Chapter 49
Xie Yao seemed to have thought for a moment and said, “The Wangxian Tower on Zhuque Street is not bad. I will book the third floor for you in advance. At that time, you won’t have to squeeze in the crowd.”
So he wouldn’t be going with her. Yuli suppressed a trace of disappointment and said with a smile, “Then I will have to trouble Husband to spend the money.”
When they reached Mingyue Residence, Yuli let go of him. The maids had already brought the food after receiving the news of his return. Yuli helped to arrange them one by one.
Her heart was light. Yuli concentrated on having her meal with him and served him food.
Xie Yao looked at her, his eyes soft, covering the faint weariness in them. He looked much less sharp and majestic than usual.
When they went to bed at night, Yuli was also extremely proactive. She bathed early and waited for him in bed.
When they embraced, she called his name, gentle and affectionate, making Xie Yao lose all sense of the world.
In the end, Xie Yao held her tightly and called her name.
“Yuli.”
“Mm.”
He would call, and Yuli would answer.
In the end, his voice was hoarse, as if only his breath was left.
For a brief moment, Yuli sensed his overwhelming emotions. She couldn’t tell what they were, but she felt an inexplicable sadness.
It was probably the emptiness after indulging in desire. Yuli felt it was alright. She held him, her cheek pressed against his, and gently caressed the back of his neck.
In just a moment, Xie Yao returned to normal. He carried her to wash, much gentler than usual, as if treating a fragile treasure.
After washing, he carried her back. Yuli soon fell asleep in his arms.
*
Early the next morning, not long after Yuli got up, Xiyun came in and whispered to her, “Jingyu is back.”
They had previously agreed not to tell her about Huayan Fang’s affairs. Yuli and Xiyun exchanged a knowing smile.
When she went out and saw Jingyu, she found that her face was a little pale, and she looked as if she had not yet fully recovered.
Yuli wanted to let her rest for another day. She curtsied to Yuli. “This servant is much better. I have been delayed for many days, and the Mistress must have been greatly inconvenienced. Please do not blame me, Mistress.”
Jingyu’s eyes were slightly lowered, and she looked listless. She had probably been weakened by her illness and had returned to her previous humble appearance. Yuli couldn’t bear to see her like this and wanted to force her to rest for another day. Before she could speak, Jingyu said, “The arrangements for the Mistress’s outing today have been made. Please have your breakfast first, Mistress.”
Yuli was helpless. She gave Xiyun a look and went to have breakfast first.
Xiyun walked to Jingyu’s side and touched her forehead. Jingyu shrank back in alarm and frowned at Xiyun.
Xiyun was surprised. “What’s wrong with you? Are you not fully recovered yet? Just rest at home. The Mistress won’t blame you.”
Jingyu lowered her head and said nothing.
Xiyun: “Why are you calling yourself ‘this servant’ again? Speaking of which, I’ve never asked you. Were you sold to this residence, or are you a commoner? What about your family?”
Jingyu’s face was calm. She forced a faint smile. “Thank you for your concern. I probably just thought of my late mother while I was ill. It’s nothing. I’m all better now.”
Xiyun looked at her and still felt that her smile was forced. Thinking that she had been in this residence longer than her and probably knew the Young Master’s temperament well, and had perhaps seen more cruel things than she had on the day she had arrived, which was why she was so cautious.
Xiyun still tried to console her. “You have already done well enough, much better than me. The Mistress also wants you to be more at ease and cheerful. Even a lazy person like me, the Mistress has never blamed. Let alone you. I can’t say for other places, but as long as you have no ill intentions, you can relax in front of the Mistress.”
Jingyu’s expression seemed to have improved a little.
Xiyun then leaned close to her ear and said in a very low voice, “Didn’t you see? Although the Young Master is… he lets the Mistress have her way in everything. No matter how fierce he is, the Mistress can handle him.”
Jingyu’s mouth was slightly agape with shock. The dead weight in her heart was swept away. Seeing Xiyun’s playful smile, she probably thought she was very clever. Jingyu couldn’t bear to comment on her “ignorance is bliss.”
In any case, most of the dead air between Jingyu’s eyebrows was swept away, and she looked a little more energetic.
After the three of them were ready, they went out and squeezed into a small blue-curtained carriage. Jingyu kept her head bowed, and Xiyun and Yuli were talking in low voices. She was silent and did not say a word.
Yuli would occasionally glance at her. She had been with her for so long. Had she not respected her enough?
She had always firmly believed that for a person to be happy and satisfied from the bottom of their heart, it was not enough for others to say “you are good.” It required completing large and small tasks, gaining a sense of value and accomplishment, and building a solid self, unshakable by others’ evaluations.
That was why she had not held her hand and, in an intimate way, told her “you are good, you should be confident, you should be happy.”
That was useless. And Jingyu had a low opinion of her own status. She might just think she was being hypocritical and was only saying these things to show her condescending sympathy.
But she had already gone through a lot with her. Although there had been many grievances, she had also overcome many difficulties. Thinking of her reaction when she had been slapped that day, Yuli also felt a little guilty. She had chosen to appease the situation, and she had indeed wronged her. Perhaps she was resentful of her in her heart.
Previously, her ability was not enough, but their days were still long, and things would get better and better in the future. Giving her the most practical benefits was much more moving than empty words of concern.
When they reached Huayan Fang, Lizhen, seeing the long-lost Jingyu, showed some concern and followed behind Yuli and Xiyun to the north room study.
Yuli said to Jingyu, “In the few days you were not here, we have made a new flower color. There are five of them. Everything is ready. Now we need to find Yingniang and discuss with her how to wear them during the Welcoming Summer Festival. Jingyu, only you can help with this matter. We can’t find a channel.”
Jingyu agreed.
Xiyun timely brought the tray from the side of the table to Jingyu. Lizhen lifted the red cloth on the side, revealing five flowers that were ten times brighter than the red cloth.
Jingyu was taken aback for a moment. “This is… the red that Mr. Ye dyed?”
Yuli: “Yes! Mr. Ye dyed it, and Zhile made it. We succeeded, Jingyu.”
Jingyu forced a smile.
“Now we need you to find Yingniang. We will choose five beauties together to wear them at the Welcoming Summer Festival and amaze all the young ladies,” Yuli said to her. “At that time, our Huayan Fang will be popular again. This time, we have made a detailed plan and will not make any mistakes. We also need you to find better suppliers to support our future endless orders.”
“At the end of the year, you, like Lizhen and Xiyun, will get a 10% profit share.”
At this time, Xiyun interrupted, “Don’t look at how I only do some trivial things and seem useless. I’m now learning to dye silk threads from Mr. Ye, and it will be very useful in the future.”
“Doing trivial things is also very taxing,” Lizhen said with a smile.
Yuli also nodded in agreement.
The three people in the room all laughed.
But Jingyu pursed her lips, and four or five teardrops instantly rolled down her cheeks. Yuli and the others’ smiles froze. Before they could react, she lifted her sleeve and wiped away the tears. “I, I was too excited. Mistress, time is tight. There are only three days left. I’ll go and find Yingniang now.”
Jingyu was about to leave. Yuli held her and gently hugged her. “You have been wronged. Things will get better and better in the future. No one will be able to bully us again.”
Jingyu held back a sob and hummed in agreement.
*
Four days later, the Welcoming Summer Festival.
Zhuque Street was overcrowded. Yuli suspended the business of Huayan Fang for half a day and brought everyone in the shop out to celebrate this festival that was of great significance to them.
The group passed through the crowd and squeezed with difficulty to Wangxian Tower. At the door, they heard someone complain.
“Why is it so crowded this year? It wasn’t so crowded in previous years.”
A waiter smiled and replied, “Today is the day the Shenwu Army is setting out on an expedition. Many people have come to see them off.”
Hearing that the Shenwu Army was setting out on an expedition, the guest’s tone relaxed. “Then they will surely return with a great victory. It is only right to see them off.”
“Exactly. I heard that the regent in the palace is also coming to see them off!”
Xiyun acted as if she hadn’t heard and happily led the way. Jingyu was at the back, her expression unseen. The two guards’ expressions were also unchanged.
Yuli thought she had misheard. This location was recommended by Xie Yao. Did he want her to see his identity, or had he made a plan to avoid it?
Yuli’s heart pounded. She had not yet thought of how to react when she learned of his identity. Should she be surprised and at a loss, or be nonchalant? And how did he expect her to react?
After revealing his identity, was he going to officially make her his legal wife? Could her life still remain the same…
Yuli’s mind was in a mess. She looked at the joyful faces of Lizhen, Zhile, and the others nearby. Her career had just started to take off. She didn’t want to change the current situation.
She was in a daze when she reached the third floor of Wangxian Tower. The shopkeeper welcomed them to a private seat by the window. This direction was to the east, against the morning sun, and the view was excellent.
The shopkeeper was extremely solicitous, personally serving melon, fruits, pastries, and tea, and kept saying solicitous words. He was interrupted by Jingyu, who politely gave him a reward and sent him away.
The crowd on both sides of Zhuque Street was surging. The center of the street had already begun to be cordoned off. Bailiffs with long sticks were blocking the pedestrians to the side of the street. The entire street was so long that one couldn’t see the end, but the majestic palace city could be seen in the back.
The bailiffs moved forward in a line. In a short while, they had pressed the crowd to the side of the street, clearing the central road for the Shenwu Army’s expeditionary troops to pass.
Hearing the clamor of voices from below the window, Yuli’s mind was in a mess. She even thought of making an excuse to go to the privy to hide later.
Yuli kept glancing at Jingyu. Jingyu must have known long ago, but her expression was normal at this moment, and she was talking and laughing with Xiyun, as if she were not nervous or expectant.
Behind her were Ye Weiqing and Zhile. The two of them were more nervous, worried about whether their works could be popular.
The two old dyers had not come to join in the fun. The two young apprentices and the two new young clerks were eating pastries and telling jokes by the window.
Lizhen was opposite her. She sensitively sensed that Yuli was a little uncomfortable and guessed that she was probably not worried about the effect.
They had known each other for four months. Previously, Lizhen had heard from Xiyun that she and the Mistress were both from Xihe County and had only married into the capital last year. The master of the house was a wealthy merchant.
But Lizhen felt that Yuli was not like a girl from an ordinary family. The master of the house, whom she had only met once, was also not at all like a wealthy merchant.
He was more like a new noble of the current dynasty who had risen from the border.
Lizhen would not pry into what Yuli wanted to hide, but she turned the topic to the court.
“The Mistress only came to the capital last year and has not seen the scene in the capital before the military chaos. That was a time of ten li of prosperity. The road in the middle of this Zhuque Street was full of four-horse carriages of the noble families. When those nobles went out, they were surrounded by servants. We commoners would be separated with just one look. It was not like today’s official business, just an ordinary outing. At that time, my husband said that we common people were not even as good as a dog at the gate of a powerful family,” Lizhen said with a smile.
“My husband is the illegitimate son of a humble family. He can’t carry a shoulder pole or lift a basket. He has always wanted to take the imperial examination to become an official. He took the exam for several years but did not pass. He had already given up and was copying books for others at home and taking care of the children. Last year, the regent held a special imperial examination and selected three hundred Jinshi. Even those who were more down and out than my husband passed. Now, he has started to work hard again, wanting to pass the imperial examination.”
“Some people are spreading bad words about the new dynasty in the capital. My family and our neighbors don’t believe it at all. If you ask me, after overthrowing those old worms, the truly talented people can play their role, and the world can prosper. The sovereign and ministers of the new dynasty are all heroes.”
Yuli listened silently. So, in the eyes of the common people, Xie Yao was actually a wise ruler?
No, why did Lizhen suddenly talk to her about this? Could it be that she was also someone arranged by Xie Yao…
Just as Yuli was suspicious, the voices outside the window suddenly became twice as noisy.
Yuli turned her head and saw soldiers in black armor coming from the direction of the Imperial City. The few at the head had dazzling armor and were riding their horses slowly, their faces solemn, with a stern and killing air.
At first glance, it was startling, but one couldn’t help but look back.
Behind the few generals were cavalry holding flags. The cavalry passed by in a continuous line, and then came the infantry. Before Yuli could think, she saw a wide ebony carriage slowly approaching in the center of the spear-wielding infantry formation.
“It’s the regent!” Yuli heard someone in the window below discussing loudly.
Yuli’s palms were sweating.
It was not right to look, but she couldn’t help it.