"Go pay your respects to Mother."
Anning got up and led Yue Niang out.
As they reached the door, she turned back to instruct the young maids: "Rember to close the windows in a while, move the parrot from the corridor into the house, and if I haven’t returned by evening, rember to water the flowers in the courtyard."
The young maids, who had just begun wearing their hair up, replied in unison.
Anning left her small courtyard and not far beyond a semi-circular archway arrived at Mrs. Luo’s residence.
Mrs. Luo’s courtyard wasn’t very large either, with three main rooms, an east and a west side room, plus a few wing rooms. There were no trees planted in the yard, only so flowers and plants. A row of flower pots were placed under the corridor, filled with plants to repel mosquitoes.
"Second Miss is here."
Daya, Mrs. Luo’s head maid, known as Sixi, quickly pulled aside the curtain when she saw Anning coming: "Madam just finished her prayers and was about to send to call you over."
"Did Mother not take her afternoon nap today?"
Anning asked softly.
Inside, Mrs. Luo had already heard her voice and responded with a smile: "I dozed a little but couldn’t sleep later, so I spent so ti in the prayer room. My dear, what brings you here at this hour under the hot sun."
Mrs. Luo, having only given birth to two daughters, cherished them like treasures. Now that her eldest daughter had been married for two or three years without returning ho, only Anning was left with her, which naturally made her even more precious.
"Mother, I hope you are well."
Anning ca in, paid her respects, and sat beside Mrs. Luo: "I had such a sweet sleep today. Now that I’m awake, I feel refreshed, but now I find that I’m a bit hungry."
Mrs. Luo tapped Anning on the forehead: "You went to sleep without lunch, of course you’re hungry now."
Sixi laughed as she approached: "I’ll go to the kitchen and have them make sothing."
Anning waved her hand: "No need to trouble them. Just bring so snacks for to nibble on. Dinner is soon enough, there’s no need to disturb the kitchen."
"Miss has a kind heart."
Sixi turned and went out, soon returning with a plate of snacks.
The plate had four types of snacks on it, the plate was small, and the snacks even smaller, like tiny flowers, looking particularly pretty.
Anning picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and took a bite: "Today’s snacks are delicious."
Sixi stood by, smiling: "It’s not the snacks that are delicious; it’s that Miss is very hungry."
"Perhaps so."
Anning nodded and picked up a small fried dumpling to eat.
Sixi placed a small bowl of rose sauce beside Anning, who took a sip: "Sister Sixi is always the most considerate."
After Anning finished the plate of snacks and drank almost all of the rose sauce, Mrs. Luo smiled and said: "We just received a letter from your sister, saying your brother-in-law is about to be promoted to Prefect of Ding City. She ntioned that once he takes office, she plans to return for a few days and inquired about how you’ve been, if you’ve grown taller, and if you’re still obedient."
Anning wiped her mouth with a handkerchief: "I miss my sister too. I hope she can stay for a while this ti. But it’s been so many years since she left, I can hardly rember what she looks like. What if I don’t recognize her?"
"Indeed."
Thinking of her eldest daughter, Mrs. Luo sighed deeply: "You were still young when your sister got married. Since her marriage, she’s rarely returned. It’s normal if you don’t rember her well. Even I sotis struggle to recall her appearance. But after all, she’s your sister; when she returns, we’ll surely recognize her at a glance."
Anning leaned beside Mrs. Luo and quietly asked: "Mother, can you tell more about my sister? How old was she when she got married? It’s been so many years, she must have grown a bit more."
Mrs. Luo thought carefully: "Your sister was sixteen when she married. You were quite young then, and now look at how much you’ve grown."
Anning raised her eyebrows: "I rember Sister Du Juan, who used to serve you, got married at around sixteen or seventeen too. Even after Sister Du Juan married, she stayed as the housekeeper, and I often saw her. But if I didn’t see Sister Du Juan for a month or two, I barely recognized her. She changed so much over the years. The other day, when I saw her, she looked quite different. I suppose my sister has changed a lot too."
At that, Anning burst into laughter: "Mother, what if soone pretended to be my sister and ca back, would you recognize them? If it were soone familiar with my sister, like Sister Chunniang, who disguised herself, we might not recognize her, right?"
Anning’s words startled Mrs. Luo: "My dear, what brought this thought to your mind?"
Anning lowered her head: "I was restless during my nap today, feeling like sothing might happen to our family. Later, I felt like I heard my sister calling . She seed in pain, and she told to be careful, but I didn’t know what to be careful of. Just as I thought to ask, I suddenly fell deeply asleep."
Her words seed sowhat ominous.
Mrs. Luo’s face showed signs of fear: "Your sister is married, living so far away. If anything happened, we wouldn’t know. However, she did take a few servants with her when she got married. Their indentures are all in her hands..."
Anning responded: "But Sister Chunniang knows all about my sister’s affairs. If Sister Chunniang betrayed her, my sister could be in danger."
Mrs. Luo’s expression worsened.
She thought for a mont, then called out: "Wufu, fetch my letter and go to the Yang City governnt office to see Constable Geng. Tell him to co by when he’s free; I have a matter I need his help with."
Wufu agreed from outside, promptly took the letter, and left.
Anning leaned on Mrs. Luo’s shoulder: "Mother, do you know Constable Geng?"
Mrs. Luo smiled, tapping her on the nose: "Of course I do. When I was a young woman, I lived in Yang City. Once, while going out to pray, I happened to see Constable Geng’s mother collapsed on the road. It looked like she was in labor, so I had her carried into my carriage and took her to the clinic. That’s how Constable Geng’s brother was born. After that, his mother often sent fresh vegetables to your grandfather’s house to thank for saving their lives. That’s how we beca acquainted. Later, when Constable Geng joined the governnt office and was once frad, your grandfather helped clear his na, allowing him to survive. He eventually found out who wronged him and took his revenge. That’s when he beca the constable of Yang City Mansion."
Anning listened intently: "I often hear people say that Constable Geng is amazing at solving cases, that there’s no case he can’t crack. They also say Constable Geng knows martial arts."
Mrs. Luo stroked Anning’s head, smiling: "He does know so martial arts. He learned it from soone in his youth. I heard his teacher was Mr. Ou from the Liu Shan Gate in the Capital."
"Oh."
Anning exclaid: "It’s Mr. Ou? I’ve heard Wang Tiezui tell Mr. Ou’s stories several tis at the tea house. I always wanted to know what kind of person Mr. Ou is. I never expected Constable Geng to be his disciple. Mother, if Constable Geng cos, you must let see him. I’d like to ask him about Mr. Ou."
Mrs. Luo chuckled: "Alright, alright, as you wish. I’ll make sure you et him when he cos over."
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