Chapter 251: With All One’s Heart
Gu Yan came and went in a hurry. Li Xiaonan returned home and sat back in the bamboo chair under the corridor, swaying back and forth, lost in thought.
Yu Ting came in from outside and walked to Li Xiaonan’s side, bending slightly to look at her carefully.
“You look fine,” Yu Ting commented after a moment’s observation.
“Who says I’m not fine? A Wu?” Li Xiaonan glanced sideways at Yu Ting.
“A Wu was very worried, saying she specially bought freshly made fermented rice cakes today, and you didn’t…”
“Right! Where are the fermented rice cakes?” Li Xiaonan suddenly stood up.
Yu Ting pointed towards the kitchen at the back.
“Never mind, I’ll eat them at dinner,” Li Xiaonan thought for a moment and sat back down.
The fermented rice cakes would surely be cold by now; it was better to wait until dinner to steam them hot before eating.
Yu Ting dragged a bamboo chair over and sat next to Li Xiaonan, looking at her and asking, “Mei Jie said Wan Jing called you out earlier? Was everything alright?”
“It’s fine!” Li Xiaonan glanced at Yu Ting. “I heard Shi Gun and A Wu saying that the Young Lord took her in because she wasn’t a real man?”
“Are you unhappy because of that?” Yu Ting asked in return.
“Because of what? As long as A Wu is happy, she can be whatever she wants. Why would I be unhappy?” Li Xiaonan said ambiguously.
“I meant the latter part, that the Young Lord took me and A Wu in to make it convenient to stay by your side,” Yu Ting sighed.
Li Xiaonan looked at her sideways, saying nothing.
“While it’s quiet now, let’s talk. You’re such a smart person, you can’t possibly be truly ignorant, can you?” Yu Ting looked at Li Xiaonan.
“Your words are rambling. Ignorant of what?” Li Xiaonan retorted.
“Alas, what else could it be? Just one big matter, the Young Lord’s feelings for you, don’t you have any idea?” Yu Ting sighed.
Li Xiaonan looked at Yu Ting sideways, saying nothing.
“I’ve told A Wu this, and I can only tell A Wu. A Wu says I have no ambition, but this isn’t about ambition or lack thereof. Alas.”
Yu Ting frowned.
“Let me tell you, for a noble person like the Young Lord, if you’re willing, you’re willing. If you’re not, you’re not. He won’t resort to tricks, nor will he force you. A person like the Young Lord, what kind of beauty doesn’t he want? There’s no need for him to, right?”
“Once the Young Lord finishes his task, he’ll definitely return to the Capital City. If you don’t speak up, he certainly won’t say anything. He’s the type to leave when he says he will, and he won’t come back. Have you thought about what you’ll do if the Young Lord leaves? What about your whole family?”
Li Xiaonan remained silent.
“Alas, first, how will you get married? Who would dare marry you? Second, perhaps it won’t be much in the first few years after the Young Lord leaves, but what about later? You don’t even need to wait long; when the Young Lord gets married, if he hasn’t taken you away yet, you’ll start to have a difficult time.”
“Alas, you don’t know how wicked people can be!”
“I know,” Li Xiaonan replied.
“Back then, you were bullied by your own family, and that was considered good. In Pingjiang City, there are more cunning people than hairs on a cow. Then, alas, there are far more ways to torment people than hairs on a cow!”
“I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time, but A Wu stopped me, saying you’re so smart you don’t need my worry.”
“But you scholars, although you haven’t read many books.”
Li Xiaonan looked at Yu Ting sideways.
“But you have quite the scholarly temperament, always saying ‘rather this than that,’ as if you truly have the choice.”
“How do you know I haven’t read many books?” Li Xiaonan interjected.
“Do you have books at home?” Yu Ting retorted unceremoniously.
“Continue,” Li Xiaonan swallowed.
“A Wu says it’s difficult to be a concubine, that life is hard. It is indeed difficult, but whether life is hard depends on the person.”
“For you, firstly, the Young Lord has indeed treated you well. You are also smart and can talk with the Young Lord. Being able to talk is very important! Secondly, a place like the Prince’s Estate values propriety the most. They torment people with subtle methods, with cold words and the like. But you are carefree and thick-skinned; as long as you have food and drink, I don’t think you care about anything else.”
Li Xiaonan looked at Yu Ting sideways.
“I’m not good with words, that’s all I mean. You’re a smart person, you’ll definitely understand what I mean,” Yu Ting sighed again.
“If I don’t go with you, what about you and A Wu?” Li Xiaonan asked.
“What else can we do! It’s already like this! I see the Young Lord’s intention; whether you go with him is up to you. A Wu and I can also go with our own choices. At that time, alas, we’ll see then.”
“However!” Yu Ting’s tone suddenly changed. “If you make up your mind and decide to go to the Capital City with the Young Lord, before you leave, be sure to tell the Young Lord to create two indentures for me and A Wu, placing them under your name. Have the Young Lord write a line on the indentures stating that we are your people, not the Prince’s Estate’s people, to prevent the Young Lord’s wife from causing trouble!”
“With me and A Wu protecting you, and you being carefree and not greedy, life won’t be too difficult.”
Yu Ting patted Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan took a deep breath. “I’ll listen to you. If the Young Lord leaves, I’ll go with him.”
“Alas, I knew you were a sensible person. Don’t tell your Eldest Sister yet; tell her when you’re leaving. Alas, don’t worry, no matter what, A Wu and I will accompany you!” Yu Ting patted Li Xiaonan’s shoulder five or six times.
………………………………
The Matchmaker Miao was leading the Wu Family’s fifth daughter, still about ten steps away from the intersection leading to Academy Street, when she stopped and pulled the fifth daughter, lowering her voice to repeat her instructions: “Have you memorized it all? Say it back to me.”
The fifth daughter looked nervous, swallowed, and said, “When we reach the entrance of the Tea House, don’t worry about anything else. Just go in as if you’re at home. Once inside, if the shop assistant asks me, I’ll say I’m here for tea and want to drink it in the innermost part of the courtyard. If they say there’s no space or anything, I can’t come out. I’ll say I absolutely must have this cup of tea. I don’t mind where, as long as they can give me a small stool. Preferably somewhere quiet and empty, as I’m afraid of people.”
Matchmaker Miao leaned her ear close to the fifth daughter’s mouth. After listening, she was extremely satisfied.
“Look at our fifth daughter, so clever! Good girl, hold this carefully.” Matchmaker Miao lit an incense plate with a flint, carefully placed it into a flat incense box, and handed it to the fifth daughter.
“Remember, only come out after this incense has burned out. Absolutely do not come out early. Also, keep an eye on the incense. If it goes out halfway, ask the shop assistant to relight it for you. Don’t be afraid to speak.”
The fifth daughter clutched the incense plate, her whole body tense, nodding continuously.
“Alright, go ahead,” Matchmaker Miao patted the fifth daughter.
Watching the fifth daughter, tense all over, slightly leaning as she walked forward and turned the corner, Matchmaker Miao looked around, then unhurriedly followed behind the fifth daughter.
Seeing the fifth daughter enter the Tea House opposite Cai Lian Lane, Matchmaker Miao slowed her pace. She walked past the Tea House, then quickened her steps, looking back occasionally. Not seeing the fifth daughter emerge, she let out a long sigh of relief, hailed a carriage at the street corner, and urged it on urgently, heading straight for Steward Huang’s Residence near the Weaving Bureau.
