Old friends
“I did go to my maternal home, but on my way back I encountered a flash flood and injured my head. I was swept to a village. I had forgotten everything that happened before. Two years ago, I accidentally fell while working in the fields and only then did I remember the past by chance. But the capital is far away and my family does not have enough money, so I had to leave.”
Mo Niang wiped away her tears with her sleeve as she spoke, "When I was young, my second sister climbed a tree to save a bird. Later, the bird died and was buried under that tree."
Jiang Jin kept a close eye on Mo Niang, her vigilance remaining. "Then how did you manage to contact Wei Shu?"
“This servant has saved enough money to go to the capital. While in Bianzhou, I heard that you had gone to Beizhou. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived in Beizhou, you had already returned to the capital. I was wandering outside the governor's mansion when I was discovered by the men left behind by General Wei and sent to the capital.” Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu upon hearing this.
“I checked, and what she said is true; the scar on her head is indeed from many years ago.” Wei Shu placed the hairpin that Mo Niang had brought into Jiang Jin’s palm.
"It does look like craftsmanship from the capital. Do you remember it?" Jiang Jin held the hairpin, looking at the butterfly-shaped notch on it, which seemed familiar. "I'm the one who broke this one?"
"Second Madam, do you still remember? You said the butterfly hairpin in my hair was pretty, so I used it to tease you. Later, you accidentally let go of the silver piece, and it chipped. Madam even gave me a new hairpin later." Jiang Jin's doubts lessened a bit, and seeing the work-related wounds on Mo Niang's hands, she believed her to some extent.
"Mo Niang, Mother is there, would you like to offer her some incense?" Mo Niang's fingers trembled slightly as she looked at the memorial tablet, tears streaming down her face.
"Back then, Madam said she'd wait for me to come back so we could make little clothes together. She said my handiwork was the best; I made clothes for both my eldest and second aunts. She also said that in a year or two, she'd find a good family for me to marry into, and then I'd be a respectable person." Mo Niang knelt on the ground, looking at the ancestral tablets.
"Madam, it's my fault for being late. I'm so sorry for you and the two ladies." Mo Niang hugged Jiang Jin and sobbed uncontrollably. "Second Lady, it's my fault for not protecting you."
"Mo Niang, let's go back first." Jiang Jin wiped away Mo Niang's tears with a handkerchief and helped her up.
"Wei Shu, let's go back." Although Jiang Jin didn't say what happened at the Jiang residence, the faint handprint on her face revealed her displeasure.
Mo Niang looked at the exquisite cushions in the carriage with some embarrassment. "My lady, I'd better get off."
"It's alright. Mother said that if she released you from your status, you would be a good citizen. Don't refer to yourself as a servant anymore." Wei Shu carefully applied medicine to Jiang Jin's slightly flushed cheeks.
"What did you say to Imperial Censor Jiang? How could he disregard etiquette and hit you?" Wei Shu blew on the ground, making Jiang Jin feel ticklish.
"He was going to send Fourth Sister back to his hometown, and I said a few words that offended him." Jiang Jin looked at Mo Niang nonchalantly.
"It's alright. My sister and I are doing well at home. We're skilled in everything—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, housekeeping, and needlework. Mother treats us like her own daughters, and she even helps with my dowry." Looking at Jiang Jin's familiar face, Mo Niang still shed tears.
"I've heard about what happened to Second Aunt. She must have suffered a lot, right?" Mo Niang said, choking back tears as she touched the calluses on Jiang Jin's palm.
"It was all of my own free will, Mo Niang, there's no need to be sad. I was the first woman from the Great Yan to enter the court." Jiang Jin touched Mo Niang's hand. Her memories were hazy, but the Mo Niang she remembered was always smiling, gentle, and kind. Although the person in front of her had experienced hardships, she still retained some of the feeling from before.
"Didn't Mo Niang's husband and child come to the capital together?" Jiang Jin looked at her curiously, recalling Mo Niang's words.
“The children are going to private school, so my husband will stay home to take care of them.” Mo Niang’s voice tinged with longing when she mentioned her family. “Don’t worry, my wife. I came to the capital to see you and your wife. Now that I see you happy, I’m at ease.”
"Wei Shu, I'd like to ask you for a favor." Jiang Jin had barely opened her mouth when Wei Shu shoved a pastry into her mouth.
"You want to bring Mo Niang's family to the capital?" Jiang Jin nodded in surprise. "How did you know?"
"Ah Jin, I understand these things." The two exchanged a glance, suppressing their doubts.
"Second Madam, there's no need. I never intended to curry favor with you!" Mo Niang was somewhat alarmed; she truly hadn't come to freeload.
“I know, Mo Niang, but it’s always better to keep you in the capital than outside. Besides, the teachers in the capital are better and can be more helpful.” The carriage came to a smooth stop at the Wei residence. Wei Shu helped Jiang Jin out of the carriage, and A Bei handed her a hand warmer.
"Madam, lunch is ready." Jiang Jin nodded. "Go and prepare a room for Mo Niang to stay in."
"Yes." Abei led Mo Niang away, while Wei Shuze grabbed Jiang Jin's arm.
"How much of it do you believe?" A cold wind blew outside, and despite wearing a cloak, Jiang Jin still shivered.
"Seven out of ten, but it still needs further investigation." Back in the room, Jiang Jin looked at the lunch and smiled. "Did you have it prepared?"
"Dining is the most relaxing time, but it's also the easiest time to slip up. Wasn't that what Ah Jin planned when she had her family brought to the capital?" Jiang Jin held a hand warmer, looking at the dishes from Cangzhou on the table.
“If there’s no malice, then so be it. But if there is malice, then that’s a weakness. Besides, knowing so much and having old things must be related to Mo Niang. At least someone close to Mo Niang would know this.” Jiang Jin touched his cheek and pondered. “I haven’t heard the name of an old friend for a long time.”
"We'll find them. Once Mo Niang is back, the others can come back too." Wei Shu hung Jiang Jin's cloak on the rack.
"Then I'll take General Wei's auspicious words into consideration." Jiang Jin sat down at the table next to Wei Shu. When A Bei brought Mo Niang over, Jiang Jin was looking at the account books.
"Madam, would you like to have a meal?" Jiang Jin looked up at Mo Niang and nodded. "Mo Niang, please sit down. Consider this a welcome dinner for you." Jiang Jin put down the account books in her hand, while Wei Shuze continued reading the letters.
"General, aren't you coming along?" Jiang Jin asked politely, knowing Wei Shu's intentions.
"There are still matters to attend to, Madam, please have your meal first." Wei Shu squeezed Jiang Jin's arm before leaving the room, the atmosphere inside becoming somewhat more relaxed than before.
"I didn't know what Mo Niang liked to eat, so I had these made." Mo Niang's eyes lit up when she saw the Cangzhou dishes. "Second Aunt, thank you so much. These are all Cangzhou specialties. That rolled vegetable is unique to Cangzhou. It can be stored in the cellar in the summer and can be eaten in the winter."
Mo Niang hesitated to touch her chopsticks, but Jiang Jin smiled and placed the rolled vegetables into Mo Niang's bowl. "Having been away from Cangzhou for so long, I imagine Mo Niang misses her hometown food very much. Don't be shy, eat more. When your family came to the capital, they saw you were thinner and thought I was mistreating you." Seeing Mo Niang eating the vegetables with such familiarity and subconsciously not taking away the meat, Jiang Jin's doubts lessened somewhat.
"Madam." Zhou Cong glanced at Mo Niang and then handed the letter in his hand to Jiang Jin. "This letter suddenly appeared in my room."
"Why didn't you give it to your general but gave it to me instead?" Jiang Jin paused as she took the letter, looking at the few words inside, but finding no trace of Zi Yuan's handwriting.
"Though we are in distress, we are safe and our lives are not in danger." Jiang Jin composed herself and nodded to Zhou Cong. "I understand. You may leave now." Jiang Jin clutched the letter to her bosom as if she had found a priceless treasure.
"Mo Niang, please enjoy your meal. I have to go now." Jiang Jin gave A Bei a look.
"Madam Mo, please tell me if you need anything." Abei grabbed Madam Mo's hesitant hand, and in that instant, Jiang Jin left the room.
"Why did the letter end up in your room?" Jiang Jin examined the ordinary Xuan paper and the ordinary ink.
"This subordinate doesn't know either." Zhou Cong finally felt relieved after seeing Zi Yuan's letter reporting that she was safe.
"Since Ziyuan is alright, withdraw some of the people outside. The rest should continue the investigation and not let any suspicious person slip by." Jiang Jin stood under the eaves, looking at the somewhat desolate Wei residence.
"Is the Wei residence always like this in winter?" Jiang Jin pointed to the withered leaves. Although the fallen leaves on the ground had been swept away, the bare branches were a chilling sight.
"The Wei residence used to be much quieter. It only became more lively after the lady entered the residence. The general doesn't like complicated things and seems indifferent to everything, but he is different when it comes to you."
Having served Wei Shu for many years, Zhou Cong could naturally discern Wei Shu's true intentions from false ones. For the Wei Shu of the past, risking his life for a woman would have seemed like being possessed by a demon, but if that woman was Jiang Jin, it made perfect sense.
"Is the mansion this deserted even on New Year's Day?" Jiang Jin walked into the garden and looked around the huge Wei mansion. Apart from the well-behaved maids and servants, only Wei Shu was left.
"The steward will prepare the holiday gifts. As for the General, he should be handling matters at home on New Year's Day. No one would want to invite trouble by coming to the Wei residence and offending the General." Jiang Jin beckoned to Zhou Cong.
"Have someone buy some peach wood charms and firecrackers. Let's have a lively New Year's Day this year." When Jiang Jin was at the Jiang family mansion, her mother always took care of everything for New Year's Day, but she had learned how to do it herself through observation.
"We'll set up a table inside the house and a few tables in the side rooms so the servants can have some fun too." Jiang Jin looked at the withered leaves and flowers in the yard and thought of the plum trees. "I remember there are a few small plum trees on the estate. We'll hire a craftsman to move them to the garden."
"Madam, should we prepare some menus for the kitchen?" Jiang Jin hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'll have Ah Bei give the menus to the kitchen later."
Jiang Jin walked along the bluestone path to the lake. "Why aren't there any fish in here?" Jiang Jin stood by the lake for a long time but didn't see a single fish.
"The general said it's unnecessary; he won't come here to enjoy the scenery anyway." Zhou Cong thought that if the lake weren't so large, Wei Shu might have even forgotten that his residence had a lake.
"Have someone raise some fish in the lake so we can catch and eat them later. Also, plant more flowers and grass along the lakeside. If it's all bare, people might think Wei Shu is stingy and unwilling to repair the mansion." Jiang Jin walked along the path to the pavilion, where a strong smell of rotting wood made him cough.
"Wei Shu wouldn't say that the pavilion doesn't need repair just because people don't come to visit it, would he?" Jiang Jin looked at the wooden planks blocking the way with the character "止" (stop) written on them.
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