Chapter 62: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Home    :    Novels

 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 62: 

 

Mian Tang finished reading the letter and inhaled the scent of the flower on the paper, which seemed to fill her surroundings with a buzzing of bees.

She mused over how odd it was that he would go to the trouble of bathing despite the bees, and wondered about the severity of his stings, if he had been stung multiple times.

When she realized her lips had involuntarily curved into a smile, she was startled and quickly suppressed her expression. She then carefully burned the letter in the warm stove.

However, she decided to keep the dried wind whispers flower and tucked it into a book she frequently read. The flower’s fragrance would subtly scent the pages.

After this small diversion, her previous languor dissipated somewhat. Mian Tang tidied her hair and prepared to eat before changing her clothes.

Since she had gotten up later than usual, breakfast was somewhat haphazard. Alongside a small pot of rice porridge, there was also a dish of "Rouge Goose Liver." It seemed that despite everything, Fan Hu had managed to get the snow goose into the kitchen.

Mian Tang wasn't particularly interested in eating, but she didn't want to waste the ingredients. She picked up a piece of the goose liver and, after tasting it, found it wasn't as memorable as she recalled.

After quickly finishing a bowl of porridge, she headed towards the accounting room.

On the way, she ran into her second aunt, Madam Quan, who was also heading to the accounting room to review the official expenses. They decided to go together.

Mian Tang noticed that her second aunt's face was a bit red from the cold, as if she had been out in the garden for a while.

However, Madam Quan claimed it was just a coincidence that they met, so Mian Tang didn't press further about whether she had been waiting for her since early morning.

The journey to the accounting room wasn't too long, but Madam Quan seemed to have endless questions. She first asked Mian Tang why she was going to the accounting room.

Mian Tang avoided giving too much detail and simply said she was there to help her grandfather review the expenses for the senior members of the escort agency and to organize the accounts.

Then Madam Quan subtly inquired about the type of suitor Mian Tang might be looking for. She mentioned a distant nephew of hers, who was well-off and reliable, though he had lost his first wife. He was open to marrying someone new, and if Mian Tang was interested, she could mention it to her husband.

Mian Tang looked at her second aunt with a raised eyebrow at this offer.

Quan Shi, who was smiling at Mian Tang, had an expression that seemed to carry a hidden meaning. Mian Tang didn't mind that her second aunt knew about her situation in the northwest and her marriage status. However, Madam Quan’s attempt to use this information to press her into marriage felt somewhat ridiculous.

Mian Tang couldn't help but laugh and said, “Thank you, second aunt, for thinking of me and finding such a suitable match. But I really don’t want to get married too soon... I have to go review the accounts now, so please feel free to make yourself comfortable.”

With that, she walked into the accounting room, where the account books were neatly laid out on the small table, waiting for her to review.

As Madam Quan watched Mian Tang enter the room without another word, her face fell and showed signs of displeasure. She felt frustrated that Mian Tang was acting so high-handed when she was supposed to be a junior in the family.

Moreover, despite being in charge of the second branch’s affairs, Madam Quan was now faced with the situation where her father-in-law had assigned the external expenses to Mian Tang. This situation was far from ideal.

What troubled her even more was that during their visit to the temple for incense burning, the main branch’s Shen family had also attended. Madam Su had been subtly inquiring about Mian Tang with Madam Shen, which made Madam Quan feel uneasy.

After all, when the Su family had first approached them, it was at her father’s behest and was merely a preliminary hint. The Su family had not yet proposed anything formal. Whether or not Mian Tang would be a potential match was still uncertain. If Madam Su changed her mind and showed interest in Mian Tang, it could complicate things further.

Last night, Madam Quan, anxious and upset, had discussed Madam Su's inquiry with her husband, Lu Mu. However, Lu Mu brushed it off dismissively, saying, “She’s unaware of what Mian Tang has been through. How could she possibly have the audacity to consider such a girl as a prospective bride?”

Madam Quan sensed there was more to Lu Mu’s words and pressed him for more details.

Realizing he had spoken too openly, Lu Mu avoided discussing the sensitive matter related to Yangshan Mountain. Instead, he only mentioned that Mian Tang had been deceived and had spent two years in a relationship with someone, which led to a brief marriage.

However, when Lu Xian mentioned it to his brother, he hadn’t revealed who the man was. Consequently, Lu Mu considered him merely a reckless soldier and was more upset on behalf of his niece, feeling that someone had taken advantage of her rather than focusing on the specifics of her past.

But now, Lu Mu privately felt a tinge of relief over Mian Tang’s unfortunate past. It seemed to ensure that his daughter Qingying wouldn’t miss out on a good match.

Thus, he downplayed the situation and only shared with Madam Quan that Mian Tang had been in the northwest with a soldier due to her amnesia.

Madam Quan, after hearing this, was stunned and could only respond after a while, “You two, as uncles, have really outdone yourselves! How could you let Mian Tang get lost and end up in such a situation? If this were to spread, not only would her reputation be ruined, but also the honor of our own girls!”

Lu Mu scowled and said, “How can this be blamed on us uncles? It’s her… Oh, it’s too complicated to explain right now. Just know the severity of the situation and make sure not to speak of it outside.”

But given the current situation, she wouldn’t be competing with our Qingying for the Su family’s good match. Besides, Mian Tang’s father isn’t reliable; Su Madam wouldn’t want to marry her son to someone with such a background!”

Madam Quan felt somewhat reassured and thus waited for Mian Tang today, hoping to drop some hints. After all, Mian Tang’s looks were impressive. If she were to use that to entrap Young Master Su, it could create an unpleasant situation for the whole family.

To her surprise, Mian Tang seemed indifferent and ignored her. Madam Quan couldn’t help but think that if Mian Tang’s embarrassing past were to be exposed, it would be uncertain whether she could even find a suitable match!

Madam Quan left with a few account books, fuming as she returned to her own quarters.

In the days that followed, Mian Tang felt increasingly troubled.

Perhaps because Mian Tang had discovered it, Fan Hu became more straightforward, often waiting by the back door to ask Fang Xie or Bi Cao to bring some things to Miss Liu.

After sternly advising the two maidservants, Mian Tang made it clear that they should no longer accept these items. As for the monthly letters, she stopped receiving them as well.

Mian Tang knew well that her relationship with Cui Xingzhou was one that was never meant to be. They had only ended up together by a twist of fate.

Given this, she felt she should not harbor any regrets.

As a distinguished prince with notable achievements, Cui Xingzhou was a candidate considered by the Empress Dowager for a son-in-law. She, on the other hand, was merely the daughter of a criminal. Comparing herself not only to a princess but even to a common girl of a respectable family, she felt inadequate.

Perhaps Cui Xingzhou had genuine feelings for her and had been thinking about her. But what would that change? Could he really defy the world's expectations and be with her?

If she were dealing with Cui Jiu from North Street, she would confidently defend this marriage. But Cui Xingzhou was Prince Huaiyang, and his feelings for her were a mix of genuine and ambiguous, perhaps even unclear to him.

Given this uncertainty, it was better to cut ties sooner rather than later to avoid lingering complications.

After being turned away repeatedly, Fan Hu eventually stopped sending things. Though Mian Tang knew they were still watching from the shadows, they no longer disturbed her.

Bi Cao's efficiency was impressive; in recent days, various matchmakers had come by to inquire about the granddaughter of the Lu family.

As for Madam Su, who was originally set to leave after a few days, she inexplicably extended her stay due to some household matters.

Mian Tang had run into her several times in the garden. Each time, Madam Su would warmly ask about her business.

Once Madam Su subtly learned that Mian Tang's business was merely managing on behalf of the Lu family and that her father was a condemned prisoner, her enthusiasm waned sharply. She then refocused her admiration on Miss Lu Qingying.

However, Mian Tang kindly advised her second aunt, Madam Quan, and her cousin, Qingying, that if they were to pursue a match with the Su family, it would be wise not to rely solely on others' recommendations. They should personally investigate the Su family's background.

She believed that the Su family was not as respectable as Master Quan had suggested. 

Perhaps due to her experience being a fake wife to Cui Xingzhou, Mian Tang had developed a keen eye for details and manners, noticing many shortcomings in the Su family's behavior and presentation. In her view, they were no better than the minor official families.

Unfortunately, Madam Quan and her daughter, Qingying, did not heed Mian Tang's advice. Qingying, in particular, was convinced that Mian Tang was simply sour grapes because Su Madam had looked down on her, and thus dismissed Mian Tang’s warnings as jealousy.

Mian Tang had also refrained from mentioning certain details about Young Master Su, such as his recent habit of frequently encountering her in the garden, trailing her, and showing off his poetry and wit.

To be honest, Mian Tang had always thought she might be attracted to refined scholars, considering her past admiration for people like Zi Yu and later Cui Xingzhou. Regardless of their personal qualities, both were distinguished gentlemen in their own right.

As she questioned her taste in men, Mian Tang couldn't help but feel a subtle pride in her own discerning judgment. 

However, with Young Master Su, she found her taste for "refined demeanor" waning. If not for the fact that Young Master Su was the precious gem of her second aunt's family, and that he followed her around, Mian Tang would have been tempted to give him a swift kick.

Since she had already conveyed her concerns to her second aunt's family, if they chose to dismiss her observations as mere jealousy, there was little more she could do. She decided to inform her grandfather about her concerns so he could be aware and keep an eye on the situation.

But when Madam Quan excitedly shared some news, it seemed to confirm Mian Tang’s doubts about underestimating the Su family.

It turned out that Madam Quan had originally planned to visit Cuihua Pavilion to taste the famous crispy duck of Xizhou with Madam Su.

However, Madam Su mentioned that her distant nephew had arrived in Xizhou, and thus, Young Master Su Mian would host a dinner at Cuihua Pavilion for his cousin. As it was a family gathering, she regrettably had to cancel her appointment with Madam Quan.

Madam Quan, upon discreetly inquiring, learned that the so-called distant nephew was actually a hereditary marquis. She had long heard from her father that Su’s family had influential relatives who could provide significant support, and it seemed that this was indeed true!

Although Madam Su was merely visiting Xizhou, the marquis relative had come along, indicating close ties within the family.

Madam Quan, eager to marry her daughter into the Su family, now regarded the marquis as a potential relative. Not being able to meet him during the family dinner was quite frustrating. She planned to find an opportunity the next day to ask Young Master Su for an introduction so her family’s husband could pay his respects to the marquis.

Perhaps heaven heard her prayers. In the early afternoon, when the Su family returned to the Lu residence, they brought along a distinguished guest.

Seven or eight lavishly adorned carriages arrived at the Lu family's front gate, attracting curious glances from everyone on the street.

The gilded and gem-encrusted wheels of the carriages caused quite a stir among the onlookers.

The gatekeeper hurriedly reported to Lu Wu, “Old Master, we have distinguished guests at the gate! Young Master Su mentioned that the Marquis of South Town from Zhenzhou is visiting us. Hearing about our newly opened plum blossom garden, he came along with Young Master Su to appreciate the flowers!”

Lu Wu, however, was not as flustered as the gatekeeper. Having traveled extensively and encountered many notable figures, he was accustomed to such scenarios.

Moreover, the plum blossoms in their garden, though recently planted, were not as impressive as the plum groves on the outskirts of the city. What could a marquis be so eager to see at their modest estate?

Frowning slightly, Lu Wu instructed his steward to change into appropriate attire and then went out to greet the guests.

When he arrived at the entrance with the help of his cane, the second branch of the family had already arrived, their faces full of joy, leading their children to kneel in welcome. The main branch was absent as Lu Xian was out on business, leaving only the eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Shen, and Liu Mian Tang to greet at the side of the door.

Before Lu Wu even approached, he noticed that the Marquis bypassed the crowd and focused intently on Liu Mian Tang, appearing eager to help her up.

Liu Mian Tang, on the other hand, quickly looked up and shot a fierce glare at the marquis, her eyes filled with a clear sense of hostility, as if to say that if he came any closer, she would fight him.

To everyone’s surprise, the esteemed marquis shrank back slightly and, instead of approaching Liu Mian Tang, respectfully engaged with Lu Mu, then asked the other women to rise and forgo the formalities.

As Lu Wu moved to greet the marquis, he was immediately assisted up by the marquis, who warmly addressed him: “You must be the renowned old head of the Shenwei Escort, Old Master Lu. Given your age, there’s no need for formalities. Let’s go inside, have some tea, and chat.”

This Marquis Jia Yu proved to be quite straightforward, and without waiting for a response, he led the way with a brisk pace, guiding everyone into the main hall.

Once they arrived in the main hall, the marquis was courteous but quickly took the main seat, inviting everyone else to sit and feel at ease, treating him as a close friend rather than a formal guest.

Most of the people present were not very skilled in socializing, leading to a moment of awkward silence as they tried to figure out what to discuss with the suddenly arrived marquis.

Fortunately, Lu Mu from the second branch, who was adept at social interactions, flattered the marquis and managed to establish a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding.

Liu Mian Tang sat for a while and, noticing that the marquis was praising Lu Wu for having such talented and virtuous children and grandchildren, took the opportunity to excuse herself. She naturally left the main hall, stating that she needed to change clothes.

She returned to her own courtyard, changed her outfit, and then took a carriage through the back gate to the Honest Heart Escort. Business had been good at the escort agency recently, so she wanted to check on things in the afternoon.

When Liu Mian Tang arrived at the escort agency and had been there for about half an hour, a carriage stopped in front of the agency.

To her surprise, it was the Zhao Quan, who had been at the Lu family, entering the escort agency in the middle of winter, carrying a folding fan.

Liu Mian Tang, who was busy with the abacus, saw him coming in and sighed softly. She then walked out from behind the counter and politely asked the marquis if he had any goods to be transported.

Zhao Jia Yu, now finally having a chance to speak with Liu Mian Tang, eagerly said, “Miss Liu, are you still upset with me? I was forced into lying by that scoundrel, Cui Jiu. Please don’t hold it against me. I came here as soon as I knew you had left the northwest to apologize...”

Liu Mian Tang lowered her gaze and replied solemnly, “I just met the marquis for the first time at the estate. As for the Cui Jiu you mentioned, I don’t know him. Why would you apologize to someone like me, an ordinary person? It’s truly baffling.”

Zhao Jiayu quickly corrected himself, “Yes, I hadn’t met you before… But Miss Liu, do you remember that you once came to me for medical consultation? If you’ve forgotten everything and pretend not to know me, I won’t accept that…”

Zhao Jiayu also had a sudden idea, insisting that Liu Mian Tang “remember” their past acquaintance. He used the excuse that she had once mistaken him for a doctor seeking advice on prescriptions, which was perfect as it wouldn’t harm her reputation and made their connection seem natural.

Liu Mian Tang thought Zhao Jiayu’s attempts to negotiate were quite annoying.

However, she now understood that being a close friend of Prince Huaiyang meant Zhao Jia Yu was far from an ordinary commoner. It turned out that this roguish doctor from the countryside was actually the Marquis of South Town.

Dealing with such high-ranking men frequently was truly exasperating for a commoner like her.

Seeing him approach her so confidently at the Lu estate earlier had indeed made her break into a cold sweat.

Liu Mian Tang wasn’t worried about her own reputation, but she was concerned that such absurdities might affect the reputation of the young ladies in the Lu family.

Fortunately, Zhao Jia Yu had quickly backed off, sparing her from having to explain things to her family. However, with Zhao Jia Yu insistently trying to establish a past acquaintance between them, Liu Mian Tang was apprehensive about what antics the wayward marquis might come up with next.

Reluctantly, Liu Mian Tang looked up and regarded Zhao Jia Yu again, saying, “Oh, now that you mention it, I recall that I once received a prescription from you when I was ill on the road. However, I truly didn’t know you were a Marquis. If I have offended you before, I ask for your forgiveness.”

Seeing that Liu Mian Tang had acknowledged their past connection, Zhao Jia Yu breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, “Let’s agree not to hold any grudges against each other, shall we?”

Liu Mian Tang felt that despite Zhao Jia Yu’s previous disparagement by Cui Xingzhou, it was clear that Zhao Jia Yu had a tendency to speak out of turn.

So, Liu Mian Tang ignored Zhao Jia Yu's overly familiar tone and continued to ask politely, “May I ask if you have any goods to be shipped?”

Zhao Jia Yu, accustomed to Liu Mian Tang’s cold demeanor, wasn’t fazed by it. 

Since returning to his residence, Zhao Jia Yu had been busy dealing with the mess in his household. He had been away from his wife for a long time, but she had inexplicably become pregnant.

The revelation of this unexpected situation caused an uproar. The old marquis’s wife was so shocked she nearly fainted and urgently instructed people to keep an eye on her daughter-in-law. She also wrote a letter to her daughter's father, who was a Duke, to seek clarification on the matter.

Eventually, Zhao Jia Yu managed to unravel the situation. He discovered that his wife had been keen on becoming a nun before their marriage, and after they wed, she remained devoted to religious practices because she was secretly involved with the son of their household steward. Even after marriage, their affair continued, and she used her devotion to Buddhism as an excuse to distance herself from him.

When she became pregnant with the illegitimate child, she initially planned to secretly give birth and then send the child away. However, a maid revealed the situation, causing the scandal to reach his mother. Both families, being prominent, could not afford to be publicly shamed. The child was too far along to be aborted, so Zhao Jia Yu’s father-in-law decided to take his daughter back to his own home, and they planned to announce that the child had died from complications during childbirth. They would then arrange for a divorce quietly.

Thus, Zhao Jia Yu, though married on paper, felt completely free. Once he had divorced his wife and removed the stain from his reputation, he could marry whoever he wished. Although Liu Mian Tang might not be suitable as a primary wife, she could certainly be a favored concubine.

To win her favor, Zhao Jia Yu decided he would need to bring a proper gift.

Seeing Liu Mian Tang return to the counter and resume working with the abacus, Zhao Jia Yu ordered a servant to bring over a large brocade box. He took out a wax-sealed porcelain jar and said, “I’ve been thinking about your injuries, so I found an ancient remedy. There’s one ingredient, eagle bone flower, that’s hard to come by. I went through a lot of trouble to obtain it. You should apply it to your injuries every day. Once your muscles and tendons are restored and connected, you should recover fully.”

Liu Mian Tang looked up at him with some skepticism. “Is what you’re saying really true?”

Zhao Jia Yu patted his chest and assured her, “As a man of integrity, I would never deceive you.”

Liu Mian Tang examined the jar. The idea of her injuries fully healing was very tempting.

“How much does it cost? I’ll pay for it,” she said after considering.

Zhao Jia Yu replied with some reluctance, “Do you really think of me as just a drug seller? Let’s consider this as a return gift for the earlier deception. Please don’t be upset with me any longer.”

Liu Mian Tang pondered for a moment and then asked another question, “Is it true that Marquis Zhao is actually related to Young Master Su?”

Zhao Jia Yu tilted his head and thought for a while. It wasn’t that he had a poor memory; it was just that he often encountered people who claimed various connections with him. The number of people who tried to attach themselves to him was overwhelming.

It seemed he didn’t actually have any blood relation to the Su family. He remembered that he had met Young Master Su at some tea party, and they had joked about being cousins, which eventually became a sort of informal kinship.

He had come to Xizhou specifically to see Liu Mian Tang. Unexpectedly, he ran into Young Master Su on the street. Young Master Su, eager to build connections, engaged warmly with Zhao Yuan, who, upon learning that Young Master Su was staying at the Lu residence, had ulterior motives for fostering ties with the Su family.

Thus, the two "cousins" quickly struck a deal.

Liu Mian Tang frowned and said, "Since you are not actually related, Marquis Zhao should clarify this to avoid any misuse of your name, which could tarnish the reputation of your household."

Zhao Jia Yu nodded vigorously, "I tend to act recklessly because I lack a responsible person to guide me, but I will definitely remember what you said, Miss Liu. If you continue to keep an eye on me, I will be grateful on behalf of everyone in the Marquis residence!"

© 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.

•••

Prev  :  TOC :  Next

https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations

https://twitter.com/FlamingoBee2009

Thank You For Reading <3