"Lilac knots and hibiscus cords, bearing no pearls, but a treasured blade."
As Wei Nisheng finished reciting the verse, a flicker of surprise crossed the girl's eyes.
She looked at the boy before her, who was around ten years old, never expecting him to recognize her attire.
Still less had she expected him to recite such a verse.
She dipped in a slight bow, her movement crisp, her voice cool but courteous. "You have a keen eye, young master."
Wei Nisheng looked at her and smiled faintly. "The 'Three-Pronged Hairpin' of Jian Ning Prefecture in Fujian. I haven't mistaken it, have I?"
"Yes." The girl nodded. "In my hometown, all unmarried women wear their hair this way."
She paused, her gaze lowering slightly. A shadow passed across her sharp brows and eyes. "Only now, I can never go back."
Wei Nisheng did not question her about her past.
There was little to ask about the family of a convicted official.
When a father committed a crime, his family was confiscated by the state. That was the law of Great Zhou.
Ending up at a slave brokerage was already fortunate. At least she had not been sent to the Jiaofang Bureau.
So Wei Nisheng judged only the person before him.
And this girl had sharp features and an upright bearing, without the slightest trace of flattery or fawning.
Standing among the others, she was like a blade resting in its sheath.
He liked that quality.
Meanwhile, seeing Wei Nisheng's interest in her, the female broker hurried over to introduce her, her tongue seemingly coated in honey.
"You have a keen eye, young master! Qu Niang is the finest girl we have!"
"Her father was an official in Jian Ning Prefecture. He committed a crime, and his family was confiscated.
"Alas, with a criminal registration hanging over a young girl like her, she had no choice but to..."
The broker wanted to keep singing her praises, but Wei Nisheng raised a hand and interrupted her. "I'll take her."
Seeing Wei Nisheng being so decisive, the broker froze for a moment, then beamed with delight, her smile widening.
"You truly have excellent taste, young master! This Qu Niang is..."
Her eyes darted as she prepared to raise the price, but Cui Fu had already stepped forward and planted himself in front of her.
"Old Madam Wang, spare us that routine." Cui Fu folded his arms and regarded her with a half-smile. "Name a price. Stop dawdling."
The broker gave an awkward smile and held up five short, thick fingers. "Fifty taels."
"Fifty taels?!" Cui Fu's eyes widened.
"Cui Fu, this girl is educated. She can read, keep accounts, and knows something of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting..."
Cui Fu rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Fifty taels? Why don't you just rob us? A maid from a respectable family costs only twenty taels elsewhere!"
The broker grew flustered, her smile almost slipping from her face. "How is that the same? Can those girls read? Do they have this bearing? She's an official's daughter!"
"An official's daughter?" Cui Fu sneered. "A convicted official's daughter. How can she compare to a girl from a respectable family? Once she signs a Death Contract, she'll be a slave for life. Twenty-five taels, not a coin more!"
"Besides, to put it nicely, she's slender and upright. To put it bluntly, she's too tall, with no bottom and no bust!"
"Only our young master would take her because he's so young. Who else would want her?"
The broker still wanted to argue, but Cui Fu shot her a fierce glare. "What? Don't want my business anymore? Should I stop coming here in the future?"
His glare made her skin crawl. She gritted her teeth and finally nodded. "Fine, fine! Twenty-five taels it is!
"Cui Fu, you debt-collecting demon! One of these days, you'll be the death of me!"
"That's more like it!" Cui Fu chuckled, took the silver from inside his robe, counted out twenty-five taels, and handed it over.
The broker accepted the money, examined it carefully, and counted it again before tucking it into her robe.
Then she took a contract from a cabinet and handed it to Wei Nisheng. "Young master, please look this over. If everything is in order, make your mark."
Wei Nisheng took it and read it carefully.
A Death Contract, in duplicate.
From that moment onward, Qu Niang belonged to his Wei Family. Her life and death, honor and disgrace, all rested with him.
Once it was signed, the broker put away one copy and handed the other to Qu Niang.
Qu Niang took it, glanced at it, then tucked it into her robe. She walked up to Wei Nisheng and bowed.
"Qu Niang pays her respects, young master."
Wei Nisheng did not help her up. He merely said evenly, "Rise."
Qu Niang rose and stood behind him with her hands lowered.
Her movements were crisp, without the slightest dragging through mud and water.
Once they left the brokerage, Cui Fu held the contract in one hand and tucked the remaining silver away with the other, thoroughly pleased with himself.
He even kept turning to size up Qu Niang as they walked, unable to resist nudging Wei An's arm and lowering his voice.
"Brother Wei, who'd have thought our young master liked this sort!"
Wei An glared at him and said quietly, "Less nonsense. Watch where you're going."
Undeterred, Cui Fu leaned over again, lowering his voice still further, though he could not hide his excitement.
"I'm telling you, I thought our young master would like the gentle, sweet sort. Who'd have thought..."
Wei An slapped the back of his head, this time with an audible smack.
"What nonsense are you spouting! How old is the young master? What does he know about liking anyone?"
Cui Fu rubbed the back of his head and chuckled, not annoyed in the slightest. "How am I spouting nonsense?
"Look at her features, her figure, her bearing. She's a little tall, but she's sure to grow into a beauty."
"Keeping her beside him now-that's called nurturing affection. Understand?"
Wei An could not be bothered with him and quickened his pace.
Wei Nisheng walked ahead as though he had not heard their muttering.
His steps were neither hurried nor slow, while his thoughts were occupied with something else.
Qu Niang followed behind him, matching his pace without a word.
She did not ask where they were going or what sort of household she would serve. She simply followed in silence.
Only after they had walked some distance did Wei Nisheng suddenly speak.
"Qu Niang."
"Yes."
"Do you feel hatred?"
Qu Niang fell silent for a moment before answering.
"I did."
"And now?"
"Not anymore."
Wei Nisheng did not ask why. He merely nodded.
"Good."
Upon returning to the Small Courtyard of the Wei Residence outside West Peace Gate, Wei An began arranging quarters for Qu Niang.
According to custom, a newly purchased maid could not serve her master immediately. Older serving women first had to instruct her for a time, teaching her the rules and how to perform her duties.
All the more so because Qu Niang came from a convicted official's family. Though she had a foundation, every household had different rules.
Wei An brought Qu Niang to a side room in the rear courtyard and instructed two older serving women to look after her properly.
Qu Niang bowed in thanks, then entered the room and closed the door.
When Wei An returned to the front courtyard, he saw Wei Nisheng standing beneath the jujube tree, gazing at it in a daze.
The jujube tree was already covered in tender green leaves, swaying gently in the spring breeze.
Sunlight filtered through its branches and leaves, casting dappled light and shadow over him.
Wei An approached and said softly, "Young master, Miss Qu has been settled in."
Wei Nisheng nodded.
"Uncle Wei, our household has another mouth to feed."
Wei An nodded. "Yes, another mouth to feed."
From a discarded son in the Side Courtyard to establishing a household of his own.
From a master and his servant to a household with a Household Guard, older serving women, and a maid.
Suddenly, Wei An looked up at the jujube tree and felt that spring had truly arrived.
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