Duan Jin was silent for a moment.
Ye Suijin asked, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" She touched her face, thinking some dirt had stuck to it.
Duan Jin was a little confused. He said, "Madam seems...to not have gotten angry for a very long time."
Ye Suijin stopped and looked at Duan Jin intently.
He continued, "It seems... it seems like... it was before last summer."
The more Duan Jin thought back, the more confused he felt.
That's right, he was certain of it. He had always been by Ye Suijin's side, he knew her matters well. The last time she truly became angry was a year ago.
In the year plus since then, she would put on cold, sharp, and fierce looks, but those were all as needed. She herself had not moved to true anger.
Others may not have noticed, but Duan Jin would not fail to notice.
Ye Suijin knew why this was.
It was because people become wiser as they age.
Although in her previous life she had not aged to that degree, she had experienced many ups and downs in life, and seen and encountered things that ordinary people would not see in their whole lifetime. So she was not far from becoming wise.
Once one becomes wise, how could they easily fluctuate between joy and anger?
It was said before, an aging heart cannot become young again.
Ye Suijin smiled gently, "When you grow older, you will know, in human affairs, it always boils down to four words - nothing but so."
Duan Jin said solemnly, "The word 'grow up' can only be used to describe Tang Mingjie from now on. I have no use for it."
Ye Suijin said, "You're sixteen this year, right?"
Duan Jin: "That's right."
Ye Suijin laughed.
Her laugh seemed to contain a sigh.
Duan Jin did not understand, and did not know if Ye Suijin acknowledged that he had grown up or not.
In any case, now that he and Ten were together, the contrast was too obvious. No one would still treat him as a "child".
Also because he was Ye Suijin's personal attendant, his status was special. Ye Family elders, Lang, Fourth Son, Fifth Son, all spoke to him seriously and solemnly, unlike how they treated Ten.
He had called Duan He to his residence to drink wine today.
The higher a person's position, the more they felt the need for power.
Although all personal guards for Ye Suijin, the competition between them was also very intense. As the one far ahead of the rest, Duan Jin now also had his own "trusted aides".
He had his own courtyard in the Governor's Mansion, not the mixed housing courtyards for servants, but a proper courtyard.
Also, as Ye Suijin was the only one in the Governor's Mansion, she could eat and travel with soldiers, there were no other female family members, no worries about chaotic bloodlines from offspring. There was no division between inner and outer courtyards.
People close to her like Duan Jin, Er Bao, and Qiu Sheng, lived and moved around her.
Only Duan Jin was treated the best.
When Tang Mingjie, Ye Suijin's adopted son, arrived in Biyang, he also originally had his own courtyard.
But he was willing to live with Duan Jin, so his courtyard was empty, and he lived his daily life in Duan Jin's courtyard.
Only when Duan Jin was not in Biyang would he return to his own courtyard.
Although an adopted son, he treated Duan Jin as master according to teacher-disciple propriety.
When Duan Jin and Duan He were drinking wine, although there were servants, Duan Jin still ran around serving them.
But Tang Mingjie was after all Ye Suijin's adopted son. Duan Jin dared to order him around, but Duan He did not. Every time Tang Mingjie came in, Duan He had to stand up.
Duan Jin laughed and said, "Go practice your skills."
Tang Mingjie then silently left.
Only then could Duan He sit properly. He also said, "Young Master Tang has grown tall."
After being away on campaign for months, the boy had shot up. Duan Jin said, "Even taller than Twelfth Sister now."
Girls grew first, boys grew later. Tang Mingjie was at that growing age.
Duan He said, "He just doesn't like to speak, nothing like you at all, more like Young Master Lang."
Duan Jin was very articulate and loved to talk and laugh.
Duan Jin said, "It's better to resemble Young Master Lang."
Now, he most wanted to resemble Lang.
Among the young men, Lang's appearance was closest to Pei Ze's.
The two of them standing together, their temperament was very alike, like father and son.
It was obvious to everyone that Pei Ze doted on Lang, and Ye Suijin valued Lang.
Duan Jin also wanted to become like that.
Just as they were drinking and chatting, they heard voices outside the courtyard.
After a while, Tang Mingjie came in, "Uncle."
With one word "Uncle", it meant "Uncle, someone/something outside is looking for you." Anything else, Tang Mingjie's mouth would not say.
Although he could speak now, he did not speak.
Twelfth Sister had worried herself to death over this.
Fortunately, there were also servants attending to him in Duan Jin's courtyard. They also came in to report, "Manager Li is here. He brought a sister over."
Duan Jin was surprised. "What sister?"
The servant then called that "sister" in.
Because the servant was young in age, so his "sister" actually looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.
Bright, spirited eyes, fair skin, red lips, delicate and charming facial features. A blooming, beautiful young girl.
She held a bundle in her hand. Seeing Duan Jin, she greeted, "Greetings, sir."
Duan Jin was even more surprised. "Who are you, what have you come for?"
The girl said, "This servant's name is Yu Meng. Master has sent me to serve sir."
The faces of Duan Jin and Duan He in the room both showed some strangeness.
Because maids were a special kind of property.
For example, maids brought by a woman when marrying, and those who served in rooms and courtyards afterwards, in theory were all the woman's husband's women. If the husband did not accept them, only then would they be released to be matched to others.
If other men took a liking, they could also not randomly take them in, they had to go to the husband to request or purchase them. They could also trade, trade maid for maid, or objects for maid.
When Lang grew up, reached a certain age, his mother would also send people to the boy's side, to teach him about affairs between men and women.
For mansion guards and guests, it depended on circumstances. Usually servants and bookboys were arranged to serve them. If maids were given, then apart from taking care of living needs, they also had the duty of "warming the bed".
Even if ownership did not belong to the man, when she was assigned to him, the rights to her labor and body were given to him.
Although Duan Jin was still a servant himself, he held an official position, and his status was special. He fit the last situation.
Because he already had servants in his courtyard. There were also people serving him around Ye Suijin. In battle, there were also Duan He and other sworn brothers close to him, gradually forming his trusted aides.
Sending such a charming, beautiful maid in her prime to a vigorous young man like this, the implications were very clear.
Even someone as perceptive and clever as Duan Jin was stunned for a moment.
Until Duan He turned his face away to laugh secretly, did he come to his senses. He asked, "Who ordered you to come?"
Yu Meng shyly said, "Manager Li."
Manager Li was also just a steward. Duan Jin asked, "Who arranged this?"
Yu Meng said, "It was the Master."
There was only one Master in this mansion, and that was Ye Suijin. She had no parents, husband, children, no other Masters besides her.
Tang Mingjie could barely be considered half a one.
Yu Meng could not even dream that such good fortune would fall upon her.
Because there was no man of the household in the mansion, a maid like her with exceptional looks had no prospects for advancement, and would eventually be matched to someone.
Fortunately, now the Master was leading everyone forward, and if the men were willing to risk their lives, they could also earn a change in status. With good luck, marrying a personal guard brother, relying on his military merits in the future, she could also flip her status to become an army general's wife.
Among the personal guards, the most dazzling, without a doubt, was Duan Jin. In prospects, looks, character, capabilities and favor, who could surpass him, not even Er Bao and Qiu Sheng could.
Yet everyone vaguely heard that Master favored Duan Jin, and would choose a girl of good status for him when his future was settled.
Everyone could only sigh regretfully.
Unexpectedly, good fortune suddenly fell from the heavens. Master wanted to send someone to serve Young Master Duan.
After all, the Young Master was sixteen already, his body matured, his vitality was flourishing.
It was just that the Young Master was also of servant origin. Hearing that he did not accept this release, he was still a servant. If she served him well, gained his favor first, feelings, or a child, who's to say, in the future, the Young Master himself may not be willing to want some young lady, but be willing to richly provide for the elderly by his side.
Yu Meng shyly lowered her head.
A youthful maiden, how charming.
But since she was given to Duan Jin, she would be his room person from now on. Duan He averted his eyes, and did not look at her much.
He only smiled at Duan Jin and said, "Good fortune, now everyone will be envious to death?"
Unexpectedly, Duan Jin did not pick up on this remark.
He told Yu Meng, "Go find Manager Li, tell him I have no need for people here. Have him arrange something else for you."
Yu Meng was dumbfounded.
How could this beautiful dream just shatter like this? The young girl said in a panic, "It...it was Master who arranged for me to serve you."
“I'm not some important person, I'm the same as you, both serving our master,” Duan Jin said. “Sister, you'll have to marry someday, it wouldn't be good for you to stay with me. I won't delay Sister, you should go back.”
He called for a servant boy: “Take Sister back to Manager Li.”
Worried the boy was too young, his words lacking weight, he pointed to Tang Mingjie: “Mingjie, go with him. When you get there, remember to speak.”
In truth, of all those in the room, Tang Mingjie's status was highest.
He nodded, not wasting words, jerking his chin at the boy.
The boy was still young, just a child, with no need for propriety. He tugged at Yu Meng's sleeve. “Sister, the master has guests, come with me.”
Duan Jin didn’t even glance at her, lifting his wine cup.
Tears brimming, heartbroken, Yu Meng sadly followed the boy and Tang Mingjie.
Arriving back at Manager Li’s, he was surprised. “Why are you back?” Yu Meng sobbed, unable to speak.
The boy tucked in his hands, looking to Tang Mingjie: “Young sir, you tell him.”
As a quasi-master of the household, Tang Mingjie was succinct: “No need.”
Manager Li was dumbstruck.
“What’s going on?” Duan He lamented to Duan Jin. “Such a beautiful young lady, why send her back?”
Duan Jin said, “It would be hard for her to marry later. If she married someone familiar, it would be awkward.”
With her beauty, Yu Meng would likely be matched to one of Ye Suijin’s soldiers.
Many of Suijin’s young, capable unmarried troops were suitors. Having been selected from many as elites, their futures were brighter than other servants and guards.
Meaning, Yu Meng may become the wife of Duan Jin's colleague, having to call him “Brother-in-Law.”
Duan He grimaced. “Nonsense! Once given to you, how could she be given to another!”
Though unspoken, all knew Duan Jin’s prospects were bright. Despite no formal ties as adopted son or disciple, Suijin had raised and taught him.
Half-teacher, half-mother, half-sister.
Who could compare? However envious others were, it was futile.
Duan Jin said, “I’m still a servant, what use have I for maids?”
Duan He said, “Clearly the master understands you’re grown, and is considerate.”
A wed woman is different. If Suijin was unmarried, she may not have considered this. But as a wife, she understood. Such care showed Suijin's affection for Duan Jin.
Duan Jin froze, cup in hand. “Is that why?” he asked Duan He.
Did the master feel he was a man now?
Or finally see him as one, and not a child?
Duan He said, “Of course, you’re taller than me now. And you've eaten bridal cakes, lost your innocence, living in the household. The master must think it better to arrange this than risk trouble with the maids later.”
But Duan Jin stared at him. “How do you know I ate bridal cakes?”
Duan He said, “Everyone knows.”
“Who is everyone?”
“Just everyone.”
Duan Jin took a deep breath, let it out, then asked, “Does the master know?”
