A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 91

Sailing South

Closing In Step by Step

The autumn harvest had just concluded when Jiang Chenyu set sail south with Jiang Ning and her crew.

            

Because carriages were far less efficient than grain ships, Jiang Chenyu had gone to her father to lease a fleet of vessels from the officials managing canal transport. It was a gamble akin to burning her bridges behind her—after all, there was no certainty they could procure any grain at all.

If not to prepare for a worst-case scenario, embarking on their first massive stockpiling venture—paying for men and horses, purchasing grain at inflated prices, and leasing transport ships—more than doubled their base cost. In the end, they might easily turn out to have labored for nothing.

Yet if a crisis truly arose where the army’s grain supply failed, the value of these provisions would far exceed anything money could measure.

            

She had no intention of driving up grain prices; she simply needed to ensure that a sufficient stockpile was secured in her own hands.

Things at home had been arranged properly. Madam Shen was not a demanding mother-in-law. Upon learning that Jiang Chenyu needed to travel south on business, she merely assured her that everything at home would be well taken care of.

Jiang Chenyu packed only two simple outfits and left all her hairpins and jewelry behind, securing her hair with nothing more than a single mutton-fat jade cloud-pattern hairpin.

            

A stick of graphite eyebrow filler to darken and thicken her brows, alongside a box of deeper-toned face powder, comprised her entire makeup kit.

Before setting sail, she had converted her silver notes into physical gold and silver, storing crate after crate of coin in the ship’s hold.

They had forty grain boats, each capable of carrying ten times the capacity of a carriage. In total, they could hold 800,000 jin¹ of grain—which, calculated at the current rate of one shi² per hundred jin, amounted to 8,000 shi.

            

This fell far short of her target of 60,000 shi. Fortunately, Jiang Ning had sent crew members back home to sail their large ocean-going vessel out from Yuan’an Commandery.

By meeting them in the south, that ocean ship alongside their land carriages would allow them to gather 20,000 shi in a single run.

A round trip between the capital and the various commanderies of the southern plains would take at least twenty days at top speed. Reaching their goal of 60,000 shi would undoubtedly keep them busy until the end of the year.

            

This voyage was destined not to yield much profit. Thankfully, they had already finalized contracts with the tea farmers from the previous year, so arriving two or three months late would pose no issue.

While forty grain boats seemed like a large fleet, it paled in comparison to the imperial court’s official transports, which numbered in the hundreds.

Chuntao had been left behind in the capital to manage the shop alongside Shopkeeper Lin, a situation that left her feeling as though she had fallen into a snare.

            

“Chuntao, don’t go back tonight. Stay in the back courtyard with me, won’t you?” Shopkeeper Lin leaned against Chuntao as if she had no bones, attempting to coax her into staying at the quarters behind the shop.

“No!” Chuntao rejected her heartlessly. “With Miss away from home, I have to go back and look after the little mistress!”

“The little mistress has her grandmother and her wet nurse, but I only have you. Stay, please?” Lin Qiubai tugged playfully at Chuntao’s sleeve, swaying it gently.

            

She uttered these nauseatingly sweet words with an utterly placid expression, feeling not the slightest bit out of line.

When one is shameless, they are invincible³, Chuntao thought to herself. She’s actually capable of competing with a baby for attention!

Looking at her with utter speechlessness, Chuntao remained stern and uncompromising. “I said no!”

            

Shopkeeper Lin offered a strained tug of her lips, resting her head against Chuntao’s shoulder in defeat.

She had thought that with the masters away, it would be the perfect opportunity to make her move. Who could have foreseen that Chuntao would only stop by every two or three days, forcing Lin Qiubai to wander out to the doorway whenever she had a free moment?

Once certain desires take root in the heart, they become nearly impossible to suppress.

            

Lately, Old Madam Shen was finding it somewhat taxing to care for the little mistress alone. Yet she did not feel entirely comfortable leaving the child fully in the hands of the wet nurse, so Chuntao naturally spent most of her time at the manor.

“How about the day after tomorrow, then? I’ll take you to watch the dancers at the Jiaofangsi⁴, how about that?” Shopkeeper Lin continued her subtle coaxing.

“The Jiaofangsi? How are two women supposed to get in there?” Being young and naturally curious about everything, Chuntao found her interest piqued at the thought of watching the dancers.

            

“I’ll just change into men’s clothing. The Jiaofangsi isn’t like a low-grade brothel—most people who go there are refined patrons listening to music and reciting poetry.” In an era devoid of modern entertainment, listening to musical performances had become quite fashionable.

High officials and nobles who considered themselves refined and cultured loved visiting relatively respectable venues like the Jiaofangsi to display their unique sophistication.

So long as one paid silver, women could reserve a table as well, though most who came to watch the spectacle brought men along for safety.

            

“That must cost a lot of silver, doesn’t it? Do you even have spare money for that?” Chuntao looked at her, her resolve visibly weakening.

“You help me out so much on ordinary days, so it’s only right that I repay you. I have enough silver to take us out for some entertainment. Though if you want to request a specific performer, I’m afraid I’ll have to spruce myself up and serve you personally!” Shopkeeper Lin spoke with a faint, twinkling light in her serene eyes.

“Nonsense! Who wants your service!” Chuntao gave her two forceful slaps in annoyance, though her face flushed a self-conscious red as she turned away to avoid her gaze.

            

“Then it’s settled. I’ll wait for you here the day after tomorrow. If you don’t come, I’ll keep waiting outside in the freezing wind. You wouldn’t have the heart to let me fall ill, would you?” Shopkeeper Lin took hold of Chuntao’s fingers, gazing at her with warm intensity.

“We’ll discuss it later! I’m leaving!” Unwilling to tangle with her any further, Chuntao turned and ran off without looking back.

Shopkeeper Lin rubbed her own fingers, which still retained Chuntao’s lingering warmth—so much warmer than her own hands. She had heard that those with warm hands were cherished and cared for by others. That was wonderful; Chuntao wasn’t cold and icy like herself.

            

Even after running outside, Chuntao’s heart continued to pound wildly. It was all the fault of that thick-skinned woman! She possessed such a calm, unbothered face, yet acted like a shameless libertine. To avoid her, Chuntao hadn’t even been visiting the shop as often.

Though reason told her to keep her distance, a quiet corner of her heart wanted to draw closer and give it a try. It was truly contradictory.

Two days later, having arranged matters at the manor, Chuntao dressed up meticulously and arrived for their outing after all.

            

As night fell and the lanterns were lit, Chuntao sat inside the Shen Manor carriage wearing an orange-red embroidered jacket with a central front closure, a dark printed mamianqun⁵, and a crisp, short white fox fur bijia⁶. The attire framed her lively face, making her look all the softer and sweeter. Setting aside her feisty, sharp demeanor, she could genuinely pass for a gentle, shy beauty.

Shopkeeper Lin had never seen Chuntao fully dressed up before, and her eyes sparkled with admiration. Willow-leaf eyebrows, almond eyes, cherry-red lips, and delicate features—she was the epitome of a gentle beauty, provided she didn’t open her mouth.

When she started mocking someone, even Lin Qiubai had to step back; her sharp tongue was formidable.

            

“I knew you would come.” Shopkeeper Lin wore modest male attire that gave her the air of a frail scholar. Fortunately, her tall stature made the look convincing enough.

“Don’t flatter yourself! I only came because I was worried someone foolish might freeze herself sick and ruin business for the shop,” Chuntao scoffed, lifting her chin proudly.

“Yes, I am foolish. But you look extraordinarily beautiful today.”

            

“I am beautiful every day! Miss is first, and I am second!” Chuntao declared triumphantly.

Though a servant by status, her parents both worked at Jiang Manor, and she had grown up beside her mistress. Having lost her own kin, Jiang Chenyu naturally treated Chuntao like a younger sister. Chuntao, in turn, had thrown caution to the wind to protect her mistress from those two old monsters, forging her fierce and clever personality in the process.

Even the white fox fur vest she wore today had been made from fur her mistress personally purchased, crafted by a skilled tailor specifically for her. Because her status made it inappropriate to be overly ostentatious, it had been made into a short bijia; otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared wear it out in public.

            

Flawless, pure-white fox fur of this quality was a luxury even daughters of decent families rarely possessed. A full-length cloak would have been far too flashy, but a waist-length bijia hit the perfect balance.

“I happen to like the second most beautiful,” Lin Qiubai said. “Let’s hurry. Word has it that tonight features new performers competing for the top spot!”

“Really? We can actually catch an event like that?” A look of excitement crossed Chuntao’s face, her bright eyes curving into crescent moons.

            

“Mm, let’s go.” Lin Qiubai thought Chuntao’s looks were just right—striking enough to catch attention even beside Miss Jiang, yet never overly flashy.

The two wove their way through rows of colorful lanterns. Having never visited such an establishment before, Chuntao could only hold tightly onto Shopkeeper Lin’s hand, following meekly behind her.

She watched as Lin Qiubai conversed smoothly with the Jiaofangsi steward before the two of them were escorted to a table with an excellent view.

            

“How do you know him?” Chuntao asked warily.

“I pay close attention to every customer who buys from our shop. Anyone who visits a few times, I make a point to remember.” What Lin Qiubai left unsaid was that her habit of sizing up people and advantages was an instinctive survival mechanism. Keeping track of anyone or anything she might need was a habit ingrained in her from growing up cautious.

Now, it had transformed into a refined social skill that allowed her to navigate any crowd with ease—a sharp contrast to Chuntao, whose innocent, straightforward nature meant everything was written plain across her face.

            

“They’re here! They’re coming! Look!” Chuntao pointed toward the dancers entering in single file below. They wore light, airy garments as though completely immune to the cold, their faces adorned with shimmering huadian⁷, their waists supple and graceful as water snakes.

Having never witnessed such a sight, Chuntao could no longer sit still. She stood up and leaned over the carved wooden railing, craning her neck to look down with eyes full of excitement.

Taking advantage of the moment, Shopkeeper Lin moved up behind her, encircling Chuntao within her arms against the railing. “Which one do you think is pretty?” she asked with a touch of displeasure.

            

“I think they’re all pretty!” Completely unaware of the emotion stirring behind her, Chuntao remained thoroughly absorbed in watching the performers below.

Indeed, the Jiaofangsi was not a place just anyone could enter. Down below, musicians played pipes, strings, and drums, while dancers hoisted on long red silks soared through the air, scattering showers of colorful leaves. One even glided past her balcony, reaching out to clasp Chuntao’s hand in mid-air.

Hahaha! She finally understood why men loved coming to places like this—even she loved it! It was simply breathtaking!

            

Seeing Chuntao so captivated that she had forgotten everything else, Shopkeeper Lin grew thoroughly disgruntled. She avoids me endlessly at the shop, yet these dancers in the hall are so captivating to her??

Watching Chuntao repeatedly reach out her hand to touch the floating dancers, Shopkeeper Lin desperately wished she could pull her hands right back.

Two hours later, the main performances concluded. With the night growing late, the two had no choice but to return to the shop.

            

At such an hour, returning to Shen Manor was out of the question—the gatekeeper was a gossip, and Chuntao didn’t care to endure his blabbering.

“Come stay at my quarters. The bedding is brand new, and there’s a bath bucket,” Shopkeeper Lin suggested, her mind secretly calculating.

“Alright then. I’ll squeeze in with you for one night,” Chuntao agreed foolishly, still riding the high of the evening’s excitement.

            

The two strolled leisurely back to the rear courtyard.

“I’ll heat some water. The wooden tub is over there—you can wash up first. It’s cold out, so the water cools down fast.”

“Okay, thank you! I had a wonderful time today,” Chuntao replied, joy brimming in her eyes and brow.

            

“It was just a musical show, nothing much.” Lin Qiubai thought to herself how remarkably easy Chuntao was to please. She always took care of others, never asking for anything in return.

Late that night, under the thick, warm quilts on the bed, Chuntao pressed herself against the inner wall and closed her eyes to rest. Though the bed was by no means cramped, Shopkeeper Lin lay remarkably close to her, reading a book dense with characters under the dim lamplight.

“I’m feeling a bit hot… Could you move over a bit?” After a long while, Chuntao really couldn’t bear the heat any longer and spoke up, looking at Lin Qiubai, who was still reading.

            

“Oh? My apologies, I didn’t notice.” Lin Qiubai gathered her long hair to one side and turned toward her with a smile.

In the flickering, bright candlelight, she looked exceedingly lovely.

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