An Jiu paid no attention to Mo Sigui’s harmless insult. Throughout the journey, she would open the window to view the scenery when awake and continue sleeping when she had seen enough.
Mo Sigui wanted to chat with An Jiu, but despite talking himself hoarse, she remained indifferent.
Setting out early in the morning and hurrying along, they finally entered the city just before the gates closed.
The Mei family owned several residences in Bianjing. Though none were as vast and luxurious as Meihua Li, they all had complete pavilions and scenic views.
The one they were assigned to was small but exquisite. The main courtyard had one hall and one garden. Though the front yard was not large, it featured pine trees, bamboo, strange rocks, fragrant grass, and a small pond, creating an elegant environment.
Unlike the typical northern style with clear divisions, the rear living quarters were separated into four buildings, hidden among rockeries and trees. Three were living areas, while one secluded courtyard served as a study.
The snow-covered landscape lacked summer’s lushness, but compared to more open structures, this compact arrangement made winter feel much warmer.
After settling in, Mo Sigui came to find An Jiu.
With the New Year approaching, shops stayed open later, and the curfew was delayed.
“We came out with the steward. The household only has three days for New Year shopping, so we can’t waste time,” Mo Sigui said, forcibly dragging An Jiu into the carriage.
The small courtyard was located in a bustling area. As soon as they boarded, before even settling in, An Jiu heard the clamor outside.
Yaoyao brought out a veil, but An Jiu refused to wear it. She thought, “It’s one thing to cover my face when killing, but why should I have to cover up just to go shopping?”
Yaoyao pleaded, “On the streets, only poor women and servants don’t cover their faces. You must wear it in public.”
Even courtesans of moderate beauty had to wear veils and cloaks when going out.
“Then I’ll go back and change into servant’s clothes,” An Jiu frowned.
Yaoyao thought to herself that she hadn’t realized her mistress was so stubborn before. It was as if she had become a different person since returning. Killing people could make one increasingly fierce, but the changes in her mistress went far beyond that.
“Your bearing… even in hemp clothing, you wouldn’t look like a servant. Please, I beg you, put it on,” Yaoyao pleaded, her face pained as she looked to Mo Sigui for help.
Mo Sigui wore an amused expression as if enjoying the drama. “If she doesn’t want to wear it, then don’t. It’s not a big deal!”
Yaoyao’s face darkened. “Watch your words! Don’t teach my mistress bad habits!”
Mo Sigui closed his fan. “We’ll go to a clothier later and buy you a set of men’s clothes that fit. Then you won’t need to wear a veil when we go out tomorrow. Just bear with it for now.”
“Mm,” An Jiu nodded.
Yaoyao was overjoyed, her resentment towards Mo Sigui instantly vanishing.
The group finally managed to disembark.
Shops lined both sides of the street, lanterns lit in front of each. Street vendors packed the road, steam rising from their pots.
An Jiu stood dazed for a moment before moving to a nearby stall.
Mo Sigui followed and saw the vendor making candy. “Boss, two portions please,” he said.
Seeing the group’s lavish attire, the vendor’s face lit up. He enthusiastically responded, “Yes, sir! What filling would you like? We have peanut, sesame, walnut…”
“One of each,” Mo Sigui said.
“Please wait a moment.” The vendor took out several clean-oiled papers, nimbly tying five fist-sized packages and handing them to Yaoyao. “That’ll be fifty wen.”
Each small package cost ten wens and contained only four or five pieces.
Mo Sigui tossed a small piece of silver. “Keep the change.”
“Thank you, kind sir!” The vendor happily pocketed the silver.
An Jiu took a package from Yaoyao, opened it, and popped a piece into her mouth.
“My lady, you shouldn’t—” Yaoyao tried to stop her quietly. “Let’s find a private room to eat at our leisure.”
An Jiu ignored her, continuing to eat candy while moving to the next stall.
The pastry vendor, seeing Mo Sigui’s generosity, grinned as An Jiu approached. “Would the young lady like to try some mung bean pastries? They may be common, but they’re a novel treat.”
“Two portions,” Mo Sigui chimed in.
“Coming right up!”
In an instant, Yaoyao was holding two more small packages.
Since she needed to attend to An Jiu at all times, she handed the items to a nearby servant.
An Jiu kept popping candies into her mouth, stopping at every stall.
After walking about eighty feet, the servant’s arms were full. Yaoyao had thought An Jiu was just unfamiliar with these things but soon realized her mistress was drawn to any stall where the vendor greeted her with a smile. She’d buy items, giving those she didn’t like to the servant and keeping her favorites with Yaoyao.
Mo Sigui felt that An Jiu was behaving like a five or six-year-old girl.
“My lady, we still have tomorrow,” Yaoyao gently advised.
As they reached a restaurant, Mo Sigui checked the time. “I have some business to attend to. Rest at this restaurant for a while. I’ll be back in about half an hour.”
An Jiu asked Yaoyao, “Do we have money?”
“Yes, plenty,” Yaoyao replied.
Hearing they had money, An Jiu led Yaoyao into the restaurant. A group of guards followed them in, leaving only two men assigned by Elder Qi with Mo Sigui.
“Ungrateful wretch!” Mo Sigui felt his flat purse, heartbroken. He regretted thinking she was like a little girl earlier. He had been blind.
On the second floor, in a private room by the window, several lavishly dressed young men had witnessed An Jiu’s shopping spree.
A young man in a long robe clicked his tongue. “Whose wife is that? She’s like a female bandit!”
“What nonsense! She paid for everything,” an older man chided with a smile.
“Can’t you see?” Another handsome youth in blue brocade robes leaned against the window frame, his slender fingers holding a celadon wine cup as he looked down.
Following his gaze, the others saw the emblem on the carriage—a slender plum blossom.
“So it’s the Mei family. No wonder,” one man suddenly became interested and suggested, “I’ve heard their daughters are all great beauties. Shall we go take a look?”
He turned to the young man in blue, grinning, “Brother Rong Jian, do you dare?”
The room erupted in laughter.
The last time they went on an outing, they had made a bet that the loser would walk through a graveyard. Hua Rong Jian had honored the bet and entered the cemetery, but the group waited outside and he didn’t come out.
Hua Rong Jian was from the Hua family’s main branch. If anything happened to him, they couldn’t bear the responsibility! As midnight approached, when yin energy was said to be strongest, they hurriedly went in to search. When they found Hua Rong Jian, his clothes were disheveled, and they joked that he must have had a tryst with a female ghost in the graveyard.
“This time it’s a real young lady! If Brother Rong Jian can do it again, we’ll truly be impressed,” someone teased.
Hua Rong Jian set down his cup and stood up with a radiant smile. “Just watch me.”
“You’re going?” The older man held him back. “They’re just joking. Don’t be so reckless.”
“You don’t know me very well, do you?” Hua Rong Jian straightened his collar and walked out.
The man followed him out and advised in a low voice, “Rong Jian, isn’t your family currently discussing a marriage alliance with the Mei family? If this causes any unpleasantness, the Grand Councilor Hua might not forgive you!”
Hua Rong Jian dismissed his concerns. He asked a waiter about the Mei family women’s location and strode over.
An Jiu had just entered a private room, and Yaoyao was about to close the door when a hand stopped it.
The two guards at the door hadn’t managed to block him!
“I am Hua Rong Jian. I request an audience with the Mei lady,” he said.
Hua Rong Jian was more than a head taller than Yaoyao. She looked up to see a handsome face with a roguish smile just inches away. His teeth were white and even, his lips clean, his complexion fair yet masculine. Though his gaze was somewhat frivolous, it wasn’t malicious, making it hard to dislike him.
“Sir, please mind your manners,” Yaoyao said, not needing to consult An Jiu. How could a young man come to visit an unmarried lady alone?
“I have something to discuss with Miss Mei. If it’s inconvenient to enter, we can talk outside, but…” Hua Rong Jian smiled, “The content might be detrimental to your mistress’s reputation.”
Yaoyao’s mind raced. “I can relay any message, sir. Please consider both families’ reputations.”
“I’ll go back and write a letter, then have my servant deliver it,” Hua Rong Jian said.
The room wasn’t large, and An Jiu heard their conversation. “Let him in!” she said.
“My lady!” Yaoyao stood firmly at the door, guarding it.
“That’s an order,” An Jiu said coolly.
Yaoyao bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before stepping aside. The Mei family’s children often died young, so they didn’t value chastity and reputation as much as ordinary families. Even if some unsavory rumors spread, it wouldn’t matter much.
Hua Rong Jian entered the room. Through the crystal curtain, he saw a slender figure drinking tea by the lamplight, with a screen behind her embroidered with a rustling bamboo forest.
As Hua Rong Jian raised his hand to lift the curtain, Yaoyao quickly stepped in front, gesturing to the chairs in the outer room. “Please sit, Young Master Hua.”
Hua Rong Jian lowered his hand and turned to sit down. “Did the young lady keep my jade pendant and handkerchief because she has feelings for me?”
Yaoyao, who was pouring tea, was startled at his words and spilled hot tea on the table. “Sir, you mustn’t say such things!”
Jade pendants, handkerchiefs, and hairpins could all be considered tokens of love. If a man and woman exchanged such items without a matchmaker or betrothal, it could be seen as improper intimacy.
An Jiu recalled that she had indeed robbed Hua Rong Jian in the graveyard, taking his jade pendant, handkerchief, dagger…
However, Hua Rong Jian’s purpose for being in the graveyard was suspicious, so she decided not to admit it. “Do you know who I am?” she asked.
“Yes, don’t get it wrong,” Yaoyao said anxiously.
“Mei Fourteen,” Hua Rong Jian stated her identity without hesitation.
An Jiu was somewhat surprised. She had never revealed her rank in the Mei family, yet he knew it immediately. This showed he had deep knowledge of the Mei family and likely knew about their secret business as well.
She wondered how to respond interestingly.