The man seemed a little uneasy, his hand unconsciously rubbing his stubbly chin.
The sudden silence and scrutinizing gazes of the two ladies at the door made him feel even more ill at ease.
“Third Young Master?” the maid called out, snapping out of her own thoughts, with a hint of surprise.
Xu Maoxiu raised his head to look at the maid, then quickly lowered it to inspect his clothes.
“Doesn’t it fit? I thought it looked fine,” he said.
“Third Young Master!” the maid interrupted him this time with a laugh. “You’ve shaved your beard—I almost didn’t recognize you!”
Having shaved his beard, Xu Maoxiu was clearly not used to it either. Sitting down, he seemed restless, occasionally tugging at the hem of his robe.
The maid couldn’t help but chuckle as she watched him from the side.
“I think I’ll change out of these new clothes and save them for the New Year, so I don’t wrinkle them from sitting,” Xu Maoxiu said.
The maid quickly stood up and opened the door.
“Third Young Master, this outfit fits perfectly,” she said with a smile.
“That’s because you chose it so well,” Xu Maoxiu replied with a smile as he headed out the door.
“Miss,” the maid said, giggling mischievously as she glanced outside, “when gentlemen change into new clothes, don’t they all seem like different people?”
Unfortunately, the men who came next, dressed in their new outfits for their sister to admire, either showed no noticeable change or ended up looking even more comical.
“…This one’s too small…”
“…I’ve tried everything; this is the largest one…”
“…Sixth Young Master, I’ll make a note of it and take it out for alterations right away…”
“…I’ll go with you. Better than ruining the clothes with a poor fit…”
Watching the laughter and chatter nearby, Xu Maoxiu, now changed back into his old clothes and feeling much more at ease, turned to smile at Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Don’t trouble yourself with the New Year’s preparations anymore,” he said.
Before he finished speaking, Jin Ge’er ran into the room.
“Miss, Minister Chen’s family has sent the New Year gifts.”
The shout stunned everyone in the room, and they quickly stood up.
“Minister Chen? Which Minister Chen?”
The other men were confused, but Xu Maoxiu understood immediately. To be called “Minister” was not a title given to just anyone.
“Sister, we’ll step aside,” he said quickly.
Cheng Jiao-niang shook her head.
“Brother, you’re mistaken. You are the elder, should I, as the younger sister, be the one to entertain guests?” she replied.
The men in the room became even more flustered.
Xu Maoxiu took a deep breath, smiled, and nodded.
“Then,” he said as he looked at Fan Jianglin, “we shall welcome the guests.”
Fan Jianglin nodded, shook out his robe, and strode out first.
“…I… I should probably change into my new clothes…”
A quiet voice from behind was heard.
In the courtyard, the steward of the Chen family was overseeing the servants unloading the carts. Hearing footsteps, he quickly straightened his attire and came forward to greet them. However, upon looking up and seeing several unfamiliar men, he was startled.
“I, Fan Jianglin, thank you on behalf of my younger sister,” said Fan Jianglin, stepping forward as the eldest sibling and cupping his hands in greeting.
The Chen family steward, quick to react, immediately returned the gesture.
The misunderstanding about Jin Ge’er being kidnapped had already spread privately, so upon closer inspection, the steward quickly understood the situation.
It turned out that these men were not only acquainted with Lady Cheng but even addressed each other as siblings.
Recognizing this, the Chen family steward bowed respectfully and, without questioning Lady Cheng, treated Fan Jianglin and the others as the legitimate hosts. He handed over the invitation and the gift list, explaining each item meticulously without the slightest negligence.
Fan Jianglin accepted the gifts, while Xu Maoxiu took charge of the conversation. Though somewhat inexperienced, he managed without panic. After a polite exchange, they escorted the Chen family steward out the door.
“Oh my heavens!” Xu Bangchui immediately exclaimed, pretending to wipe sweat from his forehead. “This is the first time in my life I’ve ever received a New Year’s gift!”
Some people began inspecting the gifts, while others urged Xu Maoxiu to look at the invitation.
“Whose family, whose family is it from?”
Xu Maoxiu opened the name card.
Chen Pu of Qu-zhou.
The name didn’t ring a bell. Xu Maoxiu flipped through it further and found that the invitation actually contained two gift lists. Besides the main list, there was an additional one for accompanying gifts.
The sender of the accompanying gift had also left a name:
Chen Shao.
Xu Maoxiu’s hand trembled, and the gift list fluttered down. Fan Jianglin, quick on his feet, reached out and caught it.
He asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s Minister Chen, the Vice Minister of Personnel,” Xu Maoxiu said in a low voice.
Though they didn’t fully understand the ranks of court officials, everyone knew at least a few prominent figures. Moreover, a Vice Minister of Personnel, who held sway over promotions and appointments, was undeniably a major authority.
“That’s practically someone who can reach the heavens!” Fan Jianglin said in astonishment, unable to resist glancing back toward the room.
Inside the room, a maid was jotting something down with a brush, while Cheng Jiao-niang occasionally whispered a few words to her. The scene looked no different from any ordinary household with its womenfolk going about their tasks.
Xu Maoxiu pondered for a moment, tucked the name card away, and stepped inside.
“Sister, what do you think we should prepare in return? This is our first time in the capital, and we’re unfamiliar with the customs here. You’ll have to decide for us,” he said with a smile, handing over the name card without asking any questions or making comments.
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at him and curved her lips into a slight smile.
“Brother, I’ve only just arrived in the capital myself,” she said, then looked at the maid. “However, Ban Qin is quite familiar with the city.”
Xu Maoxiu couldn’t help but look at the maid.
The maid was well-acquainted with the capital? But Cheng Jiao-niang wasn’t? How could that be?
“Alright then,” Xu Maoxiu said with a smile and nodded. Turning to call Fan Jianglin, he added, “The money Sister left from last time should still be plenty. Ban Qin, take it and handle the arrangements.”
The maid bowed respectfully and responded affirmatively.
“I have the money; come with me to get it,” Fan Jianglin said, standing up.
“And while we’re at it, let’s head to the street and take the clothes to the shop for alterations,” Xu Bangchui added.
“Also, let’s pick up the New Year’s supplies,” the maid chimed in.
“Right, right! We need peachwood charms and firecrackers,” someone said.
“Wine, wine!”
“And incense and candles for ancestral offerings can’t be forgotten.”
“Let’s all go! I haven’t strolled through the capital yet!”
The brothers all stood up, talking and laughing. If they hadn’t been making an effort to lower their voices, the roof might have been lifted off by their boisterous commotion.
Xu Maoxiu withdrew his gaze and looked at Cheng Jiao-niang, noticing the lady sitting quietly across from him, a slight curve at the corners of her mouth.
Since they had met, it was rare to see her show much emotion, and even this small expression was an unusual glimpse of her feelings.
“Did we disturb you?” he asked. “Everyone here is a rough man, with no sense of propriety.”
Cheng Jiao-niang turned her gaze to him.
“We’re family—there’s no need for formalities,” she said. “This is how it should be—lively and festive. I’m grateful to my brothers for being so natural and unreserved.”
Xu Maoxiu instinctively reached up to stroke his beard, only to remember it had been shaved off. Feeling slightly awkward, he rubbed his chin a couple of times.
“See, if you keep acting like that, then you’re being reserved,” he said with a laugh.
“You’re right, Brother,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, sitting up straight.
The crackling sound of burning bamboo echoed from outside, and the street gate opened as children laughed and ran past, carrying the cheer of the approaching New Year.
Firecracker noises grew more frequent along the street. The maid carefully avoided a group of children playing and running by with rabbit-shaped lanterns and stepped into Kuiyuan Residence.
The shop attendant spotted her immediately and greeted her with a smile.
“You’ve arrived,” he said. “Young Master Han instructed me to call for him as soon as you came.”
The maid returned his smile and thanked him.
Not long after, Han Yuanchao came over, draped in a large cloak.
The attendant outside had already summoned the carriage, which soon pulled up. The maid boarded the carriage, Han Yuanchao mounted his horse, and together they brought along a doctor before heading out of the city.
“Miss, is your accent from Jiangnan?” Han Yuanchao asked casually as they chatted.
The weather was clear today, and the maid, wrapped in a thick cloak, lifted the carriage curtain. The chill was bearable, allowing her to speak comfortably with Han Yuanchao.
“Yes, I’m from Jiang-zhou,” the maid replied with a slight nod, not hiding the fact.
“Do you plan to stay in the capital long?” Han Yuanchao asked again.
“Well,” the maid shook her head, “that depends on my master’s arrangements.”
Han Yuanchao nodded in understanding.
“There’s one more thing,” the maid added. “You may not be aware, but Immortal’s Abode has some connections with Secretariat Editor Liu from the Imperial Archives.”
Han Yuanchao was taken aback and quickly turned to look at the maid.
