Chapter 13: Birth (Part 8)

Xu Qianyu turned and walked up to him.

These past few days, the young male servants had been fun to play with, but there was one downside: they were all as timid as pine and cypress trees; during games, they always let her have her way because she was the young lady. Only Xiao Yi did not indulge her, and he was strong and skilled, so she usually liked to have him accompany her in play. They would kick the shuttlecock, arm wrestle, and shoot slingshots, and he took great joy in serving her.

However, enjoying playing with him didn’t mean she liked him. Aside from his good-looking face, which reminded her of a troublesome dream, Xu Qianyu also thought he was too disobedient. For example, the way he just tossed and caught things made her feel threatened.

In fact, she hadn’t been afraid before, but ever since she had that dream, the sudden thrust of Xie Yuzhen’s sword on that rainy night had pierced her heart, giving her nightmares for several nights. Since then, she had developed some resistance to unexpected and uncontrollable things.

Moreover, it was difficult for two tigers to coexist in the same mountain, and Xiao Yi’s way of speaking was too domineering; he practically acted like he was spoiled because of his favored status. Xu Qianyu believed that only she could act recklessly in the Shui family residence.

“I certainly can do without you,” Xu Qianyu said inexplicably. “I chose you because I was interested. When that interest is gone, I can replace you; who says I’m not the young lady? You might as well think of something else that can amuse me.”

After saying that, she took her leave, leaving the young man standing alone in the courtyard.

Xiao Yi truly couldn’t be chased away even with curses.

He followed her into the boudoir. When Xu Qianyu got tired from playing and took a nap, he sat at the edge of her bed, fanning her.

She didn’t chase him away. Xiao Dong was too weak and lacked strength; he could fan her for a while before getting tired and needing to rub his elbow. But Xiao Yi wasn’t tired; he could fan her indefinitely, and he controlled the speed and angle of the breeze just right.

Xie Yuzhen watched her intently while fanning.

Xu Qianyu slept on her side, the alluring fragrance that attracted him was intensified by the curtains around her. If he were to eat her now, it could be done.

However, that wouldn’t be interesting; the demon lord always had a heart for playing with his prey.

What Xu Qianyu found interesting, he also found interesting.

He lingered at the Shui residence, not only to recuperate but also for the enjoyment of experiencing the mortal world.

Xu Qianyu, being so high and mighty, was as elusive as a hawthorn berry; first, she chose him, then discarded him so carelessly, making him hold a grudge.

He couldn’t help but daydream about one day making her submit and making it so she couldn’t live without him. That would be immensely satisfying, and for that, he could patiently lie low for a while.

Moreover, he walked around with this appearance, and it should have been very smooth because everyone he encountered liked him—except for the young lady in front of him.

She despised him.

As Xu Qianyu slept, the arrogant aura around her faded, leaving her looking delicate and well-behaved. The little red mark on her forehead was like a porcelain spirit doll sold at a stall.

This was the first time he had so closely observed a mortal, and he couldn’t help but stop fanning, curiously reaching out to touch her cheek.

Unexpectedly, before he could touch her, Xu Qianyu suddenly turned her face away and frowned, saying, “How dare you touch me without washing your hands?”

“…”

Xu Qianyu didn’t even open her eyes, yet she sensed the floral fragrance on him approaching and could already judge his actions.

She didn’t mind male servants wearing perfume, as long as it wasn’t overpowering; she preferred clean and subtle fragrances. However, the peach blossom scent on Xiao Yi annoyed her because it reminded her of Xie Yuzhen.

But she wasn’t entirely venting her anger on him. Her face was carefully maintained with salt mud and flower petal water, needing to be cleaned several times a day, and even she herself didn’t easily touch her face without washing her hands, let alone someone else.

Xiao Yi fell silent for a moment, as if he was getting up. Xu Qianyu heard a gentle sound of water. After a while, the young man approached, one hand hovering above her lips, bringing with it a mix of floral fragrance and lime scent.

“Miss…” Xiao Yi softly called her, as if suggesting she check with her nose.

Xu Qianyu used the fan to push his hand away and swatted it aside.

Seeing her expression was genuine and not feigned annoyance, Xiao Yi’s face stiffened. After a moment, he swallowed his irritation and sat properly, continuing to fan her.

But after fanning for a while, he couldn’t hold back any longer and said, “That wall without glass you climbed today—I made it.”

“If the young lady wants to go out, I have a way to take you.”

This statement was like a clap of thunder, and after it was thrown out, there was silence.

Xu Qianyu had her back to him while sleeping. After a moment, she raised her hand towards him.

Xiao Yi immediately leaned in to listen to her.

“Xiao Yi,” Xu Qianyu said, “you talk too much. Go get Xiao Dong to replace you.”

“…”

The boy seemed irritated and stood up to leave.

However, after a moment, he turned back to lower the curtain for her. But as he gripped the curtain, his hand quietly tightened. Still, he wore a playful smile and said, “Alright.”

Yet when he turned around and saw Xu Qianyu, who thought he had left, reach up to wipe her lips and toss her handkerchief onto the pillow, Xiao Yi inhaled sharply.

After a moment, he smiled again, saying, “If the young lady wants to go, I’ll be waiting for you in the courtyard tomorrow night.”

As Xiao Yi stepped out, a fox at the door lay flat on the ground, trembling with fear. It waited until the boy walked far away before daring to lift its head, wiping the sweat off its forehead with its paw and jumping behind a nearby stone.

What a little Nanling, how could there be so many buddhas around.

*

Xiao Yi headed straight for the small kitchen.

This small kitchen was set up for the young lady, specifically to make the pastries and desserts that Xu Qianyu loved to eat, so it was not large and usually only had two female cooks.

When Xiao Yi entered, he greeted them, then rolled up his sleeves to help with the fire and watch the pot. The two cooks praised him for being quick and likable.

Among the male servants, this young man was the most adept at ingratiating himself. Not only was he friendly and adorable, but he also came to help whenever he had free time, calling them “sister” and quickly becoming familiar with the two cooks.

Thus, whenever they had fresh pastries coming out, they would send word to Xiao Yi before calling the maids, asking him to take them to the young lady to help him win her favor.

However, Xiao Yi wasn’t just there for that.

One of the cooks had a son working as a servant in Wang Changshi’s household and often liked to boast about the private affairs of officials. The last time he brought up the demon hunter’s matter, he learned it here. He quietly listened while quickly mimicking the norms and phrases of mortals, planning to repeat them without exposing any flaws.

Today, with some free time, the cook girl was indeed chatting with another cook girl again.

“You know, with Lady Wang going out at this time, why isn’t anyone stopping her? Who dares to go out now?”

“She has a lot of people with her. My son told me that Lady Wang is going to take a sedan chair. It takes four people to carry the chair, plus maids and household staff; it must be at least ten people. Ghosts, you know, love to target those who are alone. When there are more people, don’t they get scared too?”

“That’s quite a hassle. Is the first incense at Bailu Temple really that effective? She’s risking it all to go.”

“Well, it’s not just for the first incense. My son said she previously offered incense there, but for the past few months, she’s been afraid that the ghosts would eat people, so she hasn’t gone to repay her vows. Then Wang Changshi got sick. Lady Wang believes this is the Bodhisattva punishing her, so this time, she insists on going.”

“Lady Wang is really devoted.”

“She is devoted, but unfortunately, I’m afraid Wang Changshi doesn’t appreciate her feelings.”

“Why not?”

“My son said that Wang Changshi doesn’t like this Lady. He became a top scholar at seventeen and was transferred to Chang’an. As a talented young man, what kind of beauties wouldn’t fall for him? Unfortunately, he was originally from Nanling, and his mother married him to this wife, which is Lady Wang. She was originally a poor girl, and not long after they married, Wang Changshi left to take the imperial examinations. She stayed at home to serve her mother-in-law, so they hardly lived together.”

The other cook girl understood well enough and sighed, “Well, one is from a village and the other is a top scholar. Now that the man has achieved success, there’s probably even less to say…”

*

As for the aftermath of the haunting incident, Xu Qianyu called the young male servants to play with her during the day and asked Xiao Dong to attend to her at night.

Guang Niang thought that she would have to let go sooner or later, and she also wanted to help her young lady cultivate her personal maid, so she let go completely and allowed the young lady to arrange things herself.

Xu Qianyu had a small bed set up outside her own bed for Xiao Dong to sleep on. At night, when the curtains were drawn, they could talk through the curtains, often until the early hours of the morning.

Xiao Dong lay on the small bed, telling Xu Qianyu all the folk tales she knew. Xu Qianyu also shared the extraordinary stories from the celestial realm she remembered from her dreams, which made Xiao Dong yearn for those tales, lamenting her own lack of fortune.

Xu Qianyu initially thought of saying that there was nothing to be envious of, and if she went to Penglai again, she could take Xiao Dong with her. But realizing she wouldn’t be going in this life anyway, she chose not to mention it.

One day, Xiao Dong entered the room with a seemingly worried expression. Xu Qianyu waved her over. When Xiao Dong looked, she saw several precious ornaments on Xu Qianyu’s bed—necklaces, ornaments, jade bracelets, and hairpins—pulled out from a box, all shining dazzlingly.

Under the flickering candlelight, Xu Qianyu said, “Pick one, and I’ll give it to you.”

“How can this be?” Xiao Dong exclaimed in shock, “It’s too precious; I can’t accept it. Besides…” she said, lowering her head in shame, “Miss, I have nothing to give you in return.”

“No need to return the favor.” Xu Qianyu was momentarily taken aback, then rolled up her sleeve and said, “Look, you’ve already given me this.”

Seeing Xu Qianyu wearing the red string pi xiu that she had gifted her on her wrist, Xiao Dong’s eyes lit up with surprise, tears welling up. After a moment, she suddenly knelt down urgently and said, “Miss, if you really want to reward me, please let me see my mother.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes.” Xiao Dong wiped her fallen tears with the back of her hand, “Since I entered the Shui family a few months ago, I’ve been separated from my mother. I’ve been working as a maid in the master’s study, while my mother, who is older, was assigned to the embroidery room. The Shui family is so big that it takes a long time to walk from one corner to another. If we don’t have a pass, we can’t change posts, so… I haven’t seen her since.”

“Today is my mother’s birthday. Every year on my mother’s birthday, our whole family would celebrate together. But this year, that’s not possible…”

Xiao Dong stopped sobbing. After a while without hearing Xu Qianyu’s response, she looked up to see Xu Qianyu’s expression darkening, and she hurriedly prostrated herself, saying, “Miss, I’ve overstepped. If you’re unhappy, just pretend I didn’t say anything. I’ll still stay with you.”

Xu Qianyu was indeed a bit unhappy.

This unhappiness could be described as a sense of loss. First, she felt lost because it turned out that in this world, Xiao Dong didn’t only care about her; she had someone else she was more concerned about. Secondly, even Xiao Dong had a mother who loved and cared for her.

However, looking at Xiao Dong’s tears, Xu Qianyu thought that with just a word from her, she was the only one who could make Xiao Dong happy again.

“Don’t cry.” Xu Qianyu took off the gold foil token tied to her waist with a five-colored silk ribbon and said, “Take this. You can go anywhere you want.”

Xiao Dong was stunned; this was the gold foil token that the young lady always carried with her. In the entire Shui family, only Guang Niang at the same rank likely had one. Xu Qianyu had it for urgent matters, in case she needed someone to run errands.

If she had this token, it could truly be said that she could go wherever she pleased in the Shui residence.

“Thank you, Miss.” Xiao Dong sniffled heavily and bowed deeply, “I will cherish it and return it right away.”

“Tonight? You don’t need to come back; stay with your mother.” Xu Qianyu frowned, “If you come back late at night, you’ll wake me up.”

Suddenly, she remembered that she wouldn’t be there tomorrow night; she was going out to be a temple maiden: “You don’t need to come back tomorrow either.”

She simply gave Xiao Dong three days off: “You can stay there for three days. When you don’t want to stay anymore, come back quietly and return the token to me.”

*

Because the excitement of going out as a Bodhisattva lingered in her heart, Xu Qianyu didn’t pay much attention to Xiao Dong’s absence. That night, she tossed and turned, and at dinner, she only focused on eating. Guang Niang marveled at how much her appetite had improved these past few days.

In the blink of an eye, night fell, and it started drizzling lightly.

Xu Qianyu remembered to put on her veil hat, but not for the sake of avoiding the opposite sex. To make her look more like a Bodhisattva, the fox specially applied a “Bodhisattva makeup” on her: blush on her eyes, red lipstick, and covered the red mole on her forehead with a painted Bodhi flower.

The veil hat was to shield her from the rain; she couldn’t afford to smudge her makeup.

Xu Qianyu had already planned with the fox. It managed to distract the household staff guarding the young lady’s courtyard, and Xu Qianyu would find a way to get to the temple, where the fox would help her take care of everything at home before heading to the temple to meet her. After that, it would come back, and if anyone noticed her whereabouts, it would cover for her until the early morning light when she could return to sleep.

Luanshan is only a mile away from the Shui Family, and the fox ran even faster, as it dashed back and forth without much effort. This is what the fox had boasted about.

Xu Qianyu stepped outside and suddenly recalled what Xiao Yi had said that day—that if she wanted to go out, he would wait for her in the courtyard and had a way to take her out.

She turned back to look, and sure enough, there was a figure holding an umbrella, standing in the light rain, waiting. It was unknown how long the young man had been waiting; perhaps he was getting a bit impatient as he twirled the umbrella handle playfully, causing droplets to splash all around.

Xiao Yi also didn’t expect to actually see the young lady waiting, and for a moment, he was stunned before quickly walking over.

However, Xu Qianyu ignored him completely and turned to leave.

She first went to the back room to wake up Songbai. Upon hearing that the young lady wanted to climb over the wall in the middle of the night, he was bewildered, but under her coercion and temptation, he sleepily squatted by the wall, cradling his head.

Xiao Yi stood aside with a cold expression, watching as Xu Qianyu stepped onto Songbai’s shoulders and climbed up the wall. Just as Xu Qianyu settled herself, Songbai was about to speak up to dissuade her when he was suddenly knocked out by the fox from behind, falling straight to the ground, after which the fox dragged him away and hid him.

“Miss,” Xiao Yi slowly stepped over Songbai’s body, holding the umbrella and looking up at Xu Qianyu with dark, intense eyes. “Do you need me to come out and meet you?”

Xu Qianyu turned her head, looking at him curiously, but didn’t answer. Instead, she lifted her skirt and jumped down. Xie Yuzhen was startled.

On the other side of the courtyard wall, Xu Qianyu squatted down, her skirt billowing like lilies in the wind before deflating again. When she landed, she stood up and stamped her feet a couple of times. Other than feeling a bit numb in her feet, she was completely unharmed.

These young male servants had underestimated her.

She only needed to borrow someone’s shoulder to climb up and jump down; she actually didn’t need anyone to catch her at all.

At that moment, the rain increased, and many flower buds in the courtyard were knocked to the ground, resembling bright red fruits.

The young man looked at the empty wall and smiled coldly.

From beginning to end, the young lady had never needed him. He was just amusing himself and making himself feel foolish.

He pursed his lips, left the umbrella behind, and walked out the door.

He tossed the umbrella lightly, and it struck the wall, filled with resentment, instantly turning to dust.

It didn’t matter; after all, they would meet again sooner or later.

Just then, however, the corner door of the courtyard suddenly opened, catching Xiao Yi off guard, and he stepped back in shock. He then saw a girl in a hooded cloak standing outside in the slanting wind and sparse rain.

It turned out that Xu Qianyu had made a roundabout way to come back and had opened the corner door from outside.

The young lady had lifted a corner of her white veil, revealing lips painted with bright red lipstick, slightly curling in a proud smile, half mocking and half provoking: “Xiao Yi, what are you doing standing here? Didn’t you say you could take me out? Let’s go.”

In that instant, Xie Yuzhen looked at her, and his heart raced uncontrollably.