After inspecting the goods in the back garden and instructing Cen Er to have everything prepared, Mo Zi left Wangqiu Pavilion, but didn’t return to Sanniang’s courtyard until after nightfall.
Xiao Yi handed her a slender bamboo lantern and said nothing, following behind.
At first Mo Zi noticed nothing unusual—Xiao Yi wasn’t talkative to begin with. But before long, her shoulder was patted three times by Xiao Yi, and each time she turned back to ask what was wrong, Xiao Yi said nothing, just stared intently at her.
“Has Mo Zi returned?” Qiu Sanniang’s voice came from inside the main room.
“Miss, I’m back.”
Mo Zi’s hand had just touched the curtain when Xiao Yi’s tall figure spoke quietly from above her head, “If you need to climb over the wall, I’ll help you.”
Mo Zi’s brow furrowed. The favor of wall-climbing was something she’d previously exchanged with Xiao Yi for a bottle with a cap—for her to suddenly offer it proactively, was she hinting that Mo Zi should run? But why?
“Since you’re back, hurry in.” Through the curtain’s silhouette, Qiu Sanniang saw two shadows—one tall, one slender. “Xiao Yi, what are you muttering about?”
“Noth…ing.” Xiao Yi could fight but couldn’t lie—her answer came out stammering.
Mo Zi could tell, and Qiu Sanniang could tell too.
Entering the room, she saw Bai He and Lu Ju setting out the evening meal. Simple—three dishes and a soup, their fragrance surpassing a full table banquet. Bai He always put much thought into Qiu Sanniang’s diet because, from a nutritional standpoint, Qiu Sanniang’s preference for heavily spiced food and love of strong liquor truly couldn’t be considered healthy. Mo Zi had mentioned it, but Qiu Sanniang wouldn’t listen. Bai He had taken it to heart though, so she racked her brains trying to both satisfy Qiu Sanniang’s palate and look after her health.
“How are Cen Huan’s preparations coming?” Qiu Sanniang picked up bamboo shoots in chili oil with her chopsticks, examined them for a long time, then glanced at Bai He.
Bai He happened to see this and smiled, saying, “Miss, these past days have warmed up. Eating too much spice easily causes internal heat and restlessness, so I only added chili oil, no chili peppers. But the bamboo shoots were freshly picked recently, and the pork strips are specially marinated—they’re thoroughly flavored.”
Qiu Sanniang’s temper sometimes flared up like chili peppers—Mo Zi felt it was from eating too much spice. She couldn’t enjoy anything without spice. If socializing left her no choice, eating a meal without it would certainly leave her listless and moody.
“Without spice, having wine is also good. These past days eating vegetarian meals at the nunnery, my mouth had no flavor.” Qiu Sanniang propped her chin on one hand, speaking listlessly.
“Miss, this isn’t the same as being outside.” Bai He’s temperament was gentle, but she wasn’t without her own opinions. Hearing Qiu Sanniang ask for wine, she naturally couldn’t agree. “If others saw this, who knows how they’d twist it, wanting to ruin your reputation. Miss, I put effort into this—please taste it first before saying anything.”
Qiu Sanniang sneered, “Reputation? Who doesn’t know the Qiu Mansion’s eldest miss is a wild girl who goes everywhere with her old father, completely unlike a proper young lady? If I cared about reputation, how could I abandon embroidery for business, sitting at the same table as men to eat and drink?”
“Miss, those words are mistaken. Though since ancient times society ranks scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, in our Luo Zhou the merchant spirit surpasses other places. When families have capable sons, they pursue commerce first, then scholarship. Outside, when people mention you, who doesn’t praise your capability and filial devotion? Where would anyone speak ill? But what Bai He said is also correct—if socializing, drinking is acceptable. But in this mansion, some people are just waiting to catch your mistakes. Even the slightest carelessness becomes ammunition blown out of proportion. Ordinary days are one thing, but right now is a sensitive time. The slightest disturbance reaching Consort Wei’s ears wouldn’t be good. It’s not so much about reputation or not, but we can’t let people use this as an opportunity to make issues.” Mo Zi urged from beside Qiu Sanniang.
“Mo Zi is right. Miss, you haven’t drunk wine at home in half a year—why think of it today?” Bai He suddenly recalled Fourth Madam’s visit during the day. “Could it be Fourth Madam said something to you?”
Bai He’s unintentional words made everyone present focus.
Mo Zi observed—Lu Ju also didn’t know Fourth Madam’s purpose for coming. The one who knew clearly was probably only Xiao Yi, and most likely she’d eavesdropped from the rooftop.
“Mo Zi, you still haven’t answered me—how are Chief Manager Cen’s preparations?” Qiu Sanniang’s fixation was quite strong—if unsatisfied, she’d be very persistent.
“Chief Manager Cen isn’t here. I’ve already instructed Cen Erlang. The goods are almost completely received, just waiting for your instructions, Miss…” Mo Zi was thinking how to mention today’s meeting with that other Second Young Master. In that instant of silence, Qiu Sanniang spoke.
“Fourth Madam asked me for a maid.” She said this, picking out several bamboo shoot tips, slowly chewing them, then picking up another chopstickful.
Bai He could no longer be happy about her successful recipe improvement. She bit her lip, her eyes anxiously fixed on Qiu Sanniang.
“Miss, is Fourth Madam still short of maids?” Lu Ju said whatever was on her mind, not thinking elsewhere at all.
“Fourth Madam isn’t short—Fourth Young Master is.” Qiu Sanniang spoke thus of her own “good little brother.”
“Fourth Young Master?” Lu Ju murmured, then ah—hand covering her mouth, finally understanding correctly.
Mo Zi lowered her eyes. It wasn’t narcissism, just that her sixth sense was really not good—recently all kinds of bad luck kept finding her. No wonder Fourth Madam had recently pulled her and Bai He aside to chat, praising them and matchmaking—actually she’d been planning for Qiu Si. She could understand men being fickle, but couldn’t understand wives helping arrange such things. Fourth Madam was excessively virtuous.
“Miss, we’re your dowry maids. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Fourth Madam to take any of us.” Bai He glanced at each person, finally meeting Qiu Sanniang’s gaze. In her heart, the several of them would never separate.
“Fourth Madam said if one leaves, she’ll provide four replacements.” Having eaten a mouthful, Qiu Sanniang spoke another sentence. “Lu Ju, if this really happens, you won’t have to guard the door anymore—you’ll have little maids to command.”
“Miss, when you put it that way, I don’t feel good at all. I’d rather guard the door from morning till night every day than have our sisterhood lose even one person.” Lu Ju shook her head, her expression unpleasant.
Not Lu Ju—Mo Zi’s sixth sense exhausted, she moved to the process of elimination.
“You two don’t want everyone separated, but you should also hear what the one Fourth Madam has her eye on thinks. Isn’t that right, Mo Zi?” Qiu Sanniang finally said the name.
Xiao Yi lowered her head looking at her toes, rubbing her embroidered shoe soles, somewhat impatient.
“Mo Zi?” Bai He’s brow furrowed.
“Fourth Madam’s eyes are truly sharp—she picked the smartest one among us.” Lu Ju pouted. “Miss, you can’t agree to this, right?”
“Mo Zi, if you don’t speak, I’ll take it as shyness, that you’re willing in your heart?” Qiu Sanniang’s scheming hadn’t exhausted itself yet. “How about I find Fourth Madam tomorrow and agree to this? Though you’d enter as a chamber maid, Fourth Madam promised me that once you bear a son, you’ll be elevated to concubine, kept in fine clothes and precious food.”
Mo Zi raised her eyes. Her usually calm, tranquil autumn water eyes blazed brilliantly.
Qiu Sanniang took it all in, slapping her chopsticks on the table. Her distant mountain indigo brows both rose high, her voice cooling by half. “I’m not seeing wrong, am I? You’re angry with me?”