Liu Tián Qǔ ignored the angry look that appeared on the eldest daughter's face. As the young girl opened her mouth to say something, Liu Tián Qǔ quickly asked the shop owner, "Do you carry ready-made clothes that can fit the people with me?"
"I most definitely do young master," The shop owner nodded.
"I would like a set of clothing for everyone now to change into, and I would like several sets of clothes for each person to be delivered to my residence later. I would like this process to be fast, we have yet to eat."
"That is no problem, young master," the shop owner's head nodded up and down voraciously. He turned around and quickly began unlocking his shop door faster than he locked it earlier. As soon as the shop was unlocked, he hurried into the shop, leaving the front door opened.
Only then did the young girl angrily say, "We are not beggars. Although we agreed to come with you for the night, we did not ask you to buy us clothes. We don't need your unsolicited charity."
The second daughter scowled unhappily at Liu Tián Qǔ from the back of Wēi Guāng, "Anyway my mother can make clothes better than anyone else, we don't need someone else to make clothes for us."
Liu Tián Qǔ turned away from the young girls and looked up at the young mother who sat on Wēi Guāng and asked in a neutral, quiet voice with and an expressionless look on her face, "Do you feel the same way too, My Lady?" Liu Tián Qǔ made sure to add special emphasis on the words, my lady.
Just that was enough to make the courageous young mother understand Liu Tián Qǔ's intentions. Understanding lit the young mother's eyes, and she quietly said, "How I feel will depend on the explanation that Young Master Liu give." Liu Tián Qǔ smiled inwardly at the smart young mother who silently asked Liu Tián Qǔ to explain to her daughter's why Liu Tián Qǔ was doing what she was doing.
Before speaking, Liu Tián Qǔ turned to carefully observe her surroundings. Most of the businesses in the market that wasn't closed were in the process of closing. People were scurrying back in forth hurrying home. However, that didn't stop people from throwing odd looks at the weird looking group. Liu Tián Qǔ had long noticed that from the moment they entered the Imperial city, many people did double-takes and outright stared at them.
Liu Tián Qǔ had to admit to herself they were indeed an odd group. Okay, so you had a skeleton looking person dressed in rags sitting on a big beautiful blind black mare that was covered in dried sweat marks. The living skeleton was holding a little toddler, seated behind the skeleton, was a travel-worn dirty little girl. Contrastly you had a richly dressed Young Lord guiding the blind mare, and another travel worn dirty young girl walking beside him.
This picture was just too mismatched. Who wouldn't turn to take a second look, even if it's just to make sure they weren't hallucinating? If they were the 21st century, hundreds of people would have pulled out their phones to take pictures and videos of them already.
After they had entered the city, Liu Tián Qǔ had noticed how uncomfortable the family had appeared under the stares of the passersby. The younger daughter had hunched her shoulders and hid her face in her mother's fragile looking back. The eldest daughter glared at everyone who was staring at them, and the young mother clutched the toddler tightly in her arms as if afraid someone would try to snatch him away.
That was one of the reasons Liu Tián Qǔ stop at the clothes maker shop. The second reason was that Liu Tián Qǔ had plans that would later involve the family mingling with the Nobility of High Society. However, dressed as there were, forget about mingling. Who in high-society would even allow their eyes to rest on them? If there was one thing Liu Tián Qǔ understood, it was the minds of the rich and noble.
Liu Tián Qǔ had turned and glanced towards the opened door of the clothes shop. Through the opened doorway, she saw the clothes maker bustling back and forth, picking out clothes.
The eldest young girl stood impatiently waiting for an explanation from Liu Tián Qǔ, but first Liu Tián Qu guided Wēi Guāng off the road. Liu Tián Qǔ guided Wēi Guāng over to a post that stood next to the clothes shop. She then secured the mare to the post and helped everyone down from the horse. Liu Tián Qǔ stood next to her horse and waited until everyone gathered around her. Only then did she look at the eldest young daughter and say, "Are you aware of how important first impressions are?"
The eldest daughter stared blankly at Liu Tián Qǔ for a moment. Liu Tián Qǔ glance over to Lady Wu Yǐn Rán to see her watching her eldest daughter with a ghost of a smile on her face. The eldest daughter was expecting an explanation from the Young Lord. She wasn't expecting to be questioned by the Young Lord.
"Let me ask you another question? I heard your younger sister say that you were expelled from your family," the eldest daughter began glaring at Liu Tián Qǔ once again.
Just when the eldest daughter opened her mouth to speak, Liu Tián Qǔ said, "In the family, you were expelled from, how would you, your mother, younger sister, and brother be treated if you came as guests dressed as you are, claiming to be nobles."
Liu Tián Qǔ saw the face of the eldest daughter and younger daughter go pale. It didn't matter what era or time a person lived in, human beings were just that way. People looked down on poor looking people who were dressed in dirty clothes. Very few people found compassion in their heart for poor, dirty looking people, and even fewer would bother lending a hand. It was sad, but it was a fact.
Liu Tián Qǔ saw understanding dawn in the eyes of the Eldest Young daughter. Liu Tián Qǔ glanced at the second young daughter to see that even she understood.
"I am not treating you or your family as beggers. I am treating you with sincerity. Although I've invited you as guests and must provide protection for you and your family, I must also protect my servants." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a serious face but with a smirk in her heart. The battle was already won. She just had to wrap it up neatly now.
Liu Tián Qǔ watched as confusion once again dawned in the eyes of the daughters of the young mother. However, a glance at the mother showed that she already understood. The frowning eldest daughter asked, "Protect your servants? Do you mean you must protect your servants from me? I don't understand."
"In your case specifically, I will be bringing you and your family into my residence as the noble Wu family of Leandore Border Garrison's City. You will be treated as such. However, I just started my household approximately one month ago. I do not know all of my servants yet, but I do know that many of my servants were the servants of other noble houses. The problem is I don't know how they were trained to behave in the last place where they served. I have yet to begin teaching my servant how to behave in a situation like this. But let me ask you, how would the servants of your father's manor treat you if you were a guest claiming to be a noble, but you entered the manor dress as you are with no explanation." Liu Tián Qǔ inwardly grinned at the young girl who suddenly appeared tongue-tied.
The young took a moment to reluctantly say, "We would be looked down on."
Liu Tián Qǔ nodded and said, "I am in the process of investigating and weeding out the servants I do not want in my residence. If any servant of my residence dared to look down on you, they would be harshly punished. I will not tolerate it. How to be fair, many nobles allow their servants to behave in such a manner. I have yet to teach my servants that, what was acceptable in the previous manor they served in, is not acceptable in my residence. I wish to protect my servants, at least until I have taught them what is acceptable in my residence and what is not acceptable. I hope now you can understand my intentions." Liu Tián Qǔ explained to the Eldest daughter, who looked slightly dazed but listened carefully to Liu Tián Qǔ explanation.
To put paid to the whole situation Liu Tián Qǔ turned to the young mother and said, "Correct me if I am wrong, but I am assuming you traveled to the Imperial City to look for employment. Am I correct?"
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The young mother gave a small nod and said, "You are correct, Young Master."
"Good, from what I gather from your youngest daughter you are good with clothes making, yes?" Liu Tián Qǔ didn't need anyone to tell her that Lady Wu Yǐn Rán was a great clothes maker. She knew it as well from the memories of her predecessor.
Again the young mother gave a faint nod and said, "Yes."
"Then, that is excellent. I wish to hire you. I have over three hundred servants and will soon have an army of approximately twenty thousand warriors. I would like to hire you to help me outfit my servants and warriors in uniform. I would also like you to make clothes for the guests of my residence and me. I am not offering charity or treating you like beggars. I am offering you a job and my sincerity."
"I understand now, then we will accept young master Liu's generosity this time." the eldest young miss said.
Liu Tián Qu looked over at the eldest daughter and said, "I am glad that you understand my intention," Liu Tián Qǔ then turned to Lady Wu Yǐn Rán, and said, "Buy no less than three trunks of clothing. Appearances must be upheld," Liu Tián Qǔ said with a meaningful look.
Lady Wu Yǐn Rán, who understood very clearly hesitated a moment before asking, "Why are you helping me?"
Liu Tián Qǔ met Lady Wu Yǐn Rán gaze with a raised eyebrow and decided to give her a portion of the truth, "Lady Wu Yǐn Rán, do you want the truth of why I am helping you or do you want platitudes?"
Lady Wu Yǐn Rán stepped in front of her daughters, still holding the toddler and said in a low but firm voice that held suspicion, "I want the truth."
"Then give me a moment to explain why," Liu Tián Qǔ answered before saying. "Right now, you are a single mother. You, and you alone, are responsible for raising three children. Do you plan to wander from place to place, looking for help?" Liu Tián Qǔ asked the young mother.
Instead of answering, the courageous young mother quietly stood firm in front of her young daughters waiting to hear the answer of the Young Lord.
"You have two daughters who are at the stage in their life were they need stability. Yes, your daughters are beautiful. However, there is no need for you to worry that I am helping you due to interest in your daughters." Liu Tián Qǔ had sensed the source of the young mother's suspicion. So she decided to address the matter immediately. Of course, there was no way for the young mother to know that the young lord standing before her was, in fact, a young woman.
They two young girls popped from behind their mother. However, it was the words of the youngest daughter that tickled Liu Tián Qǔ pink when Liu Tián Qǔ said, "I am already betrothed, and I am lucky enough where I love the person I will later on marry." Liu Tián Qǔ didn't consider what she said to be a lie. She had already set her heart on Wang Fèn Yǒng and claimed him as hers. Liu Tián Qǔ saw a look of relief that flickered through Lady Wu Yǐn Rán's eyes.
The youngest daughter looked at Liu Tián Qǔ with woeful eyes and exclaimed in a sad voice, "Already!? You're already taken!? I didn't even get a chance to win your affections, and you are already taken?"
The eldest daughter blushed red in embarrassment at her younger sister's unruly irredeemable behavior. Liu Tián Qǔ couldn't help but chuckled in amusement when the eldest sister reached over and smacked her younger sister in the back of her head while glaring at her and said, "Stopped uttering foolish things."
Liu Tián Qǔ chuckle deepened into a light laughter as the youngest daughter turned her woeful sad eyes on her elder sister and said while rubbing her head, "Eldest sister don't hit me, I lost love before I could find it, so I am already sad. If you hit me, it will only make me sadder, and I'll cry." The young girl looked so adorable Liu Tián Qǔ wanted to reach over and pinch her cheeks, but she dared not. She was afraid her actions would be misunderstood. The young girl was only seven or eight years old, so to hear the words of a broken heart adult come out of her mouth was just hilarious but so cute.
Lady Wu Yǐn Rán turned her head and gave her younger daughter one look. The youngest daughter quickly forgot all about the pain in her head and the pain in her heart. She lowered her hand from her head to her side, and her eyes suddenly turn earnest and innocent. The woeful look and sadness vanished into thin air. Liu Tián Qǔ had to control her laughter as she watched the silent show between the young mother and her youngest daughter. It was just too cute.
Seeing that her youngest daughter stopped her antics, Lady Wu Yǐn Rán then turned back around and pinned Liu Tián Qǔ with eyes that looked like two hollow wounds in her skeleton-like face.
"Ahem," Liu Tián Qǔ cleared her throat and wiped the mirthful smile from her face. Remembering her train of thought Liu Tián Qǔ once more grew serious. She looked at the young mother and said, "As I was saying, it is true that I am helping you with an ulterior motive. However, it is not due to interest in your daughters. The truth is I am more interested in you." Liu Tián Qǔ allowed the curiosity, concern, and interest in Lady Wu Yǐn Rán that she had hidden from the first moment she saw Lady Wu Yǐn Rán to be revealed in her eyes and on her face.
The eyes of the two young girls widen in shock, and their gaze flickered back and forth between Liu Tián Qǔ and their mother.
The astounded young mother looked at Liu Tián Qǔ with eyes full of astonishment, disbelief, and suspicion and asked, "Me? You're interested in me? But why?"
"Because you are not resigned to your circumstances or your fate." Liu Tián Qǔ began to explain one of the many reasons she was interested in the young mother. In her past life, Liu Tián Qǔ too, had refused to accept the circumstances that landed on her doorstep. She fought tooth and claw using everything she had to drag her family back from the road of destruction. So to see the flames that had once burned in her heart, lie hidden in the eyes of the young mother. It would be too hard for Liu Tián Qu to turn away without helping the young mother. Even if Liu Tián Qu had no ulterior motive, she would have still helped the family.
"From the moment I looked into your eyes, I could see that you have been through much and survived things that the average person would be hard-pressed to survive. I, too, could see you are tired, weary, and wounded deep in the hidden parts of your soul." Liu Tián Qǔ briefly glanced over at the two young girls. They were looking at their mother with eyes and expressions that were full of deep sadness, and sorrow Liu Tián Qǔ also saw that their eyes were beginning to grow wet.
Liu Tián Qǔ turned her attention back to the young mother and continued. "What immediately attracted me to you was the smoldering fire I've seen hidden deep within you. For some odd reason, even I don't fully know why. I want to see the fire within you ignite and burn." Liu Tián Qǔ confessed her interest in the young mother. A startled and stunned look flared in the young mother's eyes at Liu Tián Qǔ's words. Both of her young daughters turned and looked at Liu Tián Qǔ with a dumbfounded looks in their wet teary eyes.
"Right now, I see you as a warrior with no armor, weapon, or gear. I want to help you get armed once more and see you burn brightly as you go off to do battle with the world. Many wouldn't understand what I am saying. However, I can see from the look in your eyes that you understand." A deep understanding, thankfulness, and knowing glow lit the eyes of Lady Wu Yǐn Rán. She no longer felt suspicious of the mysterious Young Lord who had eyes that held age, understanding, and the knowledge of a person who lived a life of experience.
"Good," Liu Tián Qǔ said as she nodded. Liu Tián Qǔ carefully watched the eyes and face of the young mother. "It's good that you understand. I don't want to see that spark burn out before it could fully ignite and burn. Those are my intentions." Liu Tián Qǔ finished speaking and watched Lady Wu Yǐn Rán. Lady Wu Yǐn Rán also stood watching the Young Lord for several heartbeats before she nodded. She agreed to accept the Young Lord's proposition.
Inward, Liu Tián Qu mentally thrust her fist through the air victoriously. Outwardly, Liu Tián Qu calmly held the gaze of the young mother and said, "Since the second young miss said you could sew very well, make sure to buy many sets of clothes for everyone. Don't forget to buy whatever material you need to make adjustments to the clothing. Afterward, see if the clothes maker have any cloth shoes for now. If you give me the measurements of everyone's feet later, I will make sure that that is taken care of as well. I already gave the shop owner very large amount of good. I am going to go rent a carriage and helpers to help with the trunks, and to help escort everyone to my residence. Don't be modest nor polite when selecting the clothes and materials you need."
Liu Tián Qǔ sent the family of four off to the clothing store. She then hurried off to find a carriage to rent and several servants for hire to assist with carrying the trunks and escorting the family. Before going to hire the carriage, Liu Tián Qǔ stopped at a vendor that had yet to close.
She ordered four servings of meat-filled dumplings. Liu Tián Qǔ had the vendor wrapped them up to keep them warm, and then hired at runner to deliver it to Lady Wu Yǐn Rán in the clothing store. Liu Tián Qǔ heard the eldest daughter say that they didn't eat all day. First impressions were important, but a hungry belly was also important. With the amount of gold that Liu Tián Qǔ gave the shop owner, she knew the shop owner wouldn't begrudge the family filling their bellies as they shopped. After doing that, Liu Tián Qǔ hired four grave diggers to go bury Grandfather Boots. She paid them extra and made sure to request that the men send the location of the burial spot to Liu Residence.
After taking care of those matters first, Liu Tián Qǔ then took a moment to hire a runner to send back word to her residence to have three outer courtyards prepared for the family. She didn't want the young mother to feel uncomfortable being to close to the men of the four martial families in the inner courts. Nor for the children to feel constrained or restricted in the inner courts. She also didn't want the children of the woman to impede on the privacy or space of the men.
Liu Tián Qǔ also made sure that a message was sent to Head Chef Yin and her Commander. She wanted her commander to alert the men of the martial families that more guests would be arriving. And she wanted her chef to start preparing food for the hungry family and pay special attention to making something nutritious but light for Lady Wu Yǐn Rán.