Chapter 55 Taking the painting was just a fleeting glance, but she saw it...
*
Qin's mother looked anxious, her brows furrowed into a deep frown, and her face was ashen, as if someone had thrown a handful of dust on her; she looked extremely unattractive.
As she entered the courtyard, she caught sight of Granny Li outside the right wing. Granny Li's complexion was also not good, not much better than hers, and her gaze towards her was even more enigmatic.
In this situation, no one is having an easy time. She forced a somewhat normal expression, nodded unnaturally, and pushed open the door to the main room.
The doors and windows were all closed, and the curtains were all drawn tightly. In this bright, clear sky, there was even a candle burning inside the house.
Yu Qingxue sat in front of the dressing table, the mirror on which had been smashed.
She turned around abruptly and saw it was Qin's mother. The fear in her eyes turned into anger. "Why are you back again?"
"Madam, the gatekeeper is blocking the way, I can't go out," Qin Mama said softly, somewhat hesitant to step forward.
"Shen Linlang!" she shouted angrily, "It must be her! She has such a vicious mind..."
"The gatekeeper said it was the eldest young lady who instructed them. She said that there are many things going on in the manor recently, and since you, Madam, are of a troublesome status, it's best to have less contact with the outside world. If there's anything you need to buy, just make a list and give them enough money, and they will take care of it."
After Qin's mother finished speaking, the room was quiet for a long while.
After a long pause, Yu Qingxue's teeth-grinding voice rang out, "That wretched child! I regret it so much, I regret not being able to..."
The rest of her words were unnecessary to say; her meaning was clear.
She stood up and paced around the room. The swelling on her face had subsided somewhat, leaving a bluish tinge. The cuts made by the hairpin, one horizontal and one vertical, were particularly gruesome.
Madam Qin lowered her head, her voice even softer, "Madam, perhaps we should call it a day..."
"What do you mean by 'calculate'!" She glared fiercely. "If I'm not having a good time, they shouldn't either. That wretched child... no wonder she was born to Shen Linlang, just as annoying."
You have no idea how true Fang's sister's feelings are for my eldest brother. Now I can't rely on anyone, no one can help me, only she can help me get revenge. Let me think about it some more, I'm sure I can come up with a solution."
Qin's mother dared not try to persuade her any further, and the ashen look on her face deepened.
As she searched through her rotten intestines again and again, Fang was talking to Shen Qinglu.
After finding Fang's Cloth Shop, Shen Qinglu arranged to meet Fang.
When Fang saw her for the first time, she was startled, then delighted. "Did your father... your mother send you?"
She looked around warily and pulled her veil down a little. "My mother can't get out, and neither can the people around her. All the gates in the mansion are guarded. They've been ordered not to let her out."
"How could this be?" Madam Fang stomped her foot in anger. "Your current mother is too domineering! Qingxue hasn't done anything wrong, why doesn't she let her go out?"
"Just because that house was part of her dowry, and just because she is the mistress of a household, who can tell her what to do in her own house!"
They stood in the narrow alley next to the cloth shop, where no carriages or horses passed by, and there were only one or two pedestrians.
The narrow alley, though not short, was breezy, stronger than the surrounding areas. The wind lifted the light veil of Shen Qing's green veil, like an invisible hand playfully lifting it from time to time, revealing glimpses of her beauty that were truly stunning.
For a moment, even Fang was somewhat distracted. After she came back to her senses, she wondered to herself why, when she and Yu Qingxue had often met in their youth and the girl in front of her clearly looked similar to her, she felt a completely different feeling.
"Are you speaking up for her?"
“I’m telling the truth.” Shen Qinglu lowered her eyes slightly, concealing the coldness in them. “I look so much like my mother. I don’t believe anyone who says I’m not her biological daughter. She is my mother, so of course I’m on her side.”
“That’s true. You and your mother look so alike, you look like mother and daughter. Could it be…” Fang seemed to realize something, her eyes showing obvious shock as she looked at Shen Qinglu with suspicion.
Shen Qinglu feigned guilt, "I have no say in adults' affairs. I came to see you today because of my mother. My mother is in a difficult situation right now. My grandmother is barely able to take care of herself and can't look after her at all. My father..."
At this point, she hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Fang's attention was successfully diverted, and she hurriedly asked, "Doesn't your father care either?"
“My father is busy with official duties and never cares about the affairs of the inner quarters. All the servants in the mansion obey my current mother, so no one dares to say anything in front of him. My mother and grandmother are afraid of putting him in a difficult position, so they won’t say anything either. Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. If someone else were to bring this up to him, it would be more appropriate than if someone in the mansion were to say it.”
Upon hearing this, Fang's eyes lit up, and a blush unconsciously rose to her cheeks.
Having made up her mind, she gave Shen Qinglu a few perfunctory words and hurriedly left.
Shen Qinglu looked at her impatient expression with eyes as dark as ink.
*
Compared to Elephant City, Horse Market has less of the glitz and glamour, but more of a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere.
The shops stood side by side, one after another, and you could hear accents from other places everywhere. There were even people with very distinct regional characteristics, speaking broken Mandarin and hawking their wares.
The location of Fang's Cloth Shop was not good; it was in a mediocre area.
Customers were coming and going from the cloth shop from time to time, and business seemed to be doing well.
Half an hour later, Fang came out of the cloth shop. She looked like she had not only changed her clothes but also dressed up carefully. Behind her was an old woman carrying something in her hand.
The master and servant boarded the carriage and drove away from the horse market.
South of the horse market lies the center of Donglin City, namely the Forbidden Court Changming Palace.
Changming Palace stretches from Angan Gate in the south to Dingkun Gate in the north, with a symmetrical layout dividing it into the inner court and the outer court. The eastern gate served as the entrance and exit for the inner palace, while the western gate was the main route for officials of the outer court to and from court.
The three main halls of the outer court are Yong'an Hall, Guanghe Hall, and Jixian Hall.
Yong'an Hall was where the emperor held court, Guanghe Hall was where grand ceremonies were held in the palace and where officials received imperial favor, while Jixian Hall was the hall that gathered all the people in the world and served as the brain center for the emperor.
Fang's carriage dared not approach the west gate, stopping at a great distance. But money makes the world go round; with a large sum of silver spent, someone would naturally help relay the message.
After an incense stick had burned, Yu Zhiheng emerged from the imposing vermilion gate, but did not see the family members the messenger had mentioned.
So many years had passed that he didn't recognize Fang at first.
When Fang stood in front of him, he was inevitably surprised to recognize her.
Twenty years had passed, and his refined elegance had deepened. His official robes made him appear particularly dignified, exuding the air of a scholar-official. Even in his later years, he still possessed an outstanding appearance and demeanor.
Fang blushed as she looked at him, unconsciously thinking of many years ago.
At that time, the school he attended was not far from the Fang family's house. He had to pass through the back door of the Fang family's house to go to and from school. As a young girl just beginning to experience romantic feelings, she would often peek through the crack in the back door. Even just a glance could make her happy all day.
For example, at this moment, a young woman, no longer young, is rediscovering the joy of her youth, her gaze gradually becoming infatuated.
A sweet cry of "Brother Yu" carried a hint of longing and melancholy.
People come and go from the west gate, and you can't help but take a look.
Yu Zhiheng's expression was displeased. "Miss Fang, did you come to see me?"
Fang nodded shyly, "I was afraid others would misunderstand, so I could only say I'm your family."
Wouldn't saying family members would only lead to more misunderstandings?
Yu Zhiheng was displeased, but he knew her temperament and disposition, so he didn't bother to correct or lecture her. Instead, he wanted to end the meeting as soon as possible. "Miss Fang, did you come to see me for something important?"
She was naturally disappointed. "How have you been all these years, Brother Yu?"
"I am on duty right now. My superior only gave me half an hour. If it is urgent, please keep it brief."
"Brother Yu, why are you always like this to me?"
Pingyang County wasn't very big. Back then, she knew about Yu Zhiheng's family background and thought that with her status as the daughter of the richest man in the county, she could get what she wanted by showing a little kindness.
Unexpectedly, no matter how much she tried to strike up a conversation or offered him food and gifts, Yu Zhiheng remained unmoved.
"My feelings for you have never changed over the years. Not a day goes by without me thinking of you, not a night goes by without me dreaming of you..."
“Miss Fang, I already have a family and children. Please have some self-respect.”
The words "I am an official" and "Have some self-respect" made her feel uncomfortable, but also made her want to rise to the challenge.
Just like many years ago, the more Yu Zhiheng rejected her, the more she felt that he was of good character. Instead of backing down, she took another approach to contact Xie Shi and Yu Qingxue, and naturally became friends with Yu Qingxue.
“I know you have a wife and children, and I have not disrespected myself. If it weren’t for Qingxue, I wouldn’t have come to you.”
"Qingxue is my sister, so I will naturally take care of her affairs."
“Brother Yu, you’re always at the yamen, how can you possibly care about things in the inner quarters? You have no idea how cruel your wife is to Qingxue. It’s one thing for her to lack clothes and charcoal, but she even won’t let Qingxue go out. It’s simply outrageous!”
“My wife is very discreet; she surely has her own reasons for not letting Qingxue go out.” Yu Zhiheng felt someone watching them again, looked up and saw his colleague, and immediately felt uncomfortable. “If you have nothing else to say, please leave.”
Upon hearing this, Fang's eyes immediately reddened, but her gaze was filled with affection, making her look like a woman who had been wronged.
"Brother Yu, do you value your wife very much?"
“She is my wife, and I naturally value her.” Yu Zhiheng did not want to say more to her, so he simply did not look at her and said, “This is not a place for you. Do not do this again.”
After saying that, he turned and left as if fleeing from her.
With red eyes, she stared longingly until Yu Zhiheng's figure disappeared into the palace gates, still gazing greedily and relentlessly, as if trying to see through the towering palace.
"Girl, let's hurry up and go," the old woman behind her reminded her in a trembling voice, clearly very frightened.
The palace gates are a place where they can come and go as they please.
She came to her senses, feeling somewhat frightened, and, holding the old woman's hand, walked towards where the carriage was parked.
"Nanny, do you think Brother Yu ever liked me?"
The old woman seemed stumped by the question, and it took her a long time to say, "Young lady, you truly love him, how could he not be moved at all?"
“I knew he liked me.” She cheered. “Even though he rejected me in public and didn’t get close to me, I could tell he wasn’t indifferent to me. Before he went to the capital for the imperial examination, I went to see him off. He said he remembered my kindness. Listen to that, he clearly has feelings for me.”
"People are all made of flesh and blood. You have done so much for him, how could he not know? If it weren't for your secret help, how could he have obtained the title of Xiucai so easily? If it weren't for the gifts you gave him, how could he have been introduced by Lord Liu and become a disciple of Mr. Dong?"
The expensive writing brushes and inkstones he used—every single one of them was paid for by you, young lady. Even his travel expenses to the capital were secretly given to him by you through Old Madam Yu. If you ask me, his success in passing the imperial examination is all thanks to you, young lady.”
“He doesn’t know any of these things.” She seemed a little resentful. “He’s such a proud person. If he knew what I’ve done, he would probably be angry and resentful towards me.”
"My silly girl," the old woman sighed, "you won't speak up, and you won't let anyone else speak up either. In the end, you'll be the one who benefits others, and you'll be the one who suffers..."
As the master and servant were talking, an ordinary carriage passed by.
The carriage was empty, even the driver wasn't there; it seemed to be deserted.
After the Fang family's carriage drove away, the other carriage followed at a short distance, eventually arriving at the horse market.
The horse market was more bustling than before, with throngs of pedestrians coming and going. Judging from their clothing, most of them were ordinary people.
After entering the horse market, the carriage stopped following the Fang family's carriage and instead followed a group of merchants.
They had quite a few horses, each laden with heavy cargo, suggesting they came from outside the capital. They stopped in front of an inn, where the leader and the innkeeper were very familiar with each other, exchanging pleasantries in a friendly tone.
The innkeeper was very experienced. After settling them in, he noticed a girl wearing a veiled hat enter. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, he could tell from her clothes and demeanor that she was no ordinary person, so he quickly and warmly greeted her.
Xia Chan, who was behind Shen Qinglu, stepped forward and placed a silver ingot on the table, saying that her young lady had a business to discuss with him.
He was a man of the world and was not surprised that a woman was doing business; he simply asked what kind of business she was talking about.
"It's not a big business deal. I'm just looking for someone who sees that your place is doing well and has a lot of customers. I'm thinking of putting a picture on your wall and giving you ten taels of silver a month. When someone comes to stay at the inn, you just need to mention it."
This business is quite novel.
His interest was piqued, and he asked a few more questions. When he learned that there was a reward for providing useful clues, ranging from one to ten taels of silver, and that if the person could be found and brought back to the capital, there would be a reward of five hundred taels of silver, he subconsciously asked, "I wonder what relationship the person you are looking for is to you, young lady?"
“She’s a friend’s younger sister,” Shen Qinglu replied.
The cicada behind her was trying her best to hold back her excitement and shock, her whole body trembling.
After she and the shopkeeper finished their discussion and the two of them left, Xia Chan could no longer hold back her tears and knelt down in front of her with a thud.
“When I was bought by the slave trader, I was only worth one tael and two mace of silver… Later, when I was sold to the Jade Mansion, I was only worth five taels of silver. Five hundred taels of silver… that’s enough to buy a hundred slaves. I owe you, Miss, more than a hundred lives wouldn’t be enough. I have no way to repay you in this life… I can only swear to follow you to the death, without any second thoughts!”
She pulled her up and said, "Xia Chan, I believe you will keep your word."
She didn't know if spending several hundred taels of silver to buy someone who was absolutely loyal to her was worth it, but she felt it was very worthwhile.
Following this pattern, the master and servant found other inns to cooperate with.
Several hours passed, and everyone was exhausted and starving, so they found a restaurant that wasn't too crowded to eat at. When they came out again after the meal, it was almost dusk.
As the sun was about to set, the western sky was filled with rosy clouds, which spilled onto the quaint streets, like a daydream from a nap in a past life, absurd and unreal.
There were fewer pedestrians on the street than before, and the constant flow of passersby was gone. You could easily spot the scattered beggars on the roadside.
Shen Qinglu looked at them one by one, seemingly lost in thought.
After a while, he gestured for Xia Chan to come closer and gave her some instructions.
After listening, Xia Chan walked over to a beggar squatting in the corner. It's unclear what she said to the beggar, but she even slipped him some silver.
The beggar nodded, put the silver away, and ran away quickly. He went through the west alley and then the east alley, making several turns before entering the back door of a shop. He then went around the room full of paper effigies, pushed open a hidden door, and entered another shop.
The shop was extremely quiet, as if no one was there.
Yang Zhen stood silently by, only adding charcoal and hot water occasionally. Meanwhile, the aloof man in snow-white clothes painted for hours on end, his slender, jade-like hands never ceasing.
There were many identical paintings on the table next to it, all of them the same, a total of nineteen, plus the ones on the easel, making a total of twenty.
The little girl on the easel is already taking shape, gradually becoming more vivid and lifelike.
A sound like birdsong came from outside. Yang Zhen went out after hearing it, and quickly came back in to report, "My lord, Mei Wu has arrived."
"Let him in." Mu Hanshi didn't even lift his eyelids, his hands continuing to move.
Yang Zhen went out again and called in the beggar named Mei Wu.
Mei Wu bowed slightly, his posture extremely respectful, and meticulously reported what he had heard and seen.
“That Miss Yu was very generous. She gave me ten taels of silver and asked me to spread what she said. I was afraid that she would become suspicious, so I had no choice but to agree. Please enlighten me, my lord.”
Mu Hanshi's hands flew across the canvas without pausing for a moment, his tone as light yet undeniably adding ink and color as he spoke, "Do as she says."
Mei Wu accepted the order and took his leave.
The room fell silent again, with only the sound of pens hitting paper.
Just as Mu Hanshi finished the last stroke, Shen Qinglu and Xia Chan came to collect the painting.
Following the shop's rules, Shen Qinglu rang the bell next to the small door. Soon, an old man's voice came from inside, saying that the painting was completely finished.
The tightly closed iron gate was opened, and a painting was handed out through a black curtain. She immediately reached out and took it.
One painting after another, it was quite tedious.
She figured this must be the shop's rule, so she accepted the paintings one by one. When she got to the twentieth painting, the old man said, "This painting is just right, but it needs to air out a bit."
"Thank you for reminding me." She reached out to take it again, but perhaps because the painting was not yet dry, the person inside, afraid of touching the flowers, lifted the black curtain slightly.
In just a fleeting glance, she saw the hand that handed her the drawing.
Her ten fingers were long and slender, each one like jade; I felt like I had seen them somewhere before.
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