The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 66

The black dog rubbed against her feet, and Han Yin reached down to stroke its head.

It lowered its head and licked the back of her hand, drawing her fingers into its mouth.

The maid could not help frowning. She gave the dog a kick.

“Go away. You stink.”

The dog gave a whine and immediately ran to the corner.

Han Yin rebuked her. “Why be so cruel?”

The maid pouted. “Young Mistress, I know you are kindhearted, but you don’t need to keep the dog in your private rooms.”

“Enough.” Han Yin frowned. “That performer abused it so badly. It is pitiful enough already. Why argue with a mere animal?”

She raised a hand to smooth the loose strands beside her ear, only to smell the foul odor on her fingers.

After a pause, even she could not entirely hide her distaste.

“What on earth has it eaten to smell this bad?”

“We should buy a boar-bristle brush later and scrub it thoroughly.”

She sent the maid to fetch water so she could wash her hands.

Just then, Han Yin once more felt that malicious gaze upon her.

This time, the hatred in it was even stronger, raising gooseflesh across her body.

She looked up, but there was only the dog dozing in that direction.

Fear churned inside Han Yin. The venomous gaze clung to her like an ulcer eating into the bone and had kept her from sleeping properly for days.

Sighing, the maid brought water, washed Han Yin’s hands with scented soap, then straightened the hem of her skirt where the dog had rumpled it.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Eldest Sister, are you dressed yet?”

The door opened, and a girl in a crimson skirt skipped inside, bright as the spring sun.

Han Yin’s expression stiffened. “Second Sister is here.”

As though utterly unable to read the room, the red-clad girl smiled.

“Eldest Sister is already beautiful! Today is your birthday, and the young ladies of the capital will be arriving soon. You’d better hurry.”

At this, Han Yun suddenly gave her a teasing wink. “I wonder if Cousin will come today.”

Han Yin was, after all, still an unmarried girl. A flush rose across her cheeks, and she lowered her head.

“You little imp.”

The girl in red chatted a little longer, then turned to leave. At the door, she saw the dog and a smile curved her lips.

Looking back, she said, “Eldest Sister must have a happy birthday today.”

Whatever disagreements the sisters had suffered in the past, Han Yun seemed sincere now. Han Yin smiled as well.

“I will. Thank you, Sister.”

…

Once Han Yin had finished dressing, she made her way toward the dining hall with a trace of anticipation.

Before entering, she heard cheerful laughter within.

“Father, look. Is it pretty?” a girl asked with a silvery laugh.

“Very pretty! Yun’er looks pretty in anything.”

Han Yin heard her father, always stern with her, answer in a kindly voice overflowing with indulgence.

“My lord, you mustn’t spoil her so. This little monkey only grows naughtier the more you indulge her,” a soft female voice said with a laugh. “My lord, try the porridge I made.”

Children’s giggles mingled with their conversation.

They sounded like a perfectly happy family.

Standing outside the hall, Han Yin’s smile faded. A hint of disappointment slipped onto her face.

The moment she entered, the laughter in the dining room fell silent.

When Chief Censor Han Qi, seated at the head of the table, saw her subdued expression, his own smile vanished.

“Why are you only arriving now?”

A woman in a red jacket standing nearby hesitated, then smiled. “A-Yin is here? Come and eat breakfast.”

She was about to step forward and ladle Han Yin some porridge when Han Qi snorted.

“Why aren’t you sitting? Have you thanked your auntie?”

“Yes,” Han Yin answered, lowering her eyes.

She sat down at the table and said to the woman, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Han Yin’s melancholy manner quickly made Han Qi impatient. Before long, he dropped his chopsticks and left.

Before going, he instructed her, “Today is your birthday. There will be many guests. Do not forget your manners.”

By the time Han Yin gave her muted answer, he had already walked out the door.

The gloom that began that morning lingered until the young ladies of the capital arrived for her birthday banquet.

However reluctant she felt, Han Yin still entertained the guests with Han Yun stuck to her side like a plaster.

The young ladies gathered in the waterside pavilion. After touring the garden, they had all worked up a sweat, so they sat together to drink tea and eat refreshments.

A fair, delicate hand warmed the pot and cups with movements as fluid as flowing water.

Fresh spring green tea unfurled in the pot, filling the room with the scent of roasted chestnuts.

“This tea is meant to clear the mind and banish drowsiness, but watching Sister Yaoguang prepare it makes me feel intoxicated instead,” Han Yun praised with charming innocence.

The other young ladies, Han Yin included, hurried to agree.

Naturally, they all knew about the Zhao family’s true and false daughters. But genuine bloodlines did not always matter quite so much.

They also knew of the affection between Prince Rui and Zhao Yaoguang.

Even after learning that Zhao Yaoguang’s identity was false, Prince Rui’s devotion had not changed.

Under the circumstances, Zhao Yaoguang could no longer become his principal consort, but a place as a secondary consort remained possible.

No one would ostracize her while that possibility existed. The many young ladies maintained the same friendly intimacy with her as before.

Zhao Yaoguang had long grown accustomed to their flattery. Smiling faintly, she tapped Han Yun on the nose.

“You.”

Han Yun gave a little frown, wrapped both hands around Zhao Yaoguang’s arm, and continued to act spoiled.

Everyone laughed and teased. Han Yin, the actual guest of honor, sat to one side with only a faint smile.

Just then, a maid announced, “Young Mistress, the Zhang family has arrived with the betrothal gifts!”

The young ladies in the pavilion immediately began teasing Han Yin and discussing how they might go take a look.

Giggling, the group dragged the blushing Han Yin toward the front courtyard and hid behind the spirit screen to peek outside.

Musicians played as a wild goose tied with red silk was carried in.

A matchmaker dressed entirely in red followed, reciting a string of auspicious phrases.

A tall, refined-looking young man stood calmly at the front.

Han Yin peeked at him, and her cheeks instantly turned crimson.

“Eldest Sister is blushing!” Han Yun called out loudly.

The young ladies behind the screen abandoned all pretense of hiding.

Great Jing had liberal social customs. Laughing and teasing, they pushed Han Yin—whose face had gone as red as cloth—out into view.

The young man glanced at her without showing any particular delight. His expression remained as mild and detached as before as he clasped his hands toward Han Qi.

A trace of satisfaction finally appeared on Han Qi’s face.

As the matchmaker continued offering congratulations, Han Qi stepped forward to accept the gift list.

Accepting the list and the wild goose meant accepting the marriage.

Han Yin pressed a hand over her pounding heart, silently waiting for the moment she had dreamed of.

Something furry brushed her leg. She looked down and saw the dog she had taken in.

She gently stroked the top of its head.

“You’re happy for me too, aren’t you?”

Smiling, she waited for her happiness to arrive.

Then she heard a low, hoarse man’s voice.

“A-Yin, are you going to abandon me?”

The voice came from nowhere, startlingly distinct.

Everyone around them heard it clearly.

One young lady followed the sound and saw the dog rise onto its hind legs. Its eyes seethed with hatred as it demanded, “A-Yin, you don’t want me anymore, do you?”