In the capital city, due to the cool weather, chrysanthemums bloom more abundantly than in the Jiang Nan region.
The courtyard of Zhou Liu-lang was filled with chrysanthemums of various colors and sizes. The maids surrounded them, admiring and playing, their melodious voices delightful to hear.
“Pick two more,” said Young Master Qin, holding a pestle in one hand, pounding rhythmically with the other.
Two maids responded and ran to pick two chrysanthemums and brought them back.
The flower threads were mercilessly plucked and pounded to a pulp.
“Sangzi, it’s unbelievable that you are doing something so destructive to flowers. No one would believe it if they heard,” Zhou Liu-lang said with a smile, leaning casually on his knees under the veranda.
“This is for making tea. When it’s done, it will be even more enticing. Isn’t that better?” replied Young Master Qin.
“You always fiddle with these things,” Zhou Liu-lang said.
Behind them, a maid approached quickly, knelt down on the veranda, and pushed two bowls of tea forward.
“Young masters, please have some tea,” she said, bowing her head.
Zhou Liu-lang reached out and drank it all in one go.
Young Master Qin, however, did not take the tea and continued pounding the flowers.
“I won’t drink this tea. It’s unpalatable,” he said. “I want to try the one I made myself.”
Zhou Liu-lang smiled without saying anything, but the maid looked up in surprise.
“Young Master also thinks this brewed tea is not tasty?” she asked.
Young Master Qin paused.
“Also?” he asked, looking at the maid.
“Ban Qin, you also think this tea is unpalatable?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
Ban Qin lowered her head.
“Yes, but I may not have a good taste,” she said with a bit of unease.
Young Master Qin smiled and waved his hand.
“No, no. It’s rare to meet someone as perceptive as you. Very good, very good,” he said with a smile.
Zhou Liu-lang curled his lips and took the tea meant for Young Master Qin, drinking it down in one gulp.
Ban Qin felt less tense amidst Young Master Qin’s laughter. Ever since she had met Young Master Qin, his scrutinizing gaze had always made her uneasy. Now, his expression towards her had softened significantly.
“So, how do you think tea should be made to taste good?” Young Master Qin asked with a smile.
Ban Qin was at a loss for words when an old maid came over, interrupting their conversation.
“Young Master,” she said with a bow.
Seeing this woman, Ban Qin straightened up in surprise and delight, somewhat losing her composure.
“Have they replied?” Zhou Liu-lang asked nonchalantly.
“Yes,” the woman replied.
“Still not clear?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
“Yes, the shop is to be divided into two, while the estate will fully belong to us. First Madam Cheng agreed, but Second Master Cheng did not. He said that the young lady will rely on the estate for her livelihood in the future, and now it’s being divided again,” the woman said.
Zhou Liu-lang sneered.
“Having enjoyed it for so many years, it’s no wonder they don’t want to give it up,” he said disdainfully. “We’ll divide it slowly then. If they think they can take advantage of my family so easily, they’re mistaken.”
The woman responded affirmatively.
“That’s exactly what the master and madam instructed. I need to head back there immediately,” she said, hesitating for a moment before continuing, “Also, that child has been sent to the temple.”
“What? Miss?” Ban Qin exclaimed, losing her composure as tears welled up in her eyes. She crawled forward a few steps on her knees. “Miss was sent to the temple?”
Zhou Liu-lang glanced at her with some displeasure.
“Why are you making such a fuss?” he said unhappily.
Ban Qin lowered her head, holding back her tears.
“She is Cheng family’s child, it has nothing to do with us,” Zhou Liu-lang said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Yes, the master said the same thing,” the woman said with a smile.
Ban Qin wanted to speak but didn’t dare to, while Young Master Qin continued pounding the flowers quietly, seemingly not hearing their conversation.
“There’s one more thing,” the woman said, turning to leave but then stopping and taking out a notebook. “Ban Qin, this is for you.”
Ban Qin let out a sound of surprise, got up, and without even putting on her shoes, went down to take it. When she saw it, she started trembling, unable to hold back her tears.
Her unusual reaction drew everyone’s attention, even Young Master Qin looked up for a moment.
“Miss… Miss…” Ban Qin sobbed, clutching the notebook as she knelt on the ground, unable to control herself.
“Did that fool give it to you?” Zhou Liu-lang asked. “What is it?”
“It’s the notebook where I recorded everything that happened on our journey,” Ban Qin cried.
Zhou Liu-lang made a sound of acknowledgment and paid no further attention, while Young Master Qin appeared to be lost in thought.
“My mistress, did she leave any message for me?” Ban Qin asked the maid through her tears.
Young Master Qin frowned and glanced at Ban Qin.
The woman shook her head.
“You can leave now,” Zhou Liu-lang said.
The maid acknowledged and turned to leave, but after taking a few steps, she stopped, seemingly wanting to say something.
“There’s one thing…” she hesitated as she turned back.
“Say it,” Zhou Liu-lang said.
“The young lady has a new maid by her side, also named Ban Qin,” the woman said.
Ban Qin looked up in shock, tears streaming down her face. She froze for a moment before collapsing to the ground, wailing.
Miss still remembered this name; she must be thinking of her in her heart!
Zhou Liu-lang sent them all away, finally enjoying some peace and quiet.
“I can’t stand these women crying all the time,” he said. Then, looking at Young Master Qin, who had stopped pounding the flowers and seemed lost in thought, he added, “Has her crying distracted you?”
Young Master Qin came back to his senses and smiled, putting down the pestle.
“Liu-lang,” he began, “when you went to the Cheng family, you saw the fool first and then this maid, right?”
“No, why would I see her?” Zhou Liu-lang replied, flicking his long sleeve and sitting up straight. “As soon as I entered, I saw this maid put on a good show, leaving the Cheng family members speechless. It was really amusing. What’s more, she even knew why I was there and encouraged that fool to make a fool of the Cheng family.”
At this, he laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself.
“Otherwise, I would have had to stay at the Cheng family for another day, wasting time. It was truly satisfying and smooth,” he said.
“You didn’t see that fool?” Young Master Qin asked, frowning.
“Why? Is there something wrong?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
“I feel something is off, but I can’t pinpoint it,” Young Master Qin said, sitting back and looking at the courtyard full of chrysanthemums. “The notebook that was sent over for Ban Qin…”
Zhou Liu-lang waited for a long time, and when he finally got a response, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“That’s her stuff. It’s normal for the Cheng family to send it here if they don’t want it,” he said.
“Yes, and they even gave the new maid the same name,” Young Master Qin said.
“The Cheng family is just trying to keep that fool from causing trouble,” Zhou Liu-lang said. “You keep thinking of these trivial matters—it’s really boring.”
Young Master Qin smiled, unconcerned.
“If it really is just an unintentional act by the Cheng family, then that’s fine,” he said. “But if the fool sent this, then…”
“A fool? So what?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
“Then that fool is truly a very petty and vindictive person,” Young Master Qin said slowly, stroking his hand.
Zhou Liu-lang looked at him for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed heartily.
“Then maybe the things that maid said and did in front of the Cheng family were also taught by that fool,” he said, his laughter fading as he became serious.
Young Master Qin nodded.
“That’s possible,” he said, looking at Zhou Liu-lang.
Zhou Liu-lang laughed heartily again, slapping his knee.
“Sangzi, it’s also possible that I’m a fool!” he laughed.
The Zhou family’s courtyard was several layers deep, and the laughter within could not be heard outside.
Outside, the servant was sweeping the street when a hurried procession of carriages arrived. Seeing the leading constables clearing the way with their authoritative presence, the Zhou family’s servant knew it was an official family, and not a low-ranking one, so he quickly made way.
“Who is this?”
People began to discuss among themselves. News travels fast in the capital, and soon everyone knew.
It was the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Master Chen Shao.
This young prodigy, who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations at a young age, had served in both the central and local governments, gaining extensive experience as a renowned scholar from Jiang Nan. After three years of mourning his mother, he re-entered officialdom at the emperor’s behest, being directly appointed as the Minister of Personnel, responsible for the promotion and dismissal of officials.
Minister Chen had been away from the capital for three years. Although his former residence had been guarded, it still appeared somewhat neglected due to the lack of occupancy. There were nearly enough volunteers eager to repair his house to form a line from his front door to the city gate, but the upright and incorruptible Minister Chen would never permit such actions.
Even the reception for him was understated. With only a simple carriage and a few elderly attendants, he dismissed the government officials who had come to escort him. In front of Minister Chen’s residence, it looked as unassuming as a small, modest household.
“Father.” Minister Chen, around forty-five years old, helped an elderly man down from the carriage.
“Daddy.” A young girl emerged from behind the elderly man, cheerfully calling out, “I want to go play on the street!”
Smiling, Minister Chen first handed the young girl to a maid, then supported his father.
The elderly man looked somewhat haggard, showing the toll the journey had taken on him.
As he slowly ascended the steps, he suddenly stopped, his body stiffening for a moment.
“Father?” Minister Chen asked with concern.
The elderly man stood still for a moment, then relaxed his body.
“My back is a bit sore, a little movement will ease it,” he said.
“I’ve made you weary from all the traveling, my bad,” Minister Chen said, looking ashamed.
The elderly man didn’t respond, instead rubbing his back heavily with one hand.
Lately, the intermittent numbness and pain have been increasingly frequent. It’s probably because of the long hours spent sitting in the carriage. Now that he had finally arrived home, he knew he needed to rest well. He was acutely aware that any health issues could derail his son’s future prospects, already delayed by three years of mourning for his late mother.
“You need to treat your illness as soon as possible…”
A voice seemed to flash in his ears.
The elderly man’s steps hesitated slightly.
“Father?” Minister Chen asked anxiously, “Why don’t we call a doctor to have a look?”
After a moment of hesitation, the elderly man nodded and walked into the house.
(The End of Volume 2)
