By the time Shen Xiling’s health improved somewhat, it was already the third day of the New Year. She began to recover from her fever on the first day, but her consciousness was still not very clear then and remained somewhat muddled. She felt better on the second day, and by the third day could finally get out of bed, though she was still very weak.
A sister named Yi Xiang had been caring for her in her room these past few days. She was very kind and treated her well. Today she even supported her as they went outside to bask in the sun.
This year’s Jiankang hadn’t seen such fine sunshine in a long time—bright and warm, melting all the piled snow in the Fenghe Courtyard. In Shen Xiling’s memory, this entire winter had been gloomy with rain and snow, so suddenly seeing such beautiful sunshine, she found it rather dazzling.
Counting the days, she had already been living at Fenghe Courtyard for several days, yet she had never properly looked at this mansion. Today with the sun out, she could see that the courtyards were planted with various flowers and trees, mostly plum trees, and mostly white plums. Whenever the wind came, their fragrance was overwhelming. Walking a bit farther, she could see a small pond in the distance with a pavilion beside it, lotus planted in the water, and green bamboo planted all around—an extremely secluded, quiet, and elegant little world. However, since it was still the first month and not yet lotus season, it appeared somewhat lonely.
Seeing Shen Xiling gazing in that direction, Yi Xiang smiled and said: “You can’t go there. The young master forbids people from going there—even Qing Zhu cannot enter.”
Shen Xiling was a bit puzzled: “Qing Zhu?”
“The young servant by the young master’s side, not much older than you,” Yi Xiang replied with a smile. “He’s served by the young master’s side for several years and is closest to him.”
Shen Xiling remembered—that night when she first came to Fenghe Courtyard with Bai Song, it was a young servant in green clothes who led her to Wangshi. That person must have been Qing Zhu.
Shen Xiling nodded silently. Yi Xiang continued supporting her as they walked slowly through the courtyard, then seemed to ask casually: “Girl, what connection do you have with the young master?”
This question startled Shen Xiling.
Her connection with the young master of the Qi family?
Shen Xiling thought about it, remembering how he had brought her and her mother out of the city at the gate, how he had Bai Song escort them north to Langya, how he had prepared her father’s body for burial. By all accounts, he should be her benefactor. She intended to speak truthfully, but remembering Qi Ying’s cold expression in Wangshi that day, she surmised he probably didn’t want to be involved with her. If she rashly claimed he had shown her kindness, it might cause him trouble.
After thinking it through, Shen Xiling finally lowered her head and said: “No, no connection at all.”
Yi Xiang smiled and said: “I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just that Liuzi mentioned that on New Year’s Eve night, the young master specially came from the main residence to this other courtyard for your sake, and personally cared for you for a long time. I was just curious.”
Shen Xiling fell silent.
From the moment she collapsed in the snowbank at Fenghe Courtyard’s gate, she had lost consciousness. She had no memory of Qi Ying coming to see her, nor did she know what had happened during that time. When she woke up and heard that Qi Ying had come to see her, she still found it somewhat hard to believe. It wasn’t that she was suspicious, but that night his expression had been so cold. She assumed that seeing her lack of will to live, he must have despised her weakness in his heart. If that was the case, how could he later…
Shen Xiling couldn’t figure it out and couldn’t answer Yi Xiang’s question, so she could only remain silent.
Yi Xiang glanced at her with a probing expression, thinking that since this little girl was being so evasive and wouldn’t speak, either she truly had no connection with the young master, or she had a significant connection. Unfortunately, since New Year’s Eve night, the young master hadn’t returned to stay at Fenghe Courtyard, so there was no way to discern anything. It was rather disappointing.
As she was pondering this, she suddenly heard Shen Xiling ask: “Sister Yi Xiang, may I ask… is Brother Bai Song still here?”
Yi Xiang was startled, then came to her senses and nodded, replying with a smile: “Brother Bai is the young master’s bodyguard. Since the young master has left, how could he still remain here?”
Shen Xiling looked worried: “But he received a hundred lashes before—have his injuries healed?”
“I wouldn’t know about that,” Yi Xiang replied, “but Brother Bai has a strong constitution, so I imagine he’s probably fine now.”
Shen Xiling nodded and thanked her. Yi Xiang asked again: “Are you and Brother Bai old acquaintances? He takes such good care of you.”
Shen Xiling didn’t know how to answer again. After thinking, she could only say: “Not really old acquaintances…”
Yi Xiang frowned, a trace of dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes, though she still smiled on the surface. She pointed to a stone bench not far away in the courtyard and said to Shen Xiling: “After walking for so long, you’re probably tired. Why don’t we go rest for a bit?”
Shen Xiling was indeed weak and had actually been tired for a while, but she had been enduring it without saying anything, afraid of making Yi Xiang think she was troublesome. Now hearing Yi Xiang suggest resting, she felt relieved and naturally agreed.
Yi Xiang helped her sit down, then said: “I still have some work to do over there, so I must leave now. Do you remember the way? Can you get back by yourself later?”
Shen Xiling was startled.
She actually didn’t remember the way, but seeing Yi Xiang’s hurried expression, she didn’t want to trouble her further, so she said: “I remember. Sister, please go about your business and don’t worry about me.”
Yi Xiang nodded and walked away. Shen Xiling sat alone on the stone bench, seeing that the surrounding flowers and trees grew luxuriantly and every path looked the same. She suddenly felt somewhat lost. At this moment, a man’s soft laughter came from behind the plum trees. Shen Xiling was startled and turned to see a man emerge from behind the plum trees.
The most handsome man Shen Xiling had ever seen in her life was Second Young Master Qi Jingchen. Although they had only met briefly a few times, the brilliance in his phoenix eyes during that night on the snowy street remained deeply impressed in her memory. However, though Qi Ying was born with good looks, his temperament was somewhat stern and forbidding, making it difficult for people to feel close to him. The man before her was different. He had peach blossom eyes, and even without any particular expression, he had a naturally romantic air. Standing beneath the full plum blossoms and looking toward Shen Xiling, his eyes appeared especially amorous.
Shen Xiling didn’t know who this person was and felt somewhat guarded, instinctively wanting to stand up from the stone bench. But the man smiled at her with a very leisurely manner, walking out from behind the plum trees with a casual posture. He gestured for her to sit down, then stopped not far from her and said: “I had no intention of eavesdropping, but you two kept walking closer, and since I didn’t leave, I ended up hearing everything. It was indeed rather improper of me.”
This man’s expression was also very casual. As he spoke, he cupped his hands in a gesture of apology. Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, seeing that this man wasn’t truly remorseful, but having no desire to argue with him, she only replied: “…It’s nothing.”
The man smiled and looked Shen Xiling over, asking with a grin: “But you do look unfamiliar—you’re not from Fenghe Courtyard. From what that maid said just now, you seem to have some connection with both Second Young Master Qi and Bai Song.”
His expression was playful. Suddenly he bent down close to Shen Xiling, his nose almost touching hers.
He asked teasingly: “Little girl, who are you?”