For many years, An Jiu’s concept of the world didn’t include distinctions between men and women, let alone an understanding of romantic feelings. “No,” she replied.
Mei Jiu pondered, “Why does it make people lose their composure?”
In Mei Jiu’s mind, Mei Ruyan had always been a strong-willed and decisive woman, capable of handling various situations flawlessly. Even she could now see that someone like Mr. Mo wouldn’t make a good partner for any woman. Why was Mei Ruyan so deeply entangled?
Both girls thought seriously for a while before gradually drifting off to sleep.
Early the next morning, An Jiu was awakened by the sound of footsteps outside.
It was still early, and Mei Jiu hadn’t woken up yet. An Jiu sat solemnly at the dressing table, allowing Yaoyue to fuss over her.
Noticing her apparent unhappiness, Yaoyue gently reassured her, “Tonight is New Year’s Eve. As per tradition, the entire household will gather for the reunion dinner. Young Miss should dress more festively.”
An Jiu, having grown up in the West, was unfamiliar with these holidays and showed little interest. Sensing that Mei Jiu was awake, she relinquished control of the body.
Mei Jiu, not yet fully alert, lost her balance and began to fall backward.
Yaoyue quickly steadied her. “Young Miss, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Mei Jiu mumbled groggily, “I… I’m still a bit sleepy.”
Relieved, Yaoyue continued to dress her hair.
The current dynasty favored subdued colors, and well-bred young ladies rarely wore red or green except during festivals, weddings, or other joyous occasions. Today, Mei Jiu wore white fox fur over an embroidered dress adorned with pearl-like ornaments. Her face was lightly touched with rouge, adding more color than usual.
Yaoyue admired her for a long while before sincerely praising them, “Young Miss has such stunning beauty.”
This comment rekindled Mei Jiu’s melancholy. A woman’s beauty was worth less than a good family background. In the future, she would marry a man of equal social standing. He needn’t be particularly handsome or talented, just gentle-tempered and without vices.
At this thought, Mei Jiu’s face reddened, wondering why she was thinking about such things.
After breakfast, Mei Jiu went to find Mei Ruyan, but she wasn’t there. When she asked the maids sweeping the courtyard, they didn’t know her whereabouts either.
Yaoyue whispered, “The clan school is closed today. Could Miss Fifteen have gone to see Mr. Mo privately?”
“Who exactly is Mr. Mo?” Mei Jiu asked, confused. “I remember the bookboy from Headmaster Zhao’s side saying he was once a romantic scholar in his youth. He was even the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations.”
Yaoyue explained, “That identity is just a cover. He did indeed participate in the imperial exams and ranked third, causing many young ladies to fall for him secretly and attracting numerous noble families seeking to arrange marriages.”
In current times, marriage wasn’t strictly confined to matches of equal social status, unlike during the Tang Dynasty when there was a clear divide between aristocratic families and commoners. Now, talent and wealth had become important criteria for nobles in choosing sons-in-law. However, some scholarly families looked down on merchants and preferred talented young men with promising futures.
They would inquire about suitable young men before the examinations and station people at the announcement board. Once a high-ranking candidate was identified, they would immediately discuss marriage arrangements, a practice known as “catching sons-in-law at the announcement board.”
“As for his reason for taking the exams,” Yaoyue added, “I heard it was for a certain business.”
The business of the Misty Mountain Villa was none other than assassination.
With this explanation, Mei Jiu understood that Mr. Mo’s nonchalant departure after ranking third wasn’t due to dissatisfaction with his rank, but because such a prominent position was unsuitable for an assassin trying to conceal his identity.
Mei Jiu lamented, “Why would such a talented young man choose to be an assassin?”
“I’ve heard Mr. Mo grew up in Misty Mountain Villa. Perhaps he had no choice,” Yaoyue said, glancing towards the clan school. Realizing Mei Ruyan wouldn’t return soon, she suggested, “Young Miss, shall we go back?”
“Mm,” Mei Jiu agreed.
They returned to Jade Subtle Residence. To pass the time, Yaoyue found some red paper for window decoration cutting. They had just sat down when Mei Ruyan arrived.
“Sister,” Mei Ruyan greeted, wearing a new rouge-colored dress that accentuated her pretty face, though her mood seemed low.
“Come, sit,” Mei Jiu said, not prying into her private matters.
Mei Ruyan aimlessly cut paper for a while before feeling the need to confide, “Aren’t you going to ask where I went?”
“I wanted to, but I was afraid you wouldn’t want to tell me,” Mei Jiu replied honestly.
“I went to see Mr. Mo and cooked a meal for him, but he didn’t appreciate it,” Mei Ruyan said with a self-deprecating smile. “Am I being too forward, chasing after him like this?”
Mei Jiu remained silent, tacitly agreeing. Having read many books on propriety, Mei Jiu naturally constrained herself, while Mei Ruyan, having grown up in a brothel, had a completely different perspective on relationships.
“I know, but I can’t let go,” Mei Ruyan said, lowering her gaze to the red paper in her hands, her usually smiling face tinged with worry.
“This servant has something to say, if I may,” Yaoyue said, placing a cup of tea before Mei Ruyan.
“Go ahead,” Mei Ruyan looked up at her.
Yaoyue said, “Since coming to Mei Manor, you’ve only known Young Miss besides Mr. Mo. Spending time with him daily, it’s natural to develop feelings, but it might not necessarily be romantic love.”
Such words might comfort Mei Jiu, but Mei Ruyan had understood matters between men and women since she was seven or eight. How could she not distinguish between affection for a teacher and romantic feelings?
She smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Yaoyue quietly changed the subject, “We’ll have the New Year’s Eve dinner tonight, and possibly stay up to welcome the new year. Tomorrow morning, we need to pay respects to the elders. Young Misses, please rest after lunch, or you won’t have the energy.”
Mei Manor had few rules, but human relations couldn’t be ignored. While it might be overlooked on ordinary days, proper etiquette was necessary during festivals.
After having lunch at Jade Subtle Residence, Mei Ruyan returned to her quarters with Danyu for a short rest, waiting for the evening’s New Year’s Eve dinner.
Mei Manor had a banquet hall where the entire Mei clan gathered for feasts during major festivals.
Mei Hua Lane not only included Mei Manor but also villages formed by the Mei clan’s collateral branches. Today’s night banquet included them as well.
A feast for over 900 people was truly a grand occasion.
Preparations for the banquet had begun gradually since the start of winter. By tonight, the front courtyard’s banquet hall was bustling. Children played in groups, while two rows of massive screens divided the hall into two sections, leaving a path in the middle. The elderly sat at the head, with young and middle-aged adults in new clothes gathered at the lower end, engaged in lively discussions. The other side was reserved for the women.
Throughout the year, only at moments like these did Mei Manor become so full of life, with everyone wearing bright smiles.
Meanwhile, in the ancestral hall, incense smoke curled upwards in a solemn atmosphere.
As per annual custom, Mei Zhengyan led the Mei clan descendants in paying respects to their ancestors before the banquet.
After the ceremony, everyone moved to the side hall to be seated.
“Has the news been spread?” Mei Zhengyan inquired.
Mei Zhengying replied, “It has been circulated. Now we wait to see if she takes the bait.”
To uncover the identity of the First Branch Old Madam’s master, they spread rumors about the Mei clan’s intention to leave the Crane-Controlling Army and go into seclusion.
Elder Qi tapped his white bone staff on the ground, creating an unsettling thump. “Even now, I still think this is too risky.”
After a moment of silence, Mei Zhengyan said, “We’re at a critical juncture. Whether she’s collaborating with the enemy or an informant for the Emperor, she’s pushing the Mei clan toward the edge. We have no choice but to take this gamble.”
“If that’s the case, we should handle it discreetly…” Elder Qi, like Mei Zhengyan, belonged to the conservative faction.
Assassination was one of the Mei clan’s specialties. With just a word from the family head, there were numerous ways to make the First Branch Old Madam disappear.
“We’re talking about going into seclusion, not rebellion. Even if the Emperor learns of this, he’ll merely think we’ve grown disillusioned due to the Lou clan incident. He’ll suspect this even if we don’t say anything, and it will make him doubt the other families as well,” Mei Zhengying said, lightly tracing the embroidery on his wide sleeve. “It’s a perfect opportunity to drag them down with us.”
“Are you suggesting rebellion?” one of the elders asked in a hushed voice.
Mei Zhengying’s gaze was cold. “It’s self-preservation.”
Only an incompetent ruler would force his subjects to resort to such measures to protect themselves.
“I may not have Elder Zhi’s foresight, but I know the Mei family motto of ‘loyalty and righteousness,'” Elder Qi said, slowly rising to leave. “Now, with the Liao nation eyeing us covetously, ready to invade at any moment, if all the generals in the court were to act like us, we might as well hand over the Song Dynasty, sparing the common people from the ravages of war.”
Was it better to mind minor details or uphold greater righteousness? Mei Zhengying had considered this, but the thought of serving such a ruler was too bitter a pill to swallow.
“Do as you please. I’m done with this!” Mei Zhengying stormed off, truly washing his hands of the matter.
The elders looked to Mei Zhengyan.
“Proceed as planned,” Mei Zhengyan said.
The elders remained silent, tacitly agreeing to the decision.
As dusk fell and the night banquet was about to begin, they left the ancestral hall for the banquet hall.
Shortly after leaving, a young apprentice rushed over, “Elder, there’s a fire at the medicine pavilion!”
Elder Qi furrowed his brow, his first thought being that Mo Sigui had caused trouble again. “What happened?”
“The medicinal furnace exploded,” the apprentice said urgently. “Brother Mo is leading people to put out the fire.”
“I’ll go check,” Elder Qi said, running off immediately. This was serious—the medicine pavilion housed many precious herbs collected over years of painstaking effort. Using even a bit normally felt like cutting flesh. If it all burned down, how could he go on living?
Mei Zhengyan instructed servants to send twenty men to help, then proceeded to the banquet hall with the other elders.
People gradually arrived. On the women’s side, the two Old Madams presided. Mei Jiu, Mei Ruyan, and Mei Ruhan sat below the Old Madam, with Mei Ruhan’s concubine mother standing behind the Old Madam, attending to her.
These were all that remained of the First Branch’s women.
Compared to the somber atmosphere on this side, the Second Branch was much livelier. Girls of all ages crowded around the Second Old Madam, vying for her attention. The Second Old Madam glanced at the Old Madam, her face beaming with pride.
The Old Madam snorted softly and lowered her gaze, quietly sipping her tea.