An apology. A gift of thanks.
In the past few days, the servants in the manor have noticed that the clothes in the second young lady's courtyard are exceptionally clean, even the most stubborn ink stains can be removed. The news spread like wildfire, and even the head maid secretly came to ask for "that magical stain-removing ointment".
One day, the Duke of Wei passed by the laundry room and saw the servants scrambling to try out a dark, unsightly object. He frowned and asked, "What is this?"
"Reporting to the Third Young Master, it's the 'soap' made by the Second Young Miss; it's incredibly effective at removing stains!"
Xu Lian was taken aback, then, recalling Xu Qingyao's mysterious behavior a few days ago, he couldn't help but laugh: "That girl, she's really gotten herself into some trouble."
Another day passed, and Xu Qingyao sat by the window, biting her pen and writing and drawing in the booklet.
"The lard soap is barely usable, but it's not fragrant enough. Next time I'll try adding osmanthus... or maybe I should just make liquid soap?"
Chun Tao brought in tea and, seeing her deep in thought again, couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are you going to continue?"
Xu Qingyao looked up with a smile: "Of course, this is just the beginning!"
When Xu Lian returned from court, he smelled a refreshing scent of pine as soon as he stepped into the courtyard. On the table sat a lacquered box with a vine pattern. Lifting the lid revealed a bluish-gray soap carved into the shape of mountains, with a few uncrushed osmanthus seeds embedded among the peaks.
"Father, would you like to try it?" Xu Qingyao came in carrying various soap molds. "Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival, and I specially added some dogwood to this soap. It can relieve headaches when used to wash your hair."
Xu Lian was deeply moved: "Daughters are the best."
His two unfilial sons haven't come back yet.
Soon it will be his daughter's wedding. If those two boys don't come back soon, they probably won't make it to the wedding. Then they'll complain that he, as their father, is not attentive and didn't inform them.
The Duke was helpless. The messages he sent had all disappeared without a trace. Whether the person had been seen was another matter, but he was afraid that more people might be taken into the mess.
*
The Zhenyuan Marquis's Residence.
This was the first time Wei Yi had ever used the main entrance; usually, he would scale walls and rooftops to avoid crowds.
He was carrying a bamboo-inlaid jewel box given to him by Miss Xu, which contained the soap that Xu Qingyao had improved.
How did Miss Xu give him this box?
Xu Qingyao placed the box on the low table in the courtyard and called out to the open space, "I know someone is here. Since this is for your master, I'll trouble the kind person to make the trip."
Yes, that's it.
Wei Yi reluctantly appeared: "Thank you for your trouble, Miss."
Xu Qingyao waved her hand.
Wei Yi turned to leave, but Xu Qingyao called out to him from behind: "Brother, let's go through the front gate. Don't let people mistake us for thieves and send us to the authorities in broad daylight."
...
He actually went through the main entrance.
Wei placed the items on the table, explained the purpose of the visit, and then stood aside to wait for Xiao Zhouyan's instructions.
Xiao Zhouyan's slender fingers traced the exquisite patterns of the bamboo-framed box, when suddenly a soft "click" was heard.
The box was opened, revealing a bar of soap carved in the shape of a rabbit.
Inside the box lid was a line of small, crookedly written text:
For hand washing only, please accept this as a gift, General.
Xiao Zhouyan poked the rabbit with his finger; it was fatter than a normal rabbit.
Looking up, she saw Wei Yi standing to the side and seemed to be in a good mood: "Reward."
"Thank you, General."
Wei Yi's eyes lit up; this job was much easier than before.
He secretly resolved to cling to Miss Xu's coattails.
If Miss Xu is happy, the General is happy.
He was happy when the general was happy.
On second thought—
No, no, no, you can't cling to Miss Xu's leg, otherwise the general will come at you with his sword in less than three seconds.
He should just stand obediently in front of Miss Xu.
Pshaw, why call me Miss Xu? That's too formal.
She must be the general's wife.
"Then I will go and report back to Madam... Miss Xu." His mouth moved faster than his brain; Wei Yi mentally slapped himself.
Xiao Zhouyan raised an eyebrow. Madam?
That's a good name!
"Go."
Wei Yi then withdrew.
Xiao Zhouyan opened the second layer of the box and saw twelve bars of soap neatly stacked inside, each carved with a different animal.
The top piece is engraved with a strange creature that looks neither like a cat nor a dog, and next to it is written: "Guess what it is? If you guess right, I'll give you a basketful!"
He was silent for a moment, then finally couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps his beloved had some misunderstanding about 'carving skills'?
*
Wei Yi returned to Su Xin Yuan.
Xu Qingyao asked curiously, "Did your master say anything?"
For the sake of his master's future happiness, Wei Yi sincerely said, "My master said he likes it very much. He likes anything made by Miss."
Xu Qingyao nodded, seemingly believing but not quite.
The next day.
As soon as Xu Qingyao got up, she saw a row of small wooden animal carvings by the window. Upon closer inspection, they resembled the designs on the soap she had given her yesterday, but were even more beautiful.
Xu Qingyao arranged the animals neatly at the head of her bed.
Very satisfied.
Her fingertips gently traced the row of wooden animal carvings, and she suddenly noticed tiny characters engraved on the base of each one—
The rabbit's belly is inscribed with the words: "Ugly, but cute."
Hidden under the fox's tail was a sign: "Guess it's a dog? You'll be punished by making ten new bars of soap."
In the palm of the last majestic tiger, there was a piece of osmanthus candy stuck to it, with the candy wrapper reading: "See you at the candy shop in the West Market at Shenshi (3-5 PM)."
West Market Sugar Shop?
Yuejian seems to have mentioned that Xu's Candy Shop in the West Market was part of the dowry of the original owner's mother, Jiang, and it specialized in selling candied fruits, sweets, and exotic desserts from the Western Regions.
Although the shop was small, it was always able to stock some sweets and pastries that were rarely seen in Chang'an because foreign merchants often came and went.
After her mother passed away, the Jiang family's old servant took care of everything.
Take this opportunity to go and see her; maybe you can learn more about this mother.
*
Xiao Zhouyan stopped in front of "Xu's Sugar Shop" and played with a tiger-striped soap in his hand.
Suddenly, a clear bell sound came from behind her—Xu Qingyao had unusually styled her hair in double buns today, and the golden bells in her hair jingled with each step.
"What business does the general have with me?"
Xu Qingyao looked around at the shop in front of her. The shop had blue bricks and gray tiles, and the signboard with wood grain worn by time hung above the entrance.
The characters “Xu Ji” have faded somewhat, and the copper bells on the eaves ring softly in the wind, like echoes of bygone days.
"The candy shop has just started selling plum candy today. I invite you to come and have a taste."
Xiao Zhouyan lifted the curtain, and the shopkeeper, Uncle Xu, came forward to greet him respectfully, saying, "What would you two distinguished guests like to buy?"
Xiao Zhouyan walked towards the counter and carefully selected the latest candy.
"Three coins' worth of plum candy, make sure it's well-packaged," he ordered without looking up, his fingertips lingering among the glass jars, his black sleeves brushing against the sugar frosting on the table.
Xu Qingyao looked around the old shop, not seeming to be looking to buy candy: "Excuse me, I'd like half a pound of osmanthus sugar."
Uncle Xu had it carefully packed and handed to the distinguished guest.
"Esteemed guests, the candy has been packaged. It's made with generous amounts of ingredients, and we're honest with you, young and old," he said with a smile, showing great sincerity. "If you enjoy it, please come again next time."
Xu Qingyao agreed, then brought up another matter: "Shopkeeper, how long have you been open?"
Uncle Xu paused slightly as he wiped the counter, a look of reminiscence appearing in his cloudy eyes: "Replying to your question, young lady, I have been running this shop for twenty-eight years now."
He turned and pointed to the faded signboard under the eaves: "These two characters 'Xu Ji' were written by my master himself back then."
Xu Qingyao unconsciously rubbed the candy packet with her fingertips: "Is your master's surname Jiang?"
Uncle Xu's hand suddenly stopped in mid-air, and the sugar spoon landed on the glass jar with a "clang".
His cloudy eyes widened slightly: "How did you know, young lady..."
He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, and turned around to take out a sandalwood box from the deepest part of the counter.
The box lid was lifted, revealing a yellowed ledger lying quietly inside. Xu Bo's withered fingers trembled as he turned to a page: "On the ninth day of the ninth month of the seventh year of Zhengshi, Miss Jiang was married off. The thirty-sixth item on the dowry list was a sugar shop in the West Market."
Just as Xu Qingyao's fingertips touched the paper, a dried osmanthus flower drifted down from between the pages.
Xiao Zhouyan bent down to pick it up and discovered that there was a tiny "遥" (yao, meaning remote) engraved on the calyx.
"This is……"
"This is the osmanthus candy that Madam loved to eat most when she was pregnant." Uncle Xu took out a small celadon jar from under the counter. The jar's mouth was sealed with a beeswax clay and an osmanthus flower was imprinted on it. "It's made from the first batch of golden osmanthus picked every Double Ninth Festival. They say if it's a girl, it will be made when the young lady comes of age..."
The sugar in the jar had long since crystallized, yet it still emitted a faint sweet aroma. Xu Qingyao suddenly noticed a piece of candy wrapper stuck to the bottom of the jar, the back of which was densely covered with recipes for spices from the Western Regions…
The last few lines of smaller print read:
"The pine breeze ripples through the clear water, the crane's shadow moves through the clouds, the road is far away. The vast Milky Way is all poured into the cup, only the pure moon remains to illuminate the empty silk."
Xu Qingyao's fingertips trembled suddenly, the candy wrapper rustling. A drop of water fell on the character "Yao"—she didn't even realize when she had shed a tear.
Shopkeeper Xu handed Xiao Zhouyan a small box containing pills, inside which was a whole benzoin.
“That day…” Uncle Xu’s voice was hoarse, “When the lady was hemorrhaging, the midwife said to light incense to refresh her… This old servant ran to the nearest incense shop, but when I returned, I only made it back in time for…”
“In the years since the lady left, the Duke has taken good care of our little shop…” Xu Bo’s rough fingers traced the knife marks on the counter. “On the seventh day of every month, he would always come to buy three coins’ worth of osmanthus sugar.”
Xu Qingyao was stunned—the seventh day of the lunar month was her birthday.
Xiao Zhouyan suddenly took out an oil paper package from his bosom, inside which lay a few whitish sugar cubes: "These were left behind by the Duke when he came to see me three days ago."
The back of the candy wrapper was stained with brown medicine, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a small portrait of a baby drawn with cinnabar.
Xu Qingyao trembled as she peeled off the sugar coating, revealing a dried loquat leaf inside—the medicinal ingredient her mother had used to treat her cough before her death.
“Young lady, look here…” Uncle Xu suddenly pointed to the area under the counter.
On the mottled paint surface, several shallow scratches are etched—one each year, a total of sixteen. At the very top, crookedly carved, are the words: "Yaoyao's coming-of-age ceremony."
The copper bell under the eaves suddenly moved on its own without any wind, and the golden bell on Xu Qingyao's wrist jingled softly in response.
The benzoin in Xiao Zhouyan's hand snapped open with a "crack," and the ashes fell in a flurry, forming an unfinished painting: a mother holding an infant, her fingertips pointing towards the sugar jar.
...
After leaving the candy shop, the setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them, and Xu Qingyao stared blankly at the candy wrapper in her hand.
Suddenly, someone next to me stretched out a hand, with a plum candy lying in the palm.
Xu Qingyao looked up and saw that the person beside her had walked up to her at some point.
Xiao Zhouyan stood against the light, the plum candy in his palm coated with honey-colored sugar, gleaming like amber in the sunset.
"Want to try some?" he said softly. "It's freshly made."
The moment the candy touches your mouth, a familiar flavor spreads – the sweet and sour taste of dried tangerine peel mixed with plum, with a hint of medicinal aroma in the finish.
Xu Qingyao was suddenly stunned. This was clearly...
"I'll take you somewhere."
Xiao Zhouyan led Xu Qingyao through the bustling crowd and stopped in front of a shop with a plaque that read "Heavenly Creation".
Bronze wind chimes hung on both sides of the shop door. When the evening breeze blew, the sound of the chimes echoed the golden bells in Xu Qingyao's hair.
"This is……"
"As I mentioned before, this is an apology to you, Qingqing."
Xiao Zhouyan pushed open the carved wooden door, and the furnishings inside made Xu Qingyao's breath catch in her throat—
On the left, a sandalwood shelf is filled with various soap molds, from the twelve zodiac animals to seasonal flowers. The most eye-catching one is her "rabbit mold," which she failed to make many times. On the right, a glass cabinet displays various fragrant herbs brought from the Western Regions.
The shopkeeper, an elderly man with only one arm, stepped forward carrying a gilded tray in one hand: "As the general instructed, everything is ready."
Lying on the plate was an exquisite silver spoon—the pattern on it was exactly the same as the glass rabbit he had given her.
There was also a land deed. The shopkeeper smiled and said, "The general specifically instructed that it be written in the young lady's name."
Xu Qingyao picked up the silver spoon, looked at the rabbit's delicate lines, and her eyes welled up with tears.
...
As they were leaving the store, Xiao Zhouyan shoved the tiger-striped soap into her hand: "Now that Yao Yao has more complete equipment, then please make an even more ferocious tiger, Qingqing."
Xu Qingyao: She wants to take back the emotion she just felt.
"Consider it a thank-you gift from Qingqing."
...
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