The inn’s windows were straight and narrow. Ban Qin stood by one, peering down through the lattice.
“Miss,” she called again. “I remember now—over there is the market where I often went to buy vegetables…”
She turned her head back.
“That’s also where I first heard about the mute’s son falling ill. That time, we earned five hundred coins.”
“Hmm,” responded Cheng Jiao-niang, her eyes still on the book in her hands.
Ban Qin turned back to the view outside. It was nearly evening, and the streets were clearing of crowds.
They had stayed here for quite a while back then, and with all the coming and going, the place had become very familiar.
The place where they had lived before…
Ban Qin instinctively rose onto her tiptoes, straining to see outside.
“Miss,” she turned back again, “Miss.”
Cheng Jiao-niang set down the book in her hands and looked at her.
“Miss, let’s go out for a walk,” Ban Qin pleaded, kneeling closer and tugging at her sleeve.
Cheng Jiao-niang picked up the book once more.
“I have no memories of this place. What would we even go out for?” she replied.
Ban Qin grinned and shook her sleeve playfully.
“Come on, Miss,” she coaxed. “What’s the fun in staying cooped up inside all the time?”
Cheng Jiao-niang studied her, faintly surprised.
“Your boldness grows by the day,” she remarked, a slight smile touching her lips.
“Come on, Miss, please!” Ban Qin persisted. “From Bing-zhou to the Cheng family, then from the Cheng family to the capital—whether in the capital or on our way back, you’ve always been either in a carriage or confined to rooms, courtyards, and homes. Miss, you’ve never truly seen the sights or enjoyed any leisure outings.”
Cheng Jiao-niang set down her book and stood up, walking toward the door.
Ban Qin froze for a moment before snapping back to reality, scrambling after her in delighted surprise.
“Miss, are you really going? I was just saying it casually—”
“After hearing your words, I pitied myself so much that even my own heart ached.”
“Miss… are you joking right now?”
“Probably not. You’re not even laughing.”
“Ahahahaha…!”
The clatter of wooden clogs echoed on the riverside stone path, mingling with children’s laughter.
“It’s flying, it’s flying!”
Two teenage maids clapped their hands and cheered while holding a five- or six-year-old girl dressed in a red butterfly-patterned golden dress, pointing excitedly at the sky.
Two young servants, one in front and one behind, ran along pulling strings as a large butterfly kite wobbled and soared in the air.
By the wall, four or five older maids stood watching with warm smiles.
“I want to fly it too! I want to fly it too!” the little girl cried, stretching out her hands as she wobbled unsteadily on the stone path in her wooden clogs.
The maids quickly called to the menservants to bring the kite over.
One of the young servants carefully jogged back, knelt halfway, and handed the kite reel to the girl. Then, running ahead, he tried to guide her.
Delighted, the girl mimicked the servant’s earlier motions, lifting the reel and clattering forward in her clogs.
But she didn’t quite know how, and her slow pace made it impossible to keep the kite aloft. The servant, not daring to overstep his bounds by taking her hand, could only watch helplessly as the kite wobbled and drifted down—landing right on the shoulders of someone walking up the path…
“Oh no!”
Several gasps rang out.
The little girl let go of the reel and covered her mouth nervously.
Meanwhile, the maids stifled their smiles and hurried over.
Ban Qin reached up and carefully removed the kite from her person.
“Our apologies, our deepest apologies,” the maids hurried over, bowing in contrition.
Ban Qin simply smiled, noticing the little girl peeking nervously from behind her maid, her face full of apprehension.
With gentle humor, Ban Qin made a soft, playful sound of mock-spitting twice.
“Bad luck be gone, bad luck be gone,” she chanted lightly, then admired the kite in her hands. “Wow, this is truly beautiful!”
This was the Zhang family’s doorstep, and the entire street usually saw little foot traffic. The servants had been so focused on minding the young miss that they hadn’t noticed when this group had approached. The senior maids had grown uneasy, but seeing that this maid showed no anger – her smile remaining warm – and observing that the veiled lady behind her made no comment, with even the four attendants showing no displeasure, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Ban Qin returned the courtesy with a smile and continued on her way.
“Are you looking for someone?” the maid asked hesitantly.
Further down this street, there were hardly any other residences. Judging by this maid’s accent, she wasn’t a local either.
“No,” Ban Qin replied, pointing ahead. “We came to look at a house.”
By the roadside up ahead stood several riverside courtyards, each standing alone.
“Oh, are you here to rent?” the matron asked, a hint of realization dawning as she smiled. “But that house isn’t for rent.”
“Not for rent anymore?” Ban Qin asked, surprised.
“That’s right—it has an owner now,” the matron said.
“So it’s already been sold?” Ban Qin murmured, both startled and wistful as she gazed toward the courtyard.
The entrance was neatly kept, with no stray weeds growing on the gate or walls—clearly, someone was tending to it regularly.
“Yes, it belongs to my savior,” the little girl couldn’t help chiming in.
“Savior?” Ban Qin turned to look at her.
This child…
“…If you’re looking to rent, you might want to try East Street…” the maid continued warmly.
“Miss, Miss, look—just look!” Ban Qin turned excitedly to Cheng Jiao-niang while staring at the girl.
Look at what?
The maid paused in confusion. Everyone followed Ban Qin’s gaze.
Their young miss was indeed lovely—everyone said she grew prettier by the day…
Feeling all eyes on her, the little girl shrank back behind her maid to hide.
“Do you recognize…” Ban Qin began excitedly, then caught herself – the girl had been unconscious when they’d brought her here. Even if she hadn’t been, what three-year-old would remember? She chuckled softly, swallowing the rest of her words. “You’ve grown so tall now.”
Grown so tall now?
Had they met before?
The girl peeked out from behind her maid, studying Ban Qin with cautious confusion.
The maids likewise looked perplexed.
Cheng Jiao-niang took several steps forward and stopped before the girl. She lifted her veil.
The girl’s eyes widened slightly, her expression going blank with shock.
With Cheng Jiao-niang’s back to them, the servants could only see their young mistress’s startled reaction, not the face beneath the veil.
“Here, for you,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, handing over a small pouch with a faint smile.
Ban Qin, worried her mistress might grow hungry, had specially prepared some homemade pastries. The pouch itself was custom-made for Tai Ping Residence, and Ban Qin had kept a few for convenience.
The little girl, still dazed, reached out and took it.
The maids were even more astonished. Though young, the child had already been taught basic manners—how could she just accept something from a stranger?
“Ah—!” they exclaimed, hurrying forward to intervene.
Just then, a side gate creaked open.
“…Miss Yuan, hurry! Madam is calling for you—” two other maids urgently called out.
The matrons nearby quickly acknowledged and moved to pull the girl away while attempting to take the pouch.
But Cheng Jiao-niang had already turned and walked off.
“Miss, Miss, we really can’t accept this…” the maids hastily protested.
“Keep it. It’s just some snacks,” Ban Qin replied with a smile, turning back to offer a curtsy. “Consider it a reunion gift.”
A reunion gift?
The maids froze in surprise.
Did they actually know each other?
“Miss Yuan, do you recognize them?” they couldn’t help asking the little girl.
The child still seemed dazed.
“Such a beautiful lady…” she murmured in reply.
The servants chuckled helplessly. By the time they inspected the treats, the lady had already reached the end of the street, and the other maids inside grew impatient, leaving them no choice but to let the matter drop.
“Mother! Mother!”
The little girl kicked off her wooden clogs and bounded into the main hall.
The beautiful madam, who had been reviewing account books, set down her scroll and smiled as she took her daughter’s hands.
“What has you so excited?” she asked.
“Mother, I met the most beautiful lady—just like the painting of the fairy maiden in Father’s study!” the girl exclaimed, her eyes shining.
The madam chuckled.
“Oh? Does such a beauty truly exist?” she humored her child’s words.
“What kind of beauty was she?”
A man’s voice came from outside the hall. Those inside looked up to see a young man in blue robes approaching.
“Brother Yuanchao!” the little girl cried joyfully.
Han Yuanchao stepped inside.
“Has the wine worn off?” the beautiful madam asked with a smile.
Han Yuanchao looked somewhat abashed.
“Blame Uncle for his bottomless cup,” he laughed.
“That’s about all he’s good for,” the madam sniffed.
As a junior, Han Yuanchao had no proper response to this. Awkwardly, he rubbed his nose and turned his attention to the girl.
“So, what beauty did you meet?” he asked, changing the subject.
“I was flying a kite… it fell on her… she was so beautiful, just like a painting…” the girl babbled excitedly, her words tumbling out in disorder.
Han Yuanchao burst into laughter.
“I don’t believe it—could there really be a beauty more lovely than our little Miss Yuan?” he teased.
“It’s true! You didn’t see her!” the little girl insisted, reaching out. “The beautiful lady even gave me something… Huh? Where is it—”
A nearby maid quickly stepped forward with the pouch.
“Madam, this was given to the young miss by that lady,” she explained.
An actual beauty?
Both the beautiful madam and Han Yuanchao were taken aback.
Just as the madam was about to speak, Han Yuanchao reached for the pouch first.
Exquisitely crafted, it clearly bore thoughtful craftsmanship. As he examined it, his eyes caught on tiny characters embroidered in one corner.
“Tai Ping Residence…” he read aloud, then froze.
It felt… strangely familiar. Had he heard this name somewhere before?
