Chapter 34: The First Appearance of Beauty Stirring Trouble (Part One)

Chu Xiu kept her head bowed as she retraced her steps to Zhi Yan Pavilion, relying on memory to guide her way. Fortunately, no one troubled her along the path. She remembered that before visiting the Grand Madam, Zhu Ying had mentioned Yun Ci wanted to see her, so she decided to wait outside the study first.

The layout of Zhi Yan Pavilion was simple, not nearly as ornate and complicated as she had imagined. Chu Xiu wandered in the garden for some time, noticing the absence of any feminine touches—the arrangements were austere and robust, even the servants she encountered wore plain clothing.

This discovery brought her a secret delight. After wandering for a while, she grew familiar with the pavilion's arrangement, but despite exploring every corner, she could not locate the study and had to return to her own quarters.

Luckily, Dan Xin was still there. Chu Xiu gestured for a long while, expressing her thoughts, until Dan Xin finally smiled and explained, "The master's study isn't inside Zhi Yan Pavilion."

As she spoke, Dan Xin gestured with her hands, as if words alone couldn't suffice: "The master's study is its own garden, connected to Zhi Yan Pavilion. Two entrances, two exits—you pass through the side hall. There, right over there." She pointed out the direction as she spoke.

Chu Xiu nodded, returned to her room to put away her earrings, and then made her way over. Along the way, she encountered several guards, all courteous; Zhu Ying must have informed them in advance. Following Dan Xin's directions, Chu Xiu finally found the study and understood why Yun Ci had set it apart in its own garden.

"Qing Xin Study" was the garden's name. Inside, several rooms were filled entirely with books; outside, small plaques categorized the volumes. Large flat stones were laid out in the sun—clearly intended for drying books.

There was also a spacious, empty room with four long rosewood tables at its center, eight sets of brush and ink laid out on top, and forty or so carved sandalwood chairs arranged around, presumably for meetings or entertaining guests.

Chu Xiu stood outside the room, leaning sideways to peer inside. She had barely glanced in when a playful voice sounded behind her: "Neck stiff?"

Turning, she saw Zhu Ying wheeling Yun Ci into the garden. Embarrassed by her lack of manners, Chu Xiu smiled apologetically and stepped forward, gesturing, "Did you call for me earlier?"

"Yes, I have something for you," Yun Ci replied, signaling Zhu Ying to wheel him into the small study, then said to Chu Xiu, "Come with me."

Chu Xiu followed, noting that there were no thresholds anywhere in the garden, just gentle ramps, much like Zhi Yan Pavilion. Zhu Ying pushed Yun Ci smoothly into the study and withdrew silently, leaving Chu Xiu to attend.

Yun Ci took a small booklet from the desk and said, "Here is your household registration from Fangzhou, as well as your indenture for the Yun residence. Look it over."

Household registration? Yun Ci's actions were astonishingly swift! Chu Xiu quickly took the booklet and flipped through it. Sparse lines recorded the sixteen-year life of a girl named Chu Xiu, complete with parents' names and ancestral origins, every detail meticulously accounted for. The writing was precise, leaving no gaps.

The pages were yellowed, suggesting age. Were she not the subject herself, Chu Xiu would hardly believe it was a forgery.

No—it wasn't truly a forgery. Though Chu Xiu's identity was fabricated, the registration itself was genuine. It bore the official seal of Fangzhou, along with various anonymous red clay stamps and fingerprints, evidently the witnesses of those who handled it.

Chu Xiu clutched the booklet, bewildered, until Yun Ci roused her with a gentle tap on the desk.

"Memorized everything?" Yun Ci asked with a soft smile.

Chu Xiu nodded.

"Then let me test you," Yun Ci said, handing her two sheets of rice paper. "Prepare the ink. I’ll ask, you write."

Chu Xiu obeyed, rolling up her sleeves and pouring water to grind the ink.

"How many seals are on the household register?" Yun Ci began.

Surprised, Chu Xiu had expected questions about the recorded facts, not such an unusual detail. After a moment's thought, she wrote, "Nine."

"Which seal is the Fangzhou official's?" Yun Ci asked.

"The third," she wrote.

"Good." Yun Ci seemed pleased, smiling as he continued, "One last question—how many entrances and bends from Yinxiang Zuiyue to Zhi Yan Pavilion?"

This question left Chu Xiu amused. She quickly sketched the path—every entrance, bend, the places passed, and the courtyards—without missing a detail.

At last, Yun Ci’s eyes showed genuine approval. "You have a photographic memory?"

Chu Xiu tilted her head thoughtfully, then wrote, "Not exactly, just a very good memory."

"You do know how to be modest," Yun Ci laughed, his expression as gentle as a spring breeze, as if it could blush the peach blossoms. He tapped the desk with his index finger, murmuring, "Seems I’ll need to adjust my plans."

Chu Xiu didn't understand and mouthed, "What?"

Yun Ci did not elaborate. Instead, he pointed to a blank page in the household register, his smile ambiguous. "Write your name here and press your fingerprint. You’ll officially be part of the Yun residence."

"Why is the indenture blank?" Chu Xiu pointed at the register and asked.

"I haven't had time to write it yet. What, do you think I’m deceiving you?" Yun Ci’s gaze rippled with amusement. "Afraid I’ll sell you to traffickers?"

Chu Xiu laughed. She was indeed overthinking. The household register had been arranged by Yun Ci, stating she served as a maid in the Yun residence; what difference would her fingerprint make? It was merely the truth.

Thinking so, Chu Xiu wrote her name in the blank space and pressed her thumb, dipped in red clay, solemnly beside it.

Yun Ci placed the booklet on his desk and said, "You belong to Zhi Yan Pavilion. Aside from my mother, you don't need to pay respects to anyone. At family banquets, you’ll naturally meet others."

He paused, then asked, "Did Dan Xin explain about the concubines, younger brothers, and sisters?"

Chu Xiu nodded, then wrote, "The names of the young masters and ladies are lovely."

"My father chose them," Yun Ci replied, seemingly unwilling to discuss further. He withdrew his smile and said, "Today is your first day here, so rest well. From tomorrow, your official duties begin—you’ll serve in Qing Xin Study, attending to brush and ink. Come promptly at three quarters past the hour of the dragon."

Chu Xiu bowed in acknowledgment.

"And," Yun Ci looked at her, "tomorrow I’ll teach you to use the abacus."

The abacus? Chu Xiu’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Didn't we agree on this before coming to Fangzhou?" Yun Ci said calmly. "Do you plan to spend your life grinding ink and writing?"

Truthfully, a lifetime spent grinding ink would not be bad, but it was hardly practical. Yun Ci was right; accounting was a useful skill, and learning it would do her no harm. With this in mind, Chu Xiu thanked him and withdrew.

For the next half month, Chu Xiu studied daily in Qing Xin Study, following Yun Ci’s instruction—first learning the abacus and memorizing formulas, then reading simple ledgers. Yun Ci was delighted by her memory and comprehension, so his teaching grew more rapid.

By late March, Chu Xiu could already read the annual accounts. She herself felt it wasn’t much of an achievement, but to Yun Ci, it was extraordinary—especially since she was a girl.

How many women in this world were illiterate all their lives? Those who could read and write were mostly noble daughters. Some women managed small businesses, but Yun residence was the greatest merchant house in the land, with ledgers so complex and sums so vast as to be rare.

That Chu Xiu could grasp a two-year-old ledger in just twenty days—especially one from the brocade workshop—was cause for Yun Ci’s admiration. This silent girl seemed tireless in her learning, and even more remarkably, she could draw parallels and learn beyond her lessons.

Moreover, she was not proud or complacent, seemingly unaware of her own cleverness, always humble and eager to learn.

This compelled Yun Ci to repeatedly adjust his plans. He had intended to teach her only the basics, but now he was increasing the difficulty without realizing it.

One learned deeply, the other taught joyfully. Yun Ci knew that, at this rate, not even the most advanced ledgers would be beyond Chu Xiu; it was simply a matter of time.

Meanwhile, Chu Xiu noticed that lately, more and more people were coming and going in Yun residence—or rather, there were more unfamiliar faces in Qing Xin Study. The consequence was that Yun Ci began instructing her to avoid the study, even spending a whole day without summoning her.

Chu Xiu grew increasingly idle, but strangely, everyone else in Zhi Yan Pavilion became busier, especially Dan Xin and Qian Yun, who appeared exhausted every day.

This phenomenon became even more pronounced in the final days of March. Chu Xiu watched others rush about while she remained idle, gradually feeling a sense of estrangement, as if an invisible barrier separated her from the rest.

Chu Xiu disliked this feeling. She hesitated for a whole day before catching Dan Xin to ask why.

Dan Xin laughed, "You must not know. Yun residence is the greatest merchant house in the land, with countless branches and shops everywhere. In the past, those in charge would come to report accounts and matters before the new year, but business has grown, and there are more branch members each year, so everyone started crowding in before the year’s end, overwhelming the household."

"The tradition is that the branches come before the Grand Madam and the master before New Year’s—it’s been that way for centuries, hard to change. So starting a few years ago, the Grand Madam decided to delay the reporting until the end of March. That way, the managers can travel after the New Year, report the previous year’s accounts and plans for the next year all at once."

Chu Xiu finally understood—the unfamiliar faces were Yun family managers from the various branches. She was new and unable to speak; naturally, she could not be of much help. Comforted, Chu Xiu felt much better.

"We’re exhausted from hosting all these managers," Dan Xin complained. "The master is in the council hall now—I must go attend him." She gulped down her tea and dashed out of the room.

Chu Xiu felt helpless. She wanted to help the young maids, but a walk through the garden revealed none of them were in their rooms.

Chu Xiu sighed, preparing to return to her quarters and practice the abacus. But just as she had this thought, she heard a knock at the door, accompanied by a polite male voice: "Excuse me, how do I get to the Marquis's Qing Xin Study?"