Meeting Her
Pei Ning had heard a few things about Ye Youqing, so she didn’t ask any more questions.
“When are you leaving?” Pei Ning asked.
“Tomorrow,” Ye Youqing answered, “Someone will come collect the money.”
“Alright, Miss, take care. Should I leave first?” Pei Ning saw that Ye Youqing kept looking out the window, so she knew she shouldn’t stay any longer. She pushed her chair back and stood up.
Ye Youqing smiled at her, then watched Pei Ning’s figure leave the porch, and walk slowly along the stone path by the river. Soon, Pei Ning disappeared behind the blooming pink plum blossoms.
After finishing the now-cold wine, Ye Youqing stood up, took the cloak from a nearby waiter, wrapped it around herself, and slowly walked down the steps in the opposite direction.
Jiangning was indeed one of the most prosperous places in the south, with small bridges and flowing water everywhere, and young men and women enjoying the scenery. By the bridge, an old man was selling garlands of plum blossoms that he had woven, and the women passing by were all fragrant.
Ye Youqing left the riverside, walked back to the bustling market, and entered a tall inn. The inn was elegantly decorated, and there were plum blossom branches in the lobby, filling the air with fragrance.
She walked up the steps and entered an open door. A pair of hands reached out to take the cloak from her shoulders and hang it on the wall.
“How was it?” Shi Li asked in a low voice.
Although two years had passed, Shi Li hadn’t changed much. If one had to say, it was that she was a bit tanner now, which, paired with her well-defined nose and brow bone, made her seem even more spirited.
“Everything went smoothly,” Ye Youqing said as she walked over to the stove. Ever since that day, she had been afraid of the cold, so she always carried a hand warmer with her in the winter.
Shi Li nodded and snorted towards the door. “Those people from the palace are really annoying. They’re following us around everywhere, and we can’t shake them off.”
“Why bother shaking them off? Just let them follow us,” Ye Youqing was laughing when she heard footsteps approaching. There was a knock at the door.
“Speak of the devil,” Ye Youqing shrugged and turned to open the door.
Outside the door was a man clad in a vigorous outfit. Upon seeing Ye Youqing, he seemed somewhat anxious and cupped his hands in a salute, saying, “Miss Chen, Bianjing is urging us. You’ve been traveling and sightseeing in the vicinity, but haven’t had any urgent matters to attend to. How about you set off as soon as possible?”
“Please don’t make things difficult for us, Miss. We’re just following orders. As merchants, it’s a great honor to be personally invited by the Emperor. I ask that you please stop delaying.” The man looked down at his nose with eyes half-pleading and half-threatening.
“Don’t be anxious.” Ye Youqing chuckled warmly, holding her hand stove. With those eyes, she resembled a delicate willow in the wind. “Look, I have a weak constitution and can’t bear to travel. If you weren’t all in such a hurry, I’d still be recuperating.”
“If not for the Emperor’s orders to treat you well in case you passed away on the way, we would’ve tied you up and taken you back already.” The man thought to himself.
Ye Youqing guessed what he must be thinking, but she only smiled and said nothing.
The man sighed deeply and resignedly bowed deeply, his words sincere. “I beg you, Miss. We’ve been searching for you for over a month now. If we don’t bring you back, we’ll all be punished.”
“Please set off as soon as possible.” He bowed even lower.
Ye Youqing looked at him for a moment before saying nonchalantly, “Alright. I see that it’s not easy for you. Besides, spring is almost here in Bianjing, so I’ll set off.”
The man’s face lit up with joy, and he clutched his chest. “Thank you, Miss. We’ll prepare the carriage and horses today and come to pick you up tomorrow morning!”
With that, he bowed his head in relief and retreated, disappearing after a moment.
Ye Youqing gave him an indifferent look and turned to close the door.
“You really did drag it out for over a month. I thought they wouldn’t be able to resist using force after a few days, but I didn’t expect them to hold out for so long.” Shi Li shrugged.
Ye Youqing nodded, her expression satisfied. “It proves that the Emperor is determined to get his hands on that batch of fine iron. That makes things easier.”
“But we’re going to the capital all alone. Aren’t you afraid he’ll try to harm you?” Shi Li was a little worried.
“With the border defenses falling back one after another, he’d have to be out of his mind to try anything.” Ye Youqing smiled. “Besides, I’m eager to serve the imperial family now.”
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
Unlike the south, where all things come to life in late winter, Bianjing only shows some signs of welcoming spring. Although new shoots have yet to emerge, the number of pedestrians on the street has increased.
The bloodshed on the border seems to have little to do with the bustling Bianjing, one a living hell and the other a paradise on earth.
The Imperial Street in particular is exceptionally lively today because it is a day off and the sun is shining brightly. The sun has been shining for so long that the ground is even giving off a little heat.
A man and a woman are walking side by side in the crowd. The woman is wearing a rouge red dress with white fluff around the neckline and sleeves, adding a touch of composure to the fiery red.
She is no longer without makeup as before. Her eyebrows are like distant mountains, her lips are as red as vermilion, and her eyes are painted with red eye corners, making her charming and dazzling.
The men they passed on the road couldn’t help but steal glances at her, but Zhou Hong glared at them one by one.
Ci Ke acted as if she didn’t notice and continued walking forward with large strides. Zhou Hong, on the other hand, would occasionally spend money to buy small trinkets and offer them to Ci Ke to make her happy.
“Look at this purse, it’s much more exquisite than the ones made in previous years.” Zhou Hong hung a white purse on Ci Ke’s waist with a smile, but Ci Ke didn’t even crack a smile.
“Ci Ke, I specially brought you out today to get some fresh air, so please give me some face.” Zhou Hong said with a bitter face.
Ci Ke glanced at him, nodded, and forced a smile.
Outside Jinlinzhai, gongs and drums were beating, and it was said that the most beautiful dancing girl in the capital had been invited today. Crowds of people surged towards the restaurant, packed to the brim at the entrance.
Jinlingzhai is much larger than it used to be, as it has annexed the surrounding shops and set up a stage in the main hall. Almost every day, there are performers playing and singing on the stage, and the area below is filled with round tables and chairs. Overhead, there is a circle of railing, and inside the railing are private rooms, which can both isolate from the outside world and have a panoramic view of the entire hall.
Zhou Hong had someone save a good seat for them, right below the stage. The dishes had already been served, and there was a full range of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, all of which were fragrant and tempting.
The old man playing the Xun on the stage finished a song and was helped down. He was replaced by several women holding pipa, who played around the stage, their ethereal music lingering in the air.
“Ci Ke, try this. It’s a new dish here.” Zhou Hong moved a plate in front of her.
“Hey, isn’t this Young Master Zhou!” A loud voice suddenly rang out from the side, and a man got up and sat down next to Zhou Hong. He handed Zhou Hong the wine cup in his hand and said with a smile, “Why are you willing to bring Miss Ci Ke out today?”
“Brother Du.” Zhou Hong was caught off guard by the greeting. He took the wine cup with a smile, clinked glasses with the man, and drank it all in one gulp.
“Greetings, Miss Zhou.” The man smiled at Ci Ke, but Ci Ke only gave him an almost imperceptible nod. He swallowed his saliva and looked away.
“Brother, it’s a bit stuffy in here. I’m going out to get some fresh air.” Ci Ke got up and quickly left.
“Miss Zhou, be careful of the crowd!” The man called out to her back.
It is said that Miss Zhou’s fate is bumpy, and that she is a lone star of misfortun), and that she is also cold and aloof. There are rumors in the capital that no man can tolerate all of this.
However, even so, there is no shortage of people who are eager to propose marriage. Isn’t it because she has a beauty that ordinary people can’t match? The man surnamed Du muttered to himself, but his face did not show it. Instead, he started talking to Zhou Hong.
“Young Master Zhou, have you heard that a female merchant came to the capital yesterday? She was specially invited by the Emperor.” The man lowered his voice.
“A merchant?” Zhou Hong was a little surprised. Although Qi was considered prosperous in commerce, apart from the merchants who were part of official merchant families, other merchants, although they possessed wealth, were not respected, especially in the capital.
“What does the Emperor want with a merchant?” Zhou Hong asked.
“I also heard it from a colleague, but it’s not to be spread outside. All I know is that the woman is in the ironware business, and she has workshops in the north and the Jiangnan West Road area. All the fine iron sold through her hands is much harder than the ones produced by the government.”
“With the war going on for two years now, fine iron that can be used to make weapons is already in short supply. The ones in her hands are even better than the government’s. I heard that the long swords made from her iron can cut through iron like mud. I think the Emperor invited her to the capital for this reason.” The man whispered.
Zhou Hong’s hands trembled slightly as he listened. “Do you know where that woman came from?”
“The woman’s surname is Chen, and her ancestors have been in the Jiangnan West Road area. Her family was in business at first, but then something happened to her family and both of her parents died, leaving her alone. Later, somehow, she started this business. At a young age, she managed to become very wealthy through this line of work. She’s truly a heroine.” The man’s eyes filled with admiration as he spoke.
Surname Chen. Zhou Hong sighed almost imperceptibly.
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
“But isn’t it forbidden to privately mine and smelt iron in Qi?” Zhou Hong asked listlessly, his interest waning. “If she was caught, why wasn’t she punished? Why was she invited to the capital instead?”
“How would I know that? Anyway, according to others, it’s because the Emperor needs the fine iron she has.”
The man had only spoken halfway when there was a commotion at the door. Even the dancing girls on stage stopped moving and turned their heads to look in the direction of the noise.
They saw a group of people standing in a drunken circle, surrounding someone in the middle, spitting and shouting incoherently.
The crowd stood up one after another to watch, knocking over a table in the corner. The woman in the light blue dress at the table was almost trapped between the table and the wall, but the tall masked woman beside her reached out to pull open the round table, freeing her.
“Are you alright?” Shi Li asked with a frown.
Ye Youqing shook her head, calmly wiped the spilled tea off the table, and glanced at the crowd out of the corner of her eye.
The girl surrounded by the men was dressed in bright red, which made her features look even more beautiful. She was glaring at the men in front of her, standing up straight.
Ye Youqing tried hard to control the trembling of her hands, otherwise she would have dropped the food on her chopsticks.
“Miss Zhou, you almost became a widow, and yet you still dress so gaudily. How can there be such a shameless woman like you in this world!” The drunkest man in the lead swayed his body, tore down the tablecloth behind him, and spilled food and soup all over the floor.
“What are you talking about? Why can’t I understand you?” Ci Ke looked up at him, her eyes not filled with fear, but with contempt.
Her gaze made the man even more furious. He raised his hand and punched at Ci Ke. Just as his fist was about to land on Ci Ke, Ye Youqing’s eyes narrowed. She grabbed the fat pork knuckle in front of her, flicked her left wrist, and sent the pork knuckle flying towards the man, dripping with soup.
With a thud, it hit him hard on the back of the neck. The force was so great that he staggered and had to grab the shoulder of the person next to him to steady himself. His fist just grazed Ci Ke’s cheek and hit the air.
The man touched the oil on the back of his head and flew into a rage. He turned around and shouted, “Who the hell did that?!”
The guests looked at each other, not daring to speak.
“What are you doing?!” Suddenly, there was an angry roar. Zhou Hong pushed away the crowd blocking his way and squeezed to Ci Ke’s side, shielding her behind him and glaring at the man in front of him.
“Oh, isn’t this Young Master Zhou? A mere sixth-rank official who can be dispensed with, and yet you dare to yell at me?” The man was both drunk and angry. He bypassed Zhou Hong and pointed at Ci Ke. “You venomous woman, just a few days after my elder brother proposed to you, he fell off his horse and broke his leg. He’s still lying in bed, unable to get up. Others said that you were a lone star of misfortune, but he didn’t believe them. It serves you right to be an old maid for the rest of your life!”
“Xiao Yucheng, don’t go too far!” Zhou Hong’s eyes were red with anger. He stepped forward and pressed down on the man’s shoulders, pushing him back.
“Am I lying? Who doesn’t know that your sister is a bewitching woman? You harmed my elder brother. If my elder brother loses his leg, I will definitely break both of this bewitching woman’s legs!”
With a thud, Zhou Hong punched the man in the face, causing blood to spray out of his nose and drip all over his clothes.
The people around were stunned, and then the scene became even more chaotic. Several people rushed up and surrounded Zhou Hong, fighting in a chaotic mess. The surrounding tables and chairs were knocked over, and porcelain constantly fell to the ground, adding to the noise.
The man surnamed Xiao broke free from the melee and approached Ci Ke. Just as he was about to grab her collar, he saw the woman looking at him with a neither smiling nor not smiling expression. She said in a low voice, “What you said is not wrong. I am indeed a bewitching woman, specializing in harming men who approach me.”
The man’s outstretched hand stopped in mid-air.
“Your brother refused to listen to advice that day and insisted on reaching out to touch me. Isn’t it true that he broke his leg on the way back?” The woman’s face was smiling, but her eyes were cold. With her bewitching red lips, she looked like a true bewitching woman for a moment.
The man’s lips moved, and he felt a chill down his spine as she stared at him.
“You, you!” The man was a little scared, but he couldn’t control his anger. He grabbed a chair with his backhand and turned to smash it on Zhou Hong’s head.
“Brother.” Ci Ke’s eyes widened and she stepped forward to block him, but she saw another large leg of lamb flying from behind. It hit the man in the face with a gust of wind. It missed him and landed on his own foot instead.
The man let out a wail, bent down, and hopped around while holding his foot. Ci Ke’s eyes flickered, and she quickly looked in the direction where the leg of lamb had come from.
Before Ye Youqing could get up, she heard another round of footsteps. Several men in black rushed into the room and forcefully pulled the man who was fighting with Zhou Hong away, pressing him into the oil stains on the floor.
“What a fine day, who dares to cause trouble here?!” A young man’s stern voice rang out, and then a man in brocade walked in with large strides. He had a bright aura and an extraordinary bearing. He stood behind Ci Ke with his back to Ye Youqing, and the surroundings immediately fell silent.
“Song, Song Yanei…” The man who had led the trouble just now did not dare to speak when he saw this, and stood dazed to the side.
“In broad daylight, bullying a girl, what kind of behavior is this! Do you all want to be taken to the officials by me?!” Although the man was young, his words were authoritative and resounding. The man surnamed Xiao immediately tensed up, sobered up from his drunkenness, and did not dare to lift his head.
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
“Get lost.” The man glanced at Ci Ke and said impatiently with his hands behind his back.
After a while, the troublemakers all ran away.
The waiter in the shop was long used to this kind of scene. He came over with a broom and a rag to clean up, apologizing with a smile as he rearranged the guests’ seats and changed to new dishes.
Ye Youqing saw that Ci Ke’s attention had been drawn away, so she sat back down and frowned at the two people in the distance.
“Miss Zhou, are you alright?” The man asked with concern, then handed Ci Ke a clean handkerchief. “It’s noisy downstairs. I have a private room upstairs. Young Master Zhou, let’s go up together.”
Zhou Hong was skilled in martial arts, so he didn’t suffer much, but his clothes were a bit disheveled. He exhaled and nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s go.” The man said gently, reaching out to help Ci Ke up.
Ci Ke not only didn’t dodge, but also took the handkerchief from his hand and said a soft thank you.
Far away, the teacup in Ye Youqing’s hand suddenly developed cracks.
LP: Sorry for the no update yesterday, just really tired…
Btw, I don’t think I ever noted this, but “Yanei” is not a name. Yanei means “son of a government official”. So Wei Yanei and Song Yanei are not fully named…
