YBTS - 1

Perhaps because the Wei Dynasty’s climate was cold for half the year, everyone loved incense. If you added a pinch of incense to the warming brazier you held, whether the scent was subtle or richly floral, it would invariably make your heart feel refreshed and at ease.

If one were to ask where the famous incense of the Wei Dynasty came from, it would undoubtedly be the capital’s incense shop—Shouweizhai.

This shop, firmly established in the capital, relied not only on rare incense materials but also on closely guarded, secret blending techniques. Thanks to its inimitable and superior fragrances, the Su family of Shouweizhai had, in recent years, been raking in money daily and living in comfort.

It was said that wealth and status have always been intertwined. The Su family possessed mountains of gold, with more than enough “riches,” yet they were ultimately still merchants, separated from the powerful elite by mountains and rivers.

Since Master Su Hongmeng, the eldest son of the Su family, took on the post at the Capital Trade Bureau, his toes finally managed to touch the threshold of official residences, which truly filled everyone with joy.

This Trade Bureau specialized in the Wei Dynasty’s overseas trade, and the eldest master, under its Maritime Trade Office, was specifically in charge of selecting and purchasing incense.

Although he was just a small official in charge of the incense and medicine warehouse, earning a meager salary, for the Su family, this was a ladder to heaven for their children’s future advancement.

After securing the position, Master Su decided to take his entire family to their ancestral shrine in their old hometown, Yinzhou, to thank their ancestors for their hidden virtues and blessings.

The family prepared to board the boat in the twelfth lunar month, intending to spend the New Year in their old family residence. Master Su decided to return to the capital after the New Year, to avoid delaying his new official appointment.

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Others prepared their luggage with joyful faces, but Master Su’s legitimate second daughter, Su Caijian, looked somewhat downcast, casting a sullen gaze at the maids packing her belongings.

Xique, Su Caijian’s personal maid, was observant. Seeing her young mistress looking as if she’d been frostbitten, she immediately guessed what was on her mind.

“Second Young Mistress, are you unhappy because you don’t want to see ‘her’?”

Su Caijian tore at the embroidery sample in her hand, idly glancing at Xique: “You talk too much; you should really be named Gourd, keep your mouth shut and spare me the chatter!”

Xique heard this and knew immediately that her guess was correct. She quickly smiled apologetically: “If this servant were mute, wouldn’t you be terribly bored... Second Young Mistress worries too much. I already asked the young servant who sent things to the old home a long time ago. Although ‘she’ was sent to the old home, she doesn’t live in the old residence. It’s said that for several months of the year, she goes to the temple on the mountain to discuss Buddhist scriptures with the old nun. Even if you go back, you might not even see her!”

Upon hearing this, a complicated expression appeared on Su Caijian’s face, a mix of relief and a hint of regret: “...Is she planning to become a nun? Why bother? Our Su family isn’t poor; even if she can’t get married, we can support her for life...”

But then, changing the subject, she leaned forward and asked, “When I go there, I truly won’t see her often?”

Xique, being a sharp person, quickly replied, “Don’t worry, this servant will make sure to instruct the steward at the old residence to ensure you live comfortably and don’t see anyone who bothers you. Moreover, with Madam there, she will consider everything thoroughly for you. Besides, your engagement to Young Master Lu is set in stone! Both families have exchanged birthdate scrolls and they’ve been worshipped in each family’s ancestral hall for over a month now. The Su and Lu families are both prospering and rising to new heights! This is a match made in heaven, something no one else can interfere with. You just don’t pay attention to others.”

These words instantly cleared the clouds from Su Caijian’s face. Remembering her fiancé Lu Shi’s distinguished appearance, she was even more overjoyed. For a moment, her worries were completely forgotten.

However, a young maid outside, overhearing the idle chatter inside, was utterly bewildered.

She was new and naturally didn’t know who the “her” the second young mistress was wary of was. So, when she followed Xique to the storeroom to collect her monthly wages, she curiously asked.

This new maid, Mingchan, was a distant relative of Xique, so Xique was fond of looking after her and patiently explained: “You also know that the Second Young Mistress has an older sister. Although she is also legitimate, she is not born of our Madam Ding.”

Mingchan immediately nodded and said, “I know that. Our Madam had a previous wife, Madam Hu, who died early. That Madam also had a son and a daughter... but I heard that the Eldest Young Mistress suffered an accident, became blind, and was sent to the old residence...”

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Before she could finish, Xique glared at her: “You talk too much, you should really change your name to Gourd! Remember, if you want to do well in Second Young Mistress’s courtyard, talk less about the Eldest Young Mistress!”

With that hint, Mingchan somewhat understood: the person the Second Young Mistress didn’t want to see was her paternal half-sister!

It was only in the last two years that the Eldest Young Mistress of the Su family developed an eye condition. She was beautiful, and it was said that the childhood engagement between the Su and Lu families was originally meant for the Eldest Young Mistress.

If the Eldest Young Mistress hadn’t developed the eye condition later, the Lu family marriage would never have fallen to the Second Young Mistress.

In this way, the Second Young Mistress’s complicated girlish feelings became clear at a glance. But now, it seemed, wasn’t that Eldest Young Mistress pitiful!

A fine young lady, only eighteen now, yet afflicted with an eye disease. What respectable noble family would want a blind daughter-in-law?

But if she were to be married off as a concubine, the current Madam, Ding Pei, would inevitably gain a reputation for mistreating her stepdaughter. It was said that the Eldest Young Mistress was quite proud; the family had previously tried to marry her to a poor scholar, but the Eldest Young Mistress staunchly refused, and the father and daughter had a big quarrel.

After much consideration, Master Su sent the Eldest Young Mistress back to the old home. Since she didn’t want to marry, he would let her be, treating her as if the family had gained another ancestor, raising her until her death!

Now, with continuous good news for the Su family, Master Su was too lazy to argue with his stubborn and eccentric eldest daughter. This time returning, if she couldn’t endure the solitude of the old home and came to him seeking reconciliation, he, as a father, would naturally soften and find a suitable marriage for her, adding more dowry to marry her off.

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On the return boat, Master Su addressed his three sons: “From now on, our Su family can also be considered an official family. All my efforts have been for you, my descendants. Even when we return to our old home, you three boys must not neglect your studies.”

The two sons born to Lady Ding were one year apart: Su Jinguan, fourteen, and Su Jincheng, thirteen. Both were born while Lady Ding was with Master Su in Chengdu Prefecture, so their names carried the meaning of their birthplace, “Jinguan City.”

Both also carried the spiritual essence of Jinguan City’s blossoming prosperity, and had been diligently following their tutor since they began schooling. In contrast, Su Guiyan, the son of the deceased Lady Hu, seemed rather dull.

Hearing Guiyan stumble through a recitation of Chu Shi Biao, Su Hongmeng was utterly furious. He pointed at his eldest son’s forehead and said, “It’s a shame you’re already sixteen, and started school two years earlier than your younger brothers. Is your brain filled with paste?”

Su Guiyan’s appearance inherited the refined elegance of his deceased mother, Madam Hu; he looked quite handsome, but unfortunately, it was only his looks.

He was so staggered by his father’s pointing finger that he involuntarily stumbled back two steps, and with the rocking of the boat, he landed hard on the ground, his eyes reddening from the pain.

The two younger brothers watched their elder brother fall, not daring to help him up, and the third brother, Su Jincheng, couldn’t help but secretly let out a giggle.

Just then, Lady Ding came over with her maids. She glanced at Su Guiyan and smiled at Master Su, saying, “My dear, why are you losing your temper and scolding people again? You just had your body regulated a few days ago, and the physician said you shouldn’t get angry while taking the medicine. Yan’er has always been a slow learner; it’s not something new these past two days. Why bother getting angry and upsetting yourself...”

As she spoke, Lady Ding gave her stepson Yan’er, who was sitting on the ground, a meaningful look, signaling him to quickly get away to avoid further provoking his father’s anger.

Su Guiyan pursed his lips, scrambled up, and hobbled back into the cabin, clutching his waist.

Su Hongmeng, still simmering with anger, said, “You always protect him so much; he’s becoming more and more disobedient!”

Madam Ding was well-preserved; she was ten years younger than Su Hongmeng. Although over thirty, her features were still radiant. She smiled and massaged Su Hongmeng’s shoulders, saying, “Sister Hu passed away early, leaving this pair of children. As a stepmother, how can I not care for them more? And now Luoyun’s eyes... I truly feel ashamed towards Sister Hu and can’t sleep soundly every night...”

Su Hongmeng had always doted on his wife. Seeing Madam Ding blame herself again for his eldest daughter’s eye condition, he sighed, “Her situation was an accident; no one will blame you.”

His eldest daughter, Su Luoyun, had bumped her head back then and couldn’t see after waking up. How could that be blamed on Ding Pei? But Ding Pei didn’t relax her brow after hearing her husband’s words; she only sighed again, “Luoyun’s personality is too stubborn; otherwise, why would we send her to live in the old residence?”

Su Hongmeng looked affectionately at his cherished wife, who was ten years his junior. He knew her nature best; she was kind and gentle. It was also difficult for her when she first entered the household, having to care for her own children while also looking after the children left by his deceased wife.

This time, he had taken up an official post at court. When he rose in rank someday, his wife would also enjoy immense glory, and it would not have been in vain that Ding Pei had entrusted her grievances to him then…

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The journey passed without further words, and they arrived by boat at their old home in Yinzhou.

The Su family’s old residence had been rebuilt during the previous family patriarch’s eightieth birthday. It had been over twenty years since then, and its walls were covered in green vines and moss, looking lush and verdant from a distance.

Old Feng, the steward of the old residence, had been waiting by the river wharf with his people for the boat since early morning. Now, he was leading the coachman in front of the carriage to the old residence’s hitching post, preparing to unload.

After getting out of the carriage, Su Hongmeng looked around and frowned, asking, “Where’s the Eldest Young Mistress? Is she throwing a tantrum again and refusing to show herself?”

Ever since Su Luoyun lost her sight, her personality had become even more reclusive. Initially, besides smashing things, she also argued with the family over her marriage.

Even if Su Hongmeng put on a father’s dignified air, it was hard to harshly scold a newly blind daughter. So, he simply sent her back to the old residence to cultivate her character.

He hadn’t expected her to still be so stubborn after all this time, not coming out to greet him even though she knew her father had returned!

Steward Old Feng, seizing the moment before the master got angry, timely said, “Since the beginning of winter, the rainfall here has increased rather than decreased. The Eldest Young Mistress heard you were arriving by boat and has been worried about the river rising. These past few days, she’s been going to the temple on the mountain to burn incense and pray for the family. She was supposed to return yesterday, but unfortunately, it rained again, and the mountain paths were too slippery to walk on, causing the delay. Just now, I sent someone to inquire, and they said someone downstairs had brought furnace ash to pave the road, so she should be back in about an hour.”

Su Hongmeng’s gloomy expression softened slightly after hearing the steward’s explanation.

Madam Ding also chuckled gently from the side, “Yun’er seems to have become more sensible... It’s just that she still acts without foresight. She doesn’t consider that with the slippery roads in the rain, if she gets hurt again, wouldn’t it break our hearts...”