Chapter 58: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 58: 

 

The Liu family had caused a scandal years ago, which had dragged the Lu family into the mess and led to significant financial losses for Liu Mian Tang's grandfather. Now, Mian Tang, an outsider, had returned and was seemingly living off the Lu family's resources.

Both Lu Qingying and her mother, Madam Quan, felt some discomfort about this situation. Seeing that Mian Tang's quarters were more elaborately decorated than Lu Qingying's own room as a proper young lady of the Lu family, Qingying felt a sense of injustice and annoyance.

Upon entering the room, Lu Qingying took note of the new bedding and the still-creased curtains, which only heightened her sense of being slighted.

In contrast, Madam Quan maintained her composure better. She, like her husband Lu Mu, was skilled at maintaining appearances. When she entered the room, she warmly greeted Mian Tang, expressing concern and sympathy while asking about her recent experiences.

Mian Tang, adhering to the story she had agreed upon with her grandfather and uncles, described her recent past as a period of illness that had left her memory unclear. She explained that she had spent the last couple of years recuperating in the home of a renowned physician.

Mian Tang deflected her aunt's questions with a few vague responses, leaving little room for further discussion.

The remaining part of the conversation involved her aunt subtly probing about the amount of money Mian Tang had made from her dealings in the northwest. Mian Tang suspected that it was not her stepmother but her second uncle who was genuinely interested, and he likely sent her aunt to inquire.

She smiled slightly and chose not to disclose the full truth. Although her grandfather had scolded her and rejected her money, reviving the Lu family’s escort agency was her responsibility, and it required a substantial amount of money.

The previous day, while dining with the family after leaving her grandfather’s study, Mian Tang had overheard her second uncle mention that he was now involved in the tobacco trade with a prominent individual but lacked sufficient capital to fully engage in the business, leaving him unable to profit.

According to past patterns, her second uncle’s ventures rarely succeeded, often resulting in losses rather than profits. If Mian Tang revealed her earnings, it was likely that her second uncle would ask to borrow money, making it difficult for her to refuse.

Her second uncle was surprised to find that, after years apart, Mian Tang had become more reserved and mature, speaking with the steadiness of someone much older than her nineteen years. Unable to pry any information from her, he began discussing the difficulties of managing the Lu household and the strain of accommodating an extra person.

Taking advantage of her aunt's lengthy lamentations, Mian Tang handed over an envelope she had prepared in advance. “Second Aunt, since I’m staying in Second Uncle’s courtyard, there are expenses for food and living. This money is a small portion of what my mother left me. Though it’s not a large sum, it should cover the immediate expenses and prevent me from being a burden. Please accept it.”

Upon receiving the envelope, her aunt initially protested, saying that Mian Tang was being too formal. However, when she opened the envelope and saw the hundred taels of silver notes inside, her expression changed to one of pleasant surprise. She quickly offered a smile and tried to return the envelope.

Mian Tang insisted, explaining that she had heard about her second uncle's business endeavors and was contributing a part of the money as an investment. This convinced her aunt to accept the offer.

Mian Tang wasn’t about to stay and eat for free, which took Second Madam Quan by pleasant surprise. Even her cousin Lu Qingying had a faint smile on her face.

However, no matter how much Madam Quan asked about the profits from selling goods in the Northwest, Mian Tang always deflected the conversation and did not give a direct answer.

When her cousin asked if there were any plans for her marriage, Mian Tang merely smiled and said, “I’ve only just returned home. I’d like to spend more time showing filial piety to my grandfather. The matter of marriage can wait for now…”

Upon hearing this, Madam Quan replied, “How can you not be concerned? You’re already nineteen. If you wait any longer, there won’t be much to choose from. But don’t worry, your eldest aunt and I will keep an eye out for suitable matches.”

After all, Mian Tang was from a different family line, and keeping her around for too long wouldn’t be appropriate. Madam Quan, as her aunt, genuinely hoped she could find a good match.

Since the conversation had shifted to the topic of young women’s marriages, it naturally turned to Lu Qingying’s upcoming arranged marriage.

For the next while, Lu Qingying took center stage, subtly boasting about the marriage proposal arranged by her county magistrate grandfather.

When she mentioned that the Su family would be coming to visit the household soon, her face flushed slightly with shyness, and she couldn’t hide her excitement.

Mian Tang listened with a smile as the mother and daughter exchanged words of pride, though inside she could only sigh.

No wonder the elders say that one should travel more and see the world. It really does change how one views people and matters.

In the past, Mian Tang only thought that her second aunt was eloquent and amiable. But now, she realized that this woman, who had climbed her way up to the status of an official’s wife, was far less dignified and imposing than even an old servant from the royal palace.

No wonder Li Mama always found her displeasing and took every opportunity to scold her…

Amid Madam Quan's animated boasting, Mian Tang momentarily drifted off in thought.

This round of casual chatting only came to an end when Madam Quan suddenly remembered that the paper on the windows in her courtyard had yet to be replaced.

Since the future in-laws could arrive at any moment, she needed to direct the old maids to replace the paper before the honored guests arrived. With that, she rose and prepared to take her daughter back.

However, her own courtyard had many trivial tasks like changing window paper, and she lacked enough hands. So, in the end, Madam Quan spoke up and asked to borrow Mian Tang's two maids to help with the work.

Bi Cao, being straightforward, asked Madam Quan, "If the two of us go, who will take care of Miss?"

As soon as she said this, it immediately drew an angry glare from Quan Shi. Lu Qingying also wasn't pleased. "It's just calling you to do some chores, not saying you won't come back. Does my cousin really need you two so much that she can't even drink water without you?"

Mian Tang smiled slightly and calmly said, "Second Aunt may not know, but a few years ago, I injured my hands and feet, and I can't exert much strength. When it pains me, I can't even lift a kettle of water. The maids by my side know this about me... But it doesn't matter if I don't drink water for half a day. Please, feel free to take them and put them to work."

Lu Qingying was momentarily stunned. Since Mian Tang returned this time, she had somehow become much more composed and quiet than before. It almost made Lu Qingying forget what kind of person her cousin really was.

When they were younger, out of jealousy that Mian Tang looked better than her even though they wore the same dress, Lu Qingying incited her brother Lu Zhifu to bully Mian Tang by flicking mud onto her dress.

At the time, Mian Tang had the same kind of half-smile she wore now. And then, no one knew exactly how Mian Tang managed it, but she somehow tricked both siblings to the edge of the garden where the gardener had piled flower compost.

The eleven-year-old girl used a bamboo stick to poke them into the foul-smelling compost pit and even tapped their behinds with the bamboo stick, forbidding them to stand up.

It wasn't until the adults heard the crying and came to their rescue that they were saved. Meanwhile, Mian Tang was spanked by her mother. However, when she was scolded or beaten, Mian Tang didn't shed a single tear. Instead, she looked at them with a haunting gaze that gave Lu Qingying nightmares for days.

From that incident onward, Mian Tang's tricks only became more skillful, to the point where none of the children from either household dared provoke her without cause.

Now, reminded by Mian Tang's eerily familiar smile, Lu Qingying felt a shiver run down her spine and hastily tried to smooth things over, saying, "How could you go half a day without water?"

With Mian Tang saying that, even Madam Quan couldn't bring herself to borrow both maids. So she left Bi Cao behind and took Fang Xie back to the second household's courtyard.

After the mother and daughter left, Bi Cao couldn't help but whisper to Mian Tang, "The Old Master clearly said at the dinner table yesterday that he'd cover all your daily expenses. Why did you still give them such a large sum of money?"

Mian Tang simply smiled without saying anything. Her second aunt, Madam Quan, had a habit of taking advantage of small benefits. Giving her some silver in exchange for peace and quiet was a bargain in Mian Tang's view.

However, by nightfall, Fang Xie returned, exhausted from all the work she had been made to do in the second household’s courtyard, so much so that she had Bi Cao massage her aching back.

When Mian Tang asked about the situation over there, Fang Xie quietly replied, “Second Madam kept trying different ways to ask about your past two years, Miss. I just focused on working and didn’t respond. Maybe that angered Second Madam, so she made me do all the dirty and tiring tasks. It’s a good thing Bi Cao didn’t go. With that loose tongue of hers, who knows what she might have let slip!”

Bi Cao protested, “Why do you think I would slip up? Just because you learned from Li Mama, does that mean I don’t know anything?”

The two young maids bickered, oblivious to the fact that they were losing their manners.

Mian Tang couldn't be bothered to intervene. She reclined on the couch, nibbling on soft, syrupy candied yellow peaches, while sighing inwardly. If Li Mama were here, these two young maids’ knees would surely not be spared—they'd be kneeling at the well, scooping water and holding it above their heads as punishment...

As her mind wandered from servant to master, Mian Tang found herself thinking of Prince Cui. She wondered if he was currently camping outdoors or patrolling the city walls...

Cui Xingzhou, in fact, had a much more relaxed time than Mian Tang imagined.

The barbarian tribes were many and far from united. Some fiercely resisted, while others were eager to ally with the Yan army in hopes of overthrowing A'Gushan.

At that moment, Cui Xingzhou was attending a banquet held by one of the tribes, seeking to foster goodwill among them.

Though the banquet was held on the barbarians’ land, the vast deserts and grasslands around it had already fallen under Cui Xingzhou’s control.

As this was not an area where Han people traditionally lived, Cui Xingzhou had to balance his thunderous military tactics with a softer, more diplomatic approach.

Thus, for the tribes unwilling to submit to A'Gushan, Cui Xingzhou showed them tolerance and kindness.

To welcome their honored guest, the Tashi tribe gathered a group of young maidens from their people to dance to the rhythm of the huqin and drums.

They were all dressed in thin skirts with narrow sleeves and short tops, exposing their slender waists, dancing with grace and allure.

The Yan soldiers  beside Cui Xingzhou hadn't seen so much as a sow for days, so when such a number of young, beautiful women suddenly appeared before them, they could hardly tear their eyes away.

However, as the central figure, the commander of the Northwest, Cui Xingzhou, seemed somewhat dazed. He leaned back against the leather chair, his gaze appearing to pass right over the dancing girls before him, as if it extended far beyond the tent...

The chief of the Tashi tribe had been observing Cui Xingzhou for quite some time, trying to read his thoughts but finding it difficult.

By all accounts, this commander should have been riding high after his recent success in the Battle of Changxi, where he had annihilated the remaining forces of A'Gushan to the tune of 10,000 men, securing his dominance over the Northwest. He should have been brimming with confidence.

Now, chieftains from various tribes were lining up to negotiate peace with him. Yet, during such a festive banquet, why was there not the faintest trace of a smile on his face? In fact, the way he looked at the women was even colder than how he regarded the roasted meat on the table...

The chief of the Tashi tribe, trying to ingratiate himself with this formidable general, had done his homework. Suddenly, he recalled that this man had earned the reputation of being as virtuous as the legendary sage Xia Hui. It all made sense now—Prince Huaiyang truly lived up to his name, a man not easily pleased indeed...

The Tashi chief still wanted to give it another shot, not willing to give up just yet. "Great General," he began, "you have labored hard recently. After the banquet, might you wish to bathe and rest? These dancers are all young women from the tribe, as pure as the first blooms of the grasslands, untouched by rain or dew. Would you like to choose a few to accompany you for the evening, to help you bathe and rest?"

He had already braced himself for Huaiyang Prince, Cui Xingzhou, to refuse him.

To his surprise, the previously disinterested prince, who had been idly staring at his wine cup, suddenly lifted his head and glanced at the smiling girls. Slowly, he raised his hand and pointed to one—her slender waist full and well-proportioned, her features bright and beautiful.

Seeing that his offer had not been outright dismissed, the Tashi chief was overjoyed and quickly called the girl forward, preparing to send her with the Huaiyang Prince for an evening of pleasure.

Even Mo Ru, who was attending to his master, let out a long sigh of relief. He had been thinking, "Surely, there are plenty of flowers to be found wherever you go, right?"

Recently, the Prince had been acting rather disturbingly out of character. He no longer indulged in activities like sandbag punching. Aside from discussing military matters with the generals, he would spend entire days in silence when alone.

Others might not have noticed, but Mo Ru, who stayed by the Prince's side constantly, felt as though he was guarding a master forged from a thousand years of ice—completely devoid of any warmth or human presence.

Mo Ru suspected that the Prince's unusual behavior must be related to that troublesome Miss Liu who had left. 

To Mo Ru, although Miss Liu was indeed beautiful, her background and experiences were hardly worth the Prince's attention. A man as distinguished and talented as the Prince, even if naturally proud and momentarily affected by Miss Liu’s lack of recognition, should have been able to recover quickly.

As the Northwestern army gradually advanced and moved farther from Jin Jia Pass, the Prince's despondency only seemed to deepen.

Just yesterday, while Mo Ru was washing the Prince's clothes, he accidentally ruined a piece of intimate apparel. It wasn’t entirely his fault; the original seamstress had clumsy hands and coarse stitches that could barely hold a grain of rice, clearly the work of Miss Liu.

Mo Ru initially thought that a ruined piece of clothing was not a big deal, given that he had packed plenty of replacements when they set out. However, the next day, when the Prince saw the new clothes Mo Ru brought and inquired about the old ones, he was furious upon hearing they had been ruined. The Prince nearly kicked him out to the wilderness to feed the wolves.

Mo Ru, on the verge of tears, had to search by the stream for the discarded clothing and present it to the Prince.

To Mo Ru's surprise, the Prince's temper flared up quickly but also subsided just as fast. Fixating on the tattered piece of clothing, the Prince eventually remarked, "Since it’s torn, just throw it away. Why did you bother retrieving it?"

Mo Ru knew better than to argue with his master. He felt, however, that the Prince’s erratic and petty anger, reminiscent of a scorned lover, should soon pass.

Today, at the banquet, the Prince had surprisingly selected a beautiful woman. Mo Ru felt a sense of relief, hoping that with this new source of comfort for the Prince, everything related to Miss Liu could be forgotten.

Thus, Mo Ru awaited with both anticipation and nervousness, as if he were about to enter a bridal chamber himself.

That night, the tent was lit by candles that did not extinguish, and Mo Ru marveled at the Prince's stamina, though he himself eventually succumbed to sleep.

The next morning, Mo Ru woke up early to prepare water and towels, ready for the Prince’s summons.

To his surprise, the woman emerged from the tent with swollen eyes, rubbing her wrists and looking haggard.

Mo Ru stared at her, puzzled and unsure how the Prince had spent the night.

The women from the grasslands were known for their straightforwardness. Although the woman had been respectful in the presence of the Prince, she showed no such courtesy towards Mo Ru. With a scowl, she snapped, “What are you staring at? Do you want to tutor me in writing all night long? You Han people… are really… something!”

Mo Ru was taken aback by her harsh words. When he entered the tent to fetch the water basin, he found the table covered with crumpled, discarded papers, while the Prince lay fully dressed on the bed, staring blankly at the tent’s roof.

Now Mo Ru understood what the barbarian woman had meant.

The barbarian people, even if fluent in the Han language, struggled with writing. Looking at the crumpled papers on the ground, it was clear that the Prince had put great effort into teaching her, with every stroke and curve showing a distinct style.

Being forced to write all night long was indeed a harsh ordeal. No wonder the woman had swollen eyes from crying.

Mo Ru suddenly realized why the Prince had chosen that particular woman. Her physique and nose resembled Miss Liu's. However, while the Prince had once lovingly taught Miss Liu to write with tenderness and affection, this time he had made the woman write until her wrists were sore.

Mo Ru understood that the Prince was not simply recovering, but rather his condition had worsened.

As a servant, Mo Ru could only feel anxious without expressing his concerns.

At that moment, Fan Hu, who had escorted Liu Mian Tang back to Xizhou, returned and reported that Liu Mian Tang had arrived safely in her hometown. He had come back to report this.

The Prince summoned Fan Hu to the main tent, listening intently as Fan Hu detailed Liu Mian Tang’s various actions and remarkable deeds since her departure.

As Fan Hu recounted how Liu Mian Tang had used humans as bait to defeat a group of bandits, the Prince’s previously cold and emotionless face gradually showed a hint of intriguing amusement.

At first, the Prince's smile was very faint, but it soon turned into uncontrollable, hearty laughter.

This was the first time in recent days that the Prince had shown such a genuine, carefree laugh. Seeing the Prince laugh so openly and without regard for propriety left both Mo Ru and Fan Hu feeling uncertain, unsure whether it was a good or bad sign.

After a while, the Prince's laughter subsided. His gaze once again became calm and profound. He addressed Fan Hu, saying, “Rest for today. Early tomorrow morning, you should return to Xizhou and continue to keep a close watch on Liu Mian Tang.”

Fan Hu had thought that after returning and reporting in, he could finally relax and release the tension he had been holding. However, he was surprised to find that he had to continue bearing the burden without even catching his breath.

Fan Hu, if alone, would have liked to have a good cry. However, under the stern gaze of the prince, he could only grit his teeth and press on.

He was puzzled, though—why was he being asked to keep an eye on Liu Mian Tang again? Previously, it had been to track down rebels, but what was the purpose now? Carefully, he asked the prince what the focus of his surveillance should be.

The prince seemed to be lost in thought, staring silently at the patterns on the carpet of the command tent.

What was there to observe about Liu Mian Tang? She had left him, but she continued to eat well, sleep soundly, and make money. Now that she had returned to Xizhou, she was under the protection of her family and lacked nothing in terms of food and care.

It seemed that Liu Mian Tang likely didn’t even think of him.

As for him? Initially, it wasn’t so bad, but every night, the scent of her and the softness of her presence would come back to him, making it impossible to sleep.

As time went on, he naturally thought he would get better.

However, while he no longer felt restless at night, his mind constantly replayed moments with Liu Mian Tang like scenes from a play.

But each time he revisited these memories, he became increasingly aware of a painful truth—he and she were entirely separated now, forever disconnected. Those moments of warmth were like the ruined piece of clothing, irreparable and lost.

The previous day, he had summoned a woman to his tent, intending to release some of his pent-up emotions. After all, women were much the same, aside from some differences in appearance.

He thought he was fixated on Liu Mian Tang due to a lack of beauty in others. But when the woman approached him with a flirtatious smile, he immediately felt something was wrong.

The heavy scent of her perfume was overpowering and not sweet enough. Her smile was too obsequious, lacking the genuine warmth he remembered. Her voice was coarse, lacking the delicate, slightly husky tone he associated with Liu Mian Tang…

Overall, nothing seemed to suit Prince Huaiyang’s taste, and he couldn’t muster any interest. Fortunately, the woman had a nose that was somewhat pleasing.

So, he instructed her to sit by the table, only looking at her profile, and asked her to write characters on the table.

For a moment, Prince Huaiyang felt as if he had returned to the small courtyard on North Street in Lingquan Town. The apricot blossoms were in full bloom, and he sat beside Liu Mian Tang as she held a brush by the window, her face flushed with a smile. She would occasionally look up at him, softly calling, "Husband, do you think my writing is good?"

Prince Huaiyang clenched his fist tightly. He suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable anger. Why was it that he missed her so much, while she seemed to have forgotten his face entirely?

Had she developed amnesia again? There were so many unresolved issues between them. She couldn’t just walk away and live her life without a care!

Thinking of this, Prince Huaiyang slowly instructed Fan Hu to "Keep a close watch on Liu Mian Tang. She must not get engaged or married before my triumphant return!"

Fan Hu, now seasoned by many trials, was as resilient as a tough bamboo. After hearing the Prince's perplexing order, he continued to ask in a steady tone, "What if Miss Liu insists on getting married… Should we then forcibly bring her to meet the Prince?"

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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