“Mostly bitterness that came from being married and knowing intimately that most of this marriages often have the husband and wife living separate lives once an heir is found.” In a way, that she knew him.
“Did you enjoy being married the first time?” She asked. Unsure of how to break the question. When the mother she knew all her life was none other than the woman who did not give birth to her.
“In its own way, free from all the expectations, yes. I wonder sometimes, just what if your mother had survived that winter night. And then, I know that it is nothing more than dreams.” If they were here now, and he was warning her of something that was coming for her. A true sign that it was indeed impossible to think of the past.
“And I hope that you would too, be that last reminder of your mother. In most ways, you already are.” There was a letter on the table where she opened, perhaps the date. It was a mere few days later, but she knew little else.
Stepping outside, she saw the two of them again. Performers for the night and yet they were here. “Well, I heard about what happened last night and was there to witness you vanish for the better part of an hour.”
“And?”
“Well, I heard about the reassignment. Which I know is strange since she almost never did it. Although most of the time, it was because they needed to learn to deal with it. Not an experienced person quite like you, thus it is mostly rare for her.”
She knew that it was easy, for she had never considered leaving anyone. As long as she kept on smiling, and ensuring that she did not offend and took everything without any form of resentment, or showing that she was frustrated. That was the real challenge of the job, far more than carrying. That was easy and mindless, just know who to deliver who was wearing the same set of clothes.
Everything else then would simply fall into place, with only navigating customer relationships being tricky. Since it was all they needed to do, even when it was wrong. The mistake was something that they could not help, even the best had their moments where they made an error. Just that it was dependent on how they looked at it right now, far more than before at the very least.
“So, she happens to be long term server?”
“Yes, put to work ever since you were old enough to walk.” She gave a smile for it.
“My mother paid me, when I did help her. Initially just to really buy some toys, a snack. But eventually substituted my allowance and that she was trying to teach me the importance of doing it.”
“That is quite fair, since you are doing something for her and rewarding you for it.” It was not anything a child enjoyed, although she did gain enough skill. And mostly learned her manners from here, many could say about her ideas, her eccentric behavior and beliefs. Just like that of her mother. But she was never one to be rude.
Politeness opened doors, and being gracious was sometimes rewarded but most of the time rarely remembered. But those who did not often found themselves indirectly paying for it, a truth that she knew for the most part. Since her mother told her.
“So, you are going somewhere?”
“Possibly into marriage and this is something like an engagement. Something solid and introduces us, at least they didn’t choose to kidnap me and wait for the marriage.”
“Usually they don’t, since if they did do it you can claim that you were taken against your will. You did not have any education and they would demand it simply because they have never met you, and you were not raised by them. But by a commoner, and as such they would want to see if you are truly capable of living it up to them.”
The woman in red said. Showing that she did come from such a background. “You mean I could.”
“Provided your mother agrees to testify, since she raised you for them. And also any other local townsfolk which proves that you have not in contact with them. And they did not have a hand in raising you.” Which was easy enough for her.
“Perhaps that’s why they’re letting me meet him first.” For goodwill and so not to one day fall foul of this.
“Because then, it would simply encourage families to abandon their daughters to some person or simply have them raised at their future husband household. That to most is usually a bad idea, since alliances shift and change. And most of them protest heavily against it, since it would also allow them to kidnap them and marry them with the consent of their parents.”
“They do that?”
“No, not anymore. Unless you’re the Emperor, when it’s an honor to be given the chance to do so. But other than that, this is largely very rare.” Just as Feiyu was proving herself a little more aware of it.
And realizing just how awkward this conversation had became. “So, I think it’s somewhere close to the fifteenth day of the month?”
She nodded, guessing it so. Since she could read numbers, but that was about it. “And it seems that they would mostly be coming for me and bringing me there.”
Just as her mother had came down at that instant, thus leaving the best chance for her to really just leave at that moment. And talk to her about what transpired. Somewhere a little more private, at least from what they did know or could have known.
And back to the office and discussing just what was happening here at the very least. Where they could talk about what was spoken between them there. “What did he say?”
“The Jiang family hopes that I will marry someone of their choosing. There is an event a couple days later. And the reason why they can’t just marry me off is that it would set a bad precedent and encourage immoral behavior in these families while procuring for a bride.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“And if that happened, since I was not raised by them. You can even step in to say a word or two. Since when a child is abandoned, whoever picks her up is her guardian as long as they had raised the child for years on end. Without any abuse.”
Even as most turned a blind eye, short of killing the child. And most had not done so, preferring their child alive but more mutable than losing them entirely. “The death of a child can be framed in many different ways, although if it is repeated they can rarely escape the sort of gossip around them.” Abandoning them was never something that they encouraged, and in some cases retribution was that a son of theirs die young for abandoning a baby daughter in a previous life.
“But I have to appear, and this meeting was merely warning me of it ahead of time above all else.” And that he had knew that he was far from welcome here, and yet he knew full well just why he was here. To warn her right more so than ever.
“I see, so no actual discussion to get you to move back?” She nodded. Which meant that whatever happened a few nights before was like a show, perhaps to buy them into thinking that he was listening to him when the furthest could be said from the truth.
“Then he is right, since last I heard he was rising quickly through the ranks. Having became deputy minister to come back to being a mere Magistrate, which meant that he likely did something to get him out of favor.”
She blinked and guessed so. Since being deputy finance minister meant that he was controlling the finances for a whole region as compared to just a small county like here. And that he was merely taking this chance to take a break. Or perhaps to let the wind blow over before returning to the capital city.
“He did have an astronomical rise. And why he didn’t manage to pay much attention, other than oddly inquiring whether you were well. And also sending a tutor to teach you basic literacy, which I appreciate. But for the most part, he was unconcerned for you.”
Unusual, and perhaps giving some merit to his reasoning. Just as she knew that this was very much soon, and she needed to be careful or she’ll lose her freedom.
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