Chapter 126: Qingqiu Begins Its Soft Radiance

When the Great Ancestor of Great Zhou, Li Li Tianling, first unified half of the Jiangnan region, he established his capital in Jin Ling, then marched north to crush the Mongol Yuan and unified the realm.

Only after that did he move the capital to Shen Jing, making Jin Ling the actual secondary capital of Great Zhou.

The Four Kings and Eight Dukes who followed the Great Ancestor in pacifying the realm and restoring Han clothing and customs all left ancestral homes in Jin Ling.

The Jia family's old residence in Xinglong Fang, though not as lavish as the imperial-constructed Ningguo and Lady Rongguo Prefectures in Shen Jing, was once the origin point of the two Dukes, and its grounds were truly vast.

Since the main line of Ning and Rong followed the imperial court north to Shen Jing, this old Jia residence has remained vacant; though the Jia family still has eight branches in Jin Ling, none of the collateral lines are permitted to step inside the old residence.

When Jia Cong's carriage arrived at the left corner gate of the old residence, he stepped down, and saw two long benches placed beneath the main gate's eaves, where five or six elderly servants sat guarding the entrance, two of them even playing chess on the ground.

Most peculiar was that all these elderly servants bore disabilities—some blind in one eye, others missing arms or legs; the most intact among them had a terrifying scar across his face.

Jia Cong found this strange: why would the Jia family keep such grotesque old servants? They seemed more like guardians of the estate.

The steward Jin Cai, seeing Jia Cong's expression, explained: "Third Master, you don't know—these elderly servants were once personal guards of the late Duke."

Jia Cong noticed the courtyard was much larger than Qingzhi Studio in Lady Rongguo Prefecture; even with just him, Wu'er, and Qingwen living here, it felt strangely empty.

After walking a long way with Jin Cai's wife, they finally reached the two-story courtyard assigned to him; Jin Cai's wife knocked on the gate, and a unfamiliar little maid opened it.

The two little maids had been on the boat for nearly ten days; though the official vessel was well-equipped, water and bathing were never as convenient as at home.

They had all fought alongside the late Duke on the battlefield, and after sustaining injuries, were no longer fit for military service, so they were kept here in the old residence to spend their remaining years in peace.

"Third Master, you've finally returned! You've been on the boat for so many days—you must be exhausted. Hot bathwater's been prepared for you; go wash and relax. Qingwen and I have already bathed."

A faint fragrance of maidenhood came from behind; two soft little hands undid his topknot, dampened his hair with warm water, then applied soapberry water infused with fragrant leaves, massaging and lathering his scalp.

Both wore small garments of Yunluo silk—Wu'er's in rain-green, Qingwen's in pine-green—accentuating their slender, youthful figures, quite alluring.

Entering the room, Jia Cong saw Wu'er and Qingwen both with their long hair loose, dark and damp, clearly just bathed.

When Jia Cong fully submerged himself in the hot water, every pore opened, and the fatigue from days of travel slowly dissolved.

The rain-green Yunluo silk garment rose and fell along graceful curves—from the slender waist, barely a handful, to the softly rounded contours of the Qingqiu.

Wu'er's face lit up with joy when she saw Jia Cong return, her smile blooming like a flower.

But washing his hair always required Wu'er or Qingwen's help, for his hair was too long—he couldn't manage it himself.

Wu'er's movements were gentle and meticulous; Jia Cong closed his eyes in contentment, the soothing pressure of her fingers on his scalp gradually spreading through his body, making him feel as if floating in midair.

Though Jia Cong had had Wu'er and Qingwen as devoted maids for years, he had never developed the absurd habit of letting servants bathe him.

These men, if kept in the imperial-constructed Duke's residences in Shen Jing, would have been an eyesore; keeping them in the old residence in Jin Ling was far quieter.

Jin Cai brought Jia Cong to the second gate, then sent his wife to lead him into the inner courtyard.

He tilted his head up and saw Wu'er leaning down toward him, her black tresses falling, her bright eyes like stars, her delicate, lovely face truly a delight to behold.

"Wu'er."

Jia Cong understood now—these were the Duke's former personal soldiers. No wonder these elderly servants carried such a fierce aura; only those who had seen countless deaths on the battlefield could bear such an expression.

They had drifted on the boat for nearly ten days; though the official ship was well-equipped, water and bathing were never as convenient as at home.

Jin Cai's wife said that since today's arrival was rushed and the old residence was usually unoccupied with few staff, only one little maid had been assigned to guard the gate; two more nimble maids would be transferred tomorrow for general chores.

"Mm."

"I won't formally enter the temple to copy sutras until Daci En Temple begins its foundation-laying ceremony; I still have a few days of leisure ahead."

"That's perfect. Third Master, rest a few days at home—you've been on the boat so long, you must be worn out."

"Staying indoors is too dull. I'll take you and Qingwen out for a stroll."

"That's fine—I'll follow your lead. Today, Jin Cai's wife said Jin Ling is a major commercial port where many foreign ships dock, and the markets are full of exotic foreign goods."

"Some of them sound just like the things in your stories—in the west of the city there's a lane called Dazai Sect Alley, where all these oddities are sold. Why don't you take us to see them?"

The night passed without incident, deep in sweet dreams.

…

Early that morning, Jin Cai's courtyard was piled high with the various gifts Jia Cong had brought along; Jin Cai and his wife were sorting them according to the gift list, preparing them for delivery to each household.

Some gifts were from Jia Mu for the eight Jia branches and the Shi family of Jin Ling; others were from Lady Wang for the Wang and Xue families of Jin Ling.

For ordinary distant relatives, Jin Cai's wife would deliver the gifts.

For closer kin, Jin Cai would deliver them personally—someone had to handle the social exchanges, and women weren't suited for such tasks.

Jin Cai's wife asked: "Husband, why not let Third Master Jia Cong deliver the gifts to our closest kin? Wouldn't that bring more honor to Grandma and Lady Wang?"

Jin Cai replied: "I thought of that myself—I went to ask this morning. Third Master had already taken his two maids out, saying he's occupied these days and that I should handle the deliveries."

Don't think he's just a boy—he holds an official rank; going house to house delivering gifts isn't appropriate for him.

Even his daughter's letter said Third Master is the most outstanding young master in the Jia family now, and the one most favored by Second Master Jia Zheng—she told us to treat him well."

In truth, Jia Cong had no real business these days—Daci En Temple was still surveying land and hadn't begun foundation-laying; he was the most idle he'd been in weeks, which was why he took the two maids out for a stroll.

He simply felt nothing for these Jia relatives and had no desire to go delivering gifts just to make others look good—he gave Jin Cai an excuse and that was that.

Jin Cai's wife said: "Yuan Yang, this child, went to all the trouble of sending a letter from afar, and now says all this—it's unlike her usual self."

She recalled Jia Cong's strikingly handsome face—she had never seen such beauty in her life. Could her daughter…

"Husband, Third Master Jia Cong is so extraordinarily handsome—could our daughter have taken a fancy to him? Otherwise, why would she send such a long letter, and stress these details?"

"Don't meddle in your daughter's affairs—she's always had strong will. The fact that Grandma favors her is already great fortune; one must know contentment."

This Third Master Jia Cong became an official in his teens and is a literary talent—such ability and talent I've only seen in the Jia family's ancestral Dukes. What are we? We're beneath him—don't entertain such fantasies."

"Focus on delivering these gifts to the old relatives—that's the real matter."

…

Early that morning, a carriage departed from the Jia family's old residence in Xinglong Fang, driven by Guo Guo Zhigui, the son of Aunt Zhao.

After traveling a long while, they reached Dazai Sect Alley in western Jin Ling, where every shop along the street sold foreign goods.

From everyday items like foreign cloth, foreign fruits, staple grains, seasonings, foreign beds, and foreign chairs…

To pearls, coral, gemstones, silver and gold vessels engraved with foreign patterns, and colored glassware…

Even pocket watches, grandfather clocks, scroll-type music boxes, crucifixes inlaid with colored stones, and strange foreign musical instruments.

Along both sides of the street were Jin Ling locals, merchants from afar, and many foreigners with yellow hair and blue eyes.

Wu'er and Qingwen had both changed into male attire, dressed as Jia Cong's servants, their faces alight with excitement as they gazed at the bustling, dazzling scene.

In this era, maids of noble households, like the young ladies and ladies themselves, rarely stepped beyond their inner quarters—even messages to the outer gate had to be passed by elderly women.

In this world, there were probably very few like Jia Cong who would disguise his personal maids as boys and take them out for leisurely strolls.

Along the way, Jia Cong bought many things: Japanese pearls, gem-set rings, Nishiki silk, gilded bronze pocket watches, scroll-type music boxes, and a pile of strange foreign books covered in glyphs.

Some were gifts for his sisters, others he bought for his own study and amusement.

He understood better than anyone that the budding Western sciences would one day have a tremendous impact on the future.

Passing a small shop, Qingwen suddenly picked up a translucent pale green vial from a basket at the entrance.

"Third Master, look—how beautiful this bottle is!"

(End of Chapter)