Chapter 70: Princess Fu'an is about to be betrothed in the capital. ...
An oil lamp stood at the corner of the table, its flame flickering in the cool breeze seeping through the window, casting long and short shadows of the three people sitting around the table, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
Deng San Niang was the first to recover from the sudden opposition. She frowned slightly, put down the sleeve of the summer shirt she was almost finished embroidering, glanced at Yu Man's stunned expression, and then moved to Yu's father's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement and his lips were tightly pursed.
She stood up, walked quietly to the door, glanced outside to make sure she hadn't disturbed Xiuxiu and Er'an, then turned back to face Yu's father.
"Speak properly!" Her voice was low but clear. "Why are you being so aggressive! In the middle of the night, do you want to wake up the kids, or do you want to invite the neighbors to eavesdrop on our family?" As she spoke, she reached out and decisively pried open Yu's father's right hand, which was unconsciously clenched so tightly that his knuckles were slightly white. She snatched the rattle drum, whose wooden handle seemed to groan from his grip, and casually placed it on the low cabinet next to her where the sewing basket was placed. She then glared at Yu's father.
Startled by his wife's series of actions and low scolding, Yu's father suddenly found his hands empty, and the imposing aura he had been forcing himself to maintain through sheer anger diminished considerably.
His Adam's apple bobbed, his lips moved, and he first nodded subconsciously to Deng Sanniang, as if acknowledging that his voice had been too loud. But then, the suffocating feeling in his chest rose again, making him shake his head violently. He avoided Deng Sanniang's gaze, his eyes fixed on the oil lamp, and repeated, his voice lower than before, but even more muffled, as if squeezed from his chest: "This...this just won't do. I don't agree." Each word was enunciated firmly, as if driven into the ground.
Yu Man's initial surprise quickly subsided. Although she didn't know why her father disagreed, she looked at his tense profile, etched with the deep lines of years of hard work that hadn't faded even now that life was better. Her heart softened, and she took a slight breath, still smiling, "Father, don't be in such a hurry. I'm just... not completely made up my mind yet. Tonight, I only mentioned the capital to Mother while she was making summer clothes."
Receiving a glance from her daughter, Deng San Niang sat back down on the edge of the couch next to Yu's father. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve, the force not too light, but not too heavy, with a hint of "calm down," her tone half-complaining and half-joking: "That's right, Aman was just chatting with me, and you got all worked up. Besides,"
She changed the subject, her tone tinged with a reproachful smile, "Weren't you so happy before, telling everyone how promising Pei Ji was, passing the provincial examination with top honors, practically wagging your tail in the air? People even called you 'father-in-law of the provincial scholar,' and you didn't get angry, did you? How come now that he's even more successful, passing the provincial examination with top honors, he's a student of the emperor, a proper official in the Hanlin Academy, and you're unhappy about it? What kind of logic is that?"
Unexpectedly, Deng San Niang's words only exacerbated the situation. Yu's father's sullen expression visibly worsened; his already slightly flushed cheeks deepened, his chest heaved noticeably, and his breathing became heavier. He abruptly turned to look at Deng San Niang, his eyes filled with a mixture of anxiety and helplessness, and retorted in a muffled voice, "That...that can't be the same! How can this be the same!"
In his opinion, he had never seen it before. He did not expect that Pei Ji had so many tricks up his sleeve. Aman went to the capital and returned not long after, but her heart was already wandering back there. Judging from the tone of the mother and daughter, it was clear that they were not just going to find someone, but probably had the idea of staying for a long time.
That was the capital city, and even with the fastest horse, it would take several days to travel there, much farther than the prefecture. As her father, he felt sorry for Aman rushing off to the capital, which was so far away, but he was also worried that although the two were engaged, they had never officially married. Aman's trip there was not legitimate, and what if something went wrong in that unfamiliar place, full of powerful people?
Yu Man seemed to sense this and wanted to explain further, but Deng San Niang, as Yu's father's wife, saw that he was stuck in a rut and couldn't get over it for a while. So she took the initiative to smooth things over, saying, "It's getting late, let's rest first. We can talk about it tomorrow." After saying that, she winked at Yu Man, who knew that he probably wouldn't be able to make a decision tonight, so he said, "Then I'll go to sleep first." He turned and left the east wing.
The only sound in the room for a moment was the occasional crackling of the lamp flame. Deng San Niang looked in the direction Aman had left, then turned back to look at Yu's father, whose face remained stern and whose chest rose and fell slightly, but did not speak immediately. She sat back down on the couch, picked up the summer dress that was half-finished, and did not start sewing immediately, but simply ran her fingers unconsciously over the fine fabric.
Yu's father remained silent. The fierce opposition he had shown earlier seemed to have dissipated somewhat after Yu Man left, but the worry etched between his brows deepened. He stared at his rough hands for a long while before letting out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly.
Deng San Niang finally put down her work, looked up, and spoke in a low voice, her tone impatient: "Aman hasn't had a moment's rest since she came back from the capital. First, there were troubles at the prefectural shop, then Er'an's illness at home, Xiuxiu's worries, and she also had to worry about hiring people and the family genealogy... She's handling everything, making all the decisions, inside and out. You can see she's lost weight. Aren't you worried about your own daughter?"
These words seemed to strike a nerve with Mr. Yu. He abruptly raised his head, his lips moved a few times, and then he said in a muffled voice, "My heart aches! I... how could my heart not aches? But it is precisely because my heart aches that I cannot let her go to the capital like this!"
Deng Sanniang deliberately put on a stern face, her tone carrying a hint of provocation: "Oh? Then tell me, how exactly do you feel sorry for her? I think you just feel that Aman, a young girl, is rushing to the capital to find her fiancé, going there before the bridal sedan chair even arrives, making you, as her father, lose face and feel ashamed in front of the clan and neighbors, right?"
"What nonsense!" Father Yu's voice suddenly rose, his face flushed red, and the veins on his forehead bulged slightly. But realizing it was late, he hurriedly lowered his voice and urgently defended himself: "Am I the kind of person who would tie my daughter down for a little bit of empty face?" He took a breath, his eyes revealing helplessness, "The capital! What kind of place is that? It's far away, and she doesn't know anyone there! She's a girl, she doesn't have three heads and six arms, what if... what if she encounters bad people on the road, what if she's bullied in the capital, what if something happens to her... I... how can I face her mother in the afterlife? I can't even get past myself!" By the end, his voice was choked with emotion, and he wiped his face hard.
Seeing that he was emotional and his words were harsh, Deng Sanniang's expression softened slightly, but she still listened without interrupting.
Father Yu took a deep breath and began to explain that he wasn't unreasonable, but rather that he deeply understood the hardships of the world, especially towards women: "Third Sister, I'm a man too, and I've lived most of my life. There are some things... I understand. This world is always more demanding and difficult for women." He recalled the past, his brows furrowing, "Back then, when Aman was determined to open her own food shop, the uncles and elders in the clan, and some gossipy people outside, weren't they all criticizing her? Saying that it was improper for a woman to show her face in public, that she was disgracing the Yu family ancestors. Fortunately, she didn't come to her, but only to me, her father. I know she's like her own mother, decisive and resilient. I couldn't bear to tie her down, I... I trusted her, and I didn't stop her."
He spoke with a bittersweet ache in his memory: "That child, her life was so hard. She lost her mother at such a young age, and before the family split up, she endured no shortage of disdain from her uncles and aunts. But she was resilient, never crying or making a fuss, and so sensible it broke my heart. I remember when she had just learned to walk steadily, I came back from work exhausted, and she came to me with her little legs, carrying a bowl of lukewarm water, looking up at me and calling, 'Dad, drink some water'... At that moment, my heart melted." His eyes reddened slightly. "What father doesn't hope for the best for his children? To let them live a carefree life. But the more I hope for her well, the more my heart aches, and I can't let go."
Father Yu then spoke of Pei Ji: "That boy Pei Ji, he's good at things, but he's also too good at things. I know him. Before, when he became the top scholar in the provincial examination, I thought it was an incredible stroke of luck, the best thing ever. And now? He's the third-ranked scholar! A student of the Emperor! What an honor that is, and what a... show of it!"
"The tallest tree catches the most wind! I was helping out at the shop in the prefecture the other day, and I overheard some customers chatting about how the prefect of Laizhou once wanted to marry off one of his beautiful and talented nieces to him! Luckily, Pei Ji stopped him with a marriage contract. And that's just in Laizhou!"
His tone became urgent. "Right now, he's gone to the capital. The capital is right under the emperor's nose, full of princes, dukes, and high-ranking officials... What do they say in the plays? 'Living in Chang'an is no easy feat!' What kind of place is that? The sedan chairs running through the streets are more imposing than our county magistrate's! Nobles are everywhere; you could spit on someone wearing an official hat! Rules? The rules there are probably more numerous and denser than the strings of dried chilies hanging in our kitchen. Naturally, there are countless daughters of marriageable age in those families! Those girls are all precious and elegant; what can our Aman do to cause trouble? What if some powerful family takes a liking to him and insists on taking him as their son-in-law? He... he's just a young man who hasn't been an official for long; can he handle that? And what if..." He lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard, "What if the emperor also wants to take him as his son-in-law? Isn't that just a matter of a word?"
Hearing this, Deng Sanniang couldn't help but roll her eyes, pinched Yu's father's arm, and spat, "You're getting more and more absurd! The Emperor? How old is the young emperor? He's not even fully grown yet. There isn't even an Empress in the palace, so where would you find a princess to marry you? Do you think this is some kind of storyteller from our village?"
Yu's father, his teeth clenched from being pinched, still muttered defiantly, "...Then, even if the emperor doesn't have a biological daughter, he must have sisters, princesses, or something like that, right? Isn't that how it's portrayed in plays? Anyway, are the nobles in the capital people people like us to mess with? If Aman goes there, it'll be like a lamb entering a tiger's den...won't she be completely at the mercy of others?" The more he spoke, the more he felt that the capital was a den of dragons and tigers, and that Aman's fate would be grim if she went. He suddenly waved his hand, his tone becoming resolute again: "Anyway, everything else is negotiable, but I don't agree to her going to the capital!"
Deng San Niang wanted to interject and explain, but Yu's father waved his hand, signaling her not to interrupt. He had more to say, and these words were weighing on his mind, so he had to get them out all at once: "Aman, a young girl, so young, not even married yet, and she just runs off to the capital, a thousand miles away, to find him and stay with him? This... this is outrageous! If word gets out, what will the neighbors, relatives, and friends say? They'll drown her in their spittle! 'The Yu family's daughter is trying to climb the social ladder, shamelessly chasing after him to the capital,' 'She's not even married yet and she's already living in a man's house, she has no shame'... What nasty things will they say? How will she ever be able to hold her head up again? There are some things she doesn't understand, but as her parents, we have to think about her!"
"Even if we take a step back, even if we take a step back! Even if Pei Ji is a good person, a person with a conscience, who doesn't forget his roots, doesn't betray his promise, and is willing to keep his word and come back in a grand sedan chair to marry Aman, can a young man who has just entered officialdom and hasn't even established himself yet truly decide what to do in the capital? Huh? On one hand, there's a promotion; on the other, there's our daughter. Which will he choose?"
After saying that last sentence, he took two breaths.
From the county, then to the prefecture, and now to the capital, even if Aman didn't say it, his father knew that it was most likely all for Pei Ji!
No matter how good a son-in-law is, he can't compare to a daughter.
He just wasn't willing.
Looking at him, who suddenly seemed to have aged several years, and listening to his somewhat exaggerated but well-intentioned nagging about his daughter, Deng San Niang, who originally wanted to continue refuting him or even scold him for being "stubborn" and "a burden," suddenly found her words stuck in her throat, turning into a long, helpless sigh.
How could she not understand the thoughts behind Yu's father's seemingly stubbornness? In the end, it was nothing more than "deep love and deep concern." She was just more open-minded than him. As he said, a man's deep affection is fleeting, but she believed in Aman's own judgment, temperament, and abilities that set her apart from ordinary young ladies.
"I can't argue with you, but as parents, we have to consider what our daughter thinks. We don't want her to resent us."
The next morning, Yu Man finished getting ready and went out of the house to find the door of the east wing wide open, but no one was inside. In the main room, Deng San Niang and Aunt Kong were changing Er An's clothes after he woke up. Hearing the noise, they looked up and saw Yu Man, and sighed, "Don't bother looking. He got up before dawn and said that there was a batch of freshly dried mushrooms and bamboo shoots in the next village that were of good quality. He went to collect them early and might not be back for the next few days."
Yu Manxin understood that her father hadn't figured things out yet, or perhaps he didn't know how to face her, so he simply avoided the topic. She nodded, not saying much, only saying, "Then I'll go to the shop and take a look."
The day passed in a flurry of activity. After settling the accounts at the Dongqing County restaurant, she took some time to visit the prefectural restaurant. She sat down with Xue Han in the inner hall and discussed in detail the matter of inviting various official residences in the prefectural government to host small banquets, which had been mentioned a few days earlier.
“Now our restaurant has established itself in the prefecture, thanks to our skills and reputation,” Yu Man tapped the table with her fingertip and thought carefully, “but the recent sudden enthusiasm from these mansions is probably more due to Pei Ji’s influence. We can take advantage of this relationship, but we can’t rely on it, and we certainly can’t give people the impression that we are trying to curry favor.”
Xue Han agreed wholeheartedly: "That's exactly right. If we refuse everything, we'll offend people; if we agree to everything, we'll seem short-sighted, and we won't be able to handle it all."
After pondering for a moment, Yu Man came up with an idea: "We won't try to curry favor, nor will we completely refuse. Instead, we'll prepare a table of food for each of the families that sent us invitations, under the pretext of 'thanking our old and new customers for their patronage.' We'll send it respectfully, saying it's just a small token of our appreciation from the restaurant, and invite them to taste it. This way, it won't seem abrupt, it will be polite, and it will also prevent our people from entering the families directly, thus avoiding a lot of trouble."
Xue Han's eyes lit up: "This is a good idea! It saves face while also keeping things in line with the rules. However, we need to put extra effort into the banquet, so that it can showcase our skills while also catering to the tastes and taboos of each family."
Yu Man nodded, "So we'll have to ask Master Xia for help. As for each family's preferences and dietary restrictions..." She pondered, "I'm afraid we'll have to ask Madam Chen Jingshu for a favor."
Without delay, Yu Man immediately wrote a letter and sent it to the Chen residence. As luck would have it, Chen Jingshu was staying at her aunt's house in the prefecture. Upon receiving the letter, she quietly arrived at the back of the food shop in a small sedan chair with a blue curtain in the afternoon. She was still dressed in a simple, elegant scholar's robe modified into a dress, her demeanor aloof. Upon seeing Yu Man, she nodded slightly: "Madam Yu, what brings you here?"
Yu Man explained the whole story, speaking earnestly: "...I have taken the liberty of asking Madam Chen for help, but it is because we have lived in the city for a long time and have limited knowledge of the preferences of the ladies in various households. I am afraid that my intentions may not be met and I may even be impolite. If Madam Chen finds it difficult, that is fine too."
Chen Jingshu listened quietly, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Madam Yu's thinking is thorough, and this method is very appropriate. A little information is not difficult." After a moment's thought, she began to explain, "Prefect Gu is very filial. Madam Gu is old and prefers soft and light foods, especially a crab roe tofu soup and rock sugar lily stewed with snow pear. She avoids heavy, greasy foods. Chief Secretary Zhang's ancestral home is in Sichuan, and his whole family loves spicy food. His wife especially loves spicy food, but we need to be careful because he has a chronic illness and should avoid eating overly stimulating dogwood. There are many women in the Sima family, and the young ladies love delicate pastries, especially those with floral fragrances..." She spoke slowly and clearly, explaining the taste preferences and dietary restrictions of several key figures, even details such as an old lady having bad teeth and a young master disliking onions and garlic.
Yu Man and Xue Han listened intently, feeling grateful and admiring. Yu Man said, "Madam Chen is thoughtful and has a remarkable memory; she has truly been a great help this time."
Chen Jingshu said, "It was nothing."
After instructing Xue Han to take good care of Madam Chen, Yu Man immediately locked himself in the kitchen with Chef Xia. Based on this valuable information, they drafted a menu, selected ingredients, and adjusted the cooking methods. Chef Xia was a renowned master chef in the prefecture, with superb skills. Upon hearing Yu Man's instructions, he nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, boss. We will definitely not let our Manxin Food Shop lose face."
The two, along with several capable kitchen helpers, worked until sunset to prepare several tables of food that needed to show sincerity and cater to the guests' tastes. They were especially careful when packing the food, using uniform vermilion lacquered boxes to complement the snow-white porcelain bowls and plates, making it clean and presentable.
As the last box of pastries was sealed, Yu Man and Master Xia exchanged a glance, both seeing deep weariness on each other's faces, their foreheads damp from the steam of the stove. Xue Han brought over two bowls of cooling and refreshing mung bean soup, and seeing this, said, "Boss, you and Master Xia should rest. I'll take these away carefully."
Yu Man was indeed tired, so she nodded in agreement and gave a few more instructions. She turned to Chen Jingshu, who hadn't left yet, and said apologetically, "I've troubled Madam Chen to wait so long and to ask for your guidance. Let me take you back to your residence."
Chen Jingshu was slightly taken aback: "Thank you for your help, Madam Yu." It was the first time she had been seen off by a woman, and she couldn't help but feel a little curious.
Yu Man called to Shan Chun, and the three of them left the food stall, walking along the streets of the prefecture as the lanterns began to light up. They initially chatted casually about the sights and sounds of the prefecture, the atmosphere harmonious yet somewhat quiet. Chen Jing Shu looked at Yu Man's composed profile beside her, wanting to speak several times, but swallowing her words back. Her initial connection with Yu Man did indeed stem from Senior Brother Pei, but after several interactions, she admired Yu Man's insight and resilience. Mentioning Senior Brother Pei now seemed inappropriate, and unnecessary.
Upon reaching the quiet street where the Chen residence was located, lanterns were already lit in front of the gate. Chen Jingshu stopped and turned to face Yu Man. She suddenly asked softly, "Madam Yu, are you... planning to go to the capital this time?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she herself was slightly taken aback. Why did she ask such a question?
Yu Man chuckled. Why was everyone asking her this lately? She countered, "Then, in Madam Chen's opinion, should I go?"
Chen Jingshu didn't answer immediately. Her gaze swept over Yu Man's face, and after a moment, she slowly said, "According to common sense, a woman should stay at home and cultivate tranquility." She changed the subject, a hint of a smile in her voice. "But didn't you teach me, Madam, that reason doesn't have to be strictly followed? I think, Madam Yu, you... should go." She paused, as if choosing her words carefully, and finally recited a line of poetry, "Don't worry about the long journey, for the wind will surely come." She looked at Yu Man, her eyes clear, "More importantly, judging from Madam Yu's intentions, her trip to the capital is probably not just for one person."
Upon hearing this, Yu Man smiled and nodded, saying, "You understand me best, Madam Chen."
Watching Chen Jingshu's figure disappear inside the Chen residence, Yu Mancai turned and walked back with Shan Chun. Their steps were unhurried, but they couldn't help but mutter to themselves: "This original author is so biased! Why does even a perceptive woman like Chen Jingshu get to be some male lead's 'confidante'?"
Just then, the system voice that had been dormant in her mind for a long time suddenly appeared: [Host, are you envious? Disliking that you didn't get a female lead's script? How about we arrange an empress script for you next time? The kind where you wield power over the world when awake and rest your head on a beauty's lap when drunk?]
Yu Man thought about it carefully: "Oh? It sounds... not so bad."
The system seemed to be taken aback by her "shamelessness," and after a crackling electronic sound, it disappeared without a trace.
By the time Yu Man returned home to Dongqing County, it was completely dark. To her surprise, the light was on in the main room, and her father was back, sitting at the table, slowly sipping a cup of homemade rice wine with a dish of peanuts. Seeing her return, Deng San Niang winked at her, then got up, took Xiu Xiu's hand (who was diligently practicing calligraphy), gestured for Aunt Kong to hold the sleeping Er'an, and said with a smile, "The moon is beautiful tonight, let's go for a walk in the yard and look at the stars."
Xiuxiu was a little puzzled, but she obediently put down her pen. Soon, only the Yu father and daughter remained in the main room.
The lamplight flickered, creating a subtly tense atmosphere. Yu Man spoke first: "Father."
Yu's father didn't respond. He simply put down his wine cup, stood up, walked to the corner of the wall, picked up a bamboo basket covered with a coarse cloth, and said in a muffled voice, "Let's go."
Yu Man took a lamp, didn't ask where they were going, and quietly followed behind him. Her father's figure appeared somewhat blurry on the dim village path, but his steps were steady. After walking for a while, turning a familiar ridge between fields, Yu Man understood.
The cool moonlight spilled onto the winding path. Soon, the peach tree, its branches swaying in the night, came into view.
Several nights of rain had fallen recently, and some stubborn weeds had sprouted around the tree roots. Without a word, Yu's father put down his bamboo basket, squatted down, and, as he had done countless times before, skillfully pulled out each weed one by one, his movements meticulous, as if afraid of disturbing the sleeping tree. After cleaning it, he took two thin white candles from the basket, lit them with the tinderbox he carried, and placed them on the small earthen platform in front of the tree.
He watched the flickering candlelight in silence for a while before speaking, his voice hoarse, but the question was directed at his daughter behind him: "Still... want to go?"
Looking at her father's slightly hunched back, Yu Man choked up, unsure how to respond to those simple four words.
Mr. Yu didn't seem to need her answer. He remained facing the tree: "My daughter has grown up and has her own ideas... I've always remembered what you said when you left, holding my hand. I haven't dared to forget it for a moment."
That gentle and even somewhat timid woman, before falling seriously ill, used all her strength to pinch her then-young husband's hand, begging him to promise that no matter what, he would raise their daughter well and ensure her peace and happiness.
"Go ahead," Yu's father suddenly said, his voice not loud, but it made Yu Man look up at him. She saw him raise his rough hand, quickly wipe the corner of his eye, and then turn to face his daughter. In the interplay of moonlight and candlelight, his eyes were a little red, his gaze filled with many emotions.
“Father…” Yu Man’s nose tingled with emotion.
“If you’re having a bad time or feeling wronged outside, don’t force yourself to be strong. Come back anytime,” Yu’s father interrupted her, his tone stubborn.
He paused, his expression becoming even more serious, even taking on a fatherly air of authority: "Also, if you and that boy Pei Ji are truly... determined to get married, you must write back beforehand! I also need to have a serious discussion with the Pei family! The proper betrothal, the formal marriage, all the proper etiquette must be observed! I absolutely cannot let you leave in such a muddled state! Your father must see you leave home in style and honor."
These words were spoken with absolute certainty.
He thought about it for several days, and on his way back he even dreamed of Yu's mother. She was frowning and speaking slowly.
When I woke up, I felt I should come with my daughter.
Yu Man finally couldn't hold back her tears and they streamed down her face. She couldn't even say anything; she could only sob.
Seeing his daughter like this, Mr. Yu smiled and reached out to pat her head.
“If he makes you cry like this, I’ll beat him up no matter how high-ranking the official is.”
Just then, a night breeze suddenly arose, rustling softly through the lush branches and leaves of the peach tree. A few early-blooming peach leaves, their edges already slightly yellowed, were swept away by the wind, swirling past the father and daughter before finally settling lightly into the hazy night in the distance, their traces lost, as if bidding farewell to those who had gone before.
Yu Man gazed in the direction where the leaf disappeared, then looked at her father in front of her, whose eyes were moist but who was trying to smile. The intense feeling of retreat in her heart strangely subsided slowly. Tears were still welling up in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned upwards.
When they returned home one after the other, Deng San Niang was waiting in the yard with Xiu Xiu and Aunt Kong. Er An was already fast asleep in Aunt Kong's arms. Seeing that the father and daughter's eyes were a little red, but the atmosphere had obviously eased, Deng San Niang felt relieved, but she didn't show it on her face. She just stood up, patted her clothes, and deliberately said, "Looks like you've gotten through to them? Then I'd better hurry up and finish embroidering those summer clothes!"
Xiu Xiu fluttered to Yu Man's side like a little butterfly, tilting her head up with her big, dark eyes full of reluctance: "Sister, are you... going on another long trip?"
Yu Man bent down and gently pinched her soft cheek, saying, "Yes, your older sister has some errands to run. Xiu Xiu, you must listen to your parents at home, eat well, and learn to read. When our Xiu Xiu grows up a little older, she can come and find your older sister."
Xiu Xiu nodded vigorously, her little face serious: "Okay! When I grow up, I will definitely come to find you, sister! And help you!"
With everything settled at home and having confirmed the replies from the various residences through correspondence with Xue Han, Yu Man set a departure date. She again took only Shan Chun with her, traveling light and simply. Before the carriage left Dongqing County, she made a special trip to the prefectural capital.
Xue Han was behind the counter, rapidly calculating accounts on her abacus, the beads clattering crisply. Chang Xiang trotted in and whispered, "Manager Xue, the boss is here. His carriage is in the back alley."
Upon hearing this, Xue Han wondered if something had happened again. She immediately put down her abacus and hurried out to greet them. The back alley was quiet, and the green-canopied carriage carrying Yu Man was parked quietly. A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing half of her face.
"Master, is there anything else you need me to do?" Xue Han asked as she approached.
Yu Man looked at her, then suddenly smiled and asked directly, "Sister Xue, are you tired of staying in the prefecture? Would you like to... come with me to the capital and try your luck?"
Xue Han: "...Huh?" She was completely taken aback by Yu Man's sudden question and was momentarily stunned, her mouth slightly agape.
After Yu Man smiled and pulled her into the carriage, the wheels rumbled and they drove quite a distance out of the prefectural city gates, Xue Han seemed to suddenly come to her senses. She lifted the curtain to look at the unfamiliar scenery of the official road outside, then turned to look at the composed Yu Man, both amused and exasperated: "Master! But what will happen to the restaurants in the prefectural city if I leave? There are still the accounts, the supplies, and those old customers..."
"I've already hired a new manager for the prefectural restaurant. He'll start work tomorrow, and he's reliable. My father will also be there to keep an eye on things from time to time, so there shouldn't be any major problems," Yu Man replied calmly and methodically, as if he had prepared in advance.
"Then... what about my mother? I'm worried about leaving her alone at home!" Xue Han thought of her mother again.
Yu Man took out a neatly folded letter from her sleeve and handed it to her: "I have personally visited Aunt Xue and explained the situation. This is what your mother asked me to give you."
Xue Han took the letter with some skepticism, unfolded it, and saw familiar, slightly crooked but meticulously written handwriting—it was her mother's handwriting. The letter was short, only two lines: "My son, Madam Yu is kind and capable. She is taking you to the capital to broaden your horizons. You must do your best and never be lazy or slack off, lest you become a burden to your mother. Everything is fine at home, so don't worry."
Xue Han held the letter, speechless for a long time. She looked up at Yu Man, both annoyed and amused: "So... you've prepared everything, boss? Just waiting for me to unwittingly board this pirate ship?"
Yu Man nodded with a rather smug expression, then asked, "So, Sister Xue, are you going now, or not?"
Xue Han pretended to get up and said reproachfully, "If I said I wasn't going, do you think I could jump off the carriage right now?"
Yu Man immediately called out to the outside of the car, "Shan Chun, stop the car! Manager Xue wants to get out!"
"Hey, no!" Xue Han quickly reached out to stop her, unable to suppress her own laughter, and said helplessly, "Go, go, go! I'll go, okay?"
"Truth or dare?" Yu Man raised an eyebrow.
“Absolutely true!” Xue Han sat up straight. “To be honest, my father spent his whole life brewing wine. He always talked about how the Autumn Dew White from the capital and the Jade Ice Burn from Liuxia Workshop were the most famous wines in the world. It’s just a pity that for a small family like ours, going to the capital to see them was a luxury. Now that I can go, I will definitely taste those legendary flavors for my father. If I can figure out how to make them, that would be even better!”
Yu Man laughed: "That's more like it. The capital is so big, it has more than just famous wines. In the future, we'll have plenty of opportunities to make our mark."
The journey was leisurely, allowing them to enjoy the scenery and sample local delicacies at a relaxed pace. Shan Chun drove with exceptional stability. Xue Han initially felt a pang of homesickness, but she was quickly drawn to the novelties along the way, chatting and laughing with Yu Man. Seven days later, the majestic city walls of the capital finally came into view.
The closer one gets, the denser the carriages and pedestrians become on the official road. Various types of carriages, mule caravans carrying goods, merchants weary from their journeys, and young masters in fine clothes and riding spirited horses all showcase the prosperity of the capital.
Upon entering the city, the atmosphere became even more bustling, with shops lining the streets and signs stretching endlessly. The air was filled with the aromas of food, cosmetics, horses, and livestock, along with a unique blend of dust and noise. Xue Han couldn't help but lift a corner of the carriage curtain, her eyes wide with wonder, and she murmured in amazement.
Yu Man did not drive directly to the residence where Pei Ji had settled, but instead had Shan Chun stop the carriage in front of a rather lively restaurant in the West Market.
"After a long journey, let's eat something, rest our feet, and listen to the sounds of the city," Yu Man explained, leading Xue Han and Shan Chun upstairs to a private room by the window where they could hear the discussions in the main hall.
After ordering several signature dishes, before all the food had arrived, the loud conversation of several well-dressed businessmen at the next table reached us clearly. They had obviously had a few drinks, as their voices were quite loud, and they were discussing the most eye-catching and interesting events in the capital recently.
"The choice of the consort for Princess Fu Ning is probably about to be decided!" A wealthy merchant with a short beard lowered his voice, but could not hide his excitement.
"Oh? Which young talent has received this honor? Could it be the heir of the Duke of England? Or the young master of the Marquis of Jinghai?" another person asked curiously.
The short-bearded wealthy merchant shook his head, a hint of smugness in his voice as he boasted of knowing the inside story: "Not at all! It is said that this person is not from a noble family, but a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) who is currently serving in the Hanlin Academy!"
"Hanlin Academy? Newly appointed Jinshi? That's quite prestigious... Do you know their names?"
"How could I not know? He is that rising star, the third-ranked scholar, surnamed Pei, named Ji, Pei the Compiler!"
"Wow—" The group of people at the table gasped softly.
"Pei Tanhua? He is indeed an outstanding person, with both talent and good looks! But... how could someone of his background win the favor of the Eldest Princess?"
The short-bearded merchant chuckled and took a sip of wine: "You don't understand. What kind of status does the Princess have? She's His Majesty's own sister! When she chooses a consort, does she care about his family background? What matters is his talent, character, and appearance—someone who catches her eye! I've heard that these past few days, Editor Pei has been frequently accompanying the Princess on outings. Yesterday, they went to Biyuan in the west of the city to enjoy the scenery, and today it seems they've arranged to go to the Nanyuan Horse Ranch... With such constant companionship and attentive attention, the position of consort is probably a sure thing!"
"Is that really true? If so, this Pei Tanhua has truly risen to prominence overnight!"
"Who says otherwise! Haha, let's drink!"
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The author's note: ① "Do not worry about the long journey, for the wind will surely come" is from Qian Xu's "One Hundred Untitled Poems on a River Journey" from the Tang Dynasty.
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