Chapter Fifty: The Truth Revealed

A lively birthday banquet ended amidst laughter and conversation. A beef feast was no common affair—just one such meal cost at least five or six strings of cash. This was all thanks to Wang Qun, who often conducted business outside. If one wished to purchase beef regularly in the future, dealings with officials would be unavoidable, for only the authorities had the right to slaughter those draft oxen that were near death.

At first, Zhen Qian harbored the hope of acquiring some cows specifically for milk, reasoning that such breeds shouldn't fall under the category of draft animals. Yet Wang Qun dashed this idea with a bucket of cold water—there was no such thing as dairy cattle in these times. Although milk did exist, the households of the gentry mostly drank sheep and mare’s milk. Cow’s milk was merely a secondary product, not expensive, but there was certainly no specialized breed for dairy. In short, all cattle were considered draft animals and had to be registered with the authorities; any slaughter had to be overseen by officials. If one took responsibility alone, misfortune was sure to follow.

It wasn’t that beef was absent from the market, but its supply was meager, far from forming any stable industry chain. Moreover, cattle were expensive—a mature ox cost over twenty strings of cash—so it was destined to be out of reach for ordinary folk.

Upon reflection, Zhen Qian had no choice but to abandon the idea of raising cattle. This wasn’t merely a matter of provoking envy; it could bring endless trouble. One had to live discreetly. Drawing too much attention was a small matter; being accused of harming agriculture in an era rooted in farming meant standing in opposition to the imperial court—courting disaster.

As the guests departed and dusk settled, Zhen Qian returned to the kitchen, fried a few eggs, and cooked a large pot of beef noodles to sate his hunger.

“A bowl of longevity noodles, please!”

Seeing the freshly made dry-sliced beef noodles, Xiaozhu’s tears streamed down again, joy and sorrow intermingling, which made Xiaomei beside her equally despondent.

“Today should be a happy occasion; why are you crying? Is my little Xiaozhu shedding tears like a pear blossom in the rain?” Zhen Qian teased, gently cradling her tear-streaked face in his arms to comfort her. “Don’t worry! The past is gone; let bygones be bygones.”

“My lord...!”

To these two young women, Zhen Qian was their world. How he treated them determined their fortune. The old Zhen Qian had been a foolish bookworm—while he never abused them, he couldn’t escape a tragic fate. Now, however, hope glimmered, and joy was tinged with melancholy.

Zhen Qian found himself unable to withstand their tears. Though usually resolute, he couldn’t help but soften toward those close to him, feeling a pang of heartache.

Qin Meng returned just then, pausing at the door when he saw the three embracing. He cleared his throat softly. “Godfather!”

“Is something the matter?” Only now did Zhen Qian recall that Qin Meng reported to him daily. “Come in.”

Qin Meng cast a furtive glance at the two women, only a little older than himself, then remembered their care in mending his clothes and making his bed. His heart stirred, and he said, “Sisters, Godfather treats you so well. When you give him a baby someday, I’ll have to start calling you Mother…”

“You little rascal, what do you know? Don’t talk nonsense. Get to the point!” Zhen Qian was both amused and exasperated, giving Qin Meng a firm tap on the head. Even if the two girls secretly hoped for such a future, they would never say it aloud—it was far too embarrassing.

Chided by Zhen Qian, Qin Meng still grinned. “Today, I followed Steward Xing to his mistress outside the house. Godfather, do you know what I saw?”

“Well? Don’t keep us in suspense!”

“I just wanted to make the story more interesting,” Qin Meng protested, clutching his head innocently.

Who knew how he’d developed such a character? In later times, it would be called adolescent rebellion—speaking without restraint, leaving others at a loss for words.

“This morning, I tailed Steward Xing. He first visited several shops, then came out carrying a bag of money. I thought he’d return to the manor, but instead, he left the city and went to an animal dealer outside the gates. He came out carrying two budgerigars, then went straight to his mistress. I listened in from outside and heard them say that the mistress’s birthday is in a few days, and the parrots are intended as her birthday gift…”

“Madam Xing’s birthday?”

Zhen Qian turned to Xiaozhu and Xiaomei in confusion; he certainly couldn’t recall Madam Xing’s birthday and was startled by the news. If he forgot to celebrate his nominal mother’s birthday, might she seize the opportunity to accuse him of unfilial conduct? It was quite possible.

“Madam Xing’s birthday is on the sixth of next month. There’s been no talk in the Zhen family of celebrating it—perhaps it’s just a move by the steward to curry favor?” In the Tang dynasty, annual birthday celebrations weren’t customary; there were ceremonies like third-day washes, coming-of-age rituals, and significant birthdays, but minor ones were not much observed. Had a celebration been planned, there would’ve been prior notice.

Zhen Qian was unsure what game Steward Xing was playing—was Madam Xing really planning a celebration, digging a pit for him to fall into?

“That’s all you found out?” Most of the steward’s shady dealings were already known. Zhen Qian’s true opponent wasn’t Steward Xing, but Madam Xing behind him. In the end, it was a contest of wills. Even Wang Qun had said the family’s reputation was at stake; they couldn’t let a small matter become a major scandal.

Zhen Qian knew that, throughout history, family disputes over inheritance often led to chaos—some went to court, some became estranged for life, all fodder for outsiders’ amusement. For noble houses that prized reputation, it was a grave humiliation. If it could be avoided, he too wished to steer clear of such a path.

“I overheard them talking about a hundred strings of cash. The mistress was instructed to teach the parrots to say auspicious phrases in the meantime. Does that count?”

Zhen Qian was almost amused to the point of anger. Budgerigars were bought precisely to mimic speech and amuse the ladies of the house. It was said that even Emperor Xuanzong of Tang kept such a clever parrot, which was later used as a cautionary tale of losing one’s way to frivolous amusements.

“Wait! What did you mean by a hundred strings of cash?”

Qin Meng looked innocent. “Godfather, you can’t hear everything clearly eavesdropping outside. The mistress just blurted out ‘a hundred strings’ loudly. I have no idea what it meant.”

Zhen Qian realized he was asking too much. He pondered what the hundred strings could signify. Was the steward embezzling and storing the money with his mistress? But that seemed unlikely—even if guilty, he wouldn’t let his mistress know. Perhaps it was simply living expenses.

Time was running short. While Zhen Qian kept a low profile in the family, doing nothing would only worsen his position as time dragged on. He needed a suitable opportunity to confront Madam Xing.

“You go to bed now.”

After sending Qin Meng away, Zhen Qian decided not to dwell on what he couldn’t figure out. Previously, he’d focused only on reading and had little contact with the family members, which had now become his weakness.

“My lord, if Madam Xing is planning a birthday celebration, shouldn’t you prepare as well?” Xiaomei asked.

“A gift!” Zhen Qian’s relationship with Madam Xing was strained, and he had no desire to give her anything. Still, if he didn’t, he’d attract gossip. He relented, saying, “Tomorrow, we’ll visit the animal dealer ourselves and see what kind of gift the steward is preparing for Madam Xing.”

The night passed uneventfully. Zhen Qian could sense the two girls’ growing dependence on him. Since he’d lost his memory and awakened, their feelings had undergone a dramatic transformation. What began as a relationship of master and servants, tinged with a subtle reluctance to part—perhaps springtime infatuation, perhaps a wish to escape servitude, or perhaps feelings born of long companionship—had become something more.

The next morning, led by Qin Meng, Zhen Qian and his party arrived at the animal dealer’s yard outside the city. Before they even entered, they heard the barking of dogs and screeching of hawks. A young attendant at the door, seeing such a large group approach, hurried over. “Gentlemen, are you looking to buy some animals?”

“Do you sell anything else here?” Zhen Qian asked.

The attendant was momentarily stunned by this response, then, noticing their fine clothes and carriages, quickly smiled. “What kind of animals do you seek? We have beasts for hunting—leopards, lynxes, wildcats, hounds, Tibetan mastiffs—birds of prey like falcons, hawks, and eagles. If you prefer, we also have pets for ladies—squirrels, songbirds, cats, dogs, and so on. Would you care to take a look?”

Wang Qun whispered, “Eldest Brother, except for ferocious beasts like lions and tigers, they have just about everything here, and the prices are exorbitant. Many young nobles in the city come to buy animals—whether for hunting or amusement. I’ve met the shopkeeper a few times. Shall I call for him?”

Zhen Qian’s curiosity was piqued by this open trade in wild animals. He’d frequented flower and bird markets in his time, but those couldn’t compare to this place. He wanted to learn more about Tang society. “Let’s look around first.”

The attendant, not daring to be negligent, led them inside, explaining as he went, all the while scrutinizing Zhen Qian and the two women, recognizing them as the principal guests.

“Do you have budgerigars for sale?”

“Looking for budgerigars? You’re in luck. We just got a few recently—someone bought two yesterday, so only three remain. Would you like to see them?”

“Oh? And how much are your budgerigars?”

“Sir, prices vary. If the bird can speak, the price multiplies several times. But these have just arrived, so the price is lowest—ten strings of cash each, and there’s a ten percent discount for a pair.”