CH 2

Special Fondness – Chapter 2

The horse carriage drove on the winding roads of the village towards Linzhou city located a few miles away.

The distance between the two places isn’t far, it didn’t take long for the carriage to enter the city, but the short amount of time still made Fang Su feel a bit drowsy in the bumpy car.

He should have been so nervous that it would have been difficult for him to sleep but Fang Su was hugging his baggage, the wooden hairpin inside seemed to be rubbing against the skin of his elbow, it seemed like the gentle and soft comfort that his birth mother would give him when she was still alive ten or so years ago, helping him slowly overcome the grief and indignation he felt.

After some time has passed, when he was about to fall asleep, the horse carriage came to a stop.

A slight neighing awakened him, he had not yet come back to his senses that someone already lifted the carriage curtain and roughly pulled him out of the horse carriage. Fang Su temporarily had difficulty standing up, when he touched the ground, he took a wrong step and a heart-wrenching pain came from his left ankle, making him frown in pain.

It wasn’t a light sprain, the man who pulled him knew that he hurt him, yet the man didn’t feel any remorse, sneered at him mockingly: “Looks like a lady indeed, can’t even cope with a little rough treatment.”

Fang Su didn’t answer, he pressed his lips in silence and endured the pain as much as possible. He raised his head and looked around him, it was already dusk, it wasn’t as bright as in the daytime. In the hazy sunset, he was standing in a wide courtyard, he could see from the roof tiles and corridors that it was a wealthy household, but the horse carriage dared to drive into the courtyard grandiosely, presumably this is where he ought to be sent to.

Fang Su could guess it clearly, he didn’t ask any questions and waited in place without saying a word, for the time being, he just wait for these people to make arrangements.

The strong men beside him were still mocking his frailty one by one, but they didn’t dare to stay in the courtyard, they seemed to be waiting for someone else.

While he was still thinking about this, someone indeed appeared in the courtyard, Fang Su looked up at the sound and he saw a girl dressed in refined clothes. At the same time, the several strong men instantly restraint their bantering, they seemed to be a bit afraid of this girl and didn’t dare to misbehave.

“Miss Bai Ping” the few people greeted in unison, the leader took two steps forward and smiled flatteringly at her: “Miss, we’ve brought the person.” He did not say any more, a smile that was asking for credits and reward hung on his face as he was waiting calmly for her reply.

Bai Ping let out a “hm” and turned her head to look at Fang Su who stood on one side.

Her gaze swept at him like a breeze, Fang Su was nervous and kneaded at his baggage, he was now in a desolate situation and cannot help himself, he even had to be on guard faced by a girl. As he was thinking like that, Bai Ping held her hands together and gave him a small salute, not only this gesture surprised Fang Su, it also surprised the few burly men.

“Young Master must be tired; this maid will guide you so you can go back to the room and rest first.”

Fang Su moved his lips, suppressed the doubts in his heart, and did not express his surprise, following her to the room in the courtyard.

Bai Ping pushed open the door and stepped into the room first, only when she turned around that she noticed his slightly strange walking posture, she couldn’t help but frown: “Young Master hurt his foot?”

Every of her word was unexpected, Fang Su paused at her words, he shook his head and replied: “It is not a big issue, I was not careful and sprained it when stepping out of the carriage.”

Bai Ping said nothing, she guessed in her heart, she then glanced at the few people in the courtyard, then stepped forward to help him walk and sit down on the couch.

“Young Master, the kitchen has already prepared the food, you should take a rest first, this maidservant will find someone to deliver it.”

Fang Su had never been treated so politely before, Bai Ping’s words were polite and respectful, hearing it was making him embarrassed, he couldn’t help but persuade her: “Miss doesn’t need to be this polite, I was born crude environment and now I am in a situation despite myself, I don’t deserve you to call yourself “servant” …”

Bai Ping did not expect him to say this, she raised her eyebrows; she smiled and waited for him to finish his words, then responded: “Young Master will be the be this maidservant’s master in the future, how is it inappropriate?” She finished her words and looked at Fang Su’s puzzled look, smiled slightly, she then bowed and retreat from the room.

Fang Su sat on the couch alone, he couldn’t think through her words for a while, but he inexplicably had a subtle guess in his heart: In the future, maybe his situation will not be as bleak and dreary as he thought…

On Bai Ping’s side, she didn’t go to the courtyard after leaving the room but walk through the small corridor and went to the kitchen, she asked someone to heat the meal, then ask a maid to prepare hot water for the bath and clean new clothes, she settled everything then returned to where the carriage was stationed, she then led the few people outside.

The few burly men were waiting impatiently, but they didn’t dare to urge her, they carried a smile on their face and followed her steps, tried to flatter her: “Miss Bai Ping, look, our brothers brought the person as you had ordered, shouldn’t you say few good praises in front of Master1 Tang?”

1Zhuāng zhǔ, which means palace/villa master

Bai Ping squinted at the speaker, her footstep not stopping: “If you did a good job, of course, there will be a reward, but if you didn’t do it well, you should be punished. The Master has always been clear about rewards and punishments, you guys should know it.”

“Yes, yes, yes, of course, we know.” The man agreed with a flattering smile, thinking about the reward he will receive, he was thinking that once he got the money, he will exchange it for wine and meat, he would live a happy life.

The few men secretly rejoiced, they followed Bai Ping, passing through the garden of the mansion to the outside of the main courtyard. The footsteps of the girl in front of them stopped and made them wait where they were, she entered the inner house alone. After a long while, Bai Ping finally came to lead them inside.

Under the tree in the courtyard, a person was lying on the bamboo couch comfortably, his inner clothes were embroidered with beautiful crane pattern, his light green outer robe was wrapped around him like smoke, his eyes were closed, with a glance no one was able to tell if he was awake or he was dreaming.

“Master Tang.” The few people approached; the leader greeted him with his head lowered.

Tang QiaoYuan opened his eyes, his eyes clear.

The man who just spoke saw him move, he hurriedly smiled: “Master Tang, we little ones have done the job, the person you wanted was brought here.”

“Uhm.” Tang QiaoYuan gave a throat-clear answer, “Twenty taels of silver for each.”

“Thank Master Tang!” The few people knelt down to thanks him, they bowed their heads again and again before daring to get up. They yet have stood firm that they saw the person on the couch sitting up.

The maidservant under the tree stepped forward to assist him, Tang QiaoYuan waved his hand to make her retreat, he slightly adjusted the outer robe on his shoulders, a trace of provoking smile on his face. When he opened his mouth to speak again, his tone was icy enough to make someone shiver to its bones: “The reward that should be given was given, let’s talk about the punishment.”

The complexions of the several men changed, although they didn’t know yet what they have done wrong, they knelt back immediately, the man who had spoken earlier hurriedly said: “Master Tang, this time we haven’t been negligent!”

“Hm?” Tang QiaoYuan stretched out his hand, waiting for the maidservant to hand him the warm cup of tea, he slowly lifted the lid of the delicate cup of tea, until sweat rolled on the forehead of the few men, then asked slowly, “Who was the one who hurt Fang Su’s foot?”

As soon as the person who was speaking heard this, his face turned pale in a second: isn’t him the one who hurt Fang Su…

“Hm?” Tang Qiao Yuan half-voiced suspiciously.

“Master Tang, please be merciful, this small one was purely unintentional!”

The brawny man hurriedly kowtowed to him; he was so regretful in his heart. He thought that Tang QiaoYuan was just looking for a random plaything, how could he ever know that he would care so much about someone like this. If he knew it earlier, even if someone would have given him ten guts, he would have dared to be rude to Fang Su at all.

Tang QiaoYuan allowed him to beg for mercy, but he wasn’t moved by it, after thinking about it for a while, he said: “You deserve the twenty taels of silver, about your wrong, you will get twenty whips.”

The brawny man shut his mouth, although he was going to be punished, he was relieved, knowing Tang QiaoYuan’s temperament, this punishment was already very light, so he thanked him in a hurry. The several men beside him were not implicated but cold sweat still ran down their back, they quickly followed him out of the courtyard.

The courtyard was peaceful again, Tang QiaoTuan put down his sneer, his called Bai Ping to instruct her: “Go get the medicinal liquor, go find a maid with dexterous hands to help him relieve the swelling.”

“Yes, this servant understands.” The girl bends in reverence and then went to do as instructed.

Tang QiaoYuan straighten his eyebrows, put the teacup back in the hand of a maid, and laid back on the couch, before closing his eyes he looked afar as if he could see through the wall of the courtyard, straight toward where that person was, the look in his eyes turned warm.

And in the bedroom of that courtyard, the kitchen has already quickly prepared the supper, a rich variety of dishes, something that Fang Su – who was accustomed to living in poverty – has never seen before. Fang Su was still sitting on one side of the bed, not knowing how to react for a while until a maid called him softly, he then raised his head nervously.

“Young Master, please come have your dinner.”

Fang Su was not much on guard, he has not suffered any malice since he has arrived in the courtyard, one could say that his heart was at ease at this moment. But precisely because it was like this that it was making him confused, he couldn’t figure out why the people in this mansion would treat him with such courtesy.

His identity was obviously someone who got sold off to repay a debt, yet he was provided with a good room and good food, on what basis could he get so many benefits?

Fang Su felt like he was falling into a dream, so many surprises were making him hesitated, he did not know how to answer that maid, he then hesitantly shook his head negatively. The maid looked worried and was about to persuade him again when she heard the footsteps outside the door were approaching; everyone turned around to greet “Miss Bai Ping.”

Bai Ping nodded, her sight falling on the untouched dishes on the table, then saw Fang Su’s uneasy expression, she then understood and said to everyone: “All of you can retreat first.”

“Yes.”

The maids filed out, Fang gu was finally able to let out a breath, he wasn’t as embarrassed as he was earlier, looking at Bai Ping inquiringly.

Bai Ping took a few steps forward to meet his look, bending over to help. Fang Su didn’t make any refusal, it was probably because the first impression is the strongest, the one he saw the first was this girl, so he felt more at ease with her, he went along her to sit down to the table.

“Young Master, please enjoy your dinner.”

“Miss…” Fang Su called out hesitantly.

Bai Ping smiled “Young Master can call this maidservant ‘Bai Ping’.”

Fang Su nodded, but he didn’t really call her like this, and asked again: “Miss Bai Ping, what does your Master…”

His question wasn’t clear enough, Fang Su couldn’t go on, at the end, it was a bit hard for him to continue talking. However, Bai Ping understood in her heart, she held the chopsticks and start arranging dishes for him, smiled, and said: “Young Master does not need to think too much, you will be able to see him tomorrow.”

Fang Su was silent, he held on to the chopsticks, suppressing the suspicion in his heart, he was thinking whatever, what has been done is done, it would be better to deal with it peacefully.

Notes:

The brawny men adress Tang QiaoYuan as Táng zhuāng zhǔ (唐庄主), ‘zhuāng zhǔ’ is literally “palace/villa owner”, in ancient times it refers to someone affluent who has some decisional power. (If I have to use an English equivalent, it’s quite similar to ‘Lord’).

I use “Master Tang” because it would be weird to call him “Tang palace master”.

It’s my first time using WordPress, I am not too familiar plus I am using the free version which doesn’t give me much options, I can’t use plugin to make tooltip nor use certain widgets. (If I want to upgrade it, it’s 98€/year for the cheapest option, so…)

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