Huo Yi, of course, did not realize he had been "exposed" yet; he was still staring fixedly at the other side. It wasn't until he noticed that Lin Shanyue’s ears had turned red and she couldn't quite bring herself to meet his gaze that he finally sensed something was wrong. "What’s the matter?"
"The... the environment on your side, Young Master... it’s quite different from ours."
Huo Yi froze. He snapped back to reality, turned his head in a rush, and saw his room and desk in a state of absolute disarray. Even a man with his thick skin felt the heat of embarrassment, and he immediately turned the mirror to a different angle!
"So, you—you can see now!" Huo Yi’s tone was a bit guilty.
"Yes... I was pricked by the mirror just now. A drop of blood seeped out, and then I could see," Lin Shanyue said, also finding it quite magical.
Huo Yi grunted. It wasn't particularly strange; the mirror was miraculous enough as it was. After a moment to compose himself, he straightened it out.
"Fine, then. Now that you can see, communication will be easier. Come over and take a look at this 'Lucky Cat.' Do you have any thoughts on it?"
Lin Shanyue agreed it was more convenient, though mostly, the Mirror Demon Young Master didn't seem quite so mysterious anymore. She stepped forward to examine it closely and shook her head.
Huo Yi tutted. "I told you just now—don't you think the symbolism is great? Promotion! Business opportunities! A gimmick!"
Lin Shanyue blinked, carefully processing this. "Do you mean, Young Master, that such symbolism can be integrated into products to encourage sales?"
Huo Yi slammed his hand on the table. "The student is teachable!"
He had blurted out an idiom unexpectedly, and even he wasn't quite used to it. Lin Shanyue smiled sheepishly. "Thanks to your guidance, Young Master, I think I understand a little now..."
"That’s just one example. It’s not just about the Lucky Cat; you can apply this logic to anything. Take your time to ponder it; there’s a lot of depth to these methods."
Lin Shanyue quickly agreed.
Seeing that her brow was still furrowed with worry, and recalling how she had been crying while holding Xiaobao earlier, Huo Yi still felt she had been bullied, so he asked again.
Lin Shanyue sighed. Deciding no longer to hide it, she laid out her life story in full.
Huo Yi was shocked by what he heard.
"So that’s why you left to set up your own household. I thought..."
"You thought what, Young Master?"
"Nothing." Huo Yi caught himself just in time.
"So, my distress comes from my so-called family. It really has nothing to do with anyone else, and there's nothing you can do to help, Young Master. I’ll have to find a way myself," Lin Shanyue said.
No sooner had she finished speaking than the person in the mirror let out a scoff. "Are you sure I can't help you?"
Lin Shanyue looked up in surprise.
Huo Yi cleared his throat and said, "I’ve seen plenty of these kinds of situations on my side. The reason they’re worried about you being in the Imperial Capital is simply because they think you’re a ghost that won't go away. They’ll eventually find ways to secretly cause you trouble and force you to leave. So, what you need to do is: first, make yourself strong enough; and second, completely sever ties with that Marquis's Estate. High-ranking noble families care most about their reputation. You said they want you back to stand in for a marriage—that’s simple. Why don't you spread the word that you already have a husband and are only in the Imperial Capital for business? You have Xiaobao with you anyway. Secondly, change your name and surname so you have no further entanglement with them. As long as that Marquis's Estate sees that you have absolutely no intention of clinging to them, they won't bother with you anymore."
Lin Shanyue was stunned.
Actually, this was exactly what she had been thinking, and it was indeed what she intended to do.
However...
"What you said, Young Master, is something I’ve thought of, but I am all alone now. This excuse really lacks persuasiveness."
Huo Yi clicked his tongue. "You’ve forgotten what I taught you yesterday."
"Marketing?"
Huo Yi nodded.
Lin Shanyue pondered this for a moment and nodded. "I understand."
Huo Yi had said enough to point her in the right direction; the rest was up to her.
"Grumble—" They had been talking for so long that they had forgotten the time. When someone’s stomach rumbled, both people connected by the silver mirror blushed. Embarrassed, Lin Shanyue ran out. "Young Master, please wait! The meal will be ready soon!"
Lin Shanyue had stewed mutton soup today. Huo Yi originally didn't like mutton, but he didn't know how this young woman made it—there wasn't a hint of gamy smell, it was incredibly delicious. He drank two bowls before remembering that in the Great Tang, people loved mutton above all else, treating it as the ultimate delicacy; mutton soup and mutton pita were all the rage.
Lin Shanyue had intended to make flatbread, but there wasn't enough time, so she steamed rice instead. Xiaobao now loved eating soft, stewed rice soaked in soup, and with his eight little glutinous teeth, he could even manage some of the tender, stewed mutton. He was babbling and no longer crying, his round, grape-like eyes ready to melt Lin Shanyue’s heart.
After feeding her son, Lin Shanyue finally had a bowl of mutton soup herself.
Before bed, Lin Shanyue hugged Xiaobao and coaxed him: "Xiaobao, be good at Auntie Pang's tomorrow, okay? Mother is going out to find a way. If things go smoothly, we won't have to struggle like this for long."
Xiaobao babbled and cooed, not knowing if he understood her at all.
...
The next morning, Lin Shanyue dressed up for a change. She brushed back her bangs, styling her hair into a woman’s bun for the first time.
It was a tradition of this dynasty that only young girls wore bangs; she had overlooked that before.
After breakfast, she carried Xiaobao to Auntie Pang’s house. Auntie Pang’s eyes lit up when she saw her outfit. "My, you look much more spirited today."
Lin Shanyue smiled and took the initiative to hand her a box of milk cakes. "Forgive me for the trouble, Auntie. I was just muddled before." Lin Shanyue told a carefully crafted story, filling in her background. Overnight, she had acquired a husband away on military duty whose fate was unknown; she had come from the Yangzhou Prefecture and was waiting for news of him while trying to make a living. She explained that she had been depressed lately, but was now determined to live a good life, and having met an old friend yesterday, she had secured some silver to get by and wouldn't be a bother to her neighbors anymore.
Auntie Pang sighed with relief as she listened, feeling that all her previous curiosities had been satisfied. "I'll give some of these cakes to Shitou; Xiaobao likes them too. I have some errands to run today, so I’ll be back soon."
"Of course, of course. Go ahead and get to work."
Lin Shanyue coaxed Xiaobao a few more times before stepping quickly out of the alley, hailing a carriage, and heading toward Huayue Pavilion.
Just as she walked through the front gate, she heard Liu Niang coming down to greet her: "You finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for you all morning!"
Liu Niang’s eyes also lit up at her outfit, especially the gold hairpin. It was part of the dowry from her foster mother, and she hadn't wanted to show it to anyone, but she had no other choice now.
"Is there an urgent matter, Mistress?"
Liu Niang quickly averted her eyes. "There is! Tell me quickly, how did you make that cake yesterday? How was it so fragrant and sweet?"