Chapter 258: An Accident
Sister-in-law Wu filed a petition at the Prefectural Yamen against Matchmaker Miao, and the first news was delivered to Zhou Shennian.
After hearing this, Zhou Shennian was stunned for a moment and rushed out to request an audience with Gu Yan.
About a bowshot away from the Villa Wharf, Zhou Shennian caught up with Gu Yan. He steadied his breathing and, after greeting him, said with a smile, “Just now, Huang Zhubo from the Pingjiang Weaving Bureau sent someone over. He said that Old Woman Wu from Qiao Dong Lane filed a petition at the Pingjiang Prefectural Yamen, accusing the official matchmaker, Madam Miao, of distorting the truth and deceiving and harming them, a widow and her child.”
“What happened?” Gu Yan frowned and stared at Zhou Shennian.
“I didn’t say a word,” Zhou Shennian quickly explained first. “When I heard about this, I first asked what had happened.”
Gu Yan hummed in response.
Zhou Shennian continued, “The attendant who delivered the message is a trusted confidant of Huang Qing, and he knows the whole story.
“He said that Huang Qing has a fellow townsman named Zhang Hong, who serves as an adviser to Investigator Wang at the Prefectural Yamen. The night before last, Huang Qing found Zhang Hong and asked him to inquire about the official matchmaker surnamed Miao.
“The attendant said that his master felt that since Nanny Miao dared to slander even the Young Lord, she was probably even more reckless in her daily life and must have done many wicked things, possibly even some that violated the law.
“When Huang Qing asked Zhang Hong to inquire, he naturally didn’t dare to mention the Young Lord. He only said that Nanny Miao had tampered with his eldest son’s marriage.
“When Zhang Hong inquired, he learned that the Yamen runner Ping Ji was married to the daughter of the Wu family from Qiao Dong Lane. It was rumored that Ping Ji had not originally intended to marry the Wu family’s daughter, but was tricked by Nanny Miao into marrying her. Zhang Hong then asked Ping Ji a few questions.
“Presumably, Ping Ji told his wife, who is surnamed Wu. She learned of this and, this morning, Mrs. Wu waited at the Yamen entrance and, together with Old Woman Wu, went into the Yamen to file the petition.”
After listening, Gu Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he ordered, “Interesting. You discreetly inquire about Madam Miao and this Wu family.”
“Yes,” Zhou Shennian quickly bowed and agreed.
Gu Yan boarded the boat at the wharf and headed towards Pingjiang City.
By the lakeside, Li Xiaonan and Wan Jing were whispering to each other, shoulder to shoulder and head to head.
From afar, Gu Yan looked at the two with a look of disdain.
As the gangplank was lowered, Wan Jing realized the boat had arrived. She quickly patted Li Xiaonan’s hand, hastily took half a step back, and followed Li Xiaonan onto the boat with her head bowed and in a proper manner.
Gu Yan glanced sideways at Wan Jing, who was walking towards the back of the boat with her head down and in small steps. He looked back at Li Xiaonan, leaned down slightly, and asked in a low voice, “Have you told Wan Jing that you are about to marry me?”
“The ‘eight characters’ haven’t even been written yet, and you’re already showing off? I’m not that kind of person,” Li Xiaonan replied.
“Showing off~” Gu Yan drew out the last syllable, his tone laced with amusement. “Is it showing off to marry into the Prince’s Estate, or showing off to marry me?”
“In our Kunshan dialect, ‘showing off’ means being frivolous and light-headed. It’s not the same ‘showing off’ as in your Capital City,” Li Xiaonan replied and went into the cabin.
Gu Yan felt somewhat dejected.
He didn’t quite understand what “frivolous” meant, but when it was paired with “light-headed,” this “showing off” didn’t have the same flavor as the other.
“Wan Jing isn’t too foolish. Before the ‘eight characters’ are even written, Wan Jing will surely be able to figure it out. Such a big event as your marriage, and Wan Jing finding out not from you, but seeing it herself – isn’t that not good?” Gu Yan said, following Li Xiaonan.
“That’s between me and Wan Jing. You asked me here just to say this?” Li Xiaonan surveyed the cabin.
It seemed like they had changed boats; they had so many boats.
“Of course not,” Gu Yan sat down by the tea table, scooped some tea leaves onto the tea scoop, and put them into the teapot.
Li Xiaonan sat opposite Gu Yan, resting her arms on the tea table, watching Gu Yan make tea.
His hands were very beautiful, his nails trimmed neatly and cleanly, his fingers fair and long. His movements were quick and fluid, too quick; she stared at his hands, never able to see them clearly.
“Why aren’t you talking anymore?” Gu Yan glanced at Li Xiaonan and asked, “Are you unhappy?”
“No, it’s that when you make tea, one must concentrate, right? Otherwise, it seems disrespectful,” Li Xiaonan said casually.
“I’ve never heard of such a rule,” Gu Yan chuckled. “What were you and Wan Jing talking about just now? You were so engrossed, you didn’t even see the boat arrive.”
“Do you really want to hear it?” Li Xiaonan asked with a smile.
Gu Yan glanced at Li Xiaonan. “Of course.”
“Miss Shi wrote in her letter that she increasingly dislikes complicated and ornate things. She said that in previous winters, she would always collect osmanthus flowers herself to scent tea. This year, she feels that the pure aroma of tea is the best, and scenting it with osmanthus flowers is like burning a zither and cooking a crane,” Li Xiaonan said with a laugh.
Gu Yan looked at Li Xiaonan speechlessly. “You told Wan Jing all this too?”
“If I don’t tell Wan Jing, who else would I tell?” Li Xiaonan retorted.
Gu Yan snorted and lowered his eyes to make tea.
“Wan Jing said,” Li Xiaonan paused, “that since everyone in your estate knows about this, there’s no point in telling you.
“Wan Jing said that since you are spending the New Year in Pingjiang Prefecture this year, Mrs. Lu, who is in charge of tea and wine, is very worried. She said that in previous years in the Capital City, whenever the osmanthus flowers bloomed in winter, the Young Lord would drink tea scented with osmanthus flowers several times. However, those osmanthus teas were all sent by Miss Shi. What should be done about this year’s osmanthus flowers?”
Gu Yan poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards Li Xiaonan. He tapped his fingers on the tabletop and said impatiently, “Drink your tea!”
“She said that Mrs. Lu was so worried that she had no other choice but to write a letter and send it by express horse at great expense to the Prince’s Estate in the Capital City to ask her aunt for advice. Wan Jing said her aunt replied with four or five pages, all scolding Mrs. Lu, calling her too stupid to even look at.”
Li Xiaonan’s tone was cheerful.
Gu Yan sipped his tea, looking sideways at Li Xiaonan, who was chattering and laughing.
Li Xiaonan continued with the gossip. “Also, Wan Jing said that last year, just as the twelfth lunar month began, Miss Shi fell ill without anyone noticing. She is currently staying at Yaohua Nunnery. She said that the Shi family was busy preparing for the New Year, and Miss Shi’s father, Minister Shi, had also caught a slight illness at the time.”
Gu Yan gave a faint, almost imperceptible snort. Minister Shi’s “slight illness” was likely due to Young Master Pang’s leg and that memorial he submitted, wasn’t it? Minister Shi’s lack of foresight was truly inferior to his daughter’s.
“Miss Shi’s mother was busy taking care of her father, and Miss Shi’s two sisters-in-law were busy hosting guests for the New Year. It is said that Miss Shi lay in bed for four or five days until Ninth Lady Pan visited her, and only then did everyone realize she was ill.
Li Xiaonan let out a chuckle.
“It is said that Miss Shi’s mother cried bitterly out of heartache. After Minister Shi recovered from his illness, he went through the clan and transferred the dowry prepared for Miss Shi, as well as half of Miss Shi’s mother’s dowry, to Miss Shi’s name. The reason given was to ensure she would not be unable to afford even medical treatment.”
“Wan Jing said that Miss Shi’s mother’s dowry was incredibly substantial?”
Li Xiaonan asked.
“Madam Ye’s maiden family is the Ye family, who deal in medicinal herbs. They are a very wealthy family,” Gu Yan replied.
“That’s great, financial freedom,” Li Xiaonan sighed enviously.
“I have something important to discuss with you!” Gu Yan reached out and tapped twice in front of Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan picked up her tea, signaling Gu Yan to speak.
“There’s a small matter and a big matter. The small matter is something I just learned: Mrs. Wu and her daughter from Qiao Dong Lane went to the Prefectural Yamen to file a petition, accusing the official matchmaker Madam Miao of harming them, a widow and her child.”
Li Xiaonan’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “Sister-in-law Yin is so capable!”
“Was it your doing?” Gu Yan raised his eyebrows and immediately asked.
“No, and yet, not entirely. The Yu Family Cloth Shop always stands in the middle of the street, pulling people into their shop. Sister-in-law Yin was very angry, so I told her about the tea house matter. I don’t know what Sister-in-law Yin said to the Yu Family First Madam, but the Yu Family First Madam came out behind Sister-in-law Yin, called a carriage, and it went towards Ping Yatou’s home.”
Li Xiaonan sighed. “But I really didn’t expect the Wu family to sue Matchmaker Miao. Sister-in-law Yin said that Madam Miao must have eaten the Wu family mother and daughter alive, bones and flesh, in her past life, so she is being punished in this life to willingly shatter herself to pieces to serve the Wu family mother and daughter. Alas, that’s what she said, but it’s still quite tragic.”
“Human nature is dark and evil, a thousand times more brutal than hell. You must take this as a warning; one should not be too open-hearted with people,” Gu Yan said seriously, looking at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan quickly nodded.
People are truly different. If it were Eldest Sister, she would definitely say, “A Nan, you must remember to be kind. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. You can’t be as heartless as the Wu family.”
Seeing that Gu Yan seemed to want to lecture her further, Li Xiaonan quickly asked, “What about the big matter?”
“Mr. Zhou suggested that you lecture on Investigation of Things at the Hangcheng Imperial Examination Hall for a few days,” Gu Yan said cautiously, observing Li Xiaonan’s expression.
He had thought for a whole day and night, preparing a set of arguments to be presented step by step, determined to persuade her.
“Okay!” Li Xiaonan’s eyes sparkled.
She had long wanted to guide those scholars in Investigation of Things. She had already planned to write several books to leave for this era.
Gu Yan was momentarily stunned by Li Xiaonan’s eager and straightforward response, then burst into laughter. “Look at your eyes, how bright they are. You’re not someone who likes to teach others, so why is this?”
“The principles are very simple. Seeing them confused and stumbling around, don’t you want to say a few words and offer some guidance?” Li Xiaonan retorted.
“There are many experts in Investigation of Things. If a young girl like you were to lecture, many people would surely try to stump you. Can you handle it?” Gu Yan’s expression was serious.
“Don’t worry!” Li Xiaonan lifted her chin. “However, I still need to prepare well and go through all the books on Investigation of Things. Are all the books on Investigation of Things in your family’s library complete?”
“In the Villa’s library, the most complete collection is on Investigation of Things,” Gu Yan said with a smile.
