Épousez un fonctionnaire de la dynastie Song du Nord

Chapitre 30

To be honest, it was a bit boring without Yongjiao in the mansion. Now that she had finally returned, Su Chen was really happy. Just as she was about to go up and greet her, she suddenly noticed a strange girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old sitting between Yongjiao and Yuanrou.

The young girl wore a light yellow, slightly worn, wrinkled dress, a simple silver hairpin casually tucked into her hair. She had an oval face, small lips, and was undeniably a gentle young woman, though a deep sadness lingered in her eyes, diminishing some of her delicate beauty. Yongjiao was talking to Yuanrou when she turned around and saw Su Chen. She immediately jumped up and leaped over, grabbing Su Chen's arm. "Why did it take you so long? I missed you so much! You didn't even miss me!!"

Su Chen chuckled and said, "Isn't this why you're here? You left the guests waiting, and then you came all the way here yourself. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Yongjiao smiled sheepishly and pulled Su Chen to sit down with her. When the woman saw Su Chen coming over, she quickly stood up and bowed. Yongjiao had no choice but to return the bow. Yongjiao wrinkled her nose and said, "We're sisters, there's no need for this. It'll make us feel distant if we keep bowing to each other."

The woman lowered her head and said, "Even so, the proper etiquette must still be observed, and besides, I've been eating and staying at my sister's house for free..." Yuan Rou became even more impatient upon hearing this, "What do you mean by eating and staying for free! Why do you always talk like that? If you keep saying that, I'll really get angry!!"

Since moving to Tang's mother's room, Yuan Rou has been in much better spirits lately. Moreover, with Liu Shi gone, she no longer needs to worry about the things that have been weighing on her mind for so long. Out of sight, out of mind. Now her face even has a bit of rosiness, making Su Chen wonder if her previous weakness was just a result of her heart ailment.

With a sigh of relief, she began to come alive again. Seeing that Yongjiao seemed genuinely angry, she quickly pulled the woman's hand. "Sister, please don't say such things. They make us quite sad." The woman forced a smile. "Everyone in the family is in turmoil, and I'm the only one enjoying this comfort. How can I be at peace..." She then straightened her expression. "Look at me saying these things again, spoiling everyone's mood for nothing."

Su Chen was completely confused. Yong Jiao, knowing her doubts, explained, "This is Su Xia, Lin Su Xia. My mother was close to Aunt Lin when we were young, but after she got married, we lost contact for a long time. It's so rare to find this Lin sister now." She then turned to Lin Su Xia, "This is my little sister, He Su Chen. She's my second uncle's daughter, which is perfect. Everyone in our family is easy to talk to. With my eldest sister not home right now, it's even more fun for us."

Su Chen slightly bent her knees, thinking to herself, "Rabbit, don't call me 'Sister Lin,' it makes me break out in a cold sweat." She then bowed again to Lin Suxia, calling her "Sister Lin." Lin Suxia quickly helped her up and returned the bow, saying, "Just call me Suxia, you're making me feel so awkward." Yongjiao stepped forward and separated them, saying, "Now you know you're making us feel awkward? I never knew you'd bow so often; it made us all feel uncomfortable." Lin Suxia simply smiled gently.

Su Chen asked, "Which one is Aunt Lin? Is she sitting in the outer hall? I wonder which one I just met?"

Lin Suxia lowered her head, and Yuan Rou tugged at Su Chen's sleeve, signaling him to stop talking. Yong Jiao also sat silently, and the room fell silent for a moment. Suxia raised her head and said weakly, "My mother passed away a month ago. It's just that I wasn't blessed enough." Su Chen was stunned for a moment, then could only say, "I'm sorry, I didn't know her..."

Su Xia forced a smile again: "It's alright, the deceased is dead, it's just that I didn't have the fortune, what does it have to do with my sister?" Su Chen felt something was off, but didn't know what to say, so he dropped the topic and asked Yong Jiao instead: "You've been having a blast at your maternal grandfather's house these past few days, haven't you? Tell us about any interesting things that happened."

Yuan Rou also laughed and said, "I was just urging her to come, and then you showed up. We were talking about the gossip in the capital."

"Rumors from Kyoto?" Su Chen looked at Yongjiao with interest. Yongjiao proudly raised her head, "Although they're rumors from Kyoto, they're all about the Four Great Talents of Suzhou and Hangzhou!"

Chapter 47, The Minor Path

The "Promoter" function is now open! What are you waiting for? Join now!!! The so-called Four Great Talents of Suzhou and Hangzhou are Liu Zhenxi from the east of Suzhou, Jing Zhiyue from Hangzhou, Zhang Jingjing from Xiliu Lane, and Cui Wenqi, the elder brother of Cui Shiran. I first heard of these people from a maid just before the New Year. I don't remember most of their names, only that they were all young scholars with bright futures. But, "Shouldn't they still be in Suzhou?" Su Chen asked curiously.

Yongjiao wrinkled her nose. "What nonsense! They went to Kyoto a long time ago. When Grandpa celebrated his birthday, I secretly peeked at them through the curtain. They were indeed extraordinary and had remarkable appearances. When the four of them stood together, they outshone all the scholars in the room, even the top scholar. People really can't stand being compared."

"If that's the case, why don't the top scholars ask them to do it?" Su Chen asked again, puzzled.

Yongjiao leaned closer mysteriously and said, "I heard that they are from Jiangnan, so the Emperor didn't appoint them as the top scholars."

"What does the place of origin have to do with being the top scholar?" Su Chen looked at her curiously. Yongjiao, as expected, continued to explain responsibly, "There are too many top scholars from the Jiangnan region. Jiangnan is known for its talented people. If it were truly based on talent, how could other regions possibly produce top scholars? The Emperor also has to consider the reputation of other regions! Haven't you noticed that in recent years, no matter how talented our Jiangnan candidates are, they haven't been able to become top scholars?" She paused, then added, "It really makes sense! Only when men are like them can the world be full of vitality!"

"You were hiding behind the curtain and secretly watching them?!" Yuan Rou couldn't help but cover her mouth and exclaimed softly, seemingly shocked by her sister's boldness. But she quickly recovered from her surprise and asked with great interest, "Are they handsome? What are some rumors about them in Kyoto? Tell me quickly!" Her words were urgent, her expression concerned, and she was full of anxiety.

Although Su Chen had long discovered that girls of this era were utterly powerless against so-called talented men, especially those with some "good looks," he was still astonished by how quickly Yuan Rou had changed.

"So handsome!" Yongjiao exclaimed excitedly, "Unbelievably handsome!! Especially Cui Wenqi, the young master Cui, his features are so delicate, and his skin is as smooth as ivory, he's practically a woman!" She thought for a moment, and as if to deepen the immersion, added, "Even more womanly than Third Brother!! I wonder how his mother gave birth to him!!"

Even more effeminate than He Su Shi?! Su Chen couldn't quite believe it. Even more effeminate than his older brother, what kind of monster must he be!

Lin Suxia, standing to the side, tugged at Yongjiao's sleeve and said, "Sister, these are not the kinds of things we young ladies should say. Secretly peeking at men through a curtain is not a proper thing to do."

Yuan Rou blushed upon hearing this, while Yong Jiao said with a hint of pride, "I was just peeking, I didn't do anything out of line. Besides, the other sisters in the room were also peeking. Luckily, I was standing in a good spot, which was both hidden and not easy to be discovered."

Su Chen was embarrassed, Yuan Rou continued to blush, Lin Suxia lowered her head and remained silent, and Yong Jiao continued, "Have you ever heard of Luoyue Tower in Yangzhou?"

Yangzhou Luoyue Tower?! No, no… Su Chen began to recall the handkerchief he had secretly seen in the study several months ago, which was signed Yangzhou Luoyue Tower, Qingqing.

Yongjiao's face suddenly turned red, and she said shyly, "That's a brothel, and the top courtesan there is named Qingqing."

The room fell silent for a moment, everyone remaining quiet. Su Chen also kept quiet. After a while, Yuan Rou, unable to resist her curiosity and suppressing her embarrassment, cautiously asked, following the brothel's logic, "And then..."

Yongjiao breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly much more relaxed that someone had taken the initiative to ask her a question. "The top courtesan from Yangzhou has actually gone to the capital! This has caused quite a stir among many students! I heard it's for a certain man. Can you guess who it is?"

"Young Master Cui Wenqi?" Yuan Rou asked softly.

"How can we guess who it is?" Yongjiao pouted. "No, we all know that person and we're quite familiar with him."

The moonlit tower is serene, the moonlit tower is serene, and that "I intend to marry him and leave him for life"?! Su Chen had already guessed some of it, but still hoped it wasn't what he thought.

Yongjiao smiled sweetly, "You'll never guess who it is!" She bit her lip and said in a shocking way, "It's Third Brother!!"

Sure enough, Yuan Rou opened her mouth wide in agreement. Su Xia's expression was not visible because she was still looking down. Only Su Chen remained calm and said, "Little Rabbit, are you joking? Brother is in Suzhou. Even if she were here for brother, she should have come to Suzhou. Why did she go to the capital? Besides, brother is only a teenager and doesn't go to brothels much. He won't get involved with her."

Yongjiao, like a cat who had successfully cheated on her husband, boasted: "Guazi, how do you know all this? Those boys seem so honest, but they never tell us what they do behind our backs! My brother seems so nice on the surface, but even with Sister Biluo by his side, he still goes to those shady places. He says his friends dragged him there, and he couldn't refuse, but it seems like he enjoys going there himself! I heard that last time Third Brother went to Yangzhou, he went to Luoyue Tower, and Miss Qingqing made an exception and talked with him all night. She even gave him a private keepsake, which is said to be a handkerchief she's made for many years!"

Rumors! Rumors are terrifying!! He Suchen vowed that she would never underestimate so-called gossip again. There must be some truth in it. Like this rumor about Yongjiao, wasn't it almost true? She couldn't help but ask, "Where did you hear this news? What if it's not true? Aren't you afraid of ruining the person's reputation by spreading it everywhere?"

“Although Third Brother is your own brother, you are not allowed to favor him!” Yongjiao raised her head and said, “Everyone knows that you are going to Kyoto after the New Year! They all say that Qingqing is very smart, knowing to go to Kyoto to find Third Brother instead of coming to Suzhou.”

Su Chen smiled bitterly to himself. "So this is just a noblewoman feigning sorrow for the sake of poetry. Does she really think women in brothels can go wherever they want?" As for the real reason Qingqing went to Kyoto, probably not many people know. But it's highly unlikely it was for He Su Shi. After all, does the brothel madam think she can just do whatever she wants? Leaving aside whether there's a branch of Luoyue Tower in Kyoto (and it seems there's no such thing as brothels opening branches these days), even if there were, the madam wouldn't send a top courtesan from Yangzhou to Kyoto to start all over again.

Besides, she herself had never heard of any news about going to Kyoto during the New Year, so where did Yongjiao hear it from? She thought for a moment and said, "Little Rabbit, who told you that we're going to Kyoto during the New Year? Don't tell me it's just nonsense, I've never heard of it either."

Chapter 48, Stealing Fragrance

<><A><>The promotional function is now open! What are you waiting for? Join us now!!!</A><> "I forgot, Guazi, you don't know yet. Grandma will probably call you tonight after things are settled. Second Aunt asked us to bring back a letter. She's planning to send you and Third Brother to the capital in a few months." Yongjiao stuck out her tongue. "I heard Second Aunt misses you and Third Brother terribly. You haven't seen each other for so many years, and even Second Uncle misses you a lot."

Second Aunt, who is Second Aunt? Su Chen was momentarily dazed, then remembered that Wu Shi, the second oldest in the family, seemed to be the mother of this body. Since transmigrating, she had only heard about her from others and had never seen her in person, so she had long regarded her as a legendary figure and never thought she would have to deal with her in real life. Moreover, judging from the words of Granny Sun and the people around her, this woman was definitely ruthless, and she didn't want to have anything to do with her.

She suppressed her panic and said, "Where did Rabbit hear this news? I doubt Grandma would let my brother and me go to Kyoto. Besides, so many years have passed, why did Second Aunt... Mother, why did Mother suddenly think of us?"

Yongjiao gave her a strange look. "It's normal for Second Aunt to miss you all, isn't it? Third Brother is about to take the imperial examination, so he needs to go to the capital soon. Besides, your whole family hasn't been together for several years, so you should have a proper reunion." She then said as if she suddenly realized something. "I know, Guazi is afraid that she won't see us after she goes to the capital, right? Don't worry, after this year, Father will be transferred to the capital, and the whole mansion will move there. We can live together again."

"I suppose it's because it's your first time in Kyoto, and you're feeling unfamiliar with the city, so you're worried," Lin Suxia suddenly said. "Even if you're not worried, you're Lord He's daughter. People in the capital will only fawn over you; they won't feel bad."

Although He Suchen was flustered and speechless, he couldn't help but glance at her after hearing this—was he being too sensitive? Why did he always feel that there was something strange about this girl's words?

She was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn't pay much attention to these details. After all, she was just a young girl staying with them, so there shouldn't be any problems.

Yuan Rou, having been left hanging for a long time, finally mustered up her courage and asked, "Little Rabbit, why haven't you told me about that young master Cui's little trick?"