Zhong Li's delicate eyebrows furrowed as she watched pile after pile of crimson robes being placed into her arms.
"Madam Feng," she said, looking at the woman who was still scolding and rummaging through chests and cabinets for ornaments and clothes, "why are you giving me these clothes?"
Zhong Li had always favored simple colors, her clothes rarely adorned with more than a few embroidered stitches at the hem. Why would Feng Niannian give her these now?
Feng Niannian took a red coral earring from a drawer and held it up, gesturing towards Zhong Li through the air. "Indeed, Miss Zhong, your skin is so fair; this color suits you very well."
Zhong Li frowned, looking at the woman opposite her. If before she had merely thought Feng Niannian's preference for red was to the point of being inseparable from it daily, now she saw it as bordering on madness, even wanting to give red clothing to her.
"I..."
"Miss Zhong," Feng Niannian interrupted her swiftly, "these clothes are all my favorites. Now that I'm giving you my favorites, do you like them?"
"I don't..."
"I knew you'd like them!" Feng Niannian spoke before Zhong Li could finish. "Since you like them, Miss Zhong, wear them like this when you are in Yongcheng. It might give the Heir a refreshing new look."
Before Zhong Li could say anything more, Feng Niannian had already pulled her along and walked out of the mansion.
As they passed a pavilion, Meng Yuan was drinking tea alone. A faint aroma of red tea permeated the entire courtyard.
Along the road, Zhong Li politely declined Feng Niannian's offer to have her sent back to the inn by carriage, choosing instead to walk alone, holding the clothes.
There were many vendors selling goods by the roadside. She passed a mask shop and, looking at the dazzling array of masks, her gaze once again fell upon the mask with a green face and bared fangs.
"Miss still likes this one?" the mask vendor asked.
Zhong Li looked up at the vendor's ordinary face. The shopkeeper indeed had a good memory. Yongcheng had a population of millions, yet she had only browsed his wares once with Lu Wu Xie, and he remembered what she had previously looked at.
"No, I was just wondering if such terrifying masks still have a market," Zhong Li said.
The vendor paused, a moment of confusion on his face. Market? He didn't quite understand, but he grasped the general meaning of her words. "Yes, why not? Though this mask looks fearsome with its fangs and claws, it carries a good meaning. Four years ago, it was bought by a noble person, and that noble person has since prospered."
"Is that so?" Zhong Li smiled, not pursuing the matter further, and turned to continue walking towards the inn.
As soon as she left Fenghe Street, a carriage suddenly blocked her path.
"Officer Zhong."
The voice from within the carriage was gentle, even carrying a hint of softness and allure that was unusual for him.
Zhong Li frowned slightly and looked over. Meng Yuan was sitting in the carriage, his elbow resting outside the window, looking at her.
"Weren't you just at home drinking tea, Young Master Meng?" she asked.
Meng Yuan got out of the carriage and cupped his hands towards Zhong Li. "I have already reprimanded my wife. It is not the way of the Meng family to have guests walk back alone like this."
"You flatter me, Young Master Meng," Zhong Li quickly explained. "I told Madam Feng not to see me off. I am not yet familiar with Yongcheng, so I thought I would walk around a bit..."
"Miss Zhong, please get in. I will take you back to the inn." Meng Yuan interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.
"Young Master Meng, Zhong Li can actually go back by herself. You don't need to do this." Zhong Li still wanted to refuse.
"Miss Zhong, I don't know how things were before, but since my wife has given you so many things, and it's cumbersome for you to carry, it would be best for me to escort you back to the inn. This is the rule of the Meng family." Meng Yuan spoke again, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li looked at the man opposite her. In her impression, the first time she met Meng Yuan, he was a gentle scholar. How was it that now she felt he was somewhat overbearing?
"Miss Zhong, please board the carriage." While she was lost in thought, Meng Yuan had already walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain, and waited for Zhong Li to enter.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhong Li entered the carriage, holding the clothes.
Yongcheng was still a bit chilly in early spring, but the carriage was warm, heated by charcoal.
Zhong Li took off her outer cloak, rearranged the clothes in her arms, and sat properly on the seat.
"Have some tea to moisten your throat." Meng Yuan picked up the purple clay teapot placed to the side, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of Zhong Li.
As Zhong Li's fingertips touched the cup, she looked at the brown tea within, hesitated, and slowly withdrew her hand. "Thank you, Young Master Meng. I'll drink it later."
Meng Yuan was about to pour himself a cup when he heard her words, his movements pausing slightly. "Miss Zhong, aren't you thirsty from the journey?"
"I'm not thirsty. I had several cups of green tea at your mansion just now, so I'm not thirsty now." Zhong Li replied.
"Green tea?" Meng Yuan narrowed his eyes, pondering something.
The carriage moved slowly along the road, and the two remained in silence.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Zhong Li lifted the curtain and looked at the streetscape outside. Knowing they would reach the inn soon, she glanced at the man who had been staring at the teacup on her table. "Young Master Meng, I have some trivial matters I'd like to ask you about."
Meng Yuan, startled by her address, woke from his thoughts. "What is Miss Zhong asking about?"
Zhong Li curved her lips. "I have visited your mansion twice now and met Madam Feng twice. There is something I wish to report to you, Young Master Meng, and it concerns the maidservant Bi'er by her side."
"What happened to Bi'er?" Meng Yuan asked, frowning.
"Madam Feng mentioned that Bi'er has not been with her for very long. Didn't Madam Feng previously have a maidservant named Yu Zhen?" Zhong Li asked.
"Yes, Yu Zhen," Meng Yuan nodded.
"Madam Feng said she was very capable. If that's the case, why isn't the Meng family using her anymore?"
"Miss Zhong is asking about this?" Meng Yuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat perplexed.
Zhong Li quickly explained, "From the moment Madam Feng and I met, we felt an instant connection. I just feel that the maidservant by her side is not very suitable, which is why I'm asking about Yu Zhen. If you feel I have overstepped into the private affairs of your household, Young Master Meng..."
"Not at all," Meng Yuan interrupted her. "Miss Zhong's concern for my wife is something I am honored by. As for Yu Zhen, the Meng family did not wish for her to leave. However, she said her aged mother at home was ill and needed care. My wife, on one hand, is grateful for Yu Zhen's years of service, and on the other hand, feels it is her duty to be filial. She gave Yu Zhen her deed of sale, allowing her to return home to care for her elderly mother."
"Is that so?" Zhong Li listened, her eyes harboring an unreadable depth.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the inn. She nodded to Meng Yuan. The moment the carriage stopped, she quickly alighted and walked into the building without looking back.
Meng Yuan watched her retreating figure disappear into the inn. After an unknown period, his gaze fell upon the teacup opposite him. He raised his hand and violently shattered the cup of red tea.