Chapter 81: Encountering bullying on the street, helping others
On the streets of the capital in late spring, the wind still carried a hint of chill. Little Swallow, clutching the colorful yarn she had just bought from the silk shop, skipped home, the silver swallow tassels on her hair jingling with every step. She was in high spirits that day, having just selected some bright brocade to make new clothes for her mother and herself. As she passed the street corner, she was stopped in her tracks by a bustling noise.
A crowd of onlookers gathered in front of the grand Liang Mansion. Two girls in coarse cloth were being pushed out by servants. The girl in the old lake blue skirt was frail and pale as paper, but she clutched the blue cloth bundle tightly, refusing to let go. A single polished silver hairpin adorned her hair, and she shivered slightly in the cold wind. The maidservant beside her, wearing twin buns and a patched blue cloth skirt, stood protectively in front of the girl with her arms outstretched, her face flushed with anxiety. "Why are you hitting us? We just came to ask for directions!"
"Ask for directions?" A goateed lawyer came out, squinting at the two with his triangular eyes. He toyed with an abacus and laughed shrilly. "Lord Liang is an official appointed by the imperial court. How can you, a country girl, just see him whenever you want? You want to ask him about palace matters, and you dare to try to establish connections without a hundred taels of silver?"
"We really don't have any money..." The girl in the blue dress raised her head, her voice weak but stubborn. Her pretty face was a little dusty, but her eyes were surprisingly bright, like glass with a shimmering light. "We came from Jinan, and we just want to ask Lord Liang if he knows anyone in the palace, and if he can... can he point out a way to find my relatives. My mother's name is Xia Yuhe, and I..."
"Xia Yuhe? Never heard of her!" The lawyer waved his hand impatiently, "Stop talking nonsense here! Do you think you can ask people in the palace? If you can't come up with the money, get out. Don't block the master from welcoming guests!" He winked, and two servants immediately stepped forward and rudely snatched the bag from the girl's arms, "Search to see if there is anything valuable. Don't come here to scam me!"
"Don't touch my bag!" the girl exclaimed, hugging it tighter. Inside was all her hope—half a mutton-fat jade pendant left by her mother, Xia Yuhe; a fan inscribed with the words "Lotus flowers receive dew after the rain"; and the tearful handwritten letter, the only proof she had traveled thousands of miles to find her father.
Seeing that she refused to let go, the servant raised his foot to kick her. The maid screamed and rushed forward to block the attack, but was pushed away by the servant. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her elbow hitting the bluestone slab, which immediately turned red.
"stop!"
A clear, angry roar cut through the clamor. Little Swallow pushed through the crowd and rushed over. When she saw the face of the girl in the blue dress, her heart suddenly sank, and her eyes instantly reddened—it was Ziwei! It really was Ziwei! The sister who had cried and laughed with her in her past life, gotten into trouble and suffered punishment together, was now trembling in the cold wind, desperately protecting her bag.
She rushed to Ziwei in a few steps, holding her tightly behind her, and glared at the servants: "In broad daylight, is this how you, the Liang Mansion, bully people? You steal things and beat people up. Is there any law?"
The servant saw her wearing a lilac silk dress and a head of jewels, clearly a daughter of a wealthy family. His arrogance immediately diminished, but he still insisted, "Miss, please don't meddle in other people's business. These two are liars..."
"Liar?" Xiaoyanzi raised her eyebrows and took out the jade pendant engraved with the word "Fang" from her waist, showing it to me. "Open your eyes wide and see! I'm Xiaoyanzi from the Fang family in Jiangnan. Is this how you treat guests at the Liang Mansion? You hit me without asking any questions? Believe it or not, I'm going to Shuntian Mansion to file a complaint against you right now!"
Although the Fang family had just moved to the capital, Fang Zhihang's talent had already spread among the literary circles. The servant recognized the jade pendant and his face suddenly changed. The legal advisor also hurried out from the door, bowing with a fake smile: "So it's Miss Fang! It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding?" Xiaoyanzi sneered, pointing at the fallen maid. "Pushing my friend down is a misunderstanding? Stealing someone's bag is a misunderstanding? I won't leave until everything is clear today!"
Seeing that she was not someone to be trifled with, the lawyer quickly kicked the servants and ordered them to apologize. He then slipped back into the house and slammed the door shut without even a polite word.
Xiaoyanzi then turned around and carefully helped up the still dazed Ziwei, then bent down and pulled up the maid on the ground: "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Her voice was trembling without her even noticing. When her fingertips touched Ziwei's cold hand, her heart ached as if being pricked by a needle.
Ziwei stared blankly at the strange young lady in front of her. She was pretty, with bright eyes, yet she was yelling at the powerful and influential for a stranger like her. Tears were gleaming in her eyes, which made her feel warm and puzzled. "Thank you so much, Miss, for saving me. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Xiaoyanzi!" Xiaoyanzi wiped the corners of her eyes and tried to make her tone lighter, but when she saw Ziwei's pale face, her eyes still reddened. "How are you guys? Are you hurt anywhere?"
The maid stood up, clutching her bruised elbow and saying gratefully, "My name is Jinsuo. Thank you, Miss Xiaoyanzi! We're fine, but my young lady..." She looked at Ziwei, her eyes red. "It took us half a year to walk from Jinan to the capital! My young lady fell seriously ill along the way, delaying our journey. We've long since run out of money. I heard Lord Liang has some connections in the court, so I thought maybe I could ask him about things in the palace. But... not only did he refuse to help, he even demanded a hundred taels of silver from us. How could we possibly have that kind of money?"
"Half a year gone? Another hundred taels?" Xiaoyanzi gasped. How had Ziwei and Jinsuo managed to survive half a year of sleeping in the open and getting sick? This Lord Liang was clearly bullying them. Seeing them helpless and helpless, he demanded exorbitant amounts! She looked at Ziwei's purple lips and thin clothes, feeling a knot in her stomach. "You just walked all the way here like this?"
Ziwei nodded, her voice as light as a feather. "Well, I was saving some money and wanted to get here quickly, but I didn't expect to get sick..." She looked at Xiaoyanzi, her eyes full of gratitude and uneasiness. "Thank you very much, Miss Xiaoyanzi, for saving me today. We will remember this kindness. However, we just met by chance and dare not bother you again..."
"What's the point of bothering me?" Xiaoyanzi took her hand and walked forward. She felt something cold and made a decision immediately. "You are all alone now. It's getting late. There's no way you can come to a place like the Liang Mansion! Come home with me!"
Ziwei and Jinsuo were both stunned.
"Go... go home?" Ziwei opened her eyes wide in surprise. They had just met for the first time, and this Miss Xiaoyanzi was willing to take them in?
"That's right!" Xiaoyanzi raised her chin as a matter of course, pointing in the direction of her home. "My home is on the street ahead. It's very big, and it will be lively with the two of you here! If you don't mind, you can stay here first, get well, and then slowly find out the news!" She looked at Ziwei's hesitation and added, "Don't worry, my parents are good people, and my brother is also very good. They won't treat you unfairly!"
Jinsuo looked at her young lady's pale face and empty wallet, and couldn't bear to let her sleep on the street again. She pulled Ziwei's sleeve and said, "Miss, Xiaoyanzi means well..."
Ziwei looked into Xiaoyanzi's sincere eyes, which sparkled like stars, making her feel strangely at ease. She hesitated for a moment, then knelt and bowed, her voice choking with sobs, "Then... then thank you very much, Miss Xiaoyanzi. I will never forget this kindness."
Xiaoyanzi quickly helped her up, her eyes curved with a smile, "Don't call me Miss, just call me Xiaoyanzi! Come on, I'll take you home. My mother makes delicious osmanthus cakes, let you warm yourself up!" As she spoke, she picked up Ziwei's bag that had been thrown on the ground. It felt heavy in her hand, and she knew that it contained something more important than gold and silver. She carefully handed it to Ziwei, "Hurry and take it, don't lose it."
Ziwei took the bundle and hugged it tightly, watching Xiaoyanzi pulling her along. The sunlight bathed her like a gilded rim. She and Jinsuo exchanged glances, each seeing gratitude and a hint of bewilderment in the other's eyes—their journey to the capital to find their father had unexpectedly encountered their first warm light. Xiaoyanzi, walking ahead, secretly wiped the moisture from her eyes, silently muttering to herself, "Ziwei, in this life, I will never again let you suffer the pain of your past life."
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