After leaving the street, Ji Yaoting sighed deeply. “Sister, how did we end up running into Fifth Madam Niu again?”
Ji Yingying thought to herself, how would I know? Fortunately, I was quick-witted enough to feign illness, otherwise, Seventh Miss Niu would have surely dragged me into the woodware shop.
Though both were sisters, Seventh Miss Niu was like chilled fish sashimi on a summer day—refreshing and delightful. Fifth Madam Niu was like a pot of chicken soup: the floating oil concealed its true temperature until it scalded one’s tongue. Fifth Madam Niu’s gaze gave Ji Yingying the feeling that she could crush her to dust with a mere flip of her hand.
Today, Fifth Madam Niu had taken the initiative to greet them… Ji Yingying’s heart stirred. Compared to Seventh Miss Niu, perhaps it was Fifth Madam Niu who wanted to invite her to browse the woodware shop.
But why? Hadn’t she indicated that she didn’t care at all about Zhao Xiuyuan and her past relationship? Ji Yingying could read the contempt in Fifth Madam Niu’s eyes. To Fifth Madam Niu, she was merely a roadside weed not worth a glance. So why suddenly greet her and want her to make an appearance?
Ji Yingying gave up trying to understand when she couldn’t figure it out. In any case, she would keep her distance from the Niu sisters. She lifted the curtain and said to Ji Yaoting, “Brother, let’s not dine in the city. We can buy some kukui buns along the way home to tide us over.”
Ji Yaoting also didn’t want to linger in Yizhou City. Coincidentally seeing a bun vendor by the roadside, he instructed Ji Fu to stop the cart, planning to buy a few buns for the journey.
The mule cart moved slowly, and before Ji Yaoting could finish buying the buns, Yang Jingyuan had already caught up on horseback. Seeing Ji Yaoting standing before the steamer, he hurriedly intervened, “How can you eat these? There’s a porridge shop not far ahead that serves fragrant and rich carp porridge. One bowl will cure half of Yingying’s illness. Elder Brother, just bring the cart over—I’ll go ahead and tell the owner to prepare fresh fish for the porridge.”
He didn’t even give Ji Yaoting a chance to respond before riding away.
Ji Yaoting’s mouth formed an “O.”
“Cure half of Yingying’s illness.”
“I’ll go tell the owner to prepare fresh fish for the porridge.”
What did he just call his sister? Since when did Third Young Master Yang start using his sister’s given name? Wasn’t he being overly enthusiastic?
Ji Yaoting finally managed to close his mouth.
From their first meeting at the Qingyang Temple to the day of the brocade competition when Yang Jingyuan rushed on horseback to receive Ji Yingying—all of Yang Jingyuan’s unusual behavior toward his sister suddenly flooded Ji Yaoting’s mind.
It took him a while to recover before he abruptly lifted the cart’s curtain and stared at Ji Yingying, firing questions like a repeating crossbow: “Did you hear that? What did Third Young Master Yang call you? How does he know your given name? What business is your illness to him? Running off like a windmill. You haven’t… developed feelings for each other, have you?”
Ji Yingying felt both embarrassed and angry. Last night, Yang Jingyuan had pried open the window to deliver a message, and this morning the blanket had mysteriously fallen to the ground. If she still couldn’t detect Yang Jingyuan’s unusual behavior toward her, she would truly be naive. In an instant, Zhao Xiuyuan’s eyes, full of misunderstanding and resentment, appeared before her. He had questioned whether she had given that brocade handkerchief to Third Young Master Yang out of spite for his broken promise. If she grew close to Yang Jingyuan now, wouldn’t that confirm Zhao Xiuyuan’s suspicions? Thinking of their lifelong friendship, Ji Yingying didn’t want to see Zhao Xiuyuan come to her door in grief and anger again: “Nothing of the sort! Brother, let’s hurry home.”
Go home? But Yang Jingyuan had eagerly ridden ahead to prepare fresh fish porridge. How could they leave without a word to him, dismissing his kind intentions? Ji Yaoting was torn.
After the morning’s disturbance with Zhao Xiuyuan, Ji Yingying’s heart had turned to ash. She had planned to take a look at Elder Young Master Sheng, thinking she might as well marry him. Who knew that just that brief encounter would leave her weary of him? She wanted to marry and get far away from Three Canals Village, the Zhao family, and Zhao Xiuyuan. But now there were no suitable matches. Her heart grew more troubled.
Ji Yingying smiled bitterly: “Brother if the Ji family couldn’t match the Zhao family’s status, how could we possibly match the Yang family’s? We can’t fathom the thoughts of young masters from wealthy families. If we don’t accept his porridge, he’ll understand. He won’t associate with our family in the future, saving us from trouble.”
Ji Yaoting knew his sister’s words made sense, but it still felt too discourteous.
Seeing his troubled expression, Ji Yingying steeled herself and revealed the truth: “That brocade handkerchief I embroidered for the Zhao family’s competition—Third Young Master Yang found it. Second Young Master Zhao came to our house this morning in a fury, suspecting I gave up on marrying him and deliberately leaked the secret to the Yang family.”
Ji Yaoting was shocked and stamped his foot: “You should have burned it! The Zhao family has only produced one Brocade King in twenty-some years—they won’t tolerate any questioning of that. Especially since it fell into the hands of the Yang family! How could you be so foolish!”
Seeing that handkerchief only reminded her of the changes before and after the competition; she had been too consumed by grief to think about the consequences of keeping it. Tears gradually filled Ji Yingying’s eyes: “Brother, I was wrong. But I’ve sworn in my heart that I would never admit to it. I won’t… let him lose face.”
Seeing his sister still thinking of Zhao Xiuyuan’s welfare, Ji Yaoting’s heart softened again: “Never mind. You go home first with Uncle Ji Fu. I’ll go find Third Young Master Yang and hopefully retrieve that handkerchief.”
Ji Fu drove the cart carrying Ji Yingying out of the city. Ji Yaoting walked along the street for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea before he saw a blue cloth shop sign embroidered with the character “porridge.” Yang Jingyuan’s striking white horse was tethered to a locust tree outside. Its silver-worked saddle and bridle gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
Yang Jingyuan stood with his back to the door, his hair bound with a date-red ribbon embroidered with gold thread, wearing a matching brocade robe. The gold threads woven into the brocade shimmered with his movements, his air of wealth rippling out like sunlight on water.
“Owner, how much longer?”
He called loudly to the owner. His profile revealed a full forehead, straight nose, and upturned corners of his mouth bearing a smile. He was as handsome as the autumn sky washed clean.
Ji Yaoting sighed again. He couldn’t deny Yang Jingyuan’s excellence. But… his surname was Yang—he was a son of the Brocade King’s Yang family.
“Elder Brother, the porridge will be ready soon, perfect to eat while hot.” Yang Jingyuan turned around and saw Ji Yaoting. He instinctively looked behind him, surprised to find the mule cart hadn’t followed. He grew anxious again, “Was the cart ride too uncomfortable?”
Just for that show of concern, Ji Yaoting clasped his hands and made a deep bow.
Yang Jingyuan was startled and stepped aside to avoid the courtesy: “Why does Elder Brother do this?”
Ji Yaoting straightened up and took a deep breath: “My sister has already headed home.”
“Oh.” Yang Jingyuan looked disappointed but smiled brightly, “If she’s unwell, it’s right that she goes home early. You can take the porridge back to her.”
Ji Yaoting sighed: “Third Young Master Yang, tell me truthfully, do you act this way because you’ve developed feelings for my sister?”
Yang Jingyuan’s face grew hot. Yes, he had fallen for Ji Yingying—what was wrong with saying so? He straightened his back and said sincerely: “Yes. I admire your sister. I’ve already informed my parents…”
Ji Yaoting interrupted him: “Third Young Master Yang, thank you for your care of my sister. But the Ji family’s status is too humble—we dare not aspire so high.”