Chapter 65

(T/N:~~~~~~Omgggg MELISSA…. Thank you so much for the coffee… hehe)

This year, the summer in capital was very short, and before they knew it, it was already early autumn, with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers drifting through the entire city.

Chun Mei carried a few account books and placed them on the stone table under the corridor. There was also a plate of brightly colored fruits that had hardly been touched.

“Miss, why did you wake up so early in the morning and rush to calculate these account books? There’s plenty of time in the afternoon,” she said, noticing that the fruits had not been eaten.

Su Mi raised her head and smiled. “My mother will come over here in the afternoon to see us, so I want to finish this early.”

“Oh, if the madam is coming, then I’ll make some new pastries to serve,” Chun Mei said cheerfully.

“Very well.”

After lunch, Su Mi stood at the entrance of the east courtyard, watching the passing carriages.

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Fbl psqvldle bla hsknl yde pyke, “Yk’la, uswa pkpvla oydvp vs nsxl yde pll usw.”

“Okay.”

Su Mi nodded and led the two of them inside, accompanied by Chun Mei.

When they arrived in the main hall, Yu Qingniang engaged in some casual conversation with her two daughters, trying to create a slightly more lively atmosphere.

When the time was right, Su Xian prepared to talk about what she had come for today.

“Mi’er, your brother-in-law truly regrets his actions now. I don’t ask for anything else; just let us live peacefully from now on. He will never dare to look at you again.”

Su Mi didn’t know how to respond. Although she had pleaded with Qin Yan back then to spare Li Xiuyuan’s life, for Su Xian, whose husband had been crippled, she couldn’t believe that she didn’t hold any resentment. But that was the most she could do.

“Sister,” Su Mi hesitated and called out awkwardly, “Anyway, I won’t meet with Li Xiuyuan in the future, and as for the Lord, I can’t always guess his intentions.”

Su Xian let out a sigh. On the day Li Xiuyuan was sent back from Jiaozhou by carriage, she fainted directly from shock.

All along, she didn’t dare to come because she was afraid of encountering the chief. If he were to settle the accounts again, she feared that she would lose even the life she had managed to hold on to.

But deep down, she still felt anxious, so this time she came to say a few words, whether Su Mi agreed or not, so she could feel relieved.

“By the way, Mi’er, take a look at him.” Su Xian walked forward with the baby in her arms, approaching Su Mi.

The baby was chubby and round, with big blinking eyes. When he looked at Su Mi, his eyes curled into a crescent shape with a smile. He resembled Su Xian and naturally had some resemblance to Su Mi, making him look endearing.

Su Mi looked at him, and there was a trace of loneliness in her heart. She also wanted to have her own child with Qin Yan.

“Sister, he’s really adorable.”

Looking at her own son, Su Xian smiled wholeheartedly. She brought her son here with the intention of softening Su Mi’s heart a little more, and it seemed like she had succeeded. Of course, she was happy about it.

At this moment, only Yu Qingniang noticed the sense of loss in Su Mi’s eyes.

“Alright, alright, you go back first. Feng’er will be hungry soon.”

Su Xian wanted to ask Su Mi to hold the baby, but since Yu Qingniang spoke up, she couldn’t linger anymore. After a few pleasantries, she left the chief’s residence.

Yu Qingniang watched Su Xian’s figure and softly said, “Mi’er, don’t blame your sister. She’s also having a hard time. A few days ago, Su Yue was promoted to a higher position.”

“When did that happen?”

“It was during the time when Li Xiuyuan got injured. Since Xian’er was pregnant, she asked Su Yue to serve him. This service…”

Yu Qingniang shook her head. “Forget it; let’s not talk about it. Let’s talk about you instead. Maybe you should ask the Lord if he has any brothers and find a family with more offspring to adopt one.”

Su Mi shook her head. “No need, Mother. If the Lord doesn’t mention it, I won’t bring it up either.”

After going back and forth, that was all Su Mi said, and Yu Qingniang couldn’t persuade her further.

“Su Zhen has come to live in the southern part of the capital.”

“What?” Su Mi was surprised to hear this. Su Zhen was already married, so why would she stay at her parents’ house?

“Zhiqiu is in the Imperial College, right? He doesn’t have a place to stay in the capital, and besides that, the mansion in the southern part of the city is not considered a proper natal home. So your father agreed.”

Su Mi understood in her heart. Su Mingde agreed because he knew that Yu Zhiqiu would soon take the imperial examination.

The mother and daughter chatted casually for a while, and then Yu Qingniang got up. Su Mi felt a bit reluctant, but she couldn’t keep Yu Qingniang here. She walked to the door to see her off and helped her onto the carriage.

***

Except for Yu Qingniang occasionally coming to visit, Su Mi didn’t have many familiar faces in the mansion.

In the blink of an eye, autumn had passed, and although it was still early for incense burners to be lit, the door frames of the rooms were already being hung with heavy curtains.

Su Mi lay on a soft couch, flipping through the account books sent by shopkeeper Li. “During this period, the accounts have become much thicker than usual.”

She had never expected the old bookstore to generate any significant profit, but recently it seemed to be doing well.

Chun Mei bit her thread and smiled, saying, “Miss, you forgot. After the new year, the imperial examination will be held, and many scholars who can’t afford books will come to borrow them from us. Besides, we have more old books in our shop than on the street stalls.”

Su Mi was reminded by Chun Mei and realized that the provincial examination was just a few months away.

As the two of them were chatting casually, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the door. “Madam, there’s someone outside requesting to see you.”

“Who is it?”

“Madam, the person says he is the young master of the Yu family, Yu Zhiqiu.”

“Who did you say?”

Chun Mei whispered to Su Mi, “Miss, he’s referring to your cousin from the Yu family, Yu Zhiqiu.”

It wasn’t that Su Mi didn’t hear clearly this time, but she was somewhat incredulous. She had only met Yu Zhiqiu a few times, and the last time was probably several years ago. He even broke off his engagement back then, so why would he come today?

But even if he came, Su Mi didn’t want to see him. “Xiao Hu, tell him I’m not available.”

“But, Madam, I just informed him…” Xiao Hu scratched his head outside the door, feeling embarrassed.

“I don’t want to see him. Let him go back.”

“Yes.”

Su Mi thought for a moment and felt it wasn’t enough. “Chun Mei, go and meet Yu Zhiqiu. Tell him not to come again in the future. I have nothing to talk to him about.”

“Yes, Miss.”

***

Chun Mei walked to the front yard, where Xiao Hu had just finished speaking to Yu Zhiqiu. He appeared somewhat dejected.

Chun Mei didn’t like Yu Zhiqiu. She didn’t like anyone who treated her mistress poorly. She had seen him before and only remembered him as a young and inexperienced scholar. Now, he seems to have matured somewhat after getting married.

“Young Master Yu, greetings.”

“Chun Mei…” Yu Zhiqiu exclaimed with surprise. His fair face turned red, but when he looked around and saw no one else, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. “So, cousin Mi is really unwilling to see me.”

“Yes, my young mistress also said that you don’t need to come looking for her anymore. She won’t see you.”

Yu Zhiqiu’s eyes dimmed. In fact, his visit today wasn’t solely about Su Mi.

He had come to discuss it with Su Zhen. With the upcoming provincial examination after the new year, it is always good to have a powerful backer in future officialdom. That’s why he thought of Qin Yan, who was closest to them.

However, Yu Zhiqiu couldn’t deny that he had a selfish motive as well. He had recently married and experienced the joys of intimacy between a man and a woman. Although Su Zhen’s appearance was decent, she lacked the allure that Su Mi possessed.

With every taste of this feeling, he couldn’t help but think of Su Mi, and he regretted breaking off the engagement back then even more.

After failing the provincial examination that year, he wandered around and ended up marrying a daughter of the Su family. But he lost his favorite cousin, Mi’er, who ended up marrying an eunuch and was exhausted.

But now he didn’t dare to utter such words.

Yu Zhiqiu took out a square yellow jade pendant from his pocket. Its quality seemed quite transparent, showing signs of age.

“Chun Mei, I didn’t come here to find Mi’er. This jade pendant is an ancestral heirloom of the Yu family. Can you ask Mi’er to give it to the chief? I hope he can offer some support in the future.”

After saying that, Yu Zhiqiu stuffed the jade pendant into Chun Mei’s hand and ran away without looking back, as if afraid that she would return it.

Chun Mei stared blankly at the jade pendant in her hand, but when she looked up, Yu Zhiqiu had already turned a corner.

She had no choice but to run back to the courtyard.

“Miss…” Chun Mei covered her chest, panting heavily.

“Has he left?”

“Miss, he gave this, gave…” Chun Mei handed over the jade pendant.

Su Mi frowned and didn’t take it. “Chun Mei, I can’t accept his things. Quickly go and return it to him.”

“No, Miss, it’s not for you.” Chun Mei finally caught her breath. “He said it’s for Lord Qin. I guess he has something to ask of Lord Qin.”

“And besides, he disappeared all of a sudden. It’s not easy for me to chase after him.”

Su Mi thought for a moment, and it made sense. Since it was a gift for Qin Yan, it wouldn’t be good if she chased after him and others saw it.

“Chun Mei, wait for Feng Bao to return. Tell Feng Bao to take care of this jade pendant for the Lord.”

Chun Mei nodded and put the jade pendant away again.

***

On the way to the main hall of the Eastern Bureau, Feng Bao carried a food box in his left hand and held the square jade pendant in his right hand. Before he came, Chun Mei had told him about it, but he was in a hurry and didn’t listen carefully.

Feng Bao stood at the door, lightly tapping the door frame a few times, and then cautiously entered.

He placed the food box in a corner of the desk and walked to Qin Yan’s side, lowering his eyes as he handed over the yellow jade.

Qin Yan glanced at it while continuing to write the letter and casually asked, “Who sent it?”

“Reporting to the master, it was Madam’s cousin from her natal family, Yu Zhiqiu. He came to the chief’s residence today to deliver it.”

Upon hearing the name Yu Zhiqiu, Qin Yan’s hand holding the brush paused, and his voice unconsciously turned cold. “Su Mi, did she see him?”

Feng Bao tried to recall what Chun Mei had said. It didn’t seem like she mentioned whether Madam had seen him or not. But since she accepted the jade, she must have seen him.

He hesitated and nodded.

“Did she accept this jade as well?”

Feng Bao always felt that the questions the master asked were strange, but upon careful consideration, the jade was indeed accepted by Madam.

He continued hesitatingly nodding, but…

“Master, although it was accepted by Madam, but…” This jade pendant was meant for the master.

Before Feng Bao could finish his sentence, there was a crisp sound as Qin Yan’s bamboo brush snapped into two pieces.