The tree shadows swayed as a warm breeze caressed faces. The sweltering summer of the Capital City arrived with a vengeance.
This was the Ying Family's first summer in the Capital City.
In a few days, it would be the Minor Heat solar term. Counting the days, it had been half a year since her adoptive father's passing.
Her Adoptive Mother, struggling against her illness, got up at the crack of dawn and hired a carriage to specifically seek out two hilsa fish, uncommon in the local area, from the fish market in the south of the city. She kept them in a water vat in the courtyard.
"Back in our hometown near the Han River, these fish were plentiful. They were common fare on the tables of families living by the river. Who knew they'd be so expensive in the Capital City," the Adoptive Mother muttered.
"Five hundred copper coins for two fish! It's a good thing we've had some extra money lately. If it was still like earlier this year when we were in Tongluo Alley, we couldn't even afford to buy a fish we used to eat regularly back home."
Ying Xiaoman stood by the water vat, stirring the clear water with her hand. The two newly acquired hilsa fish inside swished their tails, creating ripples in the disturbed water.
Zhi, excited, also reached into the vat to stir the water. As the fish came up to chase her little fingers, she yelped and withdrew her hand, "The fish bit me!"
Ying Xiaoman couldn't help but chuckle, pinching Zhi's fingers before handing her the packet of fish food that came with the purchase, teaching her to sprinkle a little into the vat.
The Adoptive Mother continued her musings, "Your father passed away last December. It's been half a year now. Though traditional families talk about 'three years of mourning,' we're not a scholarly family. For common folk like us, half a year of wearing hemp mourning clothes for your father is enough. Such a flower-like young lady, wearing plain white clothes every day, not even celebrating your birthday this year - your father wouldn't rest easy in his grave."
"Child, since we're not short on money, let's find a day when the sun isn't too harsh in the next couple of days. We'll go to the nearby fabric shop to choose some good silk material and make bright silk clothes for you and the little one. Dress up beautifully and let your father in the afterlife see."
"Alright," Ying Xiaoman agreed, putting on her conical hat and picking up Zhi. She pushed a small wheeled cart and bid farewell to her Adoptive Mother as they left.
"The shop has been making good money lately, I'll come back early today."
She had been coming home early recently because the twenty jin of fresh meat prepared at the butcher shop was selling quickly.
Why was it selling so fast? Because there was a big customer who came punctually every morning, buying ten jin at a time.
As she approached the butcher shop in the early morning light, Zhi called out from afar, "Sui Family Older Brother!"
Sui Miao cupped his hands in a greeting from a distance, then turned and ran away quickly.
By the time the butcher shop opened, with ribs hanging on iron hooks and the red paper sign hung out on a long pole, the regular big customer was already first in line. A familiar, clear voice said, "Ten jin of meat, please."
Ying Xiaoman took down a piece of lamb ribs from the hook, tossed it onto the newly bought chopping board, and started chopping without looking up.
Amidst the rhythmic chopping sounds, Yan Seventh Young Master chatted with her in a soft voice.
"Last night when I visited, I asked the little girl Zhi to pass on two messages. How much did she convey?"
Ying Xiaoman didn't respond, thinking to herself, the first message about "under the bridge" - was he planning to have tea with the dragon king under the water? The second message about "feeling chicken and fish" made even less sense.
She paused her chopping and, while sorting through the meat pieces, couldn't help but say, "Don't ask the little girl to pass messages. A four-year-old can't handle long sentences, it all gets jumbled up."
Though she hadn't looked up once during the conversation, it didn't stop Yan Seventh Young Master from smiling at her.
"The first message I asked the little girl to pass on, she must have at least conveyed the two words 'tea house', right? By Dongming Bridge, that Han Xing Residence you're familiar with, I sent someone yesterday to inquire about their business hours. After you close up shop here, whether you go in the afternoon, evening, or after nightfall, Han Xing Residence will be open. It's up to you when you have time."
Ying Xiaoman still didn't respond. The chopping sounds resumed.
Yan Seventh Young Master thought for a moment, then added, "The second message I asked the little girl to pass on yesterday was simply the four words 'be cautious in action'. There are too many people coming and going here to say more. We should discuss the details face to face at the tea house—"
The chopping stopped. Ten jin of prime lamb ribs were finely cut, along with half a jin of tenderloin. Ying Xiaoman raised her hand to collect payment.
Today's conversation ended here, and Yan Seventh Young Master closed his mouth.
As usual, he took out a two-guan paper note and handed it over.
Ying Xiaoman took the money without looking at him, tossed the paper note directly into the bamboo basket, and called out, "Next!"
Once again, she sold out and closed up shop early. After sending Zhi home and helping her mother take her medicine, it wasn't even noon yet. She left directly from the other end of the alley, taking a big detour along the street.
A man in tight-sleeved clothes standing idly by the roadside with a horse saw her approach and lifted his conical hat from afar.
As they passed each other, Ying Xiaoman lifted her conical hat three inches. Their eyes met briefly, and the man said in a low voice, "Walk straight ahead along the street. Three hundred paces away, Erlang is waiting for the young lady at the Xu Family Pawn Shop."
Three hundred paces later, flags fluttered from shops large and small along the street. Ying Xiaoman stopped beside the imposing black and gold signboard of "Xu Family Pawn Shop", cautiously surveyed her surroundings for a moment, then walked into the shop.
A familiar flamboyant figure was standing inside the pawn shop.
Yan Erlang had changed into a crimson brocade tight-sleeved robe today, with his belt tied especially tight, deliberately showing off a narrow wasp waist.
The pawn shop owner was bowing and scraping, bringing out the shop's recent high-quality acquisitions, a row of silk boxes opened and laid out on a long table. Yan Erlang, with his back to the door, was leisurely examining them one by one.
Hearing the light footsteps behind him, he turned and smiled, "You're here?"
Ying Xiaoman got straight to the point: "Let's talk business. How do you plan to help me?"
Yan Erlang casually tossed the treasure box he was playing with back onto the table.
"I told you before, it's a small matter, not beyond the capabilities of my Yan Yixing."
A middle-aged steward who looked familiar emerged from the corner, respectfully presenting a newly written contract to Ying Xiaoman.
Ying Xiaoman's eyelid twitched, "A slave contract?!"
As she raised her hand, Yan Erlang quickly sidestepped with nimble feet, sighing, "I'm not trying to sell you into slavery. Look further down, look at the signature at the bottom."
It was indeed a slave contract. But the name, address, and family details of the young lady being sold into servitude, apart from also being sixteen years old, bore no other resemblance to Ying Xiaoman.
"We bought some servants for the family recently. My good mother is picky, rejecting any that didn't meet her standards. The girl named 'Qingping' on this contract was one of the rejected servants."
"Qingping may not be a beauty, but she's hardworking and capable. As it happens, the Yan family in Changle Alley recently dismissed many people and are short on cleaning maids. The matchmaker took this batch of over ten rejected girls there, and Qingping was chosen by the Yan family."
As she listened, Ying Xiaoman's eyes gradually brightened.
Disguising herself as "Qingping" and infiltrating the Yan family as a cleaning maid was indeed a good idea!
While she was still pondering, her chin was gently but firmly grasped by two fingers and tilted upwards.
Yan Erlang had silently approached her side, his gaze admiring and unabashedly invasive as he examined her. "For someone who looks like you, young lady Ying, saying 'not a beauty' to your face just wouldn't do. However—"
Slap——!
A resounding slap echoed through the shop. Half of Yan Erlang's face bore a bright red handprint as he stepped back half a pace, finishing his sentence with relish, "——what a prickly young lady."
Ying Xiaoman's slap had left her own hand red. She pressed her lips together, then untied her leather bag to reveal half of her well-polished grappling hook, waving it in front of him.
"This grappling hook isn't just for scaling walls and climbing trees," she warned bluntly. "The iron claw is one of the eighteen martial arts weapons. I'm skilled at using it for hunting. If your hands or feet misbehave again, I'll slash you with one swipe, and you'll be bedridden for at least a month to recover."
The iron grappling hook was indeed a formidable weapon. As it flashed before their eyes, the cold glint of the metal startled both the Yan family steward and the pawn shop owner, who hurriedly hid behind the counter.
Yan Erlang put both hands behind his back, indicating he had no intention to resist.
Satisfied with his compliance, Ying Xiaoman put away the grappling hook, hanging it back at her waist. She picked up Qingping's slave contract and read it carefully from beginning to end. When she encountered characters she didn't recognize, she cautiously asked the Xu Family Pawn Shop owner for their meaning.
Yan Erlang stood by the long table, waiting. His face stung, and his heart itched.
The two hands behind his back intertwined, fingers rubbing against each other repeatedly.
As lanterns were being lit, faint footsteps could be heard at the entrance of Seven Scholars Lane, followed by a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.
A moment later, the gate of the Ying Family's courtyard opened a crack, and Zhi poked her little head out, greeting cheerfully, "Sui Family Older Brother." Big sister had told her not to open the door for Yan Seventh Young Master, but she hadn't said anything about not opening it for Sui Family Older Brother.
Sui Miao crouched by the door and asked, "How is Aunt feeling? Is Big Sister in a good mood tonight? Yan Seventh Young Master wants to come over and talk to Big Sister."
"Big Sister isn't home," Zhi said softly, gesturing with her hands. "Big Sister left in the afternoon with a huge bundle on her back. She said she'd be back very late and told Aunt not to wait up for her."
Sui Miao was startled.
He patted Zhi's little head, said goodbye, and quickly left.
Night had fallen.
The newly arrived servants at the Yan Family's house lined up to listen to instructions.
The one giving instructions was an unfamiliar housekeeper.
Ying Xiaoman kept her head down, a bulging bundle on her shoulder, her gaze fixed on the ground. The lantern light shone on her glossy black hair, faintly illuminating the outline of her beautiful profile.
Today she wore a plain, dark blue narrow-sleeved cloth shirt and a smoke-gray printed fine cloth skirt. A pair of small white jade and silver earrings dangled from her ears.
This time, she had entered through the Yan Family's main gate fair and square, relying on her own abilities. The grudges between the two sides had already been clearly stated in the narrow alley that night, so there was no need to repeat them when they met and fought again.
She silently pondered that there was no rush tonight. First, she would blend in with the courtyard sweepers, find an opportunity to scout around Fengsong Courtyard, and familiarize herself with her enemy's habits...
"Qingping! Which one is Qingping?"
Ying Xiaoman, who had been standing in a daze, only snapped to attention at the second call. She raised her head and responded, "It's me."
The Yan Family housekeeper who was inspecting them was startled.
This girl called Qingping, from a distance, looked like she had delicate features, but when she raised her head—
There was a large birthmark on her face, spanning both cheeks, asymmetrical in shape.
Falling on her beautiful features, it was like a fine painting paper splattered with ink by a mischievous child, making it even more unbearable to look at.
No wonder she had been turned away by several wealthy households in succession.
The housekeeper grumbled inwardly that if it weren't for the young master's instructions not to be concerned with appearances and to only seek capable workers, how could this girl have been hired to work in the Yan Family? Outwardly, she continued her instructions:
"The Yan residence is vast and in need of sweeping maids. No matter which courtyard you're assigned to, just keep your head down and do your work. There are many young masters in the household, and no matter which one you encounter passing by, you must quickly step aside. If any foolish maid causes trouble in the inner courtyards with improper thoughts, you'll face the consequences! Our household's young master in charge is not the kind with a soft ear who's easy to talk to—"
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded from the courtyard gate.
The outer courtyard manager rushed over and whispered a few words. The housekeeper hurriedly said, "The young master has returned. There are important guests in the house tonight. You new arrivals, quickly withdraw with me and don't offend the young master and the guests."
The six or seven newly arrived servants hurriedly retreated to the dark side of the corridor, quietly lining up.
Ying Xiaoman stood at the end of the line, craning her neck to peek outside.
In the distant light, a long procession approached. Strong, sword-bearing guards were at the front and back, surrounding a robust young man in the middle. He wore a dark purple official robe with a gold hook and jade belt at his waist, dressed extremely richly.
When Ying Xiaoman saw that familiar purple official robe, her eyelids immediately twitched.
As the procession gradually approached, the face of her enemy was indeed revealed in the lamplight. His eyebrows were thick and black, his eyes narrow and long like a hawk's, his expression gloomy, his gaze fixed straight ahead at the illuminating lanterns, lost in thought. Judging by the direction of the procession, they were heading towards Fengsong Courtyard.
Beside her enemy was an unfamiliar official dressed as a military officer in a vermilion robe, his gaze as sharp as a falcon's. The two occasionally exchanged a few words.
Ying Xiaoman mused that this must be the important guest for tonight.
She quietly raised her hand and felt the floral cloth bundle on her shoulder in the darkness. Among the clothes stuffed full inside was an iron-wrapped door bolt weighing twenty catties.
Her steady heartbeat gradually quickened.
What luck tonight, to run into Yan Rongshi coming home face to face!
Suddenly, another set of footsteps rang out. Another long procession of attendants carrying lanterns surrounded a tall, graceful young man in the middle, approaching unhurriedly from the right corridor. The enemy in front stopped to wait.
Ying Xiaoman's eyes immediately fell upon that familiar figure, tall as bamboo, and instantly recognized who it was.
It was Yan Seventh Young Master.
It was normal for Yan Seventh Young Master, as a brother, to come out and greet the head of the family, Yan Rongshi, on his return at night.
They had actually been meeting every morning at the butcher shop these past few days.
But buying meat was just buying meat; she wouldn't look him in the eye. She also rarely responded when he spoke. Today she had only said a couple of sentences because it involved Zhi.
How long had it been since she had looked at him directly like this?
Ying Xiaoman only looked for a moment, but the clear outline of his handsome features in the lamplight was clearly imprinted in her mind. A complex, sour feeling surged from her heart to her head, and she immediately averted her gaze, looking down at the ground.
A cold snort came from behind. The housekeeper looked over each of the newly arrived maids and scolded:
"What are you all staring at? Have you already forgotten what I just taught you? When the young master is present, you must mind your place and keep your eyes on the ground. Among all of you, only Qingping is doing it right, with the most proper demeanor."
Ying Xiaoman: ...?
The old woman continued, "Fengsong Courtyard is where the young master lives and works daily. Qingping, you have the most steady and proper temperament among this batch, so you go sweep Fengsong Courtyard."
Ying Xiaoman: !!
She touched the heavy cloth bundle, her mood suddenly rising by seven points. Holding back her excitement, she said in a soft voice, "Yes."
A large group of personal attendants surrounded them front and back, carrying lanterns to light the night path.
In the midst of the crowd, Yan Seventh Young Master and Eleventh Young Master Yan walked side by side along the covered corridor.
Yan Seventh Young Master glanced at his uninvited friend.
"Xiaoman's movements were unusual today. I sent someone to pass a message to you, telling you to be careful when going out. Yet you came to Changle Alley?"
"Of course I had to come to Changle Alley. Don't forget, in Miss Ying's eyes, I am 'Yan Rongshi.'"
Eleventh Young Master Yan didn't seem particularly concerned. He raised his hand to point at the military officer beside him, dressed in a vermilion narrow-sleeved robe with eyes as sharp as a falcon's.
"Wu Xun is with me tonight. Wu Xun leads fifty men under his command, all elite guards from the Palace Guard. If she comes to Changle Alley tonight looking for me, 'Yan Rongshi,' it would be perfect to draw her out and clear up the misunderstanding on the spot."
Yan Seventh Young Master's tone was gentle, but his words were weighty.
"I've told you before, it's not a good idea. If Wu Xun hurts her, Eleventh Young Master, I'm afraid our friendship of many years will end tonight."
Wu Xun was startled and immediately bowed, "Young Lord Yan, please rest assured. His Highness has also instructed me. While I am wholeheartedly guarding His Highness's safety, I absolutely dare not harm that young lady who intends to... to..."
In the end, he didn't dare to say the words "assassinate," and instead said, "The young lady who intends to climb over the wall and sneak in."
"Make sure all your men remember this," Yan Seventh Young Master said, walking a few steps before turning back to Eleventh Young Master Yan. "She might not come tonight. Yesterday I asked the little girl to pass a message to her, and this morning I mentioned it again in person, asking to meet and talk in detail."
Eleventh Young Master Yan walked with his hands behind his back, showing a skeptical expression.
"What were you thinking, using a little girl to pass messages? Since you know where she lives, and she's right behind the door, what can a mere wooden door stop?"
Yan Seventh Young Master laughed, "Eleventh Young Master, I know you're well-versed in military strategy. Don't use the momentum of thousands of troops charging into battle when it comes to breaking down a young lady's door."
"Breaking down a wooden door is easy, breaking down the barriers in her heart is hard. The previous time we intercepted her in the alley has already hurt her feelings."
At this point, Yan Seventh Young Master fell silent for a moment, remembering that morning at the narrow alley entrance of the butcher shop, when they met face to face, and the tear that clung to her eyelashes, about to fall but not quite.
The Ministry of Justice handles criminal cases from all over the empire, with hundreds of case files passing through their hands each month. They've seen all sorts of human emotions, cold and warm, anger and folly, love and hatred. At this point, what he least wanted to see was a heart that was originally soft and open turning into walls of copper and iron before him.
She now had heavy defenses, refusing to look him in the eye, refusing to converse, not accepting letters or objects. If she could close her ears, she probably would. Only matters related to her own family could still make her listen.
Fortunately, today, using the little girl's name, she was already willing to exchange a few words.
"Don't rush, take it slow. After a few more days, when Xiaoman's emotions have stabilized and she's willing to sit down and talk, and I've also cleared up the so-called blood feud between our families, then we can explain all the misunderstandings face to face."