maidservant

Chapter 156 The Marquis Searches for His Son, the Old Woman Talks About Porcelain
The two traveled at a leisurely pace until they reached Nanzhou.

Under the archway of Cultural Street, the two bought a bag of pastries.

In early spring, the southern region was bathed in a warm, misty atmosphere. The moment Yun Shan lifted the carriage curtain, it was as if she had fallen into a long ink painting scroll.

The terraced fields, layer upon layer, meander along the mountainside. An old farmer slowly moves forward, holding a wooden plow. The newly turned soil gleams with an oily sheen. Startled egrets fly over the white walls and black tiles. This scene makes her fingertips tremble slightly—Lin Xiao once said that he used to love chasing egrets across the entire rice field when he was a child.

"No wonder he always has this air of ease about him."

Yun Shan murmured, gazing at the children playing in the distance. Those behaviors, praised as unrestrained and carefree in the capital, now seemed to be the natural charm nurtured by this land.

Zhanqian reined in the carriage, and as it rolled over the bluestone bridge, the stream below babbled and reflected the newly sprouted willow buds on both banks.

A woman leaning against the railing of a teahouse, casually tossing silver ingots into the river to feed the fish, caught Yun Shan's attention. It turned out that his carefree attitude had long been rooted in this small bridge and flowing water.

Although I have never been there, seeing these things reminds me of the person.

Of all the myriad plants and trees, none are without him, yet none are not him.

The sound of a washerwoman's washing mallet mingled with a nursery rhyme as Yunshan broke osmanthus cake into pieces and scattered them onto the river surface, where red carp leaped up in a frenzy.

She gently stroked the unglazed porcelain vase she had just purchased from her sleeve, then suddenly turned to Zhanqian, who was driving beside her, and asked, "Did Lin Xiao like to run out of the manor to cause trouble when he was young?"

Before he finished speaking, Zhanqian tightened his grip on the reins slightly, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Memories flooded back, taking him to the streets and alleys of Nanzhou more than a decade ago: "It wasn't just being naughty. The general hated the rules of the Marquis's mansion the most, and when I was seven, he would take me out through the dog hole."

He paused, a tender glint of reminiscence in his eyes. "Back then, merchant ships often docked at the Nanzhou wharf, and wealthy young men loved to gang up on poor boatmen. Once, we caught a few spoiled brats robbing fishermen of their catch, and the young master immediately grabbed an oar from the shore."

Yun Shan imagined young Lin Xiao wielding the oars, her eyes welling with tears, yet she couldn't help but chuckle softly: "And then?"

"Later, things naturally escalated into a major conflict."

Zhan Qian shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Those scions of noble families were no match for the young master. They were beaten to a pulp in no time. But when this reached the ears of the old Marquis, the young master was hung from the old locust tree in front of the ancestral hall that very night."

His voice gradually lowered, "I remember that it rained particularly hard that night, and the old marquis's hand holding the rattan cane was trembling. But the general gritted his teeth and refused to admit his mistake, even shouting at the old marquis, 'A true man cannot live in this world and turn a deaf ear to injustice.'"

As Yun Shan gazed at the clouds on the horizon, dyed red by the setting sun, the image of that stubborn boy seemed to appear before her eyes.

It turns out that the chivalry in his bones had already taken root and sprouted when he was young.

She recalled Lin Xiao's usual nonchalant demeanor, yet he would secretly slip money to beggars on the street, help students from impoverished backgrounds raise travel expenses, and refuse to travel with corrupt officials because he couldn't stand their rule. These past events overlapped with Zhanqian's narration, piecing together a more vivid picture of Lin Xiao.

"The old Marquis actually doted on the General." Zhanqian's voice carried a hint of emotion. "Although the General was born out of wedlock, the old Marquis hired the famous Mr. Zhuang from Nanzhou to teach him. But the General didn't like those literary writings and just hid in the tree to secretly watch the Marquis practice his swordplay."

"After that beating, the old Marquis personally applied medicine to the young master, muttering, 'Next time, if you're going to beat him, you should call the guards from the manor.' From then on, the guards in the manor were all ordered to follow the young master openly and secretly, ostensibly to 'protect him,' but in reality, the old Marquis was worried about him."

Each memory weaves together a time that Yunshan never participated in, as if she were watching him grow up.

“Why don’t we rest here for a few months?” Yunshan said to Zhanqian.

"it is good."

Based on their memories, Zhanqian found the matchmaker. The matchmaker was fair-skinned and plump, with a cheerful appearance. She immediately led them to a small courtyard.

"The small courtyard looks quite peaceful."

Yunshan stood in front of the half-meter-high bamboo fence, her fingertips gently tracing the emerald green vines that entwined around it.

A few pale purple flowers bloomed sporadically on the vines, swaying gently in the breeze.

Inside the fence, an old well stands quietly in the center of the yard, with an old wooden bucket hanging from the well rope, the well rim worn smooth and shiny by the years.

"The rent is three taels of silver, for three months."

The landlord, a kind-looking middle-aged man, rubbed his hands together and chuckled, "The back room is more spacious, and the front room has a small kitchen, which is convenient for cooking."

Yunshan took out three taels of silver from her sleeve and handed it over: "This will do."

She looked up and surveyed the small courtyard with its white walls and gray tiles. The two rooms were arranged in a staggered manner, and traces of last night's rain remained on the bluestone slab in front of the door.

The house behind is hidden behind a grove of green bamboo. Through the bamboo shadows, you can see paper-cuts pasted on the window lattice, which exude a sense of warmth.

"Thank you, young lady!" The landlord took the silver, beaming from ear to ear. "Here are the keys. Just let me know if you need anything!" With that, he placed a bunch of brass keys in Yun Shan's hand and turned to leave.

"You've traveled a long way, why don't you go and rest in the carriage? I'll get ready first."

Yunshan turned to Zhanqian and said.

Zhanqian did not reply, but simply walked into the courtyard with her.

Zhanqian walked straight to the room in front, pushed open the door, and found a wooden bed and a simple wooden table inside. Against the wall was a small kitchen with a canopy, and half a jar of pickled vegetables remained on the stove.

“I’ll stay in the front; it’ll be easier to look after the horses and cook.” Zhan Qian placed his luggage on the table. “Miss Song, please feel free to stay in the back; it’s quieter there.”

Yunshan didn't refuse him; she nodded, picked up her bundle, and walked towards the back room.

Pushing open the small wooden door, a faint scent of wood wafts out.

The room was very tidy. A carved bed was placed by the window, and a rough pottery vase with a few fresh wild chrysanthemums in it was placed on the windowsill.

She placed her bundle on the bed, walked to the window, and looked at the old well in the yard and the vines on the fence, feeling a sense of peace.

As night fell, Yunshan sat by the window, listening to the distant sound of the night watchman's drum and watching the moonlight spill onto the vines on the fence.

The night in Nanzhou was quiet and gentle; at this moment, she felt as if she had truly become one with this land.

Because of one person, one comes to know and fall in love with a city. The next day, Yunshan packed her luggage and washed her clothes.

The sound of a flute coming from deep within the bamboo forest on the opposite bank made her vaguely see the young Lin Xiao leaning against a bamboo branch, playing with bamboo leaves with his fingertips, a sly smile hidden in his eyes.

"Sister's clothes are like colorful clouds!" A clear child's voice suddenly burst from the other side of the river.

The crumbs of osmanthus cake in Yunshan's hand fell into the stream, creating ripples like silver scales.

She looked up and saw three little girls with pigtails bouncing around on the other side of the stone bridge. The one in front of her was wearing an indigo jacket, with rosy cheeks and two golden rapeseed flowers pinned in her hair.

"Don't disturb the guests." An old woman with a jujube wood cane emerged from the bamboo grove, the mugwort in her bamboo basket glistening with morning dew, its fragrance wafting behind her.

The old man's deep-set eyes curved into crescents, his cloudy eyes brimming with laughter: "Looks like you're a guest from afar, staying for a long time, huh? The sun is scorching, if you don't mind, would you like to come to my humble abode for a bowl of fresh tea?" He reached out to pull Yunshan along.

Yunshan quickly stepped aside, but her fingertips inadvertently touched the calluses on the old man's palm.

These hands were as rough as tree bark, yet they carried the warmth of a furnace. But Yunshan, cautious since childhood, found it difficult to put herself at ease with someone upon first meeting. After instinctively turning away, Yunshan sensed the old woman's kindness.

"You're too kind, old lady." Yun Shan let the old woman take her arm and walk with small steps, the wild mint sprouting from the cracks in the bluestone slab brushing against her skirt.

It was just around the corner. Unlike Kyoto, this place is not like Kyoto, where houses are next to each other, and a hundred or so people live in a small alley.

Although this place is several tens of meters apart, it can still be considered a neighbor.

Suddenly, I saw a half-bloomed rose with dew peeking out from inside the pink wall, morning glories climbing all over the bamboo fence, the wooden door ajar, and beans picked that morning still hanging on the copper ring.

"Please come in!" The old woman lifted the indigo coarse cloth curtain, and the aroma of freshly brewed tea wafted into the room.

Tea bowls were set out on the octagonal table. Yunshan looked at them and saw that they were unglazed blanks with the swirl marks left on the rims from hand-throwing.

"People around here seem to really like porcelain," Yun Shan said casually.

"Yes, we were originally a major porcelain-making family here. Back then, there were several families that specialized in making official kiln porcelain for tribute. We even had a porcelain merchant here who made his fortune from porcelain. He was incredibly wealthy!"

"His daughter married some high-ranking official in the capital, with a dowry of countless gold and silver treasures, including more than twenty chests of fine porcelain. She became a concubine. The younger brother in the family could then go to the official school to study. The whole family was hoping that their youngest son could pass the imperial examination and become an official, so that the family could completely escape their status as merchants. But later, alas!" The old woman sighed and shook her head.

"What happened next?" Yunshan asked.

"Later, that minister, I think his surname was Yan, joined someone in a rebellion and his family was raided. That woman certainly didn't have a good ending either. We don't know the specifics, but she never came back after she got married."

Yun Shan paused, her hand still holding her teacup. Could it be the fifth concubine from the Yan family back then? It really was her!
Fifth Concubine had been driven mad and died long before the Yan family, who were known for their cruelty, were raided. Her dowry had already filled the hole that the Yan family could never fill.

"Later, were these merchants implicated?" Yun Shan didn't tell the story of Fifth Aunt, but only asked about her family's situation.

"Fortunately, she was just a concubine, so it didn't have a big impact. It's just that her children can no longer go to school, and the whole family has to keep a low profile and continue doing what they used to do."

"Our unglazed porcelain cups, paired with the cloud and mist tea from the back mountain, may not fetch a high price, but the tea is incredibly fragrant!"

"Try it."

The old woman poured boiling water into the teacup, and the tea leaves unfurled in the water like dark green butterflies.

She went on and on about her son being a potter and the Nanzhou people's fondness for using porcelain for flower arranging. Every sentence ended with a rising tone, giving it a distinctive local accent, much like Lin Xiao's animated manner when he spoke.

Yunshan took a sip of tea, the warm tea soothing her throat. Suddenly, the sound of children's laughter came from outside the window. Several barefoot children chased bamboo dragonflies across the courtyard, startling the thrushes under the eaves into fluttering flight.

The old woman got up to shoo people away, scolding them, "Don't frighten the guests," but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened with her smile.

At that moment, the sunlight filtering through the eaves fell directly on the age spots on the back of the old man's hand.

Looking at the dancing spot of light, Yun Shan understood that Lin Xiao's inherent kindness was the warmth of the morning mist, the streams, and the old woman's palm in Nanzhou. It was this land that had infused human warmth into every dawn and dusk, brewing a warmth etched into his very blood.

As dusk settled over the bamboo fence, a soft "tap-tap" sound suddenly came from the wooden lattice window.

The old woman rose shakily, muttering, "Who is this? It must be that greedy cat Abu coming to ask for tea again. That little girl loves my tea. I'll go open the door." Yun Shan stood up, pursed her lips, nodded to the old woman, put down her teacup, and tilted her head to look around. She saw a familiar black hem flash past the doorway amidst the swaying bamboo shadows.

"Zhanqian?" When she saw it was Zhanqian, she suddenly stood up, her skirt brushing against the low stool with a soft sound.

When I went out this afternoon, Zhanqian had just left. I saw him carrying a bag and heading towards the market. So I didn't tell Zhanqian that I was visiting my neighbor.

Seeing his slightly furrowed brows and wary gaze sweeping across the room, she suddenly felt flustered—could it be that he thought something had happened to her?
Yunshan hurried over.

"This is my younger brother!" Yun Shan rushed to the door in three quick steps, the silk flower in her hair trembling slightly with the movement.

She winked at Zhanqian, then turned to the old woman and smiled, "He's always been impatient; if he can't see me, he'll search the whole street for me."

The old woman squinted, looking the two of them up and down. Her wrinkles crinkled into a smile like blooming chrysanthemums. "So you're siblings! You don't look alike at all. You're much prettier than your brother!" she said, reaching out to pinch Yun Shan's flushed cheek. "Such a pretty face, so delicate and fresh."

Yun Shan lowered her head and smiled faintly, her ear tips burning.

The old woman's cloudy eyes were full of affection: "Today I saw you staring blankly at the bamboo grove and the stream, your brows and eyes seemed shrouded in mist, your face full of sorrow, it didn't look good! Look at you now, your smile is brighter than the newly blooming peonies in the backyard!"

As they parted, the old woman insisted on stuffing a handful of dried mugwort into their sleeves. Yunshan clutched the warm herbs, and only after hearing the wooden door creak shut behind her did she breathe a sigh of relief and look at Zhanqian.

His expression was grave, and he swallowed hard before speaking: "Just now at the tavern..."

"I overheard the patrons talking about the news of Lord Lin's search for someone," Zhan Qian said. "The old lord has sent many people, including his former subordinates whom he hadn't contacted before to avoid suspicion. This time, the lord went to them for help, and they've been searching the border for a month now, but still..."

Zhan Qian swallowed hard, then continued, "But there's still no sign of the General and Empress Gu, nor any corpses. News of some people who look somewhat similar has been sent to the old Marquis through letters."

"The old Marquis is ill; he's always been quite robust,"

Those letters scattered along the border represent more than just longing; they also reflect a father's unwillingness to believe that his son, who grew up freely on this land, would disappear into the sandstorm.

The two remained silent, silently grieving.