Chapter 89 Knowing
The day after Shen Jiao arrived at the Marquis's residence, it was still drizzling.
Aman lay listlessly on the table, looking out the window at the spiders spinning their webs under the eaves.
Time and again, despite the water droplets falling from the corridor breaking the spider webs, they never gave up or moved to another place.
They're also surprisingly patient.
If it were her, knowing how difficult this place was, she would have moved long ago. Why bother hanging herself on a crooked tree?
A sudden knock on the door interrupted Aman's thoughts. Aman got up to open the door. When she opened it, she saw that it was Mantou who had come in.
"Mantou, what brings you here?" Aman's eyes lit up, and she subconsciously looked towards the door, but there was no one there. The smile on her face instantly faded. "Why didn't the young master come?"
“Young Master,” Mantou rubbed his nose, “Young Master is still busy with matters in the manor. As you know, Young Master has just taken over the Marquis’s manor and there are some things he hasn’t gotten the hang of yet.”
"Really?" Aman's smile faded, and she turned to go back to her room. "And what about you? What are you doing here?"
"I... I'm here on your orders, young master, to bring you some food." Mantou put down the food box in his hand, opened the lid, and inside were several plates of pastries.
He took out the plate of mung bean cakes and presented it to Aman like a treasure, saying, "Young Master knows you love mung bean cakes, so he specially asked me to bring them. Try them and see if they suit your taste."
Aman looked at the steamed buns, then at the plate of mung bean cakes, and felt his heart sink.
The steamed bun lied again.
She had previously mentioned that she liked mung bean cakes, but that was because she was short of money; mung bean cakes were a rare treat she could afford.
Later, when life got better, her favorite and most frequently purchased items were red date cake and cloud cake. The young master knew this and would often bring them to her.
Only Mantou, being careless, only remembered that she liked mung bean cakes because she had mentioned it.
“Mantou,” Aman sighed, then said seriously, “Are you and the young master hiding something from me? Did something happen to the young master in the capital?”
"How...how could that be?" Mantou felt guilty under her gaze and subconsciously looked away. "Don't overthink it. Young Master is just busy."
Mantou placed the mung bean cake on the table, and in her haste, she knocked over the cup.
This made Aman even more certain that Mantou was hiding something from him.
"Mantou, are you sure you're not going to tell?"
"I... what do you want me to say if it's not true?" Mantou hurriedly picked up the cup and wiped the water stains on the table with his sleeve. "Young Master has other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
With that, he stormed out the door, practically fleeing in panic.
Aman watched his retreating figure, her eyes filled with desolation.
Just how serious is it that the young master is unwilling to tell her, and even colludes with the people of the Marquis's mansion to keep it from her?
Young master, have you changed your mind?
Two more days of incessant rain followed, and before we knew it, it was August. Only five days remained until Fu Yunxiu's wedding.
Shen Jiao has been in Yongzhou for four days. Because of the rain, she has been staying in the Marquis's mansion for the past few days, which has made her very cooped up. Today the weather has finally cleared up, so she must go out and have some fun.
Although Yongzhou cannot compare to the capital, it has its own unique customs and culture. With Lady Liu and several other ladies accompanying her, Shen Jiao had a good time and bought quite a few things, including jewelry and other precious items.
Around noon, the group rested at Tianxianglou, the best restaurant in Yongzhou. Madam Liu booked a private room, the one on the far side, with a window on the right offering a perfect view of the street.
The ladies gathered together, and naturally, the conversation inevitably turned to their husbands and children. Shen Jiao found it all rather boring, and since the food hadn't been served yet, she decided to take Ku Zhu down for a stroll again.
Madam Liu wanted Cui Liu to accompany Shen Jiao since she was new to the area, but Shen Jiao refused.
"Miss, are we really not going to let Cui Liu accompany us? We don't know anyone here, what if she gets lost?" After coming downstairs, Ku Zhu looked at the people coming and going on the street and was still a little worried.
"Are you stupid? That Cui Liu is obviously a spy planted by Madam Liu. If we take her with us, won't we give others something to say?"
Ku Zhu immediately understood her meaning, "Miss wants to see that person."
Shen Jiao did not answer, which was taken as tacit agreement. She said, "I reckon my elder brother will send someone to pick me up tomorrow. If I don't go to see her now, I'm afraid I won't have time."
To avoid Aman, Madam Liu took Shen Jiao to avoid Changqing Street. She estimated that Aman should be closing up shop by this time, which is why she brought her here to eat.
Therefore, Shen Jiao walked from one end of the street to the other with Ku Zhu, but still couldn't find the woman selling flower dew. After asking around, she learned that her business was good, and she had sold out early and packed up to go home.
Shen Jiao stared at Aman's empty stall and the words "Lin Ji" on the shelf, almost grinding her teeth to powder.
An aunt who knew Aman well thought she had come to buy floral dew and kindly advised, "It's alright, just come earlier tomorrow morning. Aman's floral dew is so good that even noble ladies in the capital are eager to buy it; it's very popular."
"Is that so?" Shen Jiao scoffed lightly. "What good stuff could a maid possibly make? Why would anyone be scrambling to buy it?"
"Look at what you're saying! What's wrong with a maid? A maid is a person too." Granny Song, who was speaking, was Aman's neighbor in Wutong Garden. Hearing her belittle Aman like this, she couldn't help but speak up. "Besides, the eldest son of the Marquis's mansion said it himself, that Aman is his wife. We all heard it clearly at the time."
Grandma Song looked at Shen Jiao with an expression of pride.
"What did you say?" Upon hearing this, Shen Jiao's eyes widened instantly, her hands twisting the handkerchief as if she wanted to tear it to shreds. "Old thing, I think you've lost your mind and your eyes are getting dim. A concubine is nothing but a lowly thing. How dare you be the mistress of the Marquis's mansion?"
"Hey, how can you talk like that?" Granny Song wanted to retort, but she was intimidated by Shen Jiao's imposing aura.
Shen Jiao pointed her finger at her nose and said, word by word, "Let me tell you, in five days, Fu Yunxiu will be getting married. It's an imperial marriage, bestowed by the Emperor, to marry the younger sister of the Protector General. So, don't let any filthy things get involved; it's bad luck."
After saying this, Shen Jiao stormed off. The crowd that had come to watch the spectacle fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a cacophony of discussion.
Some said they didn't believe it, some expressed doubt, and others said they witnessed it with their own eyes and came to testify.
But whether she believed it or not, after much deliberation, Granny Song told Aman about it.
After hearing this, Aman was stunned for a moment.
"Aman, Aman," Granny Song said with heartache, and couldn't help but advise, "Oh dear, that woman is probably just talking nonsense. You can be considered Young Master Fu's savior, and he personally promised to marry you. How could he marry someone else? It's unbelievable."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and slapped her mouth twice. "It was my fault for being so talkative. I followed what others said without understanding the facts. Don't take it to heart."
“I’m not just talking nonsense,” Aman said in a low voice.
Grandma Song, being elderly, didn't hear what she said clearly and asked again, "What did you say?"
"It's nothing," Ah Man said with a light laugh, concealing the bitterness in her heart. "I didn't take it to heart, Grandma, don't worry."
"That's good, that's good. I knew it! How could you not know that Young Master Fu is getting married? That woman must be one of Young Master Fu's admirers, just talking nonsense."
After seeing Granny Song off, Aman suddenly felt as if she had lost all her strength and collapsed onto the bed.
She had considered this reason before, but she never expected it to be so painful after it was actually confirmed.
The Emperor bestowed a marriage upon the General's younger sister.
Both of them were well-matched in terms of social standing, and both were beyond her reach.
Why doesn't the young master just tell me directly?
Are you afraid of hurting her feelings?
I'm still afraid she'll cause trouble, afraid she'll take advantage of my kindness and act like the women in those storybooks, crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide.
That night, Aman didn't sleep a wink.
The next morning, she set up her stall as usual.
After Shen Jiao's outburst yesterday, Aman received many strange looks when she arrived today. Some were sympathetic, some pitied, some were looking on with amusement, and some were gloating.
But no matter which one it was, Aman didn't want to pay any attention to it.
She acted like a walking corpse, asking customers about their needs and blankly collecting money.
Until a gold ingot was placed in front of her, she said, "I want all of these. Wrap them up for me."
The speaker was a woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with exquisite makeup. It was obvious at a glance that she came from a wealthy family. However, the blatant contempt in her eyes when she looked at Aman gave her a sharp and sarcastic air that was inconsistent with her status.
Given the intense hostility shown on their first meeting, Aman was almost certain that this was the woman the Emperor had promised to marry, the younger sister of the Protector General.
Sure enough, the next moment, Shen Jiao said, "Would you have the honor of inviting Miss Aman for a cup of tea?"
At the teahouse, Shen Jiao ordered a pot of tea. Without waiting for the waiter's service, she took the teapot and teacups herself to brew the tea. Her movements, like butterflies dancing in the breeze, exuded the elegance and grace of a well-bred lady.
Aman looked at her gorgeous dress, dazzling jewelry, and the noble air she exuded. Then she looked down at herself, in simple clothes and a plain dress, stained with dust from who-knows-where, and her sleeves rolled up to her elbows for convenience.
In an instant, the difference in quality became immediately apparent.
“Miss Aman, please have some tea,” Shen Jiao poured a cup of tea and handed it to her, “Pre-Rain Longjing, I don’t know if you like it.”
Shen Jiao chuckled, "Presumably, Miss Aman has already guessed my identity, hasn't she?"
Aman tightened her grip on the teacup and replied softly, "Yes."
Shen Jiao smiled again, "In that case, I won't hide it anymore. I've never liked sharing things with others. What's mine is mine, and I won't allow others to touch it. Miss Aman, do you understand what I mean?"
Before Aman could speak, she pretended to be generous and said, "Of course, Miss Aman has been kind to Yunxiu. If you want to repay that kindness, I'm not such a heartless person. Once I enter the manor, it wouldn't be impossible for me to keep you by my side as a concubine. After all, women have a few inconvenient days every month, don't you think?"
Her words made Aman laugh. "So, Miss Shen is here to show off to me?"
"It's not a demonstration, but as the future mistress of the Marquis's mansion, I need to clear away some irrelevant people for my husband before the wedding. Although Yunxiu and I haven't known each other for long, our love is as strong as gold. It was he who personally begged my brother, and only then did my brother agree to ask His Majesty to grant us this marriage. However, Yunxiu is a man after all, and there are bound to be some women around him. If it were up to my temper, I would have sent them all away without exception. But Miss Aman's status is special, and out of respect for Yunxiu, I can only reluctantly give her up. So, as long as Miss Aman behaves herself and doesn't cause trouble, I will not treat you badly after the marriage."
Shen Jiao's words were sharp, every single one revealing the contempt and disdain of a superior for an inferior. Aman considered herself a person with lofty ambitions, but for some reason, she didn't feel angry at Shen Jiao's words; instead, she found them quite amusing.
Aman had no recollection of how she left the teahouse. She only remembered that before leaving, Shen Jiao told her to behave herself and that if she performed well, he might consider making her a concubine.
First a concubine, then a mistress—what a kind and benevolent facade! In a way, shouldn't Aman thank her for her magnanimity, for being able to painfully let go and allow her to "rise above her station"?
Unfortunately, she didn't want either a concubine or a maidservant. She didn't even want that person anymore.
The clear skies held out for two days, but finally gave way. The bright sunshine of the morning was now overcast, and a storm was brewing.
Aman wandered aimlessly through the streets until raindrops fell on her face, at which point she realized the weather had changed.
"Girl, don't just stand there like an idiot, come and take shelter from the rain!" A passerby who was taking shelter from the rain under someone else's eaves couldn't help but call out when he saw Aman standing in the rain looking lost and helpless.
With their reminder, Aman seemed to snap out of his daze and slowly walked towards the eaves.
The group took shelter from the rain under the eaves, and while they were bored, they started talking about the major events that had happened in Yongzhou City recently.
"It's true, I've heard about it too. I heard that woman is the younger sister of the Protector-General!"
"Yes, I saw Madam Liu with several other ladies yesterday, surrounding a young woman at the Treasure Pavilion choosing jewelry. I guess that's the person."
The truth could not be hidden forever; the news that the eldest son of the Marquis's family was getting married eventually spread throughout Yongzhou City.
Fu Yunxiu was once a brilliant and outstanding figure in Yongzhou City. Now that he is getting married, and it is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor, it is naturally an important topic of conversation in the city.
Aman never expected that she couldn't avoid this topic no matter where she went, so she couldn't help but move to the side. Unexpectedly, the door, which had been tightly closed, suddenly opened, startling her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Aman apologized subconsciously. When she looked up, she found that the person who opened the door was the broker who had recently shown her the apartment, and the place where she was sheltering from the rain was the same shop she had just looked at.
"Miss Aman?" The broker recognized her too. "What are you doing here in this heavy rain?"
"I came here to take care of some business. I came here to avoid the rain. What brings you here?" Aman looked at the unfamiliar faces behind him.
"Oh, this is a customer who came to see the house. He said he wants to open a noodle shop here," the broker explained.
"Looking at houses," Aman frowned. "Didn't you say these houses had already been sold?"
"Ah..." The broker realized he had let something slip and said rather embarrassedly, "Actually, this house has never been sold. Someone came to me, gave me some money, and asked me to say this on purpose."
"As agreed, the house had been on the market for a month, but the other party hadn't contacted me since, so I put it back on the market for sale."
"That house has been sold. If not, I can..."
“It’s sold,” the broker said. “It was sold the day before yesterday. It just so happens to be raining today, so I brought them here to check on the house’s waterproofing.”
"It's sold." Aman muttered, and for some reason, she suddenly smiled. She peered through the crack in the door, carefully examining the furnishings and layout of the room.
This house was her favorite among all the ones she had seen. She had even imagined how she would decorate it, where to put rouge and perfume, where to live and where to use it as a storeroom.
She was so eager to buy the house that she insisted on it even when Fu Yunxiu disagreed.
But unexpectedly...
Even when the broker said the house had been sold at a high price, she was not without her doubts.
But she ultimately rejected all of these ideas. She felt that the young master knew her aspirations and would certainly not do such a thing.
Lin Aman, Lin Yuechu, you are truly laughable!
Do you really think you're something special to him?
Hahahaha, hahahahahaha!
Aman suddenly burst into laughter, the sound piercing through the rain and drawing the attention of those sheltering from the rain on the other side.
"Miss Aman, are you... alright?" The broker asked, somewhat worried. Though he was smiling, the sadness in his eyes seemed to be overflowing.
"It's nothing, I just find it funny. Funny." Ah Man left with these words and walked straight into the rain, ignoring the torrential downpour.
The people who had called her over to take shelter from the rain had witnessed everything and expressed their incomprehension.
What's wrong with her?
"I don't know, maybe he's gone mad!"
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