This concubine was originally a wine seller. She was pretty and knew how to please her master. She gave birth to a son as soon as she entered the mansion.
Because of his young age, he was spoiled and became arrogant and domineering, even daring to challenge the mistress.
The mistress of that household was a lady from a prominent aristocratic family. She appeared calm on the surface, but secretly indulged the child.
Until they caught the concubine making a big mistake, they punished her directly and expelled her from the mansion.
The concubine had just given birth to a daughter, but the household didn't even want the child anymore and sent her back to the countryside.
The concubine went to plead with the husband, but he refused to see her.
Only then did the aunt realize that, to this high-ranking couple, her status was nothing more than that of a cat or dog kept for their amusement.
There was a little bit of genuine feeling, but really not much.
The aunt was heartbroken.
He had no time to care for the child. Shortly after leaving the capital, the child fell seriously ill.
"Back then, my face was so thin it was sunken. The red plum blossom birthmark on my arm wasn't bright anymore."
Qi Su: "A red plum blossom birthmark?"
Grandma Zhu seemed lost in memories and appeared very sad.
"Yes, Miss has a red plum blossom birthmark on her right arm, as big as a real plum blossom."
"Later, I became so ill that I had to stop temporarily and rest for several days in an inn by the dock."
"We took the child to the clinic to see the doctor. The little one had such a serious illness that it took several days before we brought him back."
Grandma Zhu talked on and on like an elderly woman.
Qi Su didn't interrupt, but just sat beside her and listened.
After an unknown amount of time, Grandma Zhu sighed.
"In the blink of an eye, Third Sister has grown up so much. It's time for her to get married."
Qi Su laughed.
"That's right. She's already been married once."
Grandma Zhu: "What?"
Qi Su did not continue the topic.
"I'm leaving the city now, and I probably won't be able to see my mother-in-law again."
She gestured to the maid beside her and handed a small wooden box to Granny Zhu.
The box was heavy.
The lid was opened slightly, and sunlight shone on it, making it glitter like gold. There were more than a dozen small gold ingots inside.
“Mother-in-law is getting old, so she shouldn’t do laundry anymore. Let’s buy a small courtyard house outside the city. If the son is obedient, he can help her out; if he’s disobedient, he can spend money to buy an obedient servant to take care of her.”
…
The two only talked about the past and didn't mention the present.
Even with old stories, they only picked out the ones that could be told.
As for why Granny Zhu went to the city for medical treatment when Qi Su was five years old and never returned, that remains a question.
Why did he have to hide his identity after returning to Beijing?
Those are all things from long ago.
Even why Qi Su, the perfectly good third daughter of the Marquis of Changping, stopped being a wife, and why the news of her death came a few days ago.
Then it's even harder to say.
With more than a decade in between, it's already quite nice that we can share some common memories and sit together for a while.
Qi Su stood up.
"It's getting late, I have to go back. Mother-in-law is sitting peacefully, there's no need to see me off."
After she finished speaking, she added another sentence.
"In this entire capital city, besides me, no one knows that Mother-in-law is still alive. You can rest assured."
Just when Granny Zhang thought the young lady was about to leave.
The sweet aroma drew even closer.
A pair of soft arms pulled her into their embrace and hugged her tightly.
"Grandma, you should eat well and wear more clothes from now on," she said with a smile.
.
The sun was beginning to set.
Grandma Zhang's son, Zhang Da, returned to the dilapidated little courtyard.
Grandma Zhang was sitting alone under the jujube tree, lost in thought, holding a small wooden box in her hands.
The unwashed clothes at the feet were still piled up in the bamboo basket.
Zhang Da didn't pay any attention.
She never expected her mother to do any work; it was because she was afraid of being a burden and dragging the family down. Even though she was blind, she always needed to find something to do to feel at ease.
"Mom, I'm back. I'll cook right away," Zhang Da said.
His wife helps out at the tailor shop and doesn't get home until late at night.
Grandma Zhang suddenly raised her head.
Any interesting things happening in town today?
Zhang burst into laughter.
My blind mother can't go out, so she relies on him to come home every day and tell her some happy stories.
"The goods store is very busy today, so there's not much time for idle chatter. But the most famous thing in the city lately is that Zen Master Daoci has returned, right? Oh, that's the former Zhou Dynasty prince who lived in Ciyun Temple."
Granny Zhang: "What about the young lady from the Marquis of Changping's mansion that we talked about a few days ago?"
Zhang Da: "The young lady from the Earl's mansion? Wasn't the one who married into the Jincheng family dead? There's been no news from the Earl's mansion since."
Granny Zhang: "What about the second young lady? Is her marriage to the Duan family still on?"
Zhang Da: "Who could know? They discuss it behind closed doors, they would never tell us ordinary people."
As they were talking, Zhang's wife returned.
The family chatted and laughed as they began preparing dinner.
Grandma Zhang was still sitting under the jujube tree.
He was holding a small wooden box filled with gold.
I don't know if she spoke clearly or if my wife understood her.
The third daughter of the Marquis of Changping was born with a red plum blossom birthmark on her right arm.
Not long after she was born, she fell seriously ill on the way to the village with her aunt.
They were taken to a clinic and didn't return for several days.
The little person was so thin they were deformed. Even the mole on their arm was gone.
My wife, my wife.
Eat well and wear more clothes so you can grow taller.
.
A red plum blossom birthmark on my right arm.
What a coincidence!
She really didn't.
Qi Su rode in a carriage back to Yan Ruyu's rouge shop near the Zhuque Gate.
When she came back, she sat under the eaves with her eyes down, basking in the sun.
He idly stroked the yellow and white cat named Buddha Heart, looking rather unhappy.
The shopkeeper presented her with a plate of sliced frozen pears.
"Miss, a new entertainment venue called 'Wazi' (entertainment district) has opened in the south of the city. I've heard their monkey show is very good. Would you like to go check it out?"
Qi Su shook her head.
"No need, it's too noisy in the entertainment district."
The innkeeper then asked, "Last time at Fenglelou, we only heard Journey to the West twice. How about we go find that storyteller again and have him tell us a few more?"
Qi Su shook her head again, showing no interest whatsoever.
"Then, sir, you're just telling stories. But the way you look at him doesn't seem like a respectable man. There's a hint that you don't really want to work hard."
Shopkeeper: "...Is that so?"
Write it down in your notebook.
The shopkeeper went out for a while, but returned quickly.
He smiled and said, "What a coincidence. A young master Yun has invited you to have wontons tonight. Do you have time?"
Qi Su raised her eyes.
Yes, go ahead.
.
Night fell.
At the willow bridgehead of the Guangji River, there is Granny Yuan's wonton shop.
When Qi Su arrived, Young Master Yun was already sitting at the small square table by the window.
On the table were a small plate of salted fish, a plate of cucumber, and a plate of peanuts.
The man had long arms and legs, and he sat on a small wooden stool, leaning against the low table.
Even with their hands and feet folded together, it still looks pleasing to the eye.
Good-looking people look good no matter what they do.
Qi Su sat down opposite him.
Young Master Yun glanced at her, his deep eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight.
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