Chapter 26: The Heart of the Lute Moves

  Xin Niang's gentle smile, turned her head to Lu Mu softly said: "Mrs. Lu, today came uninvited, did not prepare a gift, tomorrow Xiao Qin will make it up."

  Mrs. Lu and her mother-in-law said: "Madam Xin is too polite, your arrival is a blessing for the Lu family."

  Xin Niang said: "Little Qin still has some family matters, I won't disturb Madame and everyone else."

  Lu's mother politely sent off Xin Niang and returned to the room, where Zhou Yue'er hastily smiled and said: "Mother, I think Xin Niang came here to take a look at Xiao Qi."

  Lu Qi heard it with a calm expression, and Lu's mother smiled: "Mother also saw that the Zhou family has taken a liking to Xiao Qi."

  Zhou Yue'er said softly, "It should be so. This Xin Aunt has always been in charge of the family's finances at my paternal uncle's house and is a person that my paternal grandmother trusts very much. If Xin Aunt is willing to speak up for us, perhaps my paternal grandmother will agree. The beautiful maid who came with Xin Aunt just now is definitely Yan'er's younger sister's personal maid, and she must have come to take a look at Xiao Qi."

  Lu's mother smiled and said: "If this marriage is successful, it will be a blessing for the Lu family."

  Lu Qi listened and knew that his mother had set her sights on the Zhou family, a prestigious and respected clan with close ties to the imperial court. Marrying into such a family would undoubtedly bring great benefits. However, Lu Qi's thoughts were not on the prestige of the official residence or the noble status, but rather on how elusive this Miss Yan was, and if he could make her his woman, it would be something to boast about. Most importantly, he had discovered that Miss Yan was a gentle beauty, which sparked his romantic interest.

  Here is the translation:

  Thinking positively, after Xin Niang and her maid left the pharmacy, they walked out for over 30 meters when Xin Niang turned around and said softly: "Yuner, what do you think of this Lu Qiuzi?"

  "Very good, music knows the heart, joyful melody knows the person. This is a very knowledgeable and progressive person, he uses his heart to play the flute, with deep attainments in musical rhythm."

  "Aunt Xīn nodded and said: 'Yes, a person who can wholeheartedly merge with the rhythm of music is at least a person who knows etiquette. He absolutely won't be a ruthless and merciless martial artist. Take another look at those literary scholars who only know how to recite poetry and dance with fragrance - how many of them understand the hardships of the world? They're just a group of parasites living in a dream, unable to bring peace and prosperity to the nation. All they do is indulge in brothels, claiming to be elegant and refined, writing some painful poems and essays - what's the use of that?'"

  "Eldest aunt, it's no use telling me these things. Miss is kind and doesn't like to fight, she dislikes martial artists who are fond of fighting. I've advised her before but it was all in vain."

  "She's so clueless about the ways of the world, it's hopeless. She'll end up harming herself sooner or later. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help her."

  Mei Bi Yun'er remained silent, and after walking a few more meters, Xin Niang softly said: "Yun'er, you should go back and persuade him again. Praise Lu Qi Gongzi's musical talents even more. If this opportunity is missed, it will be even harder later."

  Mei Bi Yun'er nodded and said: "Yun'er will persuade her."

  After walking another dozen meters, Xin Niang suddenly stopped and grasped Mei Bi Yun'er's jade hand, saying seriously: "Yun'er, if Yan'er won't listen to advice, are you yourself willing to marry Lu Qi Gongzi?"

  Mei Bi Yun'er was startled, her face immediately flew up with a red flush, and she hastily said: "Auntie, what are you saying?"

  "Auntie said seriously: 'Aunt is thinking for your own good, Yan'er has been wanting to marry a talented young man, but where can you find a truly talented and handsome young man? If this drags on, it will ruin your whole life. You are Aunt's niece from the same clan, and your father passed away early, so Aunt let your mother sell you to serve in the Zhou household for seven years, during which time you learned music, literature, and became beautiful and elegant due to the wealthy environment. Originally, I thought you could follow Yan'er and marry into a good family, but now Yan'er is being so stubborn, Aunt is getting more and more worried about you. If you like that Lu Qi Gongzi, Aunt can redeem your contract and let you formally get married.'"

  "No, I won't leave Miss, I won't get married alone." Maid Yun'er refused without hesitation.

  Aunt Xin's beautiful face had a faint sadness, her eyes disappointingly looked at Mei Bi Yun'er, Mei Bi Yun'er nervously lowered her head and guiltily whispered: "Auntie, Miss has always treated Yun'er as a younger sister, Yun'er cannot betray that."

  Xin Yiniang shook her head sorrowfully and said bitterly: "Yuner, you don't want to wrong Yaner, but are you willing to wrong your aunt?"

  Mei Bi Yun'er looked at Xin Niang in surprise and asked: "Aunt, what do you mean by this? Will I be letting you down if I don't leave Miss?"

  Aunt Xin raised her head and looked around cautiously, saying in a low voice: "Let's go, Auntie wants to talk to you about something."

  Mei Bi Yun'er was taken to a fabric store by Xin Niang, which was one of the industries of the Qi Lao Zhou Fu. In Wangjiangbao, only Qi Lao Zhou Fu had a fabric store on each of the four streets in the southeast and northwest, and no one else dared to get involved in this line, which was the privilege of the official family.

  Seeing the stewardess Xin Niang coming to check, the shopkeeper and two apprentices nodded and bowed with a smile. Xin Niang asked a few perfunctory questions, then went to rest in the back house with Mei Bi Yun'er, ordering that no one was allowed to disturb her. The mistress's resting room had not been ordered, nor did anyone dare to enter it privately.

  Xin Auntie grasped Yun'er's hand as soon as they entered the house, her expression serious: "Yun'er, your aunt's good days are coming to an end, can you save your aunt?"

  "Eldest Aunt, could you please be clearer?"

  Aunt Xin said in a low voice, "Yuner, whatever Auntie says, you mustn't tell anyone. If you tell Yanyan, you'll be thrown into the pigsty and drowned."

  Mei Bi Yun'er was shocked and said in fear: "Auntie, what's going on? I didn't say anything."

  "Old Mrs. has contracted a terminal illness, and won't last more than half a year," Aunt Xin said in a low voice. "Only the mistress and my sister know about this; even the master is unaware. The mistress has ordered that no one breathe a word about it, so as to let Old Mrs. spend her remaining days in happiness. If my sister were to leak this secret, the mistress would sell her into prostitution. Now that you're also aware of this, if it gets out, you'll either be sold into prostitution or, worse still, be accused of spreading rumors and put to death for cursing one's elders. So whatever you do, don't tell Yanger about it. She's kind-hearted and simple-minded; once she finds out, she'll be heartbroken every day, and whenever she goes to see Old Mrs., she'll burst into tears. She might even set up an altar and pray for blessings. If that happens, neither of us will be able to live."

  "Eldest Aunt, Yun'er won't say."

  Fourth Aunt sighed, "If you hadn't spoken up, nothing would have happened. Two years ago, when Xiaocao was on night duty, she saw a black shadow entering Mu Aunt's room and told others about it. As a result, Mu Aunt hanged herself to death, and Xiaocao was put into a pig cage to die for the crime of false accusation. You know this matter, don't you?"

  Mei Bi Yun'er suddenly woke up and nodded fearfully: "Yun'er knows."

  Aunt Xin said coldly, "Xiang Cao is indeed a scourge. The biggest taboo for slaves is to have a long tongue. For women and servants in large official families to be safe, the two most important words are silence."

  "Eldest Aunt, don't say any more. I'm already almost nineteen years old, I know what's good and bad."

  Aunt Xīn nodded and said: "It's Auntie worrying too much, my Yùn'er has really grown up."

  "Auntie, if Old Lady passes away, won't you be unable to manage the family's assets?" asked Mei Bi Yun'er very clearly.

  Aunt Xin shook her head indifferently and said woodenly, "That's inevitable. If the old lady is gone, Aunt will also be in great danger and may even be put to death."

  "Oh no, Auntie, don't scare Yun'er."

  Mei Bi Yun'er said in horror, Xin Niangniang was more dear to her than her own mother. Without this aunt's protection, she would have been sold as a child bride when she was young and there wouldn't be such a luxurious life like Miss'.

  "Auntie is telling the truth. Before Auntie married into our household, all of the family's assets were managed by Old Madame herself, and even Madame had very limited control over them. After Auntie got married, she gained Old Madame's trust and was put in charge of managing the family's assets when Old Madame fell ill. However, Madame has always been kept out of the loop, harboring resentment for over a decade. Now that Old Madame only has half a year left to live, Madame has strictly ordered Auntie not to reveal anything outside the household. Auntie knows that Madame wants revenge and will accuse her of deception once Old Madame passes away. Many people have been jealous of Auntie all these years, and if she loses her protector, she'll likely be put to death. Even if she's lucky enough to survive, she'll probably be sold into a brothel. That's why Auntie needs Yun'er to save her life." Xinyin explained sorrowfully.

  Mei Bi Yun'er understood and said seriously: "Auntie, Yun'er understands, willing to listen to Auntie's arrangement."

  Xin Niang smiled and nodded comfortingly, speaking softly: "Yun'er, tell your aunt the truth, do you have a liking for that Lu Qi Gongzi?"

  Yuner's face turned red, hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and whispered: "Yuner likes music, and also likes Lu Qi Gongzi, but Yuner is of humble origin, will the Lu family want me?"