Chapter 76 On my birthday, it was only me who loved him, nothing more. ...

In the days that followed, Yu Man, along with Xue Han and Shan Chun, practically turned the entire eastern and western markets of the capital upside down. They would set off before dawn every day and return only at dusk.

When Pei Ji returned home after his shift, the house was always dark, with the windows unlit. He would stand on the veranda for a moment, then turn and go to the kitchen. Soon, a nourishing soup would be simmering on the stove—sometimes it was black-boned chicken soup with astragalus and goji berries, sometimes it was a light crucian carp and tofu soup, and sometimes it was a sweet soup made with red dates and longan. He didn't specifically wait for her to return and watch her drink it; he only instructed the servants left behind to keep it warm on the stove, to bring it to her whenever she returned.

After the court session ended that day, Pei Ji did not rush to leave the palace. Instead, he strolled leisurely to the corridor of the duty room near the Censorate. Before long, an official dressed in a blue censor's uniform with a capable-looking face came out. Upon seeing Pei Ji, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he then respectfully bowed and said, "Lord Pei."

This man, surnamed Zhao, was an official among the censors who was quite adept at reporting rumors. He had previously come into contact with Pei Ji over a trivial official matter, and his words revealed a hint of his intention to befriend him.

Pei Ji nodded slightly, his expression as gentle and calm as ever: "Imperial Censor Zhao." His gaze swept over the distant palace walls and eaves, his tone casual: "The capital seems unusually noisy these days."

The astute Imperial Censor Zhao immediately understood that Pei Ji wasn't truly concerned about the bustling streets. He lowered his voice, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of flattery: "With the Empress Dowager's birthday approaching, gifts from various prefectures and delegations from different countries are arriving in the capital one after another. The Jingzhao Prefecture and the Ministry of Rites are extremely busy, so the streets are naturally more lively than usual. I even saw people from the Court of State Ceremonial arranging for the vassal states' delegations the other day. I heard that even several caravans from the Western Regions have arrived this time, bringing with them some exotic items."

Pei Ji listened quietly: "The Empress Dowager's blessings are long-lasting, and all the people rejoice together. This is only natural." He then casually asked a few innocuous questions about court affairs, which Imperial Censor Zhao answered one by one.

Unable to fathom his meaning, Imperial Censor Zhao asked, "Lord Pei, do you have something to say?"

The sparse light and shadow in the corridor divided Pei Ji's gentle profile into half-light and half-shadow. His tone remained calm: "The Empress Dowager's birthday is a joyous occasion for all under heaven. However, Your Majesty happened to read the Book of Rites the other day and came across the line 'In matters of etiquette, it is better to be frugal than extravagant,' which made you somewhat sentimental."

Censor Zhao's eyes suddenly narrowed.

Pei Ji seemed oblivious, his gaze falling on a group of eunuchs carrying gilded gift chests at the end of the palace path. He softened his voice, saying, "Nowadays, the streets are bustling with foreign merchants, filled with rare and precious items; it is indeed a prosperous era. However..." He paused, pausing for just three breaths, before continuing slowly, "I know that last year when the Jianghuai region was flooded, His Majesty ordered the Imperial Treasury to allocate 100,000 taels of silver for relief and commanded all officials to donate their salaries. At that time, the Empress Dowager even specially reduced the allowance for the Shou Kang Palace by 30%, saying, 'When the people are suffering, how can the palace enjoy wealth alone?'"

He turned his face, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were deep and serious: "The Empress Dowager's benevolence and compassion for all people are truly a blessing to the world."

Zhao Yushi's back instantly broke out in a thin layer of sweat.

At this point, the conversation had moved beyond idle chatter. The Empress Dowager had reduced the usual allowances and disliked extravagance, yet the preparations for her birthday celebration clearly exceeded expectations, even attracting foreign merchants to offer lavish gifts. With the Liang family responsible for procurement and negotiations, was it possible they were profiting from this?

“Lord Pei is absolutely right.” Imperial Censor Zhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he lowered his voice even further. “I… have also heard about it.” He stopped speaking at the right moment and looked up to observe Pei Ji’s expression.

Pei Ji neither nodded nor shook his head.

"Imperial Censor Zhao is in charge of the censorate, so he should know the weight of the words 'preventing problems before they arise.' It is common for relatives of the empress to be powerful and influential, but as the Book of Han says, 'Arrogance and extravagance arise from wealth and honor, and chaos arises from negligence.' Your Majesty is benevolent and filial, and has treated the Liang family very well. This is both an act of grace and..." He raised his eyes, his gaze clear and peaceful, "and wanted to take a look."

Censor Zhao's heart pounded. He finally understood—this Scholar Pei wasn't just chatting idly; he was handing him a knife, and pointing him in the right direction. Impeaching the Liang family for their extravagance and exploitation of the Empress Dowager's birthday to amass wealth would not only showcase the integrity of a censor but also cater to the Empress Dowager's aversion to extravagance. Even better… this might be exactly the situation His Majesty wanted to see but couldn't personally intervene in. After all, could a young emperor truly be without any resentment towards the rise of powerful maternal relatives?

Imperial Censor Zhao took a deep breath and bowed solemnly. “Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency. It is my duty to report matters based on hearsay. I will certainly investigate and verify them carefully. If there is any overstepping of my authority, I will report the facts to set the record straight.”

Pei Ji finally nodded slightly, tucking his hands into his sleeves. His usual gentle demeanor returned: "It was just a casual chat. His Majesty and the court have naturally taken note of Censor Zhao's loyalty and diligence." He paused, then added seemingly casually, "I've heard that Vice Censor Wang of the Censorate may be transferred to the Ministry of Personnel this month?"

Censor Zhao was startled—this was an implication, but also a promise. If this matter was handled well, he might very well be promoted to a higher position.

"I... I will certainly live up to your expectations, sir." He bowed deeply again, this time with genuine gratitude and reverence.

Pei Ji said no more, his fingers tightening slightly in his sleeve. The Liang family... he couldn't touch their foundation, but he was enough to make them suffer for a while, and then restrain themselves for a while.

He turned and left, his blue official robe billowing in the palace corridor, still warm and gentle, yet inexplicably exuding a chilling aura.

Imperial Censor Zhao stood there, watching the figure disappear around the corner of the palace wall. He wiped the sweat from his brow, but his eyes shone brightly.

Meanwhile, Yu Man truly felt the excitement surrounding the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration in the capital. That day, he had arranged to meet Qian Yaren with Xue Han and Shan Chun to look after their shop. Just as they stepped out of the alley, they were blocked by a bustling crowd. Along the long street, carriages and horses passed one after another, each with its own servants clearing the way and surrounding them; various ceremonial processions and gift chests stretched out in a long line; members of envoys dressed in exotic attire looked on curiously, attracting crowds of onlookers; and acrobatic performances were being staged in a temporarily designated area, accompanied by deafening gongs and drums and cheers.

Xue Han's hairpins and jewelry were slightly disheveled from being jostled by the crowd. Holding onto Yu Man's arm, she clicked her tongue and said, "...The scene of the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration is too grand! It's ten times more lively than the New Year's market in Laizhou!"

Yu Man also clicked her tongue slightly. Although she had heard the wealthy merchant mention the Empress Dowager's birthday at the restaurant last time, seeing it with her own eyes made her realize what a grand and prosperous era it was under the emperor's rule. This was only the eve of the birthday celebration; she wondered what it would be like on the actual day.

Today, besides the money broker, whose face was still as attentive as ever but with an added touch of caution, there was also Gu Chengling among those minding the shop. He was wearing a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns, but the weariness in his eyes seemed even more pronounced than before.

Upon seeing Yu Man, he bowed first, his attitude sincere: "Madam Yu, Madam Xue. I am sorry to bother you today. It is because of the matter of the shop in Yulin Lane last time. I am still uneasy about it, so I have come to apologize and see if I can do anything to help."

The group moved slowly with the flow of people, talking as they went. Gu Chengling explained, "Brother... I don't know how I got in touch with the Liang family, and my father values ​​this highly. As for what happened that day, it wasn't that I was unwilling to help Lady Yu, but rather... I was constrained by family matters and couldn't do what I could. I hope Lady Yu will understand." His words were cold when he mentioned the eldest son of the Gu family, but earnest when he spoke to Yu Man and the others. He handed three exquisitely wrapped gift boxes to Yu Man, Xue Han, and Shan Chun, saying, "These are just small gifts to express my apologies. Please don't refuse them."

Having learned about the Liang family's background from Pei Ji, Yu Man could somewhat understand the Gu family's predicament. The resentment she felt from being outmaneuvered had dissipated, but encountering such a powerful and oppressive situation for the first time still required her to adjust her mindset. She accepted the gift box but did not open it on the spot, simply saying, "Young Master Gu, you flatter me. The capital is a complex place, and everyone has their own difficulties. I understand this matter."

Gu Chengling's expression relaxed slightly, and he said, "I have already spoken with the landlords of the shops we looked at today. If Madam Yu is interested, the rent can be reduced by 20% on top of the original price. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Yu Man thanked him, but in her heart, she saw the internal struggles within the Gu family more clearly. The eldest son of the Gu family was climbing the social ladder by attaching himself to the Liang family, which pleased the old master of the Gu family, but Gu Chengling, the adopted son, was probably in a more delicate situation.

She then asked, "How are you feeling these days, Madam Luo?"

Mentioning Luo Wanxi, Gu Chengling's weariness deepened: "Still the same as always."

Yu Manyan: "Then I'll go see her tomorrow when I have time? Do I need to send her a formal invitation first?"

Gu Chengling: "No need for trouble. Tomorrow I will have my capable nanny wait for Lady Yu at the side gate." He paused, his voice even lower, "I am, after all, a man, and there are some things I cannot discuss in detail, nor am I afraid she will be impatient to listen. Lady Yu and she get along well, so perhaps she will listen to some of what I say."

Yu Man agreed.

The group looked at three or four shops, but they were either too remote, had awkward layouts, or the rent was far beyond their budget. Finally, they came to an alley near Qingyan Academy in the West Market. It was a quiet place amidst the hustle and bustle, with an old locust tree at the entrance. The shop was of a suitable size, and it even had a small courtyard with sunlight in the back.

Qian Yaren explained, "This place was originally a teahouse run by an old scholar. He retired and returned to his hometown before the New Year. The house was cleaned up and only needed minor renovations. Because it is near the academy, it is usually frequented by students. It is quiet, but it is still quite lively."

Yu Man and Xue Han carefully examined the place, becoming more and more satisfied. Xue Han whispered, "Aman, this place is nice. It has a square layout and is close to the academy. In the future, if we make some exquisite and elegant snacks and teas, it will definitely attract students."

Yu Man nodded, about to ask about the specific rent, when she suddenly remembered what Pei Ji had said yesterday while pointing to the map—"Although it's not on the main street, it's near the academy, quiet and elegant, and the rent should be reasonable. Perhaps we can consider it."

This person has a pretty sharp eye.

In the end, the shop was settled at an extremely favorable price. When signing the lease, Yu Man was exceptionally careful, reading every word of the terms, and had the broker and Gu Chengling witness the signing, pressing their fingerprints and paying the deposit. After receiving the keys and the lease, she felt much more at ease, but she didn't dare to relax completely. She immediately asked the broker to help find reliable bricklayers and carpenters, as the shop still needed to be redesigned and renovated according to its intended use as a restaurant.

"Now that the contract is signed, I feel a little more at ease," Yu Man said to Xue Han. "Tomorrow, after I finish my business at the Gu residence, I'll come over and supervise the craftsmen as they begin work. I need to see it with my own eyes to feel at ease."

Xue Han smiled and said, "Then I'll go with you."

Seeing that the matter was settled, Gu Chengling bowed and took his leave.

It was still early, and Xue Han excitedly pulled Yu Man along: "Since things have gone so smoothly today, let's go and see the grand spectacle before the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration!"

The three strolled along with the crowd. The street was indeed teeming with novelties: a blue-eyed, bearded merchant from the Central Asian region performed sword-swallowing and fire-breathing acts, eliciting gasps of amazement from the onlookers; veiled dancers with silver bells around their ankles twirled gracefully on felt carpets; stalls selling all sorts of exotic goods lined the streets—spices, gems, ivory carvings, and brightly colored brocades—a dazzling array. Furthermore, acrobatic troupes performed human pyramids, tightrope walking, and juggling, drawing waves of cheers.

Yu Man watched with great interest, but only bought Xue Han and Shan Chun each a delicate sesame seed cake and a small bottle of rose dew supposedly from Persia, while buying nothing for herself. Xue Han asked curiously, "Didn't you see anything you liked?"

Yu Man weighed her purse, which was now quite empty after paying the deposit, and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I just spent a lot of money, and I'll have many more expenses in the future, so I need to be more careful. Besides," she pointed to the gorgeous and expensive exotic treasures, "these things look exotic, but they're neither edible nor wearable. They're not as practical as our shop."

Xue Han chuckled, completely agreeing.

The next day, Yu Man went to the Gu residence as agreed. At the side gate of the Gu residence, a well-dressed nanny with her hair neatly combed and a warm smile had been waiting for some time with two clever maids. Upon seeing Yu Man, the nanny stepped forward and slightly curtsied: "Is this Madam Yu? This old servant's surname is Zhou, and I am here to greet you on the orders of the Second Young Master."

Yu Man returned the greeting: "Thank you for your trouble, Granny Zhou."

Granny Zhou stepped aside to lead the way, her attitude respectful but not obsequious. As they walked, she softly described the layout of the Gu family mansion: "We have many women in our household, but no proper mistress. The old master's first wife passed away early, and he never remarried; currently, several concubines manage the household. The eldest young master's first wife was unfortunate; she fell ill and died a year after marrying into the family, and she did not leave any children..."

Yu Man followed her through several moon gates and noticed that the passageway between the main courtyard and the west courtyard where Gu Chengling lived was locked, and the lock looked quite new. She paused for a moment, but did not ask any further questions.

Soon they arrived at the courtyard where Luo Wanxi lived. The courtyard was not large, but it was decorated with exquisite elegance, with lush flowers and trees, and several cages of thrushes hanging under the eaves, their chirping melodious.

When I entered the room, Luo Wanxi was bent over a large painting table by the window, intently sketching something. Hearing the noise, she looked up, saw Yu Man, and immediately broke into a bright smile, putting down her brush to greet her: "Sister Yu! You've finally arrived! My cousin told me yesterday, and I've been waiting for you for ages!"

She pulled Yu Man to the painting table and pointed to the Xuan paper spread out on the table like a treasure: "Look, this is a new design I came up with. Isn't it beautiful? I'm going to take it to Jinxiu Pavilion and have them make a batch of new-style sachets and handkerchiefs based on it."

Yu Man looked down closely and saw that the paper was decorated with intricate yet lively lotus blossoms intertwined with fluttering butterflies. The lines were smooth, the colors elegant, and the painting lifelike. "It's beautifully drawn!" she exclaimed sincerely.

Luo Wanxi's eyes crinkled into crescents at the praise, and she pulled Yu Man to sit down on the embroidered stool next to her: "Then I'll draw a portrait of you, Sister Yu! Just a portrait of you sitting here, it'll definitely look beautiful!"

Seeing that there were still many unfinished drafts on her desk, Yu Man smiled and said, "You should finish your work first. I'm not going anywhere, you can finish the drawings another day."

Luo Wanxi thought for a moment and nodded, "That's true. These floral patterns are being urgently requested by the Brocade Pavilion and need to be submitted tomorrow." She picked up her pen again and said to Yu Man, "Sister Yu, please make yourself at home. I'll be done soon."

Yu Man got up and wandered around the room. What she saw left her speechless. Luo Wanxi's boudoir truly lived up to the saying "priceless."

Needless to say, the large rosewood painting table inlaid with mother-of-pearl in front of the window is impressive. But the pair of sweet white glazed Yuhuchun vases on the table, filled with seasonal flowers, have a glaze as lustrous as mutton fat and a thin, translucent body. Yu Man had seen similar ones at the Treasure Pavilion in the West Market yesterday, priced at five hundred taels of silver, and that was just for one vase.

The decorative items displayed in the multi-treasure pavilion were dazzling: a red coral tree over a foot tall, with vibrant colors and a naturally formed shape; a set of jade-carved writing implements, warm to the touch; even a round fan embroidered with gold thread that she casually placed on a small table on the couch had a handle made of fine ivory and was adorned with pearl tassels the size of longan fruits.

A delicate, sweet fragrance filled the air, emanating slowly from the gilded incense burner in the corner—an unknown but undoubtedly valuable spice.

Yu Man walked to another small table by the window, her gaze suddenly drawn to several open scrolls. She approached to examine them closely; the scrolls depicted portraits of men, each labeled with their name, official rank, and family background. The figures ranged in age from old to young, including civil and military officials, but all shared the common trait of holding high-ranking positions.

This was probably the husband Old Master Gu had chosen for Luo Wanxi. Yu Man was secretly speculating when she heard Luo Wanxi's voice behind her:

"Sister Yu, did my cousin send you to persuade me?"

Yu Man turned around and saw that she had stopped writing and was puffing out her cheeks. Yu Man walked to the embroidered stool next to her and sat down, smiling as she asked, "You know?"

"I'm not stupid." Luo Wanxi pouted, put down her pen, and rested her chin on her hand. "Let me guess, my cousin must think these people are no good. Apart from having an official position, they are either too old, have many concubines at home, or have bad tempers, right?"

Yu Man nodded, "He's not stupid."

Luo Wanxi suddenly wrinkled her nose, puzzled, and asked, "But I don't understand, what's wrong with that Young Master Zhang Jian? Why doesn't my cousin like him either?"

Yu Man: "..." Well, he's still an idiot.

It turns out the fallen flowers haven't blossomed yet, while the flowing water watches them fall.

She was momentarily at a loss for words, then, recalling the incident at the restaurant, she asked, "Why were you angry at the restaurant last time?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanxi's face showed apology as she explained, "Sister Yu, you don't know this, but my cousin seems shrewd, but he's actually soft-hearted and easily trusting—he's a bit of a fool! He's been fooled by many people in the past. Before my aunt passed away, she held our hands and told us to look after each other. I promised my aunt I would take good care of my cousin! At that time, I thought you were the same… I'm sorry."

After listening, Yu Man looked at Luo Wanxi's beautiful face, which was filled with a sense of responsibility, and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Gu Chengling. It turned out that in her cousin's heart, he was a "foolish cousin" who needed to be carefully guarded to avoid being deceived.

But thinking about the purpose of her visit today, she still said to Luo Wanxi, "You worry about him, and he worries about you. This is the deep affection between brother and sister. Although a woman's marriage cannot guarantee a smooth life, if she meets the wrong person, it will certainly be a heartbreaking and harmful thing. Young Master Gu has carefully selected a husband for you, hoping that you will have a peaceful and happy life in the future."

Luo Wanxi nodded, then frowned in distress: "But I think Young Master Zhang is quite good. He's learned, handsome, and kind." She paused, "I've had my maid deliver some pastries I made myself to him a few times, but he's returned them untouched."

Yu Man tentatively asked, "Then... are you interested in Young Master Zhang? If you are mutually attracted, wouldn't it be better if he came to propose marriage?"

To everyone's surprise, Luo Wanxi was even more confused. She blinked her big eyes and muttered to herself, "Favorite? I just think he's good-looking, better than the people in the paintings... But he doesn't like the pastries I make. Is it because our tastes don't match? Could it be that he prefers salty food? But I prefer sweet food. Won't that make it difficult for us to eat together in the future?... Or should I look at some other people? It seems that the third young master of the Chen family is not bad, he's just a bit short..."

Looking into her clear, bright eyes, Yu Man understood completely—her choice of a future husband was more like comparing which dress had better fabric or which piece of jewelry was more unique.

Yu Man found it amusing but didn't point it out. She simply said, "Marriage is certainly not a trivial matter. But the most important thing is whether you truly love that person. Tastes can be adjusted, and height and appearance are not absolute, but this feeling of love is the most important thing. You might as well think about it carefully and not rush things."

"Then you are Xin Yue Pei Tan Hua?" Luo Wanxi asked, blinking.

Yu Man: "..." Why do I feel like you've become smarter again?

Back at Xilaiju, she pushed open her room door with a relaxed smile, then froze on the spot.

The sight inside made her almost think she had gone to the wrong place.

The once simple and elegant room was now almost entirely filled with all sorts of boxes, packages, and brocade bags. On the table, chairs, low tables beside the couch, and even in a corner of the windowsill, lay beautifully packaged items of varying sizes. There were sandalwood boxes exuding a delicate woody fragrance, brocade boxes tied with silk ribbons, colorful exotic-style packages, and several bulging cloth bags. The variety was astounding—exquisite embroidery, ingenious cosmetic cases, rare spices, complete sets of brushes and ink from Huzhou and Huizhou, and even several packets of sweetly fragrant pastries and fruits.

This display was several times more extravagant than when Pei Ji bought her local specialties last time she returned home from Laizhou!

She stood dumbfounded in the middle of the room, not knowing where to put her foot, when she heard familiar footsteps behind her.

Yu Man turned around and saw Pei Ji enter carrying a red lacquered tray with a steaming celadon bowl on it, its aroma filling the air. He was dressed in a casual, light blue robe, his hair loosely styled, and his features appeared particularly gentle in the rising steam. A faint smile played in his eyes as he placed the tray on the corner of the only relatively empty round table, then looked at her and said softly:

"You're back? Perfect timing, the noodles just came out of the pot." He paused, then spoke more slowly and clearly:

Happy birthday, Xiaoman.

Yu Man was stunned, blinked, and looked somewhat bewildered: "But... my birthday has already passed." Her birthday was during the Lesser Fullness solar term, which was on her way to the capital with Xue Han. She was so busy that she almost forgot about it and only ate a simple bowl of longevity noodles on the way.

Pei Ji handed her the chopsticks, his gaze fixed on her face: "I know. But if I miss it, I want to make up for it. Every year, I want to celebrate your birthday."

Yu Man felt a surge of emotion. She first looked at the things in the room, then at the bowl of longevity noodles in front of her, which was carefully cooked and garnished with scallions. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "What day of the month is it today?"

"The first day of the sixth month," Pei Ji replied.

June 1st...

Yu Man was taken aback at first, then her eyes crinkled into a smile, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned upwards. Children's Day! Although that term doesn't exist in this era, but...

She looked up, smiled brightly, and said in a light and confident tone, "Today is my birthday."

Who isn't a child at some point?

“I’m very happy, thank you,” she said.

When she vaguely appeared before her eyes at the Gu residence, and Luo Wanxi pestered her for an answer, this was her reply:

I love him.

"It's not a dependency."

"It's not gratitude either."

"It's just that I have feelings for him alone, that's all."