For many years, An Jiu had never even distinguished between men and women in her mind, let alone understood what romantic affection was. "No," she replied.
Mei Jiu frowned in confusion. "How could it make someone lose their composure like that?"
In Mei Jiu's eyes, Mei Ru Yan had always been a strong and decisive woman, handling people and situations with flawless grace. Yet now, even she could see that someone like Mister Mo would never be a good match for any woman. Why, then, was Mei Ru Yan so deeply entangled that she couldn't free herself?
Both of them pondered this seriously for a while before gradually drifting off to sleep.
Early the next morning, An Jiu was awakened by the sound of footsteps coming and going outside.
It was still early, and Mei Jiu hadn't yet woken up. An Jiu sat stiffly in front of the dressing table, letting Yao Ye fuss over her.
Noticing her apparent displeasure, Yao Ye soothed her softly, "Tonight is New Year's Eve. By tradition, the entire household gathers for the reunion feast. You must dress more festively, my lady."
Having grown up in the West, An Jiu was unfamiliar with these customs and had no interest in them. Sensing that Mei Jiu had awakened, she relinquished control of the body.
Still half-asleep, Mei Jiu couldn't immediately regain control and slumped backward.
Yao Ye quickly steadied her. "What's wrong, my lady? Are you unwell?"
Mei Jiu mumbled groggily, "I... I'm still a little sleepy."
Reassured, Yao Ye resumed styling her hair.
This dynasty favored understated elegance, and respectable young ladies rarely wore bright colors—except during festivals and weddings. Today, Mei Jiu wore an embroidered brocade skirt with a white fox fur stole, her cheeks lightly dusted with rouge, making her even more radiant than usual.
Yao Ye admired her for a long while before sighing sincerely, "My lady truly has a beauty that could topple cities."
The words stirred Mei Jiu's melancholy. A woman's beauty was nothing compared to a good family background. In the future, she would marry someone of equal standing—a man who didn't need to be handsome or talented, just gentle-tempered and free of vices.
At this thought, Mei Jiu's face flushed. What was wrong with her? Why was she thinking about such things?
After breakfast, Mei Jiu went to find Mei Ru Yan, only to discover she wasn't there. When she asked the maids sweeping the courtyard, even they didn't know her whereabouts.
Yao Ye whispered, "The Clan School is closed today. Do you think Shishi Niang might have gone to see Mister Mo in secret?"
"Who exactly is Mister Mo?" Mei Jiu wondered. "I remember Zhao Shanchang's attendant once said he was a dashing scholar in his youth—even a Tanhua Lang. Why do you say he's an assassin from Misty Villa?"
Yao Ye explained, "That identity was just a front. He did take the imperial exams and achieved the rank of Tanhua Lang. Back then, countless young ladies secretly admired him, and many powerful families sought him as a son-in-law."
In this era, marriage wasn't strictly bound by social status. Unlike the Tang Dynasty, where aristocratic families and commoners were sharply divided, talent and wealth had become important criteria for matchmaking among the elite. However, some refined scholars looked down on merchants, preferring promising young men with literary gifts.
Before the exam results were announced, families would investigate candidates who met their criteria and station people at the announcement site. Once the rankings were posted, they would immediately negotiate marriages with the successful candidates—a practice known as "catching a son-in-law under the imperial scroll."
"As for why he took the exams," Yao Ye added, "I heard it was for a job."The business of Misty Villa was none other than killing.
Hearing this, Mei Jiu understood. Mister Mo had left so carefree after placing third in the imperial examinations not because he was dissatisfied with his ranking, but because such a conspicuous position was unsuitable for an assassin trying to conceal his identity.
"What a pity," Mei Jiu lamented. "Such a talented young man, why must he become an assassin?"
"I heard Mister Mo grew up in Misty Villa. Perhaps he had no choice." Yao Ye glanced toward the Clan School hill, realizing it would take a while for Mei Ru Yan to return. "Madam, let's go back."
"Mm," Mei Jiu replied.
The two returned to Jade Serenity Residence. Bored with nothing to do, Yao Ye found some red paper to accompany her in cutting window decorations. They had just sat down when Mei Ru Yan came looking for them.
"Sister." Mei Ru Yan's bright new crimson dress made her pretty face stand out even more, but her mood was somber.
"Come sit." Mei Jiu didn't pry into her private affairs.
Mei Ru Yan picked up scissors and absentmindedly cut for a while before finally giving in to the urge to confide. "Aren't you going to ask where I went?"
"I wanted to, but was afraid you wouldn't want to say," Mei Jiu answered honestly.
"I went to see Mister Mo. I cooked him a meal, but he didn't appreciate it." Mei Ru Yan smiled self-deprecatingly. "Chasing after him like this—doesn't it seem too forward of me?"
Mei Jiu remained silent, tacitly agreeing. Having read too many books on feminine virtues, Mei Jiu naturally restrained herself, while Mei Ru Yan, raised in a brothel, held entirely different views on matters of the heart.
"I know, but I can't help how I feel." Mei Ru Yan lowered her gaze to the red paper in her hands, her usually smiling face now tinged with melancholy.
"This servant has something to say, though I don't know if I should," Yao Ye said as she placed a cup of tea before Mei Ru Yan.
"Go ahead." Mei Ru Yan looked up at her.
Yao Ye continued, "After coming to Mei Manor, apart from Madam, you haven't gotten to know anyone else. Spending so much time with Mister Mo, it's natural to develop feelings—though they might not necessarily be romantic."
Such words might have fooled Mei Jiu, but Mei Ru Yan had learned about relations between men and women by the age of seven or eight. How could she not distinguish between a teacher-student bond and romantic affection?
She smiled faintly and said no more.
Yao Ye quietly changed the subject. "Tonight is the New Year's Eve feast, and we may have to stay up late. Tomorrow morning, we must pay respects to the elders. The two madams should rest after lunch, or you won't be able to stay awake."
Mei Manor had few rules, but familial duties couldn't be ignored. While ordinary days might be lax, holiday rituals couldn't be skipped.
After lunch at Jade Serenity Residence, Mei Ru Yan returned with Dan Yue to her quarters for a nap, awaiting the evening feast.
The Mei family had a banquet hall where, during major festivals, the entire Mei Shi clan would gather for celebration.
Plum Blossom Village wasn't just Mei Manor—outside its walls lay villages formed by Mei clan branches, and tonight's feast included them as well.
A banquet of over nine hundred people was truly a grand occasion.
Preparations had begun intermittently since winter's arrival. By tonight, the banquet hall in the front courtyard was bustling. Children played in groups, while two enormous screens divided the hall into sections, leaving a central pathway. Elders sat at the head, while younger men in brand-new clothes gathered below, engaged in lively discussions. The other side was reserved for the women.
Only at times like these did Mei Manor brim with vitality, every face beaming with joy.
Meanwhile, in the ancestral hall, incense smoke curled solemnly through the air.Following the annual tradition, Mei Zhengyan led the descendants of Mei Shi in ancestral worship before the banquet commenced.
After the ceremony, everyone took their seats in the side hall.
"Has the news been spread?" Mei Zhengyan inquired.
Mei Zhengjing replied, "It's already out there. Now we wait to see if she takes the bait."
To uncover the mastermind behind Old Madam of the main branch, they had deliberately spread rumors that Mei Shi intended to withdraw from the Crane Control Army and retreat into seclusion.
Elder Qi tapped his bone staff rhythmically against the floor, producing an unsettling thud. "Even now, I still find this far too risky."
After a brief silence, Mei Zhengyan said, "We're standing at the precipice. Whether she's colluding with the enemy or planted by The Emperor as a spy, she’s pushing Mei Shi toward the edge. We have no choice but to gamble."
"If that's the case, then a discreet elimination would suffice..." Like Mei Zhengyan, Elder Qi belonged to the conservative faction.
Assassination was one of Mei Shi’s specialties. With a single order from the family head, there were countless ways to make Old Madam of the main branch disappear.
"Our desire for seclusion isn’t rebellion. Even if The Emperor learns of this, he’ll likely assume we’re disheartened by the Lou Shi incident. Even if we don’t voice it, he’ll speculate. Once he confirms our intentions, he’ll inevitably grow suspicious of the other families." Mei Zhengjing lightly traced the embroidery on his wide sleeve. "This is the perfect opportunity to drag them down with us."
"Are you suggesting rebellion?" one elder whispered sharply.
Mei Zhengjing’s gaze was icy. "Self-preservation."
It was the incompetence of those in power that forced their subjects to resort to such measures.
"I may not possess Elder Zhi’s foresight, but I know the Mei family creed: 'Loyalty, Integrity, and Righteousness.' With the Liao Kingdom eyeing us greedily, ready to invade at any moment, if all the generals in the court act as we do, we might as well hand over the Great Song to spare the people the ravages of war." Elder Qi rose slowly, preparing to leave.
Mei Zhengjing had indeed weighed the choice between minor principles and greater righteousness. But serving such a master—even death wouldn’t ease his indignation.
"Do as you please. I wash my hands of this!" Mei Zhengjing stormed off, truly abandoning the matter without hesitation.
The remaining elders turned to Mei Zhengyan.
"Proceed as planned," he declared.
The elders fell silent, tacitly accepting the decision.
As dusk deepened and the banquet approached, the group left the ancestral hall for the feast.
Shortly after stepping out, an Apothecary's apprentice came running in a panic. "Elders, the Medicine hut is on fire!"
Elder Qi frowned, his first thought being that Mo Sigui had caused trouble again. "What happened?"
"The Medicine cauldron exploded," the apprentice gasped. "Brother Mo is leading the effort to put it out."
"I’ll go check." Elder Qi sprinted off. This was disastrous—the Medicine hut housed years of painstakingly collected rare herbs. Even using a small amount felt like cutting flesh. If a fire destroyed them all, how could he bear it?
Mei Zhengyan ordered servants to send twenty men to assist before heading to the banquet hall with the other elders.
Guests gradually arrived. Among the women, the two Old Madams took precedence, with Mei Jiu, Mei Ru Yan, and Mei Ruhan seated beside them. Mei Ruhan’s concubine stood behind Old Madam, attending to her.
These were all that remained of the main branch’s women.Compared to the quietness here, the Second Madam's side was much livelier, with girls of all ages gathered around her trying to curry favor. The Second Madam glanced at Old Madam, her face brimming with smug satisfaction.
Old Madam snorted through her nose and lowered her eyes to sip her tea quietly.
………………(To be continued……)
PS: The second update will be after midnight, everyone can check back tomorrow.
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