Just as Mudan was about to look away, she saw two hands reach out and firmly grasp Maya’s waist, lifting her into the air. Maya let out a shrill cry, laughing and begging for mercy, but never letting go of her hu xianzi. She held it tightly, not loosening her grip to embrace the neck of the man who had startled her.
“You’re playing with me, and I’m playing with you too.” Somehow, this phrase suddenly came to Mudan’s mind as she stared at Maya.
Maya wasn’t looking at Mudan. Instead, she was laughing at the person who had scared her. The man holding her wore a black silk round-collared robe with a jade-colored undergarment. His hair was neatly styled with a white jade hairpin. He had thick eyebrows and beautiful eyes, with a hint of sarcasm in his smile. He raised his slightly drunk eyes, seemingly looking at the panicked yet seductively screaming Maya in his arms, but in reality, he was looking at the person downstairs.
It was the first time he had seen her in men’s clothing.
She was looking this way.
Liu Chang forcefully kissed Maya’s delicate neck, then embraced her by the window, sucking on her neck passionately. To hell with it all, he didn’t care. It was just a worthless body.
Shu’er tugged at Mudan. Mudan turned her head, gently nudged her horse, and leisurely rode towards the East Market.
Liu Chang became increasingly passionate, and Maya’s laughter grew more carefree, but who cared? Maya didn’t care, and neither did anyone else. Liu Chang suddenly pushed Maya away, stumbled downstairs, and galloped away on his horse.
“Magistrate Liu, are you leaving so soon? You heartless man,” Maya said softly, glancing at his retreating figure. She called out coquettishly while pulling out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe the saliva he had left on her neck. She then tossed the handkerchief out the window. Afterward, she adjusted her appearance and clothes, picked up her hu xianzi, and sat back down at the windowsill in the same pose. She smiled at the passersby outside, occasionally winking or smiling at those who looked interesting or young and wealthy.
Mudan returned home and learned that the second, fifth, and sixth brothers had not yet returned. She changed her clothes and went to Madam Cen’s room, where Concubine Yang was keeping her company. Seeing Mudan enter, Madam Cen invited her to sit: “How did it go? Did you see Minister Jiang?”
Mindful of Concubine Yang’s presence, Mudan replied, “He was said to have gone to the palace. I waited for a long time and finally met him on the street. He said it was just a misunderstanding and has been resolved.”
Concubine Yang clapped her hands and smiled, “That’s wonderful! Good things happen to good people.” She then turned to Mudan with a mischievous grin, “Did you run into Lu Wulang on your way back?” As she smiled, the golden-framed jeweled rhinoceros horn comb in her hair gleamed in the sunlight.
Mudan didn’t understand Concubine Yang’s suggestive expression but still smiled and said, “No, I didn’t.”
Concubine Yang explained, “He’s returning to Yangzhou. He came to say goodbye today and wanted to see you, but you weren’t there. He waited from noon until just now, only leaving when it got late.” She paused intentionally and added, “He said he’d come again tomorrow and asked you to wait for him at home. He has something to discuss with you.”
Mudan hadn’t seen Lu Wulang since the day he had helped He Zhizhong and the others. She had heard that he often visited the second and fifth brothers, but there had been no news about Qin Niang. Since he was determined to leave and insisted on seeing her, it must be a request related to Qin Niang. Ignoring Concubine Yang’s hints, Mudan simply smiled at her and said, “Thank you for letting me know, Aunt. I’ll remember. The comb in your hair is beautiful. I haven’t seen it before.”
Concubine Yang looked a bit uncomfortable, touching the comb as she smiled, “The master gave it to me for my birthday before he left a few days ago.”
Mudan praised its beauty again. She knew very well that He Zhizhong had given Concubine Yang a rhinoceros horn comb at the time, but not this one. He Zhizhong was very clear about such matters. Madam Cen didn’t even have such an exquisite and luxurious comb, so how could Concubine Yang have one?
Madam Cen glanced at the comb in Concubine Yang’s hair and, noticing the time, said, “Ah Yang, the children will be home soon. Go check if the meal is ready.”
This was a dismissal, likely because she wanted to discuss Lu Wulang’s matter with Mudan. Concubine Yang, carefree as ever, made a gesture to Mudan and left with a smile.
Mudan’s smile remained until Concubine Yang’s skirt disappeared at the courtyard gate.
Madam Cen asked, “Tell me, what’s going on?”
Given the relationship between the main wife and a concubine, any matter had to be handled carefully, without wrongly accusing anyone or missing the best opportunity. Mudan chose her words carefully: “I went to the spice shop, originally intending to ask Sixth Brother to accompany me to find Zhang Wulang and ask for his help with something. But Sixth Brother wasn’t there. The clerk said Lu Wulang had come to find him, and they went to a tavern together to drink. This was at noon.”
But Lu Wulang had been at the He family’s house since 1 pm. Madam Cen’s expression grew serious.
Mudan continued, “The old shopkeeper said business was steady, mostly regular customers. So I went to find Zhang Wulang alone. He said Sixth Brother had asked him to go drinking several times, but he was busy and had no time for idle drinking, so he didn’t go. Later, when he was free and went to invite Sixth Brother, he wasn’t at the shop. I heard that Sixth Brother likes to go to the largest Hu tavern in the East Market.”
Madam Cen pressed her lips together, took a large drink from her porcelain teacup, and after wiping her lips clean with a handkerchief, she slowly said, “Thankfully, your father never let him handle the shop’s money, only trusting the old shopkeeper. Otherwise, it would be a disaster. Don’t mention this for now. Pretend you don’t know. When he comes back, he’ll surely hear about it from the shop staff and try to sound you out. Just make up some excuse. I’ll discuss it with your second and fifth brothers. We’ll deal with it once we have solid evidence.”
After the evening drum sounded, the second and fifth brothers returned home. After hearing about the sixth brother’s situation from Madam Cen, the second brother frowned and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll find a way to meet with the old shopkeeper and see what’s going on.”
The fifth brother added, “I’ve noticed he’s been in a good mood lately. He must be making money.”
Thinking of the rhinoceros horn comb in Concubine Yang’s hair, Madam Cen worried, “It’s fine if he’s winning money now, but I fear when he starts losing, he’ll set his sights on the shop. Although the shop has a system for collecting money and checking inventory, with daily accounting, if he’s determined, he’ll find a way. What I fear most is that he might substitute inferior goods to make a profit, ruining the shop’s reputation. You two brothers come up with a plan to handle this matter. Don’t act rashly before we have solid evidence, and be careful not to hurt his feelings.”
The second brother responded, “Understood.”
Suddenly, they heard the sixth brother’s laughter at the door: “Oh, looks like I’m the last one home again today.”
Everyone smiled slightly but didn’t show any particular reaction. The sixth brother first paid his respects to Madam Cen, then greeted everyone else before sitting down next to Mudan with a smile. “Dan’er, I heard you came to the shop looking for me today?”
Mudan sniffed, detecting a faint smell of alcohol on him, and smiled, “Yes, the clerk said you went to entertain customers at a tavern. Would you like a bowl of sobering soup, Sixth Brother?”
The sixth brother looked into Mudan’s eyes and smiled, “No need. I know my limits. The shop’s business is important; how could I get drunk so early? I just had a few drinks with Lu Wulang, and then he came to our house. I went to another Hu shop to look at agarwood incense. The shop is running low on it.”
It seemed he had already spoken with Concubine Yang. Mudan smiled and blinked, “So, did you find any?”
“The quality wasn’t good, so I didn’t buy any,” the sixth brother replied. He sat for a while longer, chatting casually with the others and talking about the shop’s business, how picky certain customers were, and how he dealt with them, appearing calm and collected.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, shortly after seeing off the second brother and the others, Lu Wulang arrived. As Mudan had expected, he came to request her. It turned out that Qin Niang had indeed followed the Prince of Jing, but she wasn’t living in the prince’s mansion. Instead, she was staying in Fengle Ward without any official status.
“When I first reunited with my aunt, she pretended not to know me and had me thrown out. But the next day, she sent someone to bring me to see her,” Lu Wulang sighed, his mood heavy as he continued, “She said she was living well and told us not to worry. Indeed, she seemed to be doing fine. So I decided to return to Yangzhou… But a few days ago, her maid came with a message saying she hasn’t been feeling well lately.” He paused, then stood up and bowed deeply to Mudan. “I wanted to visit her, but it’s not convenient for me to go. After much thought, I could only think of you. I’m entrusting you to go and check on her, so I can have peace of mind and report back to my mother.”
Mudan remembered how Qin Niang had pretended not to see her that day. After pondering for a while, she firmly said, “Lu Wulang, as you saw, she didn’t want to acknowledge me last time. It’s not appropriate for me to go. Besides, if she could secretly arrange to meet you before, she can surely do so again. Why don’t you stay in the capital for a while longer? She’ll find a way to see you eventually.”
Lu Wulang fell silent for a moment, then stood up and bowed deeply again. “I’ve wronged you. I lied. She has her reasons for not acknowledging you. This time…”
Mudan calmly interrupted, “This time she’s in trouble again, isn’t she?”
Lu Wulang looked embarrassed. “The Prince of Jing had a misunderstanding with her and hasn’t visited her for a long time. She’s pregnant but can’t move about freely, so I was hoping you could go…”
Mudan bit her lip and cut him off. “I’m sorry, Lu Wulang, but I can’t agree to this. I’m just a commoner with limited abilities. I don’t dare meddle in the affairs of a prince’s household, especially since I’ve suffered greatly before. If you’re short on funds, I might be able to help, but this particular matter is something I really can’t do.”
“No need for money, no need for money,” Lu Wulang said. Although he was disappointed, he didn’t show any displeasure. He sat silently for a while and finally left without saying anything more.
Madam Cen asked, “Dan’er, why did you refuse him? Was it really because you were upset that Qin Niang didn’t acknowledge you last time? If it’s just visiting her on his behalf, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Mudan replied, “It’s not that. I just feel something isn’t right.”