5. To glimpse...
◎Everything was ready that day◎
Hua Yao stayed awake almost until dawn.
When I woke up, it was already 3:45 PM.
After finishing her meal, she sat on the couch by the window and picked up a book called "Records of Strange Events".
After a short while, she put down her book and gazed intently at the crabapple tree not far from the window. A few fine water droplets still clung to the tips of the leaves.
How can she find Hua Er Guniang without anyone noticing?
Hua Yao was racking her brains.
After a moment's thought, she walked around the curtain and sat down at the desk, reaching out to pick up a piece of plain paper.
She stiffened her wrist and made a few light strokes on the paper.
After finishing writing, Hua Yao folded the paper to the last crease and gently smoothed it out.
Footsteps sounded outside the door, and she hid the folded note in her sleeve.
"Miss, this was sent by the old lady." Pianzhu walked in carrying a plate of translucent flower cakes.
Hua Yao stood up and walked around the desk, smiling as she spoke, "I mentioned yesterday that I was thinking about pastries, and Grandmother sent some over today. Grandmother is so thoughtful." She picked up a piece, took a small bite, but her mind wasn't on it.
She looked up and asked casually, "Pianzhu, when do the people who usually go to the manor to buy things leave?"
"You left before dawn, a little after 3 AM. Is there something important you need to buy, young lady?"
“Not really,” Hua Yao said casually, her fingertips brushing against her sleeve. “It’s just that I’m a little tempted by these translucent flower cakes. Maybe there are new varieties available outside. I was thinking that when Uncle Zhang goes shopping these days, could he bring some back with him?”
Uncle Zhang was the steward of the Prime Minister's residence and also a guard who came with his mother when she married into the family. After his mistress passed away, he was unwilling to leave. In the early years, he was often spoken ill of, with people saying that he "wanted to climb the social ladder, but unfortunately the branch broke... It's only thanks to the Prime Minister's kindness that he was allowed to stay in the residence."
Later, Hua Yao, who lost her mother at a young age, was repeatedly scolded and beaten by Aunt Fang in private for "improper behavior" and "disobedience," and he always intervened to stop her. As a result, he offended Aunt Fang and was tripped up by her in many ways.
Hua Yao only learned of this from Pian Zhu yesterday...
Pianzhu chuckled. So the girl was craving food. "That's easy. I'll go find Steward Zhang and tell him."
"I'm free anyway, so it won't hurt to go." With that, Hua Yao took a step and walked towards the door.
...
A faint smell of grain and oil wafted from the corridor outside the side warehouse.
Hua Yao walked slowly, her gaze sweeping over the blue cloth-covered carriage in the courtyard, where a worker was unloading bags of rice.
The household's purchasing was done every few days, and each purchase involved acquiring many items. They would leave the mansion at dawn and not return until around noon. Just checking the accounts and tidying up these items would take at least an hour.
Only fresh vegetables were available for daily selection. But it was still early, and apart from a few breakfast stalls, most other shops were not yet open.
"If you're getting impatient, I'll tell the kitchen to make it right now." Pianzhu assumed that the young lady was really craving it and wanted to come and see for herself.
"No need to worry about it, I'll just treat it as a walk."
As the two walked, a tall and slender figure suddenly came into view.
Upon receiving the news, Steward Zhang hurriedly came out of the room. He bowed slightly, a genuine smile on his face, yet his eyes seemed to hold a myriad of emotions. "Miss."
“If the young lady has something to attend to, she can simply send Pianzhu over. There’s no need for you to come in person.”
"Uncle Zhang, I want to eat the lotus flower pastry from Yulufang."
The lotus flower pastry from Yulufang was the second daughter's mother's favorite pastry.
Zhang Mianshan's eyes reddened. "If the young lady wants to eat it, I will naturally go and buy it."
“No rush, I’ll just bring some back when I go out to shop another day,” Hua Yao nodded slightly. “Thank you, Uncle Zhang.”
After speaking, he turned to leave, but his gaze seemed to unintentionally sweep over the carriage again.
"girl!"
As soon as Hua Yao turned around, Zhang Mianshan's voice rang out behind her. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt a slight tremor in his voice.
Hua Yao turned to look at him.
He had barely uttered the sound when he stopped speaking.
"Pianzhu, you go back first," Hua Yao said.
"yes."
...
The octagonal pavilion overlooks a lotus pond.
Tea sets were laid out on the stone table. Hua Yao didn't move, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the celadon cup.
Zhang Mianshan stood three steps away, respectfully clasping his hands.
"Sit down," Hua Yao said softly, glancing at him.
He stiffened for a moment before turning to sit down, just beside the edge of the stone bench. Hua Yao looked at his profile; he seemed to have no intention of speaking.
Hua Yao couldn't help but speak up, "Just say what you have to say."
He suddenly took a breath, very softly, as if he had made a decision, "Miss, that day everything was ready, and the east wind rose. I clearly foresaw it..."
"Oh~ I saw a man and a woman from afar. I was wondering which two audacious servants were having a secret rendezvous. When I got closer, I realized it was Yao-jie."
Fang Wanru's voice came from behind, accompanied by the sound of several footsteps.
Hua Yao raised her eyes, but remained seated, making no movement.
Zhang Mianshan stood up and gave a perfunctory bow. "I'm discussing the lady's affairs with you in this drafty place, so please don't gossip, Aunt."
Fang Wanru knew Zhang Mianshan was a tough nut to crack, so she ignored him. "Yao'er, Mother told you to stay home as much as possible. Now you're causing trouble here. All the lessons I taught you since you were little have been for nothing."
Hua Yao listened to the barking of the dogs and poured herself a cup of tea. Then she picked up the teacup, slowly stood up, but did not turn around.
She scoffed lightly, her tone sarcastic, "Auntie, you're quite the joker. Your words are better than your singing. You can sing the songs at Lin Yun Tower instead." With that, she brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip.
"You...you...Hua Yao! I'm still your mother!" Fang Wanru's voice cracked with anger.
"Mother, please calm down." A weak and feeble voice came from behind.
Hua Yao was taken aback, but still didn't turn her head. This must be Hua Rong or Hua Yin.
"Hua Yao! I pity you for losing your mother at a young age and have treated you as my own daughter. What have I done wrong that you would say such wicked things to me?"
Orphaned at a young age? Hua Yao smiled bitterly. She and this Second Miss Hua truly had a connection. Same name, same figure and appearance, same voice, the same… If it weren't for that birthmark, even she probably wouldn't be able to tell them apart…
She put down her teacup, turned her head, and saw a woman in purple half-embracing Fang Wanru, constantly patting her back to help her catch her breath, while Fang Wanru wiped the corners of her eyes with a soft handkerchief.
"Abusive language? I may be rude and unruly, but so be it." Hua Yao didn't care; she wasn't going to fall for moral pressure.
“Second sister, how can you be so disrespectful to Mother?” Hua Rong said in a lecturing tone, “Even if Mother said something wrong, we as the younger generation cannot refute her. However, you have become more and more temperamental in just a few months.”
Before Fang Wanru could figure out how to respond, her daughter's voice rang out in her ears first, and she straightened her back as if she had gained the upper hand.
"You also think what she said is wrong?"
Hua Rong's expression froze for a moment before she reacted, "You... I mean, even if Mother's words are unreasonable, we as the younger generation should still listen to them."
Fang Wanru stopped wiping her tears and turned her head to look at her daughter silently... No, no, I'm getting confused. What do you mean she's wrong?
Standing to the side, Zhang Mianshan took a deep look at Hua Yao; the girl seemed to have gained a bit more strength in her character.
...
At the densest part of the branches and leaves on the wall of the Prime Minister's residence, two people could be vaguely seen through the gaps in the leaves as the wind blew.
Qin Feng and Qin Yan had been there for an unknown amount of time, their clothes were damp with moisture.
Through the layers of leaves, one can just catch a glimpse of the people in the octagonal pavilion.
"You mean, the lord sent us to the Prime Minister's residence just to watch this... bickering?" Qin Feng moved his numb feet slightly, looking quite uncomfortable. "Why don't you let me go to the jail and interrogate a few troublemakers?"
"My lord has his reasons for doing this."
Qin Feng turned his head and saw Qin Yan staring expressionlessly at the octagonal pavilion.
Okay, compared to this guy, arguing is definitely more interesting; at least it's back and forth, a back-and-forth exchange. Unlike this taciturn fellow, who's even more boring than a toad. A toad only moves when poked, but this guy takes several pokes to even move.
--
In Qingyao Garden, Hua Yao was brewing traditional Chinese medicine in the small kitchen on the side.
Since the argument with Aunt Fang and Hua Rong at the Octagonal Pavilion, these past few days have been peaceful.
But she would always remember what Zhang Mianshan said: "Everything is ready, and the east wind is about to rise."
Is there some secret between Zhang Mianshan and Hua Er Guniang? Is it related to Hua Er Guniang's "disappearance," or is it related to her inexplicable arrival in this place?
She needs to investigate quickly...
She carried the brewed Chinese medicine into the house.
Pianzhu pinched her nose and wailed, "Girl, do you really want to drink this? It's so bitter!"
“You have to drink it, not just for the next few days, but you have to drink it from now on,” Hua Yao said, sitting at the round table, her long fingers holding a porcelain spoon and slowly stirring the medicine in the bowl. “You can stop when your cold hands and feet are cured.”
"Alright then, I'll do whatever you say, miss." She took the medicine bowl, mustered her courage, and swallowed the medicine with her head tilted back.
Although the medicine was bitter, the young lady genuinely cared for her. A few days ago, the young lady had been carrying a lot of medicinal herbs in and out of the courtyard. She was worried that the young lady might be unwell, but when she asked, she found out that they were all prepared for her.
The girl said that it was raining that day when she went to the front hall to look for someone. She touched the girl's hands and found them unusually cold. She insisted on treating them.
Seeing Pianzhu's brows furrowed like mountains, Hua Yao handed her a candied fruit, "This is the only one."
Pianzhu took it and put it in her mouth. "I only knew that you read books all day long, but I never thought you could set bones and cure..." She didn't know what her ailment was. "You can even brew medicine for me."
Hua Yao looked at Pian Zhu, who was grinning foolishly in front of her, and felt a mix of emotions.
--
That night.
The sky was still as dark as ink covering Kyoto when the side gate of the Prime Minister's residence creaked open.
The horse-drawn carriage rolled along the cobblestone road, the sound of its wheels particularly clear in the silence. The carriage swayed slightly as it rounded a street corner. Moonlight shone on the ground, and a wad of white paper was faintly visible where the carriage had passed.
As the sunlight gradually streamed down, wisps of smoke began to rise from the chimneys of Kyoto.
Peddlers without stalls hurried along carrying their loads, afraid of being too late to get a good spot.
In the market, the shouts and haggling grew louder and louder...
A man walked to the corner of East Street, hesitated and slowed down, and finally stopped.
He squinted, staring at the crumpled paper at his feet. There were some mud stains on the paper, probably from being trampled by passersby.
After a while, a hand with distinct knuckles picked up the crumpled paper.
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