Huo Yi still had no idea that he had already been “exposed.” He continued staring at her until he noticed Lin Shanyue’s ears turning red. She no longer dared to meet his gaze, and only then did Huo Yi realize something was wrong.
“What’s the matter?”
“Y-Your surroundings… are quite different from ours…”
Huo Yi froze. Then it hit him. He hurriedly turned around and saw his room—messy as a dog’s nest, with his desk in complete disarray. Even someone as thick-skinned as he was couldn’t keep a straight face. He immediately turned the mirror away.
“Y-You can see me now?!” Huo Yi asked guiltily.
“Mhm… Earlier, the mirror pricked me. A drop of blood fell onto it, and then I was suddenly able to see,” Lin Shanyue said, equally amazed.
Huo Yi let out an “Oh.”
There wasn’t much point in finding it strange. The mirror itself was already magical enough. After calming down, he turned it back toward himself.
“Well, it’s better this way. It’ll be easier to communicate now that you can see me. Come take a look at this lucky cat. Any thoughts?”
Lin Shanyue also found it more convenient. More importantly… the mysterious “Mirror Spirit Young Master” no longer seemed so mysterious. She stepped closer and carefully examined the lucky cat before shaking her head.
Huo Yi clicked his tongue.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier? Don’t you think the symbolism is great? Marketing! Business opportunities! A selling point!”
Lin Shanyue blinked as she carefully considered his words.
“You mean… incorporating auspicious meanings like this into products to encourage people to buy them?”
Huo Yi slapped the table excitedly.
“Exactly! You’re a quick learner!”
The sudden classical phrase that slipped from his mouth even made him feel a little awkward. Lin Shanyue smiled shyly.
“It’s all thanks to your guidance, Young Master. I think I understand a little now…”
“This is just one example. It doesn’t have to be a lucky cat. You can apply the same idea to all kinds of products. Take your time thinking it over—there’s a lot more to it than this.”
Lin Shanyue hurriedly nodded.
Seeing that worry still lingered between her brows, Huo Yi remembered how she had cried while holding Little Bao earlier. He still felt she’d been wronged, so he asked again.
Lin Shanyue sighed and stopped hiding the truth. She told him everything about her background.
After hearing her story, Huo Yi was utterly shocked.
“So that’s why you left home to make a living on your own. I thought…”
“What did you think?”
“Nothing.”
He wisely swallowed the rest of his sentence.
“So my troubles all come from my own family. They have nothing to do with anyone else. You can’t really help me with this. I’ll have to figure something out myself.”
The moment she finished speaking, the man in the mirror let out a soft laugh.
“Are you sure I can’t help?”
Lin Shanyue looked up in surprise.
Huo Yi cleared his throat.
“I’ve seen plenty of situations like this where I’m from. They’re worried because you’re still in the imperial capital. They think you’re lingering around with ulterior motives, so sooner or later they’ll try to force you out. What you need to do is two things. First, become strong enough that no one can bully you. Second, completely cut ties with the Marquis’ household.
“Noble families care most about their reputation. You said they wanted you back to marry in someone else’s place? That actually makes things simple. Spread the word that you already have a husband and that you’re only in the capital to do business. You already have Little Bao with you—that helps make the story believable. Then change your name and never have anything to do with them again. Once the Marquis’ household realizes you have absolutely no intention of relying on or attaching yourself to them, they’ll stop bothering you.”
Lin Shanyue was stunned.
In truth, this was exactly what she had been thinking herself. It was precisely the plan she had intended to follow.
The only problem…
“I’ve considered all of that too, Young Master. But I’m all alone. No one would find such a story convincing.”
Huo Yi clicked his tongue.
“You’ve already forgotten what I taught you yesterday.”
“Huh?”
He nodded.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Shanyue nodded as well.
“I understand now.”
Huo Yi left it at that. The rest depended on her.
Grrr…
After chatting for so long, they’d completely forgotten it was mealtime. Neither knew whose stomach had growled first, but both of them immediately blushed.
Embarrassed, Lin Shanyue hurried away.
“Please wait a moment, Young Master! The meal will be ready soon!”
Today she had made braised lamb soup.
Huo Yi normally disliked lamb, but somehow Lin Shanyue had cooked it without the slightest hint of gaminess. It was exceptionally delicious. He drank two full bowls before remembering that in the Tang Dynasty, lamb was considered the finest of meats. Dishes like lamb soup and lamb paomo (crumbled flatbread soaked in lamb broth) were immensely popular.
Lin Shanyue had originally planned to make flatbread, but there wasn’t enough time, so she steamed rice instead. Little Bao especially loved soft rice soaked in soup. With his tiny eight glutinous-rice teeth, he could already chew some of the slow-cooked lamb. As he babbled happily, no longer crying, his pair of round grape-like eyes melted Lin Shanyue’s heart.
Only after feeding her son did she finally eat a bowl of lamb soup herself.
That night, before bed, she held Little Bao in her arms and whispered,
“Little Bao, be a good boy at Auntie Pang’s tomorrow, alright? Mother is going out to take care of something. If everything goes well, I won’t have to keep running around for much longer.”
Little Bao babbled incoherently, making it impossible to tell whether he understood.
…
Early the next morning, Lin Shanyue dressed up for the first time in a long while.
She combed her bangs back and, for the first time, styled her hair into the bun of a married woman.
According to the customs of the dynasty, only unmarried girls wore bangs. She had overlooked that before.
After breakfast, she carried Little Bao to Auntie Pang’s house. Seeing her appearance, Auntie Pang’s eyes lit up.
“Well now, you certainly look much more spirited today.”
Lin Shanyue smiled and handed her a box of milk cakes.
“You flatter me, Auntie. I was rather foolish before.”
This time, she told the full story she had prepared. Overnight, she had acquired a husband serving on the battlefield, whose fate was currently unknown. She said she had come from Yangzhou Prefecture, waiting for news of him while trying to make a living in the capital. She admitted she’d been depressed these past few days, but had finally resolved to live properly. Yesterday she’d met an old friend who had lent her some money, so she wouldn’t trouble her neighbors much anymore.
Auntie Pang listened with endless sighs. At last, all the questions she’d long been curious about were answered.
“I’ll give these cakes to Shitou too. Little Bao likes them as well. I’ve got some errands today, but I’ll be back soon.”
“Of course, go ahead. Don’t worry.”
After coaxing Little Bao a few more times, Lin Shanyue hurried out of the alley, hired a carriage, and headed straight for Huayue Pavilion.
The moment she stepped through the front door, she heard Liu Niang coming downstairs to greet her.
“There you are! I’ve been waiting for you all morning!”
Liu Niang was also pleasantly surprised by her appearance today, especially by the gold hairpin in her hair.
The hairpin had been part of Lin Shanyue’s dowry from her adoptive mother. She had never intended to wear it in public, but now she had no other choice.
“Is something urgent, Madam?”
Liu Niang quickly shifted her gaze away.
“Of course! Hurry and tell me—how did you make those pastries yesterday? Why were they so fragrant and sweet?”