Chapter 88: Secret words under the wisteria trellis, temporarily locking my worries between my brows
Dusk, like a thin veil, gently enveloped the courtyard of the Fang Mansion. The setting sun's afterglow filtered through the cracks in the wisteria trellis, casting dappled spots of light on the bluestone slabs. The air still lingered with the lingering aroma of sandalwood and food. Ziwei and Jinsuo were accompanying Madam Fang to tidy up the west wing. Liu Qing and Liu Hong were also preparing to return home, carrying their empty lunch boxes. Only Xiaoyanzi and Xiao Jian remained in the courtyard.
Xiaoyanzi tugged at the red pompom on her braid, watching Ziwei's back disappear around the corner of the corridor before pulling Xiaojian under the wisteria trellis. She was wearing a light red floral dress, the hem of which swept through the grass, startling a few fireflies that flickered in the twilight. "Brother," she said in a low voice, her eyes serious, "We have to keep Ziwei's matter a secret, especially Yongqi and Erkang. We can't let them know now."
Xiao Jian leaned against a pillar of the wisteria trellis, his slate-gray robe swaying gently in the evening breeze. He twisted a wisteria petal between his fingers and murmured, "I know. Yongqi is a prince, and Erkang is the son of the Fu family. Their identities are sensitive, and there are many spies in the palace. If the news leaks out, not only will Ziwei be in danger, but even the Fang family may be implicated." He looked down at his sister, his eyes solemn. "Have you forgotten the look the emperor gave you at the last palace banquet? There's no room for error in the palace."
Xiaoyanzi nodded, kicking the pebbles on the ground unconsciously with her toes. "Of course I remember! The Emperor stared at me that day, and it made my scalp tingle. If he knew I recognized Ziwei and helped to conceal it, he would probably start to have all sorts of crazy thoughts." She clenched her fists and swung her braid behind her. "Besides, Ziwei is very sensitive. If I tell her about her relationship with Erkang now, she will definitely be even more panicked, and finding her father will be even more difficult."
"Well," Xiao Jian raised his hand and patted her shoulder, his palm warm. "You've thought it through. The most important thing right now is to let Ziwei settle down and sort out the evidence. When we find the right time, we can take it step by step." He paused, his eyes swept around, and lowered his voice. "The servants in the mansion should also be careful. Aunt Zhang, who was just packing up, is new and very talkative. Don't let her catch us talking in private."
Xiaoyanzi stuck out her tongue and glanced down the hallway. Seeing no one coming, she leaned closer to Xiao Jian and said, "I'll have Chuntao keep an eye on Aunt Zhang tomorrow! By the way, last time you asked your friends in the underworld to investigate the Jinan incident, have you found any news? The letter left by Ziwei's mother mentioned a Mr. Zhou, saying that he helped them back then. Maybe he can find some clues."
"I've asked someone to check," Xiao Jian pulled a small bamboo whistle from his sleeve and twirled it in his hand. "A friend in Jinan wrote back saying that Mr. Zhou moved to Beijing ten years ago and opened a calligraphy and painting shop in Liulichang. I've been taking time out these past few days to visit him." He tucked the whistle back into his sleeve and ran his fingertips over the jade pendant at his waist. "Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret."
As they were talking, Liu Hong's loud voice came from a distance: "Little Swallow! Let's go! I'll bring you a sugar painting tomorrow!" Then Liu Qing's voice came: "Hong'er, slow down, don't fall!"
Xiaoyanzi responded loudly, "I know! Be careful on the road!" She turned around and made a face at Xiao Jian, "Look at Liu Hong, she's still so noisy. Luckily she didn't hear us talking."
Xiao Jian smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes softening. "She's outspoken and doesn't hide her feelings." He looked at the courtyard as dusk deepened, and his tone became more serious. "Remember, besides the six of us, you can't tell anyone, including Mom and Dad. They're old and can't stand being frightened."
"I know!" Xiaoyanzi tiptoed to pick a bunch of wisteria flowers and pinned them to her ear. The fragrance of the petals lingered in her nose. "I'll go tell Ziwei to hide those tokens and not to take them out casually. I'll also warn Jinsuo. Although she's loyal, she's not very good with words and can easily be tricked."
Xiao Jian nodded: "Go ahead, I'll go see if the midnight snack is ready in the kitchen. Didn't you keep talking about having sweet-scented osmanthus lotus root soup?"
Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up, and she skipped towards the corridor. After running a few steps, she turned back, the red pompom on her braid shaking happily: "Brother, you must keep a close eye on them, and don't let Yongqi and the others come to visit casually!"
"Got it, little housekeeper." Xiao Jian smiled and waved, the smile slowly fading as he watched his sister disappear around the corner. He looked up at the crescent moon in the sky, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the pillars of the wisteria trellis. The dusk deepened, and the streetlights in the distance lit up one after another, like stars scattered across the world. But how many undercurrents were hidden in this prosperous capital? No one could tell. He sighed softly. No matter what, he had to protect his sister and his new sister. He must never let the regrets of his previous life repeat themselves.
In the west wing, Ziwei and Jinsuo were sorting through the bags they had brought. The new bedding sent by Madam Fang lay spread on the bed, emitting a faint scent of lavender. On the table stood the glass lamp Xiaoyanzi had just given them, its warm yellow light casting a shimmer on the old wooden box they had brought. Ziwei touched the brocade box at the bottom of the box, which contained her mother's letter and the half jade pendant. She whispered to Jinsuo, "Jinsuo, keep these things safe from now on. No one else can see them except Xiaoyanzi and Brother Xiaojian."
Jinsuo was folding clothes and nodded vigorously when she heard this. "Don't worry, young lady! I'll hide them at the bottom of the box, with our old clothes on top. No one will find them." She leaned closer to Ziwei and lowered her voice, "Young lady, do you think... can we really find the master?"
Ziwei looked out the window at the moonlight, which shone through the lattice onto her face, soft as a veil. She nodded gently, her fingertips brushing the red string around her wrist. A silver bell rang softly in the silence. "Yes, Xiaoyanzi said she would help us, and so did Brother Xiaojian. Besides, now we have brothers and sisters. Even if things get tough, we're not alone."
In the distance, the sounds of maids clearing away dishes, mingled with Xiaoyanzi's clear laughter, were particularly clear in the quiet twilight. Ziwei clutched the red string tightly, muttering to herself, "Mother, do you see? My daughter has someone to rely on in the capital. Don't worry, I will definitely find Dad and tell him your feelings."
Beneath the wisteria trellis, Xiao Jian gazed at the lights in the west wing and slowly tightened his grip on the jade pendant at his waist. As the night deepened, the warm lights and unspoken thoughts in the Fang Mansion courtyard were gently enveloped in the gentle twilight, awaiting the rising sun of tomorrow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
