Chapter 42

Chapter 42

The clouds parted and the rain ceased, as golden sunlight streamed down.

The carriage rolled smoothly to Captain Lane and came to a stop outside the Su residence.

The main gate of the house was half-open. Passing through the inner gate, she looked up and saw several people bent low, bustling about as they cleaned the courtyard.

Su Yunyao raised her elegant eyebrows in surprise.

She had just left the Pei residence and hadn’t yet had time to arrange for the cleaning of this house—how was it already being tidied up?

Liu Xin, who had lagged a few steps behind, approached. Seeing her astonishment, he rubbed his large hands together and smiled. "Miss, it was arranged by Young Master Xu."

No sooner had he spoken than Xu Changlin emerged from the central residence.

He strolled leisurely, fanning himself with a bamboo fan. As he drew near, he first gave Su Yunyao a once-over. Seeing that she looked composed, with no signs of reddened eyes from crying, he snapped his bamboo fan shut with a sharp click and sighed in exasperation.

"Yunyao, how could you go through with something as significant as an amicable divorce just like that? You could've at least given me some warning!"

After returning to the apothecary that day, he had mulled it over and felt something was amiss with her situation. Unable to rest easy, he had quietly sought out Liu Xin to learn the full story.

The divorce was long overdue—he had long sensed she had suffered much injustice in the Pei household!

But with her relatives far away, he was the only family she had in the capital. Had she told him beforehand, he would have at least gone to the Pei residence to demand answers and apologies for her!

That Pei fellow might be the Grand General of the Jinwu Guard, but the Xu family was a lineage of physicians. His grandfather and father had both served as imperial physicians, and his late aunt had been a noble consort. Before the Xu family fell from grace, they had mingled with the imperial kinsmen and aristocracy. He had seen more high-ranking officials in his youth than he could count—this was the imperial capital, after all. No matter how powerful one’s position, reason must still prevail.

Hearing this, Su Yunyao couldn’t help but laugh.

She hadn’t told him about the divorce precisely because she feared he would argue vehemently on her behalf at the Pei residence. If Pei Bingan were swayed by his reasoning, he might have reconsidered the divorce.

Being able to part ways smoothly was already more than enough for her.

She patted her empty stomach and smiled. "What’s done is done—no need to dwell on it. I’m hungry."

Xu Changlin had already brought along the cook and matron who had served him for years.

At his command, the kitchen sprang to life. Steamed perch, dressed mallow greens, peach-blossom pastries, and red bean congee—all her favorites—were soon served.

With her worries cast aside, a meal of beloved dishes lifted her spirits even more.

Su Yunyao stuffed a large bite of dressed mallow greens into her mouth, her cheeks bulging comically.

"Slow down, don’t rush—you’ll choke! The cook and matron will stay with you. From now on, they’ll make whatever you crave..."

Xu Changlin fussed lightly as he picked out a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it on her plate.

"How do you have time to visit today? Isn’t the clinic busy?" Su Yunyao asked between delighted mouthfuls.

Xu Changlin shot her a wry look. "Nothing could be more important than your affairs. I’ll only rest easy once you’re settled."

Su Yunyao nodded with a smile.

At least he had a conscience—all those years eating at the Su family's table weren't wasted.

Years ago, when disaster struck her family, she had written him letter after letter, but they all disappeared like stones in the ocean. She had hated him with a passion then, swearing she'd never speak to him again in this lifetime.

Now, she had mostly forgiven him.

"It's been a while since I visited Aunt. How is her health?" Su Yunyao said.

The red bean congee was too hot, so Xu Changlin stirred it slowly with a spoon. "She's doing well. Don't worry about her—just worry about yourself. Now that you're divorced, what are your plans?"

Su Yunyao thought for a moment. "The incense shop is doing well right now. I want to seize the opportunity to earn more money and open a few more branches in the future."

Was business and money all she cared about?

Xu Changlin shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "Just that?"

Su Yunyao gave him a puzzled look. "What else would there be?"

Xu Changlin: "..."

He coughed lightly into his fist. "Never mind. Your birthday is coming up—any wishes? Aside from plucking the moon from the sky, name it."

Su Yunyao thought for a moment, then smiled at him. "I want to go back three years. Can you make that happen?"

Xu Changlin: "..."

"I'd better figure out how to get you the moon instead," he grumbled.

~~~

After the divorce, free from daily household obligations, Su Yunyao found herself with plenty of free time. She could now spend entire days at her incense shop.

Her shop was a two-story shop facing the street. The front was the shop itself, while the back had two wing courtyards where incense cakes and perfumes were made.

When she first arrived in the capital, she took over this struggling incense business, keeping a few of the original female incense artisans to craft the products in the rear courtyard. Meanwhile, Liu Xin managed the shop operations.

After reviewing the recent ledgers, she noticed an unusual customer who would visit on the fifth of every month to buy Suhe Incense and Qingwei Incense. Each time, they purchased exactly two boxes but left ten taels extra.

"This customer said the extra silver was a reward from their master, who thought our incense cakes were excellent," Liu Xin explained.

Su Yunyao pondered for a while.

The capital was full of wealthy families, and generous customers weren’t uncommon. But one who left such generous tips yet only bought two boxes each time was quite odd.

Today happened to be the fifth.

She waited in the shop on purpose.

But as the sun began to set and the shop was about to close, the customer still hadn’t arrived.

The incense artisans gradually left for home, and the shop assistants called it a day. Liu Xin glanced at the growing darkness outside. "Miss, it seems no one’s coming today. You’ve worked hard—why not rest early?"

Su Yunyao hesitated for a moment, then placed two boxes of Suhe Incense on the counter. "No rush. Let's light the lamps first."

Just as the shop was illuminated by candlelight, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

A woman in her thirties, dressed in a pale purple chang'ao with a solemn expression and dignified posture, walked in with her hands folded demurely.

Seeing Su Yunyao alone in the shop and the two boxes of Suhe Incense on the counter, she looked surprised. "Were you waiting for me?"

Su Yunyao handed her the incense with a smile. "You're later than usual today. Since you always paid extra before, these two boxes are complimentary. They're on the house today."

The woman didn’t take the boxes but gave a mysterious smile.

The incense from this shop initially pleased her master, used twice a month. But over time, it had grown ordinary.

Her mistress had a last-minute idea to change some incense today. She’d left the house late, and after finding several shops already closed, she decided to give this shop a shot.

As it happened, she ran into the shopkeeper.

"Besides the usual incense sold in your shop, can you mix custom scents?" the woman asked.

Su Yunyao nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

From the palace to the streets, incense was widely used in the current dynasty.

Though the two types of incense in her shop were popular, they weren’t for everyone.

For customers with unique incense habits, she could whip up something to their liking.

Hearing her answer, the woman’s stern expression softened considerably.

She took out three hundred-tael banknotes from her purse and placed them on the counter. "This is for your trouble. It’s just a token—nothing serious. Please come with me tomorrow to meet my master. If you can create incense that satisfies her, there will be a generous reward."

Looking at the banknotes, Su Yunyao’s eyes went wide.

Three hundred taels was no joke—this was a seriously big spender!

Her shop was gonna strike gold!

~~~

As dusk fell, Pei Bingan got off work and headed home like always.

After sitting silently in the Quiet Reflection Courtyard for a long while, he suddenly stood up and strode toward the Wisteria Courtyard.

It had been three days since he and Su Yunyao split up.

In those three days, she hadn’t come to the Pei residence to see him—not even sending so much as a note.

Perhaps she was too embarrassed to come crawling back yet.

By custom, today was his night to stay in her quarters. Though she wasn’t there, he still habitually thought of visiting.

The autumn wind was bleak, and the Wisteria Courtyard lay quiet, with only a few leaves tumbling lonely in the wind.

Standing at the courtyard gate, Pei Bingan’s brows furrowed deeply.

Striding under the eaves, he called coldly, "Is anyone here?"

Wisteria Courtyard’s maids—Qing Zhi, Qing Ye, and Qing Xing—were all present. Hearing the general’s voice, the three emerged quietly from the side rooms.

Qing Zhi and Qing Ye’s time with the household was up. With the First Madam gone from the general’s residence, they no longer wished to stay.

"General, we’ve already informed Second Madam and got our papers. We’ll be leaving now."

After speaking, they bowed their heads in farewell, carrying their bundles and the silver Su Yunyao had left them, and left Wisteria Courtyard for good, no glances back.

The rustling of autumn leaves accompanied their fading footsteps, leaving the courtyard even quieter.

Qing Xing, stuck for life, couldn’t leave.

Still, though she had cried herself sick upon learning of the split, she believed the First Madam was right to leave.

Yet, with the Wisteria Courtyard dead and hollow, she couldn’t stomach serving some new woman whoever the general dragged in next.

"My lord, please reassign me elsewhere—the tea room, the garden, or the kitchen—anywhere but Ziwei Courtyard," Qing Xing pleaded.

After a long silence, Pei Bingan gave her an icy look.

She had always served by Madam Su's side. If she left, who would look after this courtyard?

It should remain exactly as it was, so that when Madam Su returned, she could move back in seamlessly.

"No," he said coldly, then whirled around and strode into the main chamber.

The room was unlit, shrouded in the dim twilight.

Pei Bingan wandered into the side chamber.

By the window, the daybed was neatly arranged with soft pillows, but the person who once reclined there in languid relaxation was gone.

On the nearby table sat a porcelain medicine cup.

Pei Bingan stared at it motionlessly.

This cup, slightly larger than a teacup but much smaller than a rice bowl, was what Madam Su used for her medicine.

When it came to taking bitter medicine, she was always in denial—to drink less of it, she had her maids serve it in this small white porcelain cup.

That way, she could drink less.

Remembering her pained expression as she drank brought an unconscious curve to his lips, but then his smile froze into a hard line.

Had Madam Su fully recovered from her cold?

The old physician had once advised him to nourish her dizziness with Ba Zhen Tang, but before he could tell her, they had separated.

Even though she had left, surely she would return, wouldn’t she?

When she did, he would personally bring her the medicine and watch her drink it.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed outside the courtyard.

In an instant, Pei Shuxian rushed in, waving a round fan, her maid in tow.

"Elder Brother!" she cried, her voice choked with tears. "Why did you divorce First Sister-in-law? What did she do wrong?"

Pei Bingan froze for a moment before turning to look at her.

After a pause, he replied hoarsely, "Shu Xian, Madam Su crossed the line. She slapped your Second Sister-in-law and Wan Rou, and she defied Grandmother, refusing to admit her mistakes..."

Pei Shuxian broke down sobbing, hitting his shoulder with her fan. "Was she wrong to hit them? I’ve long disliked them—First Sister-in-law was right to strike them! If you hadn’t insisted on bringing Song Yiniang into the household, First Sister-in-law wouldn’t have left! It’s all your fault, you bullied her! Now that I’m hitting you, why don’t you banish me too—"

The maid, horrified, quickly pulled her out.

The room plunged back into tomb-like silence.

Amid the cold stillness, Pei Bingan stood for a long time, a lump forming in his throat.

Suddenly, he realized Shu Xian was right.

Because she was his sister, his flesh and blood, no matter how grave her mistakes, he would never banish her from the Pei household.

But as for Madam Su...

He thought, when she came back to him again, he wouldn’t demand a complete apology—just the slightest show of regret, and he would forgive her, allowing her to return to the Pei residence, back to his side.