Chapter 8
Song Sanliang and Madam Qian both looked toward the silk cabinet in the east.
Song Sanliang, visibly nervous, asked, “What was that sound?”
Song Jiyun remained composed, her expression unchanged, and replied, “I had someone clean the bathroom.”
Madam Qian let out an “Oh,” no longer paying attention to the matter, and resumed her earlier topic.
“Money is just something external. As long as you are all safe and well, I can feel at ease.”
However, Song Jiyun was annoyed at Song Sanliang for scheming against her mother.
Nodding at her mother in agreement, she turned and slyly jabbed at Song Sanliang, saying,
“Eldest Uncle also knows people in the county office. Third Uncle, don’t you think we should consult Eldest Uncle about this?”
Song Sanliang’s expression darkened.
He had gone through great trouble to locate the second brother’s seal.
Until he had it in hand, he wasn’t planning to let anyone else know where it was.
“I don’t think we should tell him,” he replied with a forced smile. “The fewer people who know about this, the better.”
He took the opportunity to disparage Song Daliang. “Your Eldest Uncle can’t keep anything to himself. If he finds out, he’ll surely spread it around. If word gets out that Registrar Wang is extorting our family, we’ll all be in big trouble.”
Song Jiyun was never one to engage in verbal sparring.
She believed actions spoke louder than words.
She said, “Third Uncle is right. Let’s all think it over carefully tonight and discuss it again tomorrow.”
Seeing that he couldn’t get what he wanted that day and fearing that the matter might escalate, alerting Song Daliang, who might gain the upper hand, Song Sanliang had no choice but to say,
“Don’t think I’m exaggerating. When the county office really seals your doors, you’ll regret it, and there won’t be anything you can do about it! Don’t blame me for not helping or warning you beforehand!”
Song Jiyun casually brushed him off and sent him away.
Worried that delays might cause unexpected problems, Song Sanliang assigned someone to keep an eye on Song Jiyun, fearing she might secretly contact the people at the silver vault during the night.
After comforting her mother and sending her off, Song Jiyun called for Madam Zheng.
Taking the gift ledger she hadn’t yet returned to the ceremonial hall, she told Madam Zheng about her mother’s and Song Sanliang’s intentions.
Then she instructed, “I saw Registrar Wang’s name in the ledger. Father must have had some connection with him. Tonight, no matter what, you must find a way to meet Madam Wang.
“Ask her to speak kindly on our behalf to Registrar Wang.
“See if we can substitute jewelry or antiques for the silver.
If not, ask if we can issue a promissory note.
We will repay the full amount, with interest, within three days.”
Madam Zheng, distressed over the silver, asked, “Do we really need to include interest for something like this?”
Song Jiyun smiled and said, “Just follow my instructions.”
Madam Zheng nodded, took some items from Song Jiyun’s private storage room, and discreetly left the residence.
Song Jiyun returned to the silk cabinet.
The silk cabinet had undergone a transformation.
The small couch originally inside the wardrobe had been moved out and placed under the breezy window.
The man lay barefoot with his knees bent, reclining against the cool couch, holding one of the storybooks she had left in the cabinet.
He appeared engrossed in his reading.
When she entered, he didn’t even lift his eyelids.
It was Liuzi who, feeling guilty, pointed at the box and gestured “Yi-yi-ya-ya,” meaning he had accidentally made a noise while trying to move the box.
Perhaps because he couldn’t speak, Liuzi’s behavior was somewhat clumsy, but he never did anything that went against her orders.
That was why she had assigned him to watch over the man.
In just a short while, the man had already managed to command him to do things… She had underestimated him.
She asked Liuzi, “Why did you think of moving that box?”
Liuzi “said” that since she was letting the man stay in the silk cabinet, the small couch by the window made it inconvenient to move around, so he thought to shift the box aside.
He even scratched his head with a silly grin, “saying” he wanted to be as thoughtful as Xiang Zan and act without being told.
Song Jiyun praised him generously, then reminded him not to let anyone discover a man in her silk cabinet.
She sent him to inform Xiang Zan to bring dinner.
Liuzi enthusiastically thumped his chest in assurance and left cheerfully.
Song Jiyun sized up the man.
His bare feet on the yellow rattan-textured fabric looked as if they were carved from jade—fair, well-proportioned, and without a single scar or callus, as if they had never touched the ground.
Wait, why was there yellow rattan fabric on the couch?
When she left, she distinctly remembered that the couch had a blue orchid mat on it.
Upon closer inspection, not only was the couch covered in yellow rattan fabric, but the bolster was as well.
She realized belatedly that the bolster matched the same color fabric.
She didn’t even know what to say.
That yellow rattan fabric was her summer mat, custom-made in Suzhou.
It had only been taken out of storage this season.
Judging by the creases, it was brand new.
He was quite the hedonist.
“Cool enough for you?” Song Jiyun asked.
The man ignored her, his eyes moving leisurely from left to right as he turned a page.
Song Jiyun chuckled angrily. “Enjoying yourself? Shall I invite a troupe to perform for you?”
Her words carried a hidden jab as she glanced at the hall where she had spoken with her mother and Song Sanliang earlier.
The man raised an eyebrow and glanced at her with an amused expression.
He really was acting like a pampered guest.
Song Jiyun glared coldly at him.
When Liuzi and Xiang Zan brought in dinner, the dishes included stir-fried lotus root with lotus seeds and water caltrops, stir-fried cabbage with walnuts and mushrooms, cucumber and black fungus salad with peanuts, and a dessert of sweetened pumpkin with white fungus, alongside a bowl of mixed millet and new wheat grains.
Their household favored spicy food, so except for the sweet pumpkin dessert, everything else, though vegetarian, was stir-fried with chili peppers.
Pointing at the dessert, Song Jiyun instructed Xiang Zan, “I’m keeping this for a midnight snack. Take it away.”
Everything else was left for the man.
Holding his chopsticks, the man didn’t move for a long time.
Song Jiyun pretended not to notice.
So you’re ignoring me?
You won’t tell me your name or where you’re from?
Fine, how would I know your dietary preferences?
Eat it or don’t—it’s up to you!
Song Jiyun finished her meal, had the dishes cleared, changed into her sleepwear in the outer room, and bathed in the pool.
When she returned, the man was lying with his eyes closed, the book he had been reading discarded on the couch, seemingly asleep.
Drying her waist-length hair with a handkerchief, Song Jiyun went to the outer hall, lit some mosquito-repellent mugwort, and quietly contemplated her plans for the next few days.
It was only after the second watch that Madam Zheng returned, drenched in sweat.
“Miss!” she exclaimed angrily, dragging Song Jiyun into the inner room. “What 10,000 taels of silver?! It’s nonsense!”
This was roughly what Song Jiyun had anticipated.
Pouring Madam Zheng a cup of tea, she pressed her onto the embroidered stool and said, “Don’t rush. Take your time explaining.”
Too upset to drink tea, Madam Zheng fumed, “It took me so much effort to meet Madam Wang.
When Madam Wang heard about this, she was so shocked she almost dropped her teacup.
She invited me for tea and went to the front hall to speak with Registrar Wang.
Registrar Wang sent a message through his wife, telling us not to worry. Tomorrow, he will summon Third Master for a discussion.
He said we should focus on mourning the Old Master in peace, and the bailiffs won’t disturb us.”
Inside the silk cabinet, the man Song Jiyun thought was fast asleep suddenly opened his eyes.
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