Chapter 56: The Maid Eating Roast Goose and the Taoist Visiting the Brothel

Yingtian Prefecture was not large, and the Chang family estate was even more a focal point for all eyes within it.

Ordinarily, it would have been easy enough for the Chang family to cover up Chang Mao’s murderous act, but after the emperor sent over a hundred taels of silver, word inevitably began to spread.

Even so, those cunning old aristocrats, even if they knew, would pretend not to see. It was only Lady Xie, oblivious as ever, who came over to deliver medicine.

Wasn’t this just rubbing salt into Lady Lan’s wounds?

Yet Lady Xie’s enthusiasm seemed utterly genuine, and Lady Lan could only sigh inwardly at her lack of social grace, forcing herself to squeeze out a smile and thank her.

“Children are disobedient; I’m sorry to have made you laugh, madam!”

...

The two ladies made awkward small talk, while the Xu family’s young daughter sat quietly by, observing the adults’ expressions.

She could see the displeasure on Lady Lan’s face, but her own mother’s emotional intelligence was so low that she didn’t notice at all.

While the two women struggled through their conversation, the Chang family’s daughter and Chang Sheng came over to pay their respects to Lady Xie.

“Take your brother and sister from the Xu family to play,” the eldest Miss Chang called, beckoning to Xu Miaoyun and Xu Yungong. The Xu siblings obediently followed the Chang family’s young lady out.

“Big Sister Chang!”

Whatever intrigue might exist between the elders of the Chang and Xu families, the next generation’s feelings were unaffected. The Chang girl and the Xu girl had met before, and soon the few of them were playing together.

The boys, mischievous as boys are, ran about the courtyard, while the two girls sat chatting in the pavilion.

The Chang family’s daughter glanced at Xu Miaoyun, who never let go of her book, and spoke with envy:

“Sister, I’ve heard Uncle Xu found a tutor for you since you were a child. I’m truly envious!”

Xu Miaoyun looked up and smiled lightly.

“You’re teasing, sister. Girls reading and writing can’t earn official rank; in the end, it’s merely a pastime. Be it reading poetry or learning embroidery, it all comes down to marrying and raising children.”

Lady Chang found her polite and well-mannered, and took a liking to the little girl.

They began chatting desultorily.

“Forgive my mother, sister. She speaks her mind and often acts without thinking. When we leave, please tell your lady mother and ask her forgiveness.”

“It’s been a difficult time for your family, after what happened with your brother. Your lady mother is not in the mood for guests. I tried to persuade my mother, but she said I was being inconsiderate…”

As the two grew more familiar, Xu Miaoyun whispered to Lady Chang, who was startled. She was a few years older than Xu Miaoyun, yet hadn’t noticed the undercurrents between Lady Lan and Lady Xie.

This little girl was only six, and yet could perceive things she herself could not.

Moreover, had she not been trying to defend her mother, she probably would not have shown her cleverness so openly.

“You’re so clever, sister—just like that little Daoist boy!”

Lady Chang agreed to Xu Miaoyun’s request, unable to help but marvel.

“Little Daoist boy?”

The Xu girl’s bright eyes gazed at Lady Chang, full of curiosity.

With a gentle smile, Lady Chang recounted the story of the little Daoist priest, knowing the Xu family had already heard of Chang Mao’s incident, and so she told of the encounter with Zhang Yi that day.

“How did he know there were insects in the water?”

“Though he quoted Buddhist sages, without proof, it’s hard to say for certain!”

“Did he really set a talisman ablaze without fire?”

“How did he discover that… your brother had killed someone?”

As Lady Chang spoke, Xu Miaoyun finally let slip a trace of childish innocence. Though she’d never met the little Daoist, Zhang Yi’s actions piqued her curiosity.

He was only a year older than she, yet seemed to know so much more. He must have many books she’d never seen!

“That Daoist boy is truly interesting. I hear he’s cultivating at the Pure Mind Monastery outside the city. If you like, perhaps I can introduce you one day?”

Xu Miaoyun’s eyes shone with anticipation, but then dimmed.

“Mother doesn’t let us go out freely.”

“You can always come play with me. Perhaps in a while, I’d like to pay that little Daoist a visit myself!”

In the early Ming era, the rites of propriety were not as strict as in later times, and families of martial officials like the Changs and the Xus were different from ordinary folk.

Lady Chang thought for a moment—she truly did wish to seek advice from the young Daoist… certainly not for matchmaking, she told herself.

“All right, let’s pinky swear!”

After the two made their promise, the fraught and insincere conversation between Lady Lan and Lady Xie finally ended, and the mother and children left the Chang estate.

“Your father will be back soon. Let’s get you both some new clothes. And you, little one, don’t you love roast goose? We’ll buy some!”

Xu Miaoyun’s eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. Only at the mention of roast goose did she reveal a trace of girlish delight.

“You’re just like your father—no wonder he dotes on you!”

Lady Xie had the carriage stop by an old, well-known shop, bought roast goose for her children, and the two of them happily ate in the carriage.

They soon arrived at another old shop specializing in clothing. From a distance, the streets were filled with finely dressed ladies and a bustling crowd.

Lady Xie had the carriage stop some way off, then took her children inside.

“It’s not proper to eat outside. Stop eating now,” she said, taking the roast goose leg from Xu Yungong and wrapping it up for later.

“Why are there so many people here?”

“There’s business from the Sixteen Towers nearby!”

“So that’s why!”

Xu Miaoyun, holding her mother’s hand and her brother’s, walked through the crowds of elegant ladies.

“Shopkeeper, do you have any good-quality fabric? I want to make some clothes!” Lady Xie said, indicating herself and the two children. The shopkeeper took their measurements, while Lady Xie went off to choose dresses for herself.

The siblings looked curiously at the elegantly dressed women around them.

“Big sister, what are the Sixteen Towers?” Xu Yungong reached for the roast goose, only to have his hand smacked away by Xu Miaoyun.

He asked timidly, but his sister shook her head—she didn’t know either.

She only thought that the perfume on these ladies was too strong for her liking.

But their clothes were beautiful.

The Xu family was strict; though Xu Da had received many rewards under Zhu Yuanzhang, the siblings seldom had new clothes as fine as these.

Lost in thought, imagining herself in such beautiful attire, Xu Miaoyun suddenly realized the voices around her had gone quiet.

“Brother, where did you go?”

Looking around anxiously, she saw Xu Yungong disappear around a street corner. Her mother was nowhere in sight. Panicking, she hurried after him.

Chasing after her brother, she finally found him swept along by the crowd into a building.

“Get out!”

But the doorman, seeing Xu Yungong, shoved him to the ground.

“Waaah!” Xu Yungong wailed at the door, bringing laughter from those around.

“Such a young one, already looking for fun—ha ha!”

“The girls inside must be quite the charmers, drawing even such a little master!”

“Maybe he’s a beggar?”

The mocking words stirred Xu Miaoyun’s protective instincts. She rushed forward, pushing through the crowd, shouting for her brother.

But she was small and weak, and was shoved back, falling to the ground herself.

“My roast goose…”

Her roast goose tumbled to the ground, provoking even louder laughter from the seasoned crowd.

She had never encountered such a thing before and, overwhelmed, burst into tears.

Roast goose—she hadn’t had it in so long.

“Picking on children—isn’t that a bit much?”

At their moment of helplessness, at last someone spoke up for them. She turned to see a boy only a few years older than herself—a little Daoist priest—step out from the building.

A little Daoist visiting a brothel, and a little girl with her roast goose—their eyes met.