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CHAPTER 9
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As the end of the year approached, there was frequent interaction between various families.
Qin Jiao, who was managing the properties for Lady Lin in Qinglong, received a message from Lady Lin asking about the progress of his tasks. Qin Jiao was feeling a bit troubled. He had been observing Lady Xiang's actions during his time at the Tan residence but hadn't found any evidence of wrongdoing.
Not knowing how to respond, Qin Jiao was caught off guard when the issue of the jade pendant came up. On the day he learned about the incident, he immediately called over the servant, Zheng Ji.
"Something happened to Lady Xiang? Tell me everything you know," Qin Jiao said with keen interest.
Zheng Ji recounted everything he knew without holding back. When he finished, Qin Jiao couldn't help clapping his hands in delight. "Very well, very well."
"Very well?" Zheng Ji swallowed nervously. "Mr. Qin, the master's mood has been dark for the past two days due to this. Where's the 'very well' in that?"
Qin Jiao patted his shoulder reassuringly. "The benefits of this aren't immediate; they're long-term. It will become clear after the master returns to the capital..."
"And then?" Zheng Ji asked eagerly.
Qin Jiao smiled mysteriously. "I can't say too much right now, but it's all for the better... Anyway, it's quite unfortunate that Lady Xiang, as a clan's matron, would engage in such corrupt activities, betraying the trust the Tan family has placed in her."
Qin Jiao had already decided to write a letter back to Lady Lin. He started grinding ink to compose it.
However, Zheng Ji interjected, "The truth about this matter hasn't been confirmed yet. It might not necessarily be related to Madam."
"What other possibilities are there?" Qin Jiao disagreed, believing that Lady Xiang's behavior and her father's corruption were connected. He knew that Master Tan had been resentful about it for a long time, and now with Lady Xiang following a similar path, it was unlikely that the master's mood would improve.
Qin Jiao dismissed Zheng Ji, "Alright, alright. You should go back and attend to the master."
As Zheng Ji left, Qin Jiao immediately started writing a letter. He detailed how Lady Xiang had been accepting bribes and causing conflict with Master Tan. He summoned one of his servants to ensure that the letter would reach Lady Lin as soon as possible.
"Pay close attention. If you see anyone from the Tan family going to the capital in the next few days, have them deliver this letter to Lady Lin. Remember it well," he instructed the servant.
The servant assured him and Qin Jiao felt relieved. He continued to work diligently for Lady Lin. The way forward for the commoners was through the noble families, and he couldn't afford to displease them like Lady Xiang did.
…
Since the day when Madam Qiu caused a disturbance, Tan Jiangfan had locked himself in his room and refused to come out, even for meals. On the contrary, Tan Youliang, the fifth young master of the Tan Family, was engrossed in playing chess. When Madam Qiu instructed him to call his son out, he reprimanded her instead, "Why are you causing trouble again? Can't you refrain from stirring up unnecessary issues?"
Madam Qiu had no control over her son, and even her husband chastised her. When she remembered the commotion she had caused, how Chu Xinggu was still at the family estate and hadn't been sent away, and how the main family had merely confined the servant girl Qiao Xing temporarily, her mind became even more restless. She heard her neighbors mention that Madam Fu, the wife of a wealthy household, had received another batch of high-quality timber, but she was too preoccupied to pay any attention.
She was afraid that if a real investigation were to occur, it might implicate her. After pondering for a while, she fetched a handful of copper coins and stuffed them into a shabby pouch. Donning inconspicuous clothes, she sneaked into the Tan Family's ancestral hall, avoiding people's gazes, and discreetly sought out the little maid who had delivered the bracelet to Qiao Xing's room on her behalf.
The little maid hadn't been sleeping well for the past couple of days due to the incident and burst into tears upon seeing Madam Qiu. Madam Qiu quickly covered her mouth. "Why are you crying? No one is exposing you. If you don't talk, I won't talk, and even the heavens won't know."
She finished speaking and discreetly slipped the inconspicuous pouch into the maid's waistband. "Use this money to buy yourself a hairpin. Remember to keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you either!"
Startled and intimidated by Madam Qiu's words, the little maid covered her mouth and stopped crying.
Feeling relieved, Madam Qiu told herself that as long as this little maid remained silent, they couldn't possibly turn the tables on them. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly left.
However, she didn't notice a figure flashing past behind a nearby cypress tree in the corner.
….
The Duke Zhongqing's residence was an esteemed noble household in the capital. The marriage arrangement between the Tan and Yang families had been decided even before Tan Ting's father's time.
Now that Tan Jian and the second Miss Yang Zhen from the Duke Zhongqing's residence had reached a suitable age, their marriage was proceeding as a natural progression. Especially with Tan Ting's special return from the capital, the wedding was arranged with grandeur and splendor.
In the county of Qinglong, nearly half the city was filled with the residences and businesses of the Tan family. The bridal procession from the Duke Zhongqing's residence entered the city through the northern gate, traversing half of the county until they reached the Tan family estate. There was no one in the city who didn't know about it.
People flocked to see the spectacle, crowding the streets so much that Tan Jian, mounted on a high-stepping horse, almost had no room to move. Fortunately, Tan Ting had foreseen this and arranged for attendants to clear the way in advance. With his influence, the local magistrate also dispatched officers to help manage the crowd.
As a result, Yang Zhen's bridal procession proceeded smoothly. Tan Jian couldn't help but smile and sneak glances at the large red wedding sedan beside him. Even though he knew that the bride was veiled in red and sitting quietly within the sedan, hidden from view, he... He suddenly saw a pair of bright, watery eyes peering from behind the sedan curtains?!
Those eyes also caught sight of him, and for the briefest moment, their gazes met. Then, the curtain was hastily drawn, blocking their sight.
Tan Jian: "..." Am I seeing things?
However, this small incident didn't mar the wedding proceedings. In fact, it was rather smooth. On the other hand, Xiang Yi noticed that Tan Jian couldn't help but secretly steal glances at the bride throughout the event, even during the ritual of paying respects to the heavens and earth.
Thinking back to how Tan Jian had been beaming every day since Yang family's dowry chests had entered the Tan residence, Xiang Yi realized he must be genuinely pleased. He seemed to like her very much. With a warm and gentle smile, she thought that at least Tan Jian was looking forward to his bride, which would lead to a good start for their marriage.
After a day of festivities, when the second watch drum sounded, even the boisterous celebration in the bridal chamber subsided. Gradually, calm returned to the various alleys of the Tan family.
Xiang Yi visited Qiao Xing and tried to comfort her. Qiao Xing blamed herself for bringing disgrace to Madam Xiang. Xiang Yi assured her, "It's not a problem. What's most important now is to find out the truth of the matter."
Her soothing and steady voice carried a comforting strength that reached Qiao Xing's ears. Her eyes reddened.
Xiang Yi sent her a reassuring glance and smiled. "Rest well for a few days. Just remember to keep your accounts in order and safe."
The Tan family's financial records were kept in Tan Ting and Xiang Yi's main chamber, while Xiang Yi's private records were kept by Qiao Xing. Qiao Xing seemed to have understood Xiang Yi's intentions.
"Madam, rest assured. I've kept everything properly!"
...
Returning from the back room, the night was deep, and the moonlight was distant yet clear. It spread gently and faintly over the eaves, dark tiles, and cobblestone path in the midst of winter. Xiang Yi looked up, a crescent moon hanging low in the sky.
She suddenly asked a question, "What's the date today?"
The little maid holding the lantern for her paused. "Madam, you seem to have forgotten. It's the twenty-fifth day today."
The twenty-fifth... During the latter half of her return journey, Xiang Yi didn't ask the maid to light the lantern for her. She sent her back to rest and continued alone, stepping on the shallow moonlight, heading back to the main chamber.
After tidying up upon her return, it was only then that Tan Ting arrived. Since the incident happened, the room had become even more overwhelmingly silent. Besides the faint breathing and occasional footsteps, it was as if no one existed within.
Despite a busy day, Tan Ting showed no intention of resting immediately. He stood in front of the desk, writing with a suspended arm. Xiang Yi, as usual, sat in a chair by the window, picking up a small lamp, calmly working on needlework for her younger sister, Xiang Ning.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to be frozen, and no one broke the silence. It was only when it was close to the third watch that Tan Ting walked away from the desk and returned to the center of the room.
There was no difference in their daily habits. Both Tan Ting and Xiang Yi washed and changed into more comfortable clothes. Xiang Yi extinguished the candle and entered the bedchamber after him. The waning moon cast a faint light before the bed.
Xiang Yi couldn't help but wonder what he intended to do next. Would he continue as per the routine, or would he leave her on her own?
As the cold breeze passed between them, the moonlight fell lightly on the canopy. Inside the canopy, the hand that had reached across the gap between them, towards Xiang Yi's waist, didn't actually move any closer. The cold breeze continued to pass between them.
Suddenly, Xiang Yi felt that being disliked by him wasn't necessarily a bad thing. She closed her eyes peacefully.
...
The next day, the new bride paid respects to the elders, acknowledged relatives, and worshiped in the ancestral hall. The busy activities continued until noon.
The new bride did indeed have an auspicious appearance. Her face was plump and round, her features were not delicate but almond-shaped, with a high nose bridge and rosy lips. There was even a beauty spot on her chin, a feature often found among people from Shandong.
Following Zhao Shi's instructions, Xiang Yi explained the household rules to the new bride, Yang Zhen. She talked for half an hour, noticing how the bride was struggling to stay awake, blinking her eyes slowly.
Xiang Yi found it amusing. "Sister in-law, you should go back for now. We can discuss the rest another day, no rush."
"Ah? Can I manage like this? I can hold on a while longer," Yang Zhen exclaimed with a chuckle, and Xiang Yi assured her, "No problem," letting her go to rest.
With no other matters at hand, Xiang Yi recalled the matter of her adopted brother Gu Yansheng. She wondered if there were any updates. Thinking so, she arranged for a carriage and went to the Ji Xiang Seal Shop herself.
Upon her arrival, both the shopkeeper and the assistant weren't around. She walked all the way to the back courtyard, where she saw the shopkeeper conversing with a group of men. They were craftsmen in shabby clothes, speaking urgently to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper, surnamed Jiang, saw Xiang Yi and instructed the group to leave for now. "They said either cut half of the wages or find someone else to do the job. We'll have to figure it out on our own... The pay has been drastically reduced. I'll need some time to think about how to handle this,"
The shopkeeper's thoughts weighed heavily on them. The craftsmen, with stooped backs, looked troubled as they thanked him and left with sighs. Xiang Yi observed them from a distance and asked, finally learning that they were woodblock craftsmen. They had taken up low-paying odd jobs, and despite that, their wages were halved. Life wasn't easy for them.
Shopkeeper Jiang expressed regret, "Their craftsmanship is decent, but times are tough..."
He didn't elaborate further and responded to Xiang Yi's query about family news. "No letters have been sent. Madam, please wait a bit longer."
Xiang Yi nodded. No news was good news. If there were any urgent matters, Xiang Ning or Xiang Yu would directly deliver the letters to the Tan family's residence.
After offering tea, Shopkeeper Jiang brought up the "ĺ’Ś" character seal Xiang Yi had designed earlier. "Madam, this seal is truly exquisite. Many have inquired about it, and I believe it can fetch a high price. I thought it would be best to wait for a suitable offer before selling it."
Xiang Yi agreed, "You're more familiar with the market. Handle it as you see fit. Just ensure it's not sold to Tan's relatives."
Shopkeeper Jiang understood. There was no need to sell it to the Tan family members, as Madame of the Xiang family didn't want this matter to be known among the Tans.
"Rest assured, Madam. It won't be sold to the Tan family," Shopkeeper Jiang assured her.
After a few more words, Shopkeeper Jiang brought out the exquisite jade that Xiang Yi had previously brought in for appraisal. He handed it over to her and saw her off.
Just as Xiang Yi had left, someone entered the shop.
...
Today, Tan Ting had met a few friends who passed through Qinglong. Seeing them off, he decided to visit a bookstore on the county government street. Upon leaving the bookstore, he noticed a seal shop he hadn't paid much attention to before.
Stepping in, he immediately spotted a small yellow stone seal placed in the center. The seal was the size of a thumb and featured a finely-carved lotus with leaves. The workmanship was delicate, the design elegant, and the bottom of the seal bore a rare ancient-style character "ĺ’Ś"
His eyes brightened, "How much is this seal?"
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