On the second floor of the Lingyun Restaurant, Su Nansheng sat by the window, gazing at the Yunshang Teahouse opposite.
She tapped her index finger lightly on the table, her eyes as dark as the feathers of a raven.
It had been seven days since she sent the Buddhist scriptures, but there was still no news from the Anshun Marquis Mansion. She hoped nothing had gone wrong.
At this thought, Su Nansheng curled her index finger slightly and stopped tapping.
Just then, Bitao pushed the door open and entered.
"Second Miss, it's all arranged," she said. After a pause, she added, "Actually, I could have done it myself. There's no need to find someone else."
Seeing Bitao's eager look, Su Nansheng couldn't help but smile.
She had followed Su Hele all the way here and knew that Su Hele was here to meet He Jin.
Since it was a tryst, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to follow in, as she might easily be discovered.
So she told Bitao to find someone to follow them in. They didn't need to eavesdrop, just find out which private room the two were in.
Bitao wasn't a servant born into the Su Mansion. Before selling herself to the Su family, she had been wandering the streets and alleys of the capital for years and knew many people from all walks of life. It was most suitable for her to find someone to conduct the surveillance.
But it seemed that Bitao clearly wanted to do it herself.
"You can see just as well from here," Su Nansheng said, motioning for Bitao to look at the opposite teahouse.
What was the difference between Bitao following in and her following in?
Bitao naturally understood the logic. Hearing this, she happily stood by the window, staring intently at the teahouse entrance without blinking.
...
In the private room, Su Hele was kneeling in front of the tea table. She gently raised her fair hand and picked up a tea cake to roast over the fire.
The leaping flames reddened Su Hele's pure face and also reflected a blood - red glow in her eyes.
Su Hele turned the tea cake over without moving her eyes.
Yesterday, another scholar came to the mansion to propose marriage. If he hadn't been just an ordinary scholar, and if she couldn't have used the excuse of his lack of talent, she might really have been forced to agree.
That's why she was so eager to send a message to He Jin and meet him. She had to let him know how precious she was.
But why were all the suitors scholars?
Although she was destined to be the mistress of the marquis mansion, if a noble family of equal status came to propose marriage, it would better prove her nobility.
Just as she was thinking, the door creaked open. "A Le," a voice said.
Su Hele suppressed her anxiety. She didn't move but sat up straight, her slender waist as straight as a bamboo, looking noble and elegant.
...
Su Nansheng had no intention of drinking tea. Before long, she pretended to doze off...
"Miss, Young Master He is coming out," Bitao patted Su Nansheng and whispered in her ear.
With Su Nansheng's previous identification, it was not difficult for her to recognize He Jin.
Su Nansheng suddenly perked up. Looking down, she saw He Jin strutting out of the teahouse. Then he got into a carriage and quickly disappeared from sight.
Su Nansheng looked intrigued. Arriving late and leaving early, it seemed that He Jin wasn't very interested in Su Hele.
"I'll go and ask about the private room they usually meet in," Bitao said excitedly, planning to also ask the spy if they had heard anything interesting.
"Wait until Su Hele comes out before you go," Su Nansheng said helplessly. She wondered why she hadn't noticed before that Bitao was so gossipy.
Bitao let out a couple of sly laughs and stopped being impatient.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Su Hele slowly walked out of the teahouse.
But she had only taken a few steps when she was surrounded by several little beggars.
The beggars' pleading voices drifted over on the wind.
"Kind fairy sister, please give us something to eat," one beggar said.
"Sister, I haven't eaten for several days," another one cried.
Su Hele was flustered for a moment, then lifted her chin slightly and waved to the coachman waiting not far away.
Seeing this, the waiter in the teahouse quickly came over to drive the beggars away.
"Get out of here! Do you know who you're bothering? Get lost!" he shouted.
The beggars were nimble. One would be driven away, but another would come right back, which attracted the attention of the people around.
The waiter got angry and raised his hand to hit them, but was stopped by Su Hele.
"They're just poor kids who can't get enough to eat. Why do you have to make things difficult for them?" she said.
Then Su Hele whispered a few words to Sumo, who immediately got back into the carriage.
The beggars knew that she must be getting something good for them and stared eagerly.
The waiter flicked his rag and snorted.
"You're lucky to meet a kind - hearted person. Otherwise, I'd break your legs," he said, while stealing glances at the carriage.
Soon, Sumo got out of the carriage with a wooden box in her hands and quickly walked to Su Hele's side.
The beggars swarmed around Su Hele, their eyes shining.
Su Hele solemnly opened the box and took out a... book.
"Giving a man a fish feeds him for a day; teaching him to fish feeds him for a lifetime. Begging is not a long - term solution. It's better to learn to read and become self - reliant. If you can achieve success in the imperial examinations in the future, it won't be in vain for my good intentions," she said as she stuffed the book into the hands of the leading little beggar, not minding his dirty hands at all.
The little beggar opened his mouth slightly and looked at the book in his hand in confusion, as if he didn't understand what Su Hele said.
Su Hele gave a tolerant smile and, supported by Sumo, got into the carriage and left gracefully.
After the carriage left, the little beggars burst into laughter. The book was tossed around and then stepped on.
The waiter also sneered, flicked his rag again, and quickly returned to the teahouse.
Looking at the dirty and trampled book on the ground from upstairs, Su Nansheng calmly said,
"Go ahead. After you're done asking, we should go back."
She wouldn't come here again next time. Otherwise, if she saw Su Hele being surrounded by beggars, would she rescue her or not?
After getting the information they wanted, Su Nansheng and Bitao prepared to return to the mansion.
...
On Xuanping Street, a black carriage was quietly parked at the street corner.
He Xun lifted the curtain and looked at the Su Mansion not far away, pinching the invitation card in his hand.
It was prepared by his "thoughtful" mother, inviting Su Nansheng to a flower - viewing banquet.
But such a thing could have been done by a servant. Why did he have to come himself?
Moreover, as an outside man, he probably wouldn't even get to see Su Nansheng.
Thinking of this, He Xun dusted off his sleeves and got out of the carriage.
He was dressed in a crow - blue brocade robe with cloud patterns today, with a matching brocade belt around his waist and black boots embroidered with gold.
His already tall and slender figure, set off by the same - colored robe, looked even more slender - waisted and long - legged. Standing there, he exuded a cold and noble aura, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
He Xun didn't care at all. He strode towards the Su Mansion.
"Master, I can handle this small matter," Feiyu said considerately, standing diagonally in front of He Xun.
He Xun paused for a moment, then sidestepped Feiyu and walked forward briskly.
Feiyu behind him looked completely bewildered. Had the rules in the capital become so strict that the master had to deliver the invitation card in person?
...
As soon as Su Nansheng entered the main gate of the Su Mansion, the gatekeeper told her that a handsome young master had come to deliver an invitation card for her.
She instinctively thought there was a mistake, but the card did have her name on it.
Unfolding the invitation, Su Nansheng's eyes fixed on the signature.
Behind Chen Wanrong's name were two more characters - He Xun.
He's back?