Chapter 28 He Wants to Take Me as His Concubine
The next day, Achan slept in late.
A bedroom that is well-furnished for sleeping can indeed improve one's sleep quality significantly.
Waking up in soft bedding, with a cold hot water bottle at her feet, Achan's resentment towards Bai Xiuming lessened somewhat.
After a quick wash, she went downstairs and opened the door. The warm sunlight slanted into the room, casting large patches of light that illuminated the originally dim room.
Only then did Achan have the mind to examine the layout of the first floor.
Yesterday, Feng Yang had two display shelves and a cabinet brought over and placed them against the wall. The blank wall is decorated with calligraphy and paintings, but they are not by famous artists; they were bought by Ji Chan herself before.
A table and chairs with tea set were placed next to the window. When customers came after the shop opened, they could be invited to sit there and try the incense.
Ah Chan looked around, thinking that she could remove all the decorations from the display shelf and put her handmade incense on it for display, while the rest of the incense could be stored in the cabinet.
However, she currently only produces one type of incense that can be sold, which seems like making a mountain out of a molehill.
She needed to buy a counter to store account books and a money box, as well as an incense burner and jars for incense powder. The total cost was much less than she had initially estimated.
Achan ran upstairs to get paper and pen, and wrote down everything she needed to buy, planning to purchase it all when she had some free time.
"Miss Ji." Achan was still wondering if she had forgotten to write anything down when she heard someone knocking on the door.
Looking up, Feng Yang's unpleasant face appeared again.
"Come in." He must have come today to deliver some materials.
Just as she expected, after Feng Yang came in, he was followed by two other people. One of them was carrying several materials that A Chan needed in one hand and holding a jar wrapped in cloth in the other. The other person had a medicine grinder in his left hand and a half-sized stone mill in his right hand.
They quietly put their things down and then quickly left.
Feng Yang took out the list that A Chan had written to Bai Xiuming and checked it against her one by one; nothing was wrong.
The rarest dragon bone powder was sealed in jars.
Feng Yang untied the black cloth from the jar, opened the lid, and as soon as he opened it, a wave of steam rushed out.
Achan reached in, rubbed the bone powder between her fingers, and when she took her hand out, it was slightly damp, indicating that it was high-quality dragon bone.
This at least proves that Bai Xiuming wasn't lying; the dragon he killed was indeed at the fourth realm when it died.
After Feng Yang and A Chan finished inspecting the goods, they prepared to take their leave: "The goods have been delivered, I'll..."
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave." Achan called out to him with a smile, "Lord Feng also wants to catch the Snow Needle Snake as soon as possible, right? Why don't you stay and help me with a little something so that we can make the bait sooner?"
Feng Yang was persuaded.
So he stayed behind and sifted the dragon bone powder twice for Achan. Although the amount of dragon bone powder looked small, it was very heavy. His hands were sore when he put down the sieve.
Then Achan handed him the meat and asked him to chop it into minced meat. Feng Yang then began to diligently chop the meat and mince it.
Achan stood leisurely to the side and commented, "This meat is really fresh. Does the Mingjing Division raise Riji?"
Riji is a type of exotic ox that doesn't have any special abilities; its flesh can grow back the next day after it's been shaved off.
Asan knew of Riji's existence long ago and had always wanted to find out if there were any mutant chickens so she could eat chicken every day. Unfortunately, there weren't any. Chickens these days are really disappointing.
Feng Yang grinned: "These are raised by Duke Xu. Our master sent someone to ask for them yesterday, but Duke Xu refused. So we sneaked over in the middle of the night and cut off two catties of meat."
Achan was speechless for a moment, and then she asked with some doubt, "Even if Riji doesn't hurt people, it's still considered a different species. Isn't it forbidden to keep these things in the capital?"
"Those rules apply to ordinary people. There are even people in the capital who keep half-demons at home."
"You, the Mingjing Division, aren't going to do anything about it?"
“They all signed contracts under the supervision of our Mingjing Division. As long as they don’t cause trouble, we generally won’t interfere.” Feng Yang didn’t hide anything from A Chan. “You know, the nobles in the capital are all restless. Even if you don’t allow it openly, they will raise them in secret. It’s better to go through the proper channels. If something happens, everyone will be implicated. A few years ago, the Ming King beheaded a duke who raised hooked snakes that ate people. After that, they all behaved themselves.”
After chopping the incredibly elastic Japanese ham, Feng Yang couldn't help but ask, "Miss Ji, what exactly are you going to do?"
"Didn't I say? I'm going to make scented bait."
Achan added several kinds of herb powder she had ground into the meat filling, and while Fengyang pounded it, she poured in dragon bone powder.
Feng Yang started swallowing his saliva as soon as the minced meat was halfway through being slapped down. There was no other reason than that it smelled so good, with an indescribable aroma that went straight to his nose.
"What does this taste like?" Feng Yang asked.
"This is the taste of dragon marrow." Achan looked at the texture of the minced meat and, feeling it was about right, told him to stop.
She put the minced meat into a jar containing bone meal and handed it to Feng Yang, saying, "This jar needs to be left for five days, and then you can use it to set traps. As long as you have this bait, the snow needle snakes will definitely come."
Snow needle snakes are derived from dragon marrow, and their weakness is also dragon marrow; they cannot resist this flavor.
In her memory, there were several recipes for scented bait, all containing the flavors of dragon liver and phoenix marrow, which could be used to catch dragons like Yinglong.
There was also a recipe for scented bait that supposedly could catch dragons and phoenixes, but she had never heard of the ingredients and didn't know if it was just something made up or if it had been verified.
Feng Yang carefully took the jar, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Miss Ji, can people... eat this bait?"
He pondered that this thing was made from Riji meat, and he had eaten Riji meat before, so this bait should work, right? The main thing was that this piece of meat smelled so good; it was the first time he had ever been so tempted.
Achan hesitated, "The spices in this have a paralyzing effect on snakes. You won't be poisoned to death by eating it, but your body might be paralyzed for several months. It's best not to try it."
"Alright." Feng Yang looked disappointed. "Thank you for your help today, young lady."
"You're welcome. Just remember that your parents returned your mother's dowry."
Feng Yang coughed lightly, looking slightly embarrassed, feeling that his master was bullying him.
"Once the snow needle snake is caught, I will personally deliver the goods."
Achan rolled her eyes rather inelegantly. Sure enough, she and Bai Xiuming were birds of a feather. They actually had to wait until the snake was caught. Why didn't they wait until next year?
But what could she do? The items were all in their hands, so she could only endure it.
After chasing the people away, Achan returned to the kitchen in the backyard, where a layer of bone meal was still left in the bowl she had used to hold it.
This stuff is not easy to sell, as it could easily be used by the petty Bai Xiuming to bring up past grievances, but she can use it to create some special fragrances.
Ah Chan carefully stored the bone powder in a porcelain bottle, already planning a new incense recipe in her mind.
Making the incense bait didn't take too long, mainly because Feng Yang was a very efficient worker. A Chan simply went back into the house, took out the spices she had bought earlier, and ground them into powder with a millstone.
Most spices do not require additional processing; they can be used simply by grinding them into powder. However, the fineness of the powder is important.
After rubbing for a short while, she felt pain in her hand. When she turned her palm over, she saw that a piece of skin had been rubbed raw.
She couldn't help but wonder when she would have someone as capable as Feng Yang by her side.
At noon, Ah Chan had enough of her terrible cooking skills, so she went to a newly opened noodle stall outside and ate a bowl of chicken soup noodles. The taste was so-so, and she barely ate most of the bowl before going home.
When she got to her doorstep, she was surprised to find someone waiting for her.
"You are... Butler Zhao?"
Since Zhao Ming's accident, A Chan has had no contact with the Zhao family. Today, the Zhao family's steward actually came looking for her.
Zhao Fu turned around and, upon seeing A Chan, hurriedly stepped forward to bow: "Miss, I've finally waited for you."
"Is there something you need?"
Zhao Fu stammered, "It's like this, the bodies of Master and Old Master have been sent back to the manor, and the funeral will be held in three days. I wonder if you will be available then, Miss?"
"I thought the Zhao family didn't welcome me," Achan said jokingly.
"How could that be? There must be some misunderstanding."
Achan didn't dwell on it and asked, "Who sent you?"
“It was our second young lady who sent me to invite the cousin.”
"Okay, I'll go."
One should see things through to the end; she wanted to witness the fate of the Zhao family with her own eyes.
Three days later, Achan arrived at the Zhao residence as promised.
Compared to the last funeral of Madam Lin, the Zhao residence appeared unusually quiet this time.
Achan wasn't surprised by this result. Recently, even the storyteller at the teahouse near her home had changed his stories. The protagonist of the story had become the heartless and cruel Master Zhao, who killed his wife and children and kept a mistress. He was none other than her uncle.
It's unclear how the Zhao family's case got publicized. Although the common people only have a vague understanding of it, the Zhao family has lost all its reputation now.
After Zhao Ming died, everyone remembered him.
The Zhao family's mourning hall was still set up in the old courtyard. Only after asking the steward, Achan, did I learn that the Zhao family had only arranged funerals for three people. After Madam Su's body was sent back to the Zhao family, Zhao Wenyue had already ordered someone to roll it up in a mat and throw it into the mass grave.
"Where is Zhao Wenqi?" Achan asked again.
The steward didn't hide anything and said, "Young Master Wenqi was frightened and developed hysteria. He was adopted and is not a member of the Zhao family. He was also kicked out by the young lady. He was wandering around outside the house a few days ago, but he has disappeared without a trace these past few days."
Achan didn't ask any further questions.
Although this ending was expected, Zhao Wenyue was as cold-hearted as ever.
She treats outsiders this way, and she treats her own mother the same way; she truly only loves herself.
On the way to the mourning hall, the butler also told Achan that Zhao Wenyue had invited a group of monks to chant sutras in the mansion a couple of days ago to pray for the souls of her grandparents and father.
Her mother's transformation into a vengeful ghost probably taught her a lesson, as she didn't dare nail the coffin shut this time.
When Achan went to the mourning hall to offer incense, she saw three coffins placed side by side inside, and three monks chanting the Rebirth Mantra next to the coffins.
It seems she was really afraid of her father coming after her. Ah Chan didn't tell her that not everyone becomes a ghost after death. Becoming a vengeful ghost is a kind of unconventional but uncontrollable opportunity.
After she finished offering incense, Zhao Wenyue walked towards her.
In just a few days, after wearing mourning clothes one after another, Zhao Wenyue looked much more haggard, and she no longer seemed as sharp-tongued as before when she saw Achan.
Thank you for coming today.
After her father died, her friends and colleagues, with whom she had a good relationship, acted as if they didn't exist, and none of them came to offer incense.
Zhao Wenyue was filled with grief and indignation, but she didn't know who to confide in.
She was touched that Ji Chan would actually come.
"What do you plan to do in the future?" Achan asked her.
The expected answer would be to return to her hometown to observe three years of mourning, but Zhao Wenyue always manages to surprise people.
She said, "Two days ago, Xue Lang came to propose marriage, and I agreed."
"A marriage proposal?" Achan's voice rose slightly. "You want to marry him?"
Zhao Wenyue's face changed as if someone had touched a sore spot. Finally, she managed to utter a few words with difficulty: "He wants to take me as a concubine."
Achan's expression was very strange. Zhao Wenyue thought that she looked down on her, so she couldn't help but defend herself: "Now that the Zhao family has no one to support the family name and Father's reputation is ruined, what family would be willing to marry me?"
That's hard to say, Ah Chan thought. As long as she wasn't too ambitious, it wouldn't be difficult to find someone to marry and become a proper wife.
She is now implicated by Zhao Ming, but the entire Zhao family business belongs to her. With such a business to rely on, there will always be people who are interested in her.
Ultimately, it was because she still couldn't let go of Xue Mingtang.
Xue Mingtang is even more interesting. Not only is he unwilling to give up the Zhao family's business, but he is also unwilling to give up the position of his principal wife.
Ah Chan didn't care about her choice, but then she thought of Madam Lin and said, "You should think it over. Being someone's concubine is not a good choice."
“I’ve already thought it through. Xue Lang also promised me that he would make me his official wife once his parents can accept me.”
What else could Achan say but wish her all the best?
The funeral was approaching, and still no one had come. Achan asked Zhao Wenyue beside her, "Isn't your Xue Lang going to offer incense to your father?"
Zhao Wenyue explained for him: "It's not that Xue Lang doesn't want to come, it's that he's injured and is recuperating at home, so he can't come."
Xue Mingtang didn't come; the Xue family sent a steward instead.
As soon as Achan finished speaking, the Xue family's steward entered. He looked somewhat arrogant. After entering the mourning hall, he lit three incense sticks by himself. When he turned around, he waited for Zhao Wenyue to greet him first before nodding.
The steward, disregarding the occasion, said to Zhao Wenyue, "Miss Zhao, the day after tomorrow, a sedan chair from the Xue family will come to carry you into the mansion."
"Why are you in such a hurry? Didn't Xue Lang say..."
The butler interrupted her impatiently: "This is our mistress's idea. My young master is injured, and Miss Zhao's arrival at the manor can bring good luck. Or is Miss Zhao unwilling?"
Zhao Wenyue shut her mouth, and after a long while nodded: "I understand, I will prepare."
The steward then showed a satisfied expression, and before leaving, he didn't forget to add, "By the way, Miss Zhao, please prepare your dowry as well. The manor will send people to carry it away when the time comes."
After the steward of the Xue family left, a short while later, another person walked in.
The man was in his forties, with a refined and handsome appearance. He wore a white brocade robe and looked like a scholar.
The Zhao family steward hurried in and whispered in Zhao Wenyue's ear, "Miss, this is Lord Yan Liru, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice."
Ah Chan also heard what the butler said and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, realizing that he was actually an important person.
After Lord Yan finished offering incense, he turned to Zhao Wenyue, who immediately bowed, and Lord Yan returned the bow.
He looked at Zhao Wenyue, sighed, and said, "Brother Zhao and I are from the same school. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to my residence to find me."
Everyone who heard this was surprised. This was the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a high-ranking official of the third rank. His words carried considerable weight.
Zhao Wenyue wasn't ungrateful; a look of joy flashed in her eyes as she loudly said, "Thank you, Uncle."
Yan Liru nodded slightly. He glanced at Achan, who was curiously looking at him, smiled at her, and then left.
"This Lord Yan is truly a good man," Steward Zhao couldn't help but remark.
"Lord Yan said that he and my uncle were from the same school. Who was their teacher?" Achan asked curiously.
Zhao Wenyue was unaware, but the steward Zhao Fu was.
Zhao Fu's expression was somewhat wistful: "It was the former Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Lord Chen. He was said to be extremely learned, and even the now renowned Confucian scholar Qi was once Lord Chen's student. After Lord Chen got into trouble, you stopped mentioning him."
"That Lord Chen is truly remarkable. He not only taught my uncle and Lord Yan, who are both high-ranking officials, but he has also taught a great Confucian scholar," Achan praised sincerely.
"Who can argue with that? It's a pity they suffered from demonic calamity, and in the end, their corpses were all devoured."
This is the second time Ah Chan has heard someone mention the former Chancellor of the Imperial Academy; it's quite a coincidence.
She thought that if that Lord Chen were still alive, he might be doing quite well with the help of his students. It's such a pity.
"Speaking of which, I heard a couple of days ago that Lord Yan helped a woman who was blocking the road to clear her name. Now, the people of the capital all call Lord Yan 'Yan Qingtian' (a paragon of justice). With Lord Yan's promise, Miss will have a guarantee in the future," the steward added.
Zhao Wenyue smiled and said, "Both Xue Lang and Lord Yan come from the Ministry of Justice. Even if it's just because of Lord Yan, Xue Lang will treat me well."
She's truly beyond help; she can drag Xue Mingtang into everything.
Sometimes, Ah Chan really suspects that when Xiao Lin gave birth to Zhao Wenyue, she forgot to give birth to his brain.
"In that case, congratulations, cousin." There was no hint of joy in Achan's tone.
Zhao Wenyue, however, thought she was genuinely congratulating her, and the joy on her face was barely concealed.
Soon it was time for the funeral procession, and Zhao Wenyue, with the help of the housekeeper, continued to preside over the funeral rites. Having experienced it once not long ago, she seemed quite adept this time.
After offering incense, Achan decided not to stay at the Zhao family any longer. Before leaving, Achan said to Zhao Wenyue, "If my cousin is not doing well at the Xue family in the future, you can send someone to tell me."
"No, it won't happen." Zhao Wenyue said firmly.
Ah Chan didn't say anything more; that was all that remained of her friendship with Kobayashi.
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