An Jin cleared his throat. “Never mind. Boss, give us twenty buns.”
An Jin’s mood seemed unusually good. He bought twenty large meat buns and then distributed them to the small beggars squatting on the street. The beggars ran wildly around the street in joy.
I was puzzled by his kindness and tried to probe indirectly if he was about to be promoted, but he just smiled and remained silent. Finally, when I pestered him too much, he helplessly knocked me on the head and sighed, “Silly A Yao.”
Recently, he liked to call me silly, and every time he said so, my heart would become like a piece of dough in a pot – soft and pliable. This wasn’t good, not good at all.
The morning market on East Street was called the “Dim Sum Market.” After eating two spring pancakes and a bowl of soybean milk, I still felt unsatisfied and set my eyes on the locust leaf cold dish not far away. The shop was bustling with business, with a long queue already formed. An Jin was worn down by my persistence and had to queue up in his purple official robe, which stood out among the gray clothes and cloth skirts. The shop owner personally came out to invite him in, but he waved his hand, saying his wife had instructed him not to abuse his power.
I watched from nearby, laughing uncontrollably. I secretly plotted how to systematically cut off all the various romantic entanglements around him after we made up, feeling confident and spirited.
Just then, I inadvertently spotted a familiar person.
This familiar person was accompanied by a beautiful woman, who was holding a two-year-old girl in a red coat.
The family of three sat by the roadside eating wontons.
I rubbed my eyes, confirming I wasn’t mistaken. This familiar person was Duan Chang, the young master I had a romantic encounter with when I was sixteen. After some reflection, it seemed that after our peaceful parting, he had ultimately recognized his true orientation and returned to the ordinary path of marriage and children.
I felt somewhat emotional. If he had recognized this earlier before knowing me, perhaps the woman sitting beside him holding their child would have been me. However, no matter how I imagined it, I couldn’t picture such a scene. I could only say that marriage fate was indeed mysterious. Looking back now, I felt this was just a side branch on my tree – unable to bloom or bear fruit.
An Jin was still moving forward in the queue, occasionally looking back to check if I was still in the same place. I felt deeply reassured.
Duan Chang’s family finished their wontons, paid, and happened to walk towards my direction. I wanted to lower my head and pretend not to see, but our eyes met directly. He looked slightly surprised, said something to his wife, and then walked towards me.
His wife stood in place, offering me a friendly smile, which I returned with a nod. Duan Chang sat beside me and said casually, “Long time no see.”
After some small talk, I learned that he had indeed married soon after our separation, to a well-born official’s daughter. His wife was virtuous, skilled at playing the qin, and they quickly became inseparable, having a beloved daughter and living quite contentedly.
He knew I had married An Jin and praised his youthful achievements and extraordinary demeanor. I modestly said, “He’s just somewhat good-looking.” Duan Chang repeatedly waved his hand, insisting I was being too modest. “Never in Qi State’s history has an official been promoted to the second rank within three years of entering the court. An is truly a once-in-a-century talent.” He then looked at me with slight sympathy. “Being his wife must not be easy.”
I, however, felt it was quite easy.
We chatted for a while longer, and then he stood to leave. I glanced at his wife and daughter waiting nearby and couldn’t help but advise him, “Now that you have a lovely child and beautiful wife, please don’t go to Linglong House anymore.”
His expression immediately became strange. After hesitating, he revealed the truth.
It turned out he wasn’t actually a cut-sleeve. That day at Linglong House, he had been dragged in while drunk and only stayed for a moment before leaving, coincidentally being seen by me. Later, he wanted to explain but saw that I wasn’t heartbroken, instead seeming somewhat relieved. He realized I didn’t truly care for him and left disappointedly.
I was very surprised.
After Duan Chang left with his wife and child, I remained in shock for a long time. I had thought he had betrayed me, but it turned out I had dissolved our own marriage fate. While I couldn’t say I felt regret, I gained some insight. Sometimes men need a sense of being loved more than women, and if they lose this feeling, they might choose to leave. Would An Jin be the same?
I lowered my head, completely unaware that An Jin was standing not far in front of me, his brow increasingly furrowed.
Chapter Eight: No Way to Take a Concubine
An Jin placed the noodles in front of me. Having stood in the wind for a long time, his lips were slightly pale, and his usually impeccable hair was somewhat disheveled. I came to my senses and, seeing his poor complexion, hurriedly pulled him to sit down. When I touched his skin, the coolness made me instinctively withdraw.
“Are you very cold?” I cupped his hands in mine, breathing warmth onto them. He had queued to buy cold dish for me, so I warmed his hands – a fair exchange that made me feel at ease. “This spring seems especially cold. It looks like we’ll have a cool summer.”
His expression softened slightly. He took chopsticks from the holder and handed them to me, seemingly casually asking, “That person just now—”
“Duan Gongzi,” I glanced at him, seeing his normal expression, and continued, “My father’s supervisor’s son.”
“I know.”
Hanlin Academy’s Duan Xiushen’s second son, Duan Chang, currently a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Justice, twenty-five years old, married.
I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but he seemed to emphasize the last two words particularly strongly.
I was full of admiration. No wonder Duan Chang praised An Jin as an extraordinary talent. He could understand a person’s background, official rank, and even marital status with just a glance – truly worthy of his position as the Personnel Department Vice Minister who managed the employment and assessment of all Qi State officials.
He seemed somewhat embarrassed by my direct admiring gaze, turning his eyes away. “I just…” “I understand,” I said, stirring my chopsticks and scooping down a mouthful of noodles. “No wonder you’ve been promoted so quickly. Do you remember the background of every official so clearly?”
I feel extremely oppressed. Are the Song family and I just incompatible, or what? Their son snatched my big brother’s intended bride, and now their daughter wants to steal my husband. Do the people my family choose look like some kind of delicacy that everyone wants to grab?
The Song family is considered a prestigious family. A noble young lady wanting to become a concubine is puzzling. Madam Song acts like I don’t exist. She spent time complaining to my mother-in-law, saying her daughter is devoted to An Jin, who cares deeply for her daughter; otherwise, he wouldn’t have proposed. She hinted that I’ve been married to An Jin for over a year without a child. The matchmaker praised the Song family’s third young miss. If it weren’t for my mother-in-law sitting coldly at the head of the table, I would have grabbed the broom and swept them out.
My mother-in-law’s brow furrowed tighter, making me feel uneasy. She doesn’t like me. Could she be swayed into wanting An Jin to take a concubine?
My mother-in-law rubbed her forehead and glanced at Madam Song, speaking in a flat tone. “This is not something I can manage. Let them decide for themselves.”
