Chapter 68 Remembering Jiangnan (Part 8) Sweet floral fragrance.

Just half an incense stick's time away.

Zhou Chongli rode his horse to the city gate and met Ye Xingjian, who was covered in dust from his journey.

Ye Xingjian's visit to Wujiang was on the orders of the Suzhou Prefect, to inspect the repair work on several key river embankments after last autumn's floods, and also to oversee preparations for this spring's grain transport.

His trip was not specifically to Wujiang, but rather he was inspecting the area from a neighboring county, and this place was a necessary stop along the way.

During the autumn floods last year, the two worked side by side for days, coordinating the allocation of resources and manpower. They appreciated each other's capable and pragmatic style, which avoided empty talk, and thus became friends.

At this moment, dusk was falling.

Zhou Chongli gazed out the window. The figures of the "brother and sister" on the river had been mostly swallowed by the twilight, leaving only a blurry boat swaying with the waves. But the glimpse of their profile when the veil was lifted revealed a striking resemblance to the taciturn young man from the Ministry of Revenue.

However, due to the distance and the approaching dusk, the shimmering waves were so dazzling that Zhou Chongli could not see clearly and dared not confirm it.

However, the way the man lowered his head to approach and the woman tilted her head slightly to meet him, their tender and intimate manner, was far beyond the boundaries that ordinary siblings should have.

Xie Yicheng must have lied to him; that woman could never be his "younger sister".

Zhou Chongli narrowed his eyes and tapped lightly on the window frame with his fingertips.

Why did he lie? Was it to conceal the woman's true identity? And why would he need to deliberately hide that identity from him, the county magistrate?

A vague suspicion, like an undercurrent at the bottom of a river, stirred within him.

"Brother Xingjian, in your opinion, would an elder brother from an ordinary family personally visit his younger sister?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Xingjian, who was holding the teapot and pouring tea, paused.

He slowly put down the teapot, got up and walked to the window, standing side by side with Zhou Chongli, their gazes fixed on the now empty river surface.

A damp, chilly breeze from the river flowed in through the window, fluttering the sleeves of his official robe with a soft rustling sound.

He paused for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Brother Chongli, why do you ask that?"

He had no face to answer; he himself had violated etiquette and had no right to comment. He could only gently deflect the question.

"It's nothing. I just ran into an old friend downstairs. He was boating on the river with his sister. From a distance, the two seemed very close, even more so than the usual siblings."

Zhou Chongli laughed and said, "I asked this out of curiosity, and it was indeed a rather absurd question."

absurd.

Ye Xingjian concealed the bitterness in his eyes. "Yes, boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven. Even if they are siblings, they should still observe etiquette and behave in a proper manner after they come of age. This is the proper way. If, as Brother Chongli said, they are too close, no matter what the reason is, it is still against etiquette and will easily cause controversy."

He understood the principles, and his words were firm and resounding, just as he always had, making him a model of aristocratic youths upholding proper etiquette.

However, there is a huge gap between understanding and doing. In the past six months in Jiangsu, he has been busy with official duties and paperwork. He tried to fill all the gaps with endless busyness and forcibly suppress the longing and delusions that gnawed at his heart day and night.

However, at this moment, Zhou Chongli's absurd question suddenly triggered all sorts of things about Ye Mu, and they surged forth like water bursting its banks.

As a child, she would tug at his clothes to buy candy; as an adult, she would quip at him with sharp tongue; when he caught her gluttonous in the kitchen, she would give him a sly smile; when she took a nap in the west wing… His memory of her was etched deep within him.

"By the way, Brother Xingjian might also know this old friend."

Zhou Chongli's voice pulled Ye Xingjian back from his brief daze, leading him back to the table to sit down, and personally refilling his cup of hot tea. "Master Wenkong, you come from Baoxiang Temple in your capital."

“Master Wenkong?” Ye Xingjian asked in surprise, raising his eyes to look at Zhou Chongli. “He is an old acquaintance; I’ve met him a few times in the capital. He is always strict in observing the precepts, with a refined and aloof demeanor. He is a true monk who devotes himself to cultivation. How could he be like what Brother Chongli says?”

His tone was skeptical, clearly finding it difficult to reconcile the image of the monk with his sparse features and untainted appearance in his memory with the one described as "traveling with his sister and behaving intimately."

Zhou Chongli's smile was meaningful. "It seems that Brother Xingjian is unaware that Master Wenkong has already returned to secular life. His secular name is Xie Yicheng."

"Return to secular life?"

Ye Xingjian was stunned, his brows furrowing slightly; this news was truly unexpected.

He recalled the letter from his sister Ye Mu, which had been delivered to him at his post during the Spring Festival. In the letter, she spoke lightly, saying that she and her mother had moved out of the Marquis's mansion and settled down in Yuqian Lane. She had also found a stable job and told him not to worry, as everything was fine.

However, the letter made no mention of Wen Kong's return to secular life.

Perhaps Si Niang didn't have much contact with him on a regular basis, or perhaps she thought the matter was unimportant and hadn't mentioned it specifically. Ye Xingjian tried to find a reason for Si Niang in his heart to soothe his sudden unease.

"Brother Chongli just said that he told you that the woman is his younger sister?"

Ye Xingjian steadied himself, put down his teacup, and slowly said, "If he has indeed returned to secular life and is traveling with a woman, and their relationship is close, yet they address each other as 'brother and sister,' perhaps it is not out of intention to deceive, but rather because the two are in love but have not yet consummated their relationship for some reason. In order to avoid suspicion and protect the woman's reputation, it is understandable that they temporarily use this term to conceal their relationship?"

Born into a wealthy and influential family, and raised in a family steeped in scholarship and propriety, he has always been prone to thinking the worst of people.

Zhou Chongli listened with a faint smile, his fingertips gently stroking the warm, smooth surface of the cup, offering no comment.

But since we're talking about younger sisters...

Zhou Chongli casually asked, "I heard that Brother Xingjian also has a younger sister? To receive the guidance of an elder brother like Brother Xingjian, she must be a dignified and well-mannered young lady from a respectable family."

"She was very mischievous and different from ordinary young ladies from a young age. When she was seven, she dared to tug at her grandmother's sleeve and say that she wanted to learn how to manage accounts and house, and did not want to be confined to the boudoir. She was very ambitious."

His tone was full of undisguised affection. Although Ye Xingjian had two younger sisters, he was always closer to Ye Mu, so when talking about his younger sister, he only thought of her.

A smile unconsciously crept onto Ye Xingjian's lips as he said, "Speaking of which, the reason I was able to meet Master Wen Kong was entirely because of my younger sister."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"By chance, Master Wenkong has been guiding my younger sister in calligraphy since she was a child. I dare not lie, my sister's calligraphy is no less skillful than that of an ordinary man." Ye Xingjian said with great pride, "When Brother Chongli comes to my humble abode, I will definitely find the calligraphy she used to practice and ask you to give your opinion."

Having been involved in accounting since childhood and learning calligraphy from Wen Kong, Zhou Chongli's eyes gradually deepened, but his face remained humble as he listened attentively. "I will certainly pay my respects. Brother Xingjian is not one to praise people easily, but you have put in so much effort. I will definitely see for myself when the time comes. May I ask how old my younger sister is now?"

"She's sixteen now; yesterday was her birthday." Ye Xingjian smiled. "She's grown up so fast. By the time I return to the capital for my next duty report, she'll probably already be engaged."

There was a hint of bitterness in his smile, which Zhou Chongli did not notice, his thoughts elsewhere on his birthday yesterday.

Too many coincidences are no longer coincidences.

Exquisite dishes were served one after another, filling the air with their aroma. The conversation between the two naturally turned to serious matters such as official duties, canal transport, and river works and finances. Amid the clinking of glasses, the atmosphere transformed from the usual official social interactions.

After the banquet, out of courtesy, Zhou Chongli wanted Ye Xingjian to stay overnight at the Wujiang County post station. However, Ye Xingjian insisted on returning to Suzhou city that very night, citing "urgent official business to attend to at the prefectural government office."

The more he pondered the matter at the table, the more confused he became.

Since Ye Mu sent that letter at the beginning of the year to let us know he was safe, four whole months have passed without a single word from him.

This is extremely unusual.

What is she doing? Is she alright? Wen Kong suddenly returned to secular life, and a woman appeared by his side behaving intimately… Could that woman be Fourth Sister? Is Wen Kong's return to secular life related to her? Did they leave the capital together and come to Jiangnan?

Ye Xingjian broke out in a cold sweat. He recalled the past; Mu'er did indeed often go to Baoxiang Temple, ostensibly to listen to scriptures and calm her mind. At the time, he only thought it was her impulsive nature and an excuse to go out, without giving it much thought.

If she and Wen Kong already had feelings for each other, and Wen Kong resolutely returned to secular life for her...

He had to hurry and write to the capital to inquire about Ye Mu's recent situation.

-

The next day, the morning glow dissipated, and the sky was washed clean.

Ye Mu didn't forget to return the ebony umbrella to Zhou Chongli.

She arrived half an hour earlier than usual, only to learn from the old yamen runner on duty that the magistrate had gone to inspect spring plowing and the newly built irrigation canals in several villages twenty miles outside the city before dawn, and probably wouldn't be returning to the yamen today.

She squeezed the heavy umbrella handle in her hand and walked to the door of the signing room, but unfortunately the black lacquered door was tightly closed. She put the umbrella down against the wall.

But after taking two steps, Ye Mu turned back, picked up the lock, and examined it carefully.

This is a common type of lock, with a sturdy lock body and a thick lock shank.

She extended her fingertips and tentatively pulled on the connection between the lock and the door knocker.

She took out a blade from the bag, but the lock mechanism was more complicated than she had imagined. The blade was blocked and could not reach the spring clip.

Ye Mu had an idea in mind. He returned to his residence and brought up the scroll.

Colleagues arrived one after another, and the sounds of yawns, complaints about the spring chill, and the clinking of porcelain cups filled the air.

Yu, the clerk, arrived a little later than usual, his round face beaming with a smile, carrying an oil paper package in his hand. "Clerk Ye, come on, try this."

He leaned closer to Ye Mu's desk, unfolded the oil paper, and inside were several pieces of still-warm Dingsheng cake, the glutinous rice flour white and decorated with red and green shreds. "Thank you, Master, for treating us to such delicious cakes yesterday. Our household is really benefiting from your kindness."

"My master?" Ye Mu picked up a piece, somewhat surprised. "He even treated you to pastries?"

"Indeed!" Yu Shuban took out an exquisite cardboard box from his desk drawer, opened it for Ye Mu to see, and inside were several kinds of pastries neatly arranged. "They're from Master Liu's shop! Your Master Xie is generous, kind, and his appearance is beyond reproach. When he stands in our room, it's like an immortal has come."

He carefully put the box away. "Secretary Ye, you're really lucky to have such a mentor."

Ye Mu smiled and took a bite of the Dingsheng cake. The delicate sweetness of the red bean paste melted in her mouth and seeped into her heart.

She was naturally lucky.

Yu, the clerk, also took a piece and said while eating, "By the way, you asked for leave yesterday, so you probably didn't get the news. The day after tomorrow, there will be archery training at the county government's drill ground. All the clerks, including those from the household registration department, must go."

"Archery?" Ye Mu looked up in surprise, almost choking on the rice flour. He quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve. "We're not military officers, why do we need to learn this? When was this mentioned?"

When she disguises herself as a man, her physical strength is the easiest way to give herself away. Activities like archery, which require the use of outstretched arms and strength, are no different from a public test for her.

“Yesterday, just before I was about to finish my shift, the county magistrate came to our office door in person to say it.” Yu, the clerk, swallowed a pastry. “Archery is an ancestral system of this dynasty. Civil officials are also required to practice archery. This is called ‘the way of civil and military affairs’. It aims to improve physical fitness, enforce discipline, and not forget the fundamental principle of martial arts.”

"It's just that in our Wujiang County, the usual practice is to conduct drills only in October. This year, for some reason, Lord Zhou suddenly ordered that it be brought forward to this time of year."

"This should just be routine, we can get through it, right?" Ye Mu clung to the last shred of hope.

"Of course not!" Secretary Yu said solemnly. The results of this archery practice will be included in each department's quarterly performance evaluation. Although it doesn't account for the majority, if the results are too poor, not only will the head of the department lose face, but the year-end bonus might also be reduced. You know our Head of the Department, Zheng; he's very concerned about his reputation."

Ye Mu silently chewed on the Ding Sheng cake, looked at Yu Shuban's plump arm, and hesitated, "Yu Shuban, do you also know how to shoot arrows?"

“I know how now,” Yu Shuban sighed, “but the year I just moved into my new house, it happened to be the October archery practice. I was even more confused than you. When I shot an arrow, it almost pierced my own foot, which made everyone burst into laughter.”

"So how did you learn it? Did you have to find a master in private?"

"It was Lord Zhou himself who came down to the stage, walked over to my side, didn't scold me or laugh at me, but simply took the bow from my hand and slowly and methodically explained to me how to stand, how to nock the arrow, how to draw the bow, and how to aim. The arrow he demonstrated hit the bullseye with a 'whoosh'."

"Since then, Lord Zhou has been relentlessly pushing me to practice in the open space behind the yamen every day after my shift for almost two months. Now, although I'm not the best, I can at least hit the target with every arrow. Lord Zhou is strict in this matter, but if you are really willing to learn, he is really willing to teach you."

He glanced at Ye Mu's slender frame and kindly comforted him, "Secretary Ye, don't worry too much. I think Lord Zhou values ​​you quite a bit. When you get to the training ground the day after tomorrow, he will definitely give you some pointers. As long as you can hit the bullseye during the end-of-season test, you'll pass and it won't affect your evaluation."

Ye Mu lowered his eyes, staring at the local gazetteer on the table, his mind wandering. Zhou Chongli personally taught archery?

If he were to personally teach her, with his keen observation skills, wouldn't her feminine features be completely exposed before him?

"Thank you for your guidance, Secretary Yu," Ye Muchou said. "I will do my best."

Things have to be done one by one.

As soon as the clapper sounded during the midday break, Ye Mu left the yamen and turned into a quiet alley in the back street.

This alley is mostly lined with small shops selling writing brushes and ink, repairing shoes and umbrellas, and carving and mounting seals. The shops are narrow and there are few customers.

Her gaze swept past the signs for "Zhang's Seal Carving" and "Li's Paper Mounting," finally settling on an inconspicuous corner at the end of the alley.

There was no sign, only a very simple padlock pattern drawn on the wall with charcoal sticks next to a half-worn wooden door, with two small words written next to it: "Repair".

The door was ajar, the interior was dimly lit, and filled with all sorts of old locks, unfinished keys, and metal tools whose names I didn't know. The air was thick with the smell of rust.

An elderly man with gray hair was carefully polishing a key with a small file in the dim light from the window.

Ye Mu gently knocked on the open door.

The old man didn't even look up, only giving a vague "hmm".

“Master,” Ye Mu approached, his voice softening, and asked, “I’d like to ask you something. I have an old-fashioned Guang lock at home, but I’ve lost the key. The keyhole looks quite deep, and I can’t open it with a regular metal piece. Do you think there’s any special way to open this kind of lock without damaging it?”

“Young man, lock picking is a craft, it requires listening and feeling. Inside the lock cylinder of a Guang lock, there are springs/plates and slots. You need to use a suitable hook or a thin, tough steel sheet, find the right spot, and then use a clever twist.”

The old man didn't stop what he was doing. "It's easy in some ways, and difficult in others. It all depends on your skill and patience. Why don't you bring yours over so I can take a look?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Master." Ye Mu cupped his hands, looking troubled. "It's just that the lock is hanging on the old house's storeroom, and I can't get it for the time being."

She placed a few copper coins in the wooden box beside the old man as a token of her gratitude.

The old man then raised his eyelids to take a look, put away the money, and rummaged through the table for several old locks of different structures. “Look, the simplest single-hook lock and spring lock, and the more complex cross lock and crescent lock.”

"Lock cylinders are all pretty much the same, consisting of pins, blades, and spring clips. To open them without a key, you either need to use the right amount of force to shake the pins open, or you need to use a tool to pry the pins up one by one and align them with the gap."

As he spoke, he demonstrated a few things on a very simple padlock using a thin wire and a small hook.

After Ye Mu made a note of it, she thanked them repeatedly and left the shop. She felt more confident. She had a good memory and spent the afternoon rehearsing the instructions in her mind.

As evening approached and everyone left the office, Ye Mu lingered, organizing the receipts and ledgers on her desk. Clerk Yu called to her, "Clerk Ye, aren't you leaving yet? It'll be dark soon."

"Please go ahead, Secretary Yu. I'll leave as soon as I've checked this amount, so I don't forget it tomorrow." Ye Mu said without looking up.

Secretary Yu simply assumed she was diligent and left on his own.

The office fell completely quiet, with only the chirping of birds returning to their nests outside the window.

Ye Mu sat quietly for another quarter of an hour, listening carefully to the sounds outside. In the distance, he heard the sporadic voices of the yamen runners changing shifts, which soon faded into silence.

As dusk settled, she stood up, walked out of the house, and crossed the now empty corridor, her steps extremely light.

The shadows of the columns were cast on the wall by the afterglow of the setting sun, appearing like ghostly figures.

The courtyard where the signing room was located was even more secluded, and the ebony umbrella still leaned quietly against the wall.

She glanced at it, but didn't stop. She walked straight to the door, squatted down, and used the wire she had bought at noon to bend one end into a hook shape. Following the old man's steps, she tried to probe it step by step.

Time seemed to stretch out.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but she dared not wipe them away. Just as her wrists began to ache, finally, a very faint "click" sound came from inside the lock cylinder.

The lock is open.

Ye Mu's heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of her throat. She quickly removed the lock, gently pushed open a crack in the door, and slipped inside.

The room was darker than the outside. The rosewood desk, bookshelves, chairs and tables were exactly the same as when she last came in.

She quickly took out the beechwood boxes she had seen before from the inside of the bookshelf, walked over quickly, took out the blade, and this time, having gained experience, adjusted the angle and imitated the old man's skillful technique. In about half a cup of tea's time, the small lock popped open.

She held her breath and lifted the lid of the box.

in……

It's empty.

The bottom of the box was covered with a layer of soft, dark blue velvet, which was spotless and completely clean.

Ye Mu frowned, and unwilling to give up, she carefully felt under the velvet with her fingers to confirm that there was no hidden compartment. She quickly relocked the small lock, put the box back in its original place, and adjusted the angle.

Just as her fingertips touched the cool clasp of the second beechwood box, and she held her breath, preparing to do the same, voices came from outside the courtyard wall, growing louder as they approached.

"...Spring plowing is of utmost importance and cannot be delayed for a moment. Tomorrow, go to Dongwei Village again and carefully verify the number of new crops reported by their village head. Make sure to check it against the records issued by the government office, one by one. If there is any ambiguity, report back to me immediately."

It was Zhou Chongli's voice.

"Yes, sir, rest assured, I will be careful." A slightly respectful voice replied, sounding like a junior official in the workshop.

The two men stopped talking outside the courtyard gate, seemingly standing there giving instructions.

The dim yellow light of the lanterns shone through the stained-glass windows and flickered on the floor where the signatures were made.

Ye Mu disregarded everything else and quickly stuffed the beechwood box, which had not yet been locked, back into its original position at the back of the bookshelf. She also hurriedly pushed the files she had previously flipped through back to their approximate locations.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, and cold sweat soaked through his undershirt. Ye Mu turned around and, like a startled cat, practically skimmed the ground as he darted toward the door.

Fortunately, after she shakily fastened the brass lock back onto the door knocker, she heard unhurried footsteps behind her, coming through the moon gate towards the signing room.

Ye Mu quickly took two steps back and turned around. Just as she looked up, Zhou Chongli emerged from around the corner.

Their eyes met.

The workshop assistants were no longer by his side, clearly having finished giving instructions and returned alone.

The evening breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, and the distant sound of the watchman's drum echoed through the streets, muffled and resonant, one beat after another, between the two.

A moment of silence.

"Secretary Ye?" Zhou Chongli took two steps forward, raising his eyebrows slightly, but his face showed no anger. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"Reporting to you, sir. I came to return the umbrella, but seeing that you had not returned and the door was locked, I thought I would leave the umbrella here." Ye Mu lowered his eyes and pointed to the umbrella by the wall. "I was just about to leave. I apologize for disturbing you. I will take my leave now."

Under the moonlight, Zhou Chongli didn't look at the umbrella, but instead glanced at her raised fingertips.

Her hands were slender, fair, with delicate knuckles and neatly trimmed nails. Compared to the calloused hands of a clerk who was used to writing official documents, her hands appeared much weaker.

He hadn't noticed these details before.

After Ye Mu finished speaking, he pulled his hands back into his sleeves, lowered his head, and hurried past Zhou Chongli.

We brushed past each other.

Zhou Chongli caught a faint, almost imperceptible scent of gardenias. The evening breeze became tangible at that moment, and the delicate fragrance, carried by the wind, drifted into his nostrils.

Sweet and slightly warm, this scent is completely out of place with the lingering stench of ink in the government office, the sweat and cheap soap smell commonly found on men.

Although they walked together in the rain the day before yesterday, and even when they were side by side, they were separated by an umbrella. He could only smell the damp, earthy scent of the rain, and she had never been this close to him before. She always intentionally kept her distance from him.

Would an ordinary man use such a sweet and delicate floral scent?

Perhaps she didn't intentionally acquire the fragrance; it was simply a warm scent that had been lingering for years and was difficult to conceal. Even with changes in clothing and makeup, it was hard to completely hide it overnight.

Zhou Chongli stood frozen in place for a few moments, captivated by the lingering fragrance in the wind. Then, with a composed expression, he walked to the door of the signing room and grasped the handle of the ebony umbrella.

It felt icy to the touch; this umbrella must have been sitting here for quite some time.

She wasn't there to return the umbrella, as she claimed.

"stop."

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