Chapter 51: Still Sympathetic to the Greenery (14) "Bug Catching"

With reddened eyes, Mother Ming entered the Cangyun Pavilion and promptly knelt before Zhe Wan, who was engrossed in a book. Seeing this, Zhe Wan hastily helped her up, asking, "What are you doing? You're perfectly fine."

Mother Ming expressed her gratitude, "Madam, this old servant has heard it all. You've arranged for Shopkeeper Zhou to take Su Lan as his apprentice."

So that was the matter.

Zhe Wan smiled and corrected her, "You've got it backward. It wasn't me who asked Shopkeeper Zhou; he saw Su Lan's potential and willingly took her under his wing."

Mother Ming understood the situation clearly, "If not for your favor, how could Su Lan have such good fortune?"

Wiping away her tears, she stood up and respectfully said, "Madam, your kindness is too much for this old servant to repay. Being under your protection in this life, I can only hope to serve you as an ox or horse in my next reincarnation."

Zhe Wan replied, "It's not necessary to go that far."

She sat down and sincerely said, "It's also due to your excellent upbringing that Su Lan has such fortune."

Indeed, Mother Ming was a wonderful mother.

Back then, seeing that Su Lan excelled in arithmetic, efforts were made to procure cured meat to barter for her education with a tutor, even beseeching the master for books to read daily. When Su Lan reached the age of marriage, instead of marrying her off to a servant from the Duke of Britain's household, an exhaustive search was conducted to find a promising young man who conducted business in the Capital City.

After pleading for various favors, she finally, on the occasion of Su Lan's marriage, beseeched Madam Zhao to release Su Lan from her status as a bondmaid.

Given all that she has accomplished, Zhe Wan truly admires her.

Zhe Wan said, "Let her perform her duties diligently, and her future prospects will be even greater."

She spoke with hidden meaning, "She has expressed her desire to visit Minnan several times - you're aware of this, aren't you?"

Of course, Mother Ming was well aware. Despite her concerns about the journey's potential risks for the child, this was a significant opportunity. Just as Su Lan had gritted her teeth and joined Su Shan in purchasing a residence, it was now clear to all that they had made the right choice.

Following Madam Shao would be the right decision, as would going to Minnan.

She immediately nodded and said, "Rest assured, if she wishes to go, no one will be able to stop her. If anyone dares to obstruct her, this old servant will not hesitate to fight for her."

Zhe Wan smiled and continued, "I also have a task for you. I've already selected an exquisite peony in the flower room. You should fetch it later and deliver it to Lord Pan Shixian's residence, saying it's a gift from the shop."

"Remember, you must go personally."

Tea Mother understood. As the personal maid by Madam's side, others naturally knew what her visit implied.

Zhe Wan soon received an invitation from Madam Pan. He Chun remarked with a tsk, "To be honest, I've never been to Minister Pan's residence."

Zhe Wan had also never interacted with the Pan family. However, she and Manager Zhou had discussed that Minister Pan, who had served in the Ministry of Finance for many years, held significant influence. If anything were to happen with the Minnan tea trade in the future, they would have to seek his assistance.

Manager Zhou suggested that she should let He Chun handle official matters as it might be more appropriate for a man. But Zhe Wan was unwilling. She said, "Let's try it ourselves first."

They couldn't rely on He Chun for everything; otherwise, what would be the difference from her previous life?

Although Manager Zhou expressed such concerns, he was pleased with her determination and smiled, saying, "Excellent, such ambition. We can manage on our own too. We're not aiming for titles or high ranks, just conducting business."

Zhe Wan had pondered over this matter and believed that the Emperor held Minister Pan in high regard. The Xun Guo Gong Mansion was completely destroyed, but Minister Pan only suffered a demotion. When she delivered the silver to Madam Pan, many others had secretly done the same.

This indicated that Minister Pan was a man of integrity, and his situation wasn't as severe as it seemed.

Such a family was indeed worth befriending. Moreover, they had already shown goodwill, and she couldn't afford to miss this opportunity. To ignore it would be foolish.

But honestly, she felt a bit apprehensive. It was her first time making friends with a specific purpose in mind. This was a new experience, and she felt a bit nervous.

Li He Chun observed her as she rummaged through her wardrobe, trying on garment after garment. Eventually, she settled on a brand new robe adorned with a profusion of vibrant flowers.

He couldn't help but interject with a lesson, "The Pan family cannot be considered an aristocratic lineage. Minister Pan's grandfather was once the third-ranked scholar and served as a Cabinet Minister. However, his father didn't achieve much. It wasn't until Minister Pan entered the court that the Pan family truly flourished."

It cannot be compared to the influence and grandeur of the Duke of York's manor or the Marquess of Xun Guo's residence.

In the Capital City, sometimes the grace of the emperor means more than anything else. He Chun never dared to underestimate Minister Pan. The Duke of Xun also did not dare to, and each time he was angered, he would only vent his frustration by loudly cursing upon returning to the Censorate.

He smiled and said, "Marquis Xuong Guo detests Prefect Pan the most."

These were matters Zhe Wan was familiar with. Seeing her indifferent expression, He Chun mentioned something she didn't know, "His Majesty once praised Minister Pan in the imperial study, saying that although he can be truly harsh at times, he's not an unfeeling person. On the contrary, he's someone guided by his emotions, with his joys and sorrows clearly defined. Unlike some others who pretend to be flawless saints."

Upon hearing this, Zhe Wan's hands slowed down as she dressed. Noticing her focused attention, He Chun smiled and said, "You really are just like your elder sister, you know."

"Ayan used to enjoy listening to these stories too."

Zhe Wan, who had been listening attentively, glanced at him sidelong and fastened her garment's buttons. "In the House of Duke of York, you couldn't help with the hardships from my mother-in-law, nor did you understand or care about social etiquettes and gifts. You were pressured by both mothers to bear a child and were ignorant of the useless remedies they made you drink. Even when I wanted to vent my grievances, you couldn't comprehend them – so all you could do was listen to tales from outside."

He Chun was left speechless and fell silent. After a long while, he replied, "I didn't know about any of this. Now that I do, I deeply regret it."

Zhe Wan found He Chun utterly peculiar. Lately, he seemed to enjoy mentioning his elder sister in front of her, yet when she rebutted him, he would promptly fall silent, uttering words of remorse.

But the next time, he would still bring up his elder sister.

She sneered coldly. "Fortunately, I'm her own sister. If you were married to someone else, would you dare speak so candidly about her?"

Taking a sip of her steaming tea, she continued with a wry smile, "If you want to confess your guilt to your elder sister, do it at her grave, or to Chuan Ge. Why bother telling me?"

He Chun felt embarrassed. Indeed, he could only confide in Zhe Wan about Ayan. It made him feel a little better when she scolded Ayan on his behalf.

Zhe Wan now understood his intentions and rolled her eyes dramatically, finally voicing her thoughts out loud, "Fool!"

The following day, when Lady Zhao summoned her to inquire if He Chun had calmed down, Zhe Wan replied, "He Chun said you should make a pilgrimage to Elder Sister's grave for atonement."

Lady Zhao erupted in fury, though her complaints couldn't dispel the resentment in her heart. "Atonement? For what?"

Zhe Wan responded, "I am unsure, Mother. Perhaps you should ponder over it."

Lady Zhao was about to throw her cup! How could she possibly recall any more?

She could only remember two incidents. The first was when she sent a concubine to Zhe Yan while he was expecting a child, and the second was when she allowed Zhe Yan to manage the household affairs during another pregnancy.

These were grievances that He Chun had expressed to her repeatedly, so they stuck in her mind.

Zhe Wan: "There must be more than that, right?"

Lady Zhao slapped the table and thumped her chest. "Then tell me! What else is there?"

Zhe Wan spoke softly, "Mother should think about it yourself. He Chun doesn't want me to speak of it. As a married woman, my husband is my heaven, and I dare not comment."

Lady Zhao had often said this to her before. That year, He Chun suddenly developed a fondness for listening to operas. A girl from the theater wanted to become his concubine and used all sorts of tactics to cling to him, even earning herself a bad reputation.

When Zhe Wan heard about it at a banquet, she came back to tell Lady Zhao, "This isn't right."

But Lady Zhao replied, "A married woman obeys her husband. Why should you interfere? Your husband is your sky, just endure it."

It was only later when He Chun himself became angry, believing that his reputation had been ruined by the girl – he had done nothing but listen to an opera, after all.

The young lady was no match for her; soon, the entire entourage was forced to leave the Capital City. Zhe Wan listened with a tremble in her heart, but the people of the Capital City began to spread rumors of her jealousy, claiming that she could not tolerate concubines.

Madam Zhao also summoned her to question why she was being so relentless. Zhe Wan explained herself, and Madam Zhao believed her; she understood her son's temperament. Nevertheless, she advised, "You should have your own plans as well. It would be truly virtuous of you to take the initiative in taking concubines for He Chun."

By then, Zhe Wan had already grown up. She no longer felt inferior due to such remarks but instead began to learn how to speak in a similar manner.

It's about applying what one has learned, isn't it?

She was filled with introspection, realizing that she hadn't become who she was overnight. She owed it to her former self, who was always eager to learn and explore everything.

She raised a teacup and addressed Lady Zhao, "Mother, please don't take offense, but as your daughter-in-law, I must say that you should treat He Chun with more kindness. He truly has had a difficult time, so why continue to hold a grudge against him? Showing a softer side won't hurt, for this is what genuine love for a child entails."

The cup in Lady Zhao's hand slipped from her grasp, shattering to the ground. "How dare you! Who do you think you are to speak to me like this?"

Zhe Wan gently placed her own teacup back on the table and replied softly, "I only mean well for both He Chun and Mother. This kind of stubbornness isn't a solution."

Lady Zhao was left in a dilemma—neither wanting to cry nor to scold. If she scolded her, Zhe Wan wouldn't mind; she was like a persistent, unyielding mongrel!

With a venomous tone, she snapped, "It's none of your business!"

Zhe Wan didn't bother to argue and stood up immediately. "Mother, I need to visit Madam Pan's house."

Madam Zhao paused, surprised. "The one from the Ministry of Finance?"

Zhe Wan nodded. "Yes, the wife of Minister Pan Shixian."

Madam Zhao recalled and pouted. "Oh, her? She has an aloof personality. I don't want to deal with her—did He Chun ask you to go?"

Zhe Wan replied, "Yes."

Madam Zhao was exasperated yet helpless. She could only start wiping away tears. "Then go ahead—tell He Chun that I won't apologize to Zhe Yan. After all, I'm still his elder! If I were to seek forgiveness, what would that make me?"

Zhe Wan was indifferent. "Alright, I'll let him know."

Her attitude made Madam Zhao feel like she was dealing with a stubborn person. However, this time, she truly despised her son, believing he lacked filial piety and that this incident was humiliating. Consequently, she didn't want to tell anyone, silently cursing the two Zhe sisters in her heart while ignoring He Chun with resentment.

Unbothered by these matters, Zhe Wan went to the Pan residence. Madam Pan was about the same age as the Marquis of Merit and had already become a grandmother. She indeed had an aloof disposition, treating Zhe Wan coolly even when she arrived at her home.

But it seemed not to be deliberate; rather, it was likely a result of her long-standing personality.

The decorations in the Pan family's residence were not as grand as those of the Duke of England's mansion, lacking the trappings of age, but the screen and vases were tastefully coordinated. Zhe Wan even noticed numerous fish tanks of various styles placed in the courtyard.

Zhe Wan smiled and praised, "Madam, your place truly offers a picturesque scene at every step."

Madam Pan wasn't being dismissive, but she indeed wasn't one for jests. She simply replied, "Yes, I put effort into it."

Zhe Wan was usually a reserved person, but here, she found herself being the one to initiate conversation. She shared her thoughts on scenic arrangements with Madam Pan.

"I have always admired window views. Be it a crimson plum blossom amidst a blanket of snow, adorned by a few birds perched above, or a scarlet wall accompanied by green bamboo, with a small bridge and flowing water nearby."

"In any place, looking out from a window always seems to reveal a more appealing view than elsewhere," Zhe Wan remarked.

Madam Pan did not concur with this sentiment but was willing to engage in a discussion about why. As they conversed, she unexpectedly sipped several cups of tea.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhe Wan mentioned her tea cultivation in Minnan, saying, "I will send some fine tea to Madam when the time comes."

Madam Pan seemed to misunderstand her intention and replied, "Then I shall look forward to it."

Zhe Wan continued to share her experiences in Minnan, "My understanding of the place is like a blind man touching an elephant, grasping whatever part I happen to encounter."

Madam Pan: "You're quite impressive."

Zhe Wan smiled but didn't say anything more. After a while, she got up to take her leave, smiling as she said, "I'll come bother you again when I have time in the future."

When Pan Shixian asked about the visit that night, Madam Pan frowned and replied, "I don't understand what she was getting at either. She mentioned Minnan several times."

Lord Pan was surprised. "Is that so?"

Madam Pan's acquaintance with Zhe Wan had been Lord Pan's idea. He was indeed very curious about her.

He told Madam Pan, "Dealing with money for so long has made me good at judging people. For her to consider buying shops on Si'an, Guiyuan, and Qingming streets and also think of purchasing land in Minnan to grow tea trees, she must possess some remarkable skills."

Lord Pan held those with abilities in high regard. He said to Madam Pan, "Now that He Chun is overseeing this matter as the inspector, it's not wise for us to fall out with him. You should try to get to know Lady Liu. It can't hurt."

Her husband rarely made such requests, so Madam Pan went ahead and did as he asked. She told Lord Pan, "If she weren't Lady First of the Duke of Britain, I would've thought she was a lady seeking my help as a matchmaker."

Lord Pan, who had been somewhat confused up until now, suddenly laughed. "Lady Liu is quite extraordinary, isn't she?"

Madam Pan realized what he meant and found it hard to believe. "Surely not? Whatever she needs, can't she just ask Lord Liu?"

Magistrate Pan: "Yes, but she refused and avoided the topic."

He stroked his beard. "Madam, this time it's not about you; it's about me."

Madam Pan chuckled. "I could tell she was being cautious with her words today."

At her age, it was her first time encountering someone like Zhe Wan. "Seems like she does have some skill."

She took an interest in Zhe Wan herself and sent an invitation for tea and a play.

Upon learning this, Li He Chun was taken aback. "You two can actually have a conversation?"

He had thought it was just politeness, but now it seemed more like genuine interest.

Zhe Wan rolled her eyes at him and countered, "Haven't you visited your mother yet today?"

Li He Chun frowned. "Mother seems genuinely upset with me."

Zhe Wan, in the middle of penciling her eyebrows, smiled upon hearing this. "Is that so?"

He Chun asked, "Did you say something to Mother?"

Zhe Wan replied, "What else could I have said? It was about Elder Sister. Mother claimed she wasn't playing favorites, but I told her she was, and then she threw a cup."

He Chun sighed. "I know you were upset with Mother on Ayan's behalf... Sigh."

Deep down, he agreed with Zhe Wan. He also believed that Mother should apologize to Ayan.

Just like he should.

He had feelings for Ayan; they had known each other since youth and were each other's first spouses. How could he remain indifferent upon learning that she had died with resentment?

If Zhe Wan hadn't taken action, he wouldn't have known what to do either. The best course of action was to avoid the topic altogether. Yet, when Zhe Wan insisted on speaking up, he hesitated for a long time before finally allowing it.

—Someone had to voice Ayan's grievances, didn't they?

That day, he had somehow found himself thinking this way and ended up tolerating Zhe Wan's exaggerations to Mother. Now, look at how angry Mother was.

On one side was his deceased wife, and on the other, his mother who gave birth to him. Being stuck in the middle was a difficult position, and he couldn't even present himself as a good person in front of Zhe Wan.

Being a man is truly challenging.

Zhe Wan penciled her brows and applied lip rouge, enhancing her gentle and enchanting beauty. He Chun, who was sighing, saw this and frowned, "Why have you been dressing up like this...?"

So elaborately before going out recently. Before, she didn't attach much importance to her appearance, always content with a simple hair bun and unadorned brows.

Zhe Wan replied, "Now that my shop sells these items, shouldn't I use them?"

Last time, she made rouge from extra petals, initially intending to give it away with clothes. But not wanting to be too generous, Manager Zhou suggested she use it herself. Indeed, when she went out to interact with people, they inquired about the cosmetics she used.

Of course, she admitted to doing it and even offered to give the rest away. Once others had used them and found them effective, they wouldn't dare ask for more; naturally, they would go buy their own clothes and perhaps request an additional box of rouge.

Her tactics had become increasingly refined over time.

Her tongue had also grown sharper. Addressing Lihua He Chun, she said, "If I were to call you foolish, you wouldn't take offense, for you believe yourself to be clever. But if I say you've been unkind to your elder sister, you'd become angry, for deep down, you know it's true."

"It's the same with Mother. Her anger stems from her own guilt, acknowledging that she hasn't treated her elder sister well."

She played her cards openly, stating, "Given this, why don't you let Mother ponder why she treated her eldest sister that way? With such favoritism, why is she not brave enough to admit the consequences of her actions, even when a life is at stake?"

He Chun lowered his head, unable to face the situation himself. He was deeply troubled. While they remained in discomfort, Zhe Wan went to enjoy the opera with great enthusiasm. Mrs. Pan was an avid fan of operas and had invited a troupe to perform. When Zhe Wan arrived, she found that the audience consisted mostly of elderly ladies. She wasn't particularly acquainted with them but greeted each one politely, listening to their opinions on which performers were skilled and which were not. Zhe Wan attended several days in a row. Yuxiu and Sun Sanniang teased her for now appealing to both young and old audiences. Handing over the letter Jing'er had asked her to deliver to Yan Yan, Zhe Wan commented, "You know, I never used to appreciate operas. They seemed slow and filled with meaningless sounds. I couldn't understand why so many people loved them. But after attending a few times, I've started to find some enjoyment in them." Upon hearing this, Su Shan remarked, "Miss, those talented scholars from Jiangnan also enjoy going to the opera." Carefully, she added, "One of them even asked me to attend with him." Zhe Wan had been listening with a smile, but upon hearing this, her expression faltered. She forced a "mild" smile and asked, "Why would he do that? Did I assist him in some way?" Su Shan replied, "Not really. He's from a wealthy merchant family, so there's nothing I could have helped him with."

She whispered softly, "But Miss Zhe Wan... I have this feeling that he's taken a fancy to me."

Zhe Wan took a deep breath. "You're at an age where you can consider marriage. How do you truly feel about it?"

Did she like him? If so, she needed to thoroughly investigate his background and assess his character. More importantly, she had to teach Su Shan not to undervalue herself, especially after her remark, "I can't be of much help." That comment had tugged at her heartstrings.

After much contemplation, Zhe Wan realized everything must be done properly, so she couldn't rush things. She had to keep Su Shan grounded.

However, Su Shan declared, "I think he's a fraud!"

Zhe Wan was dumbfounded, taking a long while to recover before she stammered, "Tell me... why do you think he's a fraud?"

Su Shan replied, "He understands me too well."

Zhe Wan asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Su Shan responded, "How could he share so many similar interests with me unless he's researched me?"

She wasn't foolish, after all.