338 Pigeon Soup I (2/2)
”Young master.”
”Your young master is one of the greatest calligraphy of the world. He must have great talent in the art of poetry. The name he chose is certainly good, but what do the characters in your name mean?”
”There is no deep meaning. Young master said that there was a barkless and leafless Sang tree by the road where he found me. He found me really similar to it and called me Sangsang.”
”Where did your young master find you?”
”In the Hebei county. He has already forgotten the exact spot. We went to search for it once when we left the Min Mountain. But there were already shoots growing in the field, and many trees had grown to replace the barkless and leafless tree, so he could not recognize the spot.”
The lights were bright in Chang'an this very night. There were many traveling and the streets were packed with people heading towards the Eastern City. Even the horse carriage of the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library could not pick up speed and could only move slowly behind the people. However, Mrs. Zeng did not mind and was even a little happy because of it.
The journey was long, and she could spend more time with Sangsang in the carriage and ask her more questions. Sangsang was also obviously different from her usual state. She answered all the questions from the lady and had spoken more tonight than the previous months added together.
However, her memory of what had happened then was hazy, and what she knew were recounts from Ning Que. That was why she could not give Mrs. Zeng the answer she wanted no matter how she asked.
No matter how long the journey was, it would eventually reach an end.
The horse carriage of the Grand Secretary stopped outside the alley of the Lin 47th Street.
Sangsang got off the carriage and bowed politely to Mrs.Zeng.
Mrs. Zeng looked at the slender figure before the door dazedly, her heart twinging for an unknown reason.
She had not been able to ascertain anything and knew that she might have been thinking too much. However, she had grown to like the girl and thought that it'd be great to have a daughter like that.
Mrs. Zeng lifted the curtains and asked uneasily, ”Are you willing to visit the Grand Secretary Mansion as a guest?”
Sangsang pondered over it as she held the key in her hands. She figured that it'd be some days before Ning Que would return home and that the smoked meat was ready and did not need watching anymore. There was nothing to do even if she stayed at the Old Brush Pen Shop. And so, she nodded.
...
...
An odd guest arrived at the mansion of Zeng Jing, Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library, a few days later.
It was odd because the guest was a little handmaiden. There were many mansions in Chang'an belonging to officials, but no one had ever heard of any family inviting a handmaiden as a regular guest. That was why, when the chamberlain had led the handmaiden to the back courtyard, the servants by the willow tree all pointed at her in badly disguised surprise.
And when the servants saw the wife of the Grand Secretary coming up to the door to welcome her, and even held the hands of the little maidservant with a smile that was larger than her face, they were even more surprised.
It didn't take long for those at the Grand Secretary mansion to find out the identity and background of the little handmaiden. There was plenty of gossip about it and many thought that their mistress was indeed the most loyal lady of the Empress within Chang'an. She was willing to lower herself just to make Her Majesty happy.
Grand Secretary Zeng Jing was not in his mansion. Perhaps he had, like the servants, thought that inviting a little handmaiden especially was too demeaning to his station. That was why only Mrs. Zeng and Sangsang were present for lunch. The spread was scrumptious and there were four or five servants waiting on them with carefully concealed expressions.
Sangsang had waited on others all her life. Or to be more exact, she had waited on Ning Que, and was not used to being waited on. She seemed more subdued and was more silent that she was in the horse carriage during the lantern festival.
Mrs. Zeng watched as she ate her meal and traces of pity would occasionally flash in her eyes. She looked at the maid beside her.
The maid understood, and brought out the pigeon soup that had been prepared earlier.
Mrs. Zeng carried the soup and walked to where Sangsang was sitting. She said, ”Look at how small you are, you need some nourishment.”
As she said this, her hand slipped, and the bowl of pigeon soup landed at Sangsang's feet.
Sangsang stood up and looked at her soaked dress and shoes. She did not say anything.
Mrs. Zeng said frazzled, ”This... hurry, go and wash up.”
Her cotton dress and shoes were soaked with the oil from the pigeon soup and did indeed need some washing.
However, Sangsang did not move. Instead, she looked at her dress hem and shoes silently.
She sensed that the lady had poured the pigeon soup on her intentionally.
Because she saw very clearly, that the lady held on to the bowl tightly and her hand had not slipped.
Sangsang was not angry. The pigeon soup had been placed outside for a long time and cooled down. It wouldn't have scalded her even if she had poured it onto her face. Furthermore, she did not sense any ill intent from the lady. Instead the lady was very kind. But why had she done that?