Accompanied by another heavy snowfall, the New Year was just five or six days away.
A maid rubbed her hands together as she stepped into the room, which was warm and cozy inside.
Cheng Jiao-niang sat by the window, gazing outside.
“Miss, aren’t you afraid of the cold?” The maid knelt down near the fire basin, warming her hands and feet as she spoke. “When I first came north with the Old Master from the south, I cried every day during my first winter because of the cold.”
“Bing-zhou is cold too,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
The maid chuckled.
“Miss, are we staying home today, or are we going to see the young masters?” she asked.
“We’re going to see my brothers,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The maid acknowledged with a cheerful “yes,” got up, opened the door, and called for a maid to prepare the carriage.
When a daughter from the household was leaving, it was natural to inform the madam, especially when it was a relative’s daughter.
Madam Zhou soon received the maid’s report.
“Is she going out again?” Madam Zhou frowned, looking at the heavy snow outside.
“Yes, and she asked for some money,” the maid replied, lowering her head.
Madam Zhou turned and looked at Master Zhou, who was sitting in the room.
“How could she even ask for it?” she said, her face filled with surprise. “She wouldn’t be so easygoing even in her own home, would she?”
Which normal woman in this world could act like that?
“A lady, running around every day—what kind of behavior is that?” Master Zhou said with a stern face, “She has a mother who gave birth to her, but no mother to teach her. She’s been foolish for over ten years. Go and talk to her.”
“Me?” Madam Zhou shook her head. “Is it appropriate for me to say something?”
“You are her aunt, a mother figure. What’s inappropriate about it?” Master Zhou said unhappily.
“Aunt. If she truly would listen to me, would she behave like this?” Madam Zhou also said, displeased.
While the couple was troubled here, over there, Zhou Liu-lang had already grabbed his cloak and was heading out, bumping into Young Master Qin who was just about to enter.
“You’re going out again?” Young Master Qin said in surprise. “You’ve really forgotten your brother now that you have a sister.”
Zhou Liu-lang gave him a glare and waved his hand, signaling to leave.
“I tell you, Liu-lang, this approach is useless. No matter what you do, she won’t see it in her eyes,” Young Master Qin said, reaching out to stop him, shaking his head. “Listen to me, ignoring her will be better. Let her do as she pleases.”
“What I do is not about how she thinks,” Zhou Liu-lang said, raising his head with a bit of stubbornness.
“Exactly. That’s why you’ve angered her,” Young Master Qin said, looking at Zhou Liu-lang. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”
“This matter has nothing to do with you,” Zhou Liu-lang replied, stepping forward and walking briskly.
Young Master Qin followed him.
“With the heavy snow today, it’s the perfect time to gather around the stove and roast some meat. How about I invite you and your sister to the Immortal’s Abode?” Young Master Qin changed the subject with a smile.
Not that he had said anything before, but once he mentioned this, Zhou Liu-lang’s expression turned grim.
“No need,” he replied.
“Why?” Young Master Qin asked, surprised.
“We’ve been there already,” Zhou Liu-lang said.
Young Master Qin looked at him and burst out laughing.
“Good lad, you really…” He shook his head and laughed, then quickly asked, “Did she like it?”
Zhou Liu-lang took a deep breath and turned to look at Young Master Qin.
“Guess,” he said.
Young Master Qin was stunned.
This was probably the first time Zhou Liu-lang had seen Young Master Qin with such an expression since they had met, and he couldn’t help but smile.
No wonder that lady liked to play dumb, leaving others speechless—it really was amusing.
As this thought crossed his mind, Zhou Liu-lang’s smile instantly faded.
He flicked his cloak and, with the snowflakes flying around as his leather boots stepped forward, he made his way toward the inner courtyard gate.
“Young Master is going to be a coachman for Lady Cheng again…”
“Young Master is really good to Lady Cheng…”
However, the servants’ idle chatter ended there, and no one spoke beyond the sibling relationship, for who could forget that Lady Cheng had once been a foolish girl?
Though she seemed a bit better now, the past could not be erased. Moreover, she still didn’t seem much improved, acting odd and clearly different from ordinary ladies.
Although Zhou Liu-lang was not the legitimate eldest son, it was still impossible for him to marry a lady like her.
During the busy time of the year, with offerings to the heavens and ancestors, there were fewer people on the streets than usual, especially in the taverns and inns.
A lady wearing a large cloak stood by the roadside, looking around as if searching for something. The shop assistants in the stores with newly hung lanterns by the roadside were already prepared to give directions.
But the lady paused for a moment and then headed straight in one direction.
“She’s heading toward Horse Market Street, and she even knows to cut through the Blacksmith Alley. She’s clearly not a stranger—turns out she’s a regular from the capital,” one of the assistants, standing on a ladder, shook his head and mused.
After passing through the alley, she entered a bustling market street. The lady walked for a while and then saw a somewhat inconspicuous tavern with a flag hanging, bearing the words “Kuiyuan Residence.”
“Just as I thought, it’s here,” the lady said, stepping forward to enter while removing her hood.
During the New Year season, those who could return home had done so, leaving the inn unusually quiet. The two attendants stood behind the counter, warming themselves by the fire basin. Hearing movement, they looked up and, seeing a pretty young maid, quickly smiled and greeted her.
“I’m looking for Young Master Han from Su-zhou,” the maid said, handing over a handful of money. “Please, have some wine to warm up this winter.”
The two attendants were delighted. They hadn’t expected the little maid to be so generous. Guests came and went, some leaving their names, others not. Finding someone was not always immediate, but without hesitation, the two pointed behind them.
“Young Master Han is on the third floor of the Di building, in the eastern wing. I’ll take you up right away,” one of them said.
The maid smiled and thanked them, following the attendant as they went toward the back. She knocked on the door, but the person who came out was not Han Yuanchao.
Upon seeing the maid, the man paused for a moment.
“Scholar Liu, this lady is looking for Young Master Han,” the attendant said.
The maid gave a polite bow.
“We met yesterday, I wonder if you remember me,” she said.
Scholar Liu seemed to recall something, and his expression grew strange.
“You… are you looking for Yuanchao?” he asked.
“Yes, my master sent me to invite him,” the maid replied.
Scholar Liu’s expression became even more peculiar, and he seemed somewhat troubled, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.
“Who is looking for me?”
A voice came from behind, and the three of them turned to look. Two men were walking up the stairs, with Han Yuanchao in the lead, taking off his cloak.
The maid knelt down to the side, watching as the two men pulled Han Yuanchao aside and murmured something to him. She didn’t pay much attention, shifting her gaze elsewhere.
One of the men noticed the maid looking away and nodded approvingly.
“Such good manners, it shows her family is extraordinary,” he whispered, gripping Han Yuanchao’s arm. “I wonder how it compares to settling in De-zhou?”
“Yes, yes, marriage is a lifelong matter. You must think it through carefully,” the other man whispered, excitedly patting Han Yuanchao on the shoulder.
Han Yuanchao chuckled.
“What’s there to think about?” he said, pushing the two men aside and walking directly toward the maid.
The maid hurriedly stood up, and after Han Yuanchao sat down, she sat back down again.
“Young Master, my master wants to…” she began to speak.
Before she could finish, Han Yuanchao raised his hand and interrupted her.
“No need to think about it anymore. I am honored by the affection, but I have already been promised to someone. Please convey my apologies to your master,” he said calmly.
The maid was stunned for a moment, then immediately burst into laughter. The more she laughed, the harder it became to stop, and she had to raise her hand to cover her mouth, though she couldn’t stop the giggles from escaping.
