Chapter 43: Night of the Fish and Dragon Dance (Part 8)

As the carriage traveled through the streets toward the Su mansion, the night market outside the curtains was still lively, and Su Tan'er sat on the seat inside the carriage, head lowered as she organized papers and receipts. The small wooden box holding the receipts sat beside her. The young woman's posture with legs together appeared elegant and refined. Of course compared to the three little maids, she seemed much more mature. Those accustomed to giving orders had their own bearing. While organizing, she also talked with Ning Yi.

"...This way, tomorrow morning we should still go pay respects to Grandfather. I won't go out. As for husband, after your morning exercise please come back early... Oh right, the kitchen is preparing that rice noodle sheet you like tomorrow morning..."

Today was the Lantern Festival, and they'd actually already spoken with Old Master Su tonight, but with this "Green Jadeite Bowl" matter, they'd probably have to see him again tomorrow. After Su Tan'er finished speaking, she couldn't help smiling again.

"Husband always surprises people like this. Too shocking."

After gaining initial understanding with Ning Yi over the past month, she naturally no longer looked at Ning Yi with her previous perspective. But tonight's poem still exceeded her expectations, and when she first saw it she was also stunned for a while, wondering where the bottom line of this strange husband's abilities lay. But after meeting Ning Yi she didn't show any surprise at all. Now while organizing receipts and speaking softly, her manner was calm. Of course, not looking at Ning Yi but quietly organizing things—these small actions were just her little methods to avoid too much emotional fluctuation.

They returned to the Su mansion this way, passing through courtyard after courtyard, and Su Tan'er still had to visit her father, probably about some matters negotiated tonight. She turned to Ning Yi: "Husband isn't sleeping yet?"

Ning Yi nodded. Su Tan'er smiled: "When I come back later, I have something for husband."

"What is it?"

Su Tan'er blinked: "It's a secret."

What she needed to discuss with Su Boyong probably wasn't much. Before long, Ning Yi standing on the second floor corridor enjoying the breeze could see Su Tan'er's group carrying lanterns coming out from that courtyard in the distance. From far away the figures looked small. The lanterns' light occasionally disappeared behind low walls and trees, then appeared again from corners. The busier area was probably the side gate slightly to the east. At midnight carriages and horses returned from there, lights gathering there then spreading in spots throughout the Su mansion.

The small courtyard was still quiet as always, and since the First Branch didn't have many people, this area wasn't lively. After a while more, Su Tan'er and the three maids also returned. Light footsteps sounded from below.

Xiao Chan ran noisily from downstairs, looked up and saw Ning Yi, made a squinting bun face, then ran into the small room to heat water, while Su Tan'er who came upstairs carried a bundle, walking lightly to the pillar side, pressing the bundle against the railing.

"In the crowd I look for her presence everywhere time and again, suddenly I turn around... and I see her there, where lights are dim and faint..." She recited softly but unhurriedly. After a moment she glanced at Ning Yi before smiling. "Xiao Chan said husband was searching for a formidable female assassin."

"Yes, unfortunately I lost her."

"Then why did husband still write 'where lights are dim and faint'?"

Ning Yi shrugged: "What could I do? Poems can only be written that way... Can't write something like, suddenly turned around, person disappeared, doesn't rhyme." He was actually quite regretful the female assassin got away.

Su Tan'er covered her mouth lightly, leaning on the bundle laughing non-stop, then said: "Sometimes hearing husband tell stories, I vaguely felt it—does husband perhaps truly yearn for those martial world chivalrous matters?"

"I don't want to be some hero. Just find the qigong and internal energy interesting." Ning Yi didn't hide it, shaking his head, then pointing downstairs. "Whoosh—jumping from down there to up here, then punching through a wall. I heard some people can do this, so I find it interesting. Today Xiao Chan and I saw that female assassin, also very formidable. She must truly have such abilities. The sudden bursts of power, not like ordinary people."

Su Tan'er nodded: "I've also heard of it. But these years when going to other places, accompanied by Guard Captain Geng and others, I occasionally heard about martial world strongmen. But what husband describes isn't common. Even truly vicious criminals captured by the government are actually just burly men relying on brute strength and ferocity. There are also some Heavenly Master Taoists using talismans and water tricks to deceive people. I've learned some, so I don't believe it. Speaking of real internal energy and true force, becoming immortal-like after practice—it's really too rare. And I heard one must practice from childhood, taking over ten years to achieve results. If husband finds it now, I'm afraid it's somewhat late..."

Saying this, she smiled again, looking at Ning Yi's expression with some schadenfreude, for she didn't believe hearsay. For such interesting matters, if she had the chance, she'd also need definite proof before giving up. Husband obviously wouldn't just listen and let it go either. As for that "searching for one amongst the crowd a thousand times," she just took it as husband's association while searching for someone, inspired by the moment, not caring further, turning the topic elsewhere.

"I also heard from Xiao Chan earlier that at Old Rain Tower, besides Xue Jin, Uncle Chonghua was also there—he asked husband not to refuse, to display your talent?"

Su Tan'er was no ordinary person. Hearing Xiao Chan mention the scene, she naturally understood Su Chonghua's intentions. Getting confirmation from Ning Yi's smile now, she tilted her head, smiling helplessly, then turned back: "What does husband think?"

"Hmm?"

"If husband has no interest in that small academy, I'll talk to Uncle Chonghua tomorrow." Su Tan'er smiled. "If husband likes that small academy, I'll go talk to Grandfather tomorrow."

The headmaster of Yushan Academy was Su Chonghua, but it was actually invisibly managed by Second Uncle Su Zhongkan, with a rather transcendent position in the Su family, though ordinary people still considered it leaning more toward the Second Branch. Previously Su Tan'er naturally wouldn't ask Ning Yi about these things, but now if Ning Yi truly had interest, she was confident she could get it from Grandfather together with Ning Yi. Ning Yi smiled and shook his head: "Just teaching some books casually is fine. Too many troublesome matters I can't handle. You know I don't usually like various invitations and social obligations."

Su Tan'er nodded: "Then I'll talk to Uncle Chonghua... Actually speaking of it, though Uncle Chonghua isn't good at teaching children, he's quite capable at handling matters. With him as headmaster, husband can also be leisurely there. Oh right, this is for husband..."

After speaking, she handed the bundle to Ning Yi.

"What is it?"

"Some clothes, hats, shoes and socks."

After Su Tan'er spoke, she smiled and turned to go downstairs. Ning Yi looked: "Oh."

Taking the bundle downstairs, opening it on the table, it was indeed clothes, shoes and socks, and he picked them up to look. Xiao Chan knocked on the door outside, then came in sneakily carrying a wooden basin of hot water, closing the door again: "Young Master, wash your face. Oh, Young Miss gave you the clothes?"

"Mm." Ning Yi went over to wash his face. Xiao Chan poked his back with her finger beside him: "Young Master, Young Master, did Young Miss mention the female assassin matter to you?"

"You told Young Miss everything?"

"Ah? She didn't?"

Ning Yi washed his face and turned back, seeing Xiao Chan's secretly anxious expression, then smiled: "She mentioned it—what are you thinking about now?"

"Young Master, think about it. If Young Miss didn't tell you, doesn't that mean Young Miss kept this matter in her heart? Then Xiao Chan shouldn't have said it." Xiao Chan relaxed now, smiling. "But Xiao Chan knew all along. Young Miss isn't that type of person... But next time Young Master don't write such misleading verses. Xiao Chan hesitated for so long just now, afraid Young Miss would misunderstand. But I didn't dare explain to Young Miss that Young Master had nothing to do with that female assassin, that writing the poem probably wasn't about her either. If I explained, Young Miss might overthink instead. But if I didn't explain and Young Miss thought it through herself, what then? And then... ah..."

The little girl was tangled up beside him going on and on. Ning Yi couldn't help but smile and flick her forehead: "You're the one who thinks too much."

Xiao Chan covered her forehead: "That's right. As a maid I have to think of everything. Xiao Chan is very smart, hee..." The little girl had first worried tonight about Ning Yi getting hurt chasing that female assassin, then tangled all the way about whether to tell or not, then after telling started tangling about Ning Yi and Su Tan'er's relationship. Now she finally relaxed, praising herself a little, then asked: "Did Young Master try on the clothes?"

"No, I'll try tomorrow."

"No way, these were all made by Young Miss for Young Master."

"Uh?" Ning Yi froze, looking at the clothes. "The fabric seems like I saw it months ago..."

"Young Miss started making them months ago." Xiao Chan held up the robe comparing it against Ning Yi: "Last June's new fabric—Xiao Chan even measured Young Master then, because Young Miss said she had to make two sets of clothes for Young Master every year. But Young Miss is often busy, doesn't make them quickly, on and off, on and off. Originally meant for New Year's, but she altered the lining a few days ago, so it became Lantern Festival..."

"She's made two or three sets already." Ning Yi pointed at the wardrobe beside them.

"Those were made by the mansion's seamstresses. One set was made by Xiao Chan with Juan'er and Sister Xing'er. This set was handmade by Young Miss herself... Oh right, Young Master sit down, try the shoes."

Ning Yi smiled, looking at the robe as Xiao Chan squatted there changing his shoes, saying softly: "Young Master... will Young Master always remember that Young Miss left on the wedding day?"

Ning Yi looked at her: "What are you thinking about now?"

"Nothing—actually Xiao Chan thinks Young Miss is very good, and though leaving that time was a little bad for Young Master, she didn't know what kind of person Young Master was then. June was very busy. Even so, after she thought it through, she decided to make clothes for Young Master, because we're family. She said since she was already Young Master's wife, handmaking two sets of clothes and shoes for Young Master every year was necessary. Actually Young Miss's needlework isn't that good. Mine and Juan'er's and Sister Xing'er's needlework isn't very good either. Young Master's clothes had some parts done by seamstresses. But not Young Miss's. Sometimes she'd pretend to casually talk with the mansion and shop seamstresses about things, then ask for tips. Because Young Miss didn't want people gossiping. Juan'er and Sister Xing'er said it was so interesting when they talked about it. So she made them for over half a year before these things were finished..."

Ning Yi smiled, looking at the clothes, then at Xiao Chan squatting there for a good while. He reached out and messed up her hair in exasperation: "You just keep saying good things about your Young Miss in front of me..."

This time Xiao Chan didn't dodge. She raised her head, smiling cutely and confidently: "Because Young Miss really is very good."

"Got it, got it..."

"I'll help Young Master put the clothes away."

Night deepened, and after a moment, Xiao Chan also left the room. Ning Yi read a few pages in the room. When he got up and pushed open the window, in the opposite room's window, lamplight was still burning. Su Tan'er's silhouette was there with head lowered organizing receipts and account books, writing things. Her shadow cast on the window, focused and serious. Year's beginning and end was when merchants were busiest. This situation would probably continue for quite a while...

(End of Chapter)