Four Delicate Offenders – CH 012

Chapter 12. The Sky Clear And The Vegetation Lush.

Xiang Xu, who probably never knew how to refuse others, readily agreed to Meifen’s suggestion, “I am free this afternoon, and I’d like to go out. Let’s get ready, and I will come pick you up later.”

Yunpan felt helpless. Her intention was to persuade Meifen to go out, not for her to go shopping herself. She tugged at Meifen’s hand and pleaded, “Sister, come with me! It’s so lonely by myself.”

Meifen knew her intention but pretended not to understand, “It’s not lonely at all. Elder Brother is there. He passes through the market every day on his way to the Imperial Academy. Just tell him what you want to buy; he knows where the shops are.”

Yunpan frowned. “But I want you to come with me, Sister.”

Meifen let her gently sway her, her body swaying like water. “I will not go. The sun is too strong outside; it will be uncomfortable. Let my brother go with you. Did you not say you wanted to make Guanghan incense? We probably do not have any osmanthus flowers at home; it’s a good opportunity to go out and buy some.”

Xiang Xu listened to their conversation. After half a day of back and forth, he had roughly figured out that Yunpan was probably acting on his mother’s orders to persuade Meifen to go out. So he casually added, “You two just sit in the carriage. Whatever you want, I will buy it for you outside; you will not be in the sun.”

But Meifen’s patience seemed to be running out. At first, she was smiling, but then her face fell, and she turned away, muttering, “I do not want to go! Why are you dragging me along!”

Seeing that she was about to get angry, Yunpan did not press the matter further. She reluctantly withdrew her hand and said, “Never mind then. Since you are not coming, I will just stay in the room and read.”

Meifen, probably feeling embarrassed, quickly smoothed things over after her earlier attitude had put Yunpan in an awkward position. “Do not be angry with me, Sister. It’s just that I am afraid of strangers, not that I really do not want to keep you company. You’ve come to the capital; you cannot just stay cooped up in the courtyard like I am. You should go out and explore.”

So she understood all the principles, but she just could not bring herself to cross that threshold.

Xiang Xu, knowing her weakness, turned to Yunpan and said, “The market in the capital is very lively; you will regret it if you miss it. The Qishi-Er Tower has all sorts of delicious food, especially their sweets. I will treat you to a honey-glazed crispy lotus flower dessert.”

Many things in the world could be taken lightly, but good food was something you should never miss. Upon hearing this, Yunpan did not hesitate. Turning to Meifen, she smiled and said, “Then I will go try it first. If it’s delicious, I will bring one back for my sister, too.”

So, she excitedly left Zilan Garden, greeting Xiang Xu at the gate, saying, “Elder Brother, wait a moment; I will go back and change my clothes.”

As summer approached, the garden trees were lush and green, but the area in front of the gate was spotless. Large swathes of sunlight poured down, bathing her in a sweet glow. She squinted, looking up at him, her cheeks bright and lovely, with a childlike innocence.

Xiang Xu’s heart skipped a beat. Though he felt strange, he nodded calmly. She and the maidservant ran joyfully towards Yipengxue, and he watched her disappear into the depths of spring. The girl’s vivacity was the most beautiful poetry, and in this fragrant season, it made the sky clear and the vegetation lush.

He took a deep breath and smiled contentedly. Turning to look at the garden scenery, he realized that his years of reading had made him miss many breathtaking views…

Meanwhile, Yunpan and Qin-Dan rushed into the courtyard like a whirlwind. Lady Ming had assigned her two personal maids, Ming-Ke and Ruo-Lan, who were originally drying incense sticks under the eaves. Seeing them rush in, they exclaimed with delight, “My little ladies, what’s wrong? Why are you so happy?”

Yunpan said, “Elder Brother is taking me to the market.” She spun behind the screen, loosened her embroidered collar, and called to Ming-Ke, “Quickly, fetch me some clothes to change into. I made incense earlier, and I left a little honey on my skirt; there’s still a stain.”

Ming-Ke quickly agreed, taking out a light yellow gauze robe with wide sleeves from the cabinet, paired with a Qingshan top and pleated skirt. As she helped her change, she said, “My Lady usually dresses too plainly. It’s a rare outing; let’s change into something brighter.”

After getting ready, she went to the mirror to do her hair, tying it into an elegant bun, adorning it with two small white jade jasmine hairpins, and finally attaching a pretty flower ornament to her forehead. With this makeover, a charming beauty instantly appeared.

Ruo-Lan came forward to apply powder, but she said no, “It’s too hot.” She pointed to her purse and told Qin-Dan to take it, then lifted her skirt and left the courtyard.

Xiang Xu strolled slowly along the path between the two courtyards, hearing footsteps, and glanced back. She changed her clothes and emerged from the gourd-shaped moon gate. A gust of wind blew, causing her skirt to flutter wildly, making her seem as if she were about to take flight.

He suddenly felt a pang of panic and hurriedly looked away. “Let’s take my usual carriage; it’s parked outside the gate… I’ve already sent someone to inform Mother…” He became increasingly incoherent, finally gesturing awkwardly, “Please, Sister.”

Yunpan sensed his unease but did not think much of it. She chatted and laughed with Qin-Dan as they headed towards the front courtyard.

Looking back now, before coming to the capital, she had been constantly worried, troubled by her father’s intention to elevate his concubine, fearing the Marquis of Yong’an’s Mansion would be ridiculed. Now, having escaped that home, she suddenly felt she had let go of everything. She no longer needed to worry about her reputation, no longer needed to be concerned about her father’s moods. Her heart felt as light as when her mother was alive, and she felt that all the suffering of the past year had been meaningless.

After passing through a long corridor, the main entrance was just ahead. After walking a short distance, I suddenly heard someone call out from behind, “Young Lady, please wait!”

Yunpan turned around and saw a man dressed in a straight robe, looking like a retainer, hurrying up. He bowed respectfully and asked, “May I ask if you are the young lady, daughter of the Marquis of Yong’an in Youzhou?”

Yunpan, unaware of his background, hesitated and glanced at Xiang Xu. Xiang Xu returned the bow. “And you are…?”

The man smiled and said, “I am the Chief Clerk of the Duke of Wei’s mansion. The day you entered the capital, it was our Duke who sent men to escort you.”

Yunpan then understood and quickly bowed to the Chief Clerk, saying, “I have received the Duke’s help, but I have never had the chance to thank him. Today, I have the good fortune to meet you, Chief Clerk. Please convey my gratitude to the Duke for his assistance that day.”

The Chief Clerk agreed, “I will certainly convey your message. That day was at the height of the disaster in Youzhou. The Duke ordered men to escort you, but I do not know if the two were able to deliver the lady safely. Today I was ordered to inquire after the Duke of Shu and his wife and to visit the young lady as well. Seeing that she is well, I can report back to our Duke.”

Yunpan thanked him repeatedly and, together with Xiang Xu, escorted him to the door. Once the chief clerk had ridden away, Xiang Xu said, “The Duke of Wei specifically sent someone to inquire; he probably learned that the Marquis’s residence is holding a funeral for you.”

Yunpan sighed, “If I do not show myself, Liu-niang’s act will continue.”

Even Xiang Xu, usually so mild-mannered, could not hold back this time, frowning and saying, “How can someone not recognize their own flesh and blood? He believes everything his concubine says; my aunt must have suffered a lot of injustice before she died.”

Yes, that kind of injustice was like being cut by a dull knife; a mere concubine might not dare to openly challenge her. All the disappointment came from the head of the household. A man’s unconditional protection of his concubine was such a blow to the principal wife, yet Father seemed never to have reflected on it. This was how the world was; no matter how noble a woman’s birth, she was still bound to obey her husband after marriage. Those like Xiang Xu, who could speak the truth, were extremely rare.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about him anymore.” Xiang Xu pointed to the carriage parked beside the noble residence. “Let’s go.”

Qin-Dan helped Yunpan into the carriage. The carriages of noble residences were usually spacious and exquisite, with carved and openwork railings in summer and gold-threaded bamboo curtains draped over the doors and windows. Sitting inside, the curtain was half-rolled up, allowing those outside to see vague shadows inside, while those inside could see everything clearly.

“To South Bridge Market,” Xiang Xu said, turning to the coachman as he sat down opposite her. He then told Yunpan, “There are four markets in the capital, but the one near South Bridge is the most bustling. It’s full of restaurants and has many novelties. Once you’ve been to South Bridge, the other three are nothing special.”

Yunpan smiled and nodded. “I am sorry to have kept you from your studies today, Elder Brother.”

Xiang Xu was a dignified gentleman, his smile carrying a hint of self-satisfaction. He sat upright, hands on his knees, and said, “I am busy with my studies every day, and it’s rare for me to get out and about. I said I was accompanying you to the market, but actually, I wanted to relax myself.”

This eased Yunpan’s apology. To be honest, Yunpan had never met a more considerate man, demonstrating the excellent upbringing of the Duke’s household.

Turning to look outside, at the bustling scene, Yunpan said with regret, “It’s a pity my cousin will not go out. Otherwise, in this weather, a carriage ride would be perfect.”

Speaking of her younger sister, Xiang Xu was at a loss. “I’ve invited her several times, wanting her to go out for a spring outing and see the scenery, but she has always refused. Everyone has their own preferences. If she really does not want to leave the garden, as long as she’s happy, why force her?”

Xiang Xu’s tolerance stemmed from his love for his sister, but he did not understand that even young women could be embroiled in infighting. Yunpan, not wanting to interfere in their family affairs, only said, “Aunt is very worried about her.”

Xiang Xu sighed softly, “It’s because of her marriage to the Duke of Wei.”

It was an unsolvable situation. The marriage was arranged, and the wedding would happen sooner or later. The Duke of Wei sending his chief clerk to visit today, even without any intention to pressure the marriage, would still raise an alarm. The marriage was arranged too early, leaving the Duke of Shu’s family in a difficult position, while the Duke of Wei’s family might well have second thoughts. As for why the Li family was not in a hurry to arrange the marriage, it was probably because the Duke of Wei was chronically ill.

Such a complex and multifaceted matter was agonizing to contemplate, and Xiang Xu was reluctant to dwell on it. Just then, the carriage passed Liu Tower under Jinliang Bridge. He told the servant to stop, jumped out, and said to Yunpan through the curtain, “Liu Tower’s honey-glazed fritters are the best. Wait a moment; I will go buy some for you.”

He lifted the hem of his robe and headed towards the restaurant entrance. The waiter inside greeted him from afar, bowing deeply, “Young Master has arrived…”

Qin-Dan murmured, watching Xiang Xu’s retreating figure, “If only my young lady had a brother like that to support her!”

Yunpan, however, did not share such sentiments. She calmly replied, “When Mother was alive, I was just as well-off as Cousin Mei. Now that things have become difficult, thankfully, I still have Aunt’s help. My luck is not too bad.”

She was not the type to wallow in self-pity. Aside from crying to her aunt that day, she had not shed a tear for that matter since. The Marquis’s Mansion was holding a funeral. It seemed her father had not realized the person in the coffin was not her; in the eyes of everyone in the mansion, she was already dead. It would be a lie to say she was not sad, but what was the use of sadness? The only saving grace was that she still had some money. If she could not stay at the Duke’s Mansion for long in the future, she could find a way to make her own way.

“Once Cousin Mei gets married, let’s buy a house in that market area,” she said, pointing out the window with a smile. “It’s close to the market, convenient for buying good food, and there’s a military patrol office nearby. The military officers patrol the streets all day, so we will not be bullied.”

Qin-Dan lowered her eyebrows and smiled bitterly. “Young Lady wants to establish her own household; it’s not that easy, unless she finds a man who can support the family business.”

Just then, Xiang Xu led the wine merchant to bring food boxes to the carriage. The wine connoisseur lifted the bamboo lid, took out two cups, and said with a smile, “These are Liu Tower’s specialty snacks. Please, Miss, try them.”

Qin-Dan stepped forward to receive them and carefully handed them to Yunpan. Because it was chilled, the celadon plate exuded a cool aura. The clear honey, like solidified amber, lay quietly on the bottom of the plate, adorned with mountains and jasmine flowers made of ghee—it was as beautiful as a painting.

Yunpan always held food with reverence. She carefully held the cups, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “The snacks in the capital are indeed more exquisite than those in Youzhou. They not only satisfy my cravings but are also a feast for the eyes.”