Huai Zhi fell into a brief contemplation, but after a moment of reflection, she realized the conversation had drifted off track. She said once more, "I said I would buy your freedom."
Ming Xi looked at Huai Zhi, but shook her head. "I'm this beautiful, Huai Zhi. You can't buy me out."
Huai Zhi said, "I have money. He gives me twenty taels every month. If that's not enough, I can ask him for more first!"
Ming Xi let out a scoff and said, "Ask him for more? You suddenly ask him for such a large sum, and when he asks what you need it for, you say, 'My dear husband, I want to go to the brothel to buy a girl her freedom!' Huai Zhi, are you stupid or just plain foolish?"
Ming Xi was weary of this topic and found Huai Zhi's naivety amusing. She pinched her cheek and looked her up and down. "You do seem to be living well."
Huai Zhi grabbed her hand away, still stubbornly insisting, "Then wait for me. I'll think of a way."
"No one is keeping me trapped here. It's that I don't want to leave." Ming Xi frowned, cutting her off. She said, "Things are fine as they are now—no worries about food or clothing. If I treat my patrons well, don't I have everything I need? Besides, who can say who is really using whom? I just think of it as them serving me, and that's that. It's not like no one has ever wanted to buy me out. Huai Zhi, it's not your turn to redeem me."
Huai Zhi looked at Ming Xi, her brows furrowing deeply. She said, "They serve you? But you get hurt, and they hit you too."
Ming Xi casually gathered her long hair and began dressing, covering the marks on her body. She said, "That time of pain has long passed. And now, I don't get beaten anymore."
She didn't want to discuss these meaningless matters, so she asked instead how Huai Zhi had been faring at the Cui household recently—whether anyone there had been bullying her.
Seeing that Ming Xi didn't want to talk about those things, Huai Zhi let the subject drop and chatted idly with her instead. She pulled out a hairpin and handed it to her—one of her own ornaments that she had thought would suit Ming Xi perfectly the moment she saw it. "Sister Ming Xi, here. I brought it from home."
Ming Xi ruffled her hair and said, "Head back early. I'll have Xiao Deng escort you. Keep yourself well covered and don't let anyone see you. Next time you want to see me, I'll come out to find you. Don't come to a place like this again."
Xiao Deng came to fetch Huai Zhi and walked her out. By the door, Huai Zhi asked him, "Is Sister Ming Xi doing well these days?"
Sunlight fell upon the threshold of the back door, spilling at their feet. Xiao Deng wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of his mouth and said, "We get by, just passing the days. As long as we're not starving, it's fine. There's a wealthy young master who comes by often now—seems quite promising. Yeah, the one you just saw. He treats Sister Ming Xi well."
Huai Zhi asked, "Will he buy her freedom?"
Who knows.
Xiao Deng said nothing more.
Huai Zhi left that place, stepping into the brightness before her. Xiao Deng stood in the shadows, watching her retreating figure.
Halfway down the road, Huai Zhi suddenly turned back. She said, "I'll come again. What do you want to eat? I'll bring it for you next time."
After leaving that place, Huai Zhi headed back to the Cui residence. She had come out on her own today, without taking the Cui family's carriage.
The brothel was on Changmen Street, about half an hour's walk from the Cui residence. And so she walked back.
On the way back, her mind once again inopportunely drifted to what Ming Xi had said earlier—that a sickly fellow like him couldn't possibly have such strength, and besides, spitting blood could easily be faked.
Huai Zhi felt that Ming Xi's words were not without reason.
Could Cui Jingci be pretending to be ill? But then again, if he weren't actually sick, why would he marry someone like her? She had nothing he could possibly scheme after. From that perspective, it didn't quite add up either.
Huai Zhi didn't understand. Her mind was a mess, threads tangled together into knots, tying up her already not-so-quick brain.
Just then, a carriage suddenly stopped in front of her. Someone lifted the curtain, poked their head out, and called to her, "Sister-in-law Cui?"
Hearing the voice, Huai Zhi looked up and saw Liang Qisheng gazing at her with a delighted expression.
She remembered him—the young master she'd met at the banquet at the Liang residence last time. Later, after she'd gotten drunk, she seemed to have exchanged a few words with him? Though, what exactly was said, she could no longer recall clearly.
She lifted a corner of her veiled hat, revealing half her face to get a better look at him. "Young Master Liang?"
Revealing half a face was more intriguing than showing the whole thing. As the saying goes—like a pipa half-hidden behind the veil. Liang Qisheng leaned his head a bit closer, as if trying to recognize her more clearly.
Seeing him suddenly lean in, Huai Zhi immediately took half a step back and lowered her veiled hat again.
Cui Jingci had said that speaking with other men was improper.
Huai Zhi kept Cui Jingci's words in mind and dared not speak too much with him.
Liang Qisheng didn't seem embarrassed at all. He smiled and said, "I saw the figure from behind and thought it looked like you, but I assumed I'd mistaken you for someone else. I didn't expect it really was you, sister-in-law."
He asked her why she was out alone. Was she heading back to the Cui residence?
Huai Zhi said, "I came out to take care of some matters. I'm heading back now."
Liang Qisheng said, "I happen to be going to the Cui residence to look for Brother Xuanshuang as well. If sister-in-law doesn't mind, may I give you a ride?"
Huai Zhi stood frozen in place, not moving. Liang Qisheng called out to her again, "Sister-in-law?"
Huai Zhi asked him, "May I ride in your carriage? Is that proper?"
He happened to be going to see Cui Jingci—there couldn't be a more convenient coincidence in the world. They could go to the Cui residence together by chance.
But was it proper?
Liang Qisheng seemed not to have expected such a question. He asked, "Is there something wrong with it?"
Huai Zhi said, "My husband says that men and women should not touch when passing things to one another, and that speaking with men is improper."
Liang Qisheng was taken aback for a moment, then sneered inwardly—this old fox really knew how to fool people.
Men and women should not touch? Then how had they gotten engaged so quickly?
As if he'd heard a joke, Liang Qisheng laughed out loud twice. Leaning against the carriage window, he asked her, "Then if sister-in-law fell into the water, do you think your brother-in-law could save you?"
Huai Zhi said, "Of course he should save you."
"There you have it." Liang Qisheng said, "Mencius said, 'Between men and women, touching is not permitted—this is propriety. But if a sister-in-law falls into a well, reaching out a hand to save her is a matter of expediency.' Surely we can't disregard basic human decency for the sake of so-called ritual propriety."
His tone was light as he teased, "Brother Xuanshuang is far too rigid and overbearing in this regard—not even as enlightened as Master Mencius. If I let sister-in-law walk so long under the scorching sun, that would truly be my fault."
Huai Zhi mulled it over and found there was some sense to his words, and so she was persuaded onto the carriage by Liang Qisheng.
Liang Qisheng had a wonderful personality—witty and humorous. Huai Zhi found herself chatting with him throughout the journey, and it was only during their casual conversation that she discovered Liang Qisheng was actually two months younger than her.
He laughed and teased, "So it turns out my sister-in-law is also my elder sister."
The two arrived at the Cui residence in this manner. It was still afternoon when they reached home, and Cui Jingci had not yet returned from his duties.
Seeing Huai Zhi return with a young master in tow, Mianmian immediately asked, "Young Madam, you went out, but how is it that this gentleman has come back with you?"
Huai Zhi said, "He came to look for Xuanshuang. We happened to meet on the road, so we returned together."
The Liang family had indeed had some dealings with the Cui family in the past, especially during the time when Old Madam Cui was still alive. Hearing now that Liang Qisheng had come to see Cui Jingci, Mianmian thought nothing of it and welcomed him into the main hall to be attended to. Huai Zhi was not particularly familiar with him, and their acquaintance spanned only these few exchanges. Later, Huai Zhi thought to herself that she ought to go elsewhere—otherwise, Liang Qisheng would keep pulling her into endless conversation.
He loved to talk. Xiao Deng was younger than him and had a lively disposition, yet even he was not as talkative as Liang Qisheng.
Liang Qisheng saw through her intention to slip away and asked, "Sister-in-law, where are you going? Will you come back in a while? If I'm left alone here with nothing to do, it'll be terribly boring…"
Huai Zhi, caught by his call, stood rooted to the spot and turned back with an awkward expression. "I'm not going anywhere."
And so Huai Zhi stayed to entertain Liang Qisheng. As she attended to him, she couldn't help but wonder—if Cui Jingci saw this, would he be uncomfortable?
But this was merely normal social interaction.
Huai Zhi thought to herself that it was simply impossible to never speak with other men. Hadn't she just been talking with Xiao Deng as well? And Teacher Fu had said there was no such rule. At the Liang family's banquet last time, she had clearly seen married men and women conversing together. Clearly, even among these great households, the requirements in this regard were not so strict, were they?
Perhaps Liang Qisheng was right—Cui Jingci was indeed somewhat old-fashioned and overbearing in this matter.
Besides teaching her to read and write, Teacher Fu also instructed her in proper etiquette and conduct—such as the art of pouring tea, and even the six arts.
Fearing that Liang Qisheng might grow thirsty, Huai Zhi took the opportunity while he was speaking to pour tea and serve him.
Though Liang Qisheng was talkative, his manner was so pleasant and agreeable that Huai Zhi didn't even realize how at ease she had become.
A faint smile lingered at the corners of her mouth throughout. Occasionally, Liang Qisheng would pose a question, and she would respond with a word or two. By the end of it, they had grown considerably more familiar.
Because she had only recently learned, her tea-pouring movements were still somewhat clumsy. She pushed the teacup toward Liang Qisheng and said, "I've only just learned. Please don't mind, Young Master Liang."
Liang Qisheng took the cup from her—perhaps by accident, his fingertips brushed against the back of Huai Zhi's hand.
Huai Zhi looked as if she had been scalded. Without changing her expression, she abruptly snatched her hand back.
Liang Qisheng noticed her reaction… After all, such a large movement was truly hard to miss.
So sensitive? So strictly proper? She panicked at even a mere touch?
Then was her mouth swollen from her own doing? Judging by the look of it, it was clearly Cui Jingci who had kissed her, wasn't it? And when he kissed her so, she simply endured it without ever pulling away?
The woman's lips were full and vividly red, the color spilling beyond the edges of her mouth—more striking than the most delicate blossom Liang Qisheng had ever seen. On a face like hers, the color seemed incongruous yet harmonious. Her features, not particularly beautiful, hardly deserved such a shade, and yet he felt that no one else could carry it quite the same way.
Yesterday Cui Jingci had kissed her fiercely—though perhaps it wasn't just yesterday. Whatever he did, his strength was never slight. Huai Zhi's mouth had been swollen, though it had likely subsided considerably by now. But then Liang Qisheng suddenly asked, "Sister-in-law, what happened to your lips? Did you eat something too spicy? They look a bit red and swollen."
When Huai Zhi heard his question, a jolt ran through her entire body. Her spine instinctively straightened, and she grew tense all over. She nodded awkwardly and said, "Mm, the weather's been dry lately. I've been a bit overheated."
Liang Qisheng smiled again. "It's hot today, sister-in-law. Why are you still wearing a silk scarf?"
Huai Zhi felt inexplicably guilty, and stammered out a clumsy excuse. "It looks nice. Matches the outfit."
"It does look nice."
Fortunately, he didn't think much of it and didn't press further on the matter.
After taking the tea she offered, Liang Qisheng took a light sip. What should have been fine tea had been ruined—dry and astringent. A complete waste of good leaves.
He endured the discomfort and drank several mouthfuls before setting it down, then praised, "Sister-in-law's tea is excellent."
Hearing this, Huai Zhi couldn't help but feel proud and pleased. She said, "This is actually the first time I've poured tea for someone else. I was worried it wouldn't be good."
Liang Qisheng's eyes curved into crescents. "How could that be?"
Just then, sounds came from outside—the servants greeting Cui Jingci. Huai Zhi turned to look and saw her husband standing expressionless at the doorway.
Cui Jingci had just come off duty, still wearing his loose official robes. His bearing was sharp and cold, strikingly handsome, with his ink-black hair bound neatly in a crown, making his face appear even more chiseled and handsome—almost inhumanly so. There was not a trace of expression on his face. His dark eyes seemed heavy and brooding, and even his jaw was set in a harsh, unyielding line. In this state, Huai Zhi felt he looked quite different from the gentle, warm Cui Jingci she usually knew.
For reasons she couldn't explain, her heart raced with panic, and she nearly sprang to her feet.
Huai Zhi walked to Cui Jingci's side and explained, "Young Master Liang came looking for you on business. I… I was entertaining him."
Cui Jingci looked at Huai Zhi before him. With a single downward glance, he took in her expression entirely. Finally, the corner of his lips curled into a cold sneer as he asked in return, "Is that so? Then what is Huai Zhi so nervous about?"
There she was, lying through her teeth.
She'd been laughing and chatting with another man again, and when he caught her, she claimed she was merely entertaining a guest.
If it was truly just entertaining, then why did she stop smiling the moment he returned?
Huai Zhi, do you know how suspicious your behavior looks?
It was as if she'd brought a young man home for a secret tryst, been caught red-handed by her husband returning from work, and was now making futile, awkward excuses.