The two spoke in voices that were not particularly low, and the other customers in the shop could hear them clearly. They had come to figure out what this shop actually did and to inquire about the person behind it. Unexpectedly, they had accomplished half their task without any effort.
While speaking, Yu Zhi Yue had already packed all the lanterns and looked up to ask, "Shall I have them delivered to your carriage?"
"No hurry," the young matron waved her hand, leaning closer and lowering her voice. "From what you're saying, it sounds like this shop is a front for something else!"
"Does Madam find the lanterns in our shop unattractive?"
"…" If they weren't attractive, would she have bought twelve at once? Having her words thrown back at her, the young matron felt somewhat displeased. "Didn't you say yourself that you placed a commission with 'Feng Deng'? Doesn't that mean this shop has other business?"
"Only for those who need it does this shop have other business. But for the vast majority of people, this is simply a lantern shop."
Yu Zhi Yue's palms were already drenched in sweat. She didn't know if she was doing the right thing, but since no one stopped her, she could only continue.
"Someone like Madam, who lives a carefree life, naturally has no need for such services."
"Who says I don't need it?" The young matron instinctively retorted, but after saying it, she realized she truly had no reason to seek help from a shop. However, having already spoken, she felt compelled to fabricate something.
After a moment's thought, she actually came up with something: "I have a close friend who married and moved a thousand miles away to Jiangling Prefecture. For the first three years, I still heard from her, but in the past two years, I've received no news."
What started as a hastily concocted story gradually became a genuine concern as she spoke. "I want to know how she's doing now. Would 'Feng Deng' take on this commission?"
Yu Zhi Yue glanced at Chun Yang, who seemed not to have heard and was busy introducing lanterns to others.
She knew the young lady was upstairs at the moment, but she hadn't received any signals from her. She thought, since no one was stopping her, then…
"It can be taken on."
Quietly wiping the sweat from her palms on her skirt, Yu Zhi Yue strained her ears but heard no movement from the second floor. Feeling slightly reassured, she confirmed once more, "This commission—'Feng Deng' can take it on."
The young matron was somewhat surprised. "Can you make that decision?"
"I cannot make decisions, but since 'Feng Deng' took on my troublesome matter, Madam's request is nothing in comparison. It can certainly be taken on."
At that moment, Aunt Chang descended from the second floor. "Madam, my young lady requests your presence."
Chun Yang couldn't help but look up. She felt sorry for the young lady, having to appear for such a minor commission.
A simple errand commission indeed wasn't worth Lan Jin's personal involvement, but who made this 'Feng Deng's first customer in the capital, and also its first commission?
This courtesy had to be extended.
She stood waiting at the top of the second-floor staircase.
The young matron grew excited at the thought of meeting the person behind it all. She instructed her maid to take the lanterns to the carriage and went upstairs alone.
Over the past two days, word had spread that the owner of 'Feng Deng' was a young and beautiful lady. Upon seeing the rumored person, the young matron took a few extra glances.
The capital was never short of beauties. This young lady was indeed beautiful, but not enough to astonish the young matron. More noteworthy than her beauty was the fact that standing behind her was Lord Lin.
The door closed behind the two, shutting out the prying eyes and ears from the first floor.
Lan Jin offered a bow: "Lan Jin, greetings to the lady."
The young woman returned the courtesy: "My husband's surname is Zheng, you may address me as Lady Zheng."
Lan Jin guided her to a seat, remarking as she did so: "'Feng Deng' is a place that deals with women's affairs. Rather than your husband's surname, I am more interested in knowing your own surname and maiden name."
The young woman was about to sit down when she paused at these words, then slowly settled into her seat. She looked at the person across from her, whose smile was relaxed, and fell silent for a moment.
Four years into her marriage, fewer and fewer people called her by her maiden name each year. Now, only upon returning to her parents' home could she hear it spoken a few more times.
Lan Jin did not press her further. After Aunt Chang served the tea, she picked up her own cup, which had already cooled, and took a slow sip.
"My surname is Zhou, and my maiden name is Yarou."
Lan Jin nodded gently but did not dwell on the matter. Instead, she returned to the main topic: "Yarou mentioned wanting to entrust 'Feng Deng' with contacting a close friend?"
"That's right. The young lady downstairs said you could take on such tasks."
"First, tell me about this friend's situation."
Zhou Yarou was straightforward: "She is a daughter of the Chen family, with the given name Shan. She is a year older than me, twenty-three this year, and married far away to Jiangling Prefecture five years ago. Her husband's surname is Wu. Their marriage was arranged in childhood—the man was originally in the capital as well, but due to certain circumstances, he returned to his hometown in Jiangling, though the marriage arrangement remained valid. For the first three years, we exchanged letters at least a few times a year, but in the past two years, I have had no news from her. Not long ago, I went to the Chen family to inquire. They said Sister Chen had miscarried twice but was finally pregnant again and was resting in bed every day to nurture the pregnancy. That should be the reason she lost contact with me."
As she spoke, Zhou Yarou frowned: "But we didn't just lose contact recently. There was over a year before she became pregnant again—why didn't she contact me then either?"
Lan Jin nodded gently: "You wish to reestablish contact with her."
"Yes, I want you to deliver a letter to her and bring her reply back to me."
"Before accepting this commission, I need to clarify a few things with you."
Aunt Chang prepared paper and ink nearby.
Zhou Yarou gestured for her to proceed.
"How is Chen Shan's relationship with her family?"
"Of course, it's good. In families like ours, which daughter isn't raised with care?" Zhou Yarou was puzzled: "Why do you ask?"
Lan Jin did not answer her but continued: "Does her family cherish her? In other words, if she were mistreated in her husband's household, would her natal family stand up for her?"
This question gave Zhou Yarou pause before she replied: "They likely do cherish her, but I doubt they value her all that highly. If they truly valued her greatly, they would never have allowed her to marry so far away. They would have found a way to tactfully decline the marriage arrangement."
"What was Chen Shan's attitude toward this marriage? Was she willing to marry?"
"She was unwilling. She cried many times in front of me, but she had no choice. In matters of marriage, none of us can afford to be willful. As daughters of noble families, our greatest purpose in being raised is to form alliances through marriage."
Lan Jin asked further: "In the letters she wrote to you during the first three years, what was her state of mind? How was her relationship with her husband?"
Zhou Yarou was perplexed: "To commission you with a task, do I really need to disclose all this?"
"I do," Lan Jin patiently explained to her. "I need to have a basic understanding of her in order to make the most fundamental judgments based on these details. I think your purpose in coming to 'Feng Deng' to entrust this matter isn't just to deliver a letter, but also to confirm whether she's doing well."
Actually, she hadn't had that thought at first, Zhou Yarou reflected inwardly. But once the idea truly took hold, the long-buried worry in her heart began to surface, becoming difficult to suppress.