Chapter 65: The Hairpin
“Dou Ya—”
I got up, caught up, and said, “If you have anything, you must not hide it from me.”
“I know.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder: “Elder Sister, if water is too clear, there will be no fish. Being sober all the time is not as good as being drunk for a while. The past cannot be changed, but the future can still be pursued. No matter who it is, as long as their actions do not harm you, it doesn’t matter. I can overlook it. I still say the same thing, your happiness is more important than anything else.”
“I don’t understand.”
He smiled and changed the subject: “I will be staying in Yangzhou for a while this time, so I can spend time with Mother and Elder Sister.”
“Do you have official business?”
“Yes.”
He clasped his hands behind his back and said, “His Majesty’s younger sister, Princess Pingning, has reached marriageable age. Empress Dowager Cixian and His Majesty have decided to choose a groom for her and have entrusted this matter to the Directorate of Ceremonial. My subordinates have drafted a few candidates, and I am here this time to finalize this matter and bring the new Imperial Son-in-law back to the Capital City for the wedding.”
According to the Great Ming ancestral system, the Imperial Son-in-law must be selected from commoner or low-ranking official families. Furthermore, families whose sons are chosen cannot have any close relatives serving as officials; even if they are already officials, they must resign and return home. The Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong of Ming state: “For generations, it has been forbidden for royal relatives to hold positions in the capital, which is a proper way to prevent potential issues.”
I remembered when I was a painter in the Imperial Palace, I had seen this Princess Pingning. She wore her hair in a cloud braid, leaning against the Empress Dowager, looking very innocent and charming.
“Princess Pingning is the apple of the Empress Dowager’s eye; you must handle this matter carefully.”
“Mm.”
He leaped into the air and left.
Xiao Yin brought warm water over. After I washed up, I got into bed.
Qin Mingxu’s words from tonight echoed around the bed curtains. I tried my best to turn them into medicine and apply them to my heart.
However, in my dreams, I still saw Cheng Huaishi.
He was in a maze I couldn’t break into, in dire straits.
“Madam, don’t come over, don’t come over—” he shouted loudly.
I reached out, and everything disappeared.
The next day, I went to the counter. As soon as I opened the door, a customer arrived.
It was Maternal Uncle Zheng.
He was wearing a stone-pink silk robe, with his arms crossed, and a large group of servants behind him.
“Yesterday, such a big incident happened at the Zhu Family Wine Shop, it’s all over Yangzhou City. Boss Zhu, you’ve got some skills. I like women with skills.”
“If Lord Maternal Uncle wants to buy wine, please come in, don’t block the door.”
He stood outside the door, glanced left and right, and said loudly, “I’ll stand outside the door. I’m here to support you, can’t you see that? I, Zheng Tai, am openly coming to your place to buy wine. Those rumors about poppy powder in Zhu Family wine should be self-defeating! If I say something is good, who dares to say it’s bad?”
Hua Lian stepped forward.
He instinctively took a step back: “You, you, what are you going to do? I’m telling you, Boss Zhu, a dog biting a kind person, you don’t appreciate good intentions! I’m telling you, I brought realgar today, so I’m not afraid if you dare to release snakes!”
The men under him made a move to come forward.
I said, “Lord Maternal Uncle, Hua Lian is inviting you in. What are you panicking about?”
Hua Lian, with a stern face, said, “Please—”
Maternal Uncle Zheng adjusted his collar and coughed: “Who’s panicking? What a joke!”
Then, he swaggered in.
His men handed over the silver notes, and I ordered the shop assistants to move the wine to his horse carriage. However, he leaned on the counter, refusing to leave, and bickered with me.
“Boss Zhu, do you like watching opera? A new Huixi troupe has arrived in Yangzhou City, and their performance of ‘The Butterfly Dream’ is superb.”
I ignored him.
He sang to himself: “May jade be soft and fragrance warm, never aging, every year on this day, holding a wine cup, we drink grape wine together…”
I interrupted him: “Since Lord Maternal Uncle likes ‘The Butterfly Dream,’ haven’t you heard the most brilliant line in this play?”
“Which line?”
“All forms are empty, all phenomena are but consciousness.”
He looked a bit embarrassed.
After a while.
He said with a fawning smile, “Boss Zhu, as a woman running a business, it’s inevitable that people will cause trouble. Have you never thought of finding someone to rely on?”
“I already have a fiancé. Lord Maternal Uncle, please do not speak carelessly again.”
“Don’t try to fool me. I already know you have no engagement with Qin Mingxu. Besides, people strive for higher places, and water flows to lower places. If you follow me, you will be related to the imperial family, wouldn’t that be a hundred times better than following a merchant? I am handsome and my household lacks a mistress…” he said arrogantly.
“Lord Lord already has eight wives and concubines, so how can you say your household lacks a mistress?” I lowered my head to record the accounts.
He said, “A single flower blooming makes a spring. I don’t mind you; I’ll take you as my ninth concubine. If Madam is not good at managing the household, I’ll hand over the internal affairs of the family to you, how about it? This will surely become a beautiful story in Yangzhou City.”
“What beautiful story does Lord Lord want to hear? I, Feng, can tell you anything to amuse Lord Lord.”
A voice approached from a distance.
Feng Gao arrived. His expression was calm as he appraised Maternal Uncle Zheng.
Maternal Uncle Zheng recognized him and knew he was the “Director of Ceremonial” who was currently favored by His Majesty. He felt a bit apprehensive and his face immediately showed a polite smile: “A few days ago, Consort Zheng sent a letter home, informing me that Eunuch Feng was coming to Yangzhou. I was thinking of inviting Eunuch to my residence for a feast. I didn’t expect to meet Eunuch Feng here.”
Feng Gao smiled and cupped his hands: “Lord Zheng is too kind. I do not enjoy feasts; I fear I might speak carelessly after drinking and say the wrong thing. Drinking the wrong wine is not a big deal, but saying the wrong thing can offend people.”
Feng Gao walked to my side and said, “Lord Zheng, let me introduce you. Boss Zhu is my relative.”
Maternal Uncle Zheng was quite surprised and awkwardly asked, “Oh? May I ask what kind of relative?”
“A very important relative.”
Feng Gao said this word by word, looking at Maternal Uncle Zheng.
Maternal Uncle Zheng understood.
In front of everyone, he felt he had lost face.
But he also feared the power of the Eastern Depot.
He could only pretend to be ignorant.
He casually cupped his hands to Feng Gao, said “Goodbye,” and left in a hurry with his entourage.
After Maternal Uncle Zheng left, I said to Feng Gao, “Dou Ya, Consort Zheng is currently favored. Why must you offend her family? Zheng Tai is a scoundrel; it would have been enough for Elder Sister to casually dismiss him.”
The coldness in Feng Gao’s eyes had not yet subsided.
“I cannot stand anyone speaking to Elder Sister like that. No matter who he is.”
I poured him a cup of Yunsi.
“Did you stay at Qing Yue Pavilion last night?”
“Yes.”
He drank the Yunsi and walked towards the backyard.
Knowing he was going to see Qin Mingxu, I followed him.
Unexpectedly, he stopped under the persimmon tree, suddenly turned, and came back.
“Elder Sister, I have to go to the Liang residence to see someone today, so I won’t see him.”
He said loudly, “Young Master Qin, take good care of your injuries.”
After saying that, he left.
I pushed open the door. Qin Mingxu was lying on the couch, his complexion had recovered somewhat today.
“Did Eunuch Feng come?” Qin Mingxu asked.
“Yes. He has official business this time in Yangzhou,” I said.
“Did he… mention what kind of official business?” Qin Mingxu’s fingers gently stroked the edge of the couch.
“By imperial decree, to select an Imperial Son-in-law for the Princess.”
Qin Mingxu’s fingers stopped, and he softly said to me, “Sang Yu, Eunuch Feng values you; this is a good connection for you. When he comes to Yangzhou, you should meet with him often.”
I smiled, “Naturally.”
I helped him up and asked Hua Lian to bring the broth, feeding it to him.
He seemed a little embarrassed and said, “Sang Yu, I can do it myself.”
“Your hand is inconvenient, let me feed you,” I insisted.
He no longer refused, looking at me with happiness in his eyes.
Time flew by, and it was early March.
In March in Jiangnan, the rain is faint, and a silk umbrella is lightly held, releasing a delicate fragrance.
Green permeated the riverbanks. Willow branches were a hundred feet long. Flowers of all colors had bloomed.
The persimmon tree in the backyard of the wine shop had sprouted new leaves and was very lush.
Qin Mingxu’s injuries gradually healed, and he managed the affairs of Tiansheng Tower as usual. As the doctor said, his right arm was permanently disabled, and even lifting it was hopeless. He comforted me several times, saying, “I’ll try using my left hand. It won’t be a problem.”
He shuttled between Tiansheng Tower and the Zhu Family Wine Shop, and in addition to the usual affection, he showed me even more tender concern.
Hua Lian returned to the mountains at the beginning of the month. Spring was the time for farming, and she had a field she was reluctant to abandon. She asked for a few days’ leave from me.
When she was here, Zhu Xifeng was afraid of her.
When she was not here, Zhu Xifeng asked me almost every day, “Elder Sister, why hasn’t Hua Lian returned yet?”
I said, “She didn’t sell herself to us; she can go wherever she wants.”
“Elder Sister—” Zhu Xifeng looked at me nervously, “Has something happened to Hua Lian?”
“Jinx!” I cursed.
He sat down on the threshold: “That fierce girl, if she causes trouble elsewhere, no one will indulge her! Hmph!”
Seeing his indignant look, I found it amusing.
Feng Gao visited me almost every other day. Sometimes, we would go to Qing Yue Pavilion together and dine with Cai Qingyao. We would sit under the eaves of Qing Yue Pavilion and listen to Cai Qingyao play the zither.
Cai Qingyao looked at Feng Gao with eyes full of affection.
That day, it was drizzling. Cai Qingyao made a straw cape and personally put it on Feng Gao. She looked at Feng Gao and murmured, “When Taiyue was young, he liked rainy days and would go fishing by the river wearing a straw cape…”
She was lost in memories. Feng Gao inadvertently glanced at a white hair at her temple.
Cai Qingyao, who could once captivate with a smile, had rapidly aged in the six months since Zhang Taiyue’s death.
Feng Gao looked at her, opened his mouth, and with difficulty, called out, “Mother.”
Cai Qingyao was stunned. After a long while, tears began to fall.
This was the first time Feng Gao had called her mother in front of her.
She hugged Feng Gao tightly, overcome with emotion.
The selection of the Imperial Son-in-law was nearing completion.
After the final screening, two candidates remained: Young Master Liang Bangrui of the Liang family and Young Master Shen Bi Cong of the Shen family.
Feng Gao leaned towards the Shen family and intended to return to the Capital City to report.
On the night before he left.
I prepared a basket of fried cakes, intending to take them to Qing Yue Pavilion for him.
However, business at the counter was too busy, and I only became free at midnight.
I pushed open the door of Qing Yue Pavilion.
In the courtyard, I saw a dark shadow flash by, but when I looked again, there was nothing.
I rubbed my eyes and saw the wind blowing through the bamboo forest, casting dappled shadows.
Feng Gao seemed surprised that I had come so late, but he quickly composed himself.
I handed him the cakes: “Take these to the Capital City to eat.”
He said, “I was planning to go to the counter tomorrow morning to bid you farewell, but Elder Sister came at this hour.”
“Dou Ya, when can you get away from the Capital City?”
“About half a year.”
I smiled, “I’ll wait for you.”
He hesitated, then took out a hairpin from his robe and handed it to me.
The hairpin was made of bamboo. It was carved into a heart shape. It was very exquisite. On the back of the hairpin, a line of small regular script was engraved: “May our time be sweet, and our joy be present.”
I took it and said, “Where did you get this?”
He said, “I bought it at the market during the day. I saw that the blessing on this hairpin was very unique, so I bought it for Elder Sister.”
As he was speaking.
There were hurried footsteps on the wall.
A voice said, “Director, there is an imperial decree.”
The person who arrived was a eunuch from the palace, very respectful to Feng Gao.
Feng Gao asked, “What is the decree?”
The two went into the bamboo forest and spoke secretly for a while.
The person left.
Only then did Feng Gao walk towards me.
I asked, “Did something happen?”
Feng Gao waved his hand and said, “Nothing. It seems the choice for the Imperial Son-in-law will have to be Liang Bangrui.”
At this moment, I didn’t pay much attention to this matter. Neither did Feng Gao. Since there was an imperial decree from the inner court, we would just follow it.
I held the bamboo hairpin in my hand, unable to put it down.
“Dou Ya, Elder Sister really likes this hairpin. Let’s go to the market tomorrow and buy another one.”
“This…” He looked troubled, “I don’t know if I can find that craftsman again.”
