Two small stools were brought over. Ying Xiaoman sat on the left, while the Young Master of the West Room sat on the right.
The grain that had been spread out to dry on the roof was now piled in front of them. Each held a fine bamboo sieve, carefully filtering out sand and small stones. The Young Master of the West Room began to recount his story in a leisurely manner.
On the night of the incident, a close friend had come to visit, and they had gone out for a meal together.
He had brought along several servants to attend the banquet. As they drank and made toasts, the wine that night seemed particularly strong. Midway through, he began to feel unwell and, using his drunkenness as an excuse, took his leave.
He had ridden a horse to the banquet, but on the journey home, he gradually found it difficult to stay in the saddle. The servants discussed sending some of their number back to fetch a carriage. The horse, originally docile and tied by the roadside, suddenly went berserk for unknown reasons, breaking free and bolting. Several servants gave chase. The remaining few suggested going to a nearby shop to buy sobering soup, and two more left for this task. In the end, only two remained by his side.
By this time, he was so drunk he couldn't tell north from south. He only vaguely remembered being in a pitch-black alley, with two servants supporting him as he staggered forward. As they emerged from the alley, they unexpectedly found themselves facing a shimmering river.
"The stars were twinkling that night. The alley where I stood was dark, but I clearly remember the starlight reflecting on the water... The servants beside me began to argue."
One servant complained about why they had brought their master to such a remote riverside. How would they explain if the carriage returned and couldn't find them?
The other servant laughed and said, "You need not worry anymore."
The tone was strange, and even in his drunken state, he sensed something was amiss, though his vision was too blurry to see clearly. Several dark figures appeared from nowhere, quickly overpowering the complaining servant, gagging him and forcing his head into the river. A boat was waiting, and the loyal servant's corpse was loaded onto it.
He watched helplessly, as he too was soon overpowered. His eyes were covered, and his mouth gagged, but he wasn't immediately thrown into the river. A carriage emerged from the alley, taking him to an unknown location.
He heard the sound of water alternating with the rumble of carriage wheels, and even through the blindfold, he could sense the coming of dawn. Suddenly, the sound of water grew louder, and two men carried him out of the carriage, transferring him to a boat in the light spring rain.
The boat traveled for an unknown number of hours. The spring rain fell incessantly. When the steadily moving boat suddenly stopped in the middle of the water, his heart tightened, knowing his captors were ready to make their move.
"Then I became disoriented, unable to tell east from west, drifting without knowing north from south. Someone untied me, dressed me in an exceptionally thick and heavy cloak, tied it tightly, and pushed me into the middle of the river, pretending I had fallen in due to drunkenness."
The Young Master of the West Room chuckled as he spoke, his wrists shaking the bamboo sieve, causing fine sand to sift through its holes.
Ying Xiaoman had long since forgotten the task at hand, captivated by the story.
"That you survived this is incredible. You truly have a strong will to live," she said, staring at his left hand wrapped in gauze. Remembering the gaping wound that had nearly pierced through, she wondered how he had mustered the strength to stab so forcefully, almost piercing his own hand.
"You sensed something was wrong and removed your hairpin beforehand, hiding it in your hand. That's how you managed to break free in the water and survive, right?"
"How could a person pretending to be unconscious remove a hairpin in advance? That would have been too obvious a giveaway."
The Young Master of the West Room sighed with a smile. "Fortunately, I knew how to swim a little, so I didn't drown immediately upon entering the water. Those who pushed me in saw me sink straight to the bottom without struggle, believing I was too drunk to be conscious. The boat didn't linger long before departing. I sank to the bottom, holding my breath for as long as I could... When I was nearly at my limit, I struggled to pull out the hairpin and stabbed my hand. The pain helped me regain some clarity, allowing me to surface and save my life."
"That must have been terribly difficult."
Though he spoke of it casually now, Ying Xiaoman could only imagine how heart-stopping the experience must have been at the time.
Her gaze softened with sympathy as she looked at him.
"After such a struggle to survive, you were then swept up by the flooding river and washed up at my doorstep. What an extraordinary twist of fate. You don't want your family to worry, so you'd like to recover fully before returning home? I suppose we could let you stay a few more days."
The Young Master of the West Room smiled gently.
His gaze held a hint of tenderness as he looked at her.
"Indeed, I'd prefer not to return home too soon. But the reason is... The friend who invited me to the banquet that day is my closest confidant. It's unlikely he was behind this. I suspect that among those who plotted against me, there may be members of my own family."
Ying Xiaoman: "..."
Shocked into silence, Ying Xiaoman could not speak for a while. She quietly picked up more grain and began sifting vigorously.
After they had silently sifted through all the grain, removing even the finest sand, Ying Xiaoman caught her breath and finally asked, "You suspect someone in your own family wants to harm you. What do you plan to do? If your guess is right, going home would allow the villain to try again; if you're wrong, you'd be unjustly suspecting your close relatives."
"You're absolutely right. Returning home directly would bring numerous complications. It's better to remain hidden and wait until I've uncovered the mastermind before deciding what to do. That's why I originally wanted to stay a bit longer."
At this point, the Young Master of the West Room paused, showing some signs of difficulty. "I didn't expect you to be planning to move. In just five or six days, arranging funds wouldn't be a problem, but uncovering the true culprit is really quite..."
Ying Xiaoman put down her sieve, having made up her mind.
"I'll talk to my mother when I get the chance. Don't worry, after we move, you can come stay with us at the new place for a while until you've figured out who's behind this plot against you."
The Young Master of the West Room's almond-shaped eyes curved in pleasure, their depths shimmering. He didn't refuse, but thanked her directly.
"Such great kindness needs no thanks; I'm at a loss for how to repay you. I've lived in the capital for many years and have connections in various places. Miss Ying, you've only recently arrived in the capital. If your family needs anything, or if there's anything you want to do or avoid doing, just let me know, and I'll do my best to help."
Ying Xiaoman thought to herself that what her family lacked most was manpower.
The Yan family mansion was vast, with hundreds of rooms and servants. She had infiltrated the Yan household to seek revenge, but she lacked someone to keep watch outside...
However, she knew that revenge was risky, and taking a life would demand retribution. While this young master wanted to repay her kindness, and his intentions were good, whether he would be willing to help her kill her enemies was another matter entirely.
Cautiously, Ying Xiaoman didn't mention this matter. Instead, she brought up the second thing her family lacked:
"My family needs money. I'll have to keep a detailed account of your daily meals, medicines, clothes, and shoes. When we move, you mustn't leave any debts unpaid. Everything must be settled."
The Young Master of the West Room agreed without hesitation, "We can also include the rent for the new place in the calculations. Housing in the capital is expensive; it wouldn't be right to occupy a room for free for an extended period."
Surprised and impressed by his conscientiousness, Ying Xiaoman felt a growing fondness for this exceptionally considerate young master.
"That's right, our new house is in the north of the city, and the monthly rent is quite expensive. It would be best if you could pay a portion of it."
She got up to find some snacks in the kitchen, noticing it was still early. "Mother, I'm going out to look at the new house. If it's good, I'll secure it today."
Her adoptive mother replied from inside, "Be sure to check the lease carefully, don't let anyone cheat you! Also, check if it's close to the river, beware of flooding when it rains!"
"I've already checked. The good houses in the north don't flood."
Ying Xiaoman lowered the hanging basket, taking out a few paper notes. Her adoptive mother, still worried, called out as she left, "Keep the money safe on you!"
Ying Xiaoman waved back and headed out briskly.
In the capital, small transactions used copper coins, while larger ones used paper currency. The jade pendant they had pawned at the shop had been exchanged for two thin notes worth one string of cash each. To her adoptive mother, who had lived in the countryside for decades, this was considered a significant sum.
But Ying Xiaoman had recently wandered the streets of the northern part of the city, witnessing grand restaurants serving dishes on complete sets of silver utensils, dazzling and full. She had heard that a top-tier banquet at the best restaurant in the capital could cost over a hundred taels of silver.
Even at a common teahouse on the street, sitting down for a pot of tea, some snacks, and listening to a storyteller would cost several hundred copper coins.
The small house she had her eye on was considered cheap for its good location in the north, but a few strings of cash were far from enough.
When she left home today, she carried fifty taels of silver given by her adoptive father.
She met with the property agent in the afternoon and viewed the house again.
The small courtyard house in the north that caught her eye had a square courtyard upon entering, with three neat rooms facing south. In the yard stood an old osmanthus tree. To the west was a newly built, clean kitchen with a stove.
Her adoptive mother loved cleanliness. After moving to the new house, they would no longer have to trudge through mud to enter and exit, nor worry about the damp ground after rain or the river water that sometimes flooded the alley.
Most importantly, the small house she liked was in an excellent location, just across from Changle Street, in Seven Scholars Lane.
The Yan Family, her adoptive father's enemies, lived in Changle Lane.
The Yan Family had lived in the capital for generations, serving as officials. Her adoptive father said that the one who became his enemy was the previous Lord Yan, a corrupt official!
Their feud spanned generations. If the father was gone, the son would take up the grudge. If the son didn't manage affairs, the grandson would. The current head of the Yan Family, Yan Rongshi, was the legitimate grandson of the previous Lord Yan. He held the position of Junior Minister in the Ministry of Justice. Whether his reputation was good or bad was unclear, but he was likely just another corrupt official.
Once the Ying family moved into their new home in Seven Scholars Lane, they would be able to observe their enemies' comings and goings from afar. How could the fifty taels of silver her adoptive father gave her not be considered well-spent at such a crucial time?
In any case, Ying Xiaoman was very satisfied and immediately discussed signing the lease with the agent.
From the afternoon until sunset, they finally settled the details and set a date for her adoptive mother to formally sign the contract.
Ying Xiaoman felt a mix of happiness and disappointment.
With empty hands and an empty stomach, she walked out of the small courtyard in the north, feeling dazed.
The agent's words echoed in her ears like a ringing bell.
"Young miss, please calculate again? The fifty taels of silver you paid today just covers the rent, with nothing left over."
"Impossible! Wasn't the monthly rent two strings of cash? That's twenty-four strings a year, how can there be nothing left?"
"Young miss, you don't understand. This house is leased for two years, plus one month's deposit. The deposit will be returned in full after two years. If you calculate carefully, it's twenty-five months, equivalent to fifty strings, which at market price converts to exactly fifty taels of silver."
Ying Xiaoman clutched the heavy silver ingots in shock. These fifty taels carried many of her hopes.
She had planned to first rent the house, buy silk clothes for her adoptive mother and Zhi, purchase some furniture, and then buy a few handy tools for her nighttime activities, including night clothes... She had intended to cover all of this from the fifty taels of silver.
Standing under the lush osmanthus tree in the small courtyard, she asked in a daze, "In Tongluo Alley in the south, rent is paid monthly. Why does this house in Seven Scholars Lane in the north require two years' payment upfront?"
The agent's gaze swept over Ying Xiaoman's plain clothes and cloth shoes like a knife. Such a striking young lady... The agent swallowed the harsh words he was about to say.
"In this vast capital, the rich and poor have different customs, how can the rules be the same in different areas? This Seven Scholars Lane is a good location where only sixth-rank officials can afford to live. The neighbors on both sides are respectable families, and across the street, look, that's the high-ranking Yan family home, who have produced two prime ministers, and where the current Junior Minister Yan of the Ministry of Justice resides. If money is tight, young miss, why not look for houses towards the south or west? Why insist on moving into Seven Scholars Lane?"
Ying Xiaoman pressed her lips together. Her naturally smiling curve straightened into a line.
"It has to be a house in Seven Scholars Lane. Is there nothing cheaper?"
"This is already the cheapest."
Ying Xiaoman placed the fifty taels of silver, now warm from her grip, on the table. "I'll take this one. My mother will come to sign the contract tomorrow."
With empty hands, she walked out of Seven Scholars Lane in a daze, making her way home and remaining silent all evening.
Her adoptive mother glanced at her more than ten times while cooking. After the whole family had eaten and drunk their fill, and Zhi was put to bed on the kang, mother and daughter spoke in hushed tones in the room.
"Couldn't secure the new house?"
"We did. It's a very clean and quiet small courtyard, with a lush osmanthus tree in the yard. We've agreed to sign the contract tomorrow... The houses in the north are too expensive."
"Such a good house must be expensive for a reason. How much is the rent?"
"...Two strings."
"Two strings of cash! Per month!" After clarifying the amount, her adoptive mother could barely catch her breath, "That's twenty-four strings for a year! How much of your father's money will be left!"
Ying Xiaoman dared not speak.
Her adoptive mother muttered, "Although the location of this place in Tongluo Alley isn't ideal, it doesn't flood every year. Why don't we stay another year?"
"...Living here won't help us take revenge."
Mother and daughter fell into silence.
The entire evening was quiet in the Ying household. Under her adoptive mother's urging, Ying Xiaoman finished a bowl of egg drop soup, then carried a second bowl to the west room. She took out some oiled paper to record the day's new accounts, still feeling listless and not wanting to speak.
The Young Master of the West Room, who was holding the oil lamp for her at the table, noticed this and took the initiative to ask, "I heard Madam Ying saying loudly in the room earlier, 'two strings of cash per month.' Is that the monthly rent for the new place?"
"It's too expensive," Ying Xiaoman sniffled. "How can the houses in the north be so costly? Are they trying to cheat us?"
"Two taels a month for rent is quite fair. In some good locations near the Imperial City, rents can go up to ten taels or more."
The Young Master of the West Room observed her weary expression and, after a moment's thought, said, "I'll move into the new house with you. I'll pay half of the two-tael rent."
Logically, this should have been good news, something to be happy about, and Ying Xiaoman did indeed smile briefly. But that hint of a smile quickly faded.
The Young Master of the West Room sensed something amiss. "What's wrong?"
"The fifty taels of silver I gave away today were from my father."
Some things couldn't be said to her mother, but could be shared with an outsider. Ying Xiaoman wrote by the oil lamp while speaking: "I knew it would be spent when I took it out, but I always thought there'd be some left over. I didn't expect such a large ingot to be completely used up. After all, it was what my father left me before he passed away..."
"A keepsake?" the Young Master of the West Room finished for her.
Ying Xiaoman's writing paused, and a drop of water fell onto the oiled paper. She quickly wiped the corner of her eye.
Once hidden emotions are spoken aloud, they lose their original overwhelming power. She soon recovered from her brief low spirits and gradually calmed down.
After recording the day's accounts, with the Young Master of the West Room adding thirty wen to his debt, Ying Xiaoman put away the oiled paper and pushed the porcelain bowl across the table. "Eat up. Mother said this bowl of egg custard won't be charged to your account."
"Thank you to Madam Ying for her consideration. Thank you to Miss Ying for bringing the custard." The Young Master of the West Room sat across from her, eating while asking, "Which part of the north city did your family find?"
Ying Xiaoman replied: "Seven Scholars Lane."
The Young Master of the West Room had just taken a bite when his movements paused.
"So it's in Seven Scholars Lane." He stirred the egg custard with his porcelain spoon, creating a series of light clinks as it touched the bowl.
"That's quite close to my home."