Chapter 10

The Zhu family was hosting a send-off banquet for the bride, while over at the Zhao household, preparations were still underway for the wedding feast the next day.

The courtyard had already been thoroughly cleaned, and ten square tables, along with bowls and chopsticks borrowed from the neighbors, were neatly arranged along the walls.

Guo Xing had gone to buy meat and vegetables with the list given by Old Madam Zhao. These things had to be fresh and couldn’t be prepared too far in advance.

“Why are you hosting such a big banquet? Buying wine, meat, and all sorts of odds and ends—there goes another five taels of silver,” Old Madam Zhao muttered, staring at the tables and chairs with a troubled expression.

Taking a concubine had cost her half of her savings. It was all because of her grandson’s extravagance—going all out just for a concubine. If he was already being this grand for a concubine, what would he do when it came time to marry a proper wife?

Zhao Yanping had just changed clothes in the east wing and was walking out when he heard his grandmother lamenting over the money again. He explained, “All the guests I invited are merchants who travel far and wide. If I don’t entertain them well, why would they bother helping me gather news about Xiangyun?”

For years, Zhao Yanping had been intentionally building connections. He had to care for his grandmother and couldn’t travel far himself, so he relied on these people to help search for his younger sister. He had even entrusted various magistrates who had been transferred in and out of the county with the task. Whether they put in real effort or not, he couldn’t say—but he had to try.

Old Madam Zhao fell silent.

Xiangyun had been sold by her second uncle and his wife. When Zhao Yanping was a child, he had no power to do anything. But when he grew up and became strong, the first thing he did was tie his uncle to a tree, forcing him under the scorching sun to reveal who had bought his sister.

Under the blistering heat, the second uncle nearly passed out before he finally gave a name—Zhang the Trafficker.

Zhang was a well-known human trafficker in the area back then. Seeing that young Xiangyun was growing into a beautiful girl, the second uncle first struck a deal with Zhang, settled on a price, and then, while Zhao Yanping and Xiangyun were out, took the six-year-old girl and handed her over to him.

By the time the second uncle confessed, years had already passed. Zhang had met his own demise long ago, dying a miserable death in the streets. No one knew where Xiangyun had been sold.

With a vast world and endless crowds, where could she possibly be found?

Old Madam Zhao had long given up, but her grandson had not. He was still searching, still refusing to let go.

There were many things Old Madam Zhao could persuade him on, but not this. She simply couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

Seeing her grandson preparing to saddle his horse, she asked curiously, “Where are you going?”

Without looking back, Zhao Yanping replied, “To pick up my mother and Xiaoying. Bring out a couple of quilts to air out—Mother and Xiaoying will be staying with you in the west wing for the next two nights.”

Old Madam Zhao frowned.

It was just taking a concubine, yet her grandson was making an extra trip to the Shen family—where he usually only went once a year—just to give A-Jiao this much respect. Was it really just out of kindness? Or had he already met A-Jiao at Huayue Brothel last year and been taken by her beauty?

======

Zhao Yanping fastened the carriage board and drove out of the county.

The Zhao family originally came from Shenjia Village, twenty miles from town. After the old constable left his house to Zhao Yanping, he brought his grandmother to live in the county.

Instead of returning to the old Zhao residence, he headed straight for the grandest five-courtyard mansion at the entrance of the village.

This was the Shen family estate, where his mother, Liu Shi, had moved after remarrying Shen Yuanwai.

He had deliberately set out late so that by the time he arrived, the sun would be low in the sky, and the villagers who had been resting at noon would already be awake.

As soon as he jumped down from the carriage, the main gate of the Shen residence opened.

A portly man in his forties walked out, picking his teeth. When he looked up and saw Zhao Yanping, he hesitated for a moment. Despite the simple cloth garments, Zhao Yanping carried an undeniable air of authority. The man scratched his head awkwardly and forced a smile. “Well, if it isn’t a rare guest! What brings you here, Yanping?”

This man was Shen Wenbiao, the only son of Shen Yuanwai’s first wife.

By the time Liu Shi married into the Shen family as a second wife, Shen Wenbiao was already twenty years old and married himself. He had never approved of his father taking another wife and had always treated Liu Shi with disdain.

Years ago, before Zhao Xiangyun was sold, Zhao Yanping’s second uncle had come to the Shen family to borrow money. At that time, Shen Yuanwai and Liu Shi had gone out visiting and wouldn’t return for a few days. Shen Wenbiao, unwilling to help Liu Shi’s poor relatives, had his men drive Zhao’s second uncle away.

That decision indirectly led to Zhao Xiangyun being sold.

When Liu Shi returned home and discovered that her daughter was missing, she cried so hard she fainted. Shen Yuanwai, furious with Shen Wenbiao, personally gave him ten strikes with a cane.

From then on, Shen Wenbiao resented Liu Shi even more. Every year when Zhao Yanping came to visit his mother for the New Year, Shen Wenbiao never showed him any respect.

That only changed when Zhao Yanping became a constable—and later a captain. Realizing Zhao Yanping was no longer someone he could offend, Shen Wenbiao no longer dared to treat him poorly.

But Zhao Yanping acted as if he didn’t even see Shen Wenbiao. Instead, he turned to the doorkeeper beside him and said, “I’m here to visit the master and madam.”

The doorkeeper respectfully led him inside and went to inform the elders.

Shen Wenbiao had originally been heading out for a stroll, but now he decided to stay, shamelessly trailing behind Zhao Yanping, curious about his visit.

Before long, Shen Yuanwai and Liu Shi arrived.

Liu Shi was now forty-two years old. She had always been beautiful, and after marrying Shen Yuanwai, she no longer had to toil in the fields. A life of comfort had even lightened her once sun-darkened skin, making her appear no older than thirty. She remained as lovely as ever, though her slender frame and constant air of sorrow made her look fragile.

Shen Yuanwai, a well-known local gentryman, was already fifty-nine. He belonged to the same generation as Old Madam Zhao, though his health was far weaker. His back was hunched, one hand gripping a cane while the other rested on Liu Shi for support. With his full head of silver hair, he looked more like Liu Shi’s father than her husband.

Many pitied Liu Shi for being forced to marry an old man, but she herself never felt wronged.

Back then, she had indeed been bitter when she agreed to the marriage, but once she entered the Shen family, Shen Yuanwai treated her with great care. He had been only thirty-nine at the time—still in his prime—and they had shared many loving years. It was only after he turned fifty that their age difference became truly apparent.

Liu Shi was content with her life, but Zhao Yanping couldn’t bear to see his mother tending to such an elderly man.

Still, he kept his feelings hidden. After offering his greetings, he addressed the elders, “Uncle, Mother, Grandmother has arranged for me to take a good concubine. We are hosting a banquet tomorrow, and I’d like to invite Mother to come and meet her. Would you be available?”

Liu Shi was first delighted, then surprised. “You haven’t even married a wife—why are you taking a concubine first?”

Zhao Yanping remained calm. “I don’t intend to marry. Grandmother arranged this so that someone could take care of me.”

Liu Shi knew how stubborn her son was when it came to marriage. Sighing helplessly, she shot him a glare.

Shen Yuanwai stroked his beard and chuckled, “A concubine is fine. Yanping is not young anymore—he should have someone by his side.”

Then he called to his son, who had been loitering at the doorway. “Ying-er took the servants to town. Wenbiao, go fetch her back.”

Shen Ying was the daughter Liu Shi bore for Shen Yuanwai, his youngest child. She was bright and lively and doted on more than even Shen Yuanwai’s grandsons.

Shen Wenbiao didn’t dare to disobey the old master’s orders and went out to find Shen Ying. The town was nearby, and with a horse-drawn cart, he could be back in just two-quarters of an hour.

As soon as Shen Wenbiao left, Master Shen called Liu Shi closer and whispered a few words in her ear.

Liu Shi was about to respond, but Master Shen waved his hand, urging her, “Go pack your things, and pack Ying’er’s as well. Once she gets back, you two will set off immediately.”

Liu Shi had no choice but to comply. She glanced at her son before heading off to prepare.

Master Shen coughed twice and turned his full attention to hosting Zhao Yanping. If not for Zhao Yanping’s reluctance to get close to him, Master Shen would have loved to treat him like his own son.

But he understood Zhao Yanping’s feelings. After all, he was nearly twenty years older than Liu Shi. When Zhao Yanping was young and didn’t understand the situation, he must have believed that Master Shen had forced his mother into remarriage. Such resentment, once ingrained, wouldn’t easily fade, even after growing up.

Two-quarters of an hour later, Liu Shi had packed up, and Shen Ying had also been brought back by Shen Wenbiao.

On the way back to the county, the fourteen-year-old Shen Ying sat affectionately behind Zhao Yanping, smiling as she inquired, “Brother, who’s the girl you’re taking as a concubine? Have you met her? Is she beautiful?”

Liu Shi also looked at her son expectantly—until now, he hadn’t mentioned anything about the bride.

A-Jiao’s background was unique, and there was no way to keep it a secret. If he didn’t say anything now, his mother and sister would hear it from others tomorrow and be even more surprised.

So Zhao Yanping briefly explained A-Jiao’s situation without any concealment.

Liu Shi fell silent.

Shen Ying, quick-witted as ever, thought for a moment before guessing, “Brother has stayed single for so long, and this is the first girl he’s taken a liking to. You even made a special trip to bring us to the banquet. My new sister-in-law must be beautiful and kind, a girl who deserves to be cherished.”

Hearing this, Liu Shi suddenly felt at ease. That’s right—if A-Jiao were just a fallen courtesan, her son wouldn’t have agreed, and Mother Zhao would never have allowed her into the house.

===

Before dusk, Zhao Yanping brought his mother and half-sister back to the Zhao family home.

Old Madam Zhao had always been fond of Liu Shi, who also respected her mother-in-law. The two got along well. Shen Ying was beautiful and well-bred as a young lady of the Shen family, so Old Madam Zhao liked her as well.

Meanwhile, at the Zhu family’s house—

A-Jiao had no idea which guests the Zhao family had invited. Since she was about to get married, Zhu Shuangshuang had temporarily moved to the west wing of the main house, and Cui Niang was staying with A-Jiao in the eastern wing.

Cui Niang had secretly told A-Jiao that Old Madam Zhao had no intention of sending her over as a maid. Instead, she was only there to watch over the betrothal gifts and make sure Madam Shi didn’t steal them.

A-Jiao had long known that Old Madam Zhao was stingy, so this didn’t surprise her at all. The betrothal gifts were technically in A-Jiao’s hands, but they would eventually go back to the Zhao family. If any of them ended up in her uncle’s household, they would be completely lost to the Zhao family.

Night fell, and the deep autumn darkness was thick. The stars were faint in the sky.

“Mistress, let’s go to bed,” Cui Niang said, returning from emptying the washbasin and preparing to latch the door.

A-Jiao was about to agree when her uncle’s voice suddenly came from outside the window.

“Jiao Jiao, come out for a moment.”

A-Jiao glanced at Cui Niang, then got out of bed, slipping on her embroidered shoes before stepping outside.

In the Zhu family courtyard stood a tangerine tree. Zhu Chang led A-Jiao beneath it, his gaze sweeping toward the main house’s window. He caught a glimpse of Jin Shi quickly lowering her head out of sight.

Zhu Chang sighed helplessly, then turned his back to the window, standing behind the tree as he faced his niece. “Jiao Jiao, I’ve failed you. Because of me, you can only become someone’s concubine. Otherwise, with your looks, you could have married an official and become a proper wife.”

A-Jiao lowered her head and softly replied, “This is fate, Uncle. You don’t have to blame yourself. Officer Zhao is a good man. Once I go there, I will live quietly and properly by his side. Please live peacefully with Aunt—don’t argue with her because of me.”

The more understanding she was, the more guilt Zhu Chang felt. Holding back his tears, he stepped forward as if to hug her in comfort, but instead, he swiftly pressed a small bundle into her hands and whispered, “This contains the dowry jewelry your mother left for you, as well as what I owe you. Keep it safe, and don’t let your aunt find out. Once you get to the Zhao family, explain it to Zhao Yanping tonight. Old Madam Zhao isn’t a bad person, but she’s terribly stingy—we don’t want her to accuse you of stealing from her.”

Just those few words of advice were enough to make A-Jiao burst into tears against her uncle’s shoulder.

Zhu Chang choked up as well, but afraid that the longer they cried, the harder it would be to part, he quickly pushed her away. Waving his hand, he said, “That’s enough. Go back and rest. Stop crying—you don’t want to wake up tomorrow with swollen eyes and look ugly.”

With that, Zhu Chang turned and left, his steps quick and urgent, as if escaping.

A-Jiao hid behind the tree for a long time, quietly wiping her tears before finally returning to the eastern wing.

As Cui Niang spread out her bedding, A-Jiao lay on her side and secretly opened the cloth pouch her uncle had given her.

Inside, she found a gold hairpin, a pair of jade earrings, and a set of silver bracelets. Besides these, there were also a few pieces of broken silver—at least ten taels in total.

A-Jiao clutched the pouch tightly, pressing a hand over her mouth.

Ten taels—that was the exact price of her own selling contract.

Her uncle had returned it to her.