Chapter 40: The Yao Sisters (Second Update)
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Chapter 40: The Yao Sisters (Second Update)
Wei Shuyi had previously been secretly ordered to go to Hezhou for official business. Aside from the guards, he only had Chang Ji as his close attendant.
The Wei family had many properties, including a villa in Hezhou managed by four or five servants.
The servant woman who returned to the capital with him was one of those from the villa.
Upon seeing her, Duan Shi immediately felt something was off—though that brat was picky and particular, he also knew the importance of propriety in public and private matters. It didn’t make sense for him to bring a servant woman along just to take care of him on a long journey back.
Who usually needed a servant’s care?
Duan Shi didn’t have the patience to guess; she directly questioned the servant woman.
The servant woman hesitated and seemed quite troubled: “... There is indeed a lady traveling with us, but the young master has repeatedly instructed me not to disclose her identity, as it concerns the reputation of a young lady. I cannot afford to break my promise…”
As she spoke, she knelt down to ask for punishment from the mistress.
Duan Shi’s heart surged with excitement!
She didn’t want to make it hard for the servant; instead, she praised her loyalty and rewarded her handsomely.
The servant woman couldn't refuse and could only thank her repeatedly.
When she left Duan Shi's courtyard with a box of rewards, she happened to run into Chang Ji coming towards her.
Upon seeing the rewards she was holding, Chang Ji’s face turned dark—had she sold out the young master for this?!
The servant woman was at a loss for words and shot him a fierce glare.
Unfortunately, Chang Ji was notoriously bad at reading such cues.
Suppressing his suspicions, he went to see Duan Shi: “May I ask, Mistress, why have you summoned me?”
Duan Shi looked in the direction where the servant woman had just left, her expression knowing, and said with a smile, “The people from Hezhou have explained everything to me.”
Chang Ji’s heart pounded, and he forced himself to remain silent and observe—he had to keep calm!
“With such sincere intentions on a long journey…” Duan Shi beamed, “I’m preparing to find a matchmaker in the next few days to propose marriage and finalize the engagement soon. You’ve been serving beside Zigu for many years; there are many matters you should start preparing for, so as not to miss the auspicious date.”
Chang Ji’s eyes widened in shock—what was this about proposing marriage?!
He hurriedly said, “Mistress, don’t believe the servant woman’s words. The young master and the lady from the Chang family are entirely innocent; this time, the young master is merely helping out as a favor for someone else, it’s not—”
“Lady from the Chang family?” Duan Shi suddenly stood up, staring intensely at Chang Ji with fervent eyes: “Which Chang family? The one from Xingning Lane?”
Chang Ji: “…?!”
Some people live as if they are already dead.
Chang Ji, deceased.
...
After several days of inquiries, Duan Shi's curiosity only grew.
She had personally sent an invitation to the residence of General Chang, but she didn’t hold out much hope, as she had heard that the Chang family’s daughter had never visited before.
She was just pondering when she might find another opportunity to see them.
At that moment, as the head of the family, she was walking slowly towards the garden, chatting and laughing with a group of ladies.
Until a servant woman hurried over and whispered something in her ear—
Duan Shi’s eyes brightened immediately, and she urged the ladies around her, “... We must hurry over so the children aren’t kept waiting!”
The women responded with laughter.
When they heard that the wife of the Marquis of Zheng had arrived, all the younger members hurried forward to pay their respects.
Chang Suining was mixed among the crowd, standing at the back.
She felt that this might be another form of homesickness...
She lowered her head, following everyone in bowing, trying to minimize her presence.
Unbeknownst to her, Duan Shi had already spotted her.
“... Just like in previous years, don’t be so reserved; treat this as your own home!” Duan Shi smiled at the group of youthful girls but seemed to casually fix her gaze on one girl.
After the group expressed their thanks and bowed, they dispersed into smaller groups, chatting and laughing.
Some girls enjoyed the flowers, while others walked together towards the bridge, where they could see the well-dressed young men across the winding waters. There were also young ladies sitting in a pavilion playing the qin to entertain the guests.
In an instant, the sounds of laughter from the girls blended with the music, creating a harmonious and vibrant atmosphere.
“Why haven’t we seen the eldest son of the Wei family…” a few young girls huddled together, whispering.
“Tenth Young Master Wei is a court official, so it’s impossible for him to be free every day to stay in the residence…”
“What a pity; I thought I’d see Tenth Young Master Wei today.”
“Even if we can’t see Tenth Young Master Wei, seeing the wife of the Marquis of Zheng is just as good… Your mother is also here; you could just go and talk to her, and maybe you’ll catch the Marquis’s wife’s eye?”
“Yao Er, what nonsense are you talking about… Be careful, I’ll hit you!”
The girl blushed and playfully tried to hit her friend. As they chased each other, they nearly bumped into Chang Suining.
Chang Suining managed to avoid them just in time, and the two girls apologized shyly.
Chang Suining smiled, “It’s nothing.”
Young girls have simple minds; they don’t only feel jealousy upon seeing someone beautiful but also admire and yearn for them. This opened the conversation, and the two girls enthusiastically chatted with Chang Suining.
“I’ve never seen Lady Chang before.”
“What does Lady Chang usually like to do?”
The girl named Yao Er took the chance to move a bit closer to Chang Suining, smiling sweetly, and asked, “What fragrance are you wearing, Lady Chang? It smells so good.”
A girl behind her nearly rolled her eyes—Yao Er was such a flirt! If she were a boy, she’d surely end up in jail for her behavior! It was clear she was trying to deliberately bump into Lady Chang, but fortunately, Lady Chang evaded her; otherwise, Yao Er would have ended up in her arms!
Meeting those sweet crescent-shaped eyes, Chang Suining casually took off the pouch from her waist: “It’s just some common herbs for refreshing and uplifting the mind; if you truly like it, you can take it.”
Yao Er was overjoyed and surprised: “I like it! Thank you, Lady Chang!”
Chang Suining couldn’t help but smile at her, curving her lips as she asked, “I rarely go out; I heard your surname is Yao. Are you from the residence of Yao Tingtui?”
“That’s my uncle,” Yao Er smiled even sweeter: “Look at me being silly! I only know Lady Chang, but you still don’t know who I am! I forgot to introduce myself; my name is Yao Xia!”
Chang Suining nodded in understanding.
So she was the niece of Yao Yi, the Minister of Justice—
Yao Yi, who married the eldest daughter of Pei Min, was undoubtedly someone worth her attention.
She had just stayed here to chat because she heard this young girl’s surname was Yao.
“... Lady Chang, I’m the second in line at home; I have an older cousin from my uncle’s family.” Yao Er became more enthusiastic after receiving the sachet, saying suddenly with bright eyes: “Lady Chang, look! That’s my cousin!”
She waved her hand, clutching the sachet: “Cousin, I’m over here!”
Chang Suining followed her gaze and saw a girl in green, of a similar age, walking over.
This must be Yao Yi’s only daughter—
Yao Yi, who married Pei Min’s eldest daughter, had only this one daughter over the years and had no sons, not even any adopted children.
The girl in green approached, and unlike Yao Xia, she was not as lively. Her demeanor was relatively steady, though there seemed to be a hint of fatigue under the faint layer of makeup.
“Cousin, I haven’t seen you in several days. What have you been busy with lately?” Yao Xia took Yao Ran’s arm and affectionately asked.
“Nothing much; lately… my grandmother hasn’t been feeling well, so I’ve been copying some Buddhist scriptures at home.” Yao Ran’s gaze flickered as she spoke, a bit absent-minded.
This subtlety might seem unnoticeable, but to an observant person, it was particularly noteworthy.
*Cough, cough, cough, I think I made a mistake. I was reminded that a chapter doesn’t cost two coins... a dollar is a bit much, so let’s aim for ten thousand words...*
*(End of Chapter)*
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