Zhong Lingyu and Ling Xiu

There were two maids. One was called Ling Yu, and the other Ling Xiu. They were twin sisters.

Their names were taken from the phrase "Zhongling Yuxiu," meaning a place blessed with nature's spiritual beauty.

It was said that the two had once been young ladies from a respectable family, but their fortunes had fallen. Their parents had died unjustly, and their home and Ancestral Land had both been confiscated. Left all alone, they had no choice but to sell themselves as maids.

It was, in its own way, a twist of fate.

Their father had been a regular customer at the Ye Family Wine Shop, drinking only the yellow wine brewed by Ye Long. That was how the two families had formed a connection.

Ye Long had bought them as maids not because he truly wanted to be treated like some high official, but mostly to lend his old friend a hand and give his daughters a way to survive.

When they saw Ye Kang about to wash the dishes, the two panicked.

This was one of the few jobs they could do. If even this task were taken from them, they would have no face left to stay with the Ye Family.

Ye Kang understood their plight, so he said no more. He simply handed them the dishes, then returned to the courtyard to chat with Ye Long.

"Kang'er, these past few days, people seeking your hand in marriage have practically worn down our threshold. What do you think we should do?"

"What's so difficult about that? Let big brother pick someone he likes and get married."

"They're asking for your hand."

"..."

Ye Kang laughed it off and changed the subject. Then he reached behind his back, and when he brought his hand out again, several gold bars lay in his palm.

"Dad, take these gold bars. Don't let anyone see them."

"Y-you! Where did these come from?"

Ye Long jumped in fright. He immediately forgot about the marriage proposals; all he could see was a sea of Golden Light.

Ye Kang smiled. "Just hide them away. Take them out when you need to use them."

Ye Long sighed.

"Last time, when the Empress bestowed five hundred taels of gold on us, I dug a hole under the bed and put it there, afraid it might get lost. Now there are gold bars too. My paranoia's only going to get worse."

"Dad, spend it if you've got it. Buy a few more properties, get some estates outside the city, or expand the wine shop and open a few branches. Why keep it hidden away?"

Ye Kang was quite helpless. There was no such thing as property appreciating in value in this era. Gold was better put to use enjoying life, and that would also keep thieves from setting their sights on it.

Ye Long sighed.

"We'll talk about it later. By the way, about Ping'er's marriage you mentioned earlier—your maternal grandfather in Jiangnan sent a letter a few days ago. He said he'd found a suitable match for Ping'er and wants us to visit. What do you think?"

Ye Kang was taken aback for a moment.

His memories of his maternal grandfather's family went no further than his childhood. He hadn't seen anyone from that side of the family since he was ten, and his mother never spoke of them.

Why had a letter come all of a sudden? Could his maternal grandfather be missing his daughter?

Seeing his son's surprise, Ye Long said awkwardly, "You don't know your maternal grandfather. He's a hard man, and the Jiangnan Noble Clan is powerful. Back then, he did everything he could to stop your mother from leaving with me. Now he's sent a letter. I'm afraid he wants to trick us into going there..."

"What does Mother say?"

"Your mother says she won't go back, but I can see she misses her family a little..."

"Then let's go. I'll take care of everything. Don't worry."

"But you have duties. How can you leave your post?"

"It's fine. I'll go talk it over with Lord Leng."

Ye Kang didn't want to put his mother in a difficult position, much less see her heartbroken.

If her family was calling her back, then back they would go.

Having made up his mind, he wasted no time and headed straight to the Imperial City Department headquarters.

Lord Leng was poring over case files. After hearing Ye Kang out, she said expressionlessly, "Going to Jiangnan isn't difficult. You only need to take an official case assignment and travel there on government business."

"Then thank you, Lord Leng."

"But there's one thing. The Imperial City Department has no informants in Jiangnan and no case files there. That region belongs to the Azure Scale Guard."

Ye Kang was speechless. Lord Leng certainly knew how to leave the punch line until the end.

Unwilling to give up, he said, "Could you think of something, my lord? I haven't seen my maternal grandfather for many years. The old man misses his grandson so much that his eyesight is failing, and he's weeping his eyes out..."

"Enough. It's not impossible if you insist on going. I'll ask the Princess to speak to Consort Jing again and have her request an order for you to visit the Azure Scale Guard's branch for an exchange and study program."

"Lord Leng, you're truly resourceful."

"Lord Ye, go home and wait for news. An order like that will take at least three days, if not five. Take it easy and enjoy a few days off."

"Very well."

Ye Kang clasped his hands in thanks, then returned home.

He told his parents to start getting ready. They would leave for Jiangnan in a few days, and today they could write to his maternal grandfather first.

His parents were both startled, but after thinking it over, they decided there was no problem.

After all, Ye Kang was a high official now. It wasn't as if his maternal family could bully him again.

Ye Kang noticed that although his mother looked worried, there was also a hint of delight on her face.

By then, evening had fallen. With nothing else to do, Ye Kang decided to take a stroll around Hong Xuan Gate.

Before he left, he noticed the maid Ling Yu sitting on the steps, staring blankly into space.

Ling Xiu had gone with Ye Long to the wine shop to pick up Ye Ping and help sort out the account books.

Ling Yu had originally been left behind to look after his mother, but his mother was perfectly capable of looking after herself and hadn't asked her to do anything. As a result, Ling Yu looked completely at a loss.

Seeing that she had nothing to do, Ye Kang said, "Come with me for a walk around Hong Xuan Gate. You can't keep looking so down. It's not pleasant for me to see, either."

Ling Yu's expression tightened at once.

"Second Young Master, I'm sorry! I'll change right now!"

Ling Yu immediately put on a smile more miserable than a grimace.

Ye Kang shook his head, grabbed her by the hand, and led her out.

Of the four great gates of the Imperial City, Hong Xuan Gate had the liveliest night market.

Whether they were high officials and nobles or ordinary families, whenever they went out looking for entertainment, it was the first place that came to mind.

This was Ye Kang's first time visiting a night market since arriving in this world, so he couldn't help feeling a little excited.

They didn't say much along the way. When they reached Hong Xuan Gate, the bustling scene surged toward them.

The street was broad—at least as wide as a six-lane road from his previous life—with little stalls packed along both sides and down the middle.

After walking for a while, Ye Kang looked up and spotted a pavilion. Laughter and lively chatter spilled from within, along with the sound of music and little tunes.

The patrons coming and going were all high officials, nobles, young masters, and sons of officials.

Ye Kang's heart skipped a beat.

Could this be the legendary Brothel and Entertainment District?

He immediately decided, "Come on. Second Young Master will take you to a Brothel to listen to some music!"

"Ah!"

Ling Yu's face changed, but Ye Kang had already slipped inside, so she had no choice but to follow.

The two found a tea table. Just then, a storyteller had finished on the stage, and a group of brightly dressed beauties came up, holding pipa lutes, flutes, and other instruments.

A waiter came over to pour tea. Ye Kang handed him two qian of silver and asked, "Will this cover tea, wine, and refreshments?"

"Plenty, plenty. Please wait a moment."

The waiter took the silver and left, while Ye Kang happily enjoyed the singing and dancing onstage.

No wonder the ancients all loved listening to music at brothels. It really was delightful.

Ling Yu had been here a few times before, but now she felt so constrained that she could hardly get comfortable.

After they had watched for a while, the refreshments arrived.

Ye Kang casually picked up a piece of pastry and passed it to her.

Just then, a cry of surprise rang out.

"Isn't that Miss Zhong? Well, well! I can't believe I've run into you in a place like this. What a rare sight!"