Seven thousand and seven

Within the Marquis of Huaiyuan’s residence, the most talked-about matter recently was the disappearance of the Second Miss for over half a year, and her subsequent return after being found by the young master of the Xu family.

Although the matriarch strictly forbade any discussion of this matter to protect the family’s reputation, and anyone overheard gossiping was immediately silenced or expelled regardless of who started the rumor, the news was too significant to be fully suppressed. Inside the household, the servants whispered among themselves, their words tinged with a mix of schadenfreude and regret. Once the most striking beauty of the Huaiyuan Marquis residence, and renowned throughout the capital for her exceptional looks and promising future, the Second Miss’s abduction by bandits and subsequent disappearance cast a dark shadow over her prospects. Who among the noble sons would now dare to marry a woman with such a scandal? It was feared she would be forced to marry off cheaply, compensated only with a substantial dowry.

Mrs. Xu, still recovering from the shock of her daughter’s return, soon found herself worrying about her daughter’s marriage. After leaving the matriarch’s quarters that morning, her expression was heavy as she made her way to the Fufang Courtyard.

Aside from the matriarch’s own residence, the Fufang Courtyard was the most exquisite in the entire household—a true testament to wealth and refinement. Even the small rockery and flowing water feature in the center of the courtyard were painstakingly designed and rebuilt more than ten times by the gardener to achieve perfection, the expense of which was considerable.

Passing the delicate rockery, one reached the main hall of the house. Two folding doors stood open to the outside, revealing a pristine and orderly space. The room was furnished with three-sided red sandalwood furniture, and at its heart hung a massive wood carving depicting the eternal spring of all things. On the beams above were similarly hued, intricately carved wooden panels, and two crystal-glass lanterns hung suspended. Below the central panel was a narrow table adorned with delicate ceramic animal figurines.

The cheapest adornment in the room was the fresh flowers carelessly placed in a vase on the small flower table—cut from the back garden by the maids. Yet even the vase was a finely painted official porcelain piece of immeasurable value.

Throughout the Huaiyuan Marquis residence, only Jiang Xinyue had the means and taste to spend so much time and money arranging her courtyard bit by bit into something she loved.

Mrs. Xu could not help but worry: if her daughter married and remained so particular, how could she possibly live a good life?

She walked further inside and found her daughter sitting on an embroidered stool, allowing a maid to style her hair. Four young maids stood behind her, holding garments and carefully matched jewelry.

Jiang Xinyue was undeniably beautiful. Even her profile was captivating, her skin delicate and translucent, her features refined yet framed by a pair of slightly rounded phoenix eyes—bright and imbued with a hint of youthful innocence. Her figure, fully developed, carried a subtle, almost unspoken allure in every step, fueling the rumors that swirled through the household.

Mrs. Xu’s eyes swept over her daughter’s enchanting form with slight unease before she averted her gaze. “Why are you just getting up now? Didn’t sleep well last night?”

“I’ve been feeling tired lately, so I slept a bit longer,” Jiang Xinyue replied.

“This is your own home. Your grandmother cares for you and has excused the usual morning salutations out of kindness. But you should still know the rules—once you marry, you can’t be so willful. You must abide by your husband’s household’s rules.”

Jiang Xinyue sensed something off in her mother’s tone. Turning, she asked, “What do you mean by ‘once I marry’?”

She noticed a flicker of guilt on her mother’s face and pressed on, “Did grandmother say something to you? Or was it your eldest aunt?”

“Your eldest aunt has arranged a match for you. I think it’s quite suitable,” Mrs. Xu answered.

“Whose son is it?”

“The second son of the Yang family, Yang Cong’an.”

Jiang Xinyue’s irritation grew, assuming her mother was unaware of who Yang Cong’an really was. “Don’t you know who Yang Cong’an is? I’ve heard he’s been studying for over ten years but wasted it all in brothels. His mistresses could be seen walking right from my courtyard to your eldest aunt’s, and he still hasn’t passed any exams.”

“That’s because he was young and unfocused. After marriage, you just need to persuade him more,” Mrs. Xu said.

“Is twenty-two still considered young?” Jiang Xinyue raised her voice, disbelief plain on her face. She rose to leave, telling Qing Fei to help her put on her cloak. Seeing her mother stubbornly standing her ground, she scoffed, “If he were really such a fine match, why wouldn’t your eldest aunt keep him for her own daughter? Isn’t Mingruo of marrying age too?”

“That’s not the same,” Mrs. Xu said anxiously, “Mingruo is pure and innocent, unlike you.”

Her words hung in the room like a cold silence.

Qing Fei, fastening Jiang Xinyue’s belt, suddenly tightened it so much the girl almost couldn’t breathe. Yet Jiang Xinyue said nothing, staring out the window with a face that seemed almost translucent in the sunlight but utterly devoid of warmth.

Qing Fei’s face flushed with anger as she muttered, “Pure? Have you seen the girl cavorting with men yourself?”

Mrs. Xu was rendered speechless, her face darkening.

Qing Fei added, “If you haven’t seen it, shouldn’t you defend her reputation now? Rushing to arrange a match with this family only confirms the rumors.”

“That’s none of your business,” Mrs. Xu snapped, cheeks flushed.

Qing Fei immediately knelt, lightly slapping her own cheeks, “It’s my fault, I spoke out of turn.”

Jiang Xinyue, annoyed, said, “Enough. You all may leave now. Have the carriage prepared early; I’ll be there shortly.”

The maids sensed the tense atmosphere and hurried out, each glancing back anxiously, feeling sorry for their young mistress. The second madam usually flattered the matriarch and the marquise, but she had only this one daughter—how could she bear to side with outsiders at such a critical moment?

Mrs. Xu was furious at their departure. Once alone with Jiang Xinyue, she accused, “You let a maid speak to me like that?”

Jiang Xinyue retorted, “Isn’t what Qing Fei said true?”

“Of course not,” Mrs. Xu shook her head vehemently. But she soon recalled her husband’s coldness, her mother-in-law’s reproaches, and the subtle mockery from her sisters-in-law, causing tears to well in her eyes. “You vanished for over half a year after being abducted by bandits. Even if you claim to be pure, who would believe it now?”

Her voice strained with frustration and sorrow as she spread her hands helplessly. “I’m only doing this for your own good.”

Jiang Xinyue found herself at a loss for words. She wanted to hold back; there were more pressing matters to attend to. But after enduring so much, Mrs. Xu’s words finally made her laugh bitterly. “Then don’t do it for my good.”

“Besides, are you really doing this for me? For my good, you didn’t search for me when I disappeared? For my good, you didn’t ask how I fared after I returned? For my good, you just say today that I’m pure?”

She wrapped her cloak around herself, fastening the tie and turning to look at her reflection in the bronze mirror, even spinning around in satisfaction. Her phoenix eyes gleamed with sincerity. “This ‘for my good’—I hardly can bear it.”

With that, she ignored her mother’s reaction and strode out.

Mrs. Xu’s face had grown pale, her body trembling as she called after her daughter with a choked voice, “You think I wanted to offer you to the Yang family? It’s only because your reputation is ruined that they’re the only ones willing to take you. Do you want, like your father said, to be a concubine to some man in his thirties or forties?”

“I’m truly doing this for your own good. Why don’t you believe me?”

Jiang Xinyue only reacted when she heard “concubine,” but she pretended not to and left without another word.

It wasn’t that she was indifferent—it was simply that she had known since childhood that her mother did not love her.

When Mrs. Xu had given birth to her, she had suffered a difficult labor and was unable to have more children. Whether pressured by the Xu family or out of genuine feeling, her father had taken no concubines nor produced heirs all these years.

Mrs. Xu bore this guilt cautiously, trying to please everyone in the Huaiyuan Marquis household while blaming Jiang Xinyue for the grievances she endured, resenting her for not being a son.

Sometimes she found it laughable—what was the use, being born a daughter after all? It wasn’t as if Jiang Xinyue had refused to be a son.

Putting aside these tangled thoughts, Mrs. Xu left with her maids and guards, heading directly to the teahouse where she had arranged to meet Xu Yanli.

At the teahouse entrance, she removed her cloak and handed it to Qing Fei and Qing Cui, instructing them to wait outside as she entered.

Seeing Xu Yanli already seated within, she immediately asked, “Have you found Qingzhu?”

Qingzhu was her childhood maid who had accompanied her on the trip to Weinan. Along with another maid, Qingzhen, Qingzhu had disappeared during their encounter with bandits. Qingzhen had died protecting her, stabbed fatally, while Qingzhu’s whereabouts were unknown. No one found her among the bandits.

For a long time, Jiang Xinyue mourned, fearing the worst. But recently, near Cangzhou Prefecture, not far from the capital, she had glimpsed a girl who looked exactly like Qingzhu. When she tried to approach, the girl vanished, so she entrusted Xu Yanli to search.

Xu Yanli did not answer immediately. His face was unusually serious before he finally said four words: “Qingzhu is dead.”

Jiang Xinyue almost thought her argument with her mother had scrambled her mind, causing her to hallucinate. Her voice rose, “Qingzhu is dead? When?”

“Mo Yun found her residence. When he opened the door, she had hanged herself. The authorities have been notified and have investigated. They questioned neighbors about any unusual noises or strangers entering that night—none were found. All evidence points to—” Xu Yanli paused, a mocking edge in his voice, “suicide.”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop sharply, sending chills down their spines.

Jiang Xinyue’s complexion paled uncontrollably. After several deep breaths, she barely managed to maintain composure.

She was almost certain this was directed at her.

Qingzhu lived nearby in Cangzhou Prefecture, looked well-dressed with no sign of destitution. If so, why had she not reported back to the Huaiyuan Marquis residence or the Xu family? Why had she been silenced before the Xu family could find her?

Either Qingzhu had been bribed from the start, or she had tried to report to the Jiang or Xu family but was dismissed. The latter seemed unlikely—if Qingzhu had been loyal, she would have gone to the Xu family immediately, sparing them the months of fruitless searching.

The former possibility was most likely, which meant the bandit encounter might not have been accidental.

But who in the Jiang family would wish her dead?

The thought that a venomous snake lurked among those she lived with made her pace anxiously. After considering everyone she knew, she looked at Xu Yanli and said, “I haven’t offended anyone.”

She let herself slump heavily against the chair’s back, sensing the situation spiraling wildly beyond her control, impossible to rein in even with ten horses.

With Qingzhu and her companion dead, and the bandits killed, there was no clear starting point.

She sighed. “If only Pei San were here. When the bandits took everything, after killing them, he handled their belongings. Maybe he knows something.”

Xu Yanli raised an eyebrow. “Who is Pei San?”

Jiang Xinyue suddenly realized her slip and avoided his gaze. “Uh… just someone I met when I was in trouble.”

Xu Yanli rubbed his forehead. “If he was someone you met during hardship, better not meet him again to avoid more trouble. I’ll have someone check further toward Qingshui Town regarding the bandits.”

Jiang Xinyue nodded quickly. She only mentioned him in passing—if she met him again, given his temper, who knew what fate might await her?

After all, he was a ruthless man who had slaughtered an entire bandit stronghold.

She didn’t have many lives for Pei San to vent his anger on.

The two discussed the bandit matter further and finalized their next steps. Xu Yanli then advised caution within the Jiang household.

“If it gets too dangerous, you can come stay at the Xu residence.”

Before Jiang Xinyue could reply, Mo Yun appeared at the door. Seeing her, he immediately bowed his head and nervously reported, “Madam is ill again. Please return to see her.”

“Is my aunt still unwell?” Jiang Xinyue’s worry deepened. “I visited her twice after I returned. She looked fine. How could she suddenly fall ill again?”

Having grown up in the Xu family and unloved by her own parents, Jiang Xinyue was especially close to her maternal aunt, Lu Shi.

Hearing of her illness, she couldn’t help but ask, “Is the doctor you hired not good enough? Should we get another? It’s not good for her to be sick all the time.”

Under Jiang Xinyue’s concerned gaze, Xu Yanli’s eyes darkened slightly. He reached out and rubbed her head. “It’s nothing serious, just minor ailments. She needs rest.”

“If you like, I can go with you to see her.”

“No need. I’ll go first. Once she recovers, you can visit. Don’t worry her more.” Xu Yanli stood and instructed, “Be careful when you return. If you suspect anything, tell me first—don’t alert potential enemies.”

Jiang Xinyue nodded repeatedly. “You go ahead. Please send my regards to Aunt.”

After Xu Yanli left, Jiang Xinyue sat quietly in the teahouse for a while, pondering the mess in the Jiang family but finding no clues.

When she went downstairs, she looked at the carriage bearing the Huaiyuan Marquis residence’s emblem. Irritated and restless, she decided not to board. Instead, she walked with Qing Fei and Qing Cui to clear her mind.

Qing Fei thought she was upset over the second madam’s words and asked, “Miss, have you told the young master about the madam wanting you to marry the Yang family’s second son? If he knew, he’d surely speak up for you.”

“I never believed that match would happen,” Jiang Xinyue said, her mind troubled. “How could I marry someone like that?”

“Then what kind of person do you like? Someone like the young master?”

Jiang Xinyue turned her head. “Why do you bring him up…”

Her words caught in her throat as a tall man appeared at the teahouse entrance.

She nearly thought she was ill, to see Pei San right there in the capital city.