Ying Family's plan to leave the capital was not hard to guess.
One morning when Sui Miao was delivering food, Ying Xiaoman was struggling to stuff autumn and winter clothes into a cloth bundle. Next to the bundle lay a stack of freshly baked thick flatbreads, suitable as travel provisions.
At that moment, Sui Miao's expression changed.
The adoptive mother was still discussing with him: "Young man from the Sui family, now that our family has distanced ourselves from the restaurant case, we're no longer considered witnesses, right? It's not good to keep living in the government office. The Ying Family is thinking of moving out. Please let Seventh Young Master know."
That evening, around the time lanterns were being lit, Yan Rongshi entered carrying a box of newly available large, bright orange tangerines.
His first words upon entering were: "There's no need to rush to move out of the government quarters."
"Two assassins have escaped, like drops of water into the sea, making it difficult to trace their whereabouts. Going back to live in tents would still be unsafe."
Of course, Ying Xiaoman didn't want to go back to living in tents.
The Ying Family was planning to return to their hometown.
Last winter, when they came from their hometown to the capital, the journey was bitterly cold, and they suffered quite a bit. This time, returning home with Zhi, she didn't want the little girl to travel in such cold weather. If they could leave early, it would be better to do so.
But Ying Xiaoman wasn't sure when they could leave the capital, or if they could take Seventh Young Master with them.
Her adoptive mother had been whispering to her last night. "How can being an official in the capital be so busy?"
"Before, when we were in Tongluo Alley, Seventh Young Master was recovering at our place, and he seemed unhurried and steady in everything he did. Who would have thought that upon returning to the government office, he'd be spinning like a top all day! The cases in his hands keep coming one after another. What if he can't finish investigating this year and it drags on to next year? Surely we don't have to wait in the capital until next year to return home?"
Ying Xiaoman immediately got up, took the newly packed, bulging bundle of autumn and winter clothes to the small courtyard, and opened it in front of him.
"I won't hide it from you. There's something I need to tell you."
Yan Rongshi flipped through the winter clothes but also spoke:
"I also have something to tell you. Yesterday you went to the mule and horse market to inquire about long-distance rentals. The address you left at the market was the west courtyard of the Ministry of Justice office, which scared the owner of the mule and horse market. He didn't dare to rent directly to you and asked someone to inquire at the Ministry of Justice."
Ying Xiaoman: ? No wonder the owner of the mule and horse market was so hesitant in person!
But since the bundle had already been brought before Seventh Young Master, she insisted: "This autumn and winter, the Ying Family must return to our hometown to spend the New Year by father's grave. I'm just letting you know, not asking for your opinion."
Yan Rongshi was silent for a moment.
His usually bright and lively peach blossom eyes were now lowered in thought, his slender fingers slowly retying the bundle as it was before. He then began to discuss with her.
"Don't be in a rush to leave. There's news from the palace, requiring the Ying Family to stay a few more days. Stay until the end of the seventh month, beginning of the eighth month."
It was currently the beginning of the seventh month.
The end of the seventh month, beginning of the eighth month would be about twenty days later.
Setting out at the beginning of the eighth month wasn't really late. But the words "from the palace" truly startled Ying Xiaoman.
"What does the palace have to do with our Ying Family? They want to keep us for twenty days?"
"This is the second matter I wanted to discuss tonight," Yan Rongshi said as he stood up and put the winter clothes bundle aside.
"Because of the case of the northern spies at Yuqing Tower, the palace is arranging a celebration. When Yan Erlang entered the palace to express gratitude, he praised you before the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager became interested and immediately issued an edict, wanting to meet you in person."
Ying Xiaoman: !!
"Say that again?" she asked skeptically. "Who wants to meet me?"
Of course, the news couldn't be false. A few days ago it was just a rumor, but yesterday the palace officially sent someone to deliver an oral decree, confirming it.
Along with the oral decree came a series of rumors spreading faster than the wind. "''Pure and natural quality, innately unadorned.' This is what Eleventh Young Master heard from the palace," Yan Rongshi recited slowly. "Without your knowledge, the two lines of poetry Yan Erlang used to praise you have already spread throughout the palace."
"... Yan Erlang praised me in front of the Empress Dowager?" Ying Xiaoman asked skeptically. "I curse at him every time I see him, yet he praises me? Is there something wrong with this person's brain?"
What kind of brain Yan Erlang had, normal people couldn't know.
But the Empress Dowager had held a high position in the palace years ago precisely because of her "simplicity." The previous emperor had once personally awarded her a calligraphy scroll that read: "Serene and uncontending, simple and true to nature." It still hangs in the Empress Dowager's palace to this day.
In any case, what's done is done. The Empress Dowager's oral decree had already been delivered to the Ministry of Justice. Taking the opportunity of the celebration banquet, she wanted to summon this "pure and natural" young lady of the Ying Family for an audience in the palace.
Before the end of the seventh month and beginning of the eighth month, the Ying Family wouldn't be able to leave.
The adoptive mother, who had been holding Zhi and eating tangerines in the room, listened and found the tangerines becoming tasteless in her mouth. She pushed open half of the window:
"We're just common folk, how can we go to the palace to meet noble people? We don't know the etiquette, we don't know how to answer. If my child answers incorrectly, will she be blamed?"
Ying Xiaoman wasn't so concerned about palace etiquette. Her thoughts hadn't been easily diverted; she was still thinking about setting out early to return to their hometown, avoiding rain, snow, and hail on the journey.
"At the end of the seventh month, beginning of the eighth month, after meeting with the Empress Dowager in the palace, can we leave the capital?" she asked.
Yan Rongshi thought for a moment: "Under normal circumstances, yes. But when entering the palace for an audience, you may encounter all sorts of unexpected situations. For example, if the Empress Dowager takes a liking to you, she might want to keep you for a few days."
Ying Xiaoman: !!
The adoptive mother became so nervous that she even stopped peeling tangerines.
Yan Rongshi continued: "Although the Empress Dowager is said to be approachable, the palace is not a place one can easily stay. If it really comes to that, it's better to decline if possible."
Ying Xiaoman: "... How to decline? It doesn't seem right to directly say I'm unwilling."
"Hmm, it's not quite right. You need to refuse politely. In a few days, I'll teach you some commonly used responses."
Yan Rongshi thought for a moment: "I'll also be in the palace on the day of the celebration banquet. Although male and female guests will be seated separately, if I can keep Yan Erlang occupied on my side, there will be seven-tenths less variables on the Empress Dowager's side. If the situation really becomes unfavorable, Eleventh Young Master can go over to help you."
With that, the matter was settled.
Yan Rongshi had been extremely busy these days. After giving these instructions, while it wasn't completely dark yet, he got up to take his leave.
Ying Xiaoman saw him out of the small courtyard.
Although she had made up her mind and insisted firmly that "the Ying Family must leave the capital as soon as possible," when there was no one around, with Yan Rongshi holding a lamp to light the way ahead, the lamp illuminating their two walking figures side by side, they naturally drew closer and closer as they walked...
By the time Ying Xiaoman had accompanied him along the quiet path for about a hundred paces, they were already walking arm in arm.
"I know your adoptive father's one-year death anniversary is in the twelfth month, and you want to pay your respects at his grave. I won't stop you," Yan Rongshi said, holding the lamp in his left hand and grasping his beloved young lady with his right, persuading her in a gentle tone. "But travel is difficult in winter. When do you plan to return to the capital? We need to make arrangements in advance."
Ying Xiaoman answered promptly: "It's all arranged. The rent for the butcher shop's storefront has been paid until the second month."
Yan Rongshi gave her a wry look: "And that's what you call arranged? You're taking your mother and little sister back to your hometown, leaving me alone in the capital for the New Year?"
Ying Xiaoman: "Actually, I had a plan, just didn't know if you—"
Halfway through her sentence, there was a crisp sound of unlocking from behind them.
The dim moonlight illuminated a row of quiet small courtyards nearby. Two bailiffs from the Ministry of Justice opened a copper lock and escorted Eighth Young Master Yan out of the small courtyard.
Although they were about a hundred paces apart and both sides had lanterns, making it difficult to see faces clearly, they were familiar with each other and could recognize each other by their figures.
"Eighth Brother," Yan Rongshi greeted casually, "Have you been sleeping well lately? It's rare to have half a day of leisure in life, you've rested for three months, and I see your complexion is not bad."
Eighth Young Master Yan's face looked quite unpleasant.
To make matters worse, the officials were escorting him towards where Yan Rongshi was. When Eighth Young Master Yan came face to face with him, after a moment of inner struggle, he still managed to force a smile and reluctantly bowed:
"Brother, you flatter me."
As he came closer, he also clearly saw the young lady by his brother's side.
Of course, Ying Xiaoman wasn't wearing a conical hat in the evening. The moonlight reflected on her shoulders, and as she stood in the hazy night, her whole person seemed to be enveloped in a layer of light, like a little fairy who had secretly entered the mortal world from heaven.
Eighth Young Master Yan's eyes flickered, noticing their clasped hands.
He immediately revealed a strange expression, a mixture of realization and hidden relief. He quickly glanced at Ying Xiaoman, then swiftly turned his gaze away.
Pretending not to know her, he only exchanged pleasantries with Yan Rongshi, every sentence about "regretting the past and thoroughly mending his ways." He inconspicuously swept another glance at Ying Xiaoman, this time with approval and encouragement mixed with his relief, and followed the officials away, satisfied.
Ying Xiaoman: ?
She looked down at her hand clasped with Seventh Young Master's, puzzled.
Could it be that Eighth Young Master Yan thought he was following his advice... by employing the beauty strategy?!
"Why did they let him out?" Ying Xiaoman realized with a mix of anger. That scoundrel's scheming heart hasn't died, he's still plotting against Seventh Brother in his mind!
"People with wicked intentions should be locked up for eight or ten years."
"As long as he can redeem himself through meritorious service, it's fine to release him," Yan Rongshi walked a few steps forward and said casually:
"After all, Eighth Brother has no men or money left, and he's been branded with the evil reputation of conspiring with outsiders to harm his brother. He can't make waves anymore. If he wants to get ahead, he can only count on promotion in the official ranks. By letting him out to continue working, his performance evaluation is in my hands. Eighth Brother... is actually quite capable. I have a lot of work piled up waiting for him."
Ying Xiaoman walked out a few steps, unable to hold back a lowered head chuckle.
Seventh Brother himself was already as busy as a spinning top, how could he have pity on his unfortunate Eighth Brother? With Eighth Young Master Yan in Seventh Brother's hands, in the future even if he wanted to gaze at the moon on a late night, lament the passing of spring, or recite poetry, he probably wouldn't have the time...
After this brief interlude, the two continued walking forward for a few hundred steps, bidding a reluctant farewell under the moonlight.
Ying Xiaoman finally said the words that had been churning in her heart for a long time.
"Seventh Brother, we can wait until the end of August at the latest. If you have time... will you come back to my hometown with me and pay respects at my father's grave?"
Yan Rongshi instantly stopped and turned, his gaze shifting.
It was completely different from all the reactions Ying Xiaoman had previously imagined. Without asking a single extra question, he looked at her deeply and said directly:
"Alright."
With the case closed and evidence provided, the Ying Family was no longer a witness and continuing to live in the official residence of the Ministry of Justice could potentially be disadvantageous to Seventh Brother in the eyes of those with ulterior motives.
After experiencing several storms, Ying Xiaoman had learned a thing or two about the ways of the capital's officialdom.
Warriors use their fists, officials in the capital use their brushes. The four words "abuse of public office for private gain" left a deep impression on her.
After discussing with her mother in the evening, they decided to move out as soon as possible. Seventh Brother had good intentions in arranging for the Ying Family to stay in the official residence, but they couldn't bring him trouble.
However, due to a sudden whim and verbal order from the Empress Dowager, the whole family had to stay in the capital for a while longer, so accommodation became a big problem.
"Our family is registered as a female-headed household, it's not appropriate to stay at Seventh Brother's place," her adoptive mother's stance was very firm:
"With two unmarried young girls in the family, we can live anywhere, even back in Tongluo Alley, but we can't stay at Seventh Brother's house without proper status. No matter how many empty courtyards he has, we won't stay there."
Of course, they couldn't go back to live in the damp, muddy, and occasionally flooded rented house in Tongluo Alley.
Ying Xiaoman worried, "Do we really have to look for that matchmaker again? I had a big argument with him on the roadside over two strings of cash deposit just a few days ago."
Her adoptive mother said confidently: "It's better to deal with someone familiar than a stranger. This matchmaker conducts business by the rules. Didn't you see him politely saying goodbye after getting the money, even though he argued with you over two strings of cash on the roadside? Trust your mother, you're not wrong. If you can't bring yourself to find him, I'll go talk to him."
The matchmaker was actually very easy to find. The dozen or so damaged houses in Seven Scholars Lane had started repairs with clanging and banging, and the matchmaker was standing by the burnt and deformed gate of the Shen family.
There was no choice, as the Shen family couldn't afford the "twenty-four deposit for one" rent and had moved out. The Shen family's place had become an unattended residence, so the matchmaker had to keep a closer eye on it.
Ying Xiaoman coughed, brought over a bunch of grapes, and explained her idea of renting a house to the matchmaker.
"We only need to stay for a month or two. Somewhere close to the shopfronts on West Gate Inner Street. A quiet small courtyard, with rent not exceeding two strings of cash, paid monthly." She felt the silver ingot tucked in her bosom and added, "If there's a suitable house, the cheaper the better."
The matchmaker, who argued with people every day, had long forgotten the unpleasantness from a few days ago. He happily accepted the grapes and thanked her.
"Let me inform the young lady, there are no privately owned houses in the capital that can be rented for just a month or two. If you want to find a short-term rental, you can only look at the Capital City Shop and Residence Bureau."
Capital City Shop and Residence Bureau? Ying Xiaoman had an impression. Wasn't that extremely cheap rented house in Tongluo Alley rented from the Capital City Shop and Residence Bureau?
She immediately refused, "The houses from the Capital City Shop and Residence Bureau are cheap, but they have many pitfalls! We have a four-year-old girl in the family, how can we live in a dilapidated house?"
The matchmaker let out a sigh and explained in detail.
It turned out that the official rental houses recorded in the registers of the Capital City Shop and Residence Bureau came in all sorts of conditions.
There were cheap rentals specifically for poor families, as well as good private residences confiscated by the government for various reasons.
"Recently, two very quiet small courtyards were confiscated in the west of the city. They're adjacent to each other, the one on the left costs one string of cash per month, and the one on the right only six hundred coppers. The location is excellent, just eight hundred steps around the corner to West Gate Inner Street. It's very close to the young lady's meat shop."
Could there be such a good deal!
As Ying Xiaoman listened, her eyes gradually brightened.
The urgent matter of renting a house couldn't be delayed. She immediately went back to find her mother, brought Zhi along, and the three of them went to see the houses right away.
Indeed, it was a good location in the west of the city, indeed quiet small courtyards.
The houses were located in a long narrow alley called 'River Otter Alley'. Eight hundred steps out was the bustling shops of West Gate Inner Street, while River Otter Alley was quiet, the houses were old, with walls covered in lush green vines.
The two square and regular small courtyards were said to have belonged to the same family before they split. The courtyard walls of the two houses were right next to each other, separated only by a half-foot wide passage.
A thick large phoenix tree grew right in the center of the narrow passage, its lush large canopy shading both small courtyards.
"The one on the left has been recently rented out, just waiting for the tenants to move in. The one on the right is still empty. It's only six hundred coppers, does the Ying family want it?"
It was an unexpected stroke of good fortune. While Ying Xiaoman's adoptive mother was overjoyed, she also felt puzzled.
"The two places are about the same, why has the one on the left been rented out for one string of cash, while the one on the right can't be rented out at just six hundred coppers?" The more she thought about it, the more it didn't seem right. She nervously said, "A quiet, nice courtyard, close to the main street, good location, only six hundred coppers monthly rent? Even that flood-prone, bug-infested house in Tongluo Alley cost three hundred and fifty coppers a month! You matchmaker aren't trying to deceive me, are you? These two houses confiscated by the government, the one on the right isn't a haunted house where a violent crime occurred, is it?"
Ying Xiaoman was leading Zhi around to explore when she heard "haunted house" and was startled. She immediately stopped and pricked up her ears.
The matchmaker repeatedly cried injustice.
"How dare I do business with haunted houses? It would bring bad karma!"
These two courtyards were indeed involved in a government case and had been unoccupied for many years, which was why they were confiscated by the government and rented out cheaply. But it had absolutely nothing to do with any violent crimes.
"It's said that because the houses were vacant for too long, they were occupied by someone to do things? Anyway, it definitely doesn't involve any loss of life!"
"As for why the one on the right is cheaper, there's a reason. Come with me."
The matchmaker sighed and walked to the northwest corner of the courtyard, pushed aside the vines covering the courtyard wall, revealing a narrow door behind.
The narrow door was locked with a thick bolt. The matchmaker removed the bolt. It turned out that behind the narrow door, there was an extremely cramped and secluded small courtyard connected.
Ying Xiaoman curiously peeked in to have a look.
The small courtyard was overgrown with weeds, with only one north-facing tiled house inside. A few bamboo brooms were placed against the wall, and there was a corner door that could lead out to the alley.
"The owners of these two houses have long since passed away, and they were involved in a government case, so they were confiscated and registered as 'ownerless houses'. But although the houses have no owner... there's still an old servant living here."
The old servant was elderly, deaf and blind, and had been guarding the master's house for many years. If the old servant were driven out, he would probably die on the street within a few days.
When faced with such situations, the government doesn't easily move the old servants. They reduce the rent by thirty percent and look for tenants at a lower price.
"If you move into the house on the right, you don't need to pay much attention to the old servant next door, just check every few days to see if he's still alive. If he dies... report it to the officials, and they'll remove the old servant from the register. That's all you need to do as tenants."
The matchmaker closed the narrow door again, and seeing that the Ying family was interested, he struck while the iron was hot and asked, "Six hundred coppers, will you rent it?"
Ying Xiaoman and her adoptive mother, holding Zhi, went to a corner to whisper.
They calculated that they would only stay for a month or two at most. The old servant next door was said to have been guarding the old house alone for decades, surely nothing would happen in just a month or two?
What Ying Xiaoman was more concerned about was the house rented out on the left.
The courtyard walls were so close together, what if they ended up with a neighbor like Eighth Young Master Yan who doesn't sleep at night and recites poetry?
She asked the matchmaker, "The house on the left that's rented for one string of cash per month, what kind of family rented it?"
The matchmaker perked up upon hearing this and said enthusiastically, "What a coincidence! The neighboring household that's acquainted with the Ying Family is none other than Madam Shen's family, who used to live next door in Seven Scholars Lane. The Shen Family couldn't afford the 'twenty-four months' deposit,' hehe... After much persuasion, they finally signed a deal with me and moved here."
The adoptive mother, who had been hesitating, smiled when she heard about the Shen family.
"I have a connection with Madam Shen. Our families will continue to be neighbors." She discussed with her daughter Ying Xiaoman, "Shall we rent this place?"
The Ying Family immediately counted out six hundred copper coins for the matchmaker and signed the contract on the spot.
An early autumn breeze blew through the lush branches of the large phoenix tree overhead, sending a few leaves spiraling to the ground. Zhi picked up a golden phoenix tree leaf with curiosity.
Ying Xiaoman surveyed the new residence where her family would be living in a month.
On the left lived the Shen family, mother and son, and on the right lived a deaf and blind old servant. Both sides should be quiet... right?
Not bad.
The matchmaker had already walked out the door when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back to find Ying Xiaoman.
"Thanks to the Ying Family's patronage of my business, this item is of no use to me. I'd better return it to the young miss as it is." The matchmaker revealed an awkward yet polite smile, opened his cloth bag, and took out a heavy, half-melted iron lump.
"The one that melted into the silver ingot last time... ahem."
Ying Xiaoman took it in her hand, weighing it.
It would be good to take it back to her hometown. She could offer it at her father's grave, letting him see clearly how his old friends in the capital had deceived him back then, so he could chase after them and beat them in the afterlife.
She brought out a few tangerines from the house to thank the matchmaker, then pressed the iron lump into the bottom of the large trunk she was preparing to take back to her hometown.