Zhou Congxian sat down beside Fu'er, his long legs completely blocking the narrow aisle of the carriage.
"You only spoke two sentences, yet you chased after us before the carriage had gone far."
Just as Jiang Shiyao was wondering how to cover up the situation, Fu'er caught the mention of horses and immediately cheered.
"Big horse! Fu'er wants to ride big horse! Brother Ziqiu won't let me ride! Daddy buy!"
Mu Ziqiu was the son of the Zhou family's married eldest daughter, Zhou Wanyan.
Zhou Congxian tapped his daughter's small nose. "You're still too young. In a couple of years, Daddy will personally teach you how to ride."
He pulled something from his waist. "Take it."
Something heavy dropped into Jiang Shiyao's lap, landing on her legs with a painful thud.
It was a dark green money bag, bulging and clearly filled with plenty of silver.
"Young Lord, this is…" she pretended not to understand.
Zhou Congxian said, "I don't want people thinking I can't even provide for a woman and child."
Jiang Shiyao pinched the money bag and smiled. "How could that be? This concubine lacks neither food nor clothing."
What she lacked was escape money.
Dexing Lou was bustling with guests, and almost everyone leaving the establishment carried a package of crisp pastries.
Little Fu'er resembled a greedy kitten, her small hands gripping the window frame as she stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look outside.
Seeing his daughter like this, even Zhou Congxian's typically cool eyes showed a layer of amusement.
An attendant approached carrying two food boxes of crisp pastries.
Zhou Congxian took one of the boxes. "Send the remaining box back to Wanqing."
Jiang Shiyao paused.
In all her years in the residence, she had never seen Zhou Wanqing show interest in any pastries. On the contrary, Song Jiyun was a regular customer at Dexing Lou.
This box of pastries was for Song Jiyun, who had been with Zhou Wanqing today.
"Mother eat."
Jiang Shiyao's thoughts were interrupted as a pastry with a small bite taken out of it was presented before her.
Her daughter's little face was flushed, her round eyes now curved like crescent moons.
Clearly, she was very happy today.
Jiang Shiyao smiled and took a bite. "So delicious."
Just then, the carriage door opened, and the attendant returned again, this time holding a bowl of sweet tofu pudding still steaming with heat.
Jiang Shiyao stared blankly as Zhou Congxian handed her the tofu pudding.
"What are you staring for? Do you want this Young Lord to feed you?"
"No, no! This concubine will eat it herself!" She quickly took the bowl of tofu pudding.
"Head to the Stargazing Pavilion in the northern part of the city."
He paused, then added as if explaining, "Today is the Shangsi Festival. There will be molten iron fireworks later at the Feng River. The Stargazing Pavilion offers the best view. Fu'er should enjoy it."
Jiang Shiyao bit the wooden spoon for eating tofu pudding, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "The Young Lord seems quite free today…"
Zhou Congxian glanced at the woman who had almost buried her entire face in the bowl.
"It seems you have quite a lot of opinions today."
"This concubine wouldn't dare. Actually, where we go doesn't matter much. Giving more silver would be better."
Having been pillow partners for years, Jiang Shiyao knew Zhou Congxian was in a good mood today and naturally seized the opportunity to ask for more money.
Zhou Congxian said, "What's this? Have you fallen into a money pit today?"
"This concubine… was just inspired by watching Fu'er practice writing with the Young Lord today!"
Jiang Shiyao sat up straight. "Earlier, I noticed Miss Song's extraordinary grace. I heard from the Old Madam that Miss Song is accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting – a rare talented woman."
"But… but Madam said Fu'er doesn't need to learn many talents, just mastering the 'Precepts for Women' is enough."
"This concubine also wants to hire a tutor for Fu'er, but this concubine has no money…"
Zhou Congxian knew his mother didn't care much for Fu'er. "My mother suffered from her father's concubines and half-sisters in her youth, so you needn't take her words to heart."
"Tomorrow I'll have more money sent to you for hiring a tutor for Fu'er. Regardless of birth order, Fu'er is our eldest daughter. I'm often occupied, so please give her more attention."
"Yes, thank you, Young Lord." Jiang Shiyao lowered her eyelids, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
In her previous life, if he had truly cared to show just a bit more concern for Fu'er, how could the child have grown so thin without even seeing a physician?
Men remarry when women die, bear more children when others perish—all their compassion is feigned.
Only gold and silver are real.
Song Jiyun would enter the household in three months.
She needed to acquire more wealth quickly!
Take Fu'er and leave this wretched place!
The Stargazing Pavilion was originally a watchtower. Through expansions over successive dynasties, it became part of the inner city and was renovated into the Stargazing Pavilion.
Cleverly connected to the wooden bridge over the Feng River, it became the premier scenic spot along the riverbank.
As dusk fell on this Shangsi Festival, lanterns illuminated the streets.
A long dragon dance followed a giant fireball, slowly moving from the street's end toward the river.
On the wooden platform by the river, artisans had already prepared molten iron for the molten iron fireworks.
Little Fu'er sat on her father's shoulders, holding a newly purchased rabbit lantern. Her gleeful laughter almost made Jiang Shiyao momentarily believe Zhou Congxian was a good father.
"Mother!"
Little Fu'er turned to look at her mother, squirming to be held by her.
Zhou Congxian patted the restless child. "Don't fidget. It's too crowded—your mother can't hold you properly."
The bridge was packed, mostly with young men and women wearing Nuó masks.
When golden sparks exploded across the night sky, pedestrians on the bridge crowded toward the railings.
Jiang Shiyao followed behind, the riverside dragon dance completely blocked from view, leaving only the dazzling molten iron fireworks shooting skyward.
Amid the revelry, a woman's scream came from the other end of the bridge.
Before Jiang Shiyao could see what happened, her vision blurred as her daughter was thrust into her arms.
Zhou Congxian vanished into the crowd without a word.
Seeing the bridge beginning to descend into chaos, Jiang Shiyao tightened her hold on her daughter.
Fu'er clung to her mother's neck. "I saw Third Aunt."
Jiang Shiyao soothingly patted her daughter's back. "Father went to play with Aunt. Mother will take you elsewhere."
Zhou Wanqing and Song Jiyun were close friends who often kept each other company. Zhou Congxian's abrupt departure likely meant he'd gone to find them.
Their carriage was parked roadside beneath the Stargazing Pavilion.
The coachman was marveling at the fireworks overhead.
Jiang Shiyao slipped into the crowd with her daughter from the other side.
Her opportunities to go out were limited—some matters required her personal inquiry.
The horse market in the western city had already closed for the day.
But carriage and horse shops available for rental existed in every district, mostly operated by horse market owners.
"Shopkeeper, do you have carriages available?"
"Yes, yes! We happen to have one carriage left."
Jiang Shiyao changed her query. "What about exit permits?"
The attendant glanced at her. "You jest, madam. Travel permits must be obtained from the authorities."
Jiang Shiyao didn't mince words. "You understand the situation. If I could get one from the authorities, why would I come here?"
The clerk glanced at the doorman before lowering his voice, "You've come at a bad time. The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching, and the capital is under strict security. It's not convenient to rent out carriages now."
"When will they be available?" Jiang Shiyao frowned.
Without a travel permit, she couldn't even leave the city gates!
The clerk whispered even softer, "I heard from the manager…"
"Clerk! Returning the carriage!"
The interruption made Jiang Shiyao turn to look at the newcomers. Leading them was a handsome, refined gentleman, followed by a fierce-looking brute.
"There's one left, but…" The clerk glanced at Jiang Shiyao, who had just come in asking for a carriage.
The brute stepped forward impatiently, placing a silver ingot on the counter. "Highest bidder wins! My master is buying this carriage!"
Jiang Shiyao held Fu'er closer and stepped back. These were not people she could afford to provoke. The palace entry token at their waist meant they were either high-ranking officials or noble aristocrats.
Xiao Shu wore a pleasant smile. "My attendant was rude and startled you, madam. Please forgive him."
"But I urgently need the carriage. Consider this compensation for your gracious concession."
Jiang Shiyao had intended to leave immediately, but her feet rooted to the spot when she saw the banknotes.
This was much more generous than Zhou Congxian!
Though young, Fu'er already understood the value of money.
She stretched out both little hands and straightforwardly took the banknotes, politely adding, "Thank you, kind sir."
Kind sir? Xiao Shu laughed.
Jiang Shiyao was astonished by her daughter's boldness.
"Sir, the carriage is ready."
Xiao Shu nodded slightly to the mother and daughter before turning to stride out of the carriage and horse shop.
Fu'er presented the banknotes to her mother like offering treasure. "Mama isn't poor anymore!"
She still remembered her father saying at home that Mama was poor.
Jiang Shiyao quickly tucked away the banknotes and glanced up to spot Zhou Congxian hurriedly passing by the entrance.
She whispered to her daughter, "We mustn't tell anyone about this."
Fu'er clung to her mother's neck. "Not even Daddy?"
"Especially not Daddy!"
Jiang Shiyao carried her daughter straight to the Nuó mask stall opposite the carriage and horse shop, buying two masks for herself and her child.
Afterward, she bought various cheap trinkets.
Only after completing their disguises did she leisurely walk back with her child.
"Mama, it's Daddy!" Fu'er had sharp eyes.
Zhou Congxian immediately spotted his daughter amid the bustling crowd.
No wonder he hadn't noticed them earlier—both were wearing masks.
The little girl remembered her mother's instructions, covering her mouth with her small hands. "Fu'er remembers. Won't tell Daddy."
Jiang Shiyao's eye twitched. Little Fu'er really needed to learn the meaning of "protesting too much."
Zhou Congxian's eyes smoldered with anger.
The Shangsi Festival crowds were massive—how dare she take their child so far without any servants!
"What shouldn't you tell me? What are you trying to hide from me?"