wouldn’t need to wait for this little tune to finish before she could accomplish her task and retreat. Without further delay, she stepped forward to pour tea for people.
Qiu Si glanced at Mo Zi, found her face unfamiliar, looked again, then paid no further attention.
“This nephew has been managing the family shops for less than half a year. I trouble my elders to guide me more. Here, this nephew toasts the uncles.” Building connections at the dining table, Qiu Si handled it with ease.
Everyone at the table raised their cups.
“The silk shop has thin profits and high capital, but one looks at year’s end from year’s beginning. This nephew has intentions to open a money house and wants to find partners. I wonder if the uncles would be interested?” However, when it came to discussing business, he still lacked experience.
At the head seat, a middle-aged man over fifty wearing a dark blue sharp-patterned robe finished drinking his tea and said, “Dear nephew need not be so formal. Our two families have always had connections, and we should maintain them more in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Mo Zi thought: Qiu Si, oh Qiu Si, your uncles just deflected with courtesy. How could the Qiu family’s meager foundation open a money house? Use your brain. She thought this in her heart while her hands didn’t idle. Since Qiu Si had made such a round of toasts, she had to continue pouring tea.
“Elder nephew is too modest. Who doesn’t know that the Qiu family shops prospered magnificently under your elder sister’s management? The profits weren’t just one or two percent. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen her at the shops since the new year. Could it be she’s gone traveling on business again?” The middle-aged man below the head seat had a hearty voice, his large square face laughing heartily.
Mo Zi guessed that the one at the head seat was Elder Wei, next was Second Wei, and that man around thirty who was concentrating on listening to the music with a scholarly air—that should be Third Wei.
Because someone mentioned Third Miss Qiu, a trace of disapproval flashed across Qiu Si’s face, “Third Miss has been home since the new year. Since Father entrusted the shops to us brothers, naturally there’s no need for her to show her face in public anymore.”
“What a pity.” Second Wei sighed in regret.
“What’s there to pity?” Elder Wei was more conservative than Second Wei, “No matter how capable, she’s still a daughter. Specializing in needlework, serving her parents at home, and after marriage being considerate to her husband and filial to her in-laws—that’s the proper duty of a good woman. If she had a man’s body, then it would be different.”
“Uncles speak truly. It was my father who doted on my elder sister and let her run wild. Now that my brothers and I have matured, Mother keeps her at home to learn household management and needlework. She’s already past the proper age for marriage. We’re anxious now, only fearing we won’t find a good family.” Qiu Si was indeed skilled at social conversation.
Those who didn’t know the details would think the siblings had deep affection.
“That’s not quite right. Third Miss Qiu is famous throughout the city. If news spread that she was selecting a husband, wouldn’t matchmakers break down the threshold?” Second Wei had quite a high opinion of Third Miss Qiu. “As far as I know, the young master of the Wang family medicine shop in the east of the city greatly admires her. How about it? Shall I act as matchmaker?”
Mo Zi’s ears pricked up. Heaven knows, she and Third Miss Qiu alike were unwilling to be trapped in this mansion, engaging in household scheming campaigns from morning to night with a group of idle women.
“Mother wishes to find a good marriage for Third Miss, preferably a scholarly family from an official background.” Qiu Si refused without even thinking.
“Second brother, stop causing trouble. The Qiu mansion’s ancestors produced court officials. How could their proper legitimate eldest daughter be matched to an ordinary merchant’s son?” Elder Wei’s sharp eyes saw the deeper meaning in Qiu Si’s words.
“This matter isn’t for me to decide. Mother worries about it all. If there’s good news, we’ll definitely invite the uncles for drinks.” Qiu Si didn’t offend anyone.
Mo Zi was so angry her hands shook, and she carelessly spilled a few drops of tea outside.
Third Wei, who originally hadn’t said a word and was probably the only one at the table genuinely listening to the music, stared at Mo Zi’s hand and suddenly said something that drew everyone’s gaze to Mo Zi.