It was mid-spring, and the first rays of sunlight gently kissed the rooftops of Tong'an City, heralding the start of a new day.
Peach and apricot trees had burst into bloom overnight, their delicate petals trembling on the branches like fragile snowflakes, poised to fall at the slightest breeze.
A luxurious carriage swept down bustling Zhufu Street, flanked by Li Ji Hu Soup Shop on one side and Chen Er Niang’s Cloth Shop on the other. The rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed through the street, drawing curious glances from passersby until the carriage came to a halt before the Su Family Medicine Shop. Oddly, despite the hour being well past noon and every other shop open for business, the doors of the Su Family Medicine Shop remained firmly shut.
A woman in her early forties, clad in a pine-green satin jacket, gracefully descended from the carriage. She approached the old wooden door of the shop, its paint cracked and peeling, and knocked softly.
From the nearby wine shop, Chen Er Niang watched with keen interest, her eyes flitting between the carriage and the woman. Returning to her tavern, she took a sip of tea and muttered to herself, “The Zhenping Marquis Mansion certainly spares no expense, with gold and jewels adorning every carriage. I never imagined that girl, Su Yao, would rise so high.”
For days, gossip had swirled through Tong'an City about Su Yao, the adopted daughter of Shopkeeper Su, who had recently discovered her true parentage as the daughter of Shengjing's Marquis. It was said that Su Yao had transformed from a humble sparrow into a magnificent phoenix, soaring far above her modest origins.
Behind the counter, Jiang Li glanced up, her brow furrowing at the sight of the grand carriage. Hadn’t Su Yao been taken to the Marquis’s Mansion just two days ago? Why would she return today?
Before she could ponder further, a soft creak echoed from the medicine shop, followed by a low, cold voice.
“What’s going on here?”
Jiang Li recognized the voice instantly. Without hesitation, she tossed aside her ledger and hurried outside.
Nanny He, standing by the carriage, was momentarily taken aback when a young man emerged from the shop.
Having served the marquis’s wife for nearly twenty years, she had encountered many striking faces, yet this young man’s presence eclipsed them all. His cold, refined features set him apart, and she quickly realized she was face-to-face with Huo Jue, the young man the lady had mentioned.
Regaining her composure, Nanny He offered a polite smile. “Mr. Huo, I am Nanny He, in service to the marquis’s wife. I’ve come on the young lady’s behalf to deliver gifts to Shopkeeper Su as a token of gratitude for his care over the years.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Huo Jue replied, his tone distant and unyielding.
Just then, the carriage door swung open with a sharp click. Inside, Su Yao sat on a plush stool, gazing down at Huo Jue with an icy expression.
“Huo Jue,” she said condescendingly, “the gift I’ve prepared should more than suffice to keep you fed and sheltered for years. Don’t be ungrateful.”
Huo Jue barely acknowledged her, his gaze returning to the shop without a word.
Su Yao’s face contorted with anger. His indifference— that same dismissive look he’d always given her—was intolerable. Now that she was the daughter of the Marquis, how dare he still regard her with such disdain?
In a fit of rage, she hurled an ornate wooden box from the carriage, which landed with a dull thud at Huo Jue’s feet.
“Inside, you’ll find banknotes and jewels. With these, you won’t have to worry about expenses when you go to Beijing for the imperial examination next year.” Her voice dripped with mockery. “Take them, and remember—once you do, you’ll have no reason to come begging at the Marquis’s Mansion again.”
Nanny He stiffened, sensing the impropriety in Su Yao’s words. She had once believed Su Yao to be better trained, but the girl’s impulsiveness now threatened to tarnish her reputation as the Marquis's daughter.
Before Nanny He could intervene, Huo Jue bent down, picked up the wooden box, and with a swift motion, tossed it back into the carriage, where it clattered against the seat.
“Take your things and leave Tong'an City,” he said, his voice low and frigid. “Don’t show your face here again.”
A crowd had begun to gather, and among them stood Jiang Li, watching Su Yao’s outburst with disbelief. Unable to restrain herself, she finally spoke up.
“Su Yao, even if you are now the daughter of the Zhenping Marquis, Old Father Su raised you with all his heart. He’s bedridden now, and this is how you repay him?”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, voices buzzing with disapproval.
“Ungrateful!” someone spat. “Shopkeeper Su treated her like his own, and now look at her!”
The carriage quickly retreated, leaving behind an indignant crowd. Nanny He’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, barely able to conceal her dismay. As the onlookers dispersed, Jiang Li lingered, worry etched on her face as she stared at the closed door of the medicine shop.
When Jiang Li returned to the tavern, she noticed her mother’s cool gaze behind the counter.
“Come with me,” her mother said tersely.
She led Jiang Li to the back room, separated from the tavern’s bustle by a thin curtain. Once in the quiet of the flower hall, her mother tapped Jiang Li’s forehead in exasperation.
“I told you to avoid provoking Su Yao. But you just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
Jiang Li rubbed her forehead sheepishly. “I didn’t provoke her, Mother. She started it.”
“I know what you’re doing—defending Huo Jue just to spite her,” her mother sighed, softening as she placed a hand on Jiang Li’s arm. “Jiang Li, you’re old enough to understand. Su Yao has changed. She’s powerful now, and this bravado of yours might lead to trouble.”
“Don’t worry, Mother,” Jiang Li assured her, trying to sound light-hearted. “Su Yao is leaving for Shengjing today. Tong’an is miles away from the capital—she won’t bother with me.”
Her mother’s expression softened, though her eyes remained troubled. “And remember, Huo Jue will leave Tong'an one day too. I know you care for him, but he may not be the best match for you. Don’t do anything foolish.”
Jiang Li fell silent, contemplating her mother’s words.
Later, as she sat alone, practicing her needlework, her thoughts drifted to Huo Jue. Now that Su Yao was gone... was there a chance for me to pursue him?
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